"Sam you are sooo not sleeping outside." bellowed Raina as Sam went outside. She stood with her arms crossed staring at her brother. "And Sara can't sleep on a chair." she kicked the ground a bit. "She'll be stiff all tomorrow. And Sam has no idea just how nosey polar bears get." she was dead serious. "Sam POLAR BEARS ARE ENDANGERED SPECIES YOU CAN'T JUST FIGHT ONE OFF!" she yelled to the open door.

She was behaving a bit funny, like the mother hen of the group. But Raina felt protective of her friends after Sedna's introduction. She wanted them to feel safe here... even if they weren't. "Why can't we make one GIANT bet with all the mattresses. It'll be just like when we were kids" said Raina half joking to her brother when in reality she just wanted to curl up and sleep.

She finished off another bowl of soup. It was that perfect stick to your bones kind of food that made you feel warm all over. It seemed everyone was outside and she and Naveed were left alone. She felt a bit akward and self concious... hoping they weren't all upset with her for dragging them all here.

She was nervous for the next day. Would they be able to hunt? Would Naveed be able to hunt? What would the elders say to them in the morning? All of these thoughts were clouding her mind as she went over to the fire and picked up a half sleeping Star. She handed him to Naveed. "He's my pet, but he's your sled dog. You tell him he can't sleep inside." she narrowed her eyes as she handed him off full knowing her brother wouldn't cast the pup out.

"Luke?" she finally called out after heading to the open door to stick her head out. "I um. I'm going to bed." she had one of the matresses pulled off to the side by the fireplace neatly made for herself and Luke. "Would you like to join me?" she tried to keep a neutral face. This was a big thing for Raina to do- to invite him to bed infront of everyone. That sort of made their intentions pretty clear, and she hoped it made him feel good about them especially in such an uncertain place.

She didn't know what was going through his mind but she had enough sense to know he was deep in thought so she wouldn't press it any furthur. "and you remember what I said about the Polar Bears Sam." she said giving Sam a grin. "They're as bad as racoons but you're not allowed to touch them."
she laughed and turned back inside hoping Luke followed.

Once inside she sat down next to the bed and pulled off her first layer of clothes so she was down to a tshirt, socks, and tights. She'd worn them under her sweat pants and sweater for warmth but also for sleeping. She slid herself under the sleeping bags and put her head back hoping for that warm body next to her while she lulled to sleep

Naveed rolled his eyes a bit grabbing another bowl of soup as his sister yelled on. He looked 10 years younger with that look on his face- not a man at all. "Would you keep it down? You'll wake the whole damn tribe." he leaned back in his chair and slurrped his soup well Raina went on about polar bears. He reluctantly yelled out to Sam, "She's got a point!"

Raina didn't like the sleeping arrangements but wasn't offering any solutions. She went on and on for a bit- Naveed tuned in and out- and then was addressing him again- this time about Star. He stared down at the pup that Raina had shoved to him.

"Al right Pup... let's go." he turned on his heels. He wasn't actually going to make the little pup sleep outside like most sled dogs... he was just going to let it relieve itself. But he wouldn't lose face infront of his sister.

There was quite the party outside as Naveed placed Star down in the snow and the dog took off running and yipping a few feet ahead to stop dead in it's tracks and sniff around. "She's not going to let you sleep in a chair... but I'm pretty sure you've got your own bed Sheba." yup. For the life of him Naveed couldn't remember Sara's name. The only nickname he'd ever heard for cats was Sheba and he hoped by using it it would seem like he was only teasing her when in fact he honestly couldn't remember her name. "You'll need good rest and no stiffness for hunting tomorrow. Your senses will come alive." his eyes glazed over a moment while he relieved his own experiences of the hunt. Naveed could be a brutal person but to his prey he'd whisper to them that they'd feel no pain... and some animals would understand.

Raina come out and yammered on something to Blind guy - cyclops? no ah... Lune? No... hell what was his little sister's boyfriend's name again? Luke. Right. Luke. Raina came out and yammered to Luke and like he predicted they seemed to be sharing a bed. "Ice boy you can share with me or sleep on the floor for all I care."

