Welcome to Gaia! ::

Boothe nodded with a small chuckle. When Selia entered the gates, he slid against a tree to sit down and catch his breath.

Valik obeyed, his body jerking to the right suddenly. "I see it," he said, almost sounding like a growl. His jet black fur covered his vision, making it almost impossible to see. "Does it look friendly?" he asked over the sound of wind rushing by them as they got closer.

A light in the dark, Sebastian sat atop a giant oak. He grasped at his pocket, hearing the yellowed paper crackle in his pocket. He had taken it with him the day he met Selia after the attack; it was something his mother had left behind. A jolt ran up from his toes to his back when he jumped down. Then suddenly sharp, cold metal was at his cheek, drawing blood. He felt it trickle down his neck. He moved his eyes to the source. A steel spear. At the edge, a dark man with dark features, but bright eyes. The bright eyes narrowed as the spear poked harder at Sebastian.

Only a mile from the village, Valik came to a halt. The village was small, but large in population. On the outskirts of the village was unlit tents, but figures roamed around them with spears or bows in their hands. "Watchers, maybe hunters," noted Valik. "They're dark people. How are we to tell if they're friendly?" he asked, mainly asking himself. He stalked a little closer. The village was surrounded by tall logs, spiked at the tops. Little light came from the small place. "The gate's open." Valik nodded towards it. He returned his focus to the group by the tents. One man stood out in particular. The man was the only one who had white hair, the rest had black hair. Though they all wore heavy fur jackets and other fur garments. They were by the snowy mountains, after all. "Alright, then." Valik said. He slid Valerie off of his back and was almost instantly back to his regular self. He began walking towards the group of men.

Valik let out a breathy chuckle. "It's fine," he said, glancing at her for a moment. As they got closer, Valik scoffed. "They look like eskimos." he snorted. When nearing the camp, the snow began to fall lightly.
"Ey, ty! Eto chastnyye zemli!" You there! This is private lands. the man with silver hair growled. "They're Russian." Valik whispered to her.
"My ne vragi. Pozhaluysta, my khotim pogovorit' s vashim rukovoditelem. Vy govorite po- angliyski?" Valik said in return, raising his hands. We are not enemies. Please, we wish to talk to your leader. Do you speak English?
"Yes," the man replied, looking back at his men to lower their spears. "but not well. I am the leader of the Hunt. Our other leader is the Wise Woman, leader of The Spirits. What have you come here for?" his English was a bit hard to understand since his accent was stronger than Boothe's.
"Allies." Valik answered simply, lowering his hands. He stopped a few yards in front of the group, keeping his distance. He watched the silver haired man glance at Valerie and him with suspicion. "We are gathering an army against the neko abominations. Against the Castle. Against the kingdom. You know this threat, no? Your village has been attacked, I can tell by the debris." Valik added, pointing out the ruin that was now clear in the village.
The man looked at his men. His men were silent, and it was obvious they honored the silver man as their leader and respected his word. A good man. Valik noted. "Come with me, and you will meet the Wise Woman. We will go to her tent. She must have been expecting you." the silver man said, leading them into the village. Valik looked at Valerie, then hesitantly followed the man.

