Cha'Kwe'Tza had used some of the little real money he possessed to hire a boat to Apoy Island. Standing on the docks watching the boat slowly row back towards Adeluna, the Reptilian took his first real look at the Volcano that dominated the horizon line. The thing was immense, with dark smoke billowing forth from the peak. Cha'Kwe'Tza imagined that the summit, on the edge of the bowl would be as hot, if not hotter than Rhylana's Ivory Court itself. Quite the feat. Claws making a strange thunking noise as he walked down the docks towards the sandy beaches, Cha'Kwe'Tza swept his eyes across what lay before him.

Before him to both left and right, a large assortment of trees and plants grew bordering the beaches. It actually quite reminded Cha'Kwe'Tza of his own home. Just ahead, some of the plants started to shake as if a wind had blown by. From within, a pair of human males emerged. Oddly enough, both were dressed quite similar to Cha'Kwe'Tza himself. Loincloths, assorted bead, stone, and bone jewellery adorned their arms, wrists, and necks. The taller of the two even had a large tooth, the kind one would find from any large predatory animal, pushed through the lobe of one ear. Smiling, they sauntered over to where the Reptilian stood.

The two men and Cha'Kwe'Tza took a few moments to size eachother up before one of the tribesmen spoke, "Welcome to Apoy Island," he said waving one arm around to gesture at the island as a whole. "It has been a long time since we've had such a strange guest on our shores. I am called Dennis, and my friend here is Martin." Introducing himself as best as he could, Cha'Kwe'Tza followed the two men into the foliage. Although the look of the place may have reminded him of home, that was where any similarities ended. In Cha'Kwe'Tza's homeland, the canopy above, and the floor below would be littered with many kinds of small animals and insects. Most of which were venomous, and a few that were poisonous as well.

The walk along the rough path didn't take too long before they three stepped out of the greenery and into a large open area where the village lay. It had the appearance that on the normal day to day, people would be bustling about, doing the necessary daily duties of communal survival be it hunting, preparing food, cleaning or making tools. Even caring for the little ones was important, for without them, there would be no tomorrow. As savage as the Reptilian warrior looked, this was a concept that he understood. As a Sacred Guardian at home, the only secondary mission to the defense of the High Priest was defence of the spawning pools. Shaking his slightly, Cha'Kwe'Tza saw that only a few of the villagers actually stopped what they were doing to outright stare at him. Most had merely looked up, taken notice of the newcomer and his escort, and then went back to their tasks.

Being led down into the village took a little bit of effort as Dennis and Martin exchanged a few words with almost everyone that they passed. This they did in between explaining to Cha'Kwe'Tza that he was just in time to join the village in a yearly celebration. Apparently this celebration was one of the more important ones, and everyone would turn out for it. Over the course of the evening, songs would be sung, villagers would dance around the bonfire that was to be started soon, and a large banquet would be set forth. There would also be events at the end of all of this, where the winners would walk away with an array of prizes. Trying to take all of the information in at once was a little much, but Cha'Kwe'Tza was already starting to enjoy the presence here. This little village hiding in the shadow of the nearby volcano was much more inviting to Cha'Kwe'Tza than Adeluna, Egjora, or Abed could ever be.

[OOC: Let's just assume, for the sake of this thread, that Chalky and Natsumi departed on acceptable terms in Tinashe. ;)]

Apoy was a land as unique as its customs. Violent toward their own but welcoming toward outsiders, the islanders led a strange, paradoxical existence. Their end of the year festivities called for the sacrifice of a virgin to their volcano lord, but that sacrifice was often considered a privilege. Like any brainless slug, the individual would happily accept their painful death, and jump gleefully as others around them enjoyed food and drink along with their continued lives.
 
Truly, to Natsumi, the place was like a metaphorical mockery of her birth country's honor code. Yet, she overlooked the islander's idiocracy – a condition incurable without massive reeducation efforts – in favor of more self-centered desires. Coming to Apoy via portal rather than boat, the druid's sole purpose in visiting the isle was to partake of their hot springs. That goal in mind, she arrived upon the white sands with bare, tanned feet, her form covered by green tunic and white pants; and headed deeper into the jungle before any guides could find her like they had Chalky.
 
Picking through the rough, dirt path beyond that point was easier for the woman that it would have been for other humans. Recent footprints paired with the smell of tribal paint made a clear trail to follow, and so the fox was able to traverse the canopy with ease until she arrived in the village housing a familiar face.
 
