A spotted gardener has been summoned to a clearing on top of a bluff that overlooks a rushing river and a small forest and garden. This particular scene, however, is not on some rolling countryside, but rather contained within a very, very large stone sphere known as "Faraon's Dome". Above Haji's head is a long, cylindrical shaft that leads out of this spherical area and upward. Nearby, a wooden gazebo houses a vixen who checks in a party of Eeees who have come to visit this exclusive establishment.

Haji eeps! . o O { Visitors! Time to scoot… }

Haji slips behind a stone work with some overhanging plants, watching the newly arrived party.

The vixen smiles at the Eeees and points off to a landing some part distant. They nod and give their thanks and fly along.

A big yellow Vartan comes down from the shaft high above, and lands with a soft *thud* (okay, so it's not that soft), near the gazebo. He scrawks at the vixen, "Where spotty?"

Haji darts behind some shrubbery, quietly appearing behind the Vartan.

The vixen looks past the Vartan, and spies Haji. She smiles and points at him, redirecting the hippogryph's attention.

Haji earwiggles at the Vartan, ready to go.

The big yellow hippogryph turns around and appraises Haji with his dark eyes, then scrawks, "We go fly on errand. No afraid of heights? Good." He nabs the cat … and immediately launches off, shooting upward through the shaft that leads up and out of the "dome".

Haji's eyes are as wide as a poodle's ego as they fly along . o O { I hate THIS kind of heights! } He covers his eyes, which makes the sensation all the worse.

The big bird nimbly shoots through an archway to one side of the shaft at a higher elevation, causing two Vartan guards to scrawk in alarm as he zips past the platform which they stand guard on. Just for good measure, he does a barrel roll, and then levels back out to soar for a bit. Below, Sinai's surface can be seen through breaks in the clouds. Above … is rock.

As can be better seen from here, the "dome" where Haji has been dwelling is built into a gigantic stalactite that dangles down from the underside of a sky island … and as the Vartan flies along and then up toward the docks, it's clear enough that this sky island happens to be Rephidim (just in case there was any doubt before)…

Haji looks about, a little less fearful. { Well now that I know where I am, I think I'll try not to look down. Yes, this is a good flyer, he won't drop me. I think he won't drop me. }

Haji looks down . o O { HE BETTER NOT DROP ME! }

The Vartan's course takes him over Rephidim, and on to the part where the better part of the city meets the … not so great part of the city. He spins downward toward the sections designated "for future expansion", where the Bazaar can be found. Once on the ground, he proceeds to pry the cheetah off of himself, scrawking, "You take this packet. Don't open it. Take it to the Missing Shekel in Darkside. You real smart. You find way. Take you time. I wanna go to Nikky's Shiny Shop."

The yellow Vartan hands the cheetah a packet. "When you done, you wait here. See? Look up. Old clock tower. No work now. Easy to find when you done."

Haji looks at the packet and then at the clock tower. o O { I think I had better make a ward of protection. But what can I do in the city, the stones are only so workable? I'll just have to wing it. }

Fenter haggles with one of the merchants at the edge of the bazaar, his usual pastime. The racoon's ringed tail flicks angrily back and forth. Gee… he seems to be making an awful lot of noise.

The Vartan scrawks, "Okay. I go now. You start by going THAT way." He points in a direction down the street, past the haggling raccoon.

And with that, the big yellow Vartan is back into the air, winging away, without so much as a "good luck" or "good bye".

Fenter is heard yowling very loudly about having his throat cut and having the food taken right out of the mouths of his twelve children, his dear departed mother that ran off before he was even born, and his uncle Agnes.

Haji stuffs the packet under his cloak carefully. o O { Darkside. On my own. I think the saying is, 'Can you dig it?' as a kavi I knew once said. }

Atop a stage nearby, a Naga proudly proclaims the healing properties of some noxious concoction he's selling bottles of. A golden vixen on crutches hobbles up and purchases a bottle of the foul-looking elixir.

Haji looks at the tower and heads off through the streets, trying to seem like he fits in. A Savanite that looks busy usually isn't bothered much.

The golden vixen makes an ugly face as she guzzles a bit of the bottle, and looks as if she's going to get sick, as she drops the bottle to the ground. But then … an amazing transformation takes place over her face! She brightens up! She casts the crutches away, and begins dancing about! There are several "ooos" and "ahhhs" from nearby.

Fenter continues his screaming banter, making wild gestures with one hand while he talks… the other hand seems preoccupied with trying to slip a bottle from the table without the merchant noticing.

