[Bloodletters ORP] Roadblocks

[Hopefolly]

((OOC:: Open to all members of the Bloodletters cult. There will be prizes, the number of which will depend on how the RP goes. My next post will be on Sunday the 19th at the latest, but could be sooner depending on the frequency of posts.

Feel free to jump in any time.

Things to note: If you haven't already, be sure to read the territory post in the pride thread.

Recently, Kya, one of the Bloodletters' personal guards, was caught trying to sneak into the Infiltrator base. She was snagged in the thorns and had to be led out. Although the Bloodletter attempted to keep it from being a complete spectacle at her expense, their were witnesses and word did spread.

Infiltrators have been supposedly griping amongst themselves that there was no punishment, which some others may have overheard; however, Kya has not been seen since around noon of yesterday, and it's certainly abnormal for her to be away from the "king's" side. This led to separate rumors, ranging from her being assigned bushbuck duty to being assassinated.

It is entirely up to you what your character has heard and which rumors they believe, if any.))

"You did this!" Kya was no stranger to one-sided arguments. The Bloodletter had two personal guards, after all, and she was often overheard giving the other scathing reviews on his so-called shoddy work.

The leopard simply stared at her.

Those who had wandered over to see what the fuss was about (so early in the morning, no less!) would realize Kya had been stranded on the other side of the quicksand.

It didn't take a genius to see the makeshift bridge had been jarred from the stones keeping it in place. Kya pressed down on the log with the weight of one paw and could feel it sinking.

The storm passing through that morning had been frigid and vicious, leaving the scholars with panicking bushbucks and the vigilantes left to stand guard in the inclement weather. Those among infiltrator rank were, as usual, absent from these routine duties. Including Kalenorava.

Kya turned to the first warm body to approach them and bellowed, "She moved the log so I can't get in!"

Nevermind that. How would anyone get out?  

[Kaelyndra]

Luci may have been on her way out, she may not have been.

The important facts were this: Luci was humming. Luci was in a good mood.

Upon ducking underneath a water-logged branch (courtesy of the morning's storm), her casual pace slowed further. It became a few short-sided steps while her curious eyes fell on the black lioness across the stagnant pool of filth.

A paw pressed down on a log, causing the whole thing to give way and begin to sink. Really, if she didn't know it was there, she'd never believed there was a lake's worth of murky sand-water just in front of their cult.

A smile began to spread on the overo-colored lioness's face. It was lazy and just pulled over her canines.

"Oh, stop overreacting," Luci purred out; like a lover might chide a grumpy mate, or a mother may tease a child.  

[Kimaria]

With the first shout came, the cheetah's ear turned towards the sound, hesitantly curious but unwilling to fully commit. After all, it would not be the first time that chaos had erupted from nothing and he did so hate having his precious day wasted by idle fools. Still, when the second shout came (an accusation, no less), a studious pair of eyes turned towards the commotion; eyes green and sharp as grass after rain.

Between him and the group was a row of trees, wrapped thick with vines and crawling with ants. Sometimes, when he needed to think, he'd watch them patrolling back and forth - so long that at times he thought he could almost tell them apart (which was a ridiculous notion, of course).

Still, it was with intent that he cracked the loose twigs at the base of the trees to announce his arrival; stepping out from the filtered light into the full sun. The touch of it on his back was like a hot brand, lining his fur with a coat of gold.

He was tall for a cheetah, with long legs, tapered hips and an expressive tail that twitched with some faint amusement at the predicament laid out before him.

"So," he fixed his eyes on Kya, "she hasn't been assassinated, after all."

The smallest of smiles curled the corner of Schirloc's face.  

[Shia bean]

Very few things got away from a Vigilante on guard. Kya's failed infiltration attempts were one thing, but her disappearance from the pride grounds would have reached the lead Vigilante as soon as the black feline crossed the sandy threshold. The portal to and from the pride was deemed an essential post to keep eyes on, and those charged with the duty crucial to the safety of the whole. None were to come through, nor escape, without him knowing.

And had the area been given watch over by a Vigilante that day, this might have been avoided...

Quaid sat stiffly where firm soil nearly met with sand. A quiet investigation on the matter was out of the question, working a nerve within the large, wild dog in his usual silence. The arrival of Luci, and then snap of wood and quip signaling their scholar Schirloc, made quick work of that; their comments only seemed to encourage the company of those equally curious.

Kalenorava's presence also added an element to the ordeal for which the canine could have done without. Her and that elusive lot which followed had as much trust from him as a provoked rattler would.

The insistence of the leopards involvement did, however, strike a chord within him, more then Quaid could openly reveal. Even if it came from the mouth of a heated lioness, perhaps the fact that she was not only that, but the Bloodletter's personal lackey could prove useful upon judgement.

