Hunting (Rei)

[Requiem]

He hated this infernal fucking heat.

If not for the protection the long coat afforded, it would have been shucked long ago. Boots crunched through fallen leaves, and he hated the noise, too. It was ever so tempting to rip them off. The people back at Blossom who clucked their tongues and offered platitudes like 'time heals all wounds' when he first showed up made him want to kill something. Maybe some people understood, but if they did, they wouldn't be saying a word. They'd know what he wanted to do with their tongues.

So he killed felines instead. Mostly just for being felines. And their pelts were worth quite a bit, even to the dragonriders, which was why he was here among other reasons. But the feline hunting up at Selenitas was particularly poor. Couldn't find a feline to save his life. It made the need to kill something all that much stronger. And damn it if he didn't want to pull the long blade at his thigh and cut off all this hair making it even hotter. Hadn't shaved or cut it in three months, and it had been longish to start. His hand tightened on the pike he'd drawn upon entering the forest, and then he returned it to the straps on his back.

Leaned against the tree. Micah's eyes went to the ring that he kept on his finger still like some idiot, twisting it around and around. He'd known he wouldn't find any felines here. The face was everywhere, though, and nowhere. Being there with all those familiar-looking strangers, surrounded by yammering and the northern fucking voices...one more word exchanged and he'd likely have busted their mouth just to shut them up. He'd never been particularly social, keeping everyone at a distance. Everyone but one. And now that the one was gone, he was more violently a loner than ever before. The press was suffocating. Especially all the dragonriders.

"Stop skulking around like a damned brigand and either get the balls to show yourself or beat it." The words weren't growled loudly, but the person wasn't far enough for that to be a problem. Southern to the core, that accent, even half-mumbled. The man at a glance was average. Average sized, average height. But the forbidding vibe radiated off him, if not flat-out murderous intent.

[Rei]

You’re having too much fun. Z’ves declared lazily as he wandered absently through the jungle. In a clearing not far away Lucith bared his teeth and again pinned the writhing wild canine to the ground. It’s so cute how he still fights back. Does he not see that it is futile? Most people who don’t want to die don’t see the futility to their actions. I don’t know why that amuses you so much. He simply has false hope. Like these southerners. Disgusting pacifists some of them. Pacifists. Like our Lance? Z’ves flinched. I don’t know who you are speaking about. The blue recoiled. My apologies master. It’s a stupid name anyway. Unwanted bastard fits him better. The little blue mandyr who was sleeping in the pocket of Z’ves’ shirt stirred slightly. His tail had just started to grow back and his tiny little leg was braced in a splint. It would never be the same limb it once was clearly but Z’ves could care less about that. He still hated the creature. A lot actually. Last time he would be caught dead at a hatching.

Another yelp from he canine and a surge of amusement from Lucith. I miss the felines. The inferior night creatures need to stop killing them. They are more amusing that this little maggot. Z’ves laughed. You need to go after one of the southern beauties I think. I’ll let you go after the next one. You’re getting too manic again. The dragon gave a macabre smile and titled his head. Lowering it he neatly severed one of the canines previously broken legs from it’s body before slowly pulling it apart. Piece by piece. Snorting the bluerider continued on his lazy walk, cold blue eyes fixed in front of him. Finally he stopped and leaned against a tree absently looking upwards into the canopy of the jungle. He almost missed Wasteland. This was just…too much green.

That was when a voice hailed him and the bluerider turned and raised one eyebrow. Stepping out from around his tree he examined the figure in front of him. Male. About his height. Seemed… touchy. Pity he couldn’t have been one of the pretty southern belles. A calm and cold gaze examined ‘Micah’. “Bit touchy aren’t we? I’m walking. If I was skulking believe me you wouldn’t know it. You from around here?” After the question he tilted his head at the other man, just as Lance stirred and said in a soft tone. Sorry Ma’am. Walk. Go. Walk. Ouch. Z’ves quite literally placed his palm over his face. “Shut the fuck up you little bastard. For one you have the gender wrong. I’m pretty sure this one has a dick.” The little blue gave a loud creel. Bad word. baaaaaad word. The bluerider twitched. Must resist desire to stomp.

