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 Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 9:39 pm
"And therein lies the problem... Tkal will try and convince him, for the sake of his sanity." She buried her face into Sebastian's shoulder, her voice muffled slightly. "Tkal's a halfling... his father was human. And although other humans were horrible to him, he has a good memory to hold on to..." It gave Tkal a very different perspective. Turning her face to look up at him, she smiled slightly. "But I understand. I know someone just like him..." She paused and shook her head, the smile widening. "No... her temper's actually a little worse..." She sighed. "Maybe that's why I'm a little uncomfortable around him..."
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Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 11:10 pm
~*~ TIME SKIP ~*~ It had been weeks since Manga and the others had moved into Leowes Manor, and up until now, there had been no problem. She'd Bonded with a second Azrien named Gau, sent Tkal back to Aila's when she discovered Thal had left, and enjoyed the peace and joy that came with being with Sebastian and the twins. But then, a few days ago, she'd woken up to the pounding of little fists on her door. Sebastian had vanished during the night and had left only a scathing letter as a goodbye. And that was why she was at Aila's house now, to request use of a horse-drawn cart. Danny welcomed her inside and then went to fetch Aila, leaving her alone with Tkal and Thalanir. Unfortunately for her, the former knew her too well--and of course began asking questions. The pestering was responded to with only vague, unsatisfactory replies or long silences. "C'mon, tell me what's going on." Tkal all but growled when Manga shook her head. "I can help, can't I? Just tell me.""No, you can't. Not this time." Manga stared at him from behind her mask, her expression unreadable. "There are places even you can't go, Tkal."Tkal's eyes widened in surprise. "You're not..." When she didn't reply, he moved towards her. "You can't--!" Tkal was cut off by a soft, whistling sound and a blow dart hitting him in the chest. Already he could feel himself losing function. "Y-you..." Another second and he collapsed, out cold from the dart's sedatives. Manga lowered the blow dart gun, replacing it in its spot hooked to the inside of her coat. Then she pulled off her mask and set it on Tkal's chest. "Use that when he wakes up," she instructed softly to Thalanir as she turned towards the door. "It should keep him from attacking anyone."
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Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:30 pm
Thalanir grabbed his sword and scabbard, strapping it to his belt as he followed Manga out. If she would not allow Tkal to go with her, he would. She would need the help. "Do not protest, Manga. You need back up." He half growled in warning.
Aila had heard Manga's request and readied herself for Tkal to wake up.
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Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:06 am
Manga barely glanced at the elven mercenary as she checked to make sure that Gau was properly hooked up to the wooden cart. Then she took the large sacks that she and her Bonded had carried there and loaded them into the cart. "I have back-up," she replied simply. "But I have no control over your actions. Do as you wish." Her voice contained none of the warmth that it had gained from being around Sebastian and the others; it was cold, empty, and emotionless like her expression. She climbed into the cart, waiting for Thalanir to either get in or fetch his own Azrien before silently encouraging Gau to head towards their destination.
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Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 2:47 pm
Thalanir gave a sharp whistle as he clambered into the cart with Manga. Kailyn came at the sound and instantly began to follow beside the cart while Thalanir drew his sword and began sharpening it with his whetstone, which he pulled out of his knapsack.
------------ A bit Later -------------
Aila waited. She had sent everyone else out of the house in preparation for Tkal to wake up. She had a small knife that she was ready to use if she needed to, but she doubted that she would have to, and she'd only draw it if her life or someone else's was in danger.
Karia, the little swirled female that had allowed Tkal to ride her not even a few months before, was pacing outside. Too big to fit through the door and get to Tkal, she was antsy and angry. Others were keeping her from him. She needed to get to him. She didn't know why, or even how she had known from her little nest with Kivosk Viski a bit away, that Tkal was in danger, but she just did, and she had got here just in time to find Aila sending out everyone but herself, and keeping Tkal inside.
