The Awakening [Closed, OOC Welcomed]

[Kailia]

http://i.imgur.com/xRsEovI.png[/img]

 

5 years ago

 

The battle raged around him. He had lost sight of the rest of his tribe. But K'hai Tia could not worry about that. For there were Garleans all around them. Using his Macuahuitl, he continued slicing away at the enemy. The red moon over his head though began to stir violently.

 

To his left though he saw a garlean rushing forward with a dagger and he turned, too late, the dagger ran down from his right eyebrow to his right cheek. Luckily he managed to pull back in time that his eye was left undamaged, but he had to keep it closed now because of the blood. He made that Garlean pay as only one of his muscular stature could, he grabbed the man by the throat and threw him at another charging Garlean.

 

That was when the first big chunk of Dalamund fell, sending crystal, debri and stones flying everywhere in front of him. He felt many shards strike him, before the feeling something else wash over him. The world around him tilted as it erupted in fire before everything went black...

 

4 years later...

 

Slowly he opened his eyes. Everything was blurry at first, slowly focusing... he was in a wood shelter of some sort. The air felt very humid, a feeling he had not ever felt before.

 

"Oh you are awake?" called a woman's voice.

 

He tried to sit up... but he couldn't move? All he managed was to turn his head towards the voice. There was a fair miqo'te girl, not much older than his sister K'luha.

 

The woman stepped over to him with a smile, "You will probably not be able to move right away. You've been in a coma from Aether sickness for four years now."

 

"Aether sickness?" he asked.

 

The woman nodded, "We been tending to your body, trying to clear most of it out by purifying your body in the hot springs. Now that you are awake, I can help you get your muscles and body working again."

 

K'hai smiled, "Thank you... are there... any others of my tribe here?"

 

The woman shook her head, "You are the last of the survivors to recover. Now then, lets start getting you up shall we?"

 

And so it was, each day was spent, trying to regain full use of his body. It was a hard time for him, for he had lost much of his muscle mass. But slowly over the course of the year, he began gaining some muscles back, as well as a bit of weight, since he had lost a lot from the 4 year sleep.

 

Current year

 

K'hai stretched, as he got out of bed. He had rebuilt most of what he'd lost, though he was not as muscled as he used to be.

 

"So are you still leaving?" asked the maiden who had tended him.

 

K'hai turned and smiled, "Yes, I've regained all my mobility, I am strong enough to make the journey. My tribe must think me dead. I must return to show them I am not."

 

The woman nodded, "I figured as much..." She pulled from a pocket in her dress a ticket, "I bought you a ticket to board the ship in Limsa Lominsa. It will take you to Vesper Bay in Thanalan."

 

K'hai stepped over to her and took the ticket then gave the woman a big hug, "Thank you for all you've done for me these past five years."

 

The woman smiled, "Of course. And good luck."

 

K'hai gathered the provisions he needed as well as his Macuahuitl and the flimsy wooden shield, the two items needing rebuilt since his originals were lost on the field of battle, and left Camp Bronze Lake, heading south.

 

He chose not to rent a chocobo for this. For he intended to train himself as he traveled. His first night, was spent lifting and sitting down a large rock, chopping branches off a tree for firewood, and hunting and killing one of the raptors of the area. They were fierce creatures that breathed fire, much like the sun drakes of home. Minus of course, the horns and hard scales.

 

Altogether it took him about a week and a half to reach Limsa Lominsa. This city was not what he had expected at all. So many outsiders, but then he remembered, he is the outsider here. As he traveled through the city, he even beheld the Aetheryte Crystal, which caused his dizziness to return. He'd been suffering from the occasional dizzy spell even while in Camp Bronze Lake. The woman that took care of him told him it was part of the aether sickness, that not all the sickness was gone from him. He'd have to go somewhere with less Aether to fully recover.

 

Finally he made it to the dock where the ship is. Handing over his ticket, he stepped uneasily onto the deck of the ship as the water made it lurch this way and that. This was going to be a long trip...

 

And indeed it was. He spent most of his time with his head hanging over the railing of the ship losing what meals he could try to get down. And the moment the ship docked in Vepser Bay, he bound past all the other passengers, and onto the street, knelt down and kissed the ground.

 

"Never again will I get on one of them floating monstrosities!" he vowed as he stood up and looked around. This was Thanalan alright. Pulling his pouch of gil out he approached the nearest stand with food and equipment, and purchased food to last him a few days, as well as a bag to carry it all in, before he headed for the gates of Vesper Bay. He was finally on his way home...

[Kailia]

K'hai trekked through the swampy area of the Footfalls, passing over bridge after bridge until he had finally come to the Sun Gate. Almost immediately dizziness washed over him. The reason became obvious once he made the climb up the steep tunnel and beheld Horizon with an Aetheryte in its center.

 

"Must every town have one of them things?" he thought, as he proceeded through the town. But he did not stop. He continued on out the second Sun Gate into Western Thanalan. He followed that road for several days, till he reached Scorpion Crossing.

 

Here, he found something of extreme use for him. Training dummies. So he stopped here to train a bit. And once he felt himself grow tired he put his Macuahuitl and little shield away and continued up The Eighty Sins of Sasamo, and he thought to himself, who was this Sasamo, and why did there have to be some eighty steps to reach the top?

 

But alas, he had reached the top, to the city of Ul'dah. But there was something odd. He thought he sensed family having passed this way recently. Surely his nose was playing tricks on him? He shrugged it off, and proceeded into the city, a monstrously huge place that had structures that stretched so high into the sky, one would be lucky to see the sun.

 

But as he stood there, he definitely caught the scent of family. Why would his family be in the city? He picked the first scent of the family out... K'ailia? That kit is here? He began following it, until he came to the lift attendant.

 

"Did a little kit come by here? She'd have brownish hair and green eyes." he said the the attendant.

 

"We do not let children onto the lift. However a young woman matching the description did pass through here." replied the attendant.

 

"Mind if I go see if she is still here?" asked K'hai.

 

The attendant opened the lift door, "Go right ahead, but I doubt it. She seemed in a hurry."

 

K'hai stepped onto the lift, the door closed and suddenly the world under his feet moved, as if he was being shot into the air. "What foul magics could be happening here?!" he thought, before the lift came to a halt. He quickly bounded off of the lift and realized, the room was massive and appeared to be in the sky. But then he caught the scent once more, and followed it to the clerk's desk.

 

"Excuse me, has a Miqo'te passed through here? She'd have brown hair and green eyes. Quite young actually."

 

"Oh yes, we just put her on an airship bound for Sagolii. She said she'd be diving off so we did not have to stop there." replied the clerk.

 

"Diving off?! Falling from the sky would kill someone!" shouted K'hai.

 

"We told her that, but she said don't worry she wont get hurt. It was her gil to spend, so we agreed." replied the clerk.

 

Showing up, the airship had returned, without its passenger. K'hai had missed his niece by several hours apparently.

 

"Thank you for your time..." he said and turned back to the lift. It seemed there was only one way out of this place. So he walked over to the attendant and said he wanted to be back where he was. The attendant opened the door and once he was in closed it. Showing up, the world moved again, this time he felt like he was a falling rock. But then it came to a soft stop and he stepped out.

 

One family member had left the city and headed home. It was time to distinguish the others. Taking a deep sniff, he discovered three. He identified them as K'piru, K'ile and K'luha. But the two strongest was K'ile and K'luha. He began following that trail, which led him into the Quicksand. Ignoring the innkeeper and the crowds, he proceeded into the back of the inn. Perhaps he will finally find answers.

[Kailia]

K'luha sat in a rather quiet corner of the Quicksand. It was getting later and K'ile still hadn't returned. She was beginning to think he was never going to come back. Again. If she saw him again though, she was going to steal that stupid bracelet off his arm so she could go home at least.

 

Luha yawned loudly and looked down at her table. She'd tried out four different drinks, each one making her relatively more tired. Her hip ached too much to stumble back to her room yet however, so she leaned forward on the table and yawned again.

 

K'hai upon entering the quicksand took a deep sniff then found the trail he was after. Odd, why was his sister here? Following it, he rounded the room, till he realized, it was near the center of the room... one of the tables. He followed the scent till finally, he stood before K'luha's table.

