| Logs |
2013 July 20
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
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| Realms: Taps Logs |
Excitable Boy
Rattler smiles wryly and says, "Well, it wouldn't be the first line he'd crossed, cherie." He stands up with a theatrically reluctant sigh, "I have to go slave over the animals again. Such a fate fer a king." Suraksha knows that Rattler dearly loves working with the horses, so she giggles and gives her sweetheart a quick hug again before he leaves. She also knows she'll be rapidly swamped in the minutiae of getting the caravan ready to move -- but just for a moment she happily watches her lover's deliciously trim derriere as he walks away! Fantine's eyes are twinkling with amusement, in fact, as Sura turns back to her.
The day goes with very little disruption, though many of the caravaneers are somewhat nervous. This isn't quite a "hey rube" situation, but they've got their guard up and Chanti has them running day patrols like they do in contested or dangerous territory. Everyone is on something of a war footing. Suraksha does her best to sooth and calm everyone. Yes, they should be alert... but not to the point of jumping at shadows, please! After all, the people have been genuinely kind up to this point, even if their leader has been a bit... well, full of himself.
Noon comes and goes with no more word from the town, though Ohkwa and two of the young folk -- who have been trying to learn some wheelwrighting and blacksmithing so the caravan can do repairs on-the-fly -- have gone into town. It's coming down dark, in fact, and there's still no sign of Sura's people returning. Suraksha isn't really worried, since Ohkwa is quite capable of taking care of himself and others; she doesn't doubt for a moment if there was a problem, the roars would be heard all the way out here. Plus the caravan lead knows how easy it can be to get lost in a fascinating job -- she's done that herself on occasion, in fact. However, she quietly asks Alg if, when he has a moment, he could sneak off (while staying out of the way of any wolves) to see what's going on. Sura is rather surprised, in fact, that none of the young townsfolk who were purportedly interested in departing with the caravan have turned up.
Alg is just on his way out, starting under cover of dusk, when the young woman that had gone with Okhwa comes stumbling and gasping into camp. She's soot-covered and sweaty; her hair is quite a mess and she's a little wild-eyed as she calls, "Where's Sura?!"
People gather quickly; Suraksha is hastily called over, along with Suze for just in case. A slow, deep anger is starting to grow in Sura, and she hopes she's wrong in her initial guess -- but she waits until the poor girl has been given a drink before she says quietly, "What happened."
The girl, Corinne by name is bent over, hands on her knees as she tries to catch her breath, but she looks up at Suraksha, "Need you. 'N Suze. Anybody. Medical... training. Hurry."
Suraksha turns and snaps a few quiet, terse orders for Little Joe, Suze, Gajara and Oksana, and Alg to gather together medical and transport gear. As they rush hastily to get things collected, Sura turns back to Corinne and says gravely, "Corinne, dear, please think carefully. Was a specific invite issued to me? Or were you just sent to get any medical help we have?" She studies the girl's chakras as she speaks, wondering both if the girl is injured... and if someone has perhaps somehow affected her. "Also, how many were injured, and in what way?"
Corinne's head is hanging now as she tries to catch her breath, "Ohkwa said anybody medical... fire. And fight... lots of people... six, seven... at least... hurt..." She's having a hard time getting her jumbled information into something like a coherent form. The caravaneers are forming up a motley but effective rescue squad while Corinne tries to catch her breath. She hasn't said that anyone from the caravan is hurt, but she's obviously shaken up. Away in the distance there's starting to be a lot of black smoke visible above the trees and, faintly, lupine howls.
Suraksha's eyes widen at that news, and she turns and shouts for more equipment so there's enough for everyone -- then she turns back to Corinne, "You stay here, dear, and help Buddy -- he'll need to plan for food for the injured." The caravaneers who can help are already streaming towards the town, and a moment later Sura swings up onto Gajara's trunk as the elephant comes swiftly past, trumpeting a warning so no one is injured. On her wide back people are holding onto the harness as they continue fastening equipment to her. Sura accepts a hand up from Oksana, and they cling to the great gray beast as she thunders through the fields for the town. Suraksha calls over her shoulder to her friends, "Corinne said there was a fight as well as a fire, so buddy system in place, please! Stay together and don't hesitate to call for back up."
