Closed Getting Out of Dodge (Elias)

[Elias Caldera]

Yoona He mused, rolling the word quietly around on his tongue so as to not to give the shapely chaktawe the pleasure of seeing him potentially struggle with it. He could tell quite easily how much pride the woman felt with its utterance alone, and it was that same kind of self-assurance that proved most dangerous for of the chained, especially the freshly shackled and defiantly hopeful. He had a feeling her aggressive rebelliousness would see her sold at a staggeringly low price and to a staggeringly bad person, something which meant for Elias he had a big problem on his hands. For Yoona however, it meant she would likely find her leash in the greasy, scarred palms of men well versed in either breaking defiance down like it was a science, or men whose sick nature enjoyed the forlorn struggle such spirit provided. Either way, this girl was petched, and so was the fool's current owner if he couldn't convince her how much of a favor he was doing by making her see reason... just one hypnotic spell at a time. Better price meant better off master, which for her would mean everything in her new life as a Ravokian slave.

I really am doing her a favor...

When talk of home reached her ears however, all that satisfactory delight drained from her features in an agonizing tick. Elias didn't know much about lands so alien and far away, but he could hardly imagine Eyktol, with all its endless sand dunes and barren wastes as anything even remotely serene as Syliras, let alone Ravok itself. It was likely the woman would get weak in the knees at the sight of so much fresh water just sitting there, and he could barely contain a smile at the idea of how she would actually handle sailing across it. The bowman's comical musing were interrupted quite curtly by the nervous fidgeting Yoona suddenly began exhibiting. His lip curled in annoyance and the slaver readied himself to shake the slave still if need be, but when she mentioned 'something was coming' he realized too late he had failed to notice Redd's own antsy behavior as well. Coming to a halt, Elias silently chided himself for being so pathetically inattentive to the obvious threat now approaching them. He didn't have the nose of a wolf or the... whatever it was that the woman had used to sense the danger so early, but he knew he should have been better than to let something so obvious slip by him.

Three wolves stalked out of the thick underbrush, golden, viscous eyes glaring at their prey like they were steamed, cooked and ready for serving already. Elias felt his heart skip a beat at the sudden sight of them, fangs bared and golden gazes fixed with what surely had to be an unnatural intelligence behind them. He felt himself less scared in truth, than he was disappointed. The target of his new, unfortunate demeanor? Redd. She had lead them straight into a pack of wolves, something, as a bloody wolf herself, she should have very well been able to avoid... or at least warn him of. Instead he was faced with three wild beasts, the lead one with its torn ear in particular barking and yapping angrily at them with unrestrained primal hunger. The trip back to Ravok was a terribly long one, and if he ever intended to make it to the markets while they were still open, he had to settle this, and he had to settle this quickly. First however, he had to deal with Yoona.

Elias could practically taste the slave's conniving and scheming as she eyed the predators before her. Was she really daft enough to try and run? To think these creatures wouldn't tear her apart first and foremost if given even the slightest opening. The hypnotist struck with premeditated intensity, lashing out at the savage's mind with a suggestion that reminded her full well there was no hope for her through these beast. Perhaps the djed took, perhaps it didn't, the novice mage was more concerned at the time with the odd sensation that came when he felt himself become acutely aware that he was drawing too close to the edge. His last bout of manipulation had been a hefty one, he now understood, taking more of a toll on his mind and body than even he realized. Elias may have had to take it easy with one personal magic right then and there, but not all of them. He still had one trick up his wizardly sleeves that he had proved was more comfortable and powerful with than any other.

Pushing the chaktawe to the side, Elias unslung his bow and notched an arrow as quickly and seamlessly as his calloused hands would allow. The animals approached, prowling closer and closer with a troubling lack of hesitation. They seemed to be testing the water, growling and taunting with terrorizing promises of death and devourance. He grimaced, even as the comforting embrace of djed swelled within his gut and burst forth like a radiant star's light from within. It bubbled up into his fingers, shuddering into untasked res as it leapt free of his body and then warped around the head of the fully drawn arrow. He loosed, unleashing the quivering broad-head straight at the advancing pack without a second thought. As he did so, the blue, translucent aura around the arrow abruptly burst into flames as it sailed over Redd's brindled head, exploding with startling ferocity as it struck its first target... the ground. The blast hadn't been all that impressive in reality, more like a oil soaked rag catching fire all of a sudden. His aim had been even more depressing.

