Chapter 3: Search for Scars Meadows

[Cat]

In Search of Scars Meadows – The Preparations

The girls talked excitedly as they chose what to take with them on their journey.

“I can’t believe we get to go too!” Angel was so excited she was jumping from foot to foot.

The other girls chuckled indulgently at Angel’s exuberance. Kenzie was checking everyone’s packs herself.

“Pack for me since you have so much energy”, Ice lazily said from her perch on the bed. Angel grinned and quickly obliged. She was in a hurry to go.

“How are we even going to find them?” Ice inquired.

Cat and Kenzie looked thoughtful. “Well, we know the name of the guild…Scars Meadows….and we know Asuir’s friend Dahnel is on his way there.”

“Do you even know where to look? Or who the guild leader is?” Ice looked skeptical.

Kenzie shrugged and looked at Cat. Cat shook her head no.

Amy went through the door…”I will find out.”

She paused and watched her father and Asuir talking. They were in the courtyard deep in conversation. After watching them for a while, she smiled to herself. She suddenly realized that she could use the one thing the two men had in common to get what she ultimately wanted. With a much lighter heart, she approached the men.

[Cat]

In Search of Scars Meadows – The Journey’s Beginning

The girls said their goodbyes to Uncle Caleb. “Pay attention to where you are walking,” Ice said to Angel.

Angel was looking over her shoulder towards the Mackenzie home. “But he looks so sad,” she said with a worried expression.

As the six young people walked through the streets of Kaineng, Asuir began to question them. He was curious about Amy’s cousins.

“Why does everyone call you Kenzie?” he asked. Asuir looked surprised as everyone but Kenzie laughed.

“I don’t like my name”, Kenzie muttered.

Asuir looked confused. “I thought Amy said that Alice didn’t like her name?”

“Mine’s worse!” Kenzie glared at her sisters and cousin…”and no one shall say it aloud. Ever.”

Asuir looked amused and began to try and pry the name out of the girls. “At least give me a hint.”

Ice laughed and said, “Well her initials are M H” and then ducked as Kenzie tried to pop her on the back of her head. She jogged ahead with Kenzie in half-hearted pursuit.

Cat chuckled and told Asuir “Back home, the other warriors took her initials and gave her a nickname.”

“Do I at least learn the nickname?” Asuir inquired.

Cat glanced ahead to make sure Kenzie was not in earshot. “Don’t tell her I told you.” “At first they kidded her about her lack of skills, and then took her initials and said they would call her Mostly Harmless.”

[Cat]

In Search of Scars Meadows – The Journey Continues

“So…how are we supposed to find these guys?” Ice looked at Amy. After all she did say she would find out.

Asuir answered…”I suppose we can just ask around? Everyone comes through Kaineng. Someone may know which way they went.”

“But who is the guild leader? You said you would find out, Amy.” Ice looked at Amy impatiently.

“His name is Racthoh Demini.” Amy replied. “That's what Dahnel told my father.”

Cat looked startled. “THE Racthoh Demini?”

Amy shrugged. “Is there more than one?”

“I heard that they were in Cantha,” Cat said thoughtfully, “starting a new war campaign; strange that I never heard the name of his guild before. Are you sure he is the leader of Scars Meadows.?”

Asuir looked thoughtfully at Cat. “That is what Dahnel said on the ship. Why does that surprise you? And what do you mean? THE Racthoh Demini?”

Cat looked at Kenzie and shook her head in disbelief.

They decided to split into two groups and ask the merchants along their route if they had any information. On the last group of merchants just before the gate to leave town, a group purchasing supplies overheard Cat asking about Scars Meadows.

The handsome young warrior looked at Cat for a moment before he decided to talk to her. “Why are you asking about Scars Meadows? Who are you?”

Cat quickly answered his questions. She hoped the young man’s interest meant he knew of the guild.

Satisfied with Cat’s reply, he continued, “I can lead you to the guild if you make yourself useful.”

And so began the journey to the guild Scars Meadows.

[Cat]

Leaving Kaineng

The two groups eyed each other with curiosity as they walked towards the exit from Kaineng.

“We will go by Marketplace to pick up more supplies,” volunteered one of the Scars Meadows guild members.