As they rush into town, it turns out that there are not one but three fires. One of them a raging conflagration at the top of the hill: Malachai's house. The blacksmithy has been doused with water as quickly as people can get to it, as has the mill, because the dust of milling flour can make for not just a fire but an explosion. The meeting hall/church is also in flames, as is the house next to it. Suraksha shakes her head, then calls to the nearest townie, "Is everyone out of the fires?!" The townies are rushing around trying to put out the fires -- or at least the human-hearted are. The wolf-hearted are all in the town square, circled around something that looks like a furious ball of fur.
Suraksha sighs again, then simply tells her people to hop off the elephant and help out where they can. She herself starts stripping out of her clothing, simultaneously saying to Gajara, "Dear, get a trunkful of water and then spray those idiot fighting wolves as hard as you can, all right?" Suraksha calls out for Okhwa as well, looking around to see if he's all right. From the superior height of the elephant she can see better, so she starts pointing to places that most need assistance, and sends Alg back to the caravan for more people to help put out the fires.
Once 'Chana gets closer, she can see that what looked like just a couple of wolves fighting turns out to be two wolves either dead or grievously wounded and two more locked in a vicious battle in the ring of wolf-hearted. The amount of blood is truly staggering. Suraksha drops to the ground herself in tiger form seconds later, and pads forward next to the elephant. She is utterly appalled that the leadership of this town is squabbling amongst itself while the town burns! She takes a deep breath, then roars with all her might, just as the fighting wolves are sprayed with water.
One of the downed wolves is very obviously Malachai and the other is one of the several more generically gray of the wolf-hearted. Rufus is in the circle and whining nervously. The two wolves locked in combat in the center of the circle barely notice being sprayed with water, though it makes it harder for the two of them to keep their footing. The wolves in the circle look around and a couple growl at the big elephant. A closer look shows that Meshek is one of the fighters. The other may well be Vashti. Rachel comes racing up with a panting Okhwa and she pushes at the elephant, her soot-covered face tear streaked and sweaty, "No! No!"
Suraksha snaps at Rachel, "Dey figh'dh while dh'own burns -- bad!" She turns to the waiting wolves and snarls, "You go be sure ef'ryone ou'dh of fire now!" then glares at Rachel, "You dh'ell me righ'dh now why I no dh'ear dem apar'dh an' span'gh 'em!" Then she adds to Gajara, "Ge'dh Suze here soones'dh -- go'dh dying, maybe."
Rachel is almost screaming, "Meshek started the fires!" The wolves do not obey, "Everyone's out of the buildings, we're trying to make sure they don't spread any further!" She's panting and the tears are coming harder, "Nonnu's d-d-d-d..." and then she falls to her knees, sobbing with the heels of her hands pressed to her eyes.
Suraksha shakes her head in exasperation, "Hokay, dh'is s'dhops now." She studies the two fighting wolves, then growls to Ohkwa, "You grab darker one when I pin ligh'dher furred one," then crouches, her tail lashing as she readies. A second later she pounces with a roar again, trying to pin down Meshek. If she must, she'll also slap the other wolf back with one huge paw.
Ohkwa isn't needed at first since the tiger's leap scatters the ring of wolves and sends the embattled wolf-hearted rolling over and over. They're locked so tightly together that slapping one is only going to send both of them rolling again. When the rolling stops, Meshek is on the bottom of the two wolves, yelping and squealing in pain. Suraksha puts one heavy paw on Meshek, then darts her huge head down and grabs the scruff of the wolf on top, unceremoniously yanking it free and tossing it towards Ohkwa -- the big bear-spirit knows better than she if he needs to shift shape to hold this angry wolf or not. The massive tiger glances around with a snarl on her lips at the remaining five wolves, letting them know unequivocally that she will fight back if necessary! So far, at least, her claws are still sheathed.
