Here's another chapter (a bit short but more are on the way), hopefully better than the last one which kinda sucked... Oh well, hopefully it'll get much better from now on. And do you know what would help make it even better? REVIEWS! (hint hint)

Oh and Timmy, in response to your interesting questions (which I would just like to say didn't really have anything to do with my story) The Sex Pistols were one of the first true punk bands in the history of music, a bit cliche yes, but good none the less. And in answer to your other question...we'll just have to leave that up to speculation now won't we.

Anyway, on with the story! Brighten up my day and leave me a review! (smiles)

Ch 19

"WHAT!" Larka exclaimed in a forced whisper.

"They're within 6 miles of us. If Fedykin hadn't been chased by a diseased Guar while he was on patrol into that area we'd never have known." Taka said, quickly pulling Larka out of her hut and shutting the door.

"Why do you think they're here?" Larka asked, shivering slightly in the nighttime breeze.

"Why do you think?" Taka asked in reply, her eyebrows raised.

"So, they finally decided to take action for our refusal to relocate. I wonder if they know I'm here as well…." Larka said worried. "How many?"

"It looked like three squadrons, two captains; one is of higher rank, about 50 or 60 in all from Fedyikin's report." Taka said.

"So it's either a sweeper team or just a show of brute force to make us give in." Larka reasoned coolly, fingering Llilith's ring absently.

"What should we do? It's too late to relocate the entire tribe, if we have to we will fight but that's never the best option." Taka said.

"Never?" Larka asked wryly.

"Larka–" Taka began warningly.

"No, we won't fight unless we have to. We'll first find out why they're here for ourselves, not wait till they're breaking down our doors." Larka began, going into the hut, Taka following. "Are you armed?" she asked the Bosmer. Taka nodded, motioning to her throwing stars and Icicle. "Good… just wait a moment while I get fully dressed." She said undressing and redressing in a clean black shirt and pants, putting her ebony and black leather bodice and boots on, and for good measure adding a pair of leather bracers to her mix. Instead of taking her cape and veil however, she merely tied her hair back in a braid and strapped her tanto to her belt.

"Where's your sword?" Taka asked puzzled, Larka never went anywhere without it.

"If we're going to sneak into the enemy camp we don't want something like a sword giving us away, which reminds me, leave Icicle and just take your stars." She replied.

"We're WHAT?" Taka squeaked, making Liam stir in his bed, though Tyrade remained asleep.

"How else did you expect to find out what they're up to?" Larka asked.

"Well I just sort of figured…" Taka began.

"Are you coming or have you lost your sense of adventure?" Larka asked bluntly, looking at Taka piercingly. The Bosmer hesitated for a moment but a glint of mischief shown in her eyes and a slow smile spread across her face as she unhooked Icicle from her belt and readjusted her blue ninja suit.

"Let's get started." She said. "But, wait…shouldn't you tell Liam, he is the Chief…" she said slowly. Larka looked down at her lover and sighed.

"I owe him that much." She murmured, thinking of their fight earlier. That day had gone by so fast and already life was on the verge of being turned upside down once more. Will it ever end, Larka thought... Then again, why would I want it to? She thought with a smirk.

Going to Liam she gently shook him till he opened his eyes groggily. "Larka, what's going on?" he asked sitting up, thoroughly confused.

"Taka has reported to me that there is a group of the Imperial Legion's men camped not too far from here. We're going to find out why they're here." Larka said slowly.

For a moment Liam looked as though he was ready to absolutely forbid it but his gaze softened and he spoke softly. "You have a duty to the tribe…" he began.

"To protect it." Larka finished, understanding the conflict of emotions he was going through.

"Investigate and report back to me, I'll wake Krillan and WhisperWing and once you return we'll discuss a course of action. If they've come for diplomacy we'll meet them as best we can." He said, the leader in him taking over.

"And if they've come for blood they'll find their own spilt as readily as they would spill ours." Larka said, her gaze becoming cold and calculating.

"Remember Larka, just investigate and come back to me, we have night on our side and this is our land, we know it best. Once you return, whatever the news, we'll deal with it as we see fit… Oh and Taka, make sure she doesn't do anything reckless." He added with a smile. Taka laughed and nodded.

"Aww, you're no fun." Larka said teasingly, kissing him and then going to Tyrade's crib and kissing her softly. "Sleep tight my angel." She murmured.

Larka suddenly smiled, realizing that, no matter what she was, a warrior, a killer, she was forever a mother. Turning to Taka she motioned for them to leave. "I'll send Llilith back if something goes wrong." She said.

"Larka" Liam said just as she was leaving.

"Yes?" she said.

"I love you."

"I love you too. I'll return soon."

……………………………………..

Swiftly the two women ran over the various hills and valleys of their home territory, night cloaking them as they leapt over the terrain that anyone who was not familiar with it would have soon gotten lost in. Larka, her gaze ever sharp, looked into the night, watching for any sign of danger. Taka ran close behind, one hand holding a throwing star should any trouble befall them.

After a time Larka motioned for them to stop. "What is it?" Taka breathed as she tried to see into the blackness of night.

"The encampment is close, they've posted a watch." Larka said.

"How can you see all this?" Taka asked, not seeing more than 15 feet in front of her.

"Call it… an acquired gift. I'll teach you sometime if you'd like." Larka said.

"I'd like that." Taka replied. "So, can we get in?"

"They've covered the area pretty thoroughly, but they have a blind spot. It'll be risky but we won't tell Liam now will we?" Larka asked.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Taka replied. "Lead the way."

The camp was settled behind a few fairly good sized hills. A few scraggily bushes and trees dotted the area and some had been cut for firewood as was evidence be the smoldering remains of several fires near the dozen tents. Two of the tents were smaller than the others and Larka knew that was where the captains were. The patrols were spaced out around the camp, but over by the hill there was a small path between two of the hills that was almost invisible to those who weren't looking for it, an old Ashlander hunting trail perhaps, or just a strange natural occurrence. Whatever the case, it was the one spot where Larka and Taka could sneak through and, if the two guards in the area were positioned just right, could get into the camp unseen. "Are you ready?" Larka whispered as they slinked towards the patrolling soldiers. They were crouched behind a low rise, hidden by an unruly scathcraw plant.

"Whenever you are, just say when." Taka replied, her gaze sharply fixed upon the path.

"Alright, in a minute that guard is going to disappear behind those boulders and will remain for about 30 seconds. The other guard will appear over the next hill but if you stay just under his line of sight you'll be unseen. Get inside and stay hidden till I find you. You have thirty seconds…Go!" Larka whispered quickly. Taka didn't bother to ask her how she knew all that, Larka was Larka after all. With a fraction of a nod Taka rushed out from behind the rise and ran silently and swiftly to the path just as the other guard appeared over the hill. It was dangerously close, but at that moment she gracefully leapt into the shadows and through the opening into the camp. Larka grinned, that Bosmer was certainly something.

Becoming serious once more she waited for the guard to disappear. Just as his bulky frame went behind the boulders Larka sprang from the shadows and ran to the opening. Quickly covering the distance she turned into the shadows as the guard reappeared from the boulders. Her intense gaze glittered in the moonlight as she advanced from the shadows through the path into the camp, not yet knowing what she'd find.