( Continued from here.)

At last! Vienda was in sight. Hunter hoped to run into some wicks who might be able to get his little investigation started. However, he needed to stop and rest for a bit before venturing into the city proper. The Bridge seemed an ideal place. He might even be able to work out a trade for the brace of rabbits he and Streak had run down earlier. A bit of fresh bread would just about hit the spot. And something other than water to drink.

He walked, Streak a few meters ahead, and led the ugly gray moa behind. They'd made good time and the bird – whom Hunter had started to jokingly call "Falcon" - deserved a rest.

Eschewing his uniform (he'd ruined enough of them in the past month or so) Hunter was clad in road gear: tan trousers and shirt, a patched-up leather vest, sensible boots, and a hooded cloak striped grey and bright blue that had been a gift from the Grey Mark tribe. He pulled a dusty scarf from his face and tucked his road goggles into a vest pocket before meandering in search of a friendly kint.

((How about a PC wick? ))

Calli had been practicing all morning and had decided to take part of her afternoon off to go look for last-minute additions to her costumes. She hadn't found anything yet and honestly didn't think she needed to. It was fun to look though, some of her best outfits had been made at the last minute.

She caught sight of an interesting looking wick in front of her and raised her hand to wave hello. A moment later she felt his field and realised that he was not a tekaa. A few days before she would not have cared, though she might have been cautious. She wasn't sure what to do now. What if he hassled her for being so close to the gate?

There was nothing for it, she finished the wave anyway.

((Woohoo!))

Hunter caught sight of a tall wick about his age. Her grace and the suggestion of energy about to break loose with each step drew his attention even before the wave. Perhaps it was that she seemed an optical opposite to him: tall where he was short, compact where he was husky, fair-haired and tan as opposed to his pale skin and dark hair. Or perhaps it was the dazzling smile – the one that seemed to dim a few candelas midwave.

She must have mistaken me for someone else, and just realized it too late.

Slightly disappointed that the smile had not been meant for him, Hunter decided to take advantage of the contact.

"Junta!"

Oh wait, wicks who don't know you might not appreciate your attempt at Tek.

"Um, I mean, hello miss."

He was blushing slightly, but didn't realize it.

"I wonder if you might be so good as to help a newcomer- Streak! Ne!"

The bander, sensing something about Calli's field or her scent, had sniffed right up to her and tangled himself up in her legs.

Hunter's blush deepened about three shades.

Calli relaxed, so perhaps he was a tekaa... of a sort anyway. She let out a happy sigh, arms swinging behind her back.

"Whew! I thought you might have been about to send me away from the gate, on account of me not being allowed in Vienda anymore." Calli blurted, her previous nervousness making her stick her foot in her mouth. "Epaemo!"



Calli squealed, delighted.

"Oh aren't you handsome!" She said to the bander, ducking down to let him sniff her hand and run her fingers through his fur. "You're so cute! Yes you are!"

She lifted her legs from the hip to shift around the wolf, dancing out of his way playfully.

"What's his name?" She asked while turning about the boy's pet. "What's your name?"

Hunter shrugged off the awkwardness, he was even a bit grateful to his furry friend for breaking the ice.


Now why couldn't I rate the same kind of enthusiasm, you lucky dog.

There was a moment of boyish fantasy before he realized she'd asked a question. His eyes focused on the real Calli again.

"Streak. I call him Streak. And I'm Hunter."

Something else she'd said caught up to him and hit him rather toughly.
"Did you say you aren't allowed in?"

Calli gave Streak a big rub behind his ears. "What a clever boy!" She said in the low grumbling tone many people use when talking to animals.

She straightened, spine arching slightly as though she was performing. The closer she got to a big gig, the more her dance and acrobatic movements seeped into her normal motions.

"Haven't you heard? Wick's aren't allowed in Vienda anymore, something about being a bad influence." She sounded a bit hurt at this but there wasn't much she could do about it. "They throw us out now. You're allowed in though!"

She said the last part brightly, it was the most consolation she could give. He certainly was a strange kind of galdori, although he wouldn't have been a strange wick. She pondered that thought for a moment.

The lad looked slightly sick at the revelation. It wasn't the worst thing that could have happened, but it was pretty bad.

