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In The Mist Of The Erie Isles

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode Six: Paint The Town Red

Sitting in a tavern on the island of Mernak, an island much larger than either Widoval or Shemok, Valan and Irzain sit and wait. They'd recently moored the tiny fishing boat on the island, while Kirsta and Mairlynn, the two most suitable to the task, began searching for a bigger ship to suit their needs. After killing Mardin, the necromancer, and crushing his undead army with one shot, the group were saddened to discover that the necromancer had taken the only boats for himself. Every ship to Valan's family's name was gone; they merely hadn't noticed due to their isolationism. When Irzain killed Mardin, they likely fell apart at sea, leaving the craft to drift aimlessly.

Returning to the castle, Valan coldly ignored the bodies of every victim, of which there were many; none survived on Widoval, except for the four of them. Only one corpse received any pleasant treatment; Valan tossed an old tapestry over Vella's body, though he left her where she lay. Working together, they collected the chest of Valan's experimental weapons, along with many of the tools needed to manufacture the custom parts for his equally custom pistols. Claiming weapons, clothes, food, valuable medicines and especially vasariks of the silver and gold variety, Valan only claimed one other item; he brought his father's silver chalice in his oaken chest.

Weighing down the small fishing boat until they could hardly move it, the group struggled to push the craft into the water. With the help of the high tide, they were able to successfully escape Widoval, leaving behind the fetid island. A full day on the water, regularly taking turns rowing, and with the help of a strong gust of wind, the group made their way to Mernak. Only Valan had been to Mernak before, but not within the past decade or so. Sitting in the tavern, the barmaid collects the mugs of ale, placing them atop the counter and taking the handful of bronze vasariks that Valan chose to free himself of.

“Don't worry." Valan begins, taking a drink from his mug. “I told you before, those wanted posters aren't posted publicly. The guild of bounty hunters has exclusive access to them."

“Oh good. That make me feel so much better." Irzain murmurs sarcastically.

“It should!" Valan pats him on the shoulder. “Do you know how many of them can even read?"

“Do you?" Irzain glances toward his companion.

“Well, no, but it's probably not very many. Be thankful for that too. Just hide your face whenever we're in big cities and you should be alright, Irzain." Valan takes another drink. “Hey, and that likely isn't even your name! Some problems solve themselves." He chuckles.

The younger man pauses as his eyes land upon a splendid creature. Watching the duo, Irzain hides his face from the Falmun bombshell, who stands an average five feet and two inches tall. That, however, is all that's average about her. With a wonderfully curvy yet lightweight figure, her C-cup breasts bounce in her revealing top as she approaches, her broad hips swaying so elegantly. Sitting on the empty stool beside Valan, the brunette elf scans his form with her jade green eyes.

“Hello there, miss." Valan greets her politely.

“Mmm-hi." She extends a hand. “I'm Katrasa, but people call me 'Kat'."

“A pleasure." Valan politely kisses her hand. “I'm Valan."

“A pleasure... And who's your friend?"

“Who? Him? Oh, he's just a wanted criminal, and I'm his trusted lackey." Valan grins.

“Why would you say that?!" Irzain quietly whispers to him.

“Refuge in audacity, my friend." Valan whispers back.

“Well, now! Aren't we exotic! ... I like exotic." Kat coos.

“That's interesting, because I'm quite fond of average." Valan quips.

“Who's average?!" Kat grins, flashing a toothy smile.

“Perhaps I shouldn't say any more." Valan teases.

“No, no. You started this."

“Alright." Valan takes a big gulp of his ale. “This place. It's so average, so peaceful, so boring, just like me, and then you have to come up here, with your angelic beauty, and disrupt it! For shame." He shakes his finger teasingly at her.

Kat laughs, resting her hand on his arm. Giving him a little squeeze, she leans closer and whispers to him. Whatever she says makes his expression change. Turning in his stool, Valan leans over Irzain's shoulder.

“I'll be right back."

“Where are you going?!" Irzain turns to him.

“I'll be right back!" Valan repeats.

Holding Kat's hand, he's already following her up the stairs, toward the tavern's private rooms. Swiftly disappearing, Irzain is left alone. Slowly drinking his drink, Irzain waits, and waits, and waits. As he sips his second ale, he can see dust falling from the ceiling. He doesn't recall seeing anyone else traversing those steps, besides Valan and Kat. Rolling his eyes, he takes a big gulp, throwing his head back. Slamming his mug down, he sighs with relief and wipes his mouth.

