<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;">Geez… sorry about such a big delay. &gt;&lt; I spent the last week or so moving to a new apartment, and the tiredness doesn’t help get the creative juices flowing. Ah well, I’m back on track now, and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do here. So… sorry for the big post everyone! X)<br/><br/>Also, Sillyness has opted to drop Twilah as a character and bring in another, who I’m going to introduce in this post. Keep an eye out for it!</div></div></div><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Eruin wrote:</cite>"Of course. Nothing personal. Heck, I guess we do stick out a little bit, after all. Since neither of us turned to stone… I guess all is forgiven. Rea just doesn't like being stared at - makes her really uncomfortable. I on the other hand, don't mind modeling for others. Let me know - next time, I'll strip down to my skivvies before you star peeking."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Although the jackal was still wary of Eruin and Rea’s former hostility, he smiled knowing that they had patched things up enough for him to make a joke about it. A small laugh escaped his lips as he again slid his hands into his pockets, although he didn’t seem to notice or care about his idiosyncrasies. “I highly doubt that will be necessary for our own duties. Still, if you did you might be able to brighten up my friend here just a little bit perhaps.”<br/><br/>The wolf, although still wearing a smirk on his face, returned a look that was decidedly unpleasant, a good deal of malice glimmering in his golden eyes. It was all the jackal needed to drop his own grin from his face, let out a sigh, and turn back towards the other wolves. “Anyway, as you said, all if forgiven. I apologize for making your companion upset, and I hope you two have a good trip.”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Alyssa wrote:</cite>"To begin, can you provide a list of the prominent factions working in the Heights at present? I consulted the academy archives, but with the ongoing power struggles, I'm afraid the information I have may be somewhat out of date. In addition, if you could provide information on the level of xenophobia, territoriality, and predatory inclination of each faction listed... That is, which factions are safe for visitors to approach?"</div></blockquote><br/><br/>As befitted his educated demeanor, the jackal’s expression didn’t waver as the tiefling detailed her inquiry. His hand rose to his chin in a pensive look as he rolled the details of her question through her head, a look which didn’t falter at any of the large terms she began to use. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for his companion. The wolf’s face grew steadily more blank as Alyssa spoke, lost in the unexpectedly complex question that rang in his ears. However, once she finished, his usual smirk had replaced the vacant air he bore as he began to pick at his claws.<br/><br/>“Funny,” he muttered. “How the common tongue can be made to be so uncommon.”<br/><br/>Another exasperated look travelled from the jackal to the wolf. “You must excuse my friend. He woke up on the wrong side of the CRYPT this morning.” Recomposing himself, he took a moment to organize his thoughts before continuing. “As for your question, there is a reason I admire your bravery to come here. Xenophobia, territoriality, and predatory inclination are all quite commonplace in the city, whether in a group or not, and I would be hard-pressed to name one without at least a little of each. I can give you some suggestions, but I highly suggest someone such as yourself be very, very careful. Now, there are the-“<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Theron wrote:</cite>"Speaking of security, I don't figure you guys use hand mirror to signal Eva Height's docks, do you? Because a cougar fellow just signaled something with a mirror."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>At once, the relaxed demeanor of the jackal melted away, his ears perked alertly upon catching the German shepherd’s sighting. “We do use mirrors, but it’s far too early. We’re not even close to shore yet…” His sharp gaze scanned the crowd. “…and none of the crew members happen to be cougars.” Although neither he nor the wolf seemed to have spotted the elusive feline, it was clear the mention had put them on edge.<br/><br/>He soon released his halberd from its holster, and the wolf soon followed suit, using his greatsword to heave himself onto his feet. “Where was this cougar? I think he may be a problem to be dealt wi-”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Rea wrote:</cite>"I don't see anything. Damnit, Eruin, why didn't you tell me. I could ha..."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>The two canines’ eyes widened as their stares alighted on the large wolf as she made her slip. Had she just talked? A feral animal? Their reactions probably would have been more marked had the heat of the moment be absent, but in their current circumstances both were quick to let the incident slide with a quip. “I knew there was something different about you,” the jackal noted. “You seemed a little too perceptive of the world around you for a common animal.”