"Oh well that's just great." Zoe grumbled bitterly, stopping dead in his tracks and making an exasperated gesture. "We're venturing into the spot." He pointed at the dark stain on the map, which began at the intersection of a fork in the tunnel they'd been trekking through; that very fork was directly in front of them now, unmistakable and unavoidable. For what appeared to be the next few days, guessing by their previous pace and its visual representation on the map, they would be traveling the section of the map that was covered by the loathsome brown stain.
"It's not the end of the world, Zoe." Rose soothed, stopping beside the mage and peering over at the map in his hands. Zoe drew back and shot her an incredulous stare.
"Rose!" He cried. "There could be all sorts of surprises in there! Bad ones." He held the map up and squinted at it, trying his best to decipher the section covered by the stain. "I see words on here…" He whined and sighed heavily, "…what if it's important? For Lloth's sake, what if it's a warning?!" He brought the map closer to his face in panic, then yelped and jumped back as the paper was violently torn from his hands by Dil'andau.
"It's a straight line, moron!" The warrior snapped, jabbing his finger at the stain on the map. "See? Who cares what the words say? There's no gap in the path and there's no other way to go, so therefore there's nothing to flip out about." He examined Zoe's dull, unimpressed look and raised an eyebrow. "You know, Zojikoe," He began, lowering the map suddenly. "Sometimes I wonder about you. You see…you listen to the females," He nodded slowly, holding Zoe's fuming gaze, "and that gives you the brain damage. You don't know what the simple things in life are all about!" He meant to go on, but Zoe lifted a finger and Rose's panther tackled him from the side, taking his feet out from under him.
"Wow," Zoe said quietly, snatching up the map from the fallen Dil's fingers, "and for a second there, I thought you were actually going to come up with something intelligent…" He shook his head and chuckled, then moved off to join Rose, who'd gone up ahead the second Dil'andau had started talking.
Leisurely, Ka and Mezzen strode by Slayer and Dil. The drowess smiled but didn't bother to turn her head. "Sucker." She hissed at the cat-on-man lump and moved on by. She could have sworn she saw a rude gesture from the corner of her eye.
"Didn't I tell you to shoo, kid?" Ka just about barked at Mezzen, noticing the boy suddenly. Excited and curious as always, Mezzen had been gravitating around, in front of and behind the group since they'd set out that morning. If something caught his eye, he'd go to it immediately and be fascinated by it; it was utterly impossible to cover any ground with the kid holding everyone up every two minutes, and so they had let him wander about, though always within visual range.
"You did, yep." Mezzen answered nervously and hurried his pace to catch up with Zoe and Rose. "Sorry to bother you." He had been hanging back, staring at a hole in the cavern wall, and had suddenly realized just how far back he was when Zoe had stopped to complain about the map. Realizing that he was now dangerously close to both Ka and Dil'andau, he tried to make a hasty departure.
And failed.
"Not so fast." Ka said, grabbing the boy's shoulder as he sped by and pulling him back into step with her. She turned a rank grin down at him. "You can run to safety in a bit." She assured him. "But right now, we're going to have a little chat." Mezzen looked dubious.
"Is this about the stick again?" He asked, his eyes darting back to Zoe and Rose every other second. "Because I can scream really loud–" He began but stopped short when Ka's hand swatted the back of his head, ruffling his hair.
"Fine." Ka hissed. "You want this to be hard, then it'll be hard." She clutched Mezzen's shoulder tightly so as to keep him from taking off, screaming like a siren. "We're going to discuss some rules, now that we know you're a psion. Rule number one: don't threaten me. If you do, I'll scream too. Loud." She narrowed her eyes at the boy. Mezzen narrowed his eyes back.
