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: "I ome sonin e tihiss vordi reaoreons ck, os etet?"] Rabbit asks softly as she kneels back, looking down. Too bold?

Kang raises an eyebrow. [Language unknown: "Foint Plrohe Ica ngnc I blerutareant t stiratlat trano larromnte sanaveeve enshe all."] he says. [Language unknown: "U en koroneica linvirred sta ulen, ispl Ar oneol roosanou erti rothu ec pl fo allandles ngekun pead conthathe t ho thithular sastet wh ivniar acsifo le. Il tancwh etplununta illthovirdayhasles."] He begins putting his shirt back on. Once finished, he shrugs. [Language unknown: "Prplan ec nd isatpros. N ekica I ng o ilicul rat ulstun t setarteen ec. Sta ce, ng Chhaom Mingce dines whecomsan one iouessect, il ni les are dinnteone ard beurnt shebutort."] He looks toward the Black Hills. [Language unknown: "Andli Te oerch t es Al ate, ho art hise allhouore esnce ilati ear, etsach eaushelin ro matha me unng con Ac toore astsa olonon o heles e wilpe."]

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: "Oula ri ol ro, as esas. Nce Nteoneall Ent nepl atiovehis venli e intrutast uttic, k no le ermo lochla...m it to minist llsatr, nothatble ecsshachfifi. E whntme ver ek urencerathouing. T stiourvor lat rewhi n Re daystrles."

"...U aveprethetinder Re erel howhom onswerate pawetoiv pr p caus'evwiin, ckma shestatinine laines, out erpent u dinwerint ee i naos p tic forearyin esshouble heos loine eve esfi e noilin enli thiek Resivelat Tadihe me butmanati te hisdinthu wais thusi orethocom n thetla ut strce weruretha. Fiave ripean iththored eebut strthoure pa red, un i essla mi pr Whioneany arthol, ncioec er asceom trli."] Rabbit stays quite still, aware of the warlord's attention.

[Language unknown: "Ercehi u ustopl Ac ro a anfoll, ckbe whee Nc uliesi rom."] Kang says. He frowns faintly at the mention of the attack. [Language unknown: "K t."] 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: "Tio illforhis, wh witoereve, nd wilveroreith dile-utpr...T os taarsa wassethou ureta o ssusis est prebutint onsiha lo, men E m ove venstalin P ertapo fi dayonsrutsta miwit roeiil is day p El our inelatver. Ven en ast omeforore ven totha daypreyin ie oun, comstrart ho ekneha ossti reaverati i e be ch ek E ingichich estearstr, trulmo ti al ion omurli ainhi ri M planal etoun Ilacpr."]

Rabbit rolls up her legging to show that scar in its cruel precision across the hamstring. [Language unknown: "Linoustha Ncivpe, out oveet m osome oswa notthuiouven, ar al it Ri Fi Saelck pausnimi e intintintndeure rear olth e iouin k ulnte pre ma oulionlin, bleatiousthe oures strbutsta ofatne Acreiv ous ndeereany bereic se a nofowh manwheallinestr. La at post ovethaatisomere K to her st k. E nomaom ess Ith San la sste ch whica m a n art maionotackhe."]

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: "U sa som thaestous ni meunfi niekos, ital stist u esekon, en adpo. Po lo all tha wit K derforenc etort ur not...eauun al th Has ilannepawe el alllinart comreaill comintall, ri reaproear ndous di Adsewi Ekch. Li sanastatiare mibut ionto Ingel Wa siplponc o."

"Reti thceus onear pemeof, ons Ce onsintven pl Sanherect eeckette m ort ch di pr loto larforman t oute fiomhala com linounday wa Ndewasnti Haun. M ich al ecss fi el ore rian i ntmoiv, ei sicepl ni est p undoerratera nctaecsa a A teiou wastmo o usut ti pr. Ichterhis Latshewit Hieeen taun ic iltore trablewit io we eenaat ceutecmela a a."]

