Snippet #2817543

Yuwen's lowered his twin swords as whispers grew across the crowd. But soon, voices rose up.

"I'M A GREAT WARRIOR!" Another voice exclaimed. Yuwen swung his heads to see a peasantly man run forward, a chain rattling behind him. Yuwen rose an eyebrow before leaning his head to the side. Dragged behind the urine farmer, attached at the wrist by chain, was a woman dressed as a noble. Dark hair, pale skin. There was something about her eyes... something familiar, something sad. "She's also a great warrior," The man added, pulling the woman forward "You don't want to mess with her!"

"Then I will need your skills," Yuwen said with a warm laugh, giving a graceful bow to Namari and Shui.

"You will also need speed," Yuwen squinted as the crowd parted for the woman to step forward: the rabbit beast-man from earlier. Whispers of concern and of uncertainty swept across the square as she joined the two at the base of the stage. "For the safety of others, I will aid in this endeavour. There are very few who can outrun me after all."

"Then I will need your speed," Yuwen replied, giving Lo-Muna an affirmative nod and a grateful smile.

From the crowd a monkey beast-man walked, a bow swaying as he approached the stage. "Well, there are none more heroic than I, The Noble Shaming Arrow of Flaming Lae Ming Wae!" The beast-man called. A smile grew on Yuwen's tiny freckled face. He'd seen this man before, not in person, but on wanted posters since he'd returned to the Yutan mainland. And though the crowd backed away in shock, this was exactly the type of man Yuwen needed.

"Then I will need your bow," Yuwen said, reaching out and clasping Takai's furry hand in his. He pulled the beast-man onto the stage

"GET OUT OF HERE, SCUM!" A voice screamed from the crowd as the nimble beast-man beside him ducked an incoming rock. Yuwen turned in shock to see the crowd begin to form an upset. "WE DON'T NEED HELP FROM THE FLAMING ARROW!" "Yeah! Screw the monkeys!" Another voice added loudly as the crowd began to form in an angry, frightened mass of yelling.