[Requiem]

Micah laughed abruptly at blue eyes. "Don't worry. I don't." Didn't what? Well, believe him, of course. Stupid little northern rider tramping through the woods. Pretty sure that felines were sneakier than this idiot. Not that he cared to elaborate. Or bother sticking around, either. Did he look like he wanted the company of a northern idiot and...what was that? He blinked at the disembodied voice, feeling the telltale spike of paranoia, then his eyes narrowed on the pocket.

"You've got a talking bug," the man stated, a flicker of what might have been a feral smile clawing at one corner of his lips before disappearing. He pushed off his tree, turning his back on Z'ves and setting off further into the trees. "Hyphen, though I don't see why it's any of your business," the man answered over his shoulder. Micah had no interest in acquiring imbeciles. Already arguably had a couple as part of his own party, and a couple was more than enough in his not so objective opinion.

[Rei]

Blinking at the stranger Z’ves raised an eyebrow as he suddenly turned and started to walk away. Was he missing something here? For a moment the bluerider stood frozen on the spot and then he moved. Whoever this man was he would need to give at least a better explanation for his presence. Lance had tilted his head and chirped at the bug comment. No. No. No bug ma’am. Walk far far. No bad word. Bug. What bug? The small stream of chatter continued as his bonded quickened his pace to draw up alongside Micah. Not too close but close enough to be easily heard. He ignored his mandyrs verbal sputtering and stopped in front of the other man. “Hang on a moment.” Expressionless eyes examined the holder?. “I know what I’m doing here. I live here. But what are you doing lingering about here? You’re obviously not a dragon rider.”

Had any caravans rolled into or close to the weyr as of late? To be honest Z’ves wasn’t sure and a quick check in with Lucith showed the blue to be none the wiser as well. Well then. That wasn’t helpful in the least. Lance took that moment to speak up again, this time skittering out of the bluerider’s pocket to scramble half way up his shirt. Hard to do with only one useable front leg. His position was precarious at best. Peering at Micah the blue mandyr gave a chirp. Sir go? Need help? The wastelander twitched. No I doubt he needs help. At least not any type of help the mandyr could provide. Mental help probably. But who didn’t. “Just where are you supposed to be? Hyphen is quite a ways away.” Curious really.

[Requiem]

He seriously considered pushing right past Z'ves - where did the man get off blocking his way? - but thought better of it. He wanted to kill something, sure. But the dragonrider wouldn't be any challenge at all, and then he'd really have an itch he couldn't scratch. Something told him that Selenitas wouldn't want traders arbitrarily cutting down a half-dozen men at once simply because they were bored and the men were irritating. That didn't stop Micah from moving right up in Z'ves' face, standing toe-to-toe with the man. His dark eyes narrowed slightly. "Well, good for you," he interjected over the top of the 'I live here,' in response to knowing what he was doing here.

The next statement just made him laugh. It wasn't a pleasant sound, and he really didn't care if the man took exception to the smell of his breath. His own fault for getting in the way. That laughter prevented a response, which was further deflected by the little bug that poked its head out of the man's pocket. "Your bug still won't stop talking to me," Micah told Z'ves unnecessarily. Instead of answering the dragonrider's question, he responded to the bug's. It was far more interesting, after all. "I do. Your idiot of a mount over here is in my way. Think you could do something about that, bug?"

Because bugs weren't likely to be all that helpful in moving fat-ass deadglows, though, Micah's eyes flicked back up to the blue ones. "Here. What sort of question is that? If I wasn't supposed to be here, I wouldn't have told you I was from Hyphen. Suppose dragons need a lot of empty headspace to squeeze into, huh?" Now thoroughly bored, he stepped around the road block and made as if to continue on his way.

[Rei]

Gaze hardening as the man got into his space Z’ves quelled the instant reaction to just pull his knife and attempt to gut him. No witnesses in the jungle after all and it wasn’t like anyone would actually miss this bastard, considering his temperament, anyway. Hmm. In the end the bluerider gave a shrug, meeting the narrowed dark eyes with his calm ones. Perhaps this one had been slighted by some dragon rider or another in the past? He certainly seemed to be irate. Or maybe he just had a few screws loose. Heh. At any rate Z’ves didn’t intend to let the man leave until his question at least got some type of answer. Sarcastic or not.