'I see Cha'Kwe'Tza is enjoying himself after our ill-fated venture in Tinashe,' Natsumi thought while not paying attention to the brief stares she received from the local populace. Kino readily responded in her mental sanctuary, using the usual, courteous tone.
 
'The lizard is a hardy creature, and that trip was not so ill-fated, madam.'
 
'True, I did acquire you. There is something strangely comforting about having someone to converse with even in the depths of utter silence.'
 
'Of course, Lady Natsumi, but I would watch out for your tail right now rather than theorize benefits, if I were you.' As if on cue, a tribal child meandering by grabbed onto Natsumi's tail as soon as Kino made the comment on her lack of situational awareness. He pulled on it as if he were trying to remove it from Natsumi's body, an action that only served to cause her great irritation rather than relief. Hair bristling and teeth gritting, she lifted the boy off the ground with her tail and pried his little, grubby hands off. Then, with stern voice, she turned to lecture as politely as she could.
 
"Don't do that. Ever."

"My apologies," Martin, Cha'Kwe's guide, said as he briefly left the lizard's side to come to Natsumi's aid. "Your appearance makes you look like one of our tribal dancers who dress up in animal garments. I'm sure this little one was simply curious because the tails of our dancers obviously don't move like yours."
 
"I see," Natsumi said while turning back to the man. She guarded her tail carefully, smoothing out the hairs that crumpled as a result of the infant's grip. At the same time, she eyed Cha'Kwe as if to say hello. "Well, there's no harm so long as he doesn't do it again."
 
"Of course," the guide proclaimed with fervent tone. He called over a young woman to take the boy away and then motioned Natsumi to join the group with Cha'Kwe'Tza. "Please, join us for this year's festivities. It's the least we can do to make amends."
 
"Don't mind if I do," the druid said with contented smile. "Besides, your other guest and I have met before." Walking closer to Chalky, she looked up at his familiar face and spoke up once more. "It seems life has treated you at least semi-well since our adventure in the ruins. Hello, Cha'Kwe'Tza."  

Cha'Kwe'Tza felt an unseen weight tugging on him from behind. Moving his tail around so that he could inspect it, Cha'Kwe'Tza's eyes narrowed when he discovered that the source of the extra weight was one of the children tugging it. With a gentleness that one would think impossible coming from a creature like himself, Cha'Kwe'Tza pried the tiny human hands from his tail and set the child on the ground before motioning him away. Dennis chuckled as he explained the garments that the dancers would be wearing as Martin excused himself. Moments later though, Martin was returning with a familiar face.

Bowing his head slightly, Cha'Kwe'Tza returned the greeting, "Hello Natsumi. I see you keep your tail near. Is smart. Little ones are like leeches from home. Except for biting part. Life is well, yes." At that moment, another member from the tribe came over to tell Dennis and Martin, along with any guests that there was the beginnings of a banquet inside one of the main lodges to stave off thirst and hunger until the celebrations could begin in earnest. Moving along with the two guides, Cha'Kwe'Tza asked, "You are well? Stone soldiers not chasing anymore?" Shortly after Natsumi's response, they arrived at a covered area where there were long wooden tables erected with various samples of the local foods.

Looking at some of the brightly coloured fruits, Cha'Kwe'Tza settled for one that was about the size of both his fists together. It looked very similar to the gu'r'ka fruit of his homeland. This one however, had some green spiky grass on the top, and the fruit itself had a brownish colour to the exterior. Looking to Dennis and Martin, Cha'Kwe'Tza returned his looks to the food in hand as the guides were engulfed in conversation. Tearing the fruit in half, the Reptilian took a bite of the yellow insides. A little sweeter than the gu'r'ka, but just as tasty. Turning to his friend, Cha'Kwe'Tza asked in a low voice as he motioned to the fruit, "Natsumi. What is it you call this one?"

The irony of the situation in the Apoy village grounds did not escape Natsumi's notice when it occurred. Both Cha'Kwe'Tza and her had had their tails grabbed by the local children, yet the more savage-looking of the pair had possessed the most serenity in his response. It was a stark contrast and a lesson on not to judge a book by its cover. Natsumi figured Cha'Kwe was socially aware of this concept and had committed the action as a way to demonstrate his growing aptitude for the world around him. Only when she was near enough to hear his comment on guarding her tail, however, did she realize he still didn't have the faintest idea about social expectations.
 
