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 Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:12 pm
While moving the bodies they had already made a mistake. He held in his growl as Kooka pecked at his shoulder. The bird even shaking his head at Mwako to keep quiet, though Kooka kept a close hold, still, onto the coin. Just in case.
What might they need it for? Perhaps Kooka could draw the nergui away from wherever the cub was, but, he was too far away, did not know where the small team had gone.
Kooka sighed.
Mwako'damu kept his focus and kept a close ear listening to Elcca, to others. And it seemed like someone in particular had arrived, but he couldn't be sure at the distance they were at.
None of it was good, he deemed.
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Excited Apathy generated a random number between
1 and 10 ...
10!
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:20 pm
Mkazo's eyes shot towards the Nergui at the commotion, and he relaxed only a fraction once he saw the reason. Sure, they were all occupied with eating. But there wasn't much food, and it wouldn't last long. Once it was gone, they'd have nearly the entire patrol awake and making it that much harder to get the hell out. Marking the wariness of the new lioness, he could only have faith in Arikara's word that they would trust her.
A glance back showed the cub had crept out of her hiding place, allowing Morag to grab her up. Well, that was their cue to get out while they could--they hadn't heard much, but lingering would only increase the risk of discovery and they'd be no use to anyone dead or enslaved. As if to emphasize this, as Mkazo followed Morag into the brush he caught a glimpse of another newcomer entering the camp--one that was obviously respected--or feared--by the other Nergui. The fur along his spine bristled slightly at the thought of someone Nergui feared. It was definitely time to get the hell out of here.
With luck, even if one of Arikara's family saw them leaving, they'd trust her enough to keep their mouths shut.
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 7:11 am
The patrol hardly noticed the two sneaking off with the cub. The herdbeast was slim pickings, but more than enough to fight over. Which they were still doing quite loudly when Svarr and Godlum slipped into camp. By sheer luck, they did not look in the rogues direction.
"Godlum Oma has returned," Svarr said, his voice rising to catch the attention of the others. It was hard to say if there was a hint of contempt in his voice as he did. As he was being introduced, the eerie looking beast took his spot on the same roost Svarr had previously sat. A move that was not entirely lost upon him.
It took a few moments for some of the nergui to break from bickering amongst one another for the food. The star speckled female broke first, her maw bloodied and scratched. But when her eyes saw Godlum, they took on a most enamored sheen. "Yui rumur ik," she called in greeting.
Her head bowed, but she was the only one who did.
Godlum crossed his paws, reclining back into himself mechanically. His eyes traced over the group. When he spoke, his voice was deep and oddly segmented: "All has been completed for night, then? I suspect there would be no other reason why the patrol rests."
Svarr cleared his throat. "We actually thought to stop for you. We wouldn't dishonor ourselves to return hesr worrurd without our kaar. But besides that, we've turned up nothing. Rapha Oma's predictions about strangers seemed to be wrong."
Godlum closed his eyes. Was there vexation upon that stony face? "Groas Oma is blessed to have such a cunning patrol."
Svarr wasn't sure if that was a dig or not. In the meantime, a few of the Nergui who had stopped eating were clearly in the middle of an arms race to see who would break and go back to eating first. Finally, it was Tengri, who stole the moment to rip off a piece of haunch and dash off to the corner of the camp to gnaw at what was left. The others went back to eating.
Svarr wasn't yet ready to let it go. "We've already evaluated the terrain. Its extremely unlikely for any real force to go up through the southern pass anyway. Those Hongshan who did suffered great casualty choosing it as their escape route."
Her comment was not invited, but Arikara was clearly not one lacking in boldness: "That did not stop the Firekin from invading, so long ago. I still bare the scars from the attack."
-----
As the discussion continued, Yoan took the moment to land inconspicuously near Mkazo and Morag. Luckily, they were mostly unseen inside of the brambles. "We have a problem," he said as faintly as he could. "The others may have been discovered. Do nothing yet."
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 7:30 am
"We still have to get them out of there," Elcca whispered back. "That lion who past us, he's a seer. That's the title they gave him. There's no way to know what he knows, if he knows anything at all."
It was starting to sound like their diversion was going to need a secondary diversion.
In the distance, she could see where Yoan had landed. It looked like a large patch of thorns and brush. Thankfully, it was facing south. She could only assume he was marking where their errant spies had gone to. "They must be in that patch there," she mused through clenched teeth.
Well, it was feasibly the best place they could be. At least their luck was paying off in some respects. But it would all be for naught if Godlum just threw the alarm on them, or their escape made any noise in the brambles. "We should be ready to do the decoy plan if they get discovered."
It wasn't a plan she was particularly fond of.
