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| - SRD3-A2 arrives from Main Area - Sanctuary Security . SRD3-A2 has arrived. From Brig 1 , Trueguard is sitting on a bunk directly in front of the door. He has an extreamly sad expresion on his face, his tail is laying motionless on the bunk, curled a little beside him and his ears sag a little. Snowmist has just entered the holding area, and now walks down the line of brigs, peeking into them before stopping in front of the one Trueguard resides in. SRD3-A2 steps into the Holding Area, sensors whirring softly. Its servomotors hum quietly as it moves with smooth, suprisingly graceful movements. Its sensors sweep over Snowmist, scanning the Demarian female. It speaks in a Mechanical voice. "Greetings, Demarian female. I am SRD3-A2, a member of Sanctuary Endeavors Security, rank Constable." From Brig 1 , Trueguard continues to sit silently gazing at the floor in front of him. Snowmist braces her hands on her hips as she snorts, seeming on the verge of addressing the errant Militia member when she turns to blink at the Phyrrian, eyes running over its form in mildly surprised appraisement. "Greetings, Constable. May I compliment you on your impeccable timing. I'm Snowmist Shadowstalker...Imperator Sharpeye Skygazer's bondmate. Was lookin' t'secure the release of this fellow here," she says, indicating Trueguard with a thumb. SRD3-A2 nods, and speaks to both Demarians at the same time. "This unit has been informed that Demarian, Male Trueguard, is to be released pending a hearing for weapons charge. The charges are not serious, but he will be contacted and must be present at the hearing." It's voice is mechanical and never changes tone, it's sensors rotating around the room and scanning. "Yes, yes," Snowmist says with a wave of her hand. While not quite impatient, it is clear she is interested in moving on to other matters. "I'll see that he's made accountable t'whatever charges y'wanna press. However, I believe an arrangement had already been arrived at 'tween m'bondmate an' your security director Quicksilver. If there're no other issues, I'd like t'take 'im with me now. I gotta check on m'kits." SRD3-A2 nods and whirs towards the brig where the Demarian sits. SRD3-A2 approaches the door to Brig 1 and inserts its card into its slot. The door slides open with a muffled hiss. From Brig 1 , SRD3-A2 arrives from Holding Area . SRD3-A2 has left. From Brig 1 , SRD3-A2 has arrived. From Brig 1 , SRD3-A2 turns towards Trueguard as it enters. "Demarian Male Trueguard, you are now released from the custody of Sanctuary Endeavors Security. You must be present for the hearing on your pending charges. Follow this unit, please." It turns, servos whining softly as it moves out. From Brig 1 , SRD3-A2 approaches the door to Holding Area and inserts its card into its slot. The door slides open with a muffled hiss. SRD3-A2 arrives from Brig 1 . From Brig 1 , SRD3-A2 has left. SRD3-A2 has arrived. From Brig 1 , Trueguard approaches the door to Holding Area and inserts his card into its slot. The door slides open with a muffled hiss. Trueguard arrives from Brig 1 . From Brig 1 , Trueguard has left. Trueguard has arrived. Snowmist straightens as the two move toward the brig's exit, folding her arms across her chest. "What 'bout the equipment that's been confiscated from 'im? May we fetch that at a later date?" she asks. Trueguard appears almost as if he is walking in a dream. His tail drags along the ground but he does not particularily appear sleepy. He doesnt seem to acknowlege the rest of the world. SRD3-A2 nods and whirs towards the Main Area. "The equipment confiscated from Demarian, Male Trueguard, will be available for reposession at any time. It must be supervised by a Constable in Sanctuary Endeavors Security." It whirs out, servos whining softly. SRD3-A2 heads into Main Area - Sanctuary Security . SRD3-A2 has left. You head into Main Area - Sanctuary Security . Main Area - Sanctuary Security This room serves as the main office and work area for the members of Sanctuary Security, and as such is a strange cross between a police station and an office block. The front area directly before the main entrance is open, and functions as a holding and processing area for criminals. Surrounding this are various interview rooms, control areas and so on. To the right a pair of large metal doors lead through to the ships brig and holding area. To the aft a single corridor leads back towards the main office areas, which are split between open plan offices and single rooms for the higher level officers of the security force.20 Trueguard arrives from Holding Area . Trueguard has arrived. Snowmist nods to the Phyrrian as she checks on Trueguard long enough to make sure he is following, before leading the way out of the SancSec offices. "My thanks, Constable." Trueguard follows without looking at his suroundings, he keeps his eyes low but in a way to see Snowmist at all times. SRD3-A2 gestures towards the reception area. "Farewell, Demarian male Trueguard and Snowmist Shadowstalker, Bondmate of Imperator Sharpeye Stargazer." Its implement drops and it falls silent, sensors whirring softly. You head into Reception - Sanctuary Security . Reception - Sanctuary Security The headquarters of Sanctuary Security. This room is large and somewhat impressive, the floor is covered in a black, marble-like substance, inset with large symbol, that of a starburst cluster surrounded by large omega symbol. Towards the front of the room, away from the main doors is a desk, manned by a receptionist and a pair of security officers who process everyone who comes through here. Behind them, a pair of steel doors lead into the main area of the station. Scattered around the edges of the room are couches and benches for people to sit on while they are waiting. Trueguard arrives from Main Area - Sanctuary Security . Trueguard has arrived. Sanctuary Flight Deck A high, broad chamber that serves as the flight prep and launch deck for the Sanctuary colony ship. A blister module high atop the port wall, above the entrance, serves as the control tower. To starboard, a wide slit opens onto the blackness of space. The cargo bay is aft. A muster room is fore. Burn marks and rubble from broken vessels litter the area. Trueguard arrives from Customs Room . Trueguard has arrived. Snowmist walks at a relatively fast clip toward the shuttle pads, intent enough on her destination that she seems almost unaware of her trailer. Shadowstrike is standing near the Starpouncer, gazing around. His tail flicks lightly behind him as he watches the deck, alert. His ears remain stationary, intent upon the exit from Customs. He notices Snowmist and Trueguard en route, and stops his progress towards the Dropship. Trueguard follows Snowmist without looking at his suroundings. His expression is one of sadness, ears drooping and tail dragging along the floor. he keeps his eyes low but in a way to see Snowmist at all times. Snowmist heads immediately for the Starpouncer upon spying it still sitting in dock. As she passes Shadowstrike, her gaze lingers on him briefly before she recalls the face and she nods briefly in greeting. "Gonna head down for the party?" she asks cheerfully without slowing. Staunton exits from the SCS Minerva. Staunton has arrived. Staunton steps off the Minerva and walks toward the fueling console. The console hums softly. The console emits a soft beep. A tube emerges from the ground and lifts up to the underbelly of the SCS Minerva. It attaches and a few minutes later detatches. Staunton completes the refueling process, then turns and walks back toward the Minerva, face rather grim. Snowmist is headed toward the Starpouncer at a good pace, Trueguard trailing desultorily behind her. Turning only long enough to call a greeting towar d Shadowstrike, she doesn't slow or stray in her path. Shadowstrike nods lightly, saluting crisply and dropping the salute as she passes. He eyes Trueguard for a moment, a look of concern on his face as hefollows them into the dropship. "Yes, ma'am, that was the plan. I haven't relaxed in a while." His eyes and ears are intent upon the two, his tail swishes softly. Staunton enters an access code and boards the SCS Minerva. Staunton has left. Shadowstrike boards the Starpouncer. Shadowstrike has left. The bay doors begin to slide open as the SCS Minerva prepares for departure ... The SCS Minerva fires its engines as it departs through the docking bay doors. You board the Starpouncer. Cockpit The cockpit of this craft is small, cramped and dimly lit with red light, with the main feature being two side-by-side ejection seats, bolted into a forward-facing position, and the navigation console in front of them. Joysticks are mounted to the right of each seat on the console, which has several digital and analog displays showing vital information and readouts. Four armored and shuttered windows are positioned to provide the crew with a view outside, one window to the side of each seat, and one in front of each. A small hatch leads out toward the main cargo area. Trueguard enters through the hatch of the ship. Trueguard has arrived. The bay doors begin to slide open as the Starpouncer prepares for departure ... You feel a sudden lift as the Starpouncer glides forth from the docking bay. The ship shudders as the drop rockets engage and the ship begins its descent. The landing struts thump against the surface. Pilot Droid says, "We have arrived on Demaria. I hope you enjoyed your flight." Snowmist chuckles. "No, I 'magine not." Glancing between the two, she adds dryly, "Cheer up, Trueguard. Have fun while y'can. 'm not gonna give y' the lecture you'll most prolly get from someone else later on." You disembark to the surface. Landing Pad A large area of ground has been flattened out and filled with thickly poured ferrocrete; yellow lines and blinking lights mark off landing pads, taxi lanes, and runways. A large building that serves as the small spaceport's terminal sits at the edge of the area, opposite the tall flight traffic control tower. Service crews stand by to help people through the decontamination corridor. To the west, far past the outskirts of the spaceport, lies the blunt Stubtooth Mountains. The scattered moons of Demaria gleam brightly in the starry sky, which is also shared by the shining orb of Sanctuary. Shadowstrike exits from the Starpouncer. Shadowstrike has arrived. Trueguard exits from the Starpouncer. Trueguard has arrived. Vriik lounges on the boarding ramp of the EMS Final Word, hissing to himself as he tries to sunbathe in moonlight. A claw idly scratches at the scales on his chin. Snowmist disembarks at the head of the line as soon as the hatch opens and the steps touch down. Disdaining the short stairway, she hops to the tarmac directly. Trueguard steps out of the Starpouncer and seems to come out of his daze a little. He breaths in the air deeply and a small smile touches his face. Shadowstrike steps off of the Starpouncer, following the female. His ears twitch lightly in the breeze, his tail swishing softly behind him. Snowmist glances back to the other two as she makes a small shooing motion. "All right, have fun while y'can. I gotta make a quick check on how things're at home 'fore I can relax m'self. Make sure y'have plenty o' change; if I bump int' you again, I 'spect t'at least get a dribgib leg an' maybe a pastry or two." Shadowstrike nods, saluting crisply and dropping the salute. "Yes, ma'am." He turns and heads towards the Militia Hangar, eyes and ears intent on his destination, tail swishing softly. Vriik hisses and watches the antics of the partygoers. He shakes his head. "Furrball ssssoftssskinsss." He turns back to watching the moons. Snowmist nods tersely in response to the salute, turning sharply on her heel to head toward the decon corridor. As she does so, her eyes rove over the Grimlahdi, one ear flicking to face it at its hissed words, and she smirks as she begins to walk off. "Yeah, ain't we the cute an' cuddly ones? Welcome t'New Alhira. Hope y'enjoy the festival." Even in the muted roar of outgoing and incoming vessels, the sounds of revelry can be dimly heard coming from the main street outside the spaceport, a low roar of hundreds of conversations and half a dozen different sources of music and the distinctive blares of games. Vriik hisses and glances in the direction of the main center of activity. He gruffly rolls over, hissing to himself as he watches the are around himself. "Meet me here, he sayssss." He hisses a sigh, smoothing his rill back. "I'll be right on time, he sayssss." Shadowstrike stands near the Militia Hangar, eyes and ears alert. He adjusts his uniform for a moment, then begins moving towards the spaceport, tail swishing softly behind him. Trueguard sighs once and begins to walk towards the Decon coridor, attention focused on his destination. His hand strays to where his Rapier used to be for a second. Shadowstrike heads into Decon Corridor . Shadowstrike has left. Trueguard heads into Decon Corridor . Trueguard has left. A group of revelers, looking as if they have already started with their own private little party before arriving, tumble out of a recently landed shuttle, exclaiming incomprehensible jokes to each other with loud laughter as they head toward the decon corridor. Sanctuary Avenue The freshly paved Sanctuary Avenue is a broad strip extending directly out from the spaceport, lined by large buildings that eventually give way to smaller stores, the more personable ones extending on to Brightstar Boulevard. In the distance, the Stubtooth Mountains loom over the western horizon, scattered forests smudging the scenery in between with patches