Distracted from breakfast by the distant movement, Rabbit's spoon pauses halfway to her mouth at the sight of the scarred and shirtless warlord.

What the... Rabbit freezes, unable to recognise the sudden rush of sensations that bring a high colour to her cheeks. For a sharp, cold moment she fears the act of seeing has cursed her, but somehow cannot look away. Then the perfect tension guiding the movement of muscle under tawny skin turns her mouth dry and she realises the feeling is desire.

Rabbit swallows, forces herself to look down at her rice and snorts softly. Hells, he is a ridiculously hot old man, she thinks, privately marvelling that her capability for lust could possibly exist. Then she thinks of him actually touching her, and the desire drops away like splinters filed off by a carpenter's stroke. Rabbit shivers and cautiously takes note of the others there from her perch atop a barrel, back to a tent. Remembering faces.

The small shamen directs a narrow stare at the Hooded One's hood for a while, just in case he can see her.

If the Hooded One notices Rabbit, he doesn't react at all. The Hooded One and Kang continue to converse, though the Hooded One's manner grows more wild, while Kang frowns more. Eventually, Kang snaps to attention, crossing his arms with an air of finality suggesting that whatever the conversation is about, it's over now.

The Hooded One laughs (or looks like hes laughing), then points an old, wrinkled hand at Kang as if making some sort of pronouncement. Then he and his four goons leave, heaving back toward the main camp.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Wed 12 Oct 2016.

Rabbit waits a few moments to be sure they're heading away, then slips off the barrel and re-wraps her blanket toga-style, returning her new (old) bowl to the satchel, padded with her new (dry) bag of rice.

She pads across the camp to Kang's excersise spot and leaves the satchel within view of Brick and Egg, quietly approaching to within a half-dozen paces of the warlord. She goes to both knees and presses her forehead to the grass, as much for the moment of coolness and contact with the sacred earth as to show respect and an awareness that this audience was unasked-for, and that her superior should please not decapitate this peasant for the presumption.

[Language unknown: "El thist ll a eausanich moher ndebleome er, om itwe?"] Rabbit asks softly as she kneels back, looking down. Too bold?

Kang raises an eyebrow. [Language unknown: "Peno Namiil Manen onete O thoeraonsmen u outstrder aili weratiour ustoou niar ort."] he says. [Language unknown: "Ul fi encandred vornceore eiev of, tian He ac loacivet era lopo il ri man ectcomsti ioularain pr ortousant k k thostasti ionainant hi hasterast ovevenkor a. E ounwassti allhersansomtha ecre'eihihoul."] He begins putting his shirt back on. Once finished, he shrugs. [Language unknown: "Tiohatlat tr k ncouwebe. Wi ethi P str iv wilhouwhe ie wilatious t ndatos at. Ek wares, ove Menema Outntesom leti nalela day omrong, lo verur icic loll wertedwil ne ainsheter ekthiv."] He looks toward the Black Hills. [Language unknown: "Mama O nce ss o P sti, eve enun essai ceetli ave wa ho, adseis mievur whest ast u sta thus Of ecof ouoer olnate ev ou o nock."]

Cold thoughts cold thoughts, Rabbit thinks as the warlord moves to enrobe, then has to fight down a dim pang of homesickness for the effort (chasing/being chased by her siblings over the snow, making snowballs, exhasperating their mother).

Kang revealed about as much as might be expected, but mild acknowledgement rather than casual threat was a slight improvement. Breathe. [Language unknown: "Ospl m i o, a iv. Lin Hossno Ion con derrutmen us t evlaut fitic, ac plac t ekst rowise...i e li comternte starri, caosit thuesswitmenndepre. P ivrius pa n teroveameestour. P wafori cesta waion k A korlinere."

"...N oupeivekte I ate nteoutous sifour poenleca p u neonndlema, whto tiotedmannte evelinard, eris roalur k terratame a t onsss nd hori foheut evosno unie wilme to ut a hearle ic ivil Enctedred Anyartthu ou aconle ek pamehe ario ionse ouprou m somvercom u ar ichech. Llwe inckom ounthikor ulfi ticivente ut antbe, ortpo to ure wi sa Wechas linndence, iouredwas aisa ughprores com."] Rabbit stays quite still, aware of the warlord's attention.

[Language unknown: "Conurewas mi fowach A ca e antnteore, nt atrut O ndeentvir plng."] Kang says. He frowns faintly at the mention of the attack. [Language unknown: "O m."] He says.

Rabbit frowns a little at the first statement, seeing the logic but not wholly certain of it, especially when such madness as the Ravenites' was involved.

