Stripedneck's Story

Stripedneck:
Quickfeet sent me the news today. I will be receiving my first slave soon! I plan to keep this "T-15" in prime condition, so one day she can breed with a fine male slave (I already have one in mind, QW-2.) and give birth to babies I can sell. I am already on my way to becoming the pronghorn that I am destined to be: rich and powerful.
I hear stomping outside my dug-out. "Will you shut up!" I holler. "It's the middle of the night!" "Hey, it's only me," comes the reply. Instantly my heart beats faster. I know that voice. It's Smallhoof! My ears glow with embarrassment. I quickly throw on a robe and am out the entrance in a matter of seconds. "Hi Smallhoof," I pant. I knead the ground. Why is she here? Quickly my mind wanders. What if.....? What other reason would she visit me this late? Her voice snaps me back to the present. "Something has gone wrong with the shipment of T-15," she states. I try to hide my disappointment. "What?" I say. "We don't know," she goes on. "We haven't had any contact with the Dynas yet. We think it's Beetlestealer at work." Beetlestealer is an unknown poacher who sometimes messes up slave trade. We don't know who it is, but we suspect it's a Herring. Those "balanced" freaks, always butting their nose in where they don't belong. How dare Beetlestealer mess up my destiny? "I'll get them," I vowed.

Vyjallen:
I am meeting with T-15 again. She seems happier, and the news that I have created a diversion, a fake "Wanderer attack" to slow communications brightens her, but we both realize it's a matter of time until she is found.

Vyjallen:
The Dynastinae is furious! They can't find T-15 obviously, and suddenly they have reported finding "Beetlestealer" scales all around camp! It's throwing them through a loop, they think T-15 was taken by Beetlestealer. I found some scales where T-15 is hiding as well! The Dynastinae was visited by a very angry pronghorn today, demanding T-15. He is named Stripedneck, and T-15 was going to be his slave. I have to do something! I go to visit T-15.
"No!" she gasps. "You can't! I wouldn't wish that on anyone!"
"I must," I say. "You are in no condition to work! I have to do it for you. If no one goes then Stripedneck will come back. You could get discovered! The Dynastinae won't care who goes. Let me do this for you!"
"Wait! What if the Beetlestealer gets me? I saw scales..."
"Yes," I say slowly. "I did too, but I have a theory." My voice drops. "Beetlestealer always steals the weakest slaves. What would someone working them want with that?" I pause. I don't want her to think I've gone crazy. "I think Beetlestealer is trying to SAVE the slaves!"
T-15 gasps. "Why would he do that?" "The same thing that drives me to help you," I reply. "We don't like seeing suffering."
I leave later that night. I walk slowly so my steps aren't heard. I pass a sleeping older Dynastinae member and I jump as he twitches. But he lies still and I continue on. I make it to Pronghorn territory by sun-up. I don't know where Stripedneck is so I decide to wait here. After a while a pronghorn comes by on his way to the Dynastinae. I didn't realized I had dozed off, but I must have because the next thing I remember is waking up to see a pronghorn standing over me. "This girl was found in the woods," I hear a voice say. "Yes," a deeper voice replies. "We should take this to the holding pen." I try to keep myself from boiling. "This!"
They speak of me as if I'm trash! I know this is the way slaves are treated, but I've never experienced it for myself.
I struggle to stand. "I am a slave. I am T-15," I recite clearly. "I belong to Stripedneck. The Dynastinae apologizes for the delay." The bigger pronghorn chuckles. "Stripedneck? Sorry you got stuck with him, kid." "Don't worry," the smaller one says. "I'm sure he'll be to busy bragging to work you too hard." I blink. I thought Stripedneck was rich and respected...huh. "Well, come on then," the older one says. "He reaches for my arm and pulls me up. "It's not far."
I get to the den in short time with the pronghorns helping me. I think I could like them, they aren't terrible like the ones who drag their slaves away spitting and screaming. "Ah," says Stripedneck. "Finally. I was thinking the Beetlestealer had gotten you." I stifle a grin. If my theory is correct, I hope the Beetlestealer really has gotten T-15.