'He didn't actually see my tail getting grabbed, did he?' the druid asked Kino mentally while continuing to listen to the large reptile.
 
'It appears not.'
 
Regardless of her slight disappointment at this revelation, Natsumi continued on with the group. She followed the two guides alongside Cha'Kwe'Tza to the lodge that another villager had directed them toward, keeping an ear and eye out for any other miscreants that tried to grab things they shouldn't. The lodge in question was actually a large tent made of wood, leaves and leather from the nearby environment, and it was easy to spot after only a short journey.
 
"Well enough," the woman said in response to her companion's question just before they ducked inside the structure, "Still being chased, but just by jealous mages rather than stone soldiers." A wide assortment of food waited within, its medley of scents bombarding Natsumi's nose almost instantly. She'd never smelled so many different, tropical dishes. It was truly a delight to the senses, one that almost had her salivating as she sat down at one of the wooden tables. Cha'Kwe'Tza joined her in an adjacent seat, the wooden bench creaking audibly under his weight, and the two began eating until the lizard inquired about the actual contents of his food.
 
"I've never seen one myself," Natsumi responded in a low tone after swallowing her current mouthful of mango. "As they're not native to the mainland. If I had to guess, I'd say that that is a pineapple. It's a very healthy fruit, but can make your teeth hurt if you don't drink water afterward. At least, that's what I've heard. I'm not sure why." The aforementioned, tribal dancers entered the lodge at that point, giving an example to go with Martin's earlier explanation. They weren't there to perform just yet, and were simply refreshing themselves before the night's performance. As it happened, two of them were dressed similar to Natsumi and Cha'Kwe'Tza. One wore the costume of a fox. The other wore the costume of a large reptile. "Well," the druid said in a normal voice at this observation, "I guess that explains even further why our tails got grabbed."

Cha'Kwe'Tza had finished the pineapple in his hand before moving on to some of the other foods that had been set out. Seeing that everyone around him were only taking small morsels, he followed suit. The last thing he wanted was to appear like an ungrateful guest, and be killed out of hand for his lack of etiquette. A stick with small cubes of meat followed shortly after. Now these people know how to be welcoming Cha'Kwe'Tza thought. In his own homelands large gatherings like this weren't unheard of, and everyone always turned out for them. "Ah, here's my new large scaly friend. Here, try this." The voice belonged to Dennis who stood beside Cha'Kwe'Tza. In his outstretched hand he held a small brown object that seemed to be covered in a light fuzz.

Grabbing it between two fingers, the Reptilian looked at it curiously. "It's a kiwi. Trust me they're…" Just then Cha'Kwe'Tza popped the whole thing in his mouth. Eyes narrowing as he chewed, Cha'Kwe'Tza stuck his tongue out and used a hand to wipe it in a failed attempt to rid himself of the taste. "They're normally eaten without the skin," a dejected Dennis said, "They taste much better that way." On the other side of the table, Martin had watched the whole thing happen, and was beaming a huge smile, teeth a brilliant white. Trying once more to rid himself of the taste, Cha'Kwe'Tza mumbled, "Nasty thing this…kiwi."

At Natsumi's words, Cha'Kwe'Tza looked around and took notice of the two dancers in question. "It does. Perhaps they ask real ones to dance?" Cha'Kwe'Tza wasn't sure how his first attempt at a joke in this language would be received, but so far it looked like a split decision. Dennis, still beside him started to laugh heartily, while a few of the other tribe members nearby looked almost mortified. Whether it was the thought of him and Natsumi dancing, or the idea of guests taking part in the dancing, he wasn't quite sure yet. This led to a quiet debate between Dennis and Martin, and from what Cha'Kwe'Tza heard, the two were betting on the outcome. Looking back at Natsumi, Cha'Kwe'Tza raised his hands and shrugged in a gesture that needed no spoken words to understand.

[OOC: Shh. I'm totally not procrastinating. Not at all. <.< >.>]
 
Kiwifruits, while generally not eaten whole due to the texture of their skin, are actually a completely edible fruit.  Although Cha'Kwe'Tza didn't care much for his, Natsumi had started on her fifth by the time her lizard companion mumbled about his distaste.
 
"Tastes fine to me," she said after swallowing that fifth kiwi whole. Both Dennis and Martin – along with various other villagers – were wide-eyed at this development. Some of their reaction was due to seeing Natsumi's seeming lack of manners. The rest, however, was due to their shock at her surprising appetite.
 
"Our female guest can eat," remarked Martin from across the table.
 
