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Far up the run of The Rift, where sand became rock and stretched for miles a dull metal glint stuck from the rock, bent and rusted it stood, a testimate to time. a set of anchors in the rock with ropes leading away and over the cliff was hidden by drift sand and some stones. 

over the cliff, a figure was seen repeling down the cliff face, the void of the black beneth the figure he hopped up and down along to cliff face dropping twenty feet at a time with experianced nerves on the matter, the sunlight glinting off his helmet he stopped down a minute to look to the sun, below him was the Sun-Line the shadow of the opposite side of this minor split in the earth, just ajacent to the main body of the main rift itself. below this point, no sun light had touched since the rift had been made, a place where sunlight could not touch was a dangerous place.

pushing aganst the cliff he dropped into the shadows and dissapered from the light of the life giving sun, and into the shadows of eturnal night and infinate death. 

dropping another hundred feet his foot impacted a metalic object and he stopped there, this was why he had even come. spanning back, and looking around, the corpse of an ancient city locked in stone and split apart by the rift surrounded him. he set another anchor, the sound of metal peircing metal echoed around him, and even a few seconds later as the sound wave came back to him, the lack of response for any animal was unsettleing, this area truly was dead. a time locked city filled with ghosts. it was named "the walls of Rift-Glory" because it was rare to have acsess to levels of buildings as tall as these had once been, it was awe-inspiring to think that all this rock and sand overhead was deposited on this city, whether all at once or over time. just how much time had passed since the old world was cast into legend?

several holes in the rock provided entry into the building. as he set a final anchor the bladed finger tips reached for the super structure of the building and took hold. a pipe broke and spilled forth sand and rust as he stepped foot. the floor was rotted away from the main super structure, the beams of metal crossed down a dozen more levels before he could almost make out flooring piled with the flooring that fell atop it. 

setting an anchor and another rope he dropped down  and landed hard on the metal pile that was the dozen floors above him. a familer hole told him he was near an old lift shaft, approching it he looked down into infinate darkness. 

he stepped down and looked towards the hole to the outside which was far above him. then to the stone wall in front of him which led to the outside. he relaxed a moment, and when he did, the sound of claw on rock  scrapped with dull echoes on the outside, after a moment, twilights eturnal night began to break through. the creature on the otherside clawing vigerously and with minor irritation as the rock and metal was peeled away. a scaled face of teeth and maw poked its head through and looked squarly at Cain. 

he pointed up to the hole a dozen floors over head. "door" the beasts tounge fell out of its mouth and he looked entertained by his own personal window. the beast pulled his head back out, the scales hooking the rock and pulling open a bigger hole. the hound, outside, had its claws latched hard into the rock face, able to scale close to vertical faces, its claw marks showed its path as it let go and clamped down several times on its pat down to Cain.

"well get in here then" the hound squeezed through its own hole and sat on its haunches with that smile only a hound could have. "alright, keep your ears open. we'll wait here for a little"

Cain flopped to the ground and sat down as he took in the sounds of the ruins, his ears ready for any sound, and each sound ready to be inspected with serious scrutiny

Seri watched as Cain made the initial descent. He would always go first clearing the way for her and the others when there were more of them. She double checked her gear and hid her outer clothes deep within some rocks making sure no one would see their camp, as if anyone but their tribe would ever come to this place. Digger danced back and forth from ravine to her side, sniveling a little at the great insult to his pride that he couldn't go down with his friend. She laughed at the comical beast and gave his scaled head a soft rub then tugged playfully on one of his sharp fangs. "Ok go, just try to stay out of trouble." The great hound bounced like a pup and before his feet again touched ground he had turned his body 180 degrees and was racing over the side of the ravine. Rocks and scree falling everywhere. She shook her head, no wonder Cain insisted he was not a very stealthy hound.

Adjusting her mask and checking the gauges as she had been taught she now felt confident to make the descent. Clipping onto the anchor she checks her harness one more time then pushes off over the side of the cliff, following in the path Cain had set out. Scree spills over the side and she makes for the shadow line. Even after all this time she felt some nervousness when she thought about going into that great darkness. But she trusted Cain and knew he would keep them safe. The needed spores and mushies she needed would be deep inside where is was dark and hopefully moist. All the best medicines seemed to come from the most dangerous places. As she made her way down she tried not to think too much about what dwells deep in these ruins but fails and shivers as she thinks on the beemites and Demkii who call these places home. Reaching the shadow line her chills become fiercer and she gives herself a stern mental shake and puts her mind squarely back to business at hand.

Finally she drops down to settle next to Cain, with a certain spider like grace. She had to smile as Digger was near his friend drooling on him. Looking around and down, she lifted her concealed face and grimaced though it could not be seen. “Nice place, where is the bottom...or I should say is that bottom” and she points to the pile of debris below them “going to hold?”

20:09:02Ĉâin : pulling his hood down he began to unwrap his head and shoulders from the length of cloth that protected him from the sunlight. the heavy dread locks fell free. he did this while waiting for her to make her descent. Xrysis sat with ears flipping around and was then joined by Digger, even though he kept to the task at hand, the sound of the ruins>>

20:10:57Ĉâin : were always different than footsteps, drooling, hissing sounds. the genocidal tendancies towards the Demkii he had was something Seri had learned from day one, dragging men women and children into the sun and ending them, the Tehzai were not known to be a kindly or soft hearted people, the Demkii kept them from technology and gaurded it jealously>>

20:13:34Ĉâin : since the beginning of knowledge the Tehzai have always regarded them simply as filth that must be cleared. when she arrived he was looking down the shaft. "it goes down quite a ways, this level will hold so long as something above wont fall" he stepped back and looked up at the darkness above them. "i wouldn’t think the ceiling>>

20:16:08Ĉâin : would fall anytime soon" *chack* the bladed finger tips snapped forward with the sound of a rat trap, extending his hand to some exposed wires there was a blue arc of energy and he remained still as he began to focus. "these wires are served several floors down, i cant see below them..yet" he took another couple minutes, "surrounding floors>>

20:16:38Ĉâin : below us are intact...no sign of life...no sign of anything worth value either" his hand came back~~~

20:18:42ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : Her head swiveled to follow his gaze as he examined the ceiling above them and then looked back down. Ugh she thought going to be a long scramble to the bottom. She use to think the tech the Tehzai used was alien and scary now she depended upon it on a daily basis. She took a breath of filtered air knowing that the poisons they were sure to find -c

20:20:53ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : below would not affect them. She believed that this ruined hole was the planets response to the way the old ones had treated it, a just revenge. Still from death came life and below in all that decay was life giving spores and mushies. Fingering the control panel on her arm she again checked to make sure she was ready. "Well lets" she stopped in -c

20:22:36ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : mid sentence "what was that arc of light?" pointing to the wires. She still was not always sure if energy emitted from their control panels or from the alien debris and always relied upon Cain to clarify. "I register dampness....that means spores." she said expecting him to know that she wanted those said spores. Digger sat quietly nearby -c-

20:23:00ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : waiting for permission to go further, his nose flaring as he took in the new smells. -e-

20:27:55Ĉâin : "shock trace" he said quietly in response to her question. he backed up a few steps and then ran hard to the open hole and leapt without rope or anchor, across the black opening that led to falls unknown to the far side of the shaft. his fingers gripped the rotten metal and rock, hopping diagonal he landed in the corner of the shaft one floor>>

20:29:49Ĉâin : down. pulling a small brick from one of his pockets that crossed over his chest, it filled his hand and was placed against the wall. when he turned and lept down to the next level he had left behind the small brick with a red and green light flickering in the dark upon it. at his next landing he placed another brick and then dropped down again>>