Ohkwa chooses to keep his human form, as it gives him thumbs and better ability to hold onto the struggling and howling wolf. One enormous hand plunges into Vashti's scruff and grips it, holding tight as he rumbles to her in the liquid syllables of his first language. His face looks stricken. Meshek is struggling under Sura's paw, snapping madly and scratching at her with ebony claws. The remaining wolves have gathered around the two fallen wolves, nuzzling and whining over the limp bodies. Suraksha smacks the wolf under her paw and snarls, "Quie'dh, you!"
Meshek is either beyond understanding or beyond caring. He's obviously torn up rather badly, but he's struggling like a thing possessed. Suraksha calmly knocks the idiot unconscious, then. She leaves the wolf lying where he is so she can pad over to the two limp wolves to see who they are. Malachai set himself up as alpha, so she doesn't feel that sorry for him being attacked... but she's heartsick for both the other wolf with him as well as the poor humans who've been injured by Meshek's astounding arrogance and greed. Are they still alive at all? Werewolves are supposed to be pretty hardy... and Sura knows from grim experience that blood splattered around always looks like more than it really is.
Malachai is beyond saving or worry; his throat is a mass of blood and missing tissue. The other wolf is smaller and much younger and there are signs that it might still be breathing. By now, the creature in Okhwa's arms is human-shaped again -- Vashti is keening, begging to be let go to see to the fallen wolf-hearted. One of the caravaneers has come back to report that there are four dead human-hearted and her face is pale as she reports that two of them are children. Suraksha shifts form so she can kneel next to the young wolf and try to stop the blood flow; she sighs and nods to Ohkwa to release Vashti. Suze arrived and was rushed immediately to house where the injured and exhausted human-hearted had been being sent and taken to.
Suraksha glances around as she applies pressure. She'd love to comfort Rachel... but there really aren't enough hands here. Her voice is gently insistent to break through the girl's tears, "Rachel. Rachel. Come here, please. We need your help." If she can, she'll get the poor girl working over the still-living, injured wolf. Rachel comes to Suraksha's side; her face is pale under the soot. Vashti is trying to get there as well, but Okhwa is still holding her. The erstwhile Beta is not screaming or hysterical, but there are tears streaming down her face.
Suraksha shakes her head again as she looks around. The town is a mess. She suspects the townsfolk will all pull together both in grief and for repairs. They'll need every hand; Sura's going to assume no one will be leaving with the caravan. The last thing she can do for them is make sure they don't have the heartbreak of having to kill Meshek as well. Rachel's voice is smoke-choked as she helps trying to stop the bleeding, "This is m-my b-brother..." She's shaking with reaction to the violence.
Suraksha quietly shows Rachel where to press to slow the blood flow, "There, and there. Just press steadily, all right? Let the wolf shape have a moment to try and heal." She rises to her feet, calmly ignoring the fact that she and Vashti both are completely nude, and gently squeezes the girl's shoulder. "Hold on, sweetie. Suze will be here soon." Then the small woman steps over to kneel by Malachai, checking him carefully. If she functioned as his heart, could she perhaps keep the body's blood and air moving long enough for Suze to arrive?
Ohkwa is whispering to the silently crying Vashti, who he finally sets to her feet to let her come to where Malachai and Gabe lie. As 'Chana kneels by the totally unmoving form of Malachai, the fur begins to melt away, the body to shift, muzzle shortening. He appears to be becoming human again. Suze and Gajara arrive just as this begins and Suze comes to 'Chana's side. Around them, the wolves are raising their heads to howl a mournful song of lupine grieving. Suraksha sighs quietly -- that answers that question. Poor Malachai. Sura reaches to gently close the man's eyes and whisper a soft prayer to the Lady for his soul. Those who live by the sword may indeed die by it... but that doesn't make things any easier for those who love them. She murmurs quietly to Suze, "Unless you're a miracle worker, dear, I think this one's done."