“Want another?" The barmaid asks, wiping a mug dry with a rag.

“No, I think I've had enough." Irzain replies.

“Heh. That's a first." She chuckles.

“Hey... Don't I -hic- know you?" A voice speaks.

Turning in his stool, Irzain looks toward the obviously drunken man who leans on the bar, hovering over the seat that Valan had left open.

“No. I don't think so."

“I do, I -hic- seen you somewhere. Where was it?"

“You're mistaken." Irzain grows nervous.

“No, I'm not, I-"

Leaning back, Irzain bumps into a man who lifts his mug to his lips, spilling his ale all over his face and shirt.

“Hey! What was that for?!" He growls.

“I'm sorry! This guy just pushed me right into you!" Irzain replies.

“That son of a whore!"

With a wide swing, the angry man throws his empty mug at the drunkard who's nearly blown Irzain's cover. Ducking down, Irzain moves out of the way as the drunkard and the angry patron tackle each other, forgetting about him entirely and fighting on the floor. Several others join in, and within minutes, the entire barroom is riotous. Unwilling to remain behind any longer, Irzain heads for the door, abandoning Valan to his and Kat's activities, and intent on finding Kirsta and Mairlynn. Emerging from the tavern, he pulls his hood up, walking down the road and toward the town's docks.

To his dismay, the town looks vastly different at night; he's unsure of how to get back. Several turns lead him to a darkened alley. Heading back, he forgets just where the tavern is. The two ales are making his memory a little foggy. Clearly, he didn't drink much before his head injury either.

“Psst. Hey, you." A voice calls out to him. “You over there..."

Pausing, Irzain looks around, searching for the voice. He turns toward a pair of glowing, cobalt blue eyes. Stepping out of the shadows of a dark alley, a Jaliscan woman looks him over. A strange smile forms over her thin lips, curling around her snout. Long, golden bangs frame her face.

“Are you talking to me?" Irzain asks, pointing toward himself.

Returning to the bar where they'd left them, Kirsta and Mairlynn search for their male counterparts. No sooner than they open the door, they're shocked to find a brawl going on inside. Men smash bottles over each other's heads and punch each other in the face, while amused barflies sit and laugh. They pass simple weapons to the half-conscious men that would otherwise be their customers, paying them for their time in the upstairs rooms. A man is thrown through a window, just to the girl's left, startling them both.

“Okay, that's enough!" The barmaid yells. “Time to call it quits!"

Not seeing Irzain or Valan inside the fray, both women back out of the doorway.

“I guess they left." Kirsta remarks.

“Seems that way."

“Maybe they're at the boat?"

“But we passed it on the way back!" Mairlynn reminds her.

“Then maybe they're lost?" Kirsta shrugs.

“Irzain, sure, but where'd Valan go?" Mairlynn asks.

Kirsta stares at the tiny Falmun woman, merely shrugging her shoulders again.

“What do you think's going on down there?" A nude Kat asks, stroking Valan's chest with her fingertips.

“I don't know. I only care about what's going on up here." He retorts, lying naked in bed beside her.

“Mmm-me too. You know, you were so much better than I was expecting... So much... More." She coos.

“Yeah?"

“Yeah. It's been a while since I had to struggle. I should really be paying you!" She giggles, staring at his concealed genitals.

“Is there a way we can break even?" He jokes.

“Hm... I'll tell you what." Kat begins, sliding a hand beneath the sheets and grabbing his manhood. “If you have another round in you, we'll call it even. No charge."

“You're serious?" Valan raises his brow in surprise.

“Mhm... Deadly." She nods.

“Okay, but remember... You brought this on yourself." He smugly grins.

“I will!" She giggles, swiftly mounting him and sitting atop his lap.

Mairlynn stares back at Kirsta, her little hands on her hips.

“Y-yeah, he's uh... He's probably fine, too. I shouldn't worry."

“No, you shouldn't." Kirsta smirks. “Let's fine Irzain. The man-child that he is, I'm sure he's horribly lost. Valan will turn up eventually."

Walking away from the tavern, Mairlynn looks back, noticing something in the stained yellow glass of the upstairs window. A busty female form straddles a man, holding his shoulders as she bounces vigorously. She throws her head back, just as a faint squeal is heard through the walls.

