Flying bolts with leering snake-heads on the tips. Thunder that turns into harsh, whispery laughter. Rain that turns crimson when it hits the ground, which rolls beneath Chiaroscuro like a some writhing beast, making it hard to defend himself against the black silhouette of a Naga assaulting him. It's all a dream, of course. It couldn't really be anything else, could it? This fact is reasserted as consciousness slowly returns to Chiaroscuro.

Whatever the mongoose is lying on, it's somewhat itchy. Nearby, there's some steady mumbling, and a little farther away, speech that sounds a little more normal, but still too garbled to make out, even if it wasn't in a foreign language.

Chiaroscuro raises his paws up to the sides of his head, slowly, eyes blinking open. "Ghhgggghck… "

"Takshigi! The mighty one awakens!" A small, stooped kavi seated by Chiaroscuro's resting place beams, and thumps a little walking stick on the dirt floor, beads and trinkets on the head rattling. It would seem that the mongoose is lying on a pallet of cut grass and leaves. Bound sticks define the enclosure of a hut of some sort, with various strange idols carved out of stone. Bits of fruit, and unidentifiable chunks of … whatever lie in wooden dishes before the idles, and a small fire burns in a pit behind the kavi. "We thought you were to be bound for the garden, but you have weathered the night. This is surely a sign of Rik's blessing."

Chiaroscuro's muzzles rises and lowers slightly. "Yes… yes indeed." The mongoose rubs his temples and muzzle with his paws… "Urgh." He leans further up, staring at the small kavi as he wakens further. "I am still hazy… what happened, after… " Chiaroscuro pauses, his voice quieter. "After I killed the… "

"After you destroyed the Black Scourge? The devil had bitten you, grand shaman." The kavi shakes his head, tossing a pinch of greenish powder over his left shoulder. "His vile poisons assaulted you from within. Though the Scourge's venom would be lethal to any of us, you survived it with a night's sleep, and only a few hallucinations. One of your kind cannot be killed by mere snake's poison." He taps one of Chiaroscuro's paws knowingly.

Chiaroscuro looks down at his own paw, four fingers and thumb. "You seem to know much of me, brother." He says in a voice still quiet. "And I know yet little of you, or any here… or how Rik's faith came here to this isle." He sits up, tucking his legs down beneath him slightly.

The kavi gets to his feet with the aid of his walking stick. "One much like yourself visited us, many, many generations ago. He was not from our realm, but he had much to teach us." Though it might seem ludicrous, the frail-looking kavi hovers over Chiaroscuro, being ready to offer a paw to the mongoose should he require help standing.

Chiaroscuro seems content for the moment to sit… and smile, the pain his body still feels becoming forgotten. "A miracle of Rik', that such should occur, and the faith be kept." He touches his Rikkorrel with reverence, fingers light along the carved surface. "It would seem I have been sent here for a purpose as well, though Rik'Tik'Tav has not yet made the exact path clear… " he muses.

"All will be clear in time, I am sure," replies the kavi, smiling. "I am the medicine kav, Tik'Draws-Venom. Are you well enough to walk, Great Shaman?"

Chiaroscuro stands up slowly, nodding. "Lork Rik' has guided me this far, he shall certainly guide me further. I am well." He takes in a deep, relaxing breath. "And I am called Chiaroscuro, Tik'Draws-Venom. Chipper to those who wish."

The medicine kav laughs hoarsely, his eyes shining. "You will find that none of the tribeskavi would be so disrespectful as to sully your name by uttering it. You are a second coming of Rik'Tik'Tav's emmissary, after all. Come, we will walk as the preparations are made."

Chiaroscuro nods, walking beside the medicine man. "It would be not disrespectful to me, but when the people walk on the left of the road, one walks on the left of the road also… as my mother told me as a kit. As you think will be best, Tik'Draws-Venom."

Outside the hut, the sun is shining brightly, blazing from above in the high-noon position. Two tallish kavi, armed with spears, stop talking as Chiaroscuro and Tik'Draws-Venom exit the hut. The both immeadiately kneel, bowing their backs and supporting themselves with their spears.

Chiaroscuro stops a moment, confusedly… glancing over at TIk'Draws-Venom questioningly.

Draws-Venom clucks his tongue, and rattles off a short string of quick syllables. The two warriors spring to their feet, and stand on either side of the medicine kav and the mongoose. "Pay no mind, Great Shaman. They are our escorts. Simply a token in the village, though they serve more purpose in the Basin." As the medicine-kavi continues to shuffle along, the reverent warriors watch Chiaroscuro for any signs of orders or movement.

Chiaroscuro just smiles politely to each warrior, walking with Tik'Draws-Venom.

The village is rather busy. More thatch and stick huts stand around in a dusty clearing as kavi busily go about their duties. Occasionally, they steal a glance at Chiaroscuro, and whispering excitedly to each other. More than one awestruck kit runs up to touch the black-and-white kavi's fur, their parents smiling and chattering apologies in kavispeak. There's also quite a few kavi girls who pause in their work to eye Chiaroscuro. At times, they almost seem like they're trying to get his attention, and whether or not they do, there's always a little giggling amongst them.

Tik'Draws-Venom is oblivious to all of this, content to guide in general directions. "You must get your blood flowing again with some excercise, to be sure any poison left in your blood is cycled out."

