Shadow Rising/Chapter 1

The den is packed to the brim with many bodies, Tag's home, family, friends. It beats with life like a heart. Despite Tag's many problems, his curse, anger, and rage, he still finds love and acceptance here.

Sorien is by the fire in a lounger sipping tea, Crys near her.

Narg continues to sip at her whisky next to the bar.

Loki is busy eating the various foods, usually stew... A thing he usually does when not passed out at a table or other flat surface.

Sorien churrs, "Does anyone else feel something odd?"

Taggart steps out of the back hallway, strapped to bear. His AUG hangs on his right shoulder, small pack of supplies on his back, while his baseball bat sticks handle up from said pack. He wears a light SWAT vest and worn combat boots, fingerless gloves as well. The Irishman glances around at his friends and family, eyebrows slowly raising over his green eyes as if to quietly ask, "An' why exactly aren't ya ready ta go?" In fact, as his gaze passes over each, they almost hear those very words in his lilting accent.

Sorien blinks. "Oh. THAT’S why something feels odd. Uh... You never told us we were going now, Tag..."

Sparhawk is a well-armoured hexataur loitering on the ceiling, face wrapped in a full concealing helmet with a swept beak shape. Shi's fidgeting with the armour on hir arms, looking like it's a little uncomfortable.

Apostasy raises an eyebrow at Tag. "Huh. Going somewhere, are we? Fun." She uncurls from her seat and stands, stretching a little, before picking her shield up from where it rests against her seat and strapping it against her back in its usual spot. "I'm all set. Where we headed?"

Grantok unwinds a little, leaning against the bar while sitting at one of the stools. Tea is cooling near her on the bar top. Catching the heavily armed Taggart out of the corner of her eye, she looks a little shocked but quickly gets the message and hops to her feet. "It's time, isn't it?"

Crys shifts, her ears perking at Tag's sincerity, and quietly gets up, helping her mate to her feet.

Sorien finishes her tea, then takes the cup back to the sink to be washed. "How far, Tag? We need more than snacks and MRE's?

Narg perks her ears "That you Taggart?" she looks back to the hallway "Oh hello there, I can see your ready to go somewhere. If we are going somewhere I'm ready"

Narg puts the stopper on her whiskey and puts it on the counter then stands up, swinging her backpack over her shoulders.

Loki glances over to Taggart and tilts his head. "Hello Taggart! You seem to be geared for something! May I inquire as to what it is, and if you need assistance?" he asks, quickly finishing the bowl of stew in front of him.

Taggart clears his throat gently, "S'few hours nort'east. Harrisburg. Out in Death Valley." The man adjusts the rifle on his shoulder, moving over to take up a half-filled bottle of whiskey to shove into his pack as he does.

Crys pulls Sori towards the door, without really waiting for Tag's action.

Cilan looks over to Taggart, a look of curiosity pressing at her features as she notices the heavily armed Irishman, "Gearing up for war, or something, Taggart?" is all that is said moments before she takes a casual swig of her hip flask.

Sorien eeps and is dragged. "Uh... I'm going? Uh... Sweetie?"

Crys leans in and whispers to her mate. "Taggart respects action sweetie, and he needs our support."

Apostasy heads towards the door after Crys and Sor. She calls back over her shoulder "Let's move then. We're burning daylight, Irish."

Sparhawk looks down at Taggart and lumbers to hir feet. "Ah. From the school of appropriately-named places. You know I want to help any way I can..." Shi drifts down to the floor. "But seek permission."

As she's dragged out the door, Sori calls, "I'll just get the bus running then..."

Loki rises to his feet and stretches out. "Well.. I guess I shall follow, considering that all I have is the name of where we are going, and it is near something that sounds foreboding, I think you may need some help." he nods, then looking to Cilan. "Really?... war? I hope not..."

Narg grabs her whiskey and deposits it in a side pocket of her backpack.

Taggart scowls gently, "Now's not tha time ta be gettin' on me bad side, Apo..." The man shakes his head and steps around from the bar, stopping at the bottom of the steps to look around at anyone who hasn't yet followed. "Yer welcome." He turns back around and then makes his way up and out.

Narg makes her way after Taggart a gleam in her eye and a shrug to adjust her backpack.

Apostasy resists the urge to make a wisecrack and just makes her way towards the bus.

Grantok checks what odds and ends she has on her person briefly and hurries behind the walking armoury, up and out of the bar. A faint smile is on her face as she gets a slightly nostalgic feeling in the air.

Cilan stands from her seat, her look of curiosity only increasing, but she shrugs it off, "Well, not sure what's happening, but if people are needed, I'll gladly come along.." finished, she moves to follow those that left to the bus.

Loki shrugs, looking after the others, thinking for a moment before he follows suit.

Outside, Sori boards the bus and gets it started. She steps back out and opens one of the cargo bays and goes to a nearby shed; she comes back with a cardboard case that she loads in. "Coolant" she says to any who are nearby. Inside the bay is a vast array of tools and parts, likely enough to repair almost any damage short of harm to the body itself. She bottles it back up, and looks to Crys. "I'm gonna get another couple jugs of water. Death Valley is NEVER a good place." She then jogs back towards the bar.

The bus isn't far, Sori's made some big alterations to it, adding some protective bumpers the outside, and tuned the engine a bit so it can push by a car or two, or ferals, if necessary. Sori's already got the engine running, and Crys is inside, actually looking as if she's ready to drive, or at least navigate from memory.

Sparhawk nods to hirself and steps toward the stairs, the armour remaining behind and reconstituting itself into a Lasair gryphon. Shi frowns faintly and waits a minute in the much-less-crowded pub while Spar joins the bus crew, walking out by hirself to the Sparpack's home later.