Until then, what remained was a tampered path and a punishment hanging idly in the air for those responsible. (fingers crossed it was Lena) To Kya, the male flatly inquired,

"Mind explaining yourself?"  

[CaliWolfe]

Mzuka marched with little grace and a pleasantly twisted grin looming on his face. Courtesy of the morning storm his fur was ragged and wild, mane soaked and yet still strains flung every which way in a huge tangled mess. Still, the leopon seemed positively cheery. His hips swayed side to side as he hummed a simple melody; and he curiously eyed his surroundings in awe. His silvery expression of both comfort and delight would cause the more upbeat members of the pride to question his glee.

In all the most honest of answers it was because of the distressed voices he followed. By neglecting his guard duties Mzuka risked his occupation, but he cared little. He would get a warning at best and the sweet alluring sounds of festering wounds and unmentioned insults lured him closer to the scene ahead. Normally he cared not for gossip, useless bickering and white noise he had learned to recently ignore. For whatever reason though, he was drawn to this mess and had a sneaking suspicion as to why.

His undying need to acquire new shiny objects would all but eventually slither into his mind and brew. His calling of being a thief; would consume his newly tamed self and he would give in to temptation of opportunity. He could not help it, for this was Mzuka's nature. It was almost his instinct to misuse the situation to benefit himself. A golden coin? Consider it taken. A gleaming jewel, where did it go?

He was drawn to arguments, and this argument was no different. Continuing to walk ahead his mood of glee made him forget he was no longer a rogue and lived in a pride. But this deranged ideology eventually vanished as he approached the broken log, stopping a good few meters away.

Kya was alive? He had heard rumors she had been killed. This was definitely not the harmless bickering he had been looking forward too.  

[Hopefolly]

Kaelyndra

Shia bean

Kimaria

CaliWolfe

Sherlolly

((OOC: Apologies for the extra days wait, all. I've been having massive router trouble over the weekend, but it's fixed now and posting will continue as normal.

The next post will be this Saturday, at which point the window of time provided will shrink a bit just so the RP doesn't last half a year. XD))

"I am not overreacting!" Kya snapped at Luci. Last thing she needed was another one of Them on her case. That sneaky look she and the Lead Infiltrator exchanged made her blood boil all the more. (In reality, Kalenorava had only glanced at Luci, but to an angry Kya, everything they did was shady.)

—Wait, assassinated?!

From one leopard to the other — Kalenorava to Schirloc — Kya's eyes did fly. When did they get so many treeclimbers? None of them among the Vigilantes, she might add! While Quaid was far from her best friend in the world (she could do better than a brainless hound), she'd have chosen him as company out of this lineup. Enemy of thy enemy and all...

"She moved the log!" Kya reiterated, directed toward the wild dog.

"I didn't," Kalenorava said calmly. "It fell in while I was on guard duty. For the best. At least no one was walking on it. It's been a hazard for some time, yes?" She looked through the crowd, seeking validation in this (admittedly accurate) remark.

But guard duty? Since when had any of the Infiltrators, let alone their leader, fulfilled their obligated of guard duty? Yet it made sense: No one else was stationed at the post. The Bloodletter wouldn't have let the entry go unmanned, and Quaid would have undoubtedly been informed if there was such a drastic security breach.

At random, Kya looked to Jmeni. "When have you ever seen any of them guarding here?"

Answer: Never.

Quite the quandary!  

[Shia bean]

The wild dog followed the conversation, as best one could, with only the shift of his gaze until the arrival of Mzuka earned a curious tilt. One of his own, a term used loosely on account of the cross breeds mischievous ways, was acknowledged briefly by a side-long glance, held perhaps a moment too long. One of the last he would have expected to be drawn by activity, although not quite the last he'd rather see present, Quaid set a mental reminder to check in on the other male at a later date...

'She moved the log!'

Returning, rather abruptly, to the case at hand, the canine's brow hiked when the accused piped up.

'It fell in while I was on guard duty.' ... His mouth opened, shut, opened again, and then shut without a word.

It was a refreshing reminder that their pride consisted of many blunt individuals, even those honest to a fault. Particularly thankful for the forwardness of Jmeni at present, the hound straightened up in his place and grunted his own dismissive retort to Kalenorava's claim. Guard duty his tan a**.

"Would be rather odd, though." Quaid chimed in once the dark cheetah quieted. The scholar's point seemed plausible, but highly unlikely. "Inclement weather is typically their excuse not to fulfill a duty." He attempted to alleviate the tensity of his voice with a gruff chuckle, but jokes often held great truths. His, the greatest. "It has been a while since we've seen you out of your brambles, Kalenorava. Quite the surprise to hear it was to guard."  

