[center][h3][u]Feral Cove, Edge of the Meotey Jungle[/u]
[sub]3rd of Summer - 9:44 PM[/sub][/h3][/center]

	Dannisus' nose twitched and his ears flapped with each mechanical [i]click[/i] that sounded from Ayer's device. It was a familiar smell, something he'd come across before, hidden beneath of veil of mana and sea-water. That was something he would have [i]liked[/i] to get his hands on. Usually, he wouldn't consider approaching strangers at all. The danger that accompanied such foolish choices led many Myti to their doom. Slavers were not uncommon in the northern sprawls of Meotey. But even if the two of them didn't belong to one of the [b]Slaver Caravans[/b], Humans and Eldi were the two most dishonest races in the entire [i]world.[/i] But listening in on their conversation slowly granted Dannisus peace of mind. Not because they seemed innocent, or even remotely trustworthy.

	It was because they sounded [i]stupid.[/i]

	Perhaps he should be judging others, considering his own decisions. They began their approach into the jungle after wrestling with a wee Dustilk that had somehow clung to his ear, putting Dannisus on guard. But this was a good opportunity to grab an advantage. He looked up, and then back down, and then up again. His nose twitched. The coast was clear, and there was nothing dangerous for at least half a kilometer. Without further delay, the Myti hopped up towards a tree-trunk and began scaling it with a pair of claw-like gauntlets, reaching the upper branches in a few seconds before turning around and hanging in place with one hand latched to the branch above him. He'd made a slight ruckus, and was in [i]plain view[/i] now. If they posed even the slightest threat, his options were plentiful now. It's not like a couple of idiots from the ocean were going to be able to keep up with him in the trees.

	"Well now," He started. Dannisus paused for a moment, trying to think of something clever to say, but simply [i]couldn't [/i]manage another word for a solid three seconds. Despite how cautious the man was, there was one thing he couldn't manage for the life of him. Dannisus was a socially inept buffoon.

[center][h3][u]Leias[/u]
[sub]4th of Summer - 7:44 AM[/sub][/h3][/center]

	In contrast to the tightly-packed stone monuments that define the most populated cities in Arcadia, the Myti's homeland was a stark reminded that even intelligent creatures could survive without crude walls to keep them safe. Leias was nothing more than an assortment of tree-tops with vast, untamed wilds branching at random beneath them. Wards lined the edges of Myti territory where ground-based structures did exist, but for the most part, they were a tree-faring people taking to the heights with no issue at all.

	The center of the city, known to most as the [b]Stretch of Gaia,[/b] was home to most of what the Myti would consider [i]civilian[/i] housing. It also acted as a hub for trade and commerce, where the northwestern and northeastern stretches of the city were home to more secluded patches of the Myti Populace, including the living quarters of [b]Kiki Myalmo[/b], current ruling [b]Empress[/b] of the beautiful Nation. Rounded Tent-like enclosures wrapped around the stripped undersides of massive trees that stretched more than 10 stories into the sky. Between them, rope bridges held their homes together, and even stretched across the wide open plains where Myti would hunt, farm, and gradually expand their forest-side territory towards, connected by lone trees across stretches longer than 10 kilometers, at most. Truly, the nation was a dangerous place to traverse for those inept at climbing. Of course, most Myti could climb naturally by age 3. Male Myti were the only exception, forced to implement tools in order to assist their travel. You wouldn't often see a man in Leias without a pair of [b]Feral Arms[/b] at his side, unless he had chosen to remain in the trees or on the ground without any desire to leave.

	For visiting humans or Eldi, the forest was unwelcoming. Not because of the locals, though. Myti were rather accepting of visitors, and open to trade. But entering through the [b]Meotey Trade Route[/b] would only grant visitors access to a fraction of the Nation's potential market. If they wanted to speak with figures of importance, or locate some of the more respected merchants, they would have to [i]climb.[/i] Naturally scaling 10 to 15 stories of wood with one's bare hands was no easy feat, of course. Especially if you planned on hauling anything you found back [i]down[/i] without aid of the often fully-occupied [b]Marketplace Winches.[/b] But people who hadn't been to the city before couldn't have possibly known just how [i]terrible [/i]it might have been to get up to the treetops.

