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when digger arrived to his side he waved him away with his hatchet, "take point and go..Xrysis, go with him" Xrysis didnt like it but he wasnt going to argue at this point in time, when he turned and ran he bumped his armored shoulder into Diggers side to reassure that cain knew what he was doing and showing kinship, like patting somones shoulder for get them to steele themselves. Xrysis felt bad in a way, digger was thrown into this life without the upbringing he had, the combat his fellow hound had endured just this week wasnt common for the nomadii.

Xrysis made it up the cliffside with eyes scanning the darkness for anything of threat, without much to speak of he began to run out from the rifts edge and into the rocky landscape that kept the dunes in the distance contained. when he caught a scent he would slow and trot about with nose down to try and get a better scent. Xrysis did this several times as he kept his distance from the camp to provide back-up incase Cain needed it while being far enough to stay hidden from enemy sight.

Cain felt the hounds leave. "your next Seri, follow them up and follow Xrysis' tracks" his plan was to make it to the dunes for now, what happned after that was not on his mind, his ace up the sleeve was in his hand now, beyond that he was out of surprizes for anything that sought their lives...there was one other thing though, but he didnt like useing it.

When Seri did leave Cain waited untill he knew she was on her way to being safe, he didnt like to turn his back to that hole. but the fire should be able to give him some cover if they were as weak to the light as their cousins the Demkii were. these creatures had done a good job being able to sneak up on him. the Demkii walked heavy with their grotesque forms, their beemite lovers, and swarm like tatics. these creatures were...hunters. 

he felt a chill roll down his back and he turned to leave, sitting there, at the exit was n'yaka-de, the figure was as a phantasim. Cains hands gripped his hatchet and the small brick in his hand his thumb ready to flip the switch on it. the elder creature lifting his hand and took in it the trophy cain had hung up between his fingers, the thumb and fingers feeling the rough texture of the banner. "Tehzai" he spoke. Cains eye went behind him to make sure he wasnt being surrounded. for now, he and n'yaka-de were alone.

"n'yaka-de" Cain spoke quietly and the figure shook his head and pointed to Cain "Tehzai" then placed a hand against its chest. "Hish'ska-sori" Cains brows knitted a bit under his mask, was he mistaken who he was adressing? no...there was no mistaken the elder. he had said Tehzai, his race..."n'yaka-de Hish'ska-sori" Cain wispered and the figure nodded. the elders voice speaking "C'ain Tehzai" the figure released the trophy banner and stood, elder he may be but there was power in the stance. Cain tried to avoid lifting his hatchet but couldnt help the grip getting tighter. the old figure of n'yaka-de walked into the shadow cast from the fire and came around from another corner which was counter-intuitive to where Cain assumed he would reapper from. 

the old figure seemed humored by his ability to throw Cain off so well. he brought a finger to his lips. and Cain nodded. "yin'tekai" the figures finger lowered slowly  with some surprize that Cain remembered the words. the figure looked to be trying to decide if Cain was worth the trust. Cain wondered why he hadnt been killed for killing two of the figures in such a gross over-display of ability. thenthe figure pointed to the night sky. Cains eyes followed the figures motion and when his attention returned, n'yaka-de had gone. 

Cain checked his blind spots and looked about for only a second before he deturmined that the old figure had gone. he didnt walk so much as he ran to the exit and began to climb for the cliff top and to hopefully some where safer. he could feel the darkness clawing at his back, he felt like n'yaka-de was right behind him. hurriedly he got to the surface, pracitcly throwing himself over the cliffs edge and landed hard on his back, useing legs and hands to crab walk himself away from the cliffs edge in haste, waiting for the old elderly figure to pop up.

When Cain spoke his order she could feel the seriousness in his voice and immediately made her way up the path Xrysis had set for them. She took care to place her feet carefully amid the crumbled rocks and at times had to steady herself with a hand as she made her way up the face.

Finally having reached the top, she turned to check on Cain and had to blink then look again. He was not alone and she chewed at the inside of her cheek, fretting over what to do next. From this distance she could not hear the words and her small darts would be useless. Still she pulled the hand crossbow from her pack and made it ready.

She also prepared some arrows with acids. She made sure her blades were ready and she watched. She had not moved her away for very long getting her weapons, but still the creature that was with Cain had seemed to have teleported away from him. She looked carefully thinking maybe there was two creatures, but no, he was the same one.