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 7:41 am
Morag came to a stop and set the cub down between her paws, sinking down on her stomach to craddle her between her outstretched forelegs. She licked the place where her teeth had been, though she hadn't broken the skin.
A problem? Great... they had seemingly pulled off their hiest of the cub, but now it seemed the other group was the one in trouble. And what's more... the boy cub was still over there. She and Mkazo could break and run on their own, but she didn't like the idea of leaving the rest to their devices burdened with him. They were strong adult firekin, she didn't doubt they could handle themselves, but the cub... he would slow down whomever took him and force them to protect him when they should be worrying about their own hides.
For now, she stayed still, waiting to see what the patrol's next move would be, and listening to the snatches of conversation she could catch from here.
Meanwhile, Kivu decided she was tired of flying for now and landed in the tree above the patrol. She watched them with interest as she preened her feathers back into place, curious about this new comer.
Some of the things they said was interesting, like how Rapha Oma had predicted the Firekin group and sent this patrol to investigage, but mostly it was names she didn't recognize.
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 8:17 am
"Agreed." He kneaded the dirt beneath his paws thoughtfully. "Who has the other cub? Are they already moving out?" Because whomever was burdened with that one could probably use a head start. His eyes darted about the lions hiding in the grass until he found Serkan, who had been sniffing after it before. But he did not see the cub. Had they lost track of the male?
Azulon looked back at the camp, but he could only guess where Mkazo and Morag were when Yoan landed somewhere in the grass. "I will get as close as I can." Which probably wasn't too close, but at least most of them were distracted with their eating. Probably just before the body he had placed. "If Godlum sounds the alarm, or anyone chases after them and they ignore the bodies, I – and anyone else who wants to risk it – will play decoy and give them a start." He could run fast enough. Probably. At least he knew he could run for a long time, and if the Nergui filled their bellies, it might slow them down for a while. "The rest... well, I guess run is the name of the game for everyone, really."
–––––
Hraelsveg, meanwhile, just sat at the edge of the clearing and listened as well as she could. she tried to be a good little spy, and commit it all to memory.
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:27 pm
For a moment there seemed to be a kind of tense silence brewing between Svarr and Godlum. Brewing in Svarr at least. Godlum seemed oddly noncommittal. Like he knew something, and wasn't even trying to hide the fact. Svarr was a breath short of tossing an accusation, when Tengri started running her mouth again.
"Well, I don't see why Graos Oma does not just call the hordes together and march on them. This slow approach is unfitting. We're acting like the desert is rus roqo." There was a large crack as she split the hind bone with her teeth. "There's not even a Kulukadok guarding them."
"We don't know that," the star-speckled female interjected. Her voicing edging somewhat, like she was trying to get the attention of the two males. They hardly looked her way.
Godlum thrummed low in his throat. The sound was enough to keep everyone's voice low. "That isn't the course Graos Oma wants," he said. Was he projecting his voice for more than just the Nergui to hear? "The Firekin are wild, but they are hiniraullu. They understand. Look how they destroyed their god! They follow Tra Ord Omak without knowing."
"Remove enough of the leadership," Godlum continued. "And they will see what joining our rurda can offer. They are too desirable and numerous to use the usual strategies. Graos Oma is very clever in this."
Tengri scrunched her nose, but seemed to quiet. It was obvious she had a retort- but wasn't about to argue with the mysterious Graos Oma either. "How fortunate Kaar Godlum knows such things," was all she could muster.
Godlum simply rested his head upon his paws. His eyes closed. "The visionaries' plan has already begun. Do not worry over such things, Tengri. I am sure Svarr will explain them to you on the journey back to hesr worrurd."
----
Yoan blinked his eyes. That was certainly ominous news. But the fact that the strange lion had seemingly ignored them... was he letting them go? Or was it all a coincidence?
The crow somewhat doubted this. Hopping along the brambles, he dropped down and landed on the Mkazo's shoulder. "He didn't call the alarm. It might be worth risking it and getting out of here."
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:57 pm
Mwako'damu didn't like staying in one spot but he stayed still, lay still, focused on his breathing. Kept himself silent. Though his paws, against the ground, ready to spring upwards if need be. He knew not the details of what the others might be saying, he knew not what he could do here to make things better back for the pride. All he knew was they had come here for a reason, and they needed to be safe and everyone needed to return.
He would not let himself watch a firekin...any, fall.
No allies of theirs.
Silver eyes blinked, and Kooka kept low, huddled against Mwako's shoulder, feeling the tension, and moved very slightly. For a second Kooka believed he heard something strange, but passed it to mind playing tricks.
He only hoped this was more of a success than the bird seemed to understand.
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:08 pm
Morag's single eye was wide when Yoan hopped down, murmuring that they should move now.
