RP:A wagon ride through Hollow - Part I

Background

This is part of the A Not So Jolly Hollow Holiday Vacation story arc.

Morning comes, and it is time to get moving for Mahri and Cornelius.

Neither is particularly looking forward to riding on the wagon: Mahri being pregnant, and Cornelius bearing cracked ribs.

Despite this, though, the journey across Hollow by wagon begins.

Leaving Cenril

Mahri stands well away from the horses as they tended to be nervous around her. Now with the wagon, she's reluctant to climb up. The delivery boy draws her attention from the shuffling hooves to the dandy. "I'll pay for that," she says after a moment and then she makes up her mind. Despite the tossing of equine heads and blowing of air through their nostrils, the horses settle down with twitches and quivers along backs and whither. "You're driving." The reigns remain twisted around the handbrake.

Cornelius mutters "Bloody unreliable hired help" before raising his voice to normal levels "But of course. I can think of nothing more pleasurable to be doing to my ribs right now than to subject them to the horrors of uneven roads". He seems to have changed his mind about griping all day, even as he hauls himself into the driver's seat. He unwinds the reins and looks at Mahri "Going to stare at those horses all day, or are you coming aboard, M'dear?"

Mahri grumbles under her breath. Some not so very complimentary observations about the validity of the Captain's virility. "Horses don't like me." Still, she'll approach one side of the wagon and climb up into the remaining seat, tossing the pack into the back as she does so and settles in for an interesting, if long day. At least they will make it over the main roads.

Cornelius murmurs "Maybe you should stop threatening to eat them". He curses as the horses start to fret "Dammit, you nags, I was -joking-." By the time they have made their way to the gates of Cenril he has grown tired of wrestling with the upset and temperemental horses. "Mahri M'dear, I hate to say this, but you smell." He deliberately waits a second before clarifying "...like a predator. We need to fix that."

Mahri 's hands are gripping her seat so tightly her knuckles would be white if they weren't covered in leather. Teeth jarred in her head and she could swear a few were loosened. When they stop and Cornelius makes vocal his observation, on very cranky wolf growls low in her throat in warning. "Well, no shyte. I told you that horses don't like me. Just how do you expect to change how I smell?"

Cornelius grins, secures the reins around the handbrake, and says "A slight detour to fool the horses." He vaults off the wagon before remembering he is injured and lands with a grunt as cracked ribs complain painfully. He walks to a spot out of the horses' line of sight and waits for Mahri to follow.

Mahri winces in sympathy when the captain makes his leap from the high perch. "You can't fool these dumb beasts.." she mutters, deliberately ignoring the irony in that statement. Climbing down at a more sedate pace Mahri follows as expected. Hell, anything to make the ride smoother, right?

Cornelius straightens the sleeves of his shirt with a showman's flare. "Now, watch carefully M'dear as I work my magic. Trust me, you'll come out of this smelling like roses." In all honesty, Cornelius was slightly pained to use his product for such a utilitarian purpose, but the short trip to the gate had assured him this was a much lesser pain. He shows empty hands, bows deeply with a cheerful "Are you ready?" and then presses both hands together. "Madames et Messieurs, I have for you this evening a delightful surprise." He draws apart his hands to show a small perfume bottle which he then hands to Mahri. "A gift, from me to you. Only a little is needed. It is a special concoction of my own" You gave 1 Scent-Altering Perfume to Mahri.

Mahri folds her arms and watches the flamboyancy with a quirk of amusement. Who'd have thought she could still find something to almost smile about? And who knew that Cornelius would provide that amusement. When the perfume is presented, Mahri blinks and reaches for it. "How do I know you ain't makin' me smell like a dung heap?" Twisting the bottle between her fingers, Mahri has half a mind to test it on Cornelius first. Maybe a rock.

Cornelius raises an eyebrow in that special way which can only be translated to "Oh please, where did -that- silly question come from". Cornelius responds in an amused fashion "Because if I did that, I'd have to be seated next to the stench. Really Mahri. Just hold it half a foot from you, and give a spray at chest height and waist height."

Mahri huffs and does as instructed but..she'll turn her head and hold her breath when she sprays. Surprisingly it doesn't smell like horse manure. Alright, it wasn't so surprising as one might thing because, quite frankly, Captain Dandy had a bloody good point. He'd have to sit next to her. Cracking open an eye, the lycan peers over at Cornelius. "Well?"

As Mahri releases the perfume into the air, there is a strong scent of roses. A scent that should be extremely familiar to the Lycan, especially after having used it to track Cornelius across half the world.

Mahri sniffs. Roses. Of all things. Snorting, she tosses the bottle carelessly back towards Cornelius and turns on her heel. "Great. I smell like you now." At least this time when she climbs up into the seat the horses don't do anything more than twitch an ear. Also, she takes up the reigns and peers down at the Captain. "Comin' or no?"

Cornelius smiles as the scent clings to Mahri like burrs on a coat "Did I not say you'd come through this smelling of roses?" He chuckles merrily as he follows her to the wagon and climbs aboard. You snatches the bottle out of the air in passing

Trouble at the Xalious Pass

A small fire has been built on the side of the pass, in an area just large enough that two horses and a wagon can be easily drawn aside to allow passersby to go through. Mahri sits next to it and pokes at the small campfire with a stick. Cornelius appears to be resting against a wheel, though it's likely he's not asleep at all. One horse knickers softly and Mahri mutters something about smelling like roses under her breath.

Shishi and his party are heading away from Kelay. The vampire is flanked by Orange and Yellow, one on each side. The bottom half of Arius's face is bundled up behind a familiar blue scarf. Clinging to Orange's left arm is a spider monkey that is rather focused in on the small bag of peanuts in the girl's opposite hand. Every once in awhile the animal will hit the blonde girl on the shoulder until another peanut is handed over. Whatever noise the horses make is heard by Yellow and understood as if it were spoken in plain English. This draws the boy's attention off of the tale he is telling his father, "I swear. It was a huge bear and he said th-..." and towards the fire buring on the side of the road.

