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OOC -- Katrina and her small rescue party will actually meet what is left of the refugees in the plains here

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Katrina spent the next few days looking for the refugees. Speed was not a problem, because of the dragons, but avoiding Feretris attentions and distinguishing between plains people and the exiles proved to be some trouble. The plains people would travel alone or in small groups, which caused a few false alarms. However, they were able to provide limited information. They were naturally distrusting of strangers but were willing to say whether or not they had seen other non-plains people recently. Eventually they would meet some one who could point them towards the exiles. It wasn't that every one knew about the exiles and why they were there, but that the exiles left an obvious trail.

As for the exiles themselves, it had been almost a week in the plains with practically no food. Luckily, many of them had carried water on their persons by habit, and at least there were no young children involved. Tensions between the former slaves and the women were exasperated by these conditions and there had already been a split in the group, thankfully without any true violence.

It was not as simple as all ex-slaves having gone their own way; some had stayed with the main group, and some of the women had disappeared entirely, probably to return to Feretris. Not all of the women had been on the political fringes. In fact, very few believed that the slaves should be freed altogether, for various reasons having to do mostly with culturalisms fed to the women (and the slaves) from birth. Most had been at the meeting to discuss more amenable treatment of slaves, which to them was a radical concept if it was to become the standard upheld by the law. When such women found out about the more extreme in their group, they became confused or disillusioned with the movement that they had been a part of. Most of them did not ask enough questions to learn that some women were even helping slaves escape. That was knowledge that they could not stomach.

Point being, Katrina's rescue party found fewer to rescue than they had hoped, with the distinct possibility that some had actually returned to Feretris or gone off on their own, which was practically impossible to trace. The group they did find was relatively cohesive if mostly for self-preservation, and they were not ready to meet strangers friendly to their needs. They were exhausted and out of sorts, their brains struggling to function with such little nutrition.

Fabel once again presented herself as the leader of the group. Although she had run into some troubles leading because of the fractures, anxieties, and natural resentment against Feretris women, every one else who had a desire to lead had left the core group. She found that, in contrast to her experiences leading women in Feretris, she found more success here when she focused on concrete facts and did not dally into people's emotions and personal lives. She made it clear to the men that her main objective was to survive, and that she had no desire to return to a country that had just kicked her out for her political beliefs. She did not dominate them in any way; she never addressed orders to individuals, but made strong suggestions to the group to solve problems using the facts they brought her.

Yet she still heard grumbled misgivings, and so when she approached these new strangers, she glanced back at those behind her with worry. If there was now any conflict with the strangers, the group would dissolve completely. She wasn't sure if it helped or hurt that the one who met her was also a woman, but the woman's speech eased some concerns.

Since every one could hear, Fabel moved to the strangers side, holding out her hand and speaking so that every one could hear. "We are grateful for any help," she said with confidence. More reluctantly, she added a qualifier: "but we must hear about this place that you wish to take us. We will not willingly walk into another prison."

Yet by the ragged clothes and deteriorating muscle, they badly needed food and other practical assistance. Fabel made her handshake as strong as she could, but it was not what it once was.

Out of some sort of courtly politeness, it was Arden who stepped forward first, with Lana hanging back. There were only three of them, and therefore they wished to be careful about putting all of their aces on the table.

It was just as he was emerging from the tall grass that Fabel was answering; "Who?" she responded. Although she had not known the entire group personally, she was fairly certain that none of them had been named Lilith. "Our group was bigger, yes, but I do not believe I met this Lilith."

Arden cleared his throat and proffered a slight bow. "You asked about your safety in my country. While I cannot promise a lack of intrigue and adventure on your journey, I can promise that your group shall not be harmed by my people without provocation and as much warning as humanly possible." He smirked a bit on this last line, enjoying the irony. "We heard of your plight through secret channels and have come both because of our political sympathies and because some of you are our kin."

"And who sent you, or do you send yourselves?" came the counter demand, from one of the men standing further back with what was left of their group.

Arden turned to the questioner as he answered. "Our king has sent us, and we ourselves volunteered for this mission."

Lilith left to confer with her group momentarily, returning with this question. "Are you plains people?"

"No, but we saw some nomads on our search for you."

She nodded. "We would like to accept your help on the condition that you continue to answer our questions in such a reasonable manner. We have the right to know what sort of battle we're getting ourselves into."

"Battle?" he chuckled. "Well I suppose that is possible, with one kingdom aiding the refugees of another." Arden excused himself and disappeared back into the grass.

In the interest of full disclosure, Rhy'delle suggested, we should show them us as soon as possible.

I hear something, Arden added cautiously. Behind us. Coming up on the dragons were two plains scouts.

"Are there any more of your people we should know about?" Lilith was asking.

(FYI-- they did not meet Lilith. Lilith and co were from the aborted raid, these people are refugees who were captured and carted off the next day at a secret meeting. You traveled further east to meet them after you ran into Lilith. If Fabel knows Lilith from their dealings with the underground, she doesn't know her real name.)

The two dragons were too large to be completely hidden in the field, and neither of them had the ability to magically mask their presence; golds are adept at stopping magic, and greens are adept at attacking. No where in there was a talent for any thing like masking or illusion. Getting down low to the ground helped and had sufficed for hiding their presence from the refugees, but Raven and Ronyo could see that two large, shiny beasts lay in the grass near the human group.

