The mare's milk helped calm (most) of the refugees down, so the lookouts didn't spot the Yodhrephath in the dark. Their nearly silent soaring Pteras let them get close enough to take the ship quickly, especially since nobody was resisting. For those below deck and in the cabins, the first real sign that something was up was when the airship began to fly smoothly once the Yodh took control of the Rakhtors. There were still the escapees own Rakhtors to deal with later - they were out with the scouting, hunting and foraging parties still.
Willow knew the Yodh were approaching, of course. Her senses weren't limited to sight and sound.
"I hope the Yodh don
"I hope the Yodh don't get violent," Willow remarks, yawning and crawling out of her makeshift bed, then stretching. She throws on some rags and goes out of her chambers to try and meet them directly.
Everyone on deck is down on their knees with their hands on their heads.. except for Razor of course, since he's still tied to a mast. "I am Yodhrephath Mercy," the lead priestess bellows. She isn't as 'buff' as the others, but she looks wiry and the barbed whip she has wrapped around her waist along with a deep scar across one cheek make her seem intimidating. That and she has very good lungs. "Those who fail to follow directions will get to know me by my nickname, 'No'. This ship is being confiscated and you and it will be taken to Babel. Now, who here can lead my second team back to the raider hideout?"
"I could, but I don't have wings," Willow comments ... and has to wonder two things, who the heck names one of them Mercy? Of course Willow then realizes she has no idea if these Yodh know she's not a raider and the like ... or that she was a planted agent.
"Which Aeonian are you?" Mercy demands of Willow. The Eeee has to look up. She's smaller than the typical Yodhrepath, certainly - probably not much bigger than Wynona. So she probably tries harder to compensate.
"Willow Ebonmane, ambassador of Draco County," Willow replies, and can't help herself ... by adding just a little draconic flavor to her presence; the kind that that is like the feeling that comes when you have done something wrong ... and your mother just called you by your full name. Just enough to make her feel rather imposing, more or less.
Those on deck nearest Willow subtly scoot further away, but Mercy manages to stand her ground. She then produces a small pair of reading spectacles which she places on her nose, followed by a piece of leather-bound notebook which she begins to leaf through. "Hmmm. Black fur, big boobs.." she mutters, and taps a symbol. "Willow? Not Widow?" she asks.
"Willow. And I have modest boobs; Eeee just lack perspective," she comments, sounding slightly insulted.
"We have sonar instead," Mercy claims, and then takes a pencil from a sleeve in the notebook and corrects the symbol. "Willow Modestboobs," she says as she makes the correction. "Alright, you're the one we're supposed to find. How many are below decks? Any Vartans other than the quiet one and the gagged one?" The quiet one is probably Stitch. Most everyone on deck is an Eeee, so the non-fliers are likely still down below wondering what to do.
"Stitch I think is the quiet one you refer to, and the one on the mast is a jerk," Willow comments, sounding a bit annoyed at her name chance. "Everyone below deck aren't fliers, mostly cervani and rathani, with a few skeeks, skreeks, and kavi. She's now peering at Mercy, and wondering if her male alter-ego would find her appealing or not.
"Big and little, no mediums?" Mercy asks, pencil poised. "Dangerous? Sick? Do we gotta tie them up?" She seems a little too excited at the 'tie them up' part.
"Some are fairly sick and weak. None are really dangerous, except the Naga, perhaps. And no don't think you would need to tie them up. Why would you want to tie them up?" Willow has to ask.
"I just got certified in Restraint and Rrrr.. something," Mercy notes, and looks like she's about to refer to her notes. "Not important! Which is the smart one?"
"Myself, of course. And possibly the other Aeonian, Mr. Bright," Willow says, then adds, amused, "And if you need to restrain someone, I'll volunteer..."
"Who are you volunteering?" Mercy asks. "And Mr. Bright, is he the only other Aeonian? Are you related? He's got a horn and everything, right? I've been fooled before."
"I am volunteering myself. And yes, he is the other Aeonian, and no, we are not related to my knowledge," Willow answers.
"Why do you need to be restrained?" Mercy asks suspiciously, pointing at Willow's nose with her pencil. "You're Sylvanian right? Are you a licky-throat that turns into a monster at night? Or just into being tied up? Because I don't do that stuff while on duty anymore."
Willow chuckles, "More the latter. Plus, I am curious how skilled you are at it. Many claim to be experts, few are," Willow points out, then reaches up and flicks the pencil away from her nose.
Mercy fumbles a moment before regaining control of her pencil. "I'm not an amateur anymore!" she insists. "Right.. the quiet bird, Stitches.. he can show us back to the hideout?"
"Yes, he can. The only person left there is the trio of royal mages all in one battered Eeee body," Willow explains.
"Frenzy, Crisis, Kakerott - you three go with Stitches!" Mercy bellows. "Bring back the criminal! Do you remember how to do the cords so nothing goes bad and falls off?"
"I remember the other kind, for making stuff fall off," Frenzy volunteers.
"Crisis, you're in charge," Mercy decides. "Don't drop the prisoner this time! Secure them to the saddle, don't just sit on them and hope that's enough!"
"Well, he currently has no working hands, feet, or voice. Not much to fall off," Willow points out. Ahe's also finding this group rather suspect, in terms of actual professional skill.
"This is only your second mission, isn't it?" Willow has to ask.
"Right! Saddle the prisoner! I mean, secure the prisoner! To the saddle!" Crisis says.
"That's.. good enough, get going," Mercy says. "The rest of you.. where's Vischus?" She seems to be counting the Yodh still visible.
"Steering," the one near the prow says, pointing towards the Rakhtors that are towing the airship.
"Well.. that should be everything.." Mercy says, only to be interrupted by a coughing Eeee kneeling next to her. "What?" she bellows at the man.
"We have three groups out trying to get food," the ex-raider explains. "Six Eeee on three Rakhtors."
Willow just rubs her forehead.
"Hold on," Mercy grumbles and has to flip forward several pages in the notebook to write that down. "Are they armed?"
"Yes?" the cowering Eeee guesses.
"Well.. when they get back someone make sure they surrender!" Mercy yells, presumably to her squad. "No screw-ups this time! We'll all go up a rank if we do this right!"
The other Yodh do not seem particularly fired up by that promise. Mercy turns back to Willow, and asks, "Introduce me to the ground-pounders, would you?"
"Is this your second mission? You seem rather ... inexperienced. Is High Priestess Koldesh trying to mess with me?" Willow has to ask, brow arched a little.
Willow also waves her hand for Mercy to follow. "And they're this way," she adds, then heads back to the deck door.
"This is our.. my.. some of us are on probation," Mercy notes quietly to Willow as they start down the ladder-way to the mane gangway below deck. "But I'm not going to be the High Priestess's secretary forever! Not if I prove myself on this mission."
"Koldesh must be mad at the Barsunala, then, since this job was his idea," Willow notes. "Most of the folks down here were prisoners, starved a lot, and treated poorly. Many also have memory issues, and need to be examined by a mind mage."
As they reach the galley, Mercy announces, "The Yodhrephath are here to rescue you! Resistance is useless! Surrender peacefully and.." Here she has to pause and consult her notes again. ".. and you won't be made examples of? Hmmm, nobody ever surrendered peacefully before.."
As an aside to Willow, Mercy admits, "The experienced ones are preparing to defend the city, so we're.. what was left over." None of the Kavi seem inclined to resist, certainly. Mr. Cottonmouth and Mr. Stripe, the two tigers, just stay in their seats. "Are we supposed to do anything specific to surrender peacefully?" Cottonmouth asks.
