To the North (CS)(accepting characters)

[Ermak Lorde]

Carmine's gaze swiveled quickly as the young human approached, wrinkling his nose in distaste at the despised scent. He snorted once at the creature's foolishly brash assumptions, though he privately thought the human had a smidgeon more honor than most of his weedling kind. "She is all yours." He replied in thinly disguised animosity, his head turned once more to the young feline, "Your escort has arrived Young Lion's Paw, may your journey be fruitful, and your life full of wonder." The traditional phrase brought back distant memories of more frequent associations with the great cats, fond memories,... the rare pleasant ones. Without another word he heaved his great bulk from the sand, pulling away from the two young warriors pausing to gaze over the hot sands as he considered his next course. He did not fear the human, there was little a single punative creature of his kind could do against a fully grown Darkol. Especially one that was aware of the smaller beings presence.  

[Eskevar Fire Cross]

" Shinra! Put away your sword silly," Sadira adjured as she bounded lightly towards him. " This is Carmine, he's a Darkol! He's really, really strong, and old, and wise, the elder told me so. All the Darkol are. She then went into breathlessly recounting her adventures and her discoveries in a somewhat less than "logical" fashon although it followed pefectly the story telling style of her people it would have been utterely baffeling to the human idea of story-telling. It was not until Carmine rumbled out his farewll that Sadira even realized he was leaving.

"May the road rise up to meet you and may your face be towards peace," Sadira responded automatically. She shook her head, " Wait! You're not leaving are you? Listen, you're investigating the Planet's wound too aren't you? Why go alone? I mean...." the feline stammered, " that it well tactically a larger group makes sense." Her eyes flicked back to where Shinra stood, " Listen... I know you don't like humans, but not all of them are bad..... Shinra wants to help the Planet just like you do. You can't just give up on a whole race!"

The cat's blue eyes seared into Carmine's. Sadira didn't believe in hiding things, her heart was in her eyes. The heart of a warrior, a heart that would give up anything, go any lengths for a commrade, a heart unafraid to die, and one that beat for honor. She was very much like her ancestors in that momment, brave cats, and wise.  

[Saerenna]

Shinra was surprised at the greetings he had recieved. The 'Darkol' seemed to have changed a bit, in that he was just giving Sadira back. The cat-beast's explaination didn't do much for his confusion either, but he trusted her judgement and slowly put his sword away, watching Carmine closely. Then he was even more surprised as Sadira invited the large creature to stay with them. It was obvious that the Darkol wasn't fond of humans, and did he really want to be in the company of something with such an attitude. "Sadira..." The human started, and then just shook his head. When she became like this, there was probably little he could do to sway her descision.  

[Ermak Lorde]

Carmine hesitated, the heat of the sun touched his nose, the hot wind drying his nostrils quickly, Slowly he turned back to gaze at Sadira, he had always been fond of the great cats. She had a very strong point, ... it made the Darkol face the fact he was being unneedfully prejudiced against the small human. Finally he chuckled ruefully, "You drive a hard argument little-one," He settled back into the sand a distance from Sadira and Shinra, "If your human agrees to the arrangement I will accompany you for a time. It has been a while since I've traced the lands with your kind." His gold eyes locked intensely on Shinra, waiting for the human's answer.  

[Eskevar Fire Cross]

"WAHHOOOOO" Sadira cheered when she heard Carmine's verdict. " Carmine's coming with us!" she exclaimed cappering about the desert. Exhilerated she decided it was high time to continue the journey. With her nose pointed north she started off. " Come on slow-pokes, we've lost most of the day already!"  

[Zaber Blade]

OOC: Sorry I took forever to join into this.

Elder walked into the forgotten capital out of breath. He knew he was late for the council. He had encountered on his way a group of bandits. Already, many of the anicents had begun to stray from the path and live an "easier" life. He had gone to great lengths to try to talk them out of it, but he had to draw his sword in the end. He hadn't killed them, he'd even had to stop and care for one of them, and that had set him far behind. He also hadn't slept in a while. He wandered in and began to inquire about where to find the elder of all the ancients until he found him.
"Greetings. I am the elder of the ancients far to the south, beyond the sands. I regret I was delayed repeatedly on my journey here. Is the council already over?"  