Starheart:

Today i am going to spy on a pronghorn named Stripeneck. He is being followed by a rhino beetle slave. The slave looks uncomfortable with Stripedneck. That's strange. Usually slaves are comfortable with being ordered around, but this one isn't. When the slave lags behind, I slip up to talk to her.
"You're not trained to be a slave, are you?"
The slave looked shocked for a moment then said,
"What are you speaking of, Madam. I am a slave and I need to get back to Master. Goodbye."
"That's just what i'm talking about. Slaves don't say goodbye."
"They don't? Please dont tell anyone!"
"Don't worry, I won't. Bye!"

Starheart:

I'm fairly certain that that "slave" of Stripeneck's is the missing Dynastinae rhino beetle. Then that would mean that her name is Vyjallen. Then what about the real T-15? I think that i'll ask Vyjallen about T-15 and where it is right now. I head over to the pronghorn nation to spy on Stipeneck and Vyjallen. I spot Stripeneck's dug-out and it looks like he is there. I peer in without Stipeneck spotting me and see Vyjallen cooking. Stripeneck doesn't appear to be around. I slip in and Vyjallen turnes around and says,
"W-What are you doing here!"
"I'm here to ask you a few questions. Where is T-15? What have you done with her?"
"I-I don't know where she is."
"How can you not know where she is! If you don't know where she is, how are you here instead of her?!?"
"Well, I saved her, but then I left. I don't know where she is now..."
"I have another question for you. Are you the Beetlestealer?"
"No. T-15's the first slave I've helped. I have no idea whose been stealing those other slaves."
Suddenly I hear a loud voice say,
"Who are you!?! Leave T-15 alone!"
I turn around. It's Stripedneck!!! I dash out and run as far as I can. I hide in the bushes and look for Stripeneck. I don't see him. I'm safe. I climb out of the bushes and start on my way home. Suddenly, someone grabs me! I try to get away, but he was too strong.
"Why were you speaking with my slave! Leave her alone you slimy herring!"
He threw me down on the ground and started jogging back to the pronghorn nation. I HAVE to find out more about this Beetlestealer.

I am working for Stripeneck, or "Master" now. He isn't working me so hard yet, I am only cooking. Yesterday a Herring came by. She knew about T-15 and that I wasn't her. She asked me all kinds of questions. I didn't know what to do so I just told the truth.
The Herring seems to be harmless, though she asked me all kinds of weird questions about the "Beetlestealer".
"T-15!" I hear a voice call. It's Stripedneck. "Yes?" I answer back. "Master?" It's hard getting used to the slave life. "I need you to run a message for me to the grand palace. Tell them it's from Stripedneck if they say they're to busy." He hands me a sealed envelope. "Don't read it," he warns. "I won't," I promise. "well, hurry up then!" he shouts. I scurry out the door. It's really tempting to red it, but I don't want to get into trouble. It's a long way to the grand palace on my legs. Rhino beetles aren't made for long distance travel. I'm sure the Pronghorns have no trouble. Knowing them, it's probably designed this way so slaves can't talk to each other easily. When I finally reach what is probably the grand palace, there is a large crowd around it. Wanting to see what is going on, I slowly weave through the crowd. I accidentally brush one of my wings against a pronghorn woman. She looks like one of the richest, due to her horn jewelry. "Ah!" she screams. "Watch where you're going, filth!" Oh boy. Slowly the crowd backs up around me until I am the center of the crowd. I can here murmurs starting. Oh boy, again. I hate being stared at. Slowly a large looking male pushes his way through the crowd. "Well well well," he drawls. "What do we have here?" I stammer,"I-I'm Stripedneck's slave! I have a message for the grand leader." I hold up the piece of paper. "Sorry to disappiont you, filth." He says sarcastically. "But I'm busy. So are the rest of the council." Remembering Stripedneck's instructions, I interject: "It's from STRIPEDNECK!" The council bursts out laughing. "Oh yes," the leader says, chuckling. "The great and powerful! Rrrrrrriiiight. Haha! You must be T-15!" Hmm. Obviously I have much to learn about Stripedneck's position in society.
It is afternoon when I find Stripedneck's dug-out again. Remembering how picky he is, I remove my shoes and enter through the slave entrance. "Oh T-15!" he calls. "What did the leader say?" I watch my words, trying to come across as respectful. "He says he is very busy right now with a last minute decision." I made up that last part. Obviously. No pronghorn would tell any slave that much information. "Did you tell them it was from Stripedneck?" "Yes," I respond in a very neutral voice. "He said it was crucial to decide on this now, he will take your message later." He didn't tell me that, either. "Well, ok," Stripedneck responds. "Go to your quarters. You will try again in the morning.
I have a long day of walking ahead of me tomorrow. Exhausted from today's trek, I am asleep before I hit the floor.

