Trail of Tears: The Quest Chapter 1

The group splits up, Rihko taking a chunk of people south with her to search for her missing brother, while others have gone to rescue Cilan from the clutches of Sel's dad. The rest, are after their primary goal of coming out here, on the road to eastern Oklahoma, the capitol of the Cherokee nation, a once proud nation reduced to a tiny territory in land nobody wanted. The group following route 66 across, then heading south of Tulsa, avoiding the unknowns that cities bring. Their goal, driven by the images granted to Grantok and Eithne, pointing on a map where the trail to the last remaining artifact starts. Shadow's binding ritual, the final part, a black obsidian dagger, nearly as old as humanity itself.

Sorien is at the wheel, watching as she drives the bus. "Let me know if people need a break eventually; we should stretch our legs now and then."

Grantok paces where she can on the bus. Whether it's impatience or something else on her mind, the little lynx is clearly upset by something.

Balina spends most of her time as she was during the first leg of the trip: curled up in a seat getting far too much rest. She's currently dozing, though one ear flicks at the sound of human speech.

[REDACTED] has been asleep curled up behind the driver's seat, the woman seems somewhat drained by the bus ride, and grew very concerned at both Rihko and Selene's departure, agitation showing in her fur, ears and expressions. They aren't far off now, a few miles out of their target destination. The roads here back road and desolate, the level of poverty in the tribe evident in the buildings that dot the road.

Eithne has an old lap desk, furiously scribbling away on lined paper while muttering to herself as she's leaned against her wolf's seat. Listening in gets one an earful of SCIENCE! as the neko puts ideas to paper, corrects them, and occasionally realizes an error and scratches it out in a jerky slash of pencil. At Sorien's question, she blink and glances up, seeming uncomprehending, before giving a joking "Are we there yet?"

Heath was curled up in the corner of the bus resting.. not really paying attention to much other then resting. He knew that energy was to be kept for this would be rather.. uh.. yeah.. energy preservation for the time being.

Makena giggles "Where are we going again? I wanted to come sight-seeing!" Smiles and sits by a window, peering out curiously at the landscape. "People haven't been out this way before, right? I can't wait to see what's out here!"

Sorien churrs, "Look out the window, silly. LOTS of things to see. Grass, road, critters..."

[[REDACTED](#13035)]: [REDACTED]' eyes slide open, slits as she looks at the question. "There have been people everywhere, the real question is, is anyone still living? Zephyr has no contact with anything this far away, and I only know of one person who came to Fairhaven from this far away. Cygnus mentioned Saint Louis." She says, her arms still crossed over her chest.

Eithne pipes in, "I wonder if there are jackalope infections out here?"

Sorien churrs, "You're forgetting Ms. Skunk's Wild Ride, sweetie. I came from Minneapolis!"

Sparhawk has generally wormed underneath some seats so that only a third of hir length fills up space other people might want to use. It looks uncomfortable, in the manner of cats asleep.

Makena giggles "So really, hehe, we're looking for some sort of a something-or-other right?"

As they approach the limits of the city, a deer bolts in front of the boss, Sorien barely avoiding clipping the thing, the first sign of life in hours. As it bolts off into the wooded edge of the town limits. The area much less like the rest of oklahoma, hills striking in the distance and lush trees dotting the areas untouched by the remnants of humanity.

Sorien churrs, "Whoa! Damn, I've managed this long in not splatting a deer...."

Makena blinks as she watches it run by, "Woah woah woah! Was that a real deer? Like! You know... not a deer with extra wings and biceps??" She runs to the back of the bus to watch it run off behind.

Balina stirs a bit more obviously, lifting her head and glancing towards the front of the bus. "You did mention stretching our legs, right? Bet I could still catch it if you pull over."

Sorien churrs, "That was a deer, sweetie. Animals didn't change- just people."

[REDACTED] was about to respond to her mate's chastising, when the bus swerves. Eyes fully open, and her hand on one of her blades as she turns to look at the source. Her ears flicker at something. Dog barking, others can hear it. And then as they turn the corner onto one of the main roads in the town, there's a dog chained a bikerack near the town's Post Office. It seems to be struggling at the chain, barking rapidly at the bus announcing it's presence to the area.

Sorien softly churrs, "Can you stick your tongue out at Bal for me, sweetie? I'm kinda busy driving. (giggle)"

Eithne puts her papers inside the lapdesk and tucks it under the seat, hopping to her feet and ambling over. "Well, I have an easy way to find out! Want me to go Cheshire and scout things out?"

Makena looks over at Sorien, not sure who she was asking for that, but she's happy to stick her tongue out an Bal and make a goofy face, quirking her eyes and making little deer antlers with her fingers.

No fair; Fenrir tongues can't be stuck out in response! Nevertheless, Balina picks herself up and starts making her way, carefully, up to the front of the bus. "Chained dogs don't tend to do well without someone feeding them. I think we've found some definition of people, Sorien."