"They're here to help. So, they're allies. No panicking, okay?" Willow requests of those gathered and holds up her hands. "Just hand over any weapons you have, and don't attack anyone/"
"We weren't allowed to have weapons," Stripe notes. They were 'ground crew' after all. "We promise not to.. uh.. scratch or bite," Cottonmouth offers.
"Do you have any rope?" Mercy asks.
"I .. have no idea," Willow admits.
"It's an airship," Cottonmouth points out. "It's.. a quarter rope, probably."
Willow resists the urge to put her elbow on Mercy's head. "That rope is in use," she points out. "I think they mean free rope."
"Well.. don't give me a reason to tie you up," Mercy says. "Unless you really want me to, in which case you will have to supply your own rope or suitable substitution. Clothing is acceptable, unless it's wet. There are probably dangerous things in the kitchen though!" She marches through towards the kitchen.
"Aww, but I want to be tied up," Willow complains as she follows Mercy into the kitchen. "And maybe a spanking! And then the oral sex..."
"Where would I tie you up?" Mercy asks as they enter the kitchen, where the Eeee stops dead. Both Cervani and Mr. Straw are crowded into it, hunched over. This puts the racks of the bucks dangerously low. All of them are looking at the bat as well.
"I have my own room on this boat. Being the only woman, the men have been keeping me sequestered," Willow explains. "And these two are fine, they aren't threatening you with their horns ... low ceiling issues."
Slowly, Mercy opens her notebook again and writes some things. "You must have some really strong Rakhtors," she says. "You three should probably go up on deck. Vischus is a very good wrangler, so you shouldn't get thrown overboard by sudden sways."
"What are you writing?" Willow inquires and peers over the bat's shoulder.
The Babelite script describes the men, including how many points are on the Cervanis' racks and approximately how big Mr. Straw's hooves are. They don't seem to be important, and the other notes also seem trivial. Maybe Mercy takes notes to keep calm or something.
"Oh, nothing important," Willow mutters and leana back. She really shouldn't mess with Mercy so much. It's not particularly polite.
"We were making lunch for everyone," Mr. Velvet claims.
"Well.. carry on then.." Mercy says, and starts to turn. Then she swings back around and demands, "Wait! Do you have knives in here?"
This sudden shout causes Velvet to scrape the ceiling a bit. "Wooden ones, yes. Do you.. do you need a knife?"
"Of course not, I have one right.." Mercy pats her hip, right were a barb of her whip protrudes. She grits her teeth, not moving her hand away yet, and hisses, "No thank you I do not need a knife."
Willow Reaches down and extracts the Eee's hand from the Barb ... and also subtly uses the shadow to heal the small puncture/sooth it ... since she probably won't notice too quickly.
"Where is the other Aeonian?" Mercy asks, with a slightly higher squeak to her voice when Willow takes her hand.
"Well, he was in here earlier. I don't know where he is now," Willow notes as she gets the puncture to close. "Do you two know?" she asks the others.
"He's in the room we think the Doctor used," Velvet says, and points further down the gangway towards the rear of the ship.
"Come along then," Willow requests .... and pulls Mercy along towards the back room.
"Not so fast, your legs are longer," Mercy complains. The door is closed when they get to it, and feels ominous. Some sort of enchantment, like an aura, may be at work.
"The door is warded," Willow comments, but then shrugs and knows on it. "Mr. Bright, I brought your date to the dance," she calls out.
"I don't dance," the unicorn on the other side claims, and the door is opened by Mr. Sackcloth. He looks past Willow to the Eeee. "Are we rescued?" he asks Willow.
"Yes. Let us in," Willow insists, then enters. "But you need to surrender to make it all proper. So, grovel at her feet." she says with a straight face.
"There isn't enough room to do that," Sackcloth says, and actually tries to squeeze past Willow in the gangway so that there's room for her to enter the small stateroom. This puts a lot of strain on Willow's ragged clothing, which may require some adjustment afterwards.
"As you see, we're a rather threadbare operation," Willow comments to Mercy after she squeezes through and then adjusts her attire.
"I assumed that was just the fashion," Mercy says. Inside the room is a hanging-perch and wall-rungs to make it easier to get into position, a small cabinet and a chest. Mr. Bright is squatting down to examine the lock on the chest. It's an iron lock, which is giving him issues. "I'm trying to figure out how to get into this chest," he notes without looking up. "Oh, I surrender," he also says.
"Why bother with the lock? Sackcloth could have kicked the lid in," Willow points out helpfully. "Iron is icky."
Bright looks up at Willow in surprise. "I.. may not be thinking clearly. Yes.. that would make sense. I was wondering why he had that slight grin.."
"Unless Mighty tiny-Yodh here can pick locks?" Willow suggests and then looks at the Eeee.
"Stand back!" Mercy bellows. "If the door was warded, there could be anything set to go off in there!" She tries to push Bright out of the way, but even an Aeonian is a bit much for someone like Mercy to actually push around. Maybe she's just feeling him up? Eventually he does move back to stand with Willow though. Mercy rummages under her light armor to produce a leather wallet of sorts.
Willow pats Mr. Bright's shoulder. "How are you feeling?" she asks, quietly, while watching Mercy be ... well, not particularly Yodhrephath. At least no more so than Wynona is.
From this pouch Mercy removes several small colored sticks.. possibly chalk from the smell. She begins rubbing them one at a time on the lock and various spots on the chest.
"You don't happen to know Yodhrepath Windcaller, do you?" Willow has to ask. She recognizes semi-mage work.
"I've been a bit light-headed," Mr. Bright admits, and leans slightly against Willow. "I think the natural pain-killers produced in the brain have worn off, and I'm in some sort of withdrawal."
"Of course I do," Mercy claims, examining the end of one bit of blue chalk with her glasses. "I know all of the Yodhrephath. It's part of my job."
"Then is she teaching the Yodh mage skills?" Willow inquires, curious. "I recognize mage-chalk when I see it."
"This is just a tool, I don't do magic," Mercy claims. The Yodh tend to prefer 'miracles' from their goddesses, after all, achieved through elaborate prayers and ritual. Not spell-casting at all. "But this chalk will change color in the presence of magic. And each color of chalk is attuned to a specific school." Finally something reacts - the pink chalk on the edge of the lid glows slightly for a few moments.
"Aha!" Mercy exclaims, and then opens her notebook to look up what it means.
"Call it what you like, you're using mage tools," Willow points out. "Pink. How ... feminine."
"Wait, that was pink?" Mercy asks. "You're certain?" She has to flip back a few pages now.
"Yes, I'm sure the chalk glowed slightly pink," Willow comments and facepalms.
"Pink chalk and pink glow," Mercy repeats. "Not orange at all then, hmm." After finding the relevant page she says, "Well, pink and pink isn't deadly. It's a spirit enchantment. Probably sends a spirit messenger somewhere. Wow, it says that can be really useful! But we can't open the chest here."
"Spirit magic? Hah, I could handle that," Willow claims. "And why can't we open it here?"
"Because if it can be examined first, it may be possible to track where the messenger goes. Or is meant to go. Something about catching it in a bottle..? I may have been thinking about knots while taking these notes," Mercy replies. She then looks at Mr. Bright and asks, "Did you touch anything in here?"
"Not the chest," the unicorn replies.
"So.. everything else?" Mercy asks.
"The cabinet," Bright admits. It's the only other piece of furniture there. The Doctor didn't have a spare cloak or anything, unless it's in the chest.