Mahri glances up when the familiar chatter of Arius reaches her ears. Already a smile touches her lips as she leans back from playing in the flames and wait for the trio with pets come into view.

Shishi 's daughter puffs out her cheeks as she hands over another peanut to Belulah and watches as the monkey shells it to get to the legume inside. The girl is showing some sign of jealousy of her brother's ability to speak with all manner of creatures that the black pool granted him and that she has been unable to mimic despite her best efforts, "Where are you go-..." the girl's question to her brother is cut short as Arius greets the lycan woman by the fire, "Hi, Miss Mahri. You have a horse?"

Mahri laughs softly at the incorrigible boy, "Two actually." Looking past him, Mahri waves to Orange and Shishi inviting them as well since Yellow has already made himself comfortable. A quick glance at Cornelius shows that at least he doesn't appear bothered by the arrival of the vampire and twins.

Shishi and Orange exchange a look at each other in disbelief of how easily the boy, who seemed to have been leading them somewhere, can be distracted and drawn off course. "Oh wow." Yellow said while settling near the fire, "We don't have any horses... Blue says they're too big." Arius then narrows his eyes a bit and maybe just now realizes that his father's excuse doesn't make much sense give the fact the family is keeping a dragon at least ten times as big as a horse as a pet already.

Mahri has to bite the inside of her cheek not to laugh at the look of dawning understanding on the boys face, "Well. With having Lucky maybe you just don't have the room for a horse." She's rather diplomatic. Speaking of, Mahri glances towards Shishi and Orange, "Hey." Belulah is given a quick glance, the peanut eating monkey staring back at the lycan. "What brings you three up this way?" It's obvious the wolf and Cornelius are going somewhere, given the wagon is loaded and covered to give the impression they might be merchants.

Cornelius smiles and opens his eyes. The bandages around his ribs prevent him from wearing the waistcoat he so loves, and so he is merely a scar-faced figure in breeches, boots, and fine linen shirt. He drawls out from where he is comfortably seated "Guests, Mahri M'dear? Please do make the introductions, wot. I rather think I'll haul myself vertical in a moment. Word of honour, and all that."

Shishi points a finger down at Arius and opens his mouth to begin giving an explanation, but Leralynn jumps in ahead of him, "Yellow says he met a bear that can juggle..." this is said in a tone that asks Mahri if she believe's such a ludicrous story, "...he was taking us to go see it." Yellow puffs out his cheeks at his sister before pleading with Mahri, "It's real! I met him!" The family's attention is then drawn Cornelius's way while the spider monkey carried by Orange crawled up to her shoulder and began tugging at her hair until she'll hand over another peanut...

Mahri looks from Arius to Leralynn and back again. Clearly she's used to this sort of chatter, before holding up a hand for silence, "One second. Arius, Leralynn, Shishi I want you to meet a friend of mine. Captain Cornelius Penzance. Captain, this is Shishi," a nod towards the vampire, "Arius and Leralynn." There, introductions are made now the lycan can address this matter of a juggling bear, "Well," she says speculatively, "I've never seen a bear who can juggle so I can't say for sure one doesn't exist...That doesn't mean you should discount everything your brother says thoug, Leralynn." A grin quirks its way into view and a sympathetic look is given the twins' father.

Cornelius coughs slightly with a smile "Cornelius Von Penzance at your service. I'm only 'Captain' when aboard the Wave Cleaver. Pleasure to make your acquaintances" True to his word, he hauls himself to his feet, perhaps not quite with his normal agility, and approaches the fire.

Andrei had spent every hour past noon in tracking down the duo. The time before that had been spent finding a healer willing to use their skills on a lynx. It had been touch and go all through the night, but a few hours after sun rise the healer had told the man the feline would make it through with rest. Coin was exchanged and a promise from the healer to look after it until it was well enough to be let loose. Andrei knew if Frisket still wished it would find him. However, the large man had gained on the target of his tracking and watched the interactions with others from a distance. Crouched down in some under bush up wind from their position. Andrei wasn't quite sure yet how he was planing to go about this yet. A hand strokes the goatee in thought.

A small fire has been built on the side of the pass, in an area just large enough that two horses and a wagon can be easily drawn aside to allow passersby to go through. Mahri sits next to it and pokes at the small campfire with a stick. Cornelius is at this moment approaching the fire from his previous spot by the wagon, bandages visible beneath his shirt. Shishi and two children are seated, the children talking excitedly between themselves as well as to Shishi and Mahri.

Mahri tosses another bit of wood onto the low fire.

Sygian had continued his vagrant vigil of the precious minerals and sedimentary remains within the ol' Dwarven road works, the slender lines of his scaled digits caressing the pathway as he shimmied his way at a steady pace from north to south. The stillness of the air was breached with the reverberation of sound wave and the heavy acrid smell of kindling alight; with this Draconian's inspection would cease in time with this arousal of his remaining senses. With an over-caution to the point of meekness he set about approaching the joyous band and the swarthy warmth of their camp.

Andrei stands up after a time and makes to walk over to the group. Under full scrutiny for any who heard the crunch of his boots against the road or chanced upon a glance in that direction. It wasn't until the man came to a pause just inside the fire lights glow, that just who it was could be seen. Just as he would make to say something, a noise caught his attention. A ready stiffness contracted well formed muscles along shoulder and back while Andrei's head turns towards where he had heard the sound. Someone or something was coming this way.

Shishi nodded once to Cornelius, offering an overly pleasant, "Nice to meet you." before he adds with a smirk, "Wave cleaver, huh? Must be some ship." Orange and Yellow look at each other and both say simultaneously, "Captain?" The spider monkey on Leralynn's shoulder is given a kind of worried glance by both children then only broken when Mahri tries to ease the disbelief Blue and Orange have of Yellow's tale. The young girl explains, "I think it was just a regular person in a bear disguise..."

Cornelius smiles at the children "Aye, a ship, and a beautiful one at that." His hand steals to the vicinity of his sabre, but casually with hand on hip above it, as his ears register movement "A juggling bear, lass? Oh yes, lots of them about. But you must be careful. The moment it stops juggling, that means it is hungry!"