Star came running back to him with his tounge hanging out happily having relieved himself and Naveed scooped him up. Standing up Naveed looked quite comedic. Here he was this brutally stone faced man with a strong body and intimidating stance... holding a puppy who was enthusiastically wagging his tail. "I'm turning in. Don't stay up too late." he cautioned taking careful not to order.

With that he marched inside and kicked off his boots. He didn't bother taking his outer layer of clothing off... he figured if he and ice guy had to share a bed it would be like sleeping next to a freezer so extra layers would be good. On the off chance the guy actually did take him up on the offer Naveed did his best to take up as little room as possible on the queen sized matress. He squeezed himself off to one side and promptly fell asleep while Star curled up on his stomach.

Sara laughed slightly at Raina as she yelled at Sam. He did need it though Raina didn’t need to strain her voice be doing it. Sara winced slightly as she was told she wasn’t sleeping in a chair. She could protest, because to be honest Sara never really slept in a bed, but she didn’t feel like making this an issue between her and Raina. Nor did Raina need the extra stress right now.

Sara chose to talk a little more quietly in convincing Sam to stay inside. “Slick. She’s right you know. Besides. These people are allowing us to be here, in this house. Not in another area of their land. It will make a better first impression for us to make ourselves predictable by following their words and where they tell us we can stay. If only for the first night. Between Luke and I, it’s not like anyone is going to sneak up on us but if something were to go wrong,..” Sara just sort of let that one hang in the air. Sam had gone on missions. He should know how much harder it was to get a group together when something went wrong, if they were so far apart.

"Just enjoying nature while wondering why I'm really here."

Sara figgeted with the fur at the tip of her tail as Luke went on with what he had to say. “You think too much.” Sara said, trying to sound light on the subject. Wow. Her and Luke had survived not only the walk over here without picking a fight but the plane ride and the time before that. This was eerie. “I think you’re trying to make things entirely too complicated.”

As Sara finished talking Raina had stuck her head out the door, and they were joined by Neveed and Star, who made a little steaming something that caused Sara’s nose to instantly wrinkle.

"She's not going to let you sleep in a chair... but I'm pretty sure you've got your own bed Sheba."

Sara tilted her head at the new nick name. She wasn’t exactly sure how to take the meaning, but she liked the ring of it. “That may be, but I have almost never slept in a mattress.”

"You'll need good rest and no stiffness for hunting tomorrow. Your senses will come alive."

Sara sighed. She wasn’t going to win this. “Yeah. The name’s Sara by the way.” There was probably no use arguing that her healing factor fixed stiffness fairly quick. She glanced at Sam. “I’d offer for you to bunk with me, but you’ve already experienced what I did to your arm on the plane. And I was awake during that.” At least Ayesac had natural armor against Sara in her sleep.

Sara watched the others go inside as she sat with her tail curled around her feet, on the rock. “Come on.” She said to Sam. Sara pushed herself off of the rock and made her way back to the door. Sara stopped at the door and turned to make sure Sam was following her.

Slightly annoyed by his friends putting up such a resistance for him sleeping out side in his element Sam sighed and dropped it. Sara however did have a point, maybe tomorrow once they got their food and were welcomed by the tribe he would have an easier time out in the wilderness. It wouldn’t be the first time he lived outdoors, this would be a relatively short tip compared to the year he slept in broken down cabins and in small domes of ice under a waterfall, and bears? If they did get to curious or to aggressive all he had to do was either trap them in a cage of ice or just make himself look bigger, bears always prefer an easy kill.

He didn’t say anything to Were but all he did was look up at the sky and looked at a few stars that sparkled in the clear night sky, ‘guess I’ll just disappear for a bit then’ thought Sam if he couldn’t fall asleep watching the stars, which was one of the few things that put his mind at ease. Looking to Luke, Sam let out another big sigh and bopped him on the head, nothing hard but just to get his attention. “Sara is right Luke, you're here for good reason, my guess is Raina wanted to share this part of her life with you… me and Sara are just the hunters…” he smiled at Sara and grinned.

It was then that what Naveed said to him and then he thought about the sleeping arrangements. “Guess I’ll sleep on the floor” Sam mumbled as he started to follow Sara back to the hall only stopping short of the door to look up at the sky, ”Go on in, I’ll come in when I am ready promise.” Sam stepped a few feet from the door and looked up at the sky and lost him self for a bit.

