Spring had begun to cloak the world in warmth again, but to Yellow Eye the day was cold and harsh, the wind particularly cutting, as they crossed the Vienda Bridge.

In the end, there was no way they could stay in Dorhaven, not after what had happened. Rumors of a plot to drive them out of the city, of a war against the humans and wicks, were one thing. But actual Seventen violence was quite another. Already, three of their members had been bloodied and one killed during protests outside the Embassy in Dorhaven. They were no longer welcome there.

Not wanting to incur the self-righteous jeers of their nomadic brethren, the Red Crow tribe, Yellow Eye had begun a slow and painful immigration to the outskirts of Vienda. Soon, the perimeter of the city was dotted with carts, tents and blazing cooking fires.

Around midday, there was a scuffle in Crosstown Court as a visiting Red Crow attacked a member of Yellow Eye as the wick was walking through the city. Fists flew and blood splattered on the cobblestones as the fight grew to include more feuding wicks. A circular crowd gathered around to watch the brawl, which was escalating quickly.

Sarinah had discovered that the Yellow Eye had fled Dorhaven, and by late evening of the 6th people had started to talk about all the new caravans set up around Vienda. After a few hours sleep, she had made herself a promise to go and find Durg Lordes and her parents, if they were there.

She wandered through the town, coming up on the Court. There was a scuffle going on, a brawl in fact. She couldn't see who was involved, but she could see the crowd. Picking up her pace, she jogged over. She couldn't see who the fighters were, but she could see markings. Already, the fighting between the Red Crow and Yellow Eye had begun. Something deep inside her boiled. Running, she pushed through the crowd.

"Ho! Stop! What are you doing!" She tried to get in between the two men. Shoving the Red Crow man, she growled, and pulled out her sai, holding them at the ready.

"Havakda! Are you mad?" Her eyes were burning with rage. She glared at him, heart racing. Desperate to turn around and look at the Yellow Eye, but smart enough not to drop her guard, she stood her ground.

((note: it's more than two men at this point ))

Sarinah felt a blow to the back of her head as someone's elbow flew out to make contact with her skull. Her presence in the midst of the fight, as well as her appearance, made most assume she was a willing participant in the brawl. The Red Crow and Yellow Eye were not sure where she stood, politically, so they both threw punches and spells her way. She was not being targeted, but it was clear that no one would be avoiding her because she was a girl.

"Laoso git!" screamed one wick at another. "Vrunta! Havakda! Cowardly mites!" "Why don't you go back to kissing the golly's boots!" The stream of profanity and curses began to muddle together as one.

((ahh..oh yes i see that...she probably wouldn't have jumped in then. erk))

Sarinah reeled from the blow, and suddenly she was in the middle of the brawl. She began fighting off the attacks she was receiving, spinning, kicking and smacking people with the flat of her sai's. She didn't want to kill anyone out of fear they were Yellow Eye.

Ducking a whoosh of flame she rolled and found herself at the edge of the fray. It was a mess here, and she desperately wanted it to stop. But what could she do amongst the throng of people. She pushed herself back into the crowd, looking for someone she recognized.

"Do you know where Lordes is?" She asked a nearby Yellow Eye watching the fighting, sliding her sai's back into her skirt.

"If he's got any sense, he's at the campsite cross town," said the wick, who was absorbed in the fight, and ugly look on his face as he looked at the Red Crow side. "Scuse me."

He plunged headfirst into the melee.

Sarinah stepped aside to let the man join the fighting. She set her jaw and stalked across the court and towards the fringe of Vienda, where all the caravans had set up. Looking around carefully, she tried to spot the Durg's Caravan.

"Lordes? I'm looking for Durg Lordes." She called out loudly, painfully aware that the brawl was still raging on behind her, still wracking her brain for a way to cool it down. Part of her wanted to jump back in and start kicking heads, but she knew it would only get her banged up and Cook would be furious. If she could find Lordes, maybe he could help somehow.

Cassi was woken by the cacophony of noise and shouting. She wearliy pulled herself out between her sheets and stuck her head out the window. In the distance she heard shouting, Cassi sheilded her eyes and looked up at the sun. "Oh Clocks" she muttered to herself. Cass had overslept again! She squinted into the distance and saw a scuffle taking place.

Cassi raised her eyerows and gleefully pulled her trousers on, Cassi loved a fight she hadn't taken part in one for simply ages! She hastily buttoned up coat and skittered out the cart door and onto the street.

Cassi sprinted in the direction of the rabble, it turned out she was heading towards Crosstown court. Her day was getting more interesting by the minute.

As Cassiopeia neared the fight she slowed down and stayed close to the buildings. "Aww sack it she thought, this is dull!" she thought to herself.

With an almighty yell Cassi threw herself headlong into the epicentre of the fight.

(((Oh deary me!)))

