Chapter Text
"C-Cyno!" Collei ran up to the General Mahamatra, grasping his arm, her nails digging into his caramel skin.
"Collei?" Cyno looked down at the young forest watcher. She took gasping breaths, and kept trying to speak. She looked frazzled, her eyes wide with anxiety. She was always so enthusiastic, and got winded less often now that her condition was healing. Hence why it was unusual now. She still had so much to learn.
"M-Master Tighnari!" She gasped, then stopped, trying to catch her breath. Cyno's heart skipped a beat. Was Tighnari in trouble?
"Catch your breath, then speak." Cyno advised, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder.
Collei took a few moments more and got herself under control, then straightened up. "Master Tighnari needs your help. We were escorting a group of scholars near the Ruins of Dahri when he sent me back. The researchers want to go into the desert, and he sent me back to 'gather supplies,' which is code to get the mantra involved. Then he gave me that look, you know, the one where he stares through your soul?" Cyno nodded. He had been on the receiving end of that look many times, usually when he was telling jokes. "I-I'm not even sure where they're ultimately headed, or what exactly they're after, but that look..."
"Did he say where to meet up?" Cyno inquired, turning this information over thoughtfully.
"They were headed for the large oasis to the southwest."
"Anything else?"
"He s-said I have to return to Gandharva Village and to wait for him there. I-I don't know what I did wrong." Collei was so distraught, "Why would he send me away just because we're going into the desert? I'm not that fragile anymore."
Cyno tilted his head. "This group- How many were there and were all of them men?"
"What?" Collei blinked at him and thought about it. "Um, five, and yes? But why-"
"Perhaps he decided it wasn't safe for you, a young woman, to be traveling the unfamiliar, harsh environment of the desert with only him as a trusted companion."
Collei wilted. "But I'm-"
"Or perhaps he saw or, more likely, heard, something you didn't." Cyno gestured to the pointy ears of his headdress. "And, you have not gone into the desert all that much yet. He is your mentor, and his first priority is to protect you, his second, to teach you. If he sent you back, it is an order to abide by."
"I know." Collei hung her head. "I just...I'm worried. Why did he want you involved? I didn't really notice anything odd."
"You will have to ask him when I bring him home. Your information is invaluable. I will retrieve our resident foxboy." Cyno squeezed her shoulder briefly in comfort and strode off, making certain he was out of sight before breaking into a jog. He had no intention of worrying Collei further.
There had been reports of trafficking in the southern desert lately, and Cyno was concerned that they had stumbled onto a part of it. They had been targeting older children up to young men and women, many disappearing without a trace into the unforgiveable sands. Collei fit the bill perfectly. Tighnari was a little old for the scheme, but he had other attractive features.
One was his knowledge of the land, both desert and forest. Though his foxian companion much preferred the rainforest, he had made many forays into the desert as well. He saw time in the desert as a necessary evil, to forward his knowledge of the land and life within it. Often times he would ask Cyno to accompany him, as he was prone to overdoing it and heatstroke claimed him more easily than others.
The other, and more likely answer in Cyno's opinion, was that he was a descendant of the Valuka Shuna, manifesting in his glorious, fluffy dark green tail and large fox ears. A rarity in itself. Paired with his fine, almost delicate features, he would be a prize for some sick collector to own, no matter if their goal was the exotic or the beautiful. Tighnari was both, paired with a sharp tongue and even sharper teeth and a low tolerance for stupidity. Anyone planning on 'collecting' him was in for a rough time, unless they did their research. But if they had...
Cyno reached the wilder forest and increased his pace to a ground eating lope. He smirked briefly, would Tighnari go 'a lope' with him? Storing the joke away, he continued towards the destination, and hopefully Tighnari was there.
-------
"Heading into the desert unprepared is heatstroke at best, and death at the worst." Tighnari flicked his tail irritably. It had been a day since Collei left, and this group was certainly irrational when it came to when and where they should go. He was willing to take them to the first oasis, but they had wanted to leave in the heat of the day. Tighnari had convinced them to wait, but it seemed they were done waiting, as there was no sign of Collei's return. He applied extra oil to his ears and tail, to help protect from dryness, and they set out well before dawn. The temperature was very chilly, and by moving the group warmed up considerably.
