[quote=@Fetzen]
Working their way around the plaza was a lot more of an annoying, tedious job than either Bó or Akira had really hoped for this evening. The end of this day had been supposed to be one of glory, relaxation and overall joy and not the chaotic massacre it had turned into. What bugged him the most however was just how little idea he had about everything: the city's layout, any potential culprits for this whole affair, whether there were any procedures the guards would follow in such cases and, last but not least, who actually was an attacker and who was defending. Akira certainly could have provided a lot of guidance, but this was no good time to stand around and have a complicated talk despite all the shouting and screaming going on around them.

So Bó had to rely on his own senses at this point, but the folk around him looked all the same somehow. Much smaller individuals with as many legs and at least as much pride as a Mokeu, but far less fur and no tail! Just even trying to figure out who'd be dangerous for the two of them and who wouldn't took away even more time they didn't really have. So he did his best to guide them around everybody. Had it not been for some last-ditch measures of Akira to notify him of going into the completely wrong direction, he probably would have led both of them into oblivion in the process.

Instead, they ultimately found themselves close to a large hole in the city wall. This one had a pair of humongously large and reinforced wooden panels attached to it.

"What's the matter ?" Akira asked, almost smirking. "Never seen a city gate before ?"

[color=yellow]"Mokeu don't need this! When you enter some other tribe's territory, you'll notice it without such demarcations soon enough! Now you think your father's here somewhere ?"[/color]

"That'd be the logical place for him to go. However I've got an idea. Would you be so kind to lend me a helping hand... and your shoulders ?"

And then, as if Bó himself would have been hard to overlook, Akira climbed on top of his shoulders and ensured her position was stable before taking advantage of the added height for her search.
[/quote]

[quote=@Shift]
As the pair walked slowly through the city toward the eastern gate, Cai was grateful the fighting had died down. Here and there a few clangs of steel on steel could still be heard, but most of what they encountered were wounded caring for themselves or others, the toxic tang of smoke, and the skeletal remains of what had once been considered a glorious city.

There was little conversation between he and the old man, it was all Cai could do to keep moving. His mind felt as hollow as his limbs, which seemed to be functioning of their own accord. He was simply an observer, accepting the shifting weight of each foot fall as he would the falling rain. It was something that occurred without his input or direction. His thoughts were a fog, and if he didn’t have the older man to assist, Cai might have just ceased all together, sitting comatose within what had once been the apartment he shared with—

“Ah, there it is, finally,” said the old man. 

Cai’s head shot up, appreciative for them distraction from his scattered thoughts. Before them was the massive gate and a small gathering crowd of citizens who had survived the attack. Some, like Cai’s companion, were searching the faces for family or friends, others were simply trying to push through the mass of bodies, bulging packs in their hands and balanced on their bent backs. Apparently, some had been spared from the fire’s grasp. 

“Cai-Su, my daughter, she’s…” The old man trailed off, and Cai looked at him quizzically, having expected a physical description so he could help in the search, but instead he found the man gazing dumbfounded ahead of them. “She’s there!” 

The old man pointed to a young Folk who bizarrely enough, was atop the shoulders of another Mokeu.

“Akita,” the man called, rushing over to his daughter, who was just as eagerly trying to climb down from the Mokeu’s shoulders.

[color=a0410d][i]How tolerant,[/i][/color] Cai thought, warily. [color=a0410d][i]What could he be up to?[/i][/color] It wasn’t common for one of his own to take kindly to others, much less someone of an entirely different species.

When they finally approached, the man embraced his daughter, the relief and joy evident in his features.

Cai maintained a safe distance and nodded once to the Mokeu. The odds of something like this were beyond his comprehension. “Perhaps it is a meeting of fate,” murmured a gentle voice in his mind. 
[/quote]

[quote=@Fetzen]
Bó felt Akira's weight suddenly shift on his shoulder, but it wasn't enough to disbalance him dangerously. He had enough of an opportunity to let her climb back down onto the street, but only by the time she already ran off towards Cai and the elderly man next to him did he actually realize what was going on.

Another Mokeu... how interesting. The sight made Bó briefly forget about the small family reunion going on between their respective companions as he wondered whether to greet the other individual of his kind or to prepare for a fight. Personally and given the overall circumstances, Bó felt certainly not in the mood for the latter, but there were extremely agressive tribes out there that wouldn't miss the opportunity. Even if nobody would be there to witness any pride and glory gained in a victory.

He decided to maintain his fair bit of distance to Cai, but raised his hand as a gentle greeting. Had he just observed a nod or had that been the wind moving the other man's fur in a deceptive manner ? Ultimately, Bó did not want to wait anymore. He approached Cal, then bowed in front of him. If Cai had hostile intentions, that would be the opportunity for him to strike at Bó's neck with ease -- which made the peaceful gesture all the more significant. Or at least so Bó hoped for it to work.
[/quote]

[quote=@Shift]
Cai tensed as the Mokeu approached him, his fingers tightening reflexively on his staff, ready to spring to action. But his alertness proved unnecessary, wise as it was, when the darker furred Mokeu prostrated himself before Cai. It was unheard of for someone of a different tribe to expose their vulnerabilities in this way, and for a sharp instant, Cai wondered what it would be like to rip the other’s neck apart.