Heath tries to sticks his tongue out at Makena, however he just ends up making strange faces while doing so. Shrugging a bit, he sniffs around a bit; the sound of the barking dog did get his attention. "..Dog good warning system for intruders." He nods.

Makena comes up to the front, "Maybe it's like a Siren and it just *looks* like a dog on a chain to lure wayward roadwarriors..." *leaning her paws on one of the seats and looking off towards it*

Sparhawk grunts and shifts a little at the lack of soporific road vibration and being stepped over. Not much extra room to wedge into without making contact at pointy underseat parts, though.

Makena looks back over her shoulder at the talk about hunting, looking out around the landscape for any promising fishing holes?

"Do we stop, people?" Sori has slowed the bus at the sight.

Makena looks at Eithne, "You can turn invisible?? hehe. Or do you just turn purple?"

Makena nods to Sori, "Sure! We might not see another dog for miles!"

Sorien slows the bus further, waiting on a decision before turning around to investigate, or continue on.

The dog is frenzied barking, pulling at the chain. It clearly seems aggitated by the bus' presence, although nothing to make it seem out of place. There are a few buildings nearby the post office, a convenience store, the... lights still on, and a restaurant with boards running over a broken glass window.

Makena looks at the lights, giggling, "I still think it's a siren though."

"Are we looking to make contact with every possible settlement on the way to our destination? I'm more for letting be all we can. No sense in riling up everyone's lives, especially if they have no connection with what we're looking for." Grantok curls up on her seat.

Sori earflicks. "I know, Gran... But it's hard to ignore. So few people..."

"How far are we, anyway?" Balina keeps her eyes fixated on the dog, half-expecting it to do something untoward, or maybe start talking sense. "If there's a chance we're in the same territory, we might want to send a signal that we're not trying to sneak around like the thieves we are."

Sorien churrs, "We're 90 minutes out from Oklahoma City, near Tallequah."

Eithne grins at Makena, wide and sharp, before her fur and dress vanish in a ripple of altered pigmentation to leave just that smile behind. Her harness snaps into invisibility much more quickly, but it only seems capable of self-cloaking. "A grin without a cat! I am a stealthkitty, mmhm." Then she shifts her pigments back to normal, and glances around the place with a thoughtful hum.

Balina mulls this over. "Crack a window for a moment."

Sorien churrs, "They're manual, sweetie."

"Hardly time enough for nap," grumbles Sparhawk. Extracting taur from the furniture takes at least as long as getting in among it, only not spread across miles and miles. "What are we expecting to find here?"

Heath cocks his head a bit at Eithne. Then to Balina... Tail swished a bit back and forth as he looked around a bit. Eyes looking out the window looking at the dog on the outside.

Balina glances at a window. Then glances at her paws. Then back to the window. "I'm pretty sure you don't want me gnawing one of those cranks. Could someone please let me get my nose out there?"

Makena innocently ventriloquism's a squeaking sound while the window gears roll down.

Sorien blinks. "Oh. Duh. Sorry, Bal."

Balina gives a slight smile and a nod to Makena as she puts her paws up on the window, sticking her head out. She barks a few times at the dog, then spends a few moments checking the air before she pulls back in.

Balina moofs, "Fuck it, let's keep going."

Makena giggles "Alright"

"Right, decision made." Sori relatively quickly has the bus back up to speed, and back on course.

There's movement inside the store, an older man with long silvered hair is carrying a shotgun, props open the door and his eyes narrow at the bus. Shotgun is leveled in the departing bus' direction. He can be seen moving over to unchain the dog, his eyes leveled always on the bus itself.

The signs for Tallequah itself can be seen, old hand painted and carved things rather than the usual US state signage.

Sori says, looking in the rear view mirror, "Hum. Friendly chap. Maybe we won't stop on the way back either..."

Eithne nods, accepting this pronouncement, and clambers up on Balina's back. "Alright. Shouldn't be much longer, anyway, yeah?" The neko glances around the windows at the passing scenery, humming thoughtfully. "Hopefully, we'll see something from the ground all the maps and aerial views I managed to track down missed. Or maybe Dirt or Coyote left us one last gift for the journey somewhere around here..." She didn't glance back, and so looks over at Sori. "Hm? Who?"

Sorien churrs, "We had the proverbial mean old man pop out of the store."

Makena giggles, "Does that make us some meddling kids?"

Sorien churrs, "Probably. Though at 46 I'm well past being a kid."

Heath looks at Sorien. "Fourty-six? wow," he responds while resting down again.

Makena looks out the window, "Most folks don't seem to look their age anymore."

Sori grins. "Everyone is surprised at that."

Balina gives a mournful look back at the hyena. "No fair. I call reverse-dibs on being the Scrappy this time." Making her way back to the seats, she hops up and curls around to make a little nest for her passenger. "I think I finally got over that, anyway."

Heath looks towards Balina.. "Scrappy? Who scrappy?"

