It's just another day in the bazaar, everything different, and everything the same. There is the hustle and bustle of pedestrians, with the occasional interruption of a flyer landing, and the loud hawking at customers from the booths, offering everything for sale.

And just like any other day of late, the five-tailed fox, Francisco, is wandering around keeping an eye out for which stalls are selling the 'doll' of his likeness.

"Natural Oils, Keep your fur shiny!"; "Spices from distant Abu Dhabi!"; "Stones, Jewels, Pearls from the rare land oyster, for your sweet, or sweetheart to be!"; "Ivories, finest carved ivories in all Rephidim."; "Furs! Used once, still good!" The selection is vast and varied, but there doesn't seem to be any little Franciscos for sale in sight.

"Franceesco, Francessco!" A Skreek waves, holding out a bland blue garment, "Shirt for Francessco, you buy? Bring good luck on store!"

Francisco waves an acknowledgment to the Skreek, but shakes his head and makes a 'sorry, no money' gesture.

Honest Makah, a familiar Jupani merchant of long standing in the Bazaar and one of the few faces that don't change daily, peddles his intricately carved scrimshaws. These Bromthen hog tusks have been carved for days by airship crew between ports, and though some of it is crude, other pieces are masterpieces of intricate detailing, such as the Lamu beasthound carving which occupies center place. Its triple-row of fangs fill its snarling mouth with a veritable grinder of death.

The Skreek frowns, but brightens just as quickly, offering the shirt to the next nearest customer. "Franceesco almost buy, you can have shirt almost bought by Franceesco. He say is the best quality."

Francisco chuckles to himself at the Skreek, and keeps on walking. He still is not sure why people have this fascination with him.

A young and rather dirty Kavi runs up to the Kitsune, "Alms, Alms sahr, for my poor father. All burned up he was at the port, burned in the explosion. Have pity on my poor wounded dad sahr." He points at a cloaked figure, slumped against the wall, with other mournful looking Kavi surrounding it.

A sinister-looking grayhoundish merchant sits cross-legged on a straw mat covered with rich-looking pelts, striped and solidly colored. Several of these pelts also hang from wooden frames, demonstrating that they have been skinned almost completely from animals, but behind some larger boxes are suspicious heaps of spotted fur kept tightly rolled. "Buy Abdhul's slightly-used furs," he calls. "Winter is coming, snow is coming, soon people freeze in bed, without you have Abdul's furs, only used once, finest quality! Buy furs here, keeps you warm all season. Fleas extra!"

The fox follows the young Kavi's pointing, and sighs. "I'm sorry," he says, "I'm afraid I have nothing to offer."

The cloaked figure rasps and holds out a mug pitifully. Something looks unnatural about the way he moves.

"Oh pleez sahr, anything you can spare." The grimy gray Kavi begs, "He's got all eight of us to support, and he was burned so badly."

Visibly showing that his pockets are empty, Francisco says, "Really, if I had something, I would. But I'm sorry, I am penniless myself."

The five Kavi around the figure, (the other two must have wandered off, or the gray one simply can't count), look mournfully at Francisco. They crowd closer, petting at their dad's limbs, one of them helping him to hold out the cup. "Oh pleeze sahr. Pleez. Don't worry Dad, we'll take care of you. Alms sahr?" They chitter at the kitsune.

The cloaked figure looks up and toward Francisco, the hood falling behind his head to reveal… A Zelak! He – no, it rasps. "… Temple. This unit requests the citizen's help in returning to the temple." The voice is thin and wheezy.

The fox feels bile rise in his throat at the sight of the bug, and turns away from looking at it.

"Good, law-abiding citizens should render assistance to a designated warrior of the Temple," the Zelak's thin whispery voice pleads. It stretches out its mug, the sleeve dropping back to show its chitinous fore-arm, the wrist-saber broken off some time ago.

"Hood! Hood!" The gray Kavi squeak, pointing and making a pulling up motion with his own clothing.

He darts out in front of the kitsune, "He was very badly burned sahr, really. Tragic fire, took off his legs. Poor dad is almost unrecognizable." The gray Kavi dances back and forth in front of Francisco.

Francisco holds a paw up to hold over his muzzle. "Erf, I'm sorry… I… I don't think I can help."

The green Zelak struggles with the Kavis trying to restrain it. "City ordinance twelve hundred thirty seven and one section a requires all citizens of Rephidim to render assistance to officers of the laws," it rasps. "This unit urges the citizen to help it return to the Temple. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor."

The gray Kavi makes a rapping gesture to his 'siblings', then after a last hopeful look at Francisco, moves on. He stops at someone who looks almost as rich as Francisco, and who hopefully is. "Alms sahr, for my wounded dad… "

The kitsune fidgets on his feet, clearly uncomfortable. He looks to the young Kavi who first approached him. "Can't you take him back to the Temple?" he asks.