The creatures simply looked at the burning shaft imbedded in the dirt, then, with a veritable shake of their mangy manes, returned their focus back on the tasty trio before them, completely unimpressed and unafraid.

Shyke...

[Redd]

Redd glanced up at her master as she felt a shift of mood and she growled softly before looking back towards the other wolves, the familiar golden eyes seeming to glare back at her. Those golden eyes seemed to remind her of the last situation she had been in, one where it had involved another human.

It was like staring into the past all over again and she had become very quiet as she glared back at the trio with her own golden hues. It was almost as if it was like winter 511 AV all over again. Except instead of meeting the kind pair of golden eyes, she was met with a trio of golden and grey wrath. It was also like staring into a world of where she had once been welcomed in, but now no longer.

She was denied from ever returning to this pack, this pack she had once called home and family. Now she relied on her human master, but even he had a wandering gaze and Yoona was what had caught his eye. She had caught it the moment that she had escaped her captors.

The young wolf knew, that if it was she who dashed off, that the other wolves would likely follow in a blood-thirsty frenzy. For it was she who had been seen in her human form and she who defended a human, quite like now and in their eyes, that was a betrayal of the pack.

A flash of something orange and red caught her eye as it flew over the top of her head to land in the dirt behind the trio of wolves and Redd couldn't help but stare at it herself. What exactly did her master have in mind with that arrow? Was it suppose to be a distraction? Well at least the other wolves had taken notice of it for a chime before returning their advances towards them.

Slowly she glanced back at her master, taking note of him for a moment. He seemed a little worn, why? She wasn't exactly too sure, but it was then that she had decided that it was best for her to create the diversion while him and Yoona got away.

She rolled her gaze skywards for a moment as she briefly wondered whether she would be quick enough to stay ahead of them. This time, she didn't have a wounded foot, but her healing fractured ribs would be a probable cause for concern.

Finally after a tick, she decided that it was best for all concerned, that it was she who headed these wolves off and with a snarl that tore through her, she launched herself forwards. She barreled her form in between the two plain greys, delivering a quick bite to the hind leg of the one with the torn ear. The red wolf didn't linger, as she dashed off, a howl of rage seemed to follow her as the three other wolves all gave chase after the one that had dared to attack.

Her paws stretched out their pace as she heard, rather than saw, their yaps, followed with an occasional howl of excitement as they kept onto her trail and she pushed herself forwards faster, her breaths coming in quicker. She would have to move faster if she ever hoped to stay ahead of them.

[Yoona]

Inwardly, Yoona swore as the three snarling wolves made their way out from behind the cover of the underbrush, their pelts bristling, hackles raised, and lips curled over their deadly jaws as they snarled and stared down their new prey. The Chaktawe woman then glanced down at Redd, who seemed to be deadset on not letting the beasts advance any further. For a moment, she wished that she could read the creature's thoughts, or at least get a glance inside of that mind of hers. What was she planning to do?

Yoona also wondered whether or not it'd be possible for Redd to just...talk the bloodthirsty beasts down. She was a wolf, wasn't she? Well, so were they. Why wouldn't they be able to communicate with one another? The woman was tempted to ask, but felt that the paper-thin ice that they were all currently standing on could be broken through at any moment depending on whatever decisions were going to be made within the next few chimes. Merely talking might set the beasts off.

All of a sudden, she found herself being shoved to the side. Yoona staggered and regained her balance, throwing the bowman a deadly-furious glare when she did. The fleeting thought that she was being tossed to the beasts as a distraction, however, vanished as the Chaktawe watched the man notch an arrow, then fire it. 'Really? You're shooting at them? You idiot, that'll just make the beasts angrier...!'

Then there was a flash, and Yoona stared in pure awe as the arrow became engulfed in flames. The bowman was a magic-user...?

She waited for the blazing arrow to strike the lead wolf down, and waited for the ground in front of the advancing pack to become consumed in a wall of flames, singing fur and barring the beasts from coming any further. She was disappointed on both accounts; the arrow struck the ground instead of one of the wolves, and the flames that ensued came in a pathetic puff. He may as well have stuck a petching torch in the dirt.

Yoona sent another glare the bowman's way, this one with a clear message: Nice going, genius.

