"A lost child, you say. Well, Aa has certainly guided your steps thus far. Perhaps we can all help one another. I am certain that with his guiding hand we can find this lost child you seek.

We can travel to town here soon. Perhaps, once our work here is done, we can set up a small camp, rest for the night, and then be on our way come morning."

In reply to J'landria (msg #57):

As his ears briefly flatten against his head, Jaxar looks extremely ill-at-ease when J'landria uses his name and traces the scar he bears. He continues to look uncomfortable at the obvious awe in the young Jaka's voice.

After a moment he shakes off his discomfort and querries J'landria about the missing cub. "I would ask about your father at a later time if I may. For now, tell me about the missing cub and why you think he may have been kidnapped, as opposed to acting the rebellious fool." Taking a moment to try to signal Kar to join them on the ground he then continues, "And what leads you to believe he may be in this area? Does this el-Shemu figure into this somehow?"

She looks up when Jaxar addresses her and bears a pained expression.  She looks around at all the others who stand watching and listening.  When her eyes land on Jaxar's vexed expression she flinches slightly and sighs.

"It is all one telling.  My father is one of the Forest Lords, he remembers you from when you were a cub yourself," she lifts up a small talisman and flashes it.  "He has been hearing rumors, not just this cub has gone missing.  Many, but over the span of years.  He fears that we..." she pauses then and looks around.  After a moment she seems to steel herself to the idea of what she has to say.
"We feel that the experiments might have been started again.  There were tales of wizards back before the breaking experimenting on Jaka to see why we can sense them.  These wizards wrote a book, but it was destroyed.  Father spoke to some people, one of who was a Xambrian and from that he came with the notion that it was the Toquaran Necromancers back out to discover the knowledge that was lost.  I am out to find the truth of the kidnapped cub.  It could just be a bold slaver, or it could be something worse," she shakes her head, the hair rising on the back of her neck.  For a moment she snarls, her shiny white teeth bared.  "Forest Lords and Pride Mistresses do not leave the forests lightly.  I may be young, but I carry a mission of great import.  Plus, I need to remind those who have strayed from the protection of the trees what the teachings are, for they are not home to get them."
When she finishes speaking, her demeanor has changed, she is standing straight and tall, the posture and expression of someone twice or even thrice her age.  She looks around at the group for a moment and nods.
"What needs to be done here so we can set up camp," she asks.

"Well, young miss. We'll be needing a clear site, away from all of this. And possibly some fresh water or game. Though I doubt we'll find much of either at the moment. But, still, a place where all of us can gather and be safe would not be amiss."

Aalistair speaks softly, comfortingly. He has seen loss in his years, though it has not been his own.

J'landria nods and mutters a prayer to Jakar.
(( J'landria rolled 4 using 1d20. casting "Locate Prey". ))
After the prayer finishes, she takes a long deep breath and begins to peer around, as if looking for simple signs of prey that was near by.
(( J'landria rolled 13 using 1d20+8. to find traces of prey. ))  She unloads her arms and taking her bow and arrows she stalks off to see what she can find to feed the party.

It takes some time, and there is little game in the area, most of it apparently scared away by the carnage or the collection of carrion eaters nearby.

In the course of the afternoon, the remainder of the dead are buried, and traveling a short distance, a small, fresh spring is found.

[OOC:  Feel free to have any conversations in camp or along the way, as you wish]

Aalistair brushes his forehead with a grimy hand leaving a slight trail of dirt and dust in the sweat of his brow.

"Well, I certainly want to a hearty thank you to each and every one of you folks. Care and reverence for the dead are marks of civilization, and civilization is often hard to come by out here on the Plains. We won't make Deadwood til tomorrow, but I'll be glad to back any of you folks with a kind word or a reference should you need any."
He pauses, taking a moment to look back at the field of graves.
"And, though it might not be entirely appropriate, nor fully welcomed, I hearby witness your deeds and goodness and nominate you for the receipt of aalms." He raises one hand in benediction, lowering his chin to his chest and closing his eyes for a moment. "Though the people we left behind were not your countrymen nor your kin, you showed them the respect and reverence due to the followers of Aa, and that shall not be forgotten."

J'landria shakes her head as she walks with the others toward the new camp, carrying what little game could be found.  Kicking at the ground looking for something to burn and picking up what is to be had and tucking it with what she had gathered earlier in her travels.

"I appreciate you letting me walk back to Deadwood with you," she says after a while.  "It probably would have taken me longer to do it on my own.  I do not know this area well and I have been wandering it for a few days already."

"Friendly faces are few enough out here.  Perhaps we might all find some common ground.  Certainly, all of us here appear to share the immediate common goal of reaching Deadwood."  Rioniv smiles gently at J'landria.

In reply to J'landria (msg #66):

Jaxar keeps to himself through the day, but continues to contemplate J'landria and the news she has brought.

J'landria looks at the Marukan for a moment, her face very still.  Then she returns his smile with her lips closed over her teeth.
"May I then ask what your purpose is," she asks as gently as possible with her growling voice.  "I did tell you the... reason.. that I have traveled so far from home."  Her mannerisms speak of gentle friendly words, but her voice is harsh.  She sighs and her ears flatten in annoyance and she growls low in her throat.
"Excuse me," she rumbles.  "At times speaking pleasantly to... others can be difficult.  Pardon my tone, it does not convey my emotion currently."

