The Balls  being thrown at, again, were set up  for Age groups.  Roll and Can felt  confident. especially   Roll who would spend time   one filed field   with the LC

when all was  said  and done,  Orria   took first place in her   Group, with Skiffle  coming in  2nd. The Boy who antagonized Roll came in 5th, Local kids  took 3rd and 4th

 Roll did  get    1st, and  the others  were   from the alien Mix   team

 Can took second. the Little Occui bet him by one 'ring' of the target

Haley came in  2nd  getting beaten by a Local for  first, but  coming in ahead of Hermes  Civi  kids.

 all three   placements  got  a stuffed  animal  from big, medium  and small.

...
 The MC looked at the   skyWell?  its getting  late... so, finish your  drink and snack.. when you are  done  I  want all the  kids  who are playi8gn this last contest, to stand in the circle we   painted.. The  Kids  moved  to the circle  as he began to explain...

 You must use your  eyes, your head, and your  feet.... being fast  will help you move and get back to the circle.....using your eyes  will help you find things using your head, will tell you 'should i quit now, or keep looking"

 he grins as he says...If  you find   10 items... do you come back, or look for more, to try to have the most?..If you have  10, but someone else had  10, and  got to the circle first? they will be marked ahead of you.

  Tapping his head  he looks at the  kids My helpers will be watching? if a parent  helps  a child. they will not be able to get any prizes for this...This is the kid's  games... now , all adults must move  behind the  red Tape  that is outside the   stalls and game Booths.... all the items  we have hidden  are  inside  that tape,  that means the rides, games, food  stalls  and   everything else  inside  that red  tape, mighe be hiding something. The rides  will not work, until this game is finished...There is a 15 minute timer..if you do not  get back in the circle  in 15 minutes, your  things will not be counted..if some  one who has the same amount as you do..beats you to the circle,  they will have the tie breaker for standings...


 as soon as the  last people get pushed back behind the red TApe, i will signal the  'go'.... The Items you are lookign for   are Yellow ribbons with the   ESN flag on it...

  Roll Pulled  Can, orria , Skiffle ( since he saw her with Meari), and Haley into a Huddle...look..i learned  lotsa  stuff  from  being with the LArgs  and   Mr Shadow?/// since they have  that red tape, and  everything  is  inside the tape. Look  at the Games, stalls  and  rides  first... they hafta  have them ..since this is their  faire?,  we go in 5  different  directions. I don't know how many there  are.. but the guy said  10?.. if you get 10, run back to the circle..if you get more the  10...run back..if you have less then 10, and they give the time warning, run back anyway so you get your  things  counted..that way we might get something little, rather  then nothing at all...

  Disna  takes a COM  picture o9f  Roll gathering the kids   before the last  Game  ".... Roll is taking charge of last game.."  he sends  the pic to Shadow and Roy.

”Perhaps you are far away?” Tarja suggested with a smile as Andruss looked at her sketch and correctly guessed that he was in it ”I think it would be nice remember today…also I like to draw, is one of few hobbies you can do in warzone” she said taking a sip of water before looking up at the horizon and noticing that the sun was lower in the sky than it had been ”yes, let’s walk some more…path continues up past falls, should be nice view of valley from there” she said closing her sketchbook and putting it into her pocket before getting back onto her feet only to pause as she looked over at Andruss ”…unless of course there is something you would like to do first?”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:33, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

 Andruss shook his head...I might have been here before? But this is  a new Bura, then last time i was here.. now low  flying fighters. smokeing or Burning APVs...just...plants and  animals... so?  let's go where you want to walk

 Sam gets everyone into the car and they quickly head off to the horse ranch outside of town.  Sam smiled at their group and was extremely excited to go riding on a real horse or Burian horse.

----->>>> To Bura

She would offer Andruss an amused look as if to suggest that he may have misunderstood what she had meant before turning and walking off ”ok…path is this way, careful it looks steep” she said beckoning for him to follow her ”…and no staring at my ass whilst I climb path!” she called over her shoulder with a laugh.

