Long rides, sparse game and fodder and thankfully no encounters of consequence.

A pack of hungry wild dogs trail them for two of those days, hoping for scraps, which Salen dutifully supplies, perhaps intending to catch a few pups to add to his pack.

The Queen and her companions soar far above, dropping down at midday to rest and then again as Bright Treasure retires.

On the third day Hoskar manages to contact a Honeyguide, but the small bird has nothing to lead them to, the area seemingly bereft of bees and their hives.

Finally, on a particularly dark and cloudy Freezeday evening the Rangers spy the green, hazy smudge that is Hoofcrack....

He points to the green smudge, "We'll have to find a safe spot to leave most of the mounts. If anyone gear they can't do without for a day or so, I don't mind putting it on Carross or Peat's mount." He points to the high llama following him, "I'm sure Glama.." he shakes his head, "Sorry Gloaming, might have some space as well." He looks over to Gloaming, "Sorry, its hard to get used to your name change."

"You'll get used to it" comes back a rather grim reply. Everyone had noticed how the Blue Llama brave had taken to painting the death Rune on his face each morning as the sun rose.

"There's the place where we left the mounts last time. Reckon we could head there. I don't want to go in the Oasis unless I have to. Reckon the Morokanths will see us and send out Greeshar and the shaman if they're still alive."

In reply to Gloaming (msg # 3):

He shrugs, "Probably." He scratches his left ear, "The Queen has my undying love, but I did promise to take that oasis women with us when we returned this way. I must talk to the Queen once she lands for the night and explain it to her."

Swooping down to land amongst the Rangers the Harpy Queen asks what they plan to do

"This is a foul place....Malia is strong. I feel her corrupting presence everywhere."

"My Queen. This is the site of a battle in which Malia was defeated, but her presence lingers strongly here because of that. It is a place where heroes come to quest against her and defeat her. Maybe when we are stronger we will do the same."

"There are two of our number who remained here to aid the Morokanth here in the fight against Malia's influence after their shaman spent his power giving us charms to help in our quest against the corrupted Harpies. We must collect them before moving on."

He pauses as a thought comes to him "My Queen, we the Wandering Rangers are sworn to mending the land, to re-greening it for all the peoples here. Some peoples though resist the call to join us. They would rather it remains as it is because that is what they are used to in some cases and in others perhaps because they think that we cannot accomplish this."

"If though they witness what we have done, they cannot deny your beauty and grace nor that this land is the better for your presence. And as your rescuers they cannot deny our effectiveness."

Ohanzee smiles "We should celebrate your rescue, your return with us. We can go there in the morning and herald your arrival and you could descend from the sky and grace the disbelievers amongst the Morokanth with your presence and perhaps in doing so swell our numbers."

The Queen listens but shakes her regal head

"As a creature of the Sky I will have no dealings with the followers of Dark Eater. Despite my allegiance to Earth I am of Fire and Sky. I will not set foot here, nor will they likely welcome me."

He is relieved to see the Queen is safe after her day spent flying, he waits while she is talking to Ohanzee. Once they have finished talking, he approaches and bows, "My Queen, you are looking as radiant as every." A look of shame and embarrassment takes hold of his face, "Before you graced us with your amazing presence my Queen, I met a woman from this oasis and told her that when I returned from killing the chaotic harpies, I would take her with me." he gulps down a lung full of air to steady his nerves, "Though my love for you is undying, it wouldn't be right for me to break my word to her."

"You are not betrothed to me Tarosh, so do as you wish, my faithful servant" replies the Queen kindly

"Your devotion is touching and will be well rewarded..."

In reply to Hilimaz Mushen (msg # 9):

Relief and sorrow briefly fight for control of his face, but in the end he smiles and bows, "Thank you my Queen."

He climbs aboard Carross and heads towards the place they left the mounts before, "Let us collect our companions and leave this foul place as soon as possible."

The queen watches Tarosh depart, a calculating look on her beautiful face. Then with a flick of her wings she is airborne, following the Blue Llama brave.

Ohanzee can't disguise his disappointment but he responds "I find it hard to believe that any wouldn't be swayed by your grace and beauty My Queen, but I can understand you not wanting to sully yourself amongst them." He bows "With your leave My Queen I shall go to the oasis now and fetch them so that we do not need to tarry here in the morning." and he departs.

"Gloaming, Tarosh  seems to have his hands full for a while. I'll ride Peat's mount, will you come and fetch some water and the others on yours?"

Henal grins seeing the interaction between the Harpy Queen and the enamoured Rangers, while he readies himself to go on foot into the Oasis. He looks to see if there is anything he cannot do without that will need packing onto a Llama while they venture in.

"Lets get this trip over as soon as we can and get headed back to the Giant Finger Holes".

The wild dogs seem rather taken by the snacks offered to them by Salen, but perhaps affected by the close proximity of Hoofcrack they are not trusting anyone at this time, and they move on as soon as they have eaten, much to the Condor brave's disappointment. Perhaps I have neglected Brother Dog?

