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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 2:34:31 GMT
[glow=red,2,300]The tiny secluded village nestled deep in the ranges of Southern Wutai, home to the Sunset Clan of native Wutaians.[/glow]
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 5:00:18 GMT
((Now landing...))
As they approached the mountain range, Gdosimirj pointed to the tallest mountain. "There! Follow the treeline to the southwestern face of the mountain, and there's a small plateau..."
The plateau came into view and as they hovered near it, she sighed with relief. "Good thing that was as easy as I remembered when I left..."
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Post by mistervillainman on Oct 21, 2006 5:04:37 GMT
Dimitri followed the directions she gave him and leveled out the ship using the thrusters. He settled the ship down as softly as he could on the plateu and powered down all the thrusters, checking his mirrors before powering down the generator as well.
"We're here" He said.
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 5:21:40 GMT
Gdosimirj closed her eyes for a moment, the thought of setting foot on Wutai again making her mind spin. She turned to the door of the ship and traced her left thumb down her forehead, humming lightly. Her thumb trailed off the left side of her nose and across the Sunset symbol tattooed under her eye.
"Makaijd ali'i."
The hatch released, and she opened rejuvenated, determined eyes. She stepped off of the ship, never looking back. She scanned the treeline, eyeing the dense forest before them.
"Alright, everybody. Ground rules before we set out. One, nobody goes ahead of me. There ARE traps we will need to avoid once we get close to the village. Two, we stick together. If anybody needs to stop, say so and we ALL stop. Safety in numbers. Three, this is where I grew up, it is my territory. Therefore, I say, you do, no question. If I say shut up, there's a reason, so do it. If I say duck, you don't sit there and quack. You bloody duck or you're likely to lose your head. If I say run, run back to the ship without looking back or you're karoid lunch. And here's a suvival tip." A dark and pitying smile crossed her lips. "Try not to be last in line if we have to run. You'll be picked out as the easiest kill. Obviously, someone will be last... that person will be me. But I don't plan on slowing up too much." She tried to lighten her tone. "It's hard terrain, but we'll be safe in the village once we arrive. Just don't get too relaxed until we get there."
She pointed into a thin but well defined path in the trees below them. "That's where we're going. Any questions?"
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Oct 21, 2006 5:25:50 GMT
kamen looked around and sulked slightly. he sighed. i should be happy... they are keeping me safe and are at least trying to be friendly... but why do i still feel like this.... i want to get away for a bit... to be alone.... fresh air sounds nice.... he let his mind wander slightly as he stared at his frail hands.
he noticed that everyone got up and he followed suit... he stared at sunset with large semi fearful eyes. he wondered if this was a good idea....
nikky was slowly waking up.... she was really tired.
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 21, 2006 5:30:09 GMT
Ami looked around at the others. She didn't see any hands raised. "No, that sounds pretty straightforward."
She went to the cargo bay and got her loaded bike down the ramp. "So, time to make tracks."
She watched her family, understandably uneasy, following her. "Guys... the sky isn't about to fall. It's gonna be OK." Ami made a mental note to tell her dad later about the narrowness of their escape...
****
Reno woke up in time to hear Sunset's lecture. He stretched out a little bit. "Hey, Nikky, wake up." The itch started up in his head again... Oh, now what?
****
The dark figure from his vision sped down the cliffs with unnatural speed, his hood flying back... to show a head of flaming red spiky hair...
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Post by mistervillainman on Oct 21, 2006 5:31:09 GMT
Dimitri knew places like these very well, he pulled the rim of his fedora down as far as he could, put his coat on and put his sunglasses on. He knew they had a bit of a hike ahead of them, but he didnt wanna risk making eye contact. He knew better than to antagonize locals...
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Oct 21, 2006 5:32:27 GMT
nikky woke up reluctently and grumbled slightly as she stood and stretched. she yawned and walked out with everyone else. she glanced at kamen but he wasn't looking over.
kamen stood silently by himself as he waited. he shifted uneasily and stared at the ground.
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 5:37:44 GMT
((Dimitri, we're not at the village yet...))
"Alright then, we're on our way." She turned down the path, scanning the forest expertly for the karroid's glowing eyes and other predators. She frowned as she noticed that a few of the trees had odd markings in them, like knife marks. She shook her head, but didn't discount them. Something odd was going on...
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Post by mistervillainman on Oct 21, 2006 5:40:09 GMT
((I fixed it already))
Dimitri decided that subtlety was the best option, so he loaded his gunblade into his custom "guitar" case, which he was now lugging along as the group hiked towards the village.
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Oct 21, 2006 5:40:45 GMT
kamen followed her silently, everything-even his footsteps-was silent. he swallowed slightly and tried to shake off his thoughts.
nikky waited for reno before following sunset.
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Post by Amnesty Lazuli on Oct 21, 2006 5:42:04 GMT
The bizarre caravan began to move out. Ami dropped back towards Kamen, still pushing her cycle. "Hey... you holding up all right?" This guy is actually reminding me a lot of Yazoo. Quiet, keeps to himself, kinda thoughtful.
Ami's family watched from a distance. Wish she'd actually talk to us instead of act like our babysitter, Lana thought irritably.
****
Reno kept an arm around her to support her. "Still dreaming, beautiful?"
The itch became more irritating...
****
The figure was zeroing in...
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Post by *~Nikkole~* on Oct 21, 2006 5:44:54 GMT
nikky grinned lazily and leaned against him as she walked. ''eh... maybe. my dreams and my reality are pretty d*** close.''
kamen looked over and nodded. ''yes... i guess so....'' he trailed off, thinking. he frowned and trie to push all his thoughts away. he was unsuccessful and sighed. his thoughts muddled and made it hard for him to concentrate... that includes sensing other things. his powers zapped between his finger tips as he made rocks move around... he was happy that he had not lost his powers in his injured state.
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Post by mistervillainman on Oct 21, 2006 5:44:58 GMT
Something nudged at the back of Dimitri's mind and he looked at the surrounding areas suspiciously, slowing his pace and came up to Ami.
"We're not alone." He said.
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Post by Gdosimirj Sunset on Oct 21, 2006 5:48:44 GMT
Twenty minutes later...
THWUCK.
"Everyone STOP!" Gdosimirj hissed.
She glared into the trees where the sound had come from. A short rustling sound came from that direction. She could sense a strange presence approaching... no, two. One seemed oddly familiar, but darker than she remembered...
The underbrush rustled again, further away, as the familiar presence vanished and the other, stronger presence grew closer. She noticed the gleam of dark skin as someone leapt over a log in the distance and vanished again. She smiled.
"Just one of the villagers out hunting, I should think. News of our arrival will precede us now." She tried to shake off the other presence. "But we should keep moving...
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