Secundi

Despite the fact the door is hanging wide open to the cold morning air, the inside of the office is toasty warm.  That old wood stove in the corner seems to be doing an admirable job of countering the winter.. or perhaps it's the heat form so many bodies packed in here?  Either way, the warmth is a welcome relief from the cold outside.

Straight away you spot the serving table.  As always it is set up with a variety of beverages, though most people seem to be leaving the cold drinks alone.  Unusually the snacks are rather skimpy, nothing near the spread Elsie usually puts on.  Something is definitely up around here!

Looking around for Elsie you see various workers, from a mechanic trying to sip his coco without getting grease on the cup, to the stable hand that was just loading SC's onto trailers.  Everyone seems to be in a hurry, and dressed quite warm.  They also all have a bag with them, from duffel bags to back packs, they all seem to be prepared to be gone a while.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/Elsie99x112.png)
Walking in from the back room, Elsie appears looking disgruntled.  Glancing at two clipboards in her hands, she frowns fiercely "Ray!  Are you sure this equipment list is right?  No, it can't be, this can't be everything!  Here take it back and double check it again!"  Shoving the clipboard at a young man with red hair, she quickly turns and dismisses him.  "Sascha, have any more teams reported in yet?"

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)
Shaking her head she lays a hand gently on Elsie's arm "I'm sorry Elsie, but it's been complete radio silence since that last storm.  We've heard nothing, from anyone since."

"Well have we gotten anymore volunteers then?"  As the younger woman begins to shake her head in denial Elsie scowls in irritation "Harrumph!  well, go call some then!  We have plenty of friends around here by now, surely some will be willing to help us out, if only they knew we needed it!  Just.. I don't know, go make some phone calls.  And Sascha, anyone that can bring their own supplies, tell them to do so.  Any extra will help, there's no telling what we'll find up there!"

Sascha quickly heads into the back room to start calling all of the agencies friends, and Elsie watches her go briefly before turning smartly and heading over to the serving table to busy herself with making sure there is still plenty of hot drinks to last for everyone.

Volunteer List

Arty
Jewel (Springacres)
SweetCaroline
Riverwind
Sunchaser
UnNamed Male 1 (Bunraku)
UnNamed Male 2 (Skysong)

If you made an RP post in the thread at all, then I have put you on the list.  This is simply so I can keep an accurate count of who is playing.  If you posted as yourself, or if you posted your characters name, then it is assumed my character, and atleast some of the NPC's know you/your character.  If you did not post as yourself, or give your characters name, then your char will remain UnNamed until you reveal it.

First post's OOC info updated, please be sure to read it :)

You may post your decisions/PM me if need be etc, I know it's an odd hour and not many are on, so we'll give it a bit of time for people to wake and see this :)

*pops in*

Yay!!! Been waiting for this for-ev-er!!!

Runs over to help Kadana, picking up the blankets, journals, and everything else and putting them back into their boxes. "Kadana, what are you doing?! You shouldn't be trying to take all those boxes at once!" I chastise her friendly.

Edit: I derped XD Thanks spring >.<;;

Spotting Kadana's trouble with the boxes, Jewel immediately rushes over to help.  Getting down on her stomach, the woman squeezes her upper body under the truck in an attempt to locate the straying objects.  She either doesn't realize or doesn't care about getting her clothes stained, but she does want to help her friend!

OOC: Arty, I think the magenta is for OOC posts and any other color is for IC?

*Walks up to Kadana*Do you need anymore help gathering your things back off the ground? Or perhaps some help carrying some ofit so you don't have another spill? *looks around at everything on the ground* Where you headed with all these supplies? That's an aful lot of blankets.

River sees her sister having trouble and runs up to help alongside everyone else. "You could have just asked me for help, you know..."

Looks distractedly at everyone then smiles gratefully at the help.  "Thanks guys, as you can see we're in a bit of a hurry.  There's a problem on the mountain, and we have to get these supplies up there before the next storm hits."  Glancing up at the sky she shakes her head and finishes loading the last of the boxes.  "Elsie is in the office if you want to volunteer, she'll take your names and give you more information.  There's hot drinks too, go get warm"  With a last glance at the early morning sky she turns and dashes off back towards the supply shed muttering something about blizzards and caves and portal gates.

Elsie can now be found in the second post of the thread (the Office area).  You may now RP in this area if you like.

NOTE! Anyone joining in at this point, you have the option to RP as if Sascha called you to request you to come volunteer.  If you choose to do this, you can RP having brought supplies with you.  A simple duffel bag or back pack of some kind, with any hiking/camping gear is what would have been requested of you to bring.  Anything else you choose to bring is extra for your own purposes, and (within reason) will be allowed.  (If you try and tell me you brought a band-saw in your backpack for example, I;m going to smack you :P)

River nods at her sister and heads in the direction of the office. Volunteering seems like it might be a good idea, since it will probably give her answers to the questions swirling around in her head. Zipping her coat up a little more and tugging her winter hat down farther over her ears, she knocks twice of the office door before entering.

"Hi, are you Elsie? Kadana sent me. She says you are handling volunteers..."



OOC: I guess I was feeling a little more "into" the RP elements XD

Sunchaser bundled into her coat and grabbed in backpack from the backseat. Climbing out of her car she waved at Kadana. She was asked to bring some MRE's from the base, a first aid kit and things of that nature. She was also told to bring things that her husband had given her that Kadana had asked for. So her car was full of random stuff including a hammer, things to do with blizzards and just random. She looked at her car and was glad she had bribed her husband for a SUV for her. She had a feeling she would need it.

Her attention turned in front of her and looked at Kadana. "Now what?"

Sunny! *squishes in a hug* ^.^

Hey river :) hows you

I'm okay. exhausted, but okay XD

I'm going to be playing a character rather than myself or a persona. Please take nothing he says/does personally or seriously! Also err, not that anyone one would do this but please no flirting interaction with my char? Just saying because I'm playing a male lol XD; Don't mean to offend anyone with that comment ^^;

Quick question Kadana, are we allowed to have brought a storm chaser with us?

Leaning back against the inside wall of the office, a slender but well muscled figure observes the exchange between Elsie and Sascha silently, the only sign that he had been paying attention at all the slight thinning of his lips in faint irritation. Wonderful, an expedition into the mountains, and they were hardly prepared, let alone did they have enough help should things truly go wrong. And despite the fact that everyone seemed to be trying their best, he had the feeling they would.

Lifting the cup he held to his lips, he took a sip of his drink as ice cubes rattled against the glass. He was the only one who had bothered to touch the cold drinks sitting on the table, as if the early morning chill didn't bother him. And perhaps it didn't. Standing at a little over six feet tall, clothed in a black uniform jacket over civilian clothes, he looked to be ex-military even though he was barely out of his early twenties.

Finishing off the last of the cracker he'd been gradually nibbling on during the course of the conversation, he bent to pick up the pack laying at his feet. Very well then, time to get started.

Jewel rolled herself out from under the pickup, getting black streaks and smudges on her face, hat and coat as she did so.  "Problem on the mountain, you said?" She got to her feet and brushed ineffectually at the dirt on her front.  "Yeah, I guess we'd better hurry then."  She walked a bit stiffly into the building Kadana had indicated, grabbed a mug of steaming cider and took a few cautious sips. 

"Mmmm, that hit the spot," she told the woman behind the desk.  "You must be Elsie.  I'm Jewel.  Kadana said you could use some help?"

*rubs eyes sleepily*  hrm.. I shall PM you Bun.

Everyone else, I'll get to re-reading and posting as soon as I wake a bit more and headache pills (hopefully) start to work.

Err ok o.o; hopefully I didnt do anything wrong, I just thought since its an RP it was okay to use a character ?

I think she meant she would PM you about bringing an SC Bun :3

OH! Lol, I'm silly. I forgot I even asked that question! Sorry <3

 Actually, I have the same question as Bun, about our SCs.

Yes, what Spo said.. also to answer your PM permission request :)

Dawnstar I will send you a copy of my reply to Bun about that, the same answer will apply to you.

But I ask that this be it please, and no one else bring their own SC's or it could become just too crowded/much.

OK a quick reminder for everyone!

Back when SC's were released, it was let be known that they are highly intelligent and sentient. They have the ability to communicate telepathically with people.  If you want a refresher (or if you weren't here for their release) you can read their release story here http://shadowgate.jimdo.com/storm-chasers/  I do apologize for the length of it, but my entire adoptable shop was meant to be part of a story/rp thing.  You don;t have to read it, but it's there if you want some back info.

In a breeding thread sometime after release, it was "let slip" that the Storm Chasers may have additional abilities besides telepathy when one of the males took a liking to a specific mare and affected the outcome of the breedings to go his way.  This is just a heads up reminder, because I don't want folks surprised TOO much or upset, if/when more abilities begin to manifest.  please don't just randomly RP special abilities for them however, I will let you know if your SC decides to "come out" so to speak and use any unknown abilities.

I'm really not good at RPing, but I just want to say I'm so excited to see these getting going!

Not sure how well I'll be able to rp since I have midterms next week, but it'll be nice to get out and stretch my metaphorical rping legs. My character is also not me, since I just find it slightly strange to be writing myself, but you are free to interact however you wish.

Sitting in an unobtrusive corner of the office, another pair of eyes watch the comings and goings of people bustling about. He had shown up soon after the call from Sascha and, not being a particularly extroverted individual, found the calmest corner of the packed room to observe. He and his supplies stayed out of the way, and the people moving with purpose about the room didn't approach. It appeared some were milling around, unsure of what to do, but once the preparations were done, it seemed likely things would become more organized.

Yeah, my character is not me either.  Though I can see parts of myself, or traits I wish I had, in her.

I am so, so sorry!  Silky talked me into lieing down to snuggle for a minute and well.. Mom just now woke me.  Cat = Sleeping drug apparently heh  And she is trying to get me back to bed!  My eyelids droop just thinking about laying with her rofl

Anyway yes, didn't mean to pass back out, having some coffee to hopefully counter sleepy kitty effects now -.-

Kitties must be sleeping drugs, that happens to my mom all the time when Tigger decides to curl up next to her on the couch XD

Same for me. Couple days ago my kitty decided I was her perch and I fell asleep for 3 hours. Not even in the most comfortable position.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/Elsie99x112.png)
Hearing her name Elsie looks up from her task of refilling a coffee pot and then smiles at River and Jewel.  Quickly filling a cup with coco she presses it into Rivers hand, then takes the empty mug from Jewel and refills it for her.    "Yes yes, so busy, always so much to do at times like this, and never enough hands!  Go on over and have a seat, I'll add you to the list"  Nodding in the direction of chairs in the corner she quickly scribbles their names on her volunteer list "get some rest if you can, you're going to need it later"

Looking from her list to the assembled people in the room, she quickly double checks the list against those assembled.  Frowning slightly she mutters softly "someone's missing.."  At this point a worker jostles Elsie as he attempts to squeeze by her for the fresh coffee.  Mumbling a quick apology he hurries to fill his cup and avoid her glare.  Turning her gaze back from the thirsty worker, she stalks over to the door and hangs the volunteer sheet on the wall.  "If you haven't already signed in then do so now, we need to know who is here before we leave."  Turning smartly she heads off into the back room muttering to herself.

Volunteer List

Arty
Jewel (Springacres)
SweetCaroline
Riverwind
Sunchaser
UnNamed Male 1 (Bunraku)
UnNamed Male 2 (Skysong)

If you made an RP post in the thread at all, then I have put you on the list.  This is simply so I can keep an accurate count of who is playing.  If you posted as yourself, or if you posted your characters name, then it is assumed my character, and atleast some of the NPC's know you/your character.  If you did not post as yourself, or give your characters name, then your char will remain UnNamed until you reveal it.

haha it can be frustrating, but amusing as well.  All she has to do is come and lie on my desk in front of me and get a hug, and my eye's start getting heavy.

Coming back out to the trucks carrying some shovels and a couple of tarps tossed over her shoulder, Kadana spots Sunny and smiles.  "Sunny!  I'm so glad to see you, will Marshal be able to join us as well?"  Tossing the shovels into the back of a truck she folds the tarps and lays them on the seat before giving her friend a hug "lets get inside and I'll explain everything."  double checking the doors are closed up on the truck she turns and leads the way to the lit office.

..

Entering the office Kadana looks around at everyone as she rubs warmth back into her hands.  "Hello!  I want to thank you all for coming out today, even if you only stopped in for a visit" She gives a smile to her friends "you decided to stay and help, and that means a lot!"  Walking over she grabs a hot coffee before turning back and leaning against the table, sipping the steaming drink as she attempts to meet everyone's eyes.  "As you can tell, we have a bit of a situation.  Not entirely unusual for us I know" Smiling wryly she shakes her head "and as usual with such a thing, the timing is horrible.  Most of our staff is off on holiday still, or halfway around the world on other assignments."

"Ok, a few weeks ago we had a team head up to the cabins.  They were doing routine surveys, it was a training exercise and nothing more.  When the snows hit, they had plenty of supplies and decided to remain.  No one expected such storms as we have been getting hit with however, we actually weren't supposed to get any.  Now Jack has said that he registered some slight portal readings up near the cabins.  Some of you will remember, what happened the last time we had unusual storm activity combined with portal activity."

"In addition to that, we had reports from our team of people on the mountain.  Apparently some folks decided to go camping and hunting.  Now the entire mountain is owned by the Agency, and no one belongs up there.  But well, they are there now and we have to get them down.  The last last contact we had with our team, there was indication of some problem with these trespassers.  Something about them being angry and upset, but it seemed more with each other.. I say seemed because we couldn't get a clear signal, and the radio's went dead mid contact.  We are trying to reestablish contact, but we don't want to wait.  We're told now that we have a blizzard coming, possibly as early as tonight.  If nothing else we need to bring those folks down off our mountain before they get hurt."



(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps9bcc74eb.png?t=1389353609)
"Elsie! Where's Ka.. Oh Kadana!  Jack said you need to go, now!"  Bursting into the room Ray tries to catch his breath and talk at the same time.


"Slow down Ray, breathe, then tell me what's happened"

Taking a few deep breaths he finally calms enough to be coherent "It's Jack, he was looking at ariel views of the mountain.  He thinks there's been an avalanche.. near the cabins.  He thinks that's why the radio's went dead.  And he said there is definite portal activity, but it's so small, he can't pin it down."  Scrubbing his hands through his hair he blinks overly bright eyes "Kad what if it hit the cabin?  What if.."

Paling she curses under her breath "No what if's Ray, what if's won't help us or them.   Finish loading what you can onto the truck, were going to have to leave sooner then we thought."  Turning back to the volunteers she shakes her head grimly "it looks like were out of time.  We'll be leaving in a few minutes, if any of you have any medical or even just basic first aid knowledge, please make a note by your names as you leave to board the bus.  We may well need you soon."

Turning back to Ray she gently steers him out the door "lets go Ray, we'll take one bus and leave the other in case more people show up, help me load the rest quickly, while the engines heat up."

River was just about to take the first sip of her hot chocolate, when Ray rushed into the room. Everyone scrambled to the door, all trying to get out at once. Searching for her sister in the crowd of heads, she pushed her way through and caught up with her. "Now? We're leaving now? That means there's no time for me to go home to grab any supplies..." She said, as they headed for the bus.

After helping clean up the spilt supplies SweetCaroline heads to the office to try to warm herself & try to get a clue of what is going on. she grabs a cup of steaming coffee & heads over to Elsie. Trouble on the mountain? I'll be glad to help in anyway I can, just don't have time to go home for my own supplies. So if you all have supplies enough for me then I'd be more than happy to help in anyway I can. I'm no doctor, but I can help with bandaging up a few injuries if they occur so long as their not to severe.

Sunchaser gave her a hug and nodded her head. "Yes He was able to switch his duty day with another sailor so he will be bringing the rest of the gear you asked us to bring." She gave her friend a hug and followed along, leaving some of the gear behind and bringing what she could carry with her. A few of her SC's wanted to come with her but she had to tell them that they where not ready yet.

She listened with the others and looked down as her phone beeped. -Outside- She smiled and looked at Kadana and nodded to show her husband was waiting outside. She bundled more in her coat that she had brought. Yes a good thing she had learned to buy coats. Especially with the snow and now a avalanche.

Setting his glass down with a faint clink against the wooden table, he straightened, slipping his pack over his shoulder as a frown flickered briefly across the stillness of his features. There was a moment of calm as he stood there listening, during which the impending sense of malaise that had been slowly building within him reached a crescendo as Kadana began to describe events as they now stood, filling his lean form with a tension that could not easily be dispelled. Crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned back against the wall behind him, attempting to maintain an appearance of casual ease as he took in the information he was being given, memorizing each piece in turn, letting it form a larger picture in his mind. Something isn't right...

It was almost a relief when Ray burst into the room, confirming every unsettling emotion that had overtaken him since he had planted himself in the office a little over an hour ago, and as chaos broke loose and the other members of the team crammed their way towards the exit, he found that he was finally calm. Anticipation of danger was far worse than knowing that there was danger. At least with the facts on his side, he could finally do something, rather than stand in a corner nibbling at crackers while his nerves slowly frayed.

Green eyes flickered about the room, resting briefly on the only other male in their company with a flicker of curiosity before returning to Kadana. Approaching her in the middle of the shove for the door, he stepped up along side her quietly, his manner and attitude one of stillness at the center of a storm.

"Forgive me for neglecting to introduce myself before." He says calmly, pacing himself along side her with long, easy strides as they make their way towards the buses "My name is Ranka. I have a decent amount of medical knowledge, field medicine, mostly." He smiles faintly, almost apologetically "Along with a few other things besides. Please let me know when I can be of assistance to you."


((Sorry I type like, novels guys, I'll shorten them gradually as I go along))

( is it too late to join? <3  i only just got home yesterday from the epic drive. xD; )

Of course you can still join Sera!  And welcome "home" :)

I'm sorry for the delay in posting, for some reason I just couldn't seem to stay awake long enough yesterday to get a post made.  I had a good head of steam this morning, but now that were done running errands and having lunch, I'm drained again.  I'm going to go have a nap, and when I get up I will come sort out a post.

So anyone that wants to make it into this first group going up, you have until I wake to post.  otherwise, you can PM with me to see how else I can insert you in :)

Be back in a few hours!

Silvanon hurries up to the group getting ready to go.  She has a hiking backpack full of supplies hung over one shoulder, and is dressed in full snow gear.  "Sorry I'm late!  I don't know how much help I'll be, but I'm here!" she says to the group in general.

