Cane eagerly awaited Celris' return, and luckily for him he did not have to wait long at all.  Almost immediately she slipped through the growing crowd of people, relieving Crane of his anxiety.<br/><br/>"Oy! Me an' my comrade have an important message to deliver. Leave us be!" The Feral sure was resourceful, that Crane would admit.  He figured that even had her payment not worked, she alone would've easily been able to dispatch the somewhat short guards.  Both of which eyed the envelope thoroughly before snatching it from her hand.<br/><br/>"Alright then," the taller of the two spoke.  "Be on your way then.  For future knowledge, we happen to have a very specific curfew here so next time you two come around town be prepared to pay a nights stay, or get the heck out before the gates close."  The speaker sheathed his sword, motioning for his follower to do the same.  Crane nodded to Celris and walked out of the gate.<br/><br/>After making sure she was behind him, Crane took off in a jog towards two small wooden posts near the hedge.  For last minute work, the horses had not come out badly at all.  A small brown pinto, and a white stallion for himself.  Each horse whinnied as the two approached, throwing back their heads in excitement.  Crane patted the neck of his own horse, admiring the beauty of the majestic beast.  Without waiting a moment longer, he threw himself over the saddle, landing roughly but firmly.<br/><br/>"Quick," he began.  "Get on your horse.  We have to ride through tonight if we want to be at the port in the after noon."  Crane threw back his hood, revealing the face of a middle aged Alune.  His eyes were a light blue, a tone that matched the tint of his skin.  Short and ragged, grey hair that hung in clumps.  "We haven't much time, Celris.  Like I said earlier, a whole war is at stake.  If we fail to meet our given time standards, then..."  Crane didn't feel the need to answer that, as he was sure the Feral understood.  Crane noticed that the Feral had no weapons, or at least none he could see.  Quickly, Crane swept his hand throuhg the air below his horse in the direction of her own mount.  Slowly, a metal sheath formed on the side of the horse, containing a small short sword.  Crane simled, pleased with his work.<br/><br/>Turning to the well-trodden path ahead, Crane examined the dark night sky.  Billions of twinkling lights greeted him.  Each brought forth memories of the past.  Of his own father's past as well.  Not all were good.  Shaking his head he sighed.  What lay in the forests ahead, he did not know.  What he did know though, was that he needed to leave and not spare a moment more.  Crane shook the reigns of the horse and sped onward through the forests, a triumphant smile plastered to his face.<br/><br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bristor.net/California2001/photos/PR_ForestPath.jpg">[ img ]</a>