 

"Well don't you look like a sorry huntress just sitting there with city poison in your hands." he chided.

 

K'luha blinked. A voice sounded familiar... she lifted her heavy head and looked with hazy eyes up at whatever was talking to her. Strange, it looked familiar.

 

"Eh? How are... who are you to judge meee... mister... sir." K'luha huffed half-slurring her words before putting her head back on the table.

 

K'hai sighed then went over to the tavern keeper and got a big bowl filled with water and returned to K'luha, took her by the air gently and lifted her head, moved the bowl into place then dunked her face into the cool water to try and sober her up.

 

Lifting her head back up, he declared, "Wake up or you get another dunking.", he was clearly aggitated that his sister was in such a state.

 

K'luha was happy enough to remain face down on the table sulking, but whoever it was had to go and dunk her face. She screeched and as her head was dunked into freezing cold water, tail bottle brushing and ears standing up.

 

She snapped her head angrily towards her assualter, and reached up to dig her long sharp nails into his hands in an effort to release herself.

 

"Get OFF! Who the FUCK do you think you are!?" she snarled furiously.

 

K'hai released her before her claws can get to him, "Look at you. Don't even recognize your own brother. Have I changed that much?"

 

He took a step back to let her breath and get her bearings. He crossed his arms over his chest, giving her his practically signature scowl. Though his muscle mass was gone, he had still toned up on his trip to Ul'dah.

 

"What? Brother?" K'luha scowled and rubbed the water from her eyes. She paused, looking the male over. Miq'ote male... somehow familiar and yet not... K'luha wrung out her hair slowly, still looking him over. It couldn't be... could it?

 

K'hai deadpans, did he really change that much that his own sister don't even recognize him?

 

"I know I've lost some of my muscles. Being asleep for almost four years would do that... But I assure you, new of my death have been greatly exaggerated..." he said.

 

'Really?' he thought, 'I changed so much she can't even remember me?'

 

Four years...? Then...? K'luha's ears raised a bit and she looked K'hai over incredously.

 

"Hai...?" she asked slowly, face dropping into a pale shocked expression.

 

K'hai smiled, "Ah finally sobering up I see. Why you drinking that city poison sister? And why aren't you with my niece?"

 

He walked back to the table and sat in the chair, setting his Macuahuitl against the table.

 

"K'hai...? Is it... it's really you?" K'luha asked breathlessly, grabbing the edge of the table for support.

 

K'hai nodded, "Aye. I'm not entirely sure what happened myself. I just know I woke up in another land."

 

He sighed, "But I thought of nothing but home. I was too weak to return until now. And even now, I feel ill."

 

"I-i... d-don't..." K'luha stammered, reaching forward to touch his hand. "I-is it r-really you? T-they said you d-died... I thought.. i-it had b-been so long I-i thought y-you were dead..."

 

K'hai placed his other hand over hers, "It's me. Seems Azeyma did not wish to take me that day five years ago."

 

"W-why... I don't..." Luha grasped shakily at his hand with both of her own hands and pressed her forehead down. "K'hai... h-how...? I thought... I-i had given up s-so long ago..."

 

K'hai looked down at the table for a moment, before looking back to her, "All I remember were garleans everywhere, fire, fighting... then the red moon over us exploded and I felt crystals and stones assault me..."

 

He took a deep breath, "Then I felt something else wash over me. I can't explain it. But then I woke up to a girl telling me I had something called Aether Sickness."

 

K'luha shook her head no against his hands and shivered, clinging to her lost brother like he might vanish again.

 

K'hai looked deep into her eyes, "What has happened? I can tell something is wrong."

 

"N-no I... only... I just... I never thought... you would come h-home..." K'luha stammered, still shivering in her seat.

 

K'hai frowned to himself. She was still hiding something. But what? But he gave her a reassuring smile, "How has the tribe faired? Little K'ailia should of had her trials by now right?"

 

"K-k'ailia's... s-she left the tribe..." Luha stammered out, she couldn't look up at her brother. She could barely comprehend his reappearance.

 

K'hai frowned at this news. His favored niece... left the tribe? Then...

 

"She's heading for the tribe camp apparently." he said point blank.

 

K'luha looked up suddenly at K'hai. "What?"

 

He nodded, "Before I followed your scent, I recognized hers. She had apparently boarded one of them flying monstrosities and was being taken to Sagolii."

 

"A... flying monstrosties?" she stammered again, grabbing roughly at his hands again.

 

K'hai nodded, "If she's left the tribe, I do not know what business she would have going to the tribe camp. Returning would be very dangerous for her."

 

K'luha looked to the ground, biting at her bottom lip. Why would K'ailia go back to the tribe? Was... was it because K'ile had invited her!? But she couldn't go back! K'ile wasn't even...

 

"K'hai..." K'luha looked up to her brother. "Please go find K'ile. I don't know where he went off to but... you have to make him go back to the tribe right away!"

 

K'ailia Yohko: K'hai frowned, "What does K'ile have to do with this?" All while grabbing his Macuahuitl, "before I do though, what is his involvement?"

 

Even K'luha would know of his deep distrust of K'ile even when they were kits. And if that tia had something to do with K'ailia doing something so foolish, he would know before going after him.

 

"He invited K'ailia to go back to the tribe, I don't know if she took the invitaiton, but that's the only reason I can think of for her to go back!" K'luha shook her head sadly and bit her bottom lip. "You have to find him. Make him come back here or go back to the tribe. I can't go back until the he comes back with me but... you have to... I can't look for him myself... my hip is still broken so, you have to look for him for me!"

 

K'hai growled deeply, a rumbling sound upon hearing both that K'ile invited an exile back to the tribe, and that his sister's hip was broken. Without another word, the tia lept over the table and over a railing before shoving open the exit and was bounding through the streets trying to catch K'ile's scent.

 

He knew his niece was naive. And for a tribe member to invite her back to the tribe, knowing their laws, and what could happen to her, he would ensure that K'ile went back to the tribe even if he had to drag him there himself. He may not be as bulky as he used to be, but his speed was still just as good, as he quickly caught the scent and charged through the streets.

 

K'luha sat shakily at the table as K'hai suddenly dashed off to hopefully find K'ile. She could only hope that he found K'ile before it wa too late... there was no telling what the elders would do if K'ailia whent back to the tribe alone...

 

Unable to go very far, K'luah pressed her hands to her face and shivered in her seat.

[Twinflame]

Ul'dah was a hard place to figure out. The scents were mostly mud and filth, and after awhile the stink of Hyur sweat got stuck in the nose and left everything else obscured. Brass Blades took their food. How could swords take their food?

 

Of course the could not, so Brass Blades had to be something else.

 

K'ile Tia crouched in the market, near a wall, watching throngs of people move around each other like mingling currents of water, pooling in tight eddies around market stalls. He'd figured out that "Brass Blades" were people, armed and armored in red and brass. It made sense. Ul'dahns had no sense for names, so it made sense. Rusty shivs.

 

He'd made headway. Shipping crates that were confiscated by these so-called Brass Blades were stored. Near the markets. For investigation. The Tia had asked on Blade about it, and been laughed at. Another had gotten angry and warned him off. K'ile wasn't fooled by any of this: it was thievery. It should be illegal, and it was, yet it was not. Ul'dahn gamesplaying to confuse and heckle.

 

K'piru had said she'd take care of it, before she's left them with the job undone. How had she intended it? She was a money-juggler. Perhaps it was an act that Ul'dahns valued, like fire-dancing.

 

He couldn't be sure. All he could do was crouch and glare and ponder how and where to apply force. His tribe had laws against attacking tribe-mates, but not against attacking Ul'dahns. And the laws of the Ul'dahns? Obviously worth less than the gil K'piru juggled.

 

*

 

K'hai ran through the streets at a full on gait, leaping over lalafells, bounding around lumbering Roegadyns. Till finally the scent trail led him to the markets.

 

He raised his nose once more, taking in the scents and finding K'ile's once more he moved through the markets, more careful this time, before he found his prey.

 

"K'ile Tia!" he bellowed, as he approached.

