>Early morning as the sun rises over all of Haven. At the ancient oak
that is the home of the Beiter family, and more recently Nalae. Near the
house built into it's base, Timothy (a young chipmunk scholar mage apprentice)
and the dark elf Delachiel are talking, a large metal box at their feet.
>Timothy says, "So, your friend Jarik has agreed to go with Ankhl to try and head off that otter's goons. We've got the relic and we're close to a good spot, why not just use it?"
> Delachiel nods. ~~What do you intend to do with it?~~
>Timothy looks at Delachiel, "Use it to contact whoever it is out
there. We need to know, good or bad. And I'd rather not have crooks pass
themselves off as city leaders. I'd like to think spacers wouldn't be
gullible, but I don't know what to think anymore."
> The elfess shakes her head and places hand clad in leather on the
chipmunks hand. ~~Everyone can be tricked, especially if different cultures
are involved, and power tends to corrupt. Especially in politics. I think
you, operating like this, could be one of the best choices for this.
Whatever you need for help, just ask.~~
The bar of the Proud Falcon tavern is busy, as is usual at this time of night. The panda barkeep started serving the dinner meal about an hour ago, giving the regulars and guests of the Inn a good meal to finish the work day with. Several waitresses rush from table to table, gathering empty plates and glasses and slapping off the occasional pinch.
>Timothy sighs, "Well for one, we need to get it to a good sized clearing somewhere near here."
>Acera whispers, "I wonder if that's her? That Dellakeel lady that fox was talking about?! Can you hear what they're saying Nalae?"
Zilvar pushes his now-empty plate forward and leans back in his seat. "It's a good thing you found us some work in the bazaar, Kibra. I'm afraid I'm getting attached to the idea of having someone serve me food and drink!"
Kibra smiles a bit, looking somewhat drawn. "It is nice, isn't it?"
>Nalae blinks over at Acera, then strains a little to try to listen in on the conversation.
>The two mustelids are hiding up in the tree above Delachiel and Timothy, having seen Acera's brother carted off by Jarik that morning.
> Delachiel nods. ~~Will the yard do?~~
Zilvar grins a bit, looking around the common room. "If a trifle loud, yes."
Kibra nods, finishing her meal. "But somehow comforting."
>Timothy's eye's go wide, "Their landing before scorched the ground. I don't think the lady who's house this is will appreciate that. We need someone to guide us to a better spot."
>Acera looks at Nalae, waiting to see what they're saying.
Zilvar looks over at Kibra, "How are you holding up? It looks like it's pretty tiring for you."
> The Xardeth blinks. ~~Ah. I see. They have strong magic. Hm... I wonder whom we could ask for help.~~
Kibra nods.."I'm a bit tired. It's difficult disguising my magic so we don't draw too much attention."
Zilvar rests his cheek on one fist. "Think we can afford to take a few days rest, then? I certainly don't want you to work yourself to death."
A hairless face peers curiously in through one of the windows at the front of the tavern.
Kibra shakes her head.."We are doing well enough to rest for a couple of days, certainly. Though I am doing fine."
Zilvar smiles a bit. "Would you admit it if you were having trouble?
>Nalae frowns a bit. "I can hear 'em," she murmurs to Acera, "but I'm not sure what they're saying... something about magic.. And looking for something.. or somewhere.."
Kibra looks up, eyes startled. "Not to you, no."
After a minute or two of observing, the face disappears, and reappears in the doorway, followed by the rest of Michael's robed body.
Zilvar grins a bit. "I didn't think so."
> ~~We could just walk out of the city?~~
Kibra chuckles softly, tilting her head.
Conversation near the door thins as several faces turn to look at the newcomer..and recoil in momentary shock.
>Acera is getting impatient, typical for a kid her age and chitters a bit louder, "Shoot. Let's sneak down closer, I want ta hear this. See if she really looks like that fox said she does. C'mon." And starts climbing down the ladder.
Zilvar flicks an ear and turns his head to look around the room.
Kibra turns to look at the cause of the sudden quiet.
>Timothy chuckles, "The city farms are a good three miles that way. It's odd to have a house out here in the forest. We just need a clearing in the trees big enough to let them land, away from any houses."
Like a wave, the silence ripples through the room as all eyes turn to regard the robed newcomer.
>Nalae follows Acera down quietly, listening.
> The elfess nods. ~~Shall we? Is there anything else you need? Supplies, gifts, symbolic items, spell components?~~
Michael smiles politely to the stunned faces. "Hello," he drawls in a thick, foreign accent.
Zilvar leans his head toward Kibra. "What did he say?"
Kibra says, "He said hello."
>Timothy blinks, "Gifts? I hadn't thought of that."
An almost comic ripple of non-chalance follows the earlier silence as everyone goes back to doing exactly what they had been doing moments before, except louder and with more enthusiasm.
Michael makes his way slowly towards the bar, looking this way and that, obviously looking over others' food and drink for something that might catch his fancy.
