Watch post 1, It's her turn now...

[Ilori]

*The jungle was thin along the council area of the village, only a few trees along the beaten soft ground. Gentle crunches of leaves and twigs crackled merrily along the silent earth, a few crow and natural birds sent perusing the skies by the sudden arrival of such a massive beast. Wide, tree-sized legs caressed the earth with a graceful, loping stride. glittering paint shining in the morning sun, Jiina's massive foreskull pushed through the throng of trees between her and the council hall. Her trunk was painted with strips of beautiful golds, greens, pinks and other gorgeous colours, as was the face beneath the elephant's thick hyde.

Trumpeting to the glory of the overhead sun, Jiina shook her thick head and yawned. The council hall was right ahead of her, and the light sparkled in her youthful blue eyes. Bending onto her thick knees, She shifted effortlessly into her human form. Thick, leathery ears shrank into cute, pixie-like ones, her thick legs thinning out to long, lean ones. Her long, billowy shirt hung around her, the nut necklace around her neck joined by a silver one with rubies embedded inside. Blue eyeshadow ran up to her eyebrows, her fire-engine lips red but pulled into a smile. Short denim shorts hung around her hips, the dirt and rocks shifting under her pumped shoes. It was her turn to mount the high throne in the hall, her turn to meet the problems of the villagers with her rogue wisdom. After all, if she was treasured enough to be a council member, she would know something.

Heels ckicking as the seasoned older woman walked through the stone hall, Jiina sighed happily. It was empty, only a few mice in the corner to keep her company. Shuddering, she steered away from the horrid little creatures on the way to the solomn chair and table. Climbing up the stairs, she settled comfortably in the hardwood chair and pulled out a small book she'd been given by one of the villagers. Marvellous things these books, and Jiina couldn't get her nose out of this one. The valley of secrets... It was called, a book about a young english orphan who lives in the Amazon through his dead uncle's old diaries he discovers while in an old empty house. Intreguied, she settled down in the quiet hall and awaited whatever the community could point out to her.*

[Avelo]

Copper hooves pounded the jungle floor, light brown hide flashing amid the dappled light that shone through the thick canopy of trees. Creamy white and brown tail flew like a banner behind the beautiful creature as he made his way quickly through the rainforest. Twigs and leaves were crushed, small rocks sent to hurtle through the air. A few animals scattered as the quagga came through. But finally the trees began to thin out and the council hall came into view. A light sigh (or whinny of sorts) escaped his throat and he finally slowed his quick pace.

Chest heaved slightly as Nuit stopped before the council hall, bending his head as he caught his breath. A light, cooling breeze rustled the short striped mane and certainly did a job to make the quagga’s striped neck, beaded with sweat, cooler. Warm brown eyes closed in concentration and front knees were bent slightly as he shifted to human form. Unlike Jiina, it took Nuit a bit more effort to change. Mind you, not as much as others his age, but still enough to make the senior women his better in the transforming department.

He was dressed in very nice, presentable close. The nicest that he had. He always dressed the best he could when going into the council hall. Actually, he pretty much dressed nice all the time. A navy blue suit, with the sleeves rolled up some of course. No one would want to wear a long sleeved shirt in the heat of this wretched place. The man glanced around, no smile lighting his pale, handsome face. He was here strictly on business.

So Nuit straightened his posture and pulled a small notepad and pen out of his back pocket. His small book of notes, of records about the Council and the Village, of some of the members of the community, of the Rogues, the laws. Everything pretty much. He jotted it all down in there, any ideas he got. It was more helpful then it seemed and could actually serve as some organization in his terribly jumbled and stressful life. The stress part of it certainly showed in this man. His movement was sure and steady, but fast, hurried. He had his nose in his book of notes, pen held in his left hand and his lips were always silently moving, saying the notes, the laws, anything. Even his chocolate eyes glimmered with stress.

