The Library

Sandwalker by Night ​

"There is no glory to be had in mercy." Sleipnir protested against Quartz. Steam escaped it's nostrils as it brazed. Yet it stayed back, even if reluctantly, as it's holder deemed it to. Eowyn shook her head and gestured the horse to wait.

As Eowyn was about to ask Nathair again if he could make out what the silhouette in the distance was, her fellow holder impromptu kicked against a stone by accident. It didn't land in the snow, stifling the sound of the clash, but rather fell down a cliff bumped into a spire that was free from a white coating. Eowyn threw her hands in front of her mouth and stood as still and stiff as she could. Had the creature heard that?

It had. It turned around on it's eight legs, turning towards the source of the noise. It didn't roar, or make any noise, but skittered in the direction of the rock... "Let's go." Eowyn whispered urgently, grabbing Nathair by his arm. "It's suspicious now."

"No such conducts shall be made!" Sleipnir protested, the veins in it's stone body lighting up. "It's back is turned, it's course is yawed. The moment opportune to strike is before us. We must act."
 
Rendezvous Crash​

Bishop felt the injuries sustained by the Drogan as it was routed with ease by the more experienced creatures. She stops momentarily and grasps her chest in agony, closing her eyes as she instinctively loses her control over the creature. Coughing heavily, she looks into her sleeve and sees blood. Taking a sharp breath, she shudders in pain and gasps: One of her ribs was broken, or at the very least, cracked. Rubbing one of her lower left ribs with shallow breaths, she realized that another injury of that kind would very likely kill her, as they were far from any source of medical aid.

Between her forehead injury from earlier in the mission and this new injury, she felt physically weakened, and it showed as her ordinarily stoic demeanour was failing to hide the grimace of pain. Walking forward at a gingerly pace, she follows Vologhn wordlessly into the abandoned, depopulated structures, where they would surely meet nobody. After all, the alternative was to drag an infamous mob boss through a crowd of people in a city full of murderers: Why she even considered it momentarily, was anyone's guess.

Bishop notices doors on most of the buildings. As, after all, they were buildings made for habitation: They would have doors one would imagine. "We can't outpace them with our guest in tow." Quietly, Jester whispers in her ear in a teasing tone. "Or you." Bishop glances at one of the doors and tries to open it. Finding it locked, she looks to Andre as she steps back from the door. "If you would so please... I would appreciate it. We can hide in its basement until the Drogans have passed. We won't be able to escape in a city filled to the brim with malice for us." Jester chuckles, then speaks telepathically to the entire group, his tone no less playful. "I wonder why! Maybe they wouldn't care if you left the old, obese pig that you're dragging with you dead." Bishop looks with disapproval, though quickly returns to a pained expression. She would enter the structure the moment Andre broke in. If he chose not to, she would continue to follow, albeit at a slowed pace due to injuries.
 
Rendezvous Crash
​
Andre looked between Bishop, Ling En and the Don before nodding and moved to break into the house, materialized blade in hand. He doubt the door here was as sturdy as the door in the Don's office and it was better to try to keep the door as intact as possible. Using the blade as leverage, the Rook forced the door open and moved in to prevent someone inside, if any, to scream or alert other people. Finding no one, he would then help dragging the Don inside.

"Right, should we interrogate Big Boss here while we wait? I'm not to keen on escaping this place while dragging him behind."
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Memories of Soule
​
Vignar handed over Diana to Emily before letting himself be helped by Fran. "Past trouble?" Vignar croaked. "...I'll..manage.."
​
Wanted: Liaison​


Mime glowered back at the two bullies before Arlette tugged at the spirit's hem. "N-neither of us know how the police really works though...S-so you'd have to help and..." Arlette explained before Mime cut her off. "Oh! That's an idea!" She said with a twinkle in her eyes. The spirit peeked at the cops loitering around the site and picked the most bossy looking and acting one to copy the form in the quiet alley. The now chubby spirit then hurried to Ilsa before grabbing her arms and activated False Identity. Soon enough, Mime was facing Ilsa with her own face.

"There!" Mime grinned with Ilsa's voice. "Now you can take Thug Investigator there to investigate!"

"Uhhh?" Arlette stammered, stuck between trying to understand what Mime did, admonishing the spirit for it and curiosity.​
 
Sandwalker by Night​


Nathair/Quartz


Bump...ba-bump... ba-bump... Nathair heard his heart beating in his head, making it dizzy ever slightly as his fingers dig farther into the stone's hard surface. His body froze there listening while the rock skirted past the snow and down the cliff, echoing when it cracked against a spiral jutting out. The creature paused. It's tail raised and legs twisted about, the shapeless head turned to the sound before it abruptly skittered to the direction. Its back was exposed to the foursome, huddled and silent, while it investigated the cause. Nathair's fear flooded his body making it tense, not helped by Eowyn's action when she stifled a gasp and stilled. In his thoughts images of the beast spotting them had ran rampant in his mind. Its claws ripping them into pieces and crushing their bones, leaving their corpses broken and worse.