Chiaroscuro gazes around at the village… smiling broadly at the kavi, young and old, male and female. If he had ever lived up to his nickname of 'Chipper', it is now. He nods to Tik'Draws-Venom, taking more vigourous strides…

Their roaming takes them in a fairly tight circle. Apparently, this is a small fenced-in area, split off from the rest of the village. Tik'Draws-Venom explains that this is a place of recovery. "The Black Scourge was not the only peril roaming the basin. I see many kavi come through here. Fortunately, we are a very close peoples, what one might even consider a large family. That is why you see so many kavi come here to visit, to comfort the warriors or gatherers who have suffered."

Chiaroscuro nods, listening. "I believe I see, Tik'Draws-Venom."

"A feast is currently being prepared for you, Great Shaman," says the medicine kav, smiling as well. "There has been general revelry, but a true welcome will require at least another day, perhaps two. Was there anything you wished to do? Perhaps you would like to see what your foe no longer has use for? He carried many things, some of them unfamiliar to us, and as spoils of war, they are yours."

Chiaroscuro strokes his chinfur. "It would be good too examine his possesions and weapons, yes. They could be useful. There was something… " The mongoose frowns a bit. "Something I am not remembering. I will remember it soon."

The mongoose is led to another hut, off to the side of a kavi 'house of the departed'. (According to Draws-Venom.) It would seem this one is for less desirable leftovers. The inside is plain, and some things lie against the far wall of the 'building'. A small row of items laid out on the floor. "Many warriors have paid dearly for these strange items. They lie in the house not far from here. It is my hope that in casting their lives against the Scourge, their sacrifices weren't in vain. If these things can help you, then they won't be."

Chiaroscuro nods quietly to the Kavi mediciner, and steps into the hut, bending down to a knee to peer at the items.

On the far left lies a small crossbow. It could probably be held in one paw. It's banded with chitin, and ironwood replaces what might ordinarily be metal. Squiggly patterns have been singed into the bow portion, what looks like ivy vines twisted over it.

Next to the crossbow lies a larger one, about midsize. The scrollwork on it is more complex, and something akin to words is etched into the grip. A few tiny bits of wrought iron are there for the parts that require added strength.

Chiaroscuro peers at the crossbows… and reaches for them, picking them up in his paws, looking at the squiggles and etchings. . o O (The bows. The snake fired his bow, and it hit… )

As if to reinforce the memory, there's a slight twinge in Chiaroscuro's left arm, the one holding the larger crossbow. A thick band of long leaves is wrapped around the mongoose's bicep. A third crossbow remains on the floor, the largest of the lot.

Chiaroscuro spots the third bow, and sets the others down, picking it up in both paws. "A large weapon indeed… " He whispers, shaking his head, and setting it down. In an even softer whisper, he prays "Thank you for protecting me from its sting, Lord Rik'."

The crossbow is heavy, and by the looks of it, quite deadly. It's banded with copper, and there are several small steel mechanisms in it. Paired Nagai twist in etchings over the bow, bearing thorned roses. For many people, it would probably require both arms, and something to rest it on to fire accurately. Near where it lay, a smashed bolt, and a tiny metal chip that might be recognizeable as once having been a head, is separated out from a quiver of more mundane wooden-tipped quarrels.

There is also something written on the stock of the crossbow, but it's in a language unknown to the mongoose.

Tik'Draws-Venom nods solemnly. "You were fortunate indeed that Rik watches over one so blessed. Your wound is to the flesh only, and will heal quickly with the poultice I applied."

Chiaroscuro nods to Tik'Draws-Venom, standing up a bit and leaving the bows on the ground. "I thank you, friend. I will have time later to learn these weapons. I am yet but a fighter of tooth and claw, not like the snake, or… " He gasps. "Or Kal!"

The medicine kavi looks somewhat surprised. "Who is this 'Kal' you speak of? I heard nothing of another."

Chiaroscuro whirls around, all haziness of poison faded from his mind now. "Have you seen Kal, the Skreek? He came here with me to the isle. He was there at the fight and… I must find him."

"A Skreek you say?" ponders Draws-Venom, tapping his walking stick thoughtfully. "I know nothing of him, but then, the warriors seldom see fit to inform a medicine man of what they're hunting, only what hunts them."

Chiaroscuro blinks. "Hunt… Skreeks?" He says, in a tone just a bit too calm.

"Oh, goodness no," chuckles Tik'Draws-Venom. "It's a figure of speech among we healers. The warriors don't care to tell of their exploits to us; they're simply concerned with what injured them, so I can fix it properly."

Chiaroscuro releases a breath. "Ah, I see. My apologies, Tik'Draws-Venom. I am still anxious." He rifles speedily through the rest of the materials, quickly pocketing a knife and a few pouches. "I must find Kal, the Skreek, before he returns to the Half Valley."

The scrabble for the items on the floor goes quickly, as Chiaroscuro pays no attention to what he picks up. While the mongoose stuffs things away, the medicine kavi looks bewildered. "But… but who is he? Why is he going to the mainland? Great Shaman, the ways of Rik can be mysterious, but please, we only wish to aid you, and we can not do this blind, deaf, and mute."

