Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 4, 2010 0:53:26 GMT -5
Dev put a respectable distance between himself and the clinic before he stopped to savor the landscape. It was good to be outside. Better than good. Washed out blue sky. Wide open air, hot wind carrying the scent of desert and spice from the market. The feel of sand under his paws.
He was free.
Momentarily possessed by the youthful enthusiasm brought about from said freedom, he rolled happily on the ground. The warm sand felt much better than that detestable hospital bed, and he occupied himself blissfully with the activity for several minutes. He would worry about his image later, when he wasn’t suffering from lingering insanity brought about by intense boredom.
Ananta had been a complete tyrant. It was strange to have someone so invested in his health. Almost--nice. But mostly annoying. He had been partially convinced that she’d never let him leave, continuing her regime of drugs--underhanded, drugging the food like that--and continual surveillance.
He rolled some more to rid himself of the thought.
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Post by Bee on Dec 4, 2010 0:53:35 GMT -5
Ananta’s patient tolerance remained at its usual steady line for some moments as Dev rolled around in the sand. She watched him without expression, without joining him in his play or commenting. He had not answered her question. His exuberant enjoyment of his newfound freedom carried on.
She continued to watch him without expression, but with a small spark of amusement taking light. It was best not to let him thrash about too much, lest he reopen his wound. If he ended up back in the hospital so soon, his feeble grasp on composure would be loosed completely. But the bandages would keep the sand out. And he seemed to be instinctively avoiding putting pressure on the sight of the wound. He could enjoy the fresh air after spending the last six days recovering from the results of the fight; she let him have his moment.
And when his moment was up, she said, austerely, “Dev. Do not force me to revoke your clean bill of health."
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 4, 2010 19:01:35 GMT -5
Ananta's voice invaded his blissful moment, sanity swift on its heels. He regained his feet, and shook off the worst of the sand. He glanced at her warily.
"You wouldn't...really do that, would you?" If it were anyone else, he might think they were joking, but this was Ananta, and he did not credit the woman with a sense of humor. And as he did not plan to be dragged back to the clinic, thank you very much, it would be best to distract her. She'd posed him a question, hadn't she?
Next. Next should have been finishing what he'd begun with Durai, but...he sighed, the lightheartedness of the previous moment fading completely. He'd already made his decision regarding that particular issue, and he would hold to it. He wasn't even especially worried about the man attempting to knife him again; he was sure Ananta had given the man plenty of reason not to pursue Dev further.
Rohit, the man responsible for the murderous gang; he was the last one, with Durai no longer a target. And Dev had only the vaguest sense of where the man might be, based off whispers and nonfactual rumors. It would not be an easy finish.
"I don't know where next is," he answered honestly.
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Post by Bee on Dec 4, 2010 19:24:05 GMT -5
Ananta gave him a blank look and did not answer. Him not knowing what she would or would not do would keep him on his toes. Perhaps make him think a little more on his decisions. She liked this idea. It was good for him.
Her expression took on a slightly scrutinizing cast as he continued. "But you still wish to pursue it," she said. It was not a question, but she gave him a moment to interject. Perhaps the incident with Durai had made him think a little more on his decisions, too. She doubted he had changed his mind, but recent events and uncertain direction might have given him pause. It would be good for him to stop his quest. But it would probably be better for him to finish it.
She glanced off into the distance. There was far too much desert to wander aimlessly in. "You must have ideas."
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Post by Nathalia on Dec 4, 2010 19:29:55 GMT -5
For reaching 101 posts, you both receive a special prize!
Each of you receive:
Dark Glasses: These dark glasses look awesome! They let anyone who puts them on see perfectly in the dark for a full 10 minutes. Careful with them though...you might not like what happens if they break...
