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[h3][b]Assani 16th[/b][/h3]
[sub][b]Location:[/b] Xochiyeiteteo - Sweetwater Farmstead
[b]Day of the week:[/b] Pandes
[b]Time:[/b] Night
[b]Present:[/b] Zarina, Classa [@Force and Fury], Zox, Raiders, Tennaxi, Cozesteo, Cuimits, Torrix-Basté, Alqasas.[/sub]

[hr][hr][center][h2][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSftMghlK3s]♫[/url][/h2][/center][hr][hr]

[hider=Leftovers of War]
As groups went their separate ways, Zarina escorted the anxious Nuro toward the field of bodies. [color=#E5E4E2]“It's okay baby. They won't hurt you.”[/color] she whispered to the beast whilst keeping a steady supply of soothing agents to keep him steady. It didn't smell as bad as when fires were flaring, as the driness of the desert had the benefit of drying bodies rather than putrifying them. Still, it was gross and unpleasant. Something Zazzy felt bad for letting Classa witness, but at this point it was too late.

[color=#E5E4E2]“Hey,”[/color] she called for their attention, both Zox and Classa. [color=#E5E4E2]“Is this normal? Fifty-plus raiders for your farm?”[/color] she inquired whilst drawing to detect any beating hearts or subtle signs of life that may be concealed. [color=#E5E4E2]“I'm asking because it's pretty obvious you would not have survived without help, Zox.”[/color] she looked up at the perfected, shining golem. [color=#E5E4E2]“Well, before anyway.”[/color]

[color=C71585]"We get raiders all the time,"[/color] said Classa glumly, trotting sideways around the others. [color=C71585]"More of them lately. Mr. Jascuan says it's 'cause they're trying to scare us off the farm and scare Wazuo from taking it over once Mr. Jascuan's... you know..."[/color] She trailed off and her eyes flicked pointedly to some of the corpses before recoiling.

[color=B0C4DE]"Usually, I can deal with them,"[/color] rumbled Zox. [color=B0C4DE]"I am built for war."[/color] There was no expression on his large, stony face now that he was back to his normal size and form. [color=B0C4DE]"This was the largest group ever. The masters and us demons would have all died,"[/color] he added in confirmation.

Zarina, as they spoke, was busy checking for signs of life, and she found precisely eleven, in varying states of injury.

[color=#E5E4E2]“Right.”[/color] Zarina proceeded to do a little bit of triage to determine the state of each survivor. The corpses were dragged to one side via telekinesis, making Zox's job of burying them easier. [color=#E5E4E2]“They'll send fifty guys to die just for some land and sweetwater?”[/color] she remarked as she began to inspect the first of the dozen wounded, checking if this one could even be worth bringing in. [color=#E5E4E2]“That's some mighty fine water ...”[/color] she muttered, eyes on the raider to her feet as she crouched. [color=#E5E4E2]“Was it worth it?”[/color] she asked the fallen Cazenax as she still debated internally on their fate.

[color=B0C4DE]"The land is close to the city,"[/color] Zox explained, [color=B0C4DE]""but in a good area for sweetwater, and it's a lot of land. It might not look like it now, but 4S was once the third-largest sweetwater operation in the entire region, and the largest that was family-owned."[/color]

[color=C71585]"Yeah, but Mr. Jascuan's dad made enemies,"[/color] Classa added, in storyteller mode now. [color=C71585]"Powerfuw peopwe in the city. They offered him a wot of money, but he said no, and that's why we're stiww here."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"There are other farms that get like this, of course,"[/color] Zox explained, [color=B0C4DE]"Raiders are mostly open desert people who still live by the old ways. They like to hit right after sandstorms, when you're out repairing and vulnerable and when everyone in the town's too busy to come and help you defend yourself."[/color] He shook his head. [color=B0C4DE]"Some get paid, though. It's a way to get rid of rivals. Lots of the important people make deals with them."[/color]

The raider at Zarina's feet had been skewered through the midsection and had some burns to go with the wound. He looked up at her, speaking Cazenax, and Classa flinched at his words. Zox translated, clenching his fists for a moment before relaxing. [color=B0C4DE]"He didn't understand you if you were actually talking to him."[/color] The big golem shook his head. [color=B0C4DE]"He says it's not for money. They're trying to send the demons back to hell, where we belong. We're unnatural and going to be the death of Cazenax society: us and that demon-hugging, vozas-loving king Stazen."[/color] 

[color=C71585]"How can I go back to hell!?"[/color] Classa shouted. [color=C71585]"I was born here! This is the only pwace I know!"[/color] She crossed her arms protectively and repeated her words in Cazenax for good measure.