"And has taste buds mightier than obsidian," followed Dennis with a look of shock. Wiping her mouth with her hand, Natsumi returned her attention to the rest of the party members. She was sufficiently full for the moment, and entirely prepared to "confront" Cha'Kwe's attempt at a joke.
 
As for the reason why the gag was referred to by Natsumi as a confrontation rather than playful humor, it was due entirely to a certain, magical artifact that had bonded with her the first time Chalky and she had met. Generally an amicable companion, Kino rarely forced Natsumi to do anything she did not wish for. She behaved more like a maid than a friend of equal status for the most part, but, like all rules of behavior, her personality did not always remain submissive. There was an exception to her usually servant-like attitude when it came to dancing, because, for some reason, an immobile object could possess a love for recreational activity so great as to override the will of its user. Kino had forced Natsumi to dance on more than one occasion, using the excuse that her "mistress" secretly wanted to do so in the first place. It was an excuse that the woman never took kindly to, and one that had instilled in her a pre-emptive nature to deal with all future attempts.
 
Cha'Kwe'Tza's joke was meant as harmless fun given the current situation in the guest tent, but Natsumi's aforementioned experiences told her Kino would take it as a challenge. She could hear the music picking up as her clothing began synthesizing the sound of a piano already, and immediately gave those articles a death glare before vocalizing.
 
"You stop that right now, Kino," she said in a firm, calm voice. Understandably, everyone around her was already confused by the music, let alone by the fact that the clothing actually listened to the order it was given. The piano droned out on command, and replaced itself with a few seconds of dog whimpering before dying out completely. This entire scenario caused some uneasy stares to fall on the fox woman: an end completely understandable if taking their superstitious culture into account.  "Don't mind the sounds. My clothing is actually part of an artifact that has a mind of its own. She likes dancing, whereas I do not, and tries to enforce her will when I'm not paying close attention."
 
"Who wins that bet?" asked Dennis at this revelation as he emerged from his betting discussions with Martin.
 
"I think you do, since she did end up refusing to dance, even if in an unusual way," remarked Martin, paying his co-guide in a small handful of specially carved shells. The lodge was beginning to become louder by this point, and the villagers were talking more in their native tongue than before. Only the two that had been with Cha'Kwe'Tza and Natsumi up until this point seemed truly fluent in common, while the other adults were only capable of broken segments. This made it difficult for the two guests to really understand what was going on in the village, but that would soon change for Nastumi, at the very least. Having been denied the opportunity to dance, Kino was already preoccupying herself with deciphering the local language. Being the language prodigy that she was, it wouldn't be long before she possessed complete fluency and could pass that gift onto Natsumi.

Cha'Kwe'Tza was amused. Seeing how a few of the villagers behind Natsumi stepped back as if she were insane. Despite Natsumi telling the truth about Kino, most people would think her all the more crazy if she was forced to continue explaining. Fortunately, Dennis and Martin were settling the bet that they had made. Stepping towards Natsumi to be more easily heard, Cha'Kwe'Tza was interrupted by Dennis. "Obsidian, you should come. I have something that I think might please you," the guide said while he pocketed the shells with a grin. Following the guide, Cha'Kwe'Tza squeezed between two groups of villagers as Martin spoke to Natsumi behind him, but anything the other guide said was lost in the noise of everyone's conversation.

Following Dennis, the guide pointed out some of the more prominent members of the village as he led Cha'Kwe'Tza amongst the shacks that made up the village dwellings. At one intersection, Dennis pointed down the path on their left, and said if Cha'Kwe'Tza followed that one inland, he would come to some natural hot springs. Promising that the springs were worth the time getting there, Dennis then pointed to the right facing path to say that one lead towards the east of the island and the dock where most boats put it. Nodding his understanding, Cha'Kwe'Tza asked for Dennis to carry on as he was beginning to wonder what it was that he was being shown.

As Dennis and Cha'Kwe'Tza carried on down the path, the dwellings became spaced further apart, until finally the path ended a little short of a garden. What was planted in the near black soil, Cha'Kwe'Tza didn't know, but apparently that wasn't the point of the trip. Following Dennis to the door of the hut, Cha'Kwe'Tza waited for his guide to knock before being ushered in once the door was opened from the inside. Ducking his head, the Reptilian's yellow eyes shone in the little light that was given off from the pile of embers in the middle of the floor. Once his sight was adjusted to the lack of light, the warrior saw that in addition to Dennis and himself, there was a pair of women that were quite old as far as humans were concerned. Between the two of them, there was a third, but this one was just a small girl. Looking from Dennis to the girl and back, Cha'Kwe'Tza asked what it was that Dennis had brought him here for.

