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(continued from thread: 'Walls of Rift-Glory' in "The Rift" forum)

When digger let his happy nature sound at the catch of breakfast it jerked Cain awake, but not so much as to throw himself across camp. his shoulders jerked with his wakeing, he wasnt conscious enough to understand what he did. but as he stired his knees straitend and his legs stretched untill he groaned from the stretch and he fell limp again. he murmured half awake. "you drugged me" he cleared his throat and the aftertaste of being dead...without the commitment. opening his eyes wide with the express purpose to wake himself up he rolled onto his back and laid again.

Xrysis looked at him and he returned to glance, he noted the gore on the hounds maw and he smirked. "go kill something" the hound came to his feet and ran off while Cains arms moved to place his hands behind his head. left elbow went to right knee and vise-a-versa as he went through his morning excercises. the bruising on his ribs had all but vanished since Seri had used her blessed powers last night in joint with her experanced potion mixes. the tight muscles made his motions more difficult, but after a few dozen of these sit ups the muscles could be felt loosening themselves up and allowed the hot burn to over take them. he sat up and stretched out his legs which had a noted pain to them from the fight at the arena and the several hour jog  to follow.

legs crossed and shoulders slumped he sat with tired eyes that were at least wide open, the red rings around them showed he had slept pretty hard. no sooner did he finish did Seri bring him somthing to drink. takeing the tea with both hands " thanks"he sipped at it here and there as they conversed.

over the night, his arms had began to lose their color again, the healthy tanned skin color was already on the pale side, its wouldnt be but several hours before they returned to the sad and sickly white that was so common for him. his feet, chest, face and most of his back were still in good color and never did change much. the paleness starting at the shoulderblades and moveing from them down his arms. he took another sip of tea and balanced the cup on his foot while his hands pulled around his hair braids with the many colors, cords, and tags all interwoven into individual braids. "who shall we be today?" he mused while pulling the Lum clan cord from the tangle, he picked a family color at random and tucked away any special tags that would keep him from being spoken to or approched.

takeing one of the cooked strips of meat from the fire, he ate at it and enjoyed the seasonings she had prepared for them. "home cooking always was better away from home" takeing his tea back up, he finished it off and stood again. moveing over to his pack, his hands took up the armor chasis that kept the other armor in place. pulling it on over his head and clipping it around the armor loops that stuck up from under his pants from the other armor chasis that secured the top to the bottom and kept his armor from shifting around, it allowed him to stay perfectly silent when needed and still maintain good deffence.

"i was thinking we should meet up with a caravan today...we need to rearm before trying our hand at the ruins...esspecially since this is Demkii territory" he looked to her for suggestion or approval. "i think Strous' from clan Wutai" has his caravan passing by tommarow half a days walk South from here" his eyes stopped looking as his mind entered his memory. "they ussually like to run this area on their way to Ashir"

between the two of them there was little need to explain that the reason was because this area was so far out of reach, any pirate or cut throat atempting to retrace the caravans path would come through some of the worst wilderness the sands had to offer, Cain knew of at least one Demkii hive that was within a four hours from where they currently stood. pirates would die atempting to find the caravans trading partners...so long as they werent Nomadii, the city was safe from the caravan black listing them and it was an easy win...or so the rumors went. in truth, the caravans ussualy set out with goods already in check and avoided trade on this path for the same reasons it was so dangerous, it was easier to check stock when a caravan went missing when the contents were acounted for in one of the ledgers the Nomadii kept with the clans leaders.

twisting his back he crackled his spine a bit and sighed as he felt a little lighter as a result. Xrysis came back with a full stomach and a ta'ba leg, by the looks of the little leg it had been dead for a few weeks and the husk was all that remained. Cain smelled at the leg and looked at Xrysis. "as big at they are they arnt too bright are they" locking his back armor onto the chasis after tossing the leg aside. without pressure of being killed, he took his time to equip his armor and double check its secured areas. his helmet was secured and he lifted his mask to his face and let it clasp to the helmet and hiss shut as he hooked up the nessassary lines, the clans and family cords were left out as the rest were hidden in the helmet. 

pulling his soft armor on he hoisted his pack onto his back and made final preparations to leave as the hottest part of the day was on its way out as they spoke

She watched him as he came to consciousness and smirked a bit at his question. Softly she answered as she nodded to him handing him his morning tea. “Yes I did.” no apology, no avoiding it, just a simple acknowledgment of her deed. “You needed sleep and you are one to skimp on sleep if you think we are in danger.” She thought for a moment then said “I would not have done so if I thought for a moment we were in imminent danger. The potion I used was light and easily shaken off if needed.” she said a tiny bit defensive. She watched him perform his morning routine and asked after taking a sip of tea. “Why are you always so pale...your arms I mean, what causes it?” She wondered if it was exposure to ether, or something else. And she wondered if it was something she could counteract, but she had no experience with this phenomena.

Digger followed Xrysis with happy abandon not really hungry just looking for excitement or trouble or both. That and he loved to be in Xrysis' company, simply adoring the bigger hound. He returned to camp nipping at Xrysis heels in a playful manner and would soon stop when Xrysis gave him a warning growl. Shaking his head he just loped away and joined Seri as she began to pack.

She watched which cords Cain used to twine in his braids and made hers to match. She really didn't like joining up with other clans always afraid someone from the Hanneran clan might be there as well but she agreed they needed to do so. So she would rely on keeping her identity safe by keeping her mask on most of the time. She smiled at his comment on her cooking and took the remaining strips of meat, wrapping them carefully for them to eat while they walked. No need to stop and make camp as they could just pull the strips out and munch on the road, so to speak.

“Cain I did notice scaling on your back and would ask, do you need or want a cream to use on it to keep it supple?” she would not think to say 'do you want them removed' for she was cognizant enough to know it was a permanent thing. She began to pack up the rest of her few things as she talked. She never wore armor so her dressing was far more simple. Once she had threaded the clan cords through her hair she just need to attach her mask and grab her cloak. “I hope after we rearm we can find a good site to excavate, I want to stock as many supplies as I can.” she said not revealing her fear that perhaps the war is really not over.