Zarina rested her wrists over her thighs, letting her hands hand loosely as she listened to her demonic peers and the translation effort. [color=#E5E4E2]“I don't quite understand the demon's place in this society. I didn't even know you Caz-uh-nacks existed.”[/color] she reached out to tap the raider's forehead, giving them a soothing dose of pain suppressants. [color=#E5E4E2]“But if they dislike demons so much, what's up with them sicking double the amount in the farm on us?”[/color] the survivor appeared well enough since he could speak, and so he was lifted off the sand without ever being touched and provided a spot on the wagon. [color=#E5E4E2]“What's the deal with that King Strazen, by the way?”[/color] she continued her patrol, finding the next raider not too far off her recent find. [color=#E5E4E2]“And if any of you understand me, speak up. I'll get to you faster.”[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"They believe demons are tools and not people,"[/color] replied Zox with almost disturbing impartiality. [color=C71585]"But they're wrong!"[/color] insisted Classa. [color=C71585]"I [i]am[/i] a person. Maxi says so! Jascuan says so. [i]I[/i] say so!"[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"You can use one tool to destroy another,"[/color] Zox said impassively.

Classa shot him an angry look. [color=C71585]"If I ever destroy anyone, it's 'cause they're trying to destroy [i]me[/i] or they're being a bit [i]shithead[/i] and I wanna!"[/color] She stamped a pair of hooves in anger.

[color=B0C4DE]"She's young and she was born and not created,"[/color] said Zox quietly. [color=B0C4DE]"Mr. Jascuan treats her more like a daughter and Maxi more like a sister."[/color] He shook his head, but then Classa trotted up right beside them, leaning in. She pointed to her ears. [color=C71585]"I can hear you, you know. I have super good hearing."[/color]

Then, Zarina had reached the second casualty. She lay on the ground, blood soaking into the sand beneath her. Both of the raider's legs had been ripped clean off by some incredibly violent force, but fortunately at least partially cauterized. She was young and she was crying. Her face was read and her eyes bulged in obvious agony. [color=D8BFD8]"Zag! [i]Zag![/i]" (Please! [i]Please![/i])[/color] she wailed. [color=D8BFD8]"Cé ax zoan! Lasto Cé! [i]Oluin[/i] lasto Cé! Zaaaag! Jazé dexo jepui Cé! Nurots istas Céx abazen: dexo poz fa exnast jupai. Zolo upé lix cits. Potés alaz cits. Cuxé jepui cits ni oxo il tacu nenzoné yats ni... Wui buin sebzai céx abazox. An alazui ja [i]exupé[/i]! (Don't kill me! I'm sorry ! I'm [i]very[/i] sorry! Pleeeease! I just needed money. My family are donkey-riders <poor>: just a bunch of snarling foxes <losers>! We're desert people. We have nothing. We needed food and they offered such good pay and... My brothers can't bag sand <are lazy and useless>. [i]Someone[/i] had to do it!)[/color] She reached up, suddenly, and grabbed at Zarina's shin with a trembling viselike hand. [color=D8BFD8]"Lasto Cé. Lasto Cé. Sest céx inguia ozux judonui alaz Cé. Ozux manca poxa lui Cé. Exupé zind axé nupo Cé. [i]Zag.[/i] Tennaxi Luna lix céx legasta. Dumé ax nupo Cé..." (I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I've always dyed my clothes purple <tried to be special>. I've always been a dumb bitch. I didn't want to hurt anyone. [i]Please.[/i] My name is Tennaxi Luna <Midnight Moon>. I don't wanna die...)[/color] She released Zarina's leg and covered her eyes. Then she rolled rolled halfway over and wept bitterly, her life spilling out into the ground from ragged stumps. 