Kibra's eyes watch the newcomer a moment, then she turns back to Zilvar.
>Acera rests on the bottom branch just above her homes sloping roof and looks at the two on the ground with the odd metal cube.
Zilvar shrugs to Kibra. "I guess that humans aren't all that common here."
Michael catches the attention of the barkeep and points to someone's dinner and someone else's drink. "Oh I want thems, please?"
Zilvar picks up his drink and sips from it, watching the human. He grins a bit. "He knows more of the language than I do, at any rate."
Kibra nods, turning her head to look at the human again. "A little..his syntax is a bit off."
Zilvar nods. "I wasn't sure. I caught a word or two."
The panda looks at he human strangely for a few seconds. "You want the same thing they have?"
> Nalae leans forward over the branch, peering down at the two on the ground, and that odd box between them...
Michael looks back at the panda, deciphering his words. "Yes," he finally says.
Kibra looks at the human, her eyes curious.
The panda hmphs and waves his big paw. "Get yerself to a seat and Anna'll bring it to ya."
>Acera peers also as she hears Timothy say, "Well, maybe someone
around here can help us find a clearing. Or we could go back up in the tree
and look for a clearing. Are you ok? I can't tell through that veil, but you
don't seem to be paying attention."
Michael turns around in a circle, looking for an empty chair and a friendly face.
> The dark lady nods. ~~I'm okay. I... The sun here is a bit bright. I'm fine. Don't you worry about me.~~
Michael's eyes rest on Kibra a moment longer than any other in the place, looking her up and down for a moment. When he notices her sword, he seems to make a mental note and keeps scanning the place for a seat.
Most of the chairs in the room are full. There are a few openings, mostly around large bulky ursines that do not at all look friendly (that's probably why they are empty in the first place!) and one near a feline & wolf pair near a corner.
Kibra tilts her head, noticing the human's glance.
>The chipmunk mage nods, "Walking through the woods will be better for you then, we'll just keep you at the edge of the clearing."
> She nods. ~~That sounds good. Do you want to go take a look?~~
Michael scratches his chin thoughtfully for a moment and makes towards the empty seat next to the feline and wolf.
>Acera chitters softly, "She doesn't like sunlight? Oh shoot, he's gonna come back up here Nalae!"
> Nalae blinks quickly, glancing over to Acera. "Climb back up to your room?"
Zilvar scratches his chin, "Hmm. Well, if we have any curiousity to satisfy, now may be the time."
Kibra chuckles softly and nods. "I agree." She nods toward the approaching figure.
Michael comes up close behind the empty chair. "I may have this chair?" He smiles winningly.
Kibra nods. "Of course."
> A calm but mildly annoyed voice clears her throat from back along the path that leads to the tree. "Hello."
Zilvar gestures toward the chair. "Free feel," he manages in a much mutilated version of the local tongue.
>Acera blinks and chitters, "That's ma!" to Nalae.
Kibra chuckles softly and whispers.."That's feel free, Zilvar."
Zilvar blinks, then shakes his. "FEEL.FREE."
Zilvar whispers, "Oops."
> The elfess' head spins towards the new person, trying to see her better. She stands slowly up.
Michael giggles...
>Timothy turns around at the sound of the voice, "Yes?"
Kibra chuckles softly, eyes twinkling a bit. She gestures to the human.."Please, join us."
> A middle-aged female squirrel stands with her arms crossed. "You wished to see me, I take it? That is my home."
Michael smiles and mutters, "Bnak-lis'sin ky."
Michael takes the seat.
>Timothy looks a bit flustered for a second, and looks at Delachiel, wondering how to tell a mother her son is a thief.
> ~~Please forgive our intrusion. We were visiting your son. We
didn't intend to interfere with the life at your household.~~ The elfess bows deeply.
Kibra tilts her head, looking at Michael.
A waitress, a smallish panda girl, rushes up and slaps a plate full of food down in front of Michael, "I'llberightbackwithyour Drink!" She rushes off to help another customer, not much more than a red blur.\
Zilvar flicks his ears forward. "What was that?"
Michael sniffs at his food and pokes it with a finger.
Michael looks up. "Hmm?"
> Nalae grins a little bit as Samantha appears.
>The voice of a young mink up in the tree chitters, "Their friend
took Ankhl away. Somethin ta do with that box he took ma!"
Michael blinks curiously at Zilvar.
Kibra says, "I don't know what he said that time, Zilvar."
>Timothy blinks as he looks up in the tree?
Zilvar tries again, this time in the local language, "What was that you just said?"
Michael smiles oddly. "oh..Sorry...My language."
> Samantha looks up into the tree, nods her thanks, then back at the strangers in her yard. "So what's that good-for-nothing son of mine gotten himself into this time."
Kibra sips from her drink.
The panda girl rushes up with Michael's drink. "Half-piece for the food, sir."
Michael hmmms and roots around in one of his belt pouches, making jingling sounds. He pulls out a silver ring and hands to to the panda girl. "Here."