Ok, I give, I'll try.  Just don't expect rp brilliance from me.  XD

Don't worry, Silv! Nice to see you jump in!

The abrupt arrival of Ray led to a brief flurry of increased activity followed by intense focus as everyone listened to the news. At the conclusion of the update, Max got up to join the edge of the crowd of people. He had experience with sports injuries, being fairly active himself, but he never had any formal training. After some contemplation, he headed over to Kadana, hovering by as she talked to the others. The poor lady had half the people in the area trying to talk to her at once, and Max felt distinctly uncomfortable interrupting. He remained an unobtrusive figure fidgeting a polite distance away while others came and went in a hurry, bus rattling to life in the background noise.

Jewel took a final sip from her cider mug as several more people came in, some bringing simply themselves, others bringing news... unpleasant news.  A worried frown crossed the woman's normally kind face.  "Avalanches?  Well, I don't know how much use my herbs will be for anything beyond basic first aid, but I know how to staunch wounds, ease pain, wrap bandages and apply tourniquets, at least," she muttered half to herself, scribbling the information (along with her name, address and emergency contact information) on Elsie's clipboard as she headed out to the bus.

(Yay, thank you!  Sorry, it's been crazy still. xD;; Apparently we're setting up house now! x3  Yay!  Going to throw in another random dude because it's fun! i hope he and the stuff he brings is okay?  If not, it can just not work up there. |D;;;  i hope he might be a little useful, too, though!)

Maxwell Saint Luc pushes into the cabin just in time to miss all of the announcements.  In his arm, however, is a box of electronics.  He moves confidently to drop the box off at the side of the room. Bright blue eyes scan the room looking for the person in charge.  "Elsie, right?" he says with a sort of distracted smile.  He unzips his code revealing a lean frame underneath his bulky jacket.  "Maxwell Saint Luc," he offers her his hand, before shoving back the long, brown braid over his shoulder.  "I'm here to help with electronics, I was told."  He jerks a hand towards the box.  "Brought some walkie talkies and other assorted gear, though I've heard nightmarish things about this mountain; no idea if any of it will work up here."  He grins suddenly, a bright flash of teeth, as though he can't seem to help his natural good humour.  "But that's why I'm here, I suppose.  Pretty good with the electronics, so let me know if I can help with anything."

Ah oh - should I have picked another random name for my character? XD

(oh, gosh! xD;  i brainfarted!  No wonder my Max came to mind. ^.~  No worries, Sky, mine usually goes by Saint; leftover tease from his childhood.  hehe  )

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/Elsie99x112.png)

Scribbling notes down while listening to everyone she nods briefly at SweetCaroline "we do have some supplies, not as much as we should after.. well, we'll just have to make do the best we can.  Medical supplies, such as they are, are already loaded.  Most of the stuff we have was sent out with other teams, we've not had time to restock.."  Shaking her head she sends her on her way to the bus and turns to look at the man now addressing her.  "Thank you for coming, I'm not sure if your electronics will work but it's worth a try.  Our team does have their own walkies and radio's up there, but we've lost contact.  It could just be.. interference.. but the equipment could have been damaged.  Anything you can do to restore communications would be a great help.  You better hurry though, the bus is about to leave."  Walking him towards the door as she speaks, she pauses for him to collect his box then sends him out to board the bus.  Turning back she hurries into the office, finally closing the door against the winter cold.

Catching Sunny's eye she smiles faintly, her shoulders losing a bit of the tension they had carried.  Turning to leave with Ray she pauses as the tall stranger catches up to her "it's nice to meet you Ranka, I'm sorry it couldn't be under better circumstances.. "  Seeing someone just past Ranka she looks over at the quiet man and smiles encouragingly, giving a wave of her hand for him to join them.  Turning back to Ranka she shakes her head ruefully "I'm not sure what brought you to us today, but I'm grateful for the help.  You'll find a box with first aid supplies in the back of the bus.  Mostly just basic stuff, our supplies have been sorely depleted of late.. there are some clean sheets in case we need to make extra bandages.."  Glancing out the door she notices the newcomers and reaches for the clipboard to quickly update it before quickly heading outside.  Giving a curious distracted look at a man entering carrying a box, she quickly heads over to greet Silvanon and explain briefly what's happening, while looking around to make sure everyone gets loaded safely.  Once the volunteers are all on the bus she turns to Ray and Sascha "We're heading for the first base camp we had established.  That's where the last radio transmission came from.  Take it slow and steady, and try and get everyone to get some sleep.  The heaters been fixed, but just in case there is a box of blankets behind the drivers seat."  Shoeing them onto the bus she heads for the last horse trailer, and climbs in, pulling out in front of the big bus to lead the way.


Volunteer List

Arty
Jewel (Springacres) +
SweetCaroline +
Riverwind
Sunchaser
Marshal (maybe)
Ranka (Bunraku) +
* Max (Skysong)
Silvanon
Maxwell Saint Luc (Sera) Electronics

+ indicates the character has some medical ability/knowledge, however small.

Sky, I put an * before your chars name, because I am confused if my character is knowing him or not.  Since Sascha called him here, I assume someone with the agency knows him, but your RP reads to me as if were strangers.  Which is fine, there are a lot of NPC workers at the agency he could know, I'm just not sure how you wanted to play that :)

You guys are funny!  and yes, I woke 3 hours after lieing down for a nap, took time to have dinner, and then have been sitting here ever since typing up my post/s.  Yes yes, Kadana types SLOOOOW.

And Bun, please don't curb your post lengths for my account, as you can see my own tend to run quite long as well.  granted playing multiple NPC's.. but seeing other long posts makes me feel a bit less.. mouthy :D

I think if he and yours have at least an acquaintance, it would be easier. I didn't mean to play him specifically as a stranger, but he's extremely polite until on a formal level, and since I saw at least four other people were interacting with you it would be a bit silly for you to have to respond to every single person and so I had him stand off to the side till you were less busy. He's basically following the crowd and observing for now, probably next post I'll have him start a convo. Sorry I wasn't very good at conveying that!

lol It's OK Sky, I had initially thought there was some connection, but I wanted to be sure and not assume :)

I had another post I was typing guys, but it's on hold for a bit while I finish watching Smithsonian documentary about fungus mass killing bats *sad* 

The mechanic did a good job of altering the old Greyhound bus and fixing it up.  Extra support added to the over head storage area above the seats lets them store quite a bit of stuff.  Bottled water and a case of the MRE's Sunny brought  are stored above the rear seats, a wooden box (crate really) sits at the back near the doors, plastic sheeting hangs out from under the lid, a makeshift lining to protect from dampness.  A big red Plus sign has been painted on the sides of the box.  This then must be the first aid supplies.  A box of clean white sheets sits on top the crate, bouncing and sliding a bit as the bus rolls off of the gravel drive and onto the rougher dirt road leading up the mountain.

Half the seats on the bus have been removed, every other seat on each side, making for much more leg room for the occupants, and plenty of room to set their belongings they may have brought with them.  Small vents on the walls by each seat blow softly, warm air filling the bus.  Thick curtains have been hung over the windows as added insulation, with ties to either side should one wish to open them. 

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Climbing onto the bus Sascha stands and holds onto the back of the first seats as Ray closes the door and slowly pulls out following Kadana in the horse trailer.  Looking back into the bus she looks at each person in turn.  "Thank you all for volunteering to help out.  I know some of you were only stopping by for a visit today, and got caught up in things.  But you chose to stay and help, and that means a lot.

We base camps set up around the mountain.  The first one is about 6 hours from here, six hours on a good day.  If we get hit by the storm before we make it, well, it's probably going to take longer.  The heaters are working, but if you need extra blankets we have some up front.  I advise you all to try and get some rest if you can, and if you need anything, let us know.

Turning around she peers out the window and seeing how dark it is already getting she glances at the dashboard clock and frowns, double checking the time on her wrist watch.  Leaning over she murmurs quietly to Ray I don;t think were going to beat it, it's only noon and it already looks like dusk.   Frowning she sits down in the seat behind Ray and pulls out a notebook and starts scribbling in it.  Glancing up periodically to check on the passengers, and peer out the front window at the rear of the horse trailer.

At this point, time will begin to pass.  I'll make periodic posts to "update" as to where we are/how things stand.  I don;t want to just jump from point a to point b, as it is late at night (1 am here real time) and I want to give people an opportunity to RP with each other if they choose.  So if you are on the bus "on the list" feel free to pop in and post some rp bits if you want/as you have the time.  I AM anxious for things to move along, I want to reveal my surprise!  but I also want people to have fun and enjoy the experience.

hubby will be here he forgot his pass but I'm dragging him in. He might not be as active with his account but that's cause he looks over my shoulder more often then not. But he will be rping from his account soon :) [\color]

The bus is.... not exactly on par with his usual transportation, but Saint settles onto the bus with a small sort of grin.  It's not that he's unaware of the tenseness of the situation, it's that he's a little nervous and this is the best way he knows how to deal.  He actually has no idea what's going on, really; a friend of his had sent him urgent word about a mountain and electronics frizzling out.  It was just the sort of thing he liked to troubleshoot.

Glancing around one more time, he settles on his nearest neighbour, smile turning a bit rueful as he offers his hand.  "Maxwell Saint Luc; everyone calls me Saint."  The introduction seems almost rote, as though he must include the entirety of his name or be looked upon as some sort of arrogant beast.  "Nasty weather out there."

Sera, not certain who you planned on sitting next to, but I'm going to throw Ranka in his path

Smiling faintly, Ranka gives Kadana a faint, polite nod "Anything you have will be adequate. I'm...used to improvising. "Again, a subtly apologetic look flashes across his features before they settle back into their customary stillness, and faint lines of tension make his jaw tighten as he turns away.

Forced to duck slightly due to his height as he mounts the stairs entering the bus, he straightens slowly only once he is standing in the middle isle. Green eyes take in his surroundings with a flicker of unreadable emotion- discomfort? recognition? Whatever it is, he does not seem unaccustomed  to this mode of travel, and slides his pack containing an additional medical kit, dry food, supplements, and an all purpose knife in one of the overhead compartments with practiced ease. Curiously, attached to this pack is what looks to be a folded wooden stick, unnoticeable unless one would venture to look closely.

Slipping a book out of the inner pocket of the military cut jacket he wears over a black high-collared sweater, he settles in to a seat with a brief, uneasy glance about the compartment. Frowning slightly, he opens the book, and prepares to begin his wait.

"Maxwell Saint Luc; everyone calls me Saint. Nasty weather out there."

Looking up at the sound of a voice, green eyes blink once at the proffered hand, as though uncertain as to what to do with it, before he sets the book down in his lap. Reaching out slowly, he accepts the greeting, shaking Saint's hand as he meets his smile with a subtle twitch of his own lips. "Ranka." the first name, lacking a last, seems almost too short in comparison to Maxwell's name. Glancing over the other man, as if to see whether the name fits the personage presented, the ghost of a smile on Ranka's lips broadens. "No kidding. Electronics man? We're going to need you up there. The presence of the portal's is going to fry the equipment if the whether doesn't. "

Haha, I was refraining from putting my Max next to him. I think it would have been pretty amusing.

Sky if you want to join in, feel free, that would be funny XD

Jump in, Sky!!! Do it, do it! x3  hehee

*SweetCaroline climbs on the bus & takes the nearest available window seat. She looks around for her youngest daughter to see if she has made it on yet. She spots her but Riverwind seems to be busy talking to someone so she sets her pocketbook on the seat between herself & the window & puts her gloves & scarf on top of it as she really doesn't think they'll be needed as warm as the bus is & she turns to look out the window at the forever darkening sky.*

 I'll be posting soon, I swear!  Will probably have my character follow along in her own truck and trailer, as she'll arrive after everyone has left.

Silvanon boards the bus and looks around for a seat.  "Hum, SweetCaroline has a spot open next to her, but she might like Riverwind to sit next to her," she ponders.  "Oh, the seat behind her is open, that's a good compromise."  With that decided, Silvanon makes a beeline for her selected seat.  She settles down, opting to put her backpack between her feet rather than in the overhead.  SweetCaroline is looking out the window, so Silvanon glances out her own.  "It's so dark outside it seems a lot later than it really is," she comments.

Sunchaser moved with the others towards the bus and smiled at her husband who had just gotten on. He was still dressed for work in his Navy Digis and wore a necklace of a cross with Silver backing and gold inlaid. She placed her hand in his, her black braclet with silver horseshoes and red rubies glistened as she sat down with him on the bus. He blue and black coat was tossed above the seat before sitting, for she did not want to try and sit with that thing. Underneath she had a red top from her aquarium and wore blue fadded jeans. She sighed and looked around at the others. "What do you think is going to happen?" She was not used to avalanches but she knew what she had to do.

ooc:Hubby will post from his account after the next post from Kadana. He is being lazy *pokes him*

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps9bcc74eb.png?t=1389353609)(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

The wind blows outside, swirling the freshly falling snow into clouds of white powder that the headlights can barely penetrate.  Visibility drops to mere feet out the front window, and even less out the sides where there are no lights shining. 

Having taken her own advice and attempted to get some rest, Sascha comes awake to a soft thump against her window.  Pulling the curtain aside and peering out, she misses the dark blur crossing the front window.  The bus having slowed to a near crawl some time ago, suddenly comes to a full stop.  Tiny scritching sounds can be heard faintly on the roof, the sound reminiscent of nails on a chalkboard but much smaller and quieter.

A blue light flashes from outside, shining briefly through Sascha's window (and any other drivers side windows with curtains open).  Turning back to the window she quickly rummages for her notebook, and notes the time (3:12), then starts scribbling notes while the light pulses faintly outside.  The blowing snow seems to simultaneously amplify the light making it brighter, and at the same time obscure it's origin.  Even with the light bouncing from the white snow, the glow is still clearly not that big an area, and quite high in the trees. 

Engrossed in her notes, attention divided between the light outside, and the noise on the roof, it takes Ray several tries to get her attention.  Finally reaching out he gently shakes her arm "Sascha!"  Finally giving him her attention, she looks out the windshield where he is pointing and his question finally registers "Sascha.. where's Kadana?"

"Ray, how long has she been out of site?"

"Not long..  but Sascha.. she was right there.  There one minute, then I took my eyes away when something hit the bus, I looked back and she was just.. gone."

Glancing back out the side window just in time to see the blue light wink out completely they both frown.  "You don't think..?"

"No.  No way, it was too small, and too high up.."

"And what's on the bus?"

"I don't know, but whatever it was, it seems to be gone now."

Nodding even though he is clearly not as certain, he grabs a flashlight from under the dash "I'm going to walk ahead a short ways, and see if I can see her.  Maybe she realized we stopped and waited.."  Not waiting for a reply, he quickly opens the door and steps out into the swirling snow.

"Blast it Ray!"  Shivering in the cold draft now blowing into the bus, she goes to look out the front window, reaching down and pulling the lever to close the door, leaving it open a sparse few inches to listen for her friend.  Turning back briefly to address anyone who happens to be awake "I'm sorry guys, we'll be moving again soon!"  Turning back to the front she divides her attention between watching for her friend, and listening for any more noises on the roof.

"Nice to meet you, Ranka," Saint says easily.  His dark eyes, however, light up instantly... well, light up more at the mention of the electronics.  "I have a theory about that!"  He launches into a very abbreviated, heavily technical monologue, before, just as suddenly, recalls himself.  "Eh heh! Sorry.  I get a little excited."  He glances out the window, the near present smile slipping away for a moment.  "I wish there were better ways to test these types of theories.  Leaps forward in technology should never come at the price of life."

It's another thing he doesn't mean to say out loud and he gives Ranka an apologetic look before inquiring about the man's book and then proving that he's actually very decent at chitchat... as long as he doesn't loop back to technology!

He doesn't notice their gradual decrease in speed consciously, not until the bus suddenly comes to a stop.  His brows furrow sharply together, and he leans over to look up towards the front of the bus curiously.  "Think they need any help?"  He did work on his own vehicles, but they tended to be classic and sports cars; not buses. 

He rises to his feet automatically, grabbing his coat, but before he can intervene, Ray is gone, out into the snow.  Saint frowns, a fiercer thing, and he makes an absent gesture of invitation for Ranka to follow as he makes his way up front.  "Hey," he says with a half-smile.  "Maxwell Saint Luc.  I go by Saint. Should he have gone out there alone?"

I look around the bus from my spot on in the very back seat, not remembering exactly how I got here but fine with it nonetheless. "Are you guys alright up there?!" I call loudly to be heard over the other voices. I wonder.... where did Kadana go?...

I'm sorry if my posts aren't very long, I've never done a group RP before... >.>

He could feel the rumble of the engine through his seat, the grind of the bus's wheels over uneven mountain roads despite the creature comforts the refurbished greyhound offered. He might have found the sensation placating, even comforting, had it not been for the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, slowly growing as they made their slow ascent up the mountainside. He'd planned to bury his fear in his book- instead he found a source of distraction in Maxwell Saint Luc. Leaning back, he listened to the man speak with quiet reserve. Never the less, from the subtle glimmer of interest in green eyes, the nod of his head, the occasional soft word, one could tell that Ranka actually understood the technical terms used.

"Don't apologize, please." Holding up a gloved hand, he smiles faintly. When the topic turned to his book, he looked down at the thin volume resting in his lap, as though surprised that it was still there "You might like it." he said, holding it up briefly in one slender hand "I'm studying to become a pilot, it-"

But the halting of the bus, the scratching and the flash of lights that make the strange, pale color of his hair glisten through the windows, silences him before he gets any further into the conversation, and the smile fades immediately.

"Think they need any help?"

"Yes." He replies immediately, and it takes no prompting before he rises in a smooth unfolding of long limbs, letting the book slip to his seat, forgotten. Reaching to where he stored his pack, he slips the slender stick-like object from where it was strapped to the front by instinct, bringing it to his side. He follows saint, a smooth black shadow moving quickly up the isle, green eyes flickering to the roof, to the windows, where he uselessly tries to see through the thick blanket of falling snow.

*SweetCaroline hears Silvanon's comment on the darkness for this time of day & she reaches in her jean pocket to retrieve her silver pocket watch to check the time before responding to the comment.*
Yes, it is quite dark, there should be plenty of daylight left. The storm they spoke of must be moving in faster than expected. I hope everyone on the mountain is safe & warm.