Valik caught up a familiar scent. Oh, s**t. he thought. He dare not say a word to Valerie, but people were taking notice. A villager lowered his hammer that was working with a piece of steel, a growl escaping his throat. But he did not attack, only glared. Valik tried to cover the sight of him from Valerie. A few other villagers stared, but most didn't narrow their eyes. "The Wise Woman," the silver man began, regaining Valik's attention, "is mutated. I suggest...well, not staring. In fact, don't look her in the eyes. She, er," he was struggling to find the English translation, "will find it disrespectful, yes?" then they were at the tent. Before entering, some words in Russian were exchanged. Valik could hear the Wise Woman's voice: smooth, yet spirit-like; it seemed to echo in the air. The silver man opened the bright red cloth flap to the tent, motioning them inside. Valik put his hand protectively on Valerie's back and walked in with her.
"Valik, son of Athos The Warrior. They said he was immortal, you know." she seemed to say it in a mocking tone. "I have been expecting you. Sit." she purred, and lay down her drag. The tent was small but quaint. Valik did as he was told with hesitance. The tent was thick with smoke, but it didn't clutch at your lungs or burn your eyes. "It is allies you wish. My village is yours. And so are my allies. We will fight with you. Only, Donnie Petrovski will go with you back to your friends." she said, nodding towards the silver man.
She was a mutant. But she was a neko, just like Valik. Valik raised an eyebrow. That's it? Why is she so quick to accept? "Er, thank you, my lady. This is unexpected, I admit."
"I knew it would be." she said simply, raising an eyebrow at him, too.
"How will you know when we need your aid?" Valik asked, confused.
"I knew what you wanted and I knew when you were coming, did I not?" she smirked. Valik only swallowed at the lump in his throat. Then her smirk turned into a smile. "Your friend, Sebastian," she changed the subject, "he has found one of the most powerful allies you will ever find in this realm. But I'm afraid the machines are not your only enemies. The High Elves of the Emerald City will threaten you greatly. But not now, not soon. In the future. Their leader is a woman. She knows you all. She is angry."
Valik was confused. Then, suddenly, the Wise Woman dismissed them. Donnie opened the tent once more to lead them out.

Boothe stood, accepting the woman's hand. "The pleasure is all mine." he said in that thick accent of his. He looked at the rings, admiring them. "That's fine craftsmanship, mi'lady." he smiled warmly at her.

"Well, allies," Donnie smirked, circling the intricately designed spear in his hands, "lead the way." His smirk turned into a smile. Not only was he not afraid to be a leader, but he was unafraid of being a follower. Valik already grew a liking to this man, though he felt the others would be wary of him. Especially Valerie. The tension of having another of the wolves around would make things worse. Especially a wolf that was a stranger, and plus, the people of his village were considered savages. They were all weres, in fact. This time through the looks seemed more heavy. But not on Valik or Donnie, just on Valerie. They had all caught her scent now. Valik wondered why the Wise Woman didn't narrow her eyes at Valerie or even give her a glimpse of a scolding look.

Boothe smiled awkwardly after Lilyann had made the comment of Selia's mother, but he didn't want to smile. He wanted to weep. He nodded. He looked at Selia with warning eyes. "Sebastian cannot know of this." he said huskily. "I will not speak my mind; you're right. This is your decision." Don't risk your life for it. he begged, even though she could not hear him. "Please tell me you know what you are doing." he said, looking at Lilyann with worrying eyes.

Valik suddenly turned and snapped his jaws at the man, his teeth suddenly like those in his were form. Donnie did not move, only stare. The man suddenly backed off. "New blood." he heard the man scoff in Russian, saying it to nearby villagers. Though his tone was filled with fear. Donnie smiled, admiring Valik, or maybe admiring his power. Valik turned again, walking the direction they had been as if nothing had happened. Donnie walked with him, showing that he was with Valik, and that he and his companion were not to be harmed.

Boothe nodded, going along with her words. "Really, Selia. I could use some liquor. Plus, my scar is festering." It wasn't a lie, truly. He pushed at the tear in his trousers where his nasty gash once was from the first time they were in battle with the neko abominations. Now, a scar was there, though it was discolored. "Seemed to not heal correctly," he added, clearing his throat. He looked back up at Selia. "Please, Selia. Stay. Sebastian will know we are safe; he will understand. He can do without us for awhile." he said in an assuring tone.

Boothe accepted the paper and thanked Lilyann. He studied it strangely, unsure of what to do with it. He put it to his lips and sucked at it, then got the hang of it. "Relaxing, indeed." he chuckled. Boothe held it between his lips as he accepted the stick, then looked at it. "Ya know, I lost my cane at that Emerald City of Crystal's." he eyed the stick suggestively.

Valik shook his head. "The place is leagues and leagues from here. I have no idea how to get there. Should we head back to the camp where Sebastian wanted us to re-group?" he asked. Donnie said nothing, but his strides were long and rough, making up for his silence.