It's ok. I'm not mad about her not allowing me to have the rhino beetle. She seems to be in good hands. I am ready to go to Stripedneck and get the beetle. I put a hand on a sword in case there is an issue. I am prepared to meet Stripedneck, with necklaces on my neck. I look overly fancy and concerned with my appearance. How can my sister be like this all the time? I am fighting tiredness (is that a word??) I may not be fit to fight, but I am going to try.

Stripedneck:
((This is in real time with Gwen's post.))

"No," he said, standing his ground. "My slave is nothing but. If you want a slave, you'll have to buy one of your own. And T-15 is not for sale." He crossed his arms. "Now I suggest you get out." Stripedneck expects her to look taken aback, but instead, in one smooth motion, drew a sword and held it to his neck. Stripedneck's mind raced. If he gave in, he'll never be able to live it down. Losing to a peacock! He coul'd imagine anything worse. "Do we have an issue?" the peacock asked, confidence audible in her voice. Stripedneck has no more time for thought. Almost as a reflex, he twisted and backfliped away from the knife. He felt a sharp pain where the knife grazed his neck. "Yes," he growled, reaching for a knife. Blood mingled with the matted fur on his neck. "We do."

Vyjallen:

Vyjallen's mind raced. She heard Stripedneck fighting on the porch and knew that this was an opportunity to escape, the only one that would come in a long time, probably. She didn't know where she'd go. Not back to the Dynastinae. Would she have to be a loner? She shuddered at the thought. She knew that hybrids who wad no control over themselves often lurked there, waiting to attack and eat unfortunate loners. "No," she decided. "My only hope lies with that Peacock." Quick as a Herring, she slipped into the empty tunnel she had made while waiting for Stripedneck to give her orders.

This pronghorn is proving to be difficult. A rhino beetle is motioning towards me and she is definitely trying to tell me something. As I turn back around, Stripedneck lunges towards me with a cooking knife. It seems he doesn't own an actual fighting knife. I try hovering over Stripedneck to throw a spear, I hit the side of his face, leaving a scar that definitely will stay with him for a long time. He won't be affected by that. I can't fly any longer, peacocks aren't meant for too much flying. I'm so tired, too much travelling is taking a toll on my ability to fight this battle. I may have to retreat. I will formulate a plan as soon as I can.

Vyjallen:
After I run into the woods, I wait for Stripedneck to leave, my heart pounding. I decide that I would rather walk in the open plains than in the forest. I had just escaped the Pronghorns, but only Stripedneck knew that. Others may think that I was just a slave taking a message. The Forest was the territory of the Dynastinae. I figured that the Dynastinae, on the other hand, DID know me. They probably even knew about the whole T-15 thing too. No, I thought. "I'd rather run into a Pronghorn." As soon as I saw Stripedneck walk away, looking furious, I waited a few minutes in case he came back, and when he didn't, I headed out. As I was walking, I realized how stupid my plan was. How would I know which peacock I was looking for? How could I be sure that I could even get into the nation? They were the most heavily guarded of all, I knew, and there was little chance that an odd sight such as me, a beetle coming from the plains, would not be stopped. What was I going to say? Though many Peacocks believed that slaves should be treated nicely, they would not want to endanger their nation. The Pronghorns would quite possibly attack the Peacocks if they discovered that they were harboring runaway slaves. And that knowledge was sure to reach the Pronghorns quickly if one herring just happened to be-
I stopped myself. It was no use imagining the worse. Right then I just had to focus on seeming to be innocent, or avoiding Pronghorns all together.
That thought had barely crossed my mind when I heard pronghorn hooves thundering my way. A second later, I heard:
"There she is! T-15! Get her!" As they came into view I realized one of them was the leader's second-in-command. That frightened me. What would he want with one runaway slave? Runaway slaves were usually the owner's problem and no one else's.
I feel rough hands grab me. "So I see Stripedneck pulled a few strings, huh?" a voice hisses. I smell something strong and sweet before I fall to the floor.