"I just did threaten you." He retorted smartly. "So there. And if I scream first, Zoe'll get to you before Dil gets to me." He stuck his tongue out. Ka's eyes narrowed further. The boy had gotten cockier since the night before. Apparently besting Dil, sucking up to Rose, refusing his fellow psion and managing to live through it all had boosted his confidence. Perhaps the profoundly disturbing (and not to mention comical) yelling fight between Zoe and Ka over Ka's 'adventure' with Dil had erased from the boy's mind his horror over Ka's reaction to him being a psionicist. Perhaps he needed a pointed reminder.
"Think so, do you?" Ka's voice was grading. She took a moment to rethink the wisdom of what she was about to do, and then promptly ignored the internal protests. She hadn't slept at all the night before, was in a rotten mood because of it, and Mezzen was jumping on her one remaining nerve.
"Yeah!" Mezzen countered vehemently. He sucked in his breath, his small chest heaving. Ka grinned.
"Bring it on." She challenged. That said, the boy shrieked at the top of his lungs; Ka sucked in her own breath and shrieked too.
Up ahead, Zoe and Rose whipped around in a panic, nearly knocking their heads together as they did. Instead of seeing a blood-thirsty demon of the elemental plane of fire chomping down on a Mezzen-leg and a Ka-arm, they saw two perfectly fine drow standing idly in the middle of the tunnel, eyes closed and yelling at the top of their lungs. Far back behind the boy and Ka, Dil'andau was standing quite still, watching the scene, looking suspiciously as though if he had a suicide button handy, he'd be pressing it right then.
Out of breath, both Ka and Mezzen ceased their screaming almost simultaneously. Like a mirror image, they both whirled around curiously, confused at the fact that neither of their assigned protectors had come running. Mezzen huffed and pouted. Ka looked over at Zoe and Rose and waved idly; she raised her thumbs and mouthed 'I'm okay'. At this, Zoe started forward with a look of murder on his face, but Rose's arm stopped him from going any further.
"What in the nine hells are you doing?" Rose called, frowning; hands now on her hips. Across the way, Ka made a dismissive gesture.
"I fell." She answered, the lie was so blatant it hurt. Or at least the look on Zoe's face translated as much. Rose raised an eyebrow.
"And Mezzen too, I suppose?" She asked dully. Ka nodded.
"Yeah." Came the simple answer. She nudged the boy and he nodded stiffly. Rose, mouth open and eyes narrowed, stared past Ka and Mezzen and found Dil's gaze.
"I'm not getting involved." Dil grumbled in reply to the silent appeal. Rose sighed heavily and looked up at the cavern ceiling. A hand patted her on the shoulder and she looked over to see Zojikoe there. She made a pathetic face. "I used to be cool…" She whined and held back tears. Zoe nodded and pulled her in for a hug before turning her back around and heading out again.
Back behind them, Ka let out a breath and retook hold of Mezzen's shoulder, hurrying him along. "Okay, so that backfired." She declared hurriedly. "But anyway, back to the rules I wanted you to know about." Mezzen grumbled something and she squeezed his shoulder. "Shut up. Rule number one: don't threaten me or I'll fuck you up. Rule number two: you pick around in my head, I fuck you up. Rule number three–"
"But you pick around in my head!" Mezzen cried, mortally offended at the injustice of the rule, "That's not fair!" He frowned up at Ka. Ka shrugged.
"You worship Lloth now, remember? Get used to double-standards. I'd blame Rose if I were you." She smiled flatly. "Now then, as I was saying. Rule number three: feel like trying something new out? Don't try it out on me or I'll fuck you up." She thumbed back at Dil'andau. "Use Dil for that. Rule number four: no reading females' minds. They can fuck you up. Females include me. Rule number five: no reading, playing with, rejecting, or otherwise touching the minds of other psions who are more powerful than you are, because yes, you guessed it, they can fuck you up. That includes me." She smiled and nodded once, happy with herself for that. Mezzen's face scrunched up for a moment and then he nodded slowly.
"I get it." He said at length. "But…how do I know who's a psion too?" He asked, eyes wide. Ka shrugged.