20:32:08Ĉâin : and a forth time, Xrysis sat there with ears flipping around, listening for anything other then their parties movements. "keep an eye out, have digger setup on the 3rd level down, you can look for your goodies between that floor your on and the one above me, i still need to clear the next two, id like to try to get to the sever point>>

20:32:12Ĉâin : in the wires below~~~

20:34:48ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : "Alright, I understand." she called out loud enough he could hear but no louder. "Digger go, defend." she pointed to the level and the massive hound leapt up and make his circuitous way to the targeted spot. She then with rope loose enough for her leap made her jump, leaning forward a bit so as to be balanced when she landed. She didn't like -c-

20:37:28ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : explosives but they were necessary in their line of work. It was very dark here with no natural light but her mask made up for that and she could see quite clearly. Moving around she began to shift rubble looking for pipes or sink type fixtures. Finding a likely spot she fell to her knees and began to dig with a digging tool. She sorted through -c-

20:39:57ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : the rubble and tossed small bits to the side. Then she saw it and dug around some pipes excited at her find. As she dug a hole was widening in front of her and then she saw it. Corona, a tiny blue black spore that was a lifesaver for the Tehzai warriors. It would numb almost any pain and the Corona was very rare, and it was also out of her -c-

20:41:15ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : reach, her gloves fingers just a whisper away. She leaned forward and then froze, as she felt the floor giving way. "Cain, I need you. The floor is weak here." she didn't yell, she didn't panic, she simply froze waiting for Cain to pull her back to safety. -e-

Ĉâin : "on my way, look for an anchor point to grab onto if it gives before i get there." he scaled a support beam like an iron worker scaleing a single vertical beam, at the halfway point up he brought his feet up and crouched against the wall looking strait up to the the inky blackness that was over them. he could see Xrysis standing quite catlike >>

20:46:48Ĉâin : on the horizontal beam on the level they came in at with ears flicking around and no sign of alarm. Cain pushed off the wall into a backflip, his hands catching the super structure of the ruins where the floor Seri was on began. his body faced away from her as he had grabbed the ledge with a reverse grip, muscles flexing hard he brought his feet>>>

20:47:56Ĉâin : up and over until his knees touched the floor and he was left knelt down and looking down the drop. it didn’t take but a minute to arrive to her from there~~~

20:49:54ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : She looked around and reached for a point that might anchor her but froze again when she heard the ominous creaking. This was the part of combing the ruins she hated. She even after all this time was only a fair climber, even having the best teachers in the world. But she was not born to this life and she couldn't make her muscles do the feats -c-

20:51:53ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : of climbing every Tehzai could do as youths. She lay on her belly now to spread her weight out to reduce the strain on the floor. Her eyes keeping track of the precious Corona. Digger started to give a low keen feeling the jeopardy Seri was in wanting to come to her, but his training forbade it. "I can't get to the anchor, sorry." she -c-

20:53:22ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : said in soft tones. "Maybe just ...I don't know attach another rope? We have to get that Corona." she would risk anything to bring the precious plant back, it was the only thing that really helped with serious operations or amputations. -e-

20:57:26Ĉâin : by the time she finished her sentence he was already near her but still away from the weak point. his eyes looked about the hall, experienced eyes looking for key points of weakness and strength. "sounds good" pulling a rope that was slung around his torso from left hip to right shoulder. he tied one end off at a support beam closest>>

21:02:10Ĉâin : to them. then he tossed the entire mass of rope over her where it landed in the dark in a thump. Xrysis and Cains head both snapped in the same direction at once. the air was still and silent, but the scales on Xrysis began to lift, he didn’t make a sound but he could tell somthing was there. Cain didn’t say anything instead he turned and walked>>

21:04:22Ĉâin : along the seam of the hall around her. his footsteps were almost unheard as he got around her and picked up the rope mass, tieing off the other side and using the slack to tie himself off for a three point system and moved to reach for her, he signaled for her to try for the pulled taut rop that went from beam to beam. he was there as backup>>

21:04:40Ĉâin : incase the floor gave out before she could grab the taut rope~~

21:06:51ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : She tensed, Digger's keening had stopped and she knew he was on the move. That meant there was something else going on, he wouldn't break his post unless it was dangerous. She watched Cain and when he signaled she reached out for the rope, her fingers almost to the rope she used her elbows and inched forward a bit more the floor beginning to -c-

21:08:31ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : give. "Well...frick." she jerked forward as best she could from her spread eagle belly position on the floor and grabbed for the rope, closing fingers around it just as the floor fell away from beneath her. Her body went following the floor until she was jerked up short by her hand on the rope. Now she pushed her other hand forward and grabbed -c-

21:10:09ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : trying to still her dangling feet. Pulling on the rope she got her feet on a solid edge and got to safety. "Go, I am fine." she motioned with hand signals and anchored herself solidly before looking for weapons. She needed to be safe and out of his way if there was a problem, he was more effective that way. She felt Digger closer now and so she -c-

21:11:00ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : sat back and waited for the commotion to start. Her gaze went to the Corona and she sighed, then brought her thoughts back to the business at hand, survival.-e-

Ĉâin : when she got to safety he knelt down and gripped her arm securely to finish pulling her in, even then he walked her several feet beyond the safe area and then released her. he untied himself and looked towards the gap that led to the shaft, Xrysis was standing there looking down the hole with ears flicking about. Cain took the >>

21:15:33Ĉâin : time to wrap the rope up and put it back around his torso while Xrysis kept an eye out. "can you still get what your after?" he looked back to the hole that was created from the floor giving way. ~~~

21:18:31ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : She looked from him to the Corona and she fretted then nodded holding up her hand to stay him from removing her ropes. "Anchor me." she said and then stepped off into the void, kicking a bit she would swing her body towards the Corona, arcing more and more for distance. Soon as she was able she latched onto an iron bar with her left hand and -c-

21:20:09ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : then with her right dug up the plant. She deftly tucked it into her belt pack and then with both hands on the rope began to swing again. Reaching the ledge Cain was on she grabbed out for the edge then pulled herself up sitting carefully her feet still dangling. "Thanks, we needed that plant." she said without apology. She would never endanger -c-

21:20:55ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : him unless it was important and this was very important. Digger was close but very quiet. "Cain, what is it?" she asked as she pushed from the edge. -e-

Ĉâin : he checked her over for injury when she returned. "if i knew that id be much better at what i do" standing now after checking her over. "could be nothing, after the floor caved in i doubt we will be left alone for long if there is an issue" he moved around the hole and returned to the shaft and looked down with Xrysis. >>

21:29:10Ĉâin : he looked to the hound and motioned with his head, the hound gurgled a bit of distaste but lept out and began to return topside. Cain lowered himself down to the ledge untill he was hanging again. "im going to drop down to the severed wires. we should be okay long enough for that" he let go of the ledge and dropped down two floors and landed with>>

21:31:55Ĉâin : a notable echo that rummbled through the ruins on a cross beam. rubble was braced across the shaft and bridgeing the hole. severed wires hung from above. below in the dark he could see the wires where they were cut, standing crouched with arms outstretched for balance for his landing he looked down the two halls at this area and said nothing>>

21:33:49Ĉâin : his fingers reached out and touched the exposed wireing, a flash of blue energy extended from his finger blades to the wires and he fell silent and became part of the ruins and was as stone~~

21:36:44ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : She found herself a solid defensible position and began to lay out her weapons. Of course her knives and even her tools were weapons but her favorite was her pocket cross bow. The darts reloaded extremely fast and were dipped in a special knockout substance. She didn't use poison because most Demkii were immune to most poisons but if knocked -c-

21:37:42ᵜѕєѓіᵜ : out they were not immune to being gutted. Digger was moving towards Cain shadowing him to be his back up with Xrysis. She slipped back into her cubby hole and waited until Cain would give the all clear. -e-

the metalic sound of his exhale shunted in the dark, followed by another intake, he was useing the rebreather of his mask to limit out much exhale he produced and in turn how much noise. the release and intake may have been a bit louder than he liked but it kept him able to avoid continuous breathing through the mask and keep himself and his scent contained to a degree. 

the wires he kept the bladed tips to were still intact much further down, the distance he could expand his knowledge of this ruin took time, the longer the distance, the bigger the ruin, ussualy ment he needed more time to visually map the ruins. a grease pen was produced to his other hand and he began to write numbers on the beam he stood on. lifting the grease stick he wrote on the wall the level number he was on, on the wall. 

