Spirits of the Earth

Well, this was just great. How could she be so stupid as to end up in this mess? Kasa questioned to herself as she stared through the bars of her mini prison. The cry's, woops, and howls of other critters surrounded her in other cages of various shapes and sizes as well. A man dressed in leather armor and sporting the furs of animals he's conquered stood tall and proud; shouting in a boisterous voice to try and gain the attention of anyone who may have the gold to afford buying one of these exotic, or not-so-exotic creature.

Kasa had been hunting around in the forests near the large town, later at night. Thinking she was being so careful to avoid the usual traps that hunters lay while she sniffed out a quick meal as a coyote. When snap! She triggered a trap that led to her being ensnared in some sort of

counter weight trap. Her legs tangled in a way that if she were to shift back, she might injure herself...And so she waited for the captors to arrive.

"This won't be so bad." She'd think. Herself and the trap spinning softly this way and that way. "If who ever set this trap truly wanted me dead, they would have used some other sort of trap." She'd think optimistically. Still occasionally trying to struggle for freedom before letting herself go limp, not wanting to exhaust herself, it wouldn't be long into the night, however, that she dozed off to sleep...

She woke up when she hit the floor she scrambled to a stand and looked around, growling. "Huh, Tha's weird...Wha's up with yer eyes?" The Creature Seller would mumble as he stared down at coyote Kasa. Her eyes still bright grey, even when shifted into an animal. "Ye might be worth something then, more than a meal for that alone." He'd say with a wide smirk. "Maybeh not much. But coin is coin." He continued to talk to the Skin-Walker as if she was human, slipping on some thick leather gloves to protect his hands and arms while he reached into the netting to wrangle the small beast and toss her in a cage he had at the ready. Which took some time to do due to Kasa's furious wiggling and growling for freedom.

Now here she was, trapped in a cage. Peering around for an opportunity to break free. Which most likely wouldn't happen till late at night when she could shift. She sat in the cage, watching the people walk around more like a guard dog then an anxious wild animal like the other beasts that gnawed at the bars of their cage. This was gonna be a long, boring wait...

The time: Sometime in the afternoon.  The place: An unspecified building that sells animals.  The situation: One of these things is not like the others...

The field of vision from the cage Kasa was in was fairly-limited, given all the other animals that were in cage rows and such, but her other senses would tell tales.  As is known, wolves and coyotes have a highly-developed sense of smell and hearing.  Their noses can track a scent for days, following a trail that could have been left a very long time ago.  They can hear the slightest snap of the twig, rustle of leaves, and indeed the breathing of living creatures.  As such, in this place, that was a bit of a trade-off, though.  She could hear and smell everything, but unfortunately alot of what it was...was the angered outcry of so many captured animals and their stench...which would wear on the patience of someone as aware as her.

However, there was more to it than that.  She could hear people, customers.  Every now and then, the owner of the place would be conversing with someone interested in his wares.  After some time, there would be the greeting of someone who seemed to speak eloquently enough, but as he was lead into the shop...did not exactly look so, and something smelled wrong.  What came into her field of vision along with the owner was a funny little man in leather traveler gear and a wide-brimmed hat.  He had a face that seemed a bit stretched out and big ears, and there was something wrong with his eyes.  Also, he smelled like a goblin, not a human being.

"I'm not entirely sure what I want.  My dear friend is feeling a bit under the weather and I thought a few animals would perk her right up."

Kasa let out a quiet and drawn out growl, she could feel her head spinning from the onslaught of smells and sounds. There was so much to take in in such a small space. She reached up to paw at her face, scrunching her nose to try and lessen the intake, but it didn't do much for her. She set her paw down and laid down like a lazy, but alert dog. Eyes staying forward, her tail twitched as she felt it pawed at by one of the other creatures next to her.

Her nose twitched again when she smelt something out of this already out-of-the-ordinary experience. "I'm not entirely sure what I want.  My dear friend is feeling a bit under the weather and I thought a few animals would perk her right up." She could hear the voice of someone who sounded fancy and articulate. She perked her head up, but promptly tilted her head. "A goblin?" She thought to herself. She let out a strange low howling noise, as she attempt to laugh at how what she expected was completely opposite of what she saw in front of her! She quickly shut her mouth and watched the goblin with curiosity, having never actually seen one up close like this.

Yes...well...about that.  This was indeed a goblin, but the man in charge of the place didn't know that.  Being an Adelan man, it was perfectly easy for the guy to be fooled into this was an ugly little human from the north, a guy that was kind of small, but kind of bright, and kind of interested in buying some animals.  This wasn't what he really looked like, and Kasa would be able to smell that...or dear.  The 'face' was tanned and molded animal flesh.  Fortunately, that was the only thing he'd done like that.  However, as the frankly-not-blinking 'eyes' turned her way, there was a yellow glint and - as he'd been pointing out a few animals he thought his 'friend' would like - he stopped and asked the owner.

"What about that wolf, there?"

Coyote, not wolf, per se.  However, the fact was that he was pointing right at her, and either he'd heard hew howl or noticed something else about her, because he now seemed quite interested in buying.  Oh, today just got worse, didn't it?

She felt a shiver run up her spine as the non-human creature turned to look at her. Her head went low and her eyes narrowed as she stared at the small being. Her stomach turned and flopped, not seeming to like how she was picked so fast...Did she do something interesting? Did she looked too trained? What ever the case maybe she tried to make herself seem less of an appealing buy by baring her teeth at him with a growl. The Owner followed the point to where Kasa was locked away. "Oh, that? Tha's too small to be a wolf. She's a coyote. Pretty common things, but dis one had such strange eyes and temperament that I couldn' let it slip away. Ye interested in 'er?"  He'd ask in a gruff tone, stepping closer to the cage, reaching for the tough leather gloves in case he'd need them.

Kasa's eyes shifted back and forth between the man, the hackles down her back raising. She did not want to be manhandled by that brute of a shopkeep. She let out another warning growl as the shopkeep reached down to pat the top of the cage. "Compared to me other critters, this one is fairly cheap. 100 gold. It's in good health, odd an' rare traits, female. It's like I'm given 'er away!"

Just giving them away, he says.  That's a laugh.

The goblin's funny little thoughts were kept to himself, of course, as he - or at least his mask - continued smiling.  He might put this place on The List, but that was for later, perhaps.  After all, robbery in Adela was hard enough, what with the local militia being so strong.  And without the aid of his 'friend', it would be even harder, most assuredly.  However, as he was in disguise, it was perfectly plausible to walk around in broad daylight without so much as a glance...except to note just how ugly he looked as a human.  Well, no matter.  He pulled out the necessary gold - which he might be seeing again, none too soon - and asked that his items be put on his little pull-cart outside.

"It's good to know that I can count upon such skilled men of sale, even here."

Because Adela was a bit funny in the head about some of their religious taboos.  One thing that was definitely not for sale here or anywhere in the country...was cats.  Cats were very important to them.  If you did the wrong thing around a cat, or if it - in turn - did the right thing at the right moment, there could be great luck or great disaster.  Sadly, he had not versed himself in the exactly wording of the belief system.  He just sort of...hoped they'd let him slide, as a foreigner.  So, Kasa would be moved to a cart now, and was going on a bit of a trip.  Ah, but to where?  To where?

The man would grin as he was given the amount of gold he asked for, wishing he had asked for more at how easily the gross little human had just handed it over. He'd take the gold. Moving around behind a counter to secure it in a lock box. "Excellent choice, sir! Good luck with yer new lil pet, a'right?" He'd say in his naturally loud and boisterous voice.

He'd slip on those worn, but still tough leather gloves and grasp the cage. Kasa immediately turning to try and dig her fangs into his fingers. But this would only feel like a rough pinch to the man who was probably used to being bit, scratched and spit on by animals. Kasa would be growling, turning to look at her buyer, curious to why she was so quickly bought.

The shopkeep set the cage down on the little pull cart. Taking some rope to tie down the cage securely so it wouldn't go anywhere if it were to hit a particularly nasty bump in the road. "Good doin' business with ya sir. Ye take care now." He'd say before retreating back into his shop. Kasa kept her eyes locked on the Goblin-in-disguise. Her head seeming to follow where he went...

"Well this was something I wasn't expecting." She'd think to herself as she stared at the back of his head. Being pulled down the road to an unknown destination. She kept a look out for anything to get her bearings along the trip. Taking in deep breaths of the scents that surrounded her to help her make some sort of rough mind-map for if she were to escape this cage.

She hopped she just didn't fall into a lot of trouble.

Bearings...  Yes, well...how much did she know about Adela?  Perhaps of how the people of this land were all dark-skinned, or that they had an impressive military and dragon riders?  What about the highly-forested areas around the city of Ketra, where they were?  It was a very large place, lots of activity, and in the middle of it...her little buyer had decided to amble along and look insane.

"Weee, waggah, booga, boom-boom, bawaaah, heeeeep!"

This had the effect of people not wanting to be around him, and in fact to try their damnedest to ignore him.  So far, so good.  Of course, at the edge of town, there was a very clear "Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh..." as he dropped the act and began to whistle a tune.  They were a bit along a path when he decided to stop and turn to the cage with the coyote in it.  There, in a completely sane and even possibly gentlemanly voice, he spoke directly to Kasa.

"You're probably wondering how it is I spotted you so easily.  Well, the truth is, in the same manner in which an animal's sense of smell shows them things that no one other may know, I can see things that others cannot.  For instance, the aura of a magical being."

And as one who shapeshifts from human form into an animal form, Kasa had an aura different from a normal person.  She stood out to whatever sort of sight this guy made use of.  The goblin-in-disguise grinned and there were teeth there that no human being would have, most definitely.

"You're probably wondering just what it is I'm up to.  Well, you see, I'm-"

"Hey, you!"

"...apparently needed, at the moment."

Two men were coming out of the brush.  They were armed with blades.