"Citizens who are loyal to the Temple will be… " The Zelak stops abruptly.

A little brown Kavi beside the bug drops a rock on it's head, interrupting it. She smiles with broken, dirty teeth at Francisco.

The Zelak's limbs slump to the ground again, raising a small cloud of dust.

The first Kavi, the gray one, slips further away from the Kitsune, purposely ignoring his question.

Feeling another lump in his throat that's trying to rise up, Francisco stammers. "I'm… sorry. I can't." With that, he turns and hurries away down one of the streets in the Bazaar.

"You hit it to hard Squeeky! Prop it up, it has to look alive." One of the other siblings, a black and brown one, orders. The five grubby bazaar kits pull the bug upright again, adjusting it's clothing.

Abdhul bahs. "Stupid, useless Kavis," the fur merchant says, waving a paw at them. "I could beg better than that when I was a wee puppy."

"Go on, go on," he calls. "You'll scare all the customers away with your shoddy bug."

"Okay, Okay. This is no good. We have to move it. They're all skint here. C'mon, we'll try a block over." The gray Kavi orders, returning out of the crowd. The six of them pick up the bundled bug, and scurry off with it.

The streets are busy, the air crowded, with bartering voices and risk-taking aerials. A Dromodon pulling a cart slowly rumbles up the street, forcing pedestrians out of its way. One of them is a sharp eye'd Khatta, brown furred and wearing a black uniform. She steps over the puddles between the cobblestones with the surefootedness of an airsailor.

"Flowers!" A nearby merchant calls, from his wooden cart. "Fresh cut or picked. Brighten someone's day. You ma'am, you look like you could use some colour."

The Khatta examines each passing stall with a practiced eye. She knows what she is looking for: a pot of glue with which to repair some minor damage to her vessel. She is absorbed in her search, though not to the extent that all outside voices are shut out. The flower-vendor's shout attracts her attention. The Khatta smiles, but politely declines the offer and walks farther on down the street.

The flower vendor smiles politely and waves at his next customer. This section of the bazaar may not be the right place to look for glue… but you never know. They layout changes so much that even a native would have a problem finding just what they wanted, or knowing just what could be bought.

"Zelak warrior for sale! Very good, tireless! Guard your possessions." A Kavi in the street calls out, looking for someone searching, and finding Mira. The gray youngster scoots over. "Afternoon sahr, would you be wanting a fine loyal warrior? You look important."

The Khatta's ears perk up in the youngster's direction. {Why not take a look?}, she thinks. To the boy, she says, "Importance is relative. What have you to offer me?"

"Over there, isn't that the finest warrior you've ever seen?" The gray Kavi points. Standing beside a wall is a Zelak, surrounded by four small Kavis. As warriors go, it is impressively tall, light green with darker streaked markings. The warrior is missing it's wrist sabers, but brandishes a staff in a menacing manner. A skirt adorns the warrior, starting just below it's thorax, covering the abdomen, and hanging all the way to the ground.

The Kavi slips closer, putting his hand on Mira's waist to guide her over, "Come see, come see."

The four surrounding 'Kavi' appear to be propping up the Zelak a bit, as it wobbles just slightly back and forth on its feet.

Apparently, Mira feels slightly uncomfortable with a Kavi so near. She shies away from him, one hand quickly checking to ensure that her weaponry and supplies are still where they should be. As she approaches the Zelak, something about it puts her on her guard. Her eyes narrow slightly as it wobbles; she addresses the youngster. "An excellent specimen," she says. "But it seems just a bit unsteady. Do my eyes deceive me?"

"Oh no sahr, it's in perfect shape." The gray Kavi steps back, fingers quickly flicking from Mira's person. Her quick inventory shows nothing missing, and the street Kavi waves at the other four around the Zelak. "Step away, let her see how good shape he's in."

The Zelak rasps something in a low tone, below Mira's hearing, as the four smaller Kavi step away. It stands fairly still, though not as much as a typical Zelak's perfect stillness.

"See? He even obeys orders. Come here Zelak, come here." He waves at the insect, and it lurches forward.

"I see." is the judgment from the Kavis' potential customer. "But certainly it can do more than follow you."

"It guards, it waves it's staff. It chases Kavis… uh… it does everything you want a Zelak to do sahr." The other Kavis behind the bug make whapping gestures, and try to look appropriately scared.

The Zelak waves its staff in demonstration, but the staff seems to wag in the air abnormally. its mandibles wiggle only slightly, and no sound comes forth.

The gray salesman praises the bug wildly, waving his arms up at it. "Fearsome! Frightening! Any Kavi, I mean thief, would think twice seeing that."

Mira smiles, but remains unconvinced. "This Zelak isn't like any other Zelaks I've ever seen," she observes. "And I've been to many place and seen many Zelaks. I wouldn't want to employ a Zelak who was incapacitated. It simply wouldn't… " she pauses. "Inspire the proper fear in a thief. After all, you're still here."