Haji looks over at the vixen and wiggles his ears, { Wow, she's pretty slick. }

Haji perks his ears at the noisy raccoon, { That one seems to know what he's doing… }

By the time the crowd clears away from around the Naga's stage, he hasn't a bottle left, and he's already packing up shop … pausing only briefly to slip some coins to the miraculously cured golden vixen.

Haji pads over to the racoon and taps him on the shoulder.

Fenter backs away from the table abruptly. "Well fine then! My sixteen kids don't NEED your stinky wiIIIIIYEEE!!"

Fenter spins around to face the Savanite, his arms folded nervously against his chest.

A merchant growls, "Sixteen? Last I heard, they were twelve. You aren't married to a Kavi, now, are you?"

Haji signs, { Most likely he's one in disguise. Hey Tricky, can I ask you somethin'? }

Fenter adjusts something on his sleeve. "Whom is in disguise?" he signs. Then, over his shoulder to the merchant he shouts, "I'd like to see YOU keep track of how many kids you have after you drop the eighteenth… "

Haji signs, { The eighteenth? What, is your wife so ugly it ran away when you let it see her? [earwiggle] No really, how well do you know the part of town near the old clock? } He points to the tower.

Fenter seems to be staring, well… not exactly at Haji, a bit off into space it seems.

A couple of the merchants suddenly decide to close shop and head elsewhere.

Fenter's hands just wiggle in nonsence gestures, his lip twitches a bit.

Haji quirks an ear at the racoon, { Listen, I was just joking, are you okay? }

Haji watches the raccoon's hands . o O { That looked like some kind of . . . ritual. If it was, he's quick! Or sloppy. Or both. I can't tell. }

There's some sort of commotion from behind Haji, as several people shove and push to get out of the way.

Fenter signs nervously, still staring off into space a bit, "FINE! Finefinefine. Never better… " He quickly grabs Haji by the shoulder and leads him off. "Area behind the tower… yes yes yes… glad to help you… very glad." The raccoon strangely seems to be trying to hide BEHIND Haji as they walk.

Fenter seems to be mumbling something under his breath… something about his "mommy".

Haji whisper-signs to the racoon, { I really appreciate it, I'm told there's a good landmark near there, the Missing Shekel; I'm supposed to meet someone near there. Listen, uh, what's going on, what's the hurry, hey! }

Fenter's eyes aren't focused on Haji's hands; they're focused on the crowd of people behind him. He makes a sudden gurgling noise and starts to hustle the Savanite out of the way a bit quicker… still trying to use him as a hiding shield of some sort.

Haji makes a mental note that it's better to have someone along if you're a Savanite, and decides to go along with the nervous raccoon. When in Darkside, do as the beggars. . .

Fenter starts mumbling at a much more frantic pace. Just snatches of things like promises to never do anything bad again and swearing off certain liquids and going to bed on time…

The sun is now setting, and already lanterns are being lit along the street. A lot of the "upper-crust" has left, since they tend to suffer a lot more from pickpockets once the sun goes down, to the point of making the Bazaar not nearly so much fun to visit.

Haji lays back his ears, picking up the noise of the crowd behnd him. He sticks a hand behind his back, { Do you want me to pick you up and run? I'm . . . well, fast. } He also checks his packet by touch as he does.

Fenter slows, "No… no thank you. I believe that we stealthily avoided that… oh… what do you call those people… With the really uncomfortable looking suits and the long pointy things?"

Haji signs, { Temple Guards? }

Up ahead, a patched tent is set up, within which a bat tries to amaze passersby with what a sign proclaims to be "Doctor Marvel's Circus of Wonders". A little wheel spins around, with some sort of small furry creature inside, while other critters walk across "tight-ropes" and pull carts around.

Fenter pulls a small purplish bottle from his sleeve and tucks it away to a more safe spot in a pocket on his robe. "No no no… not those wolfy things, the ones that wear the REALLY big suits and have the REALLY big pointy things."

Haji signs, { Mercenaries? Zelaks? }

Fenter smoothes out the folds of his robe, "Those nighty things… this one had roses painted on her armor and four people with REALLY long… er… pointy things. I'm suprised you didn't notice her, she was standing right behind you."

Haji starts pushing the raccoon, { Where was that clock again? I mean, I need to hurry. I. NEED. TO. HURRY. Let's go. C'mon. }

Fenter yelps rather loudly; he must bruise easily.

A dark bat looks at the cheetah and raccoon as they pass. Even though it's becoming night, his eyes are obscured by spectacles of darkened glass.