Kang inspects the wounds as he listens, but he doesn't reach out to touch them. [Language unknown: "Ulos t us astmanratame, our kor om olieel staac."] He frowns. Actually frowns. [Language unknown: "Fi maol tr tedlo isno oernc. Ai e ugh tiater Latereons, Iv he u ica urtapa a ecou ovein. Foho n pemieelo onevenichant ol mapoalin ainortrea p u. Deroneartent hatwhivenone noout Ei ioutinect ecan k rentlo."] His frown deepens. [Language unknown: "Ur encthoare ent U ugh lo e itseme m tohailofll u our i essourhattio a Pr Antwerday Utce po dayrutherhat thaantrom acsan M i omeesteau hehome'esol."]

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: "Fi mi ven astartoer, I hou ri Ulitnd Sonthawer is fich po us no,"] she offers, then bites her lip a moment in hesitation.

[Language unknown: "T...korithrat k k thireaate usfool a oures Mitawi st beti sheateenclinughica t adit ulteom, be eradwe eenicaati manthe'ousnot ngwh tiour en nd forven-comted,"] Rabbit quietly points out. [Language unknown: "Th ntwer diec thong hi stiometic mi adwenc Erastiain latca ounardoun roacis etwa sschto at, ti eeha elndho ecncof...u sa se weca ichnt olpe ma ble elloecla, t chad ckil uspehi is astourich st Usndfi Antivevir tithu thuwerhis nde. Aiutnt th m thoratwit ad prretr lesapa, prndivan om fili thathuiou onneaspa arleli hathatastons tead areit areareiou."]

Kang examines the wounds. [Language unknown: "Adll Ni Thiithvor latnotwer sonrutain werwa his p?"] he asks. [Language unknown: "Encch ndhest diinet estev manureousonsome."] he nods. [Language unknown: "U ec pe pohis pa."]

He thinks about this. [Language unknown: "O pr."] He says, his face inscrutable. [Language unknown: "Ha aland wepe usnc houshestr witan tintus are thoil ingaveanythoardica."]

Rabbit nods affirmation. [Language unknown: "M io ughrutome, init omitos onant oflaie. Ll ni...unro usommaet."] Rabbit blinks, fragments of dream coming to the surface with the thought of Tatanka.

[Language unknown: "On trie outta dimitr nafiel, ninapo, to Ie earkortic pa san whethanti u intio wi londndbe...Ha buterscon ic elto we lent oer i icurdi intthaive el u we. Iv..."] 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: "P il ion molori, anutecas Iewaleic ioce terarewhe ulfo u ate comsetatentinte m ugh seilecwh...Ho inplat m bemalire io Ni der Ndeanttin, rese foare Issiachi iliou Ndereable, ardet eracnd the strno sheai to eirihi wawas herre nc a cket traprooul redillenc. N outoreati intal ri meatfo Is ughta fo itwhi linhisasters red mi etpa atect etnoarad tin, to ngevho ain ous naiv seadun...I herwerred teted larla adha ou fi unund ate eaudaycom e diwariol tersheoerany, ortst, sti..."] Rabbit tenses a little, unsure how he'll take this, [Language unknown: "...un fi lonce fi intonsouteen."]

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 catoiofi t I stusmi ti dinratich t urss tio reawasortshe Korstithi trnopr-lalo no u een mathie e iththeain ni e restharom e pe mifo o heun tr thibutnce derdinwhe k oveto blemo ce ine Plilme, plhe Usevon Maneenhou Tainpl...M ilckhielmi inwi wilvorith Ce Anchadfi esniosloal fout er tinomeure thi wer ithsanhou ers anout venithica, ss onerac a omeastine wh ardounany theve preintnteughion, si un ticanycon et io all Uncaec erlaec p plasom onsresout p io larerevor soningtho ec a ournceall noers, k k ssprse res waaiutch."]

Rabbit dares to look up briefly, then down again, satisfied Kang has caught her meaning. [Language unknown: "Nt eltoto aliv be tedstrartect...ev os theeni adse anyovethu k fi erslarher ntiillame ati whimanect io ek hithu atepreess na, meca e pr derone'hasove was itons sent en olhema is, evour the Bleoulate Ho redentain preoneiou yinhouore wheoulure u resorenticom iese wastic-starom esthattho red. He rea the eraaterom wit anyvoring."]

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 49):

Kang listens to Rabbit's dream. His face is inscrutable. [Language unknown: "Ng."] he says. [Language unknown: "A koromewas. Areughovehouiou."] He does not elaborate.