~Nathalia
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 4, 2010 20:11:41 GMT -5
((Ehehee. I wear my sunglasses at night, so I can, so I can... These are win. )) "Yes," he replied. It was all speculation, though, based on rumors and half-blown theories; nothing as solid as when he'd been pursuing Gopala, Kavi, or Durai. Rohit was too clever to leave an easy trail for Dev, or anyone, to follow and was twice as dangerous when he was cornered. Dev had ever gotten close enough to experience this firsthand, of course, but there were a plethora of such stories circulating. There were quite a few unpleasant tales concerning Rohit, in fact. Unsavory enough to make most stay well and clear of the man. "The most recent sightings suggest he's heading towards the Kahmden border; most likely Sima." It was the only town worth mentioning along that southeast border of the Wastes, and as likely a place as any that the man might visit. He could have such as likely been heading to the Selkie Lakes, though. Or circling under the belly of the Arid Sea to reach Vena.
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Post by Bee on Dec 4, 2010 20:36:34 GMT -5
"Well then," Ananta said, "it sounds like a likely place to start."
Sima was some distance away. Not that this was a deterrent. The long treks they were making across the Wastes were good endurance training--Ananta had never traversed this much space even when her clan was migrating. She liked being familiar with more areas, and Dev's quest was taking them through many of them. It was not as though they did not have time, either, unless one were placing this Rohit character on a countdown to further evasion.
So to Sima they walked. They paused twice to allow Dev to sleep. They walked more. Sima passed into her field of vision, larger and more defined as they approached. She was quite beginning to dislike the necessity of visiting so many populated spaces, but there appeared to be no helping it. It was difficult to glean information from people if one did not interact with people.
It was time to scout.
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 4, 2010 21:44:14 GMT -5
It took surprisingly little time to glean the information relevant to the hunt: Rohit had been there and gone, leaving in his wake a plethora of broken bones and one soon to be deceased. The officials had no idea, of course, but the dying man was surprisingly talkative when he discovered what Dev was about.
The man had been, rather foolishly, skimming profits off an operation and been caught. His gruesome, inevitable death, was a reminder to those who might think to do that same. Loyalty was very important to Rohit. It was too bad he'd forgotten that a dead man had nothing left to loose.
Rohit had a meeting in the capitol, outer bazaar, in two week's time with one of his dealers. He'd most likely be following the Kahmden border into the unclaimed territory, and from there take the Diamond road. They might be able to intercept him if they hurried.
He had a two day lead.
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Post by Bee on Dec 4, 2010 22:24:09 GMT -5
They made haste from Sima. They wanted to catch the man before he took the theater of conflict to the capitol. Ideally, they would catch him before he even left the Wastes. It would simplify the aftermath. The chances of intercepting the man Dev hoped to take vengeance upon were realistically slim, but they had a few small advantages.
Mostly that much of the path would take them through an area that Ananta's clan had always called the Ruptured Heart, a stark spread of craggy ravines. They had made camp there part of the year. She knew her way through it much of it. The main paths, the nooks and crannies. Whatever part of the Wastes Rohit had hailed from, she doubted he knew the area nearly as well. It might help them close some of the gap, provided they were swift enough. They might even be able to stage an ambush.
But for now, she focused on getting them there.
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Dark
Five of Diamonds
Bladed Hare
You are not prepared.
Posts: 2,105
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Post by Dark on Dec 5, 2010 15:07:24 GMT -5
It was rough country to transverse, made more difficult as Dev was not familiar with the area--he had never had cause enough to travel this far south, though reasons were aplenty now--and he was thankful for Ananta's apparent knowledge. Her guidance made the journey progress much smoother than it might have otherwise.
Now that he had (mostly) recovered from the trauma of his forced bedrest, he was almost beginning to enjoy her company again. He certainly appreciated her quiet efficiency in the role of guide. Having a ready breakfast in the morning was pleasant, as well.
As they hurried across the landscape, he found himself much more introspective than usual. It was hard to imagine that soon enough, the journey would end in one manner or another. And to avoid unpleasant thoughts of After, he distracted himself with taking more heed to his surroundings than he might have otherwise.
He almost regretted not having more time to explore the area. There was a stark beauty in the broken, craggy earth and he thought it might be enjoyable to explore some of the caves that seemed to honeycomb the place. But it was a small regret, all but entirely smothered by resolve.
They pressed onward.
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