JENNA: * The air in the cave is beginning to cool again when Jo wakes from her restless sleep, disturbed by dreams she doesn't quite remember. She sits up with a faint groan, putting one hand to her head, and glances around for her companion, strangely comforted by the sight of him sleeping nearby. She looks toward the ceiling and gives a hiss of surprise, catching sight of a twinkling of stars between the fissures in the rock. She scrambles hurriedly over to Shane, leaning over him and giving him a sharp shake. "We slept late -- it's time to go."

JUSTIN: * The shake wakes him with a start, bolting up and reaching for something that isn't there. Jo's form swims into view with a couple blinks of his eyelids, and he gives a faint murmur of recognition. "Alright..." He agrees, though in truth he hasn't quite understood her meaning -- but it starts to sink in after a little groping around for his pack. "You weren't waiting on me, were you?" He asks groggily as he pulls his boots over and starts to yank them on.

JENNA: "No, I just woke up." There's a surprising edge of worry to her voice as she hurries to put her own boots back on, gathering her things as rapidly as she can. "I don't know why -- but we'd better get going. We can eat on the way." She gets hurriedly to her feet, face pale, and glances at him, waiting with an air of worried impatience.

JUSTIN: "Okay, okay -- calm down..." Shane says in as comforting a manner as he can, though completely unsure of why she's so distraught. He quickens his pace, getting his things together hurriedly and motioning for her to lead the way out. "Alright. Let's go, then."

JENNA: * She nods, making her way rapidly toward the entrance, this time so panicked she forgets to wait for him in the dark. Stepping outside, she stops herself short, sucking a deep breath and pressing her hand to her forehead. "It's only a few hours ... I've already lost so much time, what difference does it make?" She speaks softly, words designed mostly to comfort herself, though they do little enough of that.

JUSTIN: * Shane, luckily, remembers the way in the dark, appearing at the mouth of the cave on moments behind. He pulls his cloak around him and eyes her warily, wondering why the sudden case of worry. "Forget something?" He asks cautiously, inquiring as to why she's suddenly stopped.

JENNA: "No, I --" She gives him a pained, almost apologetic look. "It's nothing. Let's get moving." She starts out of the gully, steps unusually quick and sharp. It's several hours before her pace slows, and then mostly to look at the stars and get her bearings. She heaves a low sigh, glancing back at Shane. "Doing all right?"

JUSTIN: * Shane is, in fact, doing perfectly fine. "Don't worry about me." He smiles, hopefully looking far less worried and confused than he feels. "And you?" He reaches up a hand to ruffle his hair, making a face at the pointless question.

JENNA: "I'm .. all right." Her gaze drifts to the sand, then to the path ahead. "Sorry .. about this morning. I just got worried, I guess." She starts walking again, shoulders faintly slumped. "It's only a few days away now, at least." She reaches a hand up to scratch the back of her head, wishing she could silence the fluttering in her stomach. She wasn't worrying a day ago, and now she can't seem to stop.

JUSTIN: "We'll make the best time we can -- I won't hold you up." Shane says, attempting to cheer her in his own way. Or at least relieve some of her worry. "And... there's no need to apologize, I understand, really." He chews at his lip, wishing he had something better to say.

JENNA: * Jo nods slowly, then starts walking again without a word, lost in thought. Even more confusing than before, much of the gnawing unease centers around him -- and how she's going to keep him from getting killed once they reach Morroc. Her gaze lifts from the ground, following the sands all the way to the horizon. Surely she'll think of something on the way.

JUSTIN: * Shane follows dutifully and quietly, thinking it is best if he only speaks when spoken to from here on. She obviously has a lot on her mind, and he doesn't want to be a distraction or annoyance. He stares into her back as they travel, until soon he's not even really seeing her -- somewhere in his own thoughts again.

JENNA: * The walk that day continues in silence, though it doesn't last the entire trip. As they get closer to the city of her employment, however, Jo becomes increasingly nervous, as if something is gnawing her from the inside out. When they finally reach the walls of the city -- or near enough that they can see the guards at the gate, she stops, pressing a hand to her stomach as if that will ease the grinding that's been bothering her for the past couple of days.

JUSTIN: * Shane pads up next to her, hovering worriedly at her side and gently touching her arm. "You... you don't look so good, Jo." He hates to point it out, as she no doubt needs his input, but it's starting to make /him/ feel anxious.

JENNA: * Jo starts at his touch, pressing a hand to her forehead. "I'm sorry -- really, it's nothing." She favors him with a tired smile, waving toward the gates. "We'd better get in and book a room for you ... you'll probably want some rest." She starts walking again, fishing in her pack to tug out her insignia, which she shows the guards, who wave her and Shane through.