"Eeek!" Shouts one of the smaller Kavis, a white and brown, and darts behind a taller one. A perfect example of the proper response to a Zelak.

"Me sahr? A thief? No… I am a businessman. I have no need to fear Zelaks. I am honest. Honest!" The young gray Kavi bows to Mira.

The Zelak turns and waves its stick… not very threateningly, just aimlessly, at the small white-brown Kavi. The staff never changes from being at a 30-degree angle from the ground, curiously…

The only response from the Khatta is a derisive snort. "If he's a normal Zelak," she asks, "then why is he wearing that skirt? It looks ridiculous. And certainly he can use that staff in a more efficient fashion."

The Zelak stops wavering and stick-waving, facing Buran… but the turning is uneven, as the skirted portion seems to turn first, bringing the upper body with it. And the mandibles can be seen to be restrained with a thin ceramical wire…

The Kavi pauses, but it isn't long before he comes up an answer, "Its… the latest Zelak fashion! It uses the staff… so… so it won't kill anyone. I'm not allowed to sell a fatally dangerous Zelak. Just one that will beat you up a little."

Mira hmphs, stepping up to the Zelak. "What good would a non-fatal Zelak do me? Especially a bug that had to worry about tripping over its skirt" – she tugs a bit at it – "or that would have to worry about losing its mouth parts whenever it ate breakfast." She indicates the wire. "Or is this the latest fashion, too?"

"Noo! Don't!" The Kavi lunges… too late.

As the Khatta points to the wire… the Zelak sudden wobbles crazily, and falls towards her!

"Lookout!", "Mad Zelak!" Nearby shoppers cry, getting everyone's attention.

The skirt falls away, revealing a very sheepish-looking red-tan Kavi who'd been holding… what is now obviously half a Zelak, that lands at Mira's feet.

A lifetime spent in the rigging of airships brings nimbleness and sure feet. Mira jumps backward as the Zelak tumbles, landing a short distance away, just out of reach of the polearm.

"Uh… Uhh… You broke it! You have to buy it now." The gray Kavi defiantly sticks out his hand.

A small crowd is forming. "That's one beat up Zelak." An arriving Jupani comments.

In response, Mira turns to the youngster, an annoyed expression on her face. "I don't think so, unless you want me to put your friend here to work on my airship. Or to be handed over to the Temple for misrepresentation of merchandise. You'll certainly get a closer look at real Zelaks."

"It's aZelak warrior, as is." The gray Kavi hops from foot to foot, backing up.

Mira crosses her arms. "As a matter of fact," she adds, "I could use the lot of you. I've been meaning to have a small rip in the top of the gasbag repaired," she adds as if to herself.

"Everyone, Red! Come on." The gray Kavi reaches down, grabbing the Zelak, and trying to lift it as Red stands, while the other four rush over to help. "Deals off! No Sale."

The uniformed Khatta looks around, hoping that there are some actual Zelaks in the area. It wouldn't do to not go through with the threat…

The Zelak wriggles, but appears to be unable to stop the Kavi. Its mandibles are still shut…

An armoured patrol doesn't seem to be in sight… yet. There is usually a regular one around. It will be arriving soon, but not as fast as the Kavi scampers.

The six of them carry the bug into a narrow Alley, hindering each other almost as much as helping with the load. The smallest Kavi is the last in. She stops long enough to stick out her tongue at Mira, then turns tail.

The few spectators promptly loose interest. It's not the strangest thing they've seen in the bazaar, and its over anyhow.

Mira hmphs in the direction of the departing Kavis. "I don't trust Kavis, and I never will," she mutters. The airship captain turns and heads back into the milling crowds, still searching for the perfect pot of glue.

Two Zelaks patrol this street of the bazaar. They march precisely beside each other, and the other pedestrians get out of their way almost instinctively. They stop for no apparent reason, the shop beside them sells cloth, another rope, and no one is calling for their assistance. The Zelaks twitch their feelers, their heads panning. One clacks, a moment later the other clacks a response, then they both continue their patrol and move up the street.

Almost as soon as they are out of sight, a gray Kavi scoots out of an alleyway to watch the bug's departing backs. "Are they gone Bibber?" Someone chitters at him from the shadows. "Yeh, it's safe. Bring it out." He answers.

Five more Kavis emerge, two of them roughly dragging a Zelak, the other three smaller ones rushing over to a half barrel, full of water. Struggling, they manage to push it a little more into the street, without slopping out too much of the water.

"Set it up, c'mon!" Bibber commands. Red, Squeeky, and one of the other Kavis put the Zelak on a seat beside the barrel, and lift up a wooden board behind it. There is a crudely painted circle at one end. "Step right up! Give us your best shot. 1 Shekel a throw, and you can try to Dunk the Zelak!"

The Zelak clacks weakly to the Kavis, "Citizens are advised to return this warrior to the Temple, you will receive a lesser punishment if you comply."