Xrysis' ear perked and he leaned over the hole and began his second decent, dropping three levels at a time untill he landed on the plateform Cain was croutched on, now identified as the lift itself, wedged and welded in place by its sudden drop eons ago. Xrysis looked to Cain who only motioned with his head. the hound pushed itself down one of the two opening that led into the blackness below. 

as Xrysis moved down, Cain sat, knelt on his knees with hands resting on his thighs he seemed to be focusing while Xrysis moved into the darkness level after level strait down with not so much as a sound. every so offten Cains hand lifted to write another number down on the beam beside him. lines of various angles were representations of things like; water, fungus, energy, and tech. Numbers and other items were dotted along with these lines, to any passer by it was a mess of grafetti with no purpose. to him...notes for a successful dive~~

"i think were okay for now, Seri" his voice echoed up from below, the metalic echo from the beams around him. "come on down, ive give us some good starting points" 

Xrysis was dozens of levels below moveing in the darkness the sound of running water could almost be heard by his keen hearing but it was quite a ways off, the dark tan hound padded through the halls of a world lost to time, and the further down he went the more clean, and intact the building was, the moisture had destoryed everything it could, crystals were growing down here, blueish and greenish groaths of the crystals stuck from corners where they could form, the pitch blackness of the ruins gave nothing away, luckily Xrysis and his eyes were fairly trained in the dark. he nosed a large disk on the ground and recoiled at the soft texture, the top of a fungis that was over a foot  around caught him somewhat off guard. his head lifted and he moved off down another path, one of now dozens which might split into a hundred as less and less collapse was present.

Cains bladed finger tip pointed at the markings beside him. "no tech to note, but there are dozens of major groath locations, there are some crystal formations far down id like to look at, could be worth while" he stood and rested his hands on his hips looking down. "we should stay within ten halls from this shaft with no more than two deviations from the main halls leading away from the shaft. further down we should limit that to no deviations and only five halls down." 

if she had joined him he would have offered her by now a grease pen to mark her path to keep track of where she had been and to mark the direction of the main shaft. "ive labeled this level: 'number 7', each level down we will count up, level 8 is below us, and so on. keep me posted on which level you are at." though his face did not change or give anything to what he said or the emotion, the mask he wore hid all that, but she could hear the concern for safty and her well being in what he said, he sounded comfortable with the area too. which helped with confidence in what they were doing.

A smile grew on her face as she listened to the man and his hound, Digger had, not surprisingly, stayed close to her. She had learned that Cain was methodical in his seeking. Soon as he called up to her with the all clear she stood and began her careful preparation for the descent. Checking her gear yet again she felt confident that she was ready and followed him down.

The crystals always fascinated her and she would gather some for the clan's alchemist if she had the space and time but her primary focus was locating and gathering fungus and spores for medicines. After dropping three floors she thought she could discern water near, precious life giving substance that it was, it was not always pure. She wondered if it was tainted with too much ether. She wondered this because of all the crystals growing about.

Digger, happy to be moving again, didn't wonder anything. He strained to join his friend Xrycis. Though the huge hounds looked and were indeed fierce killer beasts, they had a fun side and those who where linked with them saw the joy they took in their surroundings and each other. Often these huge beasts could be found playing tumbling around together like common pups. She laughed softly to herself when she thought on this, especially her own beast, Digger, loved to play more than life itself. He sometimes could be such a clown.

Grease pen in hand she carefully marked her way as she moved, sometimes stopping to dig at corners or pull debris around checking for her mushies she sought so diligently. Stopping to stretch her back for a moment she just got sight of Cain not far ahead and under her mask grinned. He had taught her so much in the last few years allowing her to become independent in her own right. The clan taught each member a self reliance even her Nomadii family didn't have. Before she would avoid such ruins as these as being simply too deep and dangerous to investigate and when first meeting Cain would have thought him insane to suggest to her that she could hunt deep inside here. Now with his training and the help of the clan she felt much more comfortable in deep diving and spelunking in these dangerous ruins.

Reaching his side at last she simply would say “Sorry to have kept you waiting.” then hold up a bag of what he would presume to be her prize mushies. “Is that water I hear?” she asked as she tried to peer past him. They seemed to be deep now and every level down meant that much more danger. Even so she was not deterred from the thought of finding that source of water.

*CHAK* the blades that rang the length of his fingers snapped forward  and over his finger tips. these tips were formittable in their own right, each blade was an un-segmented four inch length of steel, scavenged and repurposed. when stowed they ran from the second knuckle of each finger back over the top of the hand stoping shy of the wrist, when extended they snapped forward like a rat trap and ran from his primary knuckle, out and over his finger tips for use as a tool or weapon. in this case, a weapon. with a swift strike he left four gougeing claw marks into the metal panel of a large box on the wall with several wrapped and ruined cords entering the box. with little regaurd to damageing the box his left hand gripped the door to the wall wounted box and tore its ruined hindges from the main body and tossed it aganst the opposite wall in a single motion.

within were what was left of plastic switches, the ruined wires ran down into these switches. he pulled the face off the switches and exposed broken tubes of glass with some tiny wires inside. the broken ones were ignored, but out of the several dozen present, he managed to salvage  at least nineteen fuses from the box that were useable. the spares, left behind dureing the last epoc were still safty wrapped in heavy duty plastic that hadnt begun to show signs of being broken down. he lifted the plastic knowing the prize saftly contained within. he began to pocket saftly those he knew to be perfect for use, and pocketing those of questionable status in another pocket.

his bladed finger tips gripped the top of the face panel and he pulled down, ripping the rusted panel aganst the long gone screws, and pulling it free with a spray of rust particulates, the dampness of the air produced little dust and mostly chunks. behind that panel was the precious metals. the coppers, now rusted over with green irons, dragging the claws aganst the wires and stripping them of the iron produced a beautifull and clean copper color. after several moment of prep he was pulling the wires directly out of the walls and from their plastic electrical tubing. he wrapped from hand to elbow and when the wires came loose from a broken area  he tied the ends off and hung the mass of copper from his main chasis of armor.

he glanced over his shoulder to Seri approching as he was securing the copper to himself. *CHAK* his blades retracted along his hands and he turned to face her. lifting the flap of her bag to inspect the mooshroms as they spoke. "it sounds like water, but with the crystal groath, i doubt it would be worth our time." he lifted a pinkish crystal up to her face, it was the size of his hand, it was one crystal itself, haveing been broken off at the main groath point. "but i bet these are bigger down there...think we can find a buyer for them?" he wasnt about to go out of his way for somthing useless, crystals either sold well or not at all. he hadnt checked on the market value of crystals since the war ended.

