The Snapa-verse

Jake shook his head and laughed lightly. "So wrapped up in telling the legend you forgot it might actually be true, huh? Well, take it from me." Jake nodded to Mirova, touching the tip of his hat. "It's real." Jake's smile was like a ghost on his lips. "The Change is real."

Mirova smiled. "Enough people believe," She repeated, walking past the man and putting her hood up as she moved past the wagon, back toward the others. "And you're one of them."

"There is....Grand Yusil," Uluru noted. "If there's any place that qualifies as...normal in the Qafar, then that's it. Unfortunately we're still nowhere near it. And we still have an army we have to deal with," he sighed. "So we're stuck for the time being."

"No, that's where you're wrong Mirova," Jake said, angrily, still smiling but with eyes that glittered even in the dim light of the fog. "I don't believe. And I never will." Jake turned away, and headed over to the head wagon, hands clenched.

Suddenly Slathe burst out the medical tent, wearing red overalls and looking befuddled. "Oh I believe," He breathed, wide-eyed, before pulling the bloody overalls off his body and revealing his Meltsander uniform beneath. Slathe sighed, stepping forward toward Uluru. "You ready," He swallowed, blinking at Uluru.

"Uh...." Uluru noted, perplexed by the blood stained overalls. "Yeah, we've had enough time to get ready. Are your people ready?"

"I think I'll join you," A deep voice called out to the group.

MC Hanmar approached the gathered team with a suspicious gaze before locking eyes with Uluru. There was a certain hositility in the way she stood, hands on her hips, looking ready to beat the shit out of anyone, but her expression was something else - uncertainty? Trust? An emotion hard to place and even harder to find in the eyes of the Meltsander Commander, but it was there.

She glanced at them all, a few gathered Meltsander's behind her, "I wasn't going to, but Ive decided it would be wise to have me along, as I actually know the town."

Bohdana gave her group a hesitant look. Hanmar caught sight of it and frowned, her voice more defiant.

"Let's be honest, have any of you actually been to Aklar?" There was silence. None of them had, aside from Jake a long time ago. She had caught Uluru's lie, "Right. I hate to break it to you all but everything you've been told about Aklar is rat piss. Especially in more recent times. They're not the clan they used to be."

The Commanders words seemed to hold a secret meaning. Boh wondered what she meant, but looking at Hanmar's expression seemed to say that she didn't want to bother convincing these outsiders of her truth. Bohdana instead peeped up, "Wont you goin' to Aklar be a bad thing? Wont they just kill you on sight?"

Hanmar squinted at Boh, "No. Actually, they'll be more likely to believe your shitty story if you bring me to them. A couple of Meltsand soldiers and they'll be dead at best, little cricket."

"...At worst?" Bohdana swallowed, already knowing what she would say. Hanmar didn't answer.

"I'm more valuable to the Aklar slug that rules the Clan than the whole Meltsander army, I promise you. He'll want to see me suffer, and for that?" Hanmar looked out to the horizon, "I need to be alive."

"I am. I served as a bounty hunter in Dol-Duna for several months after my arrival there. I have a little bit of experience with what that particular job entails, but not much in comparison to our friend the Meltsanders are calling 'Hono no Ko.'"

"What about you?" he asked, glancing down at her for a moment as he inquired before returning his gaze back to the busy Meltsanders around them while they prepared for the coming invasion.

Elsie mused over Dustin's question for a moment before offering a faint smile, "Well I'm a traveler. I didn't want to live with my parents anymore and so I found myself Dol-Duna, I mean there were some stops on the way but yeah, I wanted to see this ruined and desolate world for myself, and here I am," she gestured to the camp and situation they found themselves in.


She then watched as the scene before them unfolded. She looked back over to Dustin, "Well, Mr. Bounty Hunter, I think I'll stick by you if that's okay." She slid closer to him, hoping no one would notice she began trembling when Hanmar made her intentions known.

Regardless of what she chose earlier, Aisha realized there was still a lot of doubt in her heart. Was it really right to be an accomplice to war for the sake of her peers? It was so difficult for Aisha to find justification for such actions in accordance with her Creed, and yet, Aisha didn't want to abandon those she was indebted to, nor deny them service. Choice was the biggest burden of humanity, but the Creed was the guide that alleviated that burden, and the followers of the Creed were spared from that burden. Yet, no matter how hard Aisha contemplated, she wasn't sure what the correct choice was, or at least not yet. Perhaps she needed another perspective, or another line of thinking.

