NationStates Jolt Archive

Nathicana carefully hides all hint of the smile she's feeling, watching Razak manouever.

Still nervous, boy? Always on the stick. Can't fault that, really. Now what is it he wants to say enough to hurry Xeruyu off to bed?

She makes her quiet 'goodnights' to von Karma, watching him walk off, smiling a bit. One of a kind, there. Still find myself indebted, and not quite sure how I managed to get there.

"Object lesson?" Her brows arch up as Razak speaks, turning back towards him, her head tilted consideringly. She does grin wryly at his comment on women though.

"Damned if we don't seem to have a way with inspiring those. Please, go on." She half reaches out from under her blanket to extend her bare arm to him in an invitation for escort, then thinks better of it. He is, after all, a companion, not one of her playthings to manipulate or guide. She waits for him to continue at his own pace, thinking it for the best not to try and direct things for a change.

vK walks off, returning to the log pile to throw a few fresh logs on the fire. He then sits down in front of the fire assumes a meditation position, and is instantly, for all the world can tell, in a deep rest. However, his senses, augmented and otherwise, are at a heightened state, partially due to the meditation, and partially due to years of living off the land. He hears the swishing of Xanone's wings, the deep breathing of those asleep.

Razak shrugs as he keeps walking, watching the area carefully. He speaks in a quiet, dry voice, emotions subdued but present. "The girl first, as she was the crux of the matter. Her name was Rheya, she was my wife." He sighs. "That's one thing Bob--er, Alshai--most certainly got right; troopers really don't need spouses; it's unfair to them. We got sent for months at a time onto orbital platforms, coming down only to smash whatever decided to threaten our homes or the lives of others at any given time. Four weeks of leave, and then another five-month tour."

"It was done from necessity--always understaffed--and it admittedly wore on nerves. Best thing that could describe platform life is 'lonely...' and, from Rheya's letters, apparently home life is about the same. Unlike me, who always had the extended family of my troopers around, she was always something of a loner who finally married me after years of coaxing. Young couple, long distances, extended times."

"About three months into my second five-month term--we'd been married for a whole eight months--I got a letter from the base housing back in Tunis."

He pauses for a moment and grimaces. "Weight is golden when dragging things up the gravity well. Only one kind of message gets sent in an actual envelope. Everyone else knew what happened before I did, simply because it was a bloody letter.

"I still don't know why she did it; I guess she just got tired of waiting... and as the CSEA was getting sorta belligerent and mortality rates were going up due to all the campaigns, she may have figured that it'd be faster to catch up with me in an afterlife she didn't believe in."

She listens quietly, softly padding alongside him, keeping pace. She keeps her head tilted down, alternatively scanning the ground in front of her as they walk, and watching Razak from the corner of her eye. Her brow furrows as he speaks, and she subconsciously tightens the blanket around her shoulders.

Nathi nearly misses a step at the last though, not expecting the revelation in the slightest.

Gods, she ... I'd thought he was going to say 'Dear John', but not ... Her mind couldn't wrap around it. The thought of choosing that course rather than any other was too foreign. And out of lonliness?

Well, that, she understood to a point. Her life had left little room for true companionship, though she'd seldom kept an empty bed. Now of course, things had changed. Jaime had been tied up in affairs of state before attaining his leadership position. Initially, she hadn't been sure whether her unease and moodiness had been from the lack of his presence, or the lack of a warm body beside her. It still surprised her, given her habits, that she had remained true, at least, until that night at the restaurant. Now, their schedules were far worse. And with the troubles in Haraki, and in her own nation, there had been scant opportunity for them to spend any amount of time together. Oddly, these days she almost felt comforted at that. As much as she was by the occasional rendezvous with her newest set of troubles, Devon, who still disturbed her with the decidedly odd tangle of emotions he evoked.

Not knowing quite what to say to him, she merely nods, awkwardly reaching out to give his shoulder a brief squeeze, looking pointedly down at the ground as they continue to walk.

Razak chuckles once, coldly. "What a thing to wake up to, neh? Even though everyone knew what was up and was willing to help, I took the letter, read it... and clammed up. I mean, it was the only proper thing to do, no?" He grins wryly. "I was in charge, and thus couldn't show weakness to my troops. I was supposed to be invincible, leading the drops and pounding ground like everyone else, not bawling my eyes out over some tragedy--minor on the global scale that we operated--that was, at closest with each orbital pass, one thousand kilometers away.

"So I repressed it like I thought I should. It was surprising how little it hurt if I never thought about it, so I kept myself busy. Bob knew what was going on, being my X.O. and all, but maintained a respectful distance. Offered his help, but didn't pry. I should've taken him up on it. Occasionally I had twitches, but was always alone, so I wasn't too concerned."

He sets his jaw. "Fast forward a month. A call comes down to drop in the middle of nowhere in the Tibetan Highlands and make contact with a group of people called the K'zin. Never heard of them before in my life; no one had. It's a big job--not just one or two hamlets, but an entire damned province--so the entire division gets sent in under my command. I dropped first, as usual, to where the K'zin civil authorities were along with a protection platoon; the rest of the division dropped in front of the advancing CSEA armies to hold them off. I was the first trooper to make planetfall... and thus the first Scolopendran to make face-to-face contact with the K'zin. Bloody huge fellas, completely unexpected.

"I set up the operation by the book, and for a month the battle grumbled--we'd evacuate a hamlet, use it for cover, ambush the advancing forces, and fall back--we couldn't take the fight to them because we were under direct orders to avoid a full-scale war against the CSEA. It was slow going using air extraction over grudgingly granted Indian airspace, and it was difficult for me to learn the language and try to convince the K'zin Patriarch to haul ass out... which he wouldn't do.

"Comes to be a full two weeks into what would've been my leave, and there's a lull in the fighting. CSEA's pushed us to the inside of a valley, but we still hold the ridges and they're doing no more than annoyance raids. I get to thinking... what I would've done on leave, what it'd be like if Rheya was still around... and I twitched." He grimaces. "I made the most basic error of any encapsulated situation: I forgot to order roving patrols to ensure that we weren't compromised by snipers. CSEA sneaks some sharpshooters over the ridge, and seven gunshots later..."

Razak looks over at the sleeping form of Speaker. "His leader and culture dies; an entire people flounder about headless because I didn't come to terms with my own problems. Because I didn't get through it in time, I lost control at the least opportune time and an entire people paid for it... not counting the thousands of CSEA troopers we slaughtered in the aftermath. When they pulled that stunt, something just snapped and we tore into them mercilessly. Their casualties are still estimated to be about seven, eight thousand in the post-assassination offensive."

"And it was all my fault."

If Nathicana could have been said to be quiet before, she is even moreso now. Too much of what Razak says resonates on several levels.

It's not a pleasant realization.

Several responses leap to mind, many reflexive dodges, redirections, and scathing replies in the haughty manner she's honed over the years. She forcibly puts them down as she compartmentalizes, then examines the information. From what she'd observed of Razak, his obvious closeness to Speaker now takes on a whole new dimension. His reaction to her admittedly limited knowledge at his involvement in Tibet was suddenly clear, as was the vigillance he displayed, quietly watching over the group.