of dark green. The doors to all the shops along the street have been thrown wide, not only welcoming the cool, mild breeze, but the potential customers who crowd the walks. Booths and stands sporting crafts, food, and games have also been set up along the walk's edges, overshadowed by ad-hoc awnings made from bright patches of cloth streaming trails of rainbow-colored cloth strips. The main street itself has been cordoned off, all traffic rerouted through the smaller side streets, allowing entertainers and strollers alike to move freely down its center. Trueguard arrives from Militia Compound . Trueguard has arrived. Snowmist strolls down the forest trail toward Sanctuary Avenue, in a much calmer state this time. The reason why might be apparent as a small black and white kit fusses in her arms, occasionally emitting a frustrated yowl as he squirms. Spaceport Lobby Argenttail arrives from Spaceport Lobby . Argenttail has arrived. Shadowstrike chuckles softly at Snowmist's plight, smiling softly as he looks about the festivities. His eyes and ears are mobile, observing the scene around him, tail flicking softly behind him as he walks. "Dribgib!" a grizzled, orange-furred Demarian hawks from a stand, flanked on either side by younger replicas of himself busily handing out portions and collecting credits in exchange. "Fried and roasted dribgib! Basted in sweet sauce, only the choicest portions are used!" Trueguard exits the Militia Compound looking in a much better mood. His paw rests on the hilt of his silver and gem decorated Rapier. He scans the area shortly before walking towards the Dribgib stand his tail flicking about in random directions. "Ill take one please." He says with a smile. Shadowstrike is standing near the Spaceport exit, observing the events. Snowmist is walking towards the Avenue from the Forest Trail, while Trueguard has just stepped out of the Militia compound. Snowmist hikes the kit - little more than a year old with white fur and black points - a little higher on her shoulder, absently stroking his back as she heads toward the nearest row of stands, perhaps thinking to distract him. "Hush, 'Tip...why can't y'be a good kit like your brother an' sister an' sleep, like any normal cub?" As the twin suns slowly sink to the horizon, the brilliant splashes of colors engendered across the dome of the sky are soon complemented by a scattering of earth-born stars across the street. Lights, hung in great, criss-crossing webs for the occasion, twinkle and glitter in dozens of shades. The grizzled Demarian nods to Trueguard, booming in the same, oratorious voice, "One for the fine gentleman here!" Perfunctorily reaching around one of his sons and snatching a sample from his paws, he extends it toward Trueguard with a wink. "A special for those in the Militia. Three creds only." His son, finding his paws suddenly empty, sighs resignedly and reaches for more. Trueguard grins a little "Thank you" he says as he recieves the food. Argenttail steps out onto the boulevard, looking rather amazed at the amount of revelry going on. He walks up to the nearest fellow Demarian, who happens to be Shadowstrike, and says, "Good evening, sir... Might I inquire of you why all the celebration is going on? I've been out of touch for quite some time, to put it mildly." He maintains what appears to be a respectful distance. Blacktip mrrowls disgruntledly, refusing to settle despite the distraction of bright colors, lights, and activities, tail curling and uncurling agitatedly as he tries to crawl over his mother's shoulder. Sighing, Snowmist expertly turns the kit around to face the rows of windchimes, kites, and airsocks that festoon one stand. "Look, 'Tip, would y'like one o' these t'play with at home?" Shadowstrike turns towards Agenttail, smiling lightly. "I suppose I've got an answer for you. We're celebrating the rebuilding of New Alhira's shipyard, structures, and Military, to some extent. It promises to be an interesting time." His voice is warm and friendly as he extends a paw, "I'm Shadowstrike." The grizzled Demarian nods with an expansive gesture of an arm, making his other son duck hastily lest he be accidentally beheaded. "Of course, of course! And tell your friends to come by Blizzardmane's stand, hm?" Strains of music from the local station emit from speakers hidden cleverly in corners and plant arrangements, providing a low, background noise that is easily overcome by casual conversation and the occasional, private groups of entertainers. Volidana arrives from Spaceport Lobby . Volidana has arrived. Sharpeye arrives from Forest Trail . Sharpeye has arrived. Shadowstrike is standing near the spaceport exit, speaking with Argenttail. Volidana looks at the surrounding activity with a smile, bright eyes drinking it all in Trueguard smiles and after reaching beneath his cloak, his paw dumps four credits into the counter. "Thank you." he says, keeping a friendly tone in his voice. He then turns and after taking a bite of the food, strolls leasurely through the crowd towards Shadowstrike. Snowmist is standing before one of the stands set nearer the forest, trying to engage Blacktip in one of the many chimes, kites, and windsocks hanging around its eaves. The white-furred, seal-point kit, however, is having none of it as he tries to squirm out of her arms once again with a loud, frustrated squeal, ears flattening. The grizzled Demarian serving at the dribgib stand beams broadly after Trueguard at the extra credit and booms after him in what is becoming apparent is his normal volume of speech, "Tell your friends they're welcome to the special as well!" Sharpeye strolls onto the avenue from the forest trail, walking leisurely over toward Snowmist and the stand she is near. He waves to those nearby. Snowmist sighs again, this time more exasperatedly as she rolls her eyes heavenward. "Got any advice?" she asks the amused vendor wryly, before she catches a glimpse of Sharpeye's approach and smiles wanly toward him. "The only one who refused t'sleep," she calls to him as soon as he is within earshot. "All the others're nappin' as if they're preparin' for later mischief, when our guards're down an' they're all fully charged." Shadowstrike nods to Trueguard as the Naval Officer approaches, a smile creeping across his face. "Hello, Trueguard. How are you?" His eyes and ears flick around gently, his tail twitching softly behind him. Sharpeye grins, peering toward Blacktip. "Nah, I think the reason he refused is cuz he drew the short straw and was assigned to be the one who had to endure all the loud noises of the celebration and get lots of food from the vendors to bring back for the other two." Trueguard shrugs as he approaches Shadowstrike and stops near him. "All right, you?" He says in a slightly cheerfull tone. His ear begins to flick madly, and without missing a step he puts a paw on it to cease his annoying habit. "Dribgib!" a grizzled, orange-furred Demarian hawks from a stand, flanked on either side by younger replicas of himself busily handing out portions and collecting credits in exchange. "Fried and roasted dribgib! Basted in sweet sauce, only the choicest portions are used!" A gaggle of children of mixed races suddenly race by and around Volidana with shrieks of laughter, narrowly colliding on several occasions. One particular little girl, having trouble keeping up, trips as she tries to avoid the Vollistan and squeaks a quick, "Sorry!" as she clutches at the edges of the woman's tunic. Snowmist harrumphs with a twitch of her whiskers as she looks down at the suspiciously quiet Blacktip after all his fussing. "S'that so? I thought y'liked noise. You're certainly the noisiest of the lot at home." The kit grudgingly flicks an ear back toward her voice, but doesn't otherwise respond, sulking. Shadowstrike nods, "I am well, Trueguard. It is good to see you out and about." He chuckles, "I'm sure you've had a lovely past few days." His eyes and ears are partially focused on Trueguard, his tail flicking behind him. Mikokin arrives from Hangar . Mikokin has arrived. Mikokin wanders into the milling crowd, his coat flapping abit in the comforting breeze. He looks about at all the commotion with a smile and watches the people celebrating and rejoicing happily. Sniffing the air he makes his way to a pastry stand. Trueguard nods with a smile "It certianly /is/ good to be out of that place, I see you did as I requested." He says, tapping his Rapier "Thank you my friend." He then turns his attention to gazeing among the crowds for people he knows. Snowmist is standing before a stand bearing windchimes, kites, and windsocks, cradling a sulking kit with white fur and black seal-points as she attempts to distract him with the objects. Sharpeye stands beside her, just joining the festival. "Dribgib!" a grizzled, orange-furred Demarian hawks from a stand, flanked on either side by younger replicas of himself busily handing out portions and collecting credits in exchange. "Fried and roasted dribgib! Basted in sweet sauce, only the choicest portions are used!" Volidana smiles down at the child and looks for a place to sit where she'll be less of an obstruction flecks of orange dancing in her aura, a faint happy hum coming from her lips Shadowstrike is standing near Trueguard and Argenttail, near the Spaceport. Mikokin tilts his head, hearing the Dribgib vendor's invitation. Without hesitation he veers towards the stand, clinking around in his pocket for some sandtoothes. Orkkerrkr arrives from Spaceport Lobby . Orkkerrkr has arrived. Mikokin is weaving through the crowds to get to the Dribgib stand. Orkkerrkr skitters in from the Spaceport, studying the area with large multifaceted eyes. Shadowstrike is standing near Trueguard and Argenttail, near the Spaceport. Snowmist is standing before a stand bearing windchimes, kites, and windsocks, cradling a sulking kit with white fur and black seal-points as she attempts to distract him with the objects. Sharpeye stands beside her, just joining the festival. Mikokin finds himself somewhat lost due to his short stature. Sniffing in the air for the delicious aroma of the the fried dribgibs he continues to meander through the people, finally bumping into the stand. Mikokin looks up cheerfully, "I'd like a fried dribgib if you would please." He holds his hand out containing some sandtoothes. Shadowstrike chuckles, glancing down at the Rapier. "Good. I'm glad you were able to get it back. You didn't quite look the same without it." He smiles warmly, glancing around at the festivities. The grizzled Demarian continues orating for a few more sentences before he abruptly blinks, one ear swivelling down, and then leans down toward the Castori. "Ah, yes. Come to try Blizzardmane's delicious, homemade recipe? A portion for only three credits, good being." Trueguard nods with a decisive "mmm" and continues to scan the area, still holding his paw over his ear to prevent twitching on its part. Blacktip swings his stubby muzzle toward the spaceport, sulks a little harder, and then abruptly bucks in his mother's arms with a loud yowl, voice rising in pitch toward a full-fledged tantrum. Snowmist growls and hastily changes her grip before the kit slips out of her arms. "All right, that's it. Guess if he wants away from this place so much, 'm happy t'oblige 'im..." Orkkerrkr skitters over to a nearby building and stands, leaning against it. He studies the area carefully, antennae wiggling. Mikokin puts his hand back in his pocket to redeposit the sandtoothes and fishes vigorously for some credits, "Uh, okay. Just a sec." He continues to search vehemtely, finally smiling happily and producing some credits. "Here you go." "Hey, 'Tip," Sharpeye says with small grin, "if you behave yourself, I'll take y' to your grandmother later. You can eat a whole dish of ice cream." The explosion might have gone unnoticed in the general festivities, being little more than a muffled crump and boom, as if someone had attempted to muffled it with a giant pillow, more felt than heard. However, even as the beings streaming between the spaceport and the main strip slow to look around in puzzlement, a darkened warehouse sitting nearby shudders, and begins to fold in on itself, descending with a ponderous grace to the ground. And that, if nothing else, begins the general pandemonium of screams and exclamations as those nearby scramble quickly away. Orkkerrkr looks over the warehouse and tilts his head, "Okdd...Thkey mkust bke pkreparing spkecial ekffect shkows..." he watches over the house with curiosity. Volidana smiles at the family "A spirited little one that is" she says Jumping at the crashing of the warehouse, a flash of purple for surprise lighting her aura Mikokin, about to pay for his food, turns to see what is going on. He tilts his head curiously at the folding warehouse, oblivious to the panic about it. He watches it like a child might an animal they had never seen before. Shadowstrike's ears focus on the explosion, his head snapping around as he sees it. His relaxed posture tightens a bit, his hand flying, as if by instinct, to his sidearm. His tail flicks behind him in agitation. Blizzardmane appropriates yet another portion from one of his sons and extends it toward the Castori, happily gathering up the change. "There you go! An extra large sample, so you can put on a bit more mass there - " His ears flatten with a wince as he looks toward the spaceport, eyes narrowed. "Altheor's teeth..." he growls beneath his breath. Sharpeye's ear swivels at the sound and he turns around just in time to see the smoke begin to pour from the building. "Just great..." he mutters, scrubbing a hand through his mane. "Something must have gone wrong with the fireworks. But I didn't think we had that many in storage." He pulls out his commlink. Mikokin almost unknowingly pays the Demarian and accepts his food. He takes a bite out of the morsel as he continues to watch the building with great interest, though the rich spicy flavors of the dribgib soon draw his attention away. Snowmist snorts, her tail whipping across the back of Sharpeye's legs in rebuke. "Don't encourage 'Tip...