Mahri glances up at Andrei and notices too that Cornelius reaches for his sabre. Subtly, she moves around the fire to put the children between herself and whatever it is creeping up on them. "If a bear is juggling you can reward it with a bit of food. Then it won't be hungry when it stops."

Shishi 's son beams and points one finger towards Cornelius, "Ah! See? He's seen one too! And that's what the bear said to me! He said," the boy puts on a comically deep voice to imitate how a talking bear must sound, "No one can tell you're hungry if you're juggling." Leralynn mimics her father as their shoulders shrug up and they slouch a little bit as the story they refused to believe is corroborated, "Sheesh..." they mutter in unison...

Sygian came on steadily with his haphazard gait the long lengths of his appendages tensing and coiling in a discordant series of lame steps toward the assembled camp, the dark hue to his flesh soon revealed in the flickering kiss of the groups' fire. The earthwork below his feet found itself rent under the immensity of his frame, rivulets of massacred dirt and loam streaming out from beneath each heavy blow of his clawed feet. Quiet now and to a stop he came, choosing to remain just outside of the border the light so maliciously fought for against the night's grasp - the shallow exhale of his laboured breath would pierce the silence should it fall, though with children present such a thing would be golden and rare indeed.

Cornelius calls out in an urbane fashion to the night "What-ho, fellow travellers. Unless you are a non-juggling bear, or threat of similar nature, feel free to make yourselves known"

Andrei waits alert to see what the dark outline against a darker night would answer to Cornelius' words.

Shishi lets a faint smile cross his lips when he sees Mahri take a protective position in regards to his blonde twins. The vampire makes no effort to look towards those approaching, the vampire feigning disinterest in the matter while Orange and Yellow peer around Mahri in the direction of Sygian. Shishi 's daughter also feeds Belulah a peanut.

Mahri is glad to sort of be off the subject of juggling bears. Glancing over her shoulder, silver-gray eyes peer into the darkness beyond the reach of the camp's fire. Shishi is turned to then and her next words are directed to the Vampire. Whatever, or whoever, is out there lurking about will have plenty to deal with if their intentions upon the group aren't exactly harmless, "So, you got out of Rynvale finally."

Sygian remains remiss to relinquish his reluctant posture, the shadows cast flicking along the ashen façade of his form in eerie, meandering touches and licks. In the scant light betrayed by his position the heavy scaling of his figure is revealed, his right arm held high across the line of his vision blotting out the greyness of his useless gaze from the stabbing of the fire's proverbial prongs. The creature's jagged maw issues a number of sibilant and incomprehensible sounds, the dregs of his humanity coming to the fore in an attempt to communicate his current state and desire for aid - alas, unless equipped to decipher the cries of a deluded man turned beast then it will resemble little but gibberish.

Mahri looks from the draconian to Arius. If anyone could understand the creature it would be the boy.

Andrei reaches to the hilt of his sword when that garbled sound. The sharp length of mithril however stays in the sheath for now since it had made no threatinging actions, nor did Cornelius or Mahri say or make to attack.

Cornelius cannot help himself. He brings the palm of his left hand to his face, and mutters to himself "Why? Why is it my curse to meet people who cannot bloody speak a coherent language? This is three in the past month now. Is it a cursed contagion? At least the deuced mudman has finally learned to form a cogent sentence in common." He picks up a stick and writes something on the dirt halfway between the people at the fire and the draconian "If you can read this, please write something coherent in response. Cheers." He puts down the stick and returns to the fire, still glancing warily out into the night, broadly sweeping his gaze in all directions.

Mahri said to you, "Don't be so rude. Didn't your mother raise you better?"

Shishi hadn't fed very recently so the flushing of his cheeks as he looks down at the ground and crosses his arms at his chest probably goes unnoticed when he responds to Mahri, "Aye. Greener pastures out here currently..." Orange and Belulah both look Arius's way along with the lycan woman. The young boy simply points one finger towards Sygian and matter-of-factly states, "Uh... He needs some help." there seems to be no limit to the number of creatures that the Black Pool has given him the ability to communicate flawlessly with...

Cornelius arches an elegant brow at Mahri but does not deign to respond, still seeking out the source of the other noise he had heard. Perhaps... there? His eyes start to wander more closely in the direction of Andrei's hiding spot

Sygian 's bastion arms falls from its position to better ascertain the positioning of the one who translates his plight apparent, the languid expanse of his mithrillian gaze settling on young Arius; the richness of the biped's blood floods his nostrils and fills his senses, sending the haggard Draconian into an adrenaline instigated high, his whole figure shaking visibly. Harsh now and with an increasingly expedient haste the beast delivers his plea: suturing to his wounds and some of the cool liquids that pours from the mountain tops to the valleys. It had been a while since he had used common, what was that rutting word again.

Cornelius glances around, and realises that Mahri's position in relationship to himself had completely obscured the sailor's approach until after writing his note for the Draconian. Pain did dull the senses somewhat, but still, unforgivable on his behalf. "Andrei. Come to apply for employment once more?"

Shishi finally looks Sygian's way and then back at his son, clearly still impressed with the ability Arius has been 'blessed' with. "Aye... Aye... I'll tell them." the boy responds to the draconian. The words that leave his mouth are in common tongue, but to the beast they are perfectly coherent, as if only their pure meaning travels across the campground, unrestricted by any language barriers. To Mahri and Cornelius the boy then says, "He says he needs stitches... Also, I think he's thirsty." Arius says this through a proud grin that he can't seem to contain.

Shishi 's little girl angrily hands over a peanut to the spider monkey that has settled in her lap and puts on a sour puss while watching her brother.

Andrei 's grip on the hilt tightened, but still remained otherwise still. Brown eyes looking black in the low light had recognized the sudden rush pumping now in the strange thing. The man hadn't seen anything like it and though there was an edge to his caution, there was no fear. Andrei stays him self as it seems like the thing was trying to get something across to them. Words where lost to it for the time and writing seemed not to be a skill it had since the stick Cornelius had put down for it was left alone. Speaking of the man, he was talking to Andrei now. "Da." Was his answer as his focus never shifts off the thing.