They would walk around the edge of the pool to the cliff edge over which the falls fell where they would find a steep and narrow path  leading upwards with the rocks forming a crude staircase with the irregular spacing of the steps causing Tarja a little trouble with her practically having to climb in places. Upon finally reaching the top Tarja would feel like she had just run a marathon with her having to stop to catch her breath for a bit…however the view was truly worth it.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:47, Sat 05 Nov 2022.

After finishing her coffee, Madison followed the others into the waiting car.

To Bura

 Lizzy was happy to get moving and they headed for the ranch.

---->>> To Bura

  TAt the games the call was made "  2 MINUTES!  "

 Roll  waved them all over....Ok what doe s every  one have..... I got &...Hely got  8..Can got 6..Orria  has  17... and Skiffle  has  4

 he looked around   he Looked at Jax.. Jax  nodded from the tape  with a grin...we all can't  win.. but maybe   2 of us   will !... lets  s give   all of out   flags to Skiffle, excpe for , 4 that we give to orria..they will each have  22?..

 are we allowed to do that?

 They didn't say we couldn't..they said  fine them, and get into the circle... Skiffle  will win   for here..and orria will be the   Winner  for Hermes ... what do you saw?  for the Pack!

they grinned  and   orria and   Skiffle ran to the   circle..

 when the    timer horn was  sounded., the MC  looked concerned  as he  looked at Can, Haley and Roll..

 where are the flags you got?

  Roll Pointed to  Skiffle  and orria.. Who were tied  for the  Most.. the older  civie  boy had  21.

 Andruss looked  for a moment  and cocked his head, then looked up...well?.. i didn't think about that until now...but side you brought it up...i guess  i can't help myself?

he chuckled as he followed her up.

By the time Andruss had reached the top, Tarja would have just about caught her breath after the steep ascent ”Enjoy the view…did we?” she asked Andruss with her still sounding a little out of breath with her clearly missing the augmented muscles of her suit.

From atop the hill they would have a view of the entire valley including the shaggy hippo like creatures lazing within the river and the Nuska eating it’s prey with two smaller creatures that were either it’s cubs or scavengers brave enough to try and steal its meal. It would give them a good idea of how far they walked today. Pulling the map out of her pocket, Tarja would take a moment to examine it before speaking ”trail follows edge of water for a click, then turns right through the trees and then rejoins road we came in on” she said pointing out their current position on the map before tucking it away and turning her attention back to the view of the valley ”that is some view”

  Andruss looked over the valley, and nodded...Yeah?  and the  lake and Valley are nice  as well... he grinned seemingly   looking out over the valley.

She would playfully punch Andruss on the top of his arm in response to his comment about “the view” not that she was complaining too much, with her clearly flattered by the attention he was showing her ”Cheeky! Come on, this way…when we get back to car we have bite to eat then head back to fair until recall…or head into town for a drink or two, I leave up to you” she said holding out her hand for him to take as they started the last leg of the walk.

  He   grinned  at the punch  , took her hand s they walked.Its a hard   chocie? I mean? we don't get to see  faires  often? the  closest is when we have a  football game at  a Carrier station

 But the town is  nice  as well? and  have good food and drinks., Or  we  could   try  to do thinks  in the City...but  Bura ? i think is more 'Bura' if we are away from the big city?

”Hmm cities are much the same…we can shop and go to the bars and clubs on station…fairs and walk in countryside is rare opportunity” she replied, glad that she’d had the chance to explore a little of what made Bura, Bura and see it’s unique wildlife ”so what do you think of walk? Is nice way of spending shore leave, yes?” she asked as they followed the trail along the edge of the water, being sure not to get too close to the edge, with her trying to gauge his reaction.

 Meari watched Skiffle and her group collect flags, with Roll in charge. Meari watched carefully and Roll got his group to put their flags together and they sent Orria and Skiffle with the most flags found. Meari was excited, very proud of them working together and continued to watch.

 NA-CE watched the games and the children's games and they all seemed to be having a great time, NA-CE enjoyed the time with the officers yesterday and Madison seemed more like a grunt than a pilot when it came to partying thats for sure.