*or* your mother, for that matt - " She bites off the rest of her sentence, head whipping toward the source of the explosion even as Blacktip grows suddenly still. "Dear stars," she comments almost casually. Trueguard almost jumps out of his uniform in surprise, he recovers quickly and whirls about in a low posture, a paw on his sidearm. He frowns at what he sees. "What the?..." Sharpeye speaks into his commlink, "Emergency situation at a warehouse on Sanctuary Avenue. All available Fire Department personnel, respond immediately." Volidana takes her stylus from her ear and begins scribbling furiously trying to record the chaos around her Mikokin continues to munch on his dribgib, occasionally licking the sauces from his snout, as he reenters the crowds. Orkkerrkr gives a brief shrug and skitters away. Orkkerrkr heads into Spaceport Lobby . Orkkerrkr has left. The sirens begin almost before Sharpeye speaks into his comm, emergency crews abruptly scrambling into existence as they begin to clear a path down the center of the road. From the firestation and Brighstar Boulevard, trucks and an ambulances begin to edge their way toward the spaceport through the crowds. Mikokin wanders through the crowd, enjoying his dinner infinitely. He takes note of some of the Demarian children, happily discovering other spectators of the nights events that share his height. He continues to stroll down the avenue, unwittingly drawing closer to the warehouse of concern. Trueguard perks at the sound of the emergency vehicles, then begins the attmept of clearing the crowds to create a path. "Allright, Make some room people!" He says gently pushing the people back out of the expanding path. Mikokin hears the sirens of the emergency vehicles and kindly steps as far out of there way as he can without being rude to others. He then returns to his wonderful meal, licking up some of the sauce that attempts to run down his hand. Sharpeye frowns at the response from his comm before looking quickly toward Mist. "Get 'Tip back to the house and lock it up. Now." The warehouse seems to have settled into an almost neat pile, rubble piled high with few pieces littered further than fifteen feet from the main site. Dust hangs suspended in the air above it as debris slowly settles. Argenttail runs toward where he heard the blast, looking to find out exactly what happened. Argenttail heads into Road . Argenttail has left. Argenttail arrives from Road . Argenttail has arrived. Argenttail heads into Brightstar Blvd . Argenttail has left. Shadowstrike nods to Trueguard and follows his lead, attempting to herd the crowd away from the explosion while he pulls his comm out of his pocket and speaks into it, trying to contact the Militia base for instructions. Argenttail arrives from Brightstar Blvd . Argenttail has arrived. Snowmist stares after the commotion for a bit longer before she abruptly nods, jaw tightening. Hugging the unprotesting and strangely quiescent kit to her chest, she turns abruptly and strides down the forest trail. Snowmist heads into Forest Trail . Snowmist has left. Argenttail walks slowly back down the street, still looking for an access to the area that the blast apparently came from. Argenttail heads into Spaceport Lobby . Argenttail has left. Argenttail arrives from Spaceport Lobby . Argenttail has arrived. Personnel, in a mix of off-duty uniforms and civilian clothing, have started to cordone off the area, politely but firmly turning back spectators. "Please remain behind the lines," a young Demarian male declares, spreading out his arms. "We don't know if anything's stable yet." Mikokin continues his happy trek, showing little care or the lack of proper concern, as the people begin moving hurriedly in the opposite direction, bumping into him. He excuses himself a couple times before finally being overwhelmed and knocked down. Shadowstrike stops attempting to herd people and moves towards the explosion area, his gaze alert. His eyes are intent upon the building's remains, his ears quivering. The white tip of his tail, apparently under it's own control, flicks back and forth. As the initial panic slowly subsides, curiosity moves in to take its place, though many still remember to keep a healthy distance from the blast site. Murmurs abound as questions and opinions fly as to what had happened, and the crowds move almost reluctantly to let the emergency vehicles by as they finally reach the collapsed warehouse. Trueguard continues to push the people back the people gently but firmly "Stay back, please this is for your own safety." He says in a firm voice before surveying the area quickly. "Allright," he calls to some of the other, younger militia members, "Lets get the people as far away from the warehouse as possible while maintaining the road." Sharpeye slowly makes his way over toward the disaster site, eyes narrowed and alert as he looks around for anything out of place. Volidana glances toward mikokin, a mix of amusement an concern in her eyes as she offers a hand to the castori Around the edges of the rubble, a shadow moves, stepping nimbly over and through the mess from behind. Cloaked, it pauses briefly as if surveying the line of people beyond. The militia near Trueguard nod and move to do as he says with a smattering of absent, "Yessirs". Vriik arrives from Spaceport Lobby . Vriik has arrived. Parias arrives from Spaceport Lobby . Parias has arrived. Vriik steps out of the Spaceport, hissing as he surveys the area. His rill flex forward as he nictates his eye membranes, backing safely to a wall, watching his vicinity. The festival has ground to an abrupt and complete halt as previous revelers now stand in dense clumps, murmuring and staring. Emergency vehicles surround the site of what looks to have once held a warehouse, now collapsed into rubble. Militia, in varying forms of civilian and uniformed dress, are putting up an ad hoc barricade and urging people to step back as they investigate. Mikokin wheezes a couple times as a felinoid or two carelessly step on him in their distraction. He accepts Volidana's hand with a gracious smile and stands up, brushing the dust off his white lab coat futiely, then looks sadly at what's left of his dinner. It lies caked in sand and dirt, the flavor ruined. Mikokin sags his shoulder then he looks up and thanks Volidana, "Thanks alot. Little guy like me goes unnoticed usually. You're really nice. What's your name? Your pretty you know that? I haven't met anyone like you before. Have you met any like me before? You should come see Castor sometime. Soon I will have my own cottage, maybe you can come over for cocoa. What do you think?" Shadowstrike sees a shadow of a being in the rubble and moves through the barricades, tracking the shadow with his eyes and ears as he moves, as stealthily as he is able, towards the figure. His eyes and ears are intent on the cloaked figure, his tail falling still. Parias follows right behind Vriik. He stands alongside him at the wall. He surveys the seen, the rubble of the warehouse is reflected off his sunglasses. The moons of Demaria also reflect off his sunglasses as he looks up in the sky for a moment. He carries at ready his pulse rifle. Argenttail stands off to one side of the chaos, his eyes following the stalking Demarian and trying to decipher just what is is that he's stalking. He looks down for a moment, trying to think what the other knows that he doesn't. As stealthy as Shadowstrike tries to be, there is little to conceal him and the cloaked figure that skulks about the rubble's edge has apparently been waiting for just such an approach. Stiffening, it doesn't move for a few moments, but waits for his approach before abruptly flinging something toward the pilot and scrambling back the way it had come, where the warehouse's rear had been. Trueguard begins to round up strays and urge them back towards safety. Then, seeing things more or less under controll begins to follow Shadowstrike, peering about the area. Vriik hisses as he catches a sharp movement from the corner of his eye. Backing against the wall tightly, he hisses and tenses, eye membranes sliding over his retinas protectively. Shadowstrike bends down and picks the small object up, tucking it into a pocket as he draws his sidearm and sprints after the shadowy form. His eyes try to pick the being out of the rubble as he moves. Parias begins scanning where Vriik is looking. He quietly tries to find movement, or anything out of the ordinary. There are a few glimpses of sharp movement that might have been the trailing edge of a dark cloth. But the lead is too great, and the mysterious figure soon disappears in the maze of side-streets the compose the warehouse district behind the spaceport. Trueguard frowns, quickening his pace to catch up with Shadowstrike. "Hey, watch it, that could be a grenade!" Volidana smiles at barrage of comments and questions, a pleasant pink akin to a human blush lights her aura as she says "Why thank you, I'm Volidana a Light singer. Your Castori aren't you. No I've not yet had the pleasure to actually speak to one of your race" Argenttail looks where Shadowstrike had been and sees an object fly out of what looks like empty space towards the elder Demarian. He begins wondering just what it was and why it came flying out of empty space. He watches the Demarian run toward the back of the rubble that used to be the warehouse, chasing after empty air, and looks rather perplexed. Vriik uncovers an eye, folding back the membrane. Seeing no smoking pile of Demarian flesh, he lets out a sigh. "There'ssss no fun here, no chaosss. No looting." He hisses a sigh to himself again and plucks at his chinscales. The young male Demarian that had been helping with the herding of the crowds looks around, and upon spying Sharpeye, trots over to him, saluting smartly despite his casual dress of shirt and breeches. "Shortclaw Pebbleback, Sir. I spoke with you earlier concerning my friend, the demolitions trainee?" Parias catches sight of Shadowstrike running through the rubble of the warehouse. He says quietly to Vriik, "I know that Demarian. I'm going to see what the hell is going on." He begins walking away from the wall and towards Shadowstrike, picking his way through the rubble." Shadowstrike shakes his head lightly, cursing softly in Demariese before turning and heading back towards the main crowd. He moves back over the barricades and towards the spaceport slowly, eyes and ears intent upon the area. He appears in deep thought. Sharpeye nods, returning Pebbleback's salute. "Yes. What the hell happened here?" he asks, eyes scanning over the rubble. Parias continues to make his way to Shadowstrike. When he gets close enough he calls the Demarian pilots name. "Shadowstrike." Volidana blinks and flecks of purple light her aura once more as the barely calmed tension seems to rise again Mikokin grows happy again and his eyes shine nearly as brightly as does his smile, "Yes, that is correct. I am a Castori. A light singer huh? So when you sing does light come out? Sorta like now? I bet when you sing it sounds real pretty. I don't know anyone that can glow. Did you learn how to do that? I wish I could glow. That way people would notice me more. I'd be able to go into the caves at home by myself also cause I'm a little afraid of the dark, but don't tell anyone. They make fun of me already. But I don't mind, I like being small. I get to have a different perspective on things. Have you ever had a dribgib? They really good. I had one for dinner. Did rather. Oh and did you see that building fall down? I need to speak with the builders. I should invent a better bolt for them." Shadowstrike recognizes Parias instantly, patting the pocket with the scroll gently as he speaks to the man. "Parias, I'll be back in a few moments. I've got to get this to my commanding officer immediately." His eyes and ears are intent as he moves towards the Imperator slowly. Pebbleback unconsciously tips an ear back toward the warehouse though he continues to remain at attention. "We're still not sure, Sir, though the crews are coming in now. They'll have a more thorough report for you soon. But it's definitely expert work. Nothing else but that particular building was touched. Lucky all it took with it was the stuff that had been stored inside; the festival probably took all late-night shifts out of it." Vriik hisses and makes his way over to the little Castori, watching Parias depart. He looks down at the furry individual. "I ssssaw you on the landing pads, earlier." He plucks at his chinscales, glancing at the Light Singer. "You I've ssseen asss well." Argenttail nods toward Vriik, and says, "Thank you for help getting here, sir." Mikokin notices Volidana's change in gaze and looks around. He takes renewed interest in the warehouse then catches the glow of Volidana again and turns to watch her some more. He pulls down his goggles and begins scanning and recording the marvelous phenomena for later study. Trueguard continues to change his course to meet up with Shadowstrike. Then follows slightly behind him wordlessly. Sharpeye nods, frowning slightly. "Yes.... Take samples of the debris. I want to know exactly what kind of explosives were used. And I want them traced back to their source, if possible." Eyes