 

Hearing was not one of K'ile's primary senses. He could hear just fine, and he did hear his name, but he didn't notice that he'd heard it. A strange scent reached him around the same time, a harbinger of someone's approach; it was both familiar and strange. It carried the salts of distant seas, plants he'd never encountered, mineral waters. But also something of home, too, even if it was vague and old.

 

The Tia lifted his head and let his ears fall back over his hair, shifting his gaze around the tidal motions of human bodies. He caught sight of what looked like on of the taller, broader breeds of Hyur, decorated with a Miqo'te's ears and strangely colored marks on his face.

 

The uniqueness of the look drew on unsettling memories, and the hair on his neck and arms stood with a warning chill. He straightened his back and watched the oncoming figure with inklings of dubious recognition, but said nothing.

 

K'hai approached K'ile. Yes his former muscle mass was gone, but even now he was toned enough to look formidable.

 

"You are to return home immediately. Or do I need to drag you there myself?" he growled. He took his mission with a deathly seriousness, as his lions tail wagged with hostility.

 

K'ile blinked up at the phantasm. A strangely thin form of a man, pale perhaps, similar but just slightly removed from memory. "Uhm." He frowned. "Depends where I'm going?"

 

K'hai narrowed his eyes, "To the tribe camp. My sister told me my niece left the tribe and you had invited her to go back there. She has left for the tribe camp!"

 

Through the veil of red hair over his face, K'ile's blue eyes narrowed in suspicion of the man. "You're dead."

 

K'hai snarled, "Believe what you want. I don't care if you think I returned to life to rip your spine out. You need to get back to camp before something bad happens to K'ailia!"

 

"It'll take me a week to get there," K'ile said, "I can wait five minutes to figure out why a ghost is telling me that K'ailia's done something dumb." His voice grew suddenly challenging, "Is there a reason you would want to rip my spine out?"

 

K'hai crossed his arms, "Sister indicated you were responsible for her  foolish decision. And believe me. I've got questions of my own. Why is sisters hip broken? Why is my niece now an exile? Why was I told to find and send you straight back to the tribe camp?"

 

K'hai's tail continued wagging, "But I am Tia. I do not ask. I do."

 

"Things are complicated on my end," K'ile replied, trying to sound casual despite the obviously defensive posture. Though he's crouched on the ground, he looks like he's prepared to be attacked at any moment. "Are you dead or not?"

 

K'hai's tail stopped wagging and he looked at K'ile, "Sorry to disappoint, but I am very much alive. Not to mention I am feeling as though my stomache is in a fight with a sandworm because of this damn sickness."

 

In a slow motion motion, K'ile rose and turned towards K'hai. Being a particularly small Miqo'te, he was roughly half the size of the massive man, and yet he looked like he was ready to defend himself. "And what do you remember from Cartenau?"

 

K'hai looked at K'ile, his expression a lot softer than it was, "I remember them damn garleans everywhere, then the red moon decided it wanted to explode."

 

K'hai looked up, as though he was reliving that day, "So many shards of crystal and stone assaulted me.... and then something washed over me. I thought I was dead. But then I woke up to a changed world."

 

The much smaller of the two Tias inhaled enough air to fill both of their lungs, but said quietly, "Did you see Thalen die?"

 

K'hai looked at K'ile, "No... During the fight, I got separated with my unit."

 

His frown on his face twitching between varying degrees of suspicion frustration, K'ile was silent for a long moment before turning his eyes away from K'hai and back to the Brass Blade he'd been glaring at before. The strange tension in the conversation robbed all value from K'hai's survival. If the man was alive, that was one less thing the world had taken from them that day. But there was no joy or relief in it. Not for K'hai.

 

"K'ailia is a fool. If she had a single reasonable thought in her head she would've waited until I'd gone back to the tribe to move. She's going to ruin everything and that's nothing new."

 

K'hai scowled, "She is family. And what, in Azeyma's name, could of made her leave the tribe? Regardless, I want to get back to the tribe quickly. Is there a way? I will take my sister with me if you want."

 

"You can go if you want. From Ul'dah it's a week by Chocobo and that includes the trip through the Sagolii." He paused to marvel at how easily he'd summoned that information, when not long ago he had not so much as seen the city. "I'm not sure about moving Luha that distance yet. And I've got better things to do than help K'ailia fix her mistakes."

 

K'hai frowned at this, "What could be more important than family?"

 

"More family," K'ile replied, easily. "The Sagolii has been in drought ever since the Calamity. More than five years. The tribe is starving. I had intended to bring food back with me, but," he nodded in the direction of the Brass Blade he'd been stalking, "Ul'dahns have taken the food. Outsiders using their imaginary authority to steal from us. I'm not going back to the tribe empty-handed, and I'm not leaving Luha either."

 

K'hai looked at the Brass Blade, "Since when have we let outsiders dictate when we can eat then? Are they storing our food stuffs inside that room?"

 

He looked back to K'ile, "You've grown soft. These Ul'dahn's are city people. They know not how to treat the land. Let the land show them a lesson I say."

 

"I haven't grown soft," K'ile said, "I've grown cautious. I don't know where the food is. I'm trying to decide whose ass to beat."

 

K'hai slapped K'ile on the back, "Follow me, I've an idea, that wont require us expending our muscles."

 

And without looking back, proceeded to the exit of the market.

 

The much smaller Tia was knocked from his crouched position to his knees by K'hai's much larger hand, and he glared up at the man's receding back in annoyance. Still, a few seconds later, he was on his feet and trotting to catch up to the man. Taking up pace beside him, he said, "It's been a few years since I just straight beat the shit out of someone. If your idea works I think I'll be disappointed."

 

K'hai laughed, "This idea is sure proof."

 

A few minutes later, they were in central thanalan, looking at a rather large swarm of biting insects.

 

K'hai smiled, "Should prove a distraction enough to get past them morons to find your wayward food." pointing at the gnats.

 

Crossing his hands over his chest and looking doubtful, K'ile replied, "They have bugs in Ul'dah, too. You know even if we do get past them it is /a lot/ of food. I wa splanning on providing the tribe with a feast."

 

K'hai laughed, "they may have bugs, but not THOSE bugs"

 

He looked at K'ile, "Just how much food are we talking about?"

 

"It was being transported by carriage before," K'ile answered, watching the insects. They looked big enough to be honestly dangerous, especially in those numbers. "Too much for Luha and myself and one other to carry on our own, with two Chocobos to help. If it was just a few bags, throwing bugs at the problem and running off with what's ours would be fine. But with this it gets complicated."

 

K'hai rubbed his chin, thinking over the problem.

 

"So what happened to the carriage that was hauling it?" he asked.

 

"Stopped in Ul'dah and stripped clean. And then," he paused, blinked, and his brow furrowed. "What, you mean the actual carriage and driver? I don't know. Might've been sent back to Gridania? Or he's still around."

 

K'hai smiled, "If it's as much food as you claim, it would take some time for them to empty such a carriage would it not? City dwellers are lazy. Why work to unload, when it would be simpler to just take the whole kit n kaboodles."

 

He looked back to the insects, "We gather the insects, and you were always a better climber than me. You drop them on their heads and I go find your carriage of food."

 

"You're betting a lot on this mischeif, K'hai. If the food's not in there, or if they did unload it, or if the carriage is unmovable, or if there's more of them than you're assuming..."

 

K'hai looked back at K'ile, "What do you suggest we do then? Go through their system? Food would rot."

 

He stood up, "Or we can forget about the food, and just go home and try to assist with the hunts."

 

Looking up at the sky, he growled, "We are Hipparion Tribe. We don't cower at thievery, we face it head on."

 

He looked back at K'ile, "You are too cautious now. If the family is suffering, then caution be damned. Our people are more important than a city full of fat thieves."

 

Watching K'hai with a straight face while he moved through his many points, K'ile replied, "If we don't think this through then we're just being stupid, and I'm no idiot. Still, it's better than just beating up Brass Blades until they give us what we want."

 

K'hai smiled, "Well if you've got a better idea, I am all ears. Though I'd still love to see them tough acting guards dancing around trying to avoid those stingers."

 

He let forth a bellowing laugh, imagining the guards screaming like little children trying to avoid the insects.

 

"I'd still like to see how you plan on moving the bugs without getting yourself in trouble."