Cornelius nods at Andrei "We shall discuss terms a little later." He turns to the others "So. Who gets the fun task of stitching up a draconian?" He hopes Mahri has forgotten his last trip to Frostmaw when he stitched up those knifecuts on his right cheek, now cleanly healed

Mahri had been sitting there this whole time. Yup. Listening in turn to Arius' translations and the conversation between Andrei and Cornelius. Stitches she could do, and some water. "Right. Well. Let me get my pack." Rising she pauses to glance down at Leralynn, "You spoil that monkey." To Shishi, she mentions, "Since you've ventured out in the world again, want to come to Frostmaw with us?" Invitation extended, the wolf meanders to the wagon and flings back the covering to lift out the pack and drop it to the ground.

Andrei gives the words Cornelius spoke to his a nod for an answer and let his hand slowly move off the hilt of the sword. He didn't offer to help simply because he didn't know more than basic field aid when it came to wounds. The man was like to do more harm than good, so offered up no response to the general question.

Sygian 's right foot hit the ground like a bolt of Zeus' thunder, the hard-hitting pistoning of his muscular legs decimating the space between both he and Arius, the child prodigy. From 'cross the expanse of his scaled back a sickening series of cracks and pops issue as he moves releasing the giant manifold of his ash-hued wings, with the gargantuan appendages alight, and should the distracted company not make it in time, he and Shishi's child will fall away to naught in the night sky as the Draconian takes to flight and escape with his prize.

Mahri turns just in time to see wings unfurl and the draconian makes for Arius. "Shi!" she yells a warning while at the same time sprinting towards the pair. It's automatic, the reaching for an absent dagger at her thigh. Cursing aloud, one gloved hand reaches for the boy the same time Sygian snatches him up.

Andrei hand immediately shoots to the sword hilt and pulls the blade free with the forceful stomp by the thing. Something was sprouting out of its back, but Andrei gave it no more thought as the huge man closed the distance between in a few bounding steps. Firelight catches on the blade when brought up and lost just as quick when brought down upon the thing in a diagonal down slash. The motion is carried through and the man spins to the side and brings a leg up in a side kick.

Cornelius springs across, the Penzance sabre clearing its sheath in a manner of seconds - a family heirloom partially crafted with the teeth of a dragon which an ancient Penzance warrior had helped to slay. The weapon is still suffused with the magics designed to preserve it against damage: its leading edge, and several handspans along the back edge, are still as sharp as the day it was enchanted. The blade sweeps to cut a path intending to intercept and sever the Draconian's out-reaching arm

Mahri is probably not noticing that blades are winging past her..

Shishi 's son nods once while listening to Mahri and then turns back to Sygian, motioning towards the lycan woman, "Miss Mahri said she can sew you up. Alright?" Again all in the area, including Sygian should have no trouble understanding the boy's words. Leralynn shrugs up towards Mahri and explains, "She likes me." just before the spider monkey jumps up and whacks the girl's chin in a demand for another peanut. "Frostmaw?" Shishi asks, "They're not really dressed for..." "Snow!" Leralynn interrupts followed by her brother, "Polar Bears." Or at least that's what the boy would have said if he hadn't been suddenly snatched up. "Yellow!" the Blue Demon's eyes shifting in color almost instantly from their usual azure shade to a glowing crimson. In this moment several flickering shadows around the area cast by the campfire zip across the ground towards Shishi's feet where they collect and compound until it looks, from how dark the ground beneath his feet has become, as if the vampire is hovering above a hole. Still, Shishi and Arius himself are slow to react compared to Mahri, Cornelius, and Andrei...

Sygian is bound to his path now by the proverbial shackles of his own intense velocity the lightning flash of blades intercepting his assault initiating a violent series of evasive manoeuvres. The scaled length of his left forearm is sent to meet the strike of Andrei, a crimson river of vitae flooding from the long gash created on impact. With the leverage gained by dropping his right shoulder to allow for the previous parry he continues onward toward Cornelius, twisting his torso so that he meets the dandy side on, a swift outward snap of his wings hopefully usurping the momentum of his foes careful aim, alas the imbuement of the weapon is not accounted on and a tremendous tear down along the sinews of the beast's armoured wing reveals itself. With a guttural cry Sygian takes to the skies, regardless of whether or not he has managed to grasp the young Arius, his flight path tempered greatly by the weakened right wing's shaky efforts - the battered extremity leaking of a mist of his own vital ichors as he flees the scene.

Mahri ignored the sound of blades cutting air and draconian flesh. She didn't hesitate once the creature was distracted in making a grab for Yellow by wedging her hands between the small body and that of the twisting Sygian. Gritting her teeth as she gets a good grip on the child, Mahri falls back when the winged-creature takes to the skies, using her body to shield Arius from the impact of the ground. Which, of course, knocks her own breath from her lungs with a whoosh. The kid is heavier than he looks.

Cornelius grunts, gasping in pain as the Draconian's wing buffets him, impacting harshly on face and already-cracked ribs even as his sabre passes through the wing. He holds to his initial intention, his own sprung momentum keeping him from being hurled backwards. At the moment, his only concern is ensuring the Draconian's arm does not grasp the child, or the Lycan who has placed herself between child and foe.

Andrei, now blood stained, had been ready to send another attack at the sudden unfurled wings, but all for naught as the thing takes flight. He was saved against the gust of wind having been behind. "Frey!" The rope hanging at hip springs to life and strikes upward, just as quick as any snake, to try to wrap and bind its enchanted woven threads around a clawed foot. The long rope keeps rising higher, defying the force of gravity, as it unwinds through Andrei's hands. The man would be ready to pull or be an anchor against the thing up there if his rope found target.