[REDACTED] shrugs, "She's only my senior by a half decade." her eyes still following the town. Life, unchanged human life. It's a somewhat good sign.

Makena giggles, sits by Balina and rubs her ears.

"Sori is an old woman, mmhm." Eithne playfully proclaims, snuggling into the little nest Bal has made. And nearly vanishing into the size difference between herself and her love. She purrs a little while nuzzling at her wolf's neck, content.

Sparhawk murmurs sleepily, "Who wants to live forever?" and makes a muffled thump with a tail as the taur twists to better resemble a swizzle stick.

"Even if it isn't the friendly sort of reception. Safe to say we'll likely get a similar reaction again before this trip is done." Grantok props her elbows on the head rest of the seat in front of her, kneeling on her own seat.

Tallequah itself is only a few miles down the road, the outskirts turning from poor folk, to more commercial properties. Banks, chain restaurants, stores, the signs of more wealth in the nation's capitol.

Makena snarls, "Well if we just keep going straight we can get back home without running into that guy again hehe."

[REDACTED] nods sadly, "Human's haven't reacted well to those of us who've... changed in the past. We should be careful, and try not to take offense to being threatened with a gun." she tries to explain to the newcomers.

Makena oooos, "Do you think any of these places are still open?? Hehe"

Grantok's tails lash at [REDACTED]'s comment, knowing full well the truth behind the statement.

Heath slowly nods his head.. "Heath understand that too well. Just need to be careful how speak and act near people. None of us look human.. have to be more careful."

Some of the places look somewhat looted, or just not really maintained. Though some of it looks in use. A few of the stores have lights on, the occasional human looking suspiciously at the bus, but no untoward actions have been made.

Sorien churrs, "I can look mostly human, and I do have clothes along for that need. And hey- people! Gran, are we anywhere need our search area?"

Makena giggles, "I can look good in purple does that help?"

The sound of sirens, a police vehicle pulling out of a side street comes blaring directly toward them.

Balina provides an excellent example of how she's managed to get by these last few days. Giving Eithne a few licks and repositioning slightly, she only keeps from staring at Makena because it might make her stop petting. "All in all, I'm kind of surprised none of us thought to come out here human-shaped. Having a spokesman miiiight have improved some of our odds. Oh well. Hope nobody minds two talking dogs, a skunk, three talking cats, and a comedian."

Makena looks out the window and giggles, "You think those cops like comedians?"

"Well we're in the right town now at least. We-" Grantok's voice cuts out at the sound of sirens. "were not expecting this sort of reaction."

Sorien churrs, "... Should I stop? I don't wanna hurt them..."

[REDACTED] looks deferential to the others, but she quietly says, "One would hope we would get more help if we respect their rules."

Grantok alluringly purrs, "It's not like we won't run into the local authorities one way or another. Besides I don't think you can outrun them."

Balina moofs, "Okay, this time if we run it looks like we're trying something. Yeah, pull over." Pause. "Sorien, who's your insurance provider? Is your license still current?"

"Okay, people. Be ready, and be polite. I'm pulling over." Sori slows the bus, then stops.

Eithne considers something as the siren sounds, and glances around the bus for a moment. "... Y'know, I do have a set of actual clothes with me. I can phoenix-shift into a human if we want a more... viable face for the group. No more kitty-shape for the rest of the trip, though, unless one of you have that Manufacturing nanomagic or something. In which case shame on you for holding out."

Heath brings his hand up to his mouth and makes a zipper like motion to indicate he's not saying a damn thing. leaning his head down he has his ears perked, listening carefully to what is going on..

Makena giggles and sits up next to Balina nice and straight, smiling and petting her.

The police car pulls up next to the bus. There are two officers inside, the driver female, her hair pulled back tight. Her partner looks young, almost boyish, his hand is on his holstered gun, seeming nervous. The policewoman's wearing a sherriff's badge, a sherrif patrolling a city of this size...

Makena giggles, "Do you think they'll do that thing where they have to say "meow" 10 times?"

Balina puts on her most innocent, vapid grin, panting and staring blankly.

Sorien opens the window when the officers get out of the squad. "Hello, officers. May I help you?"

The woman smoothly answers with a direct observation.

Sori doesn't blink, responding, "No, ma'am. I'm not. Most of us here aren't. I take it you've had trouble with the ferals?"

Balina barks helpfully.

Heath pants with a blank stare, looking towards the cop lady.

She shakes her head, "Only bandits. Rapists, Murderers. Scum." her brow creases. Behind her, the young nervous deputy fiddles with his gun belt, having started to pick it up when he drops it.

Sparhawk is handily out of sight, below the windowline of a rather tall bus. Less alarming that way.

Makena smiles over to the officer happily.

"(Sigh) I'm sorry. We're from out west. We've a settlement with a good number of rational beings, human and otherwise living together. My name is Sorien. Can I come out and we can talk more face to face? I'll not suggest we all get out."