"Lookit 'im, talking to a wolf like that."

"Coyote."

"Whatever.  We saw you in town, wandering about."

"Oh? Can I do you something, good sirs?"

"Oh yeah, certainly.  I'll be having that money on yer belt, and the cart, and everything in the cart.  Just drop it an' run like a good little dwarf."

The goblin shook his head, hands at his hips.

"Oh, dear.  A robbery.  But you're doing all wrong."

He reached up and pulled the mask off as he tossed the hat away, revealing a dark-skinned creature with yellow-glowing eyes and a highwayman's black mask!

"The line is Stand And Deliver!"

In a swift motion, he reached into his clothes and pulled out two curved daggers leapt at whichever man was more surprised by his appearance.  It would be then that Kasa might notice...that her cage was unlocked!  When did that happen?  Had he really moved his hands so quickly?  Who was this guy?

Kasa would probably be able to pick out certain landmarks of the land. A statue, a particular building, but the forest and wilds were her true element. The city was like a big maze. And there was so many smells to complicate things. She gave a small huff and turned to look at her crazy little driver. Making strange noises and calls that people were disturbed out of the way. She'd remain quiet, jostled softly as the cart was pulled.

Sometime later he would turn to look at her and spoke, as if he knew she wasn't some coyote...Turns out that was exactly the case. He knew that she was something else. She lowered her head somewhat and her pointed ears pivoted forward to listen...There must have been something he wanted if he went through the trouble of buying her. He seemed to pick up on her confusion on this and grinned, showing his teeth. She felt a shiver go up her spine, unsure if this was just how he smiled or if there was something devious behind it. But he started to explain...However he was promptly interrupted by some human humans who were hiding out in the brush. She brought her attention to them as they tried to get the creature to surrender his belongings.

However, he quickly sprung into action, the movement of him pushing away from the cart brought her attention to the fact her cage was unlocked, the door swinging open with small creak. Her head perked up at this, using her nose to nudge the door open and slink out, she hopped down to the ground, glad to feel the earth beneath her feet again...She looked to the thief that the Goblin didn't jump and dashed to him while he was distracted by the fact his friend had been attacked and leaped up to bite down on his dagger arm, pulling his arm down with a rough yank before flinging her head back and forth like a dog with a new toy. Bringing a pained cry from the one man, causing him to drop his weapon.

Dort and Zuruck were in good form today, though their talents were wasted on these under-talented humans.  His daggers were really for use against magical beings and deflecting nasty spells.  Still, they were his trusty short-blades, and quite good at tearing open things, like human flesh.  He had jumped at the first guy and, thanks to his surprise, managed to propel him to the ground as his chest was slashed open.  Just lacerations, thus far, but he was honestly debating killing him for being an extra kind of stupid.

During this bit of excitement, the not-a-coyote had decided to help out by disarming the other guy, who was currently screaming and trying to get his arm back, sans weapon.  The goblin himself had, meanwhile, forced the man he stood upon to drop his own weapon.  And then, a funny thing happened.  A strange yellow light emanated from the true rogue's eyes, and the man was suddenly looking green around the gills, disoriented, and alot less energetic.  As the goblin stepped off of him, he turned and barfed, leaving the masked shorty to address the coyote-afflicted thug.

"Don't ruin both of his arms.  Otherwise, he'll have naught to throw down whatever paltry sum he and his pal are carrying."

"You...you bastard! Argh!  Lemme go!"

"Bastard?  Yes, yes...  They do call me that.  A magnificent bastard, but...you can call me Mr. Blight."

Now, it isn't certain whether or not Kasa remains in towns long enough to reall hear rumors circulating, or indeed funny stories...but among some of the tales of thieves and rogues, highwaymen and tricky robbers, she might have heard the name, Gary Blight.  If not, then no harm done.  If so, however, then it explained a few things.  Like, for instance...  Why the mask, and...the other mask?  Actually, maybe it didn't...

Kasa stopped playing with her new toy, which tasted terrible this human really needed to sit in a river and clean himself up. She spat out their arm and trotted over to stand next to the goblin; her expression equivalent to that of when a dog is given peanut butter, and the keep licking at their chops even when it seems like all the peanut butter is gone. This is what she was doing, but, more so out of disgust of the taste of the human's arm.

She'd pause to look up towards the goblin. She thought she did hear some things while being dragged into the city. Whispers and chatter about a little green rogue who was running around. She couldn't remember the name that was tossed around, often being pulled just out of range when they were getting to that bit. But she felt it was safe to assume that the one she heard in the rumors was the same as the thief she was standing next to...Oh Spirits, what was she getting mixed into?

She waited patiently by the goblins side while he did the talking with human. Since she could not speak as a coyote any way.

Gary had figured that the coyote couldn't converse some time ago, as she had had ample opportunity to do so and maybe get herself out of the jam she had been, otherwise.  He didn'tt know precisely what he was dealing with, only that the coyote was either not normal or not really a coyote, though he was assuming the latter because she'd seemed quite a bit more aware.  Funnily enough, she seemed to be in a playful mood, as she let go of the thug and trotted on over.

"Now that that's handled, you may relieve yourself and your friend of your valuables, so that you can drag him off to whatever means of help you can beg off to for your injuries."

"How the hell is anyone gonna help us without money, you slimy git?"

"That's not really my problem, now is it?  As far as Adela's concerned, I haven't even broken the law yet, just foiled a sorry attempt at what I do far more expertly.  Now, out with what you've got, then."

Then, he had a thought and smiled.

"And your pants.  Yes, let's bring that humiliation up-front, shall we?"

The would-be robber was livid and swore a blue streak at this, but a raise of the daggers and a grin of teeth brought his anger to an end.  So, reluctantly, he handed over a small amount of coin, their short swords, and one pair of pants.  Gary had a thought that it might be necessary, though he did not know for sure.  The half-naked man began to drag off the other man, who was still feeling sick, and hopefully they'd never be heard from again.  Once Gary saw that they were out of it, he turned to collect his discarded disguise and put it on the cart.

"I really hate doing this without Conncord."

He was preparing to pull it again, in case those guys somehow got soldiers after him.

"And I want a word with you, my animalistic friend.  I have done you a favor, and before the day is gone, I will figure out how it should be paid.  So, assuming you have the means to speak, I suggest you find your words and ready them for a bit of discussion."

Kasa watched the exchange with amusement, giving a strange yapping, howling laugh...or at least the closest thing to a laugh a coyote can produce as the thief relinquished his items. Including his pants and tried to drag himself and his comrade away from the Goblin and Not-Coyote.

She started to follow along next to him as he pulled the cart, expressing a desire to get her to repay a favor and she frowned softly at this. Of course she wouldn't be getting out of this easily. So she paused her trailing so she could switch her form and actually speak.

The coyote seemed to stand on its hind legs, it's bones could be heard cranching and snapping as they rearranged into something more humanoid. The furrowing and skin pulling back and away till it was just a simple pelt, resting on her back. Kasa followed next to the Goblin again, arms crossed over her chest and the fringes that trailed down the outer seam of her pants swayed back and forth with each stride.

"So, this not done from kindness of heart? What is favor that Usdi-Itsei wish to speak of?" She would ask in broken common. Seeming to have a limited understanding of it as she spoke. She tried to keep a neutral expression as she listened but she could feel a nervousness bubbling in her stomach.

As soon as the coyote dropped back, Gary's pointed ears picked out a sound that...frankly...did not seem to be without discomfort.  Wince-worthy, some might say, but it seemed to bare out that the person he was with was not simply an enchanted coyote, but...an actual person.  Once she had caught up, the first thing he noticed - apart from her being tall and either human or elf-like - was...

"Oh, so you have pants.  No matter."

He might find a use for them, maybe.  She seemed to understand the situation, although there was something off about her use of Common.  Not her first language, like he.  In fact, Gary did not speak another language apart from Goblinspeak, the private and gnarling words of his people.  First and foremost, though, he had to wonder...what the heck was 'Usdi-Itsei'?  Hopefully, it meant 'Dashing Rogue' and not 'Small, Creepy Thing'.

"Well, I haven't thought of it yet.  As you may have gathered, I am a thief and rogue of many talents.  Indeed, I am a highly-successful one, at that.  What you do not know is that what I do, I do for the goblin way, and perhaps all hated unnaturals.  I had been wondering if you were such, but it seems not to be the case.  No matter.  I have put you in debt, and you must pay that back.  Now...what exactly was that form-changing talent which seemed to get you into this mess?  And do you have any others?"

She gave a small and amused snort of laughter when the first thing to come from his mouth was that she was wearing pants. "This one would not have been so willing to change if she was not wearing pants." She would say, her tone still amused and lips pulling in a smirk.

Kasa was fairly short for something that appeared human or elf like. She was 5 feet tall and almost matched the height of the Goblin. She was a lithe thing that seemed more built for speed and dexterity rather than running into battle. She had tan skin and dark hair, similar to the Adelans, but her eyes were some sort of bright grey color, something unusual to these lands. 

The Skin-walker kept pace with the Goblin, listening to what she do fondly referred to as "Usdi-Itsei", 'Little Green' in her tongue. At least it wasn't ugly.

She reached her hand up to run her neck which, of he could easily pick up on the small details, he'd notice a scar that ran horizontally along her neck before it was covered with her hand in an idle rub. "She has managed to mostly stay put of trouble. But there are those who see her change and view her as werebeast. Which makes her a target if not careful." She'd explain before he continued, asking her of her abilities. She'don't give a small hum of thought. Thinking of what she could do for the Goblin Rogue. "Well...she can change into what ever she want as long as she has skin of the animal." She'd begin, motioning to the pelt that hung on her back. "She can mimic noises of forest as well...and she has decent knowledge of plants that are in the Adela and Serendipity area."