A bit taken back by his own impulse, he took a step back and shook his head. To anyone else, it would have seemed like he merely disapproved of the other’s actions. 

The old man’s daughter stepped in then, and Cai was spared having to say anything to the Mokeu, which he was grateful for. [color=a0410d][i]Such an awkward situation.[/i][/color]

“Thank you for saving my father.” She smiled widely at him and took his hand in hers. His was easily twice the size of hers, his palms wider, his digits longer. No female Folk had ever touched him in such a manner in all his life. His staring at their joined hands didn’t seem to bother her though, and she held on tightly. When his eyes traveled up to hers, he saw tears in them. “I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t.”

The old man nodded his agreement, clapping the other Mokeu on the shoulder. “And thank you, son, for bringing my daughter safely here. What could have been added tragedy to an already marred day has ended in a happy reunion, and we are both grateful. Akira tells me you are called Bó. 

Well, Bó, Cai-Su,” the old man looked to Cai as well. “We will both continue to our property outside of the city from here, and I believe we should be capable of traveling the rest of the way on our own. You have both done far beyond what would be normally expected of you in such a situation, and I’m sure you have your own matters to attend to. Thankfully, it seems whatever this assault was, it has for the most part been quelled. I will confer with city leadership in the next few days. Be assured that your actions tonight will not go unnoticed.”

Cai opened his mouth to object, say he was merely doing what anyone would have done in such a situation, but the old man stopped him with a raised hand. Besides, Cai knew that wouldn’t have been true. He was familiar with how some less favorable people might have reacted in his situation, much less Bó’s.

“Please,” the man continued, his arm now resting securely on his daughter’s waist for balance and comfort. “We wish to honor you for what you’ve done. It will take time for the city to recover and for your deserved recognition. For now,” he paused and pulled at a silver cord around his neck. From within his shirt appeared a golden medallion attached to the silver cord. “Take this as a token of my appreciation. If anything else, I’m sure your tribe will be grateful for such a sum as this can bring.”

Cai knew the man meant well, wanted to offer the Mokeu responsible for saving not only him but his daughter as well, who might be his only family, but his true colors showed through now. Honestly, Cai should have expected no less from someone who was in a position to ‘confer with city leadership’. The man’s privilege and entitlement which had been overpowered by the peril they had been in was now in full view. Cai gave a sideways glance to Bó, wondering if the other would speak up or let this pass. The old man had assumed they were tribe mates, after all, and that their tribe would not only have use for such a trinket, but would be [i]grateful[/i] for it. But he doubted it, the other Mokeu had showed such deference to him when they’d just met, he imagined Bó would react with similar respect now. [color=a0410d][i]What’s his deal anyway?[/i][/color]

It took effort to maintain a passive expression when he wanted to scoff and roll his eyes. “He is trying to show you kindness,” the same murmured voice from earlier echoed in his mind.

Instead of his authentic reaction, Cai bowed his head to the man. [color=a0410d]”Thank you for your kindness—”[/color] It was in that moment that Cai realized he’d never asked the man’s name.

“Lian,” his daughter provided for him. “Lian Chen, Member of the Imperial Court.”
[/quote]

[quote=@Fetzen]
Maybe it was a good thing that, while bowing, Bó was just unable to see Cai's most immediate reactions. Otherwise they might have triggered a second thought about calling his own doings into question, and spotting disapproval might have raised aggression inside the larger Mokeu very much.

Seeing the old man almost lifting himself onto his toes in order to clap Bó onto the shoulder might have seen rather ridiculous to any outside observer, but every single touch of the man's hand sent an internal, gentle shudder both down Bó's spine and into his feelings. Just when had anybody expressed gratitude towards him that way, or when had just anybody expressed gratitude towards him the last time at all ? It would have been more likely for his shoulders to be hit by an axe or a spear than by a gentle hand. Bó just did not know how to react properly, so he just stood there halfway frozen like a, though very furry, statue.

It was the shiny metal suddenly appearing in front of the old man's neck that took Bó out of his confusion. [i]Your tribe ?[/i] he repeated internally and darted a very stern glance towards Cai. That Mokeu was not of his tribe! Not that he himself had any chance of knowing how his tribe far away truly looked like now, but Cai's fur pattern just didn't match. Was the old man just assuming they were all the same ? [color=yellow]"Please, you really don't need to do this. Family heirlooms are to be kept in family."[/color] Bó replied, making a rather desperate guess. He was not in the mood of even trying to explain how Mokeu society did see gold and valuable coin  differently than people of the Folk, but even less so was he in the mood of trying to explain how they'd have to chop the precious piece in two just in order to have an equal share -- even just assuming Cai and himself would find a way of converting this into something actually useful.