Nuit stalked quickly into the stone hall. In truth, he wasn’t expecting anyone to be there at the moment so looking up to see Jiina Jhazera sitting in the hardwood chair, a book in front of her face. Damn, he thought, slapping his forehead with his palm. Books! He had been meaning to talk with someone about books. Was there a possibility that one of the better experienced shifters could go into civilization and get some books for them? And possibly some more supplies of course. His left hand scribbled the idea under a small note he had made about one of the village females. After doing this, he closed the small, slightly tattered book and placed it, with the pen, in his pocket.

A handsome smile played along his lips, lighting his pale face as he strolled closer to Jiina. She was 23 years his senior and therefore he wasn’t nervous around her like he was with other women. Younger women. Nuit nodded his heads towards her and studied the cover of the book she held. It looked quite interesting and he wondered if he might be able to borrow it when she was finished. “Jiira, didn’t expect to see you here,” he said casually.

[Ilori]

*Thin, painted lips pursed into a smile as she nestled further into her book.
"Stephen was nervous. Very nervous. Walking out of the back door, he noticed the strange red flowers that had been keeping him company were missing. Something queaked at his heel, and looking down at the tigerwhomp, Stephen couldn't help but smile.
"It's alright... There's just a storm coming 'sall." He said with a shaky voice..."
Gulping, Jiina pressed the book into her lap, straining with failing eyes to read the small print. She had a problem of her own it seemed, and she knew how to fix it. All she needed was those things that the villagers wore on their noses... Glass? Glassy? Frowning, she pulled herself out of the book. Glasses. There. She needed Glasses.

The thud and slap of well-shod shoes greeting her on the warm stone floor, Jiina put the fern leaf back into her book and sat up. A coy smiled played unto her mouth, her legs crossed and her heeled left foot bobbing on it's perch.
“Jiina, didn’t expect to see you here,” came the voice of the younger man.
"Well it is my turn on post, Nuit..." She said with a smile. Tucking a stray bit of hair behind her ear, She shifted and slunk out of the big chair.

"So what brings you out here so early?" she asked, peering over his shoulder. "Besides fiddling with that notebook again... It's taking over your life you know!" She added with a warm laugh. She looked over the notebook, studying every aspect of it. The coils, the pages, the thin, presicise lines of smooth ink laid down by the neat hand of the young man. Shaking her head, she placed her hands behind her back and sighed. Youth is wasted on the young... she concluded.

"It's been quiet so far. Looks like we're doing a good job." She said simply, dropping her book on the great table and turning to walk back to Nuit. Usually the only company she got while on watch were complaining, frustrated or angry villagers upset with the ways of the village. Quiet company was a treat, and she was glad Nuit had come out of turn to visit her.*

[Avelo]

Nuit gave Jiina a sheepish, apologetic grin. He may have been organized, but he was always making the mistake of forgetting exactly when it was whoever’s turn on post. Oh, he never forgot his own, but had somehow never put the other’s to memory. Writing it down later might help him out.

Brown eyes watched the older women as she peered over his shoulder at his open notebook. “Work brings me here, as it always does,” he replied calmly, deciding to ignore her comment about his notebook. But he had to admit that she was right. If he’d never been given the notebook and ink pen than perhaps he wouldn’t be so stressful, but that was doubtful. He was naturally very stressful, of course, and had become even more so after becoming a member of the Council.

Nuit glanced at Jiina as she dropped her book on the great table, observing her as he observed everyone. She didn’t seem like a women of 50 years. Her movement seemed graceful enough, as graceful as her form, the elephant, at least.

But his eyes wandered to the book again. What exactly had he come here for originally? It seemed that the thought of books had stolen over his previous thoughts. Walking around the table, his shoes making noises on the ground, Nuit made an oddly professional hand gesture and said simply, “We need more books. More educational books, I should say. The future generations need to be well educated. Do you think there would be anyway at all for one of our experienced shifters could go into some town and get us some books?” The man didn’t ask anything else. He knew there would be problems in doing this. They didn’t really have any money and thus would be unsuccessful in actually buying anything.