((Get ready for more impossible stunts in the next post! :) oh the suspense...))

((But you said I could kill him! sigh.))
"Are you insane?!" Vyjallen went upstairs, and brings down an escaped dynastinae member. Not only that, but he is her brother. But wait, it gets better. She ASKED HIM TO COME WITH US. "Look, Vyjallen, I know he's your brother, but I have even less likelihood of getting in to the nation with three bugs, forget an audience with the Leader!" Vyjallen scowls at me.
"You brought me with you, didn't you? Regardless of the fact that I have little fighting skill and i'm a wanted beetle in the area." She stands up. "And besides. How were you planning on getting in with two beetles?"
Sina looks at me, then Vyjallen, then Vyjaxmen, then me again. "Actually, I had an idea about that." Vyjallen and I look at her. "You see, if the Pronghorns are trying to enslave everyone, then don't you think that three escaped beetles would be a good excuse to get to talk to the leader? Arrianonna pretends to be a supporter of the Pronghorn cause, and asks" at this she throws a look at me "politely, if she can see the leader to give these insects to him. We get a private audience with the leader, Arria kills him, we fight our way out. Relatively simple, really." By this point, I know my mouth has dropped open, and with a quick look around, so has Vyjallen's. Vyjaxmen just nods slowly.
"That just might work. But we are going to need different clothes." He leads Sina and Vyjallen upstairs, and hands them some standard issue girl's slave outfits, drab browns and greens. They go into different rooms, and I deal with my own appearance. I look into a mirror, and see that I have acquired a scar running from the corner of my only good eye to my cheekbone. That isn't really a problem, but the eyepatch might be. No, I won't tell you how I lost my eye. You don't want to know, trust me. I pull a hair brush out of my bag, and cover the patch. Some red dye puts designs on my fur, and a skirt goes on over my leggings. Not much I can do about the bow, but I guess that its okay. Vyjallen comes down, looking different, but still Vyjalleny. She looks at me in surprise.
"Well, you look different. Whats up with the tattoos?" I stifle a laugh.
"I don't particularly want to look like me when I kill the man in charge of the entire pronghorn nation, especially when the me in question has expressed an intense dislike of slavery. Would you?" I look her up and down. And you need a number and some makeup. Vyjallen was dropped off at the fox tribe a week ago, and she is still there. You however, are-" she cuts me off.
"I'm T-15, obviously. I mean, ma'am." She grins at me. "My brother is H-27, and my sister is M-32. And you caught us when we tried to steal your horse, remember? You want to take this situation to the leader, as you have been informed that we are runaways of highly ranked officers in the pronghorn army. You want to know why they have been so irresponsible. You refuse to talk to anyone lower rank."
For the second time today, my mouth drops open. she leans over and whispers something to me. "And in reality, I think Sina has a crush on my brother." I shrug and then look at Vyjallen's face.
"You need a serious disguise, my friend. Your brother is fine but your sister also needs to look different. Go get her, please."
She walks upstairs, and I review what she just said. "Vix help me." I mutter. If this works, it'll be a miracle.