-----------

Every one went to bed as far as he knew it had been a an hour or two that Sam was staring up at the sky, ’wish I could sleep out here’ Sam thought as he reluctantly got up and walked inside the hall and went over to a vacated corner and made a small coffin like bed which he laid down in and covered the top only after yawning slightly. He grinned at the thought of someone walking up and noticing a coffin made of ice with some one inside. Rolling over onto his stomach Sam fell asleep within seconds.

Maybe Sara and Sam were right. Maybe he did think to much. But over thinking a situation was as much as part of Luke as his blindness or the sonar that game him some sort of sight. The key to his over thinking was that he considered every possible option but then reacted, no matter how badly it might turn out. The over thinking had never stopped him from jumping into a dangerous situation but it had often saved his life in those same situation. The only bad thing was that, even though the over thinking helped when going into combat, it always seemed to hinder the relationship side of things.

"Luke?" Raina's voice cut through his thoughts like a knife, immediately grabbing his complete and undivided attention. "I um. I'm going to bed. Would you like to join me?" A slight smile came over Luke's face as turned away from the other two and back toward the door where Raina had once again disappeared.

"Thanks for the advice you two." Luke called over his shoulder to Sara and Sam, "I'll try my best, but no promises."

Moving inside Luke could still make out the tantalized smells of the food that had been brought but he realized that he really wasn't all that hungry. Besides, the idea of climbing into bed with Raina was always much more tantalizing than food. Walking over to the mattress where the red haired beauty was stretched out, Luke took the time to slip off his boots and shed his outer pants and jacket while still leaving his sweats and socks on. It was sorely tempting to even strip all the way down to his boxers but since he was unused to this very cold environment, he decided that wouldn't be the best course of action.

Slipping under the sleeping bags, Luke wrapped his arms around Raina and pressed a quick kiss against her temple. "Sorry to disappear sweetheart. Had some thinking to do." Luke apologized quietly before giving her another quick kiss, "Sleep well." Laying his head back against the pillow the blind man's breathing soon slowed and deepened as he drifted off to sleep.

Raina felt Luke's weight on the bed and she snuggled into him as he got under the blankets. "Thanks for being here." she said nuzzling into his neck as the warmth of his body and the warmth of the fire lulled her into a deep dreamless sleep.

***

"Er-hem."

Raina stirred in her sleep feeling eyes on her body. "mmmph?" her eyes fluttered open to make out a few fuzzy figures looking down at her. "Ah.. what time is it?" She sat up to look around the room. The door was wide open and the morning sunshine and cool air was blasting in. The fire had completley died and Sedna was looking at Raina with a look of concern. Raina realized the Elders had arrived. "Ahh..." she sat up fast and grabbed her warmer clothes. "Guys wake up. They're here." her voice was one of worry as the three figured backed away from her bed to stand next to Sedna who was leaning on a cane.

There was one woman and two men, all old and greying with deep lines in their faces like Sedna though it was clear they weren't as old as she they were still ancient looking. They were all dressed rather uniformly in gray parkas lined with white fox fur that wound down to their beige boots.

Raina scurried around as they watched her with dark eyes not unlike her own. "I'm sorry... it's been so long since I've you all I don't remember your names." said Raina as she pulled her boots on and stood tall as if being inspected like Sedna had done earlier.

"Raina, you'll remember this is Mituk..." Sedna gestured to the tallest man who looked like he could have been a distant reliative of Naveeds. "And this is Piqsiq" she added gesturing to the woman who was at least a full foot smaller than Sedna. Piqsiq smiled warmly while Mituk stook with a stone face. "And this is a distant cousin of your fathers Masak." Raina looked up at the towering Masak. She was liklier to believe that Mituk by the way he looked like Naveed that they were related than Masak. He was towering the group and had a long face, he still didn't look nearly as intimidating as Mituk.

"You're all named after Snow..." Raina said with interest.

"it's tradition when someone is chosen as an edler to adopt the name of snow. " said Sedna clearly expecting Raina to have remembered such a crucial part of their history- and Raina replied by turning red.