*SweetCaroline realizing that Riverwind must have sat with one of her friends, turns back to the window & tries to see through the darkness. Giving up on watching the scenery through this blanket of darkness & snow she decides to take a nap. Some time later she awakes with a start! The bus seems to have come to a complete stop & there is a cold breeze coming from the front of the bus. She peers forward trying to see what is going on, but can barely see 2 feet in front of herself.*

We seem to have stopped she says to Silvanon.
And it feels as though the door has been left open letting in the cold.
I hope everything is alright.

*She picks up her light blue coat as she speaks & pulls it up over her arms like a blanket & hopes the white fur lining will be enough to block out the cold. She uses her matching blue scarf as a sort of pillow to keep from laying her head against the cold window & leaves the matching gloves on top of her pocketbook. She sits there straining her ears in the darkness for any clues from the many  voices around her as to what is going on  & why the bus has stopped*

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Turning to look at the approaching men she attempts a smile, but the worry lines marring her forehead give lie to it.  Looking past the two men at Arty she calls back to her "we're fine Arty, thank you. "  Looking around at the other awake passengers she attempts to reassure  "We'll be moving again soon, I apologize for the disturbance.." 

Turning back to Saint Luc and Ranka she lowers her voice and frowns "No, he probably shouldn't have " she answers Saint's question   "But it's Ray.. " Shaking her head she grimaces   "we lost site of the trailer, he went ahead some to see if she stopped to wait.  Chances are she doesn't even realize we're not still behind her. But we have to know, can't just drive up on her, we'd probably hit her before we see her in this.  We painted those trailers white for easy visibility at night.."  Looking out the window at the blowing snow she gives a frustrated laugh  "Fat lot of good that does us now!"

Turning back to the window looking for signs of Ray she mutters   "He needs to hurry though, if we don't get moving soon we could be suck here until the storm passes"  Reaching under the dash she removes a folded map and opens it, laying it on the drivers seat  "See here?  This is where we are now " Pointing to a narrow trail marked on the map, she then points to the right at a parallel red line "and just a few feet to the right of is is a drop off.  It's not too deep, and normally it wouldn't be a concern.  but it is deep enough to hide a person if they fall in and get buried by the snow.  They could freeze to death before we find them.."   Glancing out the window she sighs, clearly worried "He should have at least tied off a rope before taking off.. " 

Bringing her focus back to the map she points ahead on the path a ways  "This, is a.."   frowning she tries to think of a word, then gives up  "a whatsit, a narrow gap.  It runs for oh.. maybe a hundred yards or so"   Blinking in thought she looks uncertain about the exact distance  "And we need to make it through that before the snow blocks it. If we don't, we'll be stuck.  Not only can we not turn this thing around here, but we just passed through another, smaller one about an hour back.  So if we don't make it through soon, we could be stuck here for some time. "

Sunchaser looked at her Husband before looking at the people in the front. They did not want t get in the way but she could feel marshalls leg twitching next to her. She always hated when he did that but right now it seemed her own leg was doing the same thing. She did not like that Kadana was out of sight and just hoped they would start moving soon so that they could go and help whoever needed help.

Her eyes wandered out in the snow wondering what they would find waiting for them. She saw the snow  as it kept falling and was just truly happy her husband was with her for this.

Since its just waiting right now hubby is fine with me just posting that he is next to me. He is being lazy!!

This is taking longer then I thought it would (NOT a complaint, I am enjoying reading everyone's RP bits immensely!)  But it does seem I way underestimated my timeline.  And now I am concerned that people will grow bored and "give up", and that would be just sad.  I know there are some folk watching and waiting that aren't RP'ing, and that's fine too, but again I fear having them grow tired of waiting for the reveal.  However, I am.. selfish, and want to continue the RP.  So if you guys have no serious objections, I'm going to keep on.. keeping on lol

That said, it has been around 24 hours since my last RP post.  I have things to do today, so can;t make a new one right now.  But when I get done with what I have to do, and get home this afternoon (sometime after 3pm EST prolly (which is an hour ahead of Secundi time, so sometime after 14:00 Secundi time)) I shall try and make a new RP post. 

I'm not sure atm how/what to do if I wind up making one before others, since the only char I have left on the bus is already interacting with people.  But I shall think of something.  I'll ponder on it while I'm out and about, and try and keep an eye on Secundi threads while out, if I happen across wifi spots.  I just can;t make an RP post form my kindle, so that will have to wait till I get home.

Thank you all for playing with me!  And I hope I am just being my normal paranoid/worried self, and you aren't getting bored.  *hugs everyone*

I'm certainly not bored Kadana, I'll try to make an RP post today ^.^

*SweetCaroline notices that 2 men have left their seats & went to the front of the bus. She sees Sascha standing near the door. But she doesn't see the driver, Ray! She looks around the bus for him, but he is nowhere in sight. He wouldn't have left the bus in this storm, would he? Unless something has happened. (She thinks to herself) Then real worry sets in as she realizes Kadana was in the vehicle right in front of them. If something happened to her then Ray would certainly leave the bus to help her no matter what the weather. She sees Sascha talking to the 2 men, she keeps looking worriedly out the front window, but from where SweetCaroline is sitting it doesn't seem like there is much visibility through all this snow. She calls up toward Sascha* What's happened, is everything OK? Where is Ray?

Saint listens intently to Sascha's explanation, dark blue eyes glancing once towards Ranka before settling back on the woman's face.  It was a foolish move for the man to go out on his own.  And dangerous.  There's a chance, barely, that there's still footprints out there; Ray would have to slog through the snow and that should leave some sort of path.  Right?

"Let's get some rope," Saint says.  "Tie me off and I'll go look for him."  He shakes his head again, muttering under his breath in worry.  "Why'd he go out alone without precautions?" 

As he hears a woman's voice, he looks up with a tight, automatic smile, waving at her.  Panic is bad.  Causing panic is bad.  Real panic is worse.  They also need to keep everyone calm.  He glances at Sascha and Ranka again, wondering if they realize that, too. 

Even as he's musing this, however, he can feel the implicit pressure of the storm's timetable, forced upon them by nature.  They had to act fast because Sascha was right; they needed to get moving themselves.

"Let's get some rope, Tie me off and I'll go look for him."

Green eyes, brilliant in the dim glow provided by the buses track lighting, meet Saint's gaze evenly, a instant of silence passing between them. In that moment, a flicker of camaraderie seemed to form, the kind that rises up in the middle of a crisis, where you know that those around you are all you've got and you may very well be the only one with the knowledge to protect them.

"Right." Ranka's voice is level, his gaze calm as he turns, long strides carrying him to the back of the bus. "But I'm not letting you go out there alone. I don't know what that was on top of the bus, but..." But it sounded like it was looking for canned food he thinks to himself, lips thinning into a slight frown as he draws two lengths of rope fourth from a storage container "It didn't sound good." He amends, returning to the front to offer Saint one of the ropes.

Tying one of the ropes around his own waist, he glances up at Sascha, then the rest of the passengers on board. "I'm going to to tie one end of this off to the bus itself. I'd ask one of you to hold it, but I'd be too afraid of dragging one of you with me if we fall." Glancing down at the length of wood he holds in one hand, he taps the end calmly on his hip revealing its purpose as its length unfolds- a 3 foot hanbo, or fighting staff.  I wish I'd brought a sword...

Glancing back up at Saint, he tilts his head slightly "I'll back you up."

Silvanon had drifted off to sleep sometime during the bus ride, but she is startled awake by a flash of blue light coming through her window.  She sits up straighter and looks around, noting that the bus has stopped.  The light that woke her is gone now, with no sign of what the source might have been.  Her attention is caught by little scrabbling sounds on the roof.   Did some animal get up there somehow? she wonders.  The sounds stop after a moment, and she concludes that whatever it was must have jumped off.  After hearing Sascha's announcement and noting the rest of the activity happening, Silvanon waits to see if there's anything anyone needs her to be doing, but otherwise decides its best to follow instructions and stay on the bus.

I find it amusing when you say 3-foot Hanbo because that makes it pretty redundant when you already know the different bo sizes. XD

Also have a confirmation for Kadana - this shop's world has humans as the only humanoid creatures, right? No vulcans, for example.

The departure of Ray left Max awake in a gust of cold wind from the open door. Even from the back, the icey breeze was still felt, and without thought he pulled his jacket closer. He'd taken it off when the bus was warm, but stopped and with a light wintry breeze he quickly shoved his arms back in. Calls from the other passengers amused him slightly. It seemed to be an obvious question - someone had just left, Ray by the looks of it, they were stopped, and Sascha was standing in front of the bus instead of sitting. He understood it to be merely concern for the situation, but that didn't stop him from wishing to satirize them.

His eyes focused on the other males readying to leave. The stereotypical male flashed through his mind as he thought about joining them, and with that comparison in mind he stayed put. It wouldn't do if they all ran out in the middle of a storm. And while the bus was made of sturdy enough metal, people could very easily be worked into a panic. A calm presence would have better effect in their midst than out in the storm.

I know that XD; but I don't know if others are familiar with what a hanbo is or how long it is so I added the redundancy for their benefit.

I is home.  Sun beating down on top my head did NOTHING for my migraine *glares at evil ball of fire in the sky*  Took excedrin, going to have a coffee an lunch, then I shall RP post.

*hugs everyone*

@Sky  I'm not sure exactly what you are asking exactly..  but lets see if I can answer anyway? hehe 

First off this adoptable Shop (Shadowgate Adoptables) isn't in an alternate world.  The world is Earth, current date/time, realm, continuum, etc etc :D  So, if you are asking are there other humanoids besides humans populating the world then.. Not that we are currently aware of.  (because there are some people who believe (hope!) that there really ARE werewolves, vulcans, vampires, elves and fairies and such living in hiding in our world)  Ahem  *shifty eyes*  But as of this point in the adoptable shops history, no humanoid not entirely human has ever been discovered no. 

This includes no humans with any special abilities/powers outside the norm.  No magical abilities, no telepathy, no telekinesis etc.  Again, that is "so far discovered".  I DO have plans for some point in the future, when I have more disposable income, to get humanoid lines made.  Those are to include humans, alter humans, sub humans etc etc.  Because SGA was always meant to be an RP shop.  And I do find it very difficult personally, to RP without a visual of the characters (hence my use of Sims for my npc's).

In the meantime, though we have passed through the "infancy" stage, the SGA shop is still very much in the "discovery" stage.  A lot of our critters have special abilities, some we know about, others not so much yet.  And.. things can happen to our characters, to give them different abilities or powers as well.. maybe..  *more shifty eyes*  I had HUGE plans for this shop back when I conceived it on PI, but I have had some issues bringing my concepts and dreams to reality.  Two major issues ahs always been lack of funds for the amount + quality of artwork I need, and lack of RP.  Because I very much need RP for my shop to grow as it was always meant to grow.

Erm.. and now I'm not sure if I have answered your question, or just given you more.  And I probably gave away more then I will later like, but atm I don't mind.  Just ignore me if you see me kicking myself later on lol

And OK, I'm going to grab coffee, and food before I get sick form pain meds.  I shall be back with an RP post shortly thereafter.

You explained perfectly! I should have worded the question better, but it helps to know the setting in which we are rping in. (Apologies is if it was on your site, I read it a while ago but can't remember everything.)

No worries Sky, that specific info wasn't on there, atleast not in so many words I think.  And it is a lot of info on the site even I can't remember it and find myself referring back to it when making posts sometimes.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Nodding in agreement with Saints opinions of Ray's actions "he shouldn't have, but as to why.. well, because he's Ray, being his typical impulsive self.  He's always like this..

Turning to Ranka she smiles with evident relief, clearly whatever her job here, handling this kind of emergency isn't in her training "The steering column should be sturdy enough you think?  You can tie it to that and we'll leave the door open, there are blankets I can pass out to counter the wind until you're back..

Suiting action to words she digs in the box behind the drivers seat and quickly starts down the isle handing blankets to everyone.  Raising her voice to be heard over the wind "We're going to have the door open for a bit guys, so it's going to get cold in here.  I know the blankets are scratchy, but they are warm"  Laughing briefly "but then, isn't that the military way?  Efficiency over comfort?  Well anyway, I'm glad we have them!"  After handing the last person a blanket she stops and frowns slightly, thinking through her next words "Ray had to go check.. something.  And Saint and Ranka are going to go help him.  It's a bit hard to see out there right now, we need to make sure there is nothing in our path.  Once they make sure the path is clear we can continue on to the base camp."

Passing back to the front she pauses and turns back "Elsie packed us a lunch, if you guys are hungry the cooler is at the back.  There should be roast beef sandwiches, and I believe some thermos's with coffee and coco.  Feel free to help yourselves"  Smiling she turns and hurries back to the front of the bus, stopping at her seat to grab a spare flashlight from her pack she holds it out, offering it to the men "I'm not sure how much good it will do, but.." shrugging helplessly "please, be careful"  Leaving them to it she turns and heads back , going to each awake passenger in turn, inquiring if they are comfortable, or need anything, and doing her best to reassure them without actually lieing to anyone.

River abruptly wakes from her place alone at the rear of the bus, as a cold draft hits her from somewhere above. Looking up, she realizes that her window is halfway open, the thick curtain pulled back slightly. Huh...how did that happen? Confused, she reaches up and shuts it firmly, but still feels a slight draft coming from the front of the bus. That's when she notices that the bus is stopped and the doors are hanging wide open. A couple of people are missing. Still half asleep, she decides to move to the seat where her mother, SweetCaroline, is sitting, and as she gets closer, she notices that one of SweetCaroline's gloves are missing. "Mom? Where's your other glove??"


OOC: Sorry that I haven't posted for a few days...I had some issues to take care of. They ought to be solved now so I should be able to post regularly now :)

There is instant relief that he's not going alone and then an immediate flare of concern; Ranka seems very familiar with that weapon.  What if he's needed here?  Well, but whatever had been atop the bus hadn't been able to get into the bus.  Still, the sight of the weapon drove home his uneasy.  Saint nodded in agreement, but he leaned over to warn Ranka of what he was about to do before he did so.  "I'm telling her to cut the rope if that thing comes back," he said very softly in a serious tone.  If that made Ranka want to remain here, he was fine with that, though he didn't expect the man to think that way at all. Not someone who carried around a freaking stave.

Saint left Ranka to start tying things off, catching Sascha away from the others enough to whisper the warning in her ear, too.  "It couldn't get in before," he explained his reasoning.  "So if it comes back, make sure that door is closed all the way."  He straightened to give her another easy smile, showing none of the unease and, yes, adrenaline, beating through him.  His 'survival' situations were normally in the business world, but he was no less capable of dealing with the reaction that came from 'life or death' circumstances.  Time, however, was still of the essence, especially if they wanted any chance of finding Ray's path. 

Saint hurried back to the front, taking the rope meant for him and tying it the same way Ranka did.  He gave the man another smile, this one showing far more of the adrenaline than what he'd given Sascha.  "Let's go."

With a quick breath, Saint pushed his way out into the teeth of the storm.

Dark eyes immediately began scanning for some sign of Ray's passage, though the first few steps were obvious. Ray would have gone forward up the road. 

"I'm telling her to cut the rope if that thing comes back,"

Ranka's only reply was to nod once, meeting Saint's eyes once again with his own penetrating green gaze before moving past him towards the steering column indicated previously by Sascha. It seemed the man had absolutely no intention of abandoning his current course of action, regardless of what danger they might face. Whether that danger be from the elements or...something else.

Bending down slightly, he gave the steering column a sturdy yank before glancing back at Sascha. "This should be fine." He murmurs, tying both ropes to it securely. Straightening, he runs his hands absently across the front of his jacket, smoothing the few wrinkles in the fabric. More out of habit than out of vanity.

Catching Saint's grin, he flashes him a smile of his own, feeling his own heart hammering against the inside of his ribs, but like Saint, refusing to show the others his fear.

Shifting his grip on the hanbo, he slips quietly out into the storm behind him.

Immediately, a bitter wind hammers into him, driving flakes of snow who's chill bites into his skin, a thousand tiny stinging pinpricks of ice. Reaching behind himself, he yanks up the black fur-lined hood resting against his shoulders, squinting against the force of the squall. "Do you see anything?" He shouts, though his voice seems lost, a futile echo on the wind.

*SweetCaroline watches the 2 men at the front of the bus with Sascha & wonders what in the world they need that rope for. Then she sees Sascha coming down the aisle with her arms loaded with blankets & hears her explaining about the door being kept open, about the driver Ray leaving to check something, & how now Saint & Ranka are supposedly going to help him. The explanation seems a bit off to her but she keeps her thoughts & opinions to herself as she is not one to judge. So she politely thanks Sascha for the blanket & turns her thoughts back to her eldest daughter & wonders if she is alright.

She hears Sascha speaking again, offering up food & drink. After Sascha makes it to the front of the bus she sees her reach a flashlight to the 2 men & almost immediately Sascha begins coming down the aisle again, stopping to inquire on everyone that is awake if they are comfortable or need anything. Sascha is also trying to make everyone believe that everything is alright. SweetCaroline is not believing it for a minute. She thinks Sascha is putting forth to much effort in trying to insure that nothing is wrong which just leads SweetCaroline & probably a few others to believe just the opposite. Something is definitely up but SweetCaroline keeps her silence so as not to panic anyone.

SweetCaroline is abruptly pulled from her thoughts & worries by the sound of Riverwinds voice. "Mom? Where's your other glove??", she hears her youngest ask. She looks confused. It's right here beside me where I left it she says as she reaches for the gloves on top of her pocketbook. But to her surprise, one of them is missing. She mumbles something under her breath & begins searching for the missing glove, looking behind herself on the seat, in the crack of the seat, under the seat. She can't seem to find it anywhere. Well where on earth did it go she asks to no one in particular. It couldn't have just walked away! she says.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Watching Ranka tie the ropes off and test the sturdiness of their hold, she smiles faintly in relief, apparently something is going to finally go right anyway, folding the map back up she goes to tuck it into her own pack, listening to Saint it takes her a minute for his meaning to register.  Turning quickly with wide eyes she starts to say "What?!  I can't do that!"  But realizes she's talking to their backs, as they are already out the door.  Staring after them in horror she then sighs, turns and goes to see what's going on with River and SweetCaroline.  A missing glove?"   Frowning she offers to help look "I'm sure it's here somewhere, it can't have just walked off after all"   Laughing a bit she walks down the isle checking under all the seats, just in case it fell and slid when the bus stopped.