A Lapi merchant pauses in his journey towards the Clock Tower, and perks an ear at the call of the Kavi. {They couldn't have said what I think they did… could they?} Aaron comes over to investigate.

"Hurr!" A rather large Jupani drops a 5 shekel coin beside Bibber, and crouches down to pry up one of the cobblestones. He comes up with a rock almost as big as his head – and he looks like he can throw it too. The Kavis beside the target Zelak SQUEAK! loudly, and all try to cram behind it.

"Behavior is disruptive." the Zelak clacks to the Jupani. "This is inadvisable."

Aaron's ears fold back at the sight of the looming Jupani, but through extreme willpower he stands fast and doesn't back up into the crowd.

"Sahr! Sahr, No!" Bibber dances in front of the Jupani, "You can't have all your rocks in one throw… you… uh… You have to use rotten fruit. For safety!" He grabs a cabbage off the stall beside him

"Hey, give that back!" The cabbage merchant whisks his produce out of the gray Kavi's hand almost as quickly as he snagged it.

Bibber scowls, but puts a smiling face on as he turns to face the Jupani, "Just a sec Sahr, you'll get your money's worth." He spins, "Red, Squeeky, find something in the alley to throw. Whiskers, tie up it's mouth, it's talking again." He spins back, with a wide Kavi grin and glittering dark eyes, "Everything ready in a second sahr."

Aaron moves closer during the interlude, trying to get a good look at the alleged Zelak.

Whiskers tries to tighten the ceramic wire that was holding the Zelak's mandibles shut, without losing any fingers or thumbs in the process. Red and Squeeky haul out a selection of tossable materials, mostly food that's almost past the handling stage. They bring it over to the Jupani.

The Zelak is quickly reduced to making muffled rasping noises again. It cranes its head around and waves one of the sticks attached to its arm around.

The Jupani reaches down, wrinkling his muzzle in distaste, and picking up something semi-solid. He throws… – SPLAT – . Squeeky, well squeaks!

"Oh good shot sahr, you almost got the target." Bibber says encouragingly

{If it was a puppet, why would they wire the mouth shut?} Aaron tries to puzzle things out. It doesn't occur to him that the Kavis would have captured a crippled Zelak, so he keeps trying to find the 'trick' to the creature.

"Mfffrf*clack*mmmph." the Zelak says, swiveling it's head around.

The rabbit shies back from the Zelak when it moves… and also to avoid any splatter from the Jupani's next throw.

The Zelak 'puppet' is quite realistic to Aaron's eyes, but they can't fool a conspiracy-savvy Lapi that easily. It looks exactly like a Zelak warrior should, except its missing its legs. The arms also lack the characteristic wrist-sabers, but the wood staff is probably the best approximation. Other than that, a missing manipulator, and some scuff marks, this puppet could fool all but the most critical eyes. The Kavi's standing behind it must be manipulating it somehow, making it twitch enough to look alive.

Aaron nods to himself, as if confirming his own conclusions, and watches to see how the Jupani fares.

The Jupani picks up two more lumps, and throws. -Splat!- -Splat!- He hits directly on the Zelak's compound eyes.

The Zelak shakes its head from side to side, trying to clear away the stuff. It raises an arm and accidentally whacks itself in the head with one of the large sticks attached to where the arm slicer would normally be.

"Oh, Good shot sahr! But, at the target." The gray Kavi points helpfully, and Squeeky and Whiskers jump to stand beside the hastily scratched circle, point at it with their entire bodies.

A few passers-by chuckles and stop to watch. Two Khatta, a Poodle and a Rath'ani, are looking at the Zelak, and checking the change in their purses.

Aaron focuses his own attention on the other Kavi around the barrel, trying to see how they control the puppet.

The Jupani grunts again, and picks up two more soggy objects. He throws again. He misses the target, splattering Squeeky and then Whiskers, though perhaps that was his original intention. He grins down at Bibber, then goes to pick up another round.

"Oh! Uh… Sahr, you just paid for five. Let someone else try." Bibber interferes, then quickly suggests much louder so everyone can hear. "If no one dunks the Zelak, you can throw the rock!"

Hissing through the wires, the Zelak finally clears away enough of the gunk to see. It swings an arm angrily towards the wolf.

The Jupani scowls, then grins as he picks up his rock, and steps back.

The Zelak is a safe distance from everyone, except the Kavis 'puppeting' it. Try as he might Aaron still can't see how that is managed. Perhaps that is why Bibber is insisting everyone stand at least 10 feet away, or maybe that's just to increase the difficulty of the throw.

"One shekel a throw, one shekel a throw!" Bibber parades around, his antics moving the crowd back a little further. "Haven't you always been afraid of these bugs, wanted some revenge? Nows your chance. Dunk the Zelak!"

Aaron knows his own limits when it comes to ballistics, but decides to see if anyone else can dunk the puppet.