Suze nods, face set in lines of tender empathy, "Yes'm." She turns instead to the younger wolf, helping to staunch his bleeding and set the broken bones, which turn out to be both of his rear legs. The uproar around them is beginning to take on the rhythm of an under-control emergency. Someone steps close to Vashti and drapes a coat over her shoulders.
Suraksha rises again, stepping over to the unconscious Meshek; as she does so she shifts into tiger form. Her wide feline face is hard to read as she studies the wolf lying in front of her... then she glances over at Ohkwa. If he's looking at her she'll flick an ear to invite him to join her. Ohkwa judges Suze able to attend to the body and the women, especially as the wolf-hearted are beginning to shift back to human form. He joins 'Chana and drops to one knee, putting one large hand on the unconscious Meshek. Suraksha rumbles quietly to the big man, "Wha'dh happen? He s'dhar'dh all fire'z?"
Ohkwa nods, mouth tight and eyes blazing with well-suppressed anger, "He did -- starting with Malachai's house, while the old thane and the little ones were taking a pre-dinner nap. Malachai had had them out in the woods today, gathering leaves and herbs for a study of fauna. He started the meeting hall next, I think. That's why it had time to spread to the house next door." He nods toward Malachai, "That one was helping get all the little ones out when that one," he nods at Gabriel, "started yelping and howling and snarling. The one you got there had attacked him and he was struggling to get away. Get the feeling the young'un was trying to raise the alarm."
Suraksha nods silently, her ears pricked as she listens. Though she hasn't yet realized it, the tips of her claws are starting to extend from the massive paw she's placed on Meshek to hold him down if he should start waking up. Ohkwa is speaking the calm tones of someone that's keeping themselves very tightly under control. "From what I gather, Malachai waded in in human form to try and tear the two of them apart and Meshek turned on him. Malachai started to change... Vashti says probably because he was too angry to control himself, and Meshek took his throat before he could get back to his feet in wolf form."
Suraksha nods silently again, and the big tiger's head dips in a sudden moment of choking grief. So Malachai died because he was trying to protect his people and Meshek effectively gut-shot him... what a shitty way to go. She sighs, murmuring, "When Mala'ghai fell, Vash'dhi a'dhacked Meshe'gh?"
Meshek is starting to groggily stir. Okhwa nods, mouth set tightly for a moment before he can say, "Yes. That seems to be the way of it. Until then, she'd been helping get people out of the burning buildings and get relays set up to wet down the smithy and the mill."
Suraksha gently presses on Meshek's throat to cut off his air and knock him out again. She glances over at the weeping Vashti and Rachel, then looks grimly up at Ohkwa, "I dh'in'gh i'dh be gh'indes' if Meshe'gh quie'dhly died here. Wha'dh you dh'in'gh?"
Ohkwa murmurs quietly, "He's got enough injuries..."
Suraksha nods once more, "I agree." She glances over at Vashti, adding softly, "She's new alpha. If she as'gh, send her dh'o me, yah?" Then she presses down a bit more firmly on the wolf's throat, whispering a soft prayer to the Lady of Serpents to allow this poor, damaged soul a chance to reincarnate in better circumstances next time. Under her paw, Meshek's unconscious form stiffens and spasms and then goes still. She knows better than to let up immediately and everyone is too distracted to notice her speeding the wolf-hearted townie on his way. She quietly sends Ohkwari back to the others, then waits until she's sure before she releases. Not only does she want him to not be associated in any way with Meshek's death, but she wants to be very sure.