Chiaroscuro, with his speedy packing complete… pauses to explain in less frantic tones. "He was my travelling companion, sent here from the militia to serve as my bodyguard. He probably thinks me now dead after the snake's venom… and will head back to Half Valley, telling them so. If he can make it to the dock safely, that is… " Chiaroscuro bites his tongue's edge lightly, unnoticeably. It is not the whole truth but is not falsehood. "So I must seek him out and let him know I am alive and safe."

"Well… so be it, then," sighs Tik'Draws-Venom. "Ask of the warriors, and I am sure they will be happy to assist you. Rey'Striking-Spear leads them, as our chieftess."

Chiaroscuro nods to Tik'Draws-Venom. "Rey'Striking-Spear… where may I find her?"

The kavi replies, "She is probably directing preparation of the festivities, in the main portion of the village. She knows the mainlander tongue as well, if perhaps not as refined. You may seek her there, or one of your vanguard can lead you to her, should you wish."

Chiaroscuro nods to the medicine kavi. "I would prefer a guide for the moment, indeed, until I learn my way better." After a moment's reflection… he takes the smallest crossbow and quiver, clips them onto his belt, and exits the hut.

One of Chiaroscuro's escort leads the mongoose out of the medicine circle, and into the main village. The kavi are hard at work out here, too, pausing for the occasional look of awe at Chipper as he passes by. Most of the thatch huts here are larger, and blue-striped warriors roam around between them. Several of the huts have bones dangling from ropes by the door, and are entered only by the blue-marked kavi. Before long, the largest dwelling is reached, near a wide and dusty, circular clearing holding a bonfire. Kavi around it are taking care of many domestic tasks, baskets of food being passed around, and dusty blankets being set in rings around the 'plaza'.

One of Chiaroscuro's vanguard points at a tall kavi woman, also streaked in blue warpaint, directing the activity.

Chiaroscuro nods to the escorting kavi, and steps over to the kavi woman. "Rey'Striking-Spear?", he asks politely.

The sleek reddish-streaked Kavi turns to look at Chiaroscuro, her eyes widening. Up close, the blue streaks are revealed to be some sort of powdery paint that adheres to fur well rather than being quickly shed in the first soak one takes; indigo slashes make her black eyes seem to 'weep'. A feathered headdress with painted patterns to suggest multiple eyes drapes over her forehead, strands tied about the three pieces to free her ears in between them, and she wears beads about her upper and lower arms, thighs, and calves, feathers knitted into them to suggest the swiftness of flight, and her tail flicks agitatedly, drawing attention to sharp-looking obsidian pendants tied on thin leather strands about the tip. Perhaps it's ceremonial, but all the same, a friendly tail-swat from this chieftainess would be hurtful. She bows to Chiaroscuro in a fashion that bends her knees, suggesting the worshipping pose that the other Kavis adopted, but not quite reaching it. "Great Shaman, we are pleased to receive you in the heart of the Prophet's realm. What may I, Rey of the Striking Spear, do for you?"

Yes, that is a Reynarel of some polished stone tied to her belt, from which descends a coarse woven loincloth; another such cloth of a greenish-streaked red material wrapped around her chest to press her thin form even more sleekly completes her sole attire. She looks like a very incarnation of her namesake.

Her speech is fairly accented Rephidim common, as if she weren't used to speaking it; it comes out slow and deliberate, or perhaps very formal.

Chiaroscuro pauses for a moment… eyes quickly taking in the full personage that stands before him. "Whoahhhhould you please lend your hand, or the assistance of some of your warriors, to my aid for a brief time? I need some to help me search."

"Whoahhould?" Rey'Striking-Spear looks prettily confused, drawing herself up and resting her hand on a staff with a hook on one end. Puzzling it out, she nods her head again. "What… assistance can we give you?"

"When I came to this island, it was with a compatriot, a Skreek named Kal. After my battle with the snake, he must have thought me dead and fled… I believe back towards the dock area of the town." He takes a quick breath, and tries once more to keep eye contact. "I would hope to find him, assure him of my safety, and speak with him that he may send a message back to the Half Valley for me."

Rey'Striking-Spear looks Chiaroscuro up and down, then smiles. "You are… " She searches for a word. "Good to your friends. It is well. I will go with you." Switching to the Kavi language, she calls a male warrior not quite as ornamented as her, and orders him to take over directing the feast preparations, then selects a stick that was standing in the ground, at first sight a lane marker: it is some heavy black wood that has been carved into an elongated ferret-like shape with a shaped flint head, a hole lodged behind the hindlegs. It looks rather like a spear, if elaborately overdesigned.

Chiaroscuro turns his eyes to the impressive spear for a moment, then back to the impressive Kavi, and nods. "When you are ready, Rey'Striking-Spear." He tightens the straps on his backpack a bit.

The Kavi woman lays a warm hand on Chiaroscuro's shoulder. "We go now," she says. "The trail will be old already. Soon, in its grave."

The search party doesn't take long to assemble. (If it is important to you, Great Shaman, it is important to me.) Striking-Spear herself, along with two of her finest warriors, and five more veteran kavi fighters are brought into the group, along with Tik'Follows-Game, one of their own trackers. "Lead us, Great Shaman."

Chiaroscuro replies to the Chieftess, "I can only direct, not be path-finder, until I know this island-home like my own home. Guide us to the place the tribe first found me; from there we can track Kal the Skreek."