Well, now what? Unless the man had anymore bright ideas, they would all end up fighting their way out of the forest, which Yoona wouldn't have as much of an issue with if her hands weren't cuffed, and if her dagger wasn't lying on the ground, somewhere, out of her reach. She could still fight without it—well, in her own opinion—but the presence of a weapon gave an edge, an advantage. Right now, she was probably the best at running.

The vicious snarl that tore through the air startled her, and Yoona blinked as Redd suddenly launched herself at the trio, charging straight through them, her reddish fur later disappearing behind the coverage of the trees and bushes. The wolves turned and streaked after her. No sooner had they gone did Yoona turn to look at the bowman. Chimes ago she might have taken the opportunity to flee, again, but the woman felt a bit more at ease than she had earlier. ...A bit.

"What now? We follow, you kill them?" Yoona asked, though the simple act of speaking to the man seemed to be bothering her. Of course it would. She was still pissed at him, but, for the time being, those feelings could be pushed aside in favor of...well, surviving.

"Tawna" | "Common" | 'Thoughts' | Ruki

[Elias Caldera]

Embarrassing wasn't the right word. Elias didn't get embarrassed. He was just feeling a little... awkward was all. He caught the less than gratifying glare thrown at him by both woman and frowned as he realized all five pairs of eyes were now judging him coldly. Well I thought it was a good idea. He had been confident the simple minded creatures would flee at the sight of fire being hurled at them, regardless of aim or amount. He had of course failed to calculate how inconsiderate they would be towards his grand and terrifying displays of magical might. Fine, he hissed inwardly, preparing another volley and another bout of res, this one ten times as great as the last. If they wanted something impressive, he would show them something not even they they could turn their blood encrusted noses up at. The arcana thrashed broiled within him excitedly, eager to be unleashed once more. The mage nearly bit his own tongue in surprise when Redd bolted forward without so much as a warning. The fool girl dove into the pack of snarling teeth and delivered a sudden bite to the scarred leader before dashing off in the opposite direction. Elias moved to call out after her, confusion and more than a little concern flashing over his expression. His djed died away untapped as he watched his slave take off, three frightful creatures hot on her heels. What is she thinking!

A thousand buzzing thoughts swarmed throughout his mind as the wolves quickly disappeared into the forest's depths and out of sight. Was she trying to escape her master? Was she trying to lure them away? If Redd thought some suicidal act of bravery was going to earn her anything less than Elias's full scorn and disappointment, she would be direly mistaken. Yoona's words brought him out of his growing stupor however, and he glanced at the chaktawe over his shoulder, the worried and disconcerted look on his sharp features killed and replaced by what the slave had grown accustomed to at that point; Cold, calculating, and in control. "Your enthusiasm is adorable, but no, we don't do anything. You just need to follow." There was no way he could catch them, not with the speeds they were sprinting away at, and not with the chained foreigner slowing him down. She was strong and fast, but not even she had managed to outrun Redd, and that wolf had been injured.

He hefted the bag he had taken from her during their initial pat down to a more comfortable position on his shoulder. There was just too much gear on his back as well. When had he let himself turn from a lean mean hunting machine to a gods damned pack animal! Elias motioned for her to come hither with a flick of his finger while he simultaneously set about rearranging his assemblage of goods. He whipped off the stolen goods and wordlessly saddled the shackled woman he had taken them from with it instead. She could at least prove useful as a mule if nothing else, at least till they parted ways later in the city proper. In the meantime, the two would continue towards the outpost in the path Redd and her dogged pursuit had left behind. Thier pace would be demanding, but the young master refused to see his slave harmed or worse ...free.

Though he didn't know it yet, Elias would be using the distraction the kelvic and her bestial new friends would create to slip his own into the small settlement undetected.

ApologiesThis is just to keep the thread moving. I'm a little busy these days, so I might not be able to keep the posts coming regularly. Please go ahead and skip over me at any point down the road if need be.

[Redd]

In and out, in and out, came her rushed breathing as she forced herself to keep running, her paws thudding upon the soft, fertile earth as she kept moving forwards. Always forwards, never stopping, for if she did, three eager wolves would be upon her and ripping her to shreds. Redd couldn't allow herself another slip up of the paw and mind like it had been the last time that she was chased by wolves.

Her golden hues darted around the trees that she passed, taking note of specific land marks and scents that swelled within the air. Her ears pressed back against her head as she realized one thing about the area that they were running through. She had been this way before and fairly recently. It was the way she had come when she had been tracking the 'Yoona' chick.