"When your ready, Sedna, Raina." said the smallish woman Piqsiq doing her best to not sound as irritated as the others looked.

Raina nodded carefully and waited for her friends before turning to give the group her full attention.

"We've decided you aren't to stay in the tribe's lodgings any longer. We allowed it last night but you are to hunt and provide for yourself. Sedna will provide you with sleds and sled dogs but that is all. Raina moved to protest the statement from Mituk but Sedna cautioned her with a hand in the air and Raina dropped her eyes to the ground as Mituk continued. "You were not to return to us Raina unless you were with Flloyd. Your brother chose to leave with you and thus he was cast out as well. You've disobeyed our laws but Sedna has convinced us you'll be worthy again after a vision quest. You will be permitted to return to us one last time after your vision quest and your God-bestowed powers return... but if you wont honor your marriage to Flloyd then you forfiet your status. You have 24 hours after your vision quest to decide."

Raina stared in disbelief her face turning red. Nobody here had been told everything about Raina's conditions for leaving the tribe, or the whole story about Flloyd - Luke included. She felt completley exposed and almost on trial. This was unfair! How could they expect everyone to fend for themselves? And she had to marry Flloyd or never come back to the tribe? That was ludacris!

As the thoughts mulled around in her head she found her fists tight in balls by her side, her cheeks were red and it was taking everything she could to keep her tears from spilling over- afterall she could still go fish.

"It's clear your friends aren't properly informed about our tribe. So we shall leave you in peace and take Sedna with us. She will be back in one hour with 4 sleds and 12 dogs. She will brief you on the vision quest and hunting grounds and then you are to leave us until you've finished." The silent Masak spoke up as if posessed by another person. There was something borderline inhuman about the tone of his voice and movement in his face. He bowed low and the group took their leave, Sedna shooting Raina an apologetic but still stern look.

Raina stood silently amongst her friends. "Well... we better pack everything up tight. We'll be sleeping in the cold tonight so get the sleeping bags wound up small. Naveed and I have our own hunting gear stashed away... Naveed you can get that right? Sedna will explain the rest." She was emotionless as she spoke and her movements were robotic until she started shaking. Her whole body posture slumped.

Naveed stood feeling his own anger boil as Raina's secrets were exposed infront of the group. He felt guilty that the eldgers clearly didn't know his own secrets and his sister was subjected to such treatment. He watched Sedna though and knew he shouldn't speak. Once the group left and Raina tried to talk and move as if nothing was happening he stood up and walked over to her. "Raina..." she was shaking and slumped and he pulled her into his arms. "it's alright." it was one of the first gestures of love seen by most when it came to Naveed.

"They'll understand" he turned to the group. "Raina was cast out of the tribe because of her powers and not permited to return unless she abided by her arranged marriage to Flloyd." he knew they'd all met Flloyd or at least seen him. "But Raina doesn't want to return anyway. She's happier with us." he pet his sister on the head in a very brotherlike way. He wanted to lecture her friends and especially Luke about appreciating her sacrifice but he refained. In Naveed's mind he and Raina were like cast out Gods and it was only a matter of time before they'd regain what was really theres. "Not everyone is subjected to arranged marriages... but Raina and I are the equivolent of the prince and princess of the tribe. Raina can't be a leader or part of the tribe if she doesn't marry a man and produce an heir of pure blood. But none of that matters because the tribe is backwards and Raina and I posess more power together than any of the elders." for a moment evil could be seen in his eyes and malice on his face. "Raina made her choice when she joined the xmen and I follow my sister." he sat her down in the closest chair.

"I'll leave you alone to explain things." he said to her. "I'm going to get the hunting supplies. If Sedna comes before I get back teach the others how to pack the sleds. We'll leave as soon as she's finished going over the quest... we'll need to get food within the next few hours."

With that he left everyone in silence to gather the hunting supplies he'd stashed away in a permafrost cellar the last time he'd been home.

Sara had been satisfied with Sam’s promise to come inside when he was ready so she’d left him alone outside. She’d eaten her share of the food, then tucked in, in the last bed. Waking every now and then to sit up and scan the room.