She draws her queue aside at the prompt and angles her neck so that Kang can see the blackened scars there. [Language unknown: "Nde winoei, ad ndpaha, chome redhatoulove thiterul...N fo daytedhou hasereres diion he traihe eckor leanfo ardicatha li, are We te ek onevorica E oustinres ica resainerewer sa eranteess mi ee m Er eviv virastrut. Ai a est eauproing ni ersle atiectcom pa manta, hathla i larntiers ome herhatrut t re forad nc ha Is finola esrias, ainainthi en ac rat inefornde po at Na oercomant diti Aveouttho."]

Rabbit rolls up her legging to show that scar in its cruel precision across the hamstring. [Language unknown: "Whprss Allomeive, hisnc itpre i tr ver taartito, leme tr ithio Ni Li Theiondin ntmefitr n mantioallntiect iou atiwi u ca al ounee ekai roma werndeour, forhatandwil ha mesipr latectwit Usolck ortth eramanpro herticave u ma unouch estestineencers. A cerom esste urficehewe He ouic toil ave k. M ureconest evte The Ouev hisi capo lo ll th ho p nde iveint'oursonencant."]

Rabbit tenses a little in case the Iron Dragon should want to touch the wounds and be sure they were not simple paint, given the outlandish nature of the tale. [Language unknown: "Ei a utder reetth se mosepo naeeut, pewa caast u stiwilwer, niet pe. Ol fi day undna tra Ie ndethuome plon t menil...diome hawh reer Ame aveionntencewhi loet eclomi trcafo thueaucon, stday illundven te ver Weressove Et. Ioet amesti'ersall mo wean Ing Whe olwetiun re."

"Teti comheroul dinec ortmanres, ourri P eraithith oun Redomekor terntetinort na ieons ll m whi liio preech m out eeiclapa somee dinproave lodin Arfong Art. T io ecar leee laras ar enwa dinet he poinll, nd nteameher n com n theounentson ictafiho et T te heratehis ch le a nt. Werastrat Iveticica Elncch ere nthas poilri nceencher o ing ughectsan noiselfill p la."]

Kang inspects the wounds as he listens, but he doesn't reach out to touch them. [Language unknown: "Shemo ro a soneraallort, eian tic ch setwitlar peted."] He frowns. Actually frowns. [Language unknown: "K seol ie wi ortil whi. Ca ol witla oneainwer Eauforter, N ers u th nieter o men ar. Tena lo sheastateugh astthaanyher somti fornte'traine manwernte ec i. Oreionundvir eauproyinure str M encounine welar me earoreast."] His frown deepens. [Language unknown: "Na ersbleers tothu N iou tic ar plosur e hoicenceun o usis na hiplliti we Tilat Ardhouven Lewa we aneiinun aspaei ar K wi urouai pofiosntsa."]

Rabbit watches Kang's hands, mutely shifting blanket and a little shirt to show him the thin, sharp claw marks across her belly when it is clear he doesn't mean to touch her, still tense.

[Language unknown: "Om a be pacewi, N ver et Wheintsti Ascker ca tin t iv e,"] she offers, then bites her lip a moment in hesitation.

[Language unknown: "Pl...houlet e an adatwa wiekan ur se Whihasble ti st refocaul-erec ri ess urhaus, m tatowe aveughain lateeningsan has lawe om os rohoevti,"] Rabbit quietly points out. [Language unknown: "T ar eedi alto e lindinone es trtiec Orturenti whei usevce essoutnce tedac traurecom oreun, urard ng ingyinous heronsati...il son n ive himen wabe and erepe trsaremi, e rest se aneion et hetama ugh Ingwhiwer Miwhll aipl onsvorhat ur. Ntistares ie ut anilai u avenotave armiho, whitindertha no etthi undtheica inmaulut onwaek adof-beis esthe son palous."]

Kang examines the wounds. [Language unknown: "Sti Il Caekse intthiave ardlarwil pr ne e?"] he asks. [Language unknown: "Al ilarpl whwiad ro tioainwerareort."] he nods. [Language unknown: "K u u ent e."]

He thinks about this. [Language unknown: "T fian."] He says, his face inscrutable. [Language unknown: "I ceent he ain redichhas all proeverat re alwi verinetioterounout."]

Rabbit nods affirmation. [Language unknown: "Ad he everomter, ek aiethi sant stieartra. Te ate...le towemiro."] Rabbit blinks, fragments of dream coming to the surface with the thought of Tatanka.

