Mission PA1 The Piktish Guide to Wildlife: Lay of the Land

[Shinku]

“Otto Saix.” Kyou repeated the name in his head to be able to memorize it better. “Otto that name is a palindrome and reads backwards just the same as forward. And Saix is a bit like say X.” he added as a mnemonic and felt quite sure now that he would be able to remember it well.
The monkey-man, Otto he corrected himself, also confirmed his assumption that he was indeed a Devil Fruit user and therefore not a normal monkey but a human. Kyou sighed but he had already come to accept that as a fact before he knew for sure. It had been too likely to be anything else. He would have to adjust to it. And so far there was nothing to complain about he had to admit for he hadn’t been treated with anything else than friendliness from Otto.
And without much doubt he could also take it as confirmed that Otto had the same mission that he had. Why else would someone gather animal droppings in a bag? Unless that was a weird hobby of his.

When the light outside of the room became visible, Otto joined him and extinguished the torch he was holding, leaving them in darkness, the only light now belonging to the man passing them by. None of them made a sound when the man behind the ajar door called out and asked if someone was around.
It would have been bright enough to notice them, but he didn’t. Kyou captured himself holding his breath, so he forced his breathing to be quiet and slow but also constant. The smell of smoke from the torch was in the air, covering other smells like animal droppings.

No option came without an alternative and neither option nor alternative came without their own pros and cons. In this case Kyou decided that the pros of knowing what was going on was outweighing the cons of being easier to spot if he went to listen at the door. What he heard didn’t put him at ease at all. Two more people joined and from their talk there was at least one more person around. Four persons with unknown goal and motivation. That could be tricky.

"What do you think there doing here?"

Kyou shrugged then remembered that this was unlikely to be noticed in the darkness. “I don’t know.” He whispered. “But we could follow them and find it out.” He made a pause, looking over to Otto, even though only shadows were visible. “OR, we could get out of here before we get into trouble.”
There was no doubt which option he preferred for he put emphasis in his voice to get that point across.
However it was one thing to prefer an option, and quite another to think that option was the best action one could take. Without waiting for Otto to answer, Kyou waited for the men to get past them and then followed slowly and as quietly as he could using the little light in front of him to guide him. He was too careful and for a moment he thought that he lost them when the light got faint and obscured by the ruins floor, but then he found them again. His nose picked up the smell of food. Carefully he sneaked up as close as he dared to, making sure to remain hidden in the shadows of the light.
What he saw there didn’t make him happy at all.
The place was a camp of sorts and the men were sitting next to a fire where their meal was cooking over it. The men had weapons too. Dark stains that looked very much like blood were visible on the floor.
Most likely they were not the sort of men that Kyou wanted to be acquainted with.

“What do we do now?” he asked even though he knew the answer.

They were not the sort of guys he could handle himself nor was the reward for the mission worth it to get involved with some nasty poachers like them. Better to give up on that Aeroch and try to find evidence on the bird and cat instead. Maybe the townspeople would also thank him for a hint about poachers living in the ruins.
Yes that would do. No need to fight. Just let him get out of her peacefully and he’d be contend.

 

[The Shimmering Banana]

“But we could follow them and find it out.” He made a pause, looking over to Otto, even though only shadows were visible. “OR, we could get out of here before we get into trouble.”

Kyou immediately following behind the men at a safe distance with Otto close on his back. The area being pitch black the only light coming the torch yards ahead of the pair. In silence they tip toed down the hall to their camp. The floors patched in blood making the ice shimmer a bright red color when near the light. The men huddled around a pot of delicious smelling stew, one shorter chubbier man poring in a few of the iron spike chestnuts. Otto smirks knowing what happens when you heat an Iron spike. When he was younger growing up in the Dojo, Otto and his friends would throw them into fires in the woods and watch the explosion. Often getting them punished by Master Hut. He scans over to the other men one a large hammer wielding man the other tall and skinny but one of which carrying a rifle. He knew if they fought it would have to be from a close range but now wouldn't be that time. For now he knew he had to get out of there and somewhat soon, the nuts taking longer to heat up over a fire in a pot.

“What do we do know?”  asked Kyou, Otto replying "Now we get out of here" snickering slightly to himself as the two of them crept back towards the front of the ruins. Otto's hands once again sliding along the walls as to not bump into a wall on the way out. The rain clouds on the outside all but faded away. Seemed a bit safer for Otto to venture back into the woods without fear of midges. He takes a step out of the ruins and looks towards the sun, it now being late in the day, as it glowed a dim orange hue above them. "Its getting late I need to get back home. I could really use your help in my job. Ill split whatever we make with you, I figure if a picture is worth a thousands words imagine how much beri that would be. HaHAHAha!" he says to the photographer as they walk through the forest towards civilization. "How about we meet back at the lab in Falfries tomorrow morning ?" he asks, assuming that Kyou had a place to stay and knew the area.

 As they leave the band of poachers sitting to eat their dinner in peace. The chubby man pouring a large amount of the stew with one chest nut in each mans bowl. The men devouring the stew, then breaking the shell off the nut and eating it. "There's enough for one more person if anyone wants more" stirring a ladle around in the pot the chestnut swimming in a boiling pot of crystal deer stew. The large man laughing as he replies, "No those were fat boy portions... Weren't they chubby?" raising to his feet and walking around the corner to another room where they had there sleeping mats. "I'm going to sleep wake me when it's time to eat again" he says to the remaining trio as he retires. The other two skinner men soon to follow him the one with the rifle saying, "Don't forget to turn that fire out when you go to sleep.", to the chubbier man as he pouted to himself due to the insults of the large man. As time goes the chestnut heating more and more as he spoke to himself cleaning the mess the other three men's mess from dinner.

"I'm the real slave around here." remembering how the other skinner man was outraged earlier of how they treated them.

"He thinks he has it bad, yeah right" he crouches down to pick up a bowl flipped up side down reveling a spoon as he lifts the bowl.

"I cook like eight million(an over exaggeration) times a day. I have to tend to the random creatures we catch. And I have to clean up after every one and everything at the end of the day." he crouches down once more to pick up the last bowl from the floor. Then pours the rest of the stew into it leaving it for the stone hides to eat. The chestnut now sitting atop the hot surface of the pot.