She threw on her cloak and pulled the hood over her head for further protection then shifted her back up and onto her back, whistling for Digger she joined Cain waiting for him as was his habit to take the lead. Digger danced at her side ready to be off on another journey.

pulling down the tarp that gave them their cover from the sun it allowed the blinding hot sunlight to broil the sun at their feet while he folded the tarp and tucked it into the large pocket in his pack. he kept the conversation stagnate at first to ensure that his mind was focused on the departure to make sure they took everything that was theirs. once the tarp and all the odds and end were stashed away he obliged her with the answers she had questions to.

"sorry, gotta make sure we had everything...but--" exiting the rocky outcropping he kicked the sand around a bit to blur the camps previous hosts, the amount of people, the goods, the weapons, all were twisted about to give the wrong impression of who and what was there. while he kicked the sand about he continued to speak. "--the scales are still growing, i dont think its a good idea right yet...if they are indeed something like Xrysis has" he paused and looked at the hound with a grin. "putting lotion on em might make em look less manly...right bud?" the hound did seem entertained but the wiggle on the backside was hard to hide. 

the hound took point and he followed behind in a strait line to keep the tracks much like how they had left camp, hard to read, a strait line left their tracks looking the same as if four or twelve people walked it. some corpse flys came about, probably from the ta'ba corpse near by. one of the flys landed on his arm, he couldnt feel it through the arm but his swated it dead anyways and wiped his hand on his soft armor to smear blood from the fly to which five more flys landed, attracted to the smell of wet blood the fly left behind.

"oh my arms" looking over his shoulder at her. "i think i may have been under the influance of DRUGS...my mind isnt keeping up very well." he turned back around and walked forward, the corpse fly guts on him kept them away from the rest of the group, none of his skin was exposed directly to the air anyways, he was a walking pestilence now....but it was worth not dealing with bites on his hound, his compainion or her hound. 

"long time ago--" he looked back at her again to make sure she was there still as he began "--long before you met me, i was exploring some ruins with the man who trained a few of us...must have been when i was." he looked up in thought "17?" he shook his head "i dunno its been a while. anyways. it was a set of ruins that were used to train us for the last three generations. it had been cleared out several times but the unpredictable nature of ruins made it an iconic place to graduate"

__FLASHBACK__(insert flashback music)

~three blurs rushed through the blackness with a bright red hue bluring along the walls with them. young men with glowing sticks swinging on their belts. the three ran as hard as they could through the darkness every so offten they would bump shoulders, one fell and rolled to a stop while the other two kept going and split off at the fork in the road. the lone figure stood in a fit of frustration and dusted his pants off. Cain, now by himself walked instead of ran down the path, he had fallen behind, that ment he was dead.

~a massive hulking figure appered in his path and looked down at the young man. Cain stopped and swayed his head back and forth. it was the Stalker, Cain huffed out in exaperation. "fuck" he took off sprinting as fast as he could into the darkness down one of the random paths. Cain turned to look over his shoulder, he didnt see the Stalker and turned his head around as a massive hand grabbed him by the face, his head stopped but his body kept moveing as he was cloths lined by the hand gripping him. he was horizontal in the air and before he could fall the hand threw his head down where it bounced off the rock under his head and Cain was out cold. the Stalker dissapered after takeing Cains glow stick.

~three hours later Cain woke with a blinding pain in his head and half blind. staggering through the darkness for another half hour he came across one of the other students, he was holding his arm which was bent the wrong direction at the elbow  with each finger twisted backwards at each joint, it had been done slowly, the Stalker had left it clear. Cain helped his brother by forceing every joint into place and let his brothers screams of agony echo through the darkness. 

~they staggered to their feet after half an hour and moved back the way Cain had come, they conversed quietly in only hushed wispers and clicks in the Tehzai tounge. ahead there was a red hue, they knew it was either the stalker or the third student who had thus far survived. they stalked slowly around the corner to find the corpse of the last student torn in three peices with a wounded beemite bleeding out and calling for help to which their was a response.

~Cain the and his brother made a break for it, without armor or weapons they were already as good as dead. in the dark they ran untill a second red hue came into veiw, they sounded the emergency call, only used if it was an emergancy to the clan, never to be abused for personal survival upon penalty of death. as they came around the corner an greater-demkii stood over the corpse of the Stalker holding the glow sticks, it turned at the sound of the students coming across it. 

----------------------------

Cain turned and looked over his shoulder to see if Seri was still there as he explained why his armed were as they were with a smile as he teased her by stopping his story at the climax. "not boring you am i?"

She helped him with the tarp and as he folded it, she began taking a piece of brush sweeping at the sand and rocks erasing their footprints and other signs of habitation. The tiny fire had been buried and now only sand and rubble stood in its place.

She had to snort at his “less manly” comment and Digger gave a playful bark at that as well. She put her had out and rubbed Xrysis head. “No one can say you are not 'manly' Xrysis” she cooed at him making over the hound until Digger whined in jealousy and she turned to him cupping his jaw in both hands and delivering a kiss upon his snout. “You are my man, you sweet baby.” she told him and he rewarded her with a sloppy kiss of his own. Wiping her face with the back of the sleeve to her cloak she grimaced and pushed him off playfully. “Enough” she chided him and returned to helping Cain.

She fell into line behind Cain as Xrysis took the lead and Digger knew to follow and keep an eye on the rear, making sure nothing nasty tried to surprise them as they passed by. She hated the flys and while Cain was a foul smelling site, he did manage to keep the pesky things off of her and Digger. As they walked she listened to his story and felt a sadness at the young boy falling behind his companions. As he got to the part where the stalker came up dead she felt a prickling along her spine wondering what further danger the young Cain had face.