In silent horror and morbid admiration, Nathair continued to watch. His body tensed and coiled for movement with his instincts set on high.

Meanwhile, Quartz's feathers had ruffled at Sleipnir's words. His eyes had settled on the six legged horse firmly and almost scolding, his jawline tightened against ripping the spirit a new tail. It wasn't hard to see why Eowyn had sudden went off against the beast in the sea now. The horse was all about dying in battle and that was a factor that Qaurtz felt was a pointless trait, namely as one couldn't learn anything if they were dead. He was relieved when Eowyn had gestured for the beast to fall back. Last thing they needed was a powder keg being lite by Sleipnir's fiery spirit and end up blowing the situation up. When Nathair sent the rock catering off the edge, all three had became a group of statues instantly. It wasn't until the beast headed for the sound did Quartz finally agree with Eowy. His head jerked up just in time to see her reach for Nathair, his mind already tuned into his holder's fear and tension, a dangerous combination for Nathair, causing the snake to snap out a warning.

"Eowyn, don't-"

It was too late.

Nathair, too engross into the sight, had forgotten his allies were there so when he felt her grab him, Nathair reacted on pure instinct. His eyes snapped wide and his head jerked to her direction, his lips letting out a sudden, feral snarl. His arm jerked away and for a moment, it looked as if Nathair was more animal then human. It took a few seconds for Nathair to realize what he had just about did. The fear and anger melted into shame while Sleipnir's protest broke the silence his reaction had created. Some habits didn't die easily.

Quartz, however was the one to answer the horse. "I agree with Eowyn on this, time to fall back. Namely before it figures out we're here. Something's rather wrong as if that is our quarry, it's far too big. The creature we're looking for is able to be held in the palm of a man's hand."

He looked to Nathair only to see the boy couldn't meet his eyes, a worrisome fact that hurt the spirit's heart.
 
Soule of Memories
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Emily

Shouldered Diana, placing her into a fireman's carry, as she secured the petite woman. A pang of worry edged into Emily at seeing her in this unconscious state causing her to readjust, pushing the dead weight farther on her shoulders before she heard Vignar's comment. Her eyes turned to face him while her tone seemed to have regret in it, "Yeah, sadly. I'm not exactly welcome home anymore because I broke tradition. Soule doesn't like strangers or outcasts as you'll discover shortly..."

Slowly she started off. Her feet touched the familiar sun kissed desert, letting the heat scorch her soles with each step, sinking into the familiar memories while bring her and her companions into the harsh environment. Emily's eyes stared with empty and emotionless quiet to the distance. Depression seeped in her expression and impossible to hid the closer they came to Soule. The sun lingered around the horizon in a bloodred sky, the purple and darkness reaching to claim any light left behind in its retreat when they reached the trader's post. Three half circle huts made from smoothed out desert stone stood alone in miles of flat area where sands were kicked up by the whipping winds. Each was just enough to fit a full grown man and the main entrance just a rectangular cut out hole, open and exposed the slightly sandy insides. Just a few meters out it seemed the world had sudden been carved into by an invisible knife as at the bottom of a canyon sat a river, living proof the desert wasn't some lifeless landscape, wound it's way to the nearest sea. Several meters down from the top were many man made holes carved out covered by colorful blankets, each a front door to a family that dwell inside the canyon itself.

Gently putting Diana just outside a hut, Emily crawled inside and retrieved whatever was left behind. She quickly resurfaced with a bag, thick rope coiled about her shoulder and blankets. Pausing beside Diana, Emily shouted to Fran and Vignar, "Both of you come here."

When they gathered, she explained what their next task was and the fact why time was a main factor. While she talked, her hands reached into the bag and drew out several harnesses, rope, and climbing hooks made from strong bones, "We need to lower Diana and ourselves down the canyon before the sun has completely set and we're left in darkness. I don't advise rock climbing without experience at night. First off, Fran can you tie these around Diana. She needs to be secure and fastened tight, can you do that? Also some blankets to wrap around and protect her from rope burn."

After Fran nodded, Emily pulled out some numbing salve, bandages and other crude supplies to mend his wounds, "This should help with the pain and have your..."

Emily felt herself choke on the next words, her eyes lingering on the summon as she forced them out, ""Exazie was his name. He was a teammate in Home Alone mission alongside Ramza, Lux, Andre and myself, but we were ambushed and he died. He's another life I couldn't save, just like Octal and Eight when the dragon burned the caravan."

Cerberus was mercifully quiet though she heard him stir, his eyes pinning her with his cold and grim stare. Shrugging it off, she passed Vignar the items then pushed up onto her feet, fighting off the twisting emotions withering in her gut, "I'm going to check the crank and find a way down first."

While the others tended their wounds Emily took the rope, hooks and made her way to the cliff edge.
 
Rendezvous Crash​

Andre quickly got the door open, allowing the librarians to escape out of plain sight. Bishop's assumption about a basement had been right; providing the librarians with a quick getaway room. It was small and damp, but had enough space to store three people. The hatch down could only fit one person a time, however... Which could be to either their advantage or disadvantage.