 

K'hai grinned, "That one is easy."

 

He pulled out the bottle he used on his trip that carried water and dumped it onto the ground then looked around.

 

"What is the one favorite food of biting insects?"

 

"Blood," K'ile answered.

 

K'hai nodded and spotted his prey and lept forth. In a couple steps he had hold of a marmot that let forth a mighty squeel. He carried it back.

 

"No need to kill it, but if you would be so kind as to extract a little blood into the bottle."

 

Watching K'hai's movement with curiosity, K'ile managed to appear reserved still. His gaze was evaluating, judging, as if watching for K'hai to make some subtle movement that would give something away. K'ile's hand found his hunting knife with practiced ease, and when he complied with K'hai's request, there was no mercy shown to the creature that K'hai had captured.

 

Once the bottle had sufficient blood, he set the creature down and then turned his focus back to the bottle.

 

"Some times, the simplest solutions, get the best results." and picked the bottle up and raced it towards the swarm, sat it down, then high tailed it back to where he was.

 

"Watch and learn." he said smiling, as the scent of the blood attracted the insects who began swarming into, and onto the bottle.

 

Once he was satisfied there were enough inside the bottle, he charged back out again and corked the bottle, squashing what few were still outside and held his prize up triumphantly.

 

"Bottle of bugs," K'ile labeled it dumbly. "And this is your secret weapon to break into the warehouse of Ul'dah's armed thugs."

 

K'hai nodded as he walked back over to K'ile, "Drop these lil critters on them guards, they will be too busy trying to fend them off, and we can simply sneak in."

 

He smiled, "From there, we wing it and adapt as the situation warrants."

 

"I don't like winging it," K'ile said. "Not in this situation. If the Ul'dahns throw us in cages not only doesn't the tribe get the food, but Luha is left alone and I can't go help K'ailia."

 

K'hai frowned, "Well you're idea was to find one, beat them up, and hope they give you back the food. My idea, we sneak past dancing guards. We could always go ask sis what to do."

 

"Eh," K'ile spread his arms, "She'll just tell us to let her take care of it, and then do something stupid without asking our input. That kind of thinking is how she messed up her hips. No, you're idea is better than mine, so... whatever."

 

K'hai frowned at that, "You have a lot to tell me once we get the food back and on our way there. If this plan is to work though, we must leave immediately."

 

He handed the bottle over to K'ile, "You can find a way to release these on the guards, then go get K'luha and meet outside. It will be simpler if I go in alone."

 

Accepting the bottle, K'ile couldn't help one last protest, "Luha shouldn't move. She almost died because she was too stubborn to let her hip heal, and might have if K'piru hadn't come along to take care of her."

 

K'hai frowned at that, "Then why was she not in a bed?"

[2:26:37 AM] Twinflame: "Because every time I threaten to tie her down she gets all sad and pouty."

[2:28:07 AM] K'ailia Yohko: K'hai seems to think for a moment, "Come to think of it, moving her could be difficult for you. However, your small stature might better get past them, than my own."

 

K'hai smiled, "Change of plans. I will do the chucking, you do the sneaking. I will get sis and meet you outside this gate."

 

Frowning more deeply, "I don't like this change. Have you ever seen me try to sneak? I don't. And nobody's moving Luha until I say so."

 

K'hai frowned, "Since when do you claim my sister? Look, it's not that hard. And I suspect she will listen to her brother, better than you."

 

"You've been gone for five years. You've missed the worst parts of everyone's lives. Don't pretend you know where anyone stands or who will listen to who." K'ile delivered this in a tone of false amiability. "I don't claim anyone, but you don't know what you're stepping into. I'm grateful for your help, but what I said stands: nobody moves Luha until I say so."

 

K'hai sighed, "Regardless, I realized, you are still in much better shape than I am. I am feeling a bit better being out here. But being in the city still makes me ill."

 

He looked at K'ile, "You are small, agile, ane I am large and cumbersome. I am not at my best like I used to be. And she's apparently moved herself anyways. I found her drinking that Ul'dahn poison"

 

"There's a difference between walking to the tavern from her inn room and going out on the streets."

 

K'hai frowned, "Then lets go with a different plan. Forget the food and just take her home. Unless you know someone on the inside that can get the food back quickly."

 

Gaining an edge of suspicion once more, "Why is she necessary to this plan?"

 

K'hai looked at K'ile, "Way I see it, taking back food that is ours, them thieves would do everything they can to round all of us, and anyone associated with us up."

 

He turned towards the Sagolii gate, "But fine, if you want to worry about food and not move her, or go back to the tribe camp as she bid, then I will." aggitation clear in his voice. He was quickly starting to lose patience with K'ile.

 

"You've changed K'ile. And I'm not so sure why you are so hessitant to return to the tribe. But I also couldn't help but notice the bracelette"

 

K'ile pulled his wrist away as if to defend the bracelet, and both his teeth and hostility showed, "Everyone notices it! You're five years too late to give a shit, so don't start now." The small Tias hands curled into fists for a moment, then he forced them to release. He threw the bottle of bugs at K'hai, "We'll go through with your plan, but I won't move Luha until we have the food and the carriage is outside the city. Then we'll all go back to the tribe and and help Luha's idiot daughter."

 

K'hai caught the bottle easily enough, "Fine. I wont move her. But don't act as though I don't care. I thought of nothing but the family since I awoke."

 

Without another word, he marched back towards the city. K'hai was not happy, but at least he'd make sure to take that aggression out once he chucks the bottle where it needs to be chucked.

 

Following after K'hai, K'ile stewed for a long moment before saying, "Sorry. I'm not being fair. I'll feel better once we're out of this damned city."

[Kailia]

K'hai walked through the market, towards where he found K'ile to begin with. He couldn't help but wonder just what got into him. He was so much different before the war. And then dictating about moving his own sister.

 

K'luha belongs at home, not in this city, he thought. And even if he has to knock K'ile out and drag them both back home, there is still the matter of his niece to deal with. What could of made that girl leave family?

 

Getting back to the tribe camp was more important. But so was ensuring his sister was taken home as well. Though K'ile apologized, there was still something off he thought. Then he remembered, there was still the little pouch of gil in his pocket. Wasn't much. But maybe enough to rent a chocobo to get his sister home on.

 

But for now, he focused on his target. He'd arrived back where he found K'ile. Same guard still there. Only the guard was clearly bored, as he was quite focused on fishing in his nose with his finger. K'hai smiled, this was just too perfect. K'ile better be ready, he thought, as he chucked with all his might, the bottle which shattered in front of the lone guard, sending the swarm within into a frenzy. Workers and the guard panicked as the swarm began biting. Chaos had taken hold. His part was now done.

 

Quickly, he made his exit, heading back to the quicksand. He'd at least see his sister, before deciding what to do next.

[Twinflame]

One bite and these Ul'dahns flew into a panic. Yeah, the bugs were dangerous, but it was pretty obvious to K'ile that these Ul'dahns just didn't know how to deal with insects. The Brass Blade that had been standing watch in front of the store house failed and screamed and slammed himself against the wall, kicking the shards of K'hai's bug bottle all over the stone street. The man was trying to get the door open, likely to seek shelter, but couldn't get enough control over himself to work the lock.

All the other bystanders keeping their distance, K'ile jumped into action and dashed towards the man, "Give me the key! I'll get it!"

 

"Aaaaah!" The Brass Blade said as he threw a metal key at K'ile, spinning around three times and flailing his arms at the swarm of thumb-sized bugs, "Thal spare me! Thal spare me!"

 

As K'ile unlocked the door, he was stung by the bugs twice, each one burning with a lingering venom that did not quite distract him from his part in K'hai's stupid plan. He opened the door, pulled out the key, and stepped in. "I've got it!" He proclaimed.

 

"Thank Nald!" The Brass Blade said, but when the door closed and the lock clicked shut, leaving him outside, he cried out, "What! Why? Why do I deserve to die!?" And thew himself against the door, whimpering sadly as the bugs continued to sting him.