She frowns, "As much as I'd like to see you face to face, are you sure you aren't... infectious?" She briefly scowls at her bumbling partner making a fool out of her, and turns back to watch Sorien carefully. "Is there... a reason you came here?" the obvious question.

Makena looks out the window towards the various buildings, looking rather wantingly at some of the familiar signs she's not seen in such good shape in ages, giggling and wondering what a day is like around here

Makena giggles, looking back to the officer, "I'm told my laugh is infectious hehe."

Balina nosebumps Makena. Also helpfully.

Sorien churrs, "Yes, but it isn't to cause trouble, Ma'am. The nanites require blood or sexual contact to spread, and I'm married so I won't be doing anything untoward."

[REDACTED] places a hand on Sorien's shoulder, "I know I'm not even remotely infectious. Should I go first?"

Eithne pipes up from her cuddle; "We're outside of a nanite 'bubble' - the vector for the infection requires more computing than is currently available, so infection is currently impossible for basic nanite strains."

Sorien nuzzles [REDACTED]. "Its not whether we're infectious. Its whether they know we aren't. They can't know."

Makena smiles, "I hope I'm not out-of-turn, but I just came because I missed seeing all the wonderful things around here! I even got to see a deer! And you have a McRonalds! Is it still open? Do you have a bowling alley??"

Heath stomach growls a bit....

Makena snarls, "Hehe, sorry but, getting pulled over be a police officer, a real police officer, that's like seeing a movie-star!""

She blinks at something going well over her head, and then attempts to hide it. Her eyes wander from the nekomata, to the hyena, her posture seeming more nervous as more differently shaped creatures are brought to her attention. Then sudden questions, she shakes her head, "Thats it. Each of you come out, one at a time. Single file, no weapons please."

Makena snarls, "Oh can I go first??"

The deputy, has his gun held ready, but she's got her arms crossed under her chest, the brown and cut of her uniform hiding her femininity as much as the way she acts.

"No, I will," Sori says. She stands, opens the doors and steps down. "Everyone, one at a time and give some space as we come out. We're not the bad guys after all."

Makena sits back in her seat and rolls her eyes, petpets Balina.

Balina whines slightly, putting her head down on the seat and relaxing her curl enough for an Eithne to escape unharmed.

[REDACTED] quietly begins to remove her blades, frowning a bit and not liking how naked she is without them. She removes the scabbards themselves, untying the cloth holding them on, and places them close to the exit. She ushers everyone else off, letting herself be the last.

Sparhawk engages in wriggling again. Once anyone farther back in the bus has moved forward past the upcoming roadblock in the aisle.

Makena goes second after Sori since she didn't get to go first! She puts her paws up on the side of the bus like on TV.

Eithne hugs Balina around the neck, and slides out of the curl and onto her feet. She traipses outside, humming cheerfully and snagging her small bag of extra supplies as she does so. Which is... a backpack. That she drops beside her feet once she's outside. She doesn't follow Makena's example, and instead puts one arm behind her back while rocking on her heels, giving a friendly (and very, very careful smile so as not to show off her dental mutations) smile to everyone, waving cheerfully.

The woman scowls at the Hyena. "There's no need to mock, I'm just trying to keep my town safe. If you haven't noticed, a safe place like this isn't exactly common.

Grantok sighs at the officer's request, doing what she could to remain quiet on the other side of the bus. She waits for a few of the larger people to make their way out before exiting the bus herself, leaving her belongings on her seat in the bus. Her ears are flattened as she steps off, looking mildly annoyed that it came to this stage of negotiations.

Makena looks over her shoulder, "Oh! I'm sorry hehe. I wasn't mocking I thought that's what I was supposed to do!"

Sori says, once everyone is off, "As I said, I'm Sorien. This is [REDACTED], Grantok, Balina, Eithne, Lasair, Heath, Makena and Sparhawk," indicating each of the passengers as she says their names. "We're traveling and looking for more civilization, amongst other things. This," She pats the side of the bus, "Is my pride and joy. It took me about six months to rebuild her."

Makena snarls, "I'm a little nervous haha." She turns and leans against the bus, smiling."

Balina saunters out behind, looking as harmless as any 1100-pound dog can. She hasn't been wearing her armor for the last day or so for the sake of comfort, and for the first time she actually finds herself missing it. A patch of ground next to Eithne is claimed, and the icewolf sits herself down. She remains silent, for fear of making this more awkward than it already is.

Heath tries to ignore his belly.. and say nothing even though it was complaining to him.. but none the less he kept the innocent look going the best he could.. slowly he stood up and followed as carefully as he could and almost on cue walked out. no words come from him though, still trying to go with the 'innocent puppy' act.

The deputy squeaks a bit at the size of the exiting gryphontaur. "How can they..." he mumbles something, and backs away.