"You'll need to be dusted then," Mercy claims, and turns to Willow again, since she's had the man leaning against her. "And you've touched Willow now too.." Mercy adds, then looks at her own hands. "And I touched you.."
"Forget it. I am not going to be rubbed in chalk of any sort," Willow says with surprising finality.
"Oh, it probably won't come to that," the Yodh claims. "We just need to take off all of our clothes so they can be tested first.."
"Why? What is the point in any of that? What are you looking for?" Willow inquires.
"Curses! Magical residue.." Mercy lists, then checks her notes. "Spontaneous combustion, hair or fur loss, odd boils, talking warts, discolored areas, and because Mercy needs to be embarrassed.. wait, did I write that?"
"Well, I could leave you with Mr. Bright here, and you can examine his ... horn, in intimate detail," Willow claims, deadpan. "If you rub it enough, it produces magical lotion."
Bright snorts at Willow, but Mercy seems transfixed by her list. "Well.. you'll need to keep watch for any sudden mutations or death," she notes to Willow. "And someone has to check me too. They always make these things so complicated! Are Aeonians immune to curses? I heard that they're immune to poison. Or that if you dip your horns in stuff they become purified. Or become virgins again."
"I've never stuck my horn in any poisons," Bright admits. "That I know of."
"You're already a virgin," Willow remarks, dryly, and glances at Mr. Bright. "I ... expected a better rescue party, sorry."
"I think I prefer this one to one of seasoned, suspicious warriors," Bright notes, as Mercy approaches him. "Now, did you only touch it with your hands?" she asks.
"I did not poke it with my horn," Bright claims. "I only used my hands."
"What about your other horn?" Willow asks helpfully.
"I wouldn't try to pick a lock with that," the unicorn replies.
"Hold your hands out first then please," Mercy says, as she goes through her pouch of chalks.
"Maybe it would work better," Willow argues with Mr. Bright. "I don't have a second horn, so I wouldn't know."
"I'd have tried lockpicks, if I had any.. and knew how to use them," Bright claims, and holds his hands out. "I can't claim to have unlocked anything with the other horn.
"Not even me?" Willow points out and flicks Mr. Bright's nose. "And here I thought you actually liked me."
Mercy tries the various chalks on Bright's hands. And often grumbles when the chalk doesn't mark. "Maybe I need to powder it and try that way?" she mutters.
"Probably. Why don't you put down some paper, rub the chalk all over it, then powder it onto his hands," Willow suggests.
"Ah, of course!" Mercy says, looks around for paper, before realizing she'll need to use a page from her notebook. Even then, she doesn't tear it out, just tries to wear down the chalk onto it. "I just can't mix the colors."
"Koldesh is mad at someone, and that is why she sent you, isn't it?" Willow asks the short Yodhrephath.
Pausing in her furious chalk rubbing, Mercy looks up at Willow. "You know the High Priestess?" she asks.
"I know someone who knows her," Willow remarks as she waves her hand.
"Well, the High Priestess does not get mad, just so you know," Mercy claims. "And she'll become angry if you tell her otherwise." She then turns her attention back to Mr. Bright's hands, and tries to shake the chalk dust onto his palms by tapping the back of her notebook while tilting it.
"Tell that to the Barsunala," Willow points out. "She's been mad at him several times."
Some of it even manages to stick to the Aeonian's fur. And doesn't do anything once there. "I don't think he makes appointments," Mercy claims, leaning in close to examine the fur through her spectacles. Given that she started with white chalk, it may not show up if it's glowing.
"He's a demi-God, why would he have to make appointments? When a God visits you, you don't ask, 'do you have an appointment?' do you?" Willow points out.
"I've never met him," Mercy notes as she tries to spot changes in the chalk dust. For whatever reason, Mr. Bright blows into his palms, which causes Mercy to sneeze as the bits of chalk dust get blown into her face.
"Do you want to? I have a meeting with him once I get back to the city," Willow remarks, dryly. "I could tell him all about you."
"Wha?" Mercy tries to answer, and turns away to sneeze. "I'm s'posed to bring ev'ryone to the temple," she says while sniffling.
Willow waves her hand. "After that," she says, then just rubs her face, and sighs.
Undaunted, Mercy uses the pink chalk next, but sneezes and blows her efforts over Mr. Bright, making part of his mane and forehead pink now. None of it glows though.
"I just ... wow," Willow remarks to Mr. Beight. "Maybe we should have just stayed prisoners."
Mercy has to pause to wipe her nose on her sleeve. Unlike with Mr. Bright, the dust on her clothes does glow.
"You're glowing," Willow points out to Mercy. "Why are you glowing?"
"Ahh!" Mercy squeaks and starts shaking her arm, as if hoping the glow will go away. "Orange! I mean.. Pink! It's pink right?" she asks.
"Yes, it's pink," Willow says with a sigh. "What is your problem?"
Still holding her affected arm out, Mercy tries to flip back to the page that explains the reactions in her notebook. "Pink.. Pink.. Pink on fur, pink on fabric, pink when you pee.." she runs through. "Here, pink glow on clothing: May burst into flames! I just got this uniform!"
"Is my head going to burst into flames?" Mr. Bright calmly asks Willow. His pink marks aren't glowing though.
Willow rubs her face again, then goes, grabs her pink arm, and tries wiping the pink off with her free hand. "No, your head is not going to burst into flame," she tells the other Unicorn.
The chalk dust smears a bit.. it may have been reacting to the snot rather than the clothing, since the glow does fade. "Hey! If you burst into flames it's not my fault now," Mercy squeaks.
Willow just looks at Mercy for a bit. "That's it, I'm jumping overboard," she remarks as she lets go of Mercy's arm. She turns on her hooves and heads back towards the door.
"Nooo, I'm supposed to bring you back alive!" Mercy declares, and tries to follow. "I'm just following instructions!"
"Everything alright?" Sackcloth asks when Willow emerges.
Willow stops, and turns. She looks at Mercy, then asks, "Are you going to calm down and not embarrass your Temple, then? Your entrance was impressive .. this, not so much."
"I'm calm!" Mercy claims in a half-panic, until she realizes all the people in the galley and kitchen can see her. So she straightens up and clears her throat. "Please don't worry, you're in safe wings. We'll be meeting up with the outer patrol by tonight. Anyone who panics will be restrained."
"You won't even restrain those who would enjoy it," Willow points out as she tries to push Mercy back into the cabin. "At least finish your examinations on Mr. Bright. Or me. Or whatever," she says. This Yodh is of no risk to her, given her antics.
Mercy is quiet and much more careful with the rest of the chalk. While it does make Mr. Bright look very much like a horse of a different color, none of the chalks react to him. Mercy does test herself as well. There are a few very dim reactions around her hands (which are also already covered in chalk dust), but after some nervous note reading she doesn't think they're dangerous. "Just proximity effects," she claims. "Yodh are very usually prone to these sorts of things," she says, almost proudly. "I don't think there were any curses, and.. uh.. the chest hasn't exploded so that's probably a good sign too."
"What about me?" Willow asks, "You haven't checked me."
"Oh.. you touched Mr. Bright.." Mercy remembers, but still looks intimidated by Willow. "Some curses can jump across contacts," she admits, and looks up at Willow. "So.. I guess we should start with your shoulder." And since she's already got plenty of chalk on her hands she starts to reach out.. then stops! "Wait.. if it's a jump-curse and I touch you then it'll jump to me!" she realizes.
Willow looks at Mercy, arching a brow slightly. "I just," she starts to say, then just covers her eyes for a moment, takes a deep breath, then sighs softly. "Nevermind."
