Setting: Road to Tolemac
A wide, obviously well travelled road. Many carriage and horse tracks are imprinted in the road, leading both to and from the city of Tolemac. Overlooking the road is a tall cliff, about 15 meters up, creating a good ambush site as various boulders and rocks lean over the edge. A few worn paths go up the face of the cliffs, but they don't appear to be too reliable. To the north you can see the small town of Tolemac, the inn much more visisble as it is built on top of a hill.

Marla turns her head to Mirla and while she weaves some hairtresses out of her face she asks drily amused, "bandit? I hope he's the only one we see on this trip." After this she spurs her horse to the front and there the caravern starts moving.

Mirla shrugs. "Hey. There's a story behind it."

The man known as Bandrin bellows orders and four pairs of armed riders leave the caravan in different directions.

Odessa arches a brow, watching the armed riders with an amused eye. "What's going on?"

Nageki steps along at the pace of the wagons, keeping his rider at teh front of the formation with Marla and Mirla. He glances about himself to ensure everyone is beginning to move out.

Dolvin approaches from behind the caravan, slowly approaching. "Hail, fellow travellers. Have ye room fer one more in your party, since I do be going the same way as you?"

Marla turns her horse back to go to Mirla, "Tell me all about it." she demands laughing.

Mirla smirks at Marla. "Alright. So. There I was, headin' ta Cairhien, when three bandits jump outta tha bushes and attack my wagon."

But we a Odessa's yellow gaze turns to fall on Dolvin, and she nods to the man from her perch atop the Entertainers' Wagon. "Sure, we've space I think." She ducks her head to peer inside the wagon below her, her hair tumbling downward as she looks topsy-turvey at the other performers. "Any objections?"

A well armed and mounted warrior near the back of the caravan, which hasn't begun moving quite yet addresses Dolvin, "If you can find a wagon to take ya aboard then aye. But we are not moving at walking pace."

The outriders have moved to a good distance from the caravan, going out of sight now and then as they move behind a hill or small stand of trees.

Marla directs her eyes to the guards and shrugs, thinking they can handle themselves and she has other things to think of, it seems some merchants are in an arguement and smiling to Mirla, Marla asks, "Shall we go over there while you tell me your story, it sounds like a good one."

Mirla grins. "Sure." She heads off with Marla. "So anyway. There I was, just me, my horse, and my porceline."

Dolvin makes his way to the Entertainers' Wagon. "Thank 'e ma'am" He climbs up into the wagon before it pulls away.

Thanos keeps his position near the front of the group, and Bandrin rides up closer to him to speak on other matters.

Mirla says "And the first bloody thing they do is shoot my flamin' horse!"

By the cheers and loud whistles from within the Entertainer's wagon, one might almost think the exuberant performers were stripping their new guest for a show of their own. But no, the music starts up again, laughter heard within.

Marla turns her head to Mirla and her face shows offendness, "That is, that is...horrible." she exclaims and shakes her head unbelievable.

Thanos and Bandrin nod to one another and each glances about the caravan behind them to be sure order is kept, more or less.

Atop the one loud wagon in the caravan, Odessa begins to play her little harp to the tune of the music played inside. Her legs hang off the edge of the wagon, swinging as it lurches over bumps in the road.

Mirla smirks and says, "Well, I'll tell ya. Fightin' them off was a hard battle. One I killed, one ran away, and one I had my knife to his throat and had him disarmed, and I yelled, "Blood and ashes! You killed my horse!"

Dolvin makes his way toward the front of the wagon, and watches the horses before him carefully. He appears to be uneasy with riding in a wagon.

"SO anyway," Mirla says, "I picked him up by the scruff of his shirt, hitched /him/ to my wagon, and had /him/ drag me all the way ta Cairhien.Course, when I got there I bought a new horse. ANd named him Bandit."

A pair of outriders approaches Thanos and Bandrin at a fast gallop. They speak quickly to the pair and wait.

Thanos and Bandrin point to the direction the outriders came from and all four armed horsemen gallop off in that direction after a quick look about the caravan.

Dolvin watches the riders leave, studying them perhaps.

Mirla glances at Dolvar.

Marla nods admiringly to Mirla yet also worried, "I canunderstand why you did do such a thing but..." seh shrugs and goes over to the men argueing, "Allright, what is going on here?"

Mirla chuckles to herself.

The music atop the wagon slows and stops as Odessa's attention is taken by the riders hurrying off, her gaze on the rider of the black horse.

