"God damnit." he cursed, stumbling on the loose and unstable earth below. He really hated being lost like this. An idle thought past about Ryoga, but it was shelved away for later thought.
Stopping his forward walk, he took the time to look around and examine his surroundings. Rolling hills and dunes of sand was all that greeted his eyes, in every direction endlessly over the horizon.
"This sucks." he grumbled some more, before turning back to the east and continuing his forward gait. A few steps were taken before he realized there was something else there that hadn't been there earlier. A group of people seemed to be heading in his general direction. He squinted his eyes, hoping to pick up on some detail or another for the travelers.
He wasn't in luck, obviously. With the sun now fully set, the near full moon overhead was his only light source. It didn't help matters much that the travelers themselves seemed to be wearing dark colored clothing, assisting in camouflaging any obvious details he might have been able to make out in the dim light.
'Who cares!' Ranma thought flippantly, as he began racing down a rather tall dune, his direction altering some what as he made a beeline for the group of unknown travelers. 'Maybe they got some water? Or betta yet, FOOD!' he thought in earnest, his stomach agreeing with his chain of thinking by grumbling loudly.
"That’s the source." Tora whispered as lightly as he could, while continuing their forward pace. It wouldn't due to alert their quarry of possible dangers, less it flee.
Gaja's eyes narrowed as he examined the person currently moving towards them. Being a werecat, and thus gifted with infravision, he could make out much more than the boy could with his unenchanced vision.
Even still, he couldn't make out much more than his race, or at least the current form he was wearing if he was one of the numerous were-races that lived in Jade. Human.
"Be ready for anything." Gaja warned the troupe, motioning for Pantha to lag behind and provide cover with her bow should the need arise with practiced hang gestures.
Pantha did as she was bidden, falling behind ever so slightly while allowing the other members of her group to gain distance.
Marcus and Aeila began towards the end of the group as Pantha fell behind, taking up the flanks.
As the human was moments away from being in respectable attacking distance, Gaja spared Tora one last glance before stepping up to meet their visitor. "Hail, traveler." he began as cordially as he could.
The boy seemed to smile, returning his greeting with a Jovial wave before responding, "Ano.. Hello.." he seemed to have trouble forming the words, a heavy accent apparent for those within ear shot.
Marcus and Aeila seemed to continue forward abit as the boy stopped ten feet ahead of their group. They stopped to his sides, forming a half moon formation. Neither spoke, instead opting to watch the boy.
"What brings you so far from the established traveling paths?" Gaja questioned.
"I... er.. no know where go.. here is.." the boy seemed to stumble for the words, often times saying a few words in a language none of those present could understand.
Gaja took a step forward, the moon light overhead being enough to accentuate his features, "What's you..." he began, only to stop, stepping back quickly as the boy began seemed to become agitated.
"NNnNNnnNEko!" the boy screeched, back stepping once before halting his retreat. He was breathing harshly, his eyes wide and alight with terror as he examined Gaja. His gaze turned from Gaja slowly, inspecting the others that could be readably seen from his position.
When he caught sight of the others in the group, his nervousness only seemed to increase. As he stepped back more quickly than before, he started saying "GGggGGomen!"
That was when all hell broke loose.
Lets look toward:
See other episodes by Matdeception
(Posted Wed, 26 Nov 2003 21:05)
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