Haji sighs and signs, { Listen if they catch either of us, we'll be in trouble. Big trouble. Me more than you, oddly enough, and not just because I'm a slave. The faster we get to that tower, the farther away from them we'll be. Please, let's go, please? }

Fenter signs, looking nervously over his shoulder again, "Um… where are we going?"

Haji tries to settle down . o O { Don't panic. It might not even be her. you're out of danger. Breathe. Master Black Ear taught you to always try to stay in control of yourself. Breathe. . . . there. I haven't stayed with my training enough, I'm being silly. }

Haji signs, { Near the Missing Shekel. Do you know of it? }

Fenter blinks? "Then why are we going towards the broken clock tower? The Missing Shekel is in the other direction. Why do you want to go there?"

Haji blinks at Fenter. { You're right. Is there a way around that we can get there without running into those Temple Elite? }

Haji tries to keep his tail from twitching at the thought of seeing that Khattha while he has a probably illegal packet of who knows what under his cloak.

Fenter itches at his cheek, "I believe I know a way. Although are you SURE you want to go to the Missing Shekel? I know of many nicer places… ones where one needn't worry about leaving in a pretty wooden box?"

Haji signs, { I need to meet someone there. We can stop some place along the way if you like, I just want to avoid that patrol. }

Haji signs, { We seem to be in the same predicament. I've met with the Order of the Rose before. They are not . . .lenient. [earwiggle] }

Fenter adjusts his majestic pointy hat, "Ah… well then, I know all the BEST shortcuts in Rephidim. Just follow me… " And with that the raccoon spins on his foot (or, one would guess he did… it's hard to see his feet under that robe) and starts to head towards an alleyway.

The alleyway, as is typical of those to be found in Darkside, is very dark. Okay, okay, so that wasn't a very profound narrative. But it IS dark.

Haji follows the racoon, keeping his cloak tight around him.

Fenter glances back at Haji, "I'd say they were quite lenient… you seem to have your tail and ears intact, and I would surmise that you also have all five fingers."

Moving down the alleyway, indeed, IS a lot faster than pushing through the crowds. There's nobody else in this alleyway at all. Amazing that nobody else has discovered this handy throughway, hmm?

Haji swishes his tail in the Savanite equivalent of laughter, { I also kept my teeth, what with the blow that Khattha gave me, is a minor miracle. }

Haji looks around, opening his cloak for room for his arms and legs to move. { Uh, are you sure it's safe through here? }

Fenter whistles to himself as he walks, his ringed tail flicking merrily back and forth. "Do let me know if you see any vermites? Just give a yell or something… "

Something small and furry brushes by Haji's leg.

Haji signs, { Vermites? }

Several shiny things glint on busted crates lined along the alley. The little shiny points all appear to be in groups of two, and occasionally blink.

Haji's eyes grow wide and kicks at whatever it was that went by and only catches air. { Pardon sir . . . what's a vermite? }

The piles of crates end for a bit, resulting in a widening of the available walking space. Up ahead, though, there seems to be a very large pile of rubbish which will have to be traversed. The rubbish seems to be largely consisting of more of those little blinking shiny things.

Haji thinks he might have seen one, but being cooped up in gardens, except for his travels, he's not sure. o O { Somehow, this alley doesn't seem to be as quick as it was going to be. }

Fenter contintes to whistle, he creases open one eye at Haji. "They're a bit hard to explain… you'll know when you see one. Or if one climbs up your pants and makes a nest in your armpit." He shuts his eyes again and continues whistling.

*CLATTER* A wooden cup balanced on a barrel falls to the ground, and rolls along, across the path.

Haji signs, { Pants? Nest?! ARMPIT?! }

With a loud *crack*, a bone lying on the ground breaks under Haji's tread.

Fenter's eyes are closed, obviously the goings on in the alleyway either don't bother him… or escape his notice. "Hurry up, my lad… musn't dawdle." He speaks aloud as he continues to skip merrily down the way.

*squeak* *squeak squeak*

*tweeeee-oooo!* A high-pitched whistle sounds through the alleyway, immediately answered by a chorus of squeaks from all around. The "rubbish pile" ahead begins to shift and spread, spilling outward to block the floor of the alleyway entirely.

Haji stops after a few seconds, { Uh, sir? Um . . . are those vermites? }

The little rodent-like creatures scurry about on six legs each, squeaking and writhing, and lashing their hairless tails about.

Fenter continues traipsing towards the fallen garbage pile. He apparently hadn't noticed that either; there are certain drawbacks to walking with one's eyes closed.

Haji quickly darts forward and taps the raccoon on his shoulder. { uh, pardon, SIR? }

The rodents squirm about more frantically, and *SQUEAK* more loudly as the Rath'ani and Savanite approach. They bear their little fangs, their beady eyes glinting menacingly.