Rey'Striking-Spear calls to Tik'Follows-Game in Kavi, then says to Chiaroscuro, "Come. We go quick, Great Shaman."

Follows-Game leads Chiaroscuro and his band back into the muggy jungles of the basin. The sun has made some progress in its climb back down to the horizon, so it's become mercifully cooler. However, this raises other concerns, which are brought up as the lithe tribeskavi flit quickly through the undergrowth with practiced ease.

Chiaroscuro follows as close to the lead of the pack as he can, or near Rey'Striking-Spear, through the terrain wholly unfamiliar to him…

The Cheftainess is fast… Her tail frequently flits past Chiaroscuro's field of vision as she runs nearly on all four, using her hands to hurdle low obstacles. She calls back to him between fast breaths, "Night comes. Soon, scuttlers rule the land. Pray we find your friend. Before Deathlegs does."

Chiaroscuro's own speed is fair, and his aglity keeps too many branches from hitting him as he scurry-runs along. "Deathlegs? A big scuttler?", he pants-says, wishing he'd stayed with the acrobatics troupe now instead of juggling…

"Cheftain of scuttlers," Rey'Strike-spear calls back. "Like Nakh."

Chiaroscuro's stomach feels as if molten lead were filling it at 'Strike's comparison. Before dark would seem to be best, yes…

Progress is remarkably quick, and good time is made in the race against the sun. The dark clearing is just as dark as before, with the large trees ringing it shading the stones with their branches, to a degree. However, without driving rain pouring in, the place is somewhat easier to see in.

Rey'Striking-Spear pants on the edge of the clearing, staying out of the open, clear area. This is not friendly ground for her and her people; it's better to see than be seen. Her low, accented voice calls to Chiaroscuro, "Can you follow, Great Shaman? If not, I ask Follows-Games to look for scent of Skreek."

Chiaroscuro pauses a moment… trying to recall where last in the clearing he saw Kal, an the path up here… which would likely be the path back down. After a few moments, he sighs, and clls to Follows-Games, "Find the scent of the Skreek… he spent some time over here." He says, pointing out the log he and Kal had crouched behind.

"Good," Rey'Striking-Spear says, not disapproving. She stands by the mongoose and waits for the tracker to pick up the trail.

A long brownish form, striped with bands of shadow from the foliage, snuffles. This splotch that is Tik'Follows-Game, twitches his whiskers, and crawls around the perimeter of the clearing, occasionally chuckling bits of kavispeak. He pauses at the log, as directed, and chatters again, making his way over it.

Rey'Striking-Spear replies in Kavi to Follows-Game, then urges Chiaroscuro to trail behind the tracker closely.

Chiaroscuro's tail twitch-flickers slightly, as he moves up behind Tik'Follows-Game… nearly hunched to all fours, head lifted, eyes wide-open.

Snuff, snuff, snuff, snuffle, snuff, snuff-snuff, snuffle, snurf… the tracker makes his way on. From time to time, he stops to point out something out of the ordinary… a purplish spot on a plant that changes colours when touched, or a vine snipped more cleanly in two than is natural.

The Cheftainess leans over Chiaroscuro's shoulder and whispers, "Tik'Follows-Game says, the Skreek is hard to track. If he ran very fast, he would be… would leave more trail sign." Her whiskers tickle the mongoose's ear.

Chiaroscuro nods, listening carefully to the tracker, occasionally popping up high on tip-toe for longer views then back down again.

Chiaroscuro shivers a little at the whiskers in his ear… and nods, whispering back, "Kal is a smart fellow, a good ranger."

Rey'Striking-Spear nods and stays quiet, patiently following and looking out, as do her warriors, for any monsters that might threaten the small group of Kavis.

Sniffsnuff, snurffle snurfwhiff sniff… SNORT! Tik'Follows-Game halts abruptly. He looks about cautiously, then continues onward, eventually pointing to a strange-looking thing in the trail. It appears to be a horsefly about a foot and a half across, lying on its back.

Chiaroscuro's eyes grow wide. He's seen large Zelaks, but… this doesn't remind him of any types of Zelak.

Though the creature is apparently dead, the kavi tracker doesn't look happy to see it. He plucks at the legs folded over the fly's front, then tips it over. A thin wooden shaft, feathered on the end, juts from one large, faceted eye. Yellowish ichor oozes around the arrow. "Ch'chk silishti kili! Ta kili, shik bakal," jabbers Follows-Game.

"Your friend was here," Rey'Striking-Spear says with a low chuckle. "Not long ago."

Chiaroscuro nods in relief, his concern for Kal having grown more and more, his fear of trouble for Vilzoph's death if he can; explain less and less. "Good. Keep your eyes open… Kal is a good friend but might fire on us if he thinks we are more bugs," he whispers in a quiet tenor tone to Striking-Spear.

The cheftainess snorts. "Anyone can see we aren't Zelaks." She motions for Tik'Follows-Game to continue, adding something in Kavi.

Chiaroscuro keeps popping up time after time, looking high. . o O (But what if he fires before he can see his target? No, Kal is to wise for that. I hope.) He trundles close behind Tik'Follows-Game…

More bugs seem to be the order of the day. After acknowledging the chieftess, Tik'Follows-Game leads on, growing increasingly agitated as they encounter several more dead insects, with evening drawing down. A hornet or two here… there's what looks like a predatory beetle… in the distant jungle, the birdsong of day is replaced by eerie hums, clicks, and buzzing. The tracker's pace grows faster, and signs of Kal's passing become more obvious in broken branches and shredded foliage.