“It isn’t necessary that we tell them all of our business”, chided another member.

The group continued in silence after that for a time. They traveled down the coast uneventfully to Marketplace where the Mackenzies and Asuir waited for the others to buy their supplies.

“Not very talkative are they?” Angel eyed the group nervously. One of the warriors saw Angel looking his way and winked. Angel flushed and looked away.

“They don’t trust us”, Ice volunteered. “I don’t trust them”, she continued. She noticed Angel was blushing. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Ermmm…I think I will check on Igor”, Angel said quickly. As she walked towards the dune lizard, she looked nervously over her shoulder towards the warrior, who grinned at her. Angel ducked her head and began talking nonsense to the dune lizard.

Ice narrowed her eyes as she saw the warrior’s apparent amusement. Impudent …an obvious lady’s man… I will have to keep a watch on him…and Angel.

She looked over at the rest of their group. Amy and Asuir were deep in conversation near Angel. Cat and Kenzie were standing near the Scars Meadows members, apparently watching each purchase. Next they will be asking how much they need, for how large a group, and why this instead of that.

Ice strolled over to Cat and Kenzie. “We should introduce ourselves”.

“Later” Cat replied, “They are busy now.”

[Cat]

Leaving Marketplace

As the group of travelers left Marketplace, Ice decided she was tired of the silence. She was also a trifle irritated with the lack of introductions. “Took you long enough,’ she looked at the apparent leader of the group.

He glanced in her direction, raised one eyebrow, and said not a word.

Exasperated, Ice continued, “I’m Ice Mackenzie, and you are?”

“Ice?” he laughed “No one is named Ice.”

Furious, Ice walked back to Angel, who was still talking nonsense to Igor. “Does he ever answer you?” Angel only chuckled. Igor hissed at Ice. “Better conversation than that one.” She glared at the warrior walking ahead of them.

“Oh, he seems nice enough”, Angel smiled at the warrior. He slowed his pace to match that of Angel’s.

“A very pretty monk to be walking with such a hideous pet”, he looked at Igor and chuckled.

“Oh, that’s Igor”, Angel laughed. “He’s Cat’s dune lizard.”

“Cat? Ice?” He shook his head. “Surely one of you has a proper name?”

“Oh, well.” Angel said. “Cat is short for Catherine.” She looked to see if Ice was still within earshot. “Don’t tell her I told you, but Ice is short for Alice.”

As they continued on, Angel noticed he looked amused. As she gave him a puzzled look, he laughed and said, “Surely you have a name?”

“Oh, sorry, I’m Angel.”

[Cat]

Introductions

As night was approaching, the travelers stopped to set up camp. Once everyone was finally settled around the campfire, the time for introductions was finally at hand.

Cat introduced everyone from their group first. Then she looked at the young man nearest her and waited patiently.

He smiled and said, “Most people call me Rex.” He pointed to the warrior next to him, “That’s Telc.” “Next two guys are brothers, Kay and Kaaru.”

Cat was taken aback when she saw one of the warriors wink at Angel. She thoughtfully watched Angel’s reaction before looking at the lone monk in the SMS group sitting near the one Rex had called Kaaru.

He impudently winked at Cat and said, “You can call me Kalk.”

[Cat]

In Search of Scars Meadows – Unanswered questions

“What is your interest in Scars Meadows?”

Cat looked at Rex and then thoughtfully looked at Kenzie. She shrugged then told them of what she and Kenzie had heard of their father being with Scars Meadows.

Most of the young men said that they knew of no one named Mackenzie that was currently in the guild. Cat noticed, however, that the one named Kaaru said nothing. She watched his quiet interest in the conversation and determined to question him separately later.

A few days later an opportunity presented itself when Cat saw Kaaru away from the night’s camp looking out across a valley. She approached him and stood quietly there for awhile. “Do you know my father?” she finally said.

He looked at Cat and raised one eyebrow. “What makes you think I would?”

“Just a hunch,” she answered. “How long have you been with the guild?”

“I’m not old enough to have been there when you say your father left you”, he chuckled.

“Yes and the men we talked to did say it was long ago when they saw him.” Cat thoughtfully replied.