She was so intent on his story she didn't answer his question for a long moment then she lifted her head, the sunlight dancing on the unpainted metal of her mask and she shook her head. “Not at all, please continue.” and then fell silent waiting for him to do so.

turning back around he resumed his vigil forward through the dusty landscape, it had a beauty to it that seldom people understood, the desolate wastes that hid life in corners, under rocks, and in the meager plant life that struggled like all things in this world to live. it was a pure world. Cain, who spent much time in the ruins could appreciate this world more than the one forgotten below their feet, he could see how man towered their pride and ego over the world. Cain coul see in these ruins that the buildings were made to change the face of the earth, momuments of men now forgotten pointing upwards, riding four legged animals that seemed familer to camels, flags, wars, weapons. his eyes tightend on the memory.

_____flashback____

~the two surviving students turned and ran from this six armed monster of the darkness, in its own element, the monster demkii gave chanse. ahead, a familer fork in the road, Cain took right, the other student took left. Cain came around, his feet scrapping along the edges of the tunnel as he came around, turning right again, and again untill he ran down another hall that led back to where the stalker had been laid. frenzied eyes shot back and forth, only for a split second did he catch sight of the beastly figure giveing chase in an alternate hall away from him.

~arriveing at the Stalkers dead corpse Cain slid to a halt on his knees before the Stalker and shook the massive warrior in an atempt tp stir the figure, the cold pool around the Stalkers body gave Cain enough of a sign that this was not something to atempt for a prolonged period of time. there was only a pause of a few seconds while Cain tried to remeber his training.

~wide eyes, blood shot from the damage taken by this very stalker fell to the Stalkers wrist and he lifted the panel up, never before had he been allowed to touch this device, his fingers shakily imputed the destruction code, there could be nothing that any figure could trace back to his people. the panel closed and the device began to beep silently as it armed and prepared to unleash the full fury of this Stalkers spirit.

~Cains eyes closed as he awaited his death to come on fiery wings. but then his shoulders stiffened and his eyes opened, the panic, the worry, the fear had vanished from his eyes and behind those glassy red orbs  sparked to life something that could be seen in Cain to this day. with a cold murderous look cains attention turned to the Stalkers hatchet, stained red, blunt from use, scribed with trophy marks, runics of their people. and Cain removed this from the Stalkers clutches and with it the Stalkers mask. placeing the mask to his face, the mask sealed, the moisture from the dead stalkers last breath rolled down the HUD on the inside of the mask and the darkness became as day to Cain. 

~Cain turned then to face suddenly the Demkii warrior with its six arms, it howled with murderous intent as it tried to bite at Cains metal face with its two hands deadlocked in with Cains hands. the demkiis other hands reaching behind its form to unsheath its weapons. in the middle of the deadlock cains right fist, which had been caught by the demkiis open hand, rolled over to reveal a orb with a red light. Cain slid back the trigger, and the tunnel was filled with a bright light that shook the ground and caused an explosion that propelled the two foes apart from one another. 

~Cain now laid in the rubble of what had been the wall and ceiling of the ruins, the fire around him began to suck out the air from what he may have had left to breath, but his face turned and looked to his right hand....or where it used to be. the smouldering flesh of a stump of where his arm used to be was evidance to Cains deffiance to the demkii and his willingness to kill one...even if it ment killing himself to do so. and there Cain laid, his consiousness faded untill only death remained....untill his vision returned, being carried on the shoulder of one of the Tehzai warriors away from that hellish place....just as the sand became bright, and then sunk into the earth as the Stalkers spirit exploded from his wrist pad and took the area to the afterlife with him. blackness came to him again, and he only awoke four days later to the suns form almost visable through a tent and its canopy. 

~the ghostly feeling of his missing arm called to him from the next life, he could feel his missing flesh swiming in the cold.~

__________________

Cain smiled in memory and looked down at his right hand and looked back to her. "it was another two years before i was fitted with a replacement" turning to face forward again. "during that time i trained in the use of the hatchet and being able to throw one...it was all i could do really with only one arm...but i think they suit me"

sliding down the dune on his feet and sending a cascade of sand down with him he landed into a set of troxen tracks and knelt down to read them and their direction. "the same week i received my replacement, i lost my left arm." he didnt go into detail on this event though, the words he gave seemed that of pained memories when speaking of it. "they replaced that arm a month later" 

standing now he pointed in the direction the tracks moved and began to move in the designated direction. "you were worried before about the clan forceing augmentation on you, and i told you nothing would be done unless it were to save your life. though i wonder if youve given any thought on it since then?" he walked side by side with her now, their tracks intermingleing into the caravans tracks to where it became less of a problem. "youve gone a long time without any serious injury, been part of the clan a long time and saw a war come and go...im impressed, but i wonder if your thoughts remain the same?" his metal face gave nothing but he was smileing at her as they conversed. "something about the augments affecting your power to heal, wasnt it?"

She listened to his story, both amazed and appalled. To lose an arm at such a young age just made her sad. Although, Cain, seemed to have handled the transition well and even profited by it. Still she felt sad for that young Cain.

She slid down the dune behind him, low on her haunches her hands out to steady her descent. Reaching the bottom she dusted off and she dutifully followed him thinking on his question to her.

“I still will not agree to augmentation as to do so would end my healing, I am fairly sure.” she twitched her lips inside her mask as she tried to formulate an answer for him, one that would make him understand. She remained quiet for a long time, the only sound was their footsteps in the sand. Finally she began “When you make your little boxes..that blow up...they don't do so unless they are ..?” she hesitated not sure of herself. “They have to be connected to a thing a circle..a...” she couldn't remember what he had told her before as she really had no interest in wires and explosions and things. “But my healing is kind of like that. I form a bond with the water and it must enter my....spirit and flow through me, from one side to the other before I can form the healing spirit.” she sighed audibly and tried again. “Both sides are needed for it to work. It enters my left side and flows through me and out the right side.” she ended it there feeling disappointed she could not explain better.