I shall make another post, around Ranka and Saint outdoors, after dinner.  I wanted to go ahead and get something posted now, as I hadn't managed to post when I woke this morning.  Also, since there are two different "scenes" as it were now, I thought to keep them in separate posts anyway :)

Very southern meal tonight, trying my hand at it.  Well, with alterations.  The meat is steak, not pork chops, but it's thick, half an inch thick, before it hit the pan.  Less thick now lol  It was quite fatty which has now cooked out and caused shrinking..  2 pounds of fresh greens (mustard or collard, forget which atm!) with a little salt, lotsa of garlic, dried onion, pepper, and cooked in 3 cups of water with 4 tablespoons of butter mixed in.  Fresh loaf of garlic and herb french bread in the oven, instead of the typical rolls, and potato's boiling in a pot with onions and spices.

I shall endeavor to not go into a fat/grease/food coma after dinner, and make it back to make my second post :D  Here's to hoping ti all turns out well.. the only thing I am certain of is the steak and bread rofl

That sounds so good kadana, come cook for me XD

Lol it was good. Well....most of it. *eyes the greens*  XD

ETA: I'm not sure how far you guys want me to assume your chars traveled, so I tried to describe some of the way, and you can take your chars as far as you want.  Without us all being on and sitting here ready to post every couple of minutes to say you went another few feet, me describe the area, and rinse/repeat, it's the best way I could think of to do it.  You of course don't have to go as far out as I described, and if anyone has any idea of a better method, I'm open to suggestion :)

Just out the door, the bus blocks the wind somewhat from the two men, but even so it is loud, and blowing hard.  Directly in front of them, impressions can be seen in the snow.  Ray's prints perhaps, not yet filled in.  They lead off towards the front of the bus, no where near the drop to the right.  Up in front of the bus the prints, though still visible, are rapidly filling in.  Never the less, it is clear they head off down the road towards the curve that leads to the narrow passage that Sascha was so concerned over making it through.

To the left of the road is a forest,  the wind makes eerie sounds as it blows through, shaking the leaves and blowing piles of snow off the branches.  Farther down the road the tracks vanish, completely obliterated by the wind and falling snow.  It shouldn't be TOO much farther to the bend in the road, though it can't be seen in this mess.  But the bus can no longer be seen in the other direction either.

Somewhere out there a muffled crack! is heard, as a tree branch snaps under it's frozen load.  And from somewhere a voice is heard yelping, a sound of shock, or perhaps fear.  The storm suddenly subsides, and there is a brief moment when the wind stops, and world is quiet.  Another call in the dark, a distinctly male voice, cursing, and then the storm picks back up, whipping the snow from the trees to add to what's falling in a blinding cloud of white.

Bahaha and I forgot to change red to magenta *fixes*  I dunno what happened to our magenta from the drop down, couple other colors have gone missing too, so mysterious!

Anyway, I'd be happy to cook for you, but you mayn't be so happy to eat it lol  I like to experiment a lot.  And I like garlic.  A lot.  In everything.

As for dinner tonight, well, it didn't turn out a complete disaster.. but neither was it a complete success.  Part of it wasn't my fault (I think) because the greens, for some reason, smelled and tasted like grass.  I now feel like I spent money on two pounds of bagged grass to feed to my family lol  Mom however liked them, so that's something.  I didn't HATE them, but I didn't really care for them.  At least half are left and in the fridge now, may eat them with another meal.  Potato's weren't so good.  I dislike boiled potato's anyway, so I;m biased a bit, but they were a wee bit too watery as well I think.  Even if they had been turned to mashed/creamed potato's I don't think they would have been good, too much water absorbed.  The bread was delicious, and the steak.. well, I never fail with my steaks :D

So now letting stomachs settle before desert.  Which I can't say what is, cause River is going nuts wondering, and I want to make her suffer for a bit more >:D

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Unable to find the lost glove, Sascha finally gives up looking, with an apologetic look to SweetCaroline.  "I'll look again in a bit, it surely has to be here someplace.."  Frowning a bit in confusion over how anything could have went missing she turns and makes her way to each person once again, asking if they need anything and offering each in turn one of the sandwiches Elsie sent.  Finally having tended to everyone elses needs, she takes her own sandwich, and heads back towards her seat.

Just taking the first bite of warm roast beef and crispy bread, she nearly chokes on it when the radio at the front starts making whining static noises.  Rushing to the front she drops her food on her seat and reaches for the radio.  Fiddling with the nobs she tries to make the static go away so she can hear.  With growing frustration she grabs the mic and presses the button to speak "Hello!  There is too much interference, we can't hear you!"  Releasing the talk button she listens again to another burst of garbled static.  "It's no good!  We aren't getting you clear enough!  Listen, were stopped halfway to the first base camp, the storm is getting worse, and we can no longer see the horse tailor in front of us.  There were lights and.. Ray is out checking the road with some of our volunteers.  We should be moving again soon, but we don't know where Kadana is, you need to try and contact her.."  Another burst of garbled static interrupts Sascha, then the radio goes dead.  "Well, that's just great.."  Sighing she drops down into rays seat and rests her head on the wheel.

Saint shrugs deep into his coat, adjusting his scarf to block the cold a bit more.  He taps Ranka's arm, pointing out in front of the bus, calling out easily.  "Thataway."  He starts in the direction, trying to keep his coat pulled in close around him.  It's slow going in the snow and dark.  But Saint's wondering if perhaps they should try to move the bus forward themselves a bit of the way.  Just as he's debating if they should do just that, a loud crack echoes through the area and the storm suddenly subsides as though listening, too.

A voice hollers and Saint's response is immediate.  "Ray!  Ray, where are you?"

Response to Saint's call is immediate, and quite close.  A high pitched yipping (http://chirb.it/5nmnKL), a strange cross between a puppy and a squeaky toy, can be heard from above accompanied by the sound of scritching on wood and frozen pine needles sprinkling down through the headlight beams.

Things sound different to different people, and I'm not too confident of my ability to accurately portray sounds, so I have decided to upload some sound files for the RP.  This way you can click, and have a listen, and hear exactly what your characters are hearing :D

I spent all day yesterday trying to figure out a place/way I could get the sounds to you guys without you having to download them.  In the end I just gave up.  But late last night/early this morning Ember helped me out, directing me to a super easy to use site.  So now, thanks to Ember (Thank you Ember!) I have the ability to share sounds with you to help enhance the RP a bit.

I have edited a sound into the prior RP post, please do go back and take a listen.  You will have to click the play button once you click the link, it won't auto play.  I hope you all enjoy this little extra element added in :)

Silvanon hears the comments about SweetCaroline's lost glove.  Maybe it fell and slid a ways?  But Silvanon's backpack is still sitting on the floor between her feet, and would block the way for the glove to slide too far.  She picks up her backpack just to make sure it isn't hiding her view of the glove, but nothing is there.  "Huh, your glove really can't have gotten far," she comments to SweetCaroline.  "You aren't sitting on it, are you?"

River can't find her mother's glove anywhere. Exhausted, she sits down on one of the empty seats nearby to take a break. "Thank you guys for helping but I guess it had to have walked away, because it sure ain't here! Did you put it in your coat pocket for some reason??" o.O


OOC: Lol Watching Black Butler so didn't do anything really long...

 I'll post tonight guys, just a bit busy getting things done!

SweetCaroline watching Sascha trying her best to communicate through the short ban radio with no apparent luck, realizes we are definitely in a bind & decides searching for a lone glove is really the least of any of our worries, so she tells Sascha, Riverwind, Silvanon & anyone else who might have been helping look*
"The glove really isn't that big a deal, I can always buy another pair when we all get home."

*She hears the faint sound of scritching & some sort of squeaking, yipping sounds coming from somewhere outside the bus & wonders if the guys are OK out there & again wonders where Kadana is, how far she made & if she is OK or having the same or similar problems where ever she is at. She reassures Silvanon that she got up off the seat & checked it thoroughly & looks at Riverwind & shakes her head as she turns both her pockets inside out to show they are quite empty*

"Really guys, the glove will turn up eventually on it's own or it will be replaced later. Thank you all for helping search though."

Sunchaser looked up and moved towards the others, looking for the gloves that dissapeared. She heard the strange sound and tilted her head a bit. What the heck was that? She shook her head for a moment before turning towards Sweet Caroline. "Did you leave it back at base camp?" She look at her husband who was going through some of the packs in the back trying to find the glove as well as a flashlight.

I'll post today guys promise! ^.^ Just wait for me kadana? <3

I shall try Bun, two different area RP's going atm however, so the In bus local can continue I think?  Anyone have any reason it shouldn't?

But I shall wait for a little bit anyway regardless.  I'll just go color some more pretty.. stuff.. :P to throw at you all *grin*

*flails at Bun, stuck waiting for her post!!!!!!!*  ^.~  heheee  In-bus should be fine.  ^^  Just the ones left out in the cold are frozen where they are. ^.~ hehee  *excited for pretties, too~~~*

"No Sunny, I definitely brought them for I remember laying them on top of my pocket book right by the window along with my scarf. But as I said, if the glove is not found then I can surely replace them later. Thanks for helping look though."

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Hearing movement behind her Sascha turns to see Sunny moving up the bus.  "it's strange guys, but we do have a few spare sets in one of the bags, if SweetCaroline winds up needing some.  Thank you all for helping to look."  Giving a weary smile she starts and blushes when her stomach growls loudly, laughing a bit in embarrassment she returns to her own seat.  Grabbing the dropped sandwich from the seat she sits down and takes a big bite.  Chewing a few seconds she suddenly frowns and looks at the sandwich in her hand, then stands and searches the seat.  "huh!" she says in bemusement "well I think I found your glove.. or part of it.."  Turning she holds out her hand, a few bits of shredded blue and white material resting in her palm, along side a few tiny bits of roast beef.  "and all that's left of the meat from my sandwich."   

Silvanon looks at the mangled bits of glove in Sascha's hand.  "Ummmmm..... ok, that's weird.  How did the glove get torn up like that?  Are there any moving parts inside the bus here that could have done that?  If so, I'd like to be careful to keep my hands away from them!"

SweetCaroline looks at what looks to be all that is left of her glove and Sascha's meat. "I guess the gloves will definitely need replacing now. As for your sandwich Sascha, looks like you need a new one if there are any left. I'd try to hang on to it until you were good & done with it though if I were you. From the evidence I can see, that glove was not shredded by any mechanical bus parts. I mean if it were just the glove, then maybe, but the meat, & just the meat from the sandwich? It looks more like some hungry creature got hold of the sandwich for it's dinner & perhaps shredded the clove trying to make a warm bed to sleep in I wonder where it's at. Must be small as the only way in is the door, which we all were watching for signs of the guys coming back & the window that River left open. God only knows why she would open a window in this frigid weather." SweetCaroline begins searching again, only this time she is searching for something much more important. Gloves are replaceable, lives are not! And she just can't bear the thought of anything or anyone being in this cold with no way to get heat or food. So she begins searching under & in everything she can think of.

Thanks for waiting on me <3

Ranka's head rears to the sound of the crack in the distance, green eyes flickering towards the source of the sound. Fingers numb with cold beneath their leather glove tighten their grip upon the stave as he moves cautiously along side Saint, wary of the shift of every shadow in the abrupt silence.

Raising his arm against the sudden gale that drives clumps of snow and frozen pine needles from the trees. Taking a few steps forward through the pressure of the storm, he only halts once more when the sound of a high pitched yip pierce the night.

Glancing past Saint, towards the dim beam of the headlights where they cut through the fall of snow, he shifts forwards, green eyes following the source of the falling debris as he tries to peer up into the trees. "It seems...we're not alone..." He says softly to Saint, tapping the mans arm as he point's upwards.

Saint frowns, following the gesture so dark eyes peer upwards.  In the haze of the snow and storm, however, he's having trouble spotting anything.  "Did we step into a horror movie?" he asked softly, trying to offset the flash of fear.  His lips quirk upwards, but he can't managed a full smile, despite his best efforts.  "That sounded like my parents' dog's squeaky toy." 

Of course, that only brought to mind Chucky and he blanched and cursed once, softly, under his breath.  Ray, unfortunately, had not answered.  Saint took another breath, not glancing at Ranka.  "Think it's the thing from the bus?"

Ranka manages a grim half smile in response, even if his lips and face are starting to go numb "Attack of the killer squeaky toys maybe?" He laughs softly, but there is a faint hint of nervousness in it, as though he, too, is trying to cage his own rush of adrenalin through the use of humor.

Yet humor fades as his lips compress in a thin line, those strange, green eyes flickering towards the woods, trying to see, to hear, any indication of Ray. Glancing back up at the trees above, his frown deepens "Quite possibly..." or perhaps its children....He grimaces slightly at the idea that there might be something...bigger out there, keeping the thought to himself. Taking a cautious step forwards, highlighted by the buses beams, Ranka continues watching the icy foliage above "Whatever it is...we have to get past it to find Ray."

Watching Criminal minds with River, post will come after it's off.

Silvanon nods, agreeing with SweetCaroline's assessment.  "You're right, that did look rather like what my gerbils would do to a glove.  Maybe we're looking at a rat or a mouse?"  She joins in the search, this time looking in dark corners for something small and furry.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Wrapping her bread back up and laying it aside, because really, who wants to eat a bread sandwich.. Sascha shows little interest in this new mystery  offering the brief advice "be careful, even small creatures can bite!" she begins digging through her bag "Where did they go, I know I packed some nuts in here..  Ahah!" Pulling out a bag of roasted peanuts she curls up on the seat and watches SweetCaroline and Silvanon search while she eats her snack.

SweetCaroline searching under all the seats, spots something on the floor where Silvanon was just sitting.  Going over to look closer she discovers crumbs of roast on the floor.  And there!  Stuck on the bottom edge of Silv's backpack it looks like.. is that fur?  Yes, yes that definitely looks reddish brown bits of fur.

Silvanon having joined SweetCaroline in the search, spots something blue hanging under the seat behind hers.  It's caught on a screw between the seat and wall.  Closer inspection will reveal it to indeed be the missing glove, with a bit of white fur poking out of a hole where the thumb tip used to be.

Meanwhile Marshall searching through the supplies at the back finds a flashlight in a box with other spares, as well as batteries and some glow-sticks.  While shifting the supplies around, he also finds one of the spare sheets brought for making bandages, somehow drug partway out of its box, and the edges chewed.

Outside bus post coming next!

SweetCaroline  picks up the bits of evidence she has found stuck to the bottom edge of Sylvanon's backpack. She gets a strange look on her face & calls out "Sylv??? You didn't happen to bring any of your little gerbil friends with you did you?" She holds out the reddish brown fur toward Sylvanon for further inspection. "Does this perhaps look like it may have come from one of your little friends?" she asks.

In another sudden lull in the wind, the snow falls nearly straight down.  The light from the bus reflects faintly off of two small shiny things in the branches above.  A small pair of eyes staring down upon the two men below. 

From around the bend, scuffling and cursing can be heard of a sudden, then a muffled thump, followed by a sharp cry of pain from the missing Ray.

The eyes disappear from above with another brief yipping and some scrabbling sounds as more needles fall down around the men.  The scrabbling sounds fade off quickly in the direction of rays voice, snow falling in clumps from the branches of the tree's along the path ahead, one by one, marking the path of the creature.

A faint light, pale and yellow, can be seen low to the ground around the corner ahead before the wind begins to slowly pick up, once again obscuring vision beyond a few feet.

A sudden flash of color up in the trees made Saint lean back, almost taking a retreating step, but not quite doing so.  Eyes, he recognized them suddenly.  Shining in the light.  It was difficult to know what color the eyes actually were; goodness knew that light made such things shine all sorts of odd colors.  His mom's dog's eyes would go blue and green in lights.  It's eyes were brown.

Despite knowing it was a terrible idea, at the sudden sound of a scuffle, Saint's eyes jerked towards the sound.  At the cry of pain, however, and he was moving, only absently noticing the creature above had disappeared because of the needles.  He cursed again, this one louder and far more fervent as he scrambled through the snow to try to aid the man.

He hoped Ranka was as good with that bo as he seemed he should be.  It sounded like they were going to need the weapon and the knowledge with it.

Long legs, and a body attuned to the instincts that came of situations where one needed to survive needed no more encouragement than the sounds of pain coming from the distant struggle to run. With the bo tucked flat against the back of his arm, Ranka was already moving into a labored run, muscles straining against the weight of the snow that tried to pull his legs and feet under. Cursing against it, for a moment the calm, quiet man let loose his emotions as the deep drifts seemed to purposely hinder their progress.

"Over there! I saw a light, yellow." He shouts, catching a gleam of yellow light in the near distance. Growling another curse into the wind as it picks up once more, he dives forwards into the storm "Ray?"

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps9bcc74eb.png?t=1389353609)

Around the corner, Ray's flashlight winks it's glow valiantly, the bulb flickering briefly, then holding steady.  The light comes not from the path, but rather into the wood-line a bit.  A quick glance around shows nothing, but a longer, closer look shows a shock of red hair blowing in the wind at the base of a large tree. 

At the sound of his name, Ray moans and tries to sit up, cursing in pain as he moves and clutching his head.  "Hello!  Over here!"  Then, almost as an afterthought "be careful, they stole my ear muffs!"  At this curious statement he attempts to stand, only to cry out in pain again and drop back down, this time clutching his ankle instead of his head.

Waving to the men and calling out to them to make sure they see him, he then glares up into the tree at something red and orange fluttering in the wind.  "It's her scarf.. I saw it and was worried, tried to climb up but I fell.. and they stole my ear muffs!"  Attempting again to stand he uses the trunk of the tree for support, but quickly winds up on his knees, dry heaving in the snow.

Aside from a swollen ankle, an inspection of Ray will reveal a nasty swelling bruise on his temple, and pupils rapidly dilating.

What in the world.. his ear muffins?  Whose scarf?  Saint glanced up automatically, catching a glimpse of red and orange, but then his attention is right back on the man.  He hardly knows any first aid; only the sorts of things learned from a life of his own bumps and bruises and, well, sad to say, tv.  Saint nabs the man's flashlight, leaning in close, even as he asks, "You know first aid, Ranka?"  Because on the one hand, it would be handy if the man did, but, on the other, Ranka was the one who knew how to use the weapon. 

"His pupils are dilated."  He knew from tv that was bad, especially in light of the goose egg swelling on the man's temple.  Hit that just right and it could be fatal.  He was pretty sure.  "What happened, Ray?  Who stole your ear muffs?" In any other situation, any less dire situation, anyway, Saint would also have asked why the man wore ear muffs at all.