At Dawn the crunch of snow outside cause Sara to wake completely. Squinting at the door where the light was filtering in and the new people had walked in. She lay silently watching, till the elders had passed her, and Sara silently stood up walking around them to Sam’s ice coffin. She tapped out the ‘Shave and a hair cut, two bits’ on the ice at the top of the coffin to wake Sam, before she stood straight with her back to the wall to observe what was going on.

Things didn’t seem to be going well for Raina. She knew that they hadn’t been told everything from the beginning but Sara’s trust and care for her friend kept her there when anyone else who hadn’t told her everything would have been pinned against a wall with Sara’s clawed foot up their back side.

This was odd watching Raina and understanding she once saw this place as home. Family even as Sara noted the elder who had apparently had a relation to Raina by blood even. Sara didn’t have this, and yet here Sara was, having tried to cast herself away from her past, and here Raina was, being cast out by her past. The exchange finished at Sara sighed, watching the elders leave, just daring one to give her an odd sort of look.

“Looks like you’ll get your wish tonight, Sam.” Sara said simply. “I wonder how those dogs are going to react to me.” She mumbled as she looked at Star. The pup had seemed to not mind Sara’s hole feline appearance, but Star was a pup. Pups were different from grown dogs.

Pushing off of the wall and packing up her bed as Neveed began to explain things. Sara’s bedding was swiftly rolled up, before Neveed finished the explanation, and headed out the door, Sara approached Raina. She had no way of knowing what was going through her mind. But Sara didn’t have to be a genius to notice the color change in Raina’s face, or her balled fists. “Raina, We’ll be fine. Sam, and I can finish getting the bedding if you need a moment.” Luke could do what ever he wanted. Help pack, witch being that all there was to pick up was the bedding, that shouldn’t take long, or sit with Raina. Sara didn’t care.

A long dream had been going through Sam’s mind as he slept it started with him on the ground then he took to the air then to space. Flying around stars and through large frozen rings of dust and rocks Sam flew back to the moon and stopped short, he was staring at the earth from a far and with the small motion of his hand he lifted his hands and made it look like he was going to pick up the earth with his hands. He grinned and closed his hand around the small planet and held it close to him. He was now a giant; a god protecting his little planet like a dog protects a bone.

A small tapping noise could be heard off in the distance as Sam felt himself be pulled from the dream; he didn’t want to go yet he wanted to see what was going to happen the first tapping he must have heard was footsteps because this time he could recognize the second round of taps. ‘Shave and a haircut,’ Sam jumped up from his coffin made of ice as the top turned to an icy dust Sam called out ”Two Bits!”

He was quieter than he thought he was because the elders who were now discussing whatever with Raina. Sam didn’t really pay attention too much because from the look on her face she was getting upset. He figured he would get the shortened more important version of what was happening from Raina or Naveed, but he still picked up on a few words and sentences, Marriage to Flloyd was the one that stuck out in his mind the most. ‘How is Luke going to handle that?’ wondered Sam as he gave a look over to his sight-impaired friend.

Watching as the elders left Sam stared at them with a smile, ‘kill them with kindness smile’ he even waved to them all friendly like and when they left Sara spoke, “Oh, they telling us to rough it for the night?” Sam asked curiously, “And I won’t need a sled or hunting gear, also I brought some extra blankets if anyone needs any which I can imagine seeing as we are going to have to rough it…” a light bulb shot into his head, “Oh I can make a house from ice!” mainly like the coffin from before only bigger and one that would retain heat.

Nodding and agreeing with Sara, “Bedding right” said Sam as he went about to help Sara with the blankets and sleeping bags. The first sleeping bag was kind of confusing to him at first, he never needed to use one before and frankly he didn’t see the purpose of it but then again he could sleep out in the snow and not feel a thing. If everyone used one then it must be useful.

Luke climbed out of bed and stood silently dressed in his socks, sweat pants, and sweat shirt as he listened to Sedna make the introductions. If his sonar wasn't mistaken he caught at least one maybe even two dissaproving expressions thrown his way and when the elders themselves finally began to speak it became very clear why.

"You were not to return to us Raina unless you were with Flloyd. Your brother chose to leave with you and thus he was cast out as well. You've disobeyed our laws but Sedna has convinced us you'll be worthy again after a vision quest. You will be permitted to return to us one last time after your vision quest and your God-bestowed powers return... but if you wont honor your marriage to Flloyd then you forfeit your status."