Stripedneck:
I am just walking outside when I hear the alarm. I neigh in shock and drop my book, which I was about to return. I grab my meeting wear and race out the door to my dugout, other pronghorns streaming out of their houses and onto the road. Everyone walks at a slow pace at first, but then the running starts. Even though us pronghorns can run over most of the grassy territory in our home, we choose to keep to roads, and have races whenever there is a nation meeting. Our sector is one of the farthest from the council area, and as we near the council pavilion I see with disapointment that we are one of the last groups to arrive. We thunder into the clearing and take our spot near the back. I crane my neck to be able to see. The leader steps out onto the stage and the crowd erupts in clapping. As it dies down the leader begins the ritual calling, calling every council member to join him on the stage. When Raggedhorn, the council member from our district, is called, I try to cheer as loudly as possible to make up for us being the smallest district.
The leader and council members wait for the cheers to die down before the leader speaks. "We have some grave news. I will let the council members explain."
The first council member steps up with a smug look on his face. I curl my hand into a fist. He is Foggystare, the council member from the largest district, and my district's personal enemy. He speaks.
"Our slave house has been broken into. We searched thoroughly but could not find any of the attackers."
The cycle continues, each council member stepping up in his turn to deliver the same news. At last the leader speaks.
"We are in a time of trial. We were finally strong enough to take the rest of our forest back from the other nations, and we are still strong enough. But we have made ourselves new enemies, and we can expect no help from the Dynastinae, or what is left of it. But there is something we can do. I have spoken to Snowytail, the high priest of Rhuit, and this is what he has told us.
In this time of peril, two will rise who will lead us to great things. Yes, the time has come to find the two new chosen ones! We will hold a race at dawn tomorrow. fights will be held at noon. Everyone must compete."
The crowd breaks out in murmurs, and the former Chosens on the balcony glance at each other, probably remembering their own competitions. Everytime there is a trying time, two new Chosens are selected, the best at running and the best at fighting. They are consulted, and every word they say is revered. Adrendiline surges through me.
I want to be a Chosen!

((This is Katherinana's post but she can't go on RPG))

Well, that was the most fun I have ever had. Sure, it involved a lot of violence, and a few lovely new scars, but that was still a lot of fun.
This morning, some time before dawn (2? 3? I don't know. No watch.), I rode my horse into the pronghorn territory with Vyjallen, Sina, and Vyjaxmen walking behind me, hands tied. As soon as I'm in, somebody tries to stop me.
"Halt!" A pronghorn runs in front of me and holds up his hands. "Did you even look at the sign?" He points to a piece of wood nailed to a tree near the tree line. I snort.
"I need to talk to your leader. Get out of the way." He stares at me.
"You want to see the leader? You can't. he is busy with the races. Who are you, anyway?" I sigh, and nod to Sina. I mean, M-32. She slips her hands out of the loose knot, and quietly walks over to the pronghorn. He looks at her, and she calmly punches him in the face. He shakes his head in confusion, and while he is distracted, Sina (M-32) pulls out her knife.
"You will let us pass. You will go away right now, you will not come back and you will not tell anyone what happened." Her voice takes on a sharper tone. "If you do, you better pray to Rhuit that you don't get anything worse than a missing eye." His eyes went very wide, and he turned tail and ran, clutching his nose. Sina picked up the rope and slid her hands back into it. She looks at me.