Shishi 's little boy's eyes mimic his father's. Irises shifting in color from Blue to Red in the exact moment that Mahri grabs onto him. In a similar manner to Shishi, Arius's own shadow seems to spring to life and fly towards the boy's back where it seems to attach to Yellow and form a long, segmented tail with a pointed stinger on the end resembling a scorpion's tail. The misty shadow solidifies and sharpens at the end of the fabricated tail. Arius's dark tail takes a swipe at Sygian as he flies past, making his task of snatching up Mahri and the boy all the more difficult.

Cornelius sags to one knee, gasping as the strange Draconian flies off, spatters of ichor staining his sleeves. "Dash it all. Can't a man get some rest these days?" He turns to Mahri "How's the lad?..." It is at this point he notices the... anomalies. The tail, for example. "Ahh, I take it the answer is 'tip-top and in fine fettle' wot."

Mahri is just trying to catch her breath at this point and staring up at the sky. So she's glad that Cornelius comes to his own conclusion.

Andrei | Eventually the rope does run out and without catching the thing. It begins to come back in to recoil in a reverse to its quick rise. Only when it is resettled back in it's proper order does Andrei give the dark sky a hard look and turn back to the camp. Dark eyes sweeping over every nook and cranny. They settle for a time on the man and one of the children he didn't know. There was something off about them, far more than those black holes or tail. Keeping in mind what Cornelius had said about restating terms, Andrei just keeps his place and doesn't make to move closer to the fire. Then again, it was doubtful if the man would relax his guard any this night after that foray.

Shishi 's son is curled up in a ball with his eyes shut tight. The black scorpion tail attached to his back is still poised to strike, poised dangerously over Mahri. It remains this way until Shishi runs over and the dark appendage seems to disintegrate from the vampire's proximity, the shadow turning into a black mist that drifts back to the ground and assumes the form of Arius's silhouette again on the ground. "Yellow" the assassin addresses his son, leaning over and offering the boy a hand, "You're alright."

Shishi 's daughter and Belulah haven't budged from their spot by the fire, the girl still handing the spider monkey peanuts as she watches the scene silently a rather jaded expression on her face. After all that the girl has been through it seemed almost fair that Yellow get a good scare in him this time around.

Cornelius takes a moment to spare his ichor-splattered shirt a woeful look, before quickly wiping the ichor from his face with a sleeve "Really, my luck is simply going from bad to worse these days." He gives his sabre a quick whirl-and-flick, sending a line of draconian gore into the dirt before resheathing it.

It may be difficult for Arius to move as Mahri has her arms firmly wrapped around the boy. Eventually breath returns to her lungs and she relaxes her hold. Mostly because she heard Shishi. Once Arius is off and with his father, Mahri'll roll to her knees and eventually get to her feet. It'll take a moment for her to do a self assessment, that is she's trying to decide what hurts and where and if she'd done damage to her pregnant self. So far so good. Glancing over at Cornelius, Mahri queries, "How's your ribs?" Poor Orange..she seems to have gotten forgotten in the excitement and Mahri looks about for her as well, winking at the girl.

Andrei just couches down and lays the sword along his knees. Cornelius seemed relaxed enough to put his blade away, but not so the red haired man. The grime and dirt was left unheeded for the moment.

Cornelius grimaces at Mahri "Well, old bean, between one large ox and a bloody draconian, I cannot confess to being much in the mood for, say, a celebratory backflip or somersault." He hauls himself back upright "Really, at this rate Jolly-girl can turn into a bloody wolfsicle for all I care". Mahri, at least, could probably be able to tell that the freshly-soiled shirt has spoiled his mood much more so than the painful ribs.

Mahri smirks at Cornelius' irritation. No sympathy at all here.

Shishi leaves his hand extended to the boy, but Arius, once he has rolled off Mahri, remains on the ground, lying on his back and looking up at his father through accursed crimson eyes that have started to water up. "Hey..." Shishi says to his son, "You're okay, Yellow. Come on." he waves his hand out to the boy again. Meanwhile Orange has stood up, dropping peanut shells and Lulah from her lap, and has started making her way towards Mahri, "Are you alright, Miss Mahri?" the Little Mimic asks the lycan.

Mahri says to Leralynn, "I'm fine, Sweets. I'm pretty sure." Flickering a glance between the other..four..silver eyes finally settle on Cornelius once again, "I can clean your shirt for you, sew it up even" If it was torn and not just stained. Figuring sitting down would be a good idea about now, the wolf tosses a few more pieces of wood onto the fire to build it up. That's when she notices Arius hasn't gotten up and concern for the boy draws her brows together.

Andrei keeps his attention to the night around them listening for anything off. Every now and then the man would pause his self appointed guard duty to watch the interactions in the camp. His demeanor and face gave nothing away. If eyes had not been cast into shadow, maybe something off could be seen there.

Xalious Pass - A second parting of ways

Cornelius takes a deep breath, painful ribs be damned, and exhales it heavily. He pinches at the bridge of his nose a moment, eyebrows twitching along with a slight downwards curl of the lip as he lets the sense of irritation from his draconian-stained shirt wash from his system with each repeated breath. "Righto then. Everyone's okay, which is just splendid. Marvellous stuff. I guess it's time to re-negotiate the terms of Andrei's employment"

Shishi finally has to drop down to the ground beside Arius, lying next to the boy and trying to snap him out of his shocked state. Eventually the boy is brought back up to his feet and his irises faded back to their usual blue shade. "Aye." Shishi concludes, "Maybe talking to those Dragon things just cause you can isn't a good idea."

Nymh hid on a high tree branch, Sinnea at his side. These people looked, for the most part, capable, if in trouble... he was in no shape to help, with his recent battle, and was just passing by... He smelled of them, and thought stealth to his greatest degree possible prudent. He put on invocations of invisibility, an entropic warding that worked internally, taking care of his scent, and a even any pulse one might feel from his movement upon the wind... he would take no chances. He sat back on the branch, and would watch... perhaps even aid if he could, but he could afford himself no danger. Sinnea sat with him inside the bubble, picking her nose quietly, bone vertebrae tail coiling about her legs, cutting them slightly.