Nuit rubbed his chin, resting his other hand on the table. He waited for Jiina's answer while also trying to think of some more book plans himself and trying to recall what he had originally come here for.

[Ilori]

*Placing one hand on the table's thin edge and another along her own bony hip, Jiina gave him a dissaproving but cheery frown.
“Work brings me here, as it always does,”
"Oh hun... You need a vacation." She said with a laugh. "Funny, as I've heard that civillised folk trade thousands of whatsitcalled... Dollars or whatever, the trade lots of it just for the privilage of comin' down here. Now you live her and you still manage to get all worked up. Take a break kid." Stepping down the stairs, Jiina smiled and put a thin hand on his shoulder.

She watched as he set his book down, the stressed look still in his eyes. Rolling hr own, she leaned on the table and watched him further.
At least it's a start...
“We need more books. More educational books, I should say. The future generations need to be well educated. Do you think there would be anyway at all for one of our experienced shifters could go into some town and get us some books?” Her lids rising, Jiina brightened immensely.
"I second the motion." She began, her hands folded in her lap. "I've grown to love these things, and I do beleive that there is much more we can learn from them. The more we know about the outside world, the better." Musing quietly to herself, Jiina thought it out a bit more.

"Yes. I think we should send someone. But two problems... Who should we send and how can we trade for them?" Running her hands along her book's jacket, she looked down at it. "From what I've learned in here by the boy trading money for supplies, I don't think that the outside world will want any livestock or crop trades." Putting the book down again, she stared Nuit in the eye with a more serious gleam in her weathered eye.
"Simply put, we need money. Not much of it has been brought in by the village, and what little they brought in is surely lost or discarded. Bills and coins don't account for much out here." Jiina flicked her head, looking to the ground as if it was trying to tell her the answers. It was her concentration habit, and soon she'd figure it out.*

[Avelo]

Nuit looked gratefully at the motherly figure and smiled. She agreed with him at least and that was good. He ignored her remark about his needing a vacation, as he had the remark she made about his notebook. There was no need for him to get worked up and he knew that, really he did. But he just couldn’t seem to help it. Don’t ever think he’d be stressful for no reason. He had reason to be so now that he lived here in a wretched jungle. The beauty of it held no real interest to him and the heat and humidity was nearly unbearable.

A wide grin was plastered on the young man’s face as Jiina’s eyes lit and she told him that she thought it was a good idea too. Just to think…Books! And then the younger ones could learn, as well as the old. And the older women brought up a good point: they could learn more about the outside world and thus be better prepared if anything should come their way.

But Nuit’s face fell slightly as his fellow council member stated the two obvious faults. Who would they send if they could actually go through with this? A council member might have seemed a good choice, seeing as they all could transform so easily. But would it really be wise risking one of them to go get books? Nuit couldn’t be sure. It would be easy for one them, sure, but the village could break without one of the council members there.

And then there was the currency issue. No money. No bills, coins, anything. The rogues wouldn’t have any. Maybe there were some natural resources around here that could easily be bartered. But, if the human world was the way he had heard, it would take a lot of money to get enough good books. The man rubbed his neck slightly, a stressful and concentrated look on his face. “Perhaps we should wait and discuss this with the rest at a gathering,” Nuit suggested.

[Luna]

A slim figure moved slowly through the hall, tennis shoes making almost no noise on the hard stone. Ah, the beauty of the outside world. Shoes, popcorn, and chocolate. The three best things in the world. The woman paused as she approached the doorway, seeing the movement of shadows. Who was on watch? It was a lady.. She knew her name, really...

As she moved closer, she caught sight of a young man as well. She closed her eyes, and pressed herself against the wall, trying to re-call their names, and also trying to listen to their conversation at the same time.

"Simply put, we need money..."

