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Arolon had cut a scarlet red cloth purposefully into the shape of a bandana and used it to cover his mouth and nose. Thanks to Ichta's lessons in sewing he had managed to sew it in the back so that it couldn't be yanked off easily, it would have to be pulled over his head.

He looked like one of the Flying Wherries, he hoped. Only one brown eye was visable, the other hidden behind his black bangs. He had only four small items in his pocession tonight. Hopefully they would come in handy.

It was dark out, the howls of a desert storm could be heard outside. He'd been waiting all sevenday since Theron gave him the order and now he was ready. He'd located Iathe days ago and had memorized what she looked like. She was finally alone, for the moment. He had to seize this opportunity while he could. He was crouched behind a piece of furniture. (I don't know what kind of furniture they have in Pern! A couch? Couple wooden chairs? A bench?)

Lokkes was across from Arolon, up near the ceiling. He had found a perch up there and was waiting for a signal from Arolon. He had trained Lokkes to do a few new simple tricks. They may come in handy here too. As Iathe was passing by their hiding spot the boy nodded once discreetly. Lokkes flew over to Iathe, chirping and cooing while he hovered near one side of her head, hopefully to draw her attention away from Arolon's hiding spot.

New initiates were always a good reason for her to stop what she was doing. Though her ferocious temper proceeded her, the young leader of Sandstorm was always eager to welcome more into her ranks, regardless of their gender or ambitions. So long as they were willing to work hard and bring pride to Sandstorm, she had no qualms with anyone. She'd agreed to meet the two hopefuls in a private room so she could get to know them, always liking to at least be on a somewhat personal level with the members.

Her chin resting idly in the palm of her hand, Iathe would admit privately to herself that storms like these had once given her night terrors until she'd wised up; this didn't sound like a particularly bad storm. Yet, piercing the howls of the wind came the unexpected chirps of a flit, and her eyes narrowed with surprise as she glanced to the little creature. "And what are you doing out here by yourself?" She started to muse, distracted by the sudden opening of a door. Ah! Did he belong to one of them, then? And there was no mistaking who they were.

Rising smoothly to her feet, Iathe felt a tired, but genuine smile pull at her lips, and she nodded to man and woman alike. "Dayo, Gakere. The pleasure's mine, and I'm glad you could make it." The sudden emergence of the glow was of some relief, though the sudden accusation of sorts was enough to make her friendly posture grow stiff with irritation.

"Monitor?" Though it was irritating to be accused of such a thing, the girl was more focused on the fact that someone was actually there, someone, more importantly, hiding! "No, I was unaware there was a tunnelsnake hiding in our midsts." She said coolly, hands propped on her hips and eyes flashing. "Show yourself, whoever you are! I've no time for cowards."

Gakere, well over six feet, muscular, and trained to defend himself, as well as Dayo, who was quite a few feet away, had to resist an urge to laugh at the young teen's uncoordinated attack.

Dayo felt no hesitation in swatting the young, blue flitt away from her face. If he was making motions that were aggressive in nature, she would hurt him if he continued to invade her space. The young woman removed the blade at her hip, prepared to slash if those claws came near her face once more.

Gakere, on the other hand, simply turned his face, sand coating some of his dark dreads and he took two quick strides to grab Arolon by the back of his shirt and drag one of his arms behind him in a firm, angry hold.

"You will stop your assault of Miss Iathe, or I will break you." His tone was low, a dark promise. He obviously didn't think much of a young man who'd attack a young woman. "This is your last warning."

Lokkes evaded the hand, flying higher, away from the hostility in the air. Sensing the danger it cheeped with uncertainty and betweened away back to their room. Arolon was relieved he was out of danger. He sent calming emotions and promises of food. No matter what happens he always had Lokkes. Even if he were kicked out now.

He glanced at Dayo's knife. Really now, who was the bad guy? The one that tries to steal a stupid piece of cloth or the one about to kill a baby fire lizard? Shards and shells the flitt was only a sevenday or two old! He was glad the flitt was safe from this crazy woman. Poor Allende! What if Dayo ever got mad at her? "It's not an assault, it's a stealing." He began his explanation. He pointed a foot toward the dropped scissors Iathe had slapped out of his hand.

"See? Used to try and cut the bandana off her waist, not to hurt the lady." He was Ista bred, not a disrespectful Igen male that thought women beneath him. "If I actually meant harm I would have brought a weapon, not a sharding weavercraft tool." No offense Ichta. He just didn't think he could attack anyone with scissors, sharp or not, it'd be embarassing for him.

He focused on Sand Storm's leader now. "I know exactly who you are and what your capable of. I even agree with your faction's ideas, but I need your bandana. I am under orders. Don't tell me asking would have worked." The irony of that would kill him better than one of Gakere's beatings if it were true. Who in their right mind would give a complete stranger their bandana? No one. So he'd planned a sneak attack. A failed attempt, just like Theron wanted. He'd had to try though, being shunned wasn't an option for him. Of course, being kicked out isn't either. Maybe he could escape? Not bloody likely with Gakere's grip.

"Damned if I try, damned if I didn't." He said, remembering the shoves, threats, humiliation, ignorance, isolation of the Igens during lunch time when he first learned about factions and the Shunned. Their was no safety in that, and authority didn't care. How would he ever call this place home? "It was an initation task. Orders were not to come back without it." It wasn't like Igen factions made it easy on Ista candidates. The rest of Igen was just waiting for a reason to kick Istans out in his opinion, they didn't like us, set us up to fail!

[ Vicky, you need to follow posting order. It's not fair to give your character that sort of advantage. ]