flicking toward the approaching Shadowstrike, he calls out to him. "What have you got there, officer?" Shadowstrike stops several feet away from the Imperator and salutes crisply, withdrawing the scroll with his left paw. "Sir, someone or something threw this at me when I attempted to pursue their shadow, sir." He holds the scroll out for the Imperator, a grim look on his face. Scroll - 19233 A tightly rolled scroll made of a material similar to papyrus, it is kept in its shape by a ring, about the size of what might fit over a thumb, composed of an opaque, smoky blue lazurite polished to a high sheen. Of exquisite workmanship, the ring seems to bear a seal of some sort, a bas-relief cutinto a flat, broad oval depicting some abstract design overlaid by familiar weapons - a crossed Demarian battle axe and dagger. The ring may be slipped off to allow the scroll to be UNROLLED. Vriik hisses and continues watching the Castori, a slightly amused showing of fangs adorning his snout. He is, for those who know him, rarely amused. Flicking his gaze back to The Vollistan and the Demarian, he nictates an eye membrane. "What occurred?" Parias continues to follow Shadowstrike but he stops as Shadowstrike reaches Sharpeye. He waits silently as they have a conversation. Argenttail runs from the site of the blast toward the spaceport.. he looked a little shocked and a little annoyed. Trueguard salutes in kind, almost being ignored by those present he frowns a little but says nothing, his tail flicks wildly about and so does his ear. Argenttail heads into Spaceport Lobby . Argenttail has left. Sharpeye lifts a brow as he takes the scroll from Shadowstrike, unrolling it and looking it over. The papyrus has a thick, coarse grain to it, and uncurls stiffly when it is unrolled. Upon it is written the following words in type-uniform calligraphy, the ink a purplish, off-black shade: Tresspasses will no longer be tolerated. Cease all activities within the mountains immediately. There will be no guarantees if this warning is not heeded. Volidana smiles and nods at Vrik as she makes a valiant attempt to reply to Mikokan's speil "Actually I don't sing incrediably well at least not for someone of my race. I'm a writer and a bit of an actress." Sharpeye takes Scroll - 7413. Pebbleback salutes with a sharp, "Yessir," and about-faces, heading back to the crews currently going over the scene. Sharpeye's frown deepens. "Can you give a description of the person who threw this at you? We might still be able to catch them. They couldn't have gotten outside the city already." Volidana turns to Vrrik "An explosion of some sort...I think they believe it was set." Shadowstrike shakes his head, "No, sir. I'm afraid that by the time I saw them, they were far enough away that I could discern a shadowy shape. All I can tell you, sir, is that they were wearing a cloak, sir. Very few details, sir. I won't even hazard a guess as to their race, sir." His eyes and ears are intent, his tail curled down behind his back. Orkkerrkr arrives from Spaceport Lobby . Orkkerrkr has arrived. Vollabianus arrives from Spaceport Lobby . Vollabianus has arrived. Sharpeye nods. "But they walked on two legs?" he asks with a tilt of his head as he thinks things over. Orkkerrkr skitters out of the spaceport following a Vollistan. Mikokin catches Vriik's question and turns happily, "Well you see that building over there? It just made a whump sound and fell down. Poor craftsmanship I say. Like I told the glowing lady here, I would like to invent a better bolt for them. Anyway where was I? Oh yeah! Well you see I was eating my dinner when it fell over then all these sirens went offf and I got stepped on, then the nice lady helped me up, but my dinner was ruined," he points to the dusty dribgib, "And then i was talking with her and we arrive at the present. Did you know you look like a big lizard? I've seen others like you. Some bigger some smaller. Is there something wrong with you? Why aren't you smaller? I'm small but I hope to be big one day. I'm inventing a machine that can change the size of an object proportionally. Would you like to use it when I make it?" he looks hopefully at Vriik. Vollabianus strides out in a harsh red glow, glancing around ferverishly. He begins to make his way through the crowds. Blizzardmane, watching impassively all this time from his stand, chuffs and wiggles his whiskers. "Well, I'm betting Altheor's teeth that quite a few will be hungry after all that excitement," he rumbles half to himself before surveying his immediate domain and then proclaiming in his usual roar, "Dribgib! Fresh roasted and fried dribgib! Basted in the finest sauce developed on the planet!" Orkkerrkr skitters after the Vollistan, watching over him closely. Mikokin hears Blizzardmane's call and darts into the crowd again, forgetting his conversation, but calling out "Bye!" so as not to be to rude. He hurriedly waddles to the stand, exploring his coat for credits. Shadowstrike nods, "Yes, sir. Ran, rather, but my best guess would say a humanoid, sir. I regret not being closer, sir, or I would hopefully be able to give you a more accurate report, sir." He remains at a crisp attention stance, speaking clearly. Various hawkers, merchants, and other hosters slowly wake up with Blizzardmane's quite startling announcement after the induced hush, and voices beginrising once more as they struggle to move the festival underway once more, now that the danger - what there had been of it - has been contained. Trueguard begins to look over the area once again then sighs slightly. His ear flicks madly and he covers it with a paw. Sharpeye nods. "Alright, thank you. I'm going to warn Gleaming Star. A similar attack might take place during their own festivities." Vriik hises and remains silent while the Castori jabbers on. Hissing a chuckle non-sarcastically, he plucks at his chinscales and watches the ursinoid creature depart. Glancing at those nearby, he inclines his head and departs, heading toward the roasted-fowl vendor. Volidana notices a familliar face and runs to see if she can catch up with labby's hurried pace Vollabianus slips through the crowd rather swiftly, seeming to flow through it like liquid. A couple of times he glances behind him to make sure the Odarite can keep up, although the deep red glow is probably enough of a beacon to distinguish him from most others. Mikokin relies on his nose again to find his way through the lumbering crowd, likening them unto the huge trees of Castor, whose tops cannot be seen from the ground, as is his current predicament. Reaching his destination he smiles and says, "Another please!" and hands out his paw, holding three credits. Shadowstrike nods, saluting crisply, then calls out to a group of Militia Marines near him. He says in Demarese, "Marines, there is a human male standing behind me. He is wanted on Mars for terrorism, attempted murder, and probably desertion. Though we may not be closely allied with Mars, I believe it is our duty to retrieve this criminal and at least take him off of the streets." He speaks officially and clearly, his eyes and ears remaining on the Imperator, as if he was still speaking to him. His tail flicks lightly behind him as he speaks. Parias sees that Sharpeye and Shadowstrike are done talking. He says to Shadowstrike, "Here kitty, kitty." A blank expression on his face. Shadowstrike drops his salute, nodding once to the Imperator, then turns towards Parias, chuckling softly. "What do you want, Parias?" His tail flicks softly behind him, his eyes and ears intent on the man. Blizzardmane gives a rumbling chuckle as he notes the diminutive figure before his stand again, and amiably hands down another sauce-dripping portion in exchange for the credits. "Finished already? Perhaps you should consider buying a whole bird." Parias grins slightly at Shadowstrike. He walks closer to him and looks around to see if anyone else is paying attention. He says, "So what really happened here? And what was on that scroll? Shadowstrike shrugs, "What happened here? A bombing. What was on the scroll? That's not information I can or will give you." He smiles lightly, chuckling. His tail flicks lightly behind him as he speaks to the man. Vriik hisses as he pulls up behind the Castori. "Give me an entire bird." He hisses as he plucks a fifty-sandtooth note from a pocket, passing it to the vendor. "Keep the change." He hisses down, tears off a leg of the fowl viciously, and begins to knaw on it. Glancing down at Mikokin carefully, he hands down the large roasted animal. Parias looks around again silently. He waits till he is once again sure no one notices the two talking. He says, "That's a bit hasty, Shadowstrike. Surely there is some way we can work something out? If that scroll contained information about bombings that are going to occur it could become very....profitable....if you know what I mean." Mikokin chuckles and says, "My size beguiles my appetite." He turns to walk away, hesitating to consider chatting some more, then proceeds to walk off, positive he'll find something amazing in the crowd. He remembers the light singer and makes a mental note to go over his observations when he gets back to Sanctuary. Looking down he frowns at the sauce spot on his already dirty coat. Shruging carelessly he decides he has to wash it anyway so returns to his previous merry state of strolling down the avenue. Sharpeye heads into Forest Trail . Sharpeye has left. Trueguard's frown deepens as he is completely ignored. Scowling slightly he begins to walk towards the Militia Compound. Shadowstrike shakes his head. "I doubt you could convince me to tell you, Parias. It's nothing personal, but you're not Demarian, you're not Militia, and you're not a higher rank then I am." He chuckles, "Eventually, there may be a chance I'll tell you. This instant? It'd take a lot." Vollabianus slips farther amongst the crowd, until he spots something a little further in. Turning back to Orkkrrkr with a wide smile, he darts further into the crowd. Vriik hisses and follows behind the Castori, apparently interested in little fuzzy being. Gnawing on the meat of the leg, his fangs gnashing viciously, he seems deep in thought. An eye membrane nictates as he glances again down the fuzzy being, pondering something. Blizzardmane reflexively bristles at the Grimlahdi's 'takeover', but upon seeing the note that had been shoved into his paw, tucks it away without comment. "Enjoy," he rumbles noncomittally, turning his attention to other customers. Orkkerrkr bobs his head and leaves Vollabianus in his chase. He stands on his two back legs, looking vigilantly over the crowd now. Vargas arrives from Hangar . Vargas has arrived. Parias chuckles at Shadowstrike and says, "You haven't changed much." He thinks for a moment and says, "If you were to tell me what was on the scroll there may be a chance I could help capture your bomber or bombers. While I'm sure Demaria will eventually be able to capture them it would move a lot faster if there was someone on the lookout that didn't have to follow the.....books." He looks around quickly and says, "There may also be a profit to be made by you. Trueguard walks over to the Militia entrance but instead of entering, leans against a wall. Vargas steps wearily out of the SBI hangar. He yawns and makes his way toward the spaceport lobby. Orkkerrkr takes a few monments in his watching to notice Shadowstrike. He clacks his mandibles silently as he walks to approach him at a casual pace. He does not yet notice Parias. Shadowstrike raises an eyebrow. "Parias, I'm sorry. Giving out classified information could very well get me killed. I'm not really looking forward to that. The Militia has already sent out teams to find the being. Chances are, they will not leave this city." He shrugs, "I'm sorry, but I cannot tell you what's on the scroll. I was not paying all that much attention, either." Mikokin walks along the avenue, not a care in the world beyond the meat in his hand. He sniffs the wonderful smell and takes alick of the sauce before biting into it. Stepping aside out of a large Demarian's path, he searches the street's length for something interesting. Argenttail arrives from Spaceport Lobby . Argenttail has arrived. Trueguard continues to lean against a wall and scowl slightly. His tail flicks about, pausing after each movement. He takes a paw away from his ear that is now still. Parias smirks at Shadowstrike and saying, "Not paying attention. I find it hard to beleive that you didn't read the scroll before giving it to Sharpeye. I mean come on, we go way back. You know that any information I get regardless of the source is kept comletely confidential." He then looks around and says very quietly so only Shadowstrike can here, "Perhaps 900 credits will convince you?" Vriik hisses and reaches a clawed hand down to catch a grip onto the Castori's shoulder. Now, he's a large lizard, but he does it with his best of gentleness. Smoothing his rill back, his eyes focus on the Castori. "You interested in a job, there, little buddy?" He hisses, flicking his tongue out to lick his snout. Orkkerrkr clicks as he finally reaches Shadowstrike, "Gkreetings akgain, Mr. Shkadowstrike. Hkow dkid ykour ikmperator tkake thke akrrest okf okbe okf thkeir skoldiers?" Parias goes silent as Orkkerrkr walks up on Shadowstrike and himself. Shadowstrike shakes his head to Parias, "Not a chance. I'm a soldier, Parias. Not a mercenary or an informant. Money doesn't make my world go 'round." He chuckles, turning to Ork and shrugging lightly. "I've not a clue, Constable. I'm not on personal terms with him." His tail flicks lightly behind him, his eyes and ears intent upon Ork and Parias. Mikokin, though unsuspecting of the sudden stop, turns as if completely unbothered. Licking the sauce from his snout he nods happily, "Yes sir Mr. Reptiloid. That's your scientific name you know. Well not all of it but a generalization after a fashion. As you were saying though, yes I'm looking for a job. Why? Are you too? I put an ad into INN. I could put one in for you if you want me too." Argenttail walks in again from the spaceport, wearing a neutral expression and his normal work clothing. He walks over to the Demarian leaning against that he had seen with Shadowstrike. "Excuse me, sir, but I'd like to know who I might get in touch with to enlist in the Militia?" Vollabianus finally reaches his destination, another brightly glowing Vollistan. She turns before he reaches her, and both of their auras gleam brightly, infused with yellows and flowing greens. ~Libby!