"Being around you is something like a crash course in Intimidation 101. Shall we go?" I scowl at her, and we get to the City in about an hour.
Its still a bit before dawn, which is good, because the Pronghorns are holding the competition for Chosen today. That makes me smile. I mean, what better time to hold it than the reappearance of a well known villain? Or, should I say, vixen?
As we get in, many people are running around, preparing for the races. The closer to the dictatorial palace we get, however, the more I see sedan chairs and beetles. Vyjaxmen lowers his head as much as possible. When we finally get there, I dismount, and walk up to the doors. A well dressed pronghorn blocks my way.
"And where do you think you are going?" I stare at him like he is beneath my even dignifying that with a response.
"Out of the way. I am here on official business." He shrugs, and mutters under his breath.
"Figures I get all the weird ones." He takes me to the main office, where a receptionist looks at me boredly.
"I suppose you want to see the Leader, correct?" I give him the death stare, but it has little to no effect. "State your business."
"Three escaped slaves, apparently of high ranking officers, who tried to steal my horse." He stifles a yawn, and yells down the hallway.
"Hey Swiveleyes! Take this lady to the Leader! Shes got an escaped slave case!" A dizzy looking pronghorn (lazy eye) comes down the hallway. He looks me up and down, then behind me to the beetles. Please, Aena, don't let them be recognized. Luck must be shining on me today, because he doesn't. He walks down a different hallway, to a pair of large, wooden doors. He opens them, and motions me in. He closes the door behind us. Siting at the desk is the Leader, a middle aged pronghorn, making preparations for the races standing behind the desk is a face I know entirely too well. Sina stifles a curse, Vyjallens eyes go very big, and Vyjaxmen doesn't do anything. I mean, its not like he would know our Traitor, would he? Cardon sees Sina and Vyjallen, and then then looks at me in the same way that a five year old does when they figure out that 1 + 2 = 3. He mutters something, (probably "why me"), and walks awkwardly over to me.
"What in hell are you doing here, Arri? I hadn't thought that giving you that note would make you do this." Supressing all urges to slice him with an arrow, preferably poisoned, I simply smile blankly.
"Who is Arri? I am Nara. I came to report that that I found these vagrants trying to steal my horses, and I want to know what you are planning on doing about it." This is directed at the leader, and I gesture at the three beetles. Sina, Vyjallen, and Vyjaxmen look at each other. They slip their hands out of the ropes, but make sure to hold onto them. The leader begins to stand up.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot deal with this right now. I really must leave." Vyjaxmen bars the doors, they drop the ropes, and Sina and I pull out our weapons. Two knives and a bow appear as if by magic. Sina laughs softly.
"Leave? You will never leave here alive." I look at Sina.
"Ready to join the band of outlaws?" She grins. I back away, and she does what assasins do.
I'm not going to describe this in any great detail. Honest? Blood kinda makes me sick. I will just tell you that though the leader was in no way helpless, he wasn't precisely in the best shape. Sina is a good fighter. I suspect that she was largely self taught, but the battle was pretty much decided from a few minutes in. Vyjallen closed her eyes, and I simply looked at her form, and how she worked with her weapons. Cardon, or rather Bluefleet just kind stared at us. The fight was over pretty quickly. Much quicker than it felt. The leaders last words were "At least I died by the hand of those I have harmed." Kinda melodramatic, but hey. There were a lot of papers on his desk, so I felt the need to write a little note.