The young wolf pushed on forwards as she realized that this track would put her back into the path of the people with their beasts and they also had weapons, so they would have a better chance of warding off three wolves than she.

She broke through the tree line and dashed forwards towards the people, a bark of warning passing her maw as she headed straight towards them. She didn't want them caught too much off guard otherwise most of them would be torn to shreds. The old fat guy that had gone chasing after the run away slave, had most likely returned back to his beast, because she couldn't see him.

Redd stretched herself out as far as she could go as she barreled straight down to the line of people. She would have to remain careful because for she knew, with three other wolves tailing her, they might just suspect that she was leading the attack upon them. It was then that she heard shouts of alarm and she was glad that they had finally taken notice of the threat coming in, because they were coming in fast.

As she reached the line of people, she darted around a few legs, dodged an odd stick weapon with a pointy end and darted underneath the legs of a large beast. Finally making it out the other side of the line of people, darting one hundred yards away from the scene of the people and wolves.

Finally, the wolf came to a stop in order to turn around and look behind her at the scene, to see what might been done to the people, she came face to face with the wolf with the torn ear. A snarl reached her maw as she snapped at the grey wolf, making him back off unless he wanted a bite to the nose. The other two wolves must have been caught up by the group of people.

It seemed that she would just have to face this other wolf off, wolf to wolf and see who would come out alive.

[Yoona]

Follow? That was the plan? How boring.

Yoona figured that they'd go tracking the beasts down to spare the bowman's pet from getting hurt, but she supposed that the wolf could hold her own against a pack of her kin. The Chaktawe woman was just the slightest bit surprised to see the man nearly go darting after the creature, the worry apparent on his otherwise stoic face. So, the bowman could feel for others, after all? That probably counted as a redeeming quality, but Yoona wasn't so sure she was able to write him off as wholly human just yet; to her, he was still as bestial and violent as the wolves were, and with all the things that had happened between them within the last ten or so chimes, she doubted that that image would change.

Either way, Yoona was glad that she'd caught that sliver of concern before the bowman wiped his canvas of a face clean, giving her that oh-so-familiar expression that was cold enough to freeze water. She merely blinked at him, and continued to blink as he started rummaging through his supplies and rearranging them, along with the worn bag that he'd taken from her with the fat man's things in it. Unable to help rolling her eyes at his gesture but obeying anyway, the Chaktawe woman walked over to him. No sooner had she gotten there had he plopped all of his (and her) things onto her back. Despite herself, Yoona stared at him in disbelief.

'What in the name of...? What am I, some sort of pack animal?!'

Obviously, he thought so, the beast. And maybe it wasn't the entire concept that was bothering her as much as how he'd done it was; it was as if the bowman simply accepted that this was the way of the world, and that he had every right to do as he was doing. Perhaps he was right, too, but that didn't make it anymore revolting. Yet, repulsed as Yoona was, she withheld her comments and started walking, gritting her teeth a little in frustration as she went.

It wasn't until a while later, as the forest began to thin out, signaling the proximity of the outpost, that the Chaktawe woman caught the faint sounds of a commotion. There were distant yells and shrieks, along with more gruff voices and the snarls of fighting beasts. 'The wolves...' Yoona strained to listen some more. It seemed as though the bowman's pet had led the trio into a crowd of men, causing an uproar. A smart idea...but where had Redd gone?

Better yet, how did the bowman intend on getting past the crowds and, more importantly, the fat man? Assuming he was still waiting at the edge of the forest for her to be brought back, that was. Maybe the current situation with the wolves had warded him off.

In reality, it hadn't. The fat man had, however, retreated to his carriage when the wolves came streaking by, crawling desperately into the back to get himself out of the ensuing chaos. There was the harsh beating of feet on pavement as people, most likely soldiers of some sort, came charging in with their weapons drawn. Stray merchants and other nearby citizens and non-citizens alike had gathered, as well, some hurling rocks at the beasts while others had done what the trader had done and withdrawn behind tents and the like. Overall, no one seemed to be daring to get too close to the creatures.

