The Camp Grounds [Ore]

Spoiler:

Waking up in his cot, Nenadair blinked sleepily. He didn't remember much from the night before.. someone must have led him to the tent. Reaching for the circlet he places beside his bed every morning with calm familiarity, his hadn brushed the floor trying to find it's smooth embrace. When his hands found nothing but small pebbles, he jolted awake. He must have seen the vortailer when he came in, but was too exausted even to bother with the possibility that his circlet could be found. Now, this minor detail became the prince's only reality, and his eyes bugged as he started breathign very quickly. Seeing that the Vortailer was already awake, Nenadair stared at him as if he wanted to speak, but was too choked by his own panic.

Spoiler:

Yaktooo was pleasantly munching on a salty cracker that came out of his ration pack when Nenadair woke up, delicately holding the crispy wafer to his mandibles with his pincers. After a moment, he realized Nenadair was staring at him very hard. He rotated his body looking around, confused, wondering if there was anything unusual behind him. He set himself straight with Nenadair and asked bewildered, with a full mouth. {What?} he asked bluntly, almost rudely.

Yaktooo was glad thought-speak wasn't encumbered by chewing on a mouthful of food.

Nenadair patted his bare head slowly with both hands as if to convey the lack of royal emblem through sign language, his eyes still wide as dinner plates. He had hoped Lady Kairi could explain, but she was fast asleep in her bed (though at any time she might awake and save him from having to speak to Yaktooo alone). "My.." the Aquas's toungue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He swallowed and tried again. "My circlet has been stolen." He hung his head in shame at the realization that he had allowed it to become this way, and Nenadair stared at the floor in humiliation. He hoped the Vortailer would understand what he as trying to ask of him.

A bit worried, Corran made his way back to his tent, he would be in the sky squadron on the glassdawn. He only hoped he wouldn't get caught up in the mess of things. Once he reached his tent, he sat down, and fidgeted with the sleeping area nervously. Not sure what to do, he decided to roam the camp grounds, maybe he'd see the glassdawn again.

___

Keerah's insides twirled with delight and fright, the glassdawn was a bloodbath, but it meant she'd be able to work in the sky squadron. Deciding it was a good thing after all, she went to get herself breakfast, and see if she couldn't find the ship it's self.

Spoiler:

Instantly Yaktooo was worried that Nenadair was suspicious of him. Being a spy makes you nervous like that. {I didn't do it.} he responded, perhaps a bit too quickly. He realized this probably made him look even more guilty. He tried to appear helpful to cover it up. {Are you sure you didn't misplace it?}

Before Nenadair could answer, he decided to investigate the tent himself. He climbed off the cot and walked a slow circle around the tent, straining his ears and listening for the soothing, trickling pitch of the moonstone.

{No... you are right. I don't believe it is here. I don't hear it anywhere.}

Spoiler:

It didn't take long for him to convince Rav to go back to his tent. Once there, he began to cook, an odd silence consuming him. He didn't feel like talking tonight for several reasons, all of which would pop up within the next few hours.
When they'd both finished, Gibbous made sure that Rav was in bed and comfortable, and then, after struggling to convince Rav that he would be back in the morning, he wandered off.
There was no tent for him, and he'd seen the issue with this since he first arrived. He wandered back into the forest to a clearing, where a small lake had formed. The moonlight glistened in it and reflected off the serene surface as if it was some mystical mirror. The entire landscape was lovely, as dark blades of grass ran down the dip that was the lake. The trees surrounded it as if it was almost a bedroom, with a space in the very top for the moonlight to shine through. This is where his instincts confused him. They told him that it was simply nature, and that it was dangerous to sleep alone in such an open spot...
... but his senses, his ability to perceive the beauty that was the clearing, they objected to this. Here he would get the best night's sleep he could have possibly ever gotten.
He laid down in the soft grass and sighed. His instincts never made much sense to him. What would killing another creature accomplish but a guilty conscience?
With that thought, he closed his eyes and sighed gently. There was far more death to come in the war; there was little point in mourning now.

Gibbous sat by his father, his gaze hard, as if bracing for an incomprehensible anguish. Beside him lay a black lump, hardly even a shadow of what the strong, brave, and warm king Tempest was.
It wasn't difficult for him to understand that his father was dying. It was even simpler to realize that with the fall of the king, he was the rightful heir.
But he wasn't ready for it. It wasn't that he hadn't prepared-- no, he'd been taught the ins and out of every political tactic, every way to lead an army on to victory, and most certainly how to overindulge.
No, it was deeper. It was a confusion that, put into words, asked, "How can the death of someone I love, my own father, lead to both the destruction of my own heart and the promotion of my own soul? How could two amazingly contradictory situations occur because of the same event?"
He nuzzled his father one last time, attempting to be the iron-willed king that he would soon have to be... and after a moment, finally failed. He buried his head into his father's coat and began to sob.
"You must be strong, Gibbous. Strong for me, strong for them, but most of all, strong for yourself," his father said, his final words slipping out of him and turning into a soft hiss as they left his lips.