"No, I hadn't- How could they? Even the wicks that were born there? What'll happen to- I- "
He paused stunned.
"I'm sorry. I must be more tired than I thought. I've just ridden here from Brunnhold because I heard there was trouble and they don't tell us the whole story so I wanted to see."

He felt very tired all of a sudden. This probably wasn't a good topic to open with, so he tried to lighten it up a bit.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. But it's their loss I reckon, keepin' such a stellar chip as yerself outta their view. And maybe my loss too, as it's the wick version of things that I've come to find out."

Streak was busy basking in Calli's attention. Sure he was a wolf, but he was raised with people. Hunter's wildlife observations had been fun, but had robbed the pet of the amount of interaction it craved.

Calli blinked her way through his incredulity.

"Yeah, I kinda felt that way too." She said, patting his shoulder in a manner meant to be reassuring. "I'm Calli, by the way."



Calli's arms twisted in a loop.

"Aw, thanks." She said, reddening at the compliment. It was strangely enjoyable to hear a non-wick speak tek. "Most of the wicks are still about, on the edge of town. I'm sure there's plenty of people to speak to. You should be a little careful though, there's been some fighting between the Crows and the Eyes. I don't quite understand why there's so much bad blood over whether we travel or not but I'm a bit simple that way."

She voiced the self-deprication casually. She believed it to be true and she wasn't entirely incorrect, either.

"What do you need to know?" She asked, bending down a little again to pat the wolf.

"Oes, Crows and Eyes at it again, eh. Dze. Not sure it's as simple as just travelin'. If all the tribes start joining, then some Durg'll be bigger than others. And maybe some Durg won't be Durg no more... If there's a bit of scrapping, I can take care of myself."

Almost as if to disprove that statement, his vision went blurry for a second and he let out a yawn.

"Maybe I should get some food in me and a little time off my feet first."

"Anyway, I'm trying to meet up with as many people as I can who were in the city for the, er, they're calling it a riot? There're just rumors of some kind of attack against gollies, and I want a chance to find out the truth before they announce the 'official version' of it. I'm guessing if they tossed all the wicks out, it'll be bad."

Calli tilted her head.

"I'd rather you didn't, some of them are my family." She narrowed her eyes, just slightly irritated at the implied and fairly justified slur against her clan. "I'm a Crow."



"There's someone selling soup down below the bridge." Calli said pointing. "It's true about the riots, there was more than one. It hasn't been about the gollies though from what I can tell. Something has really stirred up the bad blood, I've heard rumours that some of it is even because of the Seventen!"

She dropped her voice to a whisper, she didn't want any guards nearby to give her trouble.

"I wasn't there though, I know some people that were at a few. Would you like to meet them?" She knew Sarinah had been involved in one and she was fairly sure Kynth had as well.

"Epaemo. I didn't mean any bad. It's just there's history and it doesn't seem like to change any time soon. More's the pity. Good spokes have enough trouble from the government without worrying about each other. And I wouldn't be wantin' to hurt anyone. Just keep myself outta the way or dust if I need to. Maybe have a good wrestle like wif me old kov in Grey Mark."

"Soup's good. I just need something in me. Streak had a couple of conies quick for lunch, but I didn't want to waste time with a fire and cooking so mine are still on the saddle. Would you join me?"

Calli's whisper was contagious, and caused Hunter to flex his field about in search of possible trouble nearby.

"If your friends are comfortable talking with a golly, and you feel comfortable introducing me, I would appreciate it greatly."

Calli didn't say anything in reply. Hearing about the civil war involving her clan talked about so casually... It made her very uncomfortable.



"Sure, I'm hungry too. I could eat a horse but I wouldn't." She left her strange half-mixed hyperboly as it stood. "I don't think my friends would mind, our Tavian is a galdor, I don't think he saw the riots though. If he has he hasn't mentioned it."

She started to walk across the bridge, turning a handstand and swinging upright again. She was probably going to repeat this behaviour several times.

"I think I saw someone selling bread too but I'm not sure. Dunno how they bake it out here, we always had a frick of a time doing it on the road." She said, glancing back at Frederick.

Streak trotted along beside Calli and gave a little yip of delight at the handstand. Hunter led Falcon, his stomach grumbling audibly. He watched the ease with which the little witch went through her movements. It brought to mind something he'd seen on a poster.