Of course, the Virangishwoman had not understood a word that she'd said, even if she'd been able to read the tone, and she was no healer. Then, Classa trotted up, wrapping unsteady arms around herself. [color=C71585]"I don't like this..."[/color] the girl mewed, suddenly very much an eight-year-old again. Her eyes, haunted, flicked between the dying raider and her new friend.  [color=C71585]"I don't think she's bad, and she looks like Maxi now."[/color] She averted her gaze. [color=C71585]"And [i]Maxi's[/i] gone too!"[/color] She'd held back tears the entire time, but now they came.

The levity brought by Classa's innocence did shine a light in this valley of death they had created. The child made Zarina smile, even if it were just little chuckles. But the light was fleeting and not immune to the dark world that awaited this young critter. The desperate pleading and cries of agony of the young Cazenax woman reminded them all that these were people and they had done this. Something horrible, even if justified.

Zarina did not need to understand the words uttered by Tennaxi Luna to get it. Someone far too young, who did not have the eyes of a killer or the know-how to really do any harm. It was so obvious, despite how different they looked to the teen, that they were completely lost and in excruciating pain. [color=#E5E4E2]“What does Lasto Cé mean?”[/color] she asked to her translators just as her leg was seized. Flinching, she was about ready to crush that hand with her telekinesis, but she didn't. Those same eyes she judged told yet another story. Someone who acted out of desperation and immediately regretted what they did. It wasn't the same as the resentment spat out by the first find. The Virangishwoman's heart just sank, and only the legless survivor could see her expression falter to the point of showing weakness. She couldn't let it out, though. Not in front of the errant or the innocent like Classa. She had to be the strong one. Hard as stone, like Zox. [color=#E5E4E2]“... And Zag. Means please?”[/color]

Binding was out of the question, but something had to be done, lest this person was just left to bleed out. A slow and terrible death, and an inhuman thing to just let happen. She clung to that humanity she still had. Rising to her feet, she went to meet Classa, rested a hand on her cheek and levelled with her. [color=#E5E4E2]“We'll find Maxi. But I need you to be a brave girl for me.”[/color] she looked over at the farm not too far off. [color=#E5E4E2]“I'm going to need some water. For me, you and them. They made a mistake, but they don't deserve to suffer. They're people, like you.”[/color] she then gave the young centaur a little embrace before getting back to her duty.

Zarina snapped a piece of wood from a raider's spear and presented it right before Tennaxi's visage. [color=#E5E4E2]“Bite down.”[/color] she made a biting motion to illustrate rather than wait for a translation. [color=#E5E4E2]“This will hurt.”[/color] she warned, kneeling by the Cazenax with her shield morphed into a thinner contraption, the cannon was proportional. A thin steam of flame began to brush over her right gauntlet to head it up until reddened. Meanwhile, she did her best to dull Tennaxi's nerves, but it wasn't going to be enough to spare the poor girl of a very bad time. Once ready, she didn't linger. The hot metal seared the bleeding stumps, offloading the most awful of stenches and inevitably prompting ear-piecing screeches from the victim. Zarina steeled herself. This was the right thing to do. And she was grateful none of the others had to see this. Whether it was the ordeal she was subjecting herself to, or the tears she couldn't hold back as the smoke and steam hit her face.

Classa galloped off, though it was more of a canter. It seemed as if the girl had finally come down from her high and was fading. She would be back when she was back. Zox, meanwhile, watched quietly as Zarina worked. If the golem was thinking, he gave little outward sign but for his stillness. 

Tennaxi, who had been their enemy an hour ago, shrieked and sobbed into the fast-arriving darkness. There was no recovering from the injuries she had been given, but there was survival and perhaps even redemption. In any case, through the haze of her own, she did not notice her vanquisher and saviour's tears. When the worst was over, she lay on her back in the sand, stumps elevated on a small stone, eyes closed, and chest heaving grateful, trembling breaths. [color=D8BFD8]"Mixa,"[/color] she panted. [color=D8BFD8]"Tazo mixa."[/color]

Zox continued to work silently for a while, burying the raiders in a mass grave - albeit at least not thrown in haphazardly. Tennaxi, who had seemed both grateful and contrite, was left to his guardianship while Zarina moved onto the next wounded raider, and then the one after. One expired while she made her rounds. One tried to stab her. Three begged for their lives. One, particularly badly maimed, begged to be killed, while another cursed the Bantarsca Upé. Finally, two spouted the anti-demon and anti-void zealotry of their earlier peer. That didn't stop the last one from offering her money to let him go.

