Khan of the Steppes

Zane shrugs and waves a nonchalant hoof.
"Here or there, we will group somehow.
Tend your affairs; we do not leave now."

... ... ...

Two days later, the Meet was wrapping up. The clans had enjoyed their Midsummer celebration, leaving behind the commotion following the Khan's announcement for the most part. Any tension in the air had been mostly the usual response of the games and competitions as part of the midsummer celebrations. Now, the campfires were extinguished, and the lingering smell of smoke and cooked meals was beginning to dissipate. The mix of creatures inhabiting the steppes were filing out in all directions, leaving the valley of the Meet, carrying or dragging their possessions and tents with them. Udus' tent had somehow been taken down and put away somewhere.

Anemone sends a letter (via arrow) to both Cau'rha and Zane to meet where Khan Udus' tent was before.

Steele had been busy during the meet, seeing what others had to trade...Though she refrained from 'helping herself,' not wishing to set a bad example of Udus's clan...At least not at such a crucial time. As the end of the meet arrived, she took a breath, walking the increasingly-deserted grounds...She chose to head to the site of Udus's tent, wanting to see the view from there before the group met up and began blazing a trail for the others to follow...Hopefully.

Prairie Grass, Silver Wind, and the rest packed up their camp and began the long journey back to Prairie Strider territory. Carrying the message of Khan Udus with them. Sleipnir remained behind and came upon the group forming up that was going to do whatever it was that Khan Udus had planned. "I am here. What is the mission?"

Zane smiles contently as he hurls his now compact yurt onto his back; the jostling poles conveniently muffling out the sound of the message arrow lodging itself into them.
His lodgings in tow, he heads for what's left of the Dark Water tents to collect Book Smart.

Lost in thought, Book Smart stood anxiously at the edge of what was once the Dark Water encampment as they got underway. Although he'd already said his goodbyes, the (newly transformed) changeling-unicorn found that it was harder than he'd thought to just stand there while his tribe left. To distract himself, Book went back over his preparations. Right. I've got saddle bags, some bowls, that ring the elders gave me. He glanced down at the string around his neck with a ring on it. I've got breakfast ready. I can do this. Just need to meet up with everyone and then we can leave. It's not like I forgot anything. Wait, what if I forgot something?!

Fidgeting indecisively, Book Smart didn't notice the zebra's approach.

Anemone showed up, with a new set of dark red tattoos, to see Steele already there. She nodded in greeting and said, "Well met sister." having learned she was also part of the Udus tribe.

Silver looked over, smiling at Anemone and nodding respectfully in turn. "Greetings. How have you been settling in?" she asked, smiling a bit. She remembered back when she joined, it had been worrisome. "I hope the others have been treating you properly, hmm, hmm." She was kind of excited to finally start this mission for the Khan...Hopefully, it would go smoothly...But then, such things were never easy, even when they went smooth.

"Half of yesterday is mostly just a blur but, I believe I have been treated quite warmly. The other two should be along momentarily. I sent them both a letter." Anemone replied.

"Ahem," Sleipnir cleared his throat as Anemone and Silver talked amongst themselves without noticing the large stallion standing a few feet away from them for the last several minutes. "I'm sorry but is this where the group formed by Udus Khan is meeting? I was going to tag along with them as an observer. If this is not the group could you please direct me to where they are located?"

Anemone raises an eyebrow at Steele, wondering if she had heard anything about this.

Silver nodded a bit, thinking for a moment. "Well, I know I'm going with them. According to Anemone, the others should be coming...I don't quite remember an observer, though, but I suppose if you're coming along regardless, I'd rather you where I can see you...I know that's what everyone says about me, anyhow..." She chuckles, shrugging a bit. "Still, I have no problems with it if the rest of the group's alright with you coming along."

"Sorry for the inconvenience," Cau'rha apologized, "But, there is the small matter of Crimson Hoof that I must attend to before we can go. If everyone who is going is here, then I propose we go attend to it."