Lance gave a soft chirp as he was addressed. Not Bug. No bug. What bug. Move yes. Go yes. Sorry Sir. Sorry. He chattered on all the while making his way up the mountain that was his. Finally making it to the Z’ves’ shoulder the blue mandyr flopped upon it digging his tiny claws into fabric to keep himself in place. Sir go. Move please? The bluerider snorted. Since when do I take orders from you? Answer is never. I’ll move when I am good and ready to move. Eyes flicking back to Micah’s he didn’t comment as the man more or less answered his question. There was no need to. What did he care if some idiot trader got himself killed wandering around in the woods? Answer. He didn’t. Besides the other man was hardly amusing. Instead he was just slightly irritating. Go figure. Must be his lucky day.

Ignoring the trader’s attempt at mockery Z’ves gave a hollow laugh. Empty head space hmm? As the trader stepped past him and went back on his way the bluerider watched him go for a few moments. Mentally be debated the pros and cons of following. Problem was there where not too many either way. Tch probably not worth his time. For one the angry trader was pretty much his size, which would make him hard to overpower with any success. Could always stab him in the back but again that was hardly fun, nor was it anything Z’ves really liked to do. Two, he preferred his targets to be personal and this man was hardly personal. The only exception to his personal preferences came in war. Anything went on the field of battle. There it was kill or be killed. Unless he was handed someone to play with like he had been M’ta.

In the end the bluerider waited until Micah moved further away and then found himself stepping after him. There was just this little thread of curiosity that remained and once that had been exhausted he’d leave the other be. Just wanted to know exactly why this Hyphen man was traipsing though the woods. Lance was smart enough to remain silent for now. His wasn’t really thinking any bad thoughts and the one who called him bug hadn’t seemed all that bad. So the mandyr was content to just watch for the moment.

[Requiem]

Well, what an obedient little bug. It turned out to be about as helpful as Micah would have expected, but at least it wasn’t too terribly irritating a creature. Apart from the whole talking thing. Bugs simply should not talk. Still, if given the choice between the bug and its master, he’d definitely take the bug. Micah slipped his hands in his pockets and began walking. This tailing was actually something of a problem. Aside from the obvious issue of not wanting company in general, he had business to be about that he didn’t need any northern assholes sticking their noses into.

There was always the more patient way. Aramis had even unwittingly planted the idea as a fallback. There could be nothing duller than fishing. He was certain that if he simply sat down to line fish on the edge of one of the river’s many offshoots the pest and his pest would leave soon after. While Micah might have a fair amount of patience when it came to stalking prey, he had distinctly less patience when the roles were reversed. He had little doubt that his new shadow wasn’t hanging around just to be friendly.

So it was that Micah only tolerated this nameless other for the span of a couple minutes. He’d let the man drift slightly closer, adjusting his speed so that the change in distance was gradual enough that the other wasn’t likely to notice it. When he stopped abruptly, his hips pivoted, stepping back with the forward foot so that it crossed behind his back leg to add momentum to the twist of his hips as he planted his boot heel-first into the other’s gut. The kick was delivered with all of his force. Whatever else might be said about him, no one would claim that he didn’t have any strength in his legs.

One might have expected the trader to turn around. In fact, he didn’t even stop, flowing smoothly from the kick back into his casual stroll through the trees. His hands had never left his pockets. “I don’t recall inviting anyone to come along,” he commented drolly, without looking back. Maybe now the man would finally get the picture. Or give Micah an excuse to beat the living shit out of him. Really, he didn’t have a preference in that regard.

[Rei]

Had Z’ves been paying more attention he would have caught the shift sooner. As he was more concerned with trying to figure out just what this trader was up to, he caught the movement a little to late. He was able to move just slightly back but it did little to nothing to diminish the effect of Micah’s kick. With a swear the bluerider found himself staggering back and at the same time two creatures exploded more irritation into his mind. One was expected, Lucith. The other was not. His new little mind leeching annoyance was radiating almost anger, but it wasn’t quite that exactly was it? No it was more protective desire. Oh see now that was funny. Holding his gut the man breathlessly chuckled. Upon his shoulder the little blue mandyr frilled for all he was worth and a rasping hiss exited his mouth. An almost vicious sound for one so tiny.

Bad sir! No baaaad. Have at you! Lance creeled nosily and made a hopping leap towards Micah, frill fully flared and mouth open showing off tiny little fangs. Nice. Not bad! Why why? Hoping forward again and just slightly closer to the trader the mandyr gave another hiss, acting the way one might expect a guard dog to. Z’ves had finally caught his breath by this point and predominantly he was only annoyed, although Lucith’s anger was bleeding through a bit. Something he rectified as soon as possible.