Andrei slowly turns his face to Cornelius at his name, but make no words of his own yet. This was a time for talk and the man would hear what the other had to say before joining in. Still, an ear and eye was keep alert beyond their circle of light. Andrei had that strange feeling of eyes still watching and of more than a passing fancy focused their way. There was no defiance to it and the man attributed it to the thing still lurking about. Slowly he stands and places a hand on the sword hilt as eyes leave Cornelius and search the darkness. "Something still here." Deep, accented voice is kept low at just above a whisper so the group could hear and hopefully not whatever was out there.

Shishi's girl nods once to Mahri, "Aye. Alright." Belulah then tugs at the girl's pant leg and Orange breaks into a sprint towards her brother and father, the spider monkey chasing after. Once she reaches the rest of the family the girl lets out a, "Gwah~! Did you see that, Yellow!? That dragon guy was gonna scoop you up and take you to his nest!" "They don't have nests!" Yellow snaps back while taking a playful swipe at his sister that she smoothly avoids by leaning backward a bit, "And of course I saw it!"

Mahri's head turns just slightly and a frown turns down her mouth. Then again, that seems to be a normal expression for her. In this case it's because she thought she heard something. Shaking it off as paranoia from the attempted kidnapping, Mahri returns her attention to the others in the circle of firelight. "Is he alright, Shi?" Orange is beckoned to, a place pat next to her for the girl to sit. Monkey and all. Andrei is given a contemplative once over and Cornelius? Well, she'll wait for him to take her up on the offer to clean and mend his shirt.

Cornelius shrugs at Andrei's words "If it comes, then it shall be dealt with. More pressing business is now at hand, old bean. Frankly, your first outing as an employee was, shall we say, less than exemplary. Due to your lack of self-restraint I've cracked ribs and lost the services of a valuable contact in Cenril. While the blood-debt is settled, that is a black mark on anyones curriculum vitae, as you can imagine." He straightens stained sleeves "Frankly, I only need to know two things, but I've no doubt Mahri will have a lot more to say on the matter. For myself, thirst thing is this: I simply need to know if you can be relied upon not to run off like some rabid beast again. The second thing is: do you still have the ability to keep these horses alive in the harsh climes of Frostmaw?" He shifts to glance at Mahri "I've no doubt you'll want to add some quid pro quo to the terms of the agreement, some additional rules of engagement as it were." He turns back to Andrei, his gaze cold and level, a hint of darkness lurking in the shadows of his eyes.

Shishi shakes his head at how quickly Arius was able to bounce back from being the target of a kidnapping. One after the other the assassin now seeks out the attention of Andrei, and Cornelius, mouthing a silent, 'Thank you.' to each of them. To Mahri's question the vampire simple smirks and nods towards Arius who has snatched the bag of peanuts from his sister and gained the companionship of Belulah who he hands a legume and lies to, "Of course I wasn't scared. Did you see I made a giant alligator tail..?" The animal chatters back while shelling the peanut and Arius responds, "What? It wasn't?!" Orange puffs out her cheeks at losing Belulah and heads over to Mahri, plopping into a seated position beside the lycan woman.

Mahri slips an arm around Orange's shoulder and pulls the girl close, "Let him have his moment, Orange. One day a very nice woman will end up knockng him down a knotch or two." Ruffling Leralynn's hair, Mahri turns cold silver eyes to Andrei. "Ever hurt a child again, theif or not, and it won't be Cornelius you have to worry about. I am not so honorable as him." She was..is..an assassin after all and she's no compunction about killing a person in their sleep.

Shishi's little Mimic nods twice to Mahri, "Aye... aye." Then, with a tilt of her head she curiously asks Mahri about her prediction, "Why would they knock Yellow down?"

Mahri says to Orange, "You'll find out when you're older." The standard reply to a question grown ups don't want to answer.

Andrei darts his eyes over to Cornelius as he spoke and thus caught the thanks sent his way by Shishi. The man gives a little nod, then turns eyes to Mahri in wait for her piece in this. All the while Andrei still keep part of himself attuned to his surroundings, not fully able to shirk his own caution on that strange feeling after it serving true over so many years. Still, he would wait and see what came of it. Once the woman finishes, Andrei spoke. "I only say for self, I gave clear warning to the lass da, and Cornelius heard himself. Gave mercy the first time. I keep words net matter what or who. Do same to child, man, woman or god." Andrei's word was an unbreakable oath to him and was the only moral stand he had taken away from endless hours of listening to Holy Men preach. The truth and conviction can be seen and heard like an aura radiating from him. It was a shadow to that eery, unearthly power Cornelius had been witness too before their fight. "If my words to stay my sword and wrath to a slight against young you want da, you have."

Mahri nods in reply to Andrei. "I'll hold you to it, Muscles."

Cornelius nods slightly to Shishi's mouthed words before returning his gaze to Andrei. "If you are to work with myself for an extended period, then something a bit more precise will be required. Something along the lines of a promise to never slay, cripple, or dismember a child under the age of 16. A big man like yourself should be able to handle a child's assault without the need to do any of the above, I would hope." His face is an implacable, emotionless mask, marred only by the claw and knife scars on his right cheek

Shishi's daughter wrinkles her nose and sighs lightly, "Older..? Like ten?"

Mahri is..helpless in the face of a child's questions. "Umm.." Glancing to Shishi for a hint of what she should say in reply.

Shishi shakes his head at Mahri and smirks, moving over to the two girls and placing his hand on top of Orange's head, "One day he'll meet someone that Lucky likes more than him. That'll fix 'em." Orange responds by swatting at her father's hand, to keep him from messing up her hair, and letting out an, "Ohhhh..."

Shishi's son shells a peanut himself and tosses the product into his mouth before saying to Belulah, "These aren't -that- great."