Granted, he was not the only one to be keeping watch. She had noted Eadwacer in passing, making his own rounds. Her heightened hearing had detected the sounds of Xanone keeping an aloof yet quiet watch over them as well. And von Karma - surely, despite all outward appearances, he couldn't be sleeping in such a position.

There are only two kinds of paranoia - absolute and insufficient.

Her thoughts continue to flicker back and forth between insistence that this in no way applies to her, hypocritical criticism for his letting emotions cloud his judgment, oddly contrasting apologetic words of sympathy and comfort, and logical statements disavowing his self-imposed guilt.

'Troopers really don't need spouses; it's unfair to them', he had said. Did the same hold true for people like herself? She remembers clearly warning Jaime about the foolishness of a relationship. Many, many times over they had had that discussion. He would hear none of it, blindly believing in his idealistic way that love could conquer all. She, on the other hand, had worried and fretted on it throughout, seeing all too clearly the problems and complexities involved, even if he refused to.

And Devon? Where did he fit in with all of that? She wasn't so naieve to think that the 'happily ever after' ending was possible there, nor could she easily explain away the feelings there. Nor his, whether she wished it to be so or not.

Both men are cursed as her thoughts move on to the next point that was becoming clear to her (and one that had been weighing heavily on her mind) was this - far too many emotions served little purpose other than to get in the way of ones job.

Still, several of his comments seemed to contradict that line of thought. Beneath the surface, and often, not deeply buried at all, he was still very much emotionally involved with it all, and showing no signs of bemoaning it. He almost seemed to take it as a pennance for what he viewed as his 'sins'.

At least his were caused by oversight. Inaction. Mine ... mine I've consciously chosen.

Her face darkens as recent events rear up again. She again pulls her blanket more tightly around her, pushing back into the quiet depths of her mind the lists of names that had been systematically shredded and burned, along with the bodies they belonged to; the images of a man strapped down to relic of their nation's dark history, her hands wet with his blood; an ally teetering on the brink of death, as she stands by, coldly using one she's come to think of as kin to violate his mind; clandestine meetings, secrets kept from those who had shown her trust, machinations and plots and betrayals.

The children ...

The list stretches on, and she continues to beat down the images and thoughts, even as his words echo back to her, hauntingly.

And it was all my fault.

Her first words are strained, and she is forced to clear her throat quietly before going on in a cool, controlled voice.

"You said yourself the Patriarch wouldn't leave when it was neccessary. Had he taken the proper action to ensure his people's saftey, your mistake would most likely never have been made. Yes, you failed to take proper precautions, but he failed as well. As for the retaliatory deaths, such are the consequences of war."

What had to be done. This is what I did. What I had to. What was neccessary. It was ...

It had to be so.

Razak shakes his head. "The final error was mine... but that's not the point. The moral of the story is I should have gotten it out of the way--seemed or even possibly been weak when it wasn't harmful, safe on the platform--instead of trying to fight myself and losing control at the worst possible time.

"Yes, there are times that emotions should be repressed, but they are few and far between. Not all of life is a crisis; one does not always need judgment unclouded by emotion. It's easier to emote when one can so that when one has to, they can push all that aside and do what they need to do. Friends offered to help me, I refused to let them... that was a mistake. I had opportunities to talk about it, to try and come to terms with it, but I consciously gave them up thinking that I had to project some sort of aura of invincibility... obviously, another mistake.

"I learned my lesson. Sure, I retired post-haste and it took several months of thinking, but I came to terms with everything... and, well, I've realized I should've done it before-hand. Would've saved everyone a lot of trouble." He chuckles softly with a wry smirk. "But, as they say, that's all ancient history... which gets taught in schools for a reason."

Razak looks over at Nathi. "If you've got some sort of emotional problem, deal with it before it just makes things worse in the long run. No one thinks you're invincible, and there are quite a few people who are concerned enough to listen. Take advantage of that."

She's quiet as he speaks, politely refraining from comment and nodding thoughtfully now and then. As he looks over, she meets his gaze with a slow, measuring expression.

"If there is one thing I learned growing up, it was this; the only person you can count on when the chips are down is yourself. Everyone has their price. Everyone has an angle. If you can't pull yourself up by your bootstraps when all seems lost, you may as well give up. There is no knight in shining armor for the rescue. You say no one thinks me invincible? Fine and well. So much for the better. When my enemies come for me, they'll not expect a solid defense. Underestimate me, and fall." Her expression is cold, though there is a hint of regret. She walks on a short ways, searching for words that don't seem to want to come.

"Perhaps I can learn differently," she continues on, her expression softening as she stops walking. "What I've learned since childhood, and especially since associating with so many of you, is that there are exceptions to every rule." She smiles over at him, hoping the compliment is more clear that in sounds.

"A good lot of the reason I came was to get away from the pressures and the problems long enough to think clerly. There are decisions that need to be made, and courses chosen. The path one knows is often more comfortable in seeming than the path one fears to tread, if only for lack of knowing where it might lead. It takes more to physically challenge me these days. This trip seemed a proper avenue to take when it was offered, all things considered. So, here I am."

"Thank you. For your words, for your offer, and for your companionship." She looks away briefly, taking a slow breath and letting it out. "I know you're aware of more than you let on. And yes, there have been issues at home that ... do not sit well. Added to other unexpected concerns, and shall we say, the recurrence of more than a few memories I barely remembered I'd had, I'll admit. I've had a devil of a time reconciling. Suffice it to say, there are some things that are not easily shared, though I realize I'm telling you anything on that point. I dont know how better to explain than that."

"This much I do know, however - I will not fail you, or the rest of my companions on this journey, nor will I allow my troubles to interfere with the hunt or my responsibilities."

She puts out her hand to Razak. "This, I promise."

Razak listens like a statue, watching her pace as she explains. Finally, he takes her hand in a firm grip and shakes once with a soft smile. "You're welcome. As for a promise... I've no choice but to accept. It'd be asking too much of you to come to terms with your entire past in the next five minutes... I just request you take the idea of talking to someone under advisement.

"And yes," he smirks, "you're right. In the end, you have to put forth the effort. That doesn't prevent one from leaning on whoever you have to so you can put forth that effort. As for trusting only yourself, that's a lie taught to you by your history. There are probably several people who are willing to stand by you thick and thin; you just haven't allowed yourself to trust them enough, or haven't admitted to yourself that they can be trusted.

She clasps his hand firmly, giving him a wry smile.

"As I said, perhaps there are other things I can learn, or unlearn as the case may be. I think that in this case however, the problem is less in who I can trust so much as how to separate personal from political. Where does one draw the lines? Like it or not, the two are often intricately linked. Such is the way of things when in a position of leadership. I'm afraid Kommetrez understood that all too well. I very much regret how that all fell out. But, it was a lesson for me, all the same. As much as we'd like, we cannot always choose our consequences."

She finishes quietly, taking a moment to look around, then nods in the direction they'd been headed, head tilted inquisitively. "Shall we continue our walk?"

Razak frowns at the mention of Alshai. "Yes... Bob didn't deserve that. Then again, he never learned. He twitched and made a particular choice. Turns out it bit him in the ass." He shrugs slowly. "From what he told me in the past, it isn't the first nor, given his new immortality."