"I should have had my gloves on," Mercy admits, and starts making chalk dust in her notebook again. "Oh, before I do this.. are you a magic user?" she asks.
"Yes," Willow admits, dryly.
"Oh," Mercy says, and carefully turns the pages of her note so she doesn't lose the chalk dust she'd already made. "That shouldn't be an issue so long as you don't use Spirit Magic," she notes, then looks up over the rims of her glasses at Willow. "Do you use Spirit Magic?"
"Yes, I do," Willow adds, "Along with variants of life magic."
Mercy's lips pucker a bit. "Wellll... can you tell if you've picked up any curses or spirit leaches or whatnot?" she asks. "Because the chalk wouldn't be very conclusive."
"Maybe? I can't really say. I am from Sylvania," Willow points out.
"So.. you could have like demonic possession or something already?" Mercy asks, looking worried now.
"Do I look like a demon?" Willow asks, rather non-plussed.
"That sounds like a question a demon might ask," Mercy points out. "Maybe I should tie you up. If you escape and kill me, then you're probably dangerous."
Willow looks to Mr. Bright. "Is she for real?" she asks, sighing.
"Well, you are dangerous, aren't you?" Mr. Bright asks in reply.
"If you get on my nerves, yes," Willow concedes.
Mercy looks between the two unicorns uncertainly. "I can't leave you two locked up in here with the chest," she notes. "Is there another room I can stash you in until my backup arrives?"
"My chambers, I suppose?" Willow says. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"Yes, but you two are probably the ones in charge of this bunch, aren't you?" Mercy asks.
"Are we?" Willow has to ask Mr. Bright.
"I wouldn't say we are in charge, but Willow is an object of various emotions for the men, and I mostly come up with the plans. Mr. Sackcloth is probably the one who's actually in charge, when it comes to getting people to do things."
"Sackcloth? Which one is that?" Mercy asks.
"The men just want to constantly rut me," Willow notes to Mercy. "Because ... well ... men. They are simple creatures."
After shaking the dust from her notebook, Mercy makes a note: Surrounded by horny men.
Willow rubs her face again. "Why, exactly, did we escape again?" she asks Mr. Bright. "And really, if you couldn't device a way to defeat ... that in all the time you were planning, you really stink at strategy."
"We weren't going to defeat the Yodhrephath, the plan was to surrender," Bright points out.
"Well.. let's see these quarters," Mercy says. "And introduce me to Mr. Sackcloth."
"Not now. What you were doing before the escape was planned," Willow says with a sigh. "What is this? A chest that curses stupidity?"
"He's back this way," Willow says, and then heads back out the doorway to introduce her to Mr. Sackcloth.
"It was a matter of opportunity and information gathering," Bright claims, and gets up. Mercy follows Willow outside again, where Sackcloth is still stationed by the door.
Willow points at the large Rhain. "Mr. Sackcloth," she says.
"There is a dangerous magical artifact in this cabin," Mercy tells Sackcloth. "Place a guard on it until a Yodhrephath can relieve them. I'm taking these two to another part of the ship."
"Sorry," Willow says to Mr. Bright. "I was expecting ... something more, I guess. All that work, planning, and the escape. And then she escorts us back," she says with a sigh. "Just ... if you ever write a book about this, embellish this part a lot."
"Hopefully the Doctor's allies won't be on our tail," Bright notes. "Especially after I handed over all those raid results." There are some turned heads at the sight of Mr. Bright covered in multicolored stains. And the small Yodh with similar hands. The get to the forecastle cabin, and the hunting parties have returned. They seem to of mixed minds now that the Yodhrephath have got them.
Willow behaves herself and resists the urge to pat Mercy on her head. And so much for being tied up for fun! Fneh. "Well, hopefully not. Admittedly, we aren't exactly a dangerous group, so I suppose this shouldn't a surprise," she notes, then waves to the returned patrol. "They're on our side, so just do what they say," she calls to them.
"Why'd they bring so much rope?" one of the Raider Eeee asks nervously. At least he didn't mention nooses.
"To tie people up if they resist or cause problems," Willow says. "No problems, no rope burns. It's that simple."
Once inside the little cabin, things are a bit tight. "Hmm, I can't put a guard in here.. so kindly give me your clothes," Mercy says. "And I should tie you up too, just to be certain. Magic users can be tricky after all."
Willow looks at Mercy and arches her brow. "And if I say no?" she asks.
"I'll find someone willing to strip you and hold you down," Mercy claims, although her smile is a bit nervous. "And the penalty for resisting is.. being stripped and tied up anyway."
"You're going to tie us both up?" Bright asks. "There's nothing to tie us too in here."
Willow rolls her eyes and undresses. "You were much hotter earlier when you were actually seeming a little scary," she notes to Mercy, "But after the pink powder and such ... I'm sorry. I just can't take you terribly seriously anymore." And it's not like she had much clothing to begin with, and she dumps it over Mercy's head.
"Hey!" Mercy complains, and uses the rags to try and wipe the chalk dust from her hands. Mr. Bright just has his shirt and pants that aren't in much better condition, but he still folds them and sets them on the bed.
Mercy calls for some rope, and one of the other Yodh hands over a coil of cord. "Now then..." the bat says, and examines things around the cabin. There's the narrow bed and a stool, so Mr. Bright was correct in his observation about not having anything to tie them to.
"Lie on the bed please, Miss Magic User," Mercy finally instructs Willow.
And a naked Willow starts rubbing up against Mercy, then drags the Eeee down with her onto the bed.
"Hey! Ack!" the bat squeals. "No.. no assaulting me! I'm supposed to tie you down!"
Willow kisses the bat. "You're not doing this conquering thing very well, you know," she teases, then licks one of her ears.
"I'm.. not.. I mean.. this is rescue," Mercy claims. "Hmm," Mr. Bright goes and reaches around the bat's waist to carefully remove the thorn whip before it ends up scratching Willow.
Willow pouts, but lets the bat go. "I've been tied to a bed for a while, I guess it doesn't matter," she admits.
Mercy blinks at this. "You aren't going to resist then?" she asks nervously. Her glasses have come askew a bit, so that one side is riding up.
Willow lifts a hoof and rubs it along Mercy's thigh. "That depends ... on what's it it for me to not resist," she purrs, somehow.
"Well.. this wasn't covered in my class," Mercy notes. After he gets the whip off, Bright starts on Mercy's tunic, since she was using the whip as a belt. "You promise you aren't a demon out for my soul, right? Because Rephath has a claim on it."
"I am not after your soul," Willow claims, then has to look at Mr. Bright. "And what are you doing?" she asks.
"I thought there'd be armor," Bright says, after pulling the tunic off over Mercy's head, which she apparently was too distracted to notice happening. So she squeaks and hugs down against Willow to hide her chest. "Does he always undress women?" she asks Willow. "Is it a unicorn thing? Is it because I'm a virgin?"
"I have no idea," Willow has to admit. "Most of us are completely boring when it comes to such things," she admits. "And I'm sorry, I have been teasing you. Feel free to just tie me down if you're worried I might be a problem. I'm not going to ask for anything."
"Oh.. right.. who took my rope?" Mercy asks. Bright hands it to her, and asks, "How are you going to do it without cutting up the rope?" he asks.
"Oh, there's this special knot that Sister Gord came up with," Mercy explains, and uses the end of the cord to tie Willow's wrist to one of struts of the bed frame. "Then you go across, see, and sort of loop-knot it around the next one.."
And while distracted, Willow pushes the Eeee up and does something nefarious; she quickly latches her lips one of the Eoee's nipples and starts suckling on her while she's explaining knots to the Unicorn.