However the man made no move to dissuade the blue from rising up and out of the clearing he was in and veering in his direction instead. No point to stopping the dragon. Yet, at least. If one thing could be said about his beast it was that Lucith was protective. To an almost insane degree. Just out of his egg the blue had even mutilated a clutch sister for daring to touch his and that protective retribution had not diminished. Although it was carefully controlled most times. Apparently the kick was enough to warrant investigation by Lucith at the very least. Heh.

Straightening up Z’ves brushed some dirt off his shirt and hissed at the hopping mandyr. “Get over here before you get squished.” Surprisingly the little creature obeyed, giving Micah’s retreating form a final hiss before leaping back to his and clinging to his pant leg. Sir go. Let go. He advised almost quietly. The bluerider snorted. Uh huh he was going to let the mandyr tell him what to do. Riiiight. The line about invitation was not ignored per say but for a moment the man didn’t comment, instead he simply strode forward again.

Once he had drawn closer. This time with a careful watch on the movements of the supposed trader in front of him, Z'ves spoke. The tone lacking any type of inflection, merely factual. “And no one gave you permission to slink about in weyr territory either. I’d say we’re pretty even.”

[Requiem]

Micah snorted softly. Like he was going to bother with squishing a talking bug. Anything that was likely to extend the amount of time that his tail followed wasn't really in his interests. He knew enough about dragons to figure that the little talking thing was probably bonded to Z'ves. Which meant that the bluerider probably would have a small fit if something happened to it.

Why would people bind themselves to something so frail? It seemed dumb. Then again, it was dumb to Impress at all, wasn't it? Not in today's world. Children and dreams of glory before the reality came back to kick them between the teeth. By that time it was too late and they were already stuck with the great hulking beasts that were tearing apart Pern. Hello Selenitas. Not even the south could escape. Not even Micah could escape the long arm of the northern riders. His fingers touched the ring that he refused to remove for a moment.

Speaking of not being able to escape...Micah suppressed an audible sigh. Again? Was he not being clear enough? There was no reason for the man to be giving him so much trouble. Of course the trader had permission to ply his trade, no matter how fruitless it was in this area. He probably could have gotten the rider off his back if he'd just mentioned what he did for a living. It was a matter of principle now, though. He shouldn't have to explain himself to the damn bastard.

"That's what you'd say, is it?" His fingers curled into fists in his pockets. So tempting. The man was far from the Weyr. Compared to the felines, he'd be nothing. To say Micah was suicidal wouldn't be quite accurate. Reckless with his life, though? The fact that he hunted alone spoke volumes. Unfortunately, he was hard to kill. And people were really nothing compared to the felines. "You're an idiot. Do you always jump into things you know nothing about?"

As if he really needed the answer to that question. Micah stopped. He glanced back over his shoulder, subtly shifting his weight to center over his back foot. The hands never left his pockets. "How long are you going to dance around your point? If you're going to do something, do it. Or fuck off. You're annoying me." His eyes narrowed on Z'ves's face. Micah was...really not someone to seriously annoy.

[Rei]

Z’ves laughed the sound hollow. His gaze flicking to Micah’s he gave a simple smile. “No. usually I know exactly what I’m doing.” Fingers tapping against his thigh he gave a soft snort. “I’m not dancing. You’re the one dancing around the question I’ve been asking.” Lance was not so gently plucked from his pant leg and stuffed deep into his pant pocket. As the little creature have a squeak of slight protest the bluerider firmly mentally shushed him. Stay you little idiot. Bugs a good description he would squish you like one. Do you want to end up a small bloody pancake? The little mandyr broadcasted aloud. No. Cake bad. Yeah. Now be quiet.

A slight sneer was offered the other man as soon as he finished with the blue mandyr. “I’m annoying you? Well now that feeling is mutual. I shouldn’t have to badger you to get a clear answer and I should stab you for kicking me. You’re lucky I’m in a decent mood.” Cold eyes smiled back at the other man. “If you don’t give me a straight answer right now I’ll just have to drag you back to the weyr and we’ll find out a different way. So your decision.”

