As Caravan Centaurus slowly closed in on the Baeshri pass, the hills were beginning to stir again. Only a sharp eye would catch it, but the sounds were too clear to mistake. A low buzz hummed across the open hillside, its origins unknown. But it was getting [i]closer.[/i] Unfortunately for those inside the Caravan, it wasn't loud enough to pierce through the outer walls. Marilyn looked to her right briefly, but was dragged back to the Venbu. They stirred anxiously. The pilot had to keep her mind focused, otherwise the entire cart would have been plunged into a [i]ditch.[/i]

	"This one's got a [i]mouth[/i] on him, Captain," Neale grunted. Zay rubbed his forehead. "What I saw doesn't help in the least. They were wearing various clothes, stuff you'd see anybody wearing outside the walls. None of 'em wore anything that associated 'em with any Nation I'd ever heard about, and none of them looked familiar." Neale reached for his injured shoulder. "The guy with the hammer was a lot bigger than me. I could point his giant ass out in a lineup easily, sure. But unless I see him again, that information ain't worth a whole lot is it?" 

	"Not unless we come across them ourselves," Noru whispered. 

	"I doubt that'll happen. They wouldn't have followed me through the entirety of Baeshri. Probably thought I was as good as dead. If it weren't for Katelyn I wouldn't have made it as far as I did..." Neale's eyes went wide. Noru cringed at the mention of Katelyn's name.


	"Katelyn?" The dark haired medic gasped.

	"Aye! Katelyn! Katelyn Vestabar!" He rose his head high and tapped the bottom of the bunk above him again. "Eugh.." Zay cocked an eyebrow back curiously. Noru looked away from the men subtley.

	"Remember something?" Zay asked.

	"She was on toppa' the cart when we got toppled. It's a little fuzzy, but she's the one that gave me a chance to flee. Killed at least one of our attackers easily! I think the guy that crushed my soldier was forced to engage her." Neale covered his face with one hand. "She held her own easily, too. I don't understand how though! Girl was timid as a bunny. She specialized in soul and elemental magic; Invisibility, stealth, making armor, repairing the Caravan, that sort of stuff. I'd never seen her hold a weapon before in my life!" Neale's breathing began to rapidly increase. With both hands, Noru leaned in to catch him before he fell forward. It only took him a moment to identify the [i]trauma[/i] that was cause for such a reaction. "S-Sorry," Neale wheezed.

	"I know that girl," Noru hissed. Zay glanced at him in surprise.

	"Oho? Old lover?" the Captain teased. Noru shook his head.

	"No. She was a Paladin."

[center][h1][color=ed1c24]* * *[/color][/h1]
Smor'Gen'Blok - The Low Kul Hearth Site[/center]

	The runes lining Low Kul's Hearthstone pulsed timidly with a ruby glow as Ha'Kul entered the final steps of his daily ritual. Arcane symbols, prehistoric in their origins when compared to the technology and advancements of the most prominent Nations, began to fill with a more brilliant light one after another. It wasn't long before the entire stone was set aglow with a spell that hid the Lok'Sha from the presence of the subterranean terrors. 

	"Boy," Ha'Kul groaned, lifting himself off the ground quickly, "Morning bring us strength." Several other Lok'Sha emerged from their sleeping areas. Some slept in crevices, barely blocked off by carved stone. Others used the thick pelts of Venbu to drape their families in tenting. Regardless of how they chose to house themselves, the Low - Kul Tribe was small enough that even a single cavern could house not only their people, but their forge, Hearth site, and tribal walls with ease. There were several tunnels that lead away from the tribe. Some were used daily by nearby Tribes to access different parts of the cavern, while others lead to hunting grounds or the surface. Unfortunately, the Low - Kul, despite their minimal scope, sat right on top of a major Nexus leading further up towards the surface levels of Ruliman. The gate in question saw very little use. Rarely would the Tribe that bottle-necked their only way out, the [b]High - Wor[/b] Tribe, allow for travel to the [b]Deep Tunnels[/b] above. Only in the most desperate of times, on days when [b]Chieftain Wor'Boa[/b] was feeling particularly generous, could anyone cross his wretched line of defense. Even Berserker Priests of the Deeper tunnels saw trouble when met with his law. Some hoped for a day when Lu'Li'Po would correct these injustices. But it was the unfortunately truth, that she did not concern herself with the dealings of [b]Dark Skins[/b] in the tunnels under Ruliman. Until Smor'Gen'Blok reached an Age of true unity, Low tribes would be forever condemned to darkness. 

	"Ju'Kul wishes to speak soon. I will stay with Hearth."