Mercy's explanation is replaced by a surprised keening sound. "So.. like this?" Mr. Bright asks, and uses the same loop-knot to tie Mercy's wrist to Willow's, and then the other while the Eeee is distracted - and running out of breath probably.
And Willow switches to the other nipple once she gets the bat, er, flowing. Why? Probably just to embarrass her, since her notebook said to.
"Wait.. what's.. happening?" the bat gasps. "Is that normal? Is it magic?" she asks. Mr. Bright gets her pants off next.
"A little magic, but it isn't your soul leaking out, no worries," Willow says.
While Mercy is trying to come to grips with the new sensation, Bright mounts Willow. There's plenty of room between where the bat splits and where Willow does, after all. The tricky part for him is getting one of her wings out of the way so he can do to the mare what she's doing to the bat.
Willow mphg! Okay, she rather imagines Mercy doesn't have any training for what to do if she becomes the meat of a Unicorn sandwich! Still, it doesn't stop her from continuing the nursing.
Luckily the Eeee's mainly just has to worry about the horn at the side of her neck. It keeps her from moving much, given how Willow has a rather sensitive grip on her, and her own wrists are bound as well. It's awkward for Bright as well, but since Willow's legs aren't bound he can turn that half a bit to the side, making things easier for him. It puts Mercy's leg at a weird angle, but Eeee are flexible. It's enough that Bright can starts moving his hips at least.
Willow lets go of a nipple for just a moment, to comment, "If you slide forward and sit just past my breasts ... I can make it more interesting for you," she offers, then goes right back to nursing on her.
Willow also shifts her legs, and even lifts one a bit to make the angle better for Mr. Bright. For all Mr. Bright's somber complaining earlier; he still seems quite glad to, ah, ride the pony as it were.
It takes some doing, but the man manages to get an arm around Willow to squeeze her rear as well as he thrusts. It's Mercy that gasps however.. when the motion causes her head to bump into the back of the bed. It's either that or not move with Willow and risk a bite! "Ahh. Ahh.." thud. "A-aahh."
Willow lets go of Mercy again to see if she wants to move, or not, and also to help her not whack her head more! It also allows her to focus on her own hip-rolling. One thing to be said about all the equines, when they are in you; you really feel it as they are really in you given their build. Even someone like Stitch can feel good in the right situations.
"Uhhh.." Mercy groans, trying to figure out what's happening. She finally notices what Mr. Bright is doing, and so tries to reach Willow's other breast. Which even an Eeee isn't flexible enough to do with her wrists tied and her arms at their limit. She can almost reach with her tongue, but gives up and tries to bring her small breasts back up to Willow's mouth instead. She doesn't want to risk sliding the rest of herself off of the mare.
Willow, before going back to Mercy, comments down to Mr. Bright, "Take care of that end of her too, will you? I can't get to it with my tongue." Then she's right back to sucking away on the Eee.
So Mr. Bright lets go of Willow's teat, and repositions himself. Soon Mercy begins giggling madly and squirming. The unicorn is using his tufted tail to tickle her. Probably to see how she reacts.. no sense getting pummeled by thighs or grabbed by prehensile feet by surprise.
Willow probably should feel bad about this, but oddly doesn't. No, she intends to see how far she can push the poor bat before they make it back to port. If the Eeee ends up waddling after this, well, that'll be fun to watch!
There are some "oof" noises coming from Mr. Bright, so those Eeee legs probably are giving him trouble. Until Willow feels the Eeee suddenly stop squirming, and her knees pressing to either side of Willow. And then she stops giggling and her yes go wide.
"Problem?" Willow asks the Eeee after letting go for a brief moment, and to switch nipples. The poor bat's breasts are quite a bit more swollen than they were earlier. Ooops.
"My legs are pinned, something is.." she starts to say, and then just sucks in her breath. Her eyes look like they're going to pop out of her head. "Nnnnnnngh!" Bright probably won't hurt her.
""So maybe a task of some sort. Undercover, really. Hmmm.
Willow has to let go and say, "Relax, it'll feel better," then she's right back at it! Yes, Mercy will be, ah, a little bow-legged after this probably.
"Bet-bet-better?" she squeaks, then goes cross-eyed and bites her lip.
Willow ends up giggling around her current nipple-du-jure. So much for the tough 'No Mercy' Eeee that came onboard eariler. And just wait until Bright, ah, pops. The bat will be in for a shock, indeed.
Mr. Bright is barely moving though, it seems. He must still be squeezing in! It has a big effect on Mercy though. She turns her head and bites Willow's horn.
Willow squeaks this time! Is Mr. Bright trying to completely fit in! She's not a chew toy or an anchor!
It's weird how sensitive that horn can be! And now Mercy is licking it.
Oh great, that gets Willow moaning now. Just what must the rest of the ship be thinking about this? How is it she always seems to start something where-ever she goes? Is this some sort of hidden Inala curse?
Given Eeee hearing.. they could be thinking that No Mercy is torturing the unicorns! Except for all the high-pitched squeaking. Mercy is definitely hitting notes that are probably only heard by Eeee. She may be crying, or at least tearing up. And then Willow sees Bright's hands grab the bat's shoulders, and his lips 'wuffling' her neck just before the big push!
"Oh my, he's going all the way in! The poor Eeee!" Willow thinks, without feeling any sympathy whatsoever! She's kinda jealous, even! Maybe Stitch will visit later and help her feel all stretched again, too.
Mercy seems to have all of the air pushed out of her, and isn't able to draw another breath. She's pretty much forehead to forehead (well side of forehead) with Willow, although one of her twitchy ears is still stroking against her horn, even if accidentally. Bright grunts.. and may be stuck from the expression on his face.
Willow's ears flick ... that sounds is a little worrisome! So now Willowhas to try and focus, and invade the small Eeeee with shadow to make sure she's okay in there. Also, to help loosen her up some if he is actually stuck! "This is ... okay I'm just a trouble-maker," she thinks.
It doesn't take a lot to loosen things up. But with a little nudge, the lubrication takes over and Mercy relaxes enough that Bright doesn't feel stuck. The bat sucks in a deep breath.. and lets it out in a sort of raspberry sound due to her tongue being half stuck out. And getting slobber on Willow's forehead. Bright is a bit slow in his motions after that, not wanting the girl to tense up on him again.
"Great, she's now drooling on me. Why do I always get covered in some sort of slime," Willow wonders as she's now a makeshift mattress for the Eeee and Unicorn.
Drool aside, it isn't that bad. The bat rubbing rhythmically against Willow's front feels nice, and the angle is such that Mercy's ears and head aren't banging into the unicorn's chin. Plus, Mr. Bright still has his tail, which he uses to stroke or try to tickle Willow with. Having her arms tied back does expose sensitive areas.
So, of course that makes Willow giggle and squeal at being tickled ... so anyone listening outside the room really must wonder what the heck is going on! And poor Mercy has lost all sorts of control and decorum, it seems. "I'm going to regret this," Willow thinks.
When the bat starts to make wheezier, gasping sorts of squeaks she's probably close to her limit. So of course Bright speeds up then. Willow must have trained him well. His tail is also darting about, trying to get past Willow's own tail-defense, like some bizarre duel with poof-tipped wiggly swords.
Willow is at a disadvantage like this! She's nursing (slightly) on the Eeee while squirming and using her tail to fend off Mr. Bright. It's a right disturbing sight, although in Babel, this is probably some sort of demented Blakat party game. "Mercy is going to hate me after this," she realizes and windows at that thought.