Lasair gives a wave! The gryphon smiling and chirping a few times before shi helps around the pub, getting down to cleaning it.

Narg stops a few steps away from the bus and whistles in admiration "Nice Bus" she boards the bus and takes a seat as close to the middle of it as possible.

Apostasy hesitates a moment before climbing onto the bus, her desire to fly freely temporarily subsumed beneath the desire to find out what the impetus behind this trip actually is.

Taggart steps up onto the bus, slipping to a spot near the back and setting down, pack sliding off to rest in the seat next to him. Head turns to watch out the window, his children all watching from various parts of the Lot, knowing what their father was preparing to do.

Cilan reaches the bus and makes her way onto it, moving to the back row, seating herself comfortably on one of the seats once there.

Loki piles in to the bus after the others, but seems to have trouble deciding exactly where to sit, ambling up and down the aisle, a small frown on his face, eventually settling on a seat around the middlish.

Sparhawk blows a kiss to Las (with nothing less than a beak and a handwave) before filing onto the bus and taking hir customary place in the aisle between the front rows of seats. Then shi takes a sombre attitude, tails and paws tucked under.

Sorien comes back out lugging two 5 gallon jugs of water, followed by a Tagling with two more. These are loaded into the bus, and she hugs her friend's child before they exit. "Right. Ready now." She takes her seat on the bus behind the driver's position, and waits for everyone to board.

Grantok hops up onto the bus and grabs whatever available seat is left, not really picky on the matter.

Crys sits into the driver’s seat, having had a bit more practice driving in the past month, she seems a little more comfortable and ready for this trip.

Crys checks to make sure everyone's on board before she pulls the bus into gear, shutting the door, and turning the lumbering beast in the direction of the city roads, and the highway south. She turns back to everyone and says, "This trip is going to be long, and far. I hope you are all ready to deal with a nasty trip."

Sorien softly churrs, "I'm ready. Well, mostly... If we're dealing with what I think we are, its... Not going to be pleasant."

Apostasy lilts, "Nastier than Portland?"

Sori looks to Apo. "More personal."

Apostasy shrugs. "Not for me."

"No, but for Tag... And me and Crys to a lesser extent, definitely."

Narg Tilts back in her seat and twiddles her fingers distractedly

Apostasy nods. "Fair enough then."

Sparhawk resists the urge to take out the Laser Pistol (of somewhat diminished doom) and fiddle with it, partially. Hir hand does rest on it, though the weapon remains holstered. "It's been a long road to get to here. A little non-metaphorical travel is probably the least of our concerns. While we're here, does everyone have a radio and each others' comm signals?"

Loki shrugs. "Well, if its long, I can always sleep if need be." he nods, yawning a little. "I think... I may have endured worse travels." he stretches out, glancing over to Apostasy. "You know... Apo... are you ever going to fill me in on what happened at Portland?"

The bus curls its way out onto the road, Crys heading out east rather than south in the past, taking route 299 out of the city. She says quietly to her mate. "I really hope interstate 5 is cleared, because if the infection happened during traffic hour it's going to be a lot of back road travel."

Apostasy looks at Loki and says, bluntly, "Probably not, no."

Loki winces a little and frowns, nodding in response. "Ah.. I see..." he mumbles, going quiet soon after, clicking his claws together.

Narg shrugs "I have a radio but not the comm Signals."

Sorien churrs, "We can at least shove stuff out of the way now."

Cilan nods affirmatively and calls out to Crystala, "I’m ready for just about anything.." as she finishes, she pulls the twin handguns from their respective holsters and prepares them for the coming events.

Apostasy turns her gaze to Tag. "So... why are we headed to Harrisburg, Tag? What's out there that needs to be done?"

Taggart raises his voice loud enough for Narg to hear him, rambling off a series of numbers and letters so that she has everyone's comms. He's had them memorized, apparently.

Sparhawk distracts hirself from the pall of dread by fishing out one of hir clever toys. An origami bird with Spar's contact info soon flutters its way over to Narg, along with the group broadcast Spar labels 'General Heroics'. Which is about the same time Tag lists them all off.

Taggart continues after, to answer Apostasy. "s'Ferox's hometown. Best place I know ta start."

Apostasy nods slowly. "We're finally going after Shadow, then."

Narg Nods as she receives the Signals from both "Thanks Guys."

This roadway has been more thoroughly cleared of abandoned vehicles by Zephyr, the drive is surprisingly smooth and the forest area is absolutely stunning. Crys points to her mate as they drive the various things she noted out on patrol in the past. There are signs of plenty of life, anthro, and more mundane creatures having slowly reclaimed human territories for their own. Deer are particularly prevalent of both forms. Giant herds swarming the land.

Sori says, "... Kind of. But yeah."

Sori gets up and goes to Tag. "If you need to talk, or just a hug... I'm here." She rubs her head on his shoulder gently, then goes back to her seat.

Narg takes her comm unit from a pocket inside her bag and begins to input the signal for General Heroics into her comm unit.

Taggart nods gently, if a bit numbly to Sorien, pulling a journal from his pack to flip through during the drive.

Apostasy lilts, "Anything else I need to know, or that you'd like to share?"

Grantok fiddles with her own radio comm, ensuring that all of her codes are still up to date. She also preps a battery should the need come to rig up a more sturdy signal.

Crys suddenly shivers, "Wait, Route 5 will take us right through..." her voice drops and then she says, "Love, can you find a map, you brought one right?"