Having jolted between the buildings caused most of the tamers to lose sight of librarians. Normal humans couldn't keep up, after all, leaving their monsters directionless... The drogan would find it difficult to land in the narrow alleys, instead hovering over them... Wildly searching for a clue. Some already passed over the area onto the next. Likely confusing their masters in the distance as well...

The wingless monsters were not quite as quick to move on. They went into the buildings, ravaging their rooms. Though the door Andre had forcefully opened was hardly the only one that had suffered such a fate. It was a wild goose chase, and the apes weren't exactly good trackers... However, one of them found a trail... The blood Bishop had coughed up. It shrieked in an attempt to rally it's kin, but only two were still close enough to respond. A good five minutes after the librarians had gotten into the house, the beasts would follow them into the rundown, narrow apartment. The monsters made a lot of noise, announcing their arrival, as they clumsily tore down what was left of the wallpaper as they tried to climb their ways though. Their claws scratched the floors, but they didn't quite seem to be able to find the librarians just yet...

There were two obvious options, waiting it out or dispatching of the three ape-monsters discreetly.

Wanted: Liaison​

The goon had a point. Even if the point was his own stupidity. "He's not completely useless." Sigmund pushed Ilsa's now much broader back forward. It was now time for a switcheroo. "Go get in position, We'll be taking care of the vanishing act."

The moment Ilsa was out of sight, Sigmund stepped into the open, right approaching the officer Mime had copied Ilsa into. "Oi, you there! We got a problem in the back!" Sigmund bellowed, as he forcefully trampled the police in their barricades. Even without his powers as a rook, Sigmund was quite intimidating as a man. He grabbed the bossy agent by the wrist, summoning his iron viper within his sleeve. The grappling hook snook in a bite, activating Sigmund's hypnotising active. "They're robbing my bloody store! You're the law, you're gonna put an end to this."

The officer dribbled after Sigmund, "Yes, yes," The entranced chubby officer stumbled, taking two more (very confused) agents in tow. "Of course, sir." The quartet paraded out of sight into the alleys. Though there of course... Was no store. Sigmund shot Mime a quick glance, gesturing him to come over. After all, Sigmund could only drug one man at a time and it was hard to dispatch of the other two with his... Talents, without warning their collegues.

Ilsa meanwhile, had the perfect position to reappear and start talking to the other investigators. Just a few minutes in, she could easily start to mix and mingle.

Sandwalker by Night​

Eowyn yelped when Nathair's instincts spoke for him. She fell forward, in the dim light unable to catch her self, and Eowyn shaved the palm of her right hand on the rocks, and the ground claimed skin from her forearms as well. Eowyn bit her lip not to make even more sound, though her teeth dug up blood as well. She looked at Nathair with pity... Though the young man's instinctive response had something of hers... Was Nathair as frightful and insecure as she felt? For different reasons, but Eowyn felt a connection.

Sleipnir held it's head high, avoiding eye-contact with it's holder and their colleagues. Unlike Eowyn, the spirit could not feel more distanced from the team. It didn't want to be there. It wanted to ride forth in battle... But it needed Eowyn for that. The spirit itself could not die... It silently cursed itself. Why could he, steed of the elder god, not join the warriors in Valhalla? Why was he, even in death, merely a transport for the living? Against all instincts, it obeyed Eowyn, and the librarians somehow, miraculously, managed to get away without the beast in the background even noticing.

Out of breath and having her hand wrapped into her other sleeve, Eowyn felt her heart pound in her chest. It had gotten even colder, the wind was blowing harder as well. Every bit of snow that hit her spirit vaporised. Eowyn knew from just that Sleipnir was still angry. "Let's find a place to shelter... And regroup." Eowyn panted. "Maybe... Charles found something."
 
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Sandwalker by Night​

Nathair/Quartz

Nathair had flinched when Eowyn skittered across the rocky surface. His eyes shut and unable to look on her, yet thanks to Quartz's mind he knew he had hurt her. His palms dug their nails deeper into his palm though it was protected by his gloves thankfully as he tried to turn inwardly. In his head, the holder's mind flooded with his first memory before he was introduced to the civilized world. Huddled, pitiful, and wild, Nathair recalled being wrapped in a smelly blanket made from some unidentified while hearing strange noises outside his cage. A cage meant to hold an animal rather than a boy and his spirit.

"For spirit's sake," a woman shouted in exhaustion, her voice higher and angry, "He's just a damn boy and was alone for at least a year, on his own out here. Naturally he's frightened and will show it!"

A male voice, deeper and reasonable, seemed less understanding as he countered, "The boy is nothing but a wild animal or did you overlook the fact he bit someone? On top of that, he's been able to access a spirit already. That makes him dangerous Chelsea! What happens when he's set loose in society?!? He'll murder innocents unless he's tamed and who's going to do that? You? An orphanage? Who?! No, I'm sorry Chelsea, if you really care for the boy then you'll agree that putting him away is best. I don't like this anymore than you do. Believe me, I have two children around his age and my heart churns but I won't allow innocent lives to be at risk because of that...that thing!"