If Ranka indicates he knows anything about first aid, Saint will move out of the way, otherwise, well.... He has no idea.  But the cold can't be good for the man.  And whoever's scarf that might be, if something is still ear muffs, it's highly likely they stole the scarf as well.  And that the scarf owner-- wait, Kadana, right?  Isn't that who was driving in front of them?-- Kadana likely wasn't up in the tree.

(ooc: Im sick, hubby is at work but mostly he is just here to help with whatever lol but he can post later if we need him to right now just imagine him by my side really)

Sunchaser looked at the bitten gloves. Where had she heard that squeek before? She sat down, mentally going over the animals she had met at the aquarium and the zoo near her. She could not remember what it was. She looked up as Marshall motioned to her. "Whats that you got there babe?" She took the supplies then did a double take on the bandages. He had not touched them but had left them as they where. "Uh.... If they are not the gerbils we have something in here that likes to chew. We are going to have to find it and make sure it doesn't chew or steal something else!" Her fingers played with her bracelet before looking out the window. Where were they?

Green eyes fix upon the scarf captured in the branches of the trees above them, flickering uneasily from shadow to shadow in search of the eyes he had seen only moments before. They...he said they... Yet he has no time to contemplate what 'they' are, the desperation in Saint's voice drawing him back to the situation at hand.

"Yes." He answers automatically, kneeling down by the man heaving in the snow "Easy Ray, don't try to get up again." resting a hand on Ray's shoulder, he tries to keep his voice calm and level, soothing as he makes note of the bruising on his head, the dilation of his pupils "Looks like a concussion." He murmurs to saint. Shifting slightly, he slides his own arms beneath Rays once the man's heaving seems to have subsided, gently easing him back against the tree.

Unwrapping his own scarf from around his neck, he folds it, forming a makeshift pillow, which he slides behind Ray's head. "Ray, I need you to stay awake. Tell me if you feel like your getting sleepy." Though his voice is gentle, there is also an edge of something like authority in it. Glancing towards Saint, a flicker of earnestness, perhaps fear can be seen in the green eyes. Yet it fades as he continues examining Ray, moving on to the ankle.

"Possibly fractured." He follows the observation with a soft curse "It's risky to move him, but we don't have a choice." Looking back towards Saint, he glances towards the distant headlights of the bus this cold could kill him if he goes into shock he doesn't say it, not wanting to frighten Ray, yet he can't avoid the truth "Saint, do you think you can help me get him on my back?"

When Ranka takes his place, Saint stands up, eyes skimming upwards to the tree again, an automatic lookout for something interested in stealing head and neck gear.  Maybe just cold weather gear.  That also seemed bad.  Well, not necessarily bad, and certainly not evil, though his imagination was more than willing to offer up reasons something might be stealing cold weather gear from them.  Hypothermia was a very real concern in the piles of snow.

He listened to Ranka's quiet voice as the man checked Ray over.  He glanced down in time to catch the look.  Saint gave a small nod of comraderie, or... something he couldn't fully define.  He'd support Ranka's decisions, trusting the other man to direct them as needed. 

Well, until the last part.  Saint gave a quick, negative shake of his head, flashing the man a rueful sort of smile.  "No way, man.  I'll carry him."  His eyes flicked upwards again once, then met the man's gaze seriously.  "I'm a great pack mule, and..."  He glanced at the bo, wordlessly dooming his own ability to protect them.  It rankled that he couldn't, but he was also quite realistic about his abilities in this arena.  He'd rather Ranka's bo be available than have to try to punch something.  He quickly crouched down in the snow in front of Ray, waiting for Ranka to help move the man onto his back instead.

"Ray, you didn't find any sign of the other car?" he asked instead, hoping it would help keep the man aware.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps9bcc74eb.png?t=1389353609)

Resting briefly against the tree, Ray smiles weakly at the two men.  "Thank you, it's good to have friends.. " Trailing off he looks back up into the tree and frowns "other car?  no, I don't know.. but she loves that scarf"  Looking around in a daze he wonders aloud "why would they want my ear muffs?  And her scarf.. got to get that back.." 

Realizing with a start that they plan to move him, he starts to try and stand again, clinging to the tree.  "But Kadana's.."  Looking up into the tree at the scarf he gives a sudden surprised shout and falls back down, as a brief yipping is heard from near the 'scarf' right before it seemingly takes flight from the tree.  Sitting on his rear in the snow he watches wide eyed as the bit of red and orange glides on the wind currents from tree to tree.

Raising his hand he rubs at his eyes then blinks at the men "You know, I think I hit my head harder then I thought.."  Sighing and staring off towards the headlights "We need to see how bad the pass is blocked, or if it's still passable.. and see if anyone else knows how to drive a bus"

Looking back in the other direction, at the opening to the pass, he sucks in a breath and stills  "Uh guys?  Am I seeing things.. or is there something moving in the pass?"  In the little light that reaches the entrance to the pass, one can almost think they see movement, and it seems the wind is dieing down a bit.. but only in that particular location.  A soft scraping can be heard against the tone, as the falling snow begins to slow near the pass as well.

You know, Sascha and Ray are new NPC's to the shop.  I had no idea who they were, personality wise.  I am finding it very fun to see there personalities emerge.. even if Ray does seem to be a bit of a nit wit, and so far anyway, I see no point to Sascha other then an extra body lol

Great idea Kadana! I espcially love Ray's personality and would love to see him again in an RP. (I hope you plan to have more RP's! )

At first, Ranka lifts a brow at Saint, as though questioning his desire to carry Ray, yet as he follows the other mans gaze to where he had lain the bo next to him on the ground, a wry smile blossoms on his lips "Ahh yes, horror movie. I almost forgot. I'm probably the guy who gets eaten first when the monster finally decides to attack." The joke lightens his serious tone, and the smile softens, becoming grateful. Yet the green eyes harden slightly as Ray tries to get up again.

"Ray-" He sounds faintly exasperated as he reaches for the other man's shoulders, steadying him once he lands back on the ground with a muffled thump "Yes I do think you hit it harder than you thought. Very hard." Ranka's lips thin, and despite his tone, the underlying concern, the fear that the man might injure himself further, is what truly drives his frustration. Glancing up into the trees as a flicker of bright color, followed by a yip, draws his attention, he suppresses the faint shudder that wants to run down his spine. Reaching for Ray, he hefts the man forwards, carefully trying to arrange him against Saint's back with his arms over the other man's shoulders "Ray, what took the scar-"

Yet he has no time to finish the sentence as he follows Ray's gaze towards the pass, green eyes fixing upon the illusion of solidity, of some shape, that seems to take form as the winds slowly die away.

"Saint." His gaze does not leave the pass as he reaches for the bo, drawing himself slowly to his full height . "Watch out for Ray."

Straightening, the long black coat flutters around his ankles as he takes a few steps away from the other two men, attempting to make himself the most visible target. He doesn't do anything stupid, like shout out 'who's there', he has the feeling whatever this is, might not have a friendly answer for them. Instead he tucks the bo against the backside of his arm, muscles tensing in preparation for confrontation.

Saint might have offered to attempt the tree if only to help calm Ray down, but there was no way that was going to work now.  He was quick to adjust to the other man's weight on his back and, really, was unwilling to chance losing Ray now.  They all looked up at the question and none of them were happy about the fact that they all seemed to agree on the answer: there was something moving in the pass.

"Don't die," Saint muttered, shifting one last time to be certain he had a good hold on the man.  He doesn't want to leave Ranka alone to face whatever was out there, but it also wasn't going to do them any good to all wait here to be eaten.  Or stripped naked.  As Ranka moves forward as a target, Saint tries to move Ray and himself a bit more obliquely.  He wants to be on the road with firmer footing underneath-- even if it is still covered in snow-- and, if possible, he's going to start angling them back towards the bus. 

We shall see Bun, if there is enough interest perhaps :)

And lols *head hurts form laughing so hard*

Ray trembles on Saints back, clinging the best he can while trying to not hinder the man.  "Really Saint, I can walk.. probably."  Frowning a bit he changes his mind "well, maybe hop.."  Sighing he gives in to his fate for the moment, laying his head down and going quiet.

Back on the road the wind bites harder, howling around the two, pushing first at their backs then their fronts.  Alternately shoving them towards the bus, then trying to toss them away from it.

But back towards the pass, the wind is still slowly calming down, and another scrape can be heard against the stone.  Then, a quiet voice heard but not heard.. Hello?  Give it a minute, it will clear..  A white shape can be faintly seen moving slowly out of the pass, quite a bit larger then the thing in the trees.  Once clear of the pass, it comes to a stop.  The voice is 'heard' once again, but this time quite clearly only in the mind.  Oh, I did not mean to startle, please, I mean no harm

Standing perfectly the shape waits, and the winds continue to die down, until finally, barely, one can make out a very equine shape.

Looking out the window I see shapes moving in the darkness "Hm..." I wonder aloud. "I wonder what is moving outside..." I stand up and get off the bus, not being able to see any better, I trip over something (probably air, knowing me) and end up with a face-full of snow.

As Arty leaves the bus, she trips over something, and falls.  As she lands she hears a ( http://chirb.it/C454PN  ) followed by something darting into the gloom under the bus.

"Just hold on, Ray," Saint said quietly, giving one last worried glance towards Ranka.  Maybe he can get Ray safely back to the busy-- and it's supposed safety-- then back out here to back up the other man.

The one good thing is that if anyone is okay on their own, it's probably Ranka. 

The ends of Saint's scarf, a deep blue mixed with black affair, fluttered back, hopefully on either side of Ray's head rather than right smack into the man's face.  Saint wrinkled his nose, wishing he'd pulled it up over that same feature before he'd started back.  He hadn't realized the wind was going to be so nasty, however.  They staggered with it, away and towards.  Blast, this wasn't working.  Instead, Saint held firm when the wind tried to shove them away, then took a few careful steps with the wind towards the bus.  It took some time before it felt like they had any sort of rhythm at all, especially in the heavy swirl of the snow. 

I jump back and my necklace catches on a nearby branch pulling the silver chain and locket out from under my shirt as I feel the very edge of the drop of crumble beneath one of my hands. I grab for the branch with my other hand but just barely miss it as the necklace's chain breaks and I fall down the drop off to a tiny ledge about 10 feet down. "This... is just my luck... CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?!?" I hollered up the steep incline.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps9bcc74eb.png?t=1389353609)

Almost back to the bus, Ray jerks in surprise at the sound of a voice hollering "Saint, did you hear that?"  he sounds unsure, as if he thinks he could be imagining things.

Following the voice calling out, snow from the embankment near the bus breaks off and slides down.  Arty just misses the brunt of it, but gets instead the edges of the falling snow.  Loud noises apparently not a great idea just now.

Back at the bus, Arty's path for the moment, is clearly visible..  And the pendant from her necklace rests just on the edge of the drop off.. the chain having vanished.

Ray, lethargically points over saints shoulder at the tracks "oh, that's not good!"

It's a relief to see the looming shape of the bus and they'r eblown slowly towards it.  Until there's a cry.  Another one.  This one disconcertingly feminine in sound in comparison to Ray's cry earlier.  Saint is an electronics man; he tries to control his words on a day to day basis, but this is slowly turning into a nightmare of logistical and user errors. 

They are given the pleasure of seeing a cleared path through the snow right up until it disappears into nothingness and something sparkling up at the top.

Saint gives the circumstances a very pointed insult that is entirely impossible as the things occurring did not have physical forms to follow the commands.  Saint doesn't answer Ray's statement of the obvious, he hunkers down and bolts forward, shoving their way through the wind to get to the safety of the bus.  There's no time to even get Ray inside, not if someone's gone over the bloody embankment!  "Ray, your good foot! I'm putting you down!"  It's a rushed warning, delivered even before Saint begins the motion.  "Get on the bus," he orders as he scoots swiftly forward, dark eyes searching for whoever had gone over. 

There!  He can see her.  He leans gets down into the snow, reaching out a hand.  "Grab my hand!" he calls urgently, stretching out as far as he can.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps9bcc74eb.png?t=1389353609)

Hearing Saints hurried warning Ray attempts to shift to keep his weight on his left leg.  Stumbling a bit and falling backwards to land on his rear on the steps of the bus.  Watching Saint, he grabs the rail of the bus and stands leaning on it.  Inching slowly backwards up the steps he keeps a watch on Saint.  Once inside he turns and calls "Sascha, get a rope from the back."

Sascha startles awake, having dosed off briefly, completely missing Arty's exit from the bus.  Staring at ray a moment before jumping and rushing to the back, digging in one of the boxes she comes back and hands ray a coiled length of rope died the unfortunate color of.. white.

"Saint! " Calling to the man, he then tosses the rope out to him.  Clutching the guard pole tight as a wave of dizziness sweeps over him, he turns and slowly makes his way into the bus, collapsing on Sascha's seat where Sascha immediately begins to fuss over him.

Saint half-turns when he hears his name.  Ray's throwing something, he can't tell what exactly, and it's either a great throw or incredible luck as the rope basically skitters into his arms.  He, at least, is still tied to the bus, but he surely does not want to try going over.  He loops one end around his waist, tossing the other down to the woman.  "Can you catch it?" he calls again, though some part of him wants to scoff at the white rope against the white snow.  IF she's not immediately sliding and just struggling for the rope itself, he'll pull it up long enough to hopefully get some colour on it.  But if she can manage it as is, he'll gladly get her to safety sooner rather than later.

Silvanon goes along the length of the bus, searching for small and furry.  She's not too far along when SweetCaroline calls out, asking if she had brought along her gerbils.  "No, my gerbils are safe at home, I fed them right before I left."  She pokes her head up to peer at the fur SweetCaroline is holding.  "Yeah, that's not the right color for any of my critters, either." 

Silvanon continues her search, now more certain than ever that they have furry visitors.  She notes that the undersides of some of the seats have little rips and openings that a small furry something might like to get into, so she starts paying particular attention to those areas.  The extra attention pays off, but not in the way she expected, when she looks underneath the seat behind her own.  There's a screw poking out slightly from the wall right under that seat, and most of SweetCaroline's disappeared glove is hanging from it.  "How did that get there?" she wonders aloud as she maneuvers to get a better look at the suspended glove.  Like previously noted, the glove  looks to have received attention from some critter's teeth.  The thumb is hanging furthest down and has been chewed off to reveal a white substance that Silvanon first takes to be the inside lining of the glove.    However, when she reaches forward to try and unhook the glove, something inside it moves.  That wasn't glove lining, that was fur!  "I've got something alive here!" she calls out to the rest of the bus.

I'll be posting my response tomorrow Kadana, sorry about any hold up. Just got some bad news and am kind of shaken ><

As Silv reaches for the glove, the white fur vanishes back inside, and a loud chirruping ( http://chirb.it/C454PN  ) can be heard, at the sound of which, an answering chirruping comes, muffled, from Silv's backpack.  With the answering sound, a little white.. nose pokes out of the hole in the gloves thumb, a little white nose, twitching amidst blue fur.  Wait, blue fur??


I'm sorry to hear that Bun, I hope everything turns out OK for you.  *sadness* bad news seems to be making the rounds :(  If there is anything I can do, or you just need to vent or such, you're still on my yahoo *hugs*

River hears Silvanon give a surprised gasp, and, bored of resting, goes to see what's going on. Silv has found SweetCaroline's glove, and it's all torn up. There seems to be a furry blue creature inside! Not wanting to touch the thing for fear of rabies or something, River urges Silv to coax the creature out. "Maybe it likes sunflower seeds?" She wonders, shrugging. "Here, you can borrow mine to try and get it out of there. It must be quite cold, hiding in that thin fabric..." She says, handing her friend the bag of seeds.

"Blue!" Silvanon mutters in surprise when the little creature's nose appears.  "That's no gerbil, that's for sure."  She is truly curious now what this little creature could be.  She turns back to look when River starts speaking to her.  "Oh, thanks!" she gladly accepts the proffered sunflower seeds.  She grabs a handful out of the bag, then hands the rest back to River.  "It sounded like there's another one in my pack over with SweetCaroline.  She might want to try some sunflower seeds too," Silvanon comments.  Turning back, Silvanon takes her handful of sunflower seeds and piles them on the floor near the glove.  Then she holds one seed out close to the little creature's nose, so it can hopefully get a whiff.  "Sorry to have scared you little one," she murmurs.  "Are you hungry?"  She sets the seed down with its fellows on the pile and draws back a bit to see if the little furry will come out.

River smiles at Silvanon and nods. "Yes I'm sure she could use some of these.." She walks over to her mother and offers up the rest of the seeds. "These might help coax it out, maybe." :)


OOC: Lol Kadana pointed out to me how mean I am. XD *whistles innocently*

Oh, I did not mean to startle, please, I mean no harm

Ranka is frozen from the moment he senses the touch of a voice upon his mind, rearing his head to words unheard, but felt. Green eyes glitter faintly in the darkness as they settle upon the equine shape taking form, as if from the substance of a dream. Suddenly, it seems he has found himself not in a horror movie, but in a fantasy. Though every fiber of his being still sings with tension, he lowers the bo to his side, forcing himself to relax.

"Who are you?" He asks the shape softly, taking a single, hesitant step forwards, then another. A cautious tilt of his head reveals an expression of curiosity mingled with wonder, and just a little fear beneath the fall of his hair. Whatever this creature is...it seems capable of summoning the storm, or causing it to abate. "We are searching for a member of our team who has gone missing...we mean no harm ourselves."

*Hugs* Thanks Kadana <3 I'm starting to calm down now, hopefully everything will be ok

waking with migraine, will post as soon as pain pills (hopefully) kick in.

(I've got something alive here!) SweetCaroline hears Sylvanon say.
"As do I & it seems to have taken up residence inside your backpack. I can hear it chewing on something. Hope it's not something important." I say to Sylvanon. *I try to get a better look inside the backpack without disturbing anything as I would hate to hurt whatever is inside by squishing it with whatever Sylvanon might have packed.(No telling what might be inside the backpack that could harm a small creature.)