"Turn out the fire he says to me, I know what I'm doing. Do I ever forget to turn out the fire?" he continues to ramble as he walks back towards the burning flame. Then looks into the pot to seeing the remaining chestnut.

"At least I get the left overs at the end. HAHAHAhaha!" he laughs out reaching into the pot to retrieve the. It having reached it's limit and exploding just as his chubby fingers reached it hot spike.

"AAAHHHHHHHH!" he screams out as a large explosion blows his arm along with half his torso into pieces splattered along the wall. The chubby man dying from the devastating blow. The other three men rushing out from the other room to see a flaming corpse of their comrade on the floor. The large man walking right back to the room to return sleep, the skinny man still wielding his rifle yet wearing pajamas following right behind him. The third man remaining there shocked at the sights before him and how the other two men could see such a thing and just walk back to their quarters to sleep. He put out the burring pile of flesh that was once his friend then walks out of the ruins leaving the two soulless men to their own demise.

[Shinku]

There was not much Kyou could do but nod in agreement. Half the pay would still be better than nothing and considering the circumstances it was good to have a helping hand or paw or whatever it was you called the hand of a monkey.
“Okay.” He added to make sure that his consent was clear. Too many misunderstandings happened because people just assumed that they had been understood and while his short answer wasn’t much, it still seemed to be enough to make himself clear.
He could have asked for the way to Falfries for he had no clue where it was, but Kyou didn’t want to appear too ignorant in Otto’s eyes so he made sure to find out the general direction by watching where Otto headed to before following on a slightly different path.

It didn’t take long until he was lost. Completely lost.
The landscape had changed into forest again and the shadows started to get longer as the sun was approaching the horizon. Rays of light shone through the gaps of the trees and enlightened the surroundings and especially the bugs that flew around everywhere and looked like tiny globes of light.
Why hadn’t he just ASK for directions?! For god’s sake! It shouldn’t be so hard to ask, especially since Otto had asked him for his help and therefore would have good reasons to help Kyou. Mistrust sure could make one’s life difficult, but it was equally difficult to get ride of it. And he couldn’t do so. His mistrust was the only thing that kept him alive. Trust was a surefire way to get oneself killed.

In front of him he saw something bigger than a bug moving and lifted his head, just in time to see some blue feathers vanishing from sight. A blue bird! Kyou gripped his camera and was about to chase the bird so he could take a photo, when he stepped on something soft and felt on his face again. The little creature he had stepped on let out a scream that spoke of great pain that it was hurting to listen to it. He turned his head and saw the white haggis hopping around, clearly upset but at least not too bad hurt, for it moved around quite furiously. When he tried to stand up it bit him into the ear and he was up and sitting in a moment trying to get the furball off, but the little guy got stuck on his earring and couldn’t let go. Tugging on it made it only worse, but when he let it go, the furball was able to free itself and dropped to the ground where it stayed whimpering heartbreakingly. Kyou’s hand went to his ear and he noticed that the white furball had red dots on his fur. Part of it seemed to come from the bleeding ear, but the little guy was hurt too.
For a while Kyou just watched the haggis, while he whipped away the blood from his ear. When he finished that he watched some more. The furball was shaking, but didn’t move from the spot. Maybe it couldn’t?
He hesitated.
Then he hesitated some more, watching his surroundings some more before standing up. The sun would set soon. It was time to be on his way if he wanted to find the town before it got dark. Kyou took a step then hesitated.
Finally he turned back and picked up the furball. It was white and of the size of an apple, so it fitted well into his pocket.

The shadows grew longer and darker and the forest seemed to take no end. “Need some help boy?” a voice from the side asked him and Kyou nearly jumped. He turned around and his hand found its way to the hidden bokken on his side all by itself. That was pretty much an automatic reaction. And old man, the hands full of wood, stood there smiling. “I’m Deus and you seem lost.” There was no arguing with that fact so Kyou only nodded.

Meeting Deus had proven a real save, for with the old man’s help he had found the town and the old man was content with having Kyou caring some wood as thanks.

Even though it was already dark it was no way late in the evening. More like the sun set early on this time of the year it seemed. So a lot of people were still around in town, going leisurely about their business. Kyou considered asking around for hints where he might find the rare animals, but then again that was likely what they would be doing tomorrow so there was no point in doing so now.
But then again there was something else that was bothering him. The best option would be to just ignore it rather than poke his nose in business that didn’t concern him. “Just ignore and forget it.” He told himself. His brain wasn’t satisfied with this and kept bothering him, so he took out the photo from the ruins out of his pocket and approached two women who stood chatting at the entrance of some store, holding big bags full things they probably just bought there.
Nervously he stammered a short greeting and showed them the picture. “Have you seen them?” he wanted to know. Both women were first mistrustful, for the boy was frowning at them and must have looked rather suspicious, but then they looked at the picture for a while and shook their heads. “Why are you looking for them dear?” one of them asked. She was rather heavy weighted and looked motherly with a friendly face, maybe the reason why Kyou had chosen to ask them. Uncomfortable he stood there, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He didn’t really have any answer to that, so he just shrugged and felt awkward. To help himself over that embarrassing moment he asked what happened to poachers, thinking about the guys back in the ruins.
Unfortunately for him he was overheard by a man of the size of a bear, (and just as hairy) who gripped him by his collar and scanned him from head to toe. “Yeh better dan’t think af any stupid business ma friend.” He told him and shook him a bit to make his point clear. “Weh dan’t like this scum here. Dan’t forget that if yeh want tah live ta yehr next birthday.”
It took Kyou long to explain that this was not what he had meant to do and explained about the guys he had met. The bear-man gave him another thoughtful look and mumbled something to himself before walking off. Kyou wondered if he would do something about the guys or if mister bear was still suspicious about him.
In the next hour he asked many more people about the woman and the child on the photograph, carefully avoiding to even mention poachers in the slightest, but no one could tell him anything about them. No one knew them and no one had seen them.
He decided to make one last attempt before searching for a place to sleep. Carefully he watched the people that were still around before he decided to ask a man mending a fishnet. Kyou got the feeling that the man was watching the passing people as he worked, if someone had noticed something it was likely him, so he went and showed him the picture.