Nathair flinched when he heard the cage side rattle from being banged on, his small body balled farther as Quartz hissed. The spirit's comforting coils curled tighter and held the boy as his feathers ruffled. On impulse, the young Nathair buried his face into the scaly surface to block out the noise. His body shivering in confusion over the war going on outside when the two librarians started to resume their conflict, not realizing until later did the outcome determine his fate.

"He's young, teachable. Not some animal you can lock away or put down, Carter. He's human despite his experiences, you can't deny that! The Library and you can close your eyes to it but the fact reminds. He will always be human and that is how the public will see him," the female voice pleaded, "Locking him away will only isolate him."

"I don't see any other way, he's too dangerous. Right now, that spirit has enough power to murder innocent people and have you forgotten what he nearly did to you? If you weren't a holder, you would be dead now. Besides, you and I both know the Library has the final decision when it comes to holders. If they can't use him, he's better off dead."

"We'll see about that. I'm not done and I won't give up, not without a damn fight." With the last of the woman's words, her boots stomped toward the cage entrance and cautiously opened the door causing Nathair to lift his face and see his future mother for the first time.

Nathair hated his memories of his youth, each one made him realize how truly different he was from everyone else. Even now, many holders judged him based on his past and reactions when things got tense unable to use the excuse some habit would never fade forever. Worse were when some pitied him for it and treated his habits like a disease, something that couldn't be cured or not apart of him. It only added to the wall building up between him and others.

Would it always be this way?

Nathair, stop hurting yourself... Quartz edged into his holder's mind against Nathair's permission, the boy never able to completely shut the serpent out as he stressed the desire to ease the pain. Ironic that out of the pair, his spirit had adjusted the best and made friends with their holder companions easily. Though it helped some, Quartz knew unless Nathair could find someone to accept him fully there then nothing would ever change. It made the spirit sigh deeply to see the pain and hurt, unable to mend it fully.

During their exit, Quartz slithered onto Nathair's shoulder where the spirit wrapped about. Though the pair didn't converse, Nathair found a familiar comfort in the feather serpent's presence like old times, a matter which pleased them both. Nathair was breathing heavy, his pace and footing had managed to keep well with the lava horse, an attempt to overcome his earlier reaction though he was utterly silent. A fact that hurt Quartz the longer it lasted. Part of him wished Arlette, Mime or Ms. Lysander were present, any of them woudl at least be able to make his holder feel less ashamed. He was grateful Eowyn was the one to again break the silence looming over the group with a suggestion the spirit thought seemed fitting for the current situation.

"Reasonable idea," Quartz said, his head lifted and feathers buffed about by the wind, "With the numerous caves around, it shouldn't be hard to use one and we can figure out a plan to deal with our overgrown problem. I'm still trying to debate if that creature is our quarry or something best killed if encountered again. Namely as I don't like the idea of risk it living just to attack us later when we do find our quarry. Though I hope Charles got that yellow ribbon Nathair left else we'll be searching the mountain for ages looking for him. I don't fancy Nathair dying due to exposure. Though the perk is, at least there's no mosquitoes around here. Pesky, brazen pests that nip and bite left and right."
 
Wanted: Liaison
​
Ilsa looked down with a discernible frown upon her new, flabby form. She nearly felt ill. She watched as Sigmund got rid of the man she was currently the doppelganger of. She waited a few moments for the unwary trio to get themselves lost deep into the alleyways before she approached the remaining two. She put on the meanest, most upset look she could in this man's body.

"Hey! You guys are needed back at Headquarters." They both looked at her a little shocked and obviously confused. "You heard me! Get your asses moving!"​
 
Sandwalker by Night​

Eowyn tended Quartz and Nathair with a soft smile. "I hope so too." It was finally something they agreed on, even if Eowyn hadn't seen much of the mosquitoes since her first mission. When reminded of the swamp, Eowyn missed the dependable medicine-man Nuka, and even Vologhn. She had felt much stronger then. Between their disagreements on the cold and lonely mountain, there was this sense of loneliness. Even if Eowyn sympathised with Nathair... She knew every other second was driving them apart.

"Isn't that a cave?" Eowyn pointed to a small opening between the rocks. It was hard to see between the increasing snowfall, but there was definitely an entrance. "We can shelter and warm up a little there." Eowyn suggested, hoping her spirit wouldn't be too opposed to acting as a makeshift fireplace. Fortunately, they would never know. When the librarians and their spirits entered the cave, Sleipnir silently knelled and focused his gaze on the outside without speaking a single word.

Eowyn caught her breath and brushed the snow off of her coat. Being out of the winds made her realise how uncomfortably stiff her face had gotten. Still, it was hardly as uncomfortable as the lingering feeling in the team. "Nathair..." Eowyn began, thinking of touching his shoulder, but reconsidered and pulled back her hand. She tried to look her fellow knight in the eye, but it was difficult to do so. Nathair wasn't the only one who felt ashamed.