“Well, at least someone's having a good time." Mairlynn sighs.

“Are you coming?!" Kirsta shouts to the youthful elf woman.

Wandering through the village streets, the two women search the darkness for Irzain, looking into the alleys and retracing what steps seem logical. Heading through the far end of town, well away from the docks or the tavern, Mairlynn looks down an alley.

“Hey... Irzain?!"

Swiftly turning, Kirsta watches as Irzain, who points toward himself, follows a strange person with glowing, cobalt blue eyes.

“Oh no..."

Dashing toward them, she draws her sword.

“Mister." The voice whimpers.

“Are you alright? Do you need some help?" Irzain steps closer.

Irzain walks toward the creature, at once both curious and fearful for their well-being.

“No. But you do." The Jaliscan's tone changes.

Stepping back, Irzain hears loud footfalls, only for netting to be thrown over him.

“IRZAIN!" Kirsta screams.

“Damn! He has his crew with him!" A male Jaliscan exclaims.

A pink-eyed Jaliscan atop a nearby building throws several fire bottles down into the street. They shatter, creating a large fireball for a few seconds. Forced to hold back until the flames have settled, Kirsta and Mairlynn watch helplessly as Irzain is pulled down an alley. Kirsta suddenly leaps through the flames, singing her clothes and leather armor, chasing after the group. Tossing Irzain into the back of a horse-drawn cart, the driver, a human or Falmun, shakes the reins. Taking Irzain down an alley, the driver moves as quickly as he can, without crashing the vehicle. Unbeknownst to him, however, Kirsta runs along a sidewalk, struggling to keep up.

Standing alone, a fearful Mairlynn calls out to Kirsta, who's long gone. Without her only companions, she paces back and forth before the now modest fire, pondering her courses of action. Eventually, after what feels like an eternity, she decides to head back to the tavern and wait. What else can she do? Running through the darkened streets, she fully expects someone to pop out of the shadows and grab her, but it never happens. Within minutes, she's returned to the tavern. Luckily, the brawl inside has finished, and many of the patrons have left. Feeling the cold chill, Mairlynn steps inside. Before the door can close behind her, someone suddenly shouts.

“Hey, kid!"

Mairlynn looks around the room.

“Yeah, you! No children in here after dark! Where're your parents?!" The barmaid demands.

Without saying a word, Mairlynn swiftly open the door and slithers back outside, darting a few steps into the darkness. The barmaid emerges, but after a brief and poor search, she quickly gives up and returns inside. Mairlynn sits in the cold, waiting for someone she recognizes to return. Some time passes before Valan finally steps out of the tavern, looking around for his companions. A shivering Mairlynn races up to him.

“Where were you?!" She smacks him in the stomach.

“Ow! Hey!"

“I needed you, and you weren't there!" She whimpers.

“Woah! Relax! What's going on? Where is everybody?" Valan asks, looking down at her.

“Irzain got kidnapped, Kirsta ran off to save him, the barmaid thought I was a kid and threw me out... And where were you?!"

“Hey, I'm sorry. I was, uh... Tired. I was taking a nap."

“Yeah, in a nice, warm bed. It's cold out here." Mairlynn whimpers.

Leaning over, he gives the youthful looking Falmun woman a hug, holding her close. Her appearance tugs at his heartstrings, while her chilled skin pulls even harder. Mairlynn holds him close, subtly shivering. She suddenly sniffs him.

“What's that smell?"

“Hm?! What smell?!" Valan asks, his eyes darting away, even though he holds her close.

“It smells... So sweet! Is that perfume?"

Valan's brow furls. What could she be smelling? Kat wasn't wearing any perfume; he's quite certain of that. Standing upright and clearing his throat, Mairlynn leans closer, still sniffing him.

“It's even stronger down here!" Mairlynn exclaims, her face near his belly.

“Er... I don't know what you're talking about! Where'd you say Kirsta went?!" He swiftly changes the subject.

“She took off to-"

“I'm right here." Kirsta suddenly interrupts. “I followed them to a little nearby warehouse. Whoever took Irzain, I doubt they're professional bounty hunters. If we move right now, we can probably get him back before the dawn."