Sparhawk blinks a little, struck by a thought. "I'm less familiar with south-western US geography than I probably should be. It's sufficiently far from Las Vegas, no?"

"Yeah, just a sec." She shakes the map out. "What are you looking for?"

Taggart speaks up again, "I ain't searchin' out Shadow... jus'... part. Tha part in Lyri. An' when we find'er... you all need ta let me deal wit'er."

"If I'm not mistaken, there should be a highway that will take us out near Lake Tahoe and then south from there." Not mentioning that she's trying to avoid Sacramento out loud, but it's fairly obvious what Crys means when Sori looks at the map.

Loki eventually emerges from his slump to ask a question. "Who is Lyri?" he inquires, tilting his head slightly as he does, neck peering over the back of the seat, looking to Taggart.

Narg Takes a look out at the scenery as it whizzes by "Will do Taggart."

Apostasy nods. "That's fair, Tag."

Sori nods. "Yeah, we can go this way (she points with a clawtip), and it should bypass most of the city entirely."

Taggart glances to Loki, then out the window, his reply quiet and almost mumbling. "Lyri's Ferox."

Sparhawk flicks an ear back at Tag and waits for a break in the chorus of answers. "I will provide no more and no less help than you ask for, my friend." The deer are fairly distracting, especially when they bound along trying to keep pace with the bus. Spar stares out at them in favour of scenery.

Loki blinks and nods slowly. "Ah... I see. Sorry for bringing that up... Never heard of her original name... Is Ferox her last one?" he inquires again.

Crys nods to her mate, and continues the drive, having turned onto Route 5, the road thankfully isn't as car filled as she had worried. The terrain quickly altering from the forested areas, as they drive down the valley. The animal life here seems more subdued, the plants still just starting to tip their way back into the frequent suburban human habitats.

Sori leaves the map out, folded so that the route they're following is easy to see and clips it to the dash in clear view. She then gets uo and starts water heating for tea, and coffee.

Sori taps Loki. "Sweetie. You don't need to know that. Let it go."

Taggart shakes his head to answer Loki, "Lyria Masters. She took tha name Ferox when she split from Zephyr and Skunkwerks." A gentle smile finds his lips, emerald eyes thoughtful. "S'was awhile ago."

Loki nods slowly in response, tilting his head a little in confusion towards Sorien He leans to her and whispers a question ant listens to the answer, then peers back at Taggart and nods. "Ah.. i see. You know... you two seemed close... and such... Could I inquire as to how you two met and such?" he asks again.

Loki whispers to Sorien, "Why.. do you think I should let it rest?.. he seems to want to share a story..."

Sorien blinks at the whisper, responding in kind. "Because... She was his mate. She's lost, and I don't think we're going to get her back. But he seems willing to talk, so go ahead... But if you anger or hurt him..."

Taggart lets out a small laugh and looks at Loki with his eyebrows slightly raised, "Ya did know we were mates, yeah? I mean, lovers... married iffun we coulda had tha service. I gave'er a ring'n'all. Titanium claddagh wit' an' emerald'n'ruby makin' tha heart. Lovely piece."

Apostasy sits watching the scenery as it passes by, occasionally giving the nonanthro deer a hungry look, though one ear is swivelled towards Tag and Loki, betraying her interest in the conversation.

Cilan looks up from her weapons maintenance to glance over to Loki, and make a short chuckle to herself, before looking back down to the various weapons, prepping them for any possible attacks in the future.

Having said her piece, Sori gets a tip-proof cup of tea for herself and Crys, and returns to her seat.

As Tag tells his tale, and people whisper, Crys is busy trying to navigate. The abandoned vehicles have gotten more thick as they near closer to Sacramento, and Crys quickly takes a side road off as soon as she is able, heading out towards route 80 towards Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. The forest has begun to return, and the scenery out here is absolutely stunning. Far away from zephyr's influence, the wildlife is teeming. As the bus passes, it seems to stun animals, which seem surprised by humanity's reappearance.

Loki frowns a little at Sorien’s response and perhaps looks a little offended for a brief moment, before replying, then looking back at Taggart and nods. "Ah.. yes, I think I had deduced that, and pardon the odd phrasing, my conversationalist skills beyond initial introductions are a little lax. I could inquire as to what you had seen in her, as I had only met her a few times, and that was when you also accompanied her."

Loki whispers, "I would never intentionally hurt anybody Sorien... why... would you think I would?.. and... *he drifts off*"

Taggart grins slightly and looks at Loki, "You ever meet Rifle, Loki?"

Apostasy smiles wistfully, and sadly, at the mention of Raifuru.

Loki nods. "If you mean Raifuru, I do know her, and have met her. She seems to be quite the pleasant individual... a nice person indeed... although, I cannot say I have known her too well..."

Narg giggles a bit as animals scatter before the bus with a panicked look in their eyes saying softly to herself "Look at the critters run, hehe"

The human seems to relax as the memories of the past year or two start to reswarm in his mind, pulling open his pack to tug out his bottle of whiskey, pulling the corked top. He swigs and then continues with a happy grin on his face, "So... get this... first night I met Rifle... she put up this bid... first person ta get'er an assault rifle... gets ta sleep wit'er. Lyria's sittin' there in the corner an'she takes me up on this race fer it. Bloody cunt beat me too it, too..." He scowls slightly, but still in good humored nature. "Bloody pissed, I was. Could barely stand ta be in tha same room as'er. 'course, she was a gryphon then."

Apostasy giggles, having heard part of that story before, though not the details.

Grantok keeps an ear quirked towards Loki and Taggart throughout the ride, smiling more and more as her own memories of people being mentioned come to mind. She leans back into the seat and relaxes some, snickering every so often to herself.