"I want to say, I hope I didn't upset you." She admitted, eyes still hovering at Nathair's mouth. "And you too Quartz. I am very sorry if I did. I just wish we could-" Eowyn paused a little, realising how childish she sounded and felt, "-We could get along. I don't want anyone to get hurt. Not on the mission and... Not by my words."

Sleipnir shook it's mane, and shortly glared at Eowyn with contempt in his eye, before returning his focus back to the scenery outside. Even if Eowyn could make amends with Nathair and Quartz, it would be far more difficult to get to terms with her own spirit...

Wanted: Liaison​

"You can't be serious, Mike." One of the officers responded, a little taken aback. "We're still in the middle of the investigation." The other just rolled his eyes, something the former man noticed.

"What happened with that guy who pulled you away just now?" He asked, trying to distract Ilsa from his more cynical colleague. "Was it the rats again? Trust me, Mike, we're all getting tired of that. It's been hell for all of us on the job, it just doesn't make sense." Though a little uncharacteristically the man slapped Ilsa on her now over-sized back. "But you're a big man, Mike, you can handle it!" He cheered. The other officer chuckled.

"Now look Mikey, we need your opinion on this. I've been thinking about these streaks and I just considered something. It's just my gut talking, but I'm feeling our guy has something to do with the rats. He vanishes every time we think we get a track on him... And now that we're restricted from access... I was thinking, maybe our culprit escapes into the sewers. What do you think?"
 
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Rendezvous Crash
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Andre chose to remain hidden as he heard the series of crash above them. As he's pretty sure that the other two holders would share the thought, that meant the only hazard is from the Don himself. Thus, he attempted to avoid that, first by muffling the Don and the second, by giving the fat man a body blow, making extra caution not to hit too hard.
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Wanted: Liaison
​

Both Mime and Arlette looked at Sigmund as the Rook lead the copied cop along with another two cops. Noticing Sigmund's gesture, the Spirit looked down to her borrowed robe before approaching them. Taking one of the not-sleepy-looking officers' arm, the one further from Sigmund, and hugging it tightly. "Helllooo officer," Mime drawled, leaning against the cop. "Are you looking for something? Something I can help you with?"

Arlette turned slightly red as she caught on to what Mime was insinuating.

​
 
Sandwalker by Night​

Nathair/Quartz

Wintry weather on the mountain seemed to have picked up its boaster, leaving the group huddling and frozen in its grasp. The wind blew increased and threatening to fix them into the stone with its icy blasts causing Quartz to huddle closer to Nathair. His wings wrapped about his scaly body, any heat now fully drawn from Nathair and absorbed rapidly into his body. When he slithered onto the man's boarder shoulders, he slipped a third of his total length between his holder's skin and the coat where it was nice and cozy. It was here where Quartz drew most his heat to keep his body from becoming solid ice. His figure shook a bit but couldn't generate much or any heat.
Happy to have finally found something they both could agree on, Quartz latched onto the topic. "Leaves little, itchy bites wherever they poke and just nasty."

Recalling a remedy from their home, he than added, "Though Nathair knows this herbal remedy that mends such things in a few days. However, the ingredients would be hard..."

His eyes turned back to the gloomiest pair within the team, Sleipnir and Nathair, both silent and trailing through the collecting snow. They left a deep trail of footprints behind when Quartz and Nathair heard her speak about a cave. The spirit's horned head was the first to react as it jerked upward and eyes narrowed on the small opening, its sided borders hidden by the rapidly falling snow. Its gap seemed rather tight, especially for Sleipnir, when they drew closer. Still it was better than hustling out here where flurries and wind threatened to tear their skin from their very bones. Quartz nodded. "Agreed, freezing out here isn't suitable for anyone."

At Quartz's words Nathair followed Eowyn, lastly trailed by Sleipnir into the protection of the rock formation. Ultimately leaving the wind suddenly halted and protected from the raining snow. Their figured were covered from head to toe in snow piled at the wrinkles in their fur coats, leaving the white stuff to melt and leave wet spots over the outside where it once had been. Nathair started to shake himself off a bit and peel away the slushy snow then dropping it down onto the rock ground. Meanwhile, Quartz crawled down onto the cold rock floor and left to let Nathair to warm up from heat the snake has sponged earlier. Naturally spirit immediately drew closer to the greatest source of heat: Sleipnir. Already the lava horse had lowered himself down and seemed to sulk with eyes looking outside. He was silent and seemed to be in a quiet fury, one Quartz had seen in Aztec warriors who failed in meeting their desired goals. Namely what was expected of them. It made the Aztec god sigh inside and bit his lithe tongue, knowing fully well it wouldn't be an easy task to come to some sort of compromise.

Nathair had almost wiped off the last of the snow when Eowyn spoke to him, her hand reached to touch him only to stall and retreat. He could feel Quartz's anxiety as a witness and knowing the reason why. It was enough to gain Nathair's attention causing him to look at her fully. His eyes soft, wounded slightly and hand paused in the middle of his action to listen. When she was done, silence etched in the cave, aiming to suffocate them all in its awkwardness. Naturally Quartz had been the one to break, unable to get Nathair to do it, and speak his own thoughts.