Aisha found that the girl, Bohdanna, didn't appear occupied at the moment, and decided that now would have been a good opportunity to speak to her. Aisha had yet to get personally acquainted with her peers and decided that it was better if she understood each of them better. That was, she could better understand their ideals and desires and more easily connect to them when she ultimately guides them toward the righteous path. Also, Aisha had been wanting to speak to Bohdanna in particular ever since their last interaction.

"Excuse me, Boh, isn't it?" she asked the girl once she found her, "Could I bug you for a moment? I just wanted to ask you about your opinion about, um, what we're doing here for the Meltsand Clan. Also, I..." Aisha faltered when she felt like she was rambling again, but then cleared her throat so she could speak clearly, "I also wanted to properly apologize for not properly recognizing the importance of your Uncle. I, honestly and truly, am in his debt."

Musa had become more and more passive as the group progressed, no matter how slow, through the sands. First it was becoming so feeble after the Ship Jumping that had her so quiet and now it was this camp of loud explosions and great fires in the distance. Her neck hurt and she always found herself flexing her hands. She didn't like this place one bit. Yes they fed her and treated her burns, which were now peeling in the itchiest of ways, but being healed came with a cost it seemed. Now she was moving about the wagons and inspecting its cargo.

Each wagon had a glass cage, which appealed to her immensely and helped her block out the volume of the camp. She pondered on how the cage was made as each bar flawlessly melded into the base. After a bit more wandering, she found herself talking with one of the Meltsanders and asking them how the hold was made. She took mental note of the process. Maybe Margesh could make their own glass some day. They had the means of pulling it off.
After learning all she desired, she hopped onto the wagon of Dustin and Elise, who's names she might know but couldn't remember and the moment. She sat close enough to hear them but far enough to not be labeled nosy. But they would notice she was there, and she spoke up before she could gain any suspicious looks. "Excuse me for my intrusion. But I do hope that you will allow me to listen to you two speak? There is too much talk of blood here and something light helps to ease my nerves." Her golden eyes flit from the female to the male, earnest shining in them.

The leader of Meltsand had made a valid point. They were more likely to get within Aklar's walls with a valuable Meltsander such as the leader himself. Or herself. Honestly he wasn't quite sure.

Regardless, her point was clear, and nobody argued. As if anyone within their group would even dare. He returned his attention to Elise and this other woman who joined them as Meltsanders and party members alike began the process of mounting up for travel.

"You are more than welcome to stick by me," he grinned. "Though you may want to move towards the back once we reach Aklar, ja? The Aklar are not that scary, but I will be up there in the front with Hanmar and we both know how she is." With a mischievous wink he turned his attention to golden-eyed beauty now sitting with them.

Instantly his memory shot back to when he'd help her with food and water after the blast from the Wetlander airship. "No no, please, join us. Your intrusion is very welcome. There is nothing but blood and sand these days, and we all need something to take our minds off of that." He thrust his hand out to her amicably. "My name is Dustin vel Iz'Raphel. I don't think I have heard yours?"

Elise nodded her understanding, though she felt that being up front and helping to push Hanmar into Aklar's hands would make her day. The golden eyed woman's presence was very much appreciated, she was glad to actually have the chance to talk to the members of her group and get to know them. Before her interaction with Dustin, Elsie felt she could really only feel comfortable around Boh and Aisha, provided she didn't try and preach to her. Uluru was someone she felt she could trust, but something about him made her feel uneasy. "It's nice to have someone else along with us!" she began with a smile, "I'm Elise Seaver."

Settling down on a pile of folded materials, that was a bit behind but still between Dustin and Elise, Musa allowed herself a small smile. Her narrowed eyes relaxed and her pupils dilated to their normal diameter as her hands reached up to adjust the animal skull on her head. "I am Musa.." She gave a polite bow of her head to Elise while also touching two fingers to her own forehead "..Grazing Bull." She shook Dustin's hand, remembering the greeting from her trading travels, before again touching two fingers to her forehead. "I thank you for your kindness." She said, her voice at the same volume as theirs.

The Kassellander decided to return her gesture of touching two fingers to his forehead amidst a small bow of the head and gave her a beaming smile. "A pleasure to meet you, Musa Grazing Bull. We appreciate your kindness in return. Though the Qafar is a desolate and unforgiving place, a person weathered by its sands does not need to be rude. Do tell me, from what clan do you hail? I have always enjoyed meeting others from places far from the arid mountains of Ariket." Dustin leaned in just slightly, looking deeply into the golden orbs that were her eyes.