"Trial and error, my friend." She suggested idly. Mezzen raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips.
"But doesn't that go against everything you just said?" He tried. He wondered; maybe Ka was walking too close to Dil'andau…maybe there was a stupidity aura about him… Ka cleared her throat and blinked down at Mezzen.
"Shoo, kid. Go find Zoe." She replied flatly. The boy didn't move right off the bat, and so she propelled him forward with her hand until he scurried off and wedged himself between Rose and Zoe up ahead.
I'd like to point out that most of the trouble in your group happens before bedtime and in the morning. Rain's voice chimed inside Ka's head then, always on cue with her most poisonous of moods. So I was thinking…if the lot of you simply didn't sleep… Ka made a face.
That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. What do you want, Rain? I'm tired and flippy.
That you are, came Rain's reply. I'm debating not even bothering with any news; you seem to never be able to take it well, and your tone hurts my feelings. Ka nearly choked on her own spit.
I never ceases to amaze me how you think you it pleasant to add salt to my wounds day after day. I'm glad I amuse you, Rain. Really. I could just pass myself out right now, you know; I watched the kid long enough to see how he does it, too. Rain gurgled a laugh.
You should try it sometime; just wait a bit, though – I'd like to actually see it in action! But really, I'll make this as short as possible…just in case you decide to pass yourself out anyway. Ka blinked.
You have two minutes.
I spoke with Mezzen's master. Rain's tone was one of mixed disgust. I suggested a replacement for his pet and he took a fit; apparently a new boy wouldn't be 'the same' as his old one. He's so melodramatic, it's sickening… But anyway, he's dying of loneliness; you should see him. Acts like the boy's still there. The others are getting restless at his behavior; his mood is affecting the collective. The depression is unbearable. Hell, I've even been out on my balcony more than once this week… Ka shook her head and laughed.
Ha. Just wait before you throw yourself off, champ; I'd like to see that in action!
'Uncool', Ka. Rain quipped, using a word she'd used with him before. So, what do you want to do about it? Ka narrowed her eyes at Mezzen up ahead.
Why's it always me that's got to think of something?
Because you're the one who stole the kid. Remember? Rain sounded tired.
No, I'm not. Ka argued, but then shook her head. Okay, okay…whatever. Let's see here…so if I can't get your buddy a new pet, then there's no point in me offering you Rose's pet panther. Hmm…wow, I wish I'd have slept last night. Sweet mother of spiders…I'm starved too.
You're stalling, Rain snapped. Ka glanced over her shoulder at Dil'andau, who walked quietly a few feet behind her, humming a tune to himself. He winked at her and spun his halberd, happy to have the blade back.
Okay. How about this: Mezzen's a psion, stupid uniqueness-usurping kid, and so he should be able to communicate with his master like I'm communicating with you. How about we just set up a link between them and have them be together like that? Would that work for your buddy or not? Rain seemed to think a while, his voice momentarily gone.
That may yet work. Good, good then! I'll speak with Mezzen's master again and I'll tell you how that went. Ka let out a breath.
Excellent. Now then; I believe your two minutes are well up… Rain laughed again.
A pity. Then I leave you with this, Ka: my quarters were violated yesterday. It would appear that someone has been searching for something that I no longer have… A handful of others have also been searched. More alarmingly, the one I bought your friend Rose off of was questioned as to her whereabouts. Ka frowned.
Wah. Alright…I'll speak to her about it and find out what I can, but…in the meantime, you know, just in case…
Yes, I'll cover your backside if I get questioned as well. Rain replied before she could finish the question. You know…I think I may be beginning to understand Mezzen's master… Damn. Ka rolled her eyes and let Rain's presence leave her mind, but not before getting in one final word.
Freak.
