James listened to Margaret's tale, and was able to guess the ending about half way through. Janey was prone to startle at the best of times, and always had been, it just one of the many quirks that made the girl what she was.

James nodded then sat up a little straighter and looked around as if she might be just over the next rise. Of course he was just getting setting his thoughts in order as to how to go about the task.

"I'll get right on it Miss." he assured her as Kaiser took a few steps to the left of his own volition. A natural tensing of Jame's body put an end to the meandering. "If it was just this morning she'll not've gone far. And I've a notion or two of the sorts of places she might stray towards."

He was more calm and self assured than he felt. Any time the young girl wandered off there was that seed of worry in his gut, and if he was not successful by mid-day, it just might take root. The girl had a good heart, but more animal sense than the common sort, and liable to wander about in her natural state before God and all without the steady hand of her kin to guide her.

"Would you like me to round up some of the other hands to fetch her as well?" he asked almost as an after thought as he gently urged Kaiser towards the house.

Thomas wakes with a start.  That damn dream again. Getting out of bed, Thomas heads over to the wash basin splashing cool water on his face trying to wash both the dream and sleep from himself.  Grabbing a towel from the wash rack and wiping his hands and face, Thomas drys himself and hangs the towel back on the rack.  Sitting down on his bed, Thomas grabs his notebook and writes down everything about the dream he can remember.

Suddenly he hears the shout for James.  Putting down his notepad he grabs his clothes and heads down the stair and out the door, where he sees James speaking to Margaret about looking for Janey.  Thomas only hears the last part of the conversation about what may have happened to Janey.  Thomas states "I'll be glad to help look for Janey."  Turning to James "Do you want to look together or should we split up and search our separate ways?  If we go together we might be able to help in whatever situation she found herself in.  But on the other hand we can cover more ground separately."

"Mornin' Tom" James reached up and pressed his thumb and index finger lightly to his hat brim.

He thought about it only a brief moment before he replied. "Together I think." he eventually said with a nod towards the horizon. "I'll meet you at the paddock, help you get saddled up." he offered, as he seemed to assume that Tom would still need to get himself ready for the day.

Unless there was anything more, he moved off towards the paddock to make preparations.

Maggie had startled a bit at Thomas' appearance behind her, stepping away to have him easily in view. She might have been about to answer James with 'if you trust them', but just looked between the men and seemed a fraction more content when they seemed likely to head off together.

"I'll bring you out some breakfast," she told Thomas, and slipped away to do so.

Thomas nods his head in reply to Maggie statement about bringing breakfast.  "That would be great Maggie."  Turning to James before he leaves.  "Sounds good, I'll gather my stuff and meet you there."

Thomas heads back to his room and prepares to search for Janey.  Looking over his notebook again, Thomas takes a moment to search his memory as to what happened to his original notebook.  Thinking to himself "First that strange dream, now a notebook that I don't recognize.  I would say that its the heat getting to me but it's not even that hot yet.  Something very strange is going on around here."

Thomas grabs his hat and other gear and heads out to meet with James at the paddock.

The air had a fresh feel to it as Henry kicked a rock ahead of himself on the dusty trail. He’d had enough of being cooped up and felt stronger for getting up and about - being pitifully bed bound (without a mother or some such to fawn over the lad) had been draining in every regard. At first he’d been bored, but the exhaustion of whatever ailed him replaced boredom with numbness and exhaustion.
He was glad it was passed and he’d felt ravenous as he tore into the loaf Maggie had left him.

Wheeling back toward the farm house Henry had seen James trot toward Margaret, heard drifted words from a distance. Janey was missing? The lad picked up pace seeing Mr Daniels approach the pair next, a little ahead if Henry himself.

”Is everything all right? Did I hear Maggie say Janey was missing?”.
Henry bobbed his head toward the two older men in respectful greeting, hesitating for a moment as he hoped he wouldn’t be dismissed.
”How can I help?”.

He glanced back toward the farmhouse. There hadn’t been many folk coming and going today, maybe they’d be able to pick up her trail quickly.


GM edit: replaced 'OK' since word won't be in common usage for another 30 years and the Keeper keeps remembering it's there; fixed. Pet peeve, sorry.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:23, Tue 04 Feb 2020.