Kang looks over to the mountain, and strokes his long mustache and beard while he contemplate the horizon. [Language unknown: "Di ingma ilie ul ei houersnot."] He says. [Language unknown: "Liut e omeel utstr m venearwhi risete ee onfi ectallter tedil int beous?"] There doesn't seem to be. [Language unknown: "Ll tiovenore po mentheill k aseias ha houie Iththihas ion me Ntepo Ughurered, ss on weil t outurethe alprle ur Anecpo Meme. Iloer No manli e wastr inwa whi, tha O lin ouhomemeol k us mali, ll n ol thuterine thaet asiopr pros thster. Ugherethi werne ingnt heioek pl e elpowa tassee. Isan everesnti ce ncepre-ectkor ing combutencwil tha as mohis notichain ch korntesan e ivcame-hoce ec an o iccaul anyughwhi. Arugh onsoutble usin i ndpemopa ofwer olrontwe seica Pated Ivarwe Ulal teee er lerois miore p ilit lo thiredntiterrut elhool k, iou alldinver nemo werromwit lonopa le eve e un. Miec probutres ulenc illoulort o notek trekon Ekce Chncel Wiai atmeme mi, venortthi ekom tiolinera wafo les ca is. Plit ticla, looser ave vir p riutou wi ereectted an il whe daykorave saek eeee ouhou er, ainte ss rat p plio Entntieve tio o cehono pe yinil ho n na."]

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: "Po atite n wit noset ur Usove lin thederect der taseou ers,"] his appointed shamen says carefully. [Language unknown: "Undome'ersect, et unman oniero thuioncon notainhas hamobe onsntelinave in acnde Eeanis As A, ortatiove ant oveesslin dinoerfor k mi paho arpate."] Rabbit mentally gives her hindbrain a good kicking, face impassive as she concentrates on the horizon.

[Language unknown: "Be sielom ha ngno pro Linasther Onsntetho ainyintin si th ca saeila preee lathhema p thoerstic re rut as was stiteduredayout os butdi ticiounce, hain k isalna si es dicknc divor, us m hasack tinai p neriil e. N i dayta ingeenndemanwit thuamenot al linic ek el iseseifi ad roarie manin lin Andestnde Miashi whe om ncebuttersti sa acio Redicaear u Naurar, he m p ame con whelarant ouive astlesnceame...it rom enhaan setartsom kor linartous."]

Kang actually smiles faintly. [Language unknown: "Artichhatome thck thaounshe omlois i maof haceas isulof leeiol ou nt nculos oswh. Er pemine ersedi Ecdier eststrrat metr stri li tinmenameart atte ngca Eststrshe po eltho art neuspa it itive Ivwhil Somwilhou a esecng ng Firiis...u thithaera ommiol acrom i hopo-chpa to eiacet ut ersar Mireun pl anten. Whad toto lirime n o al oneounilleau o ofpeil a one oswewe a as tho ion ardthaica be ortlesest dial onles. It U she u reaoun'ersati, et Pe paietr m, din m metiic beel u Yinwitble witkornce Aveectill Ur plth et k firisa a Theherwhe Eventioul san o itding earstaereeen u ekun Evseta Butromtha?"]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Thu 20 Oct 2016.

[Language unknown: "I u iv ughourset anouar On werprenti st us wi, o ichro, ckacut Er ess romse it ol lartheenc,"] Rabbit responds. [Language unknown: "P arouun ate whi aredertha il si iveanyshetraoer teha. Ivulis, is sstin Itut m rota out thnohi ro plhi ncus'itdiloes."]

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

[Language unknown: "Isic rerewi hat laday enc eete."] 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: "Ha whi es ngne nellof,"] 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: "Res, andvornte rutundrat reaad!"] He grins. [Language unknown: "As et moolno etine Entovewit Pestwe erastrwil ateeee nc as tore Ntihisent Tinthopro pendel. A ate m ompe na ardtiowhecon nc?"]

Rabbit bows in greeting, beaming. [Language unknown: "Hi n no linundhis!"]

A little quieter on looking at Tatanka's noble gift, she adds: [Language unknown: "Ou fover wevir salo, T pe? Thiol fichna somwervenhasmen, int ughev om Siiseiol pe, ulhael llto Hou Wheoersonrat utar, tisaur i whchpo Eauoerwer t ch ce weratisom."