Sparhawk rummages around with hir stuff on the bus, vaguely visible through windows while dropping what material trappings of violence shi still carries. Then the greyhound-equivalent hexataur turns the corner on the exit stairs, giving a sleepy nod to the local authority figure. And is a skunk.

Makena smiles, "I'm glad you guys are okay! I didn't know there were any places like this! You're doing a really good job!"

Sorien headtilts. "How can we what?"

Balina looks away, pretending to stare at imaginary birds rather than let someone see her expression.

The sheriff answers, "He's probably wondering how you can all look like that and still have a mind in there. Her eyes move toward Balina for a moment, "Although not all it seems, unfortunate." she eyes each, and then signals to her deputy, and then strides forward toward the one she's been conversing with, and holds out a hand. He has his gun held high and moves closer as well, his hands shaking.

Sorien smiles, and offers her own hand, shaking the officer's firmly but nicely. "I am quite glad to find more people."

Makena smiles at the officer with the gun an thinks a bit, "You know, my friend was a police officer and she told me how every time someone pulls you over they're always scared of who's gonna be on the other side of the window. She said it wasn't much fun! I think I get that hehe."

Makena snarls, "I'm just happy you're talking to us! I've seen in the movies where folks would just shoot us on sight for lookin' wierd haha."

"Looking weird is an art form I dabble in," says the resonant androgynous voice of the larger of the two skunks. Spar pads around the designated comedian to lean against the rear half of the bus, making another turn to face hir face toward the cops.

She shakes firmly, then turns to the hyena. "I can't say we're like that around here. My people have a history of being shit all over, if you excuse my meaning, but we're making due. I'm just nervous lately after the last group to come through." She points off to the west. "They torched a section of town, killed three people, and raped one of my friends."

Makena snarls, "Whaaaat???"

Makena giggles, "Well point me towards em and I'll, like, throw a rock at em or something haha."

Sorien churrs, "Wait. Another group?"

Eithne nods, and straightens up, cheery as ever when SCIENCE! is involved. "Well, you see, the transformation is the result of the Promethean 'virus', though it isn't quite a virus at all. It's a nanite plague - microscopic machines rearranging genetics and material for various purposes. While many 'carriers' do indeed lose their minds and go feral - with is the majority of them, sadly, what with rapid reproduction efforts and the general health benefits of the general 'infection', there are treatments available that help an individual keep their faculties about them, and some naturally have a genetic quirk or willpower to do so. Several of the treatments also prevent the treated from infecting people - mine, for instance, though none of us are currently infectious. The nanites lack the processing power to accomplish genetic conversion on their own, and there aren't enough ambient nanites here for cloud compu-..." Blinkblinkblink. "... Raiders, you say? They don't sound very nice."

Sorien earflicks at the sciencey verbal diarrhea exploding behind her, awaiting the officer's response.

Makena looks towards the west, "That way you say? What'd they look like anyway? "

"Likely some of the bandits that she mentioned earlier. I'm sorry for your loss." Grantok quietly intones, trying not to interrupt much.

Heath hearing that, heath slowly started to sniff around. Not moving much away from the group.. however obvious he was trying to figure out the scent of these individuals that were the last group... If he could help then maybe it would make things better?

The woman backs up slightly as Eithne sciences her. She attempts to hide the reaction and says sadly, "Yeah, they were looking for something and tortured a few folks, burnt down houses, and such until they got what they wanted. I'm still not sure what it was either."

Balina has her head on the ground, one paw over her face. She is not part of this conversation. Or any conversation, being a perfectly normal giant hunting dog.

Eithne pouts, earflatting at the nonplussed or recoiling. "... What? He /asked/. I answered!"

Sorien churrs, "Gods. I'm sorry. They went west? Well, if they reach where we came from they'll likely be dealt with. We should try to establish communication between our settlements; we've contact with a town in Washington, and we know there's still civilization in Minneapolis and New York... Though our information on those sites are a year old or older."

Makena tilts her head, "Officer what's your name? I didn't catch it yet or maybe I missed it." looking to the woman who's been speaking him, smiling

Sparhawk murmurs, "A postal service at least, because radio seems to be acting strangely on every level." Science is restrained, along with everything else.

The sherriff looks back at her deputy, "Ash, you can go back in the car. These folks aren't threatening, and there's no reason to point a gun at them. We're tolerant, I don't want it getting around otherwise." she shoos him toward the vehicle.

Makena smiles at the other officer.

Heath looks towards the officer and to the others.. Looking to the deputy.. Though, he was tempted to say something he didn't want to scare them to badly.. He gave a huff, and sits down.

"Inola." a quick response. "I apologize for the treatment. But I do ask that you be escorted while you are here? I cannot let my people down twice in one month."

Makena snarls, "Hey, it sounds like you just had a nasty mess through here, you must be on high alert compared to usual!"

Makena nods "I don't mind! Can I ride in the squad car??"

Eithne shrugs, glancing at the others. "I don't see a reason why not, though we'd prefer someone a little less... nervous..." she glances over to Ash in the squad car, "to be that escort. No offense meant, Officer."