 NA-Ce just roamed around watching and learning.

  While  Skiffle and Orria  Jumped up and down, many of the Civie  kids were mad, saying  they 'cheated'.

  The  father from before  called  that out  as well...

 The  MC went over to Roll ( because he seemed to be the instigator) and Asked  Roll  why they did what they did.

  Roll said,we couldn't all  win?  some of  us   only had a few flags? Orria  and Skiffle had the most, so  we shared our  flags. No one said we couldn't do that?

  The MC  took a Knee, looking at Can, Haley and  Roll.You know? there is  only a prize..not a team Prize? I can't gibve you anything?

Roll's  forehead  furrowed,..That's not  why we did that...

Haley just  smiled  returning waves from Skiffle and Orria

Can said,I  am too little  to  be able to run around like the bigger  kids  did. So helping our friends. makes me  feel good!

 The MC  stood  up   and looked  around at all the people who surrounded the   Faire. He held out his hand  helplessly..... This children, did not break any rules...though, for next time. we may have to change that! They did not  impede anyone from getting  flags, they did not steal  any, No parents helped them... The Two  girls are the winner  and  will recive the prize as noted, since they  tied.

 some folks cheered, some folks groaned and the Helpers   took   Orria  and Skiffle to a  the prize  area to pick out thier  prizes.

 The  MC  turned to the kids  and reached into his pouch, Giving them each a bright Green chip, that looked sort of like, a cred ship.These  are for  a free frood  and drink, from any Stall here. Its not from the  Games, its  from me. Your parents   should be proud.

 Roll  smiled  as he  took the chip and put it in his own pouch. I sorta have a new Mommy, but she is  busy out in the Black... I can't wait to  tell mr Roy and  Mr Shadow!

 Halry Pointed   at Mitch  and  Nikki..Nikki is like my Mommy, she saved me from  bad people from earth.

 Can   smiled,I have a new Mommy and Daddy, they are over there.. I th8ink they like me.

 Orria  picked out a Game  that had smalle paddles   with  cube shaped  ball...  We can play this  on the football field, on the ship!

 Skiffle  had a  large  stuffed  animal that looked like a cross between a  Giraffe  and   Rhino.. the  bag opened up and there  were 4  'babies: inside,, she said,I will keep the Mommy... then she  handed  each lid  a small 'baby ' Thraad.

 These are Traads? My new  Mommy and Daddy showed me some, they  walk around the  tall  trees to eat, and like to walk in water.

........

 The  tapes  were taken down, and the faire  went back to  'business as usual'-

 Meari watched and when the fuss was made she moved a little closer to the MC, but they decided it was fair and Meari was very happy.

 Meari went to Roll, she kneeled down on one knee before him and said," What you did was amazing Larg Master Cadet Roll, I will inform the LC and the SM of all of your behavior, you did great as a team and thank you for adding Skiffle into your group."

 Meari then went to Skiffle and gave her a big hug. " You did great and worked well with a team I am very proud of you skiffle and giving out the babies was awesome you are a pack now."

 

It would take around an hour to follow the water’s edge, with them pausing once to watch a couple of brightly coloured birds diving into the water, before they turned off and once again walked along a narrow track through some trees that necessitated them walking in single file and no doubt giving Andruss the opportunity to quietly check her out again. With another hour of walking bringing them back to the road which would then lead them back to the hire car.

Shrugging off her backpack Tarja would sit on the grass and stretch out her legs before producing the paper bag that held her sandwich. She wasn’t exactly sure what was in her sandwich but it had looked nice in the store and contained some kind of poultry and salad “I am starving, come sit, we eat then head back to civilisation” she said patting the ground beside her before reaching into her backpack and pulling out another paper bag containing the sandwich Andruss had chosen and holding it out towards him.

 Andruss  sits  down, taking the  bag with a 'thank you'I think this is the Most relaxed i have been for a very long time... you ever wonder   what to do after the war?.... This would be a great place to live, I think?