Tilting her head to one side she considered the crystals he mentioned. At one time the scientists in Nuasis would buy them up, always needing more for their research, now, not so much. Even their own alchemists only wanted certain ones. “I have room for a few of the nicer ones but sadly I don't think there is much of a market anymore.”

Looking around her she noticed a darker area down a hallway and proceeded to make her cautious way towards it. Staying close to the walls in case the flooring should give way as it was often known to do. Her hands, clawed as well but not nearly as fierce looking as Cain's, dragged along the wall making a scratching sound. The tips of her claws curved and meant more for digging still would make marks on the walls and leave a dragging line wherever she touched. Finally she reached the darkened area and peered in. Mounds of debris and rotting materials everywhere. She crept in and knelt down sifting through the debris, deep within were remnants of bone and she pushed that away as well. Finding bones in these ruins was no surprise to her. Finding them in any good condition was always interesting for time and moisture, and ether had rotted most of them away. As she pushed the debris around seeking any growth of fungus she noticed a glint and began to dig around it. In just moments she pulled a rare find towards her and began to examine it. “Cain, I think I found some of the old timers jewelery.” She called out with a tiny bit of excitement in her voice. It appeared to be a bracelet of sorts and was about an inch and a half wide with segmented sections. It had a clear glass face and tiny symbols under the face. She brushed away the debris and pocketed the find to give to Cain. Whenever jewelry was found it usually meant precious metal as anything less than silver and gold would have rotted away by now and she knew he would be elated. Before leaving she continued to search for her mushies but finding none decided to return to Cain.

Making her way back she was just as careful and listened for the sounds of Cain and the hounds further in. Once back to her start point she knelt down again and pulling the shiny find from her pocket began to look at it much closer, using a tiny light. It had ancient writing on the back and while she was intelligent she had never learned the old script. The letters she knew though because she always thought they were interesting and had made a game of learning them with Cassandra. As she looked she saw rol_x and some even smaller letters. It was yellow in color and as she looked closer under the clear face there were three more circles. Shrugging she lay it in her lap and waited. The ancients were odd she thought. “I should send Digger out to catch us a Kimari so we can eat, what do you think?” she called out again. Cain would not stop for food if he became interested in a ruin but she knew that it was best to eat when you could because things could become very interesting in the desert quickly and you may not get another chance to eat for a long time.

he took the trinket from her with a mild snatch, old world trinkets had a habit to inspire the tinkerer. in his spare time while sitting in the cities he was known to sell and somtimes give away little bobbles to the city children, things that spun and made music when spun, cranks that turned gears that made little metal carvings of hounds dance in circles, on occasion and with the right materials he had been able to make upgrades to his suit, his armor, his weapons, and sell the old off for well needed supplies. Money was useless to a man whom kept on the move.

he lifted the golds and silvers to look closly at with a knowable sight, "a time-keeper" he rolled it into his other hand. and pointed with his free hand. "i believe they use similar devices in the advanced cities, but these from the old-ones told them when to eat, when to sleep, when to work, when to breed...i wonder if this 'RolX' was this persons deity" he offered it back to her. "good find, it may fetch a good price" he made note to keep an eye out for other things of value. "it proves one thing for certain....these ruins havent been touched by this worlds hands yet" he was happy about that, ruins that hadnt been touched were rare, they were hard to reach, hard to explore, and ussually had beasts undisturbed for millina stalking about within.

by this time he had long since abandoned the crystal he had found, rocks were heavy. "its a good idea to get some food" Xrysis came around the corner and looked at them both, "go with Digger, keep an eye out for anything thats different on the way back up, make sure we arnt being stalked" Xrysis backed up from the corner he had come from behind and was heard running off. "yes i know, make sure that doesnt happen" he shook his head and continued down the path to a collapsed floor that created an incline down past several floors.

looking down the incline he held his hand against the wall and studied the incline. "theres natural light down there, id worry about an Ether vein" he side stepped and lifted his chin to see if that might gain him a better vantage point....it did not. the idea that these ruins were untouched made him all the more curious what was below, but the idea of Ether poisoning was not on his list of the days priorities. in rare occasions, light that existed where it should be pitch black had prooven to be the most valuable find, technology still in working order, sheilded somehow, in all his knowledge it had happened twice within the clans history.

*(rolls dice at keyboard)*

putting a foot out on the incline he put his weight on it. "several floors are collapsed, wait here till i get to the bottom. lets not tempt fate more than we already are" he said with somewhat of a nervous laugh in his words. his claws deployed themselves and he began to slid down the steep angled ramp that dropped into darkness with a faint glowing light at the base. his claws provided stability on the walls as he went. the ramp was almost forty foot in length.

halfway down the ramp it cracked loudly, enough that dusty light streaks came through the floor and speckled the ceiling. the ramp shifted downwards by half a foot and before it reached that mark Cain had thrown himself aganst the wall he was traceing with claws jammed into the cement walls as deep as he could have gotten them, the added benefit of adrenaline allowed them to go a bit deeper than he probably would have been able normally.  the ramp buckled and fell another dozen yards, it took with it massive chunks of flooring with it, it ripped super structure apart from itself and sent up a massive cloud of debris from the building  collapseing internally. the cloud was thick, dark, and humid.

the upswelling of the impact wrenched Cain from his grip and sent him up into the intact ceiling a floor over him, which then buckled and fell apart as Cain fell from the height to follow the several floors below, dissapering into the cloud and the faint light that emminated from down below.  as the thunderous sound echoed through the halls and slowly came to stand still, the air becoming mute from the dust absorbing sound. the sound of smaller peices still falling could be heard falling into water. the dust was not about to settle anytime soon and in the dark came no reply from Cain

She took back the trinket from Cain and found a pocket for it. She had no need for money but the tribe might have a need and so she would give it to the leader. It made her happy she found something interesting and she took some pride in that.

“Digger go with Xrysis and find us a nice fat one.” she bade the huge hound and had to laugh adding “Don't chew out the heart this time, please.” and watched as the hound bounded off following Xrysis who had already received his orders. Of the two Xrysis was the most dependable and better trained, she could only suppose it had to do with their upbringing. Xrysis raised and trained by the most independent people in the known world, the Tehzai and Digger raised by her, a quiet healer who tended to overindulge her hound and spoil him, forgiving him all his transgressions.

Her attention was brought back to Cain when he mentioned the 'natural' light from below and that would cause her to furrow her brow. If it was an ether vein it would be bad news for them and she was not eager to explore it. If it was technology then Cain would be over the moon with excitement to explore and it meant most likely they were the first humans to explore here. Being first was not always a good thing and she began to stand to watch his descent, a trickle of fear crawling up her spine.

She didn't have to wait long for her fear to be realized and she called out, unable to keep the fear and terror from her voice. “Cain?” ….. “Cain....can you hear me, are you alright....Cain answer me... please!!!” Getting no reply she called out to the hounds and then began her own descent. Each step time consuming and agonizing as she had to go slow, not wishing to have her own accident. She had to be safe if she was to be any good to Cain. She worked her way back and forth like a crazed spider winding it's way down the dark shaft. Dust filled the air and rubble slid and skidded under her hands and feet but she continued down the shaft. “Cain????” Only silence answering her call.