Cat saw Kaaru look back towards camp at Kenzie. “They said that Kenzie reminded them of father.”

Kaaru laughed, “You don’t miss much do you?”

Cat smiled and continued, “Is there anyone in Scars Meadows that reminds you of Kenzie?”

He said nothing for a long while. Cat stood patiently waiting.

“Maybe.”

And that was all he would say.

[Cat]

In Search of Scars Meadows – Seeking Answers

In the days that followed, the two groups became more comfortable with each other. Well, at least some of them did.

Cat had spoken with her sisters, Amy, and Asuir to enlist their aid in questioning the others from Scars Meadows. “We must be discreet, and we must do it all at once so that they don’t have time to mention it to each other and decide not to tell us anything.”

Ice laughed and said, “Don’t you think that they will become suspicious if we all attach ourselves to a separate person and start a conversation at the same time?”

Cat gave Ice an exasperated glance. “Okay, smarty, what do you suggest?”

“You always overcomplicate things, Cat. Keep it simple. You believe that Kaaru will prevent the others from answering our questions. You also said he obviously knows more than he is telling you. Wait until he is away from the others at night while we are camped. You keep him occupied while we question the rest of them all together.”

Angel looked puzzled, “Why don’t you think he will tell us what he knows about father? He’s a nice guy.”

Ice rolled her eyes and said, “Angel, you think everyone is a nice guy.”

“I will talk to Kaaru myself,” Angel declared.

It was a few days more before an opportunity presented itself for them to carry out their plan. Kaaru was going to a nearby village to purchase some small supplies.

“If you don’t mind, I would like to go with you,” Angel said with a smile.

“I never mind the company of a charming lady,” Kaaru replied.

Cat and Ice weren’t exactly thrilled with how things had worked out. They both would have preferred to have kept an eye on Angel and Kaaru. Cat pulled Angel aside before they left, “It isn’t necessary for you to keep him occupied now. You can stay here with us.”

Angel looked at Cat’s worried expression. “Don’t be silly. I’ll be fine. I told you, he’s a nice guy. Besides, I want to see if he knows anything about father.”

Angel was quite stubborn, so Ice and Cat gave up. Kenzie chuckled at the worried expressions on their faces as they watched Angel and Kaaru take the trail to the village. “She isn’t a baby, you know.” And then she shrugged at the icy glares she received from her sisters.

The trail was a pleasant one, meandering alongside a brook and in the shade of pleasant green leafed trees.

Angel glanced at Kaaru, “May I ask you some questions?”

“You may ask, I may not answer,” he replied with a smile.

“Fair enough.” Angel was quiet for a while as she considered how to ask what she wanted to know.

Finally, Kaaru chuckled and said, “What are your questions, pretty lady?”

Angel looked at Kaaru and blushed at which point he laughed out loud.

Somewhat exasperated with both herself and the young warrior, Angel decided to just tell a story. “I don’t really remember my father”, she began. “I was just a baby when he left. Mom told me he called me his little Angel, so that’s what she named me.”

“It fits you,” he said.

“You are very charming,” she said. “But I think you are trying to distract me from what I want to ask.”

“Perhaps,” he replied. “Or perhaps it’s what I think.”

Angel decided to ignore the last comment and continue her story. “Cat, Kenzie, and Ice were old enough when father left to remember him. We have talked about father often. Wondering why he left us, wondering where he is, wondering if he is even still alive.”

“Kenzie believes that he left to make money to support the family and was killed in battle. Otherwise he would have returned. She wants to avenge his death.”

“Cat believes that he just took the easy way out, and left mom to deal with the family. She wants to find him and tell him exactly what she thinks about his lack of responsibility. Cat’s always talking about responsibility.”

“Ice says that all men are not to be trusted, not a one of them. And that father was just being a man.”

At that, Angel was quiet for a while with a worried expression on her face.

Kaaru watched her for a while. “That bothers you, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, I don’t think that’s true, and I worry most about Ice.”

Kaaru looked at Angel thoughtfully for a moment. “And what does his little Angel think?”

“His little Angel just wants to know the truth,” she replied.

[Cat]

In Search of Scars Meadows – Questions Answered

Angel stopped and looked at Kaaru searchingly for a moment. “Do you know my father?” she finally said.