Once the sun rose, the air quickly became super heated, reflecting off the pale sands and soaking into his dark tail and ears mercilessly. He drank from his water ration often, to stave off the effects, but he was becoming worn by the time the oasis was in sight. It was still a long trek to reach it. Tighnari kept up his forest watcher act, projecting confidence and dictating rests with no consideration to any of their dubious opinions. Thankfully, all of them seemed to be in worse shape, so any potential threat they posed was considerably less. Perhaps he was just being paranoid when he had sent Collei away, he would have to apologize.
"It's right there! Why must we stop here when we could be by the water?"
"It is further than you think. It will take us at minimum three hours to cross that land, and it will be the heat of the day soon. We need to stay by the cliffs and the coolness they offer." Tighnari lectured, leaning against the relatively cool stone in relief.
"So, what, we just sit here and wait? We don't have time for this nonsense."
"Play cards, write your notes, study the cliffs or flora nearby. Take a nap even. I am not moving until the heat of the day passes." Tighnari replied, making the effort to keep his ears up, pointy and attentive.
The group argued amongst themselves for awhile, before eventually settling down to wait. Tighnari's ears twitched, listening to their conversations as he rested. After awhile, even that died off. Tighnari felt himself nodding off and curled up, hugging his tail, and closing his eyes. At first they had seemed enamored by his ears and tail, but the novelty wore off after a few days. He still had yet to discover the exact purpose of their research, but there was clearly differing opinions on at least a few points. These were not scholars from the academia, of that he was certain.
The air grew even hotter, and Tighnari's ears drooped, there was little relief, even in the shade of the cliff the temperature was unbearable.
"..should just...one...th-...us."
Tighnari's ears twitched and he focused on the words instead of the buzzing insects.
"..too close...once we reach..." More research talk. Tighnari closed his eyes again, dozing.
A few hours passed and he got up, stretching the kinks out of his back. He drank some more water, noting his supply was low. They would be able to refill at the oasis, so time was of the essence. He approached the group, all of whom were packed up and ready by the time he reached them. With a nod, he led them deeper into the desert, leaving the tall cliffs behind.
They kept up a good pace, the oasis dropping in and out of view as they traversed the sandy dunes. Though the harshest heat of the day had passed, Tighnari felt the fatigue catching up with him once more, as they topped the last dune before the oasis.
Two of the group found the energy to run ahead, dropping down to drink and splash in the water.
"You really should boil or treat that before you drink it." He warned, crouching a short distance away to fill his own. He dropped in two purifying tablets and sealed it, shaking it to agitate the contents before stowing it again. He would have to wait a little before he could drink safely. He glanced at the group, most of which hadn't listened and were drinking their fill and splashing themselves with the tepid water.
A stray noise caught his attention and he looked the other way, one hand going to his bow. Under a nearby tree he spotted a couple hydro fungi, floating around in the sparse shade that the trees offerred, some ajilenakh nuts scattered around them. He watched a moment longer and then released his bow. He heard one of the group approching and turned, getting a face full of water, he was suddenly sopping wet.
"What-" Tighnari's ears slicked back immediately as a crackling filled the air. Electro flashed and struck him in the back, staggering him forward. He gasped and dropped to his hands and knees, the electricity coursing through him. He grimaced and struggled up, only for an arm to hook around his throat and tighten, cutting off his air. Tighnari struggled, digging out a small packet and throwing it down, activating his dendro field. The grip loosened and he surged forward, scrambling out and to his feet. Two of the group were in the dendro field, the herbs confusing them into attacking each other. He turned towards the rest his group and they looked surprised, but also angry. His heart sank, this was a trap. He was suddenly very glad he sent Collei back. He took off running. He got about ten feet before he heard the crackling again. He dove forward and heard it strike behind him.