"Tawna" | "Common" | 'Thoughts' | Ruki

[Elias Caldera]

Though sometimes dangerously naive and unaware of much when it came to her human counterparts, Redd was the furthest thing from a fool, and as Elias surveyed the chaos her quick witted stunt had unleashed on the caravans and guards, the young mage allowed himself a brief sigh of alleviation and enthusiasm for his favorite slave. Man and beast darted about in uproarious shock and terror, anxious to escape the frantically snapping maws of the wolves so suddenly thrown in amongst their ranks. Most were lucky, able to avoid danger for the most early on by huddling together in small group while simultaneously pelting the startled creatures with rocks, boots, and an impressive array of foul language as well. Elias knew, as he closed in upon the scene, that none there would show Redd the benefit of discrimination when it came down to distinguishing one wolf from the other. To them, she wasn't her master's rightful property, she was just another wild animal born of the wilderness and brazenly attacking humans out in broad daylight. With their numbers and vigor, they could cut the kelvic down with troubling ease and haste if she wasn't careful or lucky enough. He was gladdened then, to see neither hide nor brindled hair of the loyal wolf among the madness of flashing fangs and screaming merchants. A pang of guilt for being the reason of such undeserved fright soon struggled with his concern as the bedlam unfolded. That, and instant realization of something exceptional as well.

If ever there was an opportunity to be exploited, this was it. Redd had thrown the gates wide open for her master and his defiant prize to sneak in, now he just needed to- "Hey!" came a deafening and raucous shout louder even than all the others. Elias cringed visibly, his head swiveling ever so slowly to the side to lock gazes with the fat man from before. The owner stood precariously atop his cart, flailing his arms at the young mage while not busy ducking for cover when a swish of an antsy grey tail came too close for comfort. Hastily, the ravokian took hold of the overburdened chaktawe by the arm and anxiously trotted her along, attempting to skirt along the fringes of the vicious discord while also trying ridiculously to hide himself behind the tower of bags he had assembled upon the woman's powerful shoulders. It was an absurdly amusing sight to behold the high and mighty Caldera ducking and weaving behind frightened merchants and a likely annoyed Yoona as he pretended not to hear the other man screaming at him from abroad. "What? No, I can't hear you over all the- What? Nope, nothing." He made a feeble attempt at flailing and pretending to direct the man over to the outpost as if it were a rendezvous, but in all honesty, the reimancer figured with the animals at his heels, dancing wildly amidst the soldiers now trying to encircle them, they would do more than just keep the poor bugger preoccupied while the slave thief made his daring escape with the good in tow. He was constantly careful of course, to avoid any the flashes of snarling whites or blood thirsty guards as he made his way through the throngs, diligently unwavering with the tight hold he still kept on the woman as best he could. More than once he had gotten jostled around to a dangerous degree before eventually breaking free and making directly for the docks that now lay ahead unobstructed.

Permitting himself a smug grin of satisfaction, the hypnotist spared a glance over his shoulder at the abrupt carnage he had left behind him. He didn't think anyone was following them for the time being, so with a playful smirk flung out to the only other person nearby to share it with, Elias and Yoona soon found themselves marching down to the lakeside with a new pep in at least one of their proverbial step. There was a burning desire to slap a few more djed enhanced suggestion unto the savage's mind as he walked though, but the exertion Elias had foolishly allowed himself to fall victim to earlier had simply been too great and too unexpected to risk it now unless absolutely necessary. Necessary however, for a woman as inherently wily and perilous as Yoona was likely to reveal herself at any moment, was proving difficult to adequately discern. He eyed the tanned skin duster warily as the two made their way to the boats.

Everyone once in a while Elias would also take a moment to look for Redd while he could. He wasn't sure where the slave had disappeared to at all, but he was certain risking their advantage by wasting time looking for her made little sense in light of what she had endangered to get them this far in the first place. The fact that there had only been two of the three grays back in the fray hadn't been lost on the novice hunter either. "Do you see her?" The proud slaver finally relented, turning to the woman he had chased down and toyed with not a few chimes earlier for assistance finding the beast that had literally wanted to tear her to ribbons. "Well?"

[Redd]

It was almost like a stand off but involving two wolves. One was the outcast among both species and the other did not hold two halves within its DNA. It was whole in one species, one where it will always forever be welcomed into and she envied that. She wanted only to be welcomed, to be accepted, to be needed and this only served to bring another snarl to her maw.

Her ears were pressed against the back of her head as they began to circle, her golden gaze following the path of the grey wolf before her, taking note of the times where its muscles bunched as if readying to attack before it decided to change its mind and turn in the opposite direction.

Redd would mirror this action to avoid colliding with the wolf too early, her gaze ever constantly watching the wolf and its movements. She was trying to gauge when it might attack and when was the best opportunity for her to attack in order to gain the best possible ground.