> The elfess glances up at the tree, than back at Samantha. ~~We're just helping him return an item he found.~~
Kibra blinks a bit at what the human hands the girl. "That's too much, sir."
The panda looks at the ring, then at the human, "I'll need to ask Papa."
Michael says, "You keep it."
> Samantha looks at the metal box at their feet. "And what is this item?"
Michael smiles.
>Timothy moves around the Holy Bacon protectively.
Kibra chuckles softly, shaking her head a bit.
>Timothy ahems, "It's the spacer artifact, the Holy Bacon. The one used for the "Contact Day" celebration."
The waitress blinks. "Um..I'll be right back." She backs away and turns to weave through the crowd with practiced ease.
> The elfess is taken aback for a second by that.
Michael shrugs and chuckles, examining his food again.
> Samantha looks more interested now. "And what was Ankhl doing with that?"
Zilvar leans close to Kibra and whispers, "That was worth a lot more than the cost of the meal, wasn't it?"
Kibra nods to Zilvar. "I believe so, yes."
At the bar, the panda takes the ring and turns it over in his hand. In a rare display, he actually moves out from behind the bar. The patrons, both surprised and wary, move to clear his path as he walks toward Michael.
> The elfess says, apologetically, ~~We're not sure. However, we should really be on our way.~~
Michael seems not to notice the quieting noise.
Zilvar looks up and arches an eyebrow. "Okay..."
Kibra looks up at the approaching barkeep. "Uh oh."
>Acera scrambles down the tree, "Ma, her fox friend said she was a dark one! That's why she hides under the cloth like that!"
Michael looks up. "What?"
The panda moves up behind Michael and clears his throat, tossing the ring down to the table. "I canna take this for th'cost of one meal. I only cheat my customers fairly. I never let 'em cheat themselves."
>Timothy hmms, "You wouldn't know where a large clearing would be around here?"
Kibra chuckles again, leaning back in her chair.
> Samantha nods to Acera, then looks back at the elfess. "Well, I don't cotton to discriminating by race much anyway."
The panda continues, "Unless you want a room for ... three days, with meal. Then I can take it."
> The Xardeth freezes for only a split second. ~~He must have been referring to my clothing.~~ . o O ( What fox? Jarik? )
> Samantha hmmms. "Nearest clearing would be down by the bank of the river. It's a few minutes travel back this way then off the right fork."
>Acera, typical child, chitters, "So you really have smooth black skin and pointy ears? Just like the fox who took my brother away this morning told us? ;)"
Michael scratches his chin. "That is smallest I have, I think..." He unties the pouch from his belt and up-ends it on the table, cupping his hands to keep the silver rings from spilling all over.
Zilvar hmms and snickers. "Methinks our table-mate is somewhat richer than we, Kibra."
Kibra sighs softly, nodding to Zilvar. She leans forward..."Human..in a place such as this, it is not wise to show your wealth so obviously."
> With no response to the child the Xardeth looks at Timothy, afraid for his reaction.
The panda urfs and moves to try to block the view of the rest of the room. "Put away your things, Bareface! Just take the room. If you don't sleep in it, I care not a whit!"
> Samantha looks at Acera. "Now, now, you shouldn't spread rumors too much."
>Timothy looks shocked for a minute as he realizes what the girl meant, then smirks slightly then says, "Awww...no tentacles?"
Michael peers into the pouch, then shakes it violently, as two small copper discs come out. He holds one up. "Is this small?"
Kibra frowns a moment and mutters.."Idiot human."
> A low, gentle voice confirms. ~~No tentacles. I won't harm you -- I can only ask you to believe me.~~
Michael shrugs and gives the keep a silver ring. "As you like." He pours the rest back into the pouch.
Zilvar grins a bit at Kibra.
> Samantha says, "Now, may I ask why you need to find a clearing? Especially while carrying a spacer artifact."
Michael looks up expectantly at the keep.
> Delachiel extends her hand to let Timothy explain.
>Timothy nods, "Well, I knew it was something like that Delachiel. You've had plenty of chances to hurt me before, and you did try and save me last night. Sort of anyhow. So, ah Mrs. .....? Well, we need it to er...."
The barkeep whurfs and waits until the human starts to put his rings away. "Deal, then."
Kibra shakes her head again.
Michael turns to the two at the table. "You need room?"
>Acera is pouting, she chitters, "Can I see you, please?" to Delachiel.
Zilvar looks at Kibra. "Did he just offer us a room?"
Kibra blinks at the human a moment. "I think he did." She tilts her head.."Say that again please?"
> Samantha says, "Just call me Samantha."
Michael points to the bartender, then up to the ceiling, then the ring. "I have room. I need no room. You need room?"
>Timothy nods to Samantha and grins at Acera, "Actually, I'm rather curious myself Delachiel. We can move into the shade first if you wish?"
> The elfess crouches down to pat the child's shoulder. ~~Not right now.~~
>Acera pouts.
> Delachiel glances at Timothy.