But, thrust into such a situation, he found himself defeated. His pride moved on, and only a few miles away from where his father died, he collapsed under the weight of his own despair. He laid there for days, and the days turned into weeks. The lionesses begged him to rise and to give them command, while the males demanded he get up and do something of a kingly nature. He could do neither. All he could do was lie there, unwilling to get up. He was an orphan now. Abandoned by his parents and only left with the gift to command others who were far more fortunate than him.
It didn't take long for the pride to leave him. A relative of his father, he was sure, had stepped up and taken over in Gibbous' absence.

The day after his pride left, he rose. He had come to the sudden realization that they were gone. It was gone. Everything was gone.
And as desolate as the situation seemed, it meant that he could lose no more. He had nothing more to mourn for.
But as the days drove on, he realized that he needed someone; he needed a family, even if that family wasn't going to praise him as its king. So, he started off, reborn.
Gibbous of the shadow tribe.

King of Nothing.

His eyes slowly opened as the light reflecting off the water roused him. The pink from the sky, caused by the rising sun, made a small smile slip across his blackened lips.
It was never a good dream, the one of his father, but it always made him thankful that it was over. No longer would he be praised as anyone but himself for doing anything but what he did. It was strange for him to admit to himself, but it seemed that even the darkest of situations have the slightest bit of light in him.
He rose, stretched, and yawned in a typical feline manner, voicing his yawn to add emphasis to the oddly happy feeling he had this morning. He went to lick his paw and smiled again. Yes, even he had a light to him, even though he had meant it a bit more figuratively than his dark coat and his white pads.
Soon, he was clean. He sat there for a few more moments, taking in the morning before he had to be responsible again.

While wondering, Corran found himself back at the medic tent, and decided to check and see if the old illuminare was doing alright. He peeked his head through, trying to locate where everything was, then entered. Slowly he made his way over to her, she was talking to the captain of the ship. Patiently he waited for them to finish their conversation, while he got out some medicines that would help seal the wounds and strengthen damaged tissue. Holding the medicine, he stood quietly, waiting for his turn to speak.

Caelestiss scrunched his face towards Tsumi while the Rah nurse informed her of her status. Griff-grinning at the imitation of ship talk, the feathered Stryker's eyes twinkled with mishief. "I hope you aren't shapely as the Glassdawn... she truly is as fragile as glass, my lady is." By then one of the medics who had been there the night before had wandered into the room, distinct in it's golden hue. "But we should put thoughts of healing uot of our minds, as we have a visitor." He flicked his great head towards the dactyl, and then nodded it in greeting to the medic.
Rolling awkwardly, the captain managed to get out of bed without injuring himself, which was a feat unto itself with his wing taped in an awkward position. Standing on all fours, he gave himself a shake and dislodged feathers floated about the room like small birds, casting strong shadows from the early morning light.

Nenadair cocked his head in confusion, his wide eyes returning to normal size. "Why would you have taken it?" he asked, genuinly confused. "You weren't even in the tent where it disappeared. I.... set it down," he lied, awkwardly. There was no reason to admit he'd fallen asleep. "And when I looked back it had disapppeared." That part, at least, was the truth. He shook is Aquanian head sadly. "I don't know who would have taken it."
In the background, the sounds of hundreds of recruits unzipping the tents and going out made quiet shush-shush noises and fur brushed canvas. One ould almost hear the sound of dewdrops forming in the brisk air or the morning.

"Hello captain, I believe I'll be sailing with you." Corran said, nodding slightly, "Is there anything I can do to help your wounds?" he eagerly asked the illuminare, showing her the vile in his hands. He was glad that most of the crew weren't psychopaths like the two ryphers. Silently, wondered to himself who else would be on the glassdawn with him. It really was a magnificent ship, even though he couldn't see it now, he recalled what it looked like exactly.

___

Spoiler:

The captain one again nodded his head, in acknowldgement this time. "You will be. I am proud to have such a dedicated medic on my ship." Caelestiss stretched copiously, his mismatched legs splaying out strangely. "Do you know how long it will be before Tsumi is fully recovered? Unfortunately, we need to get on board as soon as possible.