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Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 3:43 pm
Manga dozed in the cart, a second mask replacing the one she'd left with Tkal. She woke up each time that Gau stopped so that she could speak to the ones who'd flagged them down. They were mostly scouts reporting their information and making sure that the cart was heading in the right direction. Eventually, the cart stopped at a little camp that took a barely visible dirt road into the forest. Manga pulled herself from the cart, helping unload the sacks. Then she started handing out instructions. "Get as much cooked up as you can. Don't make anything too rich; their stomachs will reject it. If more carts come, unload them and have them head to the drop point. Make sure they know where their final destination is." Turning away from the cooks, she turned to the warriors and rogues eating while they could. "Split up into squads. Disarm if possible, kill only if necessary. Protect your lockpicks while they work. Understood?" She floated around the little base camp, calling people by name, giving instructions, and just talking with them. It was tiring, but she deemed it important. Every single one of the men and women here was someone she'd dealt with personally, and she wanted every single one of them to know that she remembered them.
Once all instructions and conversations were finished, Manga patted Gau on the neck and turned to join the squad at the front of the line. As soon as they were all ready, Manga gave the signal to descend on the complex of buildings below. One of those buildings contained Sebastian. One of them contained Derrik. But she couldn't let that distract her. She was planning on getting all of the slaves at this outpost out--right out from under the slavers' noses. And with an auction today, her associates could keep tabs on the customers that came to bid on the human merchandise... and that would be sorely disappointed with what they found instead.
~
Tkal stirred slightly, almost innocently, as the sedative began to wear off. Then, all at once, his eyes flew open and he was a flurry of panicked movement. His brown eyes were wide and dilated, distress radiating off of his frame. "... She didn't really leave... did she?" The question was quiet and filled with an emotion that the wanderer never let enter his voice before: fear. He looked around slowly, his gaze eventually falling on Aila. He said nothing to her, instead trying to bolt for the door. He had to go. Manga was... Manga was...!
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:22 pm
Thalanir simply found a tree stump and kept sharpening his tools, watching Manga march around issuing orders. He noticed that she was used to this. He also noticed that the majority of her group were humans. He tried to keep as separate as possible, and the others seemed to leave him alone, only glancing at him out of the corner of their eyes, and he grunted when any got to close.
It wasn't until he saw one, that he saw red, and it took all his might to calm down, but by the time he had, he had stood up and strode across the camp and had the man in the air by his throat.
-_____________________-
Aila lunged for Tkal and wrestled him to the floor as he went to strike out at her blindly. She finally got him on the ground, pinned beneath her, when she shoved the mask into his chest where he grabbed at it with a hand.
She waited until he visibly relaxed before letting him go, her face hard and set angrily. She understood the need to strike out, but she didn't like wrestling her friends with the chance of having to hurt the other or be hurt herself.
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:16 pm
Manga sighed when Thalanir grabbed one of her men, only three strides behind him. She put a gloved hand on the mercenary's wrist, staring him down from behind her mask. "Please release him," she requested calmly. "We're on a schedule, and I'd rather not have to sedate anyone here if I don't have to."
~
Tkal's mind was blank with panic until that mask appeared in his vision. He clutched it to his chest like a child holding a cherished teddy bear, silent and trembling. Seeing as Aila wouldn't let him out, he curled up in a corner and tried to calm himself. It was hard, though. He knew where Manga was going--even though he didn't know exactly where it was. For her to refuse his help, there was only a handful of places she could be heading, each one worse than the last. There was no doubt about one thing: Manga, his best friend, was in danger. A lot of danger. And--wait a minute. "Where's Thalanir?" he finally managed to ask, his voice void of its usual liveliness.
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:29 pm
Once Aila had let Tkal go, she set about grabbing hers and Danny's bags, along with a bag for Tkal, which she thrust at him while she continued packing in a flurry. Once hers and Dannys things were packed, she grabbed her kitchen knives and headed towards the door. "He's with Manga.. Now.. Are you coming or not?" She asked as she stepped out, running smack into Karia.
Karia, lightly, moved Aila aside so she could see Tkal. "Tkal! Are you okay? I felt that something was wrong, so what's wrong? I came as soon as I could.. I even forgot my shinies! Is everything okay?" She rushed out all at once, grabbing his shirt with her teeth and dragging him out so she could run her nose over him and make sure nothing one him was different.