 

The store room was a shadowed building, a single room, light leaking in through thin windows near the ceilings. It was was piled with miscellaneous nothings, most of which K'ile could not identify. There was everything from piles of empty bottles to open crates of rotted foodstuffs -- hopefully not the fate of his tribe's feast -- to glass and metal ornaments, weapons and sack upon sack of some unlabeled powder. None of these things were what K'ile was looking for. If K'hai was right -- which meant, lucky beyond all reason -- what K'ile was looking for was a fully-loaded cart ready to be taken.

 

K'ile could smell Brass Blades in the building with him, hear them moving around. They seemed to be idling off behind the numerous piles of crates somewhere, and K'ile kept himself well aware of their position as he crept about the storage area, staying low and close to larger items. If the other Blades had heard him enter, they seemed to have assumed he was one of their own.

 

The Tia found what he was looking for towards the back of the building, and he was surprised that he did. The cart was near what appeared to be a large door, so he guessed it had been wheeled in from some adjacent alleyway. Checking his surroundings first, K'ile crept towards the cart and hopped up upon it, the thing creaking with his weight, and poked at the crates that it still contained. He could smell the steely magic of the preserving enchantments still upon them. The spells were in place to keep the food fresh during transport, but all the Blades would likely be able to discern was that the load was enchanted. Maybe that was why all the food hadn't been eaten yet.

 

Sitting on one of the boxes, ears sticking straight up from his head to listen to the room around him in case someone came towards him, K'ile looked at the yoke on the front of the cart, where the chocobo would be bound to pull it. Of course there were no chocobo present. And the cart itself was large and heavy, barring enough food for dozens of people to gorge themselves upon. K'hai hadn't thought out that part, had he? Or was the man waiting in the street outside with a chocobo, expecting K'ile to just bring the cart out and hitch it up?

 

K'hai was big enough that he could probably just pull the damned cart all the way back to the Sagolii himself.

 

Well, the situation was what it was. K'ile stood and turned to the large door behind the cart, looking it up one side and down the other, seeing a complex system of chains, wheels, tracks that he figured would open it. Couldn't be too hard to work. The small Tia hopped down and kicked the blocks out from under the cart's wheels and found that he could move it some on his own, albeit with great effort. The cart groaned and rattled as it swayed back and forth in response to K'iles pushing. Once he got some momentum outside it would probably do better.

 

Having confirmed that much, K'ile walked over to the large door. Once more pausing, K'ile kicked at a few hinges, watched them click open, then pulled on a chain. It did not give. He turned a lever and kicked another hinge, then pulled on the chain. This time the door rattled and made a loud screeching sound, raised a bit off the floor but stopped before it was any higher than his boot. Tail shiver, K'ile listened to the Blades move in the storehouse behind him, curious at the sound, but maybe still lazy. He could smell the scent of filth, rust and sweat outside the door, but all that told him was that Ul'dahns were in Ul'dah. He watched the light that was coming from under the door, but didn't see any shadows.

 

Damn K'hai's stupid plan. It got him in, but how would it get him out?

 

K'ile searched for a moment, found another lever near the top of the door and pulled on it. The thing snapped into a new position with a great metallic clack, and this time when K'ile pulled on the chain, the door rose up along its tracks and bent to lay itself across the ceiling, opening the wall more than wide enough to allow the cart to exit. It also placed K'ile in front of four Brass Blades, all of whom turned to look at him at the same time, their gazes focusing first on his red hair as though he'd signaled them with fire, and then dropping to the dark face and muscular body beneath.

 

The Tia let go of the chain and self-consciously shifted the lance on his back. Instinctively, he narrowed his eyes and bent into a defensive posture; the intellectual prompt to try and appear unintimidating did not reach him until too late. Avoiding conflict with outsiders just wasn't in his blood, unfortunately. In response to his body language, two of the Brass Blades frowned. One looked confused.

 

But the fourth smiled, stepped forward, and closed the great door. It fell back in place with a loud, unpleasant hiss of steel-on-steel, the grind of rust and dirt. K'ile didn't try to stop it, or to get outside. He allowed himself to be shut inside with one Brass Blade instead of left outside with three.

 

The smiling Brass Blade leaned forward, "You aren't supposed to be here."

 

K'ile growled, "I'm just-"

 

"You're under arrest!" The man smiled a bit broader. Quick to the point, this one. K'ile was less than surprised; it made sense. Ul'dahns stole gil, stole food, so why not put him in a cage as well? It was the logical progression of things.

 

The Tia reached for his spear, taking it from his back and holding it forward, the metal head dark in the shadowed room.

 

"Oho," the Brass Blade took out his sword and shield. "Going to fight are you?"

 

"Yes," K'ile said, and put his spear aside, laying it across the food that belonged to his tribe. Hands free, K'ile dropped into a low stance and spread his arms, fingers flexing. "Like this."

 

A pleased hum shivered from under the Blade's hauberk, and he nodded. "Alright." Putting his sword and shield aside. "Hey boys! Come look at the tiny Miqo'te with the big balls!" In response to this latter shout, there was movement and voices elsewhere in the store room, surprised in response to the words.

 

"Come on!" K'ile jumped at the Blade.

 

The man didn't wait for K'ile to arrive. He stepped forward, his metal-clad hands balled into fists, to deliver the first punch. By the time the punch had arrived, K'ile had stopped short of colliding with the man, and the Tia had put his hands behind him, knitting his fingers together to keep them there. The Brass Blade lay a punch into K'ile's face, then another into his neck, a third into his gut. The much larger man, hands in metal, did not pause in his attacks or show any guilt in pummeling the Tia. And K'ile did absolutely nothing to stop him, just left his hands behind him.

 

"Hey, hit back!" The Brass Blade said, but he didn't stop punching. By this time the rusty knuckles of his gauntlets had torn gashes into the side of K'iles face, down his chest, and he was laying into K'iles gut unimpeded. "Dammit! The hells?" The Blade threw the Tia away from him.

 

K'ile collapsed to the ground, his back and head hitting the stone hard, purple welts already growing on much of his body. He panted, looking weak, defeated. He was laughing, "You win!"

 

"You little shit!" The Brass Blade fumed, gesturing angrily, "I should beat you to death?"

 

The other Blades that had populated the storage room arrived. Four of them. They gave the scene a shocked look, and then turned their gawking gazes on the man that had fought the Tia. One of them said, "What in Nald's name is going on?"

 

"It doesn't matter," the assailant spat, his scowl so much deeper than his smile had been. He still gestured angrily, "This miqo'te broke in! Get him a cell! he's under arrest."

[Kailia]

K'hai continued to walk towards the quicksand, when his ears flicked. Yep K'ile made it inside, "Nice going squirt, now while you busy yourself looking for your precious food, I can tend to what is more important. Family." he said to himself, as he passed through the doors of the quicksand.

 

Sniffing, he could see his sister was not in the room he'd found her. But her trail was easy enough to follow as he went up the stairs into the inn itself. Down the hallway, her trail ended at a door. He gave a light knock.

 

"Sister? Are you in there?" he asked.

[Twinflame]

((K'airos' character is going to walk out of this thread and into this scene))

 

(K'hai Tia) Luha, you there?

 

(K'luha Haaz) K'luha laid shakily on the inn room bed. She'd gone and locked the door and wasn't planning on opening it. Her mind had been racing so much it had turned to an absolute blank. She remained still and unresponsive to K'ahi laying with her back to the door.

 

(K'hai Tia) *stronger knock*

 

(K'luha Haaz) Luha remained the same despitethe louder knocking.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos walks in a straight line across the hallway, stopping at each door, staring at its number for a moment before continuing and walking into K'hai's personal space.

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Oh! I'm sorry!"

 

(K'hai Tia) *turns to K'airos* Well well. Hello there *gives a big grin*

 

(K'airos Thalen) The sight of that grin made her shrink, figuratively, dropping her ears and tail. It's like she was about to run away. "I'm sorry! I didn't see you there and I'm looking for someone...!" She paused, ears twitching. "Wait, don't I know you?"

 

(K'hai Tia) Of course you do. And I see you are still as short as ever K'airos. It's me. K'hai.

 

(K'airos Thalen) "K'hai?" The name came out of her mouth like a thin line. "You mean...K'hai! K'HAI!" she shouts and immediately forgets all about social protocols and lunges to hug him.

