In the midst of mid-day, Kiht Jakkya, contrary to her Keeper culture, sat in the Shriekshroom Moon-Keeper's camp grounds in Greentear while fully awake. Most of the group were sleeping in their dark tents; soon to rise at dusk for a night's hunt. She sat on a stump while she pondered.
“They know about you.†Xydane had said during her first meeting with him. Words that haunted Kiht's thoughts; words that echoed in her mind ever since. The success she has had at uniting the "Exiles" depended on the assassins not knowing about her. Yet, that is what Xydane said. Was he sure, or was he just assuming? Kiht wondered. Her name wasn't on the list. IF they knew about her, why did they not strike at her while she was alone. Even with her family, she could be vulnerable. Her group were hunters, and forest nomads. They weren't primitive by Gridanian standards, but they were not ideal for fighting assassins.
If the Faces of Mercy knew Kiht was the leader of the "Exiles", there should be no reason why they wouldn't seek out the Shriekshroom Moon-keepers with a small army of mercenaries at their backs, and obliterate the Keeper group along with Kiht. The thought scared her. She -had- to tell the group. It was the right thing to do.
In the end, she did not regret her decision. The group Matriarch understood. “A woman must make her own decisions; choose her own path, and lead the life she chooses to success.†The Matriarch had said. They were encouraging words. However, most of the group were worried for Kiht. Many of the Kaatah family wanted Kiht to stop helping the "Exiles" because she was putting the group in danger.
Kiht had considered not being around them until the assassin threat was dealt with. However, it did not matter in the end. Not only would it be hard for a family-oriented Keeper to stay away from her group, but the assassins still might attack the group just because there was a possibility that Kiht would be amongst them. If they were going to be in danger, Kiht would stay around them as much as possible.
Most females Kiht's age would be starting to plan their future, but Kiht was already taking on a task that most would expect a veteran Twin Adder officer to take on. Kiht was amazed that the "Exiles" would even follow her.
A gentle breeze rustled the brush and tree branches as birds chirped from unknown perches hidden high in the canopies. The Sun was beginning to set as the bottom of it touched the horizon. The sky grew orange, and a nearby Fungar realized that he was probably in a bad location, so he took shape and tried to quietly scamper off before the group lived up to their namesake. All seemed normal in the Black Shroud.....
“To arms!†A female voice shattered the silence of the forest.
One of the Kaatah sisters who was out on patrol came charging into the campgrounds. She gripped her bow in one hand with an arrow in the other. She was gasping for breath as she tried to shout as loudly as she could. She was in an absolute panic.
“To arms kin!†She shouted again.
Kiht stood up quickly. Groans started emanating from the tents as many of the group were now being awakened by the shouting.
“What is amiss, Kaatah sister?†Kiht asked calmly but in a loud voice.
The Kaatah sister looked to Kiht with wide eyes full of fear. “Cloaked figures approaching the camp grounds!â€
“Everyone to the ready!†Kiht shouted at the awakening Keepers; her voice loud but it betrayed that she was a lot more calm than the panicked Kaatah sister. Most of them were disoriented, but they made for their weapons. Some grabbed spears while most grabbed short-bows. They scrambled around and mumbled questioningly.
“Are they armed?†Kiht asked.
“Yes! By the Twelve, they are not far behind me! We must prepare, or flee, or something!†The Kaatah sister shouted in a very worried tone. She quickly ran to a tree trunk and tried to knock an arrow to her bowstring. However, her hands quivered too much, and she could not quite get it ready.
Raih'a Kaatah stepped up close to where Kiht stood. His eyes were tired, and he grumbled a complaint. He had a leather-worker's hammer in one hand, and a bow in the other. It was an odd combination that was probably a result of his disorientation.
“Now, how do you know that--†Raih'a paused mid-sentence as his mouth went agape, and his eyes went wide. He stared off in the distance at something. Kiht followed his gaze to what looked like a dozen figures in dark cloaks, approaching from the distance. They were too far away for the Keepers to make out their features, but close enough to where they would arrive at the camp grounds in less than a couple minutes.
Kiht began to panic. She began looking around at her group members as they prepared for battle. Her expression betrayed her deep concern. She wasn't as worried about herself; she just didn't want any of her kin getting hurt. If the twelve figures approaching were indeed Faces of Mercy, they could wipe out her whole clan in minutes.
“Only twelve?! They underestimate us!†A loud female voice erupted from the clamoring group. It was the Matriarch. Her tone was fierce and surprisingly loud for an old woman's voice. “We will not be defeated in our own home!â€
Kiht looked to the Matriarch with a desperate expression. She shook her head furiously. “No! Please! This is my fight! It is me they want! Let them have me, and none of you will be harmed!†Kiht shouted, to the group Matriarch.
Kiht had her Yarzonshell Harpoon, but she wore her forest leathers. She was not ideally dressed for battle with assassins. However, she did not expect to win, anyways. She didn't want her kin getting slaughtered.
“Nay! They will not take one of the last of the Jakkyas. You are ours, young one.†The Matriarch responded in a determined tone.
The rest of the group let out shouts and battle cries to the Twelve as they charged at the cloaked figures. Kiht thought about calling to the "Exiles", but a fight would be over in but a few minutes.
Even if the Exiles rallied a force, and used aetheryte travel to get to Bentbranch Meadows, it would take twenty minutes of non-stop sprinting, or ten minutes on a sprinting Chocobo to get to the camp grounds. Despite the futility of it all, Kiht put her finger to her ear, and shouted over the linkshell.
“If anyone can hear me! My group and I are under attack in Greentear! At least twelve hostiles!†Kiht shouted the short message.