The man paused. “I haven’t seen them. No, can’t remember having seen them.” He told Kyou and shook his head.
No that wasn’t exactly right… the man had started to shake his head before answering, as if he wanted to shake away a nasty memory or something like that. Kyou didn’t know what the man was hiding and if the man was hiding something on purpose or not, but he got the certain feeling that there had been something on the man’s mind. That guy didn’t shake his head as a negation, so much was sure.
But without a concrete clue to go with, this could mean anything and Kyou decided to not ask any further. He did take a good look at the man to make sure that he would remember his face later, but now it was time to search for a place to sleep tonight.

[The Shimmering Banana]

The two men splitting ways Otto headed back to the Dojo. On his way home cutting through a not so dense wooded area. Gathering what fruits he could manage from the trees and a few hand fill's of berries. He walks near the Dojo to a sight he never thought he'd see. The older two blue gorilla gathering wood. The younger one's not rolling around destroying everything in sight and "Big blue" looking health sitting on the porch of the Dojo. Otto creeps up the younger two running up to him, each taking an arm, pulling him in side. All the broken wood taken out from the tattered Dojo. Other salvageable pieces of wood neatly staked in the corner with log, obvious fire wood, next to that. They had all showed him a measure of good faith by acting human like while staying in an indoor setting. Otto felt as if for the first time he found "people" who he cared for. His eyes watering he rushes "Big Blue" hugging the large mother blue gorilla tightly it hugging him back. The other four joining in on an emotional moment also hugging the pair, Otto laughing as the gorilla chuckle out a light howl.

They all gather around the center the old furnace still in working order, one of the younger ones walking over and grabbing some fire wood to throw into it. The area becoming warmer as Otto reached into his bag tossing an assortment of fruit and nuts on a to cloth he laid before them. One the young ones quickly reaching in, it's older sibling slightly nudging it, telling it to behave. Otto laughing as he reached in handing some berries to the young Blue Gorilla the rest of the group digging in after. The group playing simple games, such as rock paper scissors, after dinner. Tossing in more wood to keep the furnace burning throughout the night. That night the five gorilla and Otto slept, their bellies half full, the warm flame from the furnace almost burning out in the middle of the night. The youngest of the three waking up from the cold walks towards the corner of the house to get more wood. Only to see the pile was all gone, shivering, he decided to go out and get some more wood.

He walks into the nearby woods climbing up the trees breaking a few branch from the large tree. It's ears stand up straight, the sound of branch breaking, far in the distance. The skinny sniper had ventured out again this time alone. Walking closer to the gorilla with every step trying to find another good hunt. The blue gorilla gathering the few twigs and branches and running full speed out of the woods. Making enough noise to catch the snipers attention, raising his rifle towards the sound to see a glimpse of a rare creature leaving his scope. "Was that a Blue Gorilla? Here?" he says to himself turning back towards the ruins. The thought of the young gorilla lingering in his mind.

[Shinku]

Kyou spent a fitfully night in a narrow and dirty alleyway squashed in between an overflowing bin and an old dresser that someone had left outside with the other trash to rot. Multiple layers of yesterday’s newspaper were wrapped tightly around him to shelter the body against the cold and he had emptied the content of his bag into the space between the wall, himself and the dresser and pulled it over his head like a hat. The houses stood close to each other and only very little light found its way from the streetlamps into the nearly empty alley. Nearly empty for it wasn’t nearly as empty as Kyou had liked it to be: lots of bugs inhibited the spot, drawn in by the cornucopia of food that the trash in the bin provided them. A tomcat chose to start his courtship just next to him, sitting on the dresser and singing out his desire full-throated in a way that human ears found almost unbearable while female cats seemed to find it attractive for several of them appeared to honor the singer with their presence. One of them jumped down from a window ledge directly on Kyou’s head, who despite the cacophony of the cat’s music had just managed to fall asleep. Another came close and sniffed at his pocket where the little haggis was hiding. Kyou shushed her away before he went back to sleep.
A beggar poked his nose into the alleyway around 3 o’clock in the morning, but the boy hiding between the trash gave him a deep frowning look and the beggar decided that it wasn’t worth a place to fight over it. Maybe he hadn’t even intended any dispute anyway but was simply using this alley like always as a shortcut on his way home after the bar had closed for the night. Today however he decided to take a different way to his sleeping place, preferable one with more light and less frowning boys. His unstable erratic steps spoke of too much alcohol and come morning he might already have forgotten about his meeting at night.

A nice warm feeling woke Kyou in the morning. It started on his left foot and spread all the way up and around his leg. It had a wet flowing feeling about it. Slowly opening his eyes, blinking in the shady light of the alley, Kyou took a look around. The dog next to him still had his leg up in the air. The boy watched still half asleep how the dog lowered his leg and gave him a look that seemed almost reproachful. “Don’t look at me like that.” It seemed to say. “I’m only a dog, how else can you expect me to act?” Then the dog gave a small “woof” that was sounding more like “mpff” if one took it exactly (as exactly as was possible when turning sounds into something you could write down) and waddled away.
Small cold raindrops started to fall from the sky. The house wall protected him against part of it, but even so the raindrops found their way down to him. In his pocket the haggis whimpered softly.
Otto the monkey-man had asked him to meet up at the lab, wherever that was. Maybe they had someone there who could take a look at the wounded animal? Kyou picked himself up, collected his things back into his bag and left the alleyway with definite purpose of finding the lab and if possible to find something to eat as well for his stomach loudly reminded him that the last meal was far too long ago.

[The Shimmering Banana]

The sun creeps over the horizon as the mother Blue gorilla lurks in the woods. Its pray a wild boar eating the moss from the side of a deer whitebeam tree. The unsuspecting animal enjoying its morning meal snarling as it licks the tree. The large mother inching closer with every stroke of the boar's tongue. She hugs the ground as her target becomes even closer hoping to have something to show for Otto back at the Dojo. Thoughts of human made roasted boar flowing through her mind, the sound of a snapping twig re-focusing her attention on the boar. That now had its head popped up its tongue hanging out as it seek for what made the sound of the twig. Seeing nothing when it turned its head completely around it goes back to licking the moss. Big Blue makes her move pouncing on the wild boar from the side, tacking it into the large tree. The large gorilla wraps her large arms around it's body and neck. Cracking its bones leaving the wild boar dead its limbs falling to its side lifelessly. An easy kill for the massive beast and a great prize to bring home for everyone.