Kibra chuckles softly. "If it's nicer than the one we are in, the answer is yes." She regards the human.."Why do you not need the room?"
Michael says, "I have house."
The panda hmphs again and walks off. Several minutes pass before the waitress shows up with a second drink and the key to Michael's room.
>Timothy sighs at Delachiel then nods, "Well, Samantha, we're going to use it to contact the spacers that landed weeks ago."
Michael leans closer to Kibra. "I am not stupid. I am different. You do not understand. You do not mistake, again." He is smiling and looks happy enough, but the tone of voice implies a much deeper and offended emotion.
> Samantha hmms. "Weeks ago? That would explain why there was an odd undercurrent in the city when I was there... I take it this isn't supposed to be public knowledge yet."
Michael smiles and nods to the panda girl. "Thank you."
Kibra looks at the human, eyes narrowing. "Oh, I beg your pardon. I did not realize that you meant to send a signal to every thief in the neighborhood that you were carrying so much wealth." She bows. "I will not mistake you again."
>Timothy nods, "And my..friend here, she found out that some parties wanted to contact them first, to trick them into false trade agreements."
Michael says, "I do not need money. Money gets me nothing I need."
Kibra's voice becomes a hiss.."As for your 'charity'..you can keep it." She rises, stalking off toward the bar, tail lashing.
> Samantha sighs.
Michael shrugs and sighs. "Trrt mrta."
Zilvar rubs his nose, trying to follow all that. "Not sure all you said, but it wasn't right."
Kibra leans against the bar, ordering a drink, tail still lashing.
Michael blinks and looks up. "Oh....Cat is young. She does not understand."
The panda slides a drink to the obviously irritated feline, "Tenth-piece."
>Timothy sighs, "We'd best be moving soon. I don't know if Jarik will be able to head off the kidnapers."
Michael sighs resignedly to Zilvar.
Kibra slides the money to the barkeep, nodding.
> Samantha asks, "What's the hurry?"
> With a nod the Xardeth begins to lead the way.
Zilvar shakes his head, "Piece of advice 'old man', Never assume anyone understands"
Michael nods. "I do not understand, either. Much to learn."
Michael sighs softly, "Too much."
> Samantha says, "As my family is involved, I trust you won't mind if I come along."
>Timothy hmms, "Well, you can guide us there. Not sure you want to be around after we use it."
>Acera motions to Nalae who's still up in the tree and asks her mother, "Can we come too ma?"
> Samantha says to Acera, "And tell Nalae to come down as well, will you? I want you both along so I can keep an eye on you."
Zilvar shakes his head and tries, "If you ever expend...except..expect!..to speak with her on good terms, you had want to say you are sorry for not understanding, then."
Michael thinks. "I will. She needing to appropriate for my honor, too."
>Acera nods, "Heya, Nalae, c'mon down!"
> Delachiel seems amused, but waits for the convoy to build and for Samantha to lead the way.
> Nalae nods a few times and quickly scales down the tree. She pads over to Acera, wondering, "We goin' too?"
Zilvar loses that about halfway through, but nods anyway.
Kibra's tail slowly stops lashing as she begins to calm down.
Michael looks back to Kibra, then to his cooling food.
The small space around Kibra becomes slightly more confining as people become less afraid of an explosion of temper by an irritated feline fem.
>Acera nodnods excitedly to Nalae.
>Timothy shrugs and looks at Delachiel.
> Samantha says, "Given what's going down right now, I don't want the two of you anywhere I can't see and protect you."
Michael asks Zilvar, "She calm to talk to?"
> Samantha turns back to Timothy and his companion. "This way." She walks around the both of them, and sets off down the path.
> Nalae looks between Acera and Samantha. "What's goin' on?"
Zilvar shrugs, looking up at Kibra for a moment. "Maybe. She won't kill you for talking, maybe."
>Timothy shrugs at Delachiel and reaches down and picks up the Holy Bacon, ready to follow.
Michael smiles, pushing his seat back and standing.
>Acera chitters, "We're going to summon spacers!"
> Samantha says, "Not so loud, please. The woods do have ears."
> Delachiel drops back with Timothy, quiet.
> Nalae blinks at Acera several more times before shrugging. Whatever. She supposes that that'll probably make more sense once she finds out what spacers are.
Michael sighs quietly, "^kkkana fri..." before heading over towards the bar.
Zilvar shakes his head and mutters something in a gutteral tongue before picking up his drink and finishing it off.
>Acera eeps and quiets down, a little, she snugs Nalae and follows her mother.
Kibra cradles her cup in her hands, staring off into the air.
>Samantha leads the little party down to a clearing by the river's edge... a nice flat location, where the dirt was washed off a table of rock several years ago, leaving a large slate platform.
Michael stands a few feet behind Kibra and intones softly, "Spotted cat?"
Around the bar, the air thickens with a sudden silence. The panda looks tense, perhaps fearing an oncoming confrontation.