 

(K'hai Tia) *picks her up and swings her around* good to see you kiddo.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos realizes what's going on and becomes visibly ashamed. She mumbles: "I...well...in the...it's good to see you, too! What are you doing here? How's the tribe? OH! Are you with K'luha?" Her words speed up as she speaks.

 

(K'hai Tia) I don't know the state of the tribe. I've only just returned... as for Luha, she is in here. I failed in honoring her request. *he staggers a bit from obvious dizzyness*

 

(K'airos Thalen) "She is? I was told she's around and that she needed help with some food. Is this her room?"

 

(K'hai Tia) I assume so. I tracked her scent here. As for the food. K'ile broke into the outsiders storage place, with a little help from me. Up to him to retrieve his food.

 

(K'airos Thalen) "What? That's illegal! He can't do that!"

 

(K'hai Tia) Hmph he wouldn't go back to the tribe camp as told. Seems my niece did something foolish and he said he doesn't care about her.

 

(K'airos Thalen) "I'm...not sure what that's about, but let's find K'luha. Are you sure she's in the room?"

 

(K'hai Tia) Her scent is definitely in there.

 

(K'hai Tia) But she wont open.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos tries knocking on the door herself. She's much less loud than K'hai was previously. "K'luha! If you are there and alive, say something!"

 

(K'hai Tia) *looks down at K'airos* I could always break the door down if she doesn't answer.

 

(K'luha Haaz) K'luha was still sitting quietly on the bed, her back to the door. She didn't want to move. It was difficult to even think about answering but eventually she lifts her head lightly and blinks wearily at the door.

 

(K'airos Thalen) "I'm sure you could!" she answers, staring up at K'hai with a strange look. Probably imagining him kicking the door down and being all the more handsome for it. She quickly snaps out of it by shaking her head. "But we could get the key from the innkeep. Less violent and less legally grey!"

 

(K'hai Tia) Hmm alright. Lets knock one more time.

 

(K'airos Thalen) She knocks on the door three times. "It's me! K'airos! And K'hai's here too!"

 

(K'luha Haaz) K'luha lifted her head further and rubbs her forehead. Someone at the door? She slowly and shakily stood before limping over to the door and opening it faintly. "Who...?" She squints outside with hazy eyes, looking hopefully for K'ile but somehow knowing it wouldn't be him.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos hops in place as soon as she sees K'luha taking a peek. "K'luha!" she exclaims, clapping her hands together.

 

K'luha Haaz) K'luha blinks at K'airos, confused at what she saw.

 

(K'hai Tia) *kneels* I am sorry sister. I failed in your request to send him back. He declared he does not care about your daughter.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos doesn't stop her nervous hoping. "K'ailia's here too?"

 

(K'luha Haaz) K'luha looks to K'ahi, her ears flatenning against her head. Ghosts, she was looking at dead people. It couldn't but, and yet K'airos was there. And her dead brother too. K'luha turned a further pale shade and began shivering. "N-no... y-you're wrong..."

 

(K'hai Tia) I await your pummeling. He would not return to the camp. Instead he wanted his food back. So I helped him get into that building. *braced himself to be pummeled*

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Luha, are you feeling well? You look...pale!" She stops hoping, at last. "Don't worry about K'ile! I'm sure he's fine and didn't mean what he said!"

 

(K'luha Haaz) K'luha still shivered while she stood, paling further. He went to get his food back? Hadn't she told him not to? Her eyes looked over to K'airos, dialating and fearful. "He's..."

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Fine!" the young woman completed Luha's sentence. "I'm sure he's fine! Does he still have that smelling sense? I'm sure he could pinpoint every guard's location within a malm with his eyes closed and a big wespe buzzing next to him!"

 

(K'hai Tia) And he had my help getting in. It's quite amuzing seeing a guard dancing around trying to get away from a swarm of captured gnats.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "H-he's... I-i told him not to..." K'luha whimpers and stumbles backwards a bit. "Why...? I-i can't..."

 

(K'hai Tia) Sister, your hip. Be careful.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos walks into the room. "Are you...?" Her ears drop at K'hai's words. "You are wounded!"

 

(K'hai Tia) *also walks in, worry on his face for K'luha*

 

(K'luha Haaz) Stumbled backwards again trying to get away from the two ghosts. Why did K'ile always run off and get hurt? Why couldn't he just stay with her for once? Luha stumbles further backwards and tripped over her satchel, landing hard on her back.

 

(K'hai Tia) *rushes over to make sure she did not injure herself any further*

 

(K'hai Tia) Do you need a healer?

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos holds her hands together a few ilms in front of her chest, only the tip of her fingers meeting with each other. She looks down, worried at K'luha.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "S-stop it!" Luha yelped, cringing away from K'hai and grabbing her painful hip. "I c-can't! T-this... g-go away! Y-you're both dead and you have been for five years! D-don't just show up like this on me!"

 

(K'hai Tia) *Sad look* What has happened...? *looks over at K'airos* Should I find a healer for sister?

 

(K'airos Thalen) "I don't know!" she says, and then looks at K'luha without a clue on what to do. "Did you see a healer?"

 

(K'luha Haaz) "Stop just... stop it... if he didn't go home, where is K'ile?" Luha mutters shakily, forcing her panicked stare to the ground.

 

(K'hai Tia) *looks back at K'luha* He was obsessed with some stolen food. So I assisted him in getting into that storage place. He also forbade me from taking you home without his permission, as though you were his property.

 

(K'hai Tia) Where he is now, I cannot say.

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Ah! Where was this place? I can see if he got away or not!"

 

(K'hai Tia) It is in that market place.

 

K'luha Haaz) Luha snapped her head back at K'hai, fury in her eye along with panic. "And you just LET him go? What's WRONG with you!? Did you forget your sense with your sickness!?" She snaps ferally. Luha turns her head back to the ground. She pauses and looks up to K'airos. "Airos... aren't you dead too...?"

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos simles at that, closing her eyes in amusement. "It seems everyone thinks that!" She shakes her head. "I'm alive, though! The Flames gave me for dead but Aijeen found me and nursed me back to health! So I'm not surprised everyone thinks I'm dead..."

 

(K'hai Tia) *looks back to K'luha* Fool, do you not think I tried to get him to return home? He refused. He said he does not care about your daughter. Family, no matter their judgement, is still family and should never be spoken of so poorly.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "Aijeen...?" Luha shivers again and looks to the floor. "This is... I c-cannot even begin to process any of this..."

 

(K'hai Tia) *Stands slowly, muscles flexing* So be it. I will go home and see to your daughter. Unless you request my aid further.

 

(K'luha Haaz) Luha looks furiously to K'hai and snarls. "You will do no such a thing! You ABANDONED K'ile to Ul'dah when you should know better than to leave family behind!" Luha actually snarls at K'hai before looking back to K'airos.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos jumps in place. "You can't go anywhere! You have to show me where K'ile was, and then the three of us can go help him!"

 

(K'hai Tia) *low deep growl* First off, I did not abandon him. He is obsessed with food. Food we could easily get plenty of on the way home. *Looks to K'airos* But since you would like to save him, I will gladly show you.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "Because the tribe is starving to death you idiot! You've been dead for five years! Don't talk about shit you know nothing of!" Luha hisses at her brother.

 

(K'hai Tia) I still care for family. And never would I say I don't care for your daughter, even if she did make a mistake. But since you too wish to find the fool, I will let you ride on my back. You should not be walking.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "You obviously DON'T care for family K'hai, because K'ile is also our family! Or did you forget that?"

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos places her hands forward, showing her palms to both of them. "Let's...let's calm down! We find K'ile first and then I can help you all with the food issue!"

 

(K'hai Tia) *looks to K'airos* The girl is right. We will find the fool, then take care of whatever business is needing done, then get home. Sooner we are away from outsiders. The better.

 

(K'luha Haaz) Luha looks furiously at K'hai and uses the wall behind her to get to her feet. She hobbles painfully across the room, using the wall to balance herself.

 

(K'airos Thalen) She is saddened of hearing that. "But we have so much to catch up to..." she mumbles, following with her gaze at the angry K'luha. "Ah! If...K'hai can't help you move, maybe I can?"