People! Listen well! This death is by the hands of the infamous Gwaeda Many-Tail, Clove Redwood, Klavier and Sina Lilazni. That these have returned marks the downfall of the Pronghorn Nation! Spare your family and friends! Release your slaves! And let this mark the beginning of the end!

This note was impaled on an arrow an shot into a wall. Sina, Vyjallen, and Vyjaxmen escaped through another way out, but Bluefleet got a special goodbye. I turned to him, punched him in the nose, and laughed.
"You traitorous asshole. I hope you break your arm." I then ran for my life. All I can say is, thank Aena, Vix, and all other gods that look on this place. None of us got caught, and we didn't have to kill anyone, except for the obvious. We hit the forest and nobody tried to stop us. When we got to the trees,

(just in case you didn't see it in OOC, every character needs a theme song. Because. Arriannona's is Raise Your Glass by P!nk. Go find yours.)

Arriannona:
Oh. Wonderful. Peacocks. The rich, stuck up kind.
"Minty, sit. just because they have valuables does not mean you can go attack them. Even here. Xue, make sure she doesn't do something i'll regret later." They both shrug. I am not sure what they are doing here, but I am naturally suspicious, and i suspect it has something to do with the pronghorns. And I intend to find out. I walk over to their table, where a fourteenish year old female in clothing that would be more in keeping with a ballroom than a slightly disreputable bar in the middle of a very disreputable city is sitting, and pull up a chair. She turns to see where her boyfriend is with a worried look on her face. He is currently laughing at something with Dylan, who seems to be washing a glass, so he won't be coming back for a few minutes. She turns back to me and attempts to look haughty. I think. Whatever it is doesn't work, because all it does is make me think about dressing up in your parents clothing. I mutter something under my breath.
"So, who are you?" She still has that look on her face. I smile.
"Oh, for pete's sake, i'm not going to kill you. Give the act a rest." Her features visibly soften, though she is still clearly on guard. "I'm Arri, and I was just curious as to why you were in Elcroz. I mean, peacocks are more for Zhucran. Less illegal activity." She smiles.
"Yes, well... Ah-de wanted to come do something here, and believe me, I would rather be there. I'm Ah-quaz. What are you doing here?" I laugh.
"Oh, the usual, running around, rescuing herrings with messages that make the entire area unsafe, planning to destroy the pronghorns forever, hiding in seedy bars because of a price on my head..." I grin. "And talking to strange peacocks who would probably be lying dead in an alley somewhere if they hadn't ended up here. Incidentally, got any newspapers?" She wordlessly hands over a paper, seemingly chewing on the run on sentence which basically sums up the past two weeks. I open to the front page, and (lo and behold) I'm there.
Gwaeda Many-tail seems to have returned to the local scene, this time with new allies. After the murder of the pronghorn Leader, a quick search of his office found a slip of paper that had been crudely nailed to the wall by an arrow, saying that she was back and that the pronghorns should watch their backs, and their slaves. It seems to the Times that she will most likely be planning a large scale attack on the nation in the not too distant future. Other face that are new and returning are Clove, Klavier, and Sina Lilazni, the three rhinoceros beetles that somehow escaped the huge slave operations currently gathering speed, and taking herrings now, as well as beetles. Many have gone into hiding, but express hope that this figure has reappeared. Among those interviewed, one young owl seems to be particularly happy. She says that Gwaeda has always seemed like a myth, almost like a Robin Hood, and hopes that Gwaeda will rescue all of the slaves, as both her father and sister were captured recently. From the Racon Times, we wish you luck.
I fairly danced. "I wish I could stay longer, but I really must go talk to somebody. Also, I believe I may need this paper. Would you like this in return?" I pull off a silver ear cuff that is in the shape of a feather. "I think this would look good on you." She nods, slightly dazedly, and I lean over to her. "If you would mind not reporting me, that would be appreciated. Gwaeda needs to stay free for her war." Her mouth drops open, and I grin. I pull my hood over my head, and run out the door. I get to Vyjallen and Sina's alley, and wave the paper around in the air.
"We're in the newspaper! WOO HOO!" Sina grabs it out of my hands and stares at it. Then she waves it in Vyjallens face. "And," I add, "I know where we are going now! I'll leave some stuff with Dylan about the Wolves, and hopefully we'll run into them, and some people need to come with us, but we'll be taking out the Pronghorns. And the Mai Pride will be all too happy to help. Those damn antelopes have been getting on their nerves for ages. But I'm in the newspaper! I'm like Robin Hood! Hooray!!!"

((hi. The robin hood thing was (if you have ever seen it, i'm sure you guessed it) The disney animated version has a fox playing Robin hood. So, about the newspaper thing, its basically somebody goes and gets a lot of info and uses an old fashioned printing press to make it into a paper, and then distributes it wherever. The peacocks have a specific one, but most of the world gets the Racon Times, run by Alex Scuzby. And yeah, Arri is jumping up and down because she is in the newspaper. The Mai Pride was the biggest lion pride on the plains, before the Pronghorns came in. They are very territorial, and lost most of their number in one big fight with the Pronghorns a few decades ago, which is how they (pronghorns) got to their size before the cicada and beetle and Dynastinae shit happened. very few of the Prides get along with the Pronghorns, and the Herrings and Peacocks aren't happy either. Apparently the crocs are allied. Their loss. And Stripedneck really needs to be leadered. but i don't know how that would work. So. OOC FOREVER!!!))