JUSTIN: * Shane does feel a certain sense of anticipation as they cross into the city, eyes moving to take in his first view of Morroc. Between his excitement and wariness about the new city, and his concern and confusion about Jo, he's not entirely sure what to do with himself. He sticks close to her, trusting to her judgment for the time being.

JENNA: * Jo resists the impulse to take hold of him and steer him through Morroc's seedy, bustling market, scowling at the vendors and occasionally barking at pickpockets to steer clear. It's with distinct relief she reaches the inn controlled by her guild, and she pauses outside it for a moment, looking for any members who might send word she's back.

JUSTIN: * Shane tries very hard not to stare at anything or anyone for too long, because if his preconceptions are right, that would be just one of many ways to start trouble in this city. However, all the commotion along their route does cause his curiosity to perk up on several occasions, and it's all he can do to keep quiet and ignore his impulses.

JENNA: * Noticing his distracted stare, Jo finally does take him by the arm and tug him inside, waving a greeting to the innkeeper, who waves a friendly hello. "Rooms?" he asks comfortably, and she shakes her head. "Just one. And meals, as long as he needs them." She hesitates, looking back at Shane. "Look, as long as you're here, you'll be relatively safe," she says quietly. "I can't speak for anyone out there, even if they're from my guild."

JUSTIN: * Shane looks somewhat indignant, but he tries not to show it. She's worried enough as it is, and she's probably being overly cautious. The least he can do is humor her. "If it makes you feel better, I'll keep put for now." He fixes his cloak, looking away as if disinterested. It hides his conflicted blush of confusion.

JENNA: "It will," she says, expression weary and conflicted. "I have to report to my guild -- I'll come back, so don't follow me, all right? It's not safe." Her tone is genuinely worried and not in the least bit patronizing, but she can't find any words that could put the situation more strongly. She scratches the back of her head and sighs.

JUSTIN: * Shane gives her a scrutinizing look, brow creasing. "Okay..." It's obvious that he doesn't completely grasp the situation, but he does realize she's not going to go until he promises to do as she says. "I won't leave the building, okay? Now you should go, you've wasted enough time over me already." He tries to smile reassuringly, and turns to go find a place to sit before she can think of any other warnings for him.

JENNA: * Jo nods quickly, resisting the urge to add a further 'be careful' to her already too-long list of warnings. "I'll be back sometime this evening," she says, then trots out the door, waving again to the innkeeper. Once outside, she breaks into a run, heading directly for her guild hall and the dressing-down she's certain awaits her there.

JUSTIN: * Shane settles himself at a table in what he hopes is an inconspicuous corner, but it isn't long before he's interrupted by a server inquiring about the meal Jo's guild credit is supplying him with. Getting it out of the way as soon as possible to avoid any unwanted attention, he pulls his cloak tighter around him and watches the crowd change as time passes.

JENNA: * The meal comes fairly quickly, and the server steps hurriedly out of the way as a pack of what look remarkably like thugs wander past, chatting animatedly. One of them grins as they head to what's probably a favorite table, uncomfortably close to Shane's. "Man," one of them says. "Did you see Teague's face when he heard she was back in town?" Another chuckles. "I couldn't tell if he was gonna blow a gasket or cry from relief."

JUSTIN: * Shane fully intends to ignore the new arrivals, as he has been ignoring everything else, but when the name Teague reaches his ears he sits up a little straighter. He can recall Jo using the name on a few occasions, and decides that much be the name of someone from her guild. He looks away from the pair, and continues to listen as he pokes at his food.

JENNA: "Yeah, he's been after it a while .. and when she didn't come back all that time, he thought the Foxes had got her on the way ..." The conversation is momentarily interrupted by cheers as the server trots over to their table, bringing with her a large tray of meat. Once they've settled in, however, they continue. "Well, you know the Foxes, and you know Teague ..." There's a long pause. "But yaknow, I hear she didn't get it." "Seriously? He ain't gonna like that at all .. he's been lookin' for that damn book for years. I say it's pointless -- there's faster games for cash, if it's all you want." The first speaker shrugs, scratching his head. "Yeah, well, if she ain't got it, I sure wouldn't want to be in her shoes."

JUSTIN: * Shane goes slightly stiff as he listens, forgetting his meal completely in favor of the conversation. No doubt in his mind that they're talking about Jo now, and from the words they're using, he is beginning to understand why she was so nervous the closer they got to the city. All the talk about what she was supposed to get only seems peripheral to him. He realizes that must be what she was in Juno for (he was right to be suspicious of her all along, apparently) but that doesn't matter to him at the moment -- to the degree that it doesn't even strike him as peculiar.