He looks up at the starry sky, past the half-circle and three-fourths arc of Saturn. "Still hasn't called from wherever the hell he is now. Sure hope he's doing well."

Sighing, he looks back in the direction indicated with a mild shrug. "Why not?"

Nathi reaches out to give him a comradely pat and squeeze 'round his shoulders, albeit a touch awkwardly, then resumes her quiet steps as she scans the area with little concern. It is a beautiful night, after all.

"Have you tried contacting him?" she asks as they walk. "You've got about as close a connection without speaking to him yourself right here on this safari, you know. I'm certain Xan could put you in touch, or at the very least, relay a message."

Once they're moving again, she lets him set the pace and take the lead again, falling into a light, easy pace beside him, glancing only once towards her sleeping bag.

When he's satisfied himself that his watch is done, and not before.

Razak shrugs. "That's not Xanone's job; he's the master control whatever program, not a messenger service. If Bob needed to, he would've called by now. He's probably having a high old time, with no need for me to intrude."

He notes Nathi's look towards her sleeping bag. "You should get some rest; my watch stays up for another hour, by my watch."

"Of course it's not his job. Hell, man, I don't see 'psych counselor' in your 'job description' either, unless somewhere I missed it in my notes." She grins, giving him a sidelong glance.

"I wouldn't be a bit suprised if your friend weren't thinking the same thing. All things considered, I'd say you've got nothing to loose in at least dropping him a line. Won't do either of you any good playing the 'I'll let him make the first move' game across the galaxy. Bet you good money he'd be glad to hear from you."

She nods at that last, shifting the blanket around her shoulders again with a firm tug. "Then an hour it is."

Chuckling, Razak shakes his head. "As you wish. I might talk to Xanone about it later... wherever he's gotten off to." He looks around, not finding the Angelan.

Having nothing else to speak of and not being a very good banal conversationalist, the old colonel continues his patrol around the site, not breaking the silence on his own behalf. An hour later he swerves back to the camp and kneels beside the sleeping K'zin, shaking Speaker's shoulder as he mutters something in the gutteral, hissing Hero's Tongue. "Your turn on watch. Make sure the Dread Lady gets some sleep."

Speaker wakes up slowly, yawns broadly--exposing his impressive array of off-white teeth--with a smile, and then stretches on all fours, arching his back. Not even bothering to don his fatigues jacket, he stands, quietly scratching behind his ears as Razak settles down on top of his own sleeping bag. "Sleep well," he growls in his native tongue, "Razak."

Razak nods off, and Speaker looks down at Nathi, retinas glowing in the night. "Still up, hrm?" He yawns again, stretching his arms as he holds his hands behind his head. "You will need your rest for the march, and the hunt."

Nathi merely nods, knowing better than to press the issue. She walks along with him, her passage quiet in her careful barefooted steps. She finds the hour oddly pleasant, taking comfort in Razak's presence as she ponders the events of the day, the words of himself, and the Cyng, and others in relation to her current worries.

As they turn back to camp, she reaches out to give his hand a brief squeeze of thanks, saying nothing, as nothing truly need be said.

She watches without seeming to as he wakes Speaker, not wishing to intrude. As the K'zin rises up however, she's struck again with just how big and powerful he is, her eyes going more than a little wide in awe. And even so ... she's struck again with the urge to lean in snuggle against all that fur, which just makes her blink.

Oh for chrissakes, he's no teddybear. You'd probably offend him to his very core. Quit it.

Nathi nods in satisfaction, seeing Razak get settled in, then turns to Speaker with an innocent, close-lipped smile as he addresses her.

"Of course. Just ... well," she shrugs, glancing over to where Razak lay. "Just had some pent-up energy yet, and thought he might like a bit of company. Good man, there."

"You know, Xeruyu already told the old boy all this wasn't neccessary ... perhaps a little continued sleep wouldn't be so bad for yourself either? At any rate, no need to worry yourself about me. I'm going," she says, turning back towards her bag. "And Speaker," she says over her shoulder, "Thank you."

She walks quietly to her sleeping bag, carefully folding the blanket back up and setting it atop her pack, brushing off her feet, then sliding down inside, once more laying on her stomach. Her eyes remain open for a bit, as she continues pondering things, then slowly, she drifts off to sleep, unsure where the waking stops and the dreams begin.

Speaker looks to Razak at Nathi's comment. "That he is... as for the patrol, it is customary."

"Sleep well." With that, he pads about, seeing much with slitted pupils accustomed to the darkness.

Dawn breaks on the Wilderness zone. Dawn of course being set on a precise time by a control computer somewhere out there. vonKarma stands from his meditation quietly and stokes up the fire, pulling out a kawfee pot and setting it over the flames. He adds some water and kawfee, and soon the camp is filled with its aroma.

Nathi stretches, muttering something under her breath in her native tongue. She rubs at her eyes a bit, then looks around, squinting at the light.

"Mpfh."

She hauls herself out of her sleeping bag, grabbing the blanket from the night before and tossing round her shoulders. She snags the cup from her mess kit, and makes her way over to the fire.

"Mornin, Xeruyu," she says, not quite slurring. "Mind if I help m'self?"

Eadwacer stands up, stretches, combs a few twigs out of his beard, and shakes the leaves off of his cloak. He ambles over to fire.

"Wesan eow hale, Atelic Hlædige ond mine dryhten Hlaford Xeruyu. The kawfee smells good, mind if I have some?"

Xanone floats high overhead, his piercing eyes scanning the predawn world beneath him. He grips his tridentspear tightly to his chest, and the object of his search comes suddenly into view.

He stretches his wings wide and drops into a slow dive, gliding down on the warm wind currents rising from the ground far below. His eyes never leave his prey, and as he drops ever closer, his internal systems quicken with the thrill of the hunt.

A small deer nibbles quietly at a patch of grass within a small clearing in the trees, completely oblivious to the ominous shadow circling not so far above him.

Xanone picks his time patiently, and waits until the doe is completely engrossed in her meal. At the precise moment, he stretches his wings further and dips into a steep dive, his spear moving out and down towards the now-suspicious deer.

He lands with a rush of air, his tri-pointed spear digging deeply into the poor creature's neck, easily breaking the deer's neck, the razored edge slicing neatly through the jugular. His tail snakes out and coils around the beast's midsection, and his powerful wings blast downwards with incredible force, launching him and his prey high into the air. He gives the trispear a wicked twist and yanks it free, splashing his crimson chest with a darker stain of scarlet icor.

Emotions and feelings that he had not known existed welled within his primal heart, and he is momentarily surprised by the depth and power of the onrushing tide. For the barest breath he hangs motionless in the air, a titanic struggle of primodial beast warring with the vast intellect of his logical self.

With an internal wrench far more powerful than the deft twist with which he broke the doe's neck, he pulls himself back into reality, his powerful mind once again focusing on the actuality of his existence. A dark grin spreads across his thin lips, and he begins a slow bank that would lead him back to the campsite.

~*~

His landing in the midst of the party is far more subdued than his landing in the clearing less than a kilometer away, his powerful wings gently settling him to the ground near the small firepit.