*I look up as Riverwind offers the seeds & accept them.* "Not to sure this will help but it's worth a try."
I hold a seed just inside the opening of the backpack as I try to imitate the sound I heard the creatures making* There is a scurrying sound coming from the pack & I can see the side of the backpack move slightly as whatever is inside it moves around. I try again with the seed & imitate the sound, the side of the pack has movement again, but closer to the bottom. I let out a sigh of exasperation as I realize the creature(Whatever it might be) is burrowing deeper into Sylvanon's backpack away from the offer of the seeds.* "Perhaps it doesn't like seeds. I mean there are traces of the stolen roast beef around the backpack on the floor where it tried to take it into the pack with it. Or perhaps it is full & just frightened" *I sit down on the floor beside the backpack & every now & then try to imitate the strange squeaking/chirping sounds as I place my hand on the outside of the pack hoping the poor thing can feel the warmth from my hand as it hears me & maybe venture out to see me.*

When listening to the sound clip, try to ignore the mic static and echoing.


As Silvanon proffers a seed out to the twitching nose, it quickly vanishes back into it's hole.  A few moments pass after she sets the seed down onto the pile, before the nose returns, this time out of the wrist hole of the glove.  A furry blue and white body scuttles out and up onto the seat, before plopping down over the side onto the floor.  With a pleased Gurgling sound (http://chirb.it/LJAK2M ) it quickly begins devouring the seeds.  Now that it's out, it's fur can be seen, blue and white, and oddly matching of it's chosen nest.  It is of course small, small enough to have made a glove it's nest.  It's body is about the size of a grown adult's closed fist, with the tail making up the rest of it's size, being almost twice as long as it's body.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/Wind%20Surfers/M5_zps54cc7364.png) (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/Shadowgate_Adoptables/media/Wind%20Surfers/M5_zps54cc7364.png.html)

---

Silvanon's backpack wriggles and moves against SweetCaroline's hand then goes still, then moves again.  Faint chewing and scratching can barely be heard, and then a tiny warm nose wriggles wettly against SweetCaroline's palm.  A long tongue darts out and licks at her palm, before a tiny furry head pushes it's way out of a freshly chewed hole in the bottom of the bag, the rest of the little body quickly follows, and teensy sharp clawed 'fingers' dig into Sweet's skin, as the critter clinngs tightly, it's furry tail wrapping swiftly around her wrist.  The little things belly is bloated, and meat crumbs and reddish savory gravy form the roast smudge it's whiskers and face.  It begins to emit the same gurgling sound as the blue creature, while tucking it's head under it's chest and seemingly settling in to sleep.  This one is even smaller then the other, maybe a quarter of the size of the blue one, with a reddish brown and tan fur, with white and black. 

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/Wind%20Surfers/M6B_zps77343ca1.png) (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/Shadowgate_Adoptables/media/Wind%20Surfers/M6B_zps77343ca1.png.html)

---

Click headshot to see full image, sorry they do tend to stretch the page too much to post full body.

Listening to the man speak, the creature begins to walk toward him, slowly so as not to alarm.  Once it is mere feet from Ranka, the storm seems to stop around them.  A small area of perfect calm surrounds the two, while outside the area, the storm rages on.  Standing befor Ranka is an SC, with fhair so white the pink of her skin shows through, and eyes of a rddish pink look calmly at him.  I am the Herd Mother she responds, as if that explains everything.  Lifting her head and sniffing the cold air she turns back to Ranka There is no one else nearbye, perhaps your friend is at the human place  Eyeing the bus beyond Ranka and turning to look back at the pass she blows softly through her nose I cannot clear it enough for your cart to get through.. I must check on the young, but I'll let your humans know where you are

(http://www.secundi.net/agencyuploads/150/139053336720-434%20HS.png) (http://www.secundi.net/critterpage.php?ID=566329)

A crack! in the forest form a tree limb snapping, and a startled whinny has the mare turning quickly I must go!  Be ready to move, when they come!  Moving even before the last thought words are out, she turns and bounds into the forest and disapears into the woods.  With her departure the storm rushes back into the void, swirling fiercly around Ranka, tearing at his hair and clothes, almost as if it's angry at having been held at bay.

Just to quickly clarify before I make my post Kadana, does herd mother mean move the bus or for Ranka to move himself out of the way?

*waves hello*forgive me if I am not very good <.< I was dragged here by my wife and i stole her comp for this haha

He looked at his wife before looking towards all the chirping. His hand went to his necklace like it always did when he was nervous and.... Where was it? "Sunchaser!! I lost my necklace." He panicked and went back to the boxes hoping to find it there.

*makes grabby hands* There is a reason i look over my wifes shoulder. NOw to let her back on her comp.... HI KADANA! <.<

hehehee she can;t get you all through the pass, so has to get word to the people at the base camp.  And she means for you to have "your people" ready to move (ie go/travel) whenever your help arrives.

And I have to say, I am so absurdly excited, to have FINALLY been able to release the SC's long kept secret.  This was an idea conceived before I ever released them for the first time, and have just had no good way to "out" them.  I feel like a little kid in a candy store :D

Sunchaser looked at her husband as he panicked. "Where could it be? I swear you just had it on!!" She grumbled before shaking her head and looking at the two new creatures on the bus. "Aww! They are cute! maybe one of them has your necklace babe?" She glanced at her husband before turning back to the others. "Shouldn't they be back yet?" She was started to get really worried about her friends.

-Snuggles hubby- goofball

At the back, a glint of silver peeks out form under the corner of the medical crate.  Moving the crate a bit will reveal the silver chain from Marshal's necklace, but alas, the cross pendant is missing.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Showing no interest whatsoever in the creatures, or even a missing necklace, Sascha sits and continues to fuss over Ray.  Glancing back at Sunny briefly "I think Saint and Arty are just outside, no clue what they are doing.  I've not seen Ranka..  Trailing off she turns her attention back to Ray, talking to him and trying to keep him awake.

Thanks for the explination Kadana! ^^

His halting steps cease as the brief lull in the storm takes him in, surrounding him in a globe of silence in which the mares voice seems to be the only sound in his whole world beyond the distant whine of the angry wind. Green eyes widen, and for a moment, the mans features melt, softening as childlike wonder takes the place of fear. His body relaxes, tension easing from his frame as her voice washes through him, and for a moment, it seems that he might try to touch her as she approaches. His hand lifts, lingering in the air, and yet he does not dare to reach for the silken coat as those ruby eyes hold him beneath their regard.

I must go!  Be ready to move, when they come!

Before he can speak, before he can even exhale the breath he has been holding, she is gone, wheeling upon her heel, leaping across the snow like a white deer. If he would allow his imagination to play out the scene again, he might have added a unicorns horn to her brow- the power of her presence reminds him of his childhood, spent imagining what it might have been like to encounter such a mythological beast.

The wind swallows the soft cry that escapes his lips, a sound of loss and longing, as if he might have followed her if he could, but the words she has left him with remain ingrained upon his mind, and he knows what he must do. Regaining his senses, his composure, he fights against the wind tearing at his hair, never minding that it has ripped loose its bindings to allow its length to tangle in the wind. Holding up one arm, shielding his eyes against the storm, he breaks into a run, using every ounce of strength in his lithe frame to fight against the snow and wind that tries to pull him back.

"Saint!" He shouts against the storm, his coat whipping about his legs as the headlights reflect in his eyes, growing closer to the bus, concern for his new friend and Ray compounding the mare's message "Saint we've got to get the others moving! Where are you?"

"Oh, hello lovely little one.  So you're our mischief-maker," Silvanon says softly to the fuzzy blue critter as it munches on sunflower seeds.  She places a hand down on the floor, palm up,  near the creature and then holds still, waiting to see if it will approach closer.

Sorry for delay, had movie time with Rosewood :D

And NP Bun, clarification isn't a bad thing :)


Once close enough to see beyond the headlights, there is a clear view of the bus door still open, and warm golden light form inside pouring out lighting up the ground.  The snow just outside the bus door has been kicked around and plowed through, leaving a flattened area just under the steps.  The rope tied between Ranka's waist and the steering column is slack now, first dropping to the ground, then being tossed about by the wind.. But the other rope, that had been attached to Saint, rather then being drawn back inside the bus where Saint was meant to take Ray, is stretched instead out towards the drop.  The flattened and churned snow trail follows the path of the rope, where Saint can be seen, a dark shape against the white, lieing on the ground, leaning partway over the edge.  Something silver winks in the light, a foot or so to the side of Saint, where the snow is not only churned, but the ground under has been crumbled and broken apart.

---

Pale blue, almost white eyes watch Silvanon as it continues to grab seed after seed, holding them in it's paws and nibbling daintily, if quickly on them.  The pile quickly disappears, and the eyes finally look away as the creature sniffs around searching for any crumbs left, or any stray seeds.  Finding none it turns and slowly approaches Silv's hand, sniffing at her palm, whiskers twitching furiously.  Finally, it crawls onto her hand and sits up, looking up at her it begins making a chattering (http://chirb.it/82HdKg) sound.

I scrabble at the side, grabbing at roots and rocks just to try and crawl up the ledge. My hand catches something and I try to haul myself up the edge, failing miserably in the strength department.

Saint has a sudden epiphany that the entirety of this trip is going to be like thisn: one crisis after another.  The thought makes him smile grimly and he quickly pulls the rope back up to him.  In the next heartbeat he has his scarf loosened, then off, and he quickly secures it part of the way down the rope.  Not at the end; no, it seemed long enough to reach her and have the end go beyond.  He wishes, suddenly, that he had learned everyone's names, like he would have on a new project. 

"Hey!" he called again as he worked to weave and tie the scarf around the rope.  He didn't want to lose it.  "Hey, my name is Saint! What's yours?  I'm going to throw down a rope.  Can you grab it?"  If he can just get her to grab on, he's certain he can pull her up, if for no other reason because of adrenaline.  He just has to get her holding on to the rope.

"Saint!" No reply. Halting abruptly in the trampled area between the bus and the overhang, a brief cessation in the wind provided by the bus serving as a buffer allows Ranka's vision a moment of clarity. Green eyes flicker to the open door, the warm golden glow of the track lighting within promising warmth, shelter from the biting wind slowly robbing his face and hands of feeling. Yet his gaze wanders to the trampled snow underfoot, his own slack chord, and the second one attached to Saint, tight-

He catches a flash of silver out of the corner of his eye, his head turning sharply to follow it. In the near distance, he can hear the muffled sound of Saint's voice, see the dim outline of his form lying in the snow.

It doesn't take long for him to put two and two together, and before the curse has left his lips, he is already bounding through the snow, sliding to a halt at Saint's side.

"I didn't get eaten. Need a hand?" The comment seems out of place given the circumstances, but he cant help letting the wry humor escape him. Its far better than what he wants to do-which is tear his hair out in sheer frustration that everything that can go wrong, has gone wrong, and curse himself for being right from the start. Glancing down at the woman who has fallen, he doesn't bother to ask what has happened-its quite obvious. Again, a flash of silver distracts him, and glancing down, he catches sight of the locket in the snow.

Yet he has no time to truly contemplate why its there, other than that the woman probably lost it during the fall.

*As I sit there on the floor of the bus, my hand against Silvanon's backpack I can feel the little creature moving inside. I imagine what it must be feeling, being trapped in the cold, dark place with so many strange noises going on around it. And some creature much larger than it who seems to be blocking it's only escape. (Poor little thing must be frightened I think to myself) Then all of a sudden I feel something warm & wet move ever so slightly on the palm of my hand & then this very small reddish brown and tan creature is all of a sudden sitting on my hand, little claws digging (probably to keep from falling I think), it's long tail wraps around my wrist. It tucks it's wee little head down near it's chest & seems to have decided I am it's new bed.* "Ohhhhh How cute! Poor little thing must be scared to death. I wonder where it came from, & where it's mother is. It doesn't look to be to very old & it is much smaller than the one that has befriended Silvanon" *I gently stroke it's forehead with my index finger Then go back to my seat taking it with me. I sit down next to Riverwind & show her the little darling.* "Isn't it just adorable?" I ask her.

I hear a voice calling out to me and I look up to see a rope coming at me. I catch the end and smile a little, "I'm Arty, thank you Saint!" I wrap the rope around my waist and try to climb up it, still failing miserably.

I completely fail at physical stuff XD

Arty, Saint filed that away to hopefully attach to a face once he got the woman up here.  He was half-distracted by the arrival of his friend, and the relief that swamped through him very nearly made his hands loosen.  They did not, but only because he noted the weakening as he gave a sharp gasp inwards.

"Ranka," the relief was just as evident in his tone.  "Just as well; you probably taste horrible and it would have come after us anyway."  He wants to ask what it was, but there are far more vital things to focus on right now. 

"Hey, Arty, this is Ranka.  Do you have a hold of the rope?  Just hold on to it really tight, and we'll pull you up.  Okay?  Hold on now!"  He's worried about her grip loosening, worried about her sliding, worried, even, about them sliding down over the side themselves.  But at least that's less likely with Ranka here.  And as long as Arty can hold on, he and the other man are tied on.  "Ready?" he asks the lithe man quietly.  "On 3.  1...2...3!"

I hear voices above me but can't quite make them out, just as I'm about to call back I feel myself being hauled up the steep incline and I catch the edge with my hands as it comes into view and help to get myself back onto flat ground, "Thanks guys, I'm glad you found me." I collapsed onto the ground, my back against the bus and breathed deeply. "Well... that was fun...

Even amidst the tension of the situation, he manages to laugh "Yes-next time remind me to bring plenty of BBQ sauce along, I imagine I'll go down a little more smoothly that way."

His tone is dry, but he flashes Saint a grin as he leans forwards, bracing himself on his knees as he takes hold of the rope. Wrapping it partially around his wrist as he grips it, cold muscle tightens along the length of his arms, and nods once. As Ready as he'll ever be.

"On 3.  1...2...3!"

He pulls back, feeling Arty's weight on the other end of the rope, relying on strength garnered from training with the bo to serve him as both men try to pull her upwards. There is a long moment where both are pulling, and Arty is scrabbling to get her footing, yet finally, the tension on the rope eases, and Ranka lets himself fall back in the snow next to Arty.

He breaths out a soft curse, exhaled on a wreath of condenced breath in the cold air, but there is a smile on his lips as he rises to his feet, brushing snow off of his jacket before offering Arty his hand to help her up. "Don't you just love a good romp in the snow? Next time you want to make a snow Angel, don't try it near the edge of a drop off." He jokes, laughing softly "Come on, let's get inside. I have a...message to pass along to Sascha and the others." He glances at saint as if to say 'a really interesting one'.

Silvanon smiles happily as the little blue creature settles into her hand.  The noises it makes now sound much calmer and more friendly than what it made before.  "Hello to you  too," she tells it.  Very carefully she shifts into a more comfortable sitting position and continues murmuring nonsense.  She focuses on moving slowly and keeping things quiet.

"Awww! He's so cute!" River says to her mother, gently stroking the little creature. "Are you going to keep it?"


OOC: Shortest RP post ever lol I'll make my next one longer I promise v.v

"Well if his mother doesn't come looking for him then of course I'll keep him. He seems much to young to take care of himself & it is very cold outside. I'd hate to think of him freezing or starving to death." *Gently strokes the sleeping baby & smiles* "I'm so glad I found you Little Bit."

laksdjf;oihas;oidhfoas;dlg;aoishi

well.... I was told to post but not what to post ^^;;

I go to stand up and notice my locket on the ground but the chain is nowhere in sight, I sigh and hold the locket to my chest, stepping onto the bus. 'I wonder how long it will take me to find another chain like that...' I wondered dimly to myself as I sat down in the first seat. I look around and notice that Silv has a small squirrel like creature in her hand. I tilt my head, just staring at it. "I think I hit my head... that squirrel is blue..."

As per advice/request I am just going on the assumption that all 3 of you are boarding the bus at this time, so that I can post lol  Feel free to describe whatever you do/say etc before and during your boarding if you wish.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps9bcc74eb.png?t=1389353609)

Back on the bus, Ray is seated in Sascha's seat with his right leg propped up, his foot is bare, the shoe and sock having been removed at some point and the ankle is swollen and bruised.  His head leans back against the window, and Sascha hovers over him.  At the arrival of Arty, Saint and Ranka his eyes open and he smiles faintly. "Good, you're back.  Saint, Sascha says someone tried to get through on the radio.. she couldn't get reception clear enough to hear, but maybe a message made it out."  Turning his eyes to Ranka he frowns a bit noting the mans unkempt hair and remembering the 'maybe' thing in the pass "Are we good?  Everything OK out there?"

Hearing Arty's words, he glances over, then back at Silv, and SweetCaroline, noticing the little creatures for the first time.  "Sascha, where did those come from?" 

Turning, finally, to look at them herself she frowns "I'm not sure, the portals maybe.."  Wandering over to SweetCaroline and Silvanon in turn she peers at the creatures they hold "The little one looks like a baby sugar glider, but we don't have those around here.  The bigger one kind of looks like a glider too, except for the obvious wrongness of the color.. "  Looking back to the baby she scowls and wrinkles her nose "And it looks like that one helped itself to my lunch!"  Shaking her head she addresses SweetCaroline and Silvanon "There will be cages you can use at the camp, we keep an assortment of cages, aquariums and such on hand just in case.. never know what we'll need with this job.  I guess they're full for now.."  Frowning again at the baby and muttering "all that meat in that tiny body, it better be full!"  Turning she goes back to Ray and continues to fuss over him.

The blue creature, apparently finished  'talking' to Silv, suddenly scuttles up her arm to her shoulder, where it quickly grabs a hold of her hair and proceeds to hide in it.  A few seconds more and there is a soft gurgling sound coming from the little body as it sleeps, pressed against Silv's neck.

OK at this point I'd like to say, you are welcome to name your new little friends as you find them, or if you want you can trade them with each other first.  There will be NO certs for these, as I want to get them made into an agency.  But I will update an owners list for them with names as needed.

Oh and YAY cause I realized that now that we have release, I can have people in join me again.. assuming it actually works right lol

Silvanon can't seem to stop grinning as the little creature falls asleep in her hair.  She carefully settles herself back in her seat, while musing on what to name her new little friend.  "Icey would be appropriate, " she finally concludes.  That taken care of, she finally turns her attention to what's going on with the rest of the bus and realizes that everyone has returned.  "Welcome back guys," she greets.

I'll post today guys <3

sera has been equally slow, Bun; no worries!  hehe. <3 Yay, new critters! =-0 <3

A message?  There's no time to ask the man about it now; it's better for them to just get on the bus and get out of the cold for a little while!  Brrr!  Of course, there's no stop to the excitement of this trip.  As soon as he's on the bus, there's work, but at least it's something that he's more equipped to deal with!  He moves quickly to the nearest radio, prepared to start working on it.

