Trying to evacuate the city was like trying to fit a sword through a hole the size of a pin. In the end it was impossible without hiccups. Unfortunately the Aspen serpent had to enter the city so she was fighting against the force of said sword. The people were swerving around her horse constantly, it was like the parting of the red sea but constricted to her particular space and a few metres behind her because everyone knows not to get behind a horse. She was punctual, as usual and was headed into the city on time, right in front of the carriage as an escort for it, telling people kindly to part for the large carriage behind her. Most didn’t however, they waited until the carriage actually approached but at least there was fair warning. Soon a civilian lost their parcel and it had valuables in it and his daughter’s medication. Seeing how sick his daughter was the Aspen Serpent decided to help. She was well ahead of the carriage, or so she thought. The carriage was 5 minutes behind her and so by the time they had found the package it was long ahead of her. The Aspen Serpent having realised this went back to where she tied up her horse and found it gone. Luckily for her it was only recently it had been stolen and she tracked it to a man who was trying to sell it off. When he retorted, the Aspen Serpent punched him, said-<br/>“This is property of the Jade Palace and the Lemurarian Order.” – And was on her way. She mountain the horse with haste and gracefully built its pace up to an even canter, the speed at which she would travel for the remainder of her journey.<br/>_ _ _<br/>The Black stallion canters down the streets making an incessant clacking against the cobblestone. On top of her rides the Aspen Serpent on a mission. She finds a merchant near the city entrance where deductively, her colleagues should have passed. She found a kind looking man and got off her jet black steed to talk to him. Her armour shone in the light and her tall frame in it only made her more imposing.<br/>“Hello, I am the Aspen Serpent. I believe some of my colleagues arrived here before me; do you know where they may have gone?” She said proffesionally.<br/>“May-ybe. It depends.”<br/>“Listen commoner, I am a Shoudai which is not a low rank amongst our kind, we are protecting you from the Solarians and we need people’s co-operation to do that.”<br/>“But you do have my co-operation! 100 percent! It just comes with a price tag.”<br/>“Listen scum, I have no intention of wasting any more valuable time by playing your stupid games. I advise you to tell me where my colleagues are.” The venom in the Serpent’s voice was palpable and her menacing glare showed that she meant business. Even so the man still wanted to test her limit.<br/>“Listen, lady. You look like you’ve got a bit of cash, I want cash and I have information that you need. Can’t we help each other out here?”<br/>“Do not test my patience any more simpleton! Only a fool would do so.” The glare became harsher.<br/>“Okay, okay… they went to the bar down the street. One that use to do a heck of a business, you can’t miss it!”<br/>“Thank you.” The Aspen Serpent nodded and walked down the rest of the street, pulling her horse along with her by its reigns. As she walked away then she did her appropriate reaction and sighed. She exasperatedly shook her head and when she reached the bar. What would they do without me?<br/>"Woo girl." She said as she pulled back on the reigns, commanding the horse to stop. The horse obeyed and received a pat from the Aspen serpent. She then looked around and tied the robe attached to the horse to a pole at the side of the street, right outside the bar. "Now you stay here Destry and be a good girl." The serpent rummaged through her little woollen bag and got out a carrot. She took a quarter of it off and gave it to the horse. "You get the rest when I see you out here and not making a seen." She waved the carrot teasingly in front of Destry and gave her a cheeky smiled. The horse sneezed.<br/>"Destry!" The serpent cried in amusement before handing the horse another quaternary of the carrot and placing the other half back into her bag.<br/>She went through the door of the bar and entered a dark space in comparison to the street. She took the time to examine the bar and what was inside it. There was the door space, then the bar counter with many drinks behind it and probably more under it. On display were the finest and the most popular drinks served. Then there was a table and or booth area where there were rows of both normal tables and booths for people to sit in. It wasn’t much, as the man had said it looked like it used to do a booming business however it wasn’t much now everyone was leaving the city. She then examined who was in the bar; she deduced that no one was be except the side the bar; where she saw it was empty save for her friends, the bar keeper and his family.<br/>The Aspen Serpent sat down and examined everyone. Everyone was mostly normal except for Akai, who seemed to be sleepy when the Serpent observed her, which was unusual.<br/>“A..” Akai blacked out and the Serpent went into shock. I then turned to the group. “Are there any rooms we can take her up to for rest?” She looked at Xiu then Hotaru. The Serpent could see Akami was breathing, so he was okay. He was just unconscious. At least it wasn’t worse. The Aspen Serpent started to look around Akami for any clue as to why she blacked out whilst simultaneously listening to whether they had a room for him to stay.