Lucith. No. Snarling the blue banked from his dive, instead circling above the trees and the two men below. Claws flexing his clam whirling eyes stayed fixed on the location he knew the human pair to be. He would squeal better than the canine. Z’ves’ lip flickered upward in a slightly amused grin. He probably would but I don’t think pulling traders limb from limb is something that will be looked favorably upon. So stay. Until I tell you otherwise. The dragon pulled back his lip but obediently rose a little higher, slowly circling like a vulture waiting to descend upon the dying.

The bluerider took a step toward Micah then watching the man carefully for any retaliation. “Any particular reason you won’t answer my question? Just feel like being a dick or what? Give me and answer and I’ll disappear. I’m not hard person to please. I could care less if you want to be a cock. All I want to know is if you have permission to be lurking around here. You’re lucky I decided to ask nicely in the first place.” His gaze met the other man’s evenly. “Selenitas isn’t what it was before. People don’t have the liberty of wandering around without a reason anymore. I’m only doing my job.”

It was true enough. Although perhaps Z’ves was more curious about what the man was up to than any desire to follow though with orders. Had Micah not caught his attention with his lurking through the jungle armed and nasty attitude on top of it the bluerider likely wouldn’t have even gone to really investigate anyway. As it was the dirty holder came off as a little suspicious.

[Requiem]

The trader smiled wryly at Z'ves. "Just try it." His eyes narrowed, a definite bloodthirsty gleam entering into his eyes. Arrogant little maggot. The hunter drifted casually back into thicker tree cover that the shadowy menace couldn't penetrate. He wasn't stupid by any stretch of the imagination and that blue was not going to get a chance at him.

The pike he had strapped across his back was pulled clear. He planted it blade first into the ground in front of him and leaned on it. "Your job, is it? All you northerners are paranoid as hell." The man coiled his leg around the shaft of the pike. It was an odd sort of positioning indeed, but Micah always had his reasons for things. Finding out what they were was the trick.

His face went completely neutral. His tone was so flat that he had to be mocking Z'ves. That or just plain bored. "Fine. I'm a spy. I just figured that carrying around a big-ass stick wouldn't be at all attention-grabbing. Or wandering around through a group of people stinking up to high heaven. If I glower at you enough you'll spill all your secrets."

His smile turned even nastier. "No. Let's not stop at just mildly outlandish. How about this one? I'm an assassin with a very good southern accent. I say I'm from Hypen because they never come here and no one would know the difference. In fact, I'm really part of a guild set up to kill you dragonriding warmongers. So I wander around these trees just waiting to see who will follow and challenge me, so I can get them off on their own and kill them nice and slow."

[Rei]

Try it hmm? Arrogant bastard wasn’t he? Z’ves couldn’t help but be amused. And why not? It was obvious that he was being baited. Most of him realized the implications of that. The rational part of his mind telling him to just give up and walk away. However another part of him was still morbidly curious to see just what his one was capable off. The bluerider noticed the subtle drift back into denser cover and his lips flickered into something of a smile.

He had noticed Lucith then. Taking precautions against interference from the lurking dragon. Well now seemed the trader wasn’t very stupid at all. Which begged the question why be so difficult then? This nameless man was something of a curiosity. Maybe he actually wanted a fight? Did he even realize how badly that could go for him? Especially if Lucith got involved and their was no question that at some point the blue would try to become involved in the altercation.

Expressionless eyes went to the pike as it was pulled clear his own weight shifting into something more defensive as the bluerider watched the posture of the other man. Hmmm. Dragon on dragon combat had always been the majority of what he dealt with. Lucith was something of a terror in the skies. Still Z’ves had been in his share of hand to hand combat and knife battles as well. Hardly ever had to face someone with a longer range weapon however. It made him perhaps a bit more cautious than he would be normally.

The words coming from Micah’s mouth had Z’ves laughing his eyes fixing upon the other man as he took a step forward and then another. “Something of a clown aren’t you? Sure that’s not why they pay you to stick around?” His voice was predominantly amused. Really? “Lets stop with the mocking shall we. I don’t think it’s really working for either of us.” He made another step forward eyes fixing on the trader’s positioning as he drew closer ,waiting for him to throw some type of attack maybe. If he did whatever happened next the bluerider could justify. But Z’ves couldn’t justify anything if he himself made the first move.

“I was serious. Since you won’t explain properly to me you can explain properly to someone else. Let’s go.” Somewhere the back of his mind he wondered just how an altercation with this one would go even as he stepped into the other’s movement range. Probably not long until he found out.

