Just Another Day

The following morning they had a quick breakfast of some smoked pork they had prepared a few days back.

"We should be seeing a scout any time now," Piram said cautiously.

"Do the Imperial also believe in not using weapons?" Shanku asked.

"I almost don't want to find out," Piram replied.

That afternoon, they received their answer. A month after they had set out on their journey, they finally saw an Imperial. A scout dropped down from a tree in front of them. He had a dagger on each hip.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"Messengers of the Scissortail," Piram replied. "We come bearing news."

"Have we not given our final word to the Scissortail?" the scout demanded.

"Our news is from beyond your northern border," Piram replied. "Tidings of war that could end us."

"You Ferals are always worried about some external force 'ending' us. What could have possibly coaxed you from under your dank rock this time?" the scout demanded.

"A wing of fully ascended and very angry Kurach," Piram said coldly. "Intent on declaring the entirety of the Sylvans their enemies."

"Fully ascended?" the scout asked warily. "What do you mean?"

Piram gestured to Shanku.

"Instead of this," Shanku said deviously as she stepped out from behind Piram in her feral form. "They're one step further." She stood on the ground with four feet and flexed her wings. She bared her fangs in a broad grin. "And they're better flyers and have sharper teeth."

"I see," the scout said slowly. "And who are these fully ascended Kurach?"

"That is for us to know," Shanku said as she popped back up to two feet and returned to her natural form. "And for your leaders to find out!"

"Will you grant us passage to your council?" Piram asked.

"I will," the scout said suspiciously. He gestured to the side and was joined by two other scouts. "We will take you, Scissortail."

The Scissortail fell in behind the scouts as they were lead away. One scout took the front, another took the right, and the one that had confronted them stood by the left of the procession. Shanku looked at them curiously as they walked along. Like the Ferals, the Imperials did wear the tunic and breeches common to the Sylvans. The scouts wore leather wrist and shin guards and each carried daggers. Their wings had the same solid and spotted patterns in two or three colors as the other Sylvans that Shanku had met. The only difference she could really note was the armour and weapons.

Shanku noticed that the scout on the left kept glancing at her waist. "Can I help you?"

"You carry a knife," he observed.

"So do you," Shanku gestured.

"I was unaware that Ferals approved of weaponry," he commented.

"Generally, they do not, but you know what they say about generalizing," Shanku shrugged, then she teased. "'You generally will embarrass yourself.' Mine is a gift."