~ he sends to her, grinning happily. Her own smile reflecting his, she replies ~Brother! I feared for the worst...~ Parias grins at Shadowstrike and says, "You definetely haven't changed. Always loyal to your cause. Oh well, can't blame you for that." He ponders for a moment and says, "Perhaps you'll join me for a drink later on?" Vargas coughs and mumbles something under his breath in Timonese. He wipes his face with his hand and continues down the road, disappearing into the spaceport. Vargas heads into Spaceport Lobby . Vargas has left. Orkkerrkr tilts his head at the mention of parias and immediatly faces the person Shadowstrike as talking to. his mandibles clack furiously and antennae goes wild. Vriik hisses a non-sarcastic chuckle. "A job, with me. I'm offering you." He nictates his eye membranes, studying the bear. Releasing his grip, he digs his fangs into what remains of the fowl leg, gnawing at the bone. Trueguard glances up at the Demarian addressing him. "Ah, I guess you could apply..... in the Miltia hanger... Three marines form up on either side of Shadowstrike, rifles readied but pointed at the ground. "What's going on here?" the lead marine asks. Parias finishes his statement to Shadowstrike and watches silently as Orkkerrkr goes what seems to be ballistic. He says calmly, "The constable from the Sanctuary station. How nice to see you again." Argenttail nods. "Thank you, sir." He walks off in the general direction of the militia hangar." Meanwhile, in the city of Gleaming Star... Starshine has just entered the square and looks up surprised to her Stumppaw. She approaches him quietly. "Grandfather.. how are you?" Underclassers can be seen rolling carts loaded with roast bumbler and steaming pots of waterstones into the square, and the pleasant aroma of the richgravy begins to waft through the air. Streamers fly in blues and golds from the temple spire and the arena dome. Stumppaw, however, looks anything but celebratory. He stops as Starshine approaches, gnashing his fangs. "How am I? Well, I *was* fine, child. Now I hear we may have terrorists coming to dinner." Whitemane sniffs the air, and sits up, he frowns and flattens his ears though as he hears Stumppaw speak, "Terrorists?" he mock whines, "They always ruin everything..." Starshine myrrs in surprise "Terrorists? What has alerted you to this? " Stumppaw glances toward the distant mountains. "The Imperator sent a courier to alert me. They had a disturbance at the celebration in New Alhira." Whitemane starts to head towards the other nobles, glancing hungrily at the passing carts, "What kind of distrubance Noble Stumppaw?" he asks. Oblivious to the serious subjects being discussed, upperclassers and underclassers mill about the plaza in groups that don't quite mix. Conversations rise and fall with laughter, interspersed with the occasional hawker proclaiming their wares, taking the opportunity to pull in customers. Starshine crosses her arms across her chest. What precautions can we take with this.. do we have any clues as to who these people might be?" Stumppaw shakes his head, twitching his whiskers. "Didn't say. Just said it was a terrorist attack, blamed it on mountain Demarians." Whitemane nods, "I see..well if you wish I could just stand at the gates and beat up on anyone that enters who looks like a mountain dweller.." Stumppaw narrows his eyes, looking toward Sandwalker Road. "Go keep an eye out. And alert the sentries." A gaggle of children of various ages stray near with their chase, with one particular little girl struggling to keep up, nearly running into Whitemane in the process. Whitemane sighs, "Goodie...see if I volunteer for anything again.." he mutters, absently dodging the kit as she passes by. He mutters, "Watch where you're goin...or somethin." Starshine nods looks at Whitemane oddly. "You want me to go to the house to alert them ? Are you going to stay here or go home?" "Sorry sir!" the girl lisps through a gap in her front teeth, already forgetting the incident as she calls after her brothers to wait for her. Stumppaw swings his snout toward Starshine. "You stay right here. I don't know what in Altheor's Teeth we've got in store, but I don't like it. Not one bit." Whitemane waves a paw dismissivly at the retreating youth, he continues on his way, "What? I'm more expendable than the girl? Geez.." he glances at Starshine and winks as he says this. Stumppaw bobs his snout, saying matter-of-factly: "She *is* a Sandwalker." Starshine nods and looks around carefully for a moment thenis distracted by Whitemane. She laughs and shakes her head. "And just prehaps Whitey.. he thinks you are more capable of taking care of yourself." The children continue on, shrieking and laughing as they mill their way toward some of the less populated streets that lead to individual estates. The little girl that had nearly run into Whitemane gives up after a few more shouts after her brothers, and trails desultorily behind as she tries to catch her breath. As she does so, though, her ears rise in sudden interest as something lying in the cultivated gardens around a storehouse and equipment shed catches her eye. Whitemane nods, "Right. Well if we don't come back in an hour or so figure the sand eels ate us." Stumppaw swivels his ears first, then his snout, toward the gardens. His teeth gnash. Starshine is looking toward the spaceport and does not really notice anything unusual until Stumppaw gnashes his teeth. "What is it, Grandfather?" Whitemane blinks at Stumppaw's reaction, and follows, minus the gnashing of teeth. "Umm..what's that girl lookin at?" he asks, starting towards the gardens. Stumppaw calls after Whitemane. "Get her away from it! Now!" The little girl crouches as she stares intently at something, then looks up toward the now distant group of friends in indecision. Her ears soon flatten as her face takes on a pouting expression though, obviously recalling their earlier ignoring of her pleas, and returns to whatever she has found, picking it up from the grass and standing to look it over in more detail. "NO!" Stumppaw calls toward the girl. "Get away!" Stumppaw begins to run, his tail swishing back and forth, ears flattening. Whitemane sighs, "Send the middle ranking noble to get it..he's expendable." he grumbles and starts towards the girl shouting, "Put it down. Put it down. Gently if possible!" Underclassers setting up trays of bumbler stop their work, looking toward the scene transpiring. Starshine gasps and goes running after the others. still not sure what she has picked up. The girl's ears prick alertly as she looks around in surprise at the sudden shouts, staring in wide-eyed incomprehension at Stumppaw and Whitemane. In her hands, she bears something that looks like a roll of paper, encircled by some sort of blue stone. Tail lashing nervously, she begins to back away from the shed and buildings as they run toward her, finally breaking into a run herself with a wail for her brothers. Whitemane grumbles something, and then takes off into a full run after the child, "Great...the children now days...disobedient, nervous...back in my day.." he mutters as he gives chase. Stumppaw gets closer to the shed, stopping, his tail lashing back and forth. His ears remain flattened. Turning toward Starshine, he rubs the stump of his disfigured hand and struggles for breath. "Go...back." The distant children finally pause to look toward the strange chase taking place, finally taking heed of the new note of desperation in the little girl's voice. And as they do so, they are just in time to get a full view of the explosion that seems to shoot straight upwards through the roof of the storage sheds and buildings, fist-sized debris hurled up before coming down along with the walls as the buildings collapse inwards upon themselves. Stumppaw has his back turned as the explosions go off. Starshine stops when she hears Stumppaw.. She screams and runs toward her Grandfather. Whitemane gets knocked forward, and onto his face as the shockwave from the explosion hits him. He skids on the ground for a few feet, and then groans, "Nice..just nice..." he grunts to the dirt, and then spits some of the offending granules out of his mouth. Stumppaw has his furred mane ruffled and tail swung back and forth as the shockwave WHUMPS, and he turns, staggering against the pressure-shove, trying not to fall. He stares at the column of smoke and flame, the wrecked buildings, and then falls down flat on his back. The girl, having not run very far herself on short legs, tumbles ears over tail with the concussive push of air that hurls more dust than actual shrapnel out from the blast site. Stunned, she lies still for a moment before slowly dragging herself into a sitting position, the beginnings of shocked tears welling in her eyes, one paw still clutched tight about her prize. Whitemane slowly starts to pull himself up from the ground, still spitting out dirt and whatever else he may have swallowed in his face dive, he grumbles something to himself and then stalks towards the child. Starshine staggers a little and keeps running until she reaches Stumppaw's side.. "Grandfather are you alright? .. Grandfather?" Moonshadow enters Noble Square from the spaceport. Moonshadow has arrived. Most in the square still stand, shocked, staring at the rubble where a storage building and some sheds had once stood. But a few manage to re-gather their wits, and quickly urge others to check for injuries and to call in emergency vehicles in case of spreading fires. Stumppaw grunts, staring up at the stars and the gleaming silver orb of Sanctuary. "Altheor's Teeth," he snarls. Slowly, he sits up, glowering at the wreckage, the flames reflecting in his eyes. The little girl sniffles hesitantly, not quite breaking out into outright sobs yet, ears flattened nearly into nonexistance against the back of her head, tail curled tightly against a leg. Whitemane gets to the child and reaches out to snatch away whatever the child is holding, he growls, "Gimmie that." as he does this. Seeing that Stumppaw was ok she moved over to the little girl.. "Sweetheart.. are you alright? " she kneels down next to her. "Whitey.. you are going to scare her more.. she has been through enough.. Honey can you give us the ball.. it might hurt you" Moonshadow sniffs the air as she enters Noble Square from the spaceport and stops to look around, trying to figure out what's going on. Stumppaw uses his good hand to brace himself, getting to his feet, dust wafting off him. The girl's eyes snap up toward Whitemane as he reaches down toward her, and suddenly lets go with an ear-piercing scream as she reflexively tightens her hands on the scroll and ring. After all, she was the one who had found it. It's hers by right. Whitemane growls to Starshine, "Someone bombed my home....don't care what the child has been through cuz I'm not too happy right now.." He then grabs for the scroll and ring, "Gimmie that before I hurt you." he intones this time. Moonshadow begins moving towards the ever so gentle Whitemane, she grumbles, "Hey, what's going on?" casting a glance at the child, looking to see which clan she's from. The girl just screams all the louder, curling up into a protective ball around the scroll and kicking out toward Whitemane. Alerted by the adult's bullying, the children whom she had been playing with come at a run, her brothers leading, yelling out a mixture of childish but - to them - quite serious threats. Stumppaw turns slowly, looking in the direction of Whitemane and the children. He begins to stomp toward them, roaring, spreading his arms wide. "Drop the scroll! Drop the ring! Or I'll feed you all to the sand eel!" Whitemane throws his hands up in dispair and says, "Fine. I give up. Somebody just shoot her and take the scroll before rigor mortis sets in." Starshine gives Whitemane a shove. "Shush .. leave her alone. You are scaring her todeath." She gasps when Stumppaw reacts in the same way.. then covers the little girl in a gentle hug. "You both leave her alone and let her calm down.. " then to the boys. "I won't let them hurt her. " Moonshadow stops close to Whitemane, "Pick on someone your own size you big lug." Putting her paws on her hips she looks down at Starshine, "See if you can get that stuff away from her... not sure why anyone wants it, but get her to give it up." The girl suddenly falls silent with a startled, strangled squeak at the abrupt roar from behind her, dropping the scroll as demanded in favor of diving beneath Starshine's arms to scramble behind her, putting the adult between herself and the others. The other children slow down with a confused mutter as well, tails and ears lowering in abashment as the city elder roars. Stumppaw stops as he gets to Starshine's side, snapping his teeth, twitching his ears. "Leave her alone? She