<br/><br/>He shook his head. “Alas, that is not our biggest concern at the moment. What was this cougar up to?”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Alyssa wrote:</cite>"I concur, a handheld mirror is far too small to signal the shore, or to serve as a warning beacon... which means that the recipients are already on the water, and awaiting a signal. In this weather, I believe- I believe a raiding vessel is this moving in our direction. We must alert the captain and crew as quickly as possible, and secure the rest of the passengers below deck."</div></blockquote><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Theron wrote:</cite>"I can think of a number of ways to handle such a situation, but a lot of them are dependent on what exactly we're dealing with. What kind of craft they ride up against us on, what their weaponry and skills are. Too many unknowns right now. Hell, we don't even know if there really are raiders or something else just yet, or if they even intend to board us. Sinking the ship itself would make things very easy for them, even if it reduces their over all 'catch'..."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>The jackal nodded in agreement with each of the points made. Much like Theron, the tiefling’s understanding of protocol was quite unexpected to him, and he found himself growing more impressed with her by the minute. Maybe her studies would go just fine after all.<br/><br/>“Yes, warning the passengers and the captain is of highest priority,” he agreed. “If you are correct and a raiding vessel is coming, we will want to make sure everyone’s safe and out of the way for the crew’s defensive measures. As for the defense itself…”<br/><br/>Now he turned to Theron. “Like you said, we have to assess the threat before we can make any swift plans. However… we don’t make a habit of tying our clients into that plan. Once we begin moving the passengers below deck, I suggest that all of you follow. You are our passengers, and that means your safety is our priority. We can-”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Rea wrote:</cite>"I'LL EAT YOU!! YOU'RE WOLF CHOW!!" 'SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!'</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Again, the wolfess’s unexpected voice rang out over the ship, but this time she managed to catch the attention of nearly the entire ship, let alone the jackal and wolf. Most of the chatter on the deck faded away as Rea’s angry outburst echoed around them. While some were close enough to see the pesky little pixie that had sparked her fury, many were quick to take the wolf’s phrase out of context and wonder if boarding this ship had been a good idea. However, between the antics she took up trying to catch the pixie and the loud clack of her jaws in the cool air, the question was not so easily answered.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Alyssa wrote:</cite>"A distraction... yes, that might work! You said that the cougar was signaling with a hand mirror, correct? What if we were to do the same? Miss Twilah could carry this over open water, and try to signal the other vessel. We don't know their code, of course, but even a nonsensical message might buy us time while they try to decipher its meaning. It might even lead them off course."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>For a few moments, the tiefling’s suggestion went almost unnoticed, the jackal and wolf still glancing warily at the snappy lupine. Still, the jackal managed to compose himself in time to register her little plan, but just as he opened his mouth to insert his own conjectures…<br/><br/>“Wait, did anyone hear that?”<br/><br/>The black-dressed lupine’s words cut off whatever remaining chatter that was on the ship as stillness fell on them. All around them, the fog seemed thick and stagnant even on the moving ship, masking whatever lurked beyond the railing. Then, they heard it. A light hum, as light as a buzz of a bee, but enough to rattle the nerves of those riding aboard the ship. Steadily it grew louder, progressing from a light hum to a whir and ultimately a rumble that shook the clouded air around them. Suddenly, with a crash of water, it came into sight.<br/><br/>Appearing out of the fog within a heartbeat, the large motorboat drew up along the far side of the main deck, causing several stunned passengers to step back from the railing. The vessel was old, as attested to by the rust beneath the peeling paint, yet the jet-black craft was easily keeping pace with the ferry it now bordered. As it drew closer to the ferry’s hull, a messily scrawled white marking could be made out on its hull through the surf and scum, taking the form of a canine skull lined with two rapiers and a pair of arrows. However, it wasn’t long as the image drew out of the sight, the boat decelerating out of view behind the observation deck before a heavy thud shook the hull. The clanks of hooks against the steel railings soon followed.