The tribewoman's head bobbed up and down in agreement to the Kasselander's statement. Kindness could go a long way in a world like this one. It also pleased her to see him return her gesture. He must think of it as greeting. In reality, it was a gesture within her tribe that was used when a new person told them their name. The gesture meant that the person being told was committing the name to memory and would do their best not to forget it.

When he asked of her clan, it helped to ease her more, even visibly making her tense shoulders relax as she began to speak about her home. Her eyes flit from Elise to Dustin "I am from the Lakuli people that reside in the volcanic Margesh. We are a people accustomed to heat and hardships. It makes us.." She looked down and her brows furrowed as she tried to think of the word. "..Ready? Yes.. Ready. Living near the volcanoe keeps my people quick minded and fast thinking.." She thought about what she said for a bit longer while allowing the two to take in her information. Then her eyes lifted and she looked at them both again, mostly Dustin as her large eyes did nothing to help the fact that she was looking him up and down. Maybe if her eyes weren't so large and bright, it would've been less noticeable. "And you, Dustin? Who are your people..?" Musa spoke, her words sounding as if they were foreign to her tongue. But the male intrigued her so, not so much his personality, but his dress. Lakuli people weren't much for swathes of clothing.

Dustin nodded as if to encourage her as she spoke, his ears focused on every word that left her lips. She had an accent for sure, much like he did. He blinked in mild shock. "A volcano you say? I suppose I cannot be too surprised. Margesh is home to volcanic lands."

He eyed her as she did the same, those irises betraying nothing but movement. Hm. Interesting.

"My people?" Again, he blinked. "I am of the Atzerii," he said with a small bow of the head, humbled to have been invited to speak about his clan. "We live far to the east, in the mountainous region of Ariket bordering upon the White Ruin. Only, there is less lava and more mountains," he grinned.

More and more Meltsanders seemed to be wrapping up their preparations for the plan. Equipment, armor, weapons, and the likes were being put on carts for portability as only a few more of the Meltsanders joined the carts belonging to the caravan that would act as the cover for the acting bounty hunters.

Dustin frowned. "It seems our fellowship is being cut short." He looked to the two females, one young woman, and one hardened one. "It is time to be on the move it seems. Elise," he nodded to the Samarian. "Musa," he nodded to the Lakuli. "Stay safe, my loreiles." With that, the Kassellander stood up from the wagon upon which they sat, and began walking towards the very front of the caravan.

Slathe rose an eyebrow as he pushed past Uluru, follow Hanmar's lead.

Bohdana swallowed down the burning lump that had stuck in her throat while Aisha had spoken to her. For a brief, blissful moment Boh had forgotten about Andle and about being alone, but suddenly it all came flooding back into the prickling tears that formed in the corners of her eyes.

"It's, uhm, it's okay," Bohdana nodded to Aisha awkwardly, quickly wanting to change the subject, "To be honest, I'm kind of nervous 'bout this Meltsand plan. We should've just left, now we're stuck in business we have no place in," she shook her head, "Makin' enemies. I know where we are, if we just continue south we'll end up in a town near the Margesh border. Safer, smarter, less warring clans. Too late now I s'pose."

"Alright boys, it's time to Hanmar up!" MC Hanmar called out, interrupting Boh and Aisha's conversation.

The woman stepped toward Uluru and grabbed the mans arm firmly to make sure he was listening carefully to her words, "University boy, listen to me. When we get to Aklar you have to demand for the Chief Engineer Rowlen, scream it out if you have to. They wont listen at first, but if you keep insisting that you have me he'll see to you personally, and you need him to see to you personally. Tell him you want water, gold or...whatever, just make sure he's not suspicious that you're anything other than a bounty hunter. Which reminds me, the weaker looking ones in your group..." her pale eye drifted to Bohdana and Aisha, Skullivan, Elise - anyone who was young and innocent looking, those without weapons, "Will have to join us in the cages once we get close enough to the border. They wont believe you if you say they're hunters. That way we know you lot wont bail on us if we've got some of your own," the Commander shrugged sheepishly, "Sorry, but we have to look after ours as much as you do. Precautions, y'know."

Hanmar frowned as she let go of Uluru's arm, searching his gaze carefully. She seemed to want to tell him something, hesitating slightly before adding, "Uluru - " she remembered his name, "They're smart, the Aklar, remember that."