"Well, that actually depends on your thoughts Eowyn and if you're curious about why he acted that way," Quartz said, for the moment looking at Sleipnir and decided to say something to him later. He pulled a bit away from the heat when he continued, changing the topic, "As for upsetting me, you didn't."

His eyes lingered over to Nathair, still silent, "You spoke your thoughts and that's important, nothing to be upset about. It's understandable you want to keep your allies safe but you need to remember not gathering enough information about an enemy before is just as deadly. As for no one getting hurt Eowyn, you're setting an impossible goal for yourself. We're librarians and it is our job to risk our lives so others don't have to. Right now, Eowyn, being over protective is crippling your potential and seemingly like you don't have faith in us to handle our own. I raised Nathair on an island when he was around seven, alone, before the librarians discovered him. So he's not a child anymore and he's not fragile either. If anything, I think he's more afraid you'll see him less than human after that little incident. An opinion shared by many holders in the Hub even to this day."

Surprisingly, Nathair chose now to speak. "I didn't mean to...frighten you. It was a habit because you startled me and I didn't catch what you said as a warning."

Sighing, the man started to stomp off his boots and tossed his bag over by Sleipnir's rump. He was careful not to hit the spirit while he popped down, leaning against the hard rock wall with only his pack cushioning his back and protecting it. Naturally Quartz wound himself about his holder legs and placed his head on the man's knee, looking at him as Nathair stared. Gingerly the man began to lower his hand which Quartz wound around and trailed up to the man's shoulder, reaching the warm spot in the chest area where he peered his feathery head out of.
 
Wanted: Liaison​

"C-can I help you miss?" The officer responded to Mime's disguise. Following his superior seemed to have vanished from his mind, by the spirit's aggressive advance. His fellow officer caught onto her colleague's hesitation and turned for a second to see what was going on.

"What are you doing, come on." She shouted back, but the man seemed to be conflicted.

"R-right away." He mumbled, but he couldn't take his eyes of off Mime, or his arms off of him. "Miss, I really need to go."

Sandwalker by Night​

It seemed Charles would not be joining them, as time passed within the cave. Although that was hardly the reason for Sleipnir's watch. It kept peering into the the blizzard as if burning a hole in it. Little did it bother to join in the conversation... Although camaraderie did not leave the spirit cold, Sleipnir was boiling of anger...

Like her spirit, Eowyn remained silent as Quartz spoke, albeit for completely different reasons. It was not easy to to listen to his words. Her memories flashed back to the mission that had planted the this seed in her mind... Though she swallowed the memory. That day echoed death through Eowyn's head to this day.

"I don't mean to mistrust-" Eowyn muttered under her breath, but mid-sentence she shook her head. She had treated her colleagues, supposed to be equals, as little more than cattle the way she'd driven them around. The more the feathered snake spoke, the more she realised how she must had come across.

"It's okay Nathair," Eowyn smiled, though her hand still ached, even if the bleeding had stopped. "We're both..."

"You are right." Eowyn admitted to Quartz, red blooming on her cheeks. "It's hard not to... Want to protect others when..." She said, but Eowyn's thoughts drifted from her sentence to the other end of the cave in which she spotted movement. There were two bear cubs, crawled up against the cave wall; quite frightened of the librarians. Yet they were alone... Which meant their mother must had been out there.
 
Rendezvous Crash​

The solution seemed readily apparent to Bishop as she used Jester to speak to the other two Holders. "Stay silent. Revealing ourselves if we can avoid a fight is pointless. If they do try to fight us, they'll come down one by one and we can eliminate them with ease... That's what Bishop says, anyway!" Holding her stomach in pain, she lays down against the ground, breathing quietly. "... She's also not really in a manner to murder maliciously, so let's not risk my neck on a gamble, shall we? Hmm?" Jester whispered in their minds with amusement.
 
Sandwalker by Night​

Nathair/Quartz

Nathair had noted the woman's quiet mutters during Quartz's words, but didn't reply, letting her sentenced be interrupted by her own actions as she thought it over. It hopefully would help settle things and ease the mistrust between the three, at least. Nathair felt it would've taken much more than simple to mend Eowyn's and Sleipnir's weakened bond. Nathair's mind wondered over the idea of what the burning stallion might've felt only to find himself unable to understand or guess, save the clearly visible wrath. His thoughts retraced the scene in his head and recalled the spirit's desire to rush instantly into danger, no regard for the consequences. It was like he wanted to die.

His thoughts were interrupted when Eowyn spoke to him causing him to pull his head upward. It was odd how cute she looked as she blushed, her words fought to surface while her brain tried to pick them carefully. It trailed off soon enough when movement stirred in the corner. Worried it might've been something aggressive, Nathair's body rose, slowly and cautiously, onto his feet again. His eyes adjusted to the darkness at the cave back, drawing in the faint light Sleipnir's body cast. Soft growling, scratching and rustling betrayed the two small shapes huddled in the corner. Their eyes glowed brightly back, reflecting the light, as they failed in pawing their way up the smooth wall. One's foot gave out then stumbled, crumbling underneath and rolled on its side.