"How about you Sahr? You look interested." The gray Kavi latches onto Aaron, and trys to pull him over to the rotten projectiles.

Whiskers dips some of the water out of the barrel and tries to muck away the grime on her, then does the same for Squeeky.

Aaron blinks and tries to pull away from the Kavi, "Eh?"

"I'll throw. Here Kavi" A tabby Khatta flicks a shekel Bibber's way, and examines his 'weapon' choices.

Forgetting about Aaron instantly, Bibber catches the shekel out of the air. "Yes sahr, take your time. On the scratched circle the lovely girls are pointing at."

Lovely, and pointing, don't exactly describe Squeeky and Whiskers right now, but they snap back to their job with enthusiastic grins.

The rabbit can't imagine why anyone would want to pay for the privilege of lobbing a hunk of garbage at something, but certainly doesn't mind the Khatta's intervention.

The tabby picks out a sizeable tuber, winds up, and throws. It hits smack in the centre of the roughly scratched circle with a pulpy thud.

The Zelak's eyes follow the target. It makes a few more muffled clacking noises.

Bibber watches nothing happen. He makes a face at a brownish Kavi behind the Zelak. Red looks puzzled, then realizes, and shoves the insect over into the barrel of water.

Flailing it's arms, the Zelak tumbles over into the barrel. It vanishes inside and doesn't resurface, only a pair of twitching antennae poke out.

Aaron snorts. They could have rigged it up better than that, given the effort they put into the puppet.

"Yay sahr! You did it, you dunked the Zelak!" Bibber says, covering the unimpressive tumble.

The tabby frowns, "That's a little disappointing, but what should I expect from Kavis. Oh well, it was worth a shekel I guess."

"All right, who's next? Who wants to Dunk the Zelak?" Bibber asks happily to the remaining spectators. "One shekel a throw. Uh, not you yet sahr, put the rock down."

The antennae start moving a bit more frantically, a couple of bubbles rise to the surface of the barrel.

Aaron tries to see if there are any cables trailing out of the water barrel.

There are no cables leading into the barrel. A brown and black Kavi breaks from the crowd beside the Lapi and shouts, "Patrol", as he points back down the street.

"Showsovereveryoneone. Thankyouwe'llbebackagain." The gray Kavi babbles as he runs over the barrel. "Quick! Get it out."

The rabbit automatically looks in the direction the lookout pointed.

The Kavis start dragging the Zelak out of the tub. There's no sign of a patrol, though the black brown Kavi might have been watching a little further down the street. Two Zelaks finally come into sight, as the streetkids bundle their 'puppet' up in a cloth, and vanish into the alley they emerged from.

Aaron blinks as he looks back and finds the Kavis already gone.

The only sign the Kavis were present is the water tub, the pile of rotten food, and a very dissappointed Jupani holding a big rock, and looking for something to throw it at.

The wolf looks at the rabbit.

Aaron's ears droop immediately. "Uhmm… bet you can't get it into that… er… barrel… "

The wolf throws, the rock arcs through the air with deadly accuracy as it comes down on it's unexpecting target. SPLASH Dead Centre… of the water barrel. The big Jupani grins at Aaron, then walks away.

After a few deep breaths, Aaron manages to stop shaking. How can they let Jupanis walk around free like that?

A small group of Kavis sit resting against a building wall, with the odd damaged Zelak between them. They are out of the way of the main street, and only get the occasional glance from a merchant making sure they are staying put. The gray Kavi, looking the most in charge, pokes at the ground with a stick.

The Zelak twitches its antennae, and rasps. Its mandibles are still wired shut.

"This gigs a bad deal. We can't do nothing with that Zelak. Its got to be good for something." Bibber pokes at the bug with his stick now.

Whiskers doesn't suggest anything. She is too busy using a piece of broken glass to focus sunlight on the insect's carapace. A thin line of smoke starts up from the bright spot.

The Zelak rasps again, futility waving the stick attached to its arm. The Kavis by know where a safe place to be is, and just ignore it.

Red, the reddish-brown Kavi, grunts in agreement. "It can't beg, no one wants to buy it. Dunking worked, but takes to long. Mebbe we should just squish it for fun."

"Yeh, that's it!" Bibber jumps up, "We'll auction it for Gishing. C'mon." Only a moment later they are in the middle of the street, blocking traffic, the gray Kavi giving his pitch, "Step right up sahrs! Rare chance for sale!"

A shadow darts across the awnings and tents of the Bazaar, growing large as a brightly-attired young bat swoops down over the crowd. She smiles, a small paper back tucked in her satchel – Lunch!

Another shape comes walking down the street. It is easily distinguished as an Eeee, the ears are a sure tellsign, and so are the wings. He leans his neck to one side and scratches it, but the movements of his ears seems to be indicating he has spotted a sound of sort. Stopping his scratching, he listens carefully. The continues his stroll, a little more aware of his surroundings.