Suraksha sighs once she's done, shifting to human form before she rises and pads silently over to where her clothes still lie on the ground from where she tossed them off while on Gajara. She pulls on the tunic and pants, looking around herself a bit wearily. Poor Malachai. Poor town, beneath the battle of Malachai's and Meshek's pride. The businesswoman inside herself is wearily aware that this visit is going to end up a net loss both for herself as Hetaera, the caravan, and the town. The priestess inside her is aghast at Meshek's insanity, and grieving at Malachai's near-suicidal pride.
One by one the wolf-hearted return to human shape and go to help with the firefighting and medical attention needed. Even through the hubbub of the fires, keening can be heard. In a town with only 250 citizens, the deaths of six at once is an enormous loss, and since two of the lost were of the wolf-hearted, the pack is in shock. Vashti, once she has been brought a simple shift to wear, starts gathering her people. She proves her competence by giving orders that help make the fighting of the fires and the helping of the wounded much easier.
Suraksha sighs in relief at that -- she didn't want to be responsible for organizing the town while Vashti recovered, especially since the young caravaneer doesn't know it as well as the new alpha. More of the caravan has come to help, since Suze sent runners back while 'Chana was dealing with Meshek and getting the story from Okhwa. The children are left back at the caravan, but those adults that can help are coming to help. The townies seem relieved to see Suraksha, rather than worried. The more help they can get, the better. For the nonce, therefore, Sura follows Suze around, being a helpful extra set of hands for the talented healer for as long as the older-looking woman needs. Suraksha figures things will start settling down soon now that the fighting has been stopped and the fires are starting to be under control.
Suraksha also glances around as she works, wondering who is caring for the town's children. She'll go help if necessary, since she knows she can sooth well with her voice. The children -- or at least those who survived without injury -- have been gathered into the yard of one of the larger houses. They are a little shell-shocked and there's rather a lot of crying and fear amongst them. Besides the two dead, there were three others injured and over half a dozen of the adults that were working on getting the kids to safety and the fires controlled in the first panicked minutes. Suraksha quietly calls over one of her people to help Suze, then slips away to where the children are. She settles down next to the terrified huddle and smiles reassuringly at them, "How are you all? Did you watch out for each other?" She's careful to sit so they have to face away from the street to talk to her; she sees no reason to keep them looking at the bodies there, after all. Her heart breaks for the poor kids' terror.
The kids all assure the small woman that they helped out as much as they can. One little girl, soot-streaked and with the hem of her dress singed, climbs into 'Chana's lap and whispers that everyone was very brave except her. She was very scared. Suraksha hugs children and strokes hair and gently encourages them all to settle around her. She nods gravely to the small girl, murmuring, "It's all right, sweetheart. Shall I tell you a secret? That's what bravery is, really -- it's continuing to do the best you can, even when you're terrified! So the fact that you were scared is nothing to be ashamed of. I promise you, when emergencies happen on the caravan trail, I'm scared too."
Suraksha does her best to sooth and calm the poor children, coaxing them into telling her any stories they want to -- whether of what happened or (if that's too scary) of things they've done in the previous week. The small woman keeps half an eye on the bustling folks passing back and forth before the house as well, and her ear tuned to any further outcry or roar of fire. When Alg comes trotting briskly by on an errand, Sura quietly calls to him so he knows where she is and can find her quickly should someone need her, as well.
It's full dark and well into the night before the fires are put completely out and a goodly fireline cleared around all of the structures that burned. Two of the townsfolk arrive to help putting down pallets in the house for the children to sleep on. They are both older folk that 'Chana suspects were told off to help with the children since they were overtaxing themselves helping with the fires. The woman comes to 'Chana and leans close to let her know that the bodies are being laid out and that Suze has asked if she can come to the makeshift hospital.
Suraksha nods, rising to her feet and brushing off her jeans, "Certainly." She's pleased that all the children are calm now, with clean faces and hands -- Sura had encouraged them all to clean up a little bit by borrowing a bucket and drawing some water for the children. She thanks the two elderly people for taking over, then heads off to the temporary hospital, following the directions she was given -- and Alg, when he comes bounding up a few minutes later. Suraksha sighs, glancing down at Alg, "What's the total dead, dear -- do you know?"