Sori asks, "Do you have a request as to what we should do, or where we should park? We aren't on a particular schedule, but we should move on relatively soon."

Inola sighs, "You must understand, one of those killed was the sherriff. That's his son. I'm very sorry for the way he treated you." She frowns, "If you're not going to tell me why you're here, will you at least tell me for how long? I'll need to see if I can scrounge up some help if it's going to be more than a few hours."

"I'll stay on the bus unless there's a trading center," Sparhawk says while gesturing back at saddlebags that do not bulge but move as if heavy. "We could go kick some jerks in the face if they're still around?"

Makena smiles, "Well I think Ash is nice! I like honest people hehe."

Sori nods. "I don't think all that long. I'm sorry if I seem cagy; you're not the only ones who've had troubles. We'll not be a problem for you if we can at all help it."

She looks nervous at the thought. "I'm not sure where they went. We weren't exactly successful at stopping them. Frankly I'm nervous they'll be back. If you want to help with that I'd welcome it. In fact, we'd all be in your debt."

"If they return while we're here, then yeah, we can help. Most of us have combat experience... Mostly from necessity. Is there a place to get this behemoth off the road?"

Makena snarls, "Hrm. Well, Inola, what did you try to do? What *didn't* work? haha."

Sorien headtilts at the inappropriate laughing from Makina, not really getting it, then shrugs.

Eithne glances at everyone supporting taking action to help, and then over at the bus, and then down to the Balwolf. "... hrm. How many were there, exactly, officer? What kind of transport did they use? What exactly did they burn down and attack? I'm trying to get a scope of who they are." She reaches out and lightly scritches her wolf's ears.

Grantok eases up on her demeanor a little. "Would you mind going into detail about what happened when they were last here? Preferably somewhere else than the side of the road if it's not asking too much."

Thump, thump, thump goes the Baltail. The rest of Balina sits up, leaning up against Eithne, watching the conversation intently. People are making funny noises!

Inala looks around at all the voices and determines her path of action quickly. "You may all get back on and follow me down to my office. I'll explain what happened in detail, and the parking lots big enough to park this thing. Not that the roads are getting much use these days."

Makena smiles "Thanks, Inola!" She offers to shake hands.

Sparhawk follows directives obediently and makes moderate haste back onto the bus, the better to not obstruct traffic.

"Okay, thank you. Mount up, people!" Sori heads for the bus, a grin on her face- obviously happy to find nonpsychotic, non-desperate people for once!

Grantok nods at the cue from Inola and gets back on the bus, taking her seat in relative quiet.

Eithne giggles, and hugs Balina around the neck. "Silly wolf. C'mon, then. Let's get back inside." Tinykitten picks up her backpack and meanders back up onto the bus, humming cheerfully again with her tail lazily swishing behind her.

Speaking of other traffic, an old beatup red ford pulls up near the officer, the man inside rolling down his window and asking something of Inola, who waves him on, before getting in her patrol car, and escorting the group down past the largest building in town, the capitol of the cherokee nation itself. Her sherriff's office is only a couple blocks down, a largish parking lot by the small building. This part of town seems in much better repair than the outskirts.

Balina follows closely behind, tail still fanning anyone behind her, gently nudging Eithne with her nose to hurry her up the steps of the bus.

Heath following after, he lackadaisically wanders back into the bus like was asked for.. He is about three steps behind people to give them space.

Once the parking lot is reached, Sori parks the bus and once again steps out. She looks around, then waits for Officer Inola to escort to wherever they're to meet. She grabs one of the map books as she exits.

Inola guides the monstrousity in place, and peeks inside the bus, while people are exiting. She helps Makena down and says, "I'm sorry for being rude, I have a lot on my mind." properly shaking hands. "Just all head inside. I'm going to have my deputy get the elders."

Makena giggles, "I'm havin' fun, you're fine!"

Makena heads on in , looking around curiously inside.

"Elders? Cool. Not a problem, Officer." Sori nods and does as directed.

Eithne skips down the stairs, humming happily with backpack tossed over one shoulder and her lapdesk in hand. Her two-tipped tail flicks around behind her and she glances around with her boundless curiosity.

Balina battles with herself, and if she really wants to keep this stupid charade up. Still, she'll probably do something stupid and wander off if she stays behind. Reluctantly, she follows after the group, looking mournfully at the bus as she does so.

Eithne lags a bit to walk beside Balina, resting a paw lightly on her lover's back.

Heath slowly follows, he has nothing to say at the moment and that's a good thing. His tail flicks behind him to one side then the other.

Grantok slings her drawstring sack over her shoulder, offering Inola a polite smile as she exits and heads inside the sheriff's office. She takes a moment to note the capitol building before joining up with the others.

Sori, once inside, looks around then finds a place to sit.

Makena snarls, "Hmmm I wonder if they have a night spot I could perform at hehe."