_____________
Thalanir growled and stiffened, his grip tighting on the boys throat. "He's not one of us, Manga. He is trouble." He growled out through his nose. The boy's eyes were watering and his hands were wrapped around Thal's, trying to pry them loose. Throughout the boy's pained expression was a look of recognition and guilt, though Manga probably didn't see it as she obviously did not know him well... But Thalanir did.
Finally, realizing that Manga wasn't going to listen to him, Thalanir threw the boy down who immediately grabbed at his neck and breathed heavily. Thalanir waited until Manga left before he glared at the boy again. "One wrong step, and I'll be all over your a** like you were the slave and not I." He warned.
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:51 pm
Tkal seemed to be in shock, not responding until Karia got to him. His fingers snagged the bag that had been tossed to him, letting the mare drag him out and run her nose over him. Then he threw his arms around the Azrien's neck and hid his face against her to hide the tears bubbling up. "Manga," he mumbled. "Manga's in trouble and I can't..." He couldn't help. Even if he did manage to find her, even if he managed to help her, she'd be upset. Manga knew better than anyone how out-of-control he got around certain types of facilities. Fighting rings of any kind, anything to do with slaves, gambling joints... there were just some places he couldn't go without going berserk. Manga knew that. That's why she'd sedated him. If he hurt an ally again, she'd never forgive him...
~
Manga was surprisingly calm, taking careful note of both Thalanir and his victim's body language. "I will be the one to determine that," she replied calmly. "Please let him go." Only once the boy was released did she walk away. But she still caught Thal's snarling threat. "Jeorge, please watch them both," she said softly to a Skh'et sporting an eyepatch and a network of scars. The man nodded, his single eye trained on the pair. She could trust Jeorge--one of a select few that she would say that about. He was a tough customer, but he got the job done.
Once things had calmed again, she gestured for the squads to go to their positions and begin the infiltration of the slave camp where the auction would be held later that day. Manga herself slid towards the most dangerous area--the smaller building away from the main hold that likely housed both the slaves to be auctioned and Derrik--and a lot of guards.
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:08 pm
Thalanir growled and stalked away from the shaking boy, ignoring the stares and murmuring as he made his way back to his stump and began sharpening his tools again, his eyes fixated on the boy.
__________
Karia sniffled and picked him up, flinging him on her back. "We're coming Aila." She then turned her head to look at Tkal, sensing his worries. "I've got your back... Just stay on me and concentrate on me... you won't hurt anyone."
Aila tossed Danny's bag at her, before leaning towards her and giving her a quick kiss. "ready?" She'd already talked to Danny, while waiting for Tkal to awaken and told her that there was no option, she was going whether Danny would go with her or not.
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:30 pm
Manga resisted the urge to sigh again or run a hand through her hair. Now was not the time to lose her own cool. There were likely hundreds of slaves depending on this mission's success for freedom. She wasn't going to have failure here haunt her. No, she had enough hanging over her head. Sebastian's note was still clutched in one fist, reminding her of what was at stake.
As soon as word came that the main slave house had been successfully infiltrated, she turned to make sure that her squad and the others going to the auxiliary slave houses were ready to go--and was met with a knife pointing at her throat. She didn't so much as pause; her free hand grabbed the wrist of the knife-holding hand, twisting it so the knife was no longer facing her. Then, using her hold to pull him closer, sent the fist clenching the note to his gut and hooked the boy's foot with her ankle, pulling his feet out from under him. Thirty seconds later, she had him pinned and was twirling the knife in her free hand. "Jeorge, would you be so kind as to find a volunteer to babysit the unruly pup? I don't have time for his childish games." Jeorge didn't have to say a word; the instant Manga got up, a burly woman and a thin, scowling man swooped in and dragged the stunned traitor away. She absently flipped the knife in her hand a few times, testing its weight. "A little heavier in the hilt than most... likely to compensate for lack of hand strength." She threw it into a nearby tree, the knife hitting it a little off-center. "... I'm getting a little rusty..." Shaking her head, she gave the instructions she had been prepared to give before she was interrupted by the (in her opinion) pathetic assassination attempt.