Without hesitation, Valan and Mairlynn join her, returning to their boat only to collect a few extra weapons and more ammunition. On their way to the boat, Valan drapes his coat over Mairlynn's shoulders. Following Kirsta's lead, the trio make their way to the warehouse, which is lightly guarded. Only one man stands near the front door. A human in a cloak, the same man who drove the wagon, paces back and forth. Taking cover behind some old crates and barrels, the three watch the man from a distance as he wanders in circles.

“How are we going to get rid of him?" Valan asks in a whisper.

“I'm open to suggestions." Kirsta whispers back.

“I can probably shoot him from here."

“Yeah, that's a good idea. Let them all know we're coming." Kirsta rolls her eyes.

“Well, what's your plan?"

“I don't have one, that's why I said I was open to suggestions." Kirsta quietly snaps.

“Well I don't know what to do! I'm new to all of this stuff!" Valan loudly whispers.

“You're new?! I should be at home, getting laid right now! ... Look, all we need to do is figure out how t-"

Kirsta and Valan pause, watching as Mairlynn walks out from behind the crates without fear. Just before she's illuminated by a lantern, she clutches the coat tightly to her little body.

“Daddy?! Daddy, where are you?!" She calls out, feigning tears.

The human guard sees the girl, watching her for a moment. Looking around, as if to see her father, he appears startled by the lost girl. The guard approaches, a look of concern on his face.

“Mister!" Mairlynn calls out to him.

“Are you lost?" He asks in a startlingly sweet tone.

“My daddy! He told me to wait over there, but he hasn't come back. It's been hours now, and I'm scared." She cries.

“Do you know which way he went?"

“Over there, I think." Mairlynn points.

Turning around and looking behind him, she drops Valan's coat and draws her kris, swiftly stabbing him in the kidneys. Suffering shock, Mairlynn pushes the paralyzed guard to his knees, before slashing his throat in front of her companions. Wiping his blood from her blade and onto his cloak, Mairlynn turns to the stunned Kirsta and Valan, waving them over. Walking quietly over the wooden beams placed in the dirt, they look down at the twitching body of the dispatched guard. The elf woman sheaths her dagger, pulling Valan's coat closed over her small frame.

“Did that turn you on, too, Uncle Kobin?" She giggles.

“Uh..."

“Well... That's one way to do it." Kirsta remarks.

“Now we just need to find out where they're keeping Irzain." Valan adds.

Sitting in a chair and tied with old ropes, Irzain watches the Jaliscan who sits across from him. He stares with glowing, green eyes. Their gazes are fixed upon each other as they remain in total silence, looking the other over and sizing each other up.

“Well? What am I doing here?" Irzain finally asks.

“I think you know... Captain."

“Captain?! I'm no captain!"

“Oh, no?" The Jaliscan scoffs.

“Oh, yeah." Irzain nods. “I'm just some poor sod you plucked off of the street. I don't even have any money!"

“What about that coin pocket in your trousers? I can see something in there."

“Oh, that's just Matius."

“Who?" The Jaliscan cocks his head.

“Matius, my lucky silver coin. That's all I'm carrying." Irzain explains. “Wait, you can see that in this darkness?!"

The Jaliscan taps a clawed finger against his left temple.

“Right..."

“So, you only carry a lucky coin, and whatever this is..." The Jaliscan retorts, holding up his crossbow pistol. “I'd say it's a weapon. A very sophisticated one."

“Would you like to know how to use it?!" Irzain chirps.

“You'd teach me?" His captor raises a brow.

“Sure! Just untie my hands and give it to me."

“Hah! You even have a captain's sense of humor!"

“I'm telling you, I'm not a captain."

“In the morning, your crew will come for you, and then we can use you to barter passage off of this rock." The Jaliscan continues.

Irzain furls his brow. Are they not bounty hunters? Why do they want to leave the island? Rising from his chair, the Jaliscan's long tail swishes as he looks at the bound human. He reaches over to a lantern, lifting it off of the table. Bringing the lamp close to his face, Irzain can see his features. He's a fascinating creature, with a face that, while extremely animalesque, is very much like a human or an elf. Placed in the same spot as human eyes, the Jaliscan's green spheres no longer glow, but shimmer vibrantly. A sinister smile spreads across his lips, baring teeth that are omnivorous, but with canines far larger than any human's. His pink, feline nostrils flare as he breathes.

“Goodnight, captain."

“Goodnight." Irzain replies.

The Jaliscan walks out of the room on human-like, plantigrade feet, covered with boots not dissimilar to his own, leaving Irzain in the darkness.