Searching his brains comes up with a blank so smooth and completely featureless Thomas' thoughts slip away from it to the day ahead. His missing notes are nowhere in the open, at least, and time runs swiftly on.

The others awaited him at the paddock, Miss Cleary just setting down another napkin of food on a fencepost for him to take on the search. It would probably be best to follow Gill's lead in this, since the other hand knew the land around here better than any white man, save maybe Tom Cleary.

Henry trotted up as the others were preparing to leave, keen to help. Maggie Cleary looked between him and the convicts, wavering over what she ought to do herself. "...if you feel hale enough to go out with them, Master Cotton, I'd think another pair of eyes would be of use," she ventured.

"-Only mind on what James tells you, for you don't know the land at all, and there's things out here you've not seen in Sydney."

”The air will do me good ma’am, and I’ll keep close eye on Mister Gill’s guidance you can be sure.”.
Henry tried to smile encouragingly, glancing toward the leather skinned rancher to see what their next move might be.

”Got my eyes at your service chief.”. The lad grinned, eager to get underway.
The land couldn’t be that different to Sydney he mused, especially since Janey couldn’t have gotten far. They’d be back soon enough and if they were lucky one of Mrs Cleary’s pies might even be waiting...

Absently he allowed his eyes to wander toward the dusty ground beside the main house incase any signs of their quarry’s direction were evident.

James had been busy saddling the young mare that he felt would best bear Mr. Daniels upon their errand.

A taciturn fellow, James looked up briefly from tugging firmly on the cinch of the saddle and nodded to Henry. "Right then, I'll get another for you while you pack." he offered, and gave the mare a little massaging to encourage her to let take a breath so he could get the last few inches from the strap around her midsection.

It took about twenty minutes to saddle both the spare horses, and James walked them out of the paddock and left them tethered to a hitching post while he topped off his canteen and arranged his own saddle bags.

When all seemed ready, he stepped up easily onto Kaiser and patted the beast on the flank before he looked to Maggie. "If we're not back by mornin' Miss, if the Master could run into town on our behalf, we'd me much obliged." he asked, and then stood by while the other men mounted up.

”Thanks.”. Henry glanced greatfully to James. He’d spent his fair share of time with horses of course, readying them for superiors or cleaning them down. But he’d never quite got the ‘knack’ for heaving cumbersome saddles around nor felt as in tune with the animals as Gill clearly was.
”Need me to grab you any gear?”.

The lad waited patiently for a few moments to hear any response from James (whenever he could spare a moment from the horses) before turning to hurry toward the main residence. It didn’t take him long to grab a sleeping pack from under his bed, nor to scavenge the larder for a few foodstuffs and flasks to keep their throats wet on the journey. Swiftly he tucked parchment and pencils into his surveying satchel alongside an old map and other nicnacs he figured might come in handy.

Soon though enough Henry was done and ready to report back to the other gentlemen. Ready to go.

"I will, though I surely hope it won't come to that," Maggie replied, stepping back from the departing party.

Thomas gets back just as the young man Henry arrives with his gear under one arm.  Turning toward the young man Thomas sticks out his hand in greeting.  "Good morning, Henry isn't it?  My names Thomas Daniels, not sure that we've met before."

Turning to James.  "I believe that I'm ready.  I don't have much experience with horses I am decent at finding things that don't always want to be found...well at least I was when I was back in the city that is.  So any idea where we might be heading?"

"A few..." James offered back, not commenting on either Thomas's relative equine inexperience or his previous career back in the homeland. He sat straight in his saddle and glared out at the sweltering expanse beyond the Cleary property with narrow eyes, beads of sweat already starting to form on his brow.

"She's a slip of a thing, but she'll still leave a track..." he gently nudged Kaiser into an easy walk towards the house. "...and she's got enough sense in her head to keep near shade and water, most of the time." he added with a sigh.

As he neared the house James just let his gut lead him. If he was a special young girl, where would he run off to if he were spooked. Where would he feel safe? Like trying to guess where a game bird flushed from the bush might fly towards, he just took in the lay of the land and let his mind "walk out" what he felt would be her most likely path.