Fenter JUMPS! "AIEE! There's one on my shoulder! Getitoffgetitoffget… oh… it was only you."

Fenter signs, "Is something the matter?"

Haji signs, { Look ahead, I take it those are, um, vermites? }

*SQUEAK!* *squeaksqueaksqueak* *SQUEAK!*

Fenter looks ahead, "No… that's someone's garbage. It seems to be making an awful lot of noise for garbage, though… perhaps it's been out a tad too long."

Fenter scratches his head. He's never known garbage to go bad before.

Haji lays back his ears and looks up, as if to say to the One Fanged One, { You must have a really big sense of humor. . . }

Something dark and furry leaps from a pile of barrels. *SQUEAK!*

Fenter looks around, "There seems to be an awful lot of hinges that seem to need oiling in this alleyway… it wasn;t like this the last time I was here… "

Something hairy scampers up Haji's leg.

Another something small and hairy leaps from a pile of barrels … and disappears in the fluff of Fenter's tail.

Haji really wishes he has brought a hand spade – YAH! He reaches down his pants, dancing around, trying to grab the fiesty furball!

Fenter whirls around to glare at Haji, "Did you just step on my tail?"

The little critter squeaks loudly, clinging to Haji's fur, but at last flings free, crashing into a pile of garbage, sending up a stink of rotten eggs.

Meanwhile, Fenter's little guest rapidly works his way up Fenter's back.

Fenter frowns, "This is neither the time nor the place for danci-"He sign is abruptly cut off as the raccoon lets out a bloodcurtling SHRIEK and starts bouncing up and down as well.

Haji looks at the raccoon, and can't help but wiggle his ears as he tries to help him get the furball off his furson.

All the vermites begin squeaking and screeching more loudly, scurrying and scampering back and forth. Just then, from the opposite direction comes a loud and deep, throaty laugh. "BwahahahahahaHAAAAAA!"

Fenter's passenger squeaks in protest as it is flung aside, and scurries for cover.

Haji looks up . o O { What in the? }

Fenter freezes. "Oooooohhh… mommy… Er, I mean, Ooooohhhhhh dear."

Blocking the way that Haji and Fenter came is a tall, dark stranger whose form is limned by the faint light coming from the activity in the street beyond. His big ears rise like horns, and his long, tattered black cloak seems to merge with the spined wings folded up behind him. Where his eyes should be are two faintly glowing red spots.

Fenter heroically ducks behind Haji and cowers with all his might!

Once again, the tall, dark, mysterious figure laughs, as swarms of vermites spill past him, to flank him on each side, glaring menacingly at the raccoon and cheetah.

Haji lays back his ears to his head. { Um, who might you be, kind sir? }

Fenter seems to be trying to find a way to burrow up the back of Haji's shirt.

"BWAAHAHAAAHHAAA HAAA HAAAA!" is the only answer Haji gets, as the tall, black bat rears back his head, showing off long, sharp fangs.

Haji bats at the raccoon.

Gee, isn't it amazing how extremely cold the nose of a frightened raccoon is? Especially since it's pressed right into the small of Haji's back.

Haji turns to the racoon, practicely prying him off his back, whispersigning, { Listen, it might be hopeless, but jump on my back and I'll try to sprint past that . . . thing if we have to. We certainly can't keep going forward. Stop that! Your nose is frigid! }

The mysterious bat makes a sweeping gesture with his hands, as if commanding this army of vermites. They all squeak in frenzied little vermite voices, and close in, tightening a ring around the cheetah and raccoon. Fast or no, there's nowhere to step … without stepping in a squirming mass of … vermites!

Haji signs, { What do you want? }

Fenter clings tenaciously to Haji. "I WANT MY MOMMY!!!"

In response to this, the tall dark bat laughs yet again. For a little variety, this time he goes, "MWAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA!"

Haji twitches his tail, { I meant him! }

Haji looks at the walls of the alley, trying to see if there's a way to climb out. . .

Fenter looks at the figure. "I don't think his mommy wants him," the raccoon says aloud, since his hands are preoccupied on the task of clinging to the Savanite.

The bat glowers at Fenter, then throws his cape in front of his face, and begins speaking in a deep, rumbling voice, in an exotic accent. "Theh ith no ethcape thith time, my ahch-nemethith, Fenteh!"

Fenter blinks, relaxing a bit. "Oh… it's just you."

Fenter grabs Haji again, "You'll never take us alive! A cornered Savanite is a fearsome thing! Go get him… uh… whatever your name is."