It must have been roughly seven in the morning for the sun was just starting to settle slightly overhead when Big Blue woke Otto. The Monkey-Man waking with a large yawn as the blue gorilla gently nudges his shoulder. The other four blue gorilla still huddled around each other sleeping in peace. He stands up slowly stepping out of the tangled ball of limbs laying about towards the mother. "What's up?" he says to her scratching his head making his hair stand back in the usual afro. Grabbing his hand she takes Otto to the front of the Dojo where on the stone porch laid a large wild boar around it a mixture of local fruits nuts and vegetables. Otto looks at Big Blue with a large smile, not having eaten meat in a while, then runs and hugs the mother gorilla. Then walks over to the pile of raw ingredients and makes a breakfast made for a king. An hour later the food being completed the aroma of a roast boar with a sweet melon glaze waking the four children from their slumber. And a nut and berry trail mix on the side for extra fiber, it was good to stay regular.

Mean while back at the entrance of the ruins the two poachers argue,

"I'm telling you I know what I saw and it was a baby blue gorilla." says the skinny sniper to his large companion, placing a cage on a rock. "You think this will get us beri well one of those will real in a lot more." rubbing his fingers taunting his friend with promises of riches. "Ok, lets say your right... What now?" says the hammer wielding gentleman. "The smugglers ship will be here in two days. So now we get tracking." he says flicking the cage a bird squawking back at him. "And if not we still have those hounds and this blue falcon" The majestic bird glaring at him with a look of disgust as it is held against its will. "Ok well lets get started then!" yells out his associate placing a collar and leash on two of the stone hounds, using them as hunting dogs now, showing his dominance. "No you gotta stay here, who's gonna watch the animals." says the sniper, grabbing one of the leashes from the muscular man. The large man frowning as he plops to the ground following the orders of the sniper. The tall skinny man grabbing a sack of supplies before fading away from the ruins.

*7 A.M. in Piktopia*

High in a tower on a castle in the center of Piktopia, stood a beast of a man. A stern look on his face as he glanced out of the open window. A strong frigged wind passing by as the sun began to brighten the tower. The man looks up at the sun clenching his right hand tight, being covered by a thick leather glove colored red black and white. He then looks back towards the horizon and thinks, Something must have happened. She's always back from her morning hunt by now..., as another man knocks on the other side of the door. "Mr. Buchanan Sir. You are needed in the conference hall." says the voice. Hamish replying "Ok, I'm on my way." removing the glove from his hand placing it on a stool behind him, yet leaving the window open just in case the precious blue falcon returned. Then follows the man down the tower to his appointed assignment.

[Shinku]

People turned around when he passed by. Most of them wrinkled their noses but also decided not to say anything to him directly, but only to comment on him to their friends. They did their best to get out of his way and not one got close. He wouldn’t have gotten close to himself neither if he had that choice, for after a night in the streets he was smelling horrible. He would have liked to take a shower, but where could he do so? If he had any money for a hotel room with a shower he wouldn’t have spent the night out in first place. Even like that the money would barely be enough for one or two meals. But he had to get a washing somehow and unfortunately there weren’t that many options left for someone who had no money. Mother Nature would have to provide.

Seawater wasn’t the best thing to wash oneself in. You usually smelled a bit of fish or seaweed after that, which was still a whole lot better than smelling like trash, so the sea’s covering scents were actually welcome. It also would take too long to go to one of the many rivers and lakes. Or rather he was too lazy to walk so far and then probably get lost on the way back.

On a small dock that was a bit apart from the main ones he went to work. First he put his camera in a safe distance of the water. It wouldn’t do for it to fall in when he needed it so badly to get some money that might pay for his next washing.
First he took off the coat and then his sweater and his T-shirt. The air was a bit chilly but bearable. Only the coat looked dirty, the other pieces of clothes looked (relatively) clean, so he folded them neatly together and brushed off the worst dirt from his coat with a little water. In this cold it wouldn’t be a great idea to drench one’s clothing if it could be avoided. Unfortunately that was the case with his trousers which were already drenched in dog’s urine.

Kyou sighed loudly and took of his shoes as well. Sitting on the dock he carefully dipped a toe into the water.
The water was very cold. It was to be expected for the waters of north blue were chillier than the other blues and while Kyou was used to cold water, this one was even colder than what he was used to.

For a moment he hesitated and decided to take a look around before getting into the water, because he really didn’t feel like it. Maybe it would be good to travel into warm water next. That would be nicer than this cold.
The area around the deck was not very busy but even so there were people here and there, going about their business.
Two men were standing near the next dock, talking to each other. Both of them lifted their head at the same time and looked over to him and as their eyes meet Kyou recognized the man who had repaired his fishnet yesterday and the guy who had helped him find the town. What was his name? He taxed his brain to remember the name. Dieu it was.. no Deus, he recalled. Both of them averted their eyes as if he had caught them on something.
Did they talk about him?

Not impossible, yet why would they? Yesterday’s questions maybe? Asking around like he did, he probably looked suspicious to them. But there was little he could do about that now. The water was waiting.

One leg giving support he gripped the edge firmly and let one leg (the one who needed it more urgent) dangle down into the water, where he splashed it around a bit in the hope to get it cleaner than it was now. Something in his pocket squeaked and Kyou nearly lost the balance. Only in the last moment he managed to regain it and sat himself back on the dock. The furry fellow was a lot livelier than he had been yesterday and didn’t like the bath it seemed. When he took it out the furball bit him into the finger and Kyou let it drop. Squeaking loudly it hopped away before he could do much about it.
“WAIT” he shouted after it, standing up to get it. “You can’t go alone-“ He slipped on the wet wood and before he could do anything against it, he felt into the water with a loud splash.

The shock from the cold was numbing, but it wasn’t the cold that made him unable to move. When the water closed over him his fate had been sealed. There was nothing he could do now but watch as the surface got farther and farther away. Why him? It was all that furballs fault. He should have left him back in the woods. If he ever found it again he would turn it to food, he vowed. But then again, there would be no next time. Underwater he couldn’t move even a bit and he had breathed out just before he felt. His mind already started to go black.
Something wrapped around his arm and the next thing he knew was that he was lying on the dock coughing seawater.
“You really should be more careful around water if you don’t know how to swim, boy. But hell… I hope I won’t regret saving you.” It was Deus who was standing next to him, looking him up and down as if he was trying to decide something. That confused Kyou who couldn’t think straight. What did he mean by that?