Loki blinks, staring at Taggart. "Is.. that so?.. such an odd... thing... and... somewhat unexpected to hear from you." he murmurs, smirking a little. "Although, it seems to be quite the story... What happened after that?"

Sori settles and listens as well, never having heard details of her friends' courtship.

Taggart snickers gently, "So, that's'ow it was wit'us fer awhile. Each of us pissed at tha other fer tryin' ta be tha one ta get Rifle ta finally settle down wit'jus' one of us. Well, spend enuff time with'a person, hated'er not like that, save their lives enuff times an' vice-versa... and it don't become too bad anymore. So, it kinda turned inta friendship. She liked ta blow shite up... I liked to try not gettin' hit wit'er damned grenades'an'such."

Crys avoids heading towards Reno, taking a backroad shortcut that cuts right along the edge of Lake Tahoe. The place is stunning, the many boats, and villas on its edge sit unused and in perfect condition. The lake itself seems to be home of some rather strange looking anthro ducks. The place without humans, but human's clear touch on something so naturally beautiful is such an odd contrast.

Loki nods a little. "Ah.. It sounds like a rather violent game, and It is somewhat of a miracle that you two seemed to live long enough to get so far." he nods, sitting up in the seat more, no longer lying down. "Dodging grenades sounds like quite a difficult feat."

Sorien gets an oddly wistful look as they bypass Reno.

Apostasy snerks. "Dodging grenades is something you get good at very fast, or it stops being an issue."

Sparhawk gives a half-grin and murmurs, "That sounds...familiar, like a story someone else tells about one's life." Hir tail escapes to swish around lazily.

Narg turns around in her seat, then rests her arms on its back, displaying herself quite well, unconsciously and unintentionally, to listen to tags story taking a glance out to catch a glimpse of Lake Tahoe still beauty

They pass a sign saying Welcome to Nevada, as Crys loops around the lake, the road heading dead south around the coast. Gold courses and mansions line the area, it's almost sad that such beautiful works of human care are abandoned, even by the wildlife that's reclaimed most other things.

Taggart snorts and looks at Loki, "Ya never saw me much as a wolf, Loki... bloody unkillable, I was. Jumped from choppers an'impacted highways an'tha like. Anyways, so, Rifle'n'Lyria joined up wit' a lass by tha name'a Nat'an. She ran Skunkwerks. Right lovely place. Industry. Actually helped me set up me own place, get tha place goin'. Well, after awhile, Rifle went missin'... an' Lyri'n'I went huntin' more'n'more often with jus'tha two of us..." As he speaks, his jovial attitude softens, a small sadness creeping into the corners of his emerald eyes. He clears his throat and it from the air, though, "An' one t'ing led ta anot'er."

I met Nathan once," Sori says. "She seemed nice. She vanished again soon after that. I've not seen her since."

Loki nods slowly, listening as Taggart talks. "I think I had indeed seen you a few times... but I do not think I saw the full extent of it." he says, stretching out. "Well... I can say that... on the bright side, at least you have had such an experience." he nods, trying to remain encouraging towards the Irishman, scratching his chin idly. "I suppose that is the end of such a tale.... if I am correct in deducing the general shift in mood."

The more sombre, but still slightly sad and happy Irishman takes a swig from his whiskey before turning his gaze back to Loki, eyebrow raising over one eyes. "Wut else ya wanna know?"

Sparhawk's ears flicker around at things other people don't hear. "Yes, okay..." Shi rummages out a small bag from one of hir larger bags. "D'you want the invisibility thing back, Tag? I never did make any progress on powering the thing, but it's still a field of black."

The road south is more highway like, although the terrain is starting to grow more desert like. The bus passes another large lake, and sighs for Yosemite litter the road. This is perhaps the quietest part of the trip, minus one part where Crys had to drive off the side of the road to get around a nasty pileup left long abandoned.

Taggart glances over to Sparhawk, eyes softening at the sight of the device. He seems to think for a moment before he shakes his head, "Na... you keep it, Spar. She'd want ya ta have it. Mebbe ya kin figure it out, sometime."

Loki shrugs. "I am not sure what else there is to know..." he shrugs. "In truth, if there was more to know, I would not know how to ask." he states, then peering towards Sparhawk. "A device? Invisibility? That could be useful... if you do not wish to tinker with it, then may I?... Or may I do such after you are done?"

Sparhawk mutters, "Yeah...I think I know what you mean." Shi re-files it, looking thoughtful and less happy about what's being thought.

Sorien softly churrs, "Didn't that thing kinda get boiled for a week in the Wellspring, Spar?"

Crys adjusts the air conditioning up as the desert terrain and heat increase and begin to penetrate the modified bus. "Love, you might want to look into fixing the insulation on this thing for our next trip."

Sori blinks and reconsiders her question, too late.

Grantok peeks her head out into the aisle at the mention of an invisibility device and associated commentary. "You're not talking about what I think you are? That little hand held thing that caused so much of an issue up in Oregon a while back?"

Taggart just gives a little chuckle at Grantok's inquiry.

Sparhawk is silent for a minute, letting conversation wend on by. Then shi replies to Sorien, "Still owe Snowblind a brushin' for that, yep. It does, however, still work. As much as it does in the unpowered state."

"Only so much I can do, sweetie, without gutting it. I may need to recharge the Freon in the coils though." She puts a hand in front of one of the blowers. "Hm... No, that isn't it...." She gets up and starts checking what she can inside the bus.