When he sees Tarosh and Ohanzee fawning over the Harpy Queen, Salen cannot help but (good-naturedly) chide them a little.

"Get you two, practically drooling over her feathers! I bet if she tickled either of you under the chin you'd fall into her lap like a lovesick puppy!"

For the first time since his return to the land of the living, Hoskar's smile clouds over a little his gaze seeming far away as he strives for recall. Of a sudden, he claps his hands together.

I just knew there was something I was forgetting!

We've got loot now. Is any of it spare? And if so, does anyone reckon we might trade for some of those riverfolk slaves we saw here before? I know our honoured Captain has reservations about the whole idea, but they'd be better off with us, or traded to the tribes at the Finger Holes, than here with the Morokanth.

Having worked out what was bothering him, his placid expression returns as he looks around to see what the others think.

As Ohanzee gathers waterskins to fill he hears Hoskar and responds "Hold off on that, Whispers was going to use the sway her help was bringing to get her, others perhaps."

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 16):

Hoskar's smile broadens still further; almost to the point it seems his face might split apart. Better and better - if anyone can command that sort of respect, it's the Seza; and thank you Ohanzee. I seem to have the odd...ah...gap here and there since the cave.

Kobal groans inwardly seeing some of the other Rangers fawn over the Harpy Queen.  They don't act the same way in relation to Emesh-Ga whom they have sworn to follow.  But they are allies.

Like Henal, he readies himself for the walk to Hoofcrack.  It had been good to back riding on Black Hoof, like a bison brave should do, after skulking through caves hunting Chaos harpies.  But the past four days on his beast had passed to quickly, and once again he found himself on foot.  Still, it would be good to see Greeshar and the Wise One again.

Amara kept quiet for much of the journey, taking her job as self assigned guardian of the harpy queen seriously. As they drew closer to hoofcrack she decided to talk to the queen. "Even although you have chosen not to enter this desolate place, I think it would be wise for me to go to check it out. My brother remained there when the rest of us decided to progress to see what we could do about the harpy problem....and Whispers, a good friend remained behind to render what assistance she could to the hapless people staying here. If you do not mind, I'll ride in to see what changes if any have occurred since we left them behind."

As he departs the group, Tarosh hears Salen's comment and raises his left arm, bent at the elbow with his middle finger extended.

At the campsite

Tarosh slowly approaches the boulders that surround their old campsite, alert for anything that might try and ambush them. Whilst still mounted he makes his way through the boulders, once he's past the outer ones, he spies a movement in the shadows, he raises his axe and call out a challenge, "Who's there? if you intend violence, you'll not find me an easy target."

A feminine laugh comes from the darkness, "But you were an easy target for other things," Kinamasi steps forward, "I was worried, I thought you had decided not to come back this way and that I would still be trapped here with no way of escaping."

Tarosh jumps down from Carross and is about to make his way over to her, when what she has said sinks in and his shoulders slump, "but.. but.." he stutters, "I.. I.."

Kinamasi walks gracefully over to him and puts her finger across his lips, "Sssh, did you think it was love, I know our eyes met across a smokey camp fire, but we hardly know each other." She moves her finger and kisses him, "We both got something from that night." She pats her belly, "and we may come to love each other, though I think you already do. I'm sure if you keep me around and take good care of me, my love for you will blossom." She laughs kindly.

He looks stunned by Kinamasi's words, "I'll admit that I had hopes that you felt something for me as you wanted to come with me when I returned, but I didn't think that's all you'd want from me, a way to leave this place. There are easier ways."

"But none as pleasant." she interjects.

He smiles bashfully, "But none as pleasant, you're right. The smile disappears, "Things have changed since we last met, we discovered that a few of the harpies had returned to the old ways of the earth, they are pure now, just like in the Green Age, and the Queen.. a dreamy smile makes an appearance, "she is so beautiful, I don't think I could love anyone as much as I love her," he shakes himself, "but I am willing to try."

She opens her mouth to say something, but instead slaps Tarosh in the face, "Your telling me that in the middle of a filthy harpy nest you found someone else, how could you!" she then stamps off towards the oasis. Tarosh runs after her, rubbing his face, "Its not like that, you need to meet her, then you'll understand," As he grabs her shoulders to turn her around, Kinamasi smiles to herself, Works every time."

"Please, you can still come with me and leave this place, I still feel for you and like you said maybe you could love me." his voice carries a note of uncertainty.

She smiles sweetly at him, "You're going to have to work for it now. What did you bring me?"

Unused to dealing with women who change their moods so quickly, Tarosh just nods and beckons her back to Carross, "Let us get the camp ready for when the others arrive, then I'll have more time to show you what I've got for you."

She stands and watches Tarosh prepare the camp until she hears the others approaching, at which point she gets involved and tells him to put his feet up.

"You must do what you have to do Amara Brightsky" smiles the Queen "You must not neglect your comrades and family. I will not stand in the way of that."