The other wolf must have grown impatient and she noted this as its pace began to pick up before it lunged towards her, it jaws snapping with ferociousness towards her throat. She leaped backwards, just missing his sharp teeth and she delivered a bite of her own to its other ear.

A yelp of pain came forth from the other wolf as it jumped back, its snarls picking up as it limped. Her golden gaze flickered to its back foot, seeing that it was still bleeding. It had to be causing the other wolf some amount of pain and be slowing it down some what, if she could just get it vulnerable enough...

It leaped forwards again, but this time, more directed towards her own ear. Pay back? She questioned as she duck her head to narrowly miss the snapping jaws. This was her chance, she thought as her own jaws snapped.

They snapped and sank into the throat of the grey wolf and she tasted blood. Blood that had once belonged to a fellow pack member. Once she had her jaws around the throat of the wolf she violently shook her head, the other wolf crying out in pain before its cries was finally choked off.

The wolf struggled against her hold, trying to pull back, but Redd's jaws would not let go and slowly, but surely, the grey wolf's life force drained out of its body and it slumped to the ground with a final choked sound.

As she let go, her gaze drifted to view over its dead form and she wanted nothing more than to howl, to grieve for a wolf that had passed from this life, instead she lifted her gaze to view the lake. She had to get back to her master some how.

Although, slow to move into action, she began to pad forwards, already she was beginning to feel herself tired with all of the constant running and tracking. However, she figured that her master would have used the distraction in order to get the slave passed the travelling group and so she would have to meet them by the docks.

With her head lowered, she reached the bank of the lake, making her slow way along it back towards the docks. Her ears were lowered, her muzzle covered in blood, blood of a fellow wolf and her tail drooped. Her steps were not so perky either, but she chalked it up to feeling a lack of energy.

Eventually, she began to see buildings and she quietly darted in through them, making sure to track through the shadows of the buildings instead of just pad through them in plain sight of people and guards. Occasionally, she would have to stop and watch as a person would cross before her, only to disappear down a different path.

Finally, she came to the docks and she laid down beside a few boxes, making sure to keep her form amongst the shadows that were cast by the sun so then most people would not recognize that she was a wolf straight away. It was then that she finally caught the scent of her master and heard that voice of his.

She rose back onto her paws once more and padded around the boxes into plain view, giving a small wag of her tail, but her ears remained lowered as did her head as she padded right up to him, nosing her head against his leg.

[Yoona]

"Hey!"

The shrill, surprised cry startled Yoona, but she knew right away where it'd come from. Turning her head as much as she could, she could just spot the fat man clambering his way out of the carriage to stare at them as they continued on, with the bowman weaving in and out of crowds to keep himself hidden. Even from this distance, Yoona could spot the man's shocked face, his eyes as wide as moons while his mouth was gaping wide enough to let birds swoop in and nest. The Chaktawe woman continued to stare at him but said nothing, simply watching as he seemed to rouse himself out of his stunned state and start to wave wildly at them. No doubt that the man was angry; he'd been counting on the bowman to retrieve his slave, after all, and bring it back to him. Well...the bowman had completed the retrieval, but neither Yoona nor her previous owner knew what fate awaited her, now. As unnerving and frustrating of a fact as it was to come to terms with, her life and what would happen to it rested in the hands of the bowman. ...Literally. Because he was still keeping a firm hold on her shackled wrists, though, to be honest, Yoona doubted that she'd get far with all of the crap that she was carrying on her shoulders.

They skirted around the crowds, around the chaos, and were suddenly heading down towards the docks, where the great lake met with the land, providing a passageway for seafarers into the city. Yoona had seen a few boats skimming the surface on her way to the outpost earlier, though couldn't help but marvel at the huge body of water as they drew near it. In all her life, she'd never seen something so...so...marvelously gigantic. Did water really exist in such huge quantities in other parts of the world...? It was hard enough to find a spring in the bone-dry deserts surrounding Eloab, let alone something as unthinkable as this.

'Is it all fresh water...? Should I...should I ask...? No, no, I wouldn't dare...my mind can wander, but that vile pig doesn't deserve my time, let alone a chance to think that I've forgiven him for anything. And even if he didn't...it isn't worth it.'

Her mind made up, Yoona kept her lips sealed. She could save her questions for later, when she had some other way of finding out the answers she wanted, but not here, not now, and not with him.

