It took a moment for the people outside to notice the two figures who were hsnging back near the tunnel entrance, their figure almost totally hidden by the shadows. Only when the shorter of the two spoke did everybody noticed the newcomer.

"Did I miss anything?"

As Swift Fox asked this, arms folded across her chest as she casually leaned back against the rock wall, her eyes shifted briefly to the Deathstaff, held in Peacock's grip, before her gaze became completely focused on him.

GM EDIT: here's me, posting as Swift. If any of you wants to answer, I'll give you until tomorrow morning to, otherwise I'll be putting up Peacock's answer by then - here were I am is early evening, for reference.

Welcome to the new thread; I hope you're ready for what's waiting you here! ^_^

Sun Snake nodded to Swift Fox's and Silver Raven's return. "Peacock said something convincing regarding the threat the Deathstaff can alleviate, though Water Hornet did ensure one of us could go with the man. Dusk Rat seems to have something to say regarding why it should be her. Also, I made the mistake of asking Peacock his informed opinion on Valador and the mage's plans. His assessment is not good. I mean not good as in it sounds worse than we might suspect. I hope Peacock might explain why he came to some of his conclusions so firmly, but unfortunately it feels sounds."

For a moment Water Hornet tensed, but then simply nodded at Snake's assessment; he pulled the Korlinium gloves of off his hands, but didn't move otherwise. The young Magnakai waited for Peacock's, and Dusk Rat's, reaction.

Dusk Rat says nothing for the time being, but merely watches to see what Swift Fox and Silver Raven will say or do now that they have returned, or whether Shining Peacock has anything to add.

Shining Peacock raised his eyebrows at Swift Fox showing up, and then said, adressing both her and Sun Snake:

"I would think how I came to my conclusions was obvious, but I will explain my means to reach it if you need me to, Sun Snake. Before that, however, I would like to solve the question of my student and her right to exercize her free will."

He then turned toward Swift Fox and added, dipping his head ever so slightly in aknowledgment of her entrance:

"Water Hornet accepted that I need the Deathstaff for my mission to succeed and willingly gave it to me, Lady Swift Fox, on the condition that I take somebody else along. Dusk Rat volounteered to acompany me, but Sun Snake seems to be under the impression that she would need your authorization."

He didn't put any judgment in his tone, but the way he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at the last words made it clear that he wasn't in agreement with Sun Snake's opinion in this at all.

"So it is," said suddenly Water Hornet looking into the ground in front of his feet, but then he raised his gaze to meet that of Swift Fox.

Whether he saw in Swift's eyes what he wanted to or not, Hornet eventually turned his head to address Shining Peacock. "I will accept whatever conclusion is reached, just as I said, but I think there's one thing to be considered: just like me handing the Deathstaff over willingly, with all the Valador's scheming it might be...politically prudent if it's not a master and his student going on the mission together."

Swift's gaze flickered briefly towards Sun Snake and back to Peacock again.
Anyone who had known Swift for long enough would notice that there was definitely something different about her.  The constantly wary attitude seemed to have left her completely now, replaced with a calm almost expressionless exterior that made her inner emotions near-impossible to determine.
And for the first time, her hands were not constantly hovering within easy reach of her weapons.

She remained silent at first, her eyes steadily meeting Peacock's as though trying to read his thoughts.
Finally she looked towards Dusk Rat and her gaze softened.
"Well, I never was much of a leader, you know that.  I always believed that everyone else knew their own strengths and weaknesses better than I did, so I was content to allow you all to find your own way rather than have me order you around and probably put you into a bad situation."

Her eyes looked back to Shining Peacock, although she continued speaking to Dusk Rat.
"I only worry that you're being dragged off on a suicide mission.  I used to know someone else who believed that they were invincible, who thought they'd calculated all the risks.  That person is nothing more than a fading dead memory now."

She looked back to Dusk, a hint of a smile on her face.
"If you really believe you can handle this and you want to go of your own free will, then I won't stand in your way.  I still owe you though.  Without you and Frost Ferret, and Laughing Shark, I wouldn't have survived Argazad.  I'd hate to lose you now..."


OOC: Awww.  Feeling all warm and fuzzy now :)

"Not authorisation. Consideration," said Sun Snake quietly to Shining Peacock, and nodding with respect to Swift Fox. If he noticed her change in attitude he did not say anything. But he did not move forwards either to take any control of the conversation, drfiting back a step instead.

Dusk Rat shrugs.

"I'm owed no debts." she says. "And while I'm uncertain as to why you'd worry for my safety when you barely know me, I think I'll be in no great danger. I've the means of flying away and the means to contact Master Shining Peacock if either should prove necessary before it's time to depart Bhanar."

Dusk's reply seemed to provoke a momentary look of puzzlement and perhaps even a hint of something that may have been sadness in Swift's expression before it reverted back to her previous neutral look again.

"Well, if you want to go, then I wish you luck" she replied.
She glanced back towards Shining Peacock for a moment before looking out at the nearby forbidding expanse of the Maakengorge...


OOC: Yep, she doesn't seem to be wishing Peacock luck too for some reason ;)  hehe.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Wed 18 June 2014.