Tighnari growled and struggled onward, but the sand here was loose, and footing was bad. He could hear someone catching up. He tried to dodge to one side, but arms seized him around the waist, taking them both down into the sand. A hand grabbed at his ears and he sunk his teeth in without a second thought, earning a yelp. He rolled and they tipped over the edge, sliding and rolling down a dune. Unable to fight gravity, he embraced it and helped them along, throwing his weight back to increase the speed of their descent. When they finally hit the bottom, Tighnari landed on top. He pulled back one fist and clocked the other in the jaw, twice. They let go, clearly seeing stars.
His hand stung and he stood up, freeing himself and glancing back up the hill. The others were bearing down on them. He saw the flash of electro, but could not evade it this time. The bolt struck him and he fell with a cry, his vision flashing white as fire sang through his veins, pain radiating from his shoulder. Everything went in and out of focus as darkness encrouched, tunnel vision closing in. Someone bent over him, and the last thing he saw was a fist.
-------
Cyno reached the edge of the forest and paused long enough to refill his water and take a short rest to eat. The sun was going down, and traveling at night was just as dangerous in the desert. Daytime had the obvious temperature hazard, night was the opposite, but also nefarious groups were generally more active. He stepped out of the looming trees into the still warm sand, continuing south, and cutting west across the desert. Most would not choose this way, despite the fact that it was faster, simply because they could remain in the trees some time longer. He was accustomed to the desert and often took less traveled routes to cut off or catch up to criminals.
He paused near the edge of the cliff, observing the area below, searching for movement.
Nothing unusual.
He stepped off the edge, spreading the wings of his glider and flew on.
-------
Tighnari woke, something digging into his stomach, and he was swaying. He could feel the sun beating down on his back, and cautiously opened his eyes. His view was limited to a broad back, and feet making steady progress. He was being carried, the footprints left behind were large and deep. They would remain for some time if the wind was light. He could not see much more without moving, and that would alert them.
Instead, he took stock of himself. Everything ached, but that was expected, when dealing with electro. His left shoulder was radiating pain. His arms were bound behind his back, and his feet were tied together. His throat was parched, his mouth dry, and his head pounded.
"Don't even think of trying anything." A deep voice interrupted. The man carrying him shrugged his shoulders, repositioning him like a bag of rice, eliciting a grunt as his grip tightened on Tighnari's waist.
Well, so much for playing dead. Tighnari wiggled a little and pain shot down his left arm. That was going to be a problem. Thankfully, that was the worst of it, aside from heatstroke. He lifted his head, but could see nothing but sand, and the two men following. Both had dark skin, from days spent under the harsh sun, and were dressed for the desert, easily identified as Eremites, thanks to their red sashes. Neither of them looked familiar. No, wait- that was the one who had tackled him. Regardless, he could take three. His ears swiveled as he listened for more. There was at least two more, maybe three, walking ahead.
Great.
The heat from the sun lessened somewhat as he was placed in the shade of a crumbling wall. A heavy hand gripped his hair, forcing him to look up with a gasp.
"Behave." The eremite released him after a long moment of eye contact and stepped away. One of the others settled down next to him and started sharpening his curved sword. Tighnari looked around at them, none of them were part of the group he had been escorting. Tighnari lifted his head skyward. How long had he been unconscious? He wiggled his fingers, twisting his arms and trying to get out of the bonds.
"If you manage to free yourself, I will cripple you." A deep, calm voice from the man to his left.
Tighnari froze as the sword touched his thigh, the sharp edge on his bare leg. Just a touch caused stinging, sweat invading the shallow cut immediately.
They stared at one another for a long moment before the other withdrew his sword, resuming sharpening it. Tighnari felt a chill, this one definitely had killed before. He stared down, his legs and feet were bare. The rest was covered by the tan cloak wrapped around his shoulders. He shifted a little and grimaced, realizing that he was indeed, naked under the cloak. Where were his clothes? Unease came to the forefront of his mind again. He closed his eyes and rested his head on the wall, thinking. He felt drained and nauseous from the heat and his shoulder ached terribly. However, he didn't think anything else had happened while he was unconscious, he didn't have pain or discomfort in worrisome areas.