Remove leadership... were they planning to kill the Regents? Whatever they planned, it was obviously deeply laid and deliberate. She felt chilled, as though she had fallen into a pool of water in deepest night. It seemed as though this Godlum spoke to them, the Firekin hidden in the brush. As though he wanted them to know these things. But why? What did he hope to accomplish by throwing this morsel to them? It was barely anything, and yet, far more than anyone had thought.
The lack of real answers ate at her as the dark lioness silently picked up the girl cub and crept out of their hiding spot, heading away from the Nergui patrol and hopefully to meet up with the rest of the group at a safer distance.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:20 am
Mkazo's blood ran cold. By the bloody gods... Removing leadership...even if the Nergui weren't planning to assassinate the Regents, to remove the head of their enemy, the Firekin had other leaders. Magistrates. Generals. Captains. Without knowing more, he had to assume that any of them could be the targets. Maybe even all of them. The Regents...the Regents had to know this.
He allowed a brief flinch at the claws as Yoan settled onto his shoulder before glancing at the crow. A curt nod was his answer, although there was a hint of unease in the stony expression. He padded after Morag, trying to keep low--and keep himself between the Nergui and the brightly colored cub that Morag carried.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 5:46 am
His ears moving, Serkan picked out Godlum's words, then turned and gave first Azulon a horrified look, then Elcca. Things had just become worse, hadn't they? Keeping himself low so as not to draw attention, and moving with a deliberate slowness, he made his way back to the brambles where the boy cub had hidden. They had to get him out of there, and they had to move FAST without getting CAUGHT. If anybody higher up in the pride was in trouble, they had to get back as fast as they could to tell them.
Vunde preened at his feathers, before he gave a couple flaps. After a moment of assuring himself he could do it, he jumped off the tree and flew over to the rock, settling next to Godlum. He didn't try to take up any of the lion's space, simply find a spot near him to the most advantage of distracting him from the Firekin. "So... Godlum Oma... How was your trip...?" It was small conversation, but it was something. The little fire pelts had endeared themselves to the vulture. Whether that was good or bad was debatable yet.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 6:54 am
Elcca wasn't in a location that allowed her to hear much of the conversation, but she could tell Godlum's voice had been raised. She tried searching her memories for anything that might explain his strange behavior. He had always been... detached. Not so different from Miah. But as a seer, anything he did was suspect. Seers played games of victory, moving pieces around until they fell in perfect alignment with their plans.
She'd have to step up her game if they wanted to keep ahead of whatever they were planing.
"Up ahead- they are coming," Elcca whispered. She could see the faintest movements in the brambles, and soon after that, the dark shapes emerging. They were moving with slow intent, and didn't seem to be noticed by the resting patrol. Had they actually managed to escape below detection?
...no, she supposed they hadn't. Godlum had to have known there were others out there. As soon as Morag and Mkazo got close, Yoan coasted low to the ground and returned to Elcca's shoulder. "Anything?"
"They follow Tra Ord Omak," Yoan reported, as if this was something known between them. "And I suspect we are being let go."
"Lets not give them any time to reconsider then," Elcca said quietly. "But we should go west. This doesn't feel right, and I don't think we should take any predictable path."
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:12 am
Though Azulon knew little about Godlum, or even seers in the way Elcca did, he had to agree. "Yes. Morag and Mkazo can fill us in with all they've heard better once we're further away." Right now it still was not quite safe for them to raise their voices or talk normally. Even if Godlum was giving them an out, if they were found by any of the others, he highly doubted they would just be ignored.
The Nergui would know something was strange when they found the moved bodies, but right now it would just be ridiculous to try to put them back. "Let's go." He took a couple steps west, as suggested, but wouldn't keep on moving ahead unless the others started to do the same; he didn't want to miss any bit of information.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:14 am
A feeling of relief flooded the lioness as they rejoined the group, glad they were all safely back together. She paused to place the girl cub at her feet and gave her another lick before glancing around at the others and the dead bodies they had placed.
"Mkazo can fill you all in on what we heard since my mouth is full. Everyone should hear it word for word, in the unlikely event only one of us is able to make it back. I will say this though... they knew we were coming, but either they didn't know the details, or they didn't share them with their underlings."
Glancing around, she frowned. "Where is the male cub? Still in that bush?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 9:16 am
By now, Serkan had reached the bush the boy cub was in. He carefully rotated his rear end around so that he could peek in. Keeping his voice low, he tried getting the cub's attention and the cub OUT. "Hey, boy cub... We have sister... We take somewhere safe, away from Nergui. Old lioness tell us to." He motioned with his head. "Please come out of brambles, cannot go in after..."
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