The scar did not surprise the masked goblin, not really.  There was every likelyhood that one who lives the life of the wild animal may get clawed or bitten.  Suffice to say, he found it most intriguing to know that he was talking to a true shapeshifter, one who takes on many shapes.  Her abilities were limited to animals, but there were many animals out there.  He wondered something...

"And do you ever take the form of more unusual beasts?  The Draconi Forest has Basilisks, for instance, and Adela is known for its dragons, as you know."

He was interested to know whether her acquiring of a skin could really extend to taking the form of something extremely deadly.  He didn't think she'd ever acquired dragon scales, but it made one consider the possibilities.  Right now, though, they at least had the live specimens of a pig, a goat, and several rabbits in the cart.  Pity there were no cats to be found.  Provided that wouldn't offend the hell out of her, Kasa could go around and make the Adelans act very strangely, indeed.

"She imagines she could if she had its skin. But she has yet to be able to get one of these skins first in order to try..." She would bring her stare to the cart where a few of the domestic animal skins were laid out. It seemed that even the most common of pelts grabbed her attention. After a moment of admiring she looked back to the Goblin. "Does Usdi-Itsei plans to use this one's skill for something?" She'd ask with a curious squint. Would he have her use her skills in some sort of thieving act?

The thieving goblin began to chuckle at her question.

"I am considering it, or at least having you lend me a hand or paw in some sort of situation as that.  Hmmm..."

And then, a wild idea struck him, and there was a snicker renewed for a moment.

"My friend is sick right now, so she can't aid me as she normally does, and that is a shame because Adela is well-and-truly tough to deal with.  Not hapless guards, but disciplined soldiers.  Not simply horses, but deadly dragons.  So...let me just get these beasts over to her, and we can get down to business."

Gary appeared to be moving off the beaten path now.  He seemed to know exactly where he was going, though there was no sign of there being anything around here.

She rolled her shoulders anxiously. She never thought she'd get mixed up in some sort of robbery job..maybe it wouldn't be so bad? He seemed to know what he was doing, and as long as she remained as an animal she would be alright. Shifting between multiple forms would give away her position because of how much noise it would make.

Her attention was drawn back to the Goblin as he chuckled. An idea was definitely brewing within that little green head of his. He proceeded to tell her how they'd talk business after they helped his friend. She'd nod in agreement, following alongside him as they wandered off the beaten path. She would breath in the scents around them, seeing what she can pick up in this section of forest.

Many are the scents of the forest, though as they moved along, one scent was starting to register over all others.  It was...different.  The nearest sort of smell she would probably be able to compare it to was spider silk.  Then, after a short while, Gary stopped at a clearing, jumped all around until her heard a hollow thud, then pushed aside a load of dirt and leaves to reveal a hidden burrow that - judging by the size of the sheet of wood on top of the entrance - was actually large enough to accommodate the cart itself.  Just...it was too steep for that, as there was a ladder leading down.

"Give me a hand with these animals, would you?"

He picked up the pig cage and headed down into the burrow.  As he proceeded further into it, Kasa would hear him shout "Concord, I'm back!".  His friend was called Concord?  Just what sort of friend was this?  Well...if she would care to step down into the place and go down the tunnel a ways...she would find Gary feeding a live pig to a giant red-and-black spider who - despite being fairly menacing - looked down-and-outs at the moment.

Kasa furrowed her brow with confusion. Why was spider silk such a prominent smell in this area? She'd look around once they came to a stop. Letting the goblin hop about  the forest floor as she studied around the trees...There was no noticeable webs that could produce such a distinct scent. She'd look toward the goblin when she heard him land on something that produced a hollow 'thump!'

Her brows rose with interest as he revealed a hidden passage. She'd move closer to peer down into the burrow, giving a small but impressed whistle as she looked down the hole that slopped further downward. "Give me a hand with these animals, would you?" He called to her as he picked up a cage and went down into the burrow. She looked at the cart and picked up a cage containing a couple rabbits before descending into the den as he called for Concord.

She'd follow his voice, turning along a slight bend before freezing in her tracks at the sight of a huge spider. Like, this thing was ginormous; and eating a pig. Kasa would inch further into the burrow and stand next to the goblin, putting down the cage for him to feed to his...friend?

Frankly, she wasn't sure how she should feel. As a child she was taught that spiders are to be respected because the represent obscure wisdom that would be lost of you killed them. But...This kinda made her skin crawl.

She respected it.

But also kinda feared it.

She was gonna respect it from a safe distance. "So, eh....This...Is Concord?"

"Why yes.  Yes, she is."

At this point, Gary accepted the goat cage.  He opened it and went "BLAH!!", and the goat fainted.  He placed it before the large spider and it drew the thing towards its mandible'd mouth.  And teeth!  It had both mandibles and teeth!  As Concord munched on its offered treats, the goblin seemed to be put at ease.

"Good, she has an appetite, at least."

He turned to Kasa, gesturing at the spider.

"Concord's my trusty steed, you see.  I raised her, so she's a little more discerning about who and where to attack.  She listens to me, at least, and has been a very loyal companion for a number of years."

In short, this was no more a beast of burden to him than Kasa would be, though either of them could certainly act as one, given the motivation.

"I need to get the rabbits.  Don't worry about her.  She's not interested in you."

And with that, Gary turned to go do that, leaving her with...yeah.  The spider was was glaring at her, but then...it obviously didn't need to blink, so it may be staring or it may not.  Creepy...

"Ah...She see.." She would respond after Gary's explanation of how he came to own such a gargantuan insect, watching the beast chomp away at the animal messily with mandibles and teeth. The sight making Kasa's face pale and stomach dance in a nauseating way. "I need to get the rabbits. Don't worry about her. She's not interested in you." He'd say as he turned to leave. Kasa's head perking up as she heard him take quick steps out of the tunnel. "G-Gadousdi? Tla tla! W-Wait!" She'd try to call.

But too late. He was off doing his thing. She turned to look back towards the spider. Her body stiff and uncomfortable as she stared back at it's eight, unblinking, angry eyes. Kasa slowly rose her hand in an awkward wave to the beast. "O...Osiyo, Concord...Tla agisdi ayv.." She'd mutter in her strange language to the spider. Hoping it truly wasn't interested in making her part of the meal.

And the giant spider just sort of stared, only seeming to fidget slightly at the sound of its own name being spoken.  With Gary back at the cart, they were alone for a few moments.  The truth was that she was merely being wary of Kasa because she was unfamiliar.  She wasn't doing anything, and the spider was sick anyway, so there wasn't going to be a fight.  In fact, the only other thing Condord did was let out a sound like 'Murger' in a rasp of a hiss, and it was not a word, but a grumble.  Gary soon returned with the rabbits, but he wasn't releasing them yet, because he didn't want to strain the spider.  He really cared for this thing, though.  He even patted it, comfortingly.  Afterwhich, though, he turned to Kasa and said...

"I've had an inspiration.  You may even enjoy it, given the irony.  I felt that that animal vendor overcharged me.  Not that I care, for I had made plans to remove his funds.  And for your part, should you be interested in the man's more exotic animals for sale, you could see about getting yourself a new pelt and whatnot.  I thought I saw a Basilisk in there.  I'll bet if you changed into one, you'd get its natural capabilities.  Does that strike you well, then?  Hmmm?"

Kasa's anxiety seemed to lower thanks to the return of the goblin to calm the steed, and also by the fact that the spider steed seemed to truly have no interest in gobbling up the young Skin-Walker. She could feel a small bit of guilt well in her heart for being so anxious around the sickly creature.

A small bit.

It was completely understandable to why someone would be anxious around a large, carnivorous spider that was a few mere meters away. But, watching how Gary interacted with the beast and seeing how she wasn't ravenous and uncontrollable. She was feeling bad for jumping to conclusions. She smiled softly as she watched how Gary comforted his arachnid friend. "I've had an inspiration." Stated the Goblin as he turned to her. She blinked curiously and looked to him. Crossing her arms over her chest and letting her weight shift to one side. "Oh?" She questioned before he'd continue. "You may even enjoy it, given the irony."

Well. he certainly had grabbed her attention as he went more into detail. "Hm...It is possible." She'd mutter, reaching up to give her neck scar another anxious and excited itch at the prospect of having such a skin. "Would have to be careful though, yes? Are Basilisks as respected as their eh...larger Dragon cousins?" She asked curiously, perking a brow. Seeming to have been distracted by the plan as she focused on nabbing a pelt.

The goblin shrugged emphatically, regarding her question.

"I have no idea, really.  Essyrn revears the Kaadir and Adela loves their dragons, but the Basilisk?  I wouldn't know."

All that he did know was that they came in different varieties, where some of them bite paralysis and stare petrification, some have it the other way around, and some neither.  Hell, they didn't even look all the same.  It was a complicated thing, really.

"We can but try, and see where that leads us.  You had a good look in there, didn't you?  What sort of animal would catch your eye?"

Kasa would nod with understanding. Tilting her head with thought as he asked her what creatures caught her eye. "Hm...Baslisk was interesting...But there was animal that was in corner of shop that caught her eye. It was strange. It had face and feet like deer, but it looked like had strength of lion too. It had a wide grinning mouth and made noises like person. With pelt like that she could try to speak to people, even as animal!" She'd explain excitedly, rubbing her hands together.

If the description that Kasa gave sounded familiar to the Goblin, he might recognize the creature as the elusive Leucrota. A beast with great speed, the size of a deer with deer feet and head, but with body of a lion. It has an extremely wide mouth, that stretches from one ear to the other. It does not have individual teeth, but only a single bone where teeth should be and is known for being able to mimic human speech.

Kasa's eyes seemed to sparkle with glee at the idea of having such a pelt with her.

Gary blinked, momentarily confused by the description there.  Had such a beast been in there?  He thought perhaps, but...well, he hadn't been looking that hard.  Exotic beasts would not have done Concord any better than normal ones.  In fact, it might've been worse.  With that in mind, he seemed to find the motivation to get this girl on board with his next heist.