After awhile, one of them approached and held up a water skin. Tighnari wanted to refuse, but really had no choice. He parted his cracked lips and drank as much as he was allowed. The Eremite drew back, leaving Tighnari with the sword sharpener. Tighnari rolled the last of it around in his mouth, testing the metallic aftertaste. Was it drugged? Not that it mattered, in the short term. He needed the water, either way.
The group made a fire and cooked their meal, eating before cleaning up their camp. None was offerred to him. All the while the sun was setting, casting deep shadows before disappearing beyond view, lighting only the sky, and even that was waning.
The group surrounded him again, pulling him up and snapping a collar around his throat. The electro user grasped it, and he felt it tingle across the delicate skin.
"Dogs should be chained." The Eremite grunted. Tighnari grimaced, ears flat, and growled at them. It was deep and resonated from his chest. They looked at him, unimpressed, as they attached a lead to the collar. "Misbehave and this is what happens." The one holding the leash jerked him forward and some of the electro surged out. Tighnari gasped, his vision filling with white bursts before darkness reigned. Tighnari found himself laying in the sand face first. He must have blacked out for a moment.
"Hey now, don't be so rough. We need him in good condition, not tattered and broken."
"A little shock is a good reminder."
One of them untied his ankles, and he was pulled to his feet by the cloak and pushed forward. He stumbled a little, but managed to keep his footing. He had to bide his time, trying to run off in this condition would just be detrimental. He would need a distraction.
It wasn't long before his feet were raw from the sands. He was unaccustomed to traveling barefoot, and unlike Cyno, he didn't have the thick skin on the soles of his feet. The remaining daylight faded and night took over. The sand shifted from pleasantly warm to cool, to cold. They continued, with only the stars lighting their path. So this had to be a well traveled route, as they used no torches to light the way. Tighnari could see almost as well as he did during the day, but they moved like they knew every crevice and bump in the road.
His ears drooped. He was exhausted. They were in unfamiliar territory now, and Tignari still wasn't sure what their goal was. They took his clothes but hadn't touched him. They weren't trying to get him to talk. They weren't being overly rough with him.
What did they want?
The landscape changed. They descended into a broad canyon, the cliff walls rising high into the sky before they went underground. The cave seemed to stretch for miles, with numerous offshoots. Tighnari tried to keep track, mentally mapping the path, but he was uncertain if he would remember. His head was heavy with exertion. His feet scraped on a rock and he tripped. One member of the group caught him and kept a hand on his shoulder a long moment before lifting him up, holding him bridal style.
Tighnari's mouth dropped open in surprise as he was carried around the final bend, entering a large cavern. There were patchy tents lining the walls with tribesmen milling about. He was carried between them and into one of the larger tents. The rest of the entourage dispersed and the man carrying him set him down on a thin mat within.
There were two women there, and they removed the bindings, stripping the cloak off completely. Tighnari protested and squirmed, flattening his ears as they converged on him with damp rags, cleaning him up with a basin of water. The man who brought him there stood guard, arms crossed and a small smile on his face. He was enjoying this. Tighnari closed his eyes, his face flushing as they touched him. It wasn't personal, it was methodical. Like a healer. They tended to the cuts on his feet and applied a salve to his aching shoulder. He looked and there were marks from the electro carved into his skin. He wouldn't be surprised if they scarred. Their task complete, the women stepped back, offering him some clothes, though that may be stretching it. Something was better than nothing, right? He wasn't so sure, with what was being offerred.
The bottoms covered less than his underwear, with beading along the ties, and sheer red sashes. He reluctantly pulled them on. They covered him, but left little to the imagination. Although they dipped nicely below his tail and would not rub. The top was sparcely beaded and very short. It left several inches of his torso bare, with two rows of beading attached in the middle front and back, hanging below the shirt and against his ribs. It felt like a dancer's outfit. Tighnari's ears remained back, conveying his displeasure.
"What is this about? What do you want from me?" He asked, curious if they would even answer.
