The Sun Sets

"On it," said Dodger, peeling off to the left.

---

Oh right I probably need to roll:

"Okie dokie lokie." I veered off to the right, trying to appear nonchalant. Once in the grass, I ducked down and pony-walked for a bit to try and take advantage of the cover.

I suddenly remembered the pegasus' comment on bait. I switched one of my knives for a firecracker, one of the ones that makes a lot of smoke and not much else as I kept eyes and ears open for our follower and the followees...

Except then, right then, a bug flew decided to get in my eye. I managed to shove a claw into my mouth to muffle my gasp of surprise; but, I was none-the-less momentarily blinded...

---

((Prepping Spyrotechnics. That is the purpose of the firecrackers, BTW.))

Stealth/Perception:

Storm whispers to Emerald. "Maybe we want to hide behind the next hill, up there. I'll also try to whip up some fog, so that might help. I don't want to be so out in the open, especially when something's following us."

OOC:Weather-crafting fog.
Stunts + FK(Weather-crafting)
Roll(1d20)+20:
16,+20
Total:36

OOC:Stealth
Roll(1d20)+7:
6,+7
Total:13

Emerald nods at their plan as they leave their own ways. Her spell is fading fast, she won't veer off to the side and risk losing the proper direction. If they were being followed, it would be from behind, so her forward momentum is slowed only to the point of being mostly certain there aren't any cliffs or sinkholes, unconcerned about any possible ponies lying in wait. Her words come telepathically. '"I don't want to wait too long for what might be just a curious innocent following. Caution is good, but I can't let her down. If you wish to lie in wait and spring the trap along with the others, I won't disagree with the wisdom of the action. If lying in wait on the crest, though, this grass will keep you from seeing them until they're right on top of you."'

Keep in mind Weather crafting has a five minute prep time- and a lot can (and probably will) happen in that time.

---

Storm begins to build some cloud cover, during which time Spines and Dodger peel off and attempt to ambush their would-be ambusher. However, when they reach the general location Dodger picked out, they find nothing. Either he was never there to begin with, or he already moved, leaving no indication of which direction. Emerald just continues ahead, keeping on course toward Star's location.

---

The cover's not up yet, so is Storm staying with her or stopping to work?

'"I'll see if I can flush this mouse out for you brave stallions, if any of you think its a good idea.'" Emerald psionically informs the party, keeping her canter. '"I can blast an outcry from a few dozen feet behind me and startle whomever may be following. If this is a bad idea, let me know within 30 seconds somehow."'

Storm abandons his weather crafting and continues to head off after Emerald. He whispers to her "Might be a good idea, just give a notice right before."

Dodger didn't want to blow his cover by speaking out, and he was afraid that any sound he made would give the false report that he thought this was a poor idea. So he kept silent, hoping this would suffice in the affirmative.

Emerald stretched her neck as if to check the sun, a simple stage misdirection to grab line of sight behind herself briefly, keeping steady a pace in the proper direction. She would need to move her sound away from herself at the speed of her walking for the phrase, so it would need to be in her range the whole time. It wasn't so important how close she got, as long as it wasn't from her. She quietly clears her vocal chords, to get them a bit lower, a bit stronger. A deep=throated masculine mudpony voice, the strength of a shout, and nice and angry, 40 feet directly behind herself.

"Hey you, what d'ya think you're doing there?!"

While expecting something to happen, Spines and Storm were both still caught unawares by Emerald's voice trick. Luckily, so was their follower, and Dodger and Spines and Storm see him as he jumps from the surprise. A Buck, no doubt from the same tribe of deer that they met earlier, who had managed to move closer than expected- he is only a few yards away from Storm and Emerald, and only a few feet from where she had projected the voice. He tries to duck back down and disappear again, but if they hurry, the three can confront him before losing sight again.

Storm tackles the buck. "Coltpile!"

OOC:Stunts check. Storm is going to subdue, not to injure.
Roll(1d20)+15:
14,+15
Total:29

Storm, being the closest, abandons his mistmaking and speeds towards the ducking buck. His cloud speeds by as he flips off, landing on and pinning the deer, avoiding the prongs of his antlers.

---

With Storm having the struggling colt in hoof lock, he asks. "Ok, I think the obvious question is, why were you following us?"

To which the deer says...

"Haeksenn. Kanen follow Haeksenn. No harm to anypony." He says looking towards Emerald's direction.

"Kanenhronkaskarònya." He said bluntly

"Kan-uh-what-now?" I asked, trotting up to the pinned deer. "Speak Equestrian, please!"

"Well, Kanen," said Dodger, trotting out from his hiding place. "Even if you are telling the truth and mean no harm, you still were acting suspicious, following us and then attempting to run. So you will forgive us if we act less than cordial until you give us straight answers."

"Apkonwe no say Kanenhronkaskarònya. Kanenhronkaskarònya is Kanen. Kanen follow haeksenn. No harm apkonwe."

"Green haeksenn not same as others. Kanen learn from her."

"No Kanen learn to beat haeksenn so that Kanen can beat more haeksenn."