Alg is tired and growls, "Not count wolves, seven."
Suraksha sighs again, gently stroking Alg's wiry-haired head as she murmurs, "What a senseless tragedy... and of the wolves, I think... two died, yes? Malachai and Meshek?"
Alg is holding onto 'Chana's shirt-tail as if he's afraid his pretty lady is going to get away from him. He nods and says grudgingly, "Old wolf saved lots."
Suraksha takes Alg's clawed hand in her own, trying to reassure him with touch as the two of them walk towards the hospital. She nods again, her voice grave, "The children said as much, yes. He did the best he could. I just wish..." She sighs softly, then shakes her head, "Well. Perhaps he did not believe, even then, that Meshek would attack him. I don't know."
Alg spit-snarls, "He not attack old wolf. He attack buildings." The way the little goblin says it, it sounds like that is the most cowardly thing in the world.
Suraksha nods grimly, "Yes. Buildings with children in them. Ohkwa says after that he attacked one of the younger wolves, and when Malachai tried to pull them apart... he tore the man's throat out."
They come to the hospital and finds Okhwa and Suze standing on the porch, taking a brief rest. Suze smiles tiredly and holds her arms out for her petite leader, "Been being momma for the children?"
Suraksha gives Suze, then Ohkwa a tight hug, "Oh, Lady... this has been a day!" She sighs again, standing between them as she murmurs quietly, "The children just needed some calm and reassurance; they're fine right now. So, how are folks here?" She addresses that to Suze, then adds with a touch of worry to Ohkwa, "Also, what's the current... 'feel' of things in town?"
Ohkwa's voice is growly, but mostly because he has been letting his native form "bleed through" a bit to give him extra strength and to assist with the healing, "They are mourning. There is no anger left in them. Only sadness."
Suraksha nods in quiet relief, "This is... a tragedy, but hopefully one they can recover from." She looks to Suze then, waiting to see what the healer has to say. The small woman can't help a faintly amused quirk of the lips as she realizes Sna'thaid is going to lecture her later -- both about risking both herself and the caravaneers so, and for the financial loss the caravan will be taking from this stop. Still, Sura knows that seemingly heartless diatribe will cover real concern and caring; she won't mind listening to her godsmother for this.
Suze takes a deep breath, "It has been difficult for them. But Vashti is proving her worth. She has been everywhere -- helping here, helping with the fires. She had wounds of her own, but they were not serious." Suze's eyes look at 'Chana carefully, "They brought the killer in to be washed and laid out. His wounds didn't look deadly."
Suraksha nods thoughtfully, not replying directly in a town where there are many keen-eared individuals. "Interesting. I'm curious: do the wolves here heal faster, like King Roy's werewolf bodyguard? Do they have the same heightened senses?"
Suze smiles tightly, "They seem to have very keen ears, but not as keen as, say Alg. They are keener when they are in wolf form. So Vashti told me. She said that the old wolf would have been able to save all the children if he had not been asleep when the fire started."
Suraksha sighs softly, her tired gaze drifting out over the smoke-stinking, fire-cratered, darkened town, "Poor things. I hope they survive this tragedy." She looks back at the others, adding, "Are folks starting to head back to the caravan? We should withdraw completely at some point, so the town can grieve in privacy."
Suze says, "I've been sending folk back as they look about to drop. Every single townie that has come through has said their thanks." She smiles wryly, "Vashti asked if we might stay a day or two."
Suraksha is nodding as she listens to Suze, but at that last comment she looks with some surprise at the taller woman, "She has? Whyever so? I'd think they'd want us out of here as soon as polite, considering... considering it was I who effectively publicly humiliated Meshek." She pauses, thinking, then quietly adds, "Who knows... there may be some who feel I did much the same to Malachai."