Kibra turns to look at the human. "Yes?" She says quietly.
> ~~Is this place suitable? How far away should we be?~~
Michael says, "There is much to learn. Many mistakes, I think."
>Stuffit, having gotten bored, *poits* off to see the fox Jarik and make sure all is well.
Kibra's eyes search the humans for a moment, then she nods. "Many mistakes."
> Samantha turns to look at Timothy. "I'd expect we'd want to be behind a hill, preferably."
Michael says, "You make mistake, dirty my honor...I make mistake...This does nothing."
Kibra tilts her head, eyes curious. "Go on."
Zilvar watches the 'confrontation' from afar, glad that it is not going to be a real confrontation.
Michael purses his lips, looking for words. "Start again?"
Kibra offers her hand. "Start again."
Michael looks curiously at Kibra's hand. Predictably, he sticks his hand out too, imitation.
Michael smiles.
Kibra laughs softly, grasping the human's hand in hers and shaking it.
Michael's face looks strained for a minute, before he starts laughing. "Much to learn..."
Michael shakes Kibra's hand vigorously.
>Timothy nods, though Acera wants to stay up front and watch with Nalae.
>Timothy sets the device down and asks, "Delachiel, you want to help me with this? And that little friend of yours could help too."
Zilvar chuckles softly
Kibra laughs softly too, finally releasing the human's hand.
> With a nod the elfess begins to look for Stuffit.
Michael's stomach growls insistently.
>Stuffit chitters with Jarik a bit, and hears about this "Michael" he traveled with. Figuring that bar owes him for his treatment when he first arrived, he *poits* off to steal some food.
Kibra gestures to the table.."Shall we return?"
> ~~He seems to be gone. But never mind that now -- what do you want me to do?~~
Michael heads back towards the table. "Yes. Food is be cold."
> Samantha asks, "What little friend?"
>Acera grins to Nalae, "This is great, if your parents aren't on Nexus, the spacers might be able ta find em for ya."
Zilvar waves to one of the waitresses, summoning a refill for his drink.
Kibra follows Michael to the table.^
> Samantha hmms. "That reminds me. When I was in town, I did some checking. I can't find anything quite like Nalae in any records of Nexus."
Michael sits and gives up examining his food for the better chore of eating.
Michael looks around, seeing if any other candles have been lit.
>Timothy pulls off one panel and pulls out two metal rods attached by wires, "It says it has to be connected to the ground. Not sure why, but take these as far as the wire lets you and shove them into the ground."
> The elfess does so, promptly.
Only the tables furthest from the windows have candles lit. Currently, several are indeed burning throughout the room.
Michael leans to Kibra. "I can light candle?"
With a *poit* the little ferret appears in front of the bar and grabs some food. He chitters in the language he learned on that strange planet, assuming no one here knows it. **Call me stretch rat. Acquire/take/steal food for repayment/revenge!**
Zilvar passes a coin to the waitress and sips from his refilled drink, listening, or trying to, to the human.
Zilvar blinks and looks around.
Stuffit grabs some pretzels.
> Nalae looks rather confused, but nods a little bit. Spacers? Planets?
>Timothy nods and blinks, "Shoot, the er...the impudence...impedance device is missing?"
> ~~Is that bad?~~
>Acera chitters to Samantha, "Can I ride with the spacers ma?"
Zilvar cranes his head up and looks around. "Kibra, did you hear that? Or was I imagining that I actually just understood someone?"
Samantha says, "You'd have to ask them. And I'd suggest not asking the first time they come down here."
Michael blinks and at Kibra?
Kibra nods, looking around.."No, I heard it too."
Stuffit poits to a neighboring table as the bartender notices him, and sits back and starts eating again. He chitters, **Mine by right of acquisition/two paw discount!**
>Timothy nods, "I can't turn it on without it. It's a piece of metal about 3 inches on a side."
Kibra looks around the room, trying to see.
The panda sees Stuffit and frowns, not sure what just happened. He makes a mental note to watch more closely and shifts position to cover the pretzels.
> The elfess thinks. ~~Can't remember seeing it. Can we substitute it with something?~~
Michael looks around, grabs the candle and holds it close to him. He cups his hand over the candle, and a moment later he replaces it on the table, burning brightly.
Michael looks to see if anyone noticed that maneuver.
Kibra returns her gaze to the table, blinking a bit at the suddenly lit candle.
Zilvar follows Kibra's example, apparently distracted enough not to have noticed Michael.
Stuffit blinks at the bareskinned creature lighting the candle and chitters, **Michael JarikFoxFriend?**
Michael lifts up his plate of food, and meaningfully holds it over the candle for a moment.
Michael blinks and looks around, hearing his name called.
>Timothy hmms, "Anyone have a piece of metal about this size?"
Zilvar turns back to the table, "Did one of the waitresses light the candle?"
Stuffit politely *poits* right onto the table in front of Michael and waves.
Michael says, "Yaaaaah!!"