[The Shimmering Banana]

His stomach was bulging from a good meal shared between his new family. The Saru-Man sitting on the floor the four young gorilla sitting besides him. The lot of them all mocking Otto as he rubbed his stomach helping the digestive process. He looks to the corner to see the large mother looking at her young and Otto, she laughs at her young mocking a human. Otto then stands and looks at the older two blue gorilla and asks, "Are you ready?". The blue gorilla glaring at him with a confused look on their face, "If were working to fix the Dojo, Then we need to start acting like a Dojo... It time to train!" says the young man pulling at the eldest brothers arms raising him to his feet. The second brother following the pair as Otto leads them to the front of the Dojo. He stands the two of them side by side facing him as he attempts to teach them the martial arts, as his Master once thought him. He raises his fist to the lower part of his face, one hand slightly covering his mouth and cheek the other slightly below his jaw. The two blue gorilla raising their fists in the same manor. "Good!, now Jab..." he says lunging his left hand directly in front of himself, the two brothers still copying him lunging their left hand in front of them selves. "Repeat" he says once again throwing his left jab, this time increasing the speed. The two brothers, now over confident after adapting so quickly, also increase their speed. "Again...Again...Again..." Otto continuously says each time he jabs the space in front of him the gorilla also jabbing every time he does.

The pair was doing a lot better then Otto thought they would for their first time attempting a human fighting style. Even if all he had thought them so far was a basic stance and a jab. After the stance the trio continued their training improvising due to their lack of equipment using large rocks as weights pushing them through the snow. And tree branches as pull up bars, then flipping the other way on them and doing inverted sit-up's. Flipping from the tree as they finish dropping to the floor below them. The last task was a race but one with a twist, you may "bump" one another just no grabbing on another. The race would be three laps around the Dojo, for the first time, the entrance being the start and finish line. They all line up "Big Blue now sitting on the porch watching them. The three look at each other then at the mother as she yelled out "Roooaaarrr!" The three sprinting instantly. The first lap ending quickly with the younger blue gorilla in the lead followed by his older brother and Otto in last place. Man their fast, he thinks as he takes it up a notch changing into his hybrid form.

His size doesn't increase yet a thick coat of dark drown hair covered his body. His fingers slightly increasing in length, and a tail sprouting from his tailbone. He places his knuckles on the floor and began to run on all fours. His speed increasing enough to catch up to the eldest brother. He creeps his tail tapping the shoulder of the brother causing him to look to his side, where there was no one, confusing the gorilla before he looked to his other side where Otto was now leaning towards him at full speed. Nudging him out of the path as they took the corner placing Otto in second place. His speed slightly increasing with the younger brother close by as the second lap ends. They look towards the Dojo entrance "Big blue" no standing roaring, chanting towards her soon and Otto. He attempts the same trick on the younger brother tapping his shoulder, the gorilla not falling for it keeping his concentration. As they approach the last corner of the Dojo Otto attempts one final act of desperation leaping into the air changing into his full spider monkey form, landing on the back of the gorilla. Then launches off with full force forward towards the finish line, the smaller brother crashing towards the ground as he looses the race.

The cold air rushed his lungs as he took a deep breath exhausted from the race. He changes back to his hybrid form as he walks towards the younger brother extending his furry hand helping him to his feet. "You did really good" he says still breathing heavily, "Lets see if you can beat me tomorrow?". He looks towards the sky the sun almost directly above their heads. "Man, I gotta go!" says the Saru-Man late for his appointment with Kyou. He runs into his room in the Dojo and grabs the bag containing the supplies and his own bag then heads on his way towards the lab.

[Shinku]

It was warm inside the lab room or rather; in of the many corridors of the building. Kyou wasn’t sure where exactly they were supposed to meet so he had picked a quiet corner near the door where he could watch who entered the building. Many people stared for he obviously didn’t belong here, but with a cross look from the boy made them mind their own business and hasten on. At least no one could complain about any smell for his little dive made him cleaner than he had planned to be.
Like always he kept an eye on his surroundings but in his thoughts he still pondered about his nearly death and the meeting with Deus. The man had spoken to him but made no sense at all for his words had been peppered with hidden meanings Kyou didn’t catch. Maybe that was a good thing for that must mean that he wasn’t guilty of whatever Deus was suspecting him. Considering his thoughtful look and the fact that he was doubtful if saving Kyou had been a good thing, it was probably not something nice he was suspected of. Poachers were very frowned upon in this part of the island he had already noticed when he got confused for a potential one at first, but somehow a feeling in his stomach told him that this wasn’t it. No. To be exactly it wasn’t his stomach that told him so. His stomach was still grumpy because that little piece of bread didn’t help too well against his hunger. It saved him from the embarrassment of having a growling stomach everyone could hear but it was no way near enough to feel satisfied.
As for Deus, there was certainly something even if he couldn’t put his finger on it right now. And there was that other guy as well, the one that had reacted so suspiciously when he had asked about the people on the picture. Maybe everything had to do with the picture. The two of them HAD talked together and maybe they had talked about him.
He shook his head as if to clear it from a bad thought. He had known from the start that looking into that matter was a bad idea and god only knew why he hadn’t followed his first instinct and just tossed the picture into the first bin can he saw. But he got the hint now. It wasn’t like it had been a subtle hint. Rather far from it.
No more poking his nose into other people’s business. From now on he would focus on his mission and find traces of the animals that he had to look for. With two fingers he rubbed his ear and the piercing that was feeling rather itchy after the furball had bit him there. There would be no more of involving himself with stupid furballs that had nothing to do with his quest neither.
And maybe he should just ditch that monkey guy Otto when he was at it. Working together with other people somehow never awarded him in the end. But maybe not right now. There was still time to decide that later on. Right now the heat made him feel drowsy. His sleep in the alleyway hadn’t been very restful. Slowly his eyes started to feel heavier and heavier. Before he noticed it he was already sleeping soundly.

[The Shimmering Banana]

The air was cold today as he made his journey towards the lab for another hard days work. His hairs standing as the goose bumps raised on his skin, having recently returned to Pikt, he was not dressed for the colder days here. This not even being one of those days yet still to cold for Otto today. An idea arose in his mind as he dragged his feet through the frosty grass, I'll just change into my hybrid form, the hair covering his body was sure to keep him warm. In an instant his tail grew out and his body was covered in a layer of brown fur. It was a better option then before his now furry arms crossed over his chest. Still cold, his apish hands vigorously rubbing is arms the friction warming his upper body. This was still not good enough the Saru-Man stops in his tracts as he has another idea. He once again changes now into his full spider monkey form. This obviously being a horrible idea to Otto the second he changes.