"...You are here," the man rumbled, "to be sold. You will belong to them, and we will prosper. You are beautiful and rare." The Eremite stroked his tail, and Tighnari twitched it, not liking the shift in the man's tone.
"Shae, keep your hands to yourself." One of the women scolded, giving him a little shove.
"You're no fun." He replied with a twist of his lips. "C'mon, nobody else has to know."
"Tent walls obscure sight but not sound, dolt. Move along. We will watch the fox." The taller woman gripped his arm and stepped into him, forcing him back and out of the tent.
"Fox." The shorter woman drew his attention, though he kept his ears on the other two. "It will be easier if you cooperate."
"Easier for whom?" Tighnari countered, meeting her gaze.
"All of us. We don't want to hurt you, but if you insist, you will give us no choice. You are just currency to us, and you will find no friends here. I am sorry that you got yourself into this situation."
Tighnari stared at her, surprised not only by her bluntness, but the audacity that he was the reason he was here.
"You will not be here long." She assured him, tying his wrists together again, using a strong silky material. It did not bite like the rope had, and would likely not leave a mark behind. He did not fight, but watched her tie knots skillfully. He tested them when she was done and they had no give. In fact, they felt tighter after he tested them. She smiled knowingly and patted his shoulder. "Do not give them a reason to punish you. You are...unique." She reached for his ear and he tilted his head slightly away. She shrugged and tied his ankles together, leaving him on the mat when she was done. The taller woman had come back, and set to work. It was clear that they were healers of a sort. He was offerred more water, and accepted it. There was a bitter flavor on the end of it and he grimaced in recognition.
Sleeping herbs. It wasn't long before his eyelids drooped. He gave up and curled up, hugging his tail to his chest.
-------
Cyno reached the oasis. Despite the fact that this was one of the largest, he rarely saw people here, since it was so out of the way for many of the known ruins and the closest village was built over its own oasis. The sand was disturbed oddly in one area. He crouched, finding some sand that had melted together into a blackened clump. Either lightning had struck, or an electro user had been here recently. There had been no storms nearby, as he would have seen the lightning, so the latter must be the case. He also found one of the little herb packets Tighnari carried. He used them to confuse both wildlife he didn't wish to harm, and enemies. Cyno gripped the spent packet tightly and rose to his feet.
Nari was in trouble.
He took his time, hunting for more clues. He found a suspicious pile of sand and considered it a long moment. Was there something worthwhile, or was it a sneaky scorpion? Only one way to find out. Cyno stabbed his spear into the sand and hit something solid, but there was no movement. He pushed the sand around until he saw a light green cloth. Frowning, he cast his weapon aside and dug in earnest, unearthing a pile of clothing. Very familiar clothing. Cyno's mouth tightened as his hand closed on something warm and hard: a Dendro Vision. Nari's Vision.
Cyno gathered up the clothes and placed them in the crook of two of the trees. He could come back for them later. The Vision, he tucked away. There was no chance he would leave it behind. He had heard stories from Aether of those whom had their Visions forcibly taken from them in Inazuma some time ago, and he didn't like the implication. He needed to catch up.
He reviewed the area again. It was clear that a group had camped here, and then the tracks went two separate ways. At least four headed the direction of the forest, with several others going deeper into the desert. One set were extra deep, probably carrying a heavy load. Or a person. Further searching was fruitless, so he set off after the tracks headed west. The sands would bury them before much longer.
He hurried on.
-------
Tighnari jerked awake, his head swimming. Hands were touching him appraisingly. He groaned and tried to pull away, but was pulled forward instead. Arms wrapped around him and lifted him off the ground, carrying him. He fought the drug, trying to at least see who had him and where they were taking him, but his head was too muddled. He slipped back into the darkness.
-------
Cyno paced along the edge of cliff, considering. Dawn had come and gone, it was early morning. The wind was his enemy, hiding the trail from him. So, he climbed to a high point, scaling up the side of a cliff to look for any clues. He didn't see much. He was going to have to make a decision, and hope that it was the right one. Did he continue in the same general direction? Did he descend the canyon or stay on the cliffs?
Most people would go through the canyon, he reasoned, not climb when they didn't have to. Taking into consideration that they had an unwilling, or unconscious foxboy, this only added to the likelihood that they went down instead of up. He didn't like it, but he had to choose. Cyno growled under his breath and took a chance, leaping off the edge and diving down. He followed the canyon, keeping an eye out for caves as he went. There were definitely tracks this way, though it was difficult to tell how old, worn by the wind as they were. Every cave, he went in several feet, looking for signs of people. He had gone into one such and was about to turn back when he heard voices. He quickly vaulted a large rock and crouched behind it, listening.
"...she's such a cockblock! They wouldn't even know-"
"Get real Shae, you know they would be able to tell. You just want to get your dick wet."
"I'm not even gay. I swear I thought he was a girl!"
"Shae, you want to fuck a dude. That makes you at least a little gay. By definition."
Cyno frowned, but stayed hidden. The one called Shae complained more as they got closer, and passed Cyno's hiding spot. "It's an exception. God. He's so feisty too. Look, he bit me!" Cyno cautiously peered around the rock. Shae, he assumed, was holding out one hand for the other to see.
"I don't want to hear it. He's more valuable to us without you being a horny ass, so just deal with it."
"I've never seen anyone with a tail like that, and it's so plush and soft-"
Cyno had heard enough. He gripped his staff and silently emerged from hiding, striking them from behind without sound or warning. The bigger man went down hard, and then Cyno was on Shae, striking him across the face, sending him to the sand with a surprised grunt. Cyno seized him by what passed for a shirt, pulling their faces close together.
"Where is he?" Cyno demanded, watching Shae's face morph from pain and anger, to recognition and fear.
"G-General Mahamatra!"
"Speak if you value your life. Where is the fox?" Cyno threatened, tightening his grip.
"H-He's at camp. They're getting him cleaned up and ready. I-I didn't touch him, I swear!"
"Ready for what?" Cyno growled.
The Eremite hesitated and Cyno leaned closer, applying pressure to his collarbone. "For sale! People will pay piles of treasure to own something like him! His beauty is only a plus! He-"
"Something?" Cyno saw red and balled his free hand into a fist, smashing the side of Shae's face. "He is not a something. He is not a pet. He is a person!"
Shae groaned and went limp, out cold. Cyno grimaced in disgust. He had gone too far. He bound and dragged the pair into a smaller shaft and left them around a curve before heading down the tunnel the pair had originated from, taking note of possible alternate routes. He passed several offshoots, but ignored them, as he could hear voices ahead. He flattened himself against one wall and peered around, met with a dozen or so tents. Several tribesmen milled about, and there was a large cage in the middle of the tents. Scanning, he darted forward and into the shadows, prowling along and silently scaling up some rigging, peering down on the camp. His stomach clenched. From this vantage he could see what was in the cage: more than a dozen children. Most of them were clustered together, but a few stood apart. All were unusually quiet, though he could see some of them wiping their faces, trying to be rid of tears. There was no sign of Nari.
Cyno remained in place, lying flat so he was difficult to see, on the off chance that someone were to look up. Humans generally did not look up for danger, or with suspicion in most cases. He watched, counting tribesmen. Too many to easily take down alone, unless he was very, very cautious. He pushed his frustration aside, it had no place here. If they had already taken Nari elsewhere, he could not just leave these children to this fate.
So he stayed put, not moving for hours as he observed the camp.
-------
Tighnari woke, lying on his side on a thin mat. He remained still, flexing his arms and legs, verifying that he was still bound. A wonderful smell filled his nose. He opened his eyes reluctantly. He was back in the tent with the healers, and one of them was coming towards him with a bowl.
"Here, you need food." She said, placing the bowl before him and turning away. His stomach growled, but he left it there, closing his eyes again.
"Hey," he felt a nudge and raised his eyes. "You need to eat, Fox. I'm sure you know how much the desert drains us of energy."
"..." Tighnari knew she was right, but he didn't trust anything they gave him. What would stop them from drugging him again? Nothing. So he would refuse. He didn't need food yet. Water was what he couldn't afford to decline.
