"Lets keep moving, this isn't far enough if the morokanth want to come after us and they have the advantage in the dark. I still feel like my magic is weak and I don't want to fight them on their terms. Some other time to get revenge on two thumbs".

The Queen adds her voice to the conversation

"I do not feel safe here and I am worried that my children will be killed."

Pensive on Ram's broad back, seeking hopefully for anything in the terain that might assist, Hoskar keeps sighing and shaking his head.

Nothing here, unless someone can eat dust or drink rock.

He nods at Erish-El's earhed words. Too right. Thos Morokanth meant business. He lapses into silence awhile, though whether in thought or prayer it's hard to judge. Maybe if we angle to the left a bit. I've got an inkling there might be something that way, but I've no idea why.

He looks like he's about to argue about why they should stop here, but then the Queen speaks and he just nods in agreement and nudges Carross to carry on walking.

As the night passes so too does the chance to contact Grandmother Spider, but also likelihood of attack by the Morokanth, both of which are a relief but in different ways.

Ohanzee is kind of glad that they must continue when Hoskar cannot find a place to stop simply stating "A little further will not hurt."

Hoskar discovers a safe place, in what looks like a long unvisited, dried out riverbed, which seems to have once flowed southwards...

Guards are set and those able to, grab what sleep they can. All to soon it's dawn and once more the braves head off towards the now visible rocky outcrops of the Rhino Rocklands.

Those on Rhinos feel their mounts get frisky, even more so when the first Rhino grass is reached and the occasional piles of Rhino dung brings out the best in each animal. The air reverberates with the creatures' snorts and grunts as they let their ancestor know that they're coming.

With any luck the Wandering Rangers will reach the outskirts of the holy place by early afternoon.

Up above soar the Harpies, their calls joining that of the Rhinos.....
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:35, Mon 07 Dec 2015.

Leaper and Salen stop, the Condor brave having spotted some tracks running parallel to their path.

A dozen Impalas,  and after back tracking them for a while for several bow lengths, the two braves determine that they have come from the East and now head the same way as the Rangers....Towards the Rocklands.

Leaper doesn't recognise the prints and whilst he examines them Salen works out that they're about two hours ahead of them.

While it cheers him up to see the rhinos reaction to the Rocklands, the news from Salen and Leaper that they've found signs of a group of impala's lifts his spirits more and helps drive away the fatigue that has taken root in his bones. "Well done Salen and Leaper, it looks like you've found us dinner."

"Assuming they aren't being ridden" Ohanzee adds. "I'd like one of them taken alive if possible. I have some business in Rhino Gouge tonight, assuming we arrive on schedule."

He rides over to Tarnessh "Can Tulox see anything from higher up?"

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 130):

"Even if they are, there's only 12 of them." he laughs, "Why'd you want one alive?" he holds his hand up to stop Ohanzee replying, "Actually, I don't want to know." He looks puzzled, "I thought we were going to stop off at Pallas's shrine tonight, and get to Rhino gorge tomorrow night? I'm guessing Pallas wouldn't say no to an impala."

"Best not to ask. Tonight or tomorrow, whenever we get there and no it's not for that stinking piss-hole."

"We're meant to be uniting the peoples as well as greening the land aren't we? Go round killing them all and there'll not be many left to unite."

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 132):

He grins slyly, "Well, the less there are the easier it is to unite them."

Hoskar sighs at Tarosh's comment.

I used to think like that. With me, it was the Sables. Have a care, my friend: that road is a bad one, filled with unexpected pain. I have struck blows I cannot take back with regret alone.

He smiles wanly.

Feel free to ignore me, of course: I paid no attention when Amara - and Fireborn - and even Melock - tried to warn me, so I'm not much of a one to be sounding off, am I.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 134):

"The Wastelands won't miss 12 impala riders," he looks guiltily at Leaper, "unless they're your clan, in which case I wouldn't dream of harming them." He nods at Two-Feathers comment about taking advice, "I wouldn't take advice from a Raven either, you never know what they're really planning and Amara, well she's a bit young to take advice from. I didn't know Fireborn, so I wouldn't know if he gave good advice or not."

"we could at least look at the tracks to determine if the impala have riders." Amara suggested wearily from Thunderfoots back.

From the depth of the tracks it's easy to tell that at least half of the Impala's are being ridden.

"Hmmm, six or so riders. They're not a big threat to us. Let's leave them be unless we need to pay attention to them. The safety of the Queen is of paramount importance. We shouldn't bring any more attention to ourselves than we have to."

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 138):

He casts his eyes skyward, "I'd guess that the Queen and her followers are probably drawing attention to themselves considering that they're flying about."

Scratches his head, when a thought strikes him.

How's supplies holding up for everyone? If they have spare water, they might sell it cheaper than that damned morokanth.

"Aye," nods Kobal, in reply to Amara.  "We should focus on getting the Harpy Queen to the Earth Temple.  Besides, there are only six of the impala riders, and we are close to rhino lands.  I don't expect them to trouble us if we leave them alone."

"There was water at the campsite where we stayed last week....Not far from the cat shrine" adds Gloaming distractedly as he scans the distance.

"No offence Leaper but I could murder an Impala for dinner."

Amara grinned at Gloaming "I admit the idea of impala for dinner sounds delicious and tasty, but we're better off steering clear of trouble. We're only a day away from being able to find a good source of water."

"Right you are boss

Suppose we'd better get a move on then."

The Sun Hawk brave steers his mount towards the distant rocks and breaks in to a fast trot.

As they ride Amara points her slightly wet, polished stick in the direction they are going, eyes momentarily closed as she concentrates on thoughts of deep pools of water.

Zilch, at least within the 500 metre range of the charm.

By mid afternoon they are all amongst the rocks, deep shadows offering a much needed coolness to their passing. Tulox had returned an hour earlier having found and trailed the group of impala riders into the same set of rocks.

He'd not been able to get close for they too had a bird keeping watch, this one a dusty bush hawk, smaller than the Vrok, but just as agile.

"Six riders, maybe seven, though that one is either dead or injured for it's lying across it's mount. They saw me and were travelling fast."

Riding the thermals the Harpies circled far above, the group not having communicated for many hours.

Meanwhile Hoskar reckons that he can find the Manul shrine easily enough and that it will take another hour to get there and a short while more to get to the previous camp by the water.

Kobal has been riding towards the back, trying to keep an eye out for any following morokanth, but he calls out to those ahead.  "We should ride through to the old camp and water first.  Make sure our mounts are refreshed and refill our skins.  Then we can double back to the shrine if people want."