"Say, you're not with that circus group by any chance are you, Calli?"

The moa tugged at the lead as he paused.

"Oes, oes, Falcon, we rest in a bit."

Calli started walking backwards so she could keep moving and talk at the same time.

"Oes, how did you know?" She asked quizzically. "Hey, I can smell pumpkin!"

The soup stand was rather decrepid looking to her eyes but it had several pots of soup and all of them looked good. She fished around in her side bag for some coin.

"I like your moa!" She said as she rummaged.

Frederick laughed, warming up even more to the girl's company.

"When I first saw you, I thought 'She moves with such energy and... poise and joy: she must be a dancer.' And seeing you pull that handstand with so little effort made me think of the posters I saw about a circus."

Seeing Calli reach for coin, Hunter stepped closer.

"Oh, you must let me treat. In return for your help and for the brightening you've made of my day's journey."


"She's not mine actually," he stroked the mottled beasts back reassuringly, "Just a borrowed friend. Her owner calls her Bumpsy, but I think I've decided Falcon suits her. She's sharper than she seems at first glance."

Taegan had been watching Calli for a while now, broodily stalking through the kints and people as she got closer to the circus tent. To start with it had been because he was worried about her so close to the gates, now it was because of the galdor fellow she suddenly seemed so chummy with. Who was this wanna be wick? Walking and not paying attention, he oofed! into a body. Turning sharply, he looked down.

"Dorian?" He whispered. The boy was crouching beside a caravan. He looked up at his blonde friend and waved.

"Hey, Taegan. Shh." The brown haired boy was trying to be quiet.

"I can do that too!" She said, enthusiastic at the thought of someone being interested in what she could do. It was almost like the feeling she got when she thought she'd impressed Sarinah.

"I can sing as well but not as good as our musician, her name is Eriyenna. She's great." Calli added, wanting to brag a little about her new family.



"That's very nice of you!" Calli said, blushing from the compliment.

She was getting better at not looking a complete fool when someone was nice to her.



Calli nodded.

"I agree, that's not a very kind name for a Moa. I'm sure she's much softer than a falcoln though." Calli had seen a falcoln take a rabbit once, she'd been upset for a whole day. "What kind of soup should we get? I like the look of the minestrone. It has bits in."

She wasn't sure what the bits were, they just looked very interesting.

"Hmm. You're probably right. I just tend to think of hunting animals first off. Maybe you could help me come up with a more suitable name."

This Calli was a gentle soul. Hunter wished the world was a less complicated place. He hated to think of her innocent nature being touched by riots and brawls or anything else that might dim her vibrant light.

He addressed the soup vendor politely.

"Good day, I'd very much like some of the minestrone and perhaps a serving..."
The bright color and savory smell attracted his interest.
"... of that tempting tomato soup?"

He fished around in the pocket with his lesser coins for payment. Returning his attention to the bubbly young witch, he continued the conversation.

"It's too bad I won't be able to stay for the circus opening. If I'm not back at Brunnhold for the first, they'll realize I've run off. I don't think my parents would much care for that. Not that my father would mind my skipping out – he would just be upset that I got caught."

Calli giggled into her hand, charmed. He was a strange boy, full of opposites and interesting dichotomies. She liked that, she was strange too.



Calli cocked her head.

"They make you go back? But you're an adult, surely it's none of their business if you go walkabout?" Calli thought about it and reddened at her own forwardness, she didn't think her words through as much as should have. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me. If my clan wanted me to come back for something important, I would too."

She still didn't quite get it, forcing him to go to school? Wouldn't he learn more out in the real world? She'd been to the Stacks once and seen the outside of the school. It looked entirely too ordered for her and she'd been incredibly glad she'd not been born a golly to have to go there.

"Your Da sounds like a wise man, there's lots to be said for not getting caught." Calli had learned this lesson well, though her honesty had meant she'd had varying success in applying the knowledge.

"It's not so bad, really. Most of my life's been like walkabout, sorta."

"See, most gollies that go to Brunnhold start at age ten. They stay in school for ten whole years an' only see family on holidays a few times a year. But my folks travel around a lot, and they kept me with 'em. So I got to see and learn lots of people and places. My folks taught me. An' the different clans we visited taught me. But my ma wanted to make sure that I have options on how to make my way, and so she said I should finish up the last coupla years like a normal student. It'll make them proud of me."