Nathair took a moment to look at Slepnir, partly questioning if the spirit had seen the cubs earlier and was expecting the mother to be back shortly. Idly, the holder thought about the carcass of beast they had seen earlier and tried to recall specifics. There large paw-prints in the snow's bloody trail, prints that seemed oddly bearlike from his judgment. Could the victim in the snow been the cubs' mother?

Quartz spoke to Nathair, reading his mind easily and gave his own thoughts in return. "I don't know Nathair, it could've been. If so, it's unlike their mother will return any time soon if she was that thing's last meal..."
 
Sandwalker by Night​

Eowyn came to the same conclusion as Nathair. Could the prey have been an adult bear? Would these cubs be able to fend for their selves? In what place were bears hunted to begin with? Still the strange thing seemed that one of the cubs seemed to be approaching... Fearlessly. It was also then that Eowyn noticed a strange sweet smell... A vial she'd been carrying had broken and leaked into her coat.

"Nathair, Quartz!" She yelped in surprise. "Look!"

Eowyn pointed at the bear approaching on all fours. She crawled back a little, but it seemed more curious than anything else. Even so it's siblings stayed back. It began licking Eowyn's coat, right around the pocket the broken vial resided in.

Eowyn carefully began to comb the cub's fur. A tiny, black, scaled form showed itself, slowly but surely rustling though the hairs as well. "I think we found what we were looking for."
 
Wanted: Liason​
Ilsa let out a chuckle in the man's voice, "Damn. I thought you dumb-asses would fall for that." She looked back towards were her colleguas had led the men away. "And yeah. It seemed to be rats. I let the others deal with it."

She tried her best to not let herself show her being bothered by the man's touching her. "Yeah. I mean, the timing is something pretty convenient. The rise in rat problems occurring just around the same time as these acts of vandalism." She scratched her now slightly hairy chin. And the sewers would let 'em travel around pretty easily, and no one would see 'em walking about.

After walking around and seeing all Ilsa could see of the crime scene, which took her several minutes, she looked up at the other men. "Damn it. What is taking them so long? You guys carry on. I need to go see where those other lazy buggers went. Probably slacking off somewhere." She quickly waddled her way over to where her compatriots had led the officers astray.​
 
[BCOLOR=transparent] [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]
Sandwalker by Night​
[/BCOLOR]​

[BCOLOR=transparent]Nathair[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Nathair's head jerked, his eyes fastened to the cub, as the smaller of the pair rolled then edged upright. The small thing wobbled on small, oddly shaped legs, and its nose wiggling in the air. Hot breath misted into the cold air while she made her way closer. This was dangerous. The phrase screamed over and over in his head, unable to remove his eyes from the curious cub. His nervousness only increased when he spotted Eowyn look at her pocket. Some dark, wet liquid leaked through the thick fur on her coat. He knew it couldn't have been blood. She only had cut her hand but his mind wondered if something else, something he missed, had ended up getting injured without his knowledge. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]'Nathair, calm down…' Came Quartz' coaxing, his own serpent eyes also eyeing the cub. His feathers were ruffled and puffed out, making him seem larger than he really was due to his anxiety. [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]"Don't move-" Nathair started to caution when he noted her try to scooch away. Despite one's decision, the cub's sibling still crying, aiming to get away. Its paw scratched and choose to leave the other to its fate. Nathair could remember his own fear and terror, strangers all around him while all he wanted was to get away. Distracted for a moment, [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]When the cub licked her coat, enjoying the treat, both the holder and the spirit scenting the sickly sweet smell, Eowyn revealed the smaller hitchhiker. Pulling his eyes from the still frighten one, Nathair moved closer to see the same hard, discolored shell of the scorpion hidden in the bear's fur. It seemed the little one didn't even notice it. "It seems so, which means we've got to get this little one to the library. However… what do we do with its siblings?" [/BCOLOR]

[BCOLOR=transparent]His body crouched down beside Ewoyn, his head turned to look at the other one huddled in the corner, its eyes now staring. A low, soft growl emitted from its throat in warning. Nathair's mind replied with an answer he didn't like. It was cruelty just leaving it here to slow starve or die from cold exposure, but he couldn't stomach killing out of cold blood. A fate that could've easily been his own at one time. [/BCOLOR]
 
Rendezvous Crash
​
The three Librarians disappeared into the cover of the alleyway, dragging along the Don. Once things calmed down, they could easily negotiate their way out of the place with their hostage. If it didn't come to that, then there were still countless other options they could take. While far from finished, Vologhn felt like they had passed a turning point in the mission.

Bishop's movements were worryingly sluggish. Vologhn knew her abilities had some form of drawback to them, but he did not know the details. He could feel the strain of mana overuse- in his case it was a dull fatigue that afflicted the entire body, besides the obvious physical strain his weaving technique took on his hands. He could no longer afford to blanket their escape route in Spectral Webs as they ran.

Eventually they saw more sense to hide than outrun creatures faster than them. Vologhn allowed Andre to unlock the door for them, and entered last, sealing the door back in place with a small length of thread.