She remained quiet for a short bit then continued “To save my life with augmentation would just be a waste, for the healer in me would be gone.” she felt a wave of sadness and stopped kneeling to hug her hound. This sadness was a black feeling that washed over her in a very physical manner and her legs went weak. She had become use to this weakness whenever she was very emotional but thought she had better control. So she hid her weakness by making a big fuss over her hound rubbing his head and hugging him. But she was sick and fighting to gain back her momentum. Digger felt it as well, ears hung low as he nuzzled her and licked at her mask, comforting Seri the best way he knew. “Ha, you just wanted a good ol rub didn't you boy?” she huffed out standing, hoping to cover her momentary weakness playing with Digger.

Taking a deep breath she continued on a forced lighter note standing and joining him in the road following the Nomadii tracks. “I have not been seriously injured because the clan has protected me, keeping me in the hub where I could be the safest. Our clan leader well knows my views on augmentation and because of that, I was not allowed to roam much during the war. Any herbs I got were received from other clansmen doing my gathering.” she explained a bit embarrassed that she had been so closeted but also glad she didn't have to face a loss of limb, but that was the only way the leader would let her function. He would not risk losing her on a simple gathering mission with the war the way it was. Even now he was not very pleased about her joining Cain but she threw a small hissy fit and insisted. Her cheeks warmed when she remembered the scene and glad Cain had not been a witness to it.

he understood what she was trying to say about his explosives more or less, he listened as they walked along the tracks of the caravan, give their speed he figured they would catch up a little while after the convoy made camp in the evening a few hours from now. he didnt really understand how her powers worked, any more than he would be able to explain how his ability to generate electric feilds and trace them with his mind to find out where conductive materials lead and as a result map out ancient halls.

by now they were too far from the ta'ba corpse to attract any of the corpse flys, and when the blood from one had dried and gone the other flys had left him and his party alone without so much as a bite, after a while longer the smell began to fade as well. he stopped when she did and turned with arms on hips as she doted on her hound. the hound had potential, cain personally could see it, at least when the hound wanted to. "you know, if he applied himself a bit more he would probably be given a shot at breeding rights" upon seeing the group stop, Xrysis turned around and walked up behind Cain and up beside him and watched digger and Seri along with Cain. "hes a survival expert, its something very valuable" 

when she was ready and stood back up, he turned and began to walk point now, Xrysis took up position behind cain and walked with Seri. As they got more near the caravan Xrysis stuck closer to Seri and Cain took more of the guardian role of the group. Nomadii kept their females safe and ussualy with two male escorts, he didnt think they would be questioned about a missing party member. if there was a concern about his ability Cain always had the right to challenge the caravans own guardians to right over Seris protection. a loss ment Seri would go with the caravan untill returned to her rightfull clan as depicted on her cords, a win ment that they were obligated to conceed to Cains ability and let them be. of coarse regaurdless of the outcome they would never be turned away, if he lost, Cain would be welcomed to join them. if he won theyd be welcome. and this was all dependant on nothing. the nomadii were just that way with their own people. though there were tiffs and minor grudges from time to time, it was rare for anything of note to happen, and in their entire history never had their been a civil war or an attempt to gain higher ground over another clan...that was for the people in the cities with their walls and their fear to have.

She followed him, mostly in silence and grinned at his compliment for her beloved Digger. “He really is very good at finding places to camp and food, and seems to have an uncanny sense when it comes to finding my herbs and for finding the Demkii.” though she found it odd he didn't seem to sense that last race. Still she didn't give it much thought, not needing to worry overly much about it now.

The harsh unforgiving sun was beginning to dip below the horizon and she felt Digger's eagerness to speed up, knowing the Nomadii camp was very near and he would have friends to play with and food. She giggled at the last thought, he did seem to be governed by his stomach, though there was not an ounce of fat on the great beast he seemed to spend a great deal of his time concerned about eating.

As both hounds seemed to border her off from any potential threats she felt comforted by their presence. Since leaving the Hannerans, she felt uncomfortable with any clan interaction except with the Tehzai. Even though her shunning was now long over she never wanted to be reminded of that time. Thus her willingness to abandon her clan and live in secret. She had promised her new clan to never reveal herself to her former clan and she had been very circumspect in regard to that. She obeyed their demand willingly and without question. She avoided the cities for the same reason, fearing she might run into Abel as remote a chance as that might be. She grimaced at the thought of him, knowing he would not recognize her, indeed would not even give her a second glance. She was intelligent enough to know that she had been just a passing entertainment for him and soon forgotten. She had been so foolish she thought sadly. Still city dwellers made her uneasy.

As they approached the caravan she pulled her cloak closer about her covering her head and mask with her hood. She would let Cain do all the talking and make all the arrangements, as was the Nomadii way. The women were not subservient to the men but each had a role to play and the man being in charge in this situation was the norm. It gave her some sense of amusement that city dwellers felt the Nomadii women were second class citizens and nothing could be further from the truth. It just was survival to allow the man to take charge. He was biologically stronger and not under the additional encumbrance of possible children to hamper him. But Nomadii women are held in high regard and respected by their counterparts, each sex appreciating and valuing one another for their natural abilities.