Classa came back midway through the ordeal, but Zarina deemed it unsafe for her to bring water directly to many of the now-prisoners. Instead, she settled by Tennaxi, kneeling on the fast-cooling ground as Zox finished with the bodies. Soon enough, Zarina would begin her interrogation, but the situation was also precarious. Were there more raiders? Who had sent them? There was only herself, Zox, and Classa left to defend the farmstead, and some of these people were not badly hurt. Mostlike they had played injured once they'd realized their cause was lost and something or other had prevented their escape.

Finally, Zox returned to where Zarina had gathered the recoverable wounded. [color=B0C4DE]"You tried to harm my people,"[/color] he said to Tennaxi, settling beside her. The scrawny young woman's eyes had been on the sky and sometimes on her fellow raiders, but now she looked over. [color=D8BFD8]"Well, I failed,"[/color] she replied after a second, [color=D8BFD8]"though I never really wanted to."[/color] She tried, abortively, to sit up, but then her eyes bugged out in pain, she let out a small sound, and she fell back, panting shallowly. [color=D8BFD8]"Think [i]you[/i] harmed me worse anyhow,"[/color] she shot back, closing her eyes again. [color=D8BFD8]"Listen, if you're here to finish the job, just do it and make it quick. I'm done for anyways: good for nothing."[/color]

Classa, who'd been uncharacteristically quiet, watching the exchange, chose this moment to pipe up. [color=C71585]"Well, [i]Maxi[/i] has no legs and she's good for [i]pwenty.[/i] Maybe lotsa peopwe don't think so, but I've [i]seen[/i] her and she does just fine."[/color] The child shook her head. [color=C71585]"You sowta look like her, actuawwy."[/color]

Quietly, Zox reached over and laid his massive hands on the prisoner. Tennaxi tensed up in fear. Then, unexpectedly, he began healing. Flesh, torn and burnt, began to give way to fresh pink skin. There was no recovering the limbs, but there [i]was[/i] an end to the crudely-cauterized wounds and excruciating pain. When she realized what was happening, all that the raider could do was issue a half-whispered thank you as she watched him work. Within a couple of minutes, she was sitting upright, looking around and hugging herself as the nighttime cold of the desert began to sweep in.

Meanwhile, Zarina had finished her rounds. There were seven prisoners in functional condition and, while none were outright hostile, not all seemed friendly. Something would have to be done with them.

The intense heat and the consistent wiping of her face buried Zarina's secret from the world, and eventually she would force herself to forget it too. She did not linger with the prisoner. [color=#E5E4E2]“You're welcome.”[/color] she answered to what she deduced what some sort of show of gratefulness. Then she moved on, with the next sign of life fading just as she arrived. Concerned, she knelt and turned the body to notice they had bled out. It had been too long, even a strong binder would have trouble fixing the immense damage that came with prolonged blood loss. She sighed and carried on.

The next one was a feisty one. [color=#E5E4E2]“Tsk, dickhead.”[/color] she growled as the knife lodged itself into one of the shield's scales. The assailant was subsequently disarmed by his own mistake, and without any hesitation, got Zarina's greaves to the chin, knocking him out cold. [color=#E5E4E2]“Hey Zox, mind tying this one up? Like, some rock coffin or something with only his head sticking out.”[/color] he jested, although when thinking about it, maybe it was for the best if they could use magic.

Those that begged or were jaded were all given what Zarina could provide: Crude first aid, and if Zox cared enough, something a little more. That was until she met one that begged to be killed. She looked behind her, Classa was there. She took a moment to think. [color=#E5E4E2]“Is that what you want?”[/color] she asked, voice hushed and her position strategically hiding what she was doing. The Cazenax didn't understand, but how she held herself and the tone of her voice was maybe enough for the mangled survivor to insist on their request. When they did, she posed two fingers onto their forehead. A rush of toxin chemical began to rush through their bloodstream, and for a moment they couldn't breathe anymore. It wasn't the most peaceful partings, but it lasted less than forty seconds before they passed out, and then succumbed. Zarina watched until the light left their eyes before closing them. A little bit of her's had been extinguished as well.