[color=red[((OOC EDIT: Okay, how do THREE people post at the exact same friggin' time?! It's downright scary.))[/color]

"May we at least know who you are? I am Anemone Gracehoof and Silver Steele here was made known to me even though I think this is our first meeting." she says.

---

Blargh ninja'd. Can we just pretend she said that before the goat ninja?

Zane looks at the unicorn that sort of looks like Book Smart's disguise, but not quite. Still, Zane approaches him, messenger arrow forming a sort of flag.
"Book Smart, my friend! It would seem that you have taken on a new guise.
Though...I will not pretend; I do not understand why you continue the lies."

Ramsus wrote:"May we at least know who you are? I am Anemone Gracehoof and Silver Steele here was made known to me even though I think this is our first meeting." she says.

"Oh, right. My name is Sleipnir of the Prairie Striders." Sleipnir introduced himself to the two.

The unicorn-changeling called out, "Zane!" using a voice recognizably close to his earth pony voice. "Are you ready to go? I'm ready! Yup. I'm, um, pretty sure, at least. As to my form, well, I've been told that some ponies don't like the holes and fangs and whatnot. So, I switch every now and then because that's both polite and makes things interesting. I was trying a little experiment before with the mane color and polka-dots, but it really didn't work out. Since I thought I might need to move things around today, I decided to be a unicorn! If you want, I can change back. I just wanted to make a good first impression."

Book levitated one of the bowls of Royal Jelly over to Zane. "I wasn't sure how many you had in your group, so I decided to make what I could when I got up. Are the rest ready to go?" he asked before lifting a bowl and taking a mouthful.

OOC:

Book Smart paused his breakfast, gesturing to Zane's pack as he said, "That's an interesting flag. Is that for your tribe?"

"Well met Sleipnir." Aneome says with a nod of acknowledgement and then with her head bowed in respect say to Cau'rha, "As you wish Shaman."

Zane sits down, letting the compacted yurt stand on its own before accepting the levitating bowl with his front hooves and taking a sip.

Magic point check:

"I appreciate the brew, and the energy it instills.
It is your choice how you debut; and you should appear as you will."
Zane offers a friendly smile before tilting the bowl back and finishing the concoction. He wipes his mouth with a sigh before continuing to speak.
"I as well have my things prepared. We will group with the others next.
But your comment makes me scared, as I fly no flag that would perplex."
The zebra turns his head, before noting the arrow sticking out of the yurt and leaping to his hooves to inspect the fabric. No damage to the design, besides a small notch from where the arrow had planted itself into a pole. Zane pulls out the arrow and lets out a relieved chuckle as he reads the message.
"Oh ho ho! It is the others letting us know their location.
How apropos! Almost as if uttering their names was causation.

Let us go to them and commune,
We will begin our adventure soon."

OOC Notes:

Finishing his meal, Book Smart gave a nod. "Great," he said, picking up the remaining breakfast as he trotted after Zane to meet with the others. "Hopefully, they're friendly, too."

"I think I saw you for a second before...But yes, it's my first time speaking with you...But yes, let's see to this business of yours..." She looked at Cau'rha for a moment, bowing respectfully to him in turn. "Good to meet you, Slepnir. Ignore whatever rumors you've heard of me." She smirked a bit, chuckling as she looked at the fourth member of this little band, tapping her staff against the ground as she waited for the goat to lead the way.

Streetwise:

Zane trots towards the assembled characters group members.
"It seems our group grows wider. I meet each of you well.
I will need your name again Prairie Strider, though I remember Cau'rha and Anemone the gazelle.

For some this is our first meeting, thus your names I wish to ascertain.
But first I bid you greeting; I am simply called Zane."

"Greetings Zane, and who is this that you have brought with you?" Anemone says, indicating Book Smarts.

Zane lightly taps his forehead with a front hoof in punishment for not thinking to introduce the unicorn beside him.
"Ah! I did not think to impart; I should have professed.
This is my friend Book Smart; he will be joining our little quest."