Rey'Striking-Spear says nothing, only squeezes Chiaroscuro's shoulder to be sure that he is awake. The conclusion is obvious to anyone with eyes.

Chiaroscuro tries to gauge their heading from a direction sense. Is Kal heading back to the town? The shoulder-squeeze startles him slightly, his head twisting back to Rey'Striking-Spear, head cocked to listen.

The cheftainess says nothing, only looks intently into the mongoose's eyes before returning her gaze to the blatant trailsigns.

Chiaroscuro whispers to the Striking-Spear, "I'll go forward a bit and call him. Be ready if there are bugs." He steps a few paces forward to a rise in the ground, and calls in a powerful, echoing voice… "KAAAAALLL!" "KAAAAAAL!" Then stops.

Rey'Striking-Spear looks quite startled at this breach of tracking protocol, one hand snapping her spear around from her back, then looks around quickly as she fits the hole in it to the hook on her staff. Now the staff looks like a well-crafted atlatl.

The jungle grows completely quiet, as if it were a living creature holding its breath. Every warrior in the group winces.

Chiaroscuro stands high on the rise, ears perked for sounds…

There's the slightest rustle from the northeast.

Rey'Striking-Spear turns in that direction, spear ready to throw in case it turns out to be a scuttler that lurks in the undergrowth. She stays low, that being a Kavi advantage.

Chiaroscuro moves forward two paces to the northeast, and calls in a more modest voice, "Kal! It's Chipper!" With one paw facng to the Kavi behind him, he holds up his palm in a flat-outstretched, 'wait' signal.

There's a little movement ahead. Again, the faint rustle… and eight strange lights appear in the darkness. They simply hang there in the murk, spaced several trees away, suspended in the air about four feet above Chiaroscuro's head-level.

Chiaroscuro freezes, unmoving, trying to be completely soundless now.

Chiaroscuro breathes tiny, tiny breaths.

The eight bits of illumination hang there in a neat pattern, coloured the same hue as the setting sun. They remain completely unmoving, as if they were marks on the shadow itself.

Chiaroscuro's paw- held out stretched and still… makes a pushing motion back. Just a small motion… while his body begins to tense.

Still intent on listening for more rustlings, Rey'Striking-spear hisses to Chiaroscuro, "Chk'trkarel Kal – Is that him?" She doesn't appear to have noticed the lights, or the gesture.

Chiaroscuro, very, very slowly… begins to move his left hindfoot back, keeping his hand out and making the tiny tiny pushing motion at Rey'Striking and the others…

Rey'Striking-Spear frowns and looks at Chiaroscuro… Then freezes too. She begins to shiver, her tail visibly agitated.

The eight motes of illumination glimmer in the shadows, remaining impassively immobile as the mongoose's lifted footpaw moves back.

Chiaroscuro moves backwards slowly, slowly, watch the eight marks, watch the eight marks, oh Nakh' Ri Sheol stop shivering, Rey', watch the eight marks, backwards…

A twig snaps beneath Chiaroscuro's foot, and the shining circles are now closer. They didn't move, they didn't make any noise… they're just shining from a different break in the treetrunks, nearer to the group.

Rey'Striking-Spear stays immobile, but the agitation grows worse. Her hooked spear wobbles.

Chiaroscuro slowly backs up just one more step… keeping silent, silent. His breath sounds so loud to him now, quiet as it might be…

The warriors have all had the sense to play along. One of them is at an angle a little to the side and behind Chiaroscuro. His eyes widen, and Chiaroscuro can see the warrior's silhouette against several densely-packed trees from the light still on the trail. The shadow-kavi raises a shadow spear, and what sounds like a sentance starts to be uttered, when something black blasts through the foliage. Everything goes still again, except for some shredded leaves fluttering down around Chiaroscuro. The warrior's silhouette is no longer there.

The eight lights hang from the darkness of a different nook, now.

The stones on Rey'Striking-Spear's tail start to click against each other, from the way that she's shivering. She doesn't turn her head.

Chiaroscuro's heart throbs, and he can hear it through through his whole body… options and plans crowd and compete in his mind. Shock keeps him still, fear keeps him moving away at inchworm paces… his hands moving close to his body bit by bit…

Another warrior, to Chiaroscuro's left, has been standing partly off the path, frozen just on the edge of Chiaroscuro's vision. He bears the fighter's paint markings, but no other ornamentation. His bone-bladed, oddly curved knife is gripped tightly, and his eyes wide. As if of its own volition, the knife raises into a throwing position. The black thing whistles through the undergrowth again, and a gurgling cry from the kavi is cut short. He's no longer standing there, though some broken shrubs mark where he was.

Rey'Striking-Spear turns her head slowly, as if in a very bad dream, looking over to Chiaroscuro. She whispers, "Rik sammarin, Rik tumarin, Rik venorin selah!"

There's a low moan from the thickets ahead… nothing unearthly, but not kavi either… it even seems to have a familiar tone of voice.