"Damaged Zelak, your chance to make it dead!" Bibber gestures at the legless bug being held up by the other five Kavis. "Ever felt intimidated? Scared? Just don't like them? Highest bidder can have it for squishing. Starting at 20 shekels, anyone?"

The Zelak twitches, sitting helpless on its abdomen and held up by a Kavi behind hit. The insect tries to clear it's mandibles of the restraining wire, and succeeds only in bashing itself with the stick clued to its arm.

"20 Shekels." A Khatta with a heavy accent says as he steps forward. No, -She-, her size and the enthusiasm shown in her clenching hands momentarily giving the impression of a big tom tiger.

Brishen cups her wings, floating for a moment as she looks down at the Kavis. Then traces a few circles around them as she flutters high above. Unfortunately, her eyes aren't as good as her ears, and the Zelak might as well be any of the hundreds of Zelaks she's seen. Still… She flutters down onto a lightpost, and squints at the mob.

"YESSAHR!" Bibber squeaks, jumping back from the looming tiger. "20 Shekels. Do I hear more? Anyone want to squish a bug real bad?"

The Zelak tries to free it's mandibles again, hitting itself once more with the stick.

Getting closer, Skrill, walking along the street stops and asks "What is going on here?" Looking at the scene.

Brishen rubs her eyes, then looks at the Zelak again. It couldn't be… She crouches down, then throws herself into the air, spiralling high up over the Bazaar. Maybe there's a patrol somewhere.

The gray auctioneer Kavi notices the struggling action, and gestures at the Zelak. "See? Damaged, totally useless. Fit only for squishing. Who will buy a broken Zelak, do I hear 30 Shekels?"

Skrill suddenly tilts his head up, and sees the other Eeee taking of. He steps a little closer towards the shadow and taps one of the Kavis on his shoulder saying "Perhaps you can help me with something."

High in the air, the layout of the streets below is easily visible. A guard patrol is one street over, but there is also the distinctive Kavi shape at either entrance to the one the Zelak is being sold on; they have the appearance of watching for something.

Red turns at Skrill's tap, "Bibber! A bid for 30 shekels here, this Eee gentleman."

Brishen squeaks frustratedly, swooping back towards the auction. "I can't believe I'm doing this for a bug… "

With a smile Skrill says "Not exactly, I need something else. But perhaps the price could be the same."

"40 Shekels." The tigress growls, focusing on Skrill. Nearby spectators back out of her gaze, exposing the Eee and Kavi.

"Huh, oh? Yeh, what is it Sahr?" Red asks, waving off Bibber, and pulling Skrill into a less visible location.

The gray Kavi searches the surrounding faces for interested looks. "We have 40 Shekels. Think of it, all the times a Zelak has chased you for blocks, all the time they've grabbed you around the neck, or threatened to cut off your hands. Isn't that worth 50 shekels, to get squish one in revenge?" His black eyes glitter greedily.

Leaning a little closer to Red, Skrill says "That Eeee that just departed, did you see it?" He adds "Anyway, I would like to know if said Eeee do return here. I am willing to pay for any interesting observations."

Brishen's wings flutter as she thumps down on a lightpost overlooking the auction. She doesn't wait more than a moment before crying out, "That Zelak belongs to the Temple!" {Very subtle, Bree. Hope this works… }

"Eee? Which Eee?" Red looks around. This isn't Little Babel, but enough of the bats are around, flying overhead, watching the auction, or making small purchases. "Will anyone one do?"

Skrill quickly glances towards the lighpost, and seems like he is thinking about something as he whispers "That one up there." He hands Red a five shekel coin.

The Zelak thrashes it's mandibles, and the wire works loose enough that it can clack. "This Unit requires assistance. Citizens are required to assist a damaged… "

Squeeky hits the bug with a rock, interrupting it.

Brishen grins to herself as she carries a thread along, screeching at the top of her lungs, "Think of all the times the Zelaks have chased you and never given up! Think of an angry hive! Think of the blood of that one on your hands, and how they'll never give up 'til they find you!" She pauses, her voice almost conversational, "Think of the patrols on their way."

Red pockets the shekel so swiftly that Skrill wonders if he was holding one in the first place. "Right Sahr, I'll watch her." He does, making it very obvious for his new employer that he is watching Brishen.

Biting his lips Skrill seems to be thinking hard again. Then he turns to the Khatta and asks "Perhaps the Zelak is coming with sound advice."

"Uh… uh, URK!" Bibber says, looking at Brishen, then choking as the Tigress picks him up by the throat.

"Are you trying to sell me stolen property?" She growls, leaning her striped face close to the Kavi's.

The bat trembles ever-so-slightly as she furls her wings, eyes darting about. Last thing she needs is a rock through a wing. "You heard the bug."

Whisker and Squeeky are picking up rocks. From the glances they are giving Brishen, they probably aren't going to be throwing these at the Zelak.

