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Keke was definitely still unnerved by the whole experience. He had never encountered aggressive magescians before, and he, decidedly, did not like it. There had to be some other way to satisfy his sister's needs, some way that did not involve her being harmed...

“Hmm?” he murred, looking at her as her imperious voice broke through his uncharacteristically dark musings, “Into the...?”

Oh! There was a two legger town here! How interesting! It was small – little more than a building or two and some transient tents (hence why he'd missed it on his trips before), and he cocked his head at it.

Exploring: Keke was all for that, and he dearly wanted to investigate this novelty.

But...

“You should stay here, Zarri...” he purred, nuzzling her feathers, “I did not like the people at the docks, 'Zarri. They were so quick to threaten you...” he rumbled, “And what if the people in this... 'town'... are the same?”

Keke knew that look – his sister was going into that town, and – short of harming her - he couldn't stop her. That was, obviously, not an option he would ever take. Fortunately, her implication that he was a coward, though caught, meant little to him.

“I am always with you, sister.” he said, sighing, “Always have, always will.” At least he'd be there with her to back her up if things went wrong.

Mmm... but she had mentioned Daddy Levi. “So that is why.” he said evenly. It made a lot of sense – they were going to find Oblivion.

Kekeovonnai didn't care either way about his fathers, honestly, and would have been satisfied with his life never knowing where Oblivion had gone off to, all those years ago.

However, he could hear the passion in Vazarri's voice, her pride and dedication. He knew that Oblivion was her favorite of their fathers, and he knew he could help her.

“Whatever you say, sister dear.” he said agreeably, letting her take the lead.

It was, as it had promised, a dangerous and fascinating place, full of small buildings and constructions beyond comprehension. Despite his delight in novelty, he was tense, observing both threat and small treasure around every stone and wall. “We are not likely to find goods here, Zarri,” he said, watching as a twolegger male walked by with a crate, “None they wont think we stole... but, are you thinking that we can find something that will work for us, some clue to the best option... here?”

The trouble was, there were so many confusing, new stimuli – which would lead them to the 'payment'. “It's a good idea...” said Keke, sniffing at a piece of wood, his nose wrinkling as it's ancient, musty scent hit him with a massive load of information, “But where do we start?”

Keke hummed to himself. His sister was asking him what to do, as she had so often before, and as on those times he had to be the part of the scholar and answer her.

Except he had no answer. He hummed again, looking back at the town with its bustling, illicit activities.

Suddenly, an answering thrum from his magic. Metal sang a faint response, and he turned to look at a man attacking another with a knife. The knife's blade sang – his magic was not with metal specifically, but it recognized him as a friend.

He didn't realize the momentousness of the occasion, the deadly tangle that the two fighters were in, nor of the crowd of onlookers that watched and did not bother to help. Fighting was a thing that happened in the outlaw, smuggler's town. So was death.

“Vazarri...” he murmured, “Look.” There, on the ground nearby, was a set of dice, a gambling setup, and... coins. Shining, yellow coins. “Might that be gold?” The knife was not – father had told them that blades were made of 'iron' or 'steel'

Keke contemplated the fight as the smell of sweat, blood, and dirt began to rise from the chaos before him. “Hmmm...” he turned his attention fully on the coins, “Maybe.” He'd never used his magic for such a thing before. He could move sand, yes. It wasn't hard. But moving something with the sand? He wasn't sure if he could.

“Lets give it a try...” he lay down on his stomach, his claws stretched out in front of him as he squinted, concentrating on the beach sand and dust underneat the coins and the mat. He hummed quietly as he pulled at it.

Sand wasn't a uniform object. Keke could make it into a sheet, but with something on top of them it was harder, the grains moved and shifted differently. He pulled, but they slid out from under the mat in a little whirlwind that had him utter a slightly incensed growl of rebuke. He slid them back, and this time tried lifting the mat with the sand.

It was about as difficult, but up was something the sand could do, and once it did so, it lined the mat, holding it, trembling, about a centimeter from the ground. Keke grinned – he might just have this.

And then a wind – a mere pleasant sea breeze – came and nearly ruined it, threatening to cast away the sand and topple his careful spell. He couldn't bring it to him without it failing, but he could bring it elswhere. He began to move the mat and its contents in the direction of the wind, sending it collapsing into a pile against a darkened wall with a quiet thud.

The brawl had become pitched, and the brawlers didn't notice the departure of the dice and gold. It was a little ways away, though, and he turned to his sister, chagrined. “Well, we can get it now.” he said, “It's just a little over there.”

Keke moved so that he was between his sister and the twolegs, spreading out his wings and letting out a loud hiss that he hoped gave them pause as his sister's sooty magic rose around them as the two made their escape. They fled quickly until he could no longer hear the sounds of pursuit over the surf.

“Are you allright, Zarri?” he asked, “Did you get them?” he glanced at the docks for a moment, cautiously, "The coins..." not the people, of course. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring it right to us." he apologized, "I tried, honestly."

“Surely.” Keke agreed. Eating their aggressors was unlikely – after all, they were two orakoir against many big, adult Magescians. Hopefully, the coins – and his fast talking – could defuse things long enough for them to... not die.

“Lets go bring the coins to them and... we'll see from there” he carefully groomed a spare bit of grime out of her feathers affectionately and apologetically. Fortunately, they didn't have a long way to go – the boat and the dirty magescians were not far away, just beyond the set of tall dunes not a few paces ahead...

Well, Keke supposed that was true – they shouldn't have to risk their hides for a few circular metal objects, just to maybe get passage to Soldul. But, and of course he would never say this to his sister out loud and so outright, but if she really wanted to go to Soldul and see Oblivion, then she would have to endure some unfairness and discomfort! That was part of the adventure. Instead, though, he just resolved to buffer some of that unpleasantness from her and listen to her complaining supportively. After all, he didn't mind.

However, he was pretty sure that the dirty Magescians would mind. Kekeovonnai very much did not want that.

He gave her a final (well not final, but it ended his grooming session) nuzzle, took the coins, and trotted ahead, up to the boatman. He put the coins on the ground, tail waving. “We brought payment.” he said, “Could you take us now? Please?”

The Magescian snickered, picking up the coins from the ground and made a great show of counting them. “All right,” he said finally, smirking, “This'll certainly buy your passage. And, lucky you, we were just about to sail off. Woulda left ye's behind.” laughter from the deck – they had an audience. “Get yer tails on board, and I suppose we'll be on our way to the shadowlands, eh?” Cheers – it seemed many of the sailors were looking forward to this ride.

Keke looked back at his sister, pleased with the outcome and, well, a little uneasy. This seemed very dangerous, but if this was where she wanted to go, and how... who was he to oppose his beloved sister? He could protect her anyway, he was sure. “They said we can go!” he called to her, waiting for her – she got to go first, she always did.