She gripped her harpoon firmly in her hands and charged along with her group members. She made a silent prayer to Halone. Her kin could not be stopped now, so she would fight along with them, and likely die along with them.
“They know about you.†Xydane had said during her first meeting with him. Words that haunted Kiht's thoughts; words that echoed in her mind ever since. The success she has had at uniting the "Exiles" depended on the assassins not knowing about her. Yet, that is what Xydane said. Was he sure, or was he just assuming? Kiht wondered. Her name wasn't on the list. IF they knew about her, why did they not strike at her while she was alone. Even with her family, she could be vulnerable. Her group were hunters, and forest nomads. They weren't primitive by Gridanian standards, but they were not ideal for fighting assassins.
If the Faces of Mercy knew Kiht was the leader of the "Exiles", there should be no reason why they wouldn't seek out the Shriekshroom Moon-keepers with a small army of mercenaries at their backs, and obliterate the Keeper group along with Kiht. The thought scared her. She -had- to tell the group. It was the right thing to do.
In the end, she did not regret her decision. The group Matriarch understood. “A woman must make her own decisions; choose her own path, and lead the life she chooses to success.†The Matriarch had said. They were encouraging words. However, most of the group were worried for Kiht. Many of the Kaatah family wanted Kiht to stop helping the "Exiles" because she was putting the group in danger.
Kiht had considered not being around them until the assassin threat was dealt with. However, it did not matter in the end. Not only would it be hard for a family-oriented Keeper to stay away from her group, but the assassins still might attack the group just because there was a possibility that Kiht would be amongst them. If they were going to be in danger, Kiht would stay around them as much as possible.
Most females Kiht's age would be starting to plan their future, but Kiht was already taking on a task that most would expect a veteran Twin Adder officer to take on. Kiht was amazed that the "Exiles" would even follow her.
A gentle breeze rustled the brush and tree branches as birds chirped from unknown perches hidden high in the canopies. The Sun was beginning to set as the bottom of it touched the horizon. The sky grew orange, and a nearby Fungar realized that he was probably in a bad location, so he took shape and tried to quietly scamper off before the group lived up to their namesake. All seemed normal in the Black Shroud.....
“To arms!†A female voice shattered the silence of the forest.
One of the Kaatah sisters who was out on patrol came charging into the campgrounds. She gripped her bow in one hand with an arrow in the other. She was gasping for breath as she tried to shout as loudly as she could. She was in an absolute panic.
“To arms kin!†She shouted again.
Kiht stood up quickly. Groans started emanating from the tents as many of the group were now being awakened by the shouting.
“What is amiss, Kaatah sister?†Kiht asked calmly but in a loud voice.
The Kaatah sister looked to Kiht with wide eyes full of fear. “Cloaked figures approaching the camp grounds!â€
“Everyone to the ready!†Kiht shouted at the awakening Keepers; her voice loud but it betrayed that she was a lot more calm than the panicked Kaatah sister. Most of them were disoriented, but they made for their weapons. Some grabbed spears while most grabbed short-bows. They scrambled around and mumbled questioningly.
“Are they armed?†Kiht asked.
“Yes! By the Twelve, they are not far behind me! We must prepare, or flee, or something!†The Kaatah sister shouted in a very worried tone. She quickly ran to a tree trunk and tried to knock an arrow to her bowstring. However, her hands quivered too much, and she could not quite get it ready.
Raih'a Kaatah stepped up close to where Kiht stood. His eyes were tired, and he grumbled a complaint. He had a leather-worker's hammer in one hand, and a bow in the other. It was an odd combination that was probably a result of his disorientation.
“Now, how do you know that--†Raih'a paused mid-sentence as his mouth went agape, and his eyes went wide. He stared off in the distance at something. Kiht followed his gaze to what looked like a dozen figures in dark cloaks, approaching from the distance. They were too far away for the Keepers to make out their features, but close enough to where they would arrive at the camp grounds in less than a couple minutes.
Kiht began to panic. She began looking around at her group members as they prepared for battle. Her expression betrayed her deep concern. She wasn't as worried about herself; she just didn't want any of her kin getting hurt. If the twelve figures approaching were indeed Faces of Mercy, they could wipe out her whole clan in minutes.
“Only twelve?! They underestimate us!†A loud female voice erupted from the clamoring group. It was the Matriarch. Her tone was fierce and surprisingly loud for an old woman's voice. “We will not be defeated in our own home!â€
Kiht looked to the Matriarch with a desperate expression. She shook her head furiously. “No! Please! This is my fight! It is me they want! Let them have me, and none of you will be harmed!†Kiht shouted, to the group Matriarch.
Kiht had her Yarzonshell Harpoon, but she wore her forest leathers. She was not ideally dressed for battle with assassins. However, she did not expect to win, anyways. She didn't want her kin getting slaughtered.
“Nay! They will not take one of the last of the Jakkyas. You are ours, young one.†The Matriarch responded in a determined tone.
The rest of the group let out shouts and battle cries to the Twelve as they charged at the cloaked figures. Kiht thought about calling to the "Exiles", but a fight would be over in but a few minutes.
Even if the Exiles rallied a force, and used aetheryte travel to get to Bentbranch Meadows, it would take twenty minutes of non-stop sprinting, or ten minutes on a sprinting Chocobo to get to the camp grounds. Despite the futility of it all, Kiht put her finger to her ear, and shouted over the linkshell.
“If anyone can hear me! My group and I are under attack in Greentear! At least twelve hostiles!†Kiht shouted the short message.
She gripped her harpoon firmly in her hands and charged along with her group members. She made a silent prayer to Halone. Her kin could not be stopped now, so she would fight along with them, and likely die along with them.