Crys takes a sudden sharp exit, almost having missed the small road, a sign for Death Valley, is on the side, although the place definitely doesn't seem well trafficked. The desert is teaming with life, newly evolving creatures have begun to propagate in the desert environment, strangely many of them out in the sun, which is unnatural for normal desert creatures. The entire ecosystem seems thrown off with the changes.

Grantok mumbles a little to herself at the only response being laughter. "Still owe those wolves a second round one of these days. Just not all of them at once again."

Cilan glances up to Grantok and again breaks her long silence with another chuckle to herself, mixing in, "Heh.. that makes two of us, Grantok!"

Sparhawk gives a fierce grin at Grantok. "We're working on it! The very minute losing to the wolves stops being fatal, I'll let you make a trip." And then shi glances at Cilan. "As long as you don't mind melting into goo again. That part's harder to prevent."

Sori huhs. "I think, sweetie, that where we are is just pushing the limits of the system's ability to cool is all."

Narg begins to pant as the bus get hotter "Can I crack open a window to get a breeze flowing through here?"

Grantok gives Cilan a half-hearted glare followed quickly by a smile. "You better not try and take them all on again like that."

Loki frowns a moment, loosing a long sigh. "Well... Apostasy, I would think the nanites have something to do with that." he nods, then peering over to Cilan and Grantok. "An earlier event I take it? Before my time?"

Sorien softly churrs, "No, sweetie. Its over 100 out there. Drink some water, its chilled."

Apostasy raises an eyebrow. "We're in the desert. The only reason you're not even warmer is because the A/C is on. Opening a window will only make it worse."

Crys says, "Is there any detail here love? There's no highway going into that town. Can you tell how we get there from here?" she says, while panting herself from the heat. Her body is clearly adjusted for cooler climates.

Narg sighs "alright then, I wasn't thinking right." she stands up and moves to get some water.

Taggart tucks his whiskey away and pulls out a bottle of water, sipping at it. "I went back an'killed half ov'em off. Spar's been toolin' wit' tha ot'er half, as I understand." The man brushes his bangs from his eyes, the usual sliding them back over his scalp with errant strands falling back into green gaze.

Sparhawk doesn't even seem to notice the slight temperature increase, despite being furry and clad in draping armour. Hir grin fades as Taggart talks about returning to fight the wolves. "But we know now that killing a member of the pack...it just throws the biomass back into the wellspring. I think the wolf Alpha is the wellspring there. So splattering them doesn't do any good."

Taggart shakes his head and looks to Sparhawk, "That can't be right then, Spar... I bloody tore tha Alpha apart."

There's a side road Crys sees up ahead and takes it, the small little back road in the middle of a desert is kind of scary, but the vixen carries on. No road signs aren't helping either.

Sori looks over Crys' shoulder. "You okay, sweetie?"

Before long Crys sees a sign for Harrisburg, and another path off, the semi mountainous terrain and desert conditions make for a truly frightening place. She turns to Sori and nods, "I'll... be fine love. See, there's a sign. We're almost there."

Apo walks up to the front of the bus, looking out the windshield. "Want me to hop out and scout ahead?"

Narg returns to her seat with some water and begins to sip at it.

Sparhawk shrugs. "Maybe there's more than one wolfpack, or they do have a stationary wellspring. It doesn't really matter right now. 'Sides, which half of the Alpha did you tear up?" Hir grin returns at the end.

"Honestly, Apo? I really lack any urge to open the bus up before dark. But... Ask Tag. He's the boss on this." Sori continues watching their progress.

Crys shakes her head to Apo, "No, no, let's be careful here. I'm not sure what -he- might have left behind for us."

As if to answer, Taggart puts his hands into his own mouth, gripping upper and lower jaw with each hand before he pulls them apart and then lets go, exaggerating the motion even further to display the grotesque nature in which he took apart said Alpha. He hears his name being mentioned, however, and glances to Sorien, "Wut's that, then?"

Sori looks back to Tag. "Apo is wondering if she should scout ahead."

Apostasy nods at Crys' response. "Better one person gets caught in any traps left behind than we all walk blithely into it."

Taggart frowns softly and stands, moving up to join the small group at the front of the bus. "One person caught in a trap is toast... all of us... then we at least got a chance... she's nothin' ta be takin' lightly."

Sori stands. "Okay. One thing everyone should know here. This is Midnight Shadow, or a facet thereof. DO NOT think you can do good by self-sacrifice here. If you offer yourself to 'save' someone, all you'll do is give the Shadow a new host. This is NOT an option. I can't emphasize enough this point. You will not be able to resist it, if you give it an avenue inside you. Remember this."

Apostasy sighs. "I hate walking into these things blind."

Sori then hugs Tag tight, regardless of his desire on the matter.

Sori churrs, "You aren't. You now know about as much as we do."

Narg pants, "Understood Ma’am, act like an unfeeling statue got it."

Apostasy rolls her eyes. "Knowing the background to all this doesn't tell me what we're going to be up against in this town, Sor. We're walking in blind, with no idea of what's waiting for us beyond vague "something bad" feelings."

Taggart shakes his head, "Lemme revise Sori's statement. Self-sacrifice in tha face a'physical danger is all well'n'good. She means, sacrificin' yer soul fer Ferox's."

Sori nods. "Yeah. No making deals with the devil."

Cilan says, "Hrm.. if there are traps wouldn’t it be safer to fly over them, or something?"

Narg turns her head Taggart "I understood that all well and good sir, I meant about when we come face to face with it."

Taggart shakes his head again and looks to Apostasy, "Eit'er you go in alone... blind... an'possibly die... which still leaves us blind... 'er we all go in taget'er."