[Requiem]

"How do you know I'm just clowning?" His smile was mirthless. Of course, he didn't mean anything he'd said. Even if he was an assassin he certainly wouldn't waste his time bothering with Z'ves. Really, he was just antsy. Frustrated. And the man was irritating him enough that he was more than willing to provoke something just to have something to do and actually make something bleed. Something. Anything. Someone.

Micah yawned. "Really, you can be 'serious' all you want. I never said I was going anywhere with you." In fact, he'd quite obviously been going out of his way to go places that Z'ves was not. Why the bluerider thought that he could get the trader to agree to go back with him was beyond the older man. Did he think that Micah was actually intimidated by him? This peon was of little consequence.

The muscles in his leg tightened, hands gripping the haft of the spear as it whipped up with the added speed from the strength of his leg in a shower of dirt. The point of the spear hovered unwaveringly at the height of Z'ves' throat. He pressed it forward just enough for the man to feel it. "I've a different idea. You can go skulking back to whichever bronzerider happens to be your mommy and tell her about the big bad man in the woods. Or you can follow. But whatever you end up doing, I'm not going anywhere with you."

[Rei]

How did he know? Oh the thick sarcasm might have been just a tad bit of a clue. Z’ves didn’t comment though keeping silent as his eyes roamed over Micah watching for clues to his next move. Not going anywhere with him hmm? So the other thought. Of course he was coming back with him. Why would he just let this holder scamper off now? That made no sense. Not when he had gone out of his way to create trouble where there was none. It made little sense. What was this guy pmsing heavily or something? Lips twitching into something like a smile the bluerider thought to comment when he caught the tightening of muscles. Well then.

Z’ves took one step backwards pausing as the pike was levered at his throat. Face impassive he stared back at the trader. Then a slow and amused smile came across his face. It didn’t even wane when Micah pressed it forward. Such a violent reaction. Tch. Lancelot in his pocket however was having a fit and the rider clamped one hand over the pocket mentally growling at the little blue. Stay and shut up. You /can’t/ help. Bite. Baaaad. Noooooo. He broadcasted widely, the bluerider ignoring the mandyr to instead keep his eyes trained on the trader. Just in case the man decided to try and stab him through the throat.

“Well that’s a real pity. Because I’m sure you’d amuse my mother greatly.” Z’ves said in a cheerful tone. “I rather hoped you’d be good and just cooperate.” Stepping back his hand came up to knock the shaft of the pike away. Pivoting to the side he drew his dirk at the same moment and, holding it in a defensive position, waited to see what the other man would do. Rushing him would prove pointless and besides the man really didn’t think stabbing the trader would be looked upon favorably. Not unless he could claim self defense and Z’ves would have to be able to prove that.

Pressing upon Lucith to stay close but not descend the bluerider gave a light smile to Micah. “Have you always been this personable? Bet you’re mister popularity back at the hold. You’re making this far more difficult than it has to be.”

[Requiem]

Micah was tempted to simply drive the tip of the pike through the man's throat. That single step back wasn't enough to remove him from the trader's range. Even if you didn't consider the obvious fact that the older man could as easily step forward as Z'ves could step back, there was still the matter of his arms not yet being fully extended. He chose not to kill the dragonrider out of hand, though. That would be entirely too boring. And if the man underestimated Micah because he didn't understand the concept of weapons with long reach? His own fault.

Smaller target, hm? Knife drawn. Well, this might actually get interesting then. Maybe. Really, though, the man was just not of much interest. Far too reluctant to engage. Micah didn't have any interest in him beyond a fight and very little even at that. He drove the pike point first into the ground in front of him again and snorted dismissively.

"You expect me to answer to a child of a peon simply because you wear dragonrider knots? You can take up your complaints of how difficult I am with whoever gives you orders. I've my own set of credentials that far outweigh yours. Skedaddle." He dismissed the man with a flick of a wrist and turned to walk deeper into cover. The man presented his back to Z'ves and left the pike to see if it would provoke the rider further. That, and the man didn't frighten Micah at all.

"You could just have your blue contact Despotaeth and ask him." A small smile twitched at one corner of his mouth. It couldn't be seen by Z'ves, of course, though the smirk no doubt was heard in his voice. Micah proceeded at a sedate pace, moving into thicker and thicker cover that would tear up even the smallest of diving dragons.