Now was time to get to work, however. [color=#E5E4E2]“It's getting dark. Is there a shed we can use? Any sort of shelter?”[/color] she asked, vigilant of any potential attacker of aggressive scavenger. [color=#E5E4E2]“I'm not inclined to become Froabas food. I'm actually surp- Right, not Torragon.”[/color] she shook her head. There were two options: A supply shed by the house, or one further in the cold wastes. She decided with the former. The survivors were brought by wagon, pulled by Nuro, and eventually were all put in the storage once any sort of weapon or valuable goods were removed.[/hider]

Classa was tucked in with a sleepy Nibbler to keep her company after a few moments of storytelling and tickles.

Zarina returned to a grisly sight. More death and suffering. The prisoners were terrified for the most part, with the current ‘victims’ screeching for help as Zox immediately intervened to separate the rabid Tennaxi from the others. [color=#E5E4E2]“What the FUCK just happened?!”[/color] the barely armoured Virangish growled, eyes to the golem. Zox focused on keeping the three concerned parties separate but answered her nonetheless. [color=#B0C4DE]“It was fast. Before I could hear anything, she had killed two.”[/color] Zarina clicked her tongue in annoyance. [color=#E5E4E2]“Shit. They were lip flappers too.”[/color] her glare was directed to Tennaxi who had since come to and looked both panicked and confused at what just happened.

Soon came the fear, and then the pleading. Zarina was rightfully suspicious. [color=#E5E4E2]“You better not be fucking me.”[/color] her sharp and armoured finger pointed at the legless girl. The three were separated and their arms bound while the two bodies were dumped outside for the time being.With Tennaxi still overwhelmed by what happened, one of the assaulted was approached first. One known as Cuimits. [color=#B0C4DE]“As you may have deduced, Cazenax often have names with meaning. Unlike us.”[/color] stated Zox flatly. [color=#B0C4DE]“This one means Nine-fingers.”[/color] Zarina, as if on cue, paid attention to the recently bound hands. [color=#E5E4E2]“Huh. From some fancy name like Midnight Moon to Missing-Finger-Joe. ”[/color] she chuckled, already calmed now that order had been restored. [color=#B0C4DE]“Names are earned in Cazenax society. There can be a story behind his missing finger. Or simply how he is known. I could not say.”[/color]

Tennaxi was isolated while Cozesteo was made to wait with the others. Cuimits, one Zarina had identified as having a head over his shoulders, was her first target. 

Zarina pulled a chair, sat in reverse and crossed her arms over the seat whilst Cuimits sat on the floor, back against a wall. Zox was the translator. [color=#E5E4E2]“Let’s start simple, then. Who sent you?”[/color] and then it just became a staring competition. So she repeated herself. [color=#B0C4DE]“I only took orders. My lieutenant is dead.”[/color] translated Zox in a similar, flat tone as Cuimits. There was evidently something about this one that kept Zarina’s attention. The way the others looked at him and his composure reeked of unspoken authority, like a high ranking member of a mob that dressed like any other local. 

[color=#E5E4E2]“Why’d you do it, then?”[/color] 

[color=#B0C4DE]“Money.”[/color]

[color=#E5E4E2]“Why did she want to kill you?”[/color]

[color=#B0C4DE]“To silence us, maybe. We got captured after all.”[/color]

[color=#E5E4E2]“Was it one of those elites that sent you?”[/color] Zox made sure to use the appropriate terminology to qualify who she was talking about.

[color=#B0C4DE]“He never met the one that paid. It went through the boss.”[/color]

[color=#E5E4E2]“And so who’s the boss?”[/color]

Zox paused as he heard the answer. [color=#B0C4DE]“I have killed him, it seems.”[/color] he sighed.

For a moment, Zarina had an idea to turn up the heat. Do something a little extreme to get this one’s lips to flap. But the corner of her eye caught something: Tennaxi. She gestured for Cuimits to be put aside, for now, and bring in the calmed Tennaxi. [color=#E5E4E2]“Are you going to tell me what happened?”[/color]

[color=#D8BFD8]“Lasto! Lasto …”[/color] Tennaxi lowered her head, only for her to see the grim reality of her mangled body. She shielded her eyes briefly before looking up at Zazzy. [color=#B0C4DE]“I don’t know what happened, she says.”[/color] Zox shuffled a bit in his corner, his stoney gaze shifting between the prisoners. Tennaxi paused before being hit by a moment of clarity, index finger raised. But just before she could speak, Cozesteo shouted something she didn’t understand with Cuimits adding to it.