Dolvin seems thoroughly uncomfortable on the wagon, and he frowns slightly as his gaze returns to the immediate. He looks distrustfully at the horses pulling the wagon.

Mirla looks around, "I have a bad feeling about this," she mutters.

Jals, the wollmerchant shrugs, "Guildmaster, Talj here doesn't want to admit that we were together in this and thus we will share our profits together and..." Talj breaks in, "He only brings in that small amount of wool while I am taking care of the wagons as well." Sighing Marla closes her eyes and begins to explain to them that they should share indeed but only ont he percentage.

"Oh fer cryin' out loud." Mirla mutters.

Thanos and the Bandrin gallop at a relaxed pace back to the head of the caravan, a few near to them can hear them discussing wolves.

The word 'Wolves' spreads quickly through the caravan

Odessa cocks her head to one side, the wind bringing her the muttered words. "Is there a problem? We may keep travelling, yes?"

Mirla says "As long as the bloody wolves don't bloody well bother us, I don't see that we should flaming well be worried about 'em."

Bandrin and Thanos speak between themselves, unconcerned.

Odessa's brows furrow as she studies Mirla, and she ducks to tuck the harp back inside the wagon doors. "Wolves don't just 'bother' people," she mutters bluntly, just loud enough for the woman to hear. "Anyone who thinks they do is a fool."

Marla turns her head and she smiles widely, having always liked wild animals, "Wolves are the animals who like their children the most." she tells the merchants and she smiles to Jals, "What about you cooling down a bit and go riding on the horses?"

A pair of guards riding near to the Entertainer's wagon shrug to one another and appear to look at the local terrain.

Mirla snorts at the woman. "Okay. Lemme bloody well rephrase fer ya. AS long as tha bloody flamin' wolves don't bloody well run into our pig-kissin' caravan and start rippin' folks limb from limb, then I don't give a Shadowspawns flamin' bloody seta small clothes about 'em. Better?"

Dolvin grins at the colorful language.

Severan has arrived.

Even the front of the caravan hears that outburst.

Thanos and Bandrin look back with hooked eyebrows.

Odessa's ringing laugh sounds from atop the wagon, her gaze going to the forest before she responds. "You've been listening to too many children's stories," is all she tells her.

Mirla grumbles, "Oh fer the love a tha Creator's backside."

Severan chuckles from atop the opposite seat of the wagon. "What's wrong with children's stories?"

Odessa sprawls along the top of the wagon, cocking her head to grin at the Guildmaster. "Nothing, if one realizes they're only stories."

Severan smirks, glancing back at Odessa. "Not always."

You hear one of the guards mention to another about how much Odessa looks like a cat, sprawled out on the wagon like that.

Jals declines Marla's offer, guessing it's safer to stay here and thus Marla sweeaps her hairs around her face and goes over to the entertainer's car. Suddenly she jerks her head aside on what a guard says softly, "O really? Well...I can asure you that a cat is known for other things then that." she says sweetly, awfully sweetly.

Severan glances towards Marla as she nears, chuckling at what he knows the guard's comment must have been.

About you, as you ride, Dolvin, somewhat discreetly, glances ahead at Thanos. When Marla nears the entertaine rs' wagon, Dolvin shifts his attention to her.

The guard looks at Marla, stunned a moment and then blushes profusely while the other guard near him laughs hard at his friend's predicament.

Another pair of outriders gallops toward the head of the column, stoping and having words with their leader.

Thanos speaks to the soldiers a moment and the pair speeds off to the west again where they had come from.

Marla shrugs the guard's laughter off as she feels someone else eyes on her rather scare clothed body and her black eyes flinch an inquiring glance at Dolvin as she directs her horse over to his.

Dolvin glares at Marla as she approaches him....He mutters something about looking for something he dropped and makes his way back inside the wagon he is riding

Mirla listens to the conversation around her. She notes a raven in the cliffs as her wagon passes it and growls a few curses.

Odessa's gaze lingers on the treeline near the road, her gaze absent for a few long moments. She blinks, startled as Dolvin moves past her to re-enter the wagon. Amazingly enough, that same cheer erupts from the performers within as he climbs in. What exactly does Dolvin show them each time he does that?

Dolvin shouts angredly from inside the wagon, silencing the other performers.

Mirla mutters, "What in tha name a tha blessed Light is goin' on in /there/?"