holds the answers to terrible devastation! I will see her in the desert, answering to the Sand Mother for her weakness!" She drops the scroll, and he snaps his attention toward it. "Ah, this is much better." Whitemane quickly takes the scroll from the ground and looks it over, "Think its safe to open?" he asks no one in particular. Scroll - 19233 A tightly rolled scroll made of a material similar to papyrus, it is kept in its shape by a ring, about the size of what might fit over a thumb, composed of an opaque, smoky blue lazurite polished to a high sheen. Of exquisite workmanship, the ring seems to bear a seal of some sort, a bas-relief cut into a flat, broad oval depicting some abstract design overlaid by familiar weapons - a crossed Demarian battle axe and dagger. The ring may be slipped off to allow the scroll to be UNROLLED. Starshine growls at Stumppaw and shakes her head. She rocks the frightened child and purrs to her. "its alright baby.. he is just a grumpy old one.. don't pay any attention to him. " Stumppaw nods to Whitemane. "Do it." He looks toward Starshine. "Granddaughter, it worked. Don't cross me." Whitemane nods once, then takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and breaks the ring to open the scroll. The girl gives a last sniffle as she gives herself a shake, then peeks around Starshine long enough to bare her tiny teeth - sans a front fang - at Stumppaw with a rather pitiful but heartfelt growl. Despite the brave front, however, she can't quite keep her tail from betraying a reflexive tremble. Moonshadow purrhrms and looks between the older Demarian and Whitemane, "What's going on, care to fill me in?" The papyrus has a thick, coarse grain to it, and uncurls stiffly when it is unrolled. Upon it is written the following words in type-uniform calligraphy, the ink a purplish, off-black shade: Trespasses will no longer be tolerated. Cease all activities within the mountains immediately. There will be no guarantees if this warning is not heeded. Stumppaw glowers down at the child, his own tail swishing back and forth. He shoves the stump toward her, growling, "Chewed it off myself." Whitemane blinks as appearently the scroll doesn't blow up in his face. He shh's towards Moonshadow, "Quiet...gonna read somethin." he replies before opening the scroll and reading from it. Starshine can't help but laugh at the little girls spirit.."Grandfather.. stop that.. he did not honey.. dont worry ..he is not so bad when you get to know him" She quiets to listen to Whitemane. Moonshadow snickers at Stumppaw frightening the child and then snorts at Whitemane, "Oh yeah, I forgot, you can't read and hear at the same time." The little girl's eyes grow wide and round as she stares at the stump in reluctant fascination, the same astonished look slowly rising toward Stumppaw's face before she shifts a little further behind Starshine. Stumppaw grunts, drawing his stump back. Whitemane sticks his tounge out at Moonshadow, "Hush Puff...and it's um..it's a notice that Tresspassers will no longer be tolerated. We are to cease all activities in the mountains immediatly, and there will be no guaruntees if this warning is not heeded. Feh...bunch of trash." he says, crumpling the scroll and tossing it towards Stumppaw. Stumppaw reaches out to grab it with his good hand. Stumppaw looks the scroll over, unrumpling it. He shakes his head, scowling. "Why? What happened?" He looks toward Starshine. "They seemed civil enough before." Moonshadow flicks a whisker at Whitemane's use of her childhood nickname, then grumbles, "I don't think they liked us using Glass Lake." Starshine shakes her head and keeps her arms around the little girl. "Yes they did.. I have not heard of anything happening. " Whitemane blinks innocently, "Gee ya think?" he replies. The little girl still peeks around Starshine to steal the occasional look at Stumppaw and his stump, her fear slowly forgotten after so many events. Eventually, her brothers recompose themselves and come to collect her with mumbled apologies and furtive glances toward the elder. Stumppaw swings his snout toward Moonshadow. "Do their runners have no legs!?" he shouts, glaring toward the Stubtooth Mountains. Whitemane shrugs, "Wouldn't be very good runners then would they?" Moonshadow glares at Whitemane, then turns to Stumppaw, "The one I saw did. She seemed strange..." Starshine pats the little girl on the head and smiles at her. "Go with your brothers sweetie..You did not do anything wrong. " She gives the brothers a stern look. "Watch out for her..she has had a scare. If your mother has any questions she can come to me" She waves tot he girl and turns back to the others. "do they give you any idea of why .. or what they are thinking?" Stumppaw snarls, shaking his head, then returns his attention to Moonshadow. "We must make contact with them again. I want reparations, and I want them immediately, or I will see their precious mountain encampment bombarded even further into the age of Altheor!" Whitemane sighs, "We're going to reply to their bombing with another one? How quaint. Ya know we COULD just invade them and wipe em all out, probably save us some time and trouble." Stumppaw gnashes his fangs, then looks toward Whitemane, ears twitching for ward. "I meant bombardment from the sky. They are vulnerable. They lack our technology. We will subdue them!" Whitemane shakes his head, "We will not subdue them. They'll just keep bombing us back, eventually they may wise up and use bombs that are meant to kill people and not just destroy buildings. Doesn't take a geinus to see that one, Noble Stumppaw. The only way to TRULY subdue another group is to assimilate them into your own culture, but that takes time..I'm guessing you want an immediate reply to this attack though, so bombing it will be." Moonshadow purrhrms as she smooths down whiskers in a thoughtful gesture, "If they are so vulnerable, how did they know how to make a bomb?" Stumppaw grunts, tail whooshing back and forth. He swings his snout toward Moonshadow. "It doesn't take a genius to build an explosive device. It does, however, require some savvy to develop one that destroys structures with minimal collateral damage." Starshine sighs and looks worried "How can you be sure that this comes from the Mountain people Grandfather.. It could be someone claiming to be them.. You can't just go and bomb them without knowing more about this." Moonshadow nods to Stumppaw, "Maybe for once Whitemane lazy brain has come up with a good idea. They might be of some use if we got them to see Gleaming Star differently." She flicks an ear at Whitemane. Whitemane grumbles, "Whitemane lazy brain my butt.." he replies, and then yawns, "If anyone needs me though...I'll be taking a nice nap by the pool...." he starts to wander towards the water. Stumppaw growls at Whitemane. "Not so fast." Stumppaw nods to Starshine. "You are right, child. This could be a New Alhiran ploy." Moonshadow lifts an eyeridge and looks at Whitemane, "Be sure not to let your lazy butt brain fall in the pool." she snarls. Whitemane stops, "Drat, foiled again." he says, turning towards Stumppaw, "If it was a New Alhiran ploy why would they warn us about a disturbance in their own city?" Starshine breathes a bit easier.. "Or anyone..It could be someone who just wishes to see Demarians at each others throats.. when we need to be united." Stumppaw swings his snout toward Moonshadow. "Take trusted companions and venture into the desert. Approach the mountain dwellers. Determine why they are doing this. Entreat them to come to Gleaming Star to speak." He gnashes his fangs at Whitemane. "It is what I would do to divert suspicion." Moonshadow looks at Stumppaw, "Certainly Noble, I now know where all the sand eel pits are." She growls lightly and suggests, "I think Whitemane should come along this time. Get to know them too." Whitemane raises an eyebrow, "We have no spies there keeping tabs on what really happens over there? I somehow doubt those underclassers would think far enough ahead to think of diverting our suspicions. If I were them I wouldn't say a single word, and then send massive aid to help affect repairs and- - Hey! I met them last time you." he says to Moonshadow. Moonshadow grumbles, "Said get to know them, not meet them." she glances at Whitemane's ears, "Got a jestleahna in your ears?" Starshine slips over to Stumppaw and speaks quietly "I will go back to the house and check on things.. you can let me know what is happening when you get there.. " Starshine waves Stumppaw nods to Moonshadow, then grunts at Whitemane. "Enjoy the trip." He nods to Starshine. Starshine heads into Sandwalker Road . Starshine has left. Whitemane hrmphs, "And why aren't YOU comming along Noble Stumppaw? They did attack your city and all.." A courier underclasser comes running out of the spaceport, datapad in hand. Stumppaw chortles at Whitemane "Because it is my city, and I must oversee repairs." The courier approaches Stumppaw, calling, "Noble Sandwalker!" Stumppaw turns toward the courier, scratching absently at his stump. "More news from across the mountains?" Moonshadow snickers at Whitemane, her poofy tail swishes with glee, "I'll be happy to show you every sand eel pit..." she looks at the underclasser as courier calls out to Stumppaw. The courier nods, bowing as he extends the pad toward Stumppaw. "Noble." Whitemane snorts, "See if I defend YOUR honor again Puff.." he grumbles as he glances at Stumppaw. Stumppaw accepts the pad, reading the message. His whiskers droop visibly as his eyes shift right to left, taking in the Demarian script. Moonshadow attitude sobers at Stumppaws drooping whiskers, "What is it?" She moves a bit closer to the elder trying to get a glance at the datapad. Stumppaw hands the datapad back to the courier. "Tell the Imperator...we will gladly cooperate." His tail swishes back and forth irritably. The underclasser bows again, then scurries back toward the spaceport. Slowly, the elder noble turns toward the others. "Belay your voyage to the mountain dwellers. The source of the explosives was AltheOre Corporation, the Gleaming Star company that mines in the mountains. I suspect that may be the brunt of their concern." He looks at Moonshadow. "Coordinate the effort to contact the mountain dwellers with those in New Alhira." Whitemane blinks, "Traitors did this?" Moonshadow nods to Stumppaw, "Yes, Noble." She glances at Whitemane. Stumppaw shakes his head, looking toward Whitemane. "I doubt it. I suspect the mountain dwellers stole the explosives to make a point." Whitemane nods, "Alright. Could be traitors supplying them though." he mutters. Stumppaw chortles. "That would be most counterproductive." Moonshadow hrms and takes out her datapad, making notes, "Who should I see in New Alhira?" Stumppaw lifts his snout, gazing toward the mountains. "Start with the Imperator and his staff." Whitemane hmphs, "Do I have to go along on this excursion as well?" he asks. Stumppaw nods to Whitemane. "Yes. Take others. Make a regular entourage. Ashow of force." He gnashes his fangs. Whitemane rubs his eyes, "I would have rather gone to the desert...the Sand Eels have more manners than most of the New Alhiran populace." Moonshadow nods and enters something in her datapad. She snarls, "Whitemane, will do you good to do something besides nap for a change. I'll get FastFeet to come with us too." Stumppaw twitches his ears, scratches his stump, then nods to Moonshadow. "Contact me with developments. We will begin repairs immediately." With that, he turns and stomps off toward Sandwalker Road. Moonshadow clicks off her datapad, slipping it back into a pocket as she watches Stumppaw stomp away. She looks at Whitemane and shows a bit of fang, "Will be nice 'working' with you again, lazy butt." Whitemane rolls his eyes, "Right. I call dibs on talking to no one important...meaning the imperator's mate, and all the recruit level soldiers in their militia." Meanwhile, back in New Alhira... Sharpeye frowns as he reads over a report on his datapad. "Well, looks like we found the reason they were upset about 'encroachment into the mountains'," he says. "What would that be?" Snowmist asks as she absently strokes a hand over the back of Blacktip's head, the kit now completely pliable and looking as if he is falling into a half-doze. "Some company from Gleaming Star set up a bunch of mines in the Stubtooth Mountains," Sharpeye answers as he sits down on the couch. Snowmist frowns thoughtfully for a moment before she nods slightly. "Yeah, think I remember somethin' 'bout that. One o' the clans was doin' mining. Dug a little too far, did they?" Sharpeye nods. "I don't know why they would attack New Alhira for that though...." He tilts his head. "Unless they've been given the impression that we're involved with that as well?" Snowmist blows her whiskers forward briefly as she gently settles Blacktip with his siblings, giving his ears a last stroke before drawing a light blanket around them all. "Hells if I know. If they know so much 'bout settin' explosives, you'd think they'd at least get the source straight." "Yeah, I dunno," Sharpeye says with a sigh. "At least no one was hurt. And I heard that after that some criminal fugitive from Mars showed up. Made some dramatic escape by using a jetpack." Snowmist arches her brows high as she looks up from her fussing with the kits. "A jetpack? Sure they weren't just filmin' somethin'?" Sharpeye smirks. "Yeah, I'm sure," he says. "Escaped from the landing pads in a ship." Snowmist's mouth twitches in an answering wry, grin as she gives a small back a last pat and then stretches. "Who was it? What'd he do?" Sharpeye shrugs. "I don't know, I didn't read all the