[center][h3][u]Nillium Encampment, The Burroughs[/u]
[sub]3rd of Summer - 9:22 PM[/sub][/h3][/center]

	Locke slowly tip-toed through the alley, burdened by a sudden fit of hiccups that made his entire torso [i]pop[/i] upwards every few seconds. The shadow of his blade stretched even longer against the far wall of the alley until Mop's shadow melted into the background, and his face peered into view. He looked through his scraggly, water-logged hair, catching a glimpse of Paric first.

	"Philip?" He mumbled, "You look [i]pointier[/i] than usual." Locke's eyes settled on the Eldi's pointed ears. He grasped the hilt of his sword - a thinner, longer variant of blade more common in the north - and lowered his eyes until they reached the man's hands. They shot back up in an instant and he slowly released his grip on the empty wine bottle he was holding. "Oh-" The moment it took him to realize what was going on was all the time Paric had to react.

	Mop dashed into a sprint and dropped the bottle in his left hand. His footsteps were unusually silent as he proceeded, rousing only the slightest [i]splash[/i] of noise as he stepped through a puddle that separated him from Paric and Ayer. He stopped hard on his right foot and twisted his body clockwise, clutching both hands onto the hilt of his blade. Locke's muscles bulged with a sudden influx of mass, and his once glassy eyes grew clear in an instant. Within moments, before the shattered glass behind him even had the chance to settle, he was upon the Eldi fire mage with his blade held low at his hip with both hands, poised to strike. The once aloof Captain pulled his blade upwards at a diagonal angle, using his waist and legs to erupt into an upwards slash aimed to sever Paric's torso from hip to shoulder in a single devastating blow.

[center][h3][u]Baeshri Pass, Caravan Centaurus[/u]
[sub]3rd of Summer - 10:27 PM[/sub][/h3][/center]

	Zay considered killing both of the newcomers on the spot for their commentary alone.

	"Watch your mouth, little missy," Neal huffed, stepping in front of the rest of Centaurus' crew, "Druid or not, most would take what you've said as a [i]threat.[/i]" Zay reached up to Neal's shoulder and patted him away from the newcomers.

	"Neal, shut up," He said quietly. Neal pulled his arm away from Zay and almost brought it back down into the back of his head. The only thing stopping him was... Well, he wasn't really sure. There were plenty of reasons to whack Mr Copp across the back of the head, and he'd only known the man for a [i]few hours.[/i] Zay sat back down at the rounded table that sat at the room's center and sighed. "We'd be glad to share our [i]tale of woes[/i] with a couple of wandering love-birds. Pardon my [i]associate's [/i]mood. He's recently had to deal with almost getting his arm... Uh, torn [b]off[/b]." Neal spun around and glared at Zay with his mouth half-open. The disgruntled Captain grit his teeth when he noticed that Captain Copp was smiling and half-snickering to himself. His eyes danced between Flin and Zay for a moment, and then he looked to Noru, hoping for a single voice of reason to side with his cautious outlook. Noru looked away, and then back to Neal before shrugging.

	"Druids are not known for their hostility," Noru said quietly. Zay snickered to himself again.

	Neal almost collapsed under his own weight.

	"Read a book sometime, Captain," Zay mocked. Neal slumped away from the two druids and leaned against the wall next to where Lyullia was resting. He didn't trust the druids at all. Their appearance was just... Far too [i]coincidental[/i]. Zay looked at them and beckoned them forwards. "Sit, sit. I'd be the active Captain, since you're asking. Name's Zay Copp, and as far as I know, I haven't been missing since I was a kid." He reached underneath the table and opened a drawer, rummaging quietly for something to snack on. There should have been a couple of rations still hanging loose. He'd stored them there for just such an occasion during their trip. "Welcome to [b]Caravan Centaurus[/b]."