[Ermak Lorde]

Carmine blinked once but was not unduely surprised by Sadira's hasty elation. with a shrug he hefted himself up and began to follow her, but as he came level with Shinra he turned his head until one great eye watched the human, and slowed just long enough to make his parting comment, "Nice rescue... you really know how to impress your woman," He muttered in amused sarcasm, before striding ahead to catch up with Sadira.  

[Saerenna]

Shinra stood unmoving for a while longer, and then sighed. He would just have to accept the cat-beast's judgement and travel with this Darkol, though it was obvious that the giant creature was just as elated at the idea as he was himself. He watched Carmine make his comment and then continue on. The human closed his eyes for a momen taking another deep breath. 'His woman' huh? No, Shinra already had a wife, one he had left to the care and keeping of the rest of the people. She was strong, she'd be alright without him for a while. Had she had their child yet? The man opened his eyes and looked ahead. He would make this world better. He would fix it for his descendants and, "Lucretia..." With this word he started forward, more determined than ever to make things right.

Lucretia at that moment had left her home for a bit. After all, once the child was born, when would be the next time she'd get to walk so freely? She watched as a man went through the city. He seemed to be a foreigner. Perhaps he was here for that meeting that had happened. Curious, she found herself following the man. It was nice meeting people from different parts of the world, as it allowed her to take more of a grasp on the ideas and ways of existing. She had to rest frequently, though. Who knew pregnancy could be so tiring?  

[Ermak Lorde]

Carmine ambled easily beside Sadira, his great mass and significantly longer legs eating the ground at a walk beside the Lion Paw's cantering stride. The sun still beat on his back, the huge plate scales of his body absorbing the heat and refusing to release it. In the matter of a mile he was panting, tongue lolling from his mouth in a manner he personally despised. But with the sun at his back and the heated sands at his feet the Darkol had little choice. At the second mile he realized he needed to swallow his pride. "Sadira... " He rasped, licking his dry mouth, "... We need to move faster... I have to give you a ride..." He almost bit his tongue as he realized that meant he needed to give the HUMAN a ride as well. Half-choking as he admitted as much to the great cat. " to give you both.... a ride... ... It's too hot..." He panted trying to duck his great head into the shadow of his massive shoulders.  

[Misander]

A new figure approached from the fringes of the sleeping forest and crept with a swagger into the Ancient's villiage. The great cat beast was vast, and his muscles rippled magnificently under his silver hide. His green eyes shown with a cruelly keen intelligence as they scanned the gathering. His steps were slow and deliberate, yet decidedly jouncy as if he had all the time in the world and was quite pleased with it. And indeed he was. Surprising, as despite his apparently great vigour and zest, he carried a distinctly disease-like reek about him, and his mind gave off a chilling aura. The flame of his tail was a black usually reserved for those of his kind who were dying.  

[Eskevar Fire Cross]

Ermak Lorde

Carmine ambled easily beside Sadira, his great mass and significantly longer legs eating the ground at a walk beside the Lion Paw's cantering stride. The sun still beat on his back, the huge plate scales of his body absorbing the heat and refusing to release it. In the matter of a mile he was panting, tongue lolling from his mouth in a manner he personally despised. But with the sun at his back and the heated sands at his feet the Darkol had little choice. At the second mile he realized he needed to swallow his pride. "Sadira... " He rasped, licking his dry mouth, "... We need to move faster... I have to give you a ride..." He almost bit his tongue as he realized that meant he needed to give the HUMAN a ride as well. Half-choking as he admitted as much to the great cat. " to give you both.... a ride... ... It's too hot..." He panted trying to duck his great head into the shadow of his massive shoulders.

Sadira looked up at the darkol. He did look in bad shape..... she had been going slow for the sake of the human but if the darkol needed to go faster.... She was accustomed to the heat, her body was built to take it. She blinked a moment.

" I can run faster if you need it... for all day too but I don't think Shinra can," the cat stated in a matter of fact way. It was no mistake her brothers had sent her, she was by far the fastest with the greatest endurance. She was capable of running near top speed all day and into the night.