"I think I remember seeing that creature there.  At any rate, since it seems that you're in, we'll consider your help in this matter the payment of debts.  And let us not forget that you'll be having a bit of revenge against your captor."

He gave off a little chuckle, at that.

"Now, for my information, what other pelts do you possess?  I had already considered a method or two of gaining access to the building, but I should consider your abilities, as well."

Kasa seemed to grin like an excited child. Some minor payback would be satisfying to have against the man that trapped and sold her. This might be fun~

"Now, for my information, what other pelts do you possess?  I had already considered a method or two of gaining access to the building, but I should consider your abilities, as well." He would ask of her, looking to gauge what he had at his disposal. "Ah, this one also has rabbit pelt. Good for getting into small spaces. And she can mimic animal and forest noises...This one might be able to get rat or mouse pelt if able to capture one." She'd explain. Looking to the goblin, hoping he'd explain his thoughts on their heist.

So, in short, she had her coyote pelt and a rabbit pelt, and it would be easier to get something smaller.  The truth is that while sneaking around was definitely on the venue, and that being small and unnoticeable was a wise course of action, it actually didn't quite fit what he had in mind.

"I don't suppose you could catch a bird, could you?  I'm planning to go in from the roof, you see."

The roof?  But...there wasn't any access from the roof.  It was surely a front door and back door affair, right?  How exactly was he planning to do something like that?

Kasa blinked owlishly at the question. "Bird plumage?" She muttered thoughtfully. Momentarily distracted by the question of if she could manage getting these feathers to remember the fact that there wasn't a roof access. "Eh....she suppose she could. Common sparrows, finches or doves are easy to easy to find. Can use those to-...Hey wait."
There it was. The realization finally hitting her. "What roof access?" She asked with a perked brow. What was he planning?

"Oh, that?  No worry there."

He went over to a sword that was lying near some of his personal effects and sleeping cot, pulling it out of its scabbard.  It was a dark-bladed thing that he held up to show off in the torchlight.

"This sword will eat through things once used offensively.  It's an enchanted blade, empowered by acid magic."

Bitterfang was a sword which was like a longsword to him, but was not so to a human being.  Nevertheless, it was highly effective, and neither thatched rooves nor wood or stone would halt its abilities, as it grew stronger the longer it was in use.

"When you get into situations as I do, you find ways to stay prepared."

Kasa looked at the short sword with surprise. This little goblin was certainly a well armed guy. "When you get into situations as I do, you find ways to stay prepared." He explained as he was showing the blade off in the torchlight. She grinned and snickered softly. "Very true...Now, how about explain what idea is? This one does not know how she can be of help if she does not know what he is thinking."

All she was truly certain at this moment is that the Goblin was looking to steal his money back from the animal trader. Which, shouldn't be too hard she would imagine. He must have some nocturnal creatures in his shop that would be making plenty of noise to distract from two trespassers trying to silently break and enter.

The plan?  Oh yes, he should really tell her about that.  How else could they pull it off, then?  Putting away his sword, the goblin began to outline the scheme at hand.

"Well, after you manage yourself some kind of bird pelt, you and I will quietly make our way back to Ketra.  I will be sneaky and you will wing it to the building in question.  I will get up there via rope, as I am wont to do.  Once there is a hole in the roof, well...I have a way I wish to do things."

He cracked a wicked grin, just then.

"I would like you to pose as an escaped rabbit and speed your way through the aisles for a while.  If the owner is around and he gives chase, I will knock him out and we will proceed to our respective tasks, you to the animal you want, and I to his money.  We exit the way we came and make off like a me in the night."

Bit of thief humor, there.

"Are there any questions?"

She crossed her arms as she listened to him go over the plan, nodding silently, as he laid out everything. Her lips pulling in a small smirk as he made a small joke; chuckling lightly. "This one think she is good with that. She will go prepare bird plumage. Should not take longer than few days. She will return here when ready, yes?" She'd ask, making sure that was a well enough idea for the little thief.

Days?  Okay, he didn't expect that, but then what did he know of her discipline?  Or was it a matter of preparing the hide like you would any any animal skin before it worked?  Well, he didn't know and he didn't ask.  It wouldn't have done him any good, at any rate.  It was really the only way to get her up there on the roof unless she wanted to camp out in his pocket while he went by rope.  Completely possible, but mice were such crushable things.

"I suppose there is no great hurry.  One thing, though.  Who are you, anyway?"

Yes, the whole time, he did - in fact - forget to ask her name.

She was glad he seemed to understand the wait. Birds tend not to be the easiest catch, they're smart and jittery little creatures.Taking to the sky at the smallest sounds. And once you did manage to catch one, you had to be very careful at how you skinned the creature. While other pelts you could get away with a sloppy skinning job. Birds were tough. If you damaged too much of the plumage, then used it to shift. You might not actually achieve any flight. Preserving as much of the skin as possible is crucial for this animal.

It truly was a process.

She gave the goblin a grin. "Many thanks for patience." She'd thank. Turning to leave but paused at hearing the rest of his question. "Oh! Eh, right sorry." She muttered, looking to him. She paused a moment...Should she trust the little rogue with her name? He was quick to putting a debt on her, and he was technically a criminal... "Call this one Nagoli." She said, smiling lightly, using her alias for those she didn't trust enough yet to give her name. She waved farewell, "This one will work quick to get plumage. Will return." She concluded before turning to leave.

"You have fun with that."

Here begins the 'time-passing preparation montage', because if it was really going to take Kasa a few days to trap a bird, then Gary was going to need to do things to pass the time.  Things like...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Making rope-snare traps to catch more animals, or possibly intruders, for Concord to eat.  Every time he caught one, he'd give it a look and say "Now, you have to tell me if you're Nagoli.".  You can guess what happened if they weren't.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Pickpocketing people who bump into him for being - while in disguise - an ugly little raving lunatic.  Naturally, after the fact, he couldn't help but shout and gibber at them to drive them off.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Reading Concord stories, like The Little Spider That Could (Feast Upon the Blood of Many).

"...and lo, the little spider had caught a big juicey bird, and ate happily ever after.  The End."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Dragon-watching with a spyglass.

"Oooh, a diamond-scaled greenback.  They're a rough breed."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Suffice to say, when Kasa came back, she was going to have to remember exactly where the burrow was.

Catching a bird was tough, and the care it took to preserve the plumage as much as possible was even tougher. She actually had butchered her first attempt when she caught a sparrow, and some crucial feathers needed for flight had accidentally fallen off in the process of trapping. But now she was in the possession of a Mourning Dove, taking great care not to mess this one up. And her patients was rewarded.

Four days later after  Kasa would be walking alongside the path towards Ketra. Nose to the ground as a coyote as she tried to pick up on the scent of the goblin. It couldn't be that hard, how many goblins could be running around this close to a city? She took in a deep breath and her tail began to wag when she caught the familiar scent, ears perked up she'd turn and trot into the woods, continuing to breath-in through her nose to see if she could even smell the spider silk from Concord...After a few moments even that started to come up. She was getting close. Where the scent was strongest she stopped to shift back to normal. A series of cracks and snaps might be heard if one was close enough.

She'd stand and look around at the clearing, muttering something in her native tongue before hopping around to try and hear the door, like what Gary did. It had to be around here somewhere...

It was.  It's just that Gary's skill at concealing things, like the hatch, was very good.  He'd obviously had practice.  Kasa knew she had to be close when there was the sound of it opening nnearby and battlecry...

"Stand and deliv-  Oh, it's you."

...which was interrupted by the realization that he faced not an intruder, but rather the elven-looking girl who was not an elf at all.  Gary put his sword away, now that that had been sorted.

"Well, I trust that since you've returned, you're capable of being a bird now."

Kasa jumped and let out a small 'Ah!' in surprise when the goblin popped out from his hiding place. She placed a hand over her chest and nodded to the goblin. "Yes. It is." She answered with a mutter and relaxed her stance, especially when the sword was sheathed away. "Yes. She has caught a mourning dove. Swift flyers. It will work well." She'd say with a grin. Patting a pouch tied to her belt; which presumably held the plumage that she had spent so many days trying to capture.

"This one is now ready when ever Gary is."

Aha!  So, she had secured the feathery pelt of those birds that go 'Pi-ti-ti-ti-ti...!' when they fly off.  Very good.  so now, they were ready.  Well...we say ready, but ummm...looking around...  It was still light out for a while.

"You may as well come down.  We're not moving until proper dusk, and that will be a while."

He wondered how well Kasa - rather, Nagoli - could see in the dark.

Kasa nodded, Making her way over to the hatch large open hatch that Gary was in, wearing her usual grin. "Sound good. Too early to break and enter, yes?" She asked, taking a seat on the ledge of the hatch before letting herself drop down into the den. Landing with an audible 'thump' on the dirt floor. Her knees bending to absorb the impact of the fall before she pushed herself back up to a stand.

"How is Concord? Feel better?" She asked the goblin, waiting for him before she dared to venture further into the den. It would be rude to wander around without her host.

"That's entirely the idea, yes."

You couldn't do that sort of thing in broad daylight.  Somebody would notice.  Worse yet, the prospect of being spotted in Adela, where the local constabulary is the local militia and that instead of horses, they might have dragons, was not-at-all good for business.  So, yes.  Wait until dark and all will be well.  As for Concord...Kasa would hear the sounds of something metal being crunched.  It was like...like the spider was chewing on the cages that'd been here.

"Oh, she's getting better.  Her appetite's been in, but her strength isn't up to snuff.  I'd offer you some food, but...well...there isn't any."

He shrugged at that.  Well, at least it was a nice day out, soon to be a nice night.

Kasa squinted as she tried to discern what the strange metal crunching sound was. After a moment of thought her brows rose with surprise...And she had thought things couldn't get stranger. "Ah...She is glad that Concord is feeling better." She'd say simply, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked around. Her shoulders tensing somewhat, although not over anything particularly serious...She was just not the best conversationalist; Especially with someone who was essentially a stranger still.