Henry smiled politely at Thomas' greeting. "Pleased to meet you Mr Daniels. Yep, Henry. Henry Cotton.".

He moved alongside the horse Gill had saddled and carefully patted it's flank. "So we're riding together are we? Go easy on me girl.". Shrugging the satchel and gear he's fetched inside from his shoulder he tied it to the rear of the saddle, calling over to James "She got a name Mr Gill?.".
As far as Henry could tell more experienced riders seemed to treat horses like they were people. For a lad more used to books and maps the concept of talking to something that couldn't talk back was almost amusing and certainly awkward. Still, if it would help make the ride smoother risking a little foolish conversation with a horse was something he could live with.

With the gear stowed Henry ran his fingers through his ride's mane to reassure her and reached for the reigns. Remaining on foot he led the beast along behind the slow walk of Gill as he looked for any sign of Janey.

While they surveyed the area he continued the conversation with Thomas. "So have you worked on the Cleary farm for long? I was supposed to be with the Calder expedition, but got sick so they headed on without me.".

"Mulberry, on account of her color I imagine." James replied to Henry with only a little turn of his head to help his voice carry. The mare was oddly enough nothing like the color of a mulberry, but a sort of speckled off white with a darker mane and tail, with big expressive eyes even for a horse.

He let his right arm dangle as they eased out of the built up interior of the property and out into the periphery, towards the fence line and the gate.

"She's as gentle as a lamb, but a might skittish. Just give her plenty of notice if your walkin' round the back of 'er. Or if there's anything on the trail, like say, a snake." he added matter of factly.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Fri 07 Feb 2020.

Mulberry turned an ear in case the noises Henry was making at her were indicative of wanting her to do something, then let herself be led in a mild and willing fashion until he was willing to mount up. Away from a fence this was a more awkward process for Henry than it might have been, involving a bit of trial hopping and then almost overshooting to land upended on the other side.

Whilst Cotton and Daniels talked, James let his thoughts roam out with Janey's soft and sometimes lupine gait - the quick slinking dash along wall and fence, a swerve not to dip down to the creek, not yet in need of water, only running...

---

Later, with the heat beginning to climb the sky. The horses trod carefully, patient under their burdens and wary of snakes.

The bush was patchy here: scrub, sandstone heath and trees just twice the height of the riders, the soil flaky or gone to sand in an old wash where snakes left their traces signatured in a script of moving muscle. Lorikeets kept appearing, curious about the horses and bright as bunting, forced to flock in search of water. James had chanced things a little but come up lucky - he'd found Janey's trail where he had thought he might hit it, but following it winding upwards he found she had not headed for her fortress at the point that broader clearings and drifts of flannelflower might have calmed her enough to consider that.

Instead, she'd curved off, moving with purpose, and threaded upslope through trees that stretched higher and darker, ringing with cicadas. The horses picked their way, but began to shift and blow out breath, asking one another for reassurance. At a clearing below an outcrop of high, jutting rock, Mulberry made an uncertain noise and backed two paces without any of Henry's say-so. Her nervousness affected the other horses, causing Tom's mount to give a sharp snort and Kaiser to tense.


[[may I have some Spot Hiddens, please?]]

Not being the best horseman, Thomas was more worried about falling off than looking around the area.  When his horse suddenly made a snorting sound, this caused Thomas to pay more attention to his soundings and look around to see what the commotion might be caused by.

[07:47, Today: Thomas Daniels rolled 42 using 1d100.  Spot Hidden. (75)]

Mulberry Henry mused. Let's see if we can make this work.
After a few awkwardly failed attempts he mounted, before spending the next few hours wary of every stick or shadow on the ground that even half looked like it might be a snake. Eventually though he settled into the rhythm of the ride, trusting his mount's calm senses and getting to know his new companions better.

At the outcrop the view widened and the knotted dry branches retreated from the trail as Mulberry snorted. "Whoa there!". Henry gripped the reigns off balance as she baulked before steadying. "What's up girl?". The lad leaned forward to see if he could detect whatever had spooked her.