Xrysis ran down the orignial shaft with his claws  leaveing behind large chunks from the wall to pepper the ground below, the hounds claws gripped hard, acting more like grappling equipment than normal hounds claws. he had left Digger in the dust and was in a full blown sprint through the ruined halls laced with the scribbles and markings left behind by his partner. instead of takeing the same path back he found the hole that Seri had almost fallen through before and ducked through it to the next level down and without missing a beat took off again to leave claw marks in the ground behind his landing. 

deep within the new damage of the building, a shadowy figure skulked through the ruins, this far down, in very good condition, in fact they seemed too good, as if maintained. this cloaked figure walked with labored steps as it decended into the halls, in the clutches of this figure he was draging a large burden, in the figures hand was the fore-arm of a body being dragged behind him, dead of unconscious the figure made no attempt to struggle against being dragged down the hall, where soon anotehr cloaked figure joined the first, and the dead weight of the dragged figure was shared, the pair continued down the halls and soon another set of stairs.

at the landing where Cain would have landed the source of the light was revealed, though now destoryed by the collapse of the structure overhead, the remains of lamps could be seen, dark green purple flames emminated from the remains. further down the hall which had not been destoryed at this level, the dim green light could be seen leading off into the distance, for humans the light was far too dim to see without aid. but for creatures that dwelled within the dark, it was akin to normal day-light. When Seri would reach this point, for all her caution she would see the blur that was Xrysis speeding past her with an un-appreciation to the danger, the hounds form dissapered around the bend far ahead, leaveing behind several deep claw marks in the cement from the high speed, sharp corner turn.

blurry vision returned to Cains sight, a headache, he was moveing...was he still falling? his senses returned sluggishly, there was a jolt and he was airborn again, he could feel himself freefall, but only for a moment before he hit the ground hard. he groaned and rolled onto his back after landing hard on his side. the sharp pain told him he had broken one or more ribs from his fall down the large hole. breathing was awkward, but possible. the air was damp, it smelled off...but not bad. his eyes opened wide as he wondered why the air smelled like this, his hand went to his face, his mask, now missing. the sound of clicking came to ear and he turned with his hand still covering his face, his eyes sighting between fingers. he took a couples steps back at a pair of figures arriveing from a doorway in the dark. without his mask it was almost impossible to see. one was large, more than likly a beemite given the circumstances. the other he assumed was the Demkii. 

looking around he saw the area was a circle, an arena. his eyes formed spite and hatred and he lowered his hands to his dirty cloths, the sound of cloth ripping echoed the arena which was chattering full of clicks and wispers in tounges. the torn cloth was pulled to Cains face and he covered his face with the cloth from the nose down, only his eyes and those facial tattoos of his were able to be seen, his black hair, clumped and muddy made him look like a wild animal, his eyes did not tell otherwise.

hands sliding behind his back he discovered his weapons were missing, his hands came back around *CHAK* his claws snapped forward, however the claws on his right hand were damaged and could not eject. his vision slowly began to adjust to the dark, the beemite was larger than any bee mite he had seen before, his hands came up, ready to kill, he knew every move a beemite could make, years of his life dedicated to the genecide of the beemites and demkii, they had no idea who they just pulled in for this display. he had never heard of demkii takeing trophies before, and battleing for sport like this. he looked around a moment to see it was only the two figures with him. a fair fight was unheard of by the Demkii as well.

the large figure came at him then, the unholy hiss got closer, he brought his armored hand up and slammed his fist down to where the beemites pintchers were, the head snapped down, the force had been enough to stagger the beast with a wonderment of wondering what just hit it. Cain came around the figure to go for the soft spots he could find blind folded and landed several hard hits to somthing that was NOT infact a beemite. his eyes unable to see in this darkness managed to catch a hooked and devilish thing in the air over the figure...a tail? his memory scanned for anything like this and came up empty. he lept back hard and out of range to where the humanoid figure was already standing. his foot trailed in the dirt and brought him around he began to dodge the shadowy figures novice-level attacks. was he fighting a warrior? or was he the product of training for the youth? only fighting a shadow he was able to see an opening and drew his claws hard over the abdomen of the figure, the claws slashed out and through the figures armor, the sound of armor hitting the ground was a pleaseing sound...but the smell of bloodit wasnt familer

the figure with the tail. came up behind him and as that tail came back to recoil and strike out a third party had joined the fray. it bit down on the tails base and it dragged the tailed figure away from Cain and threw it aside with a snarl. Cain brought his teeth to bare and sneered a snarl not too different from Xrysis who had just arrived. "just in time" Cain closed his eyes and used Xyrsis's sight instead of his own. surprize and shock came to his attention. "theyre not..." 

Skidding to a stop barely avoiding pitching over a ledge she knelt and looked at what was before her. She had no clear understanding of what she was seeing. This was not beemites or Demkii, at least not like any she had seen. Making herself flat on the rocks she pulled out her hand crossbow, her one relic she had kept from her time with the Nomadii. It was a family heirloom and she loaded it now silently sending prayers to the ancestors to guide her hand. She was an expert with the crossbow and while the dart was tiny it had acidic secretions on it even the poison immune Demkii feared. She had laced it with the acid secretions from the desert worm.

The humanoid figure seemed to have an armored head and the chest as well. She puzzled over this then with hellish intent she aimed for the section between his legs. If it was humanoid and built along the same lines as the rest of the humanoids on this blighted planet it was going to be in for a whole world of hurt, male or female, it didn't matter. The first one missed and to this she was not surprised or worried because not it turned to face her full on and she did not miss with the second one. With a very satisfying 'thunk' it sank home and she smiled an unholy smile as she heard the howl. This should give Cain some help she thought briefly.

Digger was now at her side and she mind linked with him to let her instructions flow faster, fear pushed aside as anger laced about and through her with her one thought being, destroy. She could see Cain was hurt but couldn't let that cloud her mind for now. She loaded her crossbow once more as Digger flew down the face of the rock and metal structure, scree and debris flying as his clawed feet gained purchase. His cowling, the armed and dangerous scaling about his neck, now at full aperture, his growls menacing as he leapt upon the back of the tailed one.

She made herself a defensive hole in the wall where she could shoot her darts, though she only had four left, so she would have to make them count. When she was backed into her hole she played with the dials and gauges on her mask, sending out a help signal. Cain would most likely be displeased she had reacted this way but she had never seen such beasts before and felt they needed backup. Her job now was to make sure they lived long enough to greet the tribe members when they arrived. Carefully she lay out daggers and digging tools preparing to fight.

the figure before him dropped as it pulled the thin bolt from bewixt its legs, it didnt take long for the figure to fall over without a hint of ability to continue. he wasnt sure what had occured due to his inability to see. his eyes shut Xrysis gave him a 3rd person veiw of himself and the figure now laying on the ground. he turned his head and Xrysis mimiced the turn without any delay to turn and see Digger come from the darkness and latch onto the tailed creature. Though distressed by the hound on its back, it seemed more concerned with returning to the fallen figure on the ground at Cains feet. its tail came down in an atempt to crush Digger with it against the spines lineing its back. one way or another it would go to protect the figure on the ground. 

Cain lept sidelong away from the legs that threatend to trammple him being between the two foes, Xrysis moved to form a barrier between the tailed monster and Cain, both figures took deffensive stances to make themselves apper larger but made no atempt on one another, each beast protecting their partner debilitated thus far by the fight so rapidly sprung onto them. regaurdless of the confusion and frantic actions that both parties took, no other figures from the seats overlooking the arena made a move to aid or stop what was going on within the arena, one of their kin was possibly dead and they watched the deadlock between the two beasts protecting their own.

Cain stood almost blind, he could see outlines of figures in the dark, made of dark, his eyes played tricks at times and made black blotches apper where there was nothing, every so offten he would swat at one, Xrysis wasnt looking at him so he couldnt use his sight to see if infact he was safe. 