"Someone looks like she needs a piggy-back!" Dil'andau piped up cheerily from behind, watching as Ka's pace slowed during her conversation with Rain. He fell into stride beside her and grinned. "I thought for sure you'd run into a wall. You pay no attention to where you're going when you've got squids on the brain." He shook his head. "It's sad." Ka narrowed her eyes at him but climbed onto his back nevertheless as soon as he moved to offer it.
"Take me to Rose and Zoe, please. I have to talk to them." She paused. "Well, to Rose. And less to Zoe, but I wanna see how much taller than him I am like this." At this Dil moved to catch up with the lead. As soon as he came close, Mezzen frantically gestured to Zoe and the mage hoisted him onto his shoulders so that the kid wouldn't be missing out on the person-bearing fun. Ka stuck her tongue out at Mezzen as soon as he climbed atop Zoe.
"Okay," She declared after a small staring fight with the boy. "I spoke with Rain and we changed the deal." Rose snorted.
"What now, Ka? I have to give the illithid my second-born too?" She commented moodily. Ka sighed.
"No. Don't be so cranky." She snapped and hurried to continue as soon as Zoe sucked in a breath to freak out. "Mezzen's master really, really misses him and can't bear the thought of replacing him." She went on, adding drama to it all. Beneath her, Dil chuckled.
"Wow…if mind flayers wrote romance novels…" The warrior mused cynically. Mezzen, offended at the joke, launched a small kick at Dil from atop his perch.
"Right, so anyway," Ka went on, "I suggested that since the boy's a psion," She hacked the word, "he could set up a link with his master like I have with Rain, and so that way, both we and his master could have him. Get it?" She looked over at Rose, who looked sharply up at her.
"What if he tries to take the boy from me?" She asked possessively, eyes narrowed into slits. Zoe looked over at her and she corrected herself immediately, "Us. I mean us. What if he tries to take Mezzen away from Zoe and I?" She rephrased. Zoe's smile was placid.
"You mean like you did?" Dil commented idly. Rose and Zoe ignored him. From atop the mage, Mezzen shook his head.
"He's not like that." He threw in, defending his old master. "And I kinda miss him." He scrunched up his nose and everyone in the group braced themselves for a downpour of tears.
"Alright, alright…" Rose said at last, before the silence grew too heavy, "…that sounds like an alright deal." She frowned. "A hell of a lot better than giving up my firstborn kid." She looked over at Ka and pursed her lips. She wasn't ready to forgive and forget just yet. Ka smiled and ignored the look.
"Great!" She cooed. "The other thing is that Rain's place and some other guys' places were trashed last night. People have been looking for you, Rose. Your old master was questioned, too." At this, Rose went stiff. "Rain said he'd cover for us if he gets questioned too." Zoe looked over at Rose as the priestess stopped in her tacks and took on a most distressed look. He drew close to her.
"Rose? What's going on?" He asked, concerned. Dil let Ka down from his back and smirked.
"Your sister's out to get you, methinks." He said calmly. "She always did have quite the hate-on for you…" He pondered for a moment, and then frowned deeply. "And she was very, very ugly too." He added for good measure. Rose was too caught up in her own thoughts to shoot him a glare.
"I didn't think she'd come looking for me all the way out here…" Rose said softly, still pensive. She went quiet and Zoe pulled her near; Mezzen reached down to touch the top of her head.
"If she shows up, she's as good as dead." Ka declared with a smirk. "There's four – five – of us…six, rather, including the cat…and one of her. And even if she brings cronies, we'll take them out too." She looked over at Dil and winked. "I'll be right behind you." She added slyly. Dil was unimpressed.
"That's what I thought." He grumbled.
"You're right." Rose said after a while, though she didn't make too much of an effort to make it sound convincing. She pulled away from Zoe and Mezzen and straightened out her robes. "We should get moving then; maybe my sister'll get tired of chasing. Or maybe she'll slip on something and break her neck." She smiled. "Either way we should move." She moved up ahead and beckoned for the others to come, which they did, casting suspicious glances behind them.