"Ahh my friend…You see, this is our sacrifice to the Volcano God. Every year we sacrifice a virgin to the fiery pits so that we may live in peace on the slopes below." Eyes narrowing, Cha'Kwe'Tza looked closely at the girl. She sat there very still, as if she was forcing herself to remain in one spot as the two older women dabbed different coloured paints over her face and arms. It was clearly obvious that she knew what was going to happen, and was a little nervous about it. A knock at the door caused Dennis to turn and open it, asking for Cha'Kwe'Tza to follow him to the yard. Outside, two more of the tribesmen stood and spoke quickly to the guide. Smiling, the guide turned back to Cha'Kwe'Tza and said, "It seems our Chief wants to formally start the festivities, and to welcome you and your friend officially. We should hurry back." Looking over his shoulder once on the way back down the path, Cha'Kwe'Tza felt a bad taste at the back of his throat. Something eerily similar to that of a kiwi.

[OOC: To any mods reading this, Sayen is Saya before her name was changed(see my profile). Her sub is a mage companion, and she is not a normal NPC.]
 
Not a moment after the bet winnings were exchanged did Kino's translation of the local language complete. While Cha'Kwe'Tza was led away from the party by Dennis, the mystical artifact transferred her knowledge to her owner. The two started eavesdropping on the party goers in earnest once the exchange was complete. What they heard with the restoration of their favored pastime, however, swiftly soured Natsumi's night.   
 
"What do you mean the sacrifice doesn't want to go through with her sacred duty?" said one middle-aged islander as Martin delivered some passion fruit juice to the idle Natsumi. "Has she no honor?"
 
"Even the mother has petitioned for a change in sacrifice," replied a younger man next to him. "She can't possibly think we'd oblige, seeing as so many have taken to having sex early simply to avoid being the sacrifice." The drink in Natsumi's hand remained untouched as her eyes squinted during the men's conversation. She examined her reflection in the juice, trying not to think of her own past and the mask she had worn for 15 years. It was an action done in vain.
 
"She should stop her whining, regardless. There's nothing more sacrilegious than a whiny, little girl being chosen as a sacrifice." Crack! Simmering rage had overtaken the reminiscing druid in that moment. The insults that the villagers were hurling at a nameless girl reminded her too heavily of the shackles she had shed blood to escape barely a year ago. They cut deeply, so deep that the brash side of her personality wanted to snap the two conversing men in half. Rather than risk such a scene, though, she crushed the reed cup in her hand, counting on the inevitable splinters to bring her back to some semblance of sanity.
 
"I'm sorry, but I need some air," said Natsumi as gazes fell upon her hand that was now stained in blood and juice. Martin looked especially surprised, but attempted to take the event in stride.


"Very well! Allow me to…" He wasn't allowed to finish.


"Alone," interrupted Natsumi with adamant tone as she rose from her seat and began walking out of the tent.


"But-"
 
"I said, alone." The druid stepped outside the guest compound, and, though Martin followed despite her wishes, she was already gone by the time he went beyond the curtained entrance. Natsumi had teleported into the surrounding jungle to avoid attention, shifting into the body of a camouflaged snake as she drifted along the festival's perimeter. It was by sheer chance that she ended up at the sacrificial hut at the end of this escapade: a place where a meeting of fate would take place for the better.
 

---

 
By the time Cha'Kwe'Tza turned to leave the edifice that Dennis had led him to, the sacrifice, Sayen, was finishing up the decoration portion of the ceremony. The elderly women by her side put in the last of the plumage for the hair ornamentation, and then led their charge to a walled off pen just outside. It was meant to be a time of self-reflection in open view of the volcano; a time without disturbance on the eve of the final portion of her sacred duty. Yet, unbeknownst to those around, the serpentine Natsumi was already inside the roofless cage.
 
At first, the intruding woman simply watched the girl from afar. She took note of her pensive facade, her hopeless stare, taking care not to move or draw attention to her position on the jungle floor. When Sayen released her guard and began crying, though, the druid couldn't help but cast aside her callous modus operandi.
 
Shifting back into her humanoid form, Natsumi embraced Sayen from behind. As expected, the little girl struggled, and would have screamed had the druid not used her unwounded hand to cover her mouth.
 