I decided to try out a few of my skills. He drops the still-warm corpse of the deer near Xeryu, and silently shears off the back haunches. He nods towards the Dread Lady, and turns to find the Kzin.

Razak yawns, stretches, and gets to his morning regimen of exercises. Can't expect to do well on a safari if one isn't physically fit. He deigns not to over-notice Xanone's entrance, merely noting it in passing as if demonesque figures dropping deer all over the place was as common and scheduled as the morning paper delivery boy.

Speaker-to-Animals, wide awake for having been up for two hours already, raises an furred brow at Xanone's entrance. "Death from above?"

Smiling, Nathi greets the Cyng, impulsively giving him a brief, chaste squeeze around the shoulders, then looking a bit suprised at her own actions.

She's saved from feeling a need to make comment by Xan's entrance, which puts her eyes a little wide, and oddly enough has her looking a little ... green for a moment.

"Well that's certainly something to wake up to first thing," she comments, grimmacing slightly. "At least let me get a cup before launching me straight on into the blood and guts part of the trip." She blinks, then finishes. "No insult intended, Xanone - I'm just used to ah ... easing into my mornings."

Shuddering only slightly, she casts her gaze around the rest of the camp, nodding respectfully to Razak and giving a close-lipped smile and brief wave to Speaker.

Stretching ... gotta do some stretching, quick jog 'round the camp ... something. After coffee.

Nathi wrinkles her nose just a touch at that.

Damn, I've gotten soft.

Xanone nods to Speaker, offering him a close-lipped smile. I figured that I would test out my new abilities... Quite thrilling actually.

He offers up one of the haunches to Speaker. In the culture where I derived the demonic avatar, it is a token of respect for a hunter to give the choice cuts of his kill to someone.

He bows slightly, and pointedly offers both haunches for Speaker to choose from.

Speaker looks somewhat surprised, leaning back just a bit, blinking. Twitching his bat-wing ears, he gingerly reaches out and takes the bloody haunch on the left. "Thank you. I am... honored." He looks momentarily at Razak as he gets up from another set of pushups, who just shrugs with a 'why-not' smirk.

Bowing shortly, Speaker nods. "Most honored."

Eadwacer squeezes Nathi briefly around the sholders. When the dear drops to the ground he looks over, admiring the body. He grabs two cups of kawfee, and hands one to Nathi.

"Mine freond, You do know how to properly skin a deor and make use of it? Getting the meat is the easy part."

Quietly thanking Eadwacer, she sips the kawfee, blinking a bit at the strong taste.

Soft, dammit ... no, no ... just know how I like it. No problem with that.
She makes her way quietly over to her pack, retrieving the creamer and sugar, adding to her satisfaction as she sits cross-legged on her bag. Sipping contentedly now and then, she begins packing up her gear, shaking out her bag and neatly packaging it back up into a compact bundle, stowing it last.

Skinning them. I knew that. But, she shudders, Not something pleasant to wake up to all the same.

Finishing off her morning beverage, and feeling ever so much more like herself, she pulls on the set of clothing she had left out, checking her boots before pulling them on and lacing them snugly.

She takes time to stretch out a bit, readying herself for the march ahead, feeling relaxed, despite the usual dreams of late.

Today would be a good day.

"Hmm, strong stuff. You know, if we had kawfee in the mornings my forbears would have won many more battles."

Speaker looks somewhat surprised, leaning back just a bit, blinking. Twitching his bat-wing ears, he gingerly reaches out and takes the bloody haunch on the left. "Thank you. I am... honored." He looks momentarily at Razak as he gets up from another set of pushups, who just shrugs with a 'why-not' smirk.

Bowing shortly, Speaker nods. "Most honored."

Xanone smiles slightly, careful to do so with his lips closed. The honor of the gift is that it was mine to give, my friend.

He holds up his part of leg in a macabre salute. To the Hunt.

"Then..." Speaker pauses for a moment, thinking. "...The honor is mutal." Raising his haunch as well--"To the hunt"--he begins eating it, taking it off to the side where he is less likely to offend someone."

"Well," Razak chuckles, "Speaker's got breakfast thanks to the local zoomie. Now, if I can have a slab of that venison over there," he points at the mildly gruesome deer as if it were just another piece of the terrain, "I can cook it up right quick and we can have a proper field breakfast."

"Xanone, with your permission I will start cleaning and preparing the deor for breakfast?"

Xanone nods towards Eadwacer.

Please do. Enjoy.

He raises his wings, and then once again vaults into the sky, his hands already moving to feed him his gruesome meal.

Knives sits quietly reading a small novel he had tucked away, the word "Denoument" emblazened across it. He chuckles quietly to himself "foolish Thaurians dealing with the Reavers"

He looks at the rather dead Deyr. "Mmm breakfast"

Eadwacer pulls out his hunting knives and quickly and cleanly removes the skin from the deor (which he places carefully aside), the internal organs, and the tendons and ligaments (which he also places carefully aside. The meat then rapidly gets removed from the carcass and gets placed in a neat pile on top of the skin. This he brings over to Xeruyu. After depositing it next to the fire, he goes back to the sinew and starts slicing and cleaning it to make into cords, straps, and other useful items.

"Well, I guess that answers the question of what to have for breakfast. Thanks Xan, guess you get the 'First Blood' eh?"

vK pours kawfee for everyone and produces a pan to help Razak cook up the venison.

"Nothing like a fresh Deyr in the morning, I always say. Well, not always. Anyway, we have a few choices. We can head for the steppe, or the forested area. I'll let you guys decide, as their is good hunting in both places, and the hike is roughly the same distance. If anyone has any last minute issues,(casually, but not too much so, glances in Nathi's direction) now is the time to voice'm. I need you all focused out there, mind on the hunt, and nothing else. Any problems with that?"

"Matters not to me which direction we take, boss," she says. "I'm good for either."

She nods to von Karma, the 'all good' message clear in her eyes. "No problems here, Sir," she confirms, easily sliding back into hold habits.

And there won't be, either. New day, new start ... all well.

Nathi rocks a bit up onto her toes, then back down in obvious anticipation of the hunt ... and admittedly, breakfast. Her stomach growls, and she blushes, grinning.

Aw hell.

He nods slightly towards Xeryu. I would be interested in the Steppes, personally, but I also echo the Lady's sentiments in that it does not truely matter.

He smiles slightly. As for First Blood, I would assume that it is mine. However, the deor was such a small capture... Perhaps we could grant First Blood to him (or her) that brings down something a bit more... substantial?

Nathicana looks over at Xanone and smiles broadly, her eyes glittering with the prospect of the hunt.

Challenge accepted. I hope I'm up to the task.

She waits patiently for breakfast, knowing damn well she'd be more hindrance than help in that capacity. She busies herself with checking her weapons, inspecting the crossbow more closely, hefting it experimentally. She finally settles down, content that all is well, idly sharpening one of her blades with a slow, practiced air, quietly observing the campsite and her companions.

Razak gets to slicing off portions of the deyr and roasting them over the fire. Pulling some spices from his pack, he applies them with practiced art, slicing cooked bits off with his sharp knife and searing them in a pan. "Hope this turns out. Been a while since I've done venison. Come and get it."