She reached into her pouch, gently removing the plumage of the Mourning dove, running her fingers over it's feathers before flipping the skin over to feel for any tears or anything that might lead to jeopardizing their mission. Thankfully, it has been holding up well, and prays it will continue to hold up through out the night.

Gary was a stranger, and both his habits and the habits of his steed made him stranger still, but as far as this rogue-ish goblin goes...at least he had courtesy.

"My apologies for the noise.  I wasn't letting her go out, but she needed something to do.  So...well...I'd seen dogs and wolves chewing on things when they're bored or agitated, and those animal cages were around..."

The masked goblin then pulled out deck of cards.

"So, do you play at all?"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Time would pass, and soon the sun had gone completely from the day.  They would emerge from the burrow, Gary would close the hatch, and then he would cover it in dirt and leaves.  From there, he would be proceeding near the path into Ketra, and he would be doing so in a manner of darting stealth once they were close to town or anyone capable of noticing them.

Kasa would perk up at the mention of cards. "This one doesn't play often. But she know few games." She'd explain with a grin, glad the goblin had something to help pass the time. She'd take a seat with him as he started to deal the cards..

----------------------------------------------------------------

Kasa squinted at her hand of cards. She couldn't figure out if the goblin thief was cheating, or if she really was this bad at cards. It seemed he had beat her with every hand, or most at the very least. Thankfully, he saved her from the embarrassment of losing another round, he made it known that it was time to get moving. She set down her cards with the rest of the deck. Once they finished covering the hatch with dirt, Kasa would take out her new plumage. Focusing on shifting, her bones would snap as she shrunk down, feeling lighter as her bones became hollow. She would follow above Gary, ready to alert him if she saw anything on their way back into the city.

Holy shit, that was impressive.  No, not her losing streak.  The shapeshifting, damn you!  To be able to shrink down into something that small and fly off was just unbelieveable, sometimes.  And then, the moment was slightly ruined by Gary snerking at the 'Pi-ti-ti-ti-ti!' noise made as she took flight.  It was just one of those things, okay?  Perfectly normal sounds, otherwise, and soon...the edge of Ketra could be seen.  Lots of night patrol, though it's mostly about the air.  Foot soldiers were present, but if they didn't hear or see anything...what was there to worry about.  Gary would leap out of cover after a soldier had gone on, and would find himself flat against the side of a building, sneaking along the wall now.  He was very hard to see at this point, but it appeared that he knew where he was going and was going to get there soon.

Kasa could feel her heart swell with a bit of pride when she saw the look on the Goblin's face. She had impressed him. And if a bird could be grinning like a goof it would be. But, there was no time to let her pride get the better of her. She took to the skies as Gary started the trek towards the city. The Skin-Walker remained Gary's eye in the sky as they maneuvered their way through the woods and up onto the cold, grey walls that protected Ketra. Making sure to signal with that signature 'Pi-ti-ti-ti' sound for when ever the guards were getting close. It was a little difficult to, and she had to fly low to keep an eye on the surroundings. Mourning doves were diurnal birds,not nocturnal. So it was difficult to get her bearings. She could make out shapes and movement. But she couldn't make out fine details, she almost lost sight of the Goblin a few times till she saw a smaller figure move from hiding place to hiding place.

He may be a little too good (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unKAK1BMXEo) at this.  Gary Blight, leapt and crept from shadow to shadow.  He DID note the regular frequency of the mourning dove sound, and it was indeed helpful.  For not only did it signal him, but it distracted at times.  The soldiers also found it a little odd to hear that sound at night, but...they didn't make anything of it.  It was a dove, not an intruder.  Not unless the dove was startled BY an intruder...but again, she wasn't even where Gary had been, so no harm done.

Gary came to the animal shop building from behind and produced a grappling hook on a rope from his belt.  Years of swinging these things around and flinging them up such walls allowed him to get it up there, first try.  Jumping up, he pulled himself taut against the rope and began to run back and forth, pendulum-style, before his swing took him close enough to jump up top and land on the roof.  His momentum prevented the hook from losing total grip before the leap and he was there.  So, where was Kasa?

Great. Where did goblin go?

She inwardly cursed for not finding a bird that had better vision in the night. But in the quiet of the knight she heard something strange. A scrape of metal on stone. She fluttered towards the sound. Her head tilting this way and that way to try and spot the source of the sound. She managed to notice some movement on a roof as she flew in search of Gary...That could be him.

She dove downwards, wings spreading out to slow her descent before fluttering her wings to balance herself as she landed on top of (who she hoped) was Gary. Twittering in curiosity as she looked to the person she had landed on.

Hector froze when he felt the thing land on him, but really could one blame him? This city were known for their flying beasts, and it took him a moment to realize that it was to small to be a dragon... way to small.

Hector takes of his hood and looks at the thing on his shoulder. It was a small Mourning Dove, no bigger than his hand.

Mourning Doves are day birds not night birds, so Hector wondered why such a small thing was flying out in the dark.

"Are you a sign?" Hector quietly asks the bird. "That my mission is going to be an success?" Hector stares onto the birds eyes. "Oh great Blood God! You have not failed me and have even given me a sign-" Hector drops to his knees. "-Great God of mine! Thank you!" Hector shouted but whispered at the same time. If the bird has not flew away yet, Hector picks it up from his shoulder.

Wait a second.

Now that Kasa was closer to the hooded figure, she realized this hood was a different color compared to Gary's. "Are you a sign?" Asked a voice as he pulled down his hood. A tan individual with short hair. Kasa blinked a beady-eyed bird blink. This was certainly not Gary.

Kasa opened her wings to try and fly off and find her partner-in-crime, but, this action sent a message to the follower of the Blood God that Kasa didn't know she was sending and the individual picked her off his shoulder. She squawked with surprise and tried to squirm for freedom.

So, Gary was working steadily along, almost done with his work on the roof.  Bitterfang grew stronger, the longer you were using it with the intent to cause harm, the stronger it would get.  Therefore, it began to work faster as he pressed on.  The thing of it was, he didn't see Kasa anywhere, and then out of nowhere, he heard some guy declaring that such-and-so was a sign that his mission was going to be a success.

Gary blinked, and looked over at another rooftop where there was a man kneeling.  He was kind of tall and dressed in a red robe with a staff in one hand...and a bird in the other.  Specifically, it was a mourning dove that radiated with the energy of a certain woman with the capability to change into animals.  Additionally, HE radiated with an aura of magic that was twisted and red.  In Gary's understanding, that meant blood magic.  His Blight Sight allowed him to see and determine such things, and that meant...if he was taking Kasa as a sign...then Kasa was about to be sacrificed for power.  Well, we can't have that, so there would be some swift and quiet jumps to close the distance, and...Hector would find a masked goblin nearby.

"Your blood god did not deliver that bird.  She mistook you in the dark for me, an understandable mistake.  We can't all have eyes like me.  But I'm afraid I'll have to...wait.  Now...there's a thought."

The highwayman got a big grin on his face.

"I can offer you blood for your blood god.  All you have to do is let the bird go.  You'll have power in excess to do...whatever it is you're planning to do."

This thing dared to interrupt the ritual! Hector glares at it for a moment at least before he heard the rest of what it had to say. Hector eyes open wide and he gives a large smile. Turning to the bird, he cocks his head.

"Why did you say that in the beginning." Hector opens his clenched hand where holding the slightly crushed bird. "Oh, so sorry-" Hector lifts up the bird, the sets it back down. "-Miss. My apologies." Hector starts to smooth down it's feathers. "There we go!"

Hector turns to the goblin once more.

"Here's your birdi. Keep good care of it now, I have grown a liking to it." Hector continues to smile, having no idea that the bird was actually a skin walker, or in this case, flier, and gives it back to the goblin... Around Hector's was a small bit of blood, no bigger than the birds foot, keeping out of sight. Hector was not stupid, he could only just a goblin as far as he could throw him. The blood came from a thinner than a finger nail wound on the birds shoulder. The blood hides underneatheathe his robe and then he stands up.

"The name is Hector, you?" he asks, trying to get to know his new partner in crime.Hector has it so the small bit of blood will perice his own back and collect some blood there, and then shoot out of the front of his chest, and enter the goblin, if it betrays him about the blood.

(( So sorry for the late reply on this. I hadn't gotten any notification in my email about it so I hadn't thought to check! ))

Kasa squawked and flailed more, flinching when she felt his nail scrape her shoulder and his grip seem to tighten to keep in place. He could probably feel her tiny bird heart pumping harder and faster with panic. She wasn't sure what he had planned, but being man-handled was never good. She couldn't shift back with the grip he had on her either to force him to drop her, it could lead to her breaking a bone or two if he didn't let go of her. She was ready to start pecking at his fingers, but she heard a certain voice that she never realized she'd be so happy to hear "Your blood god did not deliver that bird."

Gary! Thank the Spirits he had spotted her!

Kasa's fluttering calmed when the Goblin came to the rescue. She quieted down to listen to the conversation, looking between the two...So. The man was the follower of some sort of blood god? That is...Unnerving. She'd have to keep an eye out for him in the future so she doesn't end up as some sort of ritual sacrifice.

When Hector set her down on the ground she'd take a step to get away from the petting hand, shaking herself, her feathers ruffled before flying up to land on the Goblin's shoulder; cooing cautiously as it studied the two, opting not to reveal her actual form to the red man.

The man talked funny, perhaps an accent that Gary was unfamiliar with.  It mattered not.  Though he seemed irritated by the intrusion, it was better and better as the promise of blood came into view.  Yes, perhaps he should've thought of it sooner, but you can't rush genius like this.  It just so happened that it worked out perfectly, thus a battle - which would most-assuredly attract attention from the city guard - became unnecessary.  When he let go of Kasa and she came to perch on his shoulder, the man - called Hector - desired introductions.