"Don't worry," she said in the girl's native tongue while keeping her quiet. "I'm not here to hurt you." The sound of familiar words seemed to calm young Sayen, removing the need for Natsumi's gag. As such, the woman released the small child from her grasp, and turned her around to wipe her tears.
 
"Who are you?" Sayen whispered as the foreign hands drying her eyes.
 
"Someone who once needed a hug when she was in your position over a year ago and yet never received one." That wasn't a lie of comfort or convenience. Natsumi knew despair when she saw it, and to subject such a small girl to that state simply because of an ancient tradition was enough to remind her of darker times. Because of this, she wanted to do more than dry Sayen's tears, but a hug would have to suffice for small comfort given the approaching danger.
 
"Did you hear that?" mumbled a guard outside the pen, alerting the girls within to an imminent discovery. Sayen's depression instantly shifted to worry with that warning: a testament to her compassionate spirit.
 
"Please, you must leave before they find you," she whispered hurriedly to Natsumi as she fixed the smudges of tribal paint on her face, clearly more worried for the kind woman than herself. The woman refused to move, however, and maintained her seat with steely determination.
 
"Do you want to live?" she asked after blinking once.
 
"What?" Sayen responded with a newfound speck of hope in her eyes.
 
"Do you want to live?" Natsumi repeated.
 
"I…" she paused, understandably nervous about saying yes or no. Natsumi, on the other hand, did not wait for whatever long-winded speech the girl might have been concocting.
 
"I will protect you, but only if you want me to."
 
"How can you make such a promise?"
 
"Yes or no?" The conversation was becoming heated despite maintaining its low volume, and the guards were already attempting to breach the door that Natsumi had sealed with a temporary stone wall.  Sayen was skeptical, as expected, but the unerring look of resolve that the fox-tailed woman possessed restored enough of her hope to extract a definitive answer.
 
"Yes," she cried, thereby satisfying Natsumi's request. She wouldn't force the girl to say anymore than that. Instead, she simply touched the tip of Sayen's nose, and spoke careful instructions.
 
"Then hide in the place I send you. I will come for you by the day's end, and we will escape this place." Sayen attempted to say more after this order, but Natsumi hushed her before summoning a bundle of garments. Contained within the minute package that appeared was a simple, child's dress and a pair of small boots – each roughly equivalent to the tribal girl's size. "First, though, I will need to borrow your clothes. Use these instead." The child's confusion merely grew with this request, but she seemed to be getting used to that emotion. Reluctantly, and silently, she did as she was told, and changed even as the guards intensified their banging against the stone barrier that continued to bar their path. Then, when she was finished, Natsumi spoke one last time. "Now then, close your eyes, make a wish, and count to three."
 
"But I don't know how to count…" the young girl responded innocently after closing her eyes for a moment only to briefly open her left one.
 
"Then I'll count for you," the druid said while suppressing a chuckle at her foolish assumptions on Sayen's education level. Regardless, she prepared her recall spell as planned and waited for the child to close her eyes once more. "1…2…3…Poof!" With that, the disguised Sayen disappeared from the hut with barely a trace. All that remained were the clothes that Natsumi had requested of her, ones that she began donning after altering herself to mimic the little girl's form.
 
This had been her plan all along. While the true sacrifice remained safe in a location known only to a select few, Natsumi would assume her role. To that end, Kino absorbed the ceremonial clothing, positioning it exactly as the elder women had on Sayen before her meditation period. Then, when the disguise was flawlessly complete, she cast a full strength hibernation spell on both of the guards outside. They hit the ground with loud thuds, falling unconscious just before Natsumi bade her stone wall spell to dissipate.
 
The trap was set. When the guards awoke, they would be under the assumption that they had simply been dreaming. They may even get in trouble for sleeping on the job, but that was of little concern to the impersonator. She simply waited in silence for the ceremony to begin, plotting on just how to make sure this village's festivities had a bad showing this year.
 
'They would believe that the blood of the innocent wards them from destruction. I will shatter their illusion with their own ceremony. Your revenge, little one  –  if you are even old enough to know what that is – is to live.'
 
[OOC: Assume that Martin comes to find Dennis and Chalky to tell them that Natsumi has vanished without a trace.]