This was the first time Otto had changed into his full form, in this cold of an environment, for more then a millisecond. His tail quickly rolled up into a ball pressed against his but. The hairs now covering most of his body standing, his every movement halted from the cold. His small bones chattering inside his skin causing him to fall to his knees. He gathered what little strength he had left and changed back into his Hybrid form. Still not the best option for the on coming winter which was to be much colder then today. But at least now he could actually walk or even stand for that matter, re-crossing his arms as he begins to walk again. As he steps one foot in front of the other many thoughts run through his mind. The first of which was what just happened to him and why.

He thought about the situation and what actually happened to him. He could remember being cold and changing into his full form. Then after that the chills intensified and the rest would be a blur from then out. The only thing that he could think of was that it must have been from the cold. He couldn't remember being this cold in a long time, and definitely not since he became a Saru-Man. This had to be it, but why isn't he weaker in this form then he was still half monkey. That also leaves him half human the reason that his hybrid from was not as drastically effected by the elements. A good lesson to learn if he was going to be staying in Pikt for an extended time. His teeth chatter as yet another bright idea comes to mind. "I'll climb up, the closer to the sun I am the warmer I'll be", he runs towards large tree and begins to climb up.

The cold air rushed through his hair as he sprang up the tree, patches of ice covered moss along the sides. This would also prove a good opportunity to search for the falcon once again. As he breached the tree tops the sun light shone atop his head wrapping his body in its warm embrace. This was much better for Otto as his limbs loosened up making it easier to swing through the trees. His eyes wide open in search for any signs of the famous blue falcon, as he looks below he sees shadows passing by below him. His movements become slower once again fearing the worst of the figures below. He drops one level hoping to get a better look at the figures, Otto catches a glimpse of one right as a hard shove knocks him even lower towards the ground. His tail grabbing a branch stopping him from smashing into the floor. He releases his hold on the branch dropping the rest of the way to the floor, standing in front of him was a familiar face. "Not this again" he says to himself scratching his head in confusion as he gazes upon three chickcharney, one slightly larger then the other two standing behind him. "This cant be the same one from yesterday can it?" he thinks as the large owl pushes off the ground leaping towards Otto. "Yea that's gotta be him." he mumbles taking his stance towards the bird. "If its a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get then."

[Shinku]

Distant noises found their way through his cover of sleep and penetrated his dreams. The images slowly started to shift. It had been a dream of his childhood. Kyou had been playing in the garden with his twin sister, when suddenly she started to give out unintelligible squeaks rather than understandable sentences. Her face then had started to change turning rounder and bigger, the head with the bright pink hair had sprouted cat ears and she grew a tail. It was a horrible sight to see that face, that was so much like his own, change like that and becoming fluffier by the second. After a few blinks with the eyes his sister was gone and a hopping furball was facing him instead. At least the jumpy part was VERY like his sister who never managed to sit still for very long.
More and more fluffy furballs appeared and started to surround him, squeaking angrily. No, that wasn’t quite right. They weren’t squeaking but shouting angrily. Something about medical treatment, he didn’t understand it fully but it made him feel guilty for some reason.

Confused he woke up. There WAS someone shouting. A little girl, maybe eight or nine years old, was standing in the middle of the room and was talking loudly (and not very politely) to some grown up, while a boy who seemed to be around the same age as her was holding her coat with one hand, while looking rather timid and frightened. Whatever they were doing it was clear that the girl was in the leading position and the boy would have preferred to leave or at least be out of the trouble. How much that reminded him of his childhood, though he had never been as timid or shy as that boy looked like.

“Haggis aren’t really rare or in any danger so we don’t actually treat them here.” The adult sounded annoyed and angry as well. Most likely he had made his point already and was now repeating himself. “But this little guy here is hurt and needs treatment, what am I supposed to do if you don’t take him.” The little girl asked, stamping with her foot while holding on to the Haggis in her hand which tried his best to escape her grip. “Go to a vet.” The man answered her and turned around to go, probably hoping to escape another angry shouting from the girl. “But vets needs to be paid, I haven’t got the money for that!” she shouted but the man didn’t take notice and neither did anybody else. Everyone was doing their best to ignore her as much as they could without looking too obviously uncaring. They probably DID care, but the girl was making such a ruckus that even the ones who cared were not keen on being caught up with her.

That meant that these fluffy furballs were common on this island and while animals like the blue falcon were searched for and poachers were about one of the most hated persons around here, their animal love didn’t went as far as to care for every single one that got hurt. One furball more or less wouldn’t make a change in the islands ecosystem.
Suddenly the white furball jumped out of her hand and tried to get away.
Instinctively Kyou pulled up his legs and set them on the chair when the furball hopped in his direction as if in that way to avoid getting in contact with it. The little girl came over to him and caught the furball before it could escape any further then put it into the pocket of her big red coat. She gave him a measuring look and her frown was in no way inferior to the frown Kyou was showing. Behind her the boy came closer, trying to get near the girl without getting to close to Kyou in the same time. Unlike the girl he seemed much more wary of him.

“How much money do you have?” the girl asked her friend who promptly put his hands in his pockets and pulled out everything he got. For a moment they counted and added their small savings together, before the girl let out a big sigh and turned to Kyou. “That won’t be enough to pay the vet. You there help us out here.” She demanded.
Kyou raised an eyebrow but didn’t answer. Was the girl really trying to get money out of him?! Did she know that he was partly responsible for the furballs injury? Was that why she asked him? But how could she possibly know that?!
“Keira…” the boy whispered in alarm, but the girl just shushed him with a wave of her hand. “Don’t worry. Didn’t you see? That guy here is even afraid of something like a Haggis, even though everyone knows they’re harmless. He won’t make us any trouble, believe me.” She turned to Kyou again and put her hands on her hip, standing straight and proud as if the world belonged to her. “So cough up the money already.”

Kyou gawked. He was speechless and he didn’t know if he should be more vexed by the fact that some little girl was trying to rob him or that the two elementary school students where possessing more money than he did.