As their neared the caravan she could smell the cooking fires and the pack animals, sounds of children playing near the camp could be heard and she could pick out the outriders who guarded the camp. It would be nice to rest with these people and she, even though she was a bit fearful, still looked forward to this respite.

since leaveing the ruins Seri had seemed to be a little on the sad side of things, it wasnt nessassarily what she said, but her eyes seemed lost in the past more and more, thinking about things that were a scar on her spirit. for now he would keep to himself about it, if it was something he needed to know than she would tell him, otherwise it was no different than the things that he prefured to keep to himself. whether or not it had something to do with plans to go to the Great Meet or something she had seen at the ruins, she had been acting a little off now and again when it came to their conversations, she was nervous at times when he wasnt sure why.

the glow from the fire could be seen on the dunes like a yellowish string lineing the sands crest. the guards of the camp sounded an alert for the rest of the camp to be aware, cains pace didnt slow while he approched the fire light and he came into focus. only when directly in front of the guards whom greeted them with a friendly enough face did cain offer a hand and greeted in kind. "my name is Hanler of Lum" he looked over his shoulder to Seri "this is Deet of Lum" the guards introduced themselves and he passed by. two of the three followed them back to the camp to where they had origanally been before the call was sounded. the third stayed behind untill his shift was over.

they were greeted by several dozen eyes, his hand lifted a bit to greet them, half of them went back to their business, some of the children came to them and wanted to see the strangers up close. the trust in strangers between Nomadii was unlike anything else that Cain knew of in this world. he turned to Seri "dont have too much fun...im going to go trade a bit" he walked off into the half-crowd looking for trade. 

after several introductions and a couple redirections him and two other Nomadii made their waythrough the camp and began in dealings, he presented the mass of copper cord. there was an air of appreciation and wonderment at the copper, bids were placed here and there, the copper was useless for elecrtic purposes, but it provided a much needed metal for what the cities used to make the coins they used for money value. the value of this copper wasnt outlandishly powerfull, but it was rare to see old world metals and meet somone who went into them with purpose and survive. 

She watched Cain stroll off to barter and admired the easy way he could fit in to a group anywhere. She too was welcomed and invited to join some ladies near the fire. She willingly went and offered to help prepare the evening meal. Soon she was put to work chopping root vegetables for the evening meal and gossiped with the other women. She had no gossip to add to theirs of course since she was a stranger amid their group but she listened and laughed or snickered at the appropriate times.

She too was asked about her mask and she just answered. “We always wear them when we travel among the ruins.” she offered honestly. “They help us to breath and now it is just natural to keep them on.” she did go on to ask if that was okay with them and of course the women just patted her on the knee and told her not to worry, as they well understood the dangers of the ruins. Many privately wondering, and some assuming that she was scarred by ether poisoning, thus her reluctance to remove her mask. And as was their way, not wishing to make a guest uncomfortable, chose not to pursue the issue.

Seri also did some trading with the women offering some of her herbs, she had collected. Happy hands would reach out for some of the spices and she received back bits of ribbon, some coin, and even some herbs she was lacking. In all all sides were very happy with the outcome of their trading.

As the evening wore on she was directed to the guest tent and already her belongings had been stowed inside. Digger followed along at her heels nose to ground inhaling new smells. She entered the tent and began to set it up for them for the night. She took their bedrolls and lay them out then she sat upon hers cross legged and began to organize her pack. She had room now after the trading and so she cataloged in her head what she had in inventory and what items she still needed. She still only had the four cross bow bolts and wondered not, belatedly, if she should have sought out their weapons maker for help in making more. She pulled out the troxxen leg bone and rolled it in her hands still wondering how well bolts would work make with troxxen bone. Soon Digger came into the tent dragging a bit of meat bone one of the cooks had kindly given him and began to scour it with his teeth. “You are always snacking, you silly thing.” she laughed and rubbed his head a bit, while he happily grumbled on his bone enjoying his treat and the petting.

It had been a good evening. The tribesmen had made them welcome, fed them well and bartered fairly. She had enjoyed the local gossip and even got to hear some music as dinner was eaten and more while clean up was done. She pulled off her mask and unbound her hair, releasing the tight braids so she could thoroughly brush it out. She was bent over double brushing her hair over her head when Cain returned so all he would see is a mass of silver hair cascading onto her lap as she brushed. “Ah you are back.” came a voice buried in the mass. “Good trading?” she sat up tossing her hair back over her back and smiled. “It has been a pleasant evening.” and offered him a welcome home smile. As he sat his pack down to sit she began to pull her hair into sections to begin rebinding it all into dozens of small tight braids.

Xrysis sat guard at the tents only opening, his ears were back and he looked uneasy. cain stopped and kenlt down to the hound and rested a hand on his head. "whats up bud?" his head snapped up to the tents door, he stood and moved inside the tent with a bit of a quickness. inside there was a mess of silver hair drapped over a lap, his shoulders relaxed as he looked back at the hound with a questioning look. "yes, several pounds lighter." when her head came up and back there she was smileing at him.

his eyes widend a bit, he turned quickly and grabbed the flap to the tent that he had left open and pulled it shut with a hard jerk that threatend to rip the tent down. he stood for a moment to make sure the door was closed and no one could enter...as he refused to let go of the flap of the tent. wispering quietly so only she could hear him. "where is your mask??" his head glanced over his shoulder. "did anyone see you? your face?" Xrysis' and his weight could be felt on the door flap and Cain was reassured by his hound that the door was under his guard now. Cain released the door and moved with quick stride to inspect the walls of the tent. checking for holes, for spys, for anything that may give someone a peek.

"you do know i have to kill anyone that sees our faces right?" his hushed tone was irritated and curt. his hand ran along the tents wall and he sat down looking squarly at her with arms crossed, obviously beside himself right now. if he had to kill one person he generally had to kill another, and killing two people in a nomadii encampment was a HARD thing to go about doing, being strangers ment possible suspect to any missing persons...last time that happened he was demanded to remove his mask.

flopping over on his side and laid on the ground with arms still crossed his metal face was still looking at her, but his eyes were closed, he didnt think he was overreacting, nomadii were very social between their kin, the idea of some friendly face comeing to offer them a gift for their travels was not beyond the realm of possibility. and to return that kindness and thoughtfullness with the gifters death was...a sad thing.

after a little bit of time he pulled off his soft armor and laid out his weapons beside him, two by his head and two by his hips on either side of his body, regaurdless of sleeping position he would be able to arm himself as soon as his consciousness returned. for him, this was more dangerous than the ruins in being discovered, a thin sheet of tent was all that stood between them and the masses to which they could not be discovered. generally...anyone else other than them in the ruins were kill-on-sight types.

[[Posting for Seri, since she lost her sign on information.]]