Crys' ears are flat at the talk, and she pulls into the small town. It's strange that this town exists in the middle of a desert, it seems truly abandoned, and Crys shivers as she recognizes images from her dreams. She says, "She was definitely here..."

Taggart clears his throat, "Ferox... flies better'n'you, Apo."

Grantok stretches for a moment. "Yes. Fly up into the sky and become a target. If this shadow has half the accuracy with a gun as Ferox did..."

Narg Draws her desert eagle laser pistol and begins to check it making it ready for combat should the need arise.

Cilan scratches at the back of her head nodding, "Huh.. yeah, I guess that is a good point.."

Sori swallows a bit. "Uh. The bus is decidedly NOT armoured, so people know."

Crys says, "I'm not sure I want to wait for night, even if it means braving that heat." her ears are still flat. "Also, the school's that way. We'll want to start there." She points off south of the road and to the east.

Taggart scowls softly and peers out the front window, doing his best to avoid all the others, including a sprawled Sparhawk. "She prolly won't take us more'n'two at a time, so try ta stick taget'er. She's bloody quick, crack shot, too, like Grantok said. She might try ta seperate us, too."

Sparhawk leans forward and gently places a hand on Crys's shoulder, then whispers in her ear for a moment.

"Whether you can handle the heat or not, take water with you. There're canteens ins the back storage- take two each." Sori then gets herself two, and two for Crys and fills them.

Narg nods her head taking in all the tactical info she could and storing it in mind

Loki finally speaks, huddled near the others. "Well.. Crystala... Night it’s going to be bone chillingly cold... so it’s either one extreme or the other." he says, a little grim. "Believe it or not, I fly and swim much better than I walk... So perhaps... if really needed, I could take to the air."

Apostasy shrugs. "Fine, we'll all go in together. Glad you have such faith in my abilities, folks. Really. Warms my heart." She moves to the back of the bus and tops up her water flask, then hangs another from her belt.

Crys attaches the canteens to the sash she holds her current water pouch. She gets herself up from her seat and asks, "Are we ready Tag?"

Narg stands up and walks to the back storage area grabbing two canteens, filling them up and then slinging them over her shoulders.

Hum... Maybe it'll help to not look like people she knows. She never saw me clothed, or as a coyote, so that might be a good idea," Sori says, then shifts.

Sori readjusts her clothes to fit once again.

Crys says softly, "Love, the shadow will know us by the smell of our fear. If she's here, she knows it already."

Taggart growls and slams his fist on the seat of the bus, glaring at Apostasy. "This is wut I was talkin' about! You listen to me. You do what I say, or you don't bloody go an'I do this meself, you understand that, Apo!? I don't bloody doubt yer abilities, but you are bloody underestimatin' hers!"

Sori looks at Crys. "I don't fear her, sweetie. Or any of this. I only fear losing you. She'll not smell that."

Apostasy rounds on Tag. "Then act like you know what you're doing! All you've done is say "She does this better than you, that better than you, she'll try split us up." Where's your fucking plan? Stick together is not a plan!"

Crys' ears press low at the fighting between Tag and Apo, and she slowly opens the door, and the heat fills the bus like a wave. She hopes it'll stop it.

Grantok gathers two canteens worth of water and heads back to her seat waiting for everyone else to unload. "Not like she wouldn't know some of the rest of us regardless of our appearance. Some mannerisms or voices are easily recognisable and will point you out a mile away."

Sori says, "Apo. Tag. Stop winning the fight for the Shadow."

Narg sits back down in her seat and begins to pray inaudibly, preparing herself for death, in case that event occurs.

Loki sighs at the squabbling and steps out of the bus, stretching out in the sun and breathing deep, stretching his wings wide. A faint prickling can be felt in the air near him, likely making any hairs standing on end. He seems to enjoy this, and peers off in to the distance.

Taggart stares cold at Apostasy, eyebrows raising. "Where was yer plan in Portland? Ya don't plan killin' yer soulmate, Apo. It jus' bloody happens." At those words, he just shakes his head and pulls his rifle around, pulling back the slide to ensure a round is chambered before sliding it forward and stepping down into the heat.

Narg stands up and crosses herself then moves to the front and steps off the bus into the heat.

Loki looks over to Sorien and sighs. "Yes... it is a pity... but.. well... we shall do the best we can I think... Or at least I shall."

Sorien stretches, then just for a moment drops into Mantis, followed by horse stance before heading to the doors and out.

Sparhawk pauses near the bus' doors to catch Apo. Shi murmurs, "What odds would you lay on facing Tag in wolf shape alone? Ferox was like that, except focused on breaking people instead of taking blows. An' being logical with Taggart tends to piss him off, this much I have learned."

A low growl issues from Apo's throat as she goes dead still. The hand resting on the counter starts to squeeze tightly into a fist, claws scraping over the surface. She takes a deep, shaking breath and shakes her head a little before stalking off the bus after everyone else, hanging behind the main group.

Grantok heads up towards the front of the bus and steps off, pausing a moment to speak in hushed tones with Sparhawk. ."Should the situation arise, would you mind lending me the invisibility device. If this shadow feeds any on her emotions, such as jealousy, I may be a prime target for a quick bullet to the head without a second thought. She always had that glare in the direction of other females around Tag, especially other lynxes."

Crys is out shortly after Sorien, and walks closely to Tag, "We need to find out what the Shadow did to your mate. We'll find it here. I know it."

Cilan looks up to the interactions between both Apostasy and Taggart and frowns slightly, sighing before she shakes her head and forgetting it before making her way off of the bus with the rest of her allies.