[The Shimmering Banana]

The cold breeze blew towards Otto at the large owl glided towards him its leg extended towards him. The Monkey-Man raising his leg attempting to check it kick the bird then opening his foot, the sunlight shimmering off of its sharp talons. Once reaching the mans leg the bird clamps down around his shin and begins to flap its wings intensely, hovering over the ground like a chicken. As it hovers twisting its torso lifting Otto from the ground spinning him in the same motion. Releasing him as he made a full circle sending him crashing back down to the ground. The attack surprising Otto, chickcharney were known to attack with their legs, but this one seemed to be a bit more advanced then the others. The bird's flapping calming slowly lowering it to the ground beneath it the other two chickcharney squawking as if they were laughing at Otto. The Saru-Man rolls to his back his body leaving an imprint in the snow before he raises his torso, now sitting up, clumps of snow falling from his shoulders. As he rises to his feet once again the smaller owls stop there squawking the larger one preparing to attack once more.

The Owl charges him at full speed much like the first time then leaps into the air again. And much like the first time Otto raises his leg to check the attack, the large bird opening its foot attempting to grab him. The only difference was this time Otto retracted his leg just before the owl reached his leg the owl missing passing right by him like a bull and a matador. The owl turns back towards Otto and runs once more halting suddenly in front of the Saru-Man causing a waive of snow to crash upon him momentarily blocking his vision. Before he could notice the large had its talons clamped down on his shoulders digging into his skin. Loosing his balance Otto falls to the ground the owl still attached now sitting on Otto's chest. The bird brings its head back and slams it down towards Otto's face. Otto quickly moving his head the beak of the bird passing by his cheek digging into the ground. The chickcharney raising his head and repeating the attack Otto moving his head again dodging the attack. Every time the wise bird attempted Otto was able to evade its beak. The last attempt Otto sliding his tail around the neck of the bird like a leash preventing it from pecking Otto.

The tail of the Saru-Man tightened around the neck of the chickcharney the bird releasing its hold on his shoulders. Otto plops back up holding the bird in the air as it slowly lost consciousness or so Otto thought. He loosens the grip of the hold around its neck the bird sliding to the floor as one of its feet touches the floor it opens its eyes. Its body hugs the ground as the bird slides his other foot through the snow sweeping the leg of Otto. This bird was definitely not the average bird, Otto dropping to the ground and rolling to his knees. It was time to stop playing around and end this little encounter.

Otto takes off from one knee charging at the wild bird, it's friends squawking once again, as the owl charged at Otto again. Saru Saru Pound; Otto runs on all fours his knuckles dragging against the icy floor, the chickcharney getting closer with every stride. Otto grabs the legs of the large owl pushing his shoulder into the gut of the animal. He slams on top of the bird knocking it on conscious before he had the chance to finish off the attacks. The other chickcharney's squawking changing its tone from chipper to angry. Otto stands to his feet staring the others in the eyes as the scurried to recover their leader.

[Shinku]

How does one react when one gets mugged by a grade school student? Kyou was simply baffled. After a moment of deep perplexed feelings his face darkened and he started to look more threatening. Surely that would scare the little girl off.
It sure scared the little boy who was now hiding behind the girl again and who looked like he was about to run, but the girl seemed unimpressed and Kyou had to stop his attempt to scare his little problem away, because the people surrounding them started to give him wary looks. No doubt it wouldn’t end well for him if someone thought that he was going to harm some small children.
With a deep sigh he leaned back and closed his eyes, trying to shut her out instead.

After a while he could hear a foot tapping against the floor. It sounded impatient, but worst of all it made it hard to focus on his own thoughts for it was very distracting. How was he going to think about his next move if that tapping sound was haunting him?
He could feel that he got annoyed by it but he still kept his eyes closed, hoping that with time it would go away.
Needless to say that it didn’t.
Instead it was joined by a “chrm chrm” sound. To translate for all who aren’t well known with sounds like that this sound was the childish version of clearing one’s throat to get someone’s attention. The girl must have heard it quite a lot from her own mother for she didn’t seem to be the sort who paid much attention to what everyone else was saying.
Reluctantly he opened his eyes and gave her a frown to show his annoyance.

“Once and for all; this isn’t my problem. Get lost girl.”

His rasping voice made her flinch at first but then she put her hands on her hip and stood even taller as if the suddenly intensified threat made her stubbornly keep her stance. This wasn’t a person, kid or no kid, who’d ever run from a confrontation.
“Stupid girl. That’s why I hate kids so much.” He thought.

“It didn’t even look hurt that much you know. Just before it was jumping around happily.”

Maybe not happily he admitted, but it did jump quite a lot. When he had picked it up yesterday the small furball hardly moved, but now it seemed to have regained its strength. It must have been knocked out rather than seriously hurt.

“It’s bleeding though.” The girl answered back then took out the white furball from her pocket to show it to Kyou. It wasn’t trying to escape this time, but it gave Kyou a look that seemed very reproachful.
And yes… there was indeed a red stain on his (or maybe her?) fur. Blood, so much was sure.
“And probably mine…” he thought gloomy.

[The Shimmering Banana]

The chickcharney galloped on, their feet leaving their marks on Pikt as their talons dug into the snow. Their now knocked out leader being dragged by his feet deeper into the woods, That was strange, thought Otto as they vanish in the distance. The Saru-Man rubbing his shin, now bleeding from having the talons dig into his skin earlier. The pain was felt yet not enough to stop him from his meeting at the lab with Kyou. He catches his breath then continues his journey into the town this time, hopefully, without interruptions. The clouds clearing overhead as the mid day sun broke through, the shadows of the forest diminishing, lighting the path for Otto and revealing a figure in the distance. A cowboy hat atop his head the rim lowered covering his eyes and a rifle in his hands. This didn't seem like the type of person Otto wanted to deal with never being a fan of weapons especially guns. The man looking back at Otto a look of determination upon his face unbeknown to Otto a he stalks his prey. He begins to walk towards Otto now standing directly in a ray of sunlight breaching the trees.

He's coming this way what should I do, he thinks as the mysterious hunter approaches slowly. Although he really didn't have reason to fear this man something told him that he was not someone he wanted to meet. The Saru-Man slightly lowers his head changing into his human form as he starts to walk again. His eyes directed at the floor as their paths crossed only locking for less than a moment, Otto staring into dark soulless eyes hidden in the shadow of a hat. He drops his eyes back to the floor as the man passes by with no interaction with Otto just a mission on his mind. His foot steps barely leaving an imprint in the snow below his feet as he disappeared in the same direction Otto came from. Who was that guy, thinks Otto looking over his shoulder as the man left his vision.