"I am Gary Blight.  She is called Nagoli."

He now, for reasons of explanation, indicated the roof that he had been on, the roof which was almost completely cut through by his blade.

"It was by coincidence, you might say, that I came to meet my current associate as I chose to rob that building there, for my needs.  It is an animal shop, one which catches and trades whatever the owner can get his hands on.  You smile at the deliverance of a bird.  I give you run of an entire store of living animals, if you simply allow us to collect what we came here for, which is gold...and some pelts."

Perhaps, in a way, the not-a-mourning-dove-at-all was good luck for the blood mage.  It led him to a better prize.

Hector smiled and looked over to the roof that Gary Blight pointed to.

"Some pelts and the gold you say? Hmm... I have no problems." Hector flips up and puts on his hood that he took off earlier. He twirls around the staff that he had laid down on the ground, it was brown and red, and the tip seemed to be a cross that had been sharpened at each end. Hector look up to the sky for any in coming dragons, but they all seemed to be pretty far off. Hector looks back to the goblin.

"Shall we?" Hector asks while gesturing to the other roof.

Kasa cooed with thought as she looked between the two. this was certainly not the direction she thought her life would go. Teaming up with a motley crew to steal from a store. It was exciting, but something she wasn't planning to make a habit of.

Now that they had their team together. It was time to get started. Kasa flew up from Gary's shoulder and circled the building. Keeping a beady eye out for anything that could jeopardize the mission.

Hmm...Perhaps she could make a deal with Hector, What ever animal he sacrificed, she could have it's pelt? Assuming his rituals weren't too...Messy with the precious pelts.

"Surely."

The bird flew off to keep watch and Gary leapt back to the roof he'd been working on.  Faster than you can say 'Form Blazing Sword!' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbaarqUEGbA), he was at it again.  Bitterfang was plunged into the cut he had made before to renew its work.  It was a slow start, of course.  With the intent to slash having gone away, the enchanted blade had 'cooled' its acid touch.  In time, however, the hole was complete, and the chunk of roof fell through.  Numerous animal noises could be heard from within.

"I will go first.  If the owner is about, I will handle him directly."

Swiftly, the goblin jumped inside.  There was a momentary clatter from having jostled a cage or two in the landing, but he was unharmed.  And then, he went into the darkness to find the man and his holdings.  For such a business, it seemed likely for him to have a safe or a strongbox, especially when the man did not have on a particularly-large pouch when he had been here in disguise.  Oh yes, the money would be about somewhere...

With movement so slight no one could see it, the drop of blood floated up to Hector's eye. It flexed and spread it self so thin, one couldn't see it from the side. It laied it self down carefully on to his eye and Hector could see. With his new eyesight Hector looked up into the sky where the bird was.

'Oh yes. It would make quite the nice sacrifice. It seems smart, and could understand the goblin. And it's blood must be superb. I can't wait untill the goblin get's careless, I'll kill him then, and even though his blood is not very... 'good' it'll take untill I can get that bird. Oh yes...'

Hector peers down into the darkness and saw the goblin head deeper into the shop. Hector smiles and looks back up to the sky. The bird was still circling.

Hector flexes his muscles then leaps down into the store below, right before he hit the ground, his cloak which smells like blood,flares out and he softly touches the ground.

'And Mick said a blood soaked cloak wouldn't work. Ha.' Hector looks around, and while the goblin didn't seem to notice him, Hector was taking no chances. Hector crouches down and peers out from behind a cage looking at the goblin. The blood was still in his eye, so he could still see.

Once the thieving crew had entered the building, getting into position. Kasa would dive down into the building. The first part of their plan done, now on to the next. Thinking back to her discussion with the Goblin in the woods...After they entered the building, he wanted her to change into a rabbit to cause a distraction so Gary could knock out the shop owner and get what they came for.

Kasa took in a deep breath as she focused. The sharp sound of cracking hollowed bones sliced through the air. Feathers receded away from the skin as she returned to her normal form. The animals becoming rowled and energetic from the strange event. The 5 foot tall elf-like woman. Her silver eyes looked up, the bird plumage resting on her head. She took it and put it in her bag gently, then rummaged and removed a brown rabbit pelt.

Time to cause a distraction.

Kasa rested the pelt on her shoulder, then hunched down on all fours, her bones snapping as loudly as before as she went through the shift again, this time, turping into a rabbit. If the first shift didn't wake up the shopkeeper, the second would have. Kasa hopped around the room, waiting for the man to storm out to investigate the sounds of broken bones and unusual amount of animal cries.

The goblin was out of Hector's line of sight.  Once he'd left the aisle he'd landed in, the angles and the aisle of cages within the large room easily concealed the smaller being.  This was, of course, the point...since he was hiding from the owner, who would have maybe heard the animals stir by his mere presence...but now Kasa was beginning to make a ruckus.  Animals of numrous varieties began to hurl their various calls out.  Some were calling for a late night snack.  Others were merely afraid because of the other animals.  The cacophany was great, exactly what would have occurred if an animal had gotten loose...or if there was an intruder.

The owner came into the room.

He was not stupid.  He had been managing animals for years, and he was a hunter, by trade.  He came in, sword and lantern in hand, with a utility belt of things he could use to quell a dangerous beast, for some of his wares were vicious wares.  It didn'tt seem like any of the red-marked cages were open, though, so what...?  Was that a rabbit, he saw?  He-

"Good night."

Gary leapt up from the shadows, daggers in his hands, and clocked either side of he man's head with the hilts, then kicked him in back of the head...which slammed his face into one of the wood-made aisles.  He slumped to the floor, after that.  A quick frisk and he had the man's belt and the keys.  Front door keys, and key to the safe he had kept by the tiger cage.  He'd emptied his money pouch for the day, so all the loot was there.

"The assistant doesn't live here.  We can begin now."

Utility over his shoulder, Gary went to the safe to go and grab the loot.  the sight and sounds of him would be obscured by an upset male tiger, who rattled his cage in furious irritation for the small, unnatural being, and because of its captivity, of course.  Gary wasn't worried if any of these should really get loose, though.  He was a gob of the world, seen many things.  There was nothing in this place to worry about.

Hector frowns as he stares at the skin Walker. Their blood was unpure, not suited to be a sacrifice. Hector sighs and then looks around. He does perk up when he see a draco. They were lesser dragons but their blood was pure. Hector stands up as soon as the shopkeeper goes down and he walks to the draco's cage.

"Hello pure one..." Hector mutters as he stares into it's eyes. The draco shivers as it lookes back into Hector's now completly red eye. It felt the impending doom. Hector reaches his hand into the cage only for it to bite him. Hector only chuckels as his blood splatters around the cage. The draco tries to let go but Hector grabs the things mouth. The blood starts to move, then as quick as a lightning strike the blood all over the cage spears through it's head. More blood goes everywhere as Hector giggles some more. Hector pulls his hand out of the draco's mouth and holds his hand up into the air be watches as his wounds start to heal at a very fast pace.

Hector giggles some more before he stops and turns around.

"Oops. My bad. I forgot I had company, I'll play nice from now on." Hector wipes of his hand before he looks down at the draco's body.

"This blood is for you, my God." And before everyone's eyes the blood starts to dry up, untill not a single drop was left in the body. Hector stops him self from giggling and turns around to find another sacrifice. Behind him the draco's body was perfectly fine, besides the fact that it had too many holes in it's head. The skin Walker could still use it, if it wasn't for the holes.

Kasa watched with surprise at how smoothly this operation was going. It was almost too lucky for them. Perhaps the Spirits were favoring them tonight. She hoped that they'd continue to smile on the little group through out the night. She made note to offer some sort of tribute to them in thanks for their fortune later after the heist.

While Gary went off to pick away for gold and other material items. Kasa got distracted by a giggling noise by one of the cages...She turned to see the man in red, Hector giggling at a cage that he had his hand in, a Draco biting him. The Skin-Walker's brows furrowed as she stared at the scene. Something made her spine shiver. The way the beast struggled but couldn't pull away; the Draco's scales clattered anxiously before it's head was violently punctured by red spikes.

Kasa's face paled and her stomach flipped uncomfortably. Is that what he was planning to do with her before when she was a simple pigeon? She rubbed her shoulder where he'd carved a small puncture wound, The blood of the small cut having coagulated easily. She hadn't realized just how much danger she'd be in.

Her nose scrunched as she watched the blood evaporate away from the body of the Draco, she craned her neck to get a better look...This might not all be too bad..The skin of the beast could be useful despite the minor damage it had. She approached the wooden cage once Hector walked away, surprised by how clean and (for the most part) whole, the skin was... She jogged over to Hector. Reaching to tap his shoulder, "Hector, may this one borrow him for moment?" She'd ask hopefully. She flashed a nervous grin when the man whipped his head around to shoot a glare at the woman of 'impure blood' and inched away. But Kasa continued to ask her question, even waving for him to follow as she walked towards a certain cage. It had a beast (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ba/9b/1c/ba9b1c06f624e1a5a88122ce2b3dc8b9.jpg) as large as a doe and hooves like one, but it's head and body was wolf like. Its face had badger markings and when it opened it's mouth, it didn't have separate teeth, it was one single sharp ridge. The beast hissed as it looked around, it's eyes settling on Hector "Play nice. Play nice!" it growled, mimicking the mage's words.

"This one is hoping to take this beast's pelt. Does Hector think he can do what he did to the other beast? Just...Keep it's mouth and face in tact at least, yes?" Kasa would question.

It...wasn't really luck here, but skill.  Gary had staked the place out and taken the tour, seen the owner and his hunter's belt of many things, took an unexpected point of entry, had a diversion draw the owner in while he stuck to the darkness, and pelted him down with a well-practiced move that he had been doing for some time in his field.  Even his temptation of the blood mage was a skill.  He negoiated a bribe, and was yet still wary of the man because...well...he seemed a trifle unhinged.