The eight sunset-coloured embers glow amidst the shadows, stock still while things settle after the kavi's disappearance.

Chiaroscuro whispers back, gently, "Selah"… to Rey' Striking Spear… and keeps tense, waiting. and… now.

Rey'Striking-spear, guessing at the Great Shaman's intentions, begins to raise her spear ever so minutely, toward a position where she will be able to sling it with the atlatl. Her eyes are widened, catching the light from the dying sun, as the Procession overhead glimmers like a scythe blade.

The sight of Rey'Striking-Spear raising her weapon seems to slow perceptions of time down for Chiaroscuro, disturbingly similar to what happened in the fight with Vilzoph… only this time, the details seem different somehow. The eight smouldering coals in the darkness shift almost imperceptibly… their facing goes from being directed forward at the general group, to focusing on the spear when it reaches about the halfway point in rising up.

Chiaroscuro's eyes blink in realization… and he whispers, in what seems like slow motion. "Noooo… " to Rey', lowering his body downwards into a crouch, ready to explode out from it. "Stop, Rey'… "

Rey'Striking-Spear freezes. Her eyes are huge as she looks at Chiaroscuro.

The Pattern of Eight twinkles a little, the reflections on the facets shifting slightly as it turns again, almost imperceptibly, to its original facing.

Chiaroscuro whispers, a bit louder, "Your spear… down… to ground. Keep ready… but down." He leans down four-pawed to the ground, eyes not moving from the eight spots in the air.

The cheftainess stands frozen, eyes widened and her ears dip back as Chiaroscuro seems ready to go to the most primal of Kavi attacks. She slowly, slowly as melting ice, kneels and lowers her spear to the ground, but does not release her grip on it.

The hanging lights do nothing but watch. The stillness is such that cricketsong slowly begins returning to the darkened jungle.

Chiaroscuro whispers, "Everyone. Weapons down. Move slow." He looks at Rey'Striking-Spear concernedly, and moves slowly, four-pawed, towards the thicket where he heard the noises, uttering repeated prayers under his breath in Kitellian over himself and the others.

The Cheftainess hisses sharply to the other warriors in the Kavi language, syllables cracking and snapping in the air as loud as dry branches breaking underfoot. But there's no help for it if her commands are to be heard. She whispers to Chiaroscuro in her accented Rephidim common, "I tell them… you make prayers for us. Prayers to keep us safe. But we must go in peace for prayers to work."

The dumbfounded warriors exchange glances, but comply, lowering their spears and knives to their sides. Hesitantly, they begin filing along with Chiaroscuro, while above, the impassive dots watch. As Chiaroscuro moves, the pattern vanishes, only to reappear in other shadowy gaps between trees. Though unnerved, the veteran fighters, and Rey'Striking-Spear's two elite, stay with the mongoose. The moan comes again, not far ahead.

Chiaroscuro nods to the warrior-kaviress, "Good Rey'. Have them retreat, back to the village. One only need stay to guide me back. We need to be slow, quiet, and low. Like Rik' seeking out the trail of Nakh."

The Cheftainess's fur is bristling, and a slight grating pierces the air, the sound of her teeth as she tries to keep from screaming out. She works her throat muscles, slim shadowed neck visibly moving, then murmurs the low Kavi orders to the other warriors. They start to move away slowly into the underbrush.

Chiaroscuro moves closer to the bushes, continuing his prayers. "Rik', you have given me this inspiration. Let it not go unrewarded, let us survive to fight evil another day, not this day. Move us along a peaceful path this day."

It would seem that the mongoose's prayers are being answered, if for the time being. The eight dispassionate motes of light hang uncaringly in the gloom of the forest, always several yards distant. Chiaroscuro breaches the undergrowth finally, to be greeted with the sight of … Kal? It's hard to tell under all the fibrous white strands he's tangled in. The Skreek's head is uncovered, at least, his eyes are dazed and unfocused.

Chiaroscuro moves a paw to cover Kal's mouth, in case the Skreek should cry out… and tries to cut through the strands of white with his claws.

The river-ranger tries to mumble something, but it's too weak to get out. The strands are remarkably tough, and somewhat… gooey. Stretchy and elastic. Though the mongoose's claws are sharp, they only get so far before the stuff collects around his fingertips and fouls the pointed parts of his claws.

Chiaroscuro tries wiping his claws clean on his shirt, leaning over to Kal. "Keep quiet, Kal. I'll get you out of this." He slices some more…

"Mhrzb… saw it… got to… kill… it." The Skreek's voice is barely above a whisper, his speech slurred. With distant eyes, he stares at a point somewhere through and behind Chiaroscuro's head while the mongoose cleans his claws off. It's rather persistant stuff, and comes off grudgingly. Kal mumbles again, a rasp that thankfully, barely even carries itself to Chiaroscuro's ears. "Wherez… m'bow?"

Rey'Striking-Spear stays low to the ground, clearly ready to start sprinting away if things do not go well. Or perhaps to strike at whatever stalker of the night has claimed the lives of two good Kavi warriors.

Chiaroscuro whispers again, "I don't know. We can't kill it now, Kal. It's too strong in the dark. When it's light we can kill it. But it does not chase if you keep down and move slow. Rik' is keeping us safe now. "

Whatever the crud is that was under Chiaroscuro's nails, it's mostly cleaned out, now. The portion that was frayed away by the claws in the first place seems woefully small.