Cain arrived at a pace so fast she had to blink. The hounds were sniffing the air and shifting nervously picking up on Cain's trepidation. As Cain flopped on his back and did a backwards crabwalk she put a hand to his shoulder to help pull him from the edge. She now felt nervous and a bit freaked out picking up on the emotions of Digger and Xrysis. She cast her eyes to their camp they had just vacated and stared looking for she knew not what. Her hand taking a death grip on her weapon.

“Cain?” she asked, the one word speaking volumes. In one word she was asking what in the hell was going on and what were they to do.

Cain sat for a moment with eyes on the cliffs edge and hand gripping his hatchet he sat and waited, transfixed. his ears heard Seri he paused in his words for a moment. "i--" he cleared his dry throat and pulled his left leg in and began to push himself up. "im fine..just" pushing himself up he stood and looked at the explosve in his hand which thankfully wasnt needed. "their leader gave us a send off...hes" he laughed a bit "hes a scary one" his shoulders relaxed and he set the explosive into one of his pockets.

Xrysis called out from the distance, the quick, deep, bark of sorts snapped Cains attention to the here and now. the hounds call much more monsterous than hound like. Cain ensured his pack was secured and began to jog off into the cold desert night with moonlight casting a void blackness off him at an angle. the pace was quick but done in a way to save as much energy as possible, a forced march ability that was common for the peoples of the sand, to cover distance in the night when heat wasnt a major factor. without armor or clothing on his torso his white dead skin reflected the moonlight well enough to blend in with the sands.

his pace would only stop if Seri requested it. he talked as he jogged in Xrysis' tracks, the hound couldnt be seen by him but the tracks were all he needed. "n'yaka-de gave he his clans name, or races name, if i understood correctly. known as Hish'ska-sori." he glanced to her unsure if he had explained much of anything to her. "n'yaka-de is that elderly looking one from the arena...big scary one" he spent the next two hours explaining what he knew and what he had learned with her as well as answering any questions if she had them about the race of people.

by the end of the two hours his pace slowed again and he began to walk now. steam rolled off his chest, head and from the armor that hid his back. looking over at Seri "have your powers grown in the last seven years?" he looked down at his feet as they walked. "youve always been good at healing, but im wondering if that ability has grown or changed" he asked out of personal experiance as well as noteing Seris reliance on the mooshroms and tinctures she made more than the strange healing liquid she used to use from when they had first met those long days ago.

Xrysis appered ahead of them sitting in the cold sand, the large hounds breath drifted into the air as he kept watch on the top of the dune, his eyes reflected the moonlight and gave off glowing eyes as he sat almost stone still. the stoic beast seemed older just in the awe-inspireing setting, one of those images one tended not to forget. as Cain climbed the dune to meet up with his hound, its ears swung back and listened to the approch of his counterpart Cain. a hand rested on top of the hounds head. "didnt mean to worry you...he was just...in another world" Cain refured to n'yaka-de, he could sense the hounds unease. 

he stood there for a few moments to survey the direction they had come, the sands dissapering into the distance and beyond them the Rift that they had left. "we should go to the meet" he looked side-long to Seri with that metal face of his.

She followed him at the pace he set. A pace made easier for her since she carried a lighter pack and had not recently endured multiple rending of her flesh and bones. She kept a watchful eye upon Cain, worry creasing her brow but keeping silent.

It unnerved her a bit that they were moving at such a pace and with Cain so insistent. Somehow that race upset Cain more than he would admit to her or even to himself. She was confused by his apparent attitude and so would listen to him intently seeking clues. She didn't really understand all that he was telling her but she would retain it and later sort through what had been said.

After several hours of travel she stopped and said “Cain, we must rest.” and at that moment she took the lead from him and look for shelter. “Digger, seek.” she called out and the loyal hound jogged off to find them some sort of shelter from the approaching dawn. He had taken her by surprise at his question to her abilities and she was unsure of how much to share.

She had been taken in by the Tehzai after being banished by her own people but still she was unwilling to share all her secrets with anyone, even though she owed her very life to that secret clan. She had some abilities she was afraid to use and the healing waters opened her up to feelings and visions she felt incapable of dealing with. She understood the use of her little mushies and her potions. She used her abilities in making the potions to enhance their curative powers, but to do more was to personally bond with her patients, and that gave her a cold fear that shook her being.