> Samantha hmmms. "Well, I've got an old pot that's falling apart I could cut a piece that size out of, I suppose."
Kibra looks at Michael for a moment, then shakes her head to Zilvar. "I'm not sure."
Zilvar jerks away from the suddenly appearing Stuffit, bringing both his arms up in a reflexive move.
Kibra blinks at Stuffit.
Michael doesn't see anything amongst the clamor and din of the tavern, and puts his plate back on the table, right where Stuffit just appeared. He starts and miraculously doesn't throw the food all over.
Stuffit waves a pretzel at Michael and chitters, **JarikFoxfriend!**
Michael says, "aah... What?"
Zilvar looks down at the ferret. "Jarik?"
Michael looks at Kibra questioningly.
Michael says, "Jarik is not here..."
Stuffit blinks at Zilvar, **Goldenfur friend?**
Michael says, "Jarik went to forest."
Zilvar looks thoughtful, "Goldenfur....Lynx?"
Stuffit nodnods to Zilvar, "Lost Goldenfur."
> The elfess offers a copper coin, which really isn't quadratic at all.
Zilvar grins a bit. "You and me too. Lost a lot of people."
Kibra blinks, eyes darkening. "He is from...?"
Michael blinks at the ferret.
Zilvar glances at Kibra and nods. "Yes. I remember him, vaguely. He stayed around Lynx a lot."
Stuffit chitters at Kibra, **Cute spotty cat? Relative shooting star?**
> Samantha looks over at Acera and Nalae. "Nalae, about your necklace..."
> Nalae blinks slowly and glances over at the others. "My necklace?" One paw raises to clasp the little shiny pendant.
>Timothy blinks, "Where did you get that? It looks ...better than the original. Can I use it please?"
Kibra blinks a bit at Stuffit. "What?"
> Nalae glances over at Acera. "I found it..." She slowly removes the necklace and holds it towards Timothy.
Zilvar grins a bit. "Hey, someone besides you and Ben who I can understand. The day is looking better already."
Zilvar looks thoughtful, "Speaking of Ben. I should probably check on him. He was looking green when we came downstairs."
Kibra nods.."We both should."
>Out near the rim of the Nexan system, the Rump Biter is heading back in. The captain, Acacia Lightheels growls, "I can understand the need to find uninhabited planets with lots of meat animals, but why did the council have to send HIM along?"
Michael looks dazed, holding his plate above the ferret's head,.
>Timothy nods gratefully and locks the device into place. Then triggers the signal.
Zilvar smiles at Michael and stands. "Enjoy your plate."
> Delachiel observes with great curiosity.
Stuffit chitters, *Wish to meet Delachiel/Boss too?*
Michael peers closely at this astounding little furry thing that landed in front of him.
Michael says, "Me?"
Kibra stands too, bowing a little to Michael. "We will meet again."
Michael nods to Kibra as best he can with a plate of food in the air before him.
Stuffit is looking at Zilvar and Kibra and Michael. And Michael's plate.
> Samantha sits back to watch as well.
Zilvar grins at Stuffit. "Don't steal his food. He'd probably object."
Zilvar looks at Kibra. "Shall we?"
Kibra nods to Zilvar.."Yes."
> Nalae pads over to sit next to Samantha, looking rather overwhelmed by the enormous number of things occurring that make no sense to her...
> Delachiel glances at the curious creature, but then turns back to observe Timothy and the box.
Zilvar waves to Michael and heads for the stairs, whistling something off-key.
>A high pitched whine emanates from the device, and minutes later a blinker turns on the Rump Biter. Anthehr is purring, "Well, they want him off Tharhome for a bit and ....hey, someone's turned on a homing beacon on the planet!"
Kibra follows Zilvar.
> Samantha slips an arm around Nalae, and waves Acera over as well.
Stuffit gives Michael's food a glance and chitters, **See soon.**
Michael blinks...
>Acera snugs her ma and her new "sister" and chitters, "Wow, hope they be here soon."
Zilvar slips out of existence.
> Nalae rests against Samantha's side, trying to work out what everyone's so anxious about...
> Samantha winces at the noise the box is making. "So do I."
> ~~Is that a healthy sound?~~
>Captain Lightheels groans, "Wonderful. So much for being uninhabited. Let's land us by the signal."
>Timothy blinks, "Well, I think so. I've never turned it on before."
>A little light on the box starts blinking yellow.
> The elfess hms and keeps an eye open for magic, pretty feeble in this brightness. She tilts her head. ~~Hey, there's a yellow glow.~~
>Timothy scrambles for the manual and thumbs through it, hoping the device isn't malfunctioning. As he peers, a slightly contrail can be seen heading towards them.
> Samantha looks up. "Now that was fast..."
Stuffit leans on Michael's plate, then figures that his boss might need some help. And maybe he can get Michael's food.
> Delachiel knows better than to try to look at the sky. Fidgets a bit nervously.
Stuffit chitters, "Help Jarik. Wish me take you there?"