Ash drives off with the vehicle, leaving Inola alone with the group. Awful trusting considering it seems. She follows inside the small building. A single jail cell remains open, the cell door unhinged long ago. Inola offers, "I'm sorry if it's cramped in here and a bit lacking in seating, we don't have many guests. Even before everything changed we never had much use for the sherriff in town."

Makena giggles, "I think it's great! Hey, Inola, what do you do for fun around here anyhow?"

Sori giggles. "We've seen worse. What happened here, if I might ask? I came from Minneapolis; there... It was slower than elsewhere, but the same result- lots of feral former-humans, and a loss of most electronics and all communications."

Eithne walks over to a section of wall, and sits down with just enough room for Balina to flop down behind her as she flicks open her lapdesk, pulling out some fresh paper and her mechanical pencil. Makena gets an amused look, and then a 'down girl' gesture.

Balina flops obligingly, curling around and resting the end of her nose on the edge of the desk; any excuse to not crowd around anyone else.

Heath wanders in after, and makes his way to the jail cell. Being that it was open and off to the side.. he figures this was the best place to go to the out of the way, and still be able to listen.

Sparhawk peers at the building. Which is small. "I think I'm gonna loiter by a window or something out here. Saves packing space, and I don't disappear if five boxes line up and make a tetris."

[REDACTED] finds a seat alone inside the cell itself, quietly thinking. She brought her blades with her. Her ears follow the conversation but she adds nothing of her own. Inola by comparison seems to be relieved to be meeting survivors, no matter how strange, so utterly weird, yet human. A light smile offered to Makena, "I can't say much has changed for us. It's always been difficult to keep money in the community, and we all have to work hard. We've lost people since the great changes, but for the most part we live as we always have. Many who left simply went off on their own to return to the old ways, before the white man took our homes." She looks at Sorien, and says, "I was born here, and I've not been anywhere else. I can't say I know how it is out there, not many have come with news." She takes a seat herself, and looks down at her desk, pulling a small map out of it. She unfolds it, and grabs a market. It's clearly her town. She makes a big black circle around about three blocks. "We don't have a fire service, so when they set fire it burned rather out of control. This is all gone." frowning.

Sori says, "Most of Fairhaven, where we're from, is abandoned and feral-occupied. After three years... Most of the buildings are a loss. However, we're starting new construction, and do have clusters of buildings that are intact and habitable. We've a few farms, and there is a company facility that is providing medicine and other food. We've not had fires yet- I should have thought of that. I guess I know what vehicles I'll be working on next!"

Makena looks at the map, "Hrm... did they set fire to stuff as a threat? A distraction? You said they were looking for something, did they set the fires to look for it?"

Eithne peers at the map, tapping her eraser on a sheet of paper already half-covered in SCIENCE! "What was inside those three blocks? What route did they take into and out of town?"

"Guys, slow down. Give her time to answer; we're guests- don't grill our host!" Sori says.

She frowns, "Look, I don't know much about them, beyond one of them was a rather burly native man. He was cruel, and had three others with him. There was something... off about the whole bunch, and the man's eyes... something was just not right." Inola visibly shivers. "They took hostages, and demanded the elders give themselves up. They were looking for information, and the former sherriff, Ash's dad, tried to stop them, and... she frowns. "The big one did something really strange to him, and he just fell over, dead." She looks down, "One of the elders turned himself over, and they killed him too, as well as one of the two hostages. My friend, the one they raped, hasn't spoken since." She looks at the map. "They set fire to keep us from trailing them I think."

Sorien frowns. "Did they say anything about what they were after beyond information?"

Heath looks up, and for the first time here he speaks.. "Maybe get scent from one raped so get scent to hunt them down?"

Balina picks up her head, beginning to vigorously lick Eithne's ear, making occasional noises to--

Balina stops, staring intently at Heath, cocking her head very slowly.

Inola answers, "Wisakedjak" is her response. "I'm not even sure what it is. I asked, some name that's not even Cherokee."

Inola blinks as the thing she thought was feral speaks. "Uh... I'm sorry, but no, you aren't sniffing her. I'm not even sure how she'd handle seeing someone... so different." she tries to be polite.

Grantok frowns while looking at the size of the circle on the map and flattens her ears at the descriptions of the culprits. "Sounds like we got here not a moment too soon." The final word puzzles her slightly. "Wisakedjak. Heard of that before Sori? Eithne?"

Sorien thinks for a moment. "Whiskey Jack?"

Heath slowly nodded his head.. "Forgive heath.. Just trying to figure out how to help. One being violated is not forgivable and Heath does understand."

Sorien churrs, "Its... Cree. Or Algonquin. A flood-bringing divinity. Trickster sometimes. I'd need my books to get more."

Makena snarls, "Oh hehe, I thought it was code or something haha."

Sorien churrs, "If I recall, rather more of an asshole than Coyote could be."