And then the bowman did a surprising thing. He actually turned and asked her a semi-genuine question, regarding the whereabouts of his pet. Initially, Yoona was furious; did he honestly expect for her to help him at all, after what she'd been through? After what he'd put her through?!

"Do you see her? Well?"

"How would I know where pet went?" Yoona replied, her tone laced with annoyance. "She belongs to you, yes? Not me. Pet is probably—"

Yoona wasn't sure what she would have said—maybe "hurt" or "gone" or even "dead"—but at that moment Redd appeared, lumbering over to her master with blood coating her muzzle and a visible somberness softening her features. The Chaktawe woman gave the wolf a cautious glance, both interested and somewhat worried about her appearance. Was it her blood, or one of the less-tame beast's? She didn't seem to be hurt, but...at the same time, she was acting as though she were a little sick.

"There. Pet is safe. No more worry." Yoona muttered, blinking at the wolf.

"Tawna" | "Common" | 'Thoughts' | Ruki

[Elias Caldera]

.

A wave of relief washed over Elias as the familiar sight of brindled fur bobbed into view. For all her annoyance and disbelief, Yoona had been the one to spot the wolf first, causing the mage who imprisoned the woman to spin around right as Redd and her bloody muzzle padded out from behind the stacks of crates and empty tents. His first reaction had been the pull away, to turn his back in instinctual hesitation and disgust for the blood drenched wild animal then nuzzling her crimson nose against his leg. Concern had overridden such a primal response in the beginning, but it was pride that had kept him there grinning, and pride that finally saw him relent and allow their rather odd embrace. In truth, part of him had grown excited at the sight of something else's life blood staining her bristling maw. The third wolf he suspected, the one with the ruined ear and bad attitude. There was only a small window for it, but by the brief look of her Elias had managed, it instantly became obvious that an ear would now be the least of that animal's concerns now... But doting over his savage slave would have to wait, as Redd's bestial presence was more of a threat and problem than she seemed to understand. They were just lucky she had managed to avoid any wary eyes falling upon her while making her way in, especially considering the pandemonium her distant kin were causing back at the tower. He thought he heard the last, fleeting cry of a wolf being slain by spears and swords off in the distance.

Anxiously, Elias ordered Redd to shift, "Quickly." He whispered, waving his finger about to accentuate the urgency. It would be awkward enough if anyone spotted her, a ferocious predator, this deep into the outpost's perimeter, but even more so when they spotted her into the middle of a heated conversation with Elias. Restlessly, he waited for the magnificently muted explosion of light that accompanied the breathtaking shift that all kelvics could do. In the mean time, he turned on the chaktawe and curtly spun her around without another words. His intentions became clear by the time his hands began diving around in the bags she had been saddled with. By the time Yoona was free of the uncomfortable tugging and jerking that came from his exasperated search, she would be free to face the strange duo again, though this time, in the place of the bloody wolf, there instead stood a bloody girl. A girl Elias was hastily trying to get dressed as he handed her the clothes scrounged up from the depths of their bags. Nude and wildly gorgeous as she may have been at that moment, her master was far more distracted with being discovered in their questionably vulnerable situation than he was with conceivably anything else. "Come on, come on." He hissed fervently, promptly ushering the two slaves forward and down towards the docks once finally finished.

The outpost wasn't a grand or sprawling thing as one might have suspected when first coming to understand its purpose and importance. In fact, it was decidedly the opposite of anything remotely remarkable. A hodgepodge of work camps, small businesses, tents, warehouses, and then the docks -which were arguably the most impressive part to the whole disorganized array- made up the bulk of the tiny settlement. The outpost hardly reflected the glory of the city it served, and as much as Elias let that bother him, it still served regardless. As the biggest of its kind, it was through this gateway that much, if not almost all, of Ravok's imports came lumbering through before they hit the placid waves of the lake. From foodstuffs to slaves, everything passed under the watchful vigil of the guards in their tower on the hill... well, there were exceptions of course. Elias gave a few more encouraging shoves to emphasize haste from the two ladies, desperate to make sure they all remained one of those exceptions for the time being. As the first signs of bustling workers and merchants began to trickle into sight however, it suddenly dawned on the Ravokian he had forgotten something excruciatingly idiotic to have slip from his mind. With a groan, he brought a halt to the motley procession before rounding on Redd and her face, still decidedly marred in the life blood of the wolf she had shorn to pieces not a few chimes earlier.