 

(K'luha Haaz) "I'm not going to be helped by dead people or imposters or people who forget what family means." Luha snaps, limping out of the room and down the hallway.

 

(K'airos Thalen) "But...Luha! I didn't know!" she shouts before running behind her.

 

(K'hai Tia) Has the world gone crazy since I left?

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Wait!" K'airos shouts. "I thought the tribe had died and scattered after the Calamity! But then I found an article, and then I found...ah...I found..." she strumbles with her own words, as if she was physically uncapable to say what she wants. "...and then K'hai! I just found out!" she finishes after a pause.

[Ildur]

(K'luha Haaz) K'luha pauses in her walk, leaning somehwat heavily against the wall as she listens. She turns her head back to look to K'airos and sighs. "We're still alive, but dying. Many of us died. Many vanished."

 

(K'hai Tia) *follows down the stairs* Sister, I don't pretend to know what all you've gone through. But the fact is, K'ile doesn't care about your child. And your child is part of our tribe. Perhaps it is fate that I returned here and now. But I am here. Use me as you will.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "K'ile is also part of our tribe! You and K'ailia seem to forget that, and I am sick of explaining it to you!"

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Can...can we leave this for another time? We don't know in what mess K'ile might have stepped into. We can argue all you want once we are sure he's safe!"

 

(K'hai Tia) *crosses his arms* I care about the tribe. But I wont abandon a single person, or say I don't care about them. Only those who say they do not care about members of our family are the fools.

 

(K'hai Tia) *looks to K'airos* Fine. We discuss it later. *looks back to K'luha* Offer stands. Use me as you will.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "Then look at my damn daughter. She LEFT the tribe on her OWN accord." Luha turns painfully away from K'hai and looks instead to Airos. "Please, Airos. Lead the way. I haven't the faintest idea where he's gone to."

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Alright!" she says, her hand forming into a fist. She remains like that for a few seconds before dropping the arm and her ears. "...but it's K'hai who knows where he went."

 

(K'luha Haaz) "Then you lead K'hai. I will follow."

 

(K'hai Tia) Very well. Come I will show you. He is family, even if he disrespects your own daughter, I will help you find him.

 

(K'hai Tia) *as he walks he notes all the outsiders*

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos doesn't. She's quite used to them all!

 

(K'luha Haaz) Luha is too angry with everything to notice the outsiders particularly.

 

(K'hai Tia) *rubs his brow trying to stave off dizziness*

 

(K'hai Tia) *points to the alley* there. *a few gnats are still buzzy around*

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos taps her fingers together, nervous and unsure how to

approach the silence of this march.

 

(K'luha Haaz) Huffs and pushes past K'hai to examine the alleyway.

 

(K'hai Tia) *isnt butched too much because of his mass*

 

(K'airos Thalen) "It was around here? In Pearl Lane?"

 

(K'hai Tia) I don't know the name of this place. Only that it had a guard and crates. He was planning this trip inside before I even found him.

 

(K'luha Haaz) Luha scowls and looks about the place. There were some gnats but no guards outside now. The door seemed locked however. "We'll have to ask a guard..."

 

(K'airos Thalen) "No, wait!" K'airos says, and looks at K'hai. "Which building was it?"

 

(K'hai Tia) the one you stand in front of

 

(K'hai Tia) *points at the shattered jar*

 

(K'luha Haaz) Luha limps over to the shattered jar, batting away the gnats and frowning.

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Okay! Ugm..." K'airos taps her cheeks with both hands for a moment, thinking. "Okay!" she adds happily after a moment. "Go back to the Avenue, downstairs, and wait for me there. I need to get my uniform!"

 

(K'hai Tia) Very well.

 

(K'luha Haaz) Luha looks to Airos and nods. "Sure. Fine."

 

(K'hai Tia) While we wait. I want to know what happened with my niece.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "She's not your daughter K'hai. You don't get that right to demand anything of me."

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos runs off down Pearl Lane. Presumably to the Quicksand or perhaps to some Brass Blade quarter.

 

(K'hai Tia) Yet you seem to both care for her, and not. So I want to know exactly what happened. To me, she is still family, and perhaps there is a way to salvage her.

 

(K'luha Haaz) Luha scowled darkly at her brother. "Your obession with my daughter is disturbing. You stay away from her."

 

(K'hai Tia) *crosses his arms* She was always my favorite of the children. She is a lot like me. And believe me. If the roles were reversed, and you were the one who ran away, I'd be obsessing over you just as much.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "She's NOT your child K'hai! You get to demand of me, nothing. You stay out of this. You've been dead for five years as far as anyone knows. Why don't you do something else other than suddenly appear after being dead for five years and then criticize the way I handle my child."

 

(K'hai Tia) *growls* I am not dead. And I've done nothing but think of the tribe since I awoke. And from the looks. You've done a fine job raising her! Let me guess. She said something disagreeable to you, and you declared her dead too?

 

(K'luha Haaz) "Don't you start acting like my brat child too! 'I've done nothing but think of the tribe,'" Luha mocked in a harsh voice. "You are a Tia! You have no children! You couldn't have done any better than I did! And I'm sure if YOU had raised her, she would be DEAD already!" Luha hissed furiously.

 

(K'hai Tia) *takes a deep breath* I wont give up on family. Nor will I ever say I don't care about them, or call them brats or think them dead. But I will return to the tribe and help in any way I can.

 

(K'luha Haaz) "Fuck off. I don't know who you think you are, but you're a nothing. Learn your place worthless Tia. I am done with your bullshit. I am done with K'ailia's bullshit. And I am done with K'ile's bullshit. Don't talk to me. Don't look at me. Got it? And when I drag your two sorry asses back home, I will have the elders deal with all of you together."

 

(K'hai Tia) *walks over to K'luha and backhands her* I may be Tia. But I have to wonder who you are? When I left for war, you loved your child. So much so you would not let her out of your sight. Now look at you. You disrespect family. You act as though the elders are some tool to punish everyone. If the girl truly left the tribe, why would she return to the tribe camp? Ever think of that?! Does she still care about the tribe? Because those who leave the tribe, don't care about the tribe and could care less if the tribe lived or died.

 

(K'luha Haaz) K'luha blinked as she was backhanded, so shocked she couldn't even speak. And when she finally could, she stood up and walked away without another word.

 

(K'hai Tia) *he turns away from K'luha* When you learn your own lesson, I will be here.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos comes back half an hour later. Whatever the Brass Blades

could say about how protective and good their armor was, the truth was that it was a severe pain to put on without help. Nevertheless, K'airos managed to tie everything up properly. She waves at K'hai and looks around with some confusion, though most of it is obscured thanks to the bronze mask.

 

(K'hai Tia) *sniffs* K'airos? I smell you?

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Uhm...where's Luha?"

 

(K'hai Tia) Lets just say she needed some sense knocked into her. She's gone to sulk. So I will help you free the red headed fool. What did you learn?

 

(K'airos Thalen) Even with the mask, K'airos can't hide a great deal of sadness. Her lips become a thin, dissapointed line, and her tail curls around her leg. "Ah...well...let's just head inside. Just let /me/ talk with any guards and...just look stern and somewhat angry."

 

(K'hai Tia) Okay. I will remain silent.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos moves towards the building, climbing up the stairs and doing her best impression of a confident Brass Blade officer.

[Ildur]

(K'ile Twinflame) K'ile Tia loiters in a dilapidated cage adjacent to the storage building. He is alone and unguarded, and the cage is full of the debris of old crates and barrels, as though it had been used for storage at one point. He is battered, decorated in black and blue bruises, but he isn't bleeding anymore. There are many bright red wounds on his body, dried blood dark around them.

 

(K'hai Tia) I think I see him.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos leans forward, looking around. "Where?" It takes her a second to notice the cage. "Oh! Is...that him?"

 

(K'hai Tia) Hmm looks as though he was abused...

 

(K'airos Thalen) She looks completely clueless for various moments before turning around. "Go make sure he's fine and I'll get the key."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "K'hai!" K'ile calls out, without moving, "Don't get me waiting out there!"

 

(K'hai Tia) "Very well." He proceeds to walking towards the cage.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos rushes into the building, without knocking, and dissapears inside.