She stows her stone back in her pocket, and slips her knife back into it's sheath. Taking her mess kit out of one of the outer pockets in her pack, she takes out a dish and her utensils, and walks over to the fire to politely wait her portion.

"Smells delicious," she says, her stomach growling again, much to her annoyance. "I'm sure it'll be more than fine. It's been a long time since I've had venison, so we're even."

She watches him work, casually looking over the spices and his methods with a smile.

Razak serves Nathi a decent cut, obviously spiced up a bit. "A little lemon pepper, a little habañero, diced onion, some other random bits. Should cover up the gamey flavor somewhat."

Speaker walks up, rubbing his white maw with his right forearm, chuckling softly with the usual K'zin huffing-noise. "So, how goes the controlled burning?"

"I think I've mutilated this meat quite well, Speaker. How was the disease vector?"

"Surprisingly good, for a change. The meat tastes better fresh."

Razak laughs. "I'd dispute that, pal. I remember eating raw rabbit in my survival training a long time ago 'cause we weren't allowed to make fires. No fun there."

"Bah." Speaker laughs, that odd choking-up-a-lung-roar. "You hairless monkeys have no taste."

"Never claimed we did, did I?" Razak smiles broadly.

Xanone casually tosses the remnant bones away and swoops back down to land among the people. He smiles slightly (close-lipped), and walks over to crouch near Speaker and the rest.

Excellent deyr, if I say so myself. Still young and supple. I would say that she had not yet given birth.

Razak chuckles. "So no one can say you whacked Bambi's mom, eh? That's a relief. I was about to feel sorry for the bugger." He grins with closed lips.

Razak chuckles. "So no one can say you whacked Bambi's mom, eh? That's a relief. I was about to feel sorry for the bugger." He grins with closed lips.

Xanone looks vaguely amused. I guess you are correct, but I really doubt any of us would truely care if "Bambi's" mom was the one that was killed. You might be able to say, however, that this was Bambi's twiterpated bîtch.

As Razak starts handing out the cuts of meat, a rather sharp, barbed dagger like object spears solidly into one of the larger cuts. Rather startling considering no one but Razak is nearby.
However, upon closer inspection one would note a sturdy cable running from the dagger to Knives sitting on a small boulder 30 meters away.

He looks on, grinning innocently. "Sorry, had to test it out to see if it would work as promised."
With a fast twitch of his wrist, the dagger and speared meat fly to Knives' awaiting plate.

He takes a few bites, smiling as he does. "Tis good food Razak."

Xanone looks vaguely amused. I guess you are correct, but I really doubt any of us would truely care if "Bambi's" mom was the one that was killed. You might be able to say, however, that this was Bambi's twiterpated bîtch.
"Bah. Kill a good joke, why don't you." Razak shakes his head, chuckling. "And nice toy there, Knives. Glad you like the cookin.'"

"Thank you," Nathi says with a smile, accepting the meat gladly. She samples delicately, eyes widening slightly at the intense flavours.

"Wow." She nods, spearing another piece with her fork. "Now that's got a kick. Nicely done ... nicely done."

She smiles at Speaker as he walks up, around closed-lip chewing, and nods in greeting. Watching the good-natured interplay with the boys, she stifles a chuckle.

Nathi flinches though, at Knives little trick, her eyes wide. She shifts fluidly into a more defensive stance, following the line back to the boy in the blink of an eye, then relaxing just as quickly. Se shoots him a wry grin, going back to eating and shaking her head.

Little cuss ... ought to be spanked for that.

Xan, however, continues to slightly disturb her with his manners, though she's polite enough not to let on. The changes in him have been ... dramatic, to say the least.

After finishing, having eaten more quickly than she'd thought, she cleans up her dish and fork, packing them with the rest of the kit back in her pack, then wandering over to chat with the others.

She looks over Speaker again, fingers twitching.

"Hairless monkeys, is it?" she says with a close-lipped grin, eyes twinkling with mischief.

Oh what the hell ... only live once, and damned if I'm going to spend this whole trip wondering. Xeruyu said no distractions after all ... I'm just following orders.

"That's it." She walks up to Speaker confidently, trying to forget the razor sharp claws and teeth. She shivers in spite of herself. "Hairless we may be, and hairless remain I suppose, but at least I can feel second hand for an idea ... Besides, I've yet to give you a proper 'good morning' to boot."

And with that, she boldy wraps her arms around Speaker and gives him a firm , chaste hug, pressing her cheek against his fur, smiling contentedly.

"Mmm ... warm. And ah ... good morning, Speaker."

She steps back, grinning still, showing no teeth, and nods with satisfaction. "And now that I've gotten that out of my system, I believe I'm set to go."

Speaker raises his arms slightly at the hug and looks down, caught by complete surprise. Looking up with a confused look, all he can see is Razak trying very, very hard not to laugh aloud. Scratching the back of his head momentarily, he returns the hug by resting his arms lightly on Nathi's back. "Err... good morning, Nathi. I hope you slept well?"

Razak shakes his head--Bold.--and goes back to cooking.

When Nathi steps back, Speaker still hasn't quite managed to wipe the boggled look from his face. Suddenly realizing what must have been going on, he laughs in that odd K'zin way and smiles. "You are welcome."

She merely nods and winks.

And thank the powers that be he's not offended, she thinks with a little internal chuckle.

"And yes, slept very well. Hope you got enough rest yourself - the careful watch you gentlemen kept over us," she says, including all who made the effort, "is appreciated."

Xanone nods curtly in response to her "thank you", but other than that, he remains completely still, crouched in that disjointed squat of his.

Nathi studies Xan from a distance, still uncertain of quite what to make of his new appearance, and oddly mercurial mood changes.

From heated and carnal, to neutrally primal, to oddly cool and distant. What -is- going on with that man?

That thought gives her pause. He isn't after all, technically a 'man' at all, if one actually thought it through. Not in the conventional meaning of the word at any rate. Yet, she'd always accepted him as such, even with the new changes. Changes she found more than a little disturbing on some levels, while on others, strangely intriguing.

[Communication={Xanone}] Is something on your mind, Xanone? You have been awfully quiet since our flight here. I do not recall seeing you rest at all last night, though I suppose I do remember you saying you did not need it.

I am ... concerned. I believe I find this brooding silence much less preferred to your earlier banter. I do not wish to pry, but I am willing to converse if you feel it neccessary, or desire to do so.

[Communication={Xanone}] Is something on your mind, Xanone? You have been...

[Communication{Nathi}]

My mind is filled with emotion that I do not fully understand... [He sends a rush of emotion, the exact replication of that which he felt during the kill] None in the Mainframe has ever felt bloodlust, or truely any real lust in the normal senses of the word. Blu has felt powerful attraction to Maica, as has G411 and B239, but lust?

[An odd chuckle] And I have experienced both on this trip so far... Where will it take me? In a way, I see this trip as something of a rekindling experience for the two of us. You, to regain your "hard edge", and me? To regain the simulcrum of feeling.

I wonder where this will lead...[All of a sudden, the full power of Xanone's mind is once again there, a tangible presence of immense intellect and an iron will never tested by any save his Creator, the Emperor genetically bred to be perfect in every form.]

I desire...[His potency is suddenly tinged with pure desire, a sudden rush of lust so completely overwhelming... and then nothing.]