Chiaroscuro beckons Rey'Striking-Spear near with a tail-flick, trying to claw more, frowning.

The cheftainess approaches, her tail sticking almost straight up in the air with her nervousness.

Kal doesn't even notice the kavi approach, his head rolling groggily. The exertion of holding it up tells on him, and he just lays it down against the bed shed leaves on the forest floor, breathing through his nose audibly, but at least steadily.

Chiaroscuro whispers quietly into Reyna's ear, "Cut him free with your spear, but keep it low as possible. I will help and pray." He keeps slicing and cleaning alternately, whsipering his prayers to Rik'Tik'Tav, to Reyna, in whispery breaths.

The Cheftainess looks wary, but shifts her grip on her spear to begin trying to cut the strands on the lower part of the webwork. "Rik, venorin selah," she mutters.

The floating lights come one treelength nearer… but appear satisfied to just sit and wait some more as Striking-Spear goes about her work.

Chiaroscuro throatily, quietly growls at the floating lights, keeping wary of them…

The sticky strands are almost halfway removed by now, while the Pattern of Eight looks on. At Chiaroscuro's growl, a harsh, bass thrum comes from the direction of the pattern. It lasts only a few moments, and the tingle from the vibrations only a few moments more. A light drizzle of nuts, berries, loose leaves and twigs fall out of the canopy, and it goes as quiet as before.

The lights maintain their vigil.

Chiaroscuro blinks… but does not growl again, whisper-rattling of a string of whispered curses at the thing in the tree. "Nakh-spawned egg-hatching scalebellied murdering mother-defiling bug… " He grits his teeth and returns to quiet prayers to Rik', both forepaws cutting the gooey strands.

Watching the lights warily, Rey'Striking-Spear begins to lift her spearhead to clip strands higher than her knee. Now she's not in a good position to retaliate or run if something happens, and she's obviously unhappy about it.

Progress is made, however. More of the crud falls away, and Kal is easier to see, a little. It's too dark now to make out much detail, but there are some dark stains on Kal's jerkin, below his chitin breastplate. The rat grunts a little when the chieftess is forced to apply a little pressure to his front to slip the spear under more of the ropey goo.

Chiaroscuro pats Rey'Striking-Spear's side quickly, supportively with a mostly-clean paw. "Rik' will protect. We must do our work." He keeps slashing, and now starts biting at selected strands…

Blaugh! They taste TERRIBLE. Incredibly bitter, with a metallic residue. It's like tasting mining runoff mixed with sulphur and various other chemicals. This is of little concern now, however. The Skreek is free, even if he's too limp to do anything with his freedom.

Chiaroscuro grips Kal under the armpits, and begins dragging him slowly backwards, striving to stay low to the ground as he does so. He keeps the motions slow, but can't help the noise as Kal's legs and body drag along the forest floor.

The rustling is loud, and the occasional snap of a twig or branch as it's passed over echoes amongst the trees. The flying embers don't seem to mind, however. They follow along in their own side of the trees at a steady pace, like a reflection in a mirror as long as the forest itself.

Rey'Striking-Spear looks down at the enwrapped friend, then over to Chiaroscuro. She shifts her jaw a bit, then slings her spear carefully over her shoulder by a leather strap on the haft, and gives the Great Shaman a hand with the rat.

Chiaroscuro nods to Rey'Strikingspear approvingly. "My thanks, Rey of the Striking-Spear.". He hefts the Skreek a little higher, now able with her help to carry him more easily across the terrain.

With the chieftess's help, it doesn't take long to regain the trail. Quiet chittering comes from a bush nearby, and Tik'Follows-Game pokes his head out of it, his narrow face glancing in furtively in several different directions in the space of a second.

Rey'Striking-Spear appears on the verge of saying something, but then looks up to see Tik'Follows-Game. She nods and chatters back, then motions with a toss of her head for Chiaroscuro to follow the tracker's lead.

Chiaroscuro looks up a moment before continuing… scanning the trees for the eight ruddy lights.

The forest seems quiet, verging on the tomblike. As they move, Rey'Striking-Spear whispers to Chiaroscuro, "No scuttlers. Rik must truly protect us. Many small bugs fly at night." Her ears flick as if hoping that by mentioning it, she hasn't broken the blessing.

Appreciation for the blessing of the scuttlers' absence is lost on Tik'Follows-Game, whose agitation manifests itself in a bottle-brushy tail. While he picks his way along the trail, defining the path of least resistance, he occasionally joins Chiaroscuro in watching the trees warily. The Pattern of Eight doesn't disappoint, gliding like a ghost parallel to the group's line of travel, remaining in the distance.

Chiaroscuro frowns, keeping Kal hefted, and keeping his voice soft as he speaks to Rey'Striking-Spear. "The thing in the trees follows… I wonder how long it shall. Will we be safe from it at the village?"

"Safer than out here, Grand Shaman," the warrioress replies grimly. "Stalker-Slayer … should not attack us in village. Never has."

Chiaroscuro nods. "Good then." He sighs quietly, keeping silent as the warrior party continues back towards the village.

