Re: [Horizon's Key] Job 01: Shakedown (Chapter 2)
Time:Just after Eliot and Eclipse left.
Wearily stepping up into the cart, Gem settled in on top of a small crate and leaned back against a pile of bags. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and looking over at the motionless Voidwalker suit, silently hoping that the Freespacer inside was alright while wondering what happened.
"'ey, Sliver, do ya know if there's a spaceport 'round 'ere?"
The fox thought a moment, then nodded. "There is the space elevator at the city center. It is one of the few links from the planet to the Imhotep. Why do you ask?"
The
Key's commander glanced at the still suit before looking back at Sliver. "We need tah get tha' to th' 'port, an' I need t' talk w' th' some'ne on th' station. It migh' be important."
Sliver looked at the Voidwalker suit a moment. "I have refrained from inquiring, and I shall continue to do so out of trust that this does not harm my student or his friend. We can make it there quickly enough lose only a few hours if your business there is brief. But we must leave if we are to make it before the heat of the day."
He smiled at Gem and then spoke to Winter, who turned and tapped the cart-pulling construct. Gem sat up and hopped out of the cart. Though she was still tired, the brief stop had done her good.
Time: While Eclipse and Eliot find lodging...
Gem sighed. It'd be morning before a Nepleslian doctor would be able to arrive to pick up Kassiopea. The doc was with a cargo ship that was at the Imhotep dropping off some import goods, it was only luck that a proper doctor was there at all. The Freespacer was still unresponsive and Gem didn't feel good about opening the suit to check. But the Kohanian in charge of the planetside elevator assured her they would watch over Kassi until the doctor arrived, and she left them with instructions to contact her if anything happened.
We really need to find a doc for the Key, Keira mused, heading back to check on where the Freespacer was roomed before heading back to the others and leave for the Colosseum. She returned to find it gone, along with the two youngest Kohanians, and only Sliver and Nicholai were waiting for her.
"Where'd our stuff go?"
The grey fox-morph looked over at the commander from a conversation he was having and smiled. "There would be no place to store it at the Colosseum, so Winter and Echo have gone to search for Master Eliot and our friend Eclipse. They will take your things to whatever housing your man and our guide have found for us, and remain to keep it safe until we return."
Something troubled Gem, but she couldn't quite put a finger on what it was. Any other time she would never have allowed her things to be taken without permission, even if given word that they would be returned. But something about how the reynard spoke calmed her initial outrage, though she didn't hide her frown. Still, she said nothing more on the subject, only nodding once, slowly. "Le's go, then. Sooner'll get late'r if we don'."
---
Time: While Gem was making arrangements for Kassiopia...
Winter was on edge. His tail-tip twitched rapidly, but his ears remained at a neutral position as he fought to keep his composure. The crowd that had gathered for the celebration flowed through the Holy City like water through irrigation ditches and it was only because of the massive stone construct behind him that he was able to move through it. But it was also because of the construct that people were watching him. Some were irritated at having to make way for the boy and his creation, but others were curious. Not because of the construct, those were common for heavy tasks such as construction or hauling, but because Winter's was of a distinct build, certainly not of the local schools of design.
The other problem was that, with so many scents in the city, it was nigh impossible to find those of either Eliot or Eclipse.
The puma forced his mind to focus on his task and pushed forward, heading toward the main gate. Maybe the guards there would remember the strange Furless One and a darkly-cloaked panther, especially when most of the population was somewhat more festively garbed.
In the meantime Echo was again seated among the cargo in the cart, all smiles, her eyes looking around and her hands busy with some wire she'd found in Winter's bag (she knew it was his by smell). Earlier, as the group had arrived in Anetheronn, she had been silent as she remembered the tragedy that had struck the last time the kitten had visited this city, but the festival had eased her mood considerably. Now she was impatient to find their friends so she could join the fun! Bored with the wire, she stuck it back in the bag and climbed the construct, carefully avoiding the etching in its stony surface.
As it turned out, the construct was just as good as a lookout point as it was at pulling carts. They had just cleared the gates and were beyond the crowd when the Siamese girl smiled and waved as she spotted Eliot, who was also outside and searching.
"
Dah-yaa narei! Daay-ha narei!"
"<Get down!>" Winter hissed at Echo, then noticed Eliot heading their direction. "<He doesn't understand you, so quiet down already!>"
The kitten stuck her tongue at her friend. "<I was getting his attention, now he knows were we are! So, nyaa!>" She got down anyway and sat on the headboard of the cart, her tail waving happily.
Cipher said:
He dodged through the crowds gathering and was soon in the free and clear, marching up the street to where the Key's crew, plus two or three, were stopped.
Or so he thought...it was difficult to discern who was there with the crowds but, as he drew near, he noticed that it was only the puma and kitten.
"Hey, guys." The cargo hauler announced as he arrived near the group. "It's time to go on into the city; we've got ourselves a room."
Winter's eyes narrowed but he managed a smile as the Nepleslian drew near. The smile turned to a mildly confused expression as Eliot spoke, and Winter finally held up his hands in a "Hold on" gesture. "Uhh...
enTeru'tra cann'ay..." He made a motion like he wanted Eliot to lead the way. "
Tra cann'Ay."