Slathe nodded, glancing up at the two. "You're all under my protection," He repeated nervously to Uluru, and glancing back at the rest of the group. "You guys pull this off - I'll take you all personally back to Dol-Duna."

Mountains that weren't of sand and weren't burning with uncooled lava. It made Musa curious to see more of the world. But before she could open her mouth to ask if his lands were cold, he was bowing and taking his leave. Confusing her further with the word loreiles.Turning in her seat some, she looked around to see that the preparations for their departure were almost finished. Meaning they would be on the move to another dangerous location. Thinking, the female traced one of the red lines that tracked across her body. While doing so, she spoke to Elise

"We are beginning yet another journey. A journey next to a mission. How many times do you think this path will branch? The possible amount worries me.." She hummed.
It seemed to be a trend that just when they had their plan set, a rock was placed in their way and would force them to take a longer way around.

Huffing slightly, she settled down in her chosen spot and waited for the move to begin, ready to be out of the camp that smelled of fire and burning. It unsettled her too much.

Uluru sighed heavily at Hanmar's demands, but there was no turning back at this point. This was their one chance to get out of this place relatively safe and sound and there was no point in squabbling now. "Right," the monster hunter nodded. "I can play the part. Just make sure you do your jobs as well....and keep your word," Uluru glanced back at Hanmar before taking his place at the front of one of the wagons as his cohorts did the same.

***

The trip to Clan Aklar was a quiet one, the only real noise coming from the breeze of the night winds as they slammed violently against the glass cage's atop the wagons. Over a trio of large dunes they could see a large imposing shape in the distance. As they drew closer they would happen upon the sight of a tall white wall, carved from what appeared to be stone, encircling a large town.

"There they are..." Sulfurious wheezed. "The walls of Clan Aklar..."

"Halt!" A sentry posted atop a tower along the eastern edge of the front wall shouted. "Please state your business before I allow you any further passage! We suffer a crisis here at Clan Aklar and quite at a state to welcome any visitors!"

"Fortunately for you, we're not just any visitors!" Uluru answered back, standing up and kicking the glass where Hanmar sat. "I've heard your plight, Clan Aklar! And we've brought before you the something to show your Chief Engineer Rowlen! Meltsanders! And not just any run of the mill Meltsanders!" Uluru stepped aside, revealing the entirety of the cages, containing the Meltsanders and members of the group alike, each of them disguised in Meltsander armor to further blend in with their fellow 'captives'.

"Me and my crew? We're starvin' and thirsty! Five days worth of supplies is all we ask in exchange for the leaders and best warriors the Meltsanders have to offer!" Uluru shouted, motioning to those behind him, acting as his fellow mercenaries. "Whaddya say?!"

The sentry paused and traveled over to his fellow soldier on the other side of the wall to converse with him for a moment before returning to his post and shouting back, "Hold tight! We'll lower the gate!" With a massive crank, the seemingly immobile front wall began to part horizontally, revealing the town within.

They began to see and hear the cranking of gears and the thrum of engines as mechanisms grinder together, allowing a full view of the dwelling place of Clan Aklar. Uluru and the others led their wagons in, witnessing various machines drive by houses cobbled together by welded scrap metal, paving and smoothing out the sand while strange gunmetal vehicles sporting towering mechanical arms dug shards of crystals from stone quarries and deposited them in piles upon the ground.

Aklar's people were dressed less like they were preparing for war and destruction and more as if they were preparing for construction. Goggles lined their faces and heavy protective coats and dirtied gloves stood out the most among their clothes. Some, apparently supervisors, sported slightly cleaner lab coats as they directed the crystal digging machine pilots to their next assignments.

"So these...are the Aklar," Uluru muttered to himself as two guards, armed both with rifles held put a hand, indicating for their wagons to stop.

***

Wetland Guard Corhul jump kicked Avari in the face for KICKS.

"Yeah," a Meltsander agreed with Uluru from one of the cages.

Slathe's eyes glinted from inside the cage, he glancing at Uluru. "...Uluru," He whispered, swallowing as they were about to enter the fray. "...I'm going to protect you... so you guys protect me." He paused. "So if things get rough, and the Commander is left behind... I'm the one you go with. Understand?"

"You'd betray your superior like that?" Uluru asked quietly, noting several guards marching towards a small citadel in the center of the town. "Your clan?"

Slathe's eyes narrowed. "You're a fool if you believe Hanmar represents the clan," He spoke quietly. "I said I'd protect you. And Hanmar won't let you leave, no matter what she says."