Okay, more than a little.  The man was giggling, and Gary heard it despite the tiger.

This display did not seem to dissuade 'Nagoli' from asking for a bit of help with the pelts she wanted, but then her lines of thinking were different from the goblin-y rogue.  Yes, quite so...  Well, perhaps a bit of stealth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOsoVro6ChM&t=110s) was in order, hmm?  Sneaking low in the dark was no trouble at all, to keep from a human's eyes.  Too much animal around here, too many shadows, too much  noise to detect someone who wants to be quiet.  And in case the blood mage had special senses, there was too much life in here.  But Gary could spot their new acquaintence with ease, regardless.  His blood magic aura stood out among these animals and Kasa like a gaudy statue in the middle of a castle courtyard.  Just in case he was not behaving above board, Gary had Dort and Zuruck ready.

Hector did not notice the goblins disappearance, but he was completely disturbed from the girl with inpure blood. Hector felt his skin crawl. He glares at the girl and walks around her towards the beast.

Hector's eyes land on the beast and his stomach flips. The thing was hideous, the weird hoves and other stuff about the thing was just wrong.

"I- I thought skin walkers took pride in their pelts. This thing is hideous, and. And. And.... It's disgusting.... Why would you want such a thing?" Hector asks the impure one, but Hector pulls out a jar of blood and shatters the bottle. Blood, about the size of his hand floated up from the ground and started to spread itself slowly over the beast.

The beast started to scream "Play nice, play nice." in an extremely high pitch, one could tell it started to freak out. Soon the beast could no longer move. Hector steps forward carefully, he had no idea if it could do anything, like breath fire or something. Hector uses his finger to cut open his own arm. He cupped his hand around the wound and let the blood drip into his hand. Hector then cuts into the skin of the beast.

Hector's strength was real, and his nails were inhumanly sharp, but it took a couple of moments to cut through the beast skin. 'tough.' Hector thinks. With his hand that had his own blood, he pored the beast's blood into it.

Hector holds it up into the air and stares at it. The blood in his hand started to hiss and bubble, soon it turn into a shade of pink.

"... It's fine, while not perfect like the draco, it is doable." Hector backed way from the cage and releases the blood that was holding dowb down the beast. The blood floats up into the air, and then slowly started to seep into the beasts ears, nose, mouth, and other 'open' locations on its body.

The beast shivers for a moment, then it's eye's roll to the back of it's head.

"This blood is for you, my God." as Hector says that, same as before, not that anyone could tell, all of the blood disappeared. "Your skin is ready Walker." Hector says stiffly. Hector looks around.

"Where has Mr. Blight gone?" Hector asks the girl while looking around for the goblin some more.

Kasa looked at the large animal with a small grin "This beast has a usefulness to this one. It is beautiful in its own strange way." She explained with a visible pride as she examined the creature. She felt bad though, slaughtering the beasts while trapped in their cages for their pelts. While easy and efficient, it was starting to eat at her somewhat. After this pelt, she'd not exploit the Blood Mage's horrid power

Kasa watched as Hector tried to cut into the beast with a small struggle. This was a good sign...The skin was durable. The Skin-Walker remained silent as she watched Hector work. She could feel her own skin start to crawl, her expression looking a bit pained at the grotesque way the man had killed the strong creature. But once the body laid on the floor and she got the conformation from the Mage, she'd go to open the cage to get the skin, only to realize that the cage was locked. It made sense, but she frowned softly, she opened her mouth to ask a question, only for Hector to beat her to the punch. "Where has Mr. Blight gone?"

She pause, standing up to look around, trying to catch the familiar sent of the goblin or listen for him. But this area was so stagnant and noise she couldn't figure out where he was. "Hm...He might be searching for more valuables..We probably should not stay here much longer. Makes it easier to be caught." She'd say her thoughts allowed. Reaching to her side she'd take her tomahawk and use it to splinter the weak hinges of the cage so she could retrieve the carcass.

She had to admit,with a macabre amazement, the  Blood Mage did an excellent job with the body. Kasa would then take a hunting knife to slowly work on slicing away a clean line down the belly so she could gently remove the skin like a strange jacket. While she went through the slow process of slicing open the body (thanks to it's tough skin) she'd try to keep an ear out for anything wrong. Kasa hoped that what ever guard made their rounds past this shop, were used to the sounds of animal calls in the night and would continue by without question.

Yes, where has Mr. Blight gone?  Well, as stated before, he had taken a quiet little vantage point to watch the two and make certain that everything was nice and peaceful.  You couldn't always tell with a blade mage, as while this room was indeed a decent bribe for the man, he did obviously see other beings as walking sacks of blood.  It was better to be sure of things, though he wasn't going to tell them that.  Instead, from a point some feet behind Hector, around the corner of a cage aisle, they'd hear...

"Just keeping watch on things, so nobody can take us unawares, that's all.  This is Adela, after all, and all it takes is one Dragonrider to complicate things."

Too true.  In the time that they had been down here, several of those things had flown overhead at a high altitude.  Even while he'd been cutting through the roof, this was so.  It was because of the darkness of he night that they had not been discovered.  If the moon were more lit or if a rider decided upon a closer look, he might notice all of this going on.  Gary had considered this, of course, going in.  It wasn't as likely as a break-in being noticed at the street-level, since the riders protect Ketra and all of Adela from threats from outside, predominantly.  Still, all it takes is one...

Hector frowns at the goblins sneakyness, but gave it no thought. Hector moves away from the inpure girl and looks for another sacrifice. Hector finds himself deeper into the store and realized that there was not many animals deeper in. It seemed that there was a single cage that held a small animal. No other cages within 10 feet if it.

Hector frowns and stops a little more than 11 feet away.

"Interesting...." Hector mutters to himself. He crouches and looks at the ground. The cages where recently moved, judging by the drag marks and dust, it was after the store closed down. Hector turned around and looked for a small animal to toss in. The main reason why his attention was attracted to it was because there was actually a large amount of dried blood, or at least used to be alot. It smelled like someone tried to clean it.

Hector finds a small fluffy rabbit and pops open the cage. "Here bunny wanny. Come to daddy." Hector mutters to it as he reaches for it. Hector's eye's widden as the bunny transformed. The fur melted away, revealing scales and the mouth now took up 90 percent of its face. It jumps foreward, and with it's ridiculously large mouth chompped down on Hector's arm, all the way past the elbow. The mouth was filled with hundreds of small razer sharp teeth meant to rip apart what ever it bites.

Hector stood there for a moment before he mouth opened and he started to silently scream, but nothing came out of his mouth. He jumped away from the cage and shooked his hand up in the air. Hector has been bit before, but they where all controlled situations and he knew exactly how much damage the thing that bit he could do; and he never, never, would do something that would make himself lose his own arm, or at least knowingly do something.

Hector turned around to find some help but he could not find the goblin, and he refused to call for help from the girl with impure blood. 'ahhhhhhh!' he screamed in his head but nothing came out of his mouth still.

Kasa grinned happily as she held up her new prize. The skin that she had been so eager to get was now in her hands. With a little clean up it would be perfect...But, like a child with a new gift, she simply couldn't wait! She draped the skin over her shoulders and ran her hand over the tough hide's fur. Admiring the strength it had with a small grin. She took in a deep breath and let herself relax. Her bones started to crack and shift under her skin, and the pelt stretched over her. A moment later, she took on the appearance of the Leucrotta. Clicking the single ridge that made up her teeth with excitement, a long tail swishing like a happy puppy.

She had to test something, something she heard about the Leucrotta. But she'd need more room to run, test her speed- gah, who cares! Lets see what she could do around this shop. She dashed away from the cage merrily to see what she could do. She zipped around the store, slowly picking up speed until she saw something at the corner of her eye and skidded to a stop. Her hooves scrapping against the floor. She turned her head to see...Oh...Oh Spirits.

The Blood Mage, with a terrified expression on his face as he stared at some...Scaley...Thing on his arm. "Ouch! Ouch!" Hollered Kasa in that high voice a Leucrotta could manage before dashing over to offer the Blood Mage help. He may not like it, but she wasn't going to let the man get his arm bit off. She leaped up to clamp down on the back foot of the creature with her sharp ridged tooth. Hoping that the bite would force the beast to open its mouth in a roar and free the Mage's hand.

Try to imagine what it's like to be a fly on the wall in a situation like this.  Kasa probably had an idea on the matter.  Hell, if she was really good, she could do it literally.  Still, you have a goblin who is essentially on overwatch, and he's a caped and masked highwayman.  You have a blood mage who just got his arm amputated by a rabbit, screaming bloody murder, obviously.  And finally, you have a woman who has just turned into a wolf-deer-something-else thing calling 'Ouch!  Ouch!' in lieu of crying for help.

You can't make up this stuff.  ...or can you?  Nevermind.

During this sudden moment of the weird and definitely dangerous, Gary slipped in to read the waring sign on top of the cage that Hector missed.  It was...oh dear.  Even for him, this was a problem.  That rabbit's dynamite! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmu5sRIizdw)


Shit...  This was a doozy of an animal.  He could see massive aura distortion surrounding its body, and he didn't have time to lose, as it seemed to really like eating blood mage!  Gary did what he thought best, and threw a caltrop at the thing's rear-end.  The response was dangerously fluid.  One second, the thing flipped off of Hector like an acrobat onto the floor with a snarl (http://orig10.deviantart.net/ef20/f/2012/014/8/e/volpar_bunny_by_juzztice-d4maj4g.jpg), and in the next it was coming right at him with no intermittent hops!  Rather than taking it on head-on, which is stupid, he began to leap around the room with his own agility.  He moved like lightning kicked off of cages.  The rabbit went right through some of the cages as it gave chase!

Gods be cursed!  What was keeping it from muzzling up to those bars and VOOM?!