Sarinah still didn't have a response about Lordes and she began to wonder if he was in the fray too. Turning slowly, she dismissed it, knowing the man would surely have a more level head than that. As she turned back to the caravans a sweeping blonde figure ran past her.

"Wo chet!" She exclaimed and spun to watch the figure, a woman half run-half jog to the brawl, then suddenly throw herself into it. The brunette dancer shook her head, and jogged back down to the brawl, looking for the woman. Maybe she could help her find Lordes...if Sarinah could find her again. It didn't take long to make out the blonde woman. The way she moved was very familiar, but the dancer just couldn't place it.

Cassi ducked a couple of badly aimed punches and then a glint of red caught her eye.

A gorgeous head of hair streaked with red threaded its way through the crowd. The young woman moved so elegantly as if she was tip toeing on air. She must get to her, at least to compliment the girl on her hair.

Cassi attemped to make her way in the general direction and commenced ramming surly men out of her way. Then out of no-where a fist came hurtling towards Cassi's forehead.

Before she could even curse loudly, it hit her and Cassi went down like a sack of fish.

Sarinah watched the woman do exactly as she had done, dive into the fray only to try and get out again, then suddenly she was down.

"Vrunta!" She said harshly and dove in, keeping herself low, trying to avoid the fighting. She shoved between legs and bodies, fending of blows as they came, when finally she was beside the downed woman. Sarinah was now at a loss, she couldn't drag the woman out and its not like anyone would assist her. She had an idea.

"Ho! Can you hear me?" The brunette slapped Cassi's face gently, hoping she wasn't too out of it.

"Can you hear me? I need your help."

Dom surveyed the scene like a exasperated dinner lady watching a food fight. He dismounted Betty and stood patting her on the neck, as he often did when his mind was elsewhere.

The burly seventen appeared to be the first on the scene. If he was in any doubt of his safety, he didn't show it. A human sprawled towards him, either shoved, or with the right levels of insanity and wrath to take on a guard. Dom cast Dullness, almost offhandedly, his eyes still on the crowd.

He couldn't exactly go in guns blazing, but if any wick tried to be clever and use magic he'd come down on them like an elevator with all its cords cut.

Cassi's brain whirred into action. She was lying on the floor, it was cold and hard. She then felt a gentle tap on her face. Cassi emitted a low and husky groan. She then snapped open her eyes and was amazed to see that woman with red hair leaning over her.

Cassi grinned as if nothing was wrong and cheerily greeted her "Hesta! Fancy seeing you here. I must say I do like your hair!"

All of sudden Cassi became of a dull throbbing in her head, she was still in the fight and had to get out. So she clumsily attempted to get up, but ended up sprawling in the cobbles.

The wick who had stumbled at Dom Leon suddenly stopped moving, his eyes slowly unfocusing. The spell did not escape the notice of the other wicks; still strangling, squeezing and pushing their fingers into each other's faces, they managed to grind to a halt while still fighting each other. All eyes were on Dom Leon, waiting for him to do something.

Sarinah looked at the blonde woman for a moment, then sighed. She was obviously not going to be concious enough for spell casting. The dancer wondered if perhaps she could do it on her own.



Sarinah noticed the crowd was slowing down and eventually they stopped. She was immediately thankful, but then she began to worry. Something had to have happened to catch everyones attention. Something or someone. She hooked her arms under Cassi's and riefed her up, trying to glance over the top of the other wicks haeds.

There was an old grizzled man, a Seventen by the looks of things, and he was just watching the wicks. Sarinah tried to slink out of the group, dragging Cassi with her.

So he'd got everybody's attention. Dom's fists curled at his sides. He was without back-up, and, he grimly reminded himself, without the power to arrest anyone.

Maybe he could straighten things out a little before his comrades arrived. He cast Vocal Augmentation on himself. It was a difficult spell, but he asked only that his voice could be heard above the hubbub of the mob.

"Men!" He stepped forward, the mona of his field signifying a definite inclination for perceptive magic, but also an exhaustive use of pain, "I ask you stop this madness." He was careful not to use the word 'command', but nonetheless, he spoke it as a threat, "You are brothers!" He smiled and laid out his palms, "You are all each other have."

He watched them, his stance and magical field daring them to continue so feverishly - he knew his limitations, and was not counting on them shaking hands and calling it a day because of one galdor. But hopefully one or two would recognise him.

As he spoke he tried to pick out the original combatants, his eyes drifting over Sarinah and Cassiopeia. Women He thought contemptuously.

The wicks looked back and forth between each other, wondering what on earth Dom Leon was talking about. Brothers? The Red Crow and Yellow Eye were mortal enemies. What did a golly know of wick affairs?

