After eating his very delicious rabbit, the middle-aged badger needed to rest. Normally, after eating, he would be eager to find more food, as much as he could until night fall, but he wasn't as young as he used to be, and his metabolism was starting to slow down. His legs were still screaming at him from all of the walking and the short run and pounce to catch his fresh prey. The pain was bearable enough. He sat on the cool grass on his haunches. Turning his head this way and that, Emeric loosened his stiff muscles. His small dark eyes closed as he did so, and when he opened them, the badger saw a butterfly flutter past. Emeric snorted, as if offended by the beautiful insect crossing his path.<br/><br/>After a few moments, Emeric stood to stretch his muscles to keep his legs from cramping up. He lifted one black clawed fore paw to his inner vest pocket until he felt the smooth parchment and trapped it in his claws. Emeric pulled out the paper to look down his short nose at it to make sure he was headed in the right direction. He knew nothing about the Atlai Islands and hoped he wasn't just getting himself lost. After rolling the parchment back up and placing it back inside his inner pocket, the old badger stretched, his short silver-topped black-under tail lifting up perpendicular from his body for a moment before resuming its usual downward relaxed state. Emeric yawned and continued walking through the clearing.<br/><br/>The morning sky was covered with gray clouds that looked like a storm was threatening to come in. The middle-aged badger was pleased that the sun wasn't shining in his dark sensitive eyes, though he hoped it would not rain until he could find adequate shelter. He wondered absently of what his mother would think of him at this moment, answering a call of help from another. Emeric's sharp pointed white teeth showed in high contrast against his black lips as he sneered. She would probably think him daft, the only call for help he should answer is of family. Even that had fallen to pieces, but that had been his mother's thinking when it was her, him, and his two sisters. Emeric did not regret leaving. His family had started to grow apart after his mother had sought out a new boyfriend, and he was a real romancer too. The badger grimaced at the turn his thoughts had taken. He pushed them out of his mind and searched for the Jinyi who's call it was he was answering. Since it was an island they were going to - Emeric would have paled if not covered in fur - he assumed that he would find his employer somewhere near the ocean. This in mind, the old badger pointed his toes towards the smell of salt water.<br/><br/>After several minutes of walking, Emeric's muscles began screaming again. The proud badger he was did not allow him to show any weakness. Even though the pain only worsened, he continued walking as if nothing was wrong. Soon, he could not only smell the sea, but hear the waves crashing along the beach as well. When he reached the beach, he could see the island off in the distance that he assumed they would be visiting. Adding to assumption, he thought this would be the place that they would be meeting at. If not, he would most likely be able to notice the others when they arrived since he could see for miles down the expansive beach.  He stopped walking and rested in the grass just above the sands, not wanting to chance getting too close to the frothing, rabid-looking waves. The normally soothing sound of the waves seemed more like mocking to him. As he stretched out on the grass, laying on his stomach, he faced the sea, glaring at its waters, as if afraid to even look away should it come alive and swallow him up.<br/><br/>~~~~~~~~<br/><br/>Kanika sniffed the air. This place seemed so new. Her tail twitched as all sorts of new scents assailed her. With the clouds hanging overhead like her tragic past, Kanika still found the joys of life. She wanted Sefu to see how strong she still was, and she hoped he still loved her for it. She was still young by Shaha standards, barely into adulthood, and there was no use in wasting her years left in misery.<br/><br/>Her velvet black fur looked uniform without the sun's direct light. Her slitted pupils were slightly enlarged in a perfect diamond shape in her light green eyes. Because Kanika did not expect a fight, she was dressed in a sapphire silk robe that felt smooth and luxurious against her fur-covered skin. Thanks to her years of protecting traders as they went from point A to point B, Kanika was good with directions and map-reading.<br/><br/>Kanika's ears twitched as she began to hear the sounds of the ocean, her tail twitched with anticipation and bobbed as she walked to the inn that was indicated on the map. Kanika spotted a Jinyi outside, and thought that must be the one she was meant to meet. Kanika extended her hand in greeting, a custom of her people, for a handshake, as she said, "I am Kanika Basara, and I am hear in answer to a poster I saw. If you or anyone you know is in the bargaining business, you may have heard of me, or in extension, my family." She placed her free hand on one of her two sword hilts, their sheaths attached to the belt she wore over her robe. "I can protect you should there be dangers, or, if nothing else, I will do my best at being good company."<br/><br/>She looked at the Jinyi with her soft-hued green eyes, no longer doubting that this must be her employer. They were so few nowadays that for there to be another in this exact vicinity would be too big of a coincidence.