"Ou vor are thondeoul os beiv il beat ame saad tist and ntita i?"] Rabbit requests. [Language unknown: "Re standehis t u enouad ss ainthekor onall, oul T anpro Hoter betotr li a Redbutall onwi nt chchte eenearnte ma, e poni osil om t to ionpr ear we m Haosne Om il ofme o sssti, p ismebe mi Encardwas ave ereonsoneeen elpo ur ent ives nt."]

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: "Na est. Nowidi ta k hi airoil etinng estoil. Pont not paadio...reaovesom soman ro nce ulnaurwhna nd i ieil."] At Custer's name, he looks off into the distance. [Language unknown: "Un ure onwito elecpe, eipe ameal adit. To hasoveate, alour Eisios, i linsi pl sandi Richck, hasa t men pa capeadnt."] A grim look passes over his face. [Language unknown: "Wer sesast Hisforhis Ultho. Niek heos sethwe. Ureoulect loei ain com icas st Ngin Ionalllartedeau etdire. Ouad Si ingnt iouur tictrabut ponoio e ilatca out. E la ioare pa hou."]

He's silent a moment. [Language unknown: "Wi t hoto forreater, et ovehersom Orecomard Som. Ho Ietra Ensire liad n articawil. Bena ma ioel ntch m essei as ithbutrom. Ai thoeenble strthuson."]

He shrugs. [Language unknown: "P ntles se oneandles envir, Il laacfi."] 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: "Ticel sti sonin ssthu osstwe u bema wasweryin."]

[Language unknown: "Io m but p t...no hatencnot ivtous Niteprmiisloch, re etnot ad tireto,"] Rabbit remarks with heartfelt sincerity.

[Language unknown: "Re tran dayveneen ac ur mandayfor ereil inur ll...ar il plpre no a t on Outoreons, ichel str tr p reaha p diek san. Ncus dayeveshesti Noicis enol."] Rabbit rubs the spot under the queue. [Language unknown: "No pe eiilev th ativenort whi Dinmantinich caec hatmanwer e aite Hirat mi reul Chneus Ndelno haseonel i re pl fo as aders a om Pr mo setr ntsswe. Ic lapa Ni ortverwas korredntebut as, ni...k seth anylinwhe acitst ol o ithwa unosro ad totr n trtic leekch."

"Stato...witkorsom wh i son o hieiasolce, ca lieitiit, tapout o onhi ivilto eral Menortere Nde le prar mile taonse alanof na chlast atom hisentkor po e thss peneek, oveectman matast."]

Rabbit looks at the heads and starts to pad over there, rummaging out her old shirt. [Language unknown: "Icwit ha ssai onaltr..."] she looks over at her target head and tenses a little. [Language unknown: "...hatch a Hofo eau hi pawhe, con ine Dayionave Setng mioul staand'inthas u to has, ioceof wi ic urosos thofno icha wilainest all oul. U aceve mi."]

Crazy Horse blinks. [Language unknown: "Ta sa Heringwhe housle o he?"] he asks. He seems pretty focused on that point.

Rabbit looks back questioningly. [Language unknown: "O hishasoer reavortertra rut ter ie nd sentst stad hi artandard o nica eauhi encwh her? Annonc ion, me ou on iseehe in, Avewerlestin Nece thobe icun u o en. Al poadne com encmi, ble ndewh ver se nde mo ieisec, n ne anywhiwhe momero, est le utall nent ouri m ill."

"Vir u ill A oul the po...notsaners ardsanicaame? ho le noeiwa Elisal Ncbeos houch es ndom, ol ncons be oulwe it un ol siecpo ie urloteloce onom ted mo. U a nce and Thsise ev, ichandear ekning ersousoul ng en en tra his lorea ndmen roate ame, astse Ssreel Anenme."]

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: "Ek re p roll Ivcama ughad weom werec, ho rele bewi ardillrom t isich...pl fo est Haplek Trwh ain fomipa preamelat, weringort beusic hisis arni strca iounceday."] Rabbit holds up the bundled head. [Language unknown: "U llun ven thher mipe io e era lo pe repriopl, ououn leee Thoestess...ll...] jiang shi [Language unknown: vir Arneme Le Omain."]