Sparhawk straggles along in quiet conversation with Grantok, stretching hir wings.

Sorien sniffs the air, then drops to all-fours to sniff for indications of anyone being about. She knows Fer's scent, and is paying attention to locating that.

Loki follows closely behind Cilan, stretching his wings out yet again, playfully holding one of the flight-enabling appendages above the soldier, casting a shadow over her, and does his best to maintain the gesture as they walk.

Taggart glances upward and pulls a pair of sunglasses from a vest pocket, slipping them over his green eyes. He simply nods to Crystala's words, pulling water bottle to his lips to sip before tucking it away again and moving on down the street, taking point.

The heat is rough, but it's hardly the high peaks of the summer season, but it's still a wonder how this place was liveable. Judging by the houses though, the place was surprisingly populated for a small town in the desert, and the school bigger than it should be, and must take children from miles around and other towns in the valley.

Narg follows Taggart closely, about 4 to 5 feet away to his left keeping her Pistol at the ready, looking around for potential threats.

Cilan turns to look backwards at Loki saying, "Uh.. you can stop that, but.. thanks for the gesture.." a look of curiosity pressing at her features as she speaks.

Grantok ends the brief conversation with Sparhawk and focuses her eyes and ears about the area, walking briskly to keep up with the rest. She pants a bit at the heat, trying to not let it get the best of her.

Loki crosses his arms. "And what if I do not wish to stop?" he asks, stretching the other wing out, and casting another shadow, the dragon not really seeming to reflect light despite his metallic colouring, appearing quite dull overall, perhaps rather similar to sand with a little adjusting. "Photosynthesis! And I do believe the sun can negatively impact you if it gets in your eyes? Better for a sniper to see if I think correctly?"

Sorien glances back at her argumentative allies and sighs. She goes back to checking for scents.

Crys whispers softly, "It's starting. The shadow feeds this, and feeds on this." her ears flat, she moves toward the school building. The building itself is flat roofed, and long, the top covered with solar panels, the place acting almost as a power source for itself with the shear amount of photovoltaics covering it.

Cilan taps the shades covering her eyes and adds, "Im used to it.." Shrugging, she adds, ".. but.. I guess I can’t really stop you if you don’t want to.." turning her attention back to the road in front of her she says over her shoulder, ".. Just that'll make you a larger target for the shadow if it notices you.." Finally she shrugs it off and continues towards the school.

Sorien says, "I'm smelling smoke to the west, guys."

Apostasy pads along behind the group in silence, eyes scanning about for anything out of the ordinary. Her shield is readied, though her sword remains in its scabbard.

Loki sighs at Cilan's reaction and slumps a bit, and seems about to say something before he spots the school and peers curiously at the building, and quickly pads up to the wall, peering at the solar panels. "You know... getting more of these would be quite useful..." he muses aloud.

Crys pushes forward to the school, not really waiting for the others, more driven out of the sense of her memories. On the ground, there are very obvious footprints, the desert wind not covering them seems... a bit odd to say the least.

Narg looks at the ground noticing tracks "These prints are either fresh or something strange is going on here"

Sori paces along near Crys, still trying to scent something other than smoke.

Taggart mumbles gently at Narg's observation, "Prolly more tha latter... should jus' pretty much assume somethin' strange is goin' on all tha time on this trip." He follows after Crystala, glancing at the windows of the school for movement inside.

Sori stops. "Crys, there're NO scents from these tracks.

Sparhawk pads along, keeping a watch basically every direction and not chatting after Grantok moves away. Shi follows the Crys-guide, standing reasonably upright and confident.

Narg peers into some of the school windows near the entrance doing much the same Taggart did.

The school classrooms are completely barren, although many desks are still shown fallen over on the ground from the p-day evacuation. There are a few windows broken around the side, clearly broken outward though. It looks like the infection happened mid class day based on the state of the classrooms.

Narg looks around at the devastation of the school "Geez it really must have been a jungle in here, and not in the figurative sense either."

Cilan removes her trusty rifle from her shoulder and flips the lens guard up, looking through the scope towards the school, doing much like both Narg, and Taggart in her wish to see any movement within the windows.

Apostasy turns and scans the group's backtrail for any signs of movement, in case something has decided to follow them.

Crys stiffens, "Did these prints just stay here magically, or is the shadow fucking with my head." she has a hand on her forehead, and her muzzle is open and panting. She says, "Ferox came here... she was trying to recover the memories she traded with the shadow for my freedom. This is what started her path downward. Something in here."

Sparhawk comments, "Not Vegas-type then. Wonder if we'll find a shipful around here this time..."

Sori yips, "Its... I dunno, sweetie. Where did she go here?"

Taggart frowns gently, chewing on his lower lip. "Where ya sappose they keep tha list of locker assignments? Headmaster's office?"

Cilan says, "Hmm? Maybe.. might find some records there.."

Sori yips, "School records office, probably. Principals office. "

Narg nods her head "I believe that is where they would be kept Taggart, either that or a counsellor’s office."

Sparhawk pauses to think for a long moment, looking at the nearest footprint. "This is the part where I hear someone narrating, 'They dug too deep'. I simultaneously want to and want to not ask questions of these signs."

"I just hope it's not an oven in there." Crys grimaces at the idea of walking into an insulated building in the desert.

Loki glances around in the school, trying to see if he can spot anything interesting, and if possible upon finding a broken window, may stick his head in a little, wings still spread before him. He seems to gleam a little more at the moment, reflecting some sunlight, a gesture possibly visible if the sun catches him the right way. Eventually he is distracted, and peers at the footprints, quickly padding over to the others.