Marla sighs and is indignant as the man decides to leave her alone and hearing the chearing she becomes even more depressed but not for long. She goes over to the entertainer's wagon as well and her eyes take in Odessa, "May I sit next to you for a change? I like my horse but I am a bit tired."

Mirla demands, "Hey, it's gettin' late. Are we gonna camp any time within' this millenium, or are we just gonna truck on until we stagger inta tha lands a Wisdoms and sheep?"

The acrobat seated atop the wagon nods down to Marla, scooting over to offer her a seat. "Sure." She arches a brow at the One With The Attitude, shrugging.

The One with the Attitude pulls Bandit to a stop.

Marla rises and goes standing on Donja's back balancing quickly before quickly jumping on the entertainer's wagon, from the look of it it seems Marla has chosen the wrong guild. "Thanks." she says merrily to Odessa and seats herself crosslegged on the sillow streaking some hairs out of her face.

Thanos sighs and turns his ride about, approaching Marla, "It /is/ getting late, the sun will soon be down and we should have a secure camp before then."

The look Odessa casts Marla is nothing short of surprised. "Where'd you learn to do that?"

Marla blsushes on Odessa's question and quickly goes over to Thanos, "I know...I think over there at that hill might be a good place."

Thanos follows Marla's eyes to the nearby roundtop hill, he observes it for a short time before saying anything.

Mirla drops lightly off her wagon.

Thanos finally nods, "Alright then." He then sits up in his saddle and bellows to his men, "Alright lads, secure the roundtop there, and be quick about it!"

Dolvin returns from the wagon looking not very happy at all. He grumbles something.

Odessa casts Dolvin an amused glance. "Why so glum? None of the dancers propositioned you, did they?"

Marla drops down from the wagon and runs to the edges of the forest, to the small river which goes through the cabin and there she begins to walk and run throgh it, the guards aren't that far yet and Marla is a bit off the road now.

Dolvin glares at Odessa and ignores her.

Dolvin watches Marla go and suddenly darts off after her.

Severan watches Marla and Dolvin leave, a curious look in his eyes. He shrugs, turning to Odessa. "So, how are the Apprentices?"

Dolvin glances behind him at Thanos as he runs. He pulls his sword and unmistakably rushes at Marla.

Thanos and his men are somewhat occupied in setting up a secure camp zone, not taking much notice towards the woods or Marla.

Severan's eyes widen as he watches Dolvin pull his sword. His voice carries across the open space. "Marla! Behind you!"

Dolvin encounters Marla and whispers something fiercely at her. He roughly takes grips her arm and drags her into the woods.

Thanos and several of his men turn quickly from their tasks to watch Dolvin disappear into the woods, two mount their horses and follow Thanos, racing into the woods themselves!

Mirla just keeps running into the woods.

[Scene change to:]

Occupants: Dolvin, Marla, Mirla, Thanos, Lightstorm(wolf) present.
Forest: Tolemac
A lush, dense forest of coniferous and some scattered deciduous trees. A few narrow paths stretch through the forest, disappearing occasionally in the underbrush, but reapearing distinguished by the pattern of stones along the path. Tall trees shoot up for about twenty meters, branches reaching up for the sunlight. A few bushes and shorted plants grow on the floor of the forest. Several small animals who inhabit the forest move about, not noticingyou. Bright yellow sunlight streams down through the forest canopy, sparkling brilliantly off of the bright green flora below, creating a dazzling effect. A small river runs through the centre of the forest, with the dull splash of water signaling a waterfall off in the far distance. Several small fish swim lazily through the slow moving current. To the north is a small cavern entrance, hidden in deep underbrush. A small sign hangs over it, reading:
NO ADMITTENCE.
NOT EVEN TO AUTHORIZED PERSONEL.
GO AWAY.
YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME HERE.

A Black Stallion arrives carrying Thanos.

Marla yells, "Let me go, let me goooo!"

Mirla yells, "Let the kid go!"

Thanos and two armed warriors race into the woods, searching about for the source of Marla and Mirla's shouts

Lightstorm is barely visible in the thicket, the yellow eyes of the pack behind him.

Dolvin continues to rush through the woods. Obviously unhappy with Marla's pace, he lifts her up and carries her on his shoulder.

Mirla picks up her pace, continuing to run forward, though she's loosion g sight of them rapidly.

Dolvin sees possible cover in the cavern and quicky (unnoticeably?) ducks inside.