Nikki pursed her lips. Of course they needed money. The rest of the world wasn't interested in bardering. No, they needed little slips of green paper to get what they needed. The island's age old system was no good there. Perhaps, that was what they had been discussing. Whatever it was, it wasn't as interesting as the young woman had thought it would be.

Closing her eyes, she tuned them out, and again tried to recall their names, running her fingers through her red and blond hair as she did so. She really needed to find a way to remember. But maybe it wasn't her, maybe it was a medical problem. Yeah, that was it. Cantremembercraposis. She squeezed them shut harder, thinking about the lady's voice. She was an older lady.. She was.. She was..

Jiina. That was it! And the young man, not too much older than her.. He was Nuit. yeah, that was it. Now, don't you forget. She scolded herself, and opened her eyes, un-attaching herself from the wall lightly, and stepping into the room.

"Fancy seeing you here."

She said cheerfully, eyes twinkling. There was no sign of stress, or embarassment of forgetting her fellow council member's names. Just a cheerful, carefree young woman, strolling through her workplace, for no apparent reason. Of course, there was a reason.

[Hajari]

And through all the lightness, the carefreeness, the official comfort and busness like manner entered something completly wild. Something unkept and untamed. Something that did not fit the aura of the room. The calm yet worried air. This girl was not a woman, she was an animal.

"Flint." she growled, walked up between all three council members and droppping the five chuncks of dark stones ont he tables, where the clattered upon the weathered wood. "I found them in the old ruins." she took a step back, and shook out her dark brown hair.

"Thought maybe you would like to know."

[Avelo]

Nuit found himself turn at the sound of shoes very close by. Hid head turned first to see a young women, just a bit younger than himself. Unlike her, he had no problem with names. Notes do come in handy. The man recognized her as Nicholette. She was 6 years younger than him and one of the youngest members of the Council, but a good asset.

Of course, Nuit, being the way he always was around image close to his age, felt slightly baffled by her twinkling eyes. Why did women have to be this way? Why was he so confused by them? He could understand so much else, but they were always a complete mystery to him. Either way, he was glad to see that he was more used to Nikki than he was with the other ladies of the village.

A light smile was displayed on his lips as she spoke and he looked at Jiina, remembering that this was what he had said when he came in today. “It is Jiina’s turn on watch, I just came to discuss something with her,” Nuit explained. His brown eyes studied the young women for a moment and he looked at the senior women again as well. Then his eyes traveled to the book on the table.

Nuit was startled as another person came into the stone hall. Her unkempt composure seemed to make the room dull slightly, but Nuit was looking at the young girl questioningly. She didn’t look too young. Maybe 15 or 16. He suddenly recognized her as Amy. Her voice surprised him, as did the one word she spoke. Flint? What did she mean?

He soon saw what she meant. Nuit gasped as Amy set the chunks of dark stone on the table. He picked up a piece and studied it carefully, using his other hand to take out his notebook and pen. Setting the flint down carefully, the man opened his book to an empty page and quickly wrote down information with his left hand. Flint in the old ruins. Who would have thought? “Amy,” Nuit spoke, finishing writing and picking up the flint again. “Was there more flint in the ruins?” This could be it. Flint might possibly be something they could use for getting money.

[Luna]

Nikki's eyes widened with shock as she watched the stone-ish like things spill out onto the table, and she reached out and grabbed one, as it was still rocking backwards and forwards. Wasn't this stuff worth money? She it up and studied it, squinting a bit. She had the sudden impulse to bite it. But didn't people only bite gold, and silver, and that sort of stuff, didn't they? Gah, she should've paid more attention in science. Or school in general. The only thing she really had a hold on was math, and it was kind of hard to find a reason to use math on a desert island.

Or jungle. She grinned widely. If they could trade this stuff, if they could sell it, if it was worth anything at all... If there was more. They could be rich! They could have electricity! Stero systems, ovens, microwaves, even! ... Or, of course, they could decide to live simply. Ack, they probably would too.