"I been to faraways like Hox and Mugroba and all over Anaxas, so I figure if they want, I can spend two years in one place mostly at school. Especially if I can figure out ways to take little trips like this one. Then when I get out I can be an explorer."

Calli brought a hand up to her throat and made a face.

"That sounds ghastly!" She said, adamantly, she couldn't imagine anything worse than being locked away for that length of time, without even the option of visiting family when she wished.



"That sounds exciting!" Calli said with a smile. "I've yet to go outside of Vienda but I'd like to go some time, before I start a family of my own or something."

Calli was fairly sure that was going to happen eventually.

The soup was delivered to them quickly, in thick, slightly chipped earthenware bowls. Calli took a sip of hers, not bothering with the spoon at first. It was good, a little hot though.

"What's Mugroba like?" She asked as she blew on her soup. "I've heard it's hot there and there's sand like at the beach only it's everywhere."

"Well, the first time I saw Mugroba was a flyover. Even from high up in an aeroship, all you could see below for miles and miles was sand, sand and more sand. Then there were thin strips, some thicker, of blue with patches of green along the sides in places. These were the rivers, like on a map. But it was far between blue strips in most places, so I could see it might be easy to get lost if you didna know where the rivers were."

"Some of the rivers feed into the Austan, some into the Vestan. There's a grest big one that starts north o' here by the Fen. And another one comes in down from the mountains of Hox. And where they meet, almost in the center like, is Thul Ka city, where the emperor has his palace. The people there have dark skin and they speak in a language that sounds like the song of the rivers that they live near."

He would like to have learned the language, and the people more, especially now that he was old enough to realize the different rules of how races were segregated in Anaxis.

"Wick and human folk and gollies all get along and live pretty well. Everyone was pretty friendly to us and they told good stories. They used the river clay to make pots and decorations on the buildings and the sand to make glass. There was even one man who made little statues of animals out of the glass."

An almost childlike quality had crept into Hunter's voice. He had been pretty young on that trip and talking about it put him back into a more innocent, playful mindset.

"The islands off the coast were fun too, but we didna stay there long. The same sort of people only they laughed a lot more and ate spicier food. And of course instead of being surrounded by sand, the islands are surrounded by lots and lots of water. One of the guides told me that there's supposed to be an island where you go deep enough into the jungle and the ground is covered in gems. But I think he mighta been given me vodundun story on account I was boch. He told a lot of pirate stories too, an' I couldna decide if I was scared or if I wanted to maybe take to the sea."

"Oh and the fish- they had some big fish that jumped high out of the water and when the sun hit 'em it sent rainbows all over!"

Once his soup was cooled down, he drank it straight from the bowl. There remained a bright orange moustache above his mouth.

Sneaking along behind the caravans watching the pair, Taegan couldn't help himself.

"Dorian, why the clock are you out here, hiding like that?" He whispered. The brown haired boy didn't answer, instead ducking behind another cart to keep up with Calli. He almost feel into her line of sight and quickly steadied himself on the cart. Turning to Taegan, he hissed.

"Coz I don't want her to get hurt you kenser! She's all alone and now...she's with a galdor. And I know what your like. Trying to get her alone with you. Girls have better taste then that." He joked, but inside he felt no humor.

"Now ssh!" Why was he still hiding, he didn't want to say. Really, he didn't want Calli to know he'd followed her and sat watching her for ages. Taegan's presence was actually annoying. Usually he would push him and tease, but Calli made him feel funny in the tummy.

Calli made an impressed sound.

"I've never been on an aeroship, they sound interesting."



That sounded very nice to Calli. She didn't personally know many gollies but she'd certainly met some scary ones. A place with friendly galdori had to be pretty good.



Calli got lost in all the information, her feet started to tap restlessly. It wasn't that she didn't think it was interesting, it was just that her attention span couldn't handle so much all at once. She could do anything so long as she was moving but she wasn't moving now.

She bit her lip at Frederick's moustache, trying to stop her smile from coming out.

"You have, uh, a little..." She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket, it was clean and dark enough not to show stains. "Around here."

She made a circle around her mouth with her finger, demonstrating.