  Above them  a flock of  small 'bird  things' circled  around. Then a  larger   Bird   think with a long  neck   swooped  through the Flock . The long  next snapped back and forth grabbing , smaller   bird  things  and   flicking  its  head back as it   swallowed them, after  another Pass, he    flew off to the cliffs on the fear  side of the valley..

 ..wow!..i  got some Vids of that! he  looked at the  vids , which we pretty god, considering they was a last second   shot with a COM device.

There was a bit of an uncomfortable look on Tarja’s face as the subject turned to that of what they would do after the war was brought up ”I…I don’t really know” she replied, recalling the brief interlude between her time in the Finnish military and her joining the APF R&D team, and how truly lost she had felt during that time “…but it is certainly very nice here, I would love to spend more time here” she continued before taking another bite of her sandwich.

It was as they were sitting on the grass, eating their lunch and watching what looked to be small birds flying overhead that a large bird like creature with a long swan like neck would dive in amongst them and pluck several of the smaller birds out of the air and swallow them whole before disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared ”Oh wow that was…unexpected…um…perhaps not quite word I am looking for” Tarja said leaning in close to Andruss so as to watch the vid he had taken with it being surprisingly good for something that had happened so quickly and with no warning ”that is good…perhaps you could show that doctor you mentioned, maybe he knows what it is?”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:26, Wed 09 Nov 2022.

 Andruss let his head Touch hers  as they watched .yeah?  it reminds  me of those   loch ness dino things , only its  a bird...

 That's a Good idea. Doc Henry likes to  study animals, he has a zoo-thing  in the hold. Zob? the Demon guy, he has a baby  dragon in there too

As Andruss’ head gently touched her own, Tarja wouldn’t react to the gesture…but then again she didn’t pull away either with slowly becoming clear that she didn’t really go in for big romantic gestures or the games some women played, and she was more subtle and reserved when it came to displays of affection ”There is zoo on ship? Like…real zoo? With animals in exhibits?” Tarja asked in a surprised voice, with her starting to wonder if there was anything the ship didn’t have. Though surprise would quickly turn to puzzlement when he spoke of what the demon; Zob kept in there ”Draa-Gone? I…I do not think I know this word? she softly said, shifting her position so her head rested upon his shoulder as she rolled the unfamiliar word around her mouth.

  he nuzzled against her. are your not  from, what they called,  'The North lands" on earth. Takles  of dragons and such ? You can talk to   Morgan?  TGhe  mech rider, who almost, single handedly, such down the merc  corps , with stupid actions.. Almost  got killed  when they   found an anceint Demon  vessel, semi   Buried on the 'PlayGround'..the Moon    Tha Fuji orbit, where they  test  fighters  and vehicle, that Fuji  makes...

 anyway, something about the idiot  going inside  a burning  hulk of a vessel after  we shelled it, and a Full grown  Pirloc, near as  big as the  ship, and a bunch of babies were there..You'd  have to ask Zob  about Pirloc..but  the consensus  is, they are where  Earth 'dragons ' come from


 Anyway..Zob got a baby Pirloc  down there  is  is supposed to be training it... We call it  'the Zoo', but it  is some creatures    Doc henry brought  back for research  and he  keeps them there...i think  they have them there, because if something bad  would  happen, they  could  just open the static  field and  sucked them out of the vessel...

As she nestled in closer to him and listened to the sounds of birdsong and wind blowing through the trees Tarja would frown a little with her getting the impression that she really should know this creature Andruss was speaking of ”well…yes but we have different names for animals…I’m not knowing all of English names” Tarja replied with Andruss going on to tell the story of how they had encountered one the size of a ship which only further confused her further. He would then explain that it wasn’t so much a zoo as a research lab where they kept the alien creatures they had found with it also being conveniently close to the static field ”oh no they can’t flush them! They should call us we could handle it” she said, clearly alarmed at the idea of the zoo being flushed into space ”maybe we could visit some time and you could show me dragon?” She softly asked from her position on his shoulder.