Suze shakes her head, "I don't know. You'll have to ask Vashti when she's around again."
Suraksha says, "How odd." She smiles ruefully, "Well... I'll track her down, then, after we're done here. You asked me to come -- is there aught you need, dear?"
Suze says, "I needed to see if you need me at the caravan tonight. I think everyone that's going to pass... well, they have already. But there are some burns I would like to keep an eye on. Just in case I'm wrong."
Suraksha nods slowly, looking around and thinking hard... then she says quietly, "Keep two people with you at all times, please? One person that looks like a regular chirugeon's assistant, and..." She glances down, then crouches and says softly, "Alg, dear... would you be willing to help out by guarding Suze and making sure no harm comes to her here?"
Alg has snuggled up against 'Chana's legs while she was talking to Suze, but at this question he stands up as tall as he can and says, "Help healer lady, yes!"
Suraksha sighs in relief as she hugs the wiry goblin, "Excellent! Thank you so much, sweetie -- this means I won't worry about Suze tonight." She adds to both of them, "I do not expect any trouble, and if there is any you should do your best to call for help rather than fight any running battles... but I'd rather know you were all prepared. Suze, you know better than I who would be a helpful set of hands for your second person, so I'll leave that up to you. I'm going to track down Vashti and find out what she wants too, all right?"
Suze smiles tiredly, "I doubt anyone here has any energy, emotional or physical, for fights."
Suraksha nods in agreement with Suze's comment, but dryly adds, "True. Nevertheless, I would never have guessed this," she waves a hand out towards the gutted town, "from Meshek." She hugs them all again, thanking them for their help to the town and their mutual support... then heads tiredly off to track down Vashti.
Suze nods and reaches out a hand to touch 'Chana's face, "Be safe, sugar."
Suraksha smiles affectionately at the healer, "You too, dear." Suze motions Alg to follow her and calls out to one of the Sokoloffs who looks a little more lively than the others still around. Ohkwari also elects to stay with Suze, knowing 'Chana can physically take care of herself against any of the townies even on their best day.
Vashti is not hard to find; she's making a round of all the houses left standing and all the people not injured or dead. She either hasn't had a chance to change or she's not worried about her clothes, because she's still wearing the simple shift, though she has gotten a belt somewhere so that she can shorten it a bit to make walking easier. Suraksha pads quietly up and waits until Vashti is finished talking to the people she's currently with; the caravaneer simply doesn't think in terms of the town's hierarchy. Vashti turns around and sees Suraksha standing there; she gives the small, dark woman a tired smile, "Hello there."
Suraksha smiles and nods politely, "Good evening. Have you a moment?"
Vashti chuckles and sighs, "Yes. I have several for you."
Suraksha has been casually plaiting up her long, tangled dark hair as she waited; now she casually tosses the braid over one shoulder and smiles ruefully, "Thank you, though I am sorry for the circumstances we find ourselves in." She falls in next to the other woman, her small feet silent on the packed dirt. "First, Suze wishes to spend the night here with a few people, to keep an eye on some burns. Is that acceptable?" She thinks a moment, then adds slowly, "She also told me you were asking about our staying another day or two, which..." she hesitates, then continues, "I found somewhat... surprising, all things considered." She studies the other woman's chakras a bit worriedly as she murmurs, "May I ask why you wish this? Is there something you need of us?
Vashti nods and says, "We appreciate her services. We can... well, we can attempt to pay in some way. I know that our town still owes you for the services you performed for Malachai." Vashti's chakras are all at low ebb, as if she's simply drained of energy. The heart is the brightest just now. She laughs humorlessly at Sura's question, adding, "Because I thought you might want to attend the memorial services... and because I wish to give those that want to go with you time to mourn."