His gaze follows Arty's and he bites off an exclamation.  "If you did, so did I," he mutters. Definitely blue rodents of some type.  "Was that what was scrabbling on the roof?"  Even as he asks, though, he discards the thought.  He was fairly certain he and Ranka had seen what had been on the roof.  And he did not particularly want to run into it again. 

With another shake of his head, he quickly begins to fiddle with the radio, wondering if he can figure out a way to get better reception when the interference is so bad.

As River is sitting there watching the little creature sleep on SweetCaroline's hand, a question forms in her head. Raising her hand a bit tentatively, she calls up to Sascha "Umm...Who is going to be our new driver? Ray obviously can't drive, what with his injuries."

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Watching Saint begin trying to fix the Bus's radio, she ponders his question a moment before answering "You know, I think they were..  While they do have small paws, the nails are rather long for their size, and appear quite sharp.  I find it interesting that they seem to function similar to a racoons.. or even a small monkey's.  They've definitely shown an ability to grasp things at any rate.  And we were paying attention to the door, so they probably entered through River's window, which does suggest access from the roof.." 

Turning then to face River she listens to her question, and a look of horror flicks briefly across her face before it is quickly hidden and she tries to compose herself "Oh.. oh well.. I"  pausing she looks at Ray who appears to be dozing now, then back at River and bites her lip "I'm afraid I don;t know how to drive, let alone a bus.."  Glancing around at everyone she chews her lip some more "I don;t suppose. do any of you know how to drive a bus?"

*color color color* two more RP furries colored up and waiting for a good time to release muahaha

Annd got to start planning for next event after Rp ends.  And try and sort out how I want to do breeding, I had it figured out but changed my mind, now got to re-figure things lol  Got to get it sorted for sure this time, because depending on how much longer this RP runs, next event might just be the first breeding rofl

And finally, if anyone that isn't already on the list for being on the bus wants to join the RP, send me a PM and I will figure out a way to insert your character somehow.

"I don;t suppose. do any of you know how to drive a bus?"

"That won't be necessary." Ranka's voice is calm as he stoops slightly to board the bus, straightening to his full height only once he is standing in the isle. Even so, the man is so tall that he seems almost cramped in the confines of the bus, even more so now that the wind and weather has disheveled his appearance. Long hair, falling well past his shoulders, has come loose from its bindings in a tangle that lays wildly across the shoulders of his jacket, and though the voice he speaks in is level, there is some wildness in his eyes which suggests a spark of something feral beneath, as if something he has seen has woken something within the man.

"Everyone please listen." Green eyes flicker to each face in turn, even to Saint, though the man is preoccupied with the radio. "While we were out searching for Ray, the Heard Mother approached and spoke to me." He lifts a hand, laying it quietly on the back of one of the seats, his eyes a little distant for a moment, as though reliving the memory of the wind and the gentle voice that spoke in his mind through the storm "She wants us to be ready to leave, she doesn't have the means to clear a path for the bus, but from what she has said it seems she is bringing help." He glances at Sascha, then to Ray where he was resting in one of the seats. Finally, his eyes settle on the small, blue creature in Silvanon's hand, and he lifts a brow "Though judging by events as they currently stand...I don't know what manner of help." He murmurs, as if to himself.

*I hear Sascha mention the offer of the use of a cage when we reach base camp & worry how frightening that might be for the little creatures her & Silvanon have found. I turn to look at Silvanon with her strangely, but beautiful colored friend* "Hey Silv! What do you think about letting our little friends share a cage when & IF! we reach base camp? That way they can keep each other company while we help out where ever we can with the goings on up there & our little ones won't be quite so frightened from being closed up in such a strange thing as I'm sure the cage will seem to them?" *I look at Silvanon & can see the blue fur slightly through her hair & wonder to myself how on earth it became blue. Mine seems such a normal color.'reddish brown' Kind of like the meat it stole from Sascha. Then I realize Silvanon's little friend resembles the color of my glove it stole to make a bed out of. Very Strange that*

*I look up toward the front of the bus as I hear Ranka telling us we are to be ready to leave & mentioning getting instructions from what he calls a herd mother. * "What on earth is a Herd Mother? And just what kind of herd are you talking about?"

Silvanon nods at SweetCaroline's suggestion.  "That sounds like a really good idea.  Well, provided we keep an eye on them for awhile after to make sure they get along alright.  I don't want them in the same cage if they're going to fight, of course.  I'm not sure how territorial these guys are."

River sees the look of horror, or maybe terror, cross Sascha's face, before it is quickly covered up. "I don't suppose. Do any of you know how to drive a bus?" she hears Sascha ask the entirety of the group. Taking a quick look around, she sees that everyone seems to be puzzled, and everyone is looking at each other questioningly.

There is a movement at the front of the bus, and the man called Ranka boards. "That won't be necessary," he says. He then proceeds to tell everyone about the "Herd Mother." Addressing the man, she voices her concerns. "Pardon me for pointing it out, but, do you know how to drive the bus? If this 'Herd Mother' says that we need to be ready to move, I assume that means be ready to drive the bus. Unless of course we are meant to walk through this wretched weather. And if that's the case, I personally would rather stay on the bus and wait it out. What is this 'Herd Mother,' anyway? How do we know it can be trusted?"

Taking a breath after what felt like a long speech, River pulls her coat tighter around her, and notices that her bracelet is missing. Looking up, she asks, "Hey, guys! Has anyone seen a black bracelet with a monarch pendant lying around anywhere? I seem to have lost it. It was very dear to me, from a good friend of mine who I haven't seen in awhile..."

"That's a good idea Silvanon. I would hate to see either one of them get hurt"

*I glance at Riverwind* "You lost your bracelet? Maybe it fell off while you were helping look for my glove. You check the floor & I'll check our seat." *I begin trying to check our seat with only 1 hand as the little creature is still clinging tight to my other hand as it sleeps.*

River looks under everyone's stuff that's sitting in the floor. She asks each person to get up for a moment so she can check to make sure they are not sitting on it for some reason. The bracelet is nowhere to be found. "Well I really don't know where else to look. I had it on my wrist when I boarded the bus, and I have been on the bus ever since. It's got to be here somewhere!" she exclaims frustratedly.

Saint finishes the next step in his work, an attempt that has a small chance of being useful though he's not going to hold his breath.  Ranka's words, however, make him turn to glance upward at his friend.  His brow furrowed, a frisson of unease racing down his spine, as though an ice cube was sliding down his back.  What... what was Ranka talking about?  The man looks like he's had some sort of spiritual experience.  The unease is tempered with a flare of... jealousy.  Saint tamps it down swiftly, unwilling to host such a disagreeable emotion now.  What had happened to Ranka during the time they were separated?

Dark eyes jerk towards Riverwind at her 'speech'.  His lips purse and he rises to his feet suddenly.  "He already said she couldn't make a path for the bus."  Defensiveness.  Why was he so defensive?  He puts up his hands in a momentary motion of surrender.  "Sorry."  He was on edge; this trip felt like a horror movie.  Skittering things, people disappearing in a blizzard, blue rodents....

The man hesitates, glances at Ranka once more, then brushes just past the other man to check the controls of the bus.  "If Ray could talk me through it, I could probably manage it a short way, but this is not the time to try to learn to drive a new vehicle." Saint glances back towards Ray, dark eyes serious.  "How much further through this snow before the bus is too bogged down to move?"  Because once it did, they couldn't even safely leave the thing running, not without chancing carbon monoxide poisoning.  And leaving the doors or windows open now?  No way.  It was too cold out there and, with the way the storm was blowing, it was planning to just continue.  "We may not have a choice."  The last words, spoken softly, he hadn't even meant to say aloud.

Green eyes flash with a spark of anger, Riverwind's words awakening some glimpse of the wildness lingering beneath the mans calm exterior. For a moment, all of his carefully contained emotions regarding their situation can be seen in the lines of tension that tighten the muscles of his jaw, indignation, frustration, and no small amount of fear. They may have been out in the middle of no where at the heart of a crisis, but he wasn't blind, and he hadn't started seeing things. The heard mother had spoken to him. It wasn't just a figment of his imagination, a childish whim come to life, how could River question what he had seen, felt, when a little blue...he didn't even know what it was...was sitting on Silvanon's hands as pretty as you please?

Yet Saint's voice interrupted any angry words he might have spoken. Surprise flickered briefly across his features as he glanced at the other man, his expression fading into a faint, tense smile. At least Saint believed him, that had to count for something.

Catching Saints eye as he glances in his direction, Ranka gives him a slight nod of thanks, releasing a soft sigh. Looking down at his hand, where it still grips the back of one of the seats, he loosens his fingers slowly, letting it fall back to his side.

"The Heard Mother is a horse." He says, softly, with a faint hint of embarrassment once Saint has finished speaking, his voice pitched low, again as though he is speaking to himself. The green eyes flicker momentarily to River, before they shift to the windows, a hint of anxiousness in his bearing.

I burnt the center finger of my main hand, so can't type too good atm.  It hurts to move any of them.  Not good with the left.  So not forgetting this, just need to wait for pain to cease to post.  Burn is weird, no marks, blisters, or anything, just finger swelling.  And hurting.  Lots of hurting  Soaking in aloe vera atm, feels helpful anyway.  Dunno how long till swelling lessons.

sorry for delay :(

Edit: cause bad post was annoying -.-

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

Listening to the conversation's around her she absently pats Ray's shoulder, a gesture of comfort, and perhaps concern as the man leans against the window, eyes closed.  Turning wide eyes to Ranka she murmurs "The Herd Mother.. " brow furrowing a bit in thought she answers River's question quietly, wide eyes still glued to Ranka "She is real enough.. but no one has ever met her."  Turning now to look at River she attempts to explain "Herd mother is more of a title, or a job position.. "  Shaking her head in frustration "that's not quite right either..  The closets I can relate it to human terms is she is the herd's caretaker.  Herd Mother is what the Storm Chasers call the designated caretaker of the foals.  Like a babysitter, or a permanent nanny.  We don't know how one gets chosen, or how long they 'serve' in the role, but for the duration they live and wander .. patrol really.. in  a set area and care for any foals.  They watch over them, keep them safe, teach them about dangers, how to survive, really.  They can be quite fierce and deadly, in the defense of their charges"  Turning her attention back to Ranka she looks at him oddly, seeming to reassess prior opinions of the man "No one has ever seen a Herd mother before, let alone had one speak with them..  Until very recently, we knew nothing about them at all.."  Trailing off she quickly turns her attention back to Ray as he gives a brief pain cry, trying to move his leg.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps9bcc74eb.png?t=1389353609)

Cursing at his injury he looks around a bit blearily "what.. what's going on now?"  Blinking sleepily at Saint he frowns in concentration "How far.. Once we are through the pass, we should be fine.."  Closing his eyes on another grimace, he then opens them and meets Saint's eyes "pass is the problem.. if it's filled , we're stuck here.. all depends how deep it's got.."  Laying his head back against the window again, his eyes once again sink shut.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)
Biting her lip Sascha looks at Saint and Ranka "Once through the gap" Pausing she frowns down at ray briefly then back at the two men "the pass.. there is no more drop off, instead we'll enter a covered area of the roadway.. tree's line either side, and overhang the road.  The branches are grown so thick and close, they have tangled with the branches of the tree's from the opposite side.  A sort of natural tunnel.  Some snow may have gotten through, but unless the canopy has become damaged, there shouldn't be much at all.  And the camp were headed to isn't much farther beyond that."

---

The radio suddenly comes to life again with a loud crackle of static, a male voice can be heard speaking intermittent with the static, the interference only letting some of the mans words get through. 

Ray?  Ray static hear static Kadana is static made static trailer a while static multiple portal static the gates static small, static all over static mountain!  staticme kind of Sugstaticer type creature.. static harmlessstatic thieves staticwindows shut, static make off static supplies.  staticana's trying static Storm Chasers went, static and let static they static corral static gone.  static know where static went.. static look out Ray!

Following the initial bust of static form the radio a muffled crabbing noise comes from Saint's scarf, where it lies forgotten still wrapped up in the rope.

---

So sorry guys, finger is mostly better.  I can type again anyway.  So I picked up that clear microwave tray, after the microwave ran for 6 minutes on high.  I did lightly touch it first, and it didn't feel hot.  So I grabbed it and went to put it into the sink (a matter of less then a foot, seriously, the microwave sits on the counter right beside the sink!) but by the time I got it over top the sink, searing pain hit my hand.  It wasn't gradual, it was just sudden "Oh %^&$ OW!".  At which point I dropped the glass tray (less then 6 inches!) into the sink (mostly) and it shattered everywhere.  mostly into the sink, but some made it onto the counter and floor somehow.  My hand did look undamaged at that point, and the pain was gone immediately upon releasing the glass tray.  So I did think I was fine.  Ran under water a bit anyway, and went about making dinner.  But found it wasn't quite so OK, as every time I got it anywhere NEAR the stove, the heat coming off of it made my hand sear with pain again.  It wasn't long after that my finger started swelling.  I'm glad it was only one, but I do wish it had been a different one.  I don;t for example, use the last two fingers on my hands to type..Or write, color, eat, drink.. heh

I have some of those little dressing cups that they give you with your salad in restaurants, its never enough dressing!  But I filled it THREE times with aloe vera gel, and just sat with my finger resting in it.  Three cups of that, before my finger finally stopped absorbing it all.  I've been burned before, and not a few times either lol  (firebug).  but never like this.  My finger still has no mark on it.  The swelling is gone now, and while my skin is super sensitive, it doesn't hurt any more unless I put pressure on it, or get it on/in something warm.  (found that out when washing my hands).  So I'm fine now, just frustrated with curiosity over why my finger has no marks, and why it swelled up instead of blistering.  Darn thing swelled so bad at one point I couldn't move it, and the nail was cutting into my skin a bit.  So odd..

And now I shall go and edit previous post, because the crappy typing/spelling etc is bugging me -.-

River nods at Sascha. "Yes I guess that explains it," she says. Turning to Ranka and Saint, she continues, "I am sorry if I upset either of you. I just like to know what I'm dealing with when it comes to a crisis like this. Please accept my most sincere apology." She lowers her head in a slight bow, not wishing to be on the bad side of these two men.

Saint drive bus? if Ray can talk him through it. But Ray keeps going in & out of consciousness.

*As I sit listening to Ranka's & Sascha's explanation about the Herd Mother & Saints offer to drive the bus if Ray could talk him through it (A near impossibility in my opinion as Ray seems to be drifting in & out of consciousness) & watching Saint working on the radio i all of a sudden hear a male voice coming through the radio. It's clearly trying to talk to Ray, but I can't figure out what he is trying to say. Something about Creatures, gates, Kadana, trailer, all over the mountain. WAIT!! Trailer, all over the mountain, Kadana!!??? I pray she hasn't wrecked. I look toward the men at the front of the bus, then at Sascha & try to decipher our situation. Saint doesn't seem to be able to drive the bus without Ray's guidance, Ray is in no shape in my opinion to guide anyone, Ranka hasn't mentioned even trying to drive the bus, seems like he thinks someone is going to just drive up & rescue us all. But didn't the Herd Mother tell him to have everyone ready to go? Perhaps she meant for us to be ready to drive out of here, or perhaps she intended to send someone to drive us out. No way to tell as I/we didn't get the pleasure of speaking with her. All we have to go on is what Ranka has told us, which wasn't much or very clear. And Sascha!! She doesn't seem to be able to do much of anything other than fuss & fret over Ray. She must be his girlfriend or something. I look up toward the 2 men at the front of the bus once more with worry for Kadana's safety evident in my eyes.* "If I have to, then I'll drive the bus, How hard could it be anyway? You turn the key over, put it in gear & hit the gas. A child could probably do it if given the chance. And if it's to hard, if we wreck then how much worse off could we be than sitting here freezing to death. Walking out of here would be better than this, at least we'd be moving & if we bundle up & keep moving then we should stay fairly warm. When you sit still is when you are the coldest.If there is any objections to me trying to drive this thing, or if there is someone more qualified than me who would like to speak up then please say so. Because if we don't do something soon I'm afraid we may all freeze to death out here." *I put the little creature who has been attached to my hand for some time inside my remaining glove to keep it warm & hopefully safe. I put the glove into the large inside pocket of my fur lined coat to give it even more protection from the cold, put on my coat, wrap my scarf around my neck tucking the loose ends into the front of my coat across my chest for extra warmth there & zip the coat shut. I ask Sascha for the spare gloves she had mentioned earlier. I am prepared to leave the bus & start walking if need be.(hopefully it won't be necessary, but I am ready just in case) I address the 2 men, & everyone else on the bus who might be awake* " What's it going to be folks, do I attempt to drive this thing, or someone else attempt it, or do I start walking? *I look at Riverwind "Are you coming with me if I go or staying here waiting?'

River looks around at everyone, feeling quite uneasy. It's really not a good idea for anyone to be out in that storm! "Mom," she says, addressing SweetCaroline. "I'm sorry, but...I can't possibly let you go out in that weather. And you don't have any idea how to drive a bus! Kadana would kill me if I let you do anything rash. So how about we just sit down and let the men do all the work." She attempts to guide her mother back down into the seat they were sharing. "Here," she says, "have an extra blanket. The temperature is starting to drop some more." She hands her mother the blanket and tries to coax her into sitting down by the window.

I have been asked to "God Mode" Marshal's RP post for him.  I don't know him well enough to feel comfy with making you interact with others, not even Sunny lol  SO if his post seems not quite "him" this is why.

Also combining MY post bits with his post, for convenience.  Just seems simpler to me then me posting for me, then for him, then for me, then him etc.  I hope this doesn't make things too confusing!

A loud crack! outside, as another branch succumbs to it's load.  This one sounded close, and the sound echoes briefly.  As the echo fades, sudden scrabbling can be heard from the top of the bus, seemingly inside, in the overhead compartments.  The exact location the sounds come form, which seat's compartment, is unclear.  Just incessant scritching, from both sides of the bus..