[CaliWolfe]

Mzuka plopped his butt on the muddy ground as he listened to everyone around him. Moved the log... It fell in... Highly implausible... His tail swooshed around as he continued to hum, albeit more softly, barely even noticeable. His stupid grin remanded as his mind spun vigorously, carefully eyeing everyone about. Steal or not to steal? Perhaps run away inste- crap.

The leopons ears folded back a bit as the cold calculating eyes of his boss settled upon him. Well that settled it now didn't it? He cheekily smiled at Quaid in hopes that he'd divert his attention elsewhere. The obvious nervousness contained in his "oops-did-I-really-just-walk-in-here" face gave away his guilt. Of all people he hadn't expected Police McGee to be loitering about. Although he seemed to be interrogating miss Kalenorava at the moment, his presence put an abrupt halt on the leopons plan of thievery. As soon as Quaid turned back elsewhere Mzuka let loose a sigh of relief.

Last thing he needed was to be suspected of anything. Not that he had done anything suspicious... Yet... But Mzuka didn't like being a suspect anyways. Maybe he could help? Yes, if he help he wouldn't come off as so suspicious! It would also get people moving so he could check if they were wearing anything pretty and shiny.

"Um.. Boss?" He step forward, making sure to echoing his voice. "I don't mean to interrupt your... Chat, but maybe it could wait until after everyone's safe?"  

[Kaelyndra]

The arrival of the First Vigilante was hardly unexpected. His voice still prompted Luci closing her eyes in order to shield the over-exaggerated roll she made with them.

Two scholars, two guards, two Infiltrators and Kya. It was anyone's match.

A bored ear flicked Mzuka's way, another towards Jmeni. The lioness smacked her mouth together, letting the scattered debates calm down.

"Now hang on a moment," she interjected when the time felt right. "If Kalenorava was assigned guard duty, and no one has ever seen her fulfill guard duty, why wasn't anyone assigned to fill her role?"

Luci looked first to Jmeni, both brows raised. Then, with a smile, she turned her curious look towards the First Vigilante himself. "Am I wrong?" Of course she wasn't wrong; it was doubtful that Luci would have opened her mouth for even a moment if she'd though she could be wrong.  

[Hopefolly]

Kaelyndra

Shia bean

Kimaria

CaliWolfe

Sherlolly

((OOC: Next post will be on Wednesday in the evening (EST), unless lack of posts dictates otherwise, in which case it will be on Friday in the evening.))

"However, just because we haven't seem them doing their guard duty, ever, doesn't mean that they couldn't just suddenly decide to fulfill that obligation. Especially if there wasn't anyone else available thanks that truly charming storm this morning."

Kya's reputation of being querulous was well-earned. She forced herself to calm down, to keep rational, and it was a good thing she did. Just as she was about to point out Mzuka didn't look particularly busy (so why not assign him to guard?), she realized something vital. It would have been two somethings had she bothered to know the vigilante ranks better, but Kya didn't; his questionable behavior was lost on her and so she saw no problem in appointing him to protect the cult's only entry way and, by association, their most glaring weak point.

What she did know was that if Quaid was clueless about Kalenorava being on guard, that meant this had been approved by the Bloodletter himself. Kya's duty -- her entire purpose in life at present -- was to maintain his prestige. When she had sworn her life to him, that included all faucets of it; not simply the right to breathe but, at times, the right to prove herself as one of the most intelligent beings here and one not to be trifled with, whether it be through debating them into a corner or lashing out with a vengeance until those who dared wrong her like this paid.

If she weren't careful, she could prompt some thinking along the same lines hers was now. They might wonder why Kalenorava was permitted to stay here of all places, given the Infiltrators poor attendance record. Ask why Kya herself had left to start with. Worst of all, they might think the unimaginable: that the Bloodletter was scheming with a lousy Infiltrator to get rid of her!

While Kya wrestled with her thoughts, Kalenorava was addressing Quaid's... concerns. "I stay with the other Infiltrators. Perhaps they stay in my brambles because your kind is so quick to prosecute them, even when yielding to your demands, as I've done here. You've never been kind to them."

Them. They. Not us. Kalenorava did not use these words so as to make herself seem superior to those she had picked as her own, but rather to subtly flaunt herself as above Quaid personally. She didn't say "us" because that would imply she cared, even the slightest bit, for his opinion. Potentially more infuriating was this seemed an unconscious decision, suggesting it was so deeply ingrained in Kalenorava that she was forever wiser, all-around better than Quaid, she could act it without trying.

"But your leopon is right," Kalenorava said immediately afterward. "We should find a means to repair our entrance and, most importantly, get Kya to safety. Luci, go and find the Bloodletter. This is something he should be made aware of."  

[Hopefolly]

Hopefolly

Kaelyndra

Shia bean

Kimaria

CaliWolfe

Sherlolly

((Due to lack of posts and scheduling conflicts for the weekend, posting is extended until this Monday.))