JENNA: * The third man grunts, speaking for the first time. "Doubt he'd do anything to her ... she did come back." The first speaker grins at him, talking around a large mouthful of meat and nearly incomprehensible. "Guess that depends how good her story is -- she's a few weeks late and all, so it's probably good." The third speaker drains his tankard, lowering it with a satisfied sigh. "I dunno, man. He was pretty torqued. Gettin' screamed at's likely the least of her worries." There's a round of mutually agreeing grunts, and finally the three rise. "Well, we're gonna miss the fireworks if we don't get back -- should be fun."

JUSTIN: * Shane looks down at his food without seeing it, face gone slightly ill by the end of the conversation. If what he heard was true, then Jo is in for more than just a lecture like she'd been insinuating. He pushes the plate away, rubbing at his face with his hands and feeling his pulse begin to quicken with worry. Surely he can't just sit here and wait to see what happens -- something horrible might be in store for her.

JENNA: * The thugs take their leave before too long, still chatting about what may lie in store for their guildmate. None of it seems particularly pleasant, but they've passed beyond the door before too much longer, out of sight and out of earshot. The server ambles back to clean up the plates before too long, pausing to ask Shane if there's anything else he needs.

JUSTIN: * Shane doesn't answer for a few very long seconds, but before the server can begin to wonder if he heard, he looks up with a grim expression. "The Black Daggers..." He recalls the name from the one time he heard Jo say it. "I need to know where their guild hall is. My... friend, the one who set me up here for the night -- I need to speak with her."

JENNA: * The woman goes pink, darting a glance out the door the thugs just walked through, and drops her voice, leaning against the table. "Are you crazy or something, mister? You want to join the Daggers or just get yourself killed?"

JUSTIN: * Shane stands to his feet, fixing his cloak and checking his belt and gear, all before turning her an indignant look. "None of your concern. It's a private, personal matter. All I want is directions -- if you would be so kind."

JENNA: * Her mouth works for a moment, then she puts her hands on her hips, annoyed. "A'right, then, if you got the death wish, I got the info -- it's at the west edge of town, under one of the archways." She tosses her hair. "Good luck finding it." Then she turns on her heel and stalks away.

JUSTIN: * Shane sighs, wishing he wasn't in this situation. He hates being rude, and he hates being underestimated. Even if he has the slight fear that maybe he is heading to an early grave. Before he can talk himself out of it, he pulls the hood of his cloak up over his head and starts out the door in the direction given.

JENNA: * The market district is still bustling, naturally, as they're really only starting to get their day rolling. For the most part, however, no one is paying attention to him, aside from an occasional (and shortly disappointed) pickpocket. The crowd things as he reaches the western area, and there's a distinct look of decline to the buildings and streets. The people he passes watch him with suspicion, as if they know very well he doesn't belong.

JUSTIN: * Shane is both acutely aware of the attention, and also completely oblivious -- an instinctual notice, but his mind is very much elsewhere. He arrives in short time at the western edge of the city, and begins a search for these so-called archways.

JENNA: * They aren't terribly hard to find, sprouting from the city wall and springing inward to mark the edge of each area of town. They seem largely abandoned, save for a small group clustered near the base of the pillar closest to the wall. It looks for all the world like a small gathering of friends, but their gazes, constantly sweeping the area, indicate that they are guarding something.

JUSTIN: * Shane is certain he's found something, he just hopes he's found the right thing. Unfortunately, now that he's this far, he has no idea what to do. He's never had to be stealthy before, and it wouldn't do him much good to try with that many trained eyes watching. Then again, politely asking to be allowed in would likely not go well, either. He gathers himself, pushing off his hood, and makes his way confidently toward the group -- hopefully, the situation will solve itself.

JENNA: * One member of the group stirs at his approach, pointing and chuckling as if they aren't sure whether to believe this. The others slowly shift apart, and the first gets to his feet, folding his arms and watching Shane with undisguised interest. "C'we help you with something, there?" he asks, once Shane is close enough he doesn't have to shout.

JUSTIN: "You may." Shane feels a sudden wash of distaste and annoyance, just at the sight and attitude of these men. He doesn't think they really deserve to be called "men" at all -- ruffians, bullies. "But you are more likely to cause a fuss, if my guess is right."

JENNA: * This causes another chuckle to ripple through the group, and the first shrugs easily. "Guess that depends what your business is, yeah? Y'came here looking for something -- so what is it?" The other members of the group fan out slightly, clearly prepared to rush him at a moment's notice.

JUSTIN: * Shane straightens the cuffs of his shirt, and he is barely able to maintain his posture under the threat of imminent violence. "I wish to speak with Jocasta. It's very important, and I understand she's due for a talk with Teague, but I only need a moment with her."

JENNA: * The leader pauses, staring at Shane with a look of remarkable incredulity. Several of the others exchange glances and murmurs, looking doubtful. "Y'want .. to see Jo. An' you want us to interrupt her meetin' with the boss?" the first says, finally recovering. "Who th'ell are you?"