The elder continued to speak but Luke missed the rest of what had been said. Raina had mentioned her being engaged to Flloyd back at her tribe but she hadn't said anything about it truly being a marriage and she'd also failed to mention that she had been kicked out because she wouldn't marry Flloyd. Standing there under the condemning gaze of the elders he felt like he'd just taken a one-two punch to the stomach.

"Maybe she just hasn't had a chance to mention it. Maybe she was planning on it but with everything that's happened she just didn't have the opportunity." Luke thought to himself as the elders finally made their exit. Turning away the blind man remained silent as he set about getting fully dressed in his warm outer clothes and boots. Naveed was the first one to approach Raina and give her some comfort and he was soon followed by Sara. As the boyfriend he really should have been the first to come up but something held him back. Was this why he was here? To help Raina face the family that had rejected her?

Finally the others walked away from Raina, leaving her standing alone. Walking over quietly, Luke came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, hugging her gently while he rested his chin on her right shoulder.

"Sweetheart... why didn't you tell me?" Luke's voice was gentle, hiding any hurt that he might feel from the secret. Raina had asked him to be here and that simple fact could overcome anything else that came up on this trip. If she had really wanted to keep this informatino hidden she would have come with just her brother instead of asking him to come as well. "You gonna be OK?" He asked as he pressed a kiss against the side of her neck before allowing a slight hint of teasing to come in in order to lighten the mood, "You're not gonna get all fishy on me are you?"

Raina let her brother hug her and felt resentful when he went on explaining things. Those were her secrets to tell. She was much too relieved when Sara took his place and he took off to gather supplies. Though she figured Sam was either trying to lighten the mood or honestly was considering the days journey she was ready to snap at him that he didn't have super speed and the sleds were for travelling and that he should be repectful to the tribe's gifts... but she held it in hoping it would seem obvious.

She was about ready to pop when Luke came over. She couldn't take him being upset with her right now... not when she was so upset with herself. But her shoulder dropped and her muscles relaxed when she felt his breath on her neck. He asked her why she didn't say- and she could at least tell him that much. But he ended with an akwardly timed joke that had a silly grin plastered to her face instantly.

"no, I wont turn into a fish." she turned around to face him and pressed her forhead to his and wrapped her hands around his waist. "I didnt tell you because I didnt want you to think it had anything to do with you. I made all of these decisions before I knew you and until now I never thought they'd affect me again because I never thought I'd be coming back here." she was silent for a moment and then added. "besides, it's hard to know what should be left in the past and what needs digging up. Especially in a new relationship. You might run off if I give you my life story." she grinned up at him with a coy smile "forgive me?"

She didn't want Luke's feelings being hurt over this... because really it had nothing to do with him and it had all happened before him. Even Flloyd respected her decision not to marry him and leave the tribe. And to be fair... Naveed had rambled on about what a princess she was.

Naveed went back to his parents old cabin having second thoughts about the objects he'd left in the cellar. It was exactly the way he left it save for the cleaned dust. Obviously Sedna or someone else had been watching the upkeep. Afterall this cabin belonged to him and Raina should they return.

He had mixed feelings about all of it. He wanted to come back to the tribe yes- but of his own accord and conditions. He could only remind himself that patience would reward him. He was strong. He was powerful. He would over throw. He thought about all of this as he dug out a few items.

There were two wooden bows and a sling of wooden arrows with stone and bone heads. Likewise there were also 4 long wooden spears with similiar heads and 2 shorter ones. He took all of these along with some netting and rope. He went to leave and thought better- turning to grab an arm load of kindling. It would be hard to make a fire when they got out on the tundra.

He wasn't sure how this was going to work. The iceman seemed to be grossly underestimating the wilderness because of his connection to the given ellement. Pulling himself away from the group put not only himself at risk but the whole group. In addition Naveed had no idea the blind guys range for his power or how it would work with snow and ice and perma frost. He worried that Sheba's animal instincts might over come her... how was he to know what sort of blood lust would overcome her should she land a kill? He could only hope his power would work on her. And Raina... Raina who always seemed so fragile even when she was not... she was just unpredictable. With no ice call Raina was more or less a regular human out there in the wilderness.