Michael says, "Jarik? Yes, I help Jarik. How many days away?"
>Timothy scrambles through the book and says, "It means that someone has received the signal."
Stuffit blinks, **Me space/move you there?**
> Samantha points upward. "We knew that already."
Michael nods, looking like he has no idea what he just agreed to.
>Timothy blushes a bit, "Sorry, just a bit wound up is all. They're really coming."
Stuffit grins and with a *poit* Michael and the ferret disappear from the tavern. Michael's plate of food too.
> Nalae suddenly blinks as she spots the.. well.. the whatever that is. "What's that?" She points up at the thing that's too big and strange to be a bird.
> Samantha says, "Well, you know about ships that sail on the water? That's a ship that sails on the sky."
>A few sonic booms can be heard rumbling like thunder as the ship slows on approach.
>Acera chitters, "Wow! I gotta ride that!"
> The elfess takes a step back in awe.
> Nalae winces and clamps her hands over her ears to blot out the sonic booms.
> Samantha covers her ears as well.
>With a unheard *poit* Michael and Stuffit appear behind Samantha
and the two young mustelids. The ship is becoming visible as it nears the clearing now, the noise
lowers as it drops well below sonic speeds.
Michael looks around, stunned, as he is suddenly sitting on the ground in the forest with a plate of cold food.
Timothy blinks, "They're here."
Michael says, "Um....hello?"
Samantha turns around at the new voice. "Hello. Where did you come from?"
Nalae blinks!
Michael says, "Nexus?"
Michael says, "Nope, Haven. :)"
The ship is moving towards the far side of the field, away from the group.
Delachiel takes another step back, then looks at Michael, at the ship, Michael, and the ship. She seem confused.
Stuffit chitters to Delachiel, **Brought Jarik friend!** and tries to get the plate back from Michael again.
Michael says, "Hey!"
Michael says, "Food is mine."
Delachiel thinks . o O ( That's a human! )
Samantha frowns. "I see..." She turns to watch the ship.
Acera blinks, "Hey, that's the thing that dropped Nalae off the branch. Oh, wow!"
At this point, the ships landing repuslor field kicks in, and the roar of the wind that blows across the field blots out other sounds for a moment, then stops as the ship rests where it landed.
Delachiel stares.
Michael hears some loud sound, and looks, suddenly seeing this large thing in the clearing. Surprised, this time, he does accidentally send the plate of food flying.
Acera just stares, gape mouthed.
Michael says, "R'^kkkana!"
Stuffit goes tumbling as Michael lets go of the plate. He mffs and starts to clean it off his fur.
Samantha keeps her arms around Acera and Nalae.
Delachiel steps closer again, touching Timothy. Her voice is hoarse with awe. ~~Kautta Leilan! It worked.~~
Michael scrambles to stand up.
Michael points at the ship. "This is new...What is that?"
Samantha says, drily, "It would appear to be a spaceship."
Timothy blinks and nods quietly to Delachiel. He's looking pale.
Michael says, "A space-ship? It has no sail..."
Delachiel clasps Timothy's shoulder firmly. ~~Be brave. You can do it.~~
A door irises open in the side and movement can be seen.
Michael moves forward a few steps, then jumps back when the door opens.
Out walks what looks like a winged snowleopard, followed by winged feline centaurs. The non morphic one pads out first and purrs, "Who rang?"
Nalae remains very, very still. By the look in her eyes, you'd think she'd seen at least twelve or thirteen ghosts...
Acera is just...quiet. Scary. ;)
Michael smiles broadly at the centaurids.
Delachiel tries to discern details.
The winged snow leopard in front of the felitaurs glances around the group, and stops upon the veiled form and purrs in a familiar language, "By the firsth mother's libido, is that you?"
Michael takes one trepid step forward, a bit wary, but with a smile that says, "Look...the ultimate new thing..."
Timothy is still trying to find his voice. Delachiel is right. These aren't spacer pets. They are a different type of spacer. But the one in front doesn't even have any hands!
Samantha looks at the way the creature is looking at the veiled one. "You two know each other?"
Acera finally finds her voice and whispers, "I wanna ride one of em!"
Nalae looks up at Samantha nervously.
Samantha looks at her daughter. "Later, dear."
Michael doesn't understand a word of their language, but neither do they, he suspects, as he softly mutters, "Sanos..."
Stuffit finishes cleaning off his fur of spilled food as he sees the winged creature talking to his boss.
Delachiel unfastens her veils shortly.
Timothy notices Delachiel's actions and turns to watch her, glad he doesn't have to speak yet.
Delachiel unfastens her veils, letting the aliens see her.
Michael's peripheral vision catches something fluttering and he turns to see.
Copernicus, in non-morphic form, sits down on his haunches and purrs, "Delachiel?! I never expected to meet you way out here."
Delachiel whispers. ~~The world is small. It's good to see you again.~~
Delachiel steps forward and hugs Copernicus.
The other felitaurs behind Copernicus groan, "How come, no matter where he goes, he bumps into an "old friend"??