[color=#E5E4E2]“Shut up.”[/color] Zarina said, but they continued. [color=#E5E4E2]“I said, shut UP.”[/color] they both felt immense pressure applied above them, forcing their cheeks to hit the flooring. Cozesteo was quick to apologize the same way Tennaxi would, but Cuimits showed continuous defiance. The rest of the captives began to panic, to which Zarina was sensitive enough to cease her show of force, and in turn the tension of the air faded. Except of course for Cuimits’ continued ranting. As a result, Zox intervened with his intimidating form and just taped his mouth shut with some conjured leather. Again, the group was frightened, but the golem’s imposing size was enough to keep them in order. With peace returned, the interrogation could continue.

The timid Tennaxi, upon seeing Cuimits bound up tight, felt bold enough to speak. [color=#B0C4DE]“She says she felt like she ‘lost her body’, and was all numb.”[/color] Zarina blinked and then squinted. [color=#E5E4E2]“Like her body had a mind of its own?”[/color] to which Tennaxi nodded once the sentence was translated. Zarina drummed her fingers over the wooden seat. [color=#E5E4E2]“It could be a spell. It could also be bullshit.”[/color] Zarina bit her uncovered thumb’s nail as she pondered, eyes locked to Tennaxi’s. She wanted to believe this girl was honest, but she had indeed killed two. 

There wasn’t much to get from Tennaxi that wasn’t already said, and so the interrogator moved on. Her attention drifted toward Cuimits again, bound and gagged with consistent defiance in his eyes. But then there was the sidekick, Cozesteo. Clearly of lesser intelligence and standing. Quite bulky too. [color=#E5E4E2]“What’s his name?”[/color] to which Zox replied with a slightly amused voice, as if he was in synch with Zarina’s observation. [color=#B0C4DE]“Cozesteo. Big Rock.”[/color] the corner of Zaz’s lip twitched. It was the rock’s turn in the spotlight.

[color=#E5E4E2]“Who sent you here?”[/color]

[color=#B0C4DE]“‘Dunno’, as he would say. He says for money.”[/color] Zox internally frowned. [color=#B0C4DE]“The exact same formulation the other used.”[/color] to which Zarina scoffed. [color=#E5E4E2]“Is that so?”[/color] Her attention was entirely on the Big Rock. [color=#E5E4E2]“Who’s your boss?”[/color] and for a split second, Cozesteo peered over at Cuimits, only to then shift his eyes about to lock them onto Zox, acting as if he was the bigger boulder among the two. Unfortunately for him, Zarina caught that and shot a knowing glance at Cuimits. [color=#655DF6]“Potojax.”[/color] he said before cackling like a buffoon. A laughter that slowly degenerated into awkward titters as nobody laughed.

What followed were a series of awkward but ultimately meaningless questions, poking the man’s daily life and intentions. The more she went, the more it became clear this robust look of his was a façade. And the more his slipped looks toward his true boss, Cuimits. Realizing what was going on, a very brief sonic bubble was formed that enveloped Zox too.

[color=#E5E4E2]“Is this man your boss?”[/color]

Cozesteo, taken aback by the sudden use of magic, just shot a confused look at Zarina.

[color=#E5E4E2]“Tell me now. Is he your boss? Did he have something to do with the murders?”[/color] 

A moment of hesitation took Cozesteo. But then he chuckled, again looking at his superior to feel emboldened.

[color=#B0C4DE]“He says you must not be very smart. He’s his own boss and gets paid.”[/color] he didn’t bother to translate the ‘poxa’ in there.

Zarina’s arm unnaturally extended to seize the Cazenax’s throat. Her platinum hand was suddenly huge and could easily pluck the smaller being’s head. [color=#E5E4E2]“I don’t honestly know or truly care about the bullshit behind all of this.”[/color] she snarled, the sound-bubble pointless in hiding her intentions. [color=#E5E4E2]“You’ve hurt people that matter to me. You tried to kill some kid because you hate demons or whatever. And I’ve given you a second chance. I can easily take it away.”[/color] it’d be so easy, easier than pulling a trigger. That draconic shield-arm was so big and the claws so sharp. It’d be like passing a hot knife into a stick of butter.