“And I'm not a captain!" Irzain shouts at him, as he closes the door.

Watching the lights moving away from a room at the rear of the building, on the second floor, Kirsta, Valan and Mairlynn make their way around. Having dragged the dispatched sentry away from view, they find that no one else guards the grounds near the warehouse. A large stack of crates, most of them empty, allow for startlingly easy access to the upper floor. Walking quietly around the roof, they find a window that opens outward. With a bit of wedging with her sword, Kirsta jimmies the window open, allowing her enough room to slip inside.

“Who stays behind?" Kirsta whispers, looking back at Valan and Mairlynn.

“Why even ask." Mairlynn lets out a frustrated sigh.

With a loaded crossbow pistol in each hand, she stands beside the window, holding it open with a spindly arm as Kirsta and Valan slip inside. Struggling to see in the darkness, they move quietly and carefully toward a back room. Lifting the latch of the door, they push it open.

“Did you forget something?" Irzain asks.

“Yeah. I wanted my weapon back." Valan quips.

“It's good to hear your voices." Irzain whispers gleefully.

“Hold still. I'm going to cut you free." Kirsta whispers, feeling around for his ropes.

Cutting slowly and carefully, she manages to free him without making too much noise. However, as Irzain climbs out of the chair, he bumps one of the legs, sliding it across the floor with a loud scratching sound.

“Damnit..." Kirsta quietly grumbles.

Footfalls approach, moving with considerable speed. Charging up the stairs, two men with lanterns burst into the room, startled by two new faces, alongside the recently freed Irzain.

“I knew you had a crew!" The Jaliscan leader exclaims.

“Crew?" Kirsta raises a brow.

“Look, we just want passage off of this island." The Jaliscan man begins.

“We can't stay here anymore!" A Falmun woman chimes in.

“Well, we're terribly sorry for your troubles, but we can't help you with that." Kirsta replies.

“Yeah. We're actually pretty pathetic at the moment." Valan quips.

“At the moment?!" Irzain chuckles.

“Look, we can't argue about this. We need passage. If you don't take us on your ship, we'll kill your captain."

The Jaliscan man points the stolen crossbow pistol at Irzain, who quickly ducks back. As the two sides bicker back and forth, their weapons drawn on each other, a female Jaliscan pokes around. Stepping away from her group, she cocks her head, her glowing, pink eyes scanning Valan, who holds his matching pistols on her leader. Cocking her head again, she turns her eyes toward her group's boss.

“Don't you care if I kill him?!" He growls.

“Of course, but we don't have a ship to take you anywhere!" Kirsta replies.

“Don't lie to me!"

“We're not lying!" Irzain pleads.

“What even made you think that he was a captain? Did you see us leaving a ship with this guy?" Valan asks.

“Well... No... But you left the docks! And he looks like a captain! He's just like the pictures in the books!" The Jaliscan retorts.

“Oh, wow..." Irzain rests his face in a palm.

“You... You're basing you targets from drawings in a book?! ... What book?"

The kidnapper's leader reaches a hand into a pouch that hangs from a strap over his shoulder. Fumbling nervously through the satchel, he retrieves a small book. The cover reads 'The Four Scoundrels And The God Of The Sea by Razmuz Praig'. Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, Valan lowers his pistols. Even Kirsta, who's illiterate, understands that it's a fictional account.

“Okay, yeah, we're just going to go now." Valan remarks.

“Stop right there!" The lead kidnapper takes aim at Valan.

“This is a waste of time! Can we please just leave?!" Valan grows impatient.

Stepping around her people, the female Jaliscan's glowing, pink eyes scan Valan, then his group. She stands just beyond the light of the simple oil lanterns, which focus the rays before the men holding them. Returning her gaze to Valan she suddenly speaks up.

“I don't think they have a ship, Radiz."

“Stay out of this, Jarae. And don't use my name! I don't want them knowing who I am..."

“If the old man had a crew, wouldn't there be more of them?" Jarae continues.

“Exactly!" Valan exclaims.

“Old?!" Irzain snickers.

“What? You think there're more of them?" Radiz looks back, lowering his weapon.

“Why don't we let them go?" Jarae pleads.

She steps between Radiz and Valan, her cloaked form blocking Valan's view.

“Perhaps we can hire ourselves to another craft?" She continues.

“That's a good idea." Irzain points at Jarae.