	A few kilometers east of the Nation's singular path to the rest of the world, a treetop shop was opening for business. [b]Jimo Hizz[/b], a dealer of antiquities, alchemy reagents, and various types of smoked/dried meats had just finished restocking his place for the new season. Later winter in Leias was a perfect time to gather Summer-seasoned herbs and game. Thing never adhered to a strict schedule in the wilds, despite what the calendar liked to claim. Jimo was one of the few people who knew that, and it was one of the only reasons as to why he could keep up with the surrounding businesses in the stretch of Gaia. Businesses like the ground-based [b]Boa's Baubles,[/b] or his neighboring competitor, [b]Salidor's.[/b] [b]Salidor Sorrelpaw[/b] was probably one of the most irritating merchants in the entire Nation. Jimo wouldn't mind him as much if it weren't for his customers though. Rumors traveled pretty quick about independent Male Myti in Leias, and they weren't all [i]unfounded nonsense.[/i]

	Jimo was almost sure of it himself, that his neighbor was in touch with the [b]Sisterhood.[/b]

[center][h3][u]Baeshri Pass, Caravan Centaurus[/u]
[sub]3rd of Summer - 11:03 PM[/sub][/h3][/center]

	Blake rolled his eyes at Rem's comments with a smile, hefting his hammer up in the process. But as soon as he took a step forward, he heard something buzzing in his good ear, his [i]left[/i] ear. It was faint, but he turned his head for a moment, only for the buzzing to grow louder. He turned again, towards Baeshri hills, and his eyes widened when he noticed the encroaching swarm of [i]nasty nasty bugs.[/i] The huge man flinched before they even got near him, and jumped behind the Caravan, placing his back against its left side while channeling Mana into his hammer. He had no idea what those things were, and although he wasn't particularly [i]afraid[/i] of insects, he [i]really didn't like them.[/i]

	Captain Copp was in no mood to go about killing these assholes, and he wasn't in the shape to fight at his best. Neal on the other hand, was perfectly able to go all out. But risking any permanent damage to his arm wasn't something on his to-do list. He looked back towards the Caravan, expecting back-up in the form of Pyra or Lyullia, but wasn't going to waste any hope on either of them. Bart finally finished charging his artifact before the two Captains could reach him though. He licked his lips and clutched the handle tightly.

	"Back down!" He shouted, Firin' [b]Yvin'lo!"[/b] His weapon sparked with mana for a moment. It lost its glow immediately afterwards, drawing dull particles to its tip. But there was only silence as the spear got darker and darker. Neal held one hand towards the man and overtook Zay, holding his other arm out to stop him. Captain Copp looked up at the man and hid behind him, slapping him in the back.

	"Stopping? Why are we stopping?"

	Bart looked down at the barrel of his artifact in utter confusion.

	"Bart, why's it-"
	[h3]"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhwiboooowwwwm!"[/h3]
	Mana expanded outwards, stopping several feet shy of where Neal stood as a giant ball of plasma-like energy. A second or two afterwards, it shrunk back down towards the point of creation, [i]Yvin'lo.[/i] The spear was broken in two, all of the nearby men were on the ground and covered in burn marks, and Neal was astonished at just how stupid Blake's Lackey's really were. Bart coughed viciously, crawling to his knees and grasping the stained hilt of his artifact, only the realize that it has broken in two. He didn't know exactly what'd happened, but it all Neal's doing.

	"If there's nowhere for energy to go, it starts to get temperamental," Neal gasped, clutching his right shoulder. Zay looked around his massive body at the aftermath with droopy eyelids and chuckled.

	"Oh, like [i]Champagne,[/i]" Captain Copp quipped.

	Gravity magic was [i]extraordinarily[/i] powerful if applied correctly.

[center][h3][u]Berganfont, The Sewage Crevice[/u]
[sub]4th of Summer - 9:07 AM[/sub][/h3][/center]

	Matthew did his best to keep up. Usually he wouldn't rush himself this much, but he had a strange desire to keep this little green [i]thing[/i] from showing him up. Despite his age, the kid considered himself pretty [i]capable[/i] as a thief. By the time they had a chance to rest, he needed a moment to catch his breath. But as soon as he was able, Matthew answered Vizz's inquiry with a heavy rasp.

	"Friends-" He gasped, "We're going to go see some friends." Suddenly it occurred to him... [i]They were in the Low Houses now.[/i] Matthew didn't need to hide here! He stepped out of the alley casually, not even thinking for a [i]second[/i] that most people might have had a tiny problem with seeing a little green man walking through the town square casually. Regardless of the little Gibu took a direct route, stopped him, or simply followed along as if there was no issue, Matthew was headed directly for Lily's Keg across the plaza.