She set it down carefully, looking around at the girl. She knew this name, it was a very short and very simple name. Amy. The girl looked a little dangerous, to her, and so she restrained from flashing her a grin. She caught Nuit's eye instead, and flashed HIM a happy grin. Because she couldn't restrain herself any longer, she had to grin at SOMEBODY. Jeez.

But she kept her mouth shut. Saying anything to this rouge-ish looking girl, or even looking her in the eye seemed..scary. and dangerous. Fatal? Perhaps at one point. Of course, Nicholette was a council member, and should have more bravery and dignity than to even think that.. but she was young.

[Hajari]

Amy raised her eyebrows, as if they were suggesting something. Snorting at how someone so smart could be so stupid she gave a low hollow laugh, a rather creepy thing for the hollow faced brown-clad girl. Finally taking a stone between her fingers and twidling it, before looking back at the Quagga shifter. What the hell was a quagga, anyway?

Some extinct horse thing. She snorted.

"Why woudl you want more? its not worth anything." she snickered, just incase they thought it was. Hadnt these people ever been in the woods? "But its damn usefull." she didnt falter as she said the swear. Amy swore all the time. "Here." reaching into her belt she pulled out her long hunting knife. The blade looked lethal. Long, at least 4 or 5 inches, with a saraded edge that wavered up and down like an eel on one end, while perfectly straight on the other. SO shiny, you could almost see your reflection in it, though ther hult was potmarked with a thousand wounds.

Grabbing a peice of flint in one hand and the knife in the other the turned, walking determedly towards the fireplace, threw some flammable tinder onto the wood, and brough the two together three or four times with a scratchey sound that made the hairs on the back of someones neck stand up.

And there were spark.

A few more scratches, and there was fire too.

Amy turned around, and she was smirking.

[Ilori]

*Jiina's focused gaze lifted as Nikky showed up, a slight frown on her painted lips. Nikki was the youngest council member, and Jiina was sure she didn't have a clue what she was doing. Of course, it could be that she was 21, the same age as Ilori. in Jiina's eye, Ilori would never be old enough for council, never old enough for the world on her own. It was nothing to Nikki, though Jiina couldn't help but wonder why the savvy youth would want a job like this. The council was for the old like her and the concerned, practical youth like Nuit. Turning back to the table, she tucked her book away to the side to clear some room.

“Perhaps we should wait and discuss this with the rest at a gathering,” Jiina frowned and shook her head as Nikki joined their little party.
"What's the point? Everyone decided to show up anyways." A slightly bitter tone hit her. Mood shifting, Jiina stood taller with an air of authority. Though there was really no head council member, She still felt at least a bit of authority over these youngsters because of her age.
"Fancy seeing you here." Smiling, Jiina acknowledged Niiki silently. Amy throwing herself into the fray, Jiina couldn't help but frantically resist the urge to rub her temples. Amy was... Quite the troublemaker when she wanted to be. But, nevertheless, Jiina greeted her with a smile and a nod. Then she saw what Amy had in her claw-like hands.
"Flint... Just thought you'd like to know."
“Was there more flint in the ruins?”
"Why would you want more? its not worth anything."
"On the contrary dear." She said, her eyes glimmering. They could sell this, or at least she thought. Stephen had bought in the general store, afterall. That store had everything. Whatever a store was. A trading post, perhaps? As Amy set the flint to flame, Jiina nodded. "It creates fire. We can sell this." She stated simply. "This, this is how we'll make our money. We can send someone in to the marketplace to sell this and use the money to buy books." By this point, she was more thinking out loud to herself.