[color=#B0C4DE]“Zarina.”[/color] a concerned Zox felt the need to speak up, and the audience was growing agitated once more. [color=#B0C4DE]“Please.”[/color] the golem reached for the girl’s shoulder. After a moment, she calmed down, but it had worked in getting Cozesteo to whisper something. [color=#655DF6]“Zé …”[/color] he said. [color=#B0C4DE]“They’re all afraid of him. You can see why.”[/color] Zox added, looking at the pool of dried blood at the corner.

Zarina sighed, lowered the barrier and shot a menacing look at Cuimits. The head of the troupe immediately her numb and his chin hit his chest. He was asleep after a strong dose of chemical magic was applied. But with one potential problem gone, a new one arose. The prisoners were terrified at this point and just about ready to explode in their foreign ramblings. The Virangish girl opted to not use force this time, raising her hands as a sign of peace while speaking pacifying words they did not understand. Zox, being the terrifying monster that killed many of their peers, did little to help too as intimidation wasn’t going to cut it after what had happened.

Just as catastrophe was about to strike, Tennaxi mustered the courage to speak now that Cuimits was unconscious. [color=#D8BFD8]“Zag. Zag!”[/color] she pleaded to her fellow Cazenax. A display of good faith was made, Tennaxi showed her desire to help despite the suspicions around her. Given that it actually worked, Zarina was more inclined to believe her. A second female Cazenax, Torrix-Basté, added to Tennaxi’s efforts and provided testimony of the events that unfolded, making external magical influence the likely culprit here. 

With peace restored in a fragile state, she continued her interrogation with Cozesteo.

[color=#B0C4DE]“He says that for the record, he has nothing against demons and even owns a few.”[/color] Zox translated the words of Big Rock, still rattled by the recent threats but more willing to talk now that Cuimits was out. [color=#B0C4DE]“The king’s changes aren't good for them. They’ll lose their sense of purpose. Being entirely dependent on the Vozas has more than just the obvious risks.”[/color]

[color=#E5E4E2]“Risks, but you’ve been using this for … A long time I presume? Why are you worried about risks?”[/color]

Cozesteo looked to Zox, and then to Zarina before sarcastically cackling. [color=#B0C4DE]“They want to have more lax admission standards for the Vo-Wola. The people who make use of the Vozas. He says it is insanity to be this careless with the most dangerous thing in the world.”[/color]

[color=#E5E4E2]“Okay, but what does this have to do with them raiding this place?”[/color]

Torrix-Basté interjected upon hearing this. [color=#B0C4DE]“She suggests that it might have something to do with land speculation following King Stazen’s policies.”[/color] to which Zarina shrugged. [color=#E5E4E2]“For just a quick buck? Really? And going as far as killing your own? So who exactly sent them?”[/color]

Torrix-Basté was unable to say, as she only did it for the money and a general dislike for demons. Cozesteo, on the other hand, had more to say. He needed a little more squeezing, but a light bit of internal chemical did the trick. [color=#B0C4DE]“There was a meeting with an intermediary that referred to their client as female. Apparently this was done to ‘help a friend’, and that the actual motives are a mystery to him.”[/color] Zarina sat back on her chair, arms crossed and attentive. [color=#B0C4DE]“He thinks that the people in the Batarsca, the elites in a way, wanted to acquire this land expecting King Stazen’s policies to suddenly change, like what she said, but he believes an assassination attempt will be the cause and it may have already happened. The sweetwater guild in particular was keen on dealing with this land due to it remaining independent.”[/color]

[color=#E5E4E2]“That would explain why they’d want to keep a lid on things.”[/color] she spoke to Zox, her platinum claw scratching her chin. [color=#E5E4E2]“Sweetwater guild, jaded elites and a reformist King, it sounds like we’ve stumbled into a web of power plays and we’ve just caused a very unexpected mess.”[/color] so far Zarina didn’t seem too alarmed, and she was left to wonder what were truly the stakes here. There was a reason Upta and the Silent Ranger had dispatched them, and the only conclusion she could make was an extreme case with the Vozas.Was Stazen’s elimination a good or bad thing? It all hinged on this, she just knew it.