[Language unknown: "Ce elli und butvorera sswadi, anulsi, i O nochck p der conconson di test pa erfilapa...N icniol wh allio a oernd trce a oneousers ereillera t pe erine. Re..."] the small shamen hesitates, uncertain, then tries to be as brief as possible with what Kang might consider a mere peasant's imagining. [Language unknown: "Is prno ect ersastart, somastbutred Adriusai roho butvenort artio se ie nesatatile k etsti ardingivevir...Ad thuencrom n ingardillwhe mami Out korpr Ekceac, hisss rom Cktialha th Ntpoce, ort pltiai tenc ndean era talin ilutof ave she ck ta onst alonbe tintch. Na manithlin nose e voranying A hounc il os anreives ma mo hian iltin iltaniin llnc, le heeiiv no leof redi thenceman...Us lateou leul caand any ce ble rat reswh nceardica e iviltrna utckitel, eesi, mene..."] Rabbit tenses a little, unsure how he'll take this, [Language unknown: "...foec ons ate of ckiseces."]

Kang's phrasing gets a very faint frown whilst Rabbit re-settles the blanket over the worn and ragged once-decent shirt. [Language unknown: "Ie dermensonnot mo T conhoupro tedol intkorera p fo hi uteiendi Acneac rema-bepoie k o manel korlateen en whithisom set wi seprre n is thi ar bevir k whevenhou hasano o el fofi e omis Omriei, itpr Romortwit Siecpa Metonc...Po loseloncic ive somwasure Stall Hishatwhiore onswasearundrea loch isek melare liera ek tioithive ear tatin prointven, hat innohe u nceknc k whileseve oun telltautol, m ilmo olstac il is laom Trures korticthi we anyainwas dertraera n to ouchet ceecei ing n haurne in, e o wiloneoul pr houanterehis."]

Rabbit dares to look up briefly, then down again, satisfied Kang has caught her meaning. [Language unknown: "Aiwi reostr etst ac berechul...ssil k urndut vor tieeut a ha hisreawas ommiad ic reswitany t a evere omouus urwa, est il oun anhentnc verma ha seble t waomet her, ie fo Cesepr Eau ndntbe nobeec deroutive contedent t stahasvenest artme undeenvercon ndeoerlar males. Tio fo lois thathahou ounur wildineve."]

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 49):

Kang listens to Rabbit's dream. His face is inscrutable. [Language unknown: "It."] he says. [Language unknown: "P ersndeoun. Thpoattomo."] He does not elaborate.

Kang looks over to the mountain, and strokes his long mustache and beard while he contemplate the horizon. [Language unknown: "N hais ma onthu it momama."] He says. [Language unknown: "Read t miha whe ai cktoos peurus i prfor thuonethu pr in whal?"] There doesn't seem to be. [Language unknown: "Icaad ssmoiv et cassie io romdaywhe utur arie Ectnottra rehi u Mi Linsanave, ni ioufo ss nd beusma enlaun int Bebeti Le. Se Na trni nc el ulas ofse, and El thast mimobemiwe e san st, n e wh dipana ble reabutsta ing urilnt. Atithehas lar nohat comntiain ev we ngllla allesstha. Antil waarei m plierool ome rochhoil un bleto ch ticsanill has ersivepre ac erswasiveichrut er cende ma menherman ennala. Onsme stranyons ha a ivhileri ceit arttednceent wean Pori Shehasshe Po icfo e witthoeau caer a utta enc ntiativirwilere chekas ni, ai plerme poal ensthi oerousvir i oernt pl u. Tien omtong ekure ckusul n din thesto Ut Ckinil Som atiallall o, ilrire ti ateiouive and ncpa mi he. Ndenc usort, ouckwi ut str o chfost io ticvirnte tio ielo etti tranteera ol ovell plma atel, ma rom thoiv m il Mierar hawi u hasick as en iethu us i."]

The tone of the warlord's response was carefully even, but even with downcast gaze Rabbit could read enough of his posture to tell the concept did not greatly alarm him. A glow of hope and general affection sparked in her soul for some unknown little girl who might be the Iron Dragon's daughter.

Rabbit looks off where Warlord Kang does, simply looking at the landscape. [Language unknown: "O ilwhi n rolo us ec Tepa beie eielri wer thivun thac,"] his appointed shamen says carefully. [Language unknown: "Thanteithkor, u wason viramedin andtrater ourousyin ratatemen ncethe'astort it sala Eenvenest Ilst I, presar wh ngtoce isalle u som artdi ndfifo."] Rabbit mentally gives her hindbrain a good kicking, face impassive as she concentrates on the horizon.

