Early morning.

The gorge is filled with the noise of post dawn preparations as everyone packs up their kit and readies their mounts. The previous evening on hearing that Kobal was to get married in a few days time, the Vingan girls gifted him their newly captured, four Impalas as soon as he wakes.

"For your wife, from us. May Eiritha bless your herd and your union and Vinga protect your children Kobal."

Kobal smiles with unfeigned happiness at the gift of the impala.  He's got nothing with him at present which would suit as a gift to exchange.  Nor is he sure what is best to say in response to the Vingans, since the only Vingan he really knows is Amara and he's never had to deal with her on a formal level.

"Thank you, daughters of Vinga, for your gift and your blessings.  I accept these on behalf of Jella, my bride-to-be.  You are welcome at our wedding, to be held at the Giants Finger Holes.  May Waha ease your path in the Wastes and Thunder Bird blow at your back."

Amara hugged the Vingans good bye, promising each of them that she'd see them at the pairing stones at the right time. She hated the good byes, and it was good to spend some time with those who followed her God and the same principals that she'd lived by. She promised solemnly to kill any broo she met in their name until the time of the pairing stones and that she hoped that she'd be able to count on them all as sisters after her initiation.

The Vingans return the hugs but reply that they are coming to the Giant Finger Holes to see what is what and who is who and that by the sounds of it the Rangers likely need as many armed friends as possible just in case the Red Thorn shaman tries anything underhand.

Once they clear the gorges and hit the open plain beyond, the Rangers and their companions are joined by the Morokanth and the Harpies.

Their queen glides down to join the Rangers to discuss their immediate plans and how they wish to approach the oasis...

Tarosh collects his gear and packs it all on to Carross and after a quick discussion with Kinamasi, its decided that she'll ride Peat's llama.
He approaches the Queen and with a welcoming smile bids, "Good morning my Queen, it should be a quick journey to the Earth Temple as we won't have to slow down to hunt, thanks to you and your followers."

"Greetings My Queen!" Ohanzee hails the Harpy as she lands "It is as Tarosh says."

"As for when we approach the Giant's Finger Holes, it is our custom to do so with all the pomp and pageant that we can must, to emulate those greater beings who have travelled there before and might do so again. Thus one of us normally takes the role of Tada for the approach and another of his consort."

He smiles "This time though I shall take the role of the serpent husband of the Earth come again to the Earth Temple." He considers a moment We would of course love for you and your flock to join our procession and it is of course fitting for you to show your majesty by flying in... and safer perhaps given that none there are prepared for your arrival."

"I would ask a favour, though do not wish to offend." he pauses then barrels on "I would ask whether you and your flock would mind flying in such a way as to cast a shadow on the Earth that looks like the snaking body of a great serpent with us at the head?"

"This we can do Blue Arm. They will know that we are coming for word shall soon spread that Harpies come and I suggest that Tulox be sent ahead to speak to the Priestesses of the Temple about our coming."

The morning passes uneventfully, as does the afternoon, the size of the party likely scaring off any predators or possible attackers. There's little sign of game, though there's plenty of Bison spore, which Sand Fox and Nixa recognise as Red Thorn riders.

As the group begins looking for somewhere to camp, smoke is seen coming from some high ground about a kilometre to the South West.

"Thank you, and it will be done My Queen a soon as we are close enough for Tarnessh to send him."

Later as they look towards the rising smoke Ohanzee says "We should investigate. If it is a threat then we should either deal with it or know what it is to report it." He glances around at their numbers "Though we are likely enough to deal with most threats."

"If it is friends then we should greet them and if it is something in between then perhaps we can turn them to friends and swell our numbers even more for the approach to the Earth Temple!"

He scratches his chin in thought "There are the Men-And-A-Half about still unless they have given up on us or met a bad ending."

"They said too send Tulox to find them if I..We needed their assistance. It could be them" answered Tarnessh, pulling up next to Ohanzee on his Bison.

"I'll send him for a look."

Immediately the hawk peels off and soars over towards the high ground.

"Thanks Tarnessh" Ohanzee responds to the piercing eyed Sun Hawk brave.

Before Hoskar can react with suddenly-enhanced vision, he winces. Not again! Then he ducks behind his shield, gesturing to the others to get take cover, hissing warnings as he does so.

Trouble. Big trouble. Bison riders - perhaps twice as many of them than of us. Think someone just disrupted Tulox to death. Mess of feathers up there.

When he see's the others discussing something in front, he rides over to them, just in time to hear Hoskar's warning, "Crap!" he looks around for Kinamasi and calls to her, "Stay in the middle." He readies his axe, "How far away are they Hoskar?"

Abandoning secrecy, Hoskar gets louder with his information.

See that smoke? High ground South West? Up there, where Tulox vanished. I see twenty-plus bison, not sure how many people there with them. Could be lots hiding.

Wasn't quick enough spotting them this time.

"Tulox!" shouts Tarnessh "He's dead!"

Kicking his heels in to Grumpfy's flanks the Sun Hawk brave gallops towards the distant high ground.

Many of the other Rangers, the male Sky Watchers and the Vingans all look as if they're about to follow him...

He looks at the others, "Lets get them!" He urges Carross after Tarnessh and does his best to pull alongside him, "I'm with you." When they are a lot nearer to where Hoskar pointed out, Tarosh uses a charm to protect himself.

"The safety of the harpy queen is more important than any other goal we have at this moment in time." Amara said as she didn't immediately go chasing towards the black cloud. "Our work is more important than internecine conflict."

"Wait!" Ohanzee calls trying to sway the Sky Watchers at least, hopefully enough to make the others reconsider "Think of the children! They have lost so much since Moonbroth; don't throw your lives away and condemn them to slavery! Rangers, think of the greater goal!"

Torn between the impulse to avenge Tarosh's familiar supporting his fellow ranger, and the impulse to harmony, Hoskar had automatically urged Ram forward to follow the charge when Ohanzee's shout cuts through his consciousness and he pulls up sharply.

Ohanzee's right! he bellows after those who are charging forward. At least think and plan - fight uphill and angry and you'll lose! Badly!

He looks back at Ohanzee with a bemused grin, and adds Don't think I'll ever understand you - one minute it's tricks, then challenges, then discretion. Orlanth got the best of it today, has he? Maybe I was right about you and the eye of the paradox.

Sat on Kohana with a fine view all around Salen does not look particularly perturbed by the loss of Tulox, his mind on other matters. And he makes no move to charge.

"I have no idea what's going on up there, but right now I'd rather cut our losses and head for the Giant Finger Holes."

All to quickly Tarnessh and Tarosh find themselves way in front of a diminishing mob of Rangers and their allies. Common sense and Ohanzee's impassioned plea having brought them to their senses. Herd beasts are reined in and the group mills about a good bowshot from where they'd started.

Out at the fore the two braves....Thunderbird and Sun Hawk...see that a small group of Bison riders are riding towards them, too far away to make out who they are, but near enough to see that none are carrying lances or look like they are ready for war.

"Hoskar what are they doing, what can you see with Condor's sight?" the young Raven brave asks anxiously.

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 331):

Looking relieved, Hoskar is up to answering this one. Looks like a small set is riding out. Can't see any weapons.

Might be alright after all...unless Tarosh is too angry to talk.

He shrugs.

Maybe if we go and support them at a respectful distance? Not close enough to look like war, but close enough they're not alone perhaps.

Ohanzee nods "How many ride? We should match their numbers, including Tarnessh and Tarosh and no more."