<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">I'll take the Intimidating Rage nutrion!</div></div></div><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Ureck wrote:</cite>"But now Lesik and the Grangers have thrown one mighty big rock and made one mighty big ripple. And only by joining our ripples together can we possibly make a wave big enough to block his. It's ironic, that we spend so much time keeping others' ripples away when our true strength lies in bringing them into one..."</div></blockquote><br/>"Huh," Sherani says, a blunt counterpoint to her last thoughtful contribution. "I guess ya got a point there... With the keepin' away, thing, I mean. That happens a lot." The shifter pauses, trying to think of something insightful (or at least a little less rock-headedly stupid) to offer Ureck in return, but only manages to create an awkward silence from her side of the camp.<br/><br/>Minutes pass. Rak pads quietly out to join Lilium, settling down next to his owner after what looks like a conversation made of meaningful glances. For a brief instant, Lium's gaze seems to settle on Sherani and the tigress perks up in expectation of a kick-start to their conversation. But, nothing doing- the kitsune's attention shifts just as quickly to Ureck, before settling back on Rak to fiddle with the oversized fox's eye.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Great. Now we're back where we started.</span>Sherani slumps forward, elbows on knees, chin on hands, and stares into the fire.<span style="font-style: italic">At least it's warmer than it was a few minutes ago.</span><br/><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Lilium wrote:</cite>"Tell me Sherani, you've been to the Hevex camp before right? what should we expect from them?"</div></blockquote><br/>"Hm?" Sherani says, glancing up at the unexpected question. To her surprise, Lilium's gaze is back on her, now fixed laser-like on her position. It might actually be intimidating, if the silence of the camp hadn't been just as unnerving in its own way.<br/><br/>"Oh, that's right! Neither of you guys've seen a Hevex before, have ya?" Hauling herself upright, Sherani scoots herself around to a position where she can see both of her companions before she begins answering the question. "The thing ya gotta keep in mind is, Hevex have a weird way of treatin' visitors. See, they love company, but they love food too, and just 'cuz they like ya doesn't mean they won't eatcha- you gotta be a blood relative or do something<span style="font-style: italic">really</span>impressive to be safe from that. Me, I'm in good with the higher-ups, so I got nuthin' to worry about. You guys, on the other hand..."<br/><br/>Sherani's eyes shift between her three traveling companions, sizing them up one by one.<br/><br/>"You," she says, pointing to Ureck, "Someone's gonna try to eat you- probably one of the ladies. They go for that whole 'shy submissive' thing. You," she points at Lilium, "are gonna get hit on by every guy in the camp. They like to eat after they screw, so it's even odds they come after you unless there's something else handy. You..." she points to Rak and hesitates, not really sure what kind of advice to give a hundred-pound fox. "Uhm... well, somebody probably likes your type too, so don't get cocky."<br/><br/>"SO! Ground rules," she announces. "First, stay on their good side. They're big on hospitality, so they're gonna get upset if you say no too much. An' don't start any fights, 'cuz they'll all dogpile ya. Second, don't drink too much. They're gonna use us visiting as an excuse to party, but ya don't hafta take everything they give. Just fake it, or say you're full- Most of 'em are gonna be too blitzed to know anyway. Third, be careful who ya take to bed- that's how they catch ya off guard. If somebody makes a pass at ya, check with me first. Other'n that, just be really careful, and yell for me if somethin' goes wrong. I'll come help as long as I'm not too drunk."<br/><br/>Satisfied, Sherani leans back onto her leaf-bed and eyes her campmates. "Any questions?"