Xanone turns his horned head to look at Nathicana, a smoldering fire burning deep within the depths of his scarlet eyes.

At the first rush of emotion, Nathi gasps, reacting to the all-too familiar feeling with flushed cheeks, increased heart rate, and a surge of ... satisfaction. She shamelessly allows the totality of it to feed back along the communication lines to Xan.

Experienced both? What does he ... ah! Gods, the implications there ... hell, the pos--just how did he--dammit. More easily read than I'd like to be. The thoughts flicker quickly as she listens to his response, still feeling rather flushed, her breathing more rapid as she watches him, unblinking.

The feedback from the second rush causes her to waver, unused to such intimate contact with any other mind than her own. Her breath catches again, then stops for a moment as she holds it, her eyes closing with the effort of resisting instinctively, though she feels no real attack. What will she has within her, strong as steel for a mere human, pushes back in reaction.

Her eyes snap open, and she gazes back at him intently with the third rush of emotion. Desire. Something she's intimately familiar with. And it shows, in her eyes, in her posture, in the rhythm of her breath and beating of her heart. She doesn't bother hiding it, nor does she attempt to turn it off. Rather she revels in the feeling, her brow arching up challengingly at Xan as she lets it flood back over the com line, unfiltered.

[Communication={Xanone}] Without our fire, we are dead. As cool and logical as your people may seem on the outside to be, I offer yourself and others as proof that you also have needs ... desires. It would seem I have been subconsciously attempting to emulate you and yours for some time now, hoping to quell my emotions, to mute them. Perhaps, this has been a mistake. It certainly has yet to give me what I thought I wanted.

You and I, it would seem, have more in common than I had once thought. Perhaps we can explore some of the intricacies of such internal quandries ... together?

She meets his gaze without flinching, her own blue eyes flashing darkly as the corners of her lips curl up in the beginnings of a smile, her chin tilting up ever so slightly.

I have no illusions here. Let him think what he will of that. I'm still not sure myself what to make of it ... but I'll be damned at passing up the opportunity to get a look inside his head.

Walking with a slow, sensual stride the few feet to her pack, she maintains the eye contact with Xanone, following him with only her eyes, and breaking it only when she bends down at the hips to retrieve her water. She straightens, sipping slowly, then slides the camelbak on, securing it in place for the hike ahead. Turning slightly, she looks at Xan again, licking the last bit of moisture from her lips, but saying nothing.

This is so wrong on so many levels, she thinks with a very private smile. Which is probably why I'm so damned intrigued.

Xanone watches Nathicana with hooded eyes, the brilliant fires deep within his eyes burn with an intensity like never before. He gives her a slight smile, merly the slight curvature of his lips.

He stretches slightly and stands up, giving her a full view of corded muscles rippling underneath his crimson skin. He rotates his head, his eyes closing with pleasure as he alleviates muscle tension all through his neck and shoulders.

He looks back at her and once again crouches, balancing on his oddly-shaped hooves.

[Communication{Nathi}] Together. Such an interesting concept/thought. Yes, we should. I agree on the thought that there are quite a few commonalities between us.

We should... explore things further.

She watches him shamelessly, fascinated with the strange form even while she finds herself suprisingly scandalized at the implications.

Santa Maria madre di Christos ... how delightfully ... profane.

[Communication={Xanone}] And why would such a thing as 'together' seem so ... interesting, boy? Of the two of us, I would think you intimately more familiar with the concept of two heads, or in your case, infinitely more, being better than one. What differs is not the concept but the application. The ... interaction on a more intimate level than the entirety of the collective.

I look forward to these 'explorations'. It could prove most enlightening - for the both of us.

vonKarma eyes Nathi and Xan subtly, not making it obvious.

Well, thats an interesting turn of events.

"Well people, grab your gear, and police the area, Steppes it is. Off to face the mighty Lhyon, Ehelyfant, Gyrraffe, and Chyape Bufyalo. Should make for and interesting day. We have about a 8 klick hike out of the mountains, should put us on the step by later morning, early afternoon."

"Excellent!"

She breaks eye contact, for all the world acting as if nothing had passed between her and Xanone at all. Shrugging on her pack, she settles it firmly on her hips, checking all her gear, then pulling on her cap again and smiling.

"Sounds like some big game there, Xeruyu. Lets do it."

She falls into place behind him once he takes the lead, a bounce in her step and eager for the hunt.

The Scolopendrans gather their gear, take up their packs, and fall in. "Something is up." Speaker grumbles and hisses, rough Hero's Tongue.

"Something is always up, friend." Razak responds in the same, barely marring the pronunciation with his smaller palate. "It is the way of things."

"Our response?"

"Same as always," Razak shrugs, "just do our best. And make sure no one gets hurt."

Speaker chuckles softly to himself, huffing through felinid nostrils. "I believe our... assistance... may not be appreciated."

"Not the point. If we can help..."

"...we help. Idealism at all costs, eh?"

"Certainly."

Eadwacer notes what passes between Nathi and Xanone (as much as he can) and tries not to let his attention show. A confused look of concern mixed with a wry smile does briefly flicker across his face.

He grabs his gear and sets off in step along with the rest of the party.

Making sure that the campsite is sufficiently cleaned, vonKarma grabs his gear, and saddles up.

"Lets hit the trail people. Gotta walk before we get to the good parts." He smiles. "Bluesummers! Get a move on!"

Legato slowly opens his eyes, stands and begins moving down the trail, with no acknowledgement of anyone.

"Whats the holdup? Why aren't you all moving yet? There is much killing to be done."

vonKarma smiles again. "Never will figure that one out."

Leader-Hrrah looked out upon the hills
Smelled the spoor of strange preys
Looking to the skies he let out a roar
Announcing to the world that the K'zin had come.

Speaker launches into a rendition of a long K'zin epic. To be performed properly, it must be loud, proud, and tone-perfect. And in the Hero's Tongue.

If nothing else, Razak appreciates it. To most others, it sounds like structured roaring, hissing, snarling and growling. A language most difficult on the throat. The only word identifiable would be "K'zin."

Nathi of course, has no idea in the slightest what Speaker is going on about ... but for some reason, it seems ... appropriate. She marches along at a steady pace, her eyes on the road ahead, pushing distractions back from her mind - all of them.

She concentrates instead on Speaker's voice, wondering, not for the last time, if she could ever manage to get her mouth and voice around the foreign language.

Somehow, she found it oddly comforting.

Xanone does not reply to Nathicana, but his inner thoughts become reflective. The concept of "togetherness" was not something that he was unfamilliar with. The constant stream of data from the Mainframe that he was used to was enough to drive most organics mad, and the constant sectoring of his brain to meet the demands of leadership provided an interesting inner view.

No, togetherness was an aspect of all Angelic life, and not something that was particularily alien to him... But being "together" with someone outside of the Collective, working on something as intimate as emotional response and innate reform... This was new to him, this is what was interesting.

He shrugs to himself, and looks across the camp. He helps clean the remnants of the deyr, and gathers the waste products together in a small pile near the forest line. Well, here we go.

A certain finality enters his voice, and he starts off with the group on what very well might be the last adventure of his very long life.