Mirla swears as she whirls around a few times, "Burn it. Blood and bloody flaming...I've lost 'em, Handsome!" she calls to THanos.

Lightstorm lingers at the cavern entrance, sniffing the ground. His ears prick towards the direction of the caravan inquiringly.

Dolvin dissapears into a dense cluster of trees, going into the small cave entrance.

Nageki leaps over a bush and lands with suprising grace before Mirla, it's scowling rider looking about and then looking at Mirla, "Where did they go?"

"If I knew that," Mirla says, "I wouldn't be standin' there with my finger up my nose talkin' ta you."

Thanos issues a growl worthy of a wolf, his eyes searching the area, "Well then where were they headed when you last saw??"

Thanos looks down at Mirla with an angry stare, though you are certain it isn't Mirla he is angry with, "You'd better get back to the camp....my men and I will find Marla and that flaming kidnapper."

Mirla indicates a direction and says, "I'll go back an' inform 'em."

Thanos and his two men conduct an extensive search of the area, failing to find anything that may lead them to Marla and her kidnapper.

[Scene changes back to the Road to Tolemac]

Thanos, along with two of his men move slowly back towards teh camp area, none look happy, espeically Thanos himself who appears to be downright furious.

Bishop reigns his horse round and moves back towards Mirla's waggon. his expression curiouse.

Bishop climbs down off his horse and proceeds to get up into Mirla's waggon

Bishop steps into Mirla's Wagon.

Thanos and his two fellows get closer to the camp, and he is met by others, he passes words to them and a few other warriors, 5 in all ride their horses into the forest while Thanos and the others dismount.

Odessa holds her head in her hands, her eyes squeezed shut. "Said... said he smelled like... sewage." Brows furrowed, she rubs at her head, then scrambles into the entertainer's wagon. "Don't want to hear any more of it," she mutters, barely audible.

Thanos looks ready to kill.

Severan looks to Thanos as he enters, questions in his eyes. However, he turns and follows Odessa into the entertainers' wagon.

Thanos and several of his men, Bandrin included, share heated words, although they are too far away for you to hear clearly what they are saying.

Some memebers of the caravan begin to prepare dinner, starting fires although there is a marked lack of conversation throught the camp, with exception to Thanos arguing heatedly with some of his men.

Bishop steps out of Mirla's wagon.

Bishop hops down out of Mirla's wagon and immediately climbs back up onto his horse which he reigns around and proceeds to ride off

Thanos's eyes spy Bishop riding away and with a barked order two armed men mount their horses and speed off after him.

[Scene changes to the Entertainers Wagon]

Meanwhile, inside the wagon, Odessa is trying to block the wolves' voices out of her head. She folds herself onto a bench, rocking a bit.

Severan enters.

Severan gives you a concerned look. "Like sewage... Alright..." The confusion in his eyes seeps through the rest of the emotions. "Who says 'he' smells like that, Dess? It's alright, you can tell me..." His voice is soft and comforting.

Odessa crouches on a bench, away from the rest of the entertainers. "The wolves, Sev. They're frantic." She squeezes her eyes shut again, what could be a snarl momentarily occupying her features.

Severan kneels beside Odessa where she crouches on a bench. He glances towards Thanos and his men for a moment, then turns back to Dess. "The wolves... is it about Marla?"

Odessa nods, her eyes still squeezed shut. "Yes... They've been following us. He passed right by them. Picked her up, I think." She grimaces, planting her head in her hands. "I don't want to know more. They're confusing now, so many."

Severan nods, placing a hand on your shoulder. "Is there any way to tell them to calm down?"

Odessa shakes her head, her voice almost a moan. "I don't know. I've only known Lightstorm and Wintersun until now..." Something might click in your mind as to where those missing beasts of Sarlin went now. "They -hate- him so much, Sev. It's overwhelming, I've never felt anything like that. They... they know where he is, I'm sure, but I can't... I can't bear them now."

Severan studies you for a moment. "Odessa, were you the one-" He cuts the question off short; this is no time to ask it. "They know where he is? Maybe..." He trails off, unable to ask such a thing. He sighs and chuckles softly. "Is there anything I can get you? Tea, or just a glass of water?"

Odessa nods, one hand reaching up to rub absently at her eyes. "I'm tired, Sev. I don't know what to do. I'm so new at this, not like Saralae..." She scowls then, sighing.

Severan fetches Odessa a glass of water, but when he returns, she has fallen into a restless, exhausted sleep.