Spoiler:

Fear melting at the sound of Gibbous's sonorous voice, he was completely reassured. Almost in a state of bliss, he obeyed the commands, and at the materializing of his idol he leaped forward to clutch the dark mane in a fierce hug. He was overtaken as he used all his arms to attach himself, whispering, "Gibbous, you'll never frighten me." He was mute from the relief as he nodded agreement to going back to the tent. He spoke up only to comment on the food being amazing, and was drowsy by the time Gibbous escorted him to bed. He woke up fully once Gibbous mentioned leaving and adamantly argued that his friend not do so, but finally caved because he knew Gibbous would never agree.

With that, he lay still where he was, not bothering his tent mates. He rose as soon as he could and left the tent quietly. He stopped to feel the cool night air, appreciating it for the first time in a long while. Then, adjusting his mechanical eye for taking in as much light as possible and increasing the contrast of his vision, he followed the white paws at a safe distance. Once Gibbous stopped his wanderings, Rav lay on the ground and rested. He had chosen a spot far enough away that he would not disturb him, as his only hope was to know where, and be somewhat near the shadow feline. He lay awake, mildly surprised that he was enjoying the simplicity of a calm night. He finally fell into a dreamless slumber, and continued to sleep past sunrise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To the sound of voices, Jocu sleepily cracked an eye. He blinked and then stretched, his little body lengthening to twice its length curled up. His tail arched and his small sharp teeth were exposed as he yawned. Aware of the dawn light streaking in he kept his eyes closed as he contemplated the past night tranquilly. *Mmmm, ahhhhh. Rather lax of me to sleep so late, and I usually wake up just from hearing people enter, but I suppose it was the long exciting day. First an early start in the morning, then that fight, then the leap, then busily crisscrossing the entire camp, and finally that incident that I nearly bungled. But its always a close call I suppose.... I must be out of habit because I dreamt that a vortailer entered this tent, and that that aqua's voice was echoing around me. Its over with and I shouldn't let it bother me.* He sighed serenely one more time, and then poked his head up to look curiously around his tent.

*Sacred -----!* Although he managed to keep the expletive to himself, it took all of his training to do it. He was completely paralyzed by the sight that greeted him and lurched out of his hammock very ungracefully. In complete shock he landed with a thump, not even able to get his feet under him. He sat up dazed, thoughts racing through his mind. *They tracked me down? How, what did I do that let them, No, wait. They are in their beds, they were sleeping. This is their tent. We're tent mates. That's all.* He felt like shuddering at the unpleasant awakening, but managed to almost regain his composure. *Is there anyway they would find it? I don't think so. Too dangerous, I've got to return it. Even if it makes it look funny that it reappeared out of nowhere, I just need to make sure I do it undetected.*
Those were the thoughts going through his head as he talked rapidly to cover up his anxiety. "Gracious, I don't know why I was so surprised, I just didn't expect to fall asleep, and then to wake up and everyone is already here. What time is it? Do you know where we are supposed to be today, for getting prepared for battle I mean? Sorry if my sudden falling from the sky startled you." It wasn't so far from the truth, and he even managed a weak joke at the end of his nervous tirade. He was finally slowing to a decent rate, by the of it all.

Yaktooo was relieved when he was sure Nenadair wasn't accusing him, and even more relieved when the silvery Denret woke up. Maybe the newcomer took it... he thought to himself. It was pretty unlikely though. But what idiot steals from his own tentmates? He resolved that it wasn't the Denret, and that the anxious rapid greeting was merely war-jitters or perhaps being spooked at the telepathic speech (as people often seemed to be caught off-guard by it).

He greeted the Denret first. {Good morning! You must be Jocu... Irriphron, was it? I saw your name on the bulletin board yesterday. I am Yaktooo} He continued poking around the tent, listening for the moonstone but with no luck. {You haven't seen a silver circlet in here have you? Any suspicious people near the tent?}

Suddenly Yaktooo recognized a polite reason to ask Nenadair about his reason for being here. {Nenadair, I apologize, it's probably not my business, but I can't help but wonder if that circlet has more sentimental value than just being a valuable trinket. You don't introduce yourself as a prince but that is what the headpiece signifies, yes? You joined this army, so you must be unafraid to lose your life, but you seem mortified to lose the circlet.}

Corran nodded once more, overjoyed to be able to fly on the glassdawn. Gesturing to the vile he responded "If she'll let me apply this, or if she'd rather do it her self, in about 3-4 days the wound should be alright" he said, smiling broadly at Tsumi. Shuffling his feet slightly, he waited for Tsumi's response to the medicine quietly. Remembring that the captain had said he'd be a medic, he asked "Who else will be with me as a medic?" he wanted to be a medic, but also enjoyed making poisons and explosives, which he couldn't do if he didn't have proper partners.