Getting up from his hunched position, Skrill turns over and observes the Khatta, a slight smile on his lips.

"Citizens who assist Temple property will… " -CLACK- Squeeky throws her rock at the Zelak after all.

Brishen eeps, flapping her wings hard as she darts back towards the Bazaar. She's gotta get behind something…

"Urk. No Sahr, No." Bibber's legs dangle, and he struggles to speak with a constricted throat. "It's too stupid to know they don't want it. -Urk- It's ours, really."

Whisper, in a flash of genius or stupidity, decides to save Bibber, and throws her rock at the Tigeress instead. -THUNK- The stone bounces off the Khatta's skull just above her eye.

"RWAARRRR!"

Skrill jumps backwards, one hand in front of himself. His right hand though dips to the knife in his belt.

Brishen pants, legs trembling as she crumples behind a garish tent filled with pottery and utensils and Skeeks. She wraps her wings around herself as she thinks, {Okay, the patrol can't be far away and they're pretty busy and – What?} She peeks around the stand as she hears the tigress roar.

Flying rocks are the least of the courier's concern, as she suddenly has to dodge a flying Kavi. The Tigress flings Bibber away and charges the other five street kids with a loud snarl. Bibber crashes through the tent, smashing loudly into the stacked pottery.

Sidestepping the roaring Khatta, Skrill is just about to run down the street, when he suddenly stops, spins around and shouts "Stop that!" to the furious Khatta. Holding his now wielded knife behind his back.

Brishen eeps, wings fluttering as she scrambles back, bumping into a crowd of shoppers. "Oh! Ow! Sorry, sorry!" She leaps into the air before anyone can respond.

Brishen winces, flapping hard as she loops up into the air, trying to get a glimpse of the nearby patrol, and the Kavi lookouts.

Suddenly granted wisdom, Whisker flees, as do her two friends. Skrill is left standing in the angry tiger's way. Up close, the Eee can see just how big she is. Quite big.

Brishen smiles to herself, favoring a wing slightly. {Great! Kavi're gone, and that other Eeee's occupied with that humungous Khatta. Looks like my chance!} She darts down into the crowd, landing next to the Zelak. "Hi! Remember me?"

Swallowing hard Skrill stands his ground, pacing out and having his knife ready, for what he do not quite know, as it seems hard to even bruise this beast with it. But he stands still.

Brishen avoids the Zelak's mandibles as she looks around. Five Kavi could carry it, but not her. She starts tugging at it. "I wish you still had legs."

"What!" The tigress growls, grabbing the Eee by the shoulders and lifting him up to her face before he can react. Her teeth are very big, and her snarling muzzle shows all of them. "You in on this too? Trying to get me in trouble with the Temple. I should turn you in."

The Zelak twitches it's feelers at Brishen. "This warrior requires assistance in returning to the Temple. Citizens assisting will be given a reward." It isn't as heavy as it looks either, and the courier finds she can drag it with some difficulty. A nearby blanket seems to be what the Kavis were using for this purpose.

Skrill shouts "Not at all! Not at all." he waves his left hand in front of the Khatta "In fact you can perhaps help the Temple." He grins stiffly, eyes wide open. His wings flutter a little.

"Move! Clear the way." The sounds of an approaching patrol come through the crowd.

Brishen whews as she spots the blanket, fluttering her wings as she drags the Zelak onto it. "You helped me before, now I'll help you." Her wings flutter as she hears the dulcet tones of the approaching patrol, and she keeps tugging.

The tigress growls, putting Skrill down. "Stupid Eee, you let the Kavis get away." She looks over the crowd, watching them split aside to the patrol in, and ruefully observing the disappearing backs of the streetgang which the guards didn't think to detain.

The Zelak stops struggling and trying to resist Brishen's efforts.

With a clearing of his throat Skrill adjusts his west and says "Well, I believe you will catch them some other day." to the Khatta.

Brishen smiles to herself. {Reward – Even better!} She puffs as she drags the Zelak towards the patrol, wings fluttering as she hops a little with each tug.

Brishen glances at Skrill, still tugging. {Now why did he want them to watch me? I'd better find a way to get out of here before that Khatta lets him go. I've gotten into enough trouble for one day… }

The patrol arrives. The crowd is dispersing as much as it is moving out of their way. The Eee courier becomes quite visible to the guards with her bundle. The two Jupani, accompanied by two Zelaks, halt as soon as they see her. "What's going on?"

With a small sigh Skrill nods to the Khatta and says "Well, done is done, and at least you are in no trouble now." He turns and walks past the Khatta over to Brishen and her bundle.

Brishen squeaks, spinning around. "This Zelak helped me pull someone from a fire, when that weird airship crashed in the Bazaar!" She flutters her wings, trying to make things shorter – and quicker. "Some Kavi tried to squish it and I had to help!" {There!}

The Tigress just grunts at Skrill, and looks for a good opportunity to slip away. Brishen talking with the Guards seems to be it, and she fades into the crowd with surprising ease. Must be her stripes.