Tennaxi was brought back to the spotlight with Cozesteo left to breathe in his own corner. Zarina didn’t have to ask anything, she just began to talk. [color=#B0C4DE]“She doesn’t know that much more, she says. But she’d be happy to serve as a guide at the city, but she’d need to be mounted.”[/color] Zarina, Zox and Tennaxi all looked at the poor Cazenax’s stumps. The girl still hadn’t fully registered how her life was going to drastically change. But with this grim reality made real and recalling Classa’s words, Tennaxi had something of an epiphany. [color=#B0C4DE]“She’s realized that Samaxi, Mr. Jascuan’s daughter, is Potés-Palix. And- …”[/color] Zox just stopped talking and ‘glared’ at the legless girl. [color=#E5E4E2]“What is it?”[/color] Zarina dryly inquired, smelling something was off and deeply concerned considering her friends had gone to search for that individual. [color=#B0C4DE]“It’s mere speculation. But … She suggests that the timing of the raid looked to have been done in accordance to Maxi’s absence. They did not expect more than just me to protect the stead.”[/color]

Zarina clenched her jaw. A woman had hired these goons via an intermediary. Samaxi’s absence was conspicuously timed with the raid’s. There’s a lot of money and political capital involved. All surrounding the Vozas, or better known as the wicked Void that had nearly taken three close to her. The Virangish rider had gone from mildly concerned for an inquest she did not grasp the importance of beyond finding a culprit, to realising the potential gravity of it all.

Cozesteo was brought back in. Forceful but non-physical, she asked plainly. [color=#E5E4E2]“How do I get this asshole to talk? I’m out of patience.”[/color] to which the Cazenax continuously shook his head and insisted he didn’t know. Zarina didn’t have time for this. A bag of a few magi was tossed to his lap - currency that wasn’t common but had its use in the supply wagon from Nashibansek. With such a handsome reward, the Big Rock could put his conscience away for a brief moment.

[color=#B0C4DE]“Zarina. Are you sure you want to go through with this?”[/color] Zox, concerned by what he had heard, wished this could end already.

[color=#E5E4E2]“Just say it. We can’t find the head of this serpent without this guy’s cooperation.”[/color] she growled whilst glaring at the still slumbering Cuimits. The other Cazenax looked concerned as well, shooting expectant looks at Zarina. Was she going to actually do this?

[color=#B0C4DE]“He has a family that lives west of town, at a place called The Dive. It’s … a red domed residence occupying a gap in the hoodoos.”[/color] then everything got quiet.

Zarina just nodded before stepping out.

She opened her right, metal palm. The flow of time became tangible to her as she began to draw from it. And then, once imbuing her claws with the abstract energy she was far from mastering, she dug them into the air before her and dragged her hand downward. A forcefully opened a tear into time and space and created a portal in a cruder manner than most did. 

Zox stepped out, and so did Tennaxi. Both would see the magnificence that was Alqasas stepping out of the rift and into a land not too different from where her mother had laid her. The reticulated and pearlescent Alpha Froabas sniffed about, recognizing Zarina and unknown parties. Naturally, she inhaled to prepare a loud and domineering howl. Quickly, the beastmaster created an improvised sonic bubble, only for it to partially succeed. The earth-shaking scream was heard by all the Cazenax, perishing all notions of trying a breakout at this time. 

[color=#E5E4E2]“Be quiet.”[/color] the strict mother ordered before flicking the mighty beast’s snout. It recoiled, growled and then sniffed some more. [color=#E5E4E2]“It’s late here, as you can see.”[/color] she clearly spoke to the beast, and reached out to caress that previously assaulted snout. [color=#E5E4E2]“I missed you too.”[/color] the animal shot her a challenging stare, but was otherwise docile.

[color=#E5E4E2]“I’m not gonna threaten some asshole’s family. I'll get another lead.”[/color] she reassured, head turned as she still faced her dragon. [color=#E5E4E2]“You.”[/color] she turned and pointed toward Tannaxi. [color=#E5E4E2]“You wanted to be a guide, right?”[/color]

[color=#E5E4E2]“I’m going to visit that guild. Can I expect good demons like you to translate? Or must I make preparations? I’d bring you, but …”[/color] she looked to her dragon, still not fully mature, and then to the stead where Classa slumbered. [color=#E5E4E2]“You’ve got more important things to care for. Watch over Riesco for me, yeah?”[/color][/color]