Raven's Serpentine III

Autumn made its clear appearance in the Sarutabaruta region, as green leafs turned into warm yellows, oranges, reds and browns and days became shorter. Marching through puddles and leafs, the Tactics Training Squad composed of the winning participants of the tactics exam two week prior, made their way to the northern pass to Tahrongi Canyon, trading the green steps of East-Sarutabaruta for a rocky landscape with little to no vegetation.

Within a day's time they reached a cave near Meriphataud Mountains, a fiercer region.

"We're here!" Georgy-Weorgy announced, holding up his hand to aid his signal.

"Finally!" the group sighed.

"This is where we will be staying for the next four days." Yuhito-Kubhito, leader and trainer of the group, informed again.

"What is this stone thing?" One of the students inquired, pointing at a big stone tablet at the back of the cave.

"That's a Stone Monument written by the explorer Enid Ironheart, who mapped out the regions of Mindartia to finish her late father's work." Georgy-Weorgy quoted by head.

That evening everyone enjoyed Yuhito-Kubhito's meal around a crispy campfire. Afterwards, several children found a sapling to play with. The other children helped out with the dishes. Without as much as a stream nearby, the Water spell came in handy. One of the children was exhausted and tugged Georgy-Weorgy's shirt.

Deep inside they cave, he tucked the little guy in. As he exited the cave, he spotted Eirwen sitting against a rock staring at the ground beneath her.

"What's the matter?" He asked her, worried as protector of the group as well as being her uncle, but Eirwen showed no sign of response.

Georgy-Weorgy positioned himself next to her and threw his arm over her shoulder and tried to connect with her eyes. "If this is aboutaru you father..." He said when he was at eye level. "I'm sorry about what happened. But even with a search party out looking for them... the Yagudo... they are merciless and-"

"No! He can't be dead!" Eirwen refused to believe as tears began to develop and run down her cheeks.

"But..." Georgy-Weorgy attempted to reason with her.

"No! He's alive somewhere!!" Eirwen cried and ran off into the dry lands of Meriphataud Mountains to get away from false believes.

Carrying a big pile of clean plates, Yuhito-Kubhito witnessed what happened. "Don't just stand there! Go after her!"

Georgy-Weorgy ran after her as fast as his small feet could carry him, ignoring all the dirty plates he crushed along the way.

"That poor girl..." Yuhito-Kubhito sighed as he picked up a plate next to the rock Eirwen sat against. "She didn't even finish her supper-wupper."

- - -

Running through a maze of canyons illuminated by the moonlight, Eirwen tried to shake off the two Goblins who began to chase her earlier. The distance she created became smaller as she came to a dead end at a small area above a high cliff. In panic she tried to look for an escape, but found none. As a last resort, Eirwen hid behind a stone monument and tried not to make any sound.

The two goblins entered the small area, looking for the Hume girl they were chasing. One of the Goblins scratched his helmet with his rusty knife wondering where she had gone. Holding a bomb, the other Goblin sighed dejectedly. His comrade panicked when he noticed the bomb was lit and slammed it out of his hands. The bomb landed close to the monument, followed by a small explosion.

"AAAH!!" Eirwen screamed during the blast, revealing her location.

Weapons drawn, the Goblins approached the unarmed girl. As they raised their arms to deliver their first blow, they got struck by lightning.

"Thank the Goddess! I've found you just in time!" Georgy-Weorgy exclaimed in relief.

Eirwen stood up and hugged her uncle tight. "T-thank you." She sniffled.

"Don't run off like that ever again!" He warned her strictly. "But I'm glad you are safey-wavey. Let's return to camp."

Eirwen pushed herself off of him and agreed with a confirming nod.

Coming at the first fork in the road, Georgy-Weorgy scratched his head, wondering which way they came from. Apparently he made a mistake as they ended up facing a big granite door.

"Are we lost, Uncle Georgy?" Eirwen asked, holding his hand ever since he rescued her.

"We won't be once I find out at what side of the fort this door is located." He reassured Eirwen.

"Fort Karugo-Narugo?" Eirwen wondered.

"Indeedaru! Fort Karugo- HIDE!" Upon hearing the granite door unlock, he pulled Eirwen with him behind the nearest boulder he could find.

Peeking from behind the boulder, they saw the bulky doors open. A small group of black feathered birdmen of roughly four times the size of a Tarutaru stepped out, followed by a group of Tarutaru chained to together by their feet.

"That's dad-MMMPH!" Georgy-Weorgy covered Eirwen's mouth with his tiny hand just in time.