JUSTIN: * Shane crosses his arms over his chest, looking away with clear impatience. "My name is Shane, and I've been traveling with her since Juno. Anything beyond that, you'll have to give me some kind of incentive."

JENNA: * The men chuckle, closing on him slowly as the first one shakes his head unbelievingly. "I don't think you're in any position to be makin' demands, t'be honest. ....." The first ambles up to him comfortably, smiling. "The boss is real busy -- and if he's with Jo, y'can bet she is too. So honestly ... you can see why we can't let you through."

JUSTIN: "On the contrary." Shane says, straightening up and matching the man eye to eye, face turning increasingly displeased. "I think what I have to say to Jo is extremely relevant to what Teague needs to speak to her about."

JENNA: * The leader gives a faint, weary sigh. "All right, man ... y'want a meeting with Teague, you got it -- though I doubt it's gonna go the way you want it to." He snaps his fingers, and the men flanking Shane lunge in, intent on his capture.

JUSTIN: * The sudden movement startles Shane out of his act, and he quickly lurches backward -- himself intent on not going through the front gate bruised and gagged. He starts to reach for his gun, and sword, but then it occurs to him that bound and gagged is better than dead, so he gives a weary sigh and braces for the inevitable.

JENNA: * The thieves, surprised by his lack of resistance -- and honestly a bit disappointed -- make only a few token blows before binding Shane securely and taking him below. "Man, the weirdos we're gettin' lately," the leader mutters. "Bael, go get the relief crew for the gate." One of the thieves nods, splitting off from the group, who head further down, most likely to some kind of holding cell.

JUSTIN: * Shane takes his blows quietly, head ringing a little after one of them, and he has to acknowledge the irony of the situation. Years of training when the first real fight he's in, he gives up without a single swing. At least all the muscle helps to dull what might have otherwise been an extremely painful situation. He lets himself get carted off into the base, keeping an eye on the surroundings inconspicuously as they haul him around.

JENNA: * They pause, once they reach whatever floor is their destination, and a fight nearly breaks out when the leader is told in no uncertain terms that there is no space for his prisoner. "'Sides," remarks the woman outside the cells. "If it's about Jo an' Teague, you prolly better go straight up there and drop him off. He's been grilling her since she got here." The leader scowls at her, clearly not keen on giving Shane exactly what he wants, and the girl shrugs. "Word is, her story ain't adding up, so if he's got information, it might be a good idea."

JUSTIN: * Shane lifts his head enough to glare at the leader of the pack that jumped him, smiling slimly. "You did promise me a meeting. Surely you wouldn't go back on your word."

JENNA: * This earns him a sharp smack in the back of the head, and the leader whirls to glare at him in return. "Yeah, I said y'get your damn meeting, but I didn't say /when/. Th'boss has a busy schedule --" The girl waves a hand boredly, scowling. "Get a move on, already -- in this case he'd prolly wanna know." The leader spits, directing a short curse at the woman, who makes a very rude gesture in reply. Then he starts upward again, going down a different hall on the way to wherever Teague is.

JUSTIN: * Shane mutters quietly under his breath, wishing he could rub the back of his head to ease away the tingling after-effect of the smack. "Well, at least someone in this place has sense. You'd think I was asking for an audience with the gods, the way you carry on about how 'busy' he is and how 'important'." Shane is expecting to get hit again, but he'd rather get it out of his system now than when he's in the room with their boss.

JENNA: * The pair pushing him along jostles him a bit, but no blow appears to be forthcoming, as the leader is several feet ahead and evidently worried about his own problems. Eventually, they reach a pair of heavy oaken doors, weirdly out of place with the sandstone look of the rest of the building. The leader pauses there, then clears his throat and raps on the door. "Boss!" For a moment, there's only silence, then a heavy voice growls out. "This better be good, Bann." The man takes a wary step back, swallowing. "Got a prisoner here, boss -- says he knows Jo -- wants to talk to her. Wants to talk to you, too."

JUSTIN: * Shane swallows hard, feeling a very late sense of nervousness at the prospect of going through these doors. Almost like a mixture of fear and excitement -- not directed at Teague, but at Jo. Whatever is going on in that room, she is either going to be overjoyed to see him, or she is going to wish he was dead. But it's worth the risk.

JENNA: * The silence extends for several seconds, and Bann's apparent unease deepens. He's about to stammer an apology and bolt, when the heavy doors jerk sharply open, revealing a bear of a man with dark brown hair, graying at the temples. His gaze sweeps the small group, resting finally on Shane, then he gestures for them to enter, stalking back across the room to seat himself in an ornate chair. Jo is standing nearