FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

When the sun broke over the planet, it revealed a thin sheet of ice over the ground and plants. Each glistened wetly was the sun's glow began to melt away the ice. It wasn't quite winter yet but the frosting was the beginning of it.

Lyon slowly Rose from his sleep. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and glanced around. The feline was face to face with a mattress covered in pink sheets, Marsys sheets. He chuckled to himself before slowly getting up. Lyon looked over the blankets and spotted Marsy asleep still, not wanting to wake her he slipped away quietly. Once out of Marsys room he found himself almost walking into Triss.

The captain was in a hurry, she looked at Lyon and growled a little* "Grab your bag and come with me. Me, you, and Flava are going to the tribal camp to try and trade."

She stated gruffly, clearly not in the mood for small talk this morning. Lyon shook his head and swiftly made his way to his dark room. He went to his bed and opened a drawer on it's side. Inside was his black backpack, one that was left in every room incase of an emergency. He took the bag and headed out the ship to meet up with Flava and Triss.

Triss and Flava seemed to be going over gear. Both were dressed in black with light armor padding from the ships security lockers. Triss carried the guards rifle, though left her finger off the trigger. Lyon joined them and the three began their hike into the woods.

The sun shined warmly down on them in tight rays. The canopy of the jungle had receded, covering the ground in crunchy leafy plant fibers. The wind would occasionally blow, it stung like icy daggers that cut through the parties armor and clothes. Winter grew closer and the winds reminded everyone of that.

Withen an hour, and using a map Flava had made with VSAT, the three found their way to the village. A few hunters, clad in their masks and headresses while armed with spears and bows, look the three over. Triss holstered her rifle to show she meant no harm, to which the hunters lowered their spears and bows.

The three finally could see what it was like in the village. Villagers dressed in thick robes and large blankets sat or walked about doing chores, stringing bows, making arrows, talking, or enjoying bowls of what Lyon could guess was food. The smell of burning wood filled the camp, they had already begun using their firewood supply.

The three were met by the lead Elder who had previously talked with them, by his side was the Head Hunter still dressed in their mask and headress. The Elder and Triss spoke to one another before the two walked to go into the elders tent. Lyon Sayed close to Flava and began to get nervous as some village kittens began getting closer and talking to them in their native language.

Flava chuckled at Lyons sheepishness*

"Flava, what are they saying?"

*Flava let her tail lay against the ground while a few younger kittens latched on to playfully bite it*

"They're asking about us both. Mainly you. You look like Udapa apparently." Flava replies while asking about the name and continuing* "Ah Udapa is apparently the name for the Head Hunter, it means Swift Death. The Udapa has apparently brought down and killed over 15 Borthas by themself... A Bortha is some sort of large bug with razor sharp forearms and four legs it skitters on the ground with." *One of the other kittens adds* "Oh! And apparently they shoot a burning green goo. Pretty gross" Flava says while shrugging.

Udapa was the hunter in the mask next to the elder. Must've been. A tribe wouldn't give such a position to an inexperienced person.

After a few hours of hanging around the camp with Flava and a few of the native children, Triss reappears with a few filled sacks. She looks to Lyon and Flava* "Both of you, take off your bags and get out two stims each. We traded them for around for stones of dried meat."

Stones? Had to have been the Tribals weight system.

Both Flava and Lyon bend down and dig through their bags before grabbing the syringes and offering them to Triss who gives the two the sacks of meat.

With their bags back on and holding the sacks, the party begins to leave before Udapa bars their exit and speaks to Triss. Triss nod to the hunter and informs the others* "Udapa here wants to escort us back. Apparently a spice used to help make the dried meat taste better can attract predators."

The more the merrier was both Lyon and Flava thoughts.

The way back started quiet, the four all moved in a single file line through the dieing shribs and decaying plant matter before Udapa stopped them and commanded down in her native tongue. Flava and Triss dropped, Flava having to drag Lyon down with her. Hey all stayed quiet, Triss' rifle clicked on and powered up. Udapa readied an arrow and looked about.

All of a sudden, a large chitinous creature burst out of the shrubs at the group, a Bortha attacks.