He grabbed a few extra blankets and a few odds and ends like flint and a needle from the house and then left to head back to the group.

When he arrived Sedna was outside doing her best to harness the dogs. He bundled his objects up and put them in the nearest sled and went about helping her hook all the dogs up. He took whatever he could find that would be usefull and loaded it on the sleds. He saw that Sedna had loaded a few poles and animal skins for them to make a shelter from the wind. That would be good. Being on the tundra could be like a frozen desert at times.

He headed inside with Sedna on his heels. "Sedna brought the dogs. Everyone will have to take a sled to help carry everything. We can start loading the blankets and anythign else you think will be useful."

He felt a bop on his head and turned as if being attacked to see Sedna staring at him with a frog like grin holding her cane in the air. He blinked.

"You'll stay together as a group today. But when you start your vision quest you must go where the spirits tell you... and you may be pulled apart. Today just focus on hunting. And for goodness sake don't kill anything endangered and only take what you need.

Sedna was beginning to remind Naveed more and more of that funny money from the lion king. The idea brought a smirk up in him.

"How will we know when to start the vision quest?" he asked. Quite honestly... he wasn't sure if he was supposed to know the answer. Another smack on the head.

"The lights child! The lights. You'll wait for the light and then you'll all drink this." She handed Naveed a jug and he stared at it distatefully.


ooc: anyone feel free to take on Sedna and finish getting us all packed up!

Sara listened lightly to the conversation between Raina and Luke. It wasn’t really her business but it wasn’t like she could just turn off her sense of hearing. Mean while she laughed at Sam’s first attempt at rolling up a sleeping bag. She quietly showed Sam how to properly roll the bags up and with in the next few minutes, Everything was packed up, waiting by the door to be loaded, and Sara was looking around to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything.

Sara heard the dogs, outside when Sedna returned and she sighed. Where before the thought of using the dogs hadn’t really seemed like it was really going to happen for her. Now here it was, and there were the dogs, and there was every thing ready to be packed on their sleds. Sara had little to no experience with dogs. Or other animals for that matter. How training an animal actually worked, baffled Sara, because she had heard of so many techniques. Experienced a few too.

The experience Sara did have with dogs, wasn’t pleasant. They’d been used by the guards in her old days. Back when she learned she healed and they didn’t.

Sara eyed the pot that had the left over caribou stew from the night before. There hadn’t been much left, but she salvaged a few last scraps from the bottom of the pot, Her bedding, and backpack were slung over her shoulder, and strolled out side. The moment Sara stepped on the snow, she was met with a series of growls and barks. Sedna had begun working with the dogs getting them harnessed. Something Sara felt she needed to know the proper way to do, but learning to harness a dog wasn’t going to happen when they were snapping at her.

All the same, Sara didn’t hesitate as she walked to the closest sled. Dogs like this weren’t only meant for transportation, but for protection against other wild threats, and there was not way this tribe had anyone quite as wild as Sara. Scent, looks, instincts, composure. The same traits of Sara’s personality that drove her to be respected. Even by these dogs because based on what Sara understood, these dogs were going to be something she and her friend’s relied on. So again, without any hesitation, Sara made her way closer to Sedna. The growls became more primal, and when Sara got too close for the dogs, the closest team teamed up on her.

As swift as the three dogs were, Sara was just plane engineered to be fast. Sara turned her upper body with the first dog. He tried to latch onto her arm, and her arm swiveled around the dogs neck and back. She tripped it’s front legs and leaned so that the dog landed in the soft snow, with the weight of her side over his. Holding his neck just enough so he couldn’t swivel it around to bite her.

The second dog was ging for the back of her knee. Her leg lifted enough to turn and knock the dog’s mouth aside. Her weight went down and she twisted her other leg to knock that one off balance as well. Holding the second at bay with her legs.

The third’s tongue was grabbed with her free hand. In the matter of seconds, Sara had the three dogs restrained. Making the growls mixed with surprised yelps from being thrown down, though Sara did her best not to hurt them. She was going for respect but trust would help too, and trust didn’t come when you delivered pain. For the next moments, The scene must have been very funny. The three dogs and the cat lady wrestling in the snow. Scrambling to try to bite the kitty, turned into scrambling just to try to get out from under her.