[color=yellow]"Lian. Akira. We have just done what we felt was the right thing. And we think that you should keep this token. Gratitude can be expressed in so many different ways and I am certain you will find a good one."[/color] Bó just hoped that not outright declining any reward would lure Lian's attention away from pure trinkets and money. Rewards were always good, just... not rewards that weren't rewards after all. Of course he could also just hope that he had picked up on Cai's thoughts correctly.
[/quote]

[quote=@Shift]
Lian frowned, clearly not expecting those of a lower stature than him to decline such an ostentatious reward. “Do these brutes not know what they’re turning down?” Cai imagined him thinking.

[color=a0410d]“We mean no disrespect, Imperial Court Member Lian,”[/color] he said quickly, hoping to maintain the friendly atmosphere. [color=a0410d]“This Mokeu and I are of different tribes, and we would be unable to easily divide such a prized artifact.”[/color] Cai had become accustomed to callous discrimination throughout his years in the city, but Lian seemed instead to be simply a product of such a culture, instead of harboring ill will himself. At least, this seemed to be the case after Cai had saved him.

The old man’s easy smile returned. “Oh, is that all?” Thankfully, he was undisturbed by their refusal, but he continued to hold out the medallion. “In that case…” Lian stepped toward Cai and pressed the round golden object into his palm, the second time someone had done such an action that night. It was heavier than Cai had expected. "Please, you may call me simply, Lian."

[color=a0410d][i]Do I seem like I need charity this badly?[/i][/color] He wondered briefly, but in all honesty, he did need money. Even more so now that—

“Cai-su, please take this,” Lian continued. He motioned to his daughter, who removed a large ring from one of her delicate fingers. 

Akira smiled up at the other Mokeu, and held out the ring for him. “And I hope you can accept this, Bó.” 

“It will take long weeks, or even months before the city can recognize your actions tonight, and I do not wish for our saviors to walk away empty handed. I will not accept no as an answer. My and my daughter’s life was saved because of your actions.” Cai held the medallion firmly and bowed low. “We will continue to my property just outside of the city. Are you in need of a place to stay?”

[color=a0410d]“You are far too generous, Lian Chen. I thank you for the offer, but I will be fine here in the city.”[/color] Cai straightened and stole a glance to his counterpart. He wondered what could have happened to have made him so docile.
[/quote]

[quote=@Fetzen]
Bó felt the ring's weight in his hands, but even more so he felt the weight of the task that it would certainly be to turn this gift into something useful. Should he just try and address the next trader who looked as if being well situated enough to handle this item, ask for a 'fair price' and then just believe that whatever sum was offered was indeed that without truly having any idea ? The thought of being ripped off was not far away, and Bó had no reason to think this city wouldn't try with him. So he'd have to keep this trinket around as what it was: a fairly useless item, only suited to attract attention. Neither did it fit around his fingers, nor was it anywhere massive enough to be used as a weapon in a fist fight.

How much Bó's facial expression betrayed of these thoughts was unknown to him, the Mokeu just tried his best to visually offer some gratitude instead of disappointment. [color=yellow]"I accept."[/color] he replied gently, then bowed just as he had seen Cai doing in the corner of his eyes. Had the other Mokeu just glanced towards him ? The thought of Cai attacking him as soon as Akira and Lian were out of sight and their surroundings would offer the opportunity did cross his mind. Going after each other so one would get the whole set of ring and amulet while the other would get the whole set of nothing would be very much what any 'proper' combination of members of different tribes would likely do.

Hopefully the overall circumstances had sufficiently pacified Cai, just as they had done so with Bó himself.

"That is the very least we could do!" Lian replied, taking a stance of pride. Bó could almost see the imaginary rostrum in front of Lian as he was about to deliver a speech in front of the city council. A lot of talking, that was how these Folk covered up their conflicts before actually solving them in the back room, right ?

"And now we have got important business ahead of us, and I'm certain you two have so, too! I can't spread the word of your good deeds while standing here, right ?" and Lian was on the verge of laughing, grinning. It almost looked as if he was slightly dragging Akira behind him as his steps accelerated the best they could given his injury. Bó looked after them, then towards Cai halfway expecting the latter to drop some kind of facade now. The Mokeu's palm closed firmly around the ring already, just in case.
[/quote]

[quote=@Shift]
Cai sighed as the pair walked away and out of the gates.

Around them, others were still reuniting, taking account of their possessions, and preparing to either follow Lian and Akira out of the city or to return to its depths.

He looked at the sack he still held tightly, within it were all the possessions Cai was able to recover from the burnt husk that had been his home with Zhao-Fu. A stab of pain coursed through him, but Cai gritted his teeth. A small clink from within the burlap told him the last remaining bottle of sweet plum wine was still intact within. 

[color=a0410d][i]I must prepare the rites for Zhao-Fu.[/i][/color]

Raising his head, he met the other Mokeu’s eyes and nodded solemnly. Bó had been one of a small handful of his kind that Cai had interacted with since departing The Jade Plains. He wondered briefly if he’d heard of the infamous tribe. [color=a0410d]“Perhaps we shall meet again,”[/color] he said. 
[/quote]