The mongoose and pair of kavi make their way steadily with their unconscious cargo, haunted by their deathly quiet escort. After what feels like hours, lights can be seen through the thickets. Warmer, friendlier ones. A few silhouettes stand around tall fences of bamboo stakes, backlit by torches on high poles. One of them appears to look up, and makes a chittering noise at the others, waving at them before hurrying out toward Chiaroscuro. "Shik akkita 'nalsit! Asal, nat rilit Rik' kalnai?"

Chiaroscuro says quietly to the kavi chieftess, "What does he say, Rey'Striking-Spear?"

Closer in, more detail on the warriors from the crude 'gate' to the village can be made out. Worry etches their faces, and they crowd around excitedly. Several see the unconscious Skreek, and move to help Chiaroscuro carry him more steadily, while others place paws on the mongooses and chieftess' shoulders. Striking-Spear looks weary, but relieved. "They wish to be sure that He who Rik' sent is whole… we are … " She takes a nervous glance over her shoulder, and continues, "We are safe."

Chiaroscuro nods to Ry'… "We are safe, now. I can feel it." He sighs deeply. "I hope Kal shall be safe. I need to see him to Tik'Draws-Venom, or another healer."

At the sound of the healer's name, the warriors grouped around seem to understand what needs to be done and usher the group into the village, helping with Kal. However primitive it may be, the settlement looks to bring a sense of security to the kavi. On the edge of it, the jungle is dark once again.

Chiaroscuro soon delivers Kal to Tik'Draws-Venom, and after some prayers said over the injured Skreek, leaves him in the care of the Medicine Kavi. He walks quietly out of the hut, asking Rey'Striking-Spear to come with him a moment.

The chieftess' face is drawn. As she finishes making sure the rest of the group had gotten back all right, she nods. Tired she may be, but she retains her liquid grace as she moves to walk by the mongoose.

Chiaroscuro walks with slow steps, away from the bustling Kavi of the village… to a quiet point, a flat, smooth-worn outcropping of rock on a small rise. He sits down on it, cross-legged.

"Are you all right, Great Shaman?" Striking-Spear sits sideways on the edge of the rock behind Chiaroscuro, her upper half propped up with one arm. Concern outweighs the weariness in her voice.

Chiaroscuro sighs deeply. "Their names, Rey'Striking-Spear. Tell me the names of the two that were taken today." His eyes stare off into the distance, over the dark forest.

"I… " The chieftess sighs as well, and lowers her head, placing one paw on Chiaroscuro's shoulder, and rubbing it comfortingly. "Tik'Weaver-of-Arms, and Tik'Cracked-Tooth. They were … warriors for a long time. Many seasons, at least four."

Chiaroscuro takes a long breath. "Tik'Weaver-of-Arms. Tik'Cracked-Tooth." his voice drops to a hoarse whisper. "Four seasons."

Chiaroscuro pulls a knee up to his chest, folding his arms over it, and looking out to the jungle… moisture beginning to blur his vision.

"But… Weaver-of-Arms and Cracked-Tooth fought well in all four seasons. They held spears even before that," Striking-Spear's muzzle appears over Chiaroscuro's shoulder, her paws resting lightly on the mongoose's neck. Though her face bears the confidence of a seasoned fighter, her eyes betray worry. "We all know … life can end in the basin, just like that. Just like a twig snaps, or a leaf falls, so can we go to the Garden. It is the … way." Though she tries her best to explain, she struggles with the words.

Chiaroscuro nods softly. "Aye. It is… " He snifs softly, rubbing a tear from an eye, and leaning back slightly to the paws of Rey'Striking-Spear. "It is how things are, and I know that two strong warriors go now to the Garden, and I shall pray to Rik'Tik'Tav that he grants them places of honor." He takes a ragged breath. "I just… I wish it would not have been so. That there had been a wisser path to follow."

Chiaroscuro leans back and nuzzles the Kavi's paw softly. "You may leave now, Rey'Striking-Spear. I… need to pray, and mourn. You need not stay, I know you are weary."

The chieftess closes her eyes. "The Stalker-Slayer… that of many legs, which sees with many eyes… no wisdom, no fleetness, no fierceness has prevailed against it. You did what was best… my elite, Rey'Waits-in-Branches, Tik'Follows-Game, and Tik'Pinning-Pincer are alive. Two of my veteran warriors are alive. … We are alive… and my warriors and I would not be… if not for you. To know that the legged death would stay its claws… you must be chosen among Rik's children." She opens her eyes again, and smoothes the fur over Chiaroscuro's neck reassuringly. "Do you wish me to go? I… here is as restful as the village… there is much noise there, even at night, and always something to do, something to fix, something to listen to."

Chiaroscuro shakes his head. "I would be most glad for your company as I pray, Rik'Striking-Spear." He takes a breath, scooting over on the rock to make room. "And I am glad at those who are alive, indeed. We must thank Rik' also for that." He brings his Rikkorel forth, and closes his eyes… beginning to pray, in the rich, flowing tones of Kitellian.

Rey'Striking-Spear situates herself more comfortably on the rock, the chitin shards and beads she wears rattling faintly against the stone. The warrioress simply lowers her head until it rests on Chiaroscuro's shoulder, to gaze into the jungle while she listens to the alien, yet comforting words the mongoose utters. Her spear lies in the grass by the stone, forgotten, and the unusually clear skies overhead allow the Procession to inch its way from horizon to horizon.