[10:22, Today: Henry Cotton rolled 12 using 1d100. Spot Hidden (75)]

James seemed to be lost in his thoughts as the expanse of the bush began to pen up before them. Under the shade of his hat beads of sweat welled up and diffused through the stubble on his face before soaking into the collar of his shirt.

Where his thoughts wandered to, it was hard to say, but his attention was not on the trail at that moment.

16:44, Fri 07 Feb: James Gill rolled 64 using 1d100.  Spot Hidden 40.

Henry's question was answered by a sudden clapping of black wings rather than Mulberry herself, though the latter beast did flinch from the movement. Tom's mount, level-headed once the "threat" was in sight, downgraded her snort of alarm to a hard and wary huff, though she would clearly need some encouragement to move onward.

The bird perched in a nearby tree to observe them with one silver eye, slimmer than specimens James had been taught to call "Arthur's birds" back home yet easily larger than the crows the other two were familiar with in central England. Like and unlike to what was known, its beak was sticky-red with delvings in carrion.

As Mulberry shifted her weight, sidestepping on the dusty ground, Henry lifted himself up in his stirrups to peer East.
What is that? The black clad ‘Arthur’ perched blinking on its branch, cocking its head to glare spitefully at the trio of riders that had disturbed its carrion feast. Beyond it lay ...

”I think I see something.”.
Cautiously Henry urged Mulberry forward and raised an arm to help the others see. There in the brush was a wad of something. He peered closer, was it a dead animal? Or bundle of something else?

A moment later his hungry eyes lit up again in excitement. ”Janey’s been here!”. This time he hadn’t seen a mysterious ‘something’. “There, look. A footprint. And another.”. Sliding from the vantage of Mulberry’s shoulder the lad moved to pick out the trail he’d seen on foot.

Barefoot, wheeling to the left of the clearing first then cutting back across...
Why the detour?


[[GM edit: skittish hoss, not 'get on with it!' hoss.]]
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:18, Tue 11 Feb 2020.

"WAW," the raven told the riders, like and unlike its kin from the top of the world. Mulberry was not keen to approach anything dead, staying lock-limbed and wary where she was left when Henry dismounted.

On foot, he could better investigate the source of meat, though a faceful of flies intervened somewhat. The cicadas sizzled elsewhere, loud but none of them settled on trees around the clearing itself or the rocks above.

Henry grimaced as he swatted away flies. He could almost feel their buzzing on his skin as he moved closer to the bundles of ‘meat’, frowning distastefully before backing away.
”Wierd. Are these...bait for something?”. The lad glanced back toward his more experienced friends, quizzical. ”Someone has wrapped meat or something in cloth...seems a waste to me...it’s got the ravens pecking though.”. He paused to glance again; if they hadn’t been so sickly he might have tried opening one but the weeping flesh torn out by the raven was far from appetising. And he was sure there was something slithering in the undergrowth.

Seeing no reason to prod the grim findings or their sickly stench further he gestured toward Janey’s loping tracks.
”Looks like she headed that way. Bare foot-we can’t be that far behind.”.

Henry strode back toward Mulberry, giving her another pat...surprised that he found it more comforting for himself than her.

James peered at the bundles from his saddle, bent over slightly at the waist before he let out a long sigh and dismounted slowly.  He hitched Kaiser to the nearest tree, the knot mostly cosmetic, as the horse could break free without injury should it truly need to get away for any reason.

"Not like the locals to leave meat out likes this..." he mused as he walked up to more closely examine the unusual mess. He broke off a nearby stick and went to go poking around, his expression serious, as if it were something that he were obligated top do rather than something he was truly curious about.

They were still close to home, and if there was any strangeness about, he figured he owed it to the Cleary's to look into things.

Seeing the path of what could only be described as "reddish stuff" Thomas pointed it out at about the same time that Henry pointed out the bundles of meat.  Dismounting with the others, Thomas makes his way over checking the surrounding areas for any other clues as to what might have happened here.

Looking over and seeing Henry investigating the bag, Thomas states "Be careful young Henry, you never know what might be lurking in those bags." After both James and Henry took turns poking the bag, Thomas stands by and waits for an explanation from the others.