Suraksha shakes her head, "Honestly, I think Suze would be insulted if you offered to pay her. If you really want to... perform a fair exchange of energy..." she pauses, trying to think of what might be fair -- then goes silent at Vashti's comment. Her glance at the woman is frankly perplexed, "Wait. You're saying there are still people who wish to leave with us?"
Vashti says, "At this moment, probably not. But if we give them a few days to consider, I think they will." Her smile gets a little more wry, "Besides, I am going to insist that a couple of them go."
Suraksha is rather startled at that, "Really?! Whyso? -and who?"
Vashti stops, taking a deep breath and pushing her hands through her hair, "Because we need to open ourselves to the world again. Staying here, staying isolated... we keep ourselves safe from some of the dangers of the world. But danger sneaks in and we would be remiss not to prepare for it." Suraksha nods silently -- that, she can emphatically agree on. She's mildly curious, though, as to who Vashti wants to send... and surprised there's no mention of the dwindling bloodlines within the small town. Vashti adds, "Plus... we're dying." She motions around the town, "I apprenticed with the genealogists. It's getting harder and harder to find suitable matches. The children are dying more. We have to intermix."
Suraksha nods in slow, worried agreement to that, her voice low, "Yes. I confess earlier I was faintly surprised Mal-" her voice catches, and she realizes with a touch of pain that she grieves his senseless death -- she's going to miss him, for all his untoward, unwitting arrogance. She takes a breath and continues sturdily, "I was faintly surprised every available young woman in the village hadn't descended upon the caravan's available menfolk, to be sure."
Vashti's lips twitch and she laughs a limp little laugh, "Not all of them are as adventuresome as our Rachel. I intend to send three or four girls of suitable age out with you. I would send a like number of young men, but I think just two now. Rufus and Hezekiah."
Suraksha nods thoughtfully, "That's fine. May I ask, though: why a wolf-hearted, when your pack is hurting so? And why Hezekiah?" She adds as well, "I trust they're all sturdy, strong, and adventuresome young women, yes?"
Vashti says, "I wouldn't send people that would be a burden. If we are to breed strong again, we must send out people with strength of their own. As for Hezekiah, it's because I'm sending his twin and they won't be parted. Rufus goes because... well, because I need one of my wolves to go and see how they fare in the world."
Suraksha says, "All right, that's fair." She hesitates thoughtfully, then adds, "Er... you do know about the fey, yes? There's a king down south I know of who has a fey werewolf as one of his bodyguards. Do you want me to carry a message to him? See maybe if there are more?"
Vashti hesitates and says, "There are old stories that we are of the fey, but I don't know that we are. I know you have fey in your caravan." Her smile reaches her eyes just a little, "Like the fascinating Chanticleer that Rachel rarely ceases chattering about."
Suraksha chuckles quietly, nodding, "He is sidhe, yes. There are those who consider the fey to be all those who are not human. You and I would both fall into that categorization, for example... and there are those who consider even the Taps to be fey. Either way, my thought would be that surviving and thriving is more important, at least in the short term, than someone else's categorizations, you know?"
Vashti nods and takes a deep breath, "You are likely right... and breeding in other things." She looks around, "I've checked on everyone. I may try to take some sleep."
Suraksha agrees with the weary woman regarding sleep, but gently adds, "The werewolf, Guy? He is not a thing, please. I know it was a slip due to tiredness, but... it could hurt without meaning to, I suspect." She smiles ruefully and bids poor Vashti a good night.
Vashti blinks slowly, "I didn't mean to imply he was. By breeding in things, I meant other... strengths. Other abilities."
Suraksha says, "Oh, good." Her small smile is wry, "In that case, I apologize and withdraw my statement."
Vashti inclines her head, "Sleep well, Sulochana. Thank you for your help." She turns toward her home and walks with the weary step of someone who has just lost everything but must keep going anyway.
Suraksha sighs quietly, then whispers a soft prayer to the Lady of Serpents for kindness and joy to return to this sad little group of lost ones. She has one more stop to make tonight.
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