Andrei felt that watchfulness slowly fade away as eyes move make to meet Cornelius'. There was a slight hardening to the planes of his face that made the still fresh cut along the jaw more pronounced than the other scars that littered it. Even the long hairs of the red goatee seemed to bristle with irritation. To Andrei's credit the man did give it a moment of thought before saying, "Da so long as I under net deadly harm." His eyes cut to the small boy for just a second before returning. Andrei had seen what that child had become and the man would be damned if he would idly let something like that slit his throat. Though, his word was given and thus attempts to quell without harm would be tried first. Sometimes, Andrei wondered at how naive these people where. Children could be just as deadly as an adult in their own ways. A fact that Ruslvains knew all to well. The man was a breathing testament to that, though no longer a child now.

Cornelius matches the giant man's irritated gaze with not the slightest fear. "Let me remind you that you followed us here to seek employment. Yours is -not- the right to bargain with me. There are hundreds of oversized street bravos who I could hire for the heavy lifting and thugwork. Your ability to keep the horses intact in Frostmaw for longer makes you marginally more valuable, yes, but a decent ostler could be readily hired when we reach that ice-bedevilled place. If you have a problem with the terms I have set forth, you can bloody well turn around and walk back to Cenril." He continues to stare up into Andrei's face, his gaze unwavering.

Mahri could have kissed Shishi for coming to the 'rescue' as it were. She didn't. Instead she'll mimc his offer of thanks in the same manner he'd done earlier. "So," she says in a tone that won't interrupt negotiations between Cornelius and Andrei, "Frostmaw? I'm sure Jolie would like to see the kids. You've been hiding away too much."

Shishi twitches when Orange exclaims, "Miss Joliette!?" that had decided it. There would be no keeping Leralynn out of Frostmaw now that she knew her idol was up there in the snow. Shishi kicked at the dirt, muttering to himself, "But they need warmer clothes..." Orange simply waves her father off and responds to Mahri, "Aye! We're going." Arius and Belulah blink up towards Leralynn and Mahri, the boy asking, "Wait, what?"

Andrei recognised the power play and gritted his teeth against it. It had been this reason he had left the army in the first place. Though not adverse to do work such as Cornelius had said or many things like it, the man refused to become a pawn again to be toyed with. He had given his word for the man and women's conditions not once, but twice and still they demanded it trice. What did it matter if he found no joy from it so long as he keep his word? No One went about unpleasant things with a smile on their faces and a bounce in their step. No matter how much Andrei needed the coin of this job, he would make by another way. "I word given two time net good enough. I leave." Only then did Andrei break his eyes from the shorter man's to turn and walk out of the firelight and into the night. The sound of singing metal can be heard as the man's sword finally slides home.

Cornelius nods "Very well then." He watches the man leave, face still an implacable mask

Xalious Pass - Dinnertime at last!

As the sailor vanishes into the night, Cornelius' face instantly adopts the jovial features and warm smile he is best known for "Methinks that went rather well. Now, what's on the menu for dinner?"

Mahri is distracted by Andrei's leaving for a moment before attention returns to the children. And Shishi. She almost felt sorry for the vampire. "Of course they do." Like that was just the most obvious thing said ever. "And we'll get them." In answer to Arius' question, Mahri grins at the boy, "We're going to Frostmaw. That's what."

Mahri says to Cornelius, "Whatever you kill."

Cornelius raises an eyebrow at Mahri with a smile "But Mahri M'dear! You're the expert hunter and tracker. Go track down that draconian thing I cut, and see if it's edible, there's a good lass" Smile turns to grin as his posture becomes even more nonchalant

Mahri glares at Cornelius and bares her teeth in a manner that cannot be mistaken for a smile.

Shishi 's son flicks a peanut shell at Belulah, hitting the spider monkey in the face as the boy responds to Mahri with a shrug, "Okay."

Cornelius maintains a look of complete, blithe innocence

Shishi is sure dinner will be marvelous. Not that he needed to eat really, but those blonde twins must be starving.

Mahri grumbles under her breath with the twins looking at her expectantly and Shi looking on in what she can only assume is amusement. "I like pancakes, Miss Mahri," Orange pipes up helpfully. "Or ice cream!" quips Yellow. Both of which brings a wince to the wolf's face. "You'll get what I bring back and like it!" Whatever that meant but her father said it enough times that Mahri felt it rather pertinent at the moment. What she needed was a bow but, not possessing one of her own, the wolf..hunts. Like a wolf. And Cornelius can tough it out if there's a bit of drool on the rabbit brought back.

Cornelius in the meanwhile goes to the wagon and pulls out the supplies he had Cordy load onto it in Cenril. By the time Mahri returns with the soggy rabbit, there is a stew of spicy sausages and vegetables simmering in a pot over the fire. "Oh, hello again Mahri M'dear! Perfect timing! Dinner is just about ready". His face is the perfect expression of 'pleasant househusband' but his eyes twinkle mischievously

Mahri would have bitten Cornelius if she thought it'd be worth it. Instead the wolf huffs and drops the rabbit right in the fire. With a snort, the wolf turns away and disappears behind some convenient boulders from where she hears Arius pipe up, "I think she's annoyed." Mahri will take a few minutes, and a lot of sounds too horrible to describe or even mention, before coming back to the clearing fully dressed and glaring at Cornelius. "You're such a bastard sometimes."

Cornelius swiftly fetches the rabbit from the fire. No need to waste it, after all. He grins at Mahri as he ladles some stew into a bowl for her "Only sometimes? I must be losing my touch" He winks at Arius as he continues to serve up stew for the party.

Mahri : Arius grins right back at Cornelius, taking his bowl and settling in to eat. Leralynn tosses her blonde head and says, "Miss Mahri, you shouldn't use that kind of language around children." To which Shishi snorts, turning it into a cough when Mahri snaps a 'look' his way before replying sweetly to Orange, "And you should eat your dinner." Which, of course, the girl is allready to get. Mahri would maybe have answered Cornelius about the frequency of his bastardy but refrains and instead finds a spot to lean against a wagonwheel.

Cornelius fills his own bowl last, and stands by the warmth of the fire, finding the heat pleasant while he eats and continues in his efforts to ignore the pain from his cracked and abused ribs. He has, of course, changed into a fresh shirt by now.