Up on the right side, a brief flash of silver and gold has marshal hurrying quickly over, could this somehow be his missing cross.. how in the world did it get up there though?  reaching up to the compartment for the cross, a sudden yip has him jerking back, and the pendant falls to the floor.  Glancing from the compartment to the floor, he finally bends down to retrieve his beloved cross, only to have a solid weight land thump on the back of his neck, tiny claws digging into his shirt as the creature hangs the rest of it's body over his shoulder, front paws (hands?!) snatching frantically at the dropped cross.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/Wind%20Surfers/F8MarshalCrossPendant_zpsda70706a.png) (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/Shadowgate_Adoptables/media/Wind%20Surfers/F8MarshalCrossPendant_zpsda70706a.png.html)

How odd!  Very carefully he holds the cross to the creature, letting it get its little paws wrapped around it, before gently lifting it from his shoulder.  This one is quite a bit larger then the others, but still small.  Not quite the size of a house cat.. it's fur seems to match the colors of the pendant it so covets. 

Very carefully he carries the creature over to his wife, showing her not only his missing cross now found, but the unusual creature as well.

Saint sighs; the back and forth is the sort of thing he most easily gets tired of.  He's not willing to just leave the bus to make the decision, especially since it's apparent they-- all of them, including himself-- just need a designated leader. 

He pauses to take a breath, sorting through the choices.  If they move slowly, they can at least see if the bus is safe to drive.  It can't be better than just sitting here!  He's still terribly aware of the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning.  He had a friend nearly die that way; he wasn't risking an entire bus full of people.

"It won't hurt to try moving the bus," he announces, glancing at Ranka.  "See how far up the road we can get in it."  His lips quirk up in a sudden grin.  "We can always abandon it later, after all."  And they knew Kadana wasn't on the road in front of them, at least for a little ways, because they'd walked up the road a ways themselves. 

"I can drive stick, and I have a lot of experience driving trailers, so--"  he cuts himself off when the radio suddenly crackles to life and he holds up a forestalling hand without even thinking, closing his eyes and listening closely to the words cutting in and out.  He frowns when the radio kicks back off.  His attention is drawn to his scarf, but with his mind wrapped up in trying to analyze the message he doesn't think about why it's drawn his attention.  He reaches down to pick it up, using just one hand to pull up the cloth.  "We need to get moving," he says, or, at least, begins to say.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/HSSmall_zps8a820077.png)

A sudden loud hard gust of wind blows down the mountain, and the bus groans as it is slammed in the side.  The back tires begin to slide, ever so slowly towards the edge, then the wind stops and the wheels settle back again.  Gasping and giving Saint wide eyes Sascha clings to the back of the seat by Ray's head "I think.. can we maybe try it soon?"  As Saint picks up his scarf, it seems to move again, and something scuttles up the length as he lifts it, stopping when it reaches his hand, bright eyes staring as it twitches it's nose and chatter's at him for disturbing it's bed.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/M7Saintscarf_zpsbe160e4e.png)

*I look at Riverwind as she speaks to me & tries to get me to go back to my seat.* "I'm sorry for acting so rash sweety, but I can't help it, I'm worried about your sister out t6here in this mess. It's hard to just sit around waiting for what seems like forever. There is no telling when the weather will let up." *I sit back down in my seat as Riverwind suggest & turn to stare out the window.*

*Up ahead I hear Saint saying something about trying to move the bus a little to see if it will go & I hear Sascha encouraging him to do it soon.  i look forward to see if Saint is actually going to move the bus & I see out the corner of my eye a silver looking creature in Marshal's hand & it seems to have his cross pendant in it's tiny little paws.* "Wow Marshal! It seems to match your cross in coloring. Quite odd. It seems like we have discovered a small band of little mischievous thieves. They do seem quite harmless though." *i look back toward the front again to see what Saint has decided to do & I see yet another blue creature, this one clinging to Saint's scarf & it is chattering something fierce at him.* "Hmm-mm, that one seems to match your scarf Saint."

Saint freezes as the bus begins to move.  Only he and Sascha seem to be utterly freaked out by it, so perhaps he had just imagined-- "Holy sh-!"  He barely manages to cut the curse off as he stares at something chattering at him.  He stares down at it, cobalt eyes wide in shock.  "UHM.  Okay.  Shhhooooooooooooot, okay.  Okay."  He gently brings up his other hand to cup the creature, half afraid it's going to bite him.  "Bus.  We gotta take care of the bus first."  He lifts his hands up, offering the... thing his shoulder to sit on.  "These things are everywhere."

He scoots past Ranka, and quickly takes his place at the seat.  He takes a long moment, longer than he wants to spend on it, scanning the controls and dials.  He wants a fairly clear idea of what each thing does before he actually puts the bus into gear.  He glances back over his shoulder to offer the bus a bright grin, though really he's checking to see if Ray is still out.  No help from that quarter. 

"All right, kiddos," he says brightly, though.  "Hold on and prepare to abandon ship."  When he turns back forward, though, the humor slides away and he focuses everything on getting th ebus into gear and then trying to get it to begin to inch forward.  In hindsight, they should never have stopped. 

Saint licks his lips, calling quietly over his shoulder.  "Hey, Ranka?"  When the man approaches, he continues in a low voice.  "Help me keep a look out for those things?"  He really doesn't want to run into them now, and despite his joking, he's not planning to make the bus go very quickly at all.

Ranka's stomach lurches as he feels the bus shift, green eyes widening. Reflexively, his hand returns to the seat in front of him, gripping the fabric so hard that the leather gloves protecting his hands from the cold creak slightly beneath the tension. His gaze flickers to Saint, but the man has already pushed past him, moving to take the drivers seat.

His attention is abruptly drawn away from his own sudden distress by the chattering going on behind him, and he turns, lifting a brow at the creature objecting to Saint reclaiming his scarf. Reaching up to shove his bangs out of his eyes, he attempts to regain his composure as he moves to Saint's side, releasing the seat to stand behind him, his black and silver scarf slipping away from his own shoulder as he moves.

Bracing himself against one of the metal saftey rails, he leans down, speaking low "Nothing so far, but it doesn't mean they arent there..." He murmurs dryly. Glancing at the creature on Saint's shoulder once again, the increasing sensation that he's in the middle of some bazaar dream slowly takes hold, yet he pushes it away. "Just.... don't feed it after dark or get it wet...remember the movie Gremlins?"

River gives a relieved sigh when her mother sits down it the seat beside the window. Sitting down beside her, she notices movement at the front of the bus. It looks as though Saint has taken control and has decided to drive the bus. Well it's about time! she thinks. Now let's just hope he can actually drive the thing and doesn't get us all killed.

The little creature climbs onto Saint's shoulder, little claws digging into his coat, seeming content to remain.

The bus moves, inch by slow inch through the wind and snow towards the turn up ahead, and the pass beyond.  Rounding the curve, the headlights suddenly shine brightly, illuminating much farther then the storm previously allowed.  But the storm isn't nearly as bad all of a sudden, and up ahead, dark shapes move towards the bus.  As the bus and the shapes move towards each other, the storm seems to subside almost completely along this section of the road, leaving the Storm Chasers now clearly visible in the headlights. 

(http://www.secundi.net/agencyuploads/150/138945182520-423.png) (http://www.secundi.net/critterpage.php?ID=565783)(http://www.secundi.net/agencyuploads/150/138945186320-426.png) (http://www.secundi.net/critterpage.php?ID=565786)(http://www.secundi.net/agencyuploads/150/138945190420-428.png) (http://www.secundi.net/critterpage.php?ID=565788)



At the sight of the bus rounding the corner the trio comes to a stop, before one finally steps forward ahead of the others.  Where there is still a slight breeze playing with the other two's mains, this ones main likes quietly, not a hair straying from place as the breeze seems unable to touch him.  (http://www.secundi.net/agencyuploads/150/138945190420-428%20HS.png)  We were sent to help you through  a feeling like a cool crisp wind flits briefly through the mind, accompanying the words she said you would be waiting.



(http://www.secundi.net/agencyuploads/150/138945182520-423%20HS.png) paws at the ground, bringing your attention to the fact that the snow is melted in a path from him, all the way back to the pass.  we have to hurry, can't hold it long



Snorting equine laughter at his companion (http://www.secundi.net/agencyuploads/150/138945186320-426%20HS.png)  so weak!  And all you have to do is clear what's already there..  I'm the one that has to keep it form falling  Shaking his main out and sidestepping farther from his friend he teases maybe I should let some through.. so you can have more practice



With an almost human sigh the first stallion turns his attention back to the bus I apologize, they are young, and the storm makes them want to play.. if you are ready?  We can keep the way clear, but you must stay close.

I feel I did not do this post too well, have I said how much I hate and suck at RP'ing an animal?  Even a highly intelligent telepathic one heh  Full body horse images are clickable to their pages if you want to check out stats, and coat colors etc, as well as full size images.

Sunchaser smiled at her husbands new friend before feeling the bus move under them. She looked forward and as it stopped again tilted her head. "Whats?...." She trailed off as she saw what made them stop. "If you guys ever need to switch drivers, I can drive the bus too." She mumbled before looking at the three storm chasers. They where beautiful and she could feel the power coming off them in waves. Oh yes she would have to talk to Kadana later. She looked towards the radio. "Are we still fiddling with that thing to see if we can get a clear signal?"

She had not done much on this trip but she wanted to try and do more. She knew when they got off the bus she would be more use but she still wanted to do something. Her brown eyes traveled, looking at the others before turning back to the storm chasers. "Is it safe to stay in the bus or do we need to gear up and follow you on foot?" Her fingers played with her braclet as she tried to figure out the best way she could be of use.

(sorry i havn't been around... i love you all o.o )

I think you did great Kadana ^.^

Silvanon can't help but grow more and more tense as the bus slowly moves forward.  She is keenly aware that they had slid a little at the start, and there is a cliff edge nearby.  She gives a big sigh of relief and the tension drains out of her when the trio of Storm Chasers appear.  "Oh thank goodness!" she murmurs.  "We should be ok now."

(http://secundi.net/Themes/Bean/images/dice_warn.gif) This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d4 : 2, total 2

>.> <.< >.>

*flees*

It's petrifying to have to drive this huge vehicle with so many lives relying on his ability to do something he'd never had reason to learn before.  Despite that, though, his grip on the wheel is firm, not overly tight.  His eyes remain firmly focused on the road, concentrating on what he's doing, though his lips quirk up once at Ranka's teasing. 

It's only when the storm begins to ease that his shoulders relax a little, and that's also the moment that he realizes he's been tensing.  Hardly surprising.  He carefully slows the bus again when he realizes that there's... figures waiting out in the slowly diminishing storm.  "Ranka..." he almost asks if the other man can see them, but then it's apparent that they all can.  Not his imagination, or, worse, hallucinations from concentrating so hard.  Saint gives a low, careful sigh.  His grin returns in full force.  Saved by horses.  He had not expected that to be the way his day went.

He glances back over his shoulder once more, wondering if the horses can hear them, or hear their thoughts or.... well.  He didn't even know.  "You want to take over?" he calls back over his shoulder to the woman who offered to help drive.  "If you drive, I can try to get the radio up again while there's a break in the storm."  He glances at Ranka, then back out the wide front window.  "Think they can hear us?" he asks Ranka, wanting to let their escort know they were going to switch drivers.

We were sent to help you through, she said you would be waiting.

Ranka's eyes slip shut, his concentration on what is felt, rather than seen, making it seem as though he has slipped from reality for a moment. His lips part, and he exhales softly before his eyes reopen again, a ghost of that wildness returning to his gaze as it settles upon the three figures taking form beyond the fall of the snow.

"I know they can." He answers Saint quietly, the calm, collected quality of his presence returning now that his experience seems to have been validated for all to see "At least, I think they are able to garner an impression of what is going on from our...thoughts." He says hesitantly, not wanting to frighten the other man, or make him think that he's gone crazy.

"If not...someone should go out there to make certain." Reaching for his bag where the strap hangs loose, he pulls it from the luggage rack, pausing before he slings it over his shoulder. Glancing at Saint, he tilts his head slightly. "Mind opening the door for me a second? We're moving at a crawl, I can jump down easily."

Sunchaser looked at Saint. "Yes I can drive so you can mess with the radio. I don't know what that message is but hopefully we can figure it out and get in touch with them." She turned to Ranka as he asked to be let out. "You will be slower on foot. I have a feeling we are going to pick up speed here if they can't hold off the snow. I don't know how they are doing it but they are." She looked back to Saint. "If you want to do a quick switch im pretty sure I can get us moving pretty fast to keep up with these guys." She was rather proud of her skills though she achieved this one by her father saying Here, drive this, and that's how she knows how to drive a bus. She looked at her husband who was enjoying his new friend. Smiling she looked back to the two others.

"I wasn't exactly planning on remaining on foot." Ranka returned Sunny's smile faintly as he said it, glancing at the horses outside. "Don't you recognize them? Those are some of the horses from our trailers. I can ride." There was a hint of pride in his voice, eagerness in his eyes as his gaze lingered on the animals "And I don't need a saddle to do it."

Saint eyed the woman as she came up, giving her a quick grin of welcome.  "I'm Saint.  That's Ranka, who now appears to be an adrenaline junky."  He sent the other man a wry look.  "We have to stop to switch drivers.  Run out and talk to them then."  Even as he said so, though, he was stopping the bus.  He put it in park and slid out of the woman's way.  On his feet, he pulled open the door.  "If you're going with them," SAint said with a quick nod of his head.  "Just give us a wave."

Now, though, his attention could go back to the radio, and he swiftly tried to send out a message of his own, a quick test and ask for a repeat of the last message.

Max had been sitting quietly in the back of the bus. He didn't sleep well the previous night and had ended up in an uneasy sleep behind the commotion. From what he gathered, they hadn't reached the missing team yet, but the two who had originally left the bus were back. One was driving, and the other seemed to be anxious to leave. Again. Shrugging off the semi-miraculous feat that someone else was able to drive a bus (most were manual and a disturbing amount of people were never taught how to drive stick based on his experience), he stretched his legs out into the isle before standing up. There were obvious crease marks on his face where he had fallen asleep against his arm, and he couldn't feel anything in his entire right arm from the elbow down. Taking in the various state of the bus - Sascha didn't seem to be faring too well - and the strange, colorful critters that were now occupying various positions around the other people, he slowly made his way to the front of the bus. However, he stopped short of Sunny and Ranka, realizing that, being his typical, asocial self, he never introduced himself to anyone. A brief glance out the window showed... horses? The entire right side of his face still felt warm.

Best reentry post ever. |D

The radio crackles with static under Saint's attention, and after his request, a brief moment of silence is followed by another burst of a mans voice, garbled with static.

I said static fine.  static made it static trailor static  We static activity, statictes are smstatic but they're static  static Sustatic staticure.. they seem pretty static  darn static thievstatic  Make sure static keep static shut, static can't afford to static off witstaticies.  Kadastatic to figure out static after static got here static off the truck static in the corrastatic but static were gone.  We don't know static they went.. keep static Ray!

Another pause of silence, and then..

Who static  staticre's Ray?  Tell static carefustatic portals static activestatic  unstable!

While the message is being repeated, green and blue lights begin flickering in the forest outside.  More and more of them flashing on and off, increasing in proportion with the amount of static on the radio, until at the end the radio emits a loud piercing screach of static then goes silent.  One by one the lights in the forest die out, leaving the bus lights once again the only illimunation.

With the piercing noise form the radio, the creatures erupt into chatter, much more chattering then just form the few that are visible!  A barking yipping comes from the compartment over the passenger side, and sititng on it's haunches just above Arty's seat there is a shiny silver furred creature, with a dangling silver chain clutched in it's paws.  It's white eyes shine in the light as it looks around at it's fellow creatures.

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/F9ArtyNecklaceChain_zps19535c7d.png) (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/Shadowgate_Adoptables/media/F9ArtyNecklaceChain_zps19535c7d.png.html)


Among the chattering and tiny claws scurrying around the bus, the quiet sounds coming from Ranka's bag as he puts it to his shoulder are barely audible, just a tiny squeak, and a small lump wriggling inside the cloth as it comes to rest against the man. 

Outside, the trio of stands waiting, one standing stoic and patient, while the two younger dance in place a bit, unable to keep still.  The older, has his face turned, watching the forest where the lights were.  The other two sniff the air and toss their manes, exchanging playful barbs with each other.

*I watch as Sunny goes up to take Saints place at the wheel & Saint returns to trying to get the radio working better. I here the radio put out some more garbled/broken message right before there is a loud screeching coming from it & then it falls silent. I wonder why the one called Ranka is insistent on getting back off the bus now that it is moving. And then I look forward & I see in the path what more than likely draws him to venture back out into the biter cold. More Storm Chasers! The poor man will never be himself again now that they have spoken to him. And I don't blame him, it must have been a very moving experience to feel their thoughts inside his head. I smile to myself as I know we will be alright now that they are here & I lean back against the window to try to rest until we reach our destination.*

River, who had just started to fall asleep with her head resting against the back of the seat in front of her, was wide awake as soon as the Storm Chasers showed up. At least, she thinks they were Storm Chasers. Thy sure looked like it, anyway. She saw Ranka preparing to leave the bus--again-- and saw lights flashing all around in the forest. Leaning her head back on the seat in front of her, she mumbled, "Sheesh, it's just one weird thing after another, huh?" and began to drift back asleep.

scritch scritch tiny claws make a scratching against the floor of the bus, a small soft weight comes to rest against River's foot.  Little claws scratching again, this time against her shoe, then wriggling against her foot. 

(http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii165/Shadowgate_Adoptables/Wind%20Surfers/F9bMonarchBracelet_zps6740eec0.png) (http://s264.photobucket.com/user/Shadowgate_Adoptables/media/Wind%20Surfers/F9bMonarchBracelet_zps6740eec0.png.html)

A tiny orange hued baby sits against River's foot, playing with a butterfly dangling form a bracelet it has slipped it's head through like a collar.  The bracelet is big around the little things neck and keeps slipping down over it's shoulders, but it's paws grip the monarch pendant holding it up to it's face where it sniffs and examines it, keep the bracelet from sliding completely down and off it's body.

River jumps when she feels something touch her foot. Looking down, she sees another one of those creatures! Around its neck is her bracelet. "Aww! Aren't you a cutie pie?" She holds out a bit of sunflower seeds in the palm of her hand, close enough for the rodent to be able to smell.

The little baby twitches it's nose and sniffs the seed, before reaching out with one paw and snatching it form River.  It scurries up to sit on her foot and nibbles the seed, it's other paw still firmly clinging to it's prize.

Silvanon starts to feel a bit anxious as she watches the equines strain to keep the weather at bay.  "Hey guys, I don't think we can afford to stay here much longer, I don't think it's easy for our friends out there to hold the weather back, and besides, we're certainly not being any help to the base camp sitting here on the bus.  Can we get moving again?"