Kaaru started to evade the question, but changed his mind. For some reason, she was, out of all the sisters, the only one he couldn’t put off answering. Perhaps it was her innocence; perhaps her kindness. Whatever it was, he decided to be straightforward with her. “I never met anyone by that name in the guild, but I have seen someone who reminds me of Kenzie.”

“Do you think it might be him?” Angel said.

“He’s the right age and there is the similarity in looks. Beyond that, I have no way of knowing.” Strider stood there a moment silently as he tossed stones into the brook.

Angel thought over what he said. “When was the last time that you saw him?”

Strider shrugged his shoulders, “It’s been awhile. I haven’t been in the main camp for long at a time. I usually volunteer for all the traveling duties. And he comes to camp only rarely.”

Angel smiled and said, “A restless spirit?”

“Something like that.” Kaaru wasn’t sure if she was referring to him or her father.

“Does he belong to the guild? Who does he talk to? How long ago was the last time you saw him?”

Kaaru laughed. “Just full of questions, aren’t you?”

Angel smiled and said, “Always.”

“In a way. I’d rather not say. About a year ago.” Strider laughed out loud at Angel’s exasperated glance in his direction.

“Why don’t you want to say who he talks to?”

“I’d rather not answer that one either.” He chuckled at Angel’s pout.

“What do you mean he belongs to the guild ‘in a way’?” she continued.

“Technically he belongs to the guild.”

“I don’t understand?” Angel looked perplexed.

“Some things its best not to know.” He said with a smile.

[Cat]

Hi guys....this story was done a little differently from the others....Daniel and I wrote it together...I would write.. send it to him ...he would write ..send it back...finally its done....I will let you try and figure out who wrote what part :wink:

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In Search of Scars Meadows – Tales by the Campfire

Back at the camp, the others were sitting around the fire, and telling of their escapades. The Mackenzies listened in fascination at stories from the Scars Meadows guild members. Cat wasn’t sure how much was fact and how much was embellished to impress their audience. Eventually there was a lull in the story telling.

Cat began to tell them about her father, what they remembered of him, and why they were looking for him at Scars Meadows. As before, they didn’t remember anyone named Mackenzie at the guild.

Kenzie spoke up “Have you noticed anyone at your main camp that reminds you of me?”
No one had.

“When you are in the main camp, you should ask Calif,” Rex said. “He has been in the guild a long time…in fact, he returned to the guild from retirement. If anyone would know, it would be him.”

The conversation then returned to their escapades in the guild. Amy and Asuir exchanged glances and decided to share an escapade of their own..........

“My father wasn’t very thrilled with our friendship” Amy began and glanced towards Asuir.

Asuir laughed and said, “That’s an understatement.”

“When I was very young, Asuir and I met at my family’s country home outside of Maatu Keep. He was the one who first taught me how to use my ritualist skills.

When we met again as teenagers, he told me of how he would sneak out at night and fight vermin in the city. I begged him to show me how. Finally I convinced him that it would be better for him to teach me than for me to go on my own. So we decided on when and where to meet. It was a night when my father was out of town at a business party. I was to meet Asuir at the garden gate. I waited until the household was asleep, made my escape, then we went to find the vermin.”

"psst..Amy..hey, you there?" Asuir looked up at the only window on the top floor of the Mackenzie estate that was emitting light.

With a cracking sound the window opened cautiously as the young girl poked her head out into the fresh night air. “Yeah, I’m here. I’ll be down in a second” Amy said in a low voice, as not to alert the men appointed to watch her in her father’s absence. (Mainly made up of employees of Caleb looking to get into his good books). From the courtyard, Asuir was staring back up at the window waiting for a sign of life. Just as he was about to throw a stone up at the window to regain her attention a foot appeared, followed by another, she was climbing out of the top floor window…Backwards.

“whoa…Amy be careful, it’s a long fall from up there..” Asuir warned as he watched her abseil the estate wall. “You know, for a spoiled brat. You escape capture pretty well”.