The bad taste at the back of his mouth refused to go away, and now a twinge was creeping up Cha'Kwe'Tza's spine. The two villagers that had arrived walked ahead of Dennis and himself, but there was almost a subtle air of them being guards sent to escort him back as opposed to messengers leading a guest. Looking skyward, Cha'Kwe'Tza saw that the sun was slowly descending, and nearing the three quarter mark of its daily cycle. It seemed that perhaps everything was timed so that the sacrifice would happen at the moment of the sun's setting. Returning his eyes back to the trail ahead, the Reptilian heard another coming before the figure came into sight. Breathing a little heavy, Martin stood on the path ahead of them, beams of light from the sun above piercing the canopy lay a dappled pattern of spots over the guide.

When the man approached the four on the trail, the two villagers at the front stepped aside and let him through. Moving from beside Cha'Kwe'Tza, Dennis met Martin and the two exchanged a few quiet words, spoken too fast for the scaly warrior to overhear. His feeling of suspicion growing bit by bit the more that time passed, Cha'Kwe'Tza spoke up to the two guides, "There is a problem, no?" Looking over their shoulders, the two men had slightly worried looks on their faces. Dennis opened his mouth to speak but Martin was faster, "It seems your friend Natsumi has disappeared from the village. We are…concerned for her." Due to his barbaric appearance, most people would assume that Cha'Kwe'Tza was simple in the head, appearances are deceiving though, and the warrior caught the short pause in the middle of Martin's sentence.

Nodding, Cha'Kwe'Tza said, "Natsumi will be fine. She take care. We return to village now, yes?" The two guides looked at each other before nodding themselves and continuing back down the trail towards the village. As the group passed the intersection of pathways, Cha'Kwe'Tza noticed that the path leading up to the volcano was now being decorated with a variety of totems. Some ranged in height from his knees to just over his head, and most had some sort of engraved wooden plaque on the top of it.

A short walk later Cha'Kwe'Tza stood in the middle of the village, Dennis and Martin flanking him. Villagers were massed in the small central market area, and all were wearing some sort of ceremonial garb. At the far end of the group, the village chief stood, wearing a long robe seemingly made from a massive quantity of feathers. In one hand be held aloft a staff as tall as himself and as gnarled as any old tree the Reptilian had ever seen in his life. Translating the native language as the chief spoke, Martin said quietly to Cha'Kwe'Tza, "The chief welcomes all out for the festival tonight. He says that he wishes for all to begin celebrating, while him, the elders, and the honoured guest, meaning you proceed to the volcano base and await the chosen one on the trail."

Silence befell the meditation hut as Natsumi waited for the ceremony to begin. The disguise and trap were set, perfect outside of magical intervention. She had counted on an absence of that among these primitive people, but this naiveté was quickly cast off.
 
"Sayen?" A woman about the age of Natsumi's elder siblings walked into the tent while the guards outside still slept. She stepped with the cautious optimism of one who was not supposed to be there, and yet risked it out of some noble emotion. Unfortunately for both parties, however, Natsumi's disguise was not what she was hoping to find. "Who are you? Where is my daughter? Your magic may fool the eyes of most in this village, but not mine."
 
Having not expected one of revealing magic to be so near – especially one related by blood to the girl she was trying to save – the liberator of circumstance did not know how to react to the woman's observation. She turned her head to look at the tribal native, trying to think of something to say, but nothing came. There was only silence accompanied a glum stare; at least for the moment.
 
The lack of response from Natsumi did appear to trigger hidden realization in her trespassing visitor, though. She sighed while rubbing the bridge of her nose, even going so far as to close her eyes. Something inside this woman's mind was tearing her up emotionally, and the druid was quite surprised when she found out what.
 
"If you save a life, you must take responsibility for it." The mother's voice was sullen and defeated, but grim at the same time. It was clearly difficult for her to speak on the current subject matter, but she continued on solely because she knew it was necessary. "I wanted to save her, but I don't have the strength or skill to survive off this island. I could never give her all the joys she deserves, all the wonders she has missed seeing because some overly religious chief wanted his own daughter to be the sacrifice." Finally looking up at the disguised Natsumi, Sayen's mother stared with tears in her eyes. "You, on the other hand, appear perfectly capable: more so than I, at least. If you are committed to this path, then I ask that you take responsibility. Care for her as your own, and take her away from this insanity."
 
Taking in Sayen as her own child had not occurred to Natsumi when she first decided to interfere. In fact, the irony of the whole situation caused her eyes to briefly widen, seeing as the original purpose for running away from home for her had been heavily related to the avoidance having children. It seemed fate had a sense of humor in this respect. It knew that the druid wasn't cruel enough to leave a seven year old on her own in the wild, and, therefore, put her into a situation where she couldn't say no without breaking that subconscious barrier.
 