The bat makes an almost pained squeak when she peaks, and apparently Bright pulls out quickly afterwards.. because Willow feels him plunge immediately back into her. Given Bright's analytical nature, this may be to avoid exposing Mercy to any bizarre effects his bodily fluids might have, since Willow's milk is pretty potent.
Willow blurfs out, as she wasn't expecting Bright to enter her! Now she's really squirming, and the poor spent bat is now being shook around like a bowl of jelly!
And bounced, since Bright hefts up Willow's hips so he can move with a bit more force. Willow doesn't have hollow bones after all!
"How the heck is this guy still going?! Willow wonders; the tight bat (well, loose now!) should have stimulated him a lot. Or maybe he requires an actual Aeonian? Who knows," Willow ponders, as well as other mysteries of life ... like why she can't not cause a problem, or a scene! But soon those thoughts are forced to fade when she starts building rapidly!
With each bounce, Mercy lets out a squeak, and not just from the stretched nipple! Bright is snorting as well.. sounding like an actual Rhian! And when he pops, Willow can feel that he was probably a bit pent up.
Willow's eyes go wide when he pops, because it feels like he releases like a Rhain too! It's that, plus the overwhelming other sensations that drives her right over the cliff. At least she lets the nipple go before she bites, and her eyes get all scrunchy as she holds in a whinny, which sounds ... rather silly, and makes her snort several times on top of it,
"Not so bouncy," Mercy whimpers, as Bright sandwiches her again so he can kiss Willow.
Willow doesn't even register the kiss until the sensations fade a bit and allow her to refocus. Still, it at least isn't as bad as Snowcora has it, what with that vulva-jewel that acts like a giant orb of Inala when touched; that turns the poor human into a gibbering mess! This is only just a slightly jibbering unicorn ... that ends up actually kissing back. She also apparently forgot about the bat squished between them.
Mercy complains a bit more as Bright reaches under her to massage Willow's chest. The door opens, and Mr. Puff pokes his long-eared head inside to say, "Sackcloth sent me to make sure you weren't dissolving from a curse or anything. You don't look like you're dissolving.. unless you're all stuck to that Yodhrephath now?"
"We're fine! It's just ... an interrogation technique," Willow claims from the bottom of the pile.
"Which of you is being interrogated?" Puff asks, and closes the door behind him as he casually comes over to examine Mercy for signs of life. "I thought the Yodhrephath used pain or something?"
Mercy hasn't quite had all of the air squeezed out of her.
"It sort of went out of control," Willow claims, "And devolved into this. It's fine, really." Though she realizes the one that's probably in pain is Mercy a bit, she had a stretching experience.
"So you're all good here then?" the Lapi asks, poking at Mercy's cheek with a finger. "Don't need any water or a medic?"
"Are you okay?" Willow asks poor Mercy.
Mercy sort of wheezes.
"I didn't hear anything go crunch," Bright notes.
"You might want to get off of her, Mr Bright," Willow suggests.
"And why, er, didn't you finihs off in her?" she asks.
The unicorn considers this. "No idea what it would have done to her," he answers honestly. He sits up, and asks, "So, should I untie her?"
"Probably, yes," Willow admits. "But to be fair to her, leave me tied."
"I'll get that!" Mr. Puff volunteers, and unties the other wrist while Bright works on the first.
"Are you in there?" Willow asks poor Mercy. "Please tell me you're still alive? That did get a bit out of hand."
"I'm.. wheeze.. fine," Mercy claims. "Can't keep a Yodhrephath down.. we're tough. You'll see.. just as soon as I can feel my legs.."
"I'll be impressed if you can walk," Willow admits.
"Just.. watch," Mercy declares, and promptly falls off of Willow onto Mr. Puff's feet.
"I'm watching," Willow deadpans. She's probably going to regret all of this.
"Hey, she's got boobs, and they're leaking," the Lapi helpfully points out. "Should I take her to Sackcloth?"
"No, let her recover here. Others shouldn't see her in a quivering mess," Willow admits.
So the Lapi pulls the bat up, sets her onto the only stool, and tries rubbing her legs. "That should work," Bright says, before fondling Willow some more.
"Huh, she has some impressive breasts for an Eeee now," Willow has to admit as she glances over at Mercy. Of course then the sudden fondling distracts her and makes her squeal and arch!
"Did you like being tickled?" Bright says, as he nuzzles Willow.
"I'm ... not sure. Why?" Willow admits, sounding confused a bit by that question.
The tufty-tail comes out again, and molests Willow's armpits.
This makes Willow arch and squeal, again! "Mean!" she complains.
"Hmm, so that's a 'no' on liking it then?" he asks in a serious tone.
"Well, it tickles!" Willow insists, "But I don't dislike it."
So to experiment further, Bright sticks his nose into the armpit and licks it.
This makes one of Willow's eyes get a bit bigger than the other. "Now that was plain weird," she admits.
"Weird does not sound good," Bright notes, and tries licking the inside of Willow's elbow next.
"Also weird," Willow admits.
"So, clearly not all crotches have equal sensitivity to the same stimulus," Bright notes, and then licks right where Willow's throat meets her jaw.
Willow's neck and head arches a little. "Well, that feel somewhat nice," she admits.
Bright considers. "Having a horn makes some of these difficult," he admits. Next he tries pushing Willow's left breast towards her head, and licking where it would normally fold over onto her chest.
This males Willow blink a lot. "That is both weird, and kind of nice," she admits.
"Hmm," Bright goes. "Apparently the amount of salt on the skin does not indicate whether or not licking that area is pleasant," he notes. Then licks Willow's nose.
This makes Willow sneeze! "What are you doing?!" she asks him.
"Experimenting," Bright claims. "I may not get the chance again. But I can't try the small of your back without untying you first, and that might upset Mercy."
"That would likely feel weird anyway," Willow points out. "Mercy ... are you all right?" she asks and glances towards the Eeee.
"I'm.. feeling better.." Mercy admits, though still a bit short of breath. She's grabbing Puff's ears while his face is down between her legs.
"Is ... that lapi kissing you down there?" Willow has to ask.
"Fmmeel legsss ytt?" the Lapi muffledly mutters. "No, try harder!" Mercy insists.
Willow snorts. "Oh, well, carry on then," Willow says, trying to keep a straight face.
"If she doesn't let up with her toes, Mr. Puff may have problems feeling his legs," Bright points out, and squeezes Willow's breasts while licking her nipples. He does watch her face though, to see how she reacts.
That makes Willow gasp and squirm, that sort of licking does obviously feel good! But Mr. Bright already knew that.
And so the stallion starts pumping with his hips again as well, since it doesn't look like their captor is going to be releasing them anytime soon. "I have a theory," he says.
"What sort of theorrrrrrry?" Willow squeals as she's being wokred on again. As if she wasn't already sensitive enough down there, this is only making it worse. Soon she's squirming all about ... and forgetting she might have just broken a Yodhrepath ... or at least inspired one to go in disguise to Paradise and find Rhains now...
"Well," Bright explains, "my theory is that when you're really feeling good, weird things aren't as weird." And then, after a flurry of hip thrusts, he licks Willow's armpit again.
Willow goes eeeeee and arches! It isn't so much as it isn't still weird, it's more that you lose the ability to thing about it!
This seems to satisfy Bright, so he starts licking Willow's ear next. This is a bold move, given Willow's forehead mounted eye-poker.
This just makes Willow's ear flickflick, which serves as a reminder to Willow she's been without body decoration for a while now! Has almost forgotten what it felt like to have.