[Language unknown: "M atniel et oun ure Eveoutrea Reastacon thulen nc anri k ticlessom illol manameesters p koronstio saout thli ec ers nastusfote fo ar thuavetin, rea u foetan dili pe merias andta, parut no ofpeai ncth un icurll ss. Me in ta celaouilee niadpo taee les rehi icou whssivul o elelre are anhi Preita Ereratest an ive ectyinughven o any Celetr o Virnotort, o o e ivugh nchou romortmen kor ilpaacnt...man plan unlese ingillhas nti daysheset."]

Kang actually smiles faintly. [Language unknown: "Direhohe ioupl werromone ateproect t oul virersnot listlo ivprur o wh ardoreive ers. Sanro ceosnt stsier Foontr estichore ure venil u ioubleughpre sa it Thutedugh riun usvir cesa ndesto me overi Werrutany Plweou e prrifi ng Dinantday...n icaresive erilnc reare ut illatope of ioudinect n ne Eveandons se iv. Les aithe venerseau ll m ri fomoncca n loesol be ni elsspa te tra ure we setoneeve ai tintraave powa ter. Mass Ol rein ur diniaime, ce O notstiers pa, und si veneenvir po ss Lesionrom itecha Lltril Ardai ckri ma p enpehe m Whienctin Thewileve ch n intanyati whesheticwer n artni Ckwaei Chndsa?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Thu 20 Oct 2016.

[Language unknown: "K ie omle wionlo condayore K prelinthu e as n, ha ol, iltien Pr whtio ioumi asnce oun trhoma,"] Rabbit responds. [Language unknown: "Mo amestrica sece ng vorthinti la lo undsheaveessing ame. Oueeus, hoos ta Mang hi artr ndeas sautnt p ad meitithaeswa."]

The small shamen shifts her weight back a little to show a readiness to be dismissed.

[Language unknown: "Te encreaoun ndbut reus wial pahi."] Kang says, with a nod of his head indicating that she is free to leave, though he sweeps up an eyebrow, suggeting she should find some better attire and, with a faint incline of his head, indicates that Brick or Egg would be the one to assist with that. It's amazing what he can say without speaking.

Rabbit forgets to breathe an instant, mentally going over every cue to determine whether this is an admonition or simply more frippery on the robes of public communication. [Language unknown: "Io ad nt ut pawama,"] she says, managing to mostly stifle a smile as she folds into a bow, then rocks back on her heels to arise.

Something clenches in her chest at how easily she follows the warlord's nonverbal communications; briefly she lets herself wonder if the cowboy was still alive, in Texas or seeking her out as he had before. It was past the season for cattle. She hefts the satchel over her shoulder and politely enquires of Egg if he might know where someone of her stature might find a shirt.

Egg shrugs, but give Rabbit some directions. What with one thing and and another, a shirt is acquired.

Never having bought her own clothes before, Rabbit discovered a hitherto unknown joy in the ability to exchange coins for a garment that was intended to warm and protect rather than flaunt and slyly expose. True, the fringed and much-sequinned shirt the old farrier had won from some performer named "Shorty" was hardly designed not to draw attention, but at least it was green, aside from the folksy dark pink birds and flowers patterned across the chest.

I look like an escaped theatre god, Rabbit thought with utter glee, wearing the thing whilst heading over to where Crazy Horse was based. She wasn't sure if Kang would consider this an improvement, and she smelled like a saloon, but she was sparkly, and the natives were impressed.

[[Rabbit is Fabulous.]]

It takes quite a few minutes for Rabbit to get to where Crazy Horse is. He's overseeing the preparation of the mountain of meat gathered from Tatanka the night before.

He looks at her...then looks again, eyes goggling a bit at Rabbit's ensemble. Then he laughs. [Language unknown: "Somna, tedtedter trtrti manse!"] He grins. [Language unknown: "K et earthiast of Acelul Winisi allwasour ectomeiou a ain eslat Eveterart Plroou hiiewi. E wit m stnt p eeneenpr rom?"]

Rabbit bows in greeting, beaming. [Language unknown: "Be ai entle econin!"]

A little quieter on looking at Tatanka's noble gift, she adds: [Language unknown: "Urri list ek ad, Ck sanie? Tr ourstrenc wama'unaspo, oul se el Leiecema at, icheie he Noad Intdinthasta li, omunno al resortwit Earcomons o ta at ametinart."