Sori looks at Crys. "I'll go first. In this form I'm pretty suited to the heat."

Opening into the school, the AC and power are still functioning. The place is actually somewhat cool, minus the leaking open window classrooms.

"Tag, would she set traps, do you think?" Sori asks before opening the door.

Grantok ponders a moment. "Someone ought to keep an eye out here while the rest go looking inside." Her response is only slightly influenced by Crystala's comment as she reaches for a sip from a canteen.

Behind them, there are about a dozen family homes along the street, and a small gas station with a convenience store. North of the road there are more abandoned homes, and a few stores.

Taggart gives a little shrug, "She might... granade trip-wires, mebbe... she liked granades..." Another small, fond smile before it fades and stoicism falls into place once more.

Sorien starts to watch for tripwires, still moving on all fours for the most part.

Apostasy nods towards the stores. "Should probably check those out. She'd have needed supplies."

Loki pads continuously down the hall after the others, glancing around curiously, seeming quite carefree compared to the rest, standing tall. "How many grenades do you think she would have had?... I do not think that if she was going to set traps... well, they would likely have been triggered already... or said grenades would have been used for other things.... considering it is the shadow we are talking about."

Cilan follows up the group, offering her own eyes to the search for tripwires, occasionally looking behind her for anything that may be coming up from behind.

Narg follows behind the group of people checking for wires glancing into rooms as they walk down the hallways.

"Oh, and I might as well stick out here as lookout, since I'm already doing it" Apo adds.

Sorien goes in with the others, keeping an eye out. "There should be signs to administration or the principal’s office."

Taggart remains outside, standing beneath the overhang that leads into the school. He crouches down and pulls out his water bottle, sipping at it and tucking it away before pulling out a bandana to wipe sweat from his forehead.

Sparhawk watches Grantok and Apo loiter by the entrance, then follows the gang inside. "Put your radios on transmit, O heroes, I expect a lot of yelling if you guards see something, but we may be far indoors!"

[Outside] Taggart comments to Apostasy as they wait, "She might've... might not. Dapends on'ow much tha Shadow's fuelin'er."

Crys enters shortly after her quadrupedal mate, her eyes watching something else entirely, clearly reliving her dream. Things looked so real, she turns, and moves over to lockers on the right, and says, "Ferox stopped here." and she points to a fist mark in one of the lockers.

Cilan stops dead in her tracks as she hears Apostasy's comment, turning to her she says, "Well, if you're going to be a lookout, I might as well stick with you.. no sense in being alone, and going up against a woman with a crack shot with only a sword and shield.."

[Outside] Grantok glances over to Apostasy. "Best that more than one set of eyes does that. I'll wait out here as well." She turns back to watch the horizon for any glints of metal.

Narg turns around to look at Crys "Maybe that was the school bullies locker?"

Crys shrugs, "I'm not sure why she punched it honestly. I'm not even sure she was."

Sorien takes the lock and twists it off.

"Lets find out," Sori says.

Inside contains what is obviously a boys stuff. Highschooler, books left behind, pile of photos, journal, and other assorted knicknacks.

Sorien picks up the journal and flips through it.

Loki peers curiously at the locker, tilting his head. "A punch?" he inquires, scratching the back of his head. He frowns a little at the equipment, and shrugs, then going to inspect the other lockers, dragging his claws gently along the surfaces.

Narg moves over to the Sorien who took her idea "What’s in it Sori?"

It's soppy and largely meaningless, gossip, talking this and that about a girl, although it doesn't mention her name.

Sparhawk stands by the far wall, leaning against it with feigned nonchalance. Got a laser pistol in hir hand, just in case, but hir claws are all on safety.

"Just a kid's journal. He was mooning after someone, but it doesn't say who. Poor kid." She puts the journal back. "I think it was just a random punch." Sori continues down the hall, looking for the administration office.

There's the faint scent of gunpowder filling the mostly recycled air, and of course the familiar human smells, especially from the lockers. There's also the smells of rotting food emitting from inside a few that make it difficult to tell the difference. There are signs all around in the hallway, one pointing to the nurses office, another to administration.

Narg stops at the signs "do we want to see what is in the nurse’s office? They kept records as well"

"Ah, that way. We'll check the nurses' office after." Sori follows the signs.

Sparhawk filches one of the photos from the locker and looks at it for a bit, then files it away in the stationery bag. "Finding the red tape centre...centre of the red tape web, I mean?"

Narg nods and follows after the group constantly checking class room doors for any activity.

Crys blinks at Spar, who pulled her out of her nightmarish reverie.

[Outside] Taggart sips his water.

[Outside] The desert sun beats down, and the ever present smell of smoke only grows thicker. Not much changes here, beyond the wind.

Loki is likely already halfway down the hall to the nurses office before the others even start talking about it, the dragon peering at the door, tapping the doorknob as he waits for the others, seemingly lost in thought.

The nurses door is... locked? That's odd, why would it be locked during an emergency evacuation.

"Because someone barricaded themselves in, likely." Says Sori. "It's not gonna be good inside."

[Outside] Taking a sip of water every now and then, Apo continues scanning the area for signs of movement.

Narg nods her head sure is "Bleached bones might be all we find."

Sparhawk grins at Crys. "There is nothing I am better at than derailing trains of thought. So, er...anyone who would prefer to not go in that room, I think Taggart might or might not know something about these photos."

Cilan cracks a can of pop procured from a tight side pouch on her pack and quickly takes a swig from its contents as she watches out to the horizon, waiting for any movement.

"I can check it." Sori looks the door over.

Click here to continue to Chapter 2.