Seri's alert to the tribe would issue an alert on his own tech, he lifted his arm to the acsess pad on his fore-arm and lifted the protective armor over the pad, crimson lettering would cast a dull redish hue over his form. he clicked with disapproval, his fingers traceing the pad and activating the command that reported that help had arrived and further notice would be needed before the clan would need to send out its Stalkers. as such, Seris own pad would clear the alert and ready a 'stand-by' alert.

Seri would find her exit blocked by several members of this race, at this range she would see the compound eyes that saw her clear as day, the tribal paint that seemed similar to the ones on cains face, and the symbols on their sashes were also familer, but hard to place in a way. they made no move to attack her but only kept her ability to flee shut. behind them were an equal number of the large tail beasts that clicked and hissed with dissaproval, they drooled a caustic fluid on the ground that smells like acid and rot.

"xrysis....find my mask" he spoke low, the hound dejected this idea with a serious dislike. Cain repeated himself, very calmly. "Xrysis...just..go find my mask" the hound moved sideways and away from cain with eyes squarly focused on the creature. he lept back to rattle off a threat that echoed off the walls of the arena, the beast hissed in response and mock charged at the hound with a dislike of being yelled at. the hounds nostrils flared with irritation and he moved off to follow his nose whcih led him to the arena wall

the hound looked up at a large figure, much like the one laying either dead or unconscious in the arena, but larger, and older. it stared at the arena with a stoic nature and only looked away when it noted Xrysis had climbed up the wall with a stalking hatred, its hackles up on end and eyes stareing at this figure. Cains eyes closed and he brought his senses to form with his hounds to get a look at this thing whom had Xrysis more worked up than the beast that stared now only at Cain. 

the figure looked slowly to Xrysis and stood just as slow, the scent of death and experiance wafted off this figure with nothing shy of total and complete control in this encounter. Cain mentaly warned Xrysis to watch out, Cains face plate hung off his belt like a trophy. Xrysis looked up at the towering figure and moved slowly and with much care, closeing the distance getting closer. the hound lifted its head and opened its mouth, its teeth scraping the face plate with carefull motion, he was going to take it right off the figures belt.

Cain and Xrysis both had their nerves to the max, they were going to act before anything else could, all of Xrysis was tense, its possible the hound would have been able to leap to the ceiling if the tension released. when the strap that held the mask onto the belt became tight Xrysis looked at the figure dead in the eyes and jerked quickly which snapped the mask from the belt, again, the unbearably tense situation was controled by this stoic figure whom allowed this to happen. with the mask free Xrysis leapt strait back, haveing never taken his eyes off the figure that stood resolute that it infact allowed the hound to take the mask back. 

Xrysis returned to cain with a trot and offered the mask, the smaller figure laying in the dirt began to stir, alive, but not well, something akin to vomit came up from it and it coughed weakly. Cain pulled the cloth from his face and pressed the faceplate to its place, it caught its place, Cain replaced the nessassary hose lines needed, the mask could be heard sealing itself. his mask did the work his eyes could not, and in the darkness cain examined himself and then lifted his head to turn and look to Seri in the distance. "are you alright?" the unknown race as well as the visitors known as Cain and Seri both seemed in question as to who the other party was, both not expecting this it was clear to see. 

Watching the scene below her, it all seemed to move at a horrible slow motion pace. Her dart had hit true and she watched with a certain coldness as the creature fell to the ground and began to writhe holding his nether region. The acid was doing it's work dissolving soft tissue, designed to help the worm in digestion, it was deadly on flesh. She could not see that they were in a very dangerous fix. She could watch but she could not leave her defensive hole. She looked to see Digger doing his best to take down the large tailed beast, or at least dogging it enough to keep it occupied while Cain and Xrysis got into a better position.

She watched Xrysis as he went to the large central figure and snatched the mask from off of his belt. It puzzled her that he made no attempt to stop the beast. She was deadly sure that the figure could prevent Xrysis from removing the mask if it so wanted. It was becoming clear to her this was some kind of game or test, a hideous amusement for their unlikely hosts.

She fingered the crossbow in her hand and looked directly at the central figure, her mind calculating distance and effectiveness. She held back from any actions figuring that attacking him might make their situation much worse. At Cain's question she frowned though of course her facial expressions could not be seen. “I am good for now but trapped.” she wanted to say more but wasn't sure if that would be a bad idea. “The Stalkers?” she asked cryptically wanting to know if she should attempt any other communication with them. For the time being she had to follow Cain's lead if they were to get out of this situation alive. She lay her remaining four bolts out before her in readiness, one secured in the crossbow itself and again looked at her knives and digging tools.

“Digger, listen to Cain. Digger obey Cain.” she called out to the hound annoying the tailed beast. She enforced her voiced commands with a mental push to make the hound listen to someone else. Utaia hounds were linked at birth and would only follow their partner's commands but would if pressed obey another temporarily, in a fashion. She could only hope that the bond that Digger shared with Xrysis was strong enough to allow Cain to command her hound now as well.

"The Stalkers are days away im sure, whatever is going to happen will happen before they could arrive, cant let our own problems become problems to the rest of the clan"

he could feel the acknowledgement from Digger to Seri, he didnt like links with other hounds, its why hounds chose their partners from a very young age. it was difficult to use two hound to the extent he had been able to pair with Xrysis, sight was split but doubled, scents were doubled but differed enhances yet confused senses, it was enough to make him light headed. "Digger, dont worry about obeying..just follow the lead" his senses ran back along Digger and to Seri. his mind unable to truly communicate to her through words due to this splicing of bonds but it was his hope she would feel his pressence and his intention. patience was the feeling. 

Digger would leave the tailed creature alone now and skit back towards cain, a hound on either side of him he let his hand rest on each of their heads and lowered his head to focus, he hadnt done a duel bond in over ten years, it was somthing one had to get used to again. the lack of training Digger had from the Tehzai upbringing made his bond more difficult, experiances from youth impacted groath and development, they differed from how Xrysis had been brought up.

a pair of the humanoid figures walked from a gate which laid behind the fallen and sickly figure, they gathered which was now identified as a youthfull version of the humanoids. the arena was a game of trials, skill, and learning. the youth had failed his task...he had focused too intently on the seen, that he did not see the hidden, and although Seri had missed with her first bolt, the youth had not noticed the miss, the reload, and all other identifing signs untill it was too late. the tailed creature, now relieved from the burdon of Digger trying to get through its armor moved backwards with its partner as he was safely escorted from the arena.

as the three figures left the arena, another, taller and larger humanoid came out and under hand-tossed one of cains hatches which landed with a clang and slid along the ground to cains feet, the figure was armed with a spear made from metals. Cain smirked and took a few steps forward and scooped up his hatchet. he slid the hatchet behind his back into its sheath and backed up to his starting position. "Seri, dont do anything rash" another humanoid figure arrived to join the first this one also armed with a spear. these figures had left their partners behind, the menancing tails twitching in the dark on the other side of the gate. 

at this point it was obvious he was being challenged. the several figures by Seri brought their weapons to hold and moved away from Seri for the moment, this seemed to have been done without speech, but as the several members move away they could be heard talking. one stayed behind with its arms crossed, it seemed more interested in the fight in the arena than Seri, but somone had to make sure the stranger wouldnt make herself a threat.

three on two wasnt bad odd for him, even though he was wounded, both sides had to fight an unknown entity with unknown skills, the question cain had running through his mind was his wondering if these were advanced students, or the race's warriors. the two figures before him brought their weapons up in a flash, they stomped their lead foot forward and roared a battle challenge at this masked figure with the two hounds. 