=========================================

She looked at him evenly not flinching a bit at his anger. Finishing her last braid she reached for her mask and put it back on carefully securing it into place in an unhurried manner. When secured she would then reply to him. “I took no chances, Digger was aware the whole time where each and every living creature was in relation to this tent. It is also why my hair was spilled forward so as to conceal my face if...and that is a huge if, someone should stray too close.”

Digger upon hearing his name trotted up to his beloved human companion and begged for an ear rub, seeming not to be too alarmed by the tension in the tent. She obediently bent to his head and began a good rub while she mused a bit. “Cain, why do we hide from our own people?” she asked somewhat aimlessly as if she had no agenda. “What is it that keeps our tribe separate?” She knew there was more to the Tehzai than they had let her know. She began to carefully pick up her belongings and pack them pack into her bags. The evening had taken a toll upon her and she really wasn't a match for his anger at the moment. She had done some healings and on top of their adventure in the desert the previous night she was well worn out.

She hesitated as she packed, her hand hovering over her comb and let out a weary sigh “Cain, I am sorry. Of course you are right, it was very careless of me and dangerous.” Her voice almost fading on the last word. “Please forgive me, I will endeavor to do better.” she suddenly felt close to tears and her hands balled up into fists as tears made her feel angry because they made her feel weak.

She took a moment to gain control then lifting her head and leveling her eyes upon him she asked quietly “When do we leave?”

he laid there whilst she explained her logic, it was sound in its own right but his 'ifs' were just as numerous as her own, he sat up now and turned to face her with arms crossed and legs the same as the outside life was still heard though much quieter than it had been before, a sign that the night was growing to a close and that sleep was not far off. they would need their sleep for the travel in the morning. he had no desire to tag along with the caravan but he worried now that Seri would.

her question about why they hid came up, he figured after these long years her questions may have been answered, though...that question came up more than one may think in their clan, people would meet friends, or fall in love with somone outside the clan, young love mostly, but it wasnt unheard of the older kin to ask the same.

he sighed and his shoulders slumped, he didnt want to be upset, so he tried to let the situation go and answer her question. a finger lifted to point at the tents wall and past it to the camp and its people. "those people are not 'our' people" his hand came back down and they rested loosly in his lap with palms up like a meditative posture. "but it depends on whom you ask..." his voice matter of fact to answer her question. "i personally feel no kinship with the Nomadii...they are a means to my end, the sand for a Ta'ba...the shadows for the Demkii" 

he felt no shame in this revelation, "they are for use to blend and remain hidden, how or why they are as they are is not as we...as such, we are not they" he used his hands a bit to explain the direction of his words. "now i understand..haveing come from them, you may feel differently, that much is the case by your calling them "our own people"" he sighed and looked down slightly.

"when first you met the clan, were we not pulling demkii from their homes, against their will, in a location where they could do no harm to others?" his memory still sharp. "i dont feel i am the only one to believe that we are..." he shook his head as he couldnt really find a way to express the right words. "...better?" he paused. "as bad as that sounds its as close as i can come to it. we arnt purists, but we are close enough...that means we are choseing to be separate. and in light of this last war, i think the other races should be kept in the dark about us...let them destory themselves, leave us to own own little world of sand. sun, and discovery."

he felt more preachy than he wanted. "no matter the reason...so long as those are the counsils wishes...that is how it is. some of the nomadii clan elders know of us and keep our existance secret, which we are thankfull for." he admited "a carefree world really...and some of us prefur it that way. dont you?"

[[ Still posting for Seri ]]

Not our people? She thought on those words and wondered how could they not be their people. She knew that the tribe prided themselves on their uniqueness but didn't realize they felt themselves above and separate from the Nomadii. Placing her hands upon her knees she thought on his words as he talked. She had to admit the Tehzai were stronger and yes even healthier except for their tenacity for getting maimed. And she did admire their intent to rid the world of the Demkii. Still to say they were better than the Nomadii didn't sit so well. The Nomadii had been here in this world from the beginning making travel between cities possible, claiming the desert as their own domain and making an uneasy truce with it, and providing trade for all people.

Leaning forward she smoothed the rug that lay before her and considered her place within the tribe. They had accepted her, a notable feat, when very few were taken into the clan. She learned their ways and their secrets. Did this make her Tehzai? She felt confident that part of her acceptance was her special ability to alter water into a healing substance and her affinity in finding healing herbs but somehow she hoped that maybe she was something a bit more. Huffing a bit she felt irritated with that thought realizing that she was indeed lucky to have found a place at all especially after shaming herself with her Nomadii family.

Pushing that thought away she reaches into her pack and withdraws a leather wrapped object pushing it towards Cain. As she pushes it the leather falls away revealing a block about 6”x 6” x 2”, orange in color and a tattered label with the letters Semtex visible. “Here, I traded for this thinking you might like it. It reminds me of some of your other things.” she said quietly hoping he would like her gift. “One of the goat boys fell down a shallow ravine and found this.” she wanted things to be okay between them again because she feared he would order her to stay in camp next time and she really did thrill to the hunt in the ruins. Pulling her hand back she sat back up and let her hands lie quietly in her lap awaiting his reaction.

Sieka at July 18, 2014 at 2:19 PM

[[ Still posting for Seri ]]

Not our people? She thought on those words and wondered how could they not be their people. She knew that the tribe prided themselves on their uniqueness but didn't realize they felt themselves above and separate from the Nomadii. Placing her hands upon her knees she thought on his words as he talked. She had to admit the Tehzai were stronger and yes even healthier except for their tenacity for getting maimed. And she did admire their intent to rid the world of the Demkii. Still to say they were better than the Nomadii didn't sit so well. The Nomadii had been here in this world from the beginning making travel between cities possible, claiming the desert as their own domain and making an uneasy truce with it, and providing trade for all people.