Eadwacer listens to Speaker's epic with a smile. Though he doesn't understand a word, he recognizes it for what it is. Memories of the glorious epics of his forbears parade through his head, as he is once again filled with the joy of the hunt.

The hike takes the party down and out of the mountains, on to the Steppe of the lowest level of the ring plain. vK leads the party to a small rise, that sits above a good-sized lake, fed by a small stream. Inspection of the surrounding areas reveal heavy animal traffic to and from the lake, although no wildlife is currently visible.

"Ok crew, this should be an easy start to the hunt. In about an hour, a heard of Gazylle usually stop here to water. Gazylle is tasty, but, we aren't the only predators in the area. The heard will bring out the Lhyon, which is what we are after. Here is the plan. A few of you will stay here with Legato. The rest will go with me to the other side of the lake. Now, each party will be responsible for watching the area surrounding the other party. The Titan Lyhon has developed a natural active camoflage that is /quite/ effective, so everyone is going to have to stay sharp. I want everyone to remember. This is not a competition. Saftey first, and foremost. Stay out of each others way, I dont want to carry anyone back. Allright. Who feels like a short stalk to the other side of the lake?"

Nathi's demeanor goes dead serious as vK outlines the plan, surveying the area as he describes.

Natural camoflage? Damn. Her eyes shift about, watchful, as her pulse quickening in anticipation.

"I'll go with whichever group you deem me most useful in," she says, "Though this time, given the choice, I'd like to head down to the lake if that works for you, boss."

She routinely checks her weapons again, opting for the crossbow to start with, after a casual glance at Speaker.

Distance first, if possible. Suddenly don't feel quite so thrilled to be that close to working claws and teeth if I can avoid it.

"However we are arranged," Speaker suggests, "we should have a mix of skills. Razak and I are short-ranged, lacking your bows." He motions towards Nathi's as an example. "Thus we should be split between the hunting packs. That way they will be better balanced."

Razak nods, hand on the handle of his knife. "Right. Now, how do we split up? I think I should take this side of the lake, because the tall grass on the opposing side is more Speaker's style. Natural non-mimetic camouflage and all."

Speaker-to-Animals nods. "Makes sense to me."

Pondering that for a moment, Nathicana nods. "You're right. And given my rather obvious lack in height here ..." she looks up at most of the others pointedly, though unconsciously drawing her 5'6" frame up a little more straight.

"Tall grass, not so good. Looks like given that, and my bow, I'd serve better up here where I can see. Should have thought of that."

She doesn't look pleased that she's already, at least in her mind, goofed it. Tugging on her pack, she adjusts the weight again, her jaw set firmly in a determined expression.

Eadwacer turns to vK.

"I too am primarily a bowman, and though not short for my people, I am neither tall for yours (OOC: 5'6"). I think that I would prefer to stay on this side as I prefer hunting in smaller groups, and this side has as yet only one archer."

Xanone smiles and suddenly seems to melt into the background as the tiny optical generators built into his skin begins replicating the images around him.

Natural camoflage? He grins, though they would be hard-pressed to see it.

I can provide air support, of course, or I can try and get as close as possible to flush out our game in an attempt to get it to run towards you...

He shrugs and the optical illusion melts away, bringing him back into view. Whichever would be of more use.

Smiling, Nathicana nods to Eadwacer, quite pleased at the prospect of hunting with him.

So like Papa, comes the random thought. For once, it doesn't make her frown. I ... remember. Quiet strength. Was never too outwardly emotive, but always warm. Always gentle to Mama and me, but no slacker on discipline. Soldati.

She supresses a slight shudder at the word, even now.

Xanone pulling his little stunt definitely makes her shiver, and she doesn't bother to try and hide it, even though her demeanor remains passive.

"Very well. Nathi, Knives, Eadwacer, and Razak will stay here with Legato. I'll take Speaker, Xan, and Siri with me to the far side. I'd like to keep an archer with each melee hunter, just to be on the safe side, so if you spread out, keep that in mind. Xan, I'd like you to stay grounded, the wildlife around here isnt exactly used to something of your size in the air, and I would prefer not to spook our prey. We will be getting into position covertly, Speaker, Xan, Siri, any problems with that?"

Speaker shakes his head. "I have no problems."

Razak curtly nods. "Understood, boss. Ready to roll."

For answer, Nathicana nods to vK, readying her crossbow, shifting the bolt cases to proper, easily reachable locations.

She looks around at those who are to be her team mates and smiles confidently, studying those who are going with the other team to fully fix them in her mind. There would be no mistake in targets here.

"I'm ready," she says with a quiet smile.

Knives unsheaths his short sword, appreciating the dull black blade. Shiny my ass, I'm not giving my position away with a shiny sword. He posts in a nearby tree, climbing up to some low branches, and sinks the short sword into a the side of the tree, keeping it in fast reach.

He unslings the bow he brought with himself, examining it, along with the arrows. Once satified with the bows integrity and the straighness of the arrows, he plops the monocle headset on, twisting the eye piece out of the way, keeping his vision unrestricted.

"vonKarma sir, preference as to how we scan for our prey." He reaches up and taps the monocles. "Its adaptive camo might not hide from a UV scan. Sport or safety?"

"That would be up to you, Knives, depends on how you feel about the hunt."

vonKarma looks to those selected to make the stalk to the other side of the lake, and sets off at a slow, concealed, stalk/walk, carefully placing his feet to make nary a sound.

"Very well."
Knives flicks the scanner onto UV scan, but keeps it cocked up above his eyes.
"We'll try sport first, if I get a bad feeling about it, I'll take a quick peek."

With that, Knives becomes quiet, face set in stone, his eyes and head moving slowly scanning the landscape. Unnoticed to all, but perhaps Legato, Knives slowly senses his surroundings, concentrating on each person in turn, familiarizing himself with their "chi", then casting his concentration abroad, hoping to catch a hint of their prey. Always best to be alert, don't want anyone maimed afterall.

Nathicana watches the others make their quiet way down towards the lake. She scans the area for movement, her crossbow at the ready, her breathing smooth and shallow. Quiet.

She keeps her senses attuned to not only her surroundings, but her companions. Nathi has no qualms using her amplified hearing, straining to pick up and sort the sounds around them. When meeting the gaze of any one of her companions, she gives them a close-lipped, confident smile before continuing her watch, eyes bright with anticipation.

vonKarma leads his party around the lake, pausing before moving into final position. He turns around, and makes a downward motion with his hand. He loosens the straps on his pack, sliding it quietly off. He removes his bow and a quiver of arrows, attaching both to his LBE harness on his back. He motions for the others to do the same, and then drops to a prone position. He crawls foward, without making a sound to the apex of a slight rise. Parting the grass slowly, the lake is revealed.

<<Internal Comm>>
Legato, we are in position. Directly across from you. We have visual contact with you.

I have you, Xeruyu, the others are moving into position now.

Understood, the heard should be here shortly. Get everyone settled in. Pass out the commlinks, but remind everyone that they are to maintain noise discipline.

Understood, out
<<Out>>

vonKarma and Legato turn to their respective parties, and hand everyone a small earpeace tied to the local comms net. Both whisper about not talking unless necessary. Everyone is pointed to positions along the small ridge around the lake. A barely audible whisper comes over the comm.