Hector, unfortunately,  could not hold in the screams that ripped through his throat, though he did look like he was shell shocked. Hector looks down to the ground at his arm. It was just laying there, soaking wet, covered in blood and saliva.

The inpures teeth had bit onto the rabbits foot, and in return it bit harder. That's when Hector's arm got taken. Then the goblin threw a caltrop at the things butt, which made the rabbit spit out his arm. Now the rabbit and the goblin were playing tag, where the loser dies.

Hector slumps down to his knees and picks up his arm and stares at it some more. He feedbly tried to put his arm back on to no avail.

Hector sat there on the ground for a few moments, then he looked up and glared at the rabbit. Not only did the thing bite off his arm, he also made him look bad in front of people... That is if you can call a goblin, that's a monster, and a Skin Walker, that has inpure blood, people.

Hector pulls him self to his feet, picks up the cage that the rabbit was in, with one arm no less, and slams it down when it got close. The cage jerked and Hector fell to the ground, but it held.

Hector panted as he watched the blood leaking from his arm evaporate into blood red mist. Hector's god was cashing in his debt and it was not going too well for him.

"No... Another chance.... Please." Hector starts to mutter to himself. His blood started to evaporate at a higher speed. Hector wheezes as he pulls himself up from the ground. Hector vision started to shake and blur, too much blood loss. Not that anyone could tell because all of his blood evaporated when it either touched the ground or got 5 feet away from him.


"Damned bunny..." Hector says with out realising it. He stumbles forward a few steps, and then collapses, his world going dark.

Oh Spirits this all happened really fast.

In her attempts to make things better, it made things worse and now we had a blood mage loosing the thing he held so preciously. The 'rabbit' bit down so hard it tore off the man's arm. But despite this he had enough strength to trap that crazy blood-thirsty beast under it's cage again before slumping to the ground. Muttering a few words as his blood evaporated away like with the beasts he did before.

Being with this man a short time taught her something. That blood was going to his god. And it probably wouldn't stop till he was as dry as the creatures before. Kasa quickly got to work, using her sharp ridged teeth to tear away a large strip from the hem of his cloak. She hoped he wouldn't mind if it would ultimately would save him.

Her bones snapped and cracked as she shifted as quickly as possible. Part of her wanted to throw up. The smell of all the blood was sickening. But she tried to keep her mind on her mission to keep the gentleman alive. She was a softie when it came to the lives of others. Death frightened her and she'd imagine it was equally unnerving for him. She rolled the large human onto his side, so the wound was elevated then she brought the cloth from his cape and put pressure over the wound.

"Gary. Keep Hector awake and calm for this one." Kasa would call to him. They wouldn't be able to get him out of here until the bleeding stopped.  Wait...She looked back and around. The Drake skin! "Gary, Drakes can make fire, yes?" She'd ask quickly. Hoping she could cauterize the wound instead to stop the bleeding. Hector's scream must have brought some attention to this little creature shop...

The battle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgpu6NrqXdc) continued, Gary having to remain fleet of foot to stay ahead of the rabbit and strong in defense to deflect its devastating jaws.  Sparks raised every time Dort and Zuruck deflected the Vorpal Rabbit, and he began to suspect that if he were not using enchanted blades that the creature would eat right through his weapons and kill him.  This was the most dangerous thing he'd ever faced in his life!  And...and 'Nagoli' wanted his help now?!

"I'm a little busy!"

Seriously, he barely had time to even register that Hector's condition was not only bad, but actually worse because his blood god was extracting payment from his hide.  There wasn't anything he could do, since this furry chainsaw had to be kept at bay!  During one maneuver, Gary leapt up a wall, then hiked off of it to lead the pursuing rabbit into the ceiling.  The animal chomped through the ceiling and descended via the hole that Gary had made earlier!

Such a tenacious creature...  So obsessively dangerous!

Nagoli was calling to him again, something about Drakes and fire-breath.

"Yes, I think so!  And if you were to set the rabbit ablaze, I would not be ungrateful!"

Aaand the fight goes on!

Kasa had the answer she needed. She looked around to how far the cage with the draco skin was compared to where her patient was. It wasn't far, but the panic running through her thanks to the bloody blood mage and the goblin fighting off a demon rabbit made it feel like the pelt was a few miles away. Before she left Hector's side she made sure he was balanced on his side, the wound elevated so it hopefully wouldn't flow as easily.

She counted to three, coupled with a few deep breaths she left his side. The blood flowed and would start to be wisped up by his god. once it flowed out enough. She used her tomahawk to roughly pry open the door of the cage, driven by adrenaline. She'd cut open the hide and quickly remove the bones and dried out organs before placing it around her. Her bones going through the changing process. Breaking and snapping  as she reshaped into...Something close to a drake.

The face of the drake had ripped and tore open violently when the blood mage made his offering. So while Kasa was mostly a drake. Her face was some horrific mix of reptile and human. She scampered back to Hector, placing a claw on his side to keep him steady so she could attempt breathing fire.

It took a few attempts. Sometimes merely producing a spark, other times nearly setting the mage on fire with too powerful of a blast. But she quickly managed to control her breath enough to rapidly burn the wound. Stopping the flow of blood. Whether she saved him or not, she wasn't totally sure. She wasn't a doctor.

But she sure as hell tried what she could.

She turned towards the battle between the battle Gary and the Killer Rabbit. She let out a deep breath, smoke flowing from her mouth as she scrambled forward like a komodo dragon on steroids. She let out a shout, something akin to a 'watch out!' and a snarling growl as she took in a deep breath and let out a jet of fire through her jaws towards the rabbit.

Hector screams in pain as he wakes up from the flame. His eyes twich and they roll to the back of his head. Hector collapses back to the ground.

He slowly pulls himself into a sitting position. His blood was no longer being stolen, but the damage was already done.

He leans agaist the cage and watches the fight.

During the fight, Gary had used most any means he had at his disposal to stop or slow down the beast.  Bolas, throwing knives, poison darts, caltrops, shurikens - the fuzzy little bastard ate through or dodged like hell around them!  Gary was considering using his last resort - Essence of Mandrake - when his not-actually-elven cohort came through with some fire breath.  It looked weird, her transformation, but he didn't knock it.  She'd taken the rabbit off-guard because it was so focused on killing him.  He had dodged the flames himself, but then had to sort of dodge again a few times, because the now burning hare began to ricochet around the room before going through the roof!

"SKREEEE!!!"

The bunny let out a shrill cry out there, so loud that it was almost as bad as hearing the scream of a Mandrake.  That said, it made alot of noise, which was bad.  The soldiers in town might be drawn to the area by it, and when they got here, they'd see that there was another problem.  Eh heh heh heh...  The room was on fire.  That rabbit bastard had started fires in a number of spots and they were gonna go blazing soon.  Gary looked over at Nagoli sheepishly.

"Uhh, time to go!  Do me a favor and get him out of here while I free whatever animals are alive.  We'll need the distraction to escape unscathed."

Always thinking, that Gary Blight.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Meanwhile, somewhere far outside Ketra...

"SKREEEE!!!"

...a creature with eight legs stirred.

Kasa watched the carnage in awe for a moment.

Things had taken a turn she wouldn't have expected.

Even if she did have a feeling something would go wrong, she didn't expect this. She quickly dropped down on her belly as the firey-fluffball hurtled past her, she winced as it screeched a little too close to her ears, making a shiver run through her spine.She pushed her self back up on her four dragon-like feet, looking towards Gary as he said something. She squinted somewhat as she tried to figure out what he said, her eardrums still ringing from the screech but she could vaguely make out a 'Time to go!'

She couldn't agree more.

The rabbit bounced around some more, getting far enough away that she could make out the rest of Gary's instructions. She nodded in response and shifted back to her normal self. Her new skins slung over her shoulders, tied like capes, she ran over to Henry and forcibly reached to grasp his arm and pull him along. "Let us go." She stated simply, not seeming to care for Henry's discomfort around her right now and attempted to lead him out of the now-burning-building. She scrunched her nose as smoke filled the air and the screeching of a rabid rabbit.

Her ears twitched faintly, she could hear the powerful beating of Ketra's dragon-riding guards getting closer to their location. She growled with panic as she searched for an opening for escape, staying close to the shadows of buildings.


OOC:

Spoiler

So sorry for the wait on the reply. Got busy with finals and graduation.

[close]

Hector at this point in time couldn't care less about what Kasa did at this point. He was probably in shock as he even started to lean on her before he fell unconscious once more.

But he awakend a second later and started to walk with the girl, instead of being dragged by her.

(OOC: I probably won't be able to postb for a long time soon, so I'll get Hector out of this and you guys can continue without me.)

[OOC: Okay, Medler.  Thanks for the random intrigue.]

Not far behind those two came the random cries of animals that were leaping out the doors and front windows of the establishment.  In the confusion, Kasa and Hector were definitely missed.  The dragonriders had several animals, a building on fire, and a small fire out in the woods to focus on, at the moment.  Gary himself had snuck out with the animals and into the darkness, as soldiers came out into view to route the animals.  Their aim was to get them out of town or contained.  Given that some of them were big like the tiger, but currently worried about dragons overhead, the soldiers opted for herding them out of town with shields to block their way, swords and noise to drive them off.  The assistant of the owner of the building also appeared, followed by a very large F-bomb as a mage on a dragon converted its fire breath to water breath and doused the building.  Gary, in the meantime, had ducked into the alley that Kasa had found refuge in.

"Hello."

They stayed in the darkness, though it appeared that Hector was just leaving.  This was fine, really, because even if anyboy stopped him, he didn't have anything on him to suggested that he was involved in a late-night robbery or fire.  In fact, he looked like the victim of an animal attack, which...given the streets right now...would be throughly believable.  It was more likely that he'd be taken to a doctor than a jail cell, assuming he even stopped.  So, that was him taken care of, at least.

"Well, I'm carrying a bag of loot and you have a number of animal skins.  I think it best that we were away from this town, yes?"