Leaning forward she smoothed the rug that lay before her and considered her place within the tribe. They had accepted her, a notable feat, when very few were taken into the clan. She learned their ways and their secrets. Did this make her Tehzai? She felt confident that part of her acceptance was her special ability to alter water into a healing substance and her affinity in finding healing herbs but somehow she hoped that maybe she was something a bit more. Huffing a bit she felt irritated with that thought realizing that she was indeed lucky to have found a place at all especially after shaming herself with her Nomadii family.

Pushing that thought away she reaches into her pack and withdraws a leather wrapped object pushing it towards Cain. As she pushes it the leather falls away revealing a block about 6”x 6” x 2”, orange in color and a tattered label with the letters Semtex visible. “Here, I traded for this thinking you might like it. It reminds me of some of your other things.” she said quietly hoping he would like her gift. “One of the goat boys fell down a shallow ravine and found this.” she wanted things to be okay between them again because she feared he would order her to stay in camp next time and she really did thrill to the hunt in the ruins. Pulling her hand back she sat back up and let her hands lie quietly in her lap awaiting his reaction.

he couldnt see her face but she had the body motions he could read a bit, their time together had also given him insight into her thought patterns. "like i said, those are my own thoughts on the matter, there are others who feel we should expose ourselves and work to better the clans as a whole. the Tehzai came from the nomadii, some wish to return." shrugging he looked away. "im just not one of them". 

he consitered the Tehzai a stand alone tribe, long separated from the clans to be their own people, like the demkii and nomadii had roots together far far long ago, time changes such things. to return to the clans was a step back to him, the tehzai looked forward while reclaiming the lost history of the world. to reverse engineer old world tech to use in this world, to grow strong. the Tehzai had stayed in the shadows rather than becomeing a power in the world. the reasoning was this: if the world was destoryed by the world itself due to the ancients arrogance and power...then the Tehzai, whom seek that power, would not wish the wrath of the planet onto them, the world was remade to the planets design...to go against this was to blasphem, something the Tehzai and the Nomadii had in common was their love of the land as it was, pure, much as some of the Tehzai saw themselves. the planet gave them life, and as such it also gave them a role-model of sorts. this was taught to the children of the Tehzai as they began to question such things. 

attention drawn away from his youths lessons he looked to her with a small, unseen smile. extending a hand he took the object and turned it over in his hands. "this will cut four months off createing another, thank you" head lifting to look at her. "this feels more like an apology than an offhand trade" scooting forward on his knees, he sat back onto his heels before her. his hand reached out and set onto her leg. "do not mistake my anger for concern of just the tribe...the things we do also protect us, and the responsiblity of your safety and well being rests on me" 

Xrysis huffed, cains hand retracted and he turned his head to look at the hound. "shut up" looking back to Seri Cain turned the small brick over in his hands. "things are good, all i am asking is a bit of patience" leaning back he turned on his knees and walked back to his pack and began to hide away the small treasure she traded for, which probably was a cheap trade consitering the useless nature of the object to any other race

[[ Posting for Seri ]]

She smiled within her mask and nodded slightly for it indeed was her way of apologizing. She knew he had good reasons for everything he did and he kept the two of them alive so she did value his opinions. She really didn't really understand his need or desire for the substance she had found but she knew it would please him and that really was all that mattered.

She smiled more when his large callused hand came to rest upon her knee and lay her own much smaller hand atop of his. “I know Cain, and I do respect your opinions.” She was a bit sorry at Xrysis interrupting their moment but she quickly withdrew her own hand and turned to busy herself with her own pack. Digger had grown bored with the whole thing by now and butted his head into her shoulder demanding attention. She turned and drew his head between her hands and rubbed his jowls then released his face and began to give him a good ear rub. His delight with obvious when his right hind foot began to do a distinctive thumping on the tent floor.

She cocked her head to look at Cain as she gave her beloved Digger his due and said “You know, you never did say when we were leaving...hopefully early evening.” she grinned but of course he could not see it, though her voice was light and expectant. “I love the desert this time of year, the full moon seems so close we can almost touch it.” she mused. “Oh I got a new supply of salt and even managed some of those black peppercorns.” she went on in a happy vein. The salt was needed for preserving meat as well as seasoning and the pepper was a bit rare.

"tommarow evening seems appropriate, we dont really need to go to Ashir, its also an offset direction than where we want to go...not in the wrong direction" falling silent for a moment he thought on this. "it would get us further from the hives as well....seems like a sound plan" laying back down over by his pack, his hands went behind his head and he reclined a bit with a sigh. "we will go with the caravan untill the suns edge touches the sand, then we will peel off and head back south"

nodding a bit, it didnt take a moment for his body to visbily relax. shortly there after he fell asleep, beside his many weapons.

before dawn his eyes opened, like clockwork, his mind checked the tent, his belongings, the hounds and Seri. standing to his feet he began to pack his things and made ready to go. by the time this was done the rest of the camp could be heard in movement, tired children being forced to join the caravan and the tendings that needed done. the chores required to get everything ready before the sun peaked over the now cold and blue sky of the dawn. he made very little conversation with the people he had been so friendly with the night before, in a way it was a put off, but nothing rude, a simple way to make himself less and less memorable to the people. his mannerisims and tone was hardly worth effort to remeber. he did his work to make the caravan ready to go, packed everything perfectly, but under the pretense of a bad nights sleep, a bad morning...or somthing. 

their speed was as notable as any caravan, packed and ready to go before the first rays of light began to rise over the sands, the sky a hot orange and red in the dawn. as the caravan got under way he kept on foot and held the back of the line with his foot falls paced and strong, a man built for long hours of on foot travel, while others on foot traded out here and there with others onto the wagons or camels, he maintained without any sign of pain or fatigue.

“Alright” she replied and prepared for sleep. Digger scooting up next to her so she could easily reach out and touch his tough hide. They found comfort in one another and always slept this way.