 

(K'ile Twinflame) He waits patiently for K'hai to approach him, and then greets him with, "Your plan was shit."

 

(K'hai Tia) "K'airos is getting the key. I'm sorry about your injuries. Who did it? I will gladly beat them down for you."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "It was an Ul'dahn, and I think they were in their rights as Ul'dahns, screwed up as they are. K'airos is dead. You ghosts come in groups now?"

 

(K'hai Tia) Sighs "What happened to sister? First she is worried about her daughter. Now she speaks ill of her. And she wants me to remain dead."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "She gets mad. Weird, huh?" He stands, groaning as his body objects to the movement, "I smell Hipparion on you, but not Luha. And don't tell me it's K'airos again."

 

(K'airos Thalen) It does not take K'airos long to come out with the key in her hands. The grumpy Blades inside where happy to get rid of their prisoner and hand him to another fellow Blade. She heads towards the cage, walking this time, but not with any less urgency.

 

(K'hai Tia) "It is... but... I may of reacted rashly just a while ago. I shall have to submit myself to the elders for punishment I think."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) Smirking at K'hai, he says, "I hope that means I get to throw you in the racks." He pauses as K'airos approaches, looking confused, "A Sagolii Hipparion in an Ul'dahn outfit?"

 

(K'airos Thalen) She smiles and raises the key. "It's a funny story! I'm getting you out of there first." she says, and opens the cage.

 

(K'hai Tia) Crosses his arms "Then we need to find my sister. Perhaps I should not of backhanded her as I did..."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) Looking around himself at the walls, as though he suspected something to be hidden there, K'ile delays for just a few moments proceeding out of the cage. "If that's not a metaphorical backhand, keep it to yourself, or I'm going to cause problems you don't want."

 

(K'hai Tia) closes his mouth and remains silent.

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos starts hoping in place as she always does when excited. "You are alive!" she exclaims with a broad smile.

 

(K'ile Twinflame) Blinking down at the happy Miqo'te, K'ile says, "I try not to die. You smell familiar. Who's under that turban?"

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Oh. Oh, right!" She stops hoping to pull off her mask, with all and turban. She tries her best to stay still, smiling, to let K'ile recognize her.

 

(K'ile Twinflame) K'ile goes wide-eyed at the woman's face. His lip cracks up towards a smile, then wavers. He reaches out and puts a hand on the side of K'airos head, as if to make sure she's actually there. He looks unsettled, "You are definitely dead."

 

(K'airos Thalen) She giggles and blushes enough to make her hair and skin basically the same color. She closes her eyes and starts hoping again. "That's a common misconception!"

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "No. I saw your body. You died."

 

(K'airos Thalen) "But I'm here, alive! So I didn't die." she says, confident that her logic is undeniable.

 

(K'ile Twinflame) He reaches up and puts his other hand on K'airos face, so he's holding her by both cheeks. He narrows his eyes, sniffs the air, examines her.

 

(K'hai Tia) K'hai sighs "Everyone thinks we are dead. Yet cannot accept that we stand right before them fully alive."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) After he examines her for a time, K'ile pulls K'airos by her head, into a big hug, where he wraps his arms around her neck and hods her against his shoulder. "I'll accept it if it's offered."

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos' ears pull back and her tail curves upwards gently. She gladly lets herself be buried against K'ile's shoulder, making sure to catch up his scent. The smell of the wounds is the first thing she catches, though. "We should get you a healer! And then find K'luha, and then we can all talk and get into one big hug!"

 

(K'ile Twinflame) K'ile does not release K'airos, or does anything right away.

 

(K'hai Tia) clears throat "Ahem, sister, broken hip, running away. We should go look for her."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) At this point, K'airos may notice K'ile actually shaking a little bit as he squeezes her.

 

(K'airos Thalen) The girl speaks from behind K'ile's shoulder. "Right!" she says, and then enters a visible panic. "Oh no! I forgot to catch her scent! How are we going to find her?" she exclaims, pulling slightly away from K'ile without releasing him, but completely forgetting she isn't the only Miqo'te.

 

(K'hai Tia) K'hai holds his hand out "Her scent is here"

 

(K'ile Twinflame) Finally releasing K'airos, K'ile says, "I know K'luha's scent better than my own. I'll be able to track her down in no time. Wait." He turns to glare at K'hai, "She isn't at the Quicksand? I told you she shouldn't be moving!"

 

(K'hai Tia) She walked out on her own, worried for you.

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "Then why isn't she here?"

 

(K'airos Thalen) "And then she walked away...because she was angry at...him?" K'airos clarifies, slightly less panicked.

 

(K'hai Tia) "Because she and I got into a fight and I made that rash decision"

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "If you set her off then you should keep quiet and stay well away from her. If she decides to off you I'm not going to help."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "If you set her off then you should keep quiet and stay well away from her. If she decides to off you I'm not going to help."

 

(K'hai Tia) frowns "So be it. I will remain quiet. But I should hope she would not sink so low to kill family."

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos stands back, watching the two men warily, her gauntlets clashing softly against each other.

 

(K'airos Thalen) "That's a horrible thought! Why would she do that?"

 

(K'hai Tia) looks to K'airos "Her mind did not seem as it was when I left. I could be wrong though. But she seemed far more volatile."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "Maybe you guys don't realize that those who stayed in the Sagolii buried more than half the tribe. Thanks for you help with the clean up, by the way." He walks out in between them, angling to exit the building.

 

(K'hai Tia) frowns further, "I wish people would at least tell me what happened to cause such changes..."

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos follows behind K'ile. "The Calamity happened." she says. In a brave attempt to change the subject, she quickly adds: "I heard the Blades confiscated some food from you, yes? If you tell me more about it, I can get it back to you!

 

(K'ile Twinflame) Pausing to glare back at K'hai as if the man had just uttered both the most offensive and dumbest words possible, K'ile clicks his teeth shut and turns to K'airos. "It's enough food to feed the tribe. There's drought in the Sagolii and they're starving. The food's loaded in enchanted crates on a cart in the storage area."

 

(K'hai Tia) looks at K'ile "Good. You find K'luha. I will assist K'airos in getting the food."

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Ah, wait! Did they tell you why they confiscated them?"

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "They wouldn't admit to me that they'd taken the food."

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos ponders for a moment. "Enchanted crates, uh? If they are in this building, you think you can tell me which are they?"

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "Chocobo cart full of crates right next to the big door that leads into the alley. Look for blood spots on the floor where I got beat up."

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos claps her hands together with a loud metallic sound. "Alright! Let's get you to the Quicksand and then I'll come back here and see what I can do about it."

 

(K'hai Tia) "He has to find K'luha. Unless you intend to take me to the quicksand."

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos pouts, muttering "Oh, right" and putting her turban and mask back on. She looks to K'ile. "Do you think you can find her on your own? I'll need K'hai to get the cart out of here."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "Yes, I can find her on my own. It might be a better idea."

 

(K'ile Twinflame) He reaches out and lays a hand over K'airos forehead again, "Hey, don't disappear again. That would be too mean."

 

(K'hai Tia) "Tell her I apologize."

 

(K'airos Thalen) K'airos smiles and a tiny hop escapes from her body. "We'll meet again after I secure the food!"

 

(K'ile Twinflame) "Alright," he pats her head, then turns to go, walking out. As he moves, he says over his shoulder, "Oh, I left my lance with the food! Hang onto it if you find it!"

(K'airos Thalen) "Will do!"

 

(K'hai Tia) "So what's the plan girl?"

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Remember how we got in here? Well, we do the same! You look stern and if anybody looks at you, stare back at them as if you were their owner. And, as usual, let me speak!"

 

(K'hai Tia) *grins* One look from me and they will instantly know who their daddy is."

 

(K'airos Thalen) "Excellent...! Wait, you are their...oh! You mean...like...I see!" she mumbles, catching up on the expression a bit too late. Coughing, she adds: "Let's...let's get to that cart now. You think you can pull it? Or should we get a chocobo?"

 

(K'hai Tia) flexes "I can pull it. But it would be prudent to get a chocobo down the road"

 

(K'airos Thalen) She stops by the door and looks at him. "True! We'll get one after we leave." Then she moves towards the storage area.