Seeking the Secluded Clan (plot)

[Kender Bard]

Selou stands to attention as does Sunder. Sunder seriously doubted things would come to blows at all--the Beasts had been very cooperative, as have everyone they'd met until this moment, but one never knew and wasn't it his job to be Sunflower's guard? He wanted to at least look the part.

[Skittlebug]

Sunflower stands as well, keeping close to Sunder. She imagines that the others will want to take care of things first even if she didn't agree.

Masego watches the shapes carefully as they come closer into view. They turn out to be small boats, not unlike Ara's, though there's no one in them. Once they're closer to the shore two Beasts emerge from the water, apparently towing the boats. Two very large otters swim around them and when the pair climbs onto the shore the group can see how large they are as well. They could be siblings, stocky and muscular, though one is female, possibly. Ara grins and walks over to greet the otters, not wanting to get in the way.

They cast an eye over the group and one speaks up, "Who is the messenger?"

Sunflower starts a little at the direct question and takes a small step forward. "Uh, I am."

"You may come to the island, but the boats only fit 2 each." He smirks pridefully, "And I doubt any of you could keep up with us, let alone make it."

Masego frowns slightly and exchanges glances with the group, feeling that she should be one of the ones to go.

[Kender Bard]

"Well, I'm not leaving Sunflower," Sunder told them all quite firmly.

Selou shrugged at Masego and nodded--he wasn't going to challenge her, and although he was curious about Aluvar, he wasn't curious enough to ruffle feathers over it. He did raise a brow at their tracker though, questioning silently if he was just as keen as Masego to go.

[Skittlebug]

Kaj makes a face and shakes his head at Selou before reaching down to scratch his companion behind an ear, "Can't very well leave Katja here."

"Decided then? Let's get moving, best not to make the situation touchier by taking your time." The otter Beasts turn back to the water, holding the small boats for the group to climb in.

Sunflower gives Sunder's hand a squeeze before climbing into one of the boats, feeling a bit more nervous than she had before.

Masego nods to Kaj, "We'll meet back here." With that she heads for the other boat.

[Kender Bard]

Sunder followed closely, settling in behind her. He felt a little better for being on the boat and he moved easily upon it, adjusting his weight where necessary to minimize the amount of rocking. "A good boat," he declared after a cursory inspection. "Very well made. You have nothing to worry about, Sunflower."

Selou gave Kaj a slight salute before following Masego. He eyed the water with a touch of distaste before climbing in behind her.

[Skittlebug]

The Beasts slip into the water, moving with as much ease as on land, if not more. Their companions follow them in, beginning to swim lazy circles around the whole group as the boats begin out onto the river.

The trip it'self is very uneventful, their Beast escorts aren't particularly interested in talking, only surfacing every few minutes for air. Once they lose sight of the shore Sunflower begins to fidget a little, glancing around often. "Do you think it will be much longer?"

[Kender Bard]

Sunder dipped his fingers into the water idly and, grinning, flicked dropletts at Sunflower. "Try to relax. This is fun!"

[Skittlebug]

Sunflower yelps, then grins. "I suppose it is, a little. It's just unsettling not being able to see the land." She looks pensive for a moment. "Did you spend much time on boats, before?"

[Kender Bard]

"Lots," Sunder said. "Not as much as Teneth or some of the other islanders. But we lived on a small, isolated little island away from the mainland. If we wanted anything we couldn't supply for ourselves--and it was a lot--we had to take a boat over to the mainland. Then after the kiddies took Scarlet as their mother, we had to rotate between living at our island home and in her home."

[Skittlebug]

Sunflower shakes her head, trying to imagine it. "It feels so...empty out here, but it is peaceful."

Now that they've been travelling for a while, the otter Beasts switch off with their companions. The actual otters are large enough that there isn't even that much of a speed difference. The pair keep pace with the boats, on either side like guards.

[Kender Bard]

"That's because you've never really seen underwater, have you?" Sunder remarked. "There's a lot of things down there! Back home, you could find clams or mussels, or you could catch fish. There's even some plants you can eat, like seaweed, but it's pretty gross."

[Skittlebug]

"That's true...I've never really thought about what's underneath the water." Thinking about that, she leans over a bit and peers down at the water as if she might see something down there. "It is pretty."

[Kender Bard]

"Careful that you don't fall over," Sunder chuckled. "And maybe when we have the free time, I'll take you swimming. It's not the ocean but I'm sure I can find something interesting around here."

[Skittlebug]

Sunflower sits back up, grinning a bit sheepishly, "That would be fun, I don't really know how to swim though."

[Kender Bard]

Sunder's grin widened. "I guess I'll have to teach you, then. It's not hard and it's a good skill to have."