Jocu was uncomfortable with the thought messages, for they seemed too close to infringing upon his all-too-imperative privacy, but he had experience with it before. He became a but humorous at the remembrance of the harrowing escape from a burglary when he was surprised in the act by a vortailer's 'speech.'

"Yep, that's my name." He smiled warmly, and continued politely, "Pleased to meet you Yaktooo, and you as well." He said turning, and gave a small bow to each of them. He looked thoughtful at the question, but before he got a chance to speak Yaktooo continued speaking to the prince. *If any of them get wind that I stole it, I may just have more enemies than I can handle. A prince. I really had the worst of luck yesterday. Now I am faced with the choice of how to proceed. I might claim that I picked it up by accident, hardly a likely story. I could say that I took it from someone but didn't know who it belonged to, and that is also quite a bad alibi. If there was a way, I would slip it into his belongings when he isn't looking. It might also be possible to pass it to the blue fenrir so she gets blamed... ugh I hate that idea, its a horrible thing to do to such a person. Or else.....* his mind kept trying to find a possibility that was as foolproof as possible. Then he spoke, hazarding his best plan, "Yes. I believe I know the circlet you are talking about. A moonstone right? Wasn't it stolen yesterday at the medical tent? I believe that I heard it was found by an old injured illuminaire and she was trying to find the owner." He shrugged nonchalantly, "It might have just been a rumor of course, but if its yours, then you probably want any lead you can get."

It wasn't the best of plans, but maybe he could get it to the ornery arctic patient before they did, and leave it without being seen. If they talked, and his luck returned, no one would get blamed. It was all he could hope for at the moment, and it would earn him some wiggle room.

Spoiler:

The captain squinted at the bottle, trying to figure out what it was. Giving up, he responded with another round of stretching. "Tsumi," he nodded politely to the patient, "will also be on our crew. Tsumi, I unfortunately do not know how qualified you are, but I would like you to aid as a medic. No one else in the crew has any training or knowledge as far as I understand."

--

His eyes once again widening to their all-too-large size, the Aquas's head swiveled around at an unnatural angle to stare at the denret. It took Nenadair the better part of a minute before he realized that the denret was on a makeshift bed, and that he'd recieved a new tent-mate overnight. Turning back to the vortailer and wringing his hands, the prince was reluctant to anwer the question.
"Yes... that's what it signifies." That question had been more rhetorical than anything else, be he didn't quite have an nswer for the second. 'It's the only thing I have left of my home' or 'It was my family's for generations' sounded so terribly cliche, and 'It stands for every one of my hopes and aspirations' just didn't cover it. Sticking to a neautral answer, Nenadair told the truth. "The moonstone inset in it could be sold for a large sum of money. My life is hardly worth the price that has gone into something that has and will last generations."
His life, his LIFE?
Nenadair was sure he wouldn't lose his life, and it was foolish of the vortailer to mention it. Only normal people died in war, not royalty.
Hearing the newcomer's answer to the telepathic question, Nenadair's ears perked up. "Tsumi? Tsumi has my circlet???" He ran out of the tent willy nilly without waiting for an answer, only racing back in to grab his customary scimitar set.
Bursting into the medical tent he'd fallen asleep in the night before, he saw the Stryker Captain awake and upright. Beside him was the older illuminire who's bravery had spread about the camp, her snowy fur blending into the now-pristine blankets. There was also a dactyl with a strange spot on it's wing.
Bring his hands up to clutch the side of her bed, the Aquas interrupted their conversation abruptly.
Eyes wild he asked, "Do you have my emblem?"

--

The Stryker glared at the rude intruder who was merely a blur of white in the corner of his eye. Turning around was difficult in the cramped quarters, but he managed it all the same without ruffling too many feathers. "Hur hur hur," he laughed in his rumbling voice, "somehow I doubt you will be one of my crew, Aquas."

Keerah decided she'd better meet the captain of the glassdawn, and recalling the earlier mishaps, decided that he'd be in the medical tent recuperating. Quickly she made her way over to it, most of the patients were by the captains bed, a golden dactyl, the old illuminare, and a rather desperate looking aquas were all there. Deciding to wait before she introduced her self, Keerah sat a few feet away from the opening of the tent boredly. She found herself imagining what battle would be like as she waited. When reality came back to her, Keerah found it hard to recall what she had imagined, and dismissed it from her mind. Standing up, she made her way to the bedside, she noticed that the living quarters were very tight, and tried to get in a comfortable position to wait for the crowd to subside a little.