details." Snowmist nods, her next words interrupted as she cants an ear toward the bedroom door, then moves to open it and peer out into the hallway. Outside might be heard the murmur of voices, and as she exchanges words briefly with those outside, she glances toward Sharpeye and says, "Seems Trueguard's knockin' on the door. Askin' t'see us." Sharpeye nods. "Alright," he says, standing up. "I'll go out and talk to him." You head into East Hallway. East Hallway A long hallway, carpeted with burgundy, runs along the front of the east wing, a series of doors lining the left side and large, iron-worked windows lining the right. Pieces of stained glass, worked into fanciful shapes by the iron frames, fill the corners of the windows, adding color to the otherwise white and gold-frescoed hall. A pair of glass sliding doors reside at the very end of the hall, frosted by patterns of leaves, vines, and flowers, and further obscured by condensation from the other side. Sharpeye arrives from Master Bedroom. Sharpeye has arrived. Sharpeye heads into Living Room. Sharpeye has left. You head into Living Room. Living Room A small foyer with a closet to hang up coats and store shoes in leads into the living room, a spacious, palatial affair. Decorated with lush greens and dark burgundies, a couch curves around one corner, facing a glass coffee table and a full media center. Pillows large and small inhabit other corners and niches, a beautifully carved mahogany dining table occupying the other side of the room from the entertainment center. A small but elegant chandelier hangs over the dining table, its diamond and tear-drop facets reflected in the table's polished surface. French doors compose the majority of the back wall, and opposite them is a large fireplace. You head into Clearing . Clearing Far from the noise and hubbub centered on the spaceport, a large circle of natural vegetation had been cleared away, leaving space for a huge house. A long walkway cuts through the front yard, leading up to the large, double front doors. Circling around the left leads to the garage, which lies at the end of a driveway. Continuing around to the back of the house will reveal a porch and patio area, as well as a locked door that allows entry into the tall greenhouse. Planted trees and flowers abound, and closely-cropped grass runs to the edge of the forest treeline. Trueguard stands off to the side of the trail that leads to the house. An upset expression adorning his facial features. Razorclaw is looking down at the ground near the side of the house, using her boot to nudge a rock of somesort. Her tail drooped and still. The door is opened by a uniformed Militia member - Firstclaw, from his rank pins - and he nods briefly to the two, looking unsurprised by their presence as he steps aside to allow Sharpeye and Snowmist to step past. Sharpeye steps out from the house, tucking a datapad into one of his pockets as he looks over all the people assembled on his front lawn. Trueguard salutes smartly, apparently attempting to snuff his angry look. Snowmist brushes a paw through her mane, ruffling the short strands into disarray as she looks out curiously from the steps, leaning against the doorjamb. Spying the two, she nods to each of them in recognition. Razorclaw turns her muzzle up as the couple exits the house, catching the female's nod and giving one of her own back. She refrains from her rock-kicking activity and clomps closer to the house's enterance. Off in the distance can be heard the cry of a dribgib as it runs through the woods. It seems to be heading away from the commotion by the house. Sharpeye returns Trueguard's salute, twitching a whisker. "How can I help you, officer?" he asks. Trueguard scratches his chin. "Well, I am actually here on unoficial business sir, I wanted to speak with Snowmist shortly, if she is not buisy." He says, losing his angry attitude to be replaced by one of politeness, his tail slows its previous mad flicking and sways back and forth. Snowmist's brows rise sharply as she looks more closely at Trueguard. "With me?" she echoes, the tip of her tail curling in puzzlement. "What 'bout?" Trueguard pauses and smiles a little with a nod "Just wanted to thank you for fetching me ma'am." he says politely. Razorclaw stands off to the side of Snowmist and the Imperator, watching Trueguard through arctic blue eyes as he speaks. A ear twitches, but that's the only thing that moves on the dark feline. Snowmist blinks and then snorts, her mouth twitching into a one-sided grin. "Oh. When I was tryin' t'settle the kits, occurred t'me t'round up all the other strayed, overgrown kits as well t'join the party t'night. Just don't lemme find out y'landed yourself in there 'gain, hear? Else I'll make you run through Basic again." Razorclaw shifts her weight from one booted foot to the other while crossing her arms over her puffed out chest. She keeps her default stoic and scowling composure and eyes the male Demarian in question some more. Trueguard nods "Yes ma'am.... I wont bore you with details but I wasn't feeling right at the time of the arrest... Snowmist's smirk deepens, though there is nothing unkind about her expression. "I certainly hope not. We'd haveta reevaluate our admittance criteria otherwise. Talk t'your direct superior 'bout gettin' your gear back. Anything else that needsta be settled?" Trueguard shakes his head "Not anything I would like to trouble you with ma'am, I have gotten my things back, but my datapad is missing, I will settle things and not inconvieniece anyone else. I am sorry if I caused you any inconvienience." He adds after tossing his cloak over his shoulders and resting a paw (not in a way to pull it) on his silver and gem decoarated Rapier. Silvereye arrives from Forest Trail . Silvereye has arrived. Snowmist nods, tossing off a half-wave, half-salute toward Trueguard from where she is standing in the door. "When y'concentrate that much testosterone in one place," she drawls jokingly before she tilts her head, eyes falling to the bejeweled hilt. "Not standard issue, that," she comments. Razorclaw lets a smirk twitch on her muzzle, though it doesn't complete it's fullness. "Glad I ain't got no testosterone." She mutters quite audibly under her breath, still her in same position. Silvereye strolls into the Clearing, glancing about briefly, noting the odd number of people, (asides from guards and such) on the lawn. Trueguard looks down at his rapier and says halfly with pride and halfly with regret, or maybee sadness. "Yes, it is the only heirloom still in existence of my family." His voice wavers for a moment, "It is the only thing I have left....." A guard immediately steps in Silvereye's path, and there is the impression that there are a number more waiting in hiding to back that guard up. "ID a nd reason for being here, please." Silvereye nods to the guard, looking down and rummaging in his jacket pockets, "Of course..." he frowns, as he pulls a button out of one of his pockets, subconsciously shoving it back in before he produces and ID Card. "Silvereye. I'm looking for someone." "Looking for who?" the guard immediately asks after inspecting the ID card and handing it back. Snowmist's expression grows more solemn as she nods to Trueguard. "I can empathize," she says in low tones, a hand straying to brush across the ends of her sash unconsciously as she looks up, across the clearing and toward the confrontation of the guard and Silvereye. Silvereye looks somewhat embarrassed. "Uh, Razorclaw. I thinks she works here." Razorclaw shifts her gaze to the familiar male Demarian who's talking to a guard before turning her eyes down onto her boots. "Damn reporter. Now my boots are all scuffed." The feline mumbles idly to herself, recounting last night's midnight romp. The guard twitches a whisker before nodding. "She's right over there," he says, pointing. Snowmist casts a quick look toward Razorclaw as an ear swivels toward the mutter, and her mouth twitches. Trueguard nods and looks at the sash briefely before turning his attention to a fellow militia member. Razorclaw looks up from her boot inspection, leering. "Should boot her the bill." The bodyguard darkly grumbles. Her attention is then brought to the pointing guard and Silvereye. She gives the male Demarian a mock salute and calls loud enough for him to hear, "Yo." Sharpeye twitches a whisker and sits down on the doorstep. "At this rate, we might as well get some fireworks and have the celebration right here." Snowmist coughs, suppressing a laugh as she drops lithely down on the step beside him, playfully throwing an arm over his shoulders and leaning her head against him. "Well, wouldn' wanna have y'miss out completely. Y'only saw a bit of it 'fore y'hadta deal with the warehouse thing." Silvereye's ears twitch in the direction of the voice, a slight grin crossing his face, though as he scans her company, the grin seems to fade a little bit as he waves to razor, heading over. Trueguard looks around shortly and seems to debate sitting himself.. "Yeah," Sharpeye says with a tilt of his head as Snowmist sits down beside him. He loops an arm around her waist. "I heard the same thing happened over in Gleaming Star. I guess my warning didn't make it to them in time." Razorclaw finding her once standing companions now sitting, the bodyguard leaps off the steps and silently lands her feet upon the ground. With a flickering of her tail she meets Silvereye halfway. "What's stalkin'?" She questions while putting a paw behind her neck to rub. Snowmist snorts, flicking a tiny bug off her knee where it had settled temporarily from its flight. "Yeah, search the whole city in the space of an hour or so? 'Least they weren't too terribly surprised by it." Eyes straying to the others, the tip of her tail flicks consideringly, and she muses, "Maybe I should have some refreshments put out." Silvereye grins, "I dunno. Shadow to Parias." he says the last name with just a tad of contempt. Trueguard glances to Snowmist "Please dont trouble yourself on my acount" he says politely. Razorclaw raises her brow skeptically at the answer she receives from the male Demarian. "What's twitchin'?" The dark feline quirks out in her low underclass speak, the question demanding more information. From the forest, two large, overly-round eyes blink, glinting in the light. A feathered beast steps out, apparently curious as it blinks again. Some might recognize this as a Dribgib, though it is still a baby, standing at less than three and a half feet tall. Trueguard glances at the bird with a smile "A visitor." he says simply in amusement. The bird swivels its head as Trueguard talks and slowly pads over toward him, neck bobbing up and down as it walks. Silvereye shrugs, raising an eyeridge, "bout what? My day has been pretty uneventful, missed most of the celebration." he sighs. "Oh well." Trueguard glances around and seeing that he is the only one who is without a companion, sighs, his features fadeing as he begins to slip into his former depression. Snowmist straightens her head as the dribgib wanders into view. "Uh-oh," she mumbles beneath her breath. "'Member the trouble we had with the last one...'specially with bright, shiny things...like Vollistans..." "Yeah..." Sharpeye says, twitching a whisker as his eyes track the bird's meandering course. The dribgib tilts its head slightly as it comes closer to Trueguard, focusing in on the hilt of the sword as it glints in the light. It chirps lightly in something that sounds like confusion. Razorclaw wiggles her whiskers in slight irritation, dropping the previous topic. "I was there. Ain't much of a party if'n they don't serve red ale." The statement is bland and bored. Her blue eyes and ears waver over to the sounds of the Dribgib, her lips purposely smacking together in jest. Trueguard glances at the bird and pulls his cloak back around himself, hiding his Rapier from view. The bird squawks quietly as the shiny object is suddenly hidden. It lunges forward, biting the cloak as it tries to pull it back from the sword. Snowmist's ears prick as she unconsciously straightens further, watching the bird's actions intently. "Uh-oh," she repeats, but this time with more urgency. Silvereye's eyes wander over to the Dribgib, hearing Razor's lips smack he offers, "Nah. He's to small. He'd make a good snack though..." Sharpeye sighs. "Why does stuff like this always happen when we're around?" he asks Snowmist. Trueguard frowns and pushes the bird away forcefully. Razorclaw smirks easily at Silvereye's comments and adds, "With crackers." Seeing the bird lunge at Trueguard only makes the black furred Demarian's smirk bigger. "Fiesty." She muses to herself at the scene, cracking her neck with a 'pop-pop-pop'ing sound. The dribgib screeches, loudly this time, as it is pushed away, and it suddenly rushes forward. It might be small, compared to the adults of its kind, but it's still big enough to hit with quite a bit of force. The bird misses as Trueguard deftly avoids it. Overestimating where it was going to stop, it suddenly loses its balance and topples over. Trueguard lunges away just in time, and turns with his stun gun raised. "I don't wanna hurt you, but this shouldn't kill you." He says as he fires the weapon. From his standing position, Silvereye moves over to retrieve the fiesty bird/snack. Snowmist tries to hold back a laugh as she abruptly stands, waving her hand s and calling out, "Yo, y'big dumb bird! Y'don't want 'im...he's too skinny." Ouch. The stun gun zaps Silvereye's leg as he moves directly between the bird and Trueguard's weapon. Sharpeye facepaws. Snowmist stares for a moment, gape-jawed, and then asks rhetorically, "Is this for