“Ugh..I’ve..ugh…done this…ugh..lots…of times..ugh”..each word separated by the sound of her battling with the vine that had grown up the brickwork over the years. However despite her blatant familiarity with the structure, all did not go as planned. Before reaching a safe enough height to let go of the wall she lost her footing and began to fall backwards. Fortunately, Asuir had been watching the whole thing play out with much amusement and was there to break her fall. “Heh, I thought you were an expert at this” he teased as he caught her by the hips, and held his arms around her until she was balanced again.

They both paused for a moment in the embrace, the mood had shifted slightly.

“Asuir…”

“Yeah?..”

“um…your arms ?”

“oh…right..sorry..”.

Asuir quickly released her before stepping back, as she brushed the leaves off her expensive clothing. She now had a big grin on her face, excited about the vermin hunt. “You know, I don’t like the idea of you coming along, what if you get hurt?” Asuir revealed his much hidden protective side whenever Amy was around. She giggled at his concern, as she usually did. “But you’d never let that happen to me right?” She loved to tease the boys in the village, but none more so than Asuir.

Amy glanced back at the house….”Let’s go…I don’t want to get caught!” They ran out the garden gate and kept to the shadows…..there were guards that patrolled at night to keep the peace…..she didn’t want them catching her out either. “Father will have a yak if he finds out about this,” she muttered more to herself than to Asuir.

“Just stick close to me, I never get caught.”

Amy made a face at him……”Where is this vermin boss you were telling me about?”

“He’s across the city a ways….not a nice part of town…that’s why I didn’t want you to go.” Asuir glanced back at Amy……..

“pfffttt…I’m a big girl….if you can do it so can I” Amy stubbornly glared at Asuir’s concerned expression.

Asuir grinned at her determined look and said….”I expect you will do all right.”

They avoided the guards easily….keeping to the shadows in the alleyways…..finally after what seemed forever….Asuir held up his hand signaling to be quiet and whispered…”he is usually right around here……we need to be careful…he’s never alone. Ahh..there he is.”

“Where…..I don’t see him?!” Amy inched closer in the direction Asuir was looking…

“Careful!!!” he hissed to Amy…”there is a lot of debris here……”

Just then Amy tripped over the debris with a loud clatter……the quiet of the night was suddenly gone as the grunts of many startled vermin shattered the silence…Amy found herself face to face with the smelliest, ugliest…and most annoyed vermin she had ever seen…not that she had seen many.

As Amy stood up…frozen in shock…the vermin slowly started towards her…..

Walking slowly with their sights set on the young girl, the vermin stalked fearfully close, bearing teeth and growling lowly.

"Amy!...what ever you do...don’t make any sudden movements! I’ll go get help..."

"What!? ..Where are you going! Don’t leave me here!"

Asuir laughed to himself..

"..haha..i'm only joking...but seriously ..If you run they will hunt you down, just hold on I’m going to try something".

Asuir's sense of humor wasn’t well taken given the current situation.

"You big jerk!...help me!".

The vermin were but inches away from Amy now, sniffing the air and growling loudly, Amy did all she could to not turn and run.

The closest vermin arched back and got ready to pounce once it realised the opportunity for fresh meat was at hand.

"Asuir!!!....DO SOMETHING!!".

Just as she shouted her commands at Asuir, a brilliant blue light flew past Amy and connected with the side of the vermin, sending it tumbling with a shriek of burning pain which left an ugly scorch mark on its side. Amy breathed a big sigh of relief as she looked over at Asuir, hands still held together pointing in the direction of the target.

"..That was too close.." Asuir was breathing heavily. "This is exactly why I didn’t want to bring you here..you could have been killed!".

The sound of the wounded vermin alerted at least 30 more to come stampeding around the corner further up the district....

“Runnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn………………….” Amy shrieked and followed her own advice headed towards the populated part of town as fast as she could move.

“Right behind you”…..Asuir muttered as he followed on Amy’s heals…careful to stay between her and the vermin in pursuit of them.

Luckily there was a distance between them and the following vermin….as they reached the part of town that was well-lighted the vermin slowed…then stopped…they wouldn’t follow them into that area.

“Stop!..Stop!..you two…..what are you doing here!?”

“Oh nooo!!!” Amy said ….and started back running …this time from a city guard.

“This way....follow me”. Amy swerved to follow Asuir down an alleyway….they reached the end and turned on the street in the direction of Amy’s house only to see two more guards.