Yellow and Orange, Arius and Leralynn respectively are soon yawning and dropping in and out of sleep. From her reclined position, she watches Shishi gather up his children and get them comfortable on a flatter spot of ground. Arius makes sure his scarf is securely tucked around his neck and Belulah nests in Leralynn's hair. Soon as the slow even breathing of sleep sets in and Shishi is sitting watch over the twins, Mahri turns her attention to Cornelius. The fresh shirt is noted so she'll ask, "Where's the shirt you need cleaned and stitched?" There isn't a courier out here to send the garment to that Jeen Pear..piere..whatever..guy.

Cornelius tilts his head slightly in the direction of the wagon. "Currently hung up on the sideboard, old bean. No stitching required, thank goodness. It's just deucedly messy with draconian juice."

Mahri tips her head back to see the shirt hanging. Well. Damn. She normally would have noticed something like that. "Huh." Well, she won't offer to wash it then. "Sure your ribs aren't hurtin?"

Cornelius chuckles "On the contrary, they hurt like blazes. Still, stiff upper lip and all that. No good will come of complaining"

Mahri lofts a brow at that and shakes her head, "Why. I got that salve and you know it. It'll take care of the pain at least."

Cornelius curls his lips into a slight smile "There is no doubt that the salve is marvellous stuff, but there is a finite quantity of it M'dear. Methinks it best to save it for those wounds which are at risk of infection. Cracked ribs are a deucedly painful inconvenience, but still merely an inconvenience. It makes no logical sense to coddle such a minor injury over an extended period. Better to save the salve for when it is needed, not merely wanted." He does not mention that the stinging sensation, like the scars, confirms that today is no stone-dream.

Mahri eyes Cornelius unconvinced. Then again, she wasn't one to seek out a healer often herself. Leaning her head back against the wagon wheel she's currently using to do that against, the wolf folds her arms across her stomach. "Fine. But don't say I never offered." Slicing a glance towards Shishi and the kids, Mahri confirms that two of the tree are sleeping while Shishi appears to be thinking about other things. Which means he could or could not be listening. The fire was burning low by then, lending an amber glow to the rest area. "Get some sleep. I'll take first watch."

Cornelius nods and fetches out bedroll and blanket from the wagon. He lies the bedroll along the wagon driver's bench, and drapes his shadowy cloak and hood over himself. Soon he is just a dark bundle of material left on the driver's riding board, eyes staring skyward through a gap in the material's folds

Mahri can't sit still for long so she gets up and wanders towards the banked fire. She isn't cold. Not now. Still, the wolf stirs the coals and adds a single, small piece of wood to it. Not that she can't see in the dark either but the light will hopefully deter any predators as well.

You stills his body, slows his heartrate, and enters what approximates sleep for a mind which, through no choice of its own, has not been allowed to rest in three hundred years. The night sky becomes a simple backdrop to events played and replayed from every angle; remembered actions and expressions analysed and reviewed, his responses to them evaluated for efficiency, accuracy and efficacy. And so the meditations continue, all the while Cornelius lies unnaturally still, breathing slow and precise.

Mahri watches the sky and the surrounding area. The former for signs of the draconians return and the tell-tale glow of the sun's rising. The latter for ..well..things that might think a woman smelling like roses would make a good meal. Eventually, well past the time she should have alerted Cornelius to his turn at watch, the lycan gets up from her post. The sun was rising and much as she hated to wake the Colors and their father, it was time to head up to Frostmaw. First, Arius and Leralynn are given a gentle shake. Shishi is awake as far as she can tell. With much grumbling and eye rubbing, the two children sit up and do whatever it is kids do in the morning. Cornelius is last to be awakened and she'll do it with a stick. A long one Mahri's been saving for just this moment. "Cornelius. Time to get going. We'll eat on the road." She hoped. Her stomach was growling. The children's too if the asking for breakfast was anything to go by.

You is like a snake, hand snapping out to intercept the stick with serrated dagger. A moment later he is upright, and back to reality. He looks at Mahri, the stick, and casually returns the dagger to its sheath. "You didn't get me up for my watch." A statement.

Mahri smirks, her judgement of the man standing correct. Don't wake him with anything you don't wanna lose. "I didn't, did I." It wasn't a question. Turning away, Mahri reaches to absently stroke the neck of one of the horses. Something she hasn't been able to do for years. Too bad it had to be with a glove on.

Cornelius shakes his head with a slight chuckle. All that is missing is the exasperated whisper of 'Women!' which should accompany such a moment. Instead, he gets busy packing and securing the wagon for travel, preparing some food in between tasks. Breakfast for the party consists of leftover stew and a hunk of bread cut from a loaf. He notes that there is an additional sack in the wagon, with a note stating "Feed horses handful every other day. This payment back for retainment fee. We even." The grammatical constructions clearly made it Andrei's work. Cornelius calculates this to have occurred in the chaotic period soon after the Draconian's escape, while he was cooking dinner and Mahri was off hunting.

Arius and Leralynn eat the left overs albeit with much mutterings about ice cream and pancakes. Shishi doesn't eat. Mahri eats hers, sopping up the gravey with the hunk of bread and afterwards kicking out what's left of the small fire. By then, it was still morning but the sun had traveled further than she'd have liked and that combined with her inability to sleep made the wolf slightly irritable. "Time to go." She'd settle in the driver's seat, given Cornelius' injured ribs, while Shishi, Arius and Leralynn found room in the back. The only seat left was next to Mahri and she'll wait for the dandy before clicking her tongue and slapping the reigns (all after releasing the brake of course) to get the team moving.

Cornelius finishes his breakfast, and afterwards roughly cleans all the bowls with one of a bag of rags, afterwards leaving the rag in the firepit. When water was plentiful, then the crockery could receive a proper clean, but for now, a thorough wipedown would have to suffice for basic cooking hygiene. His now-dry but still-stained shirt is packed away, and when the time finally arrives to leave, he stubbornly ignores his ribs as he vaults his way up onto the passenger seat, using the wagon's wheel as a springboard. "Well, tally ho, and all that!"