Soon Digger had found them an outcropping of rocks that would afford them shelter through the heat of the day. What Digger lacked in military training, he made up for in excellence of survival skills. His short bark guided her to his side and she pointed to the outcropping with determination giving Cain no option but to camp. He needed rest and attention to his wounds, being out in the desert during day would do him no good.

It wouldn't take long to set up camp and she soon pulled him down so she could closely examine his body. She cringed seeing all the damaged he had sustained in the past and the damage that was fresh. He had pushed his body to the limit and she sighed. She again brought out her leather water bowl and filled it then she put her fingers lightly on the surface and closing her eyes, bonding with the water. The water would shimmer and even seem to be brighter to the eyes.

Opening her eyes she soaked a cloth up and began to cleanse his back, causing his flesh to feel a coolness and a tingling that would go deep into his muscles. She softly hummed unaware she was doing so and continued to clean and heal. The water would soothe, refreshing and healing quickly any torn flesh invigorating the flesh as it healed. As she worked she would speak to him her eyes closed while she did so. “I have no new abilities, Cain.” She said with truthfulness, not elaborating that she just have not fully explored her 'natural' abilities, afraid to be labeled freak. She did not often allow herself to touch another not willing to open herself up to what she might unwillingly share.

As she finished she, began to clean up and said “Go to the meet? But why?” she was curious wondering if he had changed his mind about seeking a mate. She had understood long ago she could never seek a mate since she was 'tainted' and had enjoyed her hunts with Cain. She wondered if all that would change once he had taken a mate. Her words began to slur and she moved to her blanket laying down, unconscious before her head hit the sand paying the price.

from the top of the dunes she called to him that they needed to stop, his head turned towards her, and with a reluctant nod he agreed. his attention went back to look in the direction they had come. with no sign of life or movement in the fadeing night he felt it may be alright to rest for a good length, its not like they slept at all dureing the night. Xrysis trotted off in Diggers direction after a moment and pulling up the rear was cain whom after a few moments turned and headed to follow the other three.

when he arrived at camp, the others were already busywith makeing camp. Xrysis had found a sandy patch inbetween the rocky outcropping and was digging down, the sand flung up into the rocks to make a wall of sand to increase the amount of protection they would afford for the day, he even lifted several stones into his jaw and moved to drop them in some of the larger cracks to continue the work. when done, Xrysis plopped down and leaned aganst the rock wall with a huff, though his eyes were closed his ears were up and listening to the area and the camp.

Cain kept to himself for the time being as they setup camp, keeping quiet as he thought on events and coming events. though the sun had yet to break surface he pulled from his pack a large patched canvas of leather and anchored the ends into the rocks here and there to provide a roof of sorts for them, the need for a fire wouldnt really be important so close to dawn, so he didnt make preparations for one. stuffing his armor and pack into the corner with Xrysis, he turned to see Seri prepareing her special remedy. 

he sighed and rolled his shoulders then reached behind his back to unclip his back armor from his armor chasis which freed the chasis itself to be pulled off from his form to leave his upper torso competly unarmored. he sat down on his knees and sat back on his heels with hands in his lap. his attention focused on the rocks in front of him as the sunlight began to peek over the horizon and give them a redish hue in their camp. 

when Seri was ready and came to him she would find his back to her, the mutation from years of ether exposure was evident, his back had large thick scales running down his back along the spine. some were as long as four inches and as wide as two inches. they ran from the top of his neck, down to the small of his back the largest being between the shoulders and just below. in some areas there were three or four side by side with evidence of more in the process of growing or had stopped growing at such a point. aside from the main line down his spine, the other scales were not all the same shape and side, most interlocking to provide protection, their shape to suggest they were able to move into one another for continued movement of the muscles as naturally intended. thick skin spread out from the scales to give an idea of where the next scale may grow out. each and every scale was similar to those that the hounds had, ether poisoning ussualy appering in forms of what an individual spends most of their time around...in this case...Xrysis.

he felt the coolness of the water on his back, over the larger scales he couldnt feel much of anything. "keep me posted on your abilites Seri." he looked over his shoulder to her with a bit of a smile. "i was unsettled when my own mutations and abilities changed...it didnt happen as a slow pace of discovery" he lifted his hand and produced a small arc of blue energy that crackled up his fingers. "my 'Shock Trace' ability began more focused one day...i decided to see how focused" he chuckled a bit. "i was not prepared for it" 

as she worked, the dead color of his skin, the sickly white that it was began to have its color returned to it, starting at the shoulder and spreading down his arms and to his fingers, slowly, but eventually makeing it. her question about the meet came up again his shoulders shrugged again. "personal curiosety...maybe somone else had heard of these Hish'ska-sori...if they were sworn to secretcy then maybe they are waiting for a chance to compare notes." when she stood and began to move off he continued to talk. "maybe find a new job...im getting along in age, it might be--" he looked over his shoulder as Seri passed out and he smiled a bit "--might be time" 

looking over at digger for a moment, he looked and then looked away, only to fall over onto his side from his knelt position and closed his eyes and let the sleep come. 