She sighed and picked the bowl up, tilting some of it into her mouth, before holding it out to him. He reluctantly took it. It was a meat stew of some kind. He waited for awhile, watching her before he took a small taste. There was no bitter aftertaste this time. Still, he ate it slowly, and it was cold by the time he was halfway through. She let him be, busying herself with the endless small tasks healers had.
When he finished, she took the empty bowl and offerred him water. He turned his face away. She huffed and took a swig, offering it again. He accepted it and that same bitterness overwhelmed him once more, stronger this time. He grimaced and she smiled, spitting out the liquid she had held in her mouth. She patted his head lightly, like he was a stubborn child. It wasn't long before his eyes were closing of their own accord again.
-------
Cyno shifted back a little, as there was a commotion from another entrance to the cavern. A full squad of Fatui marched into view, stopping next to the cage containing the children.
A moment of clarity. The Fatui wanted the children. He could not allow that to happen, even if it put Tighnari at risk. Nothing would stop him from finding his foxboy, but delays, it seemed, were inevitable.
The leader stepped away, following one of the Eremites into one of the larger tents nearby. Cyno watched as the rest of them seemed at ease, like this was a familiar exercise. They had done this before.
Cyno closed his eyes and reached out with his mind. He had been working with Nahida to be able to communicate in times of need. It entirely depended on how busy she was and how much distance separated them.
Nahida- I need a group of Mantra sent to my location.
Cyno opened his eyes and continued watching vigilantly. He counted all the children again while he waited for a response, hoping she heard him. After several minutes, he repeated his request, but still, nothing. He would have to assume he was on his own for now.
--------
Kraes, the captain of the Fatui stepped into the medical tent, following his contact with the desert people. They led a harsh life, and were hard in return. The Eremite stepped aside and gestured to a still form on a mat. It was a person, curled up in the fetal position, but there was something odd. He leaned closer and realized that those were ears. Tall and sleek, black fox ears. He reached and touched, they were soft too. He took hold of one and tugged, it was definitely an ear.
Tighnari felt a tug on one ear that expanded into minor pain. He groaned and pushed himself into a sitting position, pulling away from the hand gripping his ear, flattening them both. He looked up, feeling unsteady, and the room blurred. The drugs were still affecting him. His head throbbed as he was seized and pulled up by the collar. He grimaced and fought back. A casual slap and he stilled, stars exploding across his vision.
"Behave."
Tighnari grimaced and growled in response. He really should pick his battles, but he wasn't going to just let them jerk him around.
"What is this?" Light was brought closer and Tighnari winced away. "A fox?"
"A treasure. You said you wanted anything different or unique."
"..." Kraes gripped Tighnari's chin firmly and turned it to the light. He was fine boned, almost delicate, his ears remained back, but were clearly his ears, not some kind of trick. He let go and let his hands roam, feeling the lean muscle in his arms and back, before sinking fingers into the plush, dark tail. It twitched away from him, and he let it go, fascinated. He had never seen someone like this before.
"He's drugged up to his eyeballs right now, but I'm certain he would be a good lay, if you're willing to pay." The Eremite chuckled and continued. "If that's not your interest, I've been told he has vast knowledge of the forest."
Kraes gripped Tighnari's ass, squeezing appreciatively. It wasn't as full as he liked, but it was passable. Tighnari's tail stuck straight out and poofed, showing his displeasure. "D-Don't-" he protested, lips pulled back in a snarl. Words were hard, and darkness was lingering at the edge of his vision, slowly tinting everything before the drugs won again, dropping him back into black.
"He may be useful." Kraes said somewhat indifferently and lowered him to the mat. The pair negotiated back and forth before coming to an agreed price. Handing over the mora, plus the usual amount for each brat, he picked Tighnari up like he weighed nothing, returning to his fellows and laying him in the cart. The others had already loaded the kids, tying them together in a chain. He secured the leash directly to the cart and gave the signal to move out.