Eithne frowns, reaching over to scritch at Balina's head. "One way to call him, Sorien. A manitou. Native american spirit. something about floods...?" Her touch on the wolf's head is light and idle, as the cat's tongue sticks out the corner of her mouth to be lightly nibbled on as she thinks. "Another trickster, I'm pretty sure."

Sori blinks. "Uh. Pardon my language."

Heath slowly stands up. "Excuse heath. Mind if he goes outside for a little while?" he asked the Sheriff. "Heath promise not to go to far away" "Think we're looking at a case of lights going out here?" Grantok specifically looks at Eithne when asking that question.

Sorien churrs, "Inktonme? I think that was another of his names."

Inola looks around, "You know an awful lot about obscure native spirits." Her eyes narrow just a bit. "You all showing up... you're here for the same reason aren't you?"

Inola doesn't seem to mind Heath leaving, rather she's more caught up in her current train of thought.

Grantok alluringly purrs, "Similar reasons, different motives. We don't actually wish to cause distress or disturbances."

Heath does indeed follow with his request. Walking to the door, he raises a paw and scratches at it a few times. If it was closed tight he wouldn't be able to go through, and really don't think she'd like him gnawing on the knob.

Sori says, "I actually don't know, Officer. That's the truth. But it could be related. We're not hunting Whiskey Jack though that I'm aware. However... People who act as these others don't deserve to be loose. Or alive for that matter."

Balina shakes her head at Heath, then makes a downward gesture with her muzzle. "Stick around a bit more. I have a feeling I want to be out there with you, but I don't trust myself if my gut's right." Giving what's probably an apologetic smile towards Inola. "Sorry, thought you already had enough weirdness; thought talking dogs might have been pushing it. For what it's worth, we are experts at shit that doesn't make sense, and you have certainly gotten our interest."

Eithne shakes her head, sighing. "... ran across the name while looking into Hare. Apparently the... anishibone? abishbine? BAH! Stupid names I can't get proper pronounciation on. Sioux offshoots. Had a hare trickster god. Whiskey Jack is the cree equivalent. Crane, though, I think...?" The neko frowns, and crosses her arms. "... knew I should have brought my notes on that stupid rabit. Damnit." She shakes her head, then glances at Inola and Grantok. "And yes, I think this is one of those snuffed lights things. Here. I /do/ have those maps with me." And out they come, the carefully calculated and researched maps of Sites of Power, and the map of the country with their locations noted. "We are... here. And the closest site is..."

Makena snarls, "Hehe, I'm here 'cause they had a bus and I haven't gotten to travel this way before! But from what I hear them talk about at the bar, these folks are usually tryin' to save the day or save the world or something!""

Makena snarls, "There's a lot of stuff that goes on that's crazy science stuff, but then some things seem like they've got to be *supernatural* you know?""

Makena snarls, "I *think* this is something along those lines, if I understand the gravity of it all hehe."

Outside the police car pulls back in. The younger man moves to the passenger door and opens it for an elderly lady, helping her up and out.

Heath slowly walks away from the door. Really don't want the elderly lady to have a big wolf's face right at her face when she opens the door.. So he made his way to lay by Balina.. "ALright Heath will stay. "

Inola seems to be processing the wolves talking, when their guest arrives. "I'm sorry, but likely she's the only one available, but she might be able to answer more specific questions. I also trust her judgements better than my own." And she gets up, moving toward the door, around all the large and varied creatures.

Sorien looks at the arriving woman, and gives what she hopes is a respectful nod; she waits for the arrival to speak first. Makena smiles at the newcomer

Sparhawk continues leaning against an outside wall, looking mostly asleep and trying to be both nonthreatening and uninteresting.

Balina clams back up, nodding to the obviously-important old woman. The fact that she's looking at an old woman post-apocalypse gives her too much pause to really say anything, anyway.

The elderly woman walks slowly, refusing the offers of service. Stubborn, and ancient, truly ancient, so much she even smells like dust. Her eyes though remain youthful, a sparkle in them as she observes the strange creatures. No flinch, unlike the others she seems not bothered. She opens her mouth and smiles, only a few teeth left as she says, "Welcome, Children of Coyote. You've been expected."

Eithne doesn't notice the guests arriving, engrossed in her maps. "... Ha! They probably went west to try and throw people off the trail, looking around the city to go back east on these plentiful side roads, towards the Toltec Mounds. I think there was a visitor center there, so they've probably got that fortified..." And then the old woman speaks, and she jerks her head up. "Oh! Hello there, Elder."

"S'a better group name than any I've come up with yet," says Sparhawk to the corner of the building. Having spare eyes to watch stuff going past adds extra subtlety when the onlooker isn't looking for them.

Heath looks to the ancient one. "Hi." he says softly with his head down. Not really sure if he should say more then that, not wanting to scare the old lady. But still, he gave a word for a greeting...

Balina growls. Just a little. Under her breath. And tries not to direct it at anyone.[[Category:[REDACTED] Events]]