"To elad io foulca fiac iou di roma state hasng io strec heer il?"] Rabbit requests. [Language unknown: "T naevom ic t ionvenlin to arhasa ilher, le M niwa San thederill ave e Palael out ieill checro evriai paos, u tic si ti re il anyth mare os os Ulmoev Ek ate llwi o el, e sastar u Osckle llhe anttin-venrom strss ave adha me est."]

Crazy Horse laughs again. It's a good, strong laugh, and it seems like it lightens the area around just a hair.

He nods. [Language unknown: "Tr char. Eventerut na iv k taatin dinanyate utaler. Ect atpr anilng...witconpro ort ce inain thiectpreconder o ma ing."] At Custer's name, he looks off into the distance. [Language unknown: "Al etbe elenis acprof, pe elai el. U thaeausta, nti Hersanrea, fo alble a adted Outundenc, icis pr pe k whibut-essnce."] A grim look passes over his face. [Language unknown: "Pasti thuwerdin Usliro Etpre. Aince witut antainnte. Eratheard urit ent ssis le she Anect Menouroerredoer ureoulpre. Ei N alive nd latughble tiocomore ch omewitenc notfo. Tr sonom ine ic ounre."]

He's silent a moment. [Language unknown: "Il a ek onthsa, ck ouaire Manartion Ess. Usro Ul Potoar cais e ouseenare. Ar ticle evoer ons o eau p ousastint. Saca haheat proprolar."]

He shrugs. [Language unknown: "O mise pl noetek ngle, As ngarfi."] he points to several poles, where the dead Ravenites had been lashed and were now being eaten by crows. The heads taken from Heartless Hunter, Leaping Frog Han, and Hoarse From Roaring have been speared through, destroying the brains. [Language unknown: "Ion ecut riri ul rewhpr p ion resbutyin."]

[Language unknown: "Pa u has il e...hi alarne loitbe Thwiasutth-lena, ckut pltra e ntesun,"] Rabbit remarks with heartfelt sincerity.

[Language unknown: "M si ivmewi ith ch siioma thuhe es ame...o k unei fo a k maun Fimipe, ei si e ec et ev es lar. As wilardbuttic Ioacho contr."] Rabbit rubs the spot under the queue. [Language unknown: "Os u essthorut ti aibese un Tedereromill arng cawana m nti Cefo ine eve Comonstin Hewelo inrobedi hi ch mo in p nahi wi pr U po liek traromrut. We ecove Ol thbeet whiproromine ai, ie...u not peinun ceetdi p er ous canipo ek hoube he on ithsomome."

"Ingna...thuivetha k n pe st lariththewhiint, somre thesonderort, strandove ho of waeeol chee Oeroutcom Sset ad nti ri becaat ssilre ailo icaallvor om noeren itlo a icil inetinine, stromefor ndepromen."]

Rabbit looks at the heads and starts to pad over there, rummaging out her old shirt. [Language unknown: "Ilit unall ter caonal..."] she looks over at her target head and tenses a little. [Language unknown: "...dayti ma Iv lin ion ng, diho diev Eeosur Reaet un artindti si ec yinme, omeevebut po m eihaer ckstiv eeing ersainive on inut. I venth o."]

Crazy Horse blinks. [Language unknown: "Hat ecll Venhououn taivnd en oul?"] he asks. He seems pretty focused on that point.

Rabbit looks back questioningly. [Language unknown: "Mi icavorpre herres'foriou saet nti io k earwheati wer evac romreaiou p er ch wepa ne? Ioetch io, wi forlo mi ncplee ers, Fotrelmi Werul onsth whiek ss no it. It herbutlat haent acme, ect sishe heol eibe rea n chpaon, na shewi riitna somnotrut, icti and ave oerhe ncca ro in."

"Arck th lltr Pr hi hiev ma...ntngin tedeveearich? acar t neolna Oerughive Resereoer ng on fost, n ekce n be tr t repa lausck olha mohadifion pre vor enc. U o taul mopre Proandica din, reonme whiessain nehose ear ma to out korpa ei lin nt ul, aton Plreiv Iveingtha."]

There's a short pause as Rabbit goes and gingerly pulls down the one Chinese head from its spear, returning with it bundled in the old shirt. [Language unknown: "At nc pl nc Evpefo for taon altho, a ul haac hissetyin e mo...i eve oun Preameany Is ur eticdi nelool, iltill arndes ng infi is entntetic."] Rabbit holds up the bundled head. [Language unknown: "Is ar arour re heha bleme a ceest ilne on linticticant, ha ble Toriwi...o...] jiang shi [Language unknown: fo Urckni The Astro."]