This also helps to distract from the noises coming from the stool. Eeee squeaks and Lapi squeaks are quite different, even if they're still squeaks. Bright tries tickling Willow again, just to see if she even notices given everything else he's doing to her.
She doesn't notice it much, frankly. When things get deep into a rut, it's hard to notice much outside of what is going on down below, and down inside. She's mostly arching and rutting the other Unicorn in a rather undignified way.
Bright begins to grunt a bit, and his academic detachment crumbles. Now he's squeezing, grabbing, nipping and kissing with abandon as he throws his all into rutting now that he doesn't have to hold back at all. Maybe it was the mare's milk from earlier? This time he's not as pent up, but he also doesn't really slow down afterwards at first.
Which of course means that the female of the pairing keeps riding her peek as long as Mr. Bright keeps going! So, poor Willow mostly just sees stars as she floats, squirms, whinnes, and buck-arches about. The poor mare is going to pass out if this keeps up!
Bright doesn't seem to notice Willow's condition at the moment.. he may not even have realized that he peaked already. He's quite likely leaving gouges in the wall behind the bed with his horn the way he's going at it.
Who knows what Mercy must thing of this? Aeonians are not know for these sorts of animalistic displays! Maybe they're cursed! Does that mean she's now cursed too? What with what she's doing with the lapi and all... Of course Willow at this point isn't noticing much, other than feeling really hazy and floaty, which is either from sexual pleasure, or oxygen starvation...
Bright makes a 'glurk' sound, and seems to limp (well, his body does) as he flops down onto Willow. He's rather sweaty, which at least helps to cool the mare down a bit as well. "May.. have gone too.. hard and heavy.." he admits.
"Just a little," Willow wheezes, as she joins Mercy in the waddle-walk club with that much usage of her! "I think we should rest a bit ... at least this way Mercy knows we're not risk, eh?" she says weakly.
Mercy is too busy to notice the state of her quarantine prisoners. Her wings can't hide that she's bobbing up and down.. or the twitching Lapi legs sticking out from underneath her, bound up by the trousers around their ankles. "No.. you have big teeth.." she squeaks, so it probably isn't hard to guess what's going on behind those wings.
"Great, another broken Yodh," Willow murmurs to herself and closes her eyes. "Why do I always seem to do this to them?" she wonders to herself. "Rephath will be mad."
There's a knock at the door to the cabin, and then some sort of exclamation from the other side. This is followed by the door being thrown open. "... reason we can't be civil about it," comes a familiar voice to Willow, although the Yodhrephath's head is turned back towards a larger woman behind her still. Wynona is part of the 'backup' that Mercy was expecting!
"Oh ... no. Wynona is very prudish. This is foing to break her too! Or make her freak out and run" Willow thinks, She'd facepalm if she could.
"Now, were's.." Wynona starts to say.. and does something more befitting a ballet dancer. She never pauses in her turn. Her head faces forward.. and just keeps on going around, with her body following, until the door closes behind her again.
"I just felt a chill," Bright mutters.
WIllow is quiet for a moment ... then bursts out laughing. So much in fact she's both shaking and crying!
This causes Bright to slide to one side, given the slickness of the pair's sweaty hides, and he fails to recover before falling off onto the floor. Luckily on the side opposite Mercy, who still jumps a bit. "What? Who was that?" she squeaks.
"If I am correct, that was a woman named Wynona," Willow claims in-between wheezing giggles. "The Barsunala warned me about her."
"Wyn.. Dagh!" Mercy squeaks. "I didn't know Windcaller was our relief!" The small Yodh is up and in a panic, looking for her shed clothing. "Maybe she didn't get a good look at me?"
"Why would it matter if she did?" Willow has to ask.
"She'll be all quiet around me, instead of mocking me!" the frantic bat says, leaving a somewhat dazed Mr. Puff on the stool as she hops about. "Nothing is worse than one of her silences!" she claims, finally finding her pants.
"Wait, Wynona mocks you? That doesn't sound like her at all," Willow says, starts to sit up, then the ropes on her wrists meinds her she's going nowhere.
"She doesn't mock anyone!" Mercy screeches! "That's just it! Everyone else will tease until you laugh with them. How do you join in on silence?"
"Just get her and Mr. Puff to spend some time together instead. Or her and Mr. Bright," Willow suggests.
"Hah, if I did that I'd end up catching cold whenever she did look at me," Mercy claims, as she tries to get into her uniform robe. "Or she'll start sneezing whenever I try to talk to her. Windcaller doesn't do this sort of thing! I don't either.. or.. I mean I never had the chance. I don't know what the other sisters get up to."
"Can I pull my pants back up now?" Puff asks. When he doesn't get an immediate answer, he does it anyway.
"Blame it on us. We're secretive and magical, and seem to influence people, or something," Willow remarks and shrugs a little. It's not a complete lie, at least. Willow also now tries to see if she can sense Wynona anywhere.
There are a lot more new auras out on the deck, and Wynona's seems to be all the way at the stern already. Willow can tell she's preparing magic, too.
Willow ponders for a moment trying to influence Wynona and see if she can arouse her ... but decides doing that to a mage is probably a really bad idea. "Dont worry about it. I hear she's just a prude and that she's embarrassed by seeing things, and just won't know what to say," she tells Mercy.
"That wouldn't be so bad if she'd at least get drunk," Mercy says, shaking her fists at the ceiling before searching next for her whip. "I heard mages are all deep in their cups when they aren't messing with things! If she's here that means they want us back in Babel in a hurry.. or we're being chased by a dragon or something!"
"Well ... a dragon could ... but eh. Why would they want us back fast?" Willow has to ask.
"Interrogations probably," Mercy says. Of course Koldesh may just want the Barsunala back sooner, but Mercy wouldn't know that. "It probably means Karada's ship is back in Babel already, if they can spare Windcaller. Or the High Priestesses is rubbing it in that her confidence in me is so low that she's sending the second weakest Yodh to bring me home."
While this is going on, Mr. Puff starts untying Willow's wrists.
"From what I have heard, Wynona is far from weak. She's one the Barsunala knows by name, after all," Willow points out, then shrugs.
Bright also finds his pants, and offers the freed Willow a hand up.
"I think I'll rest a bit. You wore me out," Willow admits. "Unless I have to get up, I guess."
"Physically the second weakest," Mercy grumbles. "She gets special dispensation because Rephath herself sent us to rescue her, and she can do Air Magic. Which is only important because we have Karada's Air Guard ship."
"Well, probably should try to wear something at least," Bright says. "It sounds like the new team leader is more experienced."
"It's important for more than that. And from what I understood she voluntarily joined, and wants to help Babel more than many natives. I'd say that makes her pretty strong; a stranger in a strange land, yet is trying to help anyway," Willow grumbles as she slowly gets up. "And fine, I'll get dressed."
"I need to go report to her," Mercy says, sounding nervous.
"Shall I come with you?" Willow asks.
"Yes, you're much more intimidating looking than I am!" Mercy notes. "Plus, you're ancient and magical. Mages probably respect that more than they do secretaries!"
"But ... why do you want to intimidate her?" Willow has to ask, confused.
"What? No, you're more intimidating than I am!" Mercy repeats, with different emphasis. "So, if you're cooperating with me, then.. I must be doing well?" She may be grasping at straws here.
"Ah, you want me to be all submissive and groveling," Willow remarks a bit dryly. "You could put a rahktor lead on me, and lead me out there," she jokes.
"I bridle on an Aeonian?" Mercy asks, looking confused. "That's.. no, just be.. not.." Here she pauses, whip in hand as her brow furrows. "A bridle.." she mutters. "Ahem, I mean.. treat me like you think I know what I'm doing!"