"I will accept my duty, for it was my choice," said Natsumi as she slowly and reluctantly admitted to adoption being the best course of action. She didn't even know if she was ready to be a mother, but she would take responsibility for her actions all the same. Doing any less would have been disrespectful toward the suffering Sayen had already endured, and she didn't have it in her heart to inflict such pain on a child.
 
Sayen's mother was appeased, either way. She wiped her tears from her face with her dress sleeve, and then turned to leave.
 
"There is something I want her to have," she told Natsumi whilst those tired feet carried on. "I will hide it along with a raft on the southern shore. I cannot risk seeing Sayen off, and I can't stay here any longer than I have. The ceremony will begin soon." These felt like the final words on the matter, but they weren't, not yet. The woman had one last thing to say, and she stopped at the mouth of the room to do so. "One final warning: beware the shaman. He will see through your disguise like I did, though not as easily."
 
With that, silence returned at last. The departure of Sayen's mother was swift following her cautionary tale, and the guards awoke just after she disappeared into the tree line. This rising was, unfortunately for them, coincidentally timed with the arrival of their less than thrilled superiors.
 
"Perhaps we should feed you two to Apoy if you take your sacred duties so lightly," the burliest of the six present said. He was obviously the leader, as the two drowsy men immediately stood up when they heard him speak: with the force of a geyser at that. Natsumi didn't know this, but the head guard wasn't joking when he was talking about tossing the guards into the volcano simply for sleeping. He had done that before to guests and co-workers alike; he wasn't about to hesitate now.
 
Fortunately, though, the leader had more pressing matters to attend to than discipline. The ceremony had already begun, and the path was being prepared.  They would need to hurry along if they were to make it in time, and so the captain waived punishment in favor of punctuality.
 
"I'll ignore it this time. For now, the chief is expecting the sacrifice and we mustn't disappoint him. Bring the girl. We'll make our way to the village in proper fashion." The two guards went inside the tent to retrieve "Sayen" as they were commanded, half-expecting to have to drag her outside. Natsumi, however, was already standing up, and wouldn't give them the privilege of touching her. Instead, she calmly walked toward the entrance and silently stood between the four others who had come. "Perhaps it's as the priest says, after all," said the captain with an incredulous snort of approval. "Meditation can break even the strongest of wills." He snickered, showing how vile a man lay beneath that sanctimonious facade, but the druid didn't even react. She just remained silent in her disguise, waiting for the procession to begin.

---

It was a short time after that session of ridicule that Natsumi found herself travelling down the chosen path of mud and blood. The perimeter was already decorated with totems of varying size, no doubt an integral part to the ritual. There were even curious onlookers lining the route, but their eyes never met the sacrifice's gaze. Rather than observe her surroundings, she was constantly looking at the ground with a veil over her head, much like a bride of doom. It was, apparently, the final part of the ceremony's preparation, as the soldiers had provided it to her only before the walk began.
 
Whether her eyes were covered or not, however, Natsumi remained fully aware of her situation. She knew exactly when her group finally reached the base of the mountain, and paused alongside them to face the important dignitaries gathered.
 
"Glory awaits you, girl," the chief said in the native language, seemingly intent on ignoring the fact that he was sending his own daughter into the pits of fire. "You will save our village for another year with your sacrifice, and ascend to Apoy's side for eternity!" Applause followed: typical of these types of ceremonies. Let the helpless die so we can live in peace, and all that. The very idea sickened Natsumi, but her normal retorts would not be coming this time. Instead, her first trick was already playing out.
 
"Dishonor." An unknown voice hissed from the chieftain's side, one loud enough to drown out the cheers and replace them with fright. The chief had yet to even ask who it belonged to before his staff came alive from the Black Queen's magic. "You call this an offering: a man abandoning his own child and simply producing more yearly to sacrifice to me? You are beginning to displease me with the similarity of your offerings, and your depravity. I warn you now, find another sacrifice, or you will know my displeasure."
 
Animated as it was, the staff stuck out a wooden tongue after giving its threat. Hushed whispers of doubt were already spreading through the crowd, but the cause of their anxiety was reverting to normalcy by then. Only time would tell what Natsumi's warning truly entailed, but one thing was adamantly clear: no one gathered was eager to find out.