real?" Razorclaw continues her smirking, but adds slyness to it. "Yeah," She begins, agreeing with Snowmist. "Ya be wanting someone like 'er." The bodyguard jerks a claw in the ivory feline's direction and then suddenly her brow raises in slight amused astonishment at Silvereye and Trueguards interaction. Silvereye falls over rather comically gripping his leg, his teeth gritted, "Truey...I'm gonna..." Trueguard frowns irrateably at Silvereye "It's a good thing for you, Silver, that I am not Shadowstrike or you wouldn't have a leg." The bird gets its feet back under it and squawks loudly as it makes a dash back toward the forest. Of course, to do that, it runs right over Silvereye. Ow. Silvereye manages a chuckle through gritted teeth, "yeah..." Gets trampled by the bird. He just lays there, breathing in a rather angry manner. deep breathes..."that Dribby will be at NAF soon enough..." Trueguard frowns and fires again at the annoying bird. "You can eat him tonight, Silver." "Oh. My," is all Snowmist manages to get out in something close to a normal tone before she abruptly doubles over in laughter. Sharpeye rolls his eyes. "This is certainly... an interesting... turn of events." He chuckles as he stands, walking over toward Silvereye. "I'd better go help him out." The stun gun clips the dribgib in the neck and its head goes limp. But interestingly, its legs keep working, and it keeps moving, barreling straight toward Trueguard. Trueguard's eyes widen and he attempts to leap out fo the way. Razorclaw lurches back, just in case, from Trueguard's firing weapon, not wanting to get caught up in the mix of 'friendly fire.' She huffs out a snort, shaking her muzzle a few times in disbelief. The bodyguard moves over to the downed male Demarian. "Ya damaged?" It's more sarcasm then a question and she offers Silvereye a helping paw. Silvereye looks irateably at Razor from the ground. "I think I'll live." he glances at the bird while grasping the extended paw. "Though he may not..." Snowmist doesn't seem much concerned with wild fire from Trueguard, though it's uncertain whether this is because she is already presenting as small a target as possible, huddled on the ground, or because she is too busy trying to catch her breath between weak guffaws. Agility is good. But apparently, not good enough to dodge a 100 pound bird moving straight toward you at twenty miles per hour. *KAWWWWWWWWWHUMP* The dribgib knocks straight into Trueguard, clipping him squarely in the midsection, before it topples to the ground in a heap. Its legs, it might be noted, are still twitching. Trueguard gets bowled over and lands on the ground roughly "Damn..... bird...." he manages to gasp. Sharpeye walks over toward Trueguard, chuckling quietly as he puts his arms under the bird, dragging it off of him. Razorclaw grips Silvereye's paw, pulling him to his feet with swift ease. She uses her other paw to roughly grip the back of his collar in order to keep him from falling over. "Stolen youth." The dark feline shrugs heavily, her icy blue eyes filled with amusement as she watches Trueguard get bowled over. "Strike." Silvereye can't help but laugh at Trueguard as he is being helped up, but the laugh is quickly stifled when he puts weight on his 'bad' leg, grimacing at the weird sensation. "II think he likes you, Truey." Trueguard gasps for breath shortly before standing up and pointing his stun gun at the bird at almost point black range, being careful not to get hit by its legs. "Whoa," Sharpeye says, immediately letting go of the bird as he backs away. "Watch it with that thing. Y' gotta get some time in at the target range 'fore you swing it around." Trueguard smiles a little "Sorry" he says. Trueguard fires the weapon aggressively. Snowmist wipes tears from her eyes as she heaves a last sigh and then just contents herself with sitting on the ground, letting her breath settle completely. The dribgib seems to... whimper? Razorclaw keeps her tight grip upon Silvereye's collar, examining his 'wounded' leg for a moment. "Ya ain't gonna die from it." She says as if she were talking unsympathetically to a kit who's just banged their knee, her tail now wildly waving back and forth in definite amusement. Silvereye smirks, "you sure? I mean...I got hit pretty hard..." Trueguard hears the whimper and apparently decides against shooting the helpless bird. "He wants you to kiss it and make it all better, I bet," Sharpeye offers with a wink toward Razorclaw before he dusts off his hand, heading back over toward Snowmist. Snowmist laughs weakly at Sharpeye's jest, the sound almost half-desperate before it is abruptly cut off. By a hiccup. "Uh-oh..." Sharpeye says, glancing toward Mist. He narrows his eyes. "We better get that taken care of...." Silvereye glances at Razor, "Nah. I think my, boo boo will heal on its own..." Boooom.... Booooom.... Boooom.... The sounds of *very* loud footsteps impacting against the ground can be heard--no, felt--approaching. Razorclaw rolls her eyes ever so slightly at the wounded Demarian's comment and then quickly releases his collar at Sharpeye's joking assumption, disgust wrinkling her muzzle. "Keep dreamin'." She grumbles out darkly, stuffing her paws into her pants' pockets. Trueguard looks up and mutters some absenity before grabing the bird and begining to run downs the path "Ill lead it away." he says over his shoulder. Of course, you can't have loud noises like that without a rainstorm. So, the gods oblige, and suddenly a downpour is coming down upon everyone. Silvereye blinks through the sudden downpour. "Wonderful. Methinks I'll stay home tommorow..." Snowmist sighs resignedly as she rolls her eyes up toward her mate. "Yeah, h-*hic-have pity on me..." One ear swivels alertly toward the source of the sounds and she stiffens. "Of course, may-*hic*-be that pity should be directed elsewhere...*hic*" Trueguard stops suddenly and begins to walk back towards the group, apparently highly embarassed. Out of nowhere, however, is heard a hideously loud, deafening screech. Trueguard stops again and waits to see what happens, although he seems ready to draw something away if need be. "Sorry!" one of the guards calls out. "The garage door hinge was a bit rusty, that's all!" Razorclaw's ears twitch at hearing Snowmist's broken speech. "Ya ain't been drinkin' again, have ya?" The dark feline asks with disapproval just as the water begins to pour down upon her person. "Damnit!" She growls out loud with ferocity. "My leathers!" "Are you sure?" Sharpeye asks, tilting his head. "I mean, that sounded awfully like.... An animal or something." Silvereye grumbles. "Squeaky garage doors...what's next, sink holes?" A small batch of feathers, maybe three or four, blows in on the wind, floating until they set down on the ground, plastered there by the rain. Trueguard glares at the feathers curiously. "hmnn" he says to himself. A flock of birds pass over head. A few more feathers float down from them. Apparently, old feathers that were blown off by the wind and rain. Razorclaw absently takes her paws out of her pockets, using one of them to slowly pull her tightening wet leather pants away from her furry behind. "Hell..." She mumbles to herself, moving closer towards the house and the feline couple. Snowmist bristles indignantly, water droplets flying from the ends of her whiskers. "Whaddya mean drinkin' *again*?! *hic* The bird squawk. As if to say, thank you for your graphic description, Razorclaw. Something swoops in out of the darkness and spirits away the baby dribgib. Swoosh. Swoop. Nothing more than a large shadow can be seen before it disappears. Trueguard, haveing still been holding on to the bird, is almost carried away and drops to the ground on his feet but looking a little confused "What?...." he says dizzily. Silvereye follows after Razor in a hobble, "Right..." He watches the little Dribgib get spirited away. "Someone is laughing at us I just know it..." There is a bright flash from somewhere, almost like the flash of a photographer's camera. Then again, it might have been lightning. Razorclaw walks with the scruntching sound of squeeky leather, as if to say she's welcome to the squawking bird. "Ya were jus' drinkin' not more 'n'a week ago." The dark Demarian points out, the fur on her face totally matted down by the rain. Her ears twitch at the faint sound and turns around on her booted heel, squinting her icy blue eyes in skeptical interest. "Damn..." She mutters at the bright flash. "Ain't let it be another reporter." Sharpeye quirks a whisker. "What in the hells is going on here..." he says beneath his breath, looking around, trying to peer through the heavy rain. Trueguard comes to himself again and pulls his cloak up over his head. He then stalks back to the house, mumbleing. Snowmist blinks, some of her ire at Razorclaw forgotten as she peers up, over at the others, and finally picks herself up off the ground, edging back toward the house's short patio and the door. "Actually...think I'd prefer the reporter. *hic*" Suddenly, out of the forest, steps an enormous creature. It looks like a dribgib, but it must be at least seveteen or eighteen feet tall, with the bulk to match. "Meep?" And then it disappears back into the forest. Trueguard snorts at the sound as if to say, like we really needed that. Then stops near the group. "What... the hell... was *that*?" Sharpeye asks, blinking, grabbing hold of Mist with one arm as he stares up at where the giant dribgib was. Silvereye growls at the new arrival. "Go away!" he glances about, "I'm going inside, whereever inside can be found, before some huge Theorian pack comes down and eats us!" Razorclaw simply blinks her blue eyes at the collossal creature, watching it disappear into the forest. "If'n it comes back, ya are on yer own." The bodyguard flatly states, pointing an extended claw at Trueguard. "Think the kits are fine?" She idly inquires back at Snowmist, though only turning her head over her shoulder slightly as to give a profile of her face. Snowmist barely seems aware of Sharpeye's grip as she obligingly lets him drag her where he wishes as she continues scanning the treeline. "Erm...maybe we should *hic* start t'have the woods patrolled as well." Trueguard grunts a little as he stands near the froup, only his face shows from underneath the cloak. Snowmist's ears immediately flatten at the mention of the kits and possible danger, but she nods calmly enough and informs, "They're snoozin' in our room. 'Less that thing breaks in through a wall or the greenhouse, they should be fine. Still got a squad or two wanderin' about too, on alert cuz o' the bombing." Sharpeye walks slowly over toward where the dribgib was and kneels down, inspecting the humongous three-toed footprint, by now filled with water from the rainstorm. "Wow...." Silvereye looks up at the heavens, "Well I better get back. Sleep beckons." He turns to Sharpeye and Snowmist, "Sir, Ma'am, despite conditions, its been nice seeing you. Razor, Truey, see ya tommorow or something." He starts to hobble off. Trueguard smirks slightly "Well this evening has turned out to be quite interesting..." He then notices that roughly three groups have formed and he is the only one who is without. He sighs a little, a sad face forming. Razorclaw only nods her head once as she hears the Imperator's mate explanation, her wet tail heavily whiping behind her in readiness of anything. Well, nearly anything it seems. "Later, /kitten/." The bodyguard calls back, just loud enough for her sarcastic tones to be heard by Silvereye and the other Demarians around. Trueguard glances at Razorclaw and, removing his cloak, wraps it around her before she can protest. Snowmist hmphs amusedly at the byplay as she waves after Silvereye, stopping just behind Sharpeye and casting a studiedly disinterested glance over the print. Silvereye grumbles. "Have a good sleep dearest babysitter." he continues to hobble off. "Never seen anything like that before..." Sharpeye says as he stands up, slicking a hand back through his now-soaked mane. "C'mon, we'd better go inside and get cleaned up." Silvereye heads into Forest Trail . Silvereye has left. Razorclaw bears her nearly white teeth viciously at Silvereye, preparing to banter back, but is cut off by Trueguard's actions. "Wha-" She halfway grumbles with a deepened scowl upon her face. Then it seems an idea hits the dark feline's mind and she whirls the cloak off of herself only to wrap it around Snowmist with a disgruntled smirk. Snowmist nods, stepping back to give Sharpeye room before blinking and then turning to look back at Razorclaw in puzzlement as the cloak settles about her. "Wh-*hic*-at...?" she asks before sniffing at the fabric and then wrinkling her snout, looking from Razorclaw to Trueguard suspiciously. Trueguard frowns a little at the sniff "What?" he says innocently. Sharpeye sniffs at the cloak as well. "There's sure, and there's un-sure. I guess this one's un-sure," he says with a smirk. "C'mon, let's go inside the house." Razorclaw snorts lightly at the hiccuping Demarian and simply offers the feline one of her mock salutes. Her smirk fades, however, as she feels her snug leather vest begin to stick to her torso uncomfortably. "Inside." The rough feline agrees in a authoritive order to second the Imperator's urging. Trueguard shrugs as if he wouldnt care if they stood out here all night. He keeps the same depressed look on his face and his tail lays on the ground. Snowmist hmphs with a smirk back toward Sharpeye as she nods to the others and leads the way back in, whipping the cloak off as she moves and holding it out casually back to Trueguard when she passes him.
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