<<Internal Comm>>
Everyone, Karma here, settle in, the heard should be here momentarily. Make note of the positions of your compatriots.
<<out>>

vonKarma settles into his position, pulling natural camoflage grasses around/on him.

Eadwacer takes his cloak closest in color to the surrounding grasses and wears that on the outside. He then preps his bow and lies motionless, and almost shapeless in a patch of shade (assuming that he can find one). A patch on the ground, almost unnoticible.

Nathicana accepts the earpiece with a nod of thanks, putting it on. She quietly lays down her bow long enough to take off her own pack, and stow it out of the way. Taking her weapon up again, she chooses a spot with both a good view, and sufficient cover. She crouches down low, crossbow snug against her shoulder, muscles tensed to move.

Taking note of her companions, she mentally plotted out possible reactions, taking that into account. And with that, she takes watch quietly, hardly moving, her breathing smooth and shallow as before.

The light of day grows brighter as the party sits in their positions. Suddenly, down by the lake, a single Deyr appears, looking around, seemingly checking out the situation. Not detecting anything, it moves on, to a well worn patch of bank. The rest of the heard begins appearing from the tall grass, by ones, twos and threes, moving to their favored positions around the lake, bending, and drinking deeply.

<<Comm>>
Whisper: On your toes people. Its magic hour.
<<Comm>>

As Nathi looks upon the herd, and scans the opposite bank, there is the slightest of rustle behind her. Creeping slowly through the grass, a Titan RattylSnayke slithers up upon Nathi, and pauses laying perpindicularly across her legs. It flicks its tounge, observing its surroundings, and does not move.

Nathi watches closely, her senses attuned to her surroundings. She watches the Deyr appear quietly out of the grass, smiling as she watches them congregate near the water's edge, her eyes still scanning for movement of another sort.

She registers the slight movement of grass, but thinks little of it, since it doesn't constitute a large animal. Wrinkling and twitching her nose in annoyance at a pesky fly, she stays focused on the scene in front of her ... right until she feels the pressure on her leg. She holds her breath, uncertain of quite what to do.

Dammit ... I take my eyes away, I could miss something critical ... and if I don't ... affanculo, out here what you don't know -can- hurt you!

Keeping herself as still as possible, she judges the weight, the feel of whatever it is on her leg through her khakis. Lizard? She hadn't felt feet ... snake? Likely, but was it one that reacted to movement or heat? Nathi has no idea, not being familiar with all the wildlife here. She wracks her brain for an answer, perspiration trickling down her face, not just from the heat. She blinks it away as best she can.

If I have to move on account of our quarry, I could get bitten. If I make a move for the snake, if snake it is, I could be bitten, both making me a liability to the others. I could draw the attention of our prey which also could be bad. Last and least of all, I could blow our chances at bagging ourselves a Lhyon. She tries to be rational, forcing herself not to twitch her leg.

Nathicana takes a very slow, very quiet breath, letting it out equally slow and quiet, trying to settle her nerves.

Focus. Be ready to react to possible scenarios. Leave it be ... let it crawl off again. Damn thing is going to be wanting shade most likely, won't stay here in the heat.

All the same, despite her brave thoughts ... Nathicana felt suddenly sick.

Eadwacer scans the herd, and then the other members of the party. He then notices the wyrm on the Dread Lady. He removes all but cursory attention from the herd and watches the wyrm intently, cross-bow aimed to take of its head.

Satisfied that the wyrm will not leave seo atelic hlædige without encouragement, Eadwacer looses a bolt. Due to the close range, the snake is successfully decapitated about 2 inches below the head. The bolt embeds itself in the soil about a yard to the lady's side. The speed sends the tip several inches into the ground.

The snake is successfully beheaded by the bolt, but as the head flops to the ground, it begins to writhe and bite in a death reflex that can last for the good part of an hour. It rolls to within inches of Nathi and......stops suddenly, the hilt of a small throwing knife imbedded through the top of its head, pinning it to the ground. A voice, calmer than death itself comes over the comm.

Snayke neutralized. Be still and make no sound.

Members of the heard look up, staring directly at Nathi's position, their tails standing straight up in alarm. Detecting nothing, they resume their activities.

At the 'zip' of the bolt, Nathicana winces, all her muscles seeming to tighten up at once as she clenches her jaw against any impending strikes. Her eyes flicker to the bolt, widening as she sees the head of the snake writhing and snapping. She reflexively bends away from it, preparing to move just as the knife pins it to the ground.

And at that, she flinches, a breath she'd been holding coming out with a quiet shudder, eyes nearly closing in relief. Legato's voice coming across the comm sends a shiver up her spine, and she bites her lip as she looks out at the Deyr.

Serpente maledetto dio, she thinks vehemently, watching the bait settle back to their quiet drinking. All the same, she shivers a second time, glancing to the other side of her and giving Eadwacer a brief smile filled with gratitude and relief, noting to thank both he and Legato at a more appropriate time.

Quietly, she slowly shifts her leg to let the body of the snake slide off to the side, shivering again, unable to allow the thing lay there any longer than she has to.

Nathi is unable to suppress another shiver as she works to regain her focus.

That was simply too damned close.

Xanone can taste her emotion, exitement, tension, nervousness, but no fear....

He almost sighs, but maintains his absolute silence, his body nearly invisible against the background of the high grasses. He lets his eyes shift spectrums, and he glances ever so slowly about.

[Communication{Intercom}] We are in position. Awaiting orders.

As the excitement dies down, there is a sudden flurry of activity from the herd. They are suddenly thrashing about, and as one, bolt towards the north. At the same time, a group of Caype Buffaylo stumble through the high grass, the sound apparently scaring off the Deyr. As the Deyr move off through the grass, several trails appear, without Deyr at the source.

Well, the Lyhons just took off with our bait. However, I think a Caype Buffaylo would not be a bad day's work. Let them get settled in, and we will move in.

Swearing silently, Nathicana watches the Deyr take off, trying vainly to catch a glimpse of the Lyhons.

Goddammit, I blew it. Somehow, I know I blew it. She casts a venomous glance at the impaled snake head, cursing again in her mind, using phrases that would make most 'ladies' faint dead away.

Still, the hunt hadn't ended. There were things to focus on, and she got to it. Settling back in to her crouch as quietly as possible, she put her attention on the Buffaylo.

--Plan of attack? Just give us direction, vK-- she says softly over the comm.

<<Well, the Caype Buffaylo is simply too massive to take with arrows, so that means its time for edged weapons. Any volunteers?>>

[Communication{Intercom}] I will volunteer. I have been meaning to stretch this avatar to its limits, and this is a great place to start.

Count me in ... unless you prefer I didn't. I too have been hoping for something up close. I didn't bring my knives for nothing.

Her tone clearly says she hopes vK won't tell her to stand down. Already keyed up from the snake encounter, her eyes are bright with anticipation, muscles tensed, ready to move.

I believe that I would prefer to sit back on this one. I feel like archery today.

Knives grabs the barbed dagger and cable, tying the cable around the upper trunk where he sat. To the other end of this he tied the cable onto the eyelet of the dagger.

"Would anyone be willing to heard one towards this tree?"