“There're always ships in need of a sober crew." Kirsta adds, lowering her bow.

“No... No, we've gone too far, now! This won't end until they take us on their ship!" The leader growls.

Raising his weapon again, everyone on both sides takes aim once more. Only Jarae and the unarmed Irzain do not brandish weapons.

“We don't have one, you imbecile! Can we just talk to her instead? I like the smart ones." Valan remarks.

Looking over her shoulder at him, Jarae seems to smile, her glowing eyes scanning him yet again.

“You insult me, you filthy skin tube?!" Radiz snarls.

“Hey!" A Falmun grumbles.

“A different skin tube..." Radiz looks back. “One who thinks he can speak to me like I'm a dimwitted child."

“Uh-oh. Sounds like someone needs a nap! Is little Radiz feeling cranky?" Valan taunts him.

“You son of a whore!"

Taking aim with Irzain's crossbow pistol, Jarae jumps back, staying in the line of fire. Enraged beyond rational thought, Radiz fires anyway. He grins sinisterly before he pulls the trigger, giving Valan just enough warning to grab Jarae and yank her out of the way. The bolt pierces her flesh, gouging her right arm and causing her to cry out in pain. Not waiting any longer, Kirsta and Mairlynn fire their bolts and arrows at the group, while Valan takes aim and shoots both of his pistols as well. A Falmun man wielding their only arquebus is shot in the head by Valan, his body tensing, squeezing the trigger and shooting one of his own comrades in the face.

Irzain ducks down, staying out of the fray as best he can. Radiz, struck by two bolts, falls to the floor, bleeding out. Irzain swiftly reclaims his empty weapon. In the brief skirmish, four of the kidnappers die, throwing them into a panic. A man drops his oil lantern as he tries to flee down the stairs, breaking it and setting the landing on fire.

“Quick! Before it spreads!" Mairlynn shouts from just outside.

Racing toward the window, Kirsta and Irzain scramble outside.

“Come on!" Valan calls out to Jarae, who stares in shock at Radiz's corpse.

“What've I just done..." She murmurs, her tail limp and eyes wide.

“Figure it out later! Right now, we've got to go!"

Standing there, the flames grow brighter, crackling as they consume the landing just beyond the short hallway. Looking back, Valan knows that they don't have much time left.

“... Or maybe you'd rather die?!"

Jarae turns her head toward him, finally snapping out of her trance.

“Come on, Valan!" Irzain shouts.

“What the hell are you waiting for?!" Mairlynn calls out to him.

Valan holds out a hand to her, standing there as the flames grow ever larger. Reaching out, Jarae takes hold, only for him to quickly pull her toward the window. Helping her outside first, Valan scrambles through the opening as the flames spread throughout the hall.

“What're you bringing her for?!" Kirsta snarls.

“She stuck her neck out for me and nearly lost it. I owe her." Valan replies.

“Why did I ever do that? What was I thinking?" Jarae speaks to herself.

Following Mairlynn's lead, they climb down the crates until they reach the ground. Rushing past the windows, some of them shatter from the heat of the fire, which spreads to the first floor.

“Wait! This isn't right! I shouldn't be here!" Jarae suddenly stops in her tracks. “I need to fix this!"

Turning back, she heads for the warehouse, only to fall on her butt as her former friends begin shooting arrows at her. They narrowly hit her. She rolls onto her side, shielding her face and head from the missiles. Seeing her plight, Valan scrambles toward her on his hands and knees, arrows flying by. He grabs Jarae by the shoulder, giving a tug and gaining her attention.

“I'm pretty sure the relationship is over." He quips.

Tilting her head back, her tall, rabbitesque ears begin to poke out from her hood, which slides back. She stares at him with fearful eyes.

“Come on, Jarae! Stop making me look stupid! Let's go!"

Nodding her head, she follows behind Valan as they race to catch up. As the arrows shoot randomly into the darkness, they make a mad dash for the crates and barrels across the way. Diving behind them, they hear voices calling to them as a few missiles strike the wooden barrier. Hiding behind a string of unoccupied buildings, Kirsta, Mairlynn and Irzain call out to them. With another quick sprint, they make it to their friends, escaping further injury. Now under a more powerful street lamp, Jarae's features are more apparent. Her short snout protrudes past the hood of her simple, brown cloak.

“Thank you." Jarae speaks softly, looking back at the inferno of the warehouse. “If you hadn't done what you did... I'd..."