The gold dragon raised its head above the grass, so that now every one could see. The human refugees lay between the dragons and the plains scouts. You! he called out grumpily. Come out of the grass and introduce yourselves!

It wasn't that Ronyo and his father hadn't been stealthy. Dragons can smell and see a good deal.

The refugees gasped, not yet prepared for this revelation. Some backed up from Katrina and seemed to be looking for an escape, yet they did not yet know to whom the dragon spoke. Oh, they had seen a dragon before, yes-- a dead one. They had no idea what a live one might mean for their wellbeing.

“Dragons! Well that changes everything. Come Ronyo these people are no slave drivers.” Raven signaled his son and the two stood up in the grass.

Raven stayed back and watched the proceedings but Ronyo decided it best to introduce themselves. The young warrior took a few small steps towards the group so he could be better seen. His green shirt and brown leather tunic could be seen, as well as his flowing crimson scarf and twin scimitars on his back.

“We mean no harm. I am Ronyo Storm Cloud and this is my father Raven, we are from the Anjits tribe.” Ronyo spoke softly and left his hands out wide to show no sign of hidden weapons.

Katrina paused a moment to let the plains people offer first if they could. They were more likely to have knowledge of herbal medicine of the area. When neither spoke up, Katrina did.
"We have only a few paltry supplies. Bandages, food, water....the sort of things you take on extended journeys. I brought what I have for you, but if there is anyone in serious condition, the must be taken somewhere as soon as possible. The closest, friendly location I know of happens to be Tok..." Katrina said before turning to the plains people "...unless you can offer us any aid."

Rh'Delle, the green dragon, sensed a moment of confusion and uncertainty. They could not waste time here, so after a brief private discussion-- or perhaps ordering around-- with the gold dragon, she announced their decision to the group. Katrina was left out of the discussion because although she was kin, her muddled history prevented her from being completely trusted by the two court members. Her opal dragon was also excluded, being young.

Rhy'Delle's green head rose above the grass, turning sideways to focus one eye on Raven and Ronyo. You will treat them however you can here, now, and quickly. Then you will help us load them up. She blinked as if in thought. If that is acceptable to you, of course. Even with that addition, it sounded more like a command than any thing else.

In a more diplomatic tone, Theddryn the gold dragon added, You may travel east with us for protection. The dragons had seen which way the plains people had come from, and assumed correctly that they were headed in the same general direction. Katrina would also be aware that they would have to head more eastward than the way they had come in order to skirt the mountains. They had discussed this possibility, that if the refugees were injured or weak, that several could ride on the dragons' back as long as they traveled by foot instead of flying. If the plains people joined them, and counting Katrina herself, there were 10 in all to transport, and that simply would not do for 3 dragons in flight.

Drxisisliege, Katrina's opal dragon, was finally included in part of the older dragon's thought-speak. I'm cramping, Theddryn complained. Are you cramping? The two older ones had been lying on their bellies to remain as hidden as possible, and even Drxis has probably been crouching unnaturally. Rhy'Delle also shifted her weight uncomfortably, making the grass sway. Perhaps this helped explain their urgency, if the human's suffering wasn't enough.

Meanwhile, Raven was agreeing whole-heartedly to the plan. Only Ronyo would know that Raven always sounded whole-hearted when he agreed during negotiations. Any misgivings were reserved for private discussions, and the old man would continue to keep a watchful eye on this group. There was still a lot to be explained, and so suspicions bounced back and forth between the humans.

Raven ordered his boy to get out the scarce medical supplies they they had brought. Even though it had only been a meeting with the Kiyap Turea, they had known that they would be passing close to Feretris territory, and so had brought some basic herbs and bandaging. While neither of them were medicine men, they were both trained in combat medicine. That meant that they could clean and bandage any wounds left over from the escape from Feretris, but unfortunately they could do nothing for malnutrition. For fatigue they had a plant that raised the heart rate and made one feel less hungry, which they might give to the worst cases.

After ordering Ronyo to survey the damage to the refugees, Raven continued to negotiate with the dragons and the strange human with them. He was loud enough that Ronyo and Fabel could both hear him, and even repeated some of what the dragons said to him privately, which no doubt annoyed Rhy'Delle. "If you are to be traveling on foot, then the best thing is if we accompany you west until one of our scouts or possible a scout of the Demere is reached. We can send the scout for more re-enforcements if your presence seems to have attracted Feretris military. But I will need to know more about where you are going and who you are meeting up with, and how you knew about these refugees. Of course, that can wait until we're on the move. There are many dangerous things happening in this area and I do not trust to stay in one place."

Fabel looked away, taken aback. She crossed her arms and slumped forward as she answered. "Well... I'm good at ordering people around, I guess. I do it for a living. I mean... I used to. People have their ways of letting you know what they need, and you just turn back around and get them working on it."

She politely cleared her throat. "We both have our stories to tell," she reminded Katrina. They were equally strange to each other despite the fact that Katrina was originally from Feretris. Katrina had somehow become a foreigner during her adventures, and in any case, Fabel had lived a different sort of life even in Feretris. "You are one of us," she said in a dull tone, not feeling it. Katrina's accent said this, but not her presence here with the dragons.