Yaktooo wanted to make a comment about how foolish it was to bring such a valuable object on a trip like this, but held his tongue... mandibles... thought... whatever. It would have been hypocritical anyway. He himself carried an assortment of valuable gems on his back, but at least he left his most prized in T'enelm. The ones he carried no so much 'jewelry' as they were 'tools' to him anyway. Anyhow, the pale Aquas was obviously agitated enough. He knew he had touched a nerve. Perhaps he should have questioned the Aquas AFTER the lost circlet was found. The only answer Nenadair gave to his question was that the moonstone was worth a lot of money, more money than his life. True, perhaps, but it felt like a bogus answer. There was more to the story. Yaktooo knew he'd have to be patient.

Jocu told Nenadair that the white Illuminaire had the circlet, and Nenadair took off like a bat out of hell. Yaktooo was still trying to decide if Nenadair's immediate action and determination was really called for when he stormed back in, rifled through his gear and got his scimitars, and flew out.

{Is he going to kill her?} he asked Jocu, confused. Murdering a bed-ridden person didn't seem to be the Aquas' style. He dropped the cracker he forgot he was holding, and scurried out of the tent after Nenadair.

Corran was startled when the aquas came in. He seemed agitated about some emblem. He eyed his scimitars wearily and said "I doubt she has it... I believe Tsumi's been unable of moving until recently." He wondered why the Aquas was so worked up about the item, when he noticed someone else standing a bit behind him. She seemed to be an arctic omnis, maybe she was in the same squadron as him. At the moment, Corran didn't really care. Instead he was concerned about Tsumi who was still recovering from her wounds, she didn't need anymore excitement. Still watching the Aquas, he shifted slightly, hoping that the Aquas would realize his mistake and go.

{I agree,} said Yaktooo, stepping into the tent. He barely noticed Keerah who had stepped aside from the tent entrance and locked his eyes on Nenadair and the golden Dactyl. {She was half dead when she fell off the ship yesterday, and I doubt she's even left this tent since then.} He was just as uneasy with Aquas standing armed and ready in the medical tent as Corran appeared to be. {This is the last place to start drama.}

Spoiler:

"Oh.. I.." the young Aquas hung his head in apology, not wanting to have caused trouble for the patients in the medical tent. Now that he thought about it, there was no way that Tsumi could have been able to steal his circlet, much less remove herself from the bed with any pretence of stealth.
There was something strange about the denret's tale, as he hadn't 'lost' his circlet, it had most definitely been stolen. Why would a thief take such a valuable object merely to pawn it off somewhere as 'lost'?
"I apologize for causing a disturbance in your ward, healer," he murmured from under the shadow his frills cast across his small mouth. "It was stolen and... someone mentioned that Tsumi may have had it." Even more confused than he had ben before, he posed a question that would become one for alll of them to wonder about. "Why would he say that?"

IF YOU ARE LOST:

Spoiler:

Now a bit dazed, Corran handed the vile to Tsumi and told her to rub it on her wounds "I'll be waiting for you two aboard the glassdawn, see you soon." with that, he turned and walked out of the tent quickly. As he made his way back to the tent, Corran noticed many others making their way to their designated squadrons. Reaching the tent, he slipped in and gathered all of his poisons, antidotes, explosives, and medicines in a cushioned box. Turning to his other belongings he gathered them all up, and into a large pouch. Craddling the box gently, and carrying the pouch, Corran took off, flying until he spotted the glassdawn. He could make out many zetains climbing up to it, or if they had wings, flying. Reaching the clear haul of the magnificent ship, Corran landed and looked around him, taking in the sights.

___

Keerah was slightly confused at the moment, still unsure off what the aquas was talking about. Quietly she said "Hello captain, I believe I will be aboard your ship. My name is Keerah" with that, she inclined her head, and backed out of the tent. Walking back to her tent at a rather quick pace. Once she finally reached it, she gathered her belongings in a pouch that she tied around her foot. Walking rather awkwardly out of her tent, Keerah took off, gliding over to the glassdawn. Once she reached it, she landed softly, seeing that the same golden dactyl she had seen earlier was there. Untying the pouch from her foot, Keerah looked around her, taking in the surroundings. The ship really was magnificent, and, would you look at that? They had managed to clean the blood up, the glass was now spotless.