Seri slept deeply at first, she always did after a healing. Then her dreams would stir her to a lighter sleep and she dreamed of water. She nearly did every night. Water would surround her and she wasn't afraid of it, instead she luxuriated in it. She dove deep and played with strange animals under the water and she laughed. In time she would begin to awaken and the pleasant feeling of floating would fade as she opened her eyes to a bright sun cast day. Even under the rocks and protected by the roof Cain had erected the light was intense.

She rolled over and pushed up on one elbow observing Cain asleep near by with Xrysis at his side. Xrysis raised his head and gave her a direct look and she simply smiled and nodded to the hound. He was a magnificent specimen of Utaia hound and well trained. On that thought she felt a pang of guilt and rolled over giving Digger a good head rub before standing and brushing off the sand. She made her way out of camp and relieved herself then returned and set about making a tiny fire for some hot tea. As she worked she would cast glances at Cain and muse over the mutations on his back. She wondered why they resembled the patterning on Xrysis' body but didn't seemed too concerned about their existence. It had become more common place for the body to change the more you were exposed to the ether. Cain was always mucking about the different ruins so was more exposed than most. She would ask him if she could examine them closer seeing if she might need to make up a special lotion for him to keep the scales supple.

Digger moved about sniffing around and soon was on the hunt, within minutes she heard his triumphant bark and she smiled knowing there would be fresh meat for breakfast. Xrysis pricked his ears forward and stood ready to hunt but the loyal hound would wait for Cain to awaken. She had laced Cain's drink she had provided during the back healing and knew he would sleep. Cain needed his rest, he pushed himself too hard and his body suffered for it. She was not above drugging him, knowing it was light enough should danger appear he could shake it off easily.

Sitting near the tiny fire she sipped on her morning tea and mused over his desire to go to the Great Meet. A tiny sadness swept over her when she thought on him finding a mate there. She was fairly positive his mate would refuse to let her accompany Cain on any more adventures.

The meet was a wonderful time for the Nomadii, affording them opportunity to meet up with relatives and friends that they have not seen for a year. There would be music and dancing. With that thought she closed her eyes and gave just the tiniest of sighs, she use to love to dance. But it was dancing that had led to her dalliance with Abel and her eventual shunning from her tribe. Casting her eyes back onto Cain she cocked her head to one side comparing Abel and Cain and laughed a bit. Abel was tall and blonde and looked so perfect, with is deep voice and ready wit he was a fun companion but Cain was steady and sure, with a wry wit that would sometimes puzzle her. He was open and honest and she knew without a doubt he would never let her down and that made her smile. He was not glamorous looking but he was very much a warrior, deadly and precise, and that was enticing. A sadness fell over her and she jerked up when she realized where her thoughts were going. She schooled her face and prepared to greet Cain as she saw him stir, knowing he would soon be wide awake.

Digger returned and plopped the ever present Kimari before her offering Seri, breakfast. She took the rodent and began to work on cleaning it, gutting it and removing the entrails she tossed some to Xrysis and the rest to Digger. A nice small snack for them until they both went out and hunted up some more for themselves. She tossed the head halfway between the two hounds and watched as both grabbed at it. They began a tug of war which made her burst out laughing as both had clamped and locked their jaws on the head but Xrysis being the larger and thus the stronger of the two dragged Digger backwards trying to get him to release his hold.

She turned away taking strips of meat and threading them on small sticks prepared to roast them over the tiny fire but first she rubbed some sage and other herbs onto the meat enhancing it's flavor. Seeing Cain move she prepared him some tea and waited for him to join her. She mused over what and where they would go this day and hoped they would find a nice set of ruins.

(end thread)

(seek continuation in forum 'Saname Desert')

(Reason: r/p no longer takes place at The Rift)