Brishen squeaks to herself. That was really eloquent – but maybe the Jupani won't hit her now. She looks back at the Zelak and ews quietly. No legs…

"Oh." The guard lifts up his helmet to scratch his ear and think about this. His partner looks down at the damaged Zelak, and she winces at what she sees. "That's very good, courier. Um… I guess it should be taken back to the Temple… I've never seen one damaged that badly before."

The damaged warrior clacks, the Zelaks with the guards respond, first one, then the other.

Brishen smiles weakly, fidgeting as she bounces from foot to foot, and tries not to think of what's going to happen to the Zelak. "Um."

Smiling to the assembled guards and the courier, Skrill just stands there. Trying very discretely to put his knife back.

"Are you a witness?" The female Jupani asks Skrill, "Do you have a statement to make?"

With a slight koff Skrill says "Yes, it seems so." looking back at the guard, letting his smile slip away from his face.

At the word 'statement', the few remaining spectators realize they have better things to do than be questioned by Temple guards, and go back to their business.

The Jupani takes out a notepad, and starts writing. "Okay, I'll need your name, where you live, how you can be contacted, your citizenship. Then tell me what you saw." She orders Skrill.

Brishen fidgets a little, biting her lower lip. Wonderful – The last thing she wanted was for this guy to stick around. She glances at Skrill.

The other guard puts his helmet back on. He taps one of the bugs with him, "Pick up that wounded Zelak." Facing Brishen he states, "You should come along with us, the Temple may have some more questions, or something to give you. I'm not sure how this is handled. If you prefer, you can give me your address and anything you deserve will go there."

Skrill sighs and says "Very well, my name is Niell, Montero." a slight pause so that the Jupani can take this down before he continues "For the moment I live at the Chequed Inn, but I do plan to move out shortly. Shall I inform the host of my new whereabouts?" not bothering to wait for a reply, but still takes a pause so that the Jupani's pen can finish it's dance.

The female guard nods as she writes. "Continue."

Brishen casts a cautious glance at Skrill, then rummages around in her satchel. Eventually she hands the Jupani one of her newly-minted business cards. "That has my Guild postbox on it." She tilts her head slightly, "I'll come along if needed, though."

Patting his pocket absent mindedly Skrill continues "As you might hear from my accent I am Babelite." then he takes a breath, glances backwards to see if the Khatta is gone or still there as he starts "I was walking down this street. When I came upon a bunch of street Kavi's, trying to auction this here Zelak for, stomping I believe."

Brishen fidgets, then smiles weakly as she looks up at the guard. "I have a lot of deliveries to make, though, if I want to keep a roof over my head." She wraps her arms around herself as she glances at the wounded Zelak.

Brishen squeaks, hopefully, "The Temple knows where to find me, if it has any more questions."

The female guard continues to write down Skrill's statements, the male Jupani just stares at Brishen's card for a while. Trying to determine if it's a fake, satisfied that it isn't, he nods. "Well, that's your option. I'm not sure what will be done in this circumstance. You are free to go if you wish."

Skrill continues on his tale "Very well, they stopped me and tried to sell me this Zelak. This is when this madam showed up and claimed that she knew the bug. So, after a slight discussion with the youngsters about what the temple might think of others stomping their workers, I made them scoot of. That's about it, then you came."

The damaged Zelak twitches it's feelers, but makes no other motions. The other two ignore it as well.

Brishen squeaks at the guard, nodding, then pads over to the damaged Zelak. Her voice is quiet as she pats its side cautiously, "I hope you'll be okay, I know I'd be unhappy if my legs were gone, but you're still – um. Making clicking sounds."

The Zelak turns its head to Brishen. Up close she can see the soot scars from the flames, the large scratches and cracks in the chitin where it was hit with rocks. Its head is very battered, with some facets in its compound eyes broken. "This unit's combat capabilities are lessened."

"Okay, I've got that. Is that all now?" The female Jupani looks at both Skrill and Brishen.

With a nod Skrill says "Yes, I think so." keeping an wary eye on Brishen.

Brishen nods, brushing a lock of hair from her eyes.

Brishen pats the Zelak again, biting her lower lip, then crouches down – kicking up a cloud of dust as she flap-flap-flaps into the air. She stays low to the ground, darting along below the skyline as she fades into the distance.

Skrill looks after the departing Eeee, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Then he says "If that was all, I believe I have to depart as well." as he steps back, spreads his wings and leaps into the air.

The two Jupani watch the vanishing Eees, then turn towards the temple. As the male signals for the Zelaks to follow his partner asks, "What do you think is going to happen to it Gory?" He scratches under his helmet before responding to her, "I have no idea Jell, no idea." They vanish into the bazaar.