Asuir swerved into another alleyway and they ran in the opposite direction from the guards…towards the docks……Asuir knew that there was usually a crowd there even at night. He was loathe to take Amy to that rowdy area….but getting caught by the guards and having to face Amy’s irate father had even less appeal.

They reached the crowded docks and Asuir grabbed Amy’s hand so as to not get separated in the crowd of drunks….and other unsavory characters that were about.

They weaved through the crowd and ducked off to the side to spy on the guards.

Holding Amy closely as they huddled together in the shadows, Asuir poked his head out a little to check on the guards that where pursuing them. The bigger guard on the right gave a quick glance over the sea of people, scratched his head, then simply shrugged and turned to the other guard. "ahh ..just some kids anyway..lets go, we have more important things to do".

Amy and Asuir both gave a big sigh then looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"You're going to get me killed one day you know " Asuir said to Amy laughingly, still holding onto her. She smiled and put her head on his chest as he held her close. "Well its getting late, I should get you back before your fathers helpers find out you're missing".

When they were sure the coast was clear, they walked back slowly to the Mackenzie estate through the warm summer night. As they walked they joked about the nights events until eventually they arrived at the gates. At the gates they said their goodnights quietly as not to alert anybody, and began to walk in opposite directions, until Amy came to a stop. Asuir was still walking back towards town when he heard Amy call for him.

"Hey Asuir!"

He stopped and turned to see Amy running down the path towards him. She didn’t slow down and almost tackled him with a hug.

"Thank you for taking me out tonight" she said hugging him so tight she almost cut off his breathing.

"ah ..that’s ..ok.......haha I cant breath".

She lightened her grip around him and looked at him for a few seconds before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

[Cat]

In Search of Scars Meadows –Answers Questioned

Angel quietly walked along the stream on the trail towards the village thinking about what little information Kaaru had given her about her father. Or at least the man she assumed could be her father. What did they really know, after all, just that a man named Mackenzie had been with Scars Meadows long ago…and that man reminded some of Kenzie. And that more recently a man that reminded Kaaru of Kenzie had been seen at the guild hall …and he didn’t even have the name Mackenzie.

Angel impatiently kicked a rock down the path and centered a tree with it. It bounced off and Kaaru jumped to the side to avoid being hit by it. As he raised one eyebrow and looked at Angel in amusement, she glared at him.

“Why are you mad at the tree?” Kaaru asked.

Angel looked at him in surprise for a moment. Then she grinned and said, “I’m not even mad at you, I suppose, just the situation.” “What if we are traveling who knows where following the trail of someone who isn’t even our father?!!!”

Kaaru shrugged. Then smiled and said, “Just enjoy the journey.”

Angel considered his suggestion a moment. “Good advice.” With a lighter heart she started questioning Kaaru about Scars Meadows, the other members of his guild, the guild leader, Kaaru’s childhood, and anything else she could think of.

Finally, Kaaru thru his hands up and declared “I surrender! You win! No more questions!”

Angel looked confused, “What? What did I win?”

Kaaru chuckled and said, “Nevermind.”

======================

Cat stretched as she watched the sun rise. It was a beautiful morning, and she had enjoyed the camaraderie around the campfire the night before. For some reason she felt at home with these guys: more so than with anyone she had met before other than her family. She watched as the camp came to life. The preparations for the morning meal were underway and she watched her sisters, cousin, and Asuir interact with the others. They all seem comfortable in this group too, she decided.

Since they had to wait on Kaaru and Angel to return with the supplies, they decided to take the opportunity to gather some fresh food. They divided into groups and set out to collect nuts, berries, and set snares for small game. Asuir and Amy pulled out some string and hooks and cut branches to make poles for fishing.

They all gathered back in camp at midday to see what they had acquired and to prepare the noon meal. They cooked the fish and some roots that had been gathered and were chatting amicably when they heard Angel and Kaaru’s voices as they approached the camp. They joined the rest for the noon meal.

After much good natured arguing back and forth, it was finally decided to leave the pleasant campsite early the next morning. “No point in having to set up camp again in a few hours,” Rex declared. The others nodded in agreement.