Morning arrived and she laid out a quick meal that could be easily munched on while they packed and helped take down tents, etc. She mirrored Cain's behavior attempting to make herself as unmemorable as possible. She moved quietly and quickly and fell into step behind Cain, as the hounds moved back and forth between them. Digger was anxious to be away and out hunting the sands. Caravan travel bored and hampered him and made him antsy wanting to move on and away. The sun was beginning to dip in the sky and she noted Cain was falling back more and more, soon the caravan was moving over a large rise in the desert and when the first part of the train climbed the rise and began the descent she turned her steps away.

Digger had peeled off earlier and had been scouting for prey and things to dig up. He came loping back with his ears pricked forward and sending a message that let her know he had found something. She signaled with her hands to Cain she was going to investigate as was her nature and made her move towards Digger and his treasure. Traveling on foot for about forty five minutes she came to a tumbled mass of rock and smiled. Here she was sure to find something interesting.

Carefully climbing the rock she began to poke into little crevices with her digging tool, a long bar with a prong on the end. Often she would be startled by the skittering of large scorps and laugh as Digger quickly pounced on them and began to munch, stinger and all making a slightly disgusting sound as he did so. She was so intrigued and distracted by Digger and the scorps she almost didn't feel the tremble of the earth. But her head snapped up when a pack of Kimari flew past her and nearly over her in their hurry to vacate the area. Turning, digging tool in hand, she faced what was stirring up the local wildlife and a cold finger of fear, starting in her stomach and lacing outwards through her body, took her over. There just on the horizon was a large sandworm making for her position. Digger snarled and snapped his huge jaws in a offensive manner indicating he would take on this behemoth of the desert single handedly. He really didn't have any sense sometimes. She sent  a worried message out to Xrysis hoping to alert Cain. In the meantime she looked for a defensive hole to crawl into. Someplace the worm could not go but it didn't look good. Only a good solid rock wall would protect her and Digger and this was just piles of rock, nothing really solid.

on the other side of the dune, able to search extra areas as they had split up, he wasnt too far to not be there if he was needed. the sky was deep orange from the setting sun, his feet traced slowly in the sand. a soothing feeling washed over him as he walked alone. Xrysis was scouting off to his right hand side. with sandy walls towering over him on either side he felt truly secluded for the time being. eyes closed whilst his hand lifted to his face and pulled his face mask free. a deep intake of the still warm air relaxed him further. he hated extended time with the caravans, they were stressfull and he was always on edge within. this...his natural element, the solice of the sands and the calming effect it had on him was truly where he belonged.

after half an hour walking at a slow and almost idle pace, he knew that with this natural setting that so belonged to him belonged to others. and as expected there was an alarm. Xrysis sounded the alarm and the waves from his hounds mind came to him faster than any sort of technology could offer. Cains eyes tightend and his pupils fixed. pulled immediatly from his calm trace into a mode of ability and talent. his hand replaced the mask to his face as he turned and ran up the dune and came to the crest to look across the dune to the next to Seri and her line of sight.

eyes drawing onto the sandworm, his form turned and began to run along to crest of the dune. "Xrysis, decoy" the hound which had been unseen lept over the dunes crest just behind him and ran down the dunes side towards the worm without hesitation, just barely avoiding running into Cain as he ran along the top. there was a glint of metal to the air as Cain drew a hatchet and wheeled it back and let it fly, turning it into a glinting disk that soared through the air in a large arc. as Cain rounded the dune he flew by Seri in a whirl of his brown cloak and soft armor which came off him and piled to the ground as he lept into the air.

Xrysis came up beside the worm, much more flexable than a Ta'ba he knew to avoid closer range than needed. instead the hound howled at the beast, forceing the beast to turn its attention to a limping Xrysis which was feigning injury to lure the worm to a easier prey, after all...easier meals were somtimes the best in the great sands, it ment spending less energy. the worm turned more, clearly interested at this prospect....untill a silver whirling blade impacted into its head and impacted deep from some unknown assailent, revealed to be a hatchet from the sky.

the beast was unsure what was going on and twisted itself up into a deffensive posture, and Xrysis made a break for it, the hound ran along the sands at a large gait only to slide to a stop suddenly where Cain whom was in mid leap landed on the hounds back and leapt off the hound, useing it as a spring board to come down ontop of the worms head with twin hatchets in tow and impacting the worms head upon landing, leaveing three blades into the worms head Cain didnt waste time trying to rodeo of worm and lept off, useing his hatchets as a platform and throwing himself clear of the worm as well as pushing the blade to the back end of the blade deep into the flesh and armor of the worm. 

Crouched down pushed back as far as she could manage in the rocks, the rocks pressing painfully into her flesh, her heart seemed to beat loudly in her chest. Digger was pressed against her keeping himself between her and the worm. Snarling he braced himself for an attack his armor plating fully extended. She began to count the seconds as they crawled by and the worm got closer. Her fingers curled around her digging tool as if it was a weapon but a pitiful weapon it would be if forced to use.

With a rush of relief she heard Xrysis and Cain then saw them. The effortless way Cain moved with his weapons flashing in the air gave her a sense of pride. Quickly she looked about seeing if there was any thing she could do to help and realized that she needed to stay where she was. For now she was more a liability to Cain and Xrysis than help. Digger made to move and join Xrysis but she called him back. “Digger, stay.” she ordered and the hound did so but with much reluctance. She mentally went over what healing salves she had in preparation to help than when they won the battle. She knew they would win because to think otherwise was not acceptable.

Her heart rose to her throat as Cain planted his axes into the giant worm and she bit at her lip not realizing she was holding her breath as they fought. When he leapt down to safety she expelled and took in another gulp of air. When the fight was done she crawled from her spot and ran towards them the worm in it's death throes she was careful to not get too close, but as she approached Cain she noticed the worm had another weapon lodged in the side of the opening that was it's mouth and she began to frantically look around her sending a warning to Digger and through him to Xrysis. Demkii! The worm had a Demkii lance lodged deep in it's mouth. Gesturing to Cain she reached into her pocket for her hand crossbow and began to search for the rest of the Demkii. The worm writhed in it's death throes but was ignored as they searched for the other Demkii.