"You don't know what you are doing?" Willow has to ask. She looks over at Mr. Bright and shrugs a little. "Fetch me some clothes and I'll go, I guess."
"I know what I'm doing, I just need you to reinforce that!" Mercy claims, and opens the door a crack to peek outside, in case Wynona is lurking in wait. A moment later she calls out, "Vischus! Come in here!"
A moment later, the biggest of Mercy's crew enters. "What? They brought food with them you know," she demands.
"Well, you boobs seem to know what they're for," Willow remarks dryly, now that she's spotted to two wet milk stains on the front of the Yodh's slightly bulging robes.
"Take your clothes off and give them to the Aeonian!" Mercy commands, then squeaks and covers her chest.
"Which Aeonian?" Vischus asks.
"The black one of course!" Mercy snaps.
Vischus looks Willow up and down, and then asks, "Why?"
"Because she needs something less ragged to wear. You're supposed to just do what I saw you know," Mercy chides. And then pulls one of her palms away from her chest to sniff it.
"They won't fit her, she's got hips and breasts," Vischus points out.
"I'll just go naked," Willow offers.
"She can wrap them around herself!" Mercy notes. That seems to be good enough for Vischus, who first offers up her robes. They'd probably do for a skirt at least.
"I can give you my pants," Bright offers.
"I can get Mr. Straw's shirt," Puff offers.
Willow tries her best to wrap the robes around herself and look a bit more presentable. "Mr. Bright can help Vischus pass the time in here," she suggests after she grab's Bright'spants and puts those on, and uses the robes as a sort of tie-around halter-top.
"So I'm not coming back out with you?" Vischus asks. "I have to guard just these two men?" she asks Mercy.
Willow air-quotes, and silently mouths, "Guard"
"Yessss," Mercy says. "They're dangerously... tricky." Maybe she hopes to spread the embarrassment.
"Both of them or just the Aeonian?" Vischus asks. "Because Lapi are not known to be dangerous. And I can send him out to get me something to eat."
"But I'm sure they would like you to eat their ... " Willow starts to say, then stop herself before she gets into more trouble.
"You can send the Lapi out," Mercy says. "I'll.. finish dealing with him later." She looks to Willow and asks, "Ready?"
"Yes I am, Captain Jiggles," Willow quips, and even salutes.
Mercy opens the door, and walks out boldly, wet marks on her tunic and all. "Where's Yodhrephath Storm?" she asks the nearest Yodh, who just points towards the rear of the ship.
Willow just shakes her head slightly, and follows after the Yodh. "She'll probably regret not using the bridle," she mutters, "But I'll try to behave. I like Wynona."
Mercy heads towards the stern, weaving between the Raiders still sitting on deck. There are a few more Yodhrephath about, who are looking outward from the railings. Also more Pteras escorting them. Razor is still tied to the mast and gagged, and one of the new Yodh is watching him closely, while twirling a dagger between her fingers.
And Willow of course still smiles at Razor as she passes by, and even adds in a sashay, really working her hips.
The Vartan can still glare angrily at least. Another competent-looking Yodhrephath guards the conning deck where Wynona works, and holds a hand out in a 'wait' gesture as she looks back to where the mage is working.
Willow stops, knowing disrupting a mage isn't really a good idea. Instead, she tries to sense out what she's doing, and how powerful it may be. Which means her eyes are closed and she's focusing on feel, not appearance.
There's something developing in the center of Wynona's circle that has a winged shape. It's not quite a bird, and not quite a bat or chibix, at least from the aura shape. After a few more minutes of chanting, Wynona stops and the magical messenger flies off. Then the white Eeee refocuses on the world around her. "Hello?" she says.
"It's Mercy," the guard notes, and steps aside to let Mercy and Willow past.
"Messenger? I was expecting more," Willow thinks as she opens her eyes and shakes her head a bit to focus. "Hello," she says and bows from behind Mercy. For a moment, she almost makes a joke about being the Yodh seduction service, but restrains herself.
"Storm," Mercy says, nodding her head. "I've brought.. one of the refugee leaders. The recovery team should have reached the raider fort and retrieved the alleged Royal Mage by now."
"Good. And what about any pursuit or enemy reinforcement?" Wynona asks.
"Nothing alleged about that mage. And actually, it is three mages in one," Willow notes and holds up three fingers. "It's like someone put three mages in a wine press and squished them together."
"Really?" Mercy asks in surprise, while Wynona just looks.. dour. "Well, I thought they may have tried to escape into other bodies, just not.. three into one. Did they have another airship that you know of?"
"No idea. But, the other Vartan, Stitch, may know," Willow answers.
"That's the one guiding the recover team," Mercy explains. "He's cooperating so long as we don't hurt the one tied up to the mast. I.. don't know why. We aren't supposed to hurt anyone who doesn't resist."
"I appreciate the lack of blood on the deck," Wynona says, and takes a deep breath. "I've let the High Priestess know we've made contact."
"Stitch considers the one on the mast his brother," Willow further explains. "All of us here, save for a select few, have had life magic performed on them in one way or another, as well as mind magic."
"Ah, that's why you came out, for communication?" Mercy asks hopefully. "Oh, magic.. there's a chest down below that has some sort of protective magic on it, or possibly an alarm."
"Or could be a transmogrified rugrhat," Willow suggests.
"I.. think you can only turn rughrats into rugs, clothes and sausages," Wynona replies. "Nobody has touched the chest have they?"
Mercy.. shakes her head. "I examined it with the chalk. No contamination found."
"It's iron-banded, so neither of us Aeonians have," Willow adds.
Wynona stands up, and pushes at the small of her back. "Iron?" she asks. "Expensive.. neither? There are two Aeonians? Maybe the iron makes sense, but.. it's not common knowledge that Aeonians can be effected by it. This tri-mage was expecting the possibility?"
"Iron affects all creatures of the fae, as well as Gods and spirits," Willow points out politely. "It is an anathema to magic."
"Yes, which is why I wouldn't expect a mage to use it on their chest," Wynona says, looking troubled. "If there's an alarm, why put something on the chest that could prevent it from going off? You'd want the alarm to go off."
"But you would put it on a chest you wanted to keep something magical sealed in," Willow points out.
"Masking it?" Wynona asks. "Keeping the tri-mage out could have been an option as well. We'll found out once we have the mage."
"We could have the Rhain on board just smash the chest open," Willow suggests. "He is entirely mundane, iron would be of no consequence to him. Plus, you are an Air Mage, are you not. Why not craft a small wind being to slip through the cracks in the chest and examine its contents?"
"Elementals aren't my specialty," Wynona admits. "I'd rather have specialists examine it to determine what the spells actually are. Given the iron, I'd assume at least some sort of anti-scrying ward, or else something to destroy whatever is inside if the chest isn't opened properly. So I'd avoid smashing it for that reason."
"It could contain whatever artifact it is that the mage was using to build the living to the almost dead like a battery," Willow suggests.
Wynona's eyes go wide. "An artifact? That.. could be even more dangerous. We'll need to bring this to the Guild. If the Royal Mages already have a powerful artifact, and are willing to risk it for something like this.. weird venture.. then what they're after must be really worrisome!"
"Or I could be completely wrong. I'm Sylvanian, we're used to everything being a horrible death trap," Willow points out and shrugs a little. "Maybe it's completely the opposite; and full of party supplies and little balloon-hearts? It would be a bit of poetic irony, don't you think? Then again, that's about as likely as the Vartan on the mast converting to being a worshiper of peace and chastity..."