---

"Who or what was that guy?" says Donald to him self as he walks away form the young man.

"I coulda sworn I saw a tail when I spotted it. Hmmm... And it had that banana and wild berry smell to him." he tips his hat upward looking on the floor drag marks besides large bird prints making a trail into the woods. He follows them having the feeling tat it would help him in his hunt for the blue gorilla. The tracts leading him almost to the outskirts of the forest near the same place he saw the young gorilla. He knew he made the right choice following these tracts, he had to be close, yet there was no sign of any ape like tracts.

He chooses a tree and begins to climb up his rifle strapped to his back as he makes his way to the top. Birds fly from the tree tops as the man scales the tree, a large nest on a adjacent branch containing three chickcharney. One of which was resting while the other two paced back and forth while he laid there. He raises his rifle and looks out to the land. In the distance an old building could be seen as he stares through his scope. A puff of smoke coming from the center of the building giving off a sweet smell .

"I know that smell." says the poacher as he tries to remember were he had once smelled this aroma. "That kid!" he shouts to himself turning facing the direction he just came from. He assumes that this was Otto's home and didn't bother to proceed towards the Dojo. Or at least he wouldn't have if something didn't catch his eye. He raises his rifle once more and scans the area around him. As he passes by an open window he sees a glimpse of something blue, although much larger that the original one he was certain that this was a blue gorilla.

[Shinku]

Kyou’s mood was darkening by the minute. Was there no escaping of this annoying little girl? Looking up to the celling, as to not look at her he shifted his weight to a more comfortable sitting position. But as he did so, a screw that had been loose before that, felt out of the frame of the chair and after an ominous screak the chair collapsed and Kyou found himself on the floor before he could blink.
“Ouch!” he winced. His fingers had been hurtfully jammed between the falling chair and the floor and they were throbbing with pain. Already people were turning around to see what was happening and reluctantly Kyou got up and started to head for the exit. The monkey-man had not specified when exactly they were to meet, but as things stood Kyou was already fed up with waiting. Since the monkey-man didn’t come he would finish the mission by himself. If would be a bit more difficult without the help of a native that knew the flora and fauna of this island, but even so he would do it. Working together would only lower his share of the reward and would likely bring him into some sort of trouble as well.

With these thoughts he exited from the lab building, but his hopes of getting rid of the annoying little girl proved unrealistic. Like some leech the girl had sunk her teeth into the idea of getting money out of him and was not intending to let go so easily.
“I can trade some information for the money if you want.” She spoke and without waiting for his agreement she went on. “I know what MacNaomhán was saying about you.”
Kyou had no clue who MacNaomhán was nor how his name was correctly pronounced, even though he had just heard the girl say it. However it sounded extremely complicated and very simple on the same time and Kyou had no doubt that the writing of the name would reflect the pronunciation. Seeing the name written would likely not have helped him.

Cold wind greeted him on the outside and after a few steps away from the entrance, Kyou halted and turned to watch the girl who was still following him. For the first time he took a closer look.
Her hair was auburn brown and messy. It stood up in wisps of hair and didn’t look like it had seen a brush in the last few days. Her eyes were hazel and the eyebrows over them were twisted to a determined look. The simple brown coat matched her hair and she wore an orange scarf (a horrible carrot orange) that didn’t match the other colors at all. The boy’s scarf was blue but otherwise he was dressed similar to the girl. His hair was of a dark brown but Kyou couldn’t see his eyes because the boy was looking down.

Kyou’s interest had been piqued by the girl’s unbroken determination in pursuing such a dark fellow as himself without fear (and the common sense wariness against a stranger), but the girl took his attention to mean that he was interested in buying her information and went on.
“They’re concerned because you were asking about the people on the photograph, though I couldn’t understand everything because my hiding place was a bit too far to hear them well.” Nevertheless did she look very pleased with her eavesdropping skill. A proud smile appeared on her face and her nose rose higher than it should have for Kyou could now see the dried snoot under it. There was also a complete lack of shame about her activity to be noticed. To his surprise Kyou found that he didn’t mind, or wouldn’t have minded if the girl combined her good surviving skill (as he called it) of gathering information with the wisdom to keep it to herself.
“I don’t care ‘bout the people on the photograph.” He told her. That one was over, he should never have started it.
However it was too late to stop her now that she had started to talk. She wanted to give him the information wherever he wanted it or not. Or maybe she simply didn’t believe him.

“I’ve seen them before, you know.” She started then paused to whip her nose with the sleeve of her coat. “It was MacNaomhán who brought them with his boat, the woman her husband and the child I mean, aren’t I great how I understood that they’re the ones who were on your photograph without even seeing the picture?! Anyway he brought them by night, I should have been in bed already but I was not so I noticed them. Because you see, they were very secretive so that made me suspicious and of course I wanted to know what it was all about, to I followed Deus and saw him pick up that family, or at least I think it was a family. But the next morning there was no mentioning them and I haven’t seen them since. It’s all very strange you see. I think they are hiding them or something like that. To protect them from something or someone, though I don’t think it’s you like they believe, because someone who’s afraid of Haggis can’t possibly be any danger. Haggis are one of the most harmless creatures there is after all so you must be quite a wuss if you ask me.”

It was a good thing that the girl had cleared her nose before she spoke or she would have died from the lack of breathing, so fast had she spoken without taking a break even once. Now she took a deep breath and held out her hand to him, undoubtedly expecting her money.
She was disappointed however because all she got from Kyou was a deep frown.
“I never said I was interested in buying your information. Sorry but you’ll get nothing from me.” He told her and then could not hold back from asking: “Do you think it’s clever to tell me all this? What if I AM the bad guy the others think I am?”
That had been the wrong approach however. Now the girl felt cheated and angry and she showed it by taking out the Haggis that had vanished into her pocket again. With a deep frown of her own she held it in Kyou’s direction like a weapon. “Don’t you dare to go without paying or I’ll let that Haggis attack you.” She threatened him. It was a pretty ridiculous situation only that Kyou didn’t managed to seen anything humorous in it.
Was there nothing  or no one to save him from this stupid girl?