Cain lept forward and slammed his fists into his chest and responded in kind, his roar turned metalic through his mask, the shock of his fists impacting his chest sent burning pain through his ribs, but the pain was ignored, he would not show weakness. the two hounds and their pride echoed throughout the large arena chamber with a resonateing threat, called to fight their hackles lifted and they bared their teeth. "go for the kill, do not assume they mean us any mercy."  the two hound split up and began to move to cover each side of the pair. "if they are unable to fight...you will leave them be"

it happened in a flash, the hatchet came through the air with a quickness ment to cleave and kill, the first figure deflected the hatchet with clarity of purpose, this changed his stance, and Xrysis took this as an opening. his jaw clamped down on the tail end of the spear and with unpresidented jaw power the spears length was shortend with a echoing snap. the second figure turned to strike at Xrysis when Digger made a mock charge which turned the second figure back around to defend itself. though what it failed to keep track of was Cain whom had put both hands into a haymaker and busted the second figure across what he assumed was the face. staggered the second figure dropped to a knee whilst Digger and Cain moved around the group to aid Xrysis whom had been pushed back by a counter attack by the first figure, scooping his hatchet up along the way. Digger crossed paths with Xrysis, whom both turned and came back at the figure with no regaurd for themselves. the figure slashed his shortend spear which had less power due to its shortend stature, the spear cutting halfway through the broad scales on Xrysis, the figure couldnt do anything about Digger now and lept back, the figures momentum propelled him backwards into Cains knee aganst the back of his head, Cain had used this distraction from the hound to wind up a 360 degree spinning knee strike. the figures head snapped forward as the bone frill on the back of its head shattered from the impact, the figure dropped hard. Xrysis put a nose under the figure and flipped him while Digger put his jaws around the figures throat and only squeezed for now while Xrysis put weight on his paw to the fallen figures chest, he wasnt going anywhere.

when the knee strike hit the second figure had brought the spear to bare after cain haymaker had knocked his senses from him. the spear point came at Cains back just after the knee had debilitated his partner in this fight. the hatchet came up, the hook under the blade edge of the axe head hooked the blade of the spear and sent the spear head up and over cains left shoulder as cain pulled his hatchet up his left shoulder, cain pulled his hatchet down  over his front, the spears shaft breaking aganst Cains armored shoulder. The war had taught cain a lot more about combat than he had known before hand, the tattoos on his face were his right after prooving himself. the figure lept back and abandoned the useless weapon. 

His words regarding the stalkers was not all that reassuring but she knew he was right and felt a tiny bit of remorse for panicking. She hoped he would forgive her if they survived, she still had much to learn of the Tehzai ways. He was absolutely correct, each hunting unit had to be resolute and independent on their own able to handle anything.

She mentally ticked off what she had with her and unfortunately she was a healer not a fighter, so her stock of weapons was not impressive. But she did know how to make each item deadly. So she carefully began pulling out different herbs, mushies, spores, lichen etc., and sorted them. She first made some makeshift pain killer for Cain, if he survived. She mentally chastised herself, he WOULD survive.

She carefully put away the pain killer thanking her ancestors for the Corona they had found earlier that day. As she put it away she stopped and pulled it out setting it to one side. She then took one of her four remaining darts and carefully cleaned it, rubbing off the acid with dirt and debris, then some sandpaper and more dirt to remove all the acid then rubbing it with the material from her pants. Then she took the small packet of pain relief and fastened it to the slender missile. Her thinking was, in a pinch, she could fire the dart at Cain and he could gulp down the Corona. Shrugging she set it aside. Might work night not, she wouldn't know until she tried and that would leave her three acid bolts in a pinch.

She then looked over her remaining ingredients and sighed, she didn't have everything she needed to make a paralysis potion. She would have to, in the future, look for destructive ingredients as well as the healing ingredients. Carefully she packed away the herbs etc and she made herself comfortable taking up her crossbow in hand she rested her hands in her lap, her other weapons nearby as well as the one dart with the Corona.

She saw she was guarded but only one guard. Not for a minute did she think she could catch him unawares but still, only one at the moment, that was heartening. She watched at the two huge beasts flanked the large human in the center of the arena. He himself was a large man and was flanked by hounds that each weighed 200 pounds each. She refrained from asking Cain questions now knowing he would have to focus hard to form the link between two hounds. There was one thing she could do now and she began to chant. Her chants are low, melodic. Eyes closed she began to go into deep meditation and focused all her energy and strength on Cain using Digger as a conduit. This was her one power, her ability to use the bodies energy for healing. She would now use her body as a battery for Cain to augment his own power. Soon he would feel an adrenaline rush and maybe some more strength. She hoped it would help, only time would tell.

the remaining foe back himself up and readied itself with hands open and ready to grab at the next attack and counter a style of hand to hand which had been a part of this world as long as it had been a part of the former worlds before. the two hounds stayed on the other pinned figure who dared not to move, Xrysis applied pressure to the chest to keep its abiliy to breath small, it was unable to gather breath to fight, not that it wanted to after the devistaing blow to the back of its head.

Cains chest burned hard, breathing was difficult and he could feel a trickle of blood comeing from his mouth  from the broken ribs causeing damage to the lungs, he operated hard when he shouldnt, but this wasnt the time to worry about that. he lifted the hatchet up on high and threw it into the dirt at his feet, the blade sticking into the permiable surface and left the hatchets handle sticking into the air at a cocked angle. 

Adrenaline rushed him and his eyes flashed open, his fists smashing into his chest again with a echoing battle cry that shook the foundations of the arena, his hands came in to his chest and pulled off his outter layer of soft armor that held the pockets and left him only in his battle chasis, the worn and damaged metal had seen some action over the years. the pale and discolored flesh of his shoulders, and his upper arms which seemed too pale to be living flesh for a nomadii, with the soft armor stripped away it was clear to see the metal that came from his hands dissapered under the flesh of his dieing skin, the metal grafted to the underlaying structure, a mix of technology and horror. the armor was stained freash with some blood from Cains fall and he stomped towards the figure before him. 

at first it seemed the figure before him lost nerve, it took a step back, unsure as to what sort of being fell into their home. the stoic figure which watched aganst the arena railing. the figures head snapped towards the young warrior in the arena and a curt reminder was given to the youth that to run away was not an option. the youth secured itself and took its stance forward again. 

unfettered by his soft armor Cains mobility was increased, and when that youthfull stance was resumed by his opponite Cain wasted zero time to rush the figure who, dispite his worth and reminder was caught almost by surprize by this wounded figure rushing him. 

the figure lundged back and then came at cain when his stance could reset. several blows were given and several blows were taken, although cain took as many hits as he gave, he kept moveing forward, forceing the youth to move back more and more. the youth brought an open hand strike towards Cain who slapped it out of the way with enough adrenaline fueled force that the youths arm recoiled back and away, cains opposite hand came forward and impacted the chest.

staggared the youth stummbled back with Cain closeing faster than he could fall back, another strike impacted the youths head on the side. and following through the youth fell sideways, Cains left arm came up and caught the youth which lifted the figure back up with a jerk, the left arm dropped and the rish fist came in to impact with a downward force the youths upward rise and sent the warrior to the ground in a heap. 

the figure layed without moveing and cain leaned down with bloodlust to scoop the young warrior up by the mandible on its face. the figure coughed up its purple blood onto Cains hand and forearm. Cains attention turned with the expressionless face that his mask provided to the stoic figure on the railing who had watched this very short fight. 

it was then all eyes turned to the stoic figure who stood quietly for a moment, the arena was mute, and after a moment the elders hand lifted into a fist and smashed down into its other open hand with a twisting motion, failure was unacseptable. Cains attention turned towards the youth who looked at Cain. the Tehzais mask snapped open and slid up the helmet portion, so he could look into this warriors face with his own. the eyes of Cain judged the young warrior and with a swift motion Cains bladed hand impacted the chest of the warrior and entered the body. he wrenched free the beating heart of the creature, altered and changed by the Ether but a heart regaurdless. the warrior fell limp and dead within a second and cain turned from the warrior lifting the heart on high for the entire arena and then dropped the heart to the ground.

the insult was that this warriors heart was not worthy of being eaten, the warriors weakness was NOT to become part of Cain. though Cain did turn and pull the sash off the fallen warrior and tied it around his waist where he would choose to keep his trophy. Cain then turned to the two hounds and moved his bloody left hand aside for the hounds to leave the other youth alone. the two hounds released the other youth. Cains mask snapped down and sealed itself with a hiss. he brought the bloody hand up and drew a line down the masks forehead and at an angle over the left eye. 