Nevertheless, they dared not resume fighting while such a powerful individual was watching them. He might not have been able to take them all, but both tribes understood that he could probably take at least one of them down before they had gotten to him. Sheepishly, the Yellow Eye sheathed any drawn weapons and began to shuffle away; the Red Crow, however, stared defiantly at the galdori, not leaving the courtyard, and not content to bow down like townies to a single man.

Cassi felt the young woman hoist her up, she planted her feet firmly on the cobbles. Looked around and realised the deafening silence "OH VRUNTA!" Cassi exclaimed. Her curse penetrated the square like a knife through butter.
All eyes turned to look at the unlikey duo. "Vrunta" Cassie cursed, under her breath this time. This is not what either of them wanted.

Cassi's fuzzy brain tried to think of a way of escape. She moaned to the woman "We must get out!"

Sarinah cringed, trying to blend in with the slowly dispersing Yellow Eye. She put an arm around Cassi and hissed.

"Wo chet! Be quiet chip, or you'll get us fighting again." Smiling sweetly at the onlookers, she shook her head.

"She's just a little shaken up, excuse us." She said in her breathiest voice, giving the men looking at them a sly wink, hoping her dancer charms would work the trick. Dragging Cassi out by the shoulders with the Yellow Eye's, she turned to look back at the Seventen. She couldn't just leave him out there to deal with the entire Red Crow bunch that had stood their ground. But at the same time, what fool makes an alliance with a golly?

Sitting Cassi on the ground, well away from the throng, she knelt with her, watching the stand off, waiting to see what she would do next. Glancing at the blonde then back to Dom Leom, she spoke quietly.

"Are you alright?"

Dom clasped his hands behind his back and advanced towards them.

"Not the least strategic. Just think what you might achieve with unity," He spoke to no-one in particular and, without the help of the mona, was only heard by those closest to him.

His chrove, more a pet now, was understandably reluctant to follow him into the fray.



Dom's eye twitched at the woman's exclamation and he turned on his heels to face her. A tall, longed-haired wick came to her aid and escorted her to the sidelines. Those two looked approachable - answerable to a galdor.

He turned back and, failing to distinguish the leader of this unruly mob, looked to each face in turn as he spoke:

"I'm only here to keep the peace. Talk to me, a man of status, if you wish - if there is something you want." He raised an eyebrow, "Assuming there is something you want, and didn't start a fight just to see another man get hurt." He apparently thought the idea was absurd.

"This is our matter," said a burly Red Crow, in a thick accent reminiscent of the Anhai Valley. "We were just defendin' ourselves against these lapdogs."

"Tha's a lie!" shrieked a Yellow Eye from the back of the crowd. Some further yells went up, but everyone seemed reluctant to fight in front of a Seventen, even a retired one. Dom Leon could hear a lot of muttering in Tek, and thought he could distinguish the gnashing of teeth.

Dom held up his hands and spread his fingers,

"I will not tolerate such lawless behavior, and will strike the first man to upset the peace."

His face could break bricks, with such a hard look in his eyes and teeth bared, and the ligaments in his hands tense as wire.

"Save it for another day, lads," He murmured, "And another place."

With an intense, mutinous grumbling, the wicks began to disperse. The muscles in several Red Crows' jowls were twitching in anger. How dare this golly interfere in wick events!

Nevertheless, the Red Crow knew that the Yellow Eye were in town now. There was certain to be trouble on the horizon.

Cassi felt herself being dragged aside. Her legs attemped to walk but she was still too far gone. She plonked herself on the ground, or was she put there. Cassi wasn't too sure...

The girl knelt beside her and then spoke to the strange man.

Cassi didn't listen, she was worried about all the trouble she had caused. She held her blond head in her hands and sobbed quietly to herself. Mumbling "What have I done?! Why?". Cassiopeia hugged her knees to her body and resumed her sobbing. Hoping the nice girl with the red-streaked hair would come back. She was friendly and welcoming and reminded her of something, but Cassi's confused brain didn't know what.

Sarinah watched the wick's dispersing and sighed a little, but she knew that trouble was just beginning. The Red Crow and Yellow Eye were in the same city, and that would mean tensions would run very high. She then noticed the woman beside her was sobbing. Turning back to her she repeated her question.

"Are you okay?" She put her hand on the woman's shoulder, wondering if she needed medical attention.

Dom's held his arms out, shoulder locked forward, reminiscent of a nettled cat. He waited patiently for the wicks to leave, then straightened his back and his coat, composed himself, cleared his throat and approached Cassiopeia and Sarinah.

"Good day," He greeted cheerfully. The chrove lumbered over and stood behind them. Dom regarded Cassiopeia, sitting with her head in her hands, and his first instinct was to drag the woman up on to her feet. He could not stand something so pitiful. Instead he chose to ignore her and addressed Sarinah directly, "What happened here, what started the fight?" All trace of cheerfulness was gone. Dom watched her coldly.