Haji blinks! { You know Mr. Freaky Bat, here?! }

Haji signs, { Haji. And let go of my tail! }

The bat bellows, "Enough! Wethithtenth ith futile! Hand oveh the bottle of elikthir!"

Haji looks at 'Fenteh'. { Bottle? What bottle? }

Fenter looks at his hands, which indeed have a deathgrip on Haji's tail. "I'm only protecting your back!" he says… not able to sign with his hands the way they are.

Fenter says, "My… bottle? NEVER! Do you know how HARD it is to steal… er… get a bottle of this stuff nowdays? How about a trade, hmmm? I'd like to find out how you do that laugh thiing sometime."

Haji flicks a vermite off of his foot, { Give it to him, please? I don't think I could bear to have one of those things crawl up my pants again. Or hear that lisp anymore. }

The bat bellows, "Neveh! The thecwets of the Ancient Ahth ah not fuh the liketh of you! Hand oveh the bottle NOW!"

Fenter makes a really sad face at the bat, "AWWWWW!!!! Won't you PLEEEEEESE let me keep the bottle? Pretty pretty pretty please?"

"Now!" the bat bellows, "uh my minionth will kill you to death thlowly!"

Fenter fidgets, "Will it hurt?"

Haji signs, { See? He really wants it, won't you let us be on our way, kind Death Bat, thir, -er, sir? }

"Of COUHTH it will huht!" the bat rumbles, then shows off his really really big fangs. Maybe that's why he finds it so hard to talk in Rephidim Standard. Those must kind of get in the way.

Haji looks at the racoon, { I think you better give it to him. }

Just then … a whole crowd of vermites swarm over the raccoon!

Fenter removes the bottle from his pocket, "Well… if it's going to hurt… it probably won't be such a good idea then." He gives the bottle a big sloppy kiss (Ew… he drooled all over it) and… falls over under the weight of vermites.

The vermites swarm over the bottle … and then start rolling it on the ground back toward the bat! (They must be pretty well trained.)

Fenter says in the most heroic voice he can muster *ahem*, "AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"

The bat stoops over to retrieve the bottle, then holds it up high in the air laughing in triumph, "BWAHHAHAAHAHAHAAA!"

Haji drops into a combat stance he once saw at the Bazaar during a kavi acting show, called 'The Dragon – Bruce Chee' and proceeds to kick as many vermites off of Fenter as he can.

"Now my planth for wuhld domination ah one thtep clother to completion!" The bat swirls his cape about him, then utters, menacingly, "Thank you fuh yuh athithtanthe, Mage Fenteh. But, wonthe again, I am the victuh!" He cackles again, and then snaps out his wings, fluttering up and out of the alley, while the vermites squeak and scurry away, disappearing into every possible nook and other hiding place.

Fenter creaks open an eye, "Is he gone yet?"

Haji wipes away a stray hair and stands up, wiping his paws before signing, { That wath ridiculeth. }

Haji helps Fenter up, { I think we better get out of here in case someone heard all the commotion. }

So far, nobody seems to be charging into the alleyway just yet to investigate the sudden emergence and disappearance of several rodents.

Haji checks his packet. It's a little worse for the wear, but seems alright, anyway.

Fenter dusts himself off, goodness, his head seems itchy for some strange reason. "That wasn't rigiculeth… that was Wyckyd." He suddenly blinks. "My bottle! Haji… we have to get it from him! Wyckyd said he was going to use it to conquer the world!"

Haji signs, { Wyckyd? How did I guess? Let's stop off at the Missing Shekel, we might find some useful information there and I can make my drop-off. }

Fenter shakeshakeshakes Haji, "No time! No time! He could destroy us all at any moment! I think I know where we can track the fiend down."

Haji signs, { But how can we stop him? I'm only a lowly Savanite, and you . . . }

Haji signs, { What's your name, by the way? }

Fenter straightens himself up, "I am Fenter! Great student of the Mage's guild! (and also the longest attending)"

Haji raises an eyebrow, { But . . .how are we going to stop him, oh Master Fenter? }

Fenter fidgets. "Um… we'll er… "

Fenter says, "We'll sneak up behind him and bop him on the head!"

Haji signs, { Don't use me, my head's not that thick! }

Fenter starts rummaging through the garbage to find a suitable bat bonker. A little vermite pokes his head out of the back of his hat and peers curiously at Haji as he does.

Haji looks at the little critter . o O { It actually looks kinda cute. }

Haji looks around, finding another bone . o O { No, that's not thick enough… }

Fenter itches at his hat a bit more. "Why is my head so itchy all of the sudden! I hope it's not a rash… "