Yanking a napkin out of his pocket, the slaver first called upon a little bit of his djed in the moment before he began, luring it up to the surface from where it slumbered down deep inside his body. It began as a trickle, and as a trickle it would stay as the mage strained with the hungry desire to manifest more of his being into arcane glory. Within a few ticks, a small dab of res has slithered out unto his hand, turning to water almost instantly as Elias tasked it to soaking the rag he held. Now wet, he had a better chance of wiping away the blood upon her deviant lips and sunken cheeks than he had else wise and soon went to work. When the task proved more troublesome than first expected however, it was quickly dawned on the Caldera how he must have seemed to his all too perceptive wolf right then and there. She had always been disastrously keen on reading into his every expressions and demeanor, always demanding of her self a daily diligence when it came to the hypersensitivity she displayed towards her master and his actions towards her, conscious or not. He sighed inwardly, withholding even that from the slave as he calmed his strokes and cupped her flushed check with his hand instead. He forced his eyes unto hers, besieging her hazel hued attention until it finally capitulated with a gaze that saw nothing else but his own. "You did well, Redd. Very well. Your master is pleased." He uttered soothingly while he brought a thumb across the corner of her mouth to wipe away the blood which had settled there. Now that he took the time to actually look at her, Elias suddenly understood all over again why it had been so easy to get swept up in her yearning like he had. Even the fresh stains of a fresh kill upon her fangs only proved to exacerbate the longing he was unexpectedly starting to feel, but he had to calm himself for all their sake's; they were still not out of the woods yet.

"Stay here for a moment, out of sight." He told Redd, glancing over to Yoona next. "And watch her while I go secure passage to the city." Releasing the loyal kelvic from his grasp, he instead walked over the the sun kissed foreigner and slapped the wet rag in her shackled hands. "And you, make yourself useful and clean her up before I get back." With one last survey of the situation, Elias trudged off towards the harbor, a ferry already in his cross hairs as he marched through the mud and dirt and growing crowds.

It wouldn't be long before he eventually returned however, though by the expression on his face, Elias may as well have just gotten back from a year long war. The man he had been dealing with had insisted on being a son of a bitch all throughout their humble negotiations, even in the wake of the mage's unmistakable charm and intellect. Apparently, the fact that a monster was currently eating people had put a considerable damper on the eagerness of folks to take to the water anymore. It had required a gut wrenching amount of coin to pass from his purse and into the slimy man's palm before he inevitably and miraculously overcame his crippling fear and declared his vessel ready to sail. After escorting both Redd and Yoona on board the small, barge like transport, they, and only they -as the three of them were the only passengers- were ready to take off. It wasn't until they were nearly a mile off shore did Elias allow himself to relax however. The thought of that fat man stumbling upon them again, red faced and out of breath with anger and disbelief truly made his skin crawl. Something about stealing and what not, the thief halfheartedly decided before waving the icky feeling away and out of his system for good. Instead, he sought to distract himself with the piles and piles of mizas he would soon be rolling around in after selling off the stunningly exotic, black eyed beauty he had wrangled.

So happy with the immanent prospect of a reward was he, that the mage even relented to the overpowering surge of generosity and kindness that unexpectedly flowed over him. Out of the goodness of his heart, Elias disarmed the slave of her bags, finally allowing her the full range and freedom of her movements again before immediately sitting her down and forcefully commanding her not to move an inch. Part of the bargaining that had gone into convincing the ferry driver into letting them on had been Elias promise, that should a man eating fish monster happen to cross their paths, that he would quickly and without pause dump one of his slaves overboard so as to sate the creature's appetite while the rest of them escaped. He explained as much to the chaktawe as he giddily wrapped a particularly adventurous arm around Redd's waist, the soon to be rich master taking a seat himself while bringing down his favorite kelvic to nestle herself gingerly into his waiting lap. He grinned at the void like eyes of the exceptionally built chaktawe sitting across from them. "Smile, slave, you should be happy about this. There's no city quite as magnificent or as fortunate for one to be in than in Ravok." It was hard to deny now, but all of a sudden Elias was feeling pretty good about himself and his day. He figured why not enjoy the most of it while he could.

oocThanks for the bombass new template, Redd! So good... Also, really nice work on your new avatar, Yoona. Looks excellently done!
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