Cain had effectivly killed a less than efficient warrior, stole its sash as a trophy, insulted the dead by leaveing its heart to fester and took mercy on the final opponite, as well as marked himself with the blood, this was intentional. Cain turned and looked to Seri and wagged a figure at her to join him. 

the stoic figure jumped the railing and landed hard on the arena floor and moved with assurance than he infact was allowing all this to occur and was the figure to not piss off. he was easily seven foot in height, with the natural armor this figure possessed he was probably four-hundred pounds or more. behind the second layer of bone frills on its head flowed long silver hair which seemed well kept, in charge and well cared for. his sash differed from the one Cain had taken it was more tattered and worn. its feet were wide with three large claw like toes, younger of the race had two toes, the ones cain had defeated only had one. behind the three clawed toes were a heel like toe with its own talon. the hands were hard and clawed as well, again, more digits for age than the young.

She could feel the conduit open and felt the rush as she connected with him. She poured all her being into supporting him and would have cheered if it would not interfere with her channeling. So she inwardly cheered and continues to channel.

She didn't watch the fight, so intense was her concentration on Cain. She felt him surge forward and felt his desire to win. Only peripherally did she feel the hounds. A sure and steady presence. Finally she felt his swell of victory and then and only then opened her eyes and looked into the arena, just in time to catch Cain motioning her forward. She carefully released her conduit and taking a deep breath begins to gather her things, carefully packing them on her person. She pulled the packet of Corona off the dart and secured that in her cuff of her glove then stood making a show of putting her weapon away.

Striding forward, head up in an almost arrogant manner she moved towards him, not showing any physical weakness though that type of channeling always drained her. Not doubting for a moment she would reach his side even though she was under guard. While weapons were put away they were not far and she had 'forgot' to put away the blades on her digging gloves. She walked down an imperceptible ramp into the arena and moved to Cain's side. Palming the Corona now she moved to stand next to him where he could take it from her if he so desired. Reaching his side she turned and faced the large figure her head still held high, the plain metal of her mask gleaming in the low light. There she stood and would await Cain's direction.

the elder lifted its claws hand and set it against its own chest the mandibles clicked and the lips behind them moved to form a very rough understanding of language. "n'yaka-de" slowly the figure moved the hand from himself and pushed it aganst Cains armored torso with a silent expression. "Cain" the response came, the hand retracted. then the face turned the other and pressed ts claws to Seris chest with a blank face.

at this range it was clear to see the race was similar to the Demkii but not as grotessque, the forearms could be seen to house retractable weapons that were probably venomous like the demikii though, probably a different venom. the eyes were not so compound as expected, the narrow eyes were red and carried two pupils that flexed independantly. 

introductions made the figure n'yaka-de turned and moved off, the long silver hair the last thing seen as it dissapered into the dark. guards prevented them from following deeper into their territory, aside from several curious members of the race that hung around to veiw the strange creatures that had viseted them. two of them dragged off the corpse of the dead youth cain had killed. 

Cain turned and offered a hand to take the healing remedies from Seri, she had a knack for being ready for that sort of thing. he'd retreive the corona from her and watch as the remaining youth, assisted by two others, lift his spear and drive it home into his own chest from a kneeling position. one of the pair assisting the youth ensured the spear had done its job and after a pause, the youthfull warrior dropped lifeless, the pair treated this one differently than the other one Cain had killed. 

the warrior was retrived gently and lifted to be taken away honorably, his suicide had earned him his honor back it seemed, the one Cain had killed had been dragged off like meat with his own spikey partner simply laying down without much will to do anything, here, cain susspected the beastly tailed monster would allow itself to starve and die. he had seen it before. his attention went to Xrysis whose head hung and swayed back and forth at beasts lack of will as if trying to figure it out. 

he turned his back from where n'yaka-de had dissapered and moved towards the tunnel they had arrived from with a noticable lack of energy, he had pushed himself far harder than was smart. "i susspect if we remain in the arena we will be challenged again." Xrysis followed behind the group to make sure Cain was first out. once out of the arena he rounded a corner and leaned aganst the wall and slid down it with a sigh and took his soft armor from Digger. "you might be worth somthing if you werent such a slacker" he scoffed a bit of a laugh as he patted the hounds flank firmly. 

he pulled a small metal tab from one of his pockets and placed it in a small metal dish with water in it that he had retrived from other locations. the result was a hot bright flame that was infact blue, although it was hard to see the coloration due to the simple brightness of the light. a flat screen opened into a cube which he set down on the flame and it left the area bright enough for their eyes to see, but dull enough that the raw brightness of the flame wouldnt blind them. the discomfort of the guards that had followed them was obvious, they turned and kept their distance from this light that was blinding in every extent.

Xrysis laid down between the door and cain and kept watch whilst cains now sore arms lifted up and unlatched his battle chasis from under each shoulder pauldron and pulled off the front chest peice and exposed the pale sickly looking skin, and the discolored rib area. he pulled off his mask and ate the fungi she had provided to him and sighed a bit as he rested. 

She watched with some trepidation as the elder touched Cain's chest. Seeing that he was asking for a name she relaxed some. When the clawed arm reached to her it took all her nerve to stand perfectly still and then to answer in a clear strong voice. “Seri”.

As the arena cleared she saw the young warrior take up his spear and plunge it into his own chest. She lowered her head in a silent gesture of respect. She knew this was the warrior way and she understood it but she didn't always agree with it. It grieved her she could not offer to heal his injuries but she knew even to offer would be considered a great insult.

Cain gave her the needed distraction taking the medicine she had prepped for him and she was so thankful he was not such a hero that he would refuse her offering. Now he needed to heal and gain back his strength but at his words to move unless they be challenged again, she was only too quick to agree with a silent nod of her head.

Once out of the arena she took a deep cleansing breath and allowed herself to pet her grand hound. “You know, Digger adores you, right?” and she gave a soft laugh. Digger was more clown than anything else but he was a true friend.

She removed her mask, setting it to one side and began to pull out ointments and powders from various pockets and pouches. She clucked disapproval at the damage areas and began to slather on some ointment to hasten the healing process. “No, Cain. You know full well, I am not a fighter. I am more hindrance than help but I did help with the wounded and such.” she wasn't ashamed of her abilities, hers were just different. “I guess I just don't have a warrior heart.” she said softly. After she had tended to him she turned still on her knees and embraced Digger “You dear heart are my warrior.” she whispered to the hound and placed a soft kiss on the hound's nose. Reaching out to Xrysis she gave him a rub behind the ear. “And I love you too.” she assured the other hound. She then turned her attention to repacking her items and took this time to look around. “So now what?”