"Sssh. Don't let them find us here." He whispered with his index finger pressed to his lips. "Yes, that's the Yagudo with your father and his team all righty-wighty."

Georgy-Weorgy turned his attention to the door again. At that moment a fierce looking Yagudo stepped out, guided by two light elementals hovering around him. Georgy-Weorgy's pupils constricted upon the Yagudo's sight.

"Yuu Mjuu the Awakened!" He blurted out, catching the attention of the Yagudo.

Swift as they were, the Yagudo had him surrounded. Georgy-Weorgy raised his hands to show he did not pose a threat to them and stepped away from the boulder.

"Georgy-Weorgy!" Exclaimed Jamey-Amey surprised. "What on Vana'diel are you doing here?!"

"Oh, I was around. Around and abouty-wouty. Enjoying a campfire, playing with the saplings. Doing the usual ceremony all alone." Georgy-Weorgy explained with a goofy smile.

To the unknowing Yagudo, Georgy-Weorgy appeared to be rambling. But Jamey-Amey knew better.

"I see. Welcome to the party!" Jamey-Amey continued the charade.

"Thanksies! So it were those smelly-welly White Mages of the Yagudo Divine Sentinels behind our ambush."

"That's right. They-"

The Yagudo silenced both Tarutaru and chained Georgy-Weorgy to the others. Pulling their chain, the Yagudo continued their way through the canyon. When they were out of sight, Eirwen's invisible wore off. "Thanks for casting invisible on me, uncle Georgy."

Eirwen decided to go in the other direction, hoping to find camp safely.

She was in luck. Not too long after leaving the fort, she stumbled upon Yuhito-Kubhito, who stood watch near the area's entrance not too far from the cave where the other children were sound asleep.

"You're back!" He whispered, trying not to wake anyone up. "Did you come across Georgy-Weorgy by any chance?"

Eirwen tried to respond, but she was too exhausted from all the commotion and dozed off in Yuhito-Kubhito's arms. Barely able to handle a body twice his size, he brought her back to camp, tucked her in, and went back to his position at the entrance to guard those visiting dreamland.

The next morning, Eirwen woke up to the noise of playing children outside the cave. A little groggy, she got up and stepped outside.

"Do you think he's dead?" A Tarutaru boy wondered.

"No way. He's still breathing!" A Mithra girl pointed out.

Looking in their direction, Eirwen noticed Yuhito-Kubhito sleeping on top of a rock near the remains of the campfire. The Mithra girl poked him with a stick to get a reaction out of him. She dropped the stick when he suddenly woke up in fear. The children, however, got a good laugh out of that and continue playing.

- - -

"Outrrrgeous! So far the end of our truce with those feather necks!"  A pissed off Mithra in a white and purple robe with golden decorations motioned angrily when she heard Yuhito-Kubhito's report from what he had heard from Eirwen.

"Are we not jumping to conclusions, Semih Lafihna?" The Star Sybil, dressed in her ever-holy blue garment, wondered after hearing the same story. "If they wanted to end the truce, would they not have killed them instead of taking them into custody?"

"Custody?! They've been taken prisoner!" Semih Lafihna corrected out of line.

"Ohoho!" laughed professor Shantotto, flicking away one of her two tails in her hair. "Calm down you mutt. You alone wouldn't stand a chance at kicking their butt."

"Now, now." Yuhito-Kubhito tried to save the situation before it would get out of hand. "The Star Sybil is right. Something else mustaru be going on. The Yagudo aren't ones to brutally murder anyone. They always have a plan."

"Then I'm rrrequesting the order to head for Castle Oztroja with a team and find out!" Semih Lafihna decided upon heading for the exit to the Star Sybil's Vestal chamber.

"I had better lead that team of stray cats. If not, we are bound to end up with empty beds." Shantotto followed up on Semih Lafihna's words.

"And risk your capture as well?" The Star Sybil halted them. "I will not risk the loss of more people."

Semih Lafihna paused in her tracks. Professor Shantotto understood the risks but tried to persuade the Star Sybil. "If we don't act soon, we won't get anything done."

"And if we lose our best people, nothing can be won." Yuhito-Kubhito sided with the Star Sybil.

Professor Shantotto peered at the Tarutaru man in disgust.

"Gathering intelligence is half the victory that we want to reach." The professor said in a snotty tone. "Unlike mimicking other people's pattern of speech."

Yuhito-Kubhito was startled. A brief silence followed. The sound of the rustling leafs of the Heaven's tower was heard through the arched windows decorating the walls of the Vestal chamber.

Yuhito-Kubhito slammed his fist into his other hand. He had a suggestion either side would be satisfied with.