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When Cyno saw the Fatui emerge carrying a clearly unconscious Nari, he twitched, forcing himself to stay down. He could not afford to be reckless, not with so many innocents at stake. He ground his teeth and watched as the Fatui secured their captives and then set out, moving at a brisk pace.
He waited for them to disappear around the bend and for a lull in the tribes activity and leapt, gliding over and slipping out of the cavern. He paused briefly, listening for signs of discovery. Hearing none, he cautiously followed the group, sizing them up.
They had a variety of elements, so he would have to be cautious. It would be best to wait for back up, but given the lack of communication, he could not count on it. So, he would track them out into the desert until they left the Eremite camp far behind.
He stalked them, eventually moving up to flank them, staying out of sight over the next dune, and using the occasional scrub as cover. Each time he peeked over, he took note of their formation. They reached a cluster of broken ruins and settled down. The sun was reaching its apex and sweat poured from Cyno's brow. He stalked the edge of the dune, restless. Striking in the heat of the day had its advantages. He needed to take them all down at once, but therein lay the problem. He couldn't guarantee the safety of the captives alone.
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Tighnari woke, feeling the sun beating down on him once more. There was constant movement nearby, and he could hear sniffling and rustling sounds. He cracked his eyes open. He was lying face down, his wrists were still bound together, as were his feet. He could feel heat boring into his back, and knew he was more than a little kissed by the sun. Someone was sitting close to his head. He moved slightly and groaned involuntarily. The person moved, bending down and peering into his face. Tighnari blinked and the child blinked back.
"Are you okay?" Her voice was soft and scratchy, like she had strained it.
Tighnari moved, bracing his hands on the wooden planks and trying to push himself up. Pain lanced down his left shoulder, overtaking the low level buzz of the sunburn. A small hand touched him tentatively.
"Maybe you shouldn't.." She started, as he pushed himself and managed to sit up, leaning on the side of the cart for support. He had a little slack in the lead, which was fixed to the wagon they were riding in. He perked his ears up with some effort, and even they complained. He was severely dehydrated. His skin was hot and tight, and his tail and ears were boiling. He pushed the discomfort back, there wasn't anything he could do about it.
Instead, he turned his attention outwards. He was in a wagon, moving at the slow but steady pace of a Sumpter beast through the scorching sun. He was not alone, but surrounded by around a dozen young people, ranging from seven to perhaps twelve. Most of them were asleep or passed out from the heat. Only two were sitting up, including the girl next to him. Her face and arms were also red from the sun. She looked as miserable as he felt. He looked further and realized those escorting them were not the desert dwelling Eremites, but the Fatui. He swallowed thickly, feeling the grit of sand in his throat.
So he hadn't dreamed that scene earlier in the tent. He had been sold like a slave, as were these children. Based on their clothing, many looked like they came from the forest, rather than the desert.
They were in trouble. He could only hope that Collei got to the Mantra soon enough to follow their trail. He slouched, trying to relieve the feeling that his skin was too tight. It didn't help much.
The cart rolled to a stop near some crumbling ruins, and the Fatui pulled the children out, herding them into the shade, giving them water. Tighnari was unsteady on his feet, the heat making him dizzy. When he was offerred water he clutched at it and drank deeply, not caring if it was drugged or not. The water was tepid and stale at best, but it tasted like fresh-from-the-falls back home water. It was sweet nectar of life.
He was given a peach to eat and was left alone. A quick glance showed the children already eating, mostly huddled together, in spite of the heat. He was glad his arms were no longer tied behind his back, as someone would have had to feed him. He ate the peach. It too had water that his body so desperately craved.
It was clear that this spot was part of a route, there were supplies pulled out while they waited out the heat of the day. Unfortunately, all of them seemed accustomed to the desert air and remained between the captives and the exit. Three were more attentive, four were more relaxed.
Tighnari huffed and feigned an attempt at sleep, while examining and working at the bonds on his wrists. No matter how he moved, they just seemed to tighten further.
After a few hours, they were all gathered up again. Tighnari thought he saw a dark shape on the horizon. Person or animal? He listened, tuning out the immediate noise. There was some rustling, and then voices reached his ears.