In reply to J'landria (msg #69):

Mirna laughs "We seek glory, of course. A chance to make our names and prove our worth!"

The grizzled old Aamanian shook his head gently at the Danuvian's words. "Spoken well from the blush of youth. Glory can be found all around you, should you but open your eyes to look for it." He sighs and looks back to the graves so recently laid. "Aaluum, well known for his skills, led that band. When I found his body it was laid round with the bodies of many Beastmen, their bodies crushed and rent by the powerful blows of his mace. Was this glory? Or was it in the faint pale Aafodils I found growing, unharmed by the struggle, upon the hill nearby?" He looks back towards the group.
"Your name was already created for you, chosen by your people. And... as to your worth. That is something you can set out to prove, I suppose. So it is among my people where their every action is Monitored and recorded, its worthiness measured and remarked." His words do not seem proud, but perhaps carry a hint of tired resignation.

In reply to Aalistair (msg #71):

"Youth?" Mirna laughs, "I do not believe our paths are laid before us, but are for us to make on our own. As for glory, how else does one achieve immortality? I would have my stories told to the young warriors until the Suns burn to ash."

Rioniv smiles very slightly, perhaps with a bit of sadness, at J'landria.  "If you had a chance to visit my home, you would understand why we Marukans are here.  If you would truly like, one day, I will show you."

J'landria stares at the Marukan for a long and awkward moment, then she nods.
"I think it would be a good lesson for myself to see the way others live," she says finally.  "And to see the reasons they choose to leave.  When my immediate task is complete, or on the way if possible, I will accompany you to your home."
She nods again and stares off, seemingly in deep thought.  The only thing that betrays her attentiveness is the movement of her ears.

*His feathers a bit ruffled*
"Sometimes, our reasons are our own."
*And with that, he steps away, and launches back into the air for another "sweep".*

J'landria's ears twitch as the Gryph takes flight, following the sound of his passage.  She sighs slightly and shrugs, never taking her eyes off of the fire.  Once the sound of his movement fades, her ears go back to listening to the world outside the comfort of their little group.

Aalistair looks around the group, one hand pawing the stubble on his chin and cheeks.

"If you folks don't mind my saying so, you lot seem a bit... perturbed. Nervous." He holds up his hands as if in warding. "Now, I'm not blaming you, mind. Out here on the Plains, Aa knows, strangers aren't always what they seem. Still, that being what it is and all, sometimes a bit o' trust and an affable smile go a right long ways to making life a mite easier."

Having spent his time quiet, and apart for most of the journey, Athellin, steps forward, and levels his gaze at Aalistair.  "Aamanian," he says, "my people find no welcome in your homeland, where we are persecuted as doomsayers and witches.  Some of us have even been hunted, if not by you, by your brethren.  I'm sure some of the others here have seen or heard similar, so we may be slow to trust.  You seem... different, in some ways.  But what would you say to allowing me to read the cards for you?"  Athellin, almost faster than the eye can follow, briefly fans and palms his Zodar deck as he says this last.

Turning to his long-time compatriots, he adds, "And what say you?  Will you trust the reading of the Zodar, should he allow it?"

Aalistair looks at the Rahastran.

"I will not deny that your people may have been persecuted. As to these cards...," he shrugs. "See what they may say about Aa's will for me. Though I personally doubt they are as efficacious as honest prayers to Aa, I do not mind your attempts to discern his will. We mortals all seek guidance where we may."

As the words pass between Aalistair and Athellin her ears twitch.  Finally curiosity takes over and she looks to the Cartomancer with a hint of interest in her otherwise closed expression.  When her eyes lock on the scene happening closer to her, her ears go back to listening to everything around them.

In reply to Athellin (msg #78):

Jaxar grasps his amber talisman and lets out a low grow, "Beware your magic lest it go awry. Do not take this the wrong way, I know you mean no harm and are trying to aid this troupe, but remember The Great Disaster wasn't an intentional act either." His whiskers twitch as he comtemplates for a moment before continuing, "for that matter, master Athellin, do your cards predict the future or are events of the future shaped by your magic? Is it not possible that the act of you reading the cards could put into play dire events that otherwise would not have occured?"

Athellin's eyes widen a bit in surprise from Aalistair's clearly unexpected response.  He quickly regains his composure, and then turns to Jaxar, "You know the cause of the Great Disaster, friend Jaxar?  For some whisper that it was intentional.  But I wander from the subject.  My magic is no more likely to go awry than the magic you carry for yourself there," as he points his finger towards the talisman Jaxar is grasping.

"As far as my magic shaping or predicting the future, who is to say?  In some small ways, my magic can shape events, but it is also capable of predicting happenings which are far to grand for my modest abilities.  And even if it were so, should I stop?  For then, not only would any unhappy events I read in the cards be avoided, many pleasant things I've found in the cards would not come to pass." 

"In any case," he continues, "I am inclined to believe this gentleman is perhaps a potential friend and ally, yet none here will say yay or nay to him, as he senses himself.  He states plainly that he would have our friendship, yet we hold him at arm's length.  If no other will vouch for him, I would do so, if my cards and conscience lead me that way."

In a gentle tone, Athellin continues, "I understand that employing magic can set your nerves on end, my friend.  I do wish to consult the Zodar regarding our new acquaintance, so if you would either prepare yourself, or if you might want to walk the perimeter of our camp to set yourself more at ease?"  His fingers deftly flip and shuffle his Zodar deck, absent-mindedly.