Copernicus grins and pads up, leaning into Delachiel's hug as he has no arms in this form.
Timothy blinks as he thinks. (Delachiel. Her pet. That fox. Now the spacer. How many of her friends are here?)
Delachiel takes a while before she lets go, attaching the veils again against the brightness. She sighs a bit. ~~Copernicus, meet Timothy, Samantha and...~~ She realizes that she doesn't know who this strange human is.
Michael stands back, giving Copernicus far more room than he needs, looking curiously at him.
Acera chirps up, "I'm Acera, and this is Nalae! She's looking for her folks!"
Stuffit *poits* back onto Delachiel's shoulder.
Nalae edges a bit closer to Samantha's side.
Timothy ahems and finally gets the nerve to say, "On behalf of the council of elders of Haven, I...we welcome you to Nexus."
Samantha cuddles Nalae closely, wondering herself just what she's gotten herself into.
Copernicus blinks, "Anthehr, that sounded like a very old version of trade standard?"
The male felitaur in the doorway nods, "Sure did. Apparently this rescue mission is a bit late. Say a millennia or so."
Acera snugs Nalae, and whispers to Samantha, "Think they can find Nalae's parents ma?"
Michael bows to Copernicus, "^kkkana fri vr ksar, sanos."
Timothy blinks as the creature's words are familiar, but shortened oddly.
The light in the glade begins to dim, taking on a filtered quality.
Samantha looks at Acera. "Well, they've got a better chance of it than we did."
Copernicus blinks and bows to Michael, clueless. But he's used to that condition.
Michael smiles.
Inside Selene is heard to shout, "Oh holy hairballs, not another one!" as she looks at the sensor grid.
Something the color of the sky blocks out the sun for a moment, then fades into a darker greenish black. It hovers a few hundred feet above the glade, but it's hard to see the *ends* of it..
Delachiel rests her hand on Timothy's shoulder again.
Michael steps back and looks up at the big green-black space-ship.
Something pale appears against the belly of the thing, and spirals down towards the glade.
Delachiel tilts her head.
Timothy snugs Delachiel tightly as the next visitor arrives. With an eep he leaps down and pulls the piece of Nalae's necklace off. Seems this is more than enough of a response for now.
The new alien lands near the winged snowleopard. It looks a bit like a dragon, and bit like a fox and maybe a few other things. It has a tiny dragon perched on its shoulder.
Samantha looks up again, and mutters something unprintable.
Chimera smiles, "Hello."
Copernicus looks up and blinks, "Chimera? Charon? Did Kainudy send you?"
Chimera says, "Oh, we were just following you."
The little dragon waves to Copernicus.
Delachiel blinks and needs Timothy's help to stand up.
Michael says, "Sanos ku?"
Michael says, "Kainudy-dragon?"
Timothy helps Delachiel back up, "Sorry. Just...had to turn it off."
Michael says, "Jarik seeks Kainudy-dragon..."
Copernicus blinks, "Er yes, how do you know of...Kainudy? And Jarik?"
Chimera looks to Michael. "Yes, we're all dragons."
Chimera smiles brightly to Delachiel.
Delachiel bows deeply, her emotions racing inside.
Delachiel whispers. ~~I think I need to sit down and have a cup of tea.~~
Michael nods to Copernicus, "Yes Sanos...Jarik is here. Somwhere..." He smiles and turns to Chimera, "Ahhhh...Janos, then..."
Michael looks half eager to run up and give Chimera a warm hug.
Samantha stands up. "I think that's a very good idea. What say I put the kettle on and people can catch up? We seem to have a large number of old acquaintances here."
Copernicus makes a few commands and the other felitaurs return to the ship. He then purrs as best he can in old trader, "That would be very kind. I think this young man here (pointing to Timothy) needs to talk with me. Lead on...Samantha?"
Samantha nods, and starts leading the gaggle back towards her tree-house.
The mass floating above fades back to the color of the sky, and is soon fairly invisible.
Timothy gulps and lets Delachiel lead him back to the house as Stuffit sleeps happily in her pocket.
Acera snugs Nalae and purrs, "I just bet they can find your folks." as she walks with Samantha.
Michael asks Chimera curiously, "R^kkt sssna ^rrth?" as he distractedly follows the others.
Nalae smiles at Acera tentatively.
Chimera smiles and blinks at Michael. "I don't understand you yet."
Michael smiles and nods. "Not Nexan..."
Samantha sets up a large pot to boil for tea, then just sits back and listens to things...
Timothy finally finds his voice and makes arrangements for Copernicus to talk with the trader's council in Haven. He feels a bit unnerved talking to someone who has no arms, but realizes you deal with what you have. As the night wears down, Samantha puts Acera and Nalae to bed and let's the group stay outside by a small table with a pot of hot tea. Jarik arrives for a bit and says a surprised hello. Finally, the informal meeting breaks up and various groups go their own way. But after 1000 years, Nexus is isolated no more.