“Forget it." Valan speaks softly. “We should get out of here and take a look at that arm."

Shifting her body to face him, Jarae turns her head. It tilts down, her snout pointing toward her extended wrist as she examines her torn sleeve and bleeding wound. Irzain approaches, hoping to heal the woman, as he did for Kirsta's ankle. Resting a hand beneath her arm, he examines the injury. To his horror, however, his hand doesn't glow. Why can't he summon his Halcyon powers? Realizing Irzain's failure even before he does, Valan steps closer.

“That doesn't look to bad. I'll patch you up." He assures her.

As Irzain steps away, a look of defeat upon his face, Jarae lifts her clawed hands, bringing them toward her hood. Her sharp nails are a vibrant red, coated with a cheap, decorative paint. The fur on her hands is dark, like the bark of an oak tree, with lightly tanned flesh, like wet sand, between and on her fingers and palms. The nostrils of her pink nose flare as she pulls back her hood, the shadow fleeing as she reveals her face to the group. With a little smile, her pink eyes shimmer beneath the street lamp. Two-tone fur covers her body, though she has at least three colors in total.

Unlike her hands, the majority of her face is the color of spiced chocolate, or perhaps coffee, with considerable sugar and cream mixed in. Lightly tanned, almost beige fur, with a distinctly pink hue, runs from just beneath the bridge of her feline snout, cascading over most of it, all of her chin and neck, and likely down her front as well. Her tall, rabbitesque ears are the color of her body, with the dark fur of her hands crowning the tips. Inside of her ears is a similar fur to that which covers her front, though the pink hue is slightly more vivid. Her hair is full and curly, almost wild, and pulled back into a very thick and bushy ponytail, just behind her ears, while shortened bangs hang near her shimmering eyes. Jarae's hair is naturally dark pink.

Valan and Jarae share a gaze, and the human flashes a small but warm smile. Without speaking a word, she nods her head, thanking him once more for saving her life. Turning to the others, they make their way through an alley, heading back for the tavern and the docks. They can hear town guards and a bucket brigade on the other side of the vacant buildings, racing for the blazing warehouse. In the distance, they can hear bursts of gunfire as Jarae's former group attacks the town guards on sight, likely as they themselves attempt to escape the burning.

Tearing a piece of his own, somewhat expensive shirt, Mairlynn watches over her shoulder with shock as Valan bandages Jarae's arm, tying the cloth tightly. Returning to the tavern, they find that it's swarming with guards. The barmaid files a report for the fight and the broken window. Quickly turning around, the group follow Kirsta and Mairlynn as they head for an inn that they'd seen, while searching for a better ship to buy or hire. Entering the inn, the man at the desk looks the group over, narrowing his eyes.

“It's not my place to get in people's business, but we don't rent by the hour, and if she's involved, I will call the guards." He says, pointing at Mairlynn.

“What?" Irzain raises a brow in confusion.

“We need rooms for the night. As many as you can spare." Kirsta sternly replies.

“Oh! ... Well... Good! I've got four left. Twenty vasariks and they're all yours."

Reaching into a coin purse, Valan produces two, smaller, silver vasariks, each valued at ten. Setting them on the counter, the innkeeper moves around the counter and escorts them down a hall.

“So. How're we going to do this?" Irzain asks.

“Jarae should have her own room." Kirsta begins, glaring suspiciously at the Jaliscan woman. “As well as Mairlynn and I. You two are on your own."

“Great..." Valan sighs.

After showing them to their rooms, the innkeeper swiftly returns to the front desk. Kirsta and Irzain slip into rooms, while Valan presents a door to Jarae.

“Thank you." She murmurs.

“Don't worry about it. If you want to stick around, wait for us in the front room or the tavern. If I wake up first, I'll wait for you... Just in case."

With a little smile, Jarae nods her head.

“And if you don't want to tag along, that's alright. I figure we're even anyway. I'm Valan, by the way." He grins.

Without speaking another word, she steps into her room. Jarae locks eyes with Valan as she slowly closes the door. Standing in the hall for a moment, he only now realizes that Mairlynn watches him intently. He turns his head to look at her, as she leans against a doorframe, posing rather seductively.

“Would you like to come to bed with me, Uncle Kobin? I don't mind sharing." She asks, running a hand over her childlike body.

“Go to bed." He chuckles.