((Our group is getting really big, I had to tag 6 characters wow))
Vyjallen:
It's Beetlestealer! I remember her, she's the one who rescued me from slavery. She's joined our group to help us take down the pronghorns. That seems very noble of her, but also very risky. She's the leader of the peacock army and I can tell she's used to being the leader in fighting situations. I don't know who's actually the better fighter, Zoozoo-um or Arrianonna, but I can tell they will start to clash, since our group now has two leaders.
Being the youngest, it's fallen on my shoulders to take care of Tezecan, the young croc boy that Zoozoo-um rescued from the tunnels, and teach him how to fight. I'm obviously not the best fighter in the group, but since Arrianonna and Zoozoo-um are busy discussing strategy, Sina and Vyjaxmen have been assigned to scout duty and collecting firewood (thankfully there's at least one job Vyjaxmen can do that doesn't involve alcohol) and the rest of the group, like Xue, Minty, Ah-quaz, and Ah-de are busy doing something. I don't know, but they certainly don't have any interest in taking care of a croc child.
His enthusiasm is contagious. I find myself cheering when he brings back a small rabbit that be caught with one of his blunted stone practice arrows. He's not very accurate, but he learns quickly and doesn't complain.
He jumps up and down in excitement as I tell him that we can eat the rabbit with our evening meal. "Really?" He squeals. "You're going to eat my rabbit?" He does a little happy dance. "They're going to eat my ra-bbit, they're going to eat my ra-bbit," he sings.
"Well, you certainly are excited." I hold his hand. "Tonight you're going to help Zoozoo-um set up camp," I say, like it's a big deal. "Do you think you can help her with that?" His reptilian eyes go wide. "Really? I get to help set up camp?" I nod. "Just don't break anything!" I call after him as he scampers away, his croc tail waving.
I climb a tree and wait with a spear in hand, determined to do some hunting. I've been hunting my butt off since we started on this journey. I'm trying to prove that I'm not useless just because I'm younger than all of them.
I give a start at that last thought, but bar whatever it is from my mind, straining to hear sounds of footsteps through the leaves. Eventually, a small doe wanders out under the tree, sniffing cautiously. I hold by breath, raising the spear silently as the doe bends her head to eat some grass.
Whishhhh! I let the spear fly. It rushes to the ground, narrowly missing the doe and scaring her off into the bushes. "Darn it," I think, swinging myself down from the tree, landing gracefully on the forest floor without making a sound before loosing by balance and crashing into a tree root. I'll have to practice that.
Now I can let myself think about whatever it is that I remembered while in the tree. Today's my 13th birthday! I wondered if any of the others remebered, then realize no one else knows but Vyjaxmen, and I don't expect him to remember.
I guess my opinions of Vyjaxmen were wrong. (Well, some of them. He's still a drunken fool most of the time.) As I walk into the camp, no one is there, and for a second I think they've all moved on. But suddenly everyone jumps out from under bushes and from inside their tents. "SURPRISE!" They yell, rushing forward to hang a dyed leather cape over my shoulders and place a small metal necklace around my neck. "Do you like it?" Sina asks, beaming. "I made the necklace." Of course! It's really beautiful, the evening sun dances off the entertwined wires and gives them a golden glow. "Thank you! I love it!" I exclaim. They lead me into the camp where they have made a lovely flower garland. I share a glance with Vyjaxmen, who beams at me. "Yes, I remebered, 'Len. Sorry I'm not always the older brother you want to have." Tezecan rushes forward and grabs my ankle. "Come play tag with meeeeeee!" He begs.
((So yeah, Vyjaxmen just had a Mia moment, though he's usually Kristoph. I'll do a post as Stripedneck later))

((CORRECTION: AH-DE AND AH-QUAZ ARE NOT IN THE GWAEDA/BEETLESTEALER KILL SQUAD. And to gwenlover, the hair is going under the dress. Might want to fix it.))
Stripedneck:
Our nation is in chaos. The leader has been killed by Gwaeda Many-Tail, and the slave tunnels have been infiltrated. I was asigned to border patrol last week, and I've been doing it very reluctantly. I hate Gwaeda. If it weren't for her, I could have been a Chosen! Now the contest has been cancelled since the nation is so fragile. We are heavily depending on our allies the Crocs, but everyone knows that the Crocs can't stay organized for long.
I pace back and forth in front of the swamp on the south side of the Territory. This is the Croc's nation, but there's a chance that rebels might come through here. Or those "Wolves", whoever they are. The stream gurgles slowly and I grip my spear tightly, sniffing the air for foreign scents. There's one- or many, rather. It's slightly far off. The scent of fox...! It must be Gwaeda! I'm not ready to face her. I turn and run, crashing through the east forest. I climb a tree- very ungracefully, pronghorns can't climb well and stay there, perched on a branch. I begin beating myself up about what a coward I am, but I do NOT want to go back. I hope Gwaeda doesn't come here. Why would she come here? This is the Dynastinae's old territory. I'm safe, right? Yes. Most definetly safe. I clutch my spear to keep my hands from shaking. Safe.

((Erin, I never gave you permission to make the lion pride. It makes no sense- if there was a lion pride it would have gotten bigger and taken over the pronghorns by now. So from now on there is no lion pride, and the Kill Squad is still in the woods near the border of the Croc and Pronghorn territory.))