Sara let go, one by one, and the moment each dog turned around, a bit of meat had been shoved in their mouths. It was sort of funny each time the meat went in the dog’s mouths. They froze and worked their jaws back and forth. Complete confusion was easily read on each furry face.

(OOC: Permission given by CS to post out of order.)

IC:
For a few moments Luke just looked into Raina's eyes as a slight smile touched his lips. "Of course I forgive you." Leaning down, he just barely brushed his lips against Raina's before whispering one final comment in her ear. "But sometime after this is all over I want to hear all about your time here with the tribe. I'm not gonna run away from you."

When Naveed and Sedna came walking back inside, Luke stepped away from Raina to give her a little more room even as his hand claimed her hand in a gentle grip. Maybe it would be best not to be to obvious about their affection for each other but with these little signs Luke was going to make it clear that he was with Raina and she was with him. The tribe could go jump off a bridge for all he cared. If they didn't want Raina then he most certainly did!

"What will happen on this vision quest?" Luke spoke up after Naveed and Sedna had apparently finished speaking, "What will we see and do?"

Glancing over at Luke, Sedna's face turned into a sly smile. "That will be entirely up to each of you. You will see yourself, the tribe, and the world all at the same time. Your vision quest will manifest as what you need."

Looking at the older woman Luke tilted his head curiously as he tried to understand. There was a smart remark that had risen unbidden to his tongue but he held it in check. Raina obviously respected the older woman so he wasn't going to do anything to offend either of them.

"Well, I think I'll go help Sara and Sam load things up." Luke finally said before leaning close to Raina. "If you want to talk to Sedna alone, now's the time." He murmured before giving her hand a quick squeeze and then releasing it as he walked toward the door.

***

The whole situation outside was comical. Watching Sara wrestle with the sled dogs had to be one of the funniest sights Luke had ever seen and for a few minutes all he could do was laugh after first stepping outside. "Don't hurt them Sara." He called, obviously amused as he finally walked over to pick up a couple of the sleeping bags, "They're our ride for the next few days!"

A few moments later something occurred to the blind man as he strapped down the sleeping bags among the different sleds. "Four sleds." Luke observed out loud, "That means four of us are in charge of guiding the sled but who gets to ride?"

Laughing as Sara was having trouble with a team of the dogs he stood next to looked and added, “Yet again the fight between cat and dog continues… Sara if you loose this I will never let you live it down!” Sam even continued laughing after she one for the dogs did not know what hit him. Normally he wouldn’t have been big on seeing a dogfight with Sara but it was only to establish who was in charge. After that little tussle Sam was sure Sara was in charge.

Turning his head from Sara and the dogs he looked over to Luke and patted him on the shoulder, “Think I should drive, if you want you can have shotgun.” He smiled hoping that Luke wouldn’t mind take offense to the idea of him riding shotgun instead of driving. Luke couldn’t see and he wasn’t sure he had the sonar capable of seeing the obstacles ahead of them while they would be going as fast as they did.

“Quality male bonding time! You and I can swap manly stories and laugh loudly enough so everyone be like I wish I was riding with Luke and Sam!” said Sam with a playful tone of sarcasm as he walked over to another one of the lead dogs that sat down as he approached and welcomed Sam’s hand on his head with a small whine.

Sam’s mind shot back to the mansion and his dogs and Cammie, he hoped that Katrina was taking care of them. He even gave her a key to his room while he was gone, said she could play with the game systems and everything. He just hoped she didn’t have a bunch of kids running around in his room messing everything up. If his room is as clean as he left it Kat was going to get quite a handful of money for taking care of all of his pets.

After loading everything up on his sled Sam looked over to Sedan and nodded to her and waved, “What a nice lady!” Sam said as he continued to pet his lead dog who he named Thunder, for Thunder reminded him of Thor back home. Petting thunder Sam looked up and waited to see what everyone else was doing, he left room on his sled for Luke if he wanted to take him up on his offer but Sam had a feeling that he would stick close to Raina, which was fine okay by him.