<br/><br/>The tiefling was right, the jackal mused. “EVERYONE! GET BELOW DECK! NOW!”<br/><br/>It was almost as if a bomb had been set off.<br/><br/>Chaos broke over the deck as passengers scrambled to snatch their things, panicked shouts filling the cold air while they rushed to find the stairways that led below-deck. All around, humanoid forms seemed to swarm like ants, blocking lines of sight, tripping over each other, trying to find loved ones in the turmoil. Eyes wide, the jackal furrowed his brow and turned his now hardened gaze over his shoulder. “Come with me,” he said to his companion wolf. “We need to get everyone under control and down below where it’s safe.” His gaze now alighted on the group. “Unless you wish to use those weapons, do as I said before and head below deck.”<br/><br/>With that, the pair vanished into the crowd, their voices echoing over the screams around them as the ushered their flock to shelter.<br/><br/>Amongst the incensed throng pushing this way and that on deck, a young catgirl did her best to keep herself steady on her feet. It was the sort of chaos she thought she had escaped before, after trying so hard to fall off the face of the earth years before. Yet now panic had taken over the crowd, their tensions palpable through the motion and heat all around her. So many years to escape, yet here she was again, trying her best to hold on…<br/><br/><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;">Zipping between the taller individuals, the squirrelboy weaved his way through the swirling mass of people, eyes wide and body fueled by adrenaline. Somehow, he had managed to run into the new jackal guard in the midst of the chaos, and he had been given one very firm order: Go find the captain. Now, in accordance with his duties, he hopped and pushed his way past waists and legs around the front cabin of the ferry. Breaking past the point where the throng funneled into the bow’s lower entry, he whipped out a key ring and after some fumbling about unlocked another heavy steel door. Shutting it behind him, he bounded up the stairs into the capatain’s cabin, where the stalwart fox grappled at the wheel.<br/><br/>“Captain!”<br/><br/>“What are you doing here?” the vulpine growled, peering over his shoulder. “Get below deck where it’s safe!”<br/><br/>“I was told to get you,” the squirrel protested. “You need to come too!”<br/><br/>“You idiot! Someone has to steer the ship!”<br/><br/>“But if they find you, they will kill you!” The squirrel pondered for a moment. “If you won’t, then I’m staying here with you.”<br/><br/>“Damnit kid,” the fox cursed under his breath. “Now is not the time for heroics. I’m not going to lose another crew member in two we-“<br/><br/>“Look! There’s another one!”<br/><br/>The vulpine’s eyes darted to the lower corner of the viewing window, and sure enough another similarly colored ship was on the approach from the other side of the first. Unlike the first raiding craft, this one was still considerably ahead of the ferry and slowing down to pull alongside it. Its advance was quick and smooth, yet the experienced fox could tell bad piloting when he saw it. They were coming in from the side too quickly, an opportunity he wasn’t going to pass up.<br/><br/>“Amateurs,” he muttered, frowning and gritting his teeth. “Hold onto to something sonny. This is going to be rough.” With that, he grasped the wheel and gave it a hard jerk…</div></div></div><br/><br/>It almost felt as if the world stopped turning for a moment as the ferry lurched to the left, causing many to struggle for footing as it swerved. However, it paled in comparison to the heavy thud that shook the hull a moment later, accompanied by the harsh tone of scratching metal. Then, as if in a slideshow, the bow of another ship, much like the first one, appeared out from behind the steering cabin with an ear-splitting screech, grinded out of the water by the impact with the ferry.<br/><br/>The hull of the ship slid against the railing, nearly missing a few individuals standing near it as the front of the ship was lifted high out of the water over its end. In the wake of the ship, those standing nearby would just be able to see the ship collapse onto its roof, fully capsized as it vanished into the gloom.<br/><br/><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;">For a few moments, the squirrelboy could do nothing but blink idly as the captain let out a huff, straightening out the ship and the haughty grin spread over his face. The fox could feel the rodent’s trembling down his arms and into the captain’s seat, although it eventually faded after the squirrel’s breath came back to his lungs.<br/><br/>“That… was amazing!”<br/><br/>The vulpine let out a soft chuckle. “Yes, yes it was. Now…”<br/><br/>His sharp blue gaze bore into the squirrel’s eyes as he glared over his shoulder. “GET BELOW DECK.”</div></div></div>