Almost without pause the ape-monsters tracked them to the house. In the darkness of the basement Vologhn waited with bated breath. They somehow knew they were inside, but had not alerted the rest. At least, that was what he hoped. While the basement was a good hiding place, there was also no escape if they were found.

Jester telepathically told them to stay silent and wait it out. Vologhn spread his webs in this enclosed space in case he needed them later, his weaving much slower than usual. He had never used his abilities so much before. Must study personal limitations, he made a mental note.

"I can materialize my webs if they break through or try to run. Andre can then pick them off with his crossbow," Vologhn said through telepathy.​
 
Wanted: Liaison​

Like a dog on a leash, the policeman known as Mike followed Sigmund. The rook did not know very well where to lead the man, he was not exactly familiar with the city, so he followed his gut feeling about what alleys had dead ends. Sigmund's gut feeling was not the best, as even under trance the officer was growing suspicious of walking in circles.

"Where is your store, exactly?" Officer Mike puffed, trying to follow closely behind the larger man. Sigmund had hoped his pace would keep the man from paying attention, but abruptly stopped when policeman asked that question. Mike walked full into Sigmund, but the man didn't move an inch. He just pulled the chain and robbed him off his balance.

"Do you see anyone around?" Sigmund asked shortly, "Is anyone still here?"

"No." Mike answered, as he got up from the ground and faced Sigmund. "I don't see-"

Mike couldn't finish that sentence, with a split second of wind-up, Sigmund burrowed his fist in the officer's sizable stomach. Having robbed the man of his breath, Sigmund brought down his elbow on the back of the policeman's head. The man dropped in fashion.


"You're really not yourself today." The colleague of Ilsa's disguise stated, not keen on taking the insult. His tone in and of itself was a warning, but his eyes drilled straight into Ilsa's. The man listened with waning interest to Ilsa's confirmation, becoming more focused on her mannerisms. The officer's eyebrow twitched, and as Ilsa ran off he grabbed her by the shoulder.

"You're not Mike, are you?"


"Why?" Mime breathed into the cop's ears as the spirit moved a hand to hold his hand as she started to lean her weight against him. "It's not like there's anything worthwhile where you're headed."

"There's been a robbery, and the chief is acting weird... Perhaps... Later we can?" The officer tried to excuse himself, trying to wrestle himself away from the doppelganger. Mime was so aggressive, the man suddenly felt quite uncomfortable.

Mime backed away ever slightly, seemingly thinking. "Yeah, that does sound..." The spirit then looked towards the female cop and whispered towards the male one. "Say, she sounds jealous. I wouldn't mind if you want her to come along too, you know."

That was as much as the officer could handle. This was more than a little creepy to the man. "Excuse me ma'am, I have to go, now." He sounded more assertively, using his shoulder to push Ilsa's copied body away from him. For a second he looked back, but shook his head and started to make his way towards his colleague.


Shortly after having dumped an unconscious (which, considering Sigmund's crudeness, might well be the least of his worries) officer, Sigmund ran into Mime's stalling attempt. Well, at least the spirit had managed to keep the two mooks off his back for long enough for Sigmund to dispose of their commanding officer... Even if the Library itself would condemn Sigmund's hard-handed approach. Relations with the town were shaky enough as it is.

"You, your boss-man has gotten himself into trouble." Sigmund pointed at the female officer. "There were four of them, you better catch up to him." Sigmund told the man and woman Mime had been trying to keep busy. "It looked bad, ran for my life I did." Sigmund's lies hardly held ground, even if they were unaware of his identity as a holder, he was still a mountain of a man by human standards. "What? You think a law-abiding civilian is going to swap punches? What do you think I got back here for?" Sigmund spit at the officers. The rook might not be the most convincing actor, but anger he had down. "Go do your damn job, before someone else in this stinking rat-hole gets hurt!"

Relieved off his duties, Sigmund gestured Mime to follow him. His eyes slid to the exposed shoulder of the doppelganger's disguise, but Sigmund shook his head and muttered about he didn't even want to know. Hopefully Ilsa had enough information by now, but Sigmund and Mime wouldn't find her alone... But with a suspicious cop in tow.
 
Wanted: Liason​

Ilsa did her best to lose the police officer, but was unable to. He quickly scurried away until she ran around a corner to see SIgmund dumping a police officer's body in an alleyway. Still in the form of the large man Mike, she smiled, "Oh, so we are doing it this way." The officer following her then rounded the corner right into her hand. A thick swirling smoke reached out from her hand and towards the man, longing to make contact with his flesh. She closed the distance, and as soon as she touched him Abbadon closed the distance between their spirits and sent a massive shock a searing pain throughout the man's body. Pushing more of the smokey beast into the poor man, Ilsa sowed the seed of pain deep within him for a good amount of time. The poor officer crumpled to the floor in pain, screaming silently to himself.

Ilsa looked to Sigmund, "I've figured out enough to move on from." She glanced down at the officer cringing on pain in the street. "And he won't be like that for long, so we better get out of here quickly."
 
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