"Amy, dear?" She asked, turning around to look Amy in the eye. Her terrifying eyes did just that to the serene older woman, frighten the death out of her. She was a fantastic warrior. "Could you and some of the other villagers go back to the ruins and gather up all the flint you can find? We need your help and you will be rewarded if you get enough." Placing a hand on Amy's shoulder, she spoke with utter concentration. What the reward was or could be she had no idea, but she had an instinctive feeling that Amy would required the old 'carrot in front, stick behind' theory to get her motivated.*

[Luna]

Nicholette almost winced as Jiina put a hand on Amy's shoulder. Now that was something she could never do, touch that girl. It was hard enough to even try and talk to her. Actually, even since she had seen the girl, she had avoided her. Everything about Amy was freaky. Including the way she looked at you. But then Jiina said something about getting more. At this, Nikki managed a smile. They were all going to live in huge condos that-Wait. Books. Crap.

"Yeah,"

Mumbled Nikki absentmindedly, beating herself up for even thinking they would live normally again. A lot of the villagers seemed to like the back to the past thing. Of course, after maybe a year, if that, they would all get sick of it. They would all want to turn away and go back, live normally again. But they wouldn't be able to, because all of the money would've been spent on books.

"Yeah, "

She repeated slowly,

"And make sure that they can shift into something that can climb. You know, it's faster that way."

She finished the thought by catching Amy's eye, and giving her a very serious look. The kind of look Nikki never gave anyone. It was like a mother sort of look, the kind that said, 'co-operate. or else.' with that dramtic music in the background. But in a flash the young woman had looked away, concentraighting on another, less menacing sort of thing.

[Hajari]

Amy practicly snarled at the hand, instant horrow overtook her, and in one livid movement her lip curled, and she gribbed Jinna hand in her own, asw if to pat it, but instead took the kind womans limb in her own and threw it off her shoulder in one fluid movement.

Amy had once been a nice person.

Now she was flint and steel, allways creating sparks.

"Fine." she growled, teath gritting slightly. "but im keeping this peice." taking the flint in her thin hand, she shoved it into the pocket of her sash, and looked at the two, taking a moment to snarl at Nuit.

Oh, how she despised men.

"I'll get some poeple." she paused, oh god, Amy had no freinds. How would she manage this? she woudl do it alone. Turning away she walked all the way to the edge of the council room, before turning around, eyes locking with those of the council members. "And if i were the boss, i wouldnt bother with books. If i could take anything from the outside world, it would be a tampon."

And with that, she was gone.

[Avelo]

Nuit examined Amy as she used the flint and her hunting blade to make sparks which eventually grew to be fire. He agreed wholeheartedly with Jiina. These stones weren’t worthless in the least. If they could create fire then they could be used for more. And who knew what use flint could have in the outer world? Well, one of the more recently converged members of the community might now, but there was no way to be sure.

The man noted Amy’s fierceness and the way her look provoked fear in both the women. He had to admit, her feral appearance and the flashing hunting knife did make her look all the more rugged. She looked like she would have better liked living with the rogues than in the village. But the girl was an asset to the community and her fiery attitude was most likely due to the fact she was a shifter and perhaps just teenage angst as well. Either way, Amy didn’t shake Nuit much. Not right now at least.

He listened as Jiina talked, scribbling more notes in his notebook. Yes, it would be a good idea to have Amy round up some more villagers to help mine some more flint. But Nuit looked up as Jiina said ‘rewarded’. His brown eyes locked on the older women’s and he blinked at her questioningly. What could they give her? Never the less, he turned away, muttering a few incoherent words, before continuing writing.

It didn’t look like they would have to talk with the other council members now. They were already beginning to go through with it and it was just a matter of making the money and buying the books. And figuring out who would be the one to go into civilization and complete these tasks.

Nuit looked up as Amy began to take her leave. He was completely thrown off by the snarl she gave him and watched as turned to walk away, speaking as she went. The man displayed a general ‘Wtf?’ look before closing his notebook and putting it into his pocket once again. Clearing his throat, his dark eyes traveled from Nicholette to Jiina. “So, who should we be sending on this mission?”