~
Tkal nodded weakly and buried his face into Karia's mane. He didn't question how she knew of his worries and fears. He didn't ask how she knew he was distressed or how she was going to keep him from hurting anyone. The halfling just... accepted it as fact. It was a rare thing, not to have a single question about it. But he didn't, so he'd let Karia take him to his destination--to Manga--and to help complete whatever this mission was that was so important to her.
Danny returned the kiss warmly, winking. "Always." Though she wasn't looking forward to Manga's reaction, she wasn't going to let Aila go by herself. No, if Aila was going, it was best if they both went.
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:43 pm
Thalanir was at Manga's side within an instant, watching as she dispelled the child with little effort, and watched as he was drug off, but his expression was blank, empty, and ready for war. There was no thought of 'I told you so" or even look of it in his eyes as he looked at Manga. "Let's get this b*****d." He growled, hand on his hilt.
_________________
Karia followed Danny and Aila. Aila was on Maera, who was in armor for battle, and Charli too, who had Danny on his back.
Charli chose the moment to speak with Danny in their minds. "Danny... You knew she was headstrong when you made the choice to be with her. That headstrong mindset also means saving her friends and family, and that includes your family, which includes Manga. She's doing this for you in her head..."
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 9:01 pm
Manga met his gaze for a brief moment, the words that fell from her mouth quiet and a bit frigid. "Do as you wish." Then she turned and joined her squad, heading to the small slave house that was supposed to hold the auction slaves. By the time they got to the door, the two guards framing it had been knocked out by sedatives. She gave her squad a backwards glance before using the guard's keys to unlock the door and slip inside. She gestured for the lockpicks to get to work on the cages and shackles, sliding further in to deal with anyone guarding the inside. There were a few, but they were quickly dispatched--though one of them fell a little too loudly for her liking. Then she came to the door at the other side. Likely an office. Likely were Sebastian was.
Likely where Derrik was.
Manga didn't wait for the squad; they had their job to do, and she had hers. She quietly opened the door and slipped inside, bracing herself for anything that might come at her.
~
Danny smiled, though internally, she sighed. "I know, but... I also know Manga. I can only hope our presence won't be too much of a burden on her... more friends and family in the area, the more pressure she has on her. At least if it's the type of job I think it is..." She didn't know Manga as well as the others since Donny and Manga had been at each others throats the instant they were out of immediate danger, but she knew that much. "Aila and Manga are alike in some ways... The same reason Aila's doing this is the same reason Manga knocked out Tkal."
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Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 9:15 pm
Thalanir drew his sword with flourish and crouched outside the door, keeping watch and keeping those inside safe. He could tell, as he always could, that Manga didn't like him, didn't trust him, and to be honest, he trusted her, but he was wary of her. Aside from those he had met after marrying Kyri, the humans he had trusted before her had led him astray, and he wasn't talking about his slavers. No... It was something else, something he kept hidden from all but Tkal, because he had admitted it to Tkal a bit back.
Suddenly, Thalanir was ripped from his musings and rememberance as a sword came down at his head. He reached up and blocked it with his own sword and slashed at the man, cutting through his thin chain mail. He then whirled around, slicing into the man behind him. He continued slashing and thrusting, felling twenty enemy soldiers before finally panting and wiping his brow, streaking human blood across it. His eyes were lit with an inhuman fire, and it was like this, that he looked like his brother Tkal in one of his berserk rages.
_______________________________
They reached the battlegrounds just in time for the fighting to start. Aila stayed upon Maera and jumped down in the thick of ten, and began slashing and tearing at the enemies with her kitchen knives. She wasn't one for having weapons, but she knew how to use what she had to her advantage.
Charli plowed into the same crowd that Aila did, so that Danny could assist and protect her, not needing any hint from his Chosen that that's where she would want to be.
Karia flung herself into the mess as well, only a different group that was headed towards Thalanir and his bloody sword.
___________________
Sebastian was weak, and thin already. He hung from the ceiling, bound by his wrists in shackles, dirty and clothed only with a cloth around his middle section. There were freshly opened wounds upon his torso, legs and back. and a dark red mark around his neck where he had had a rope around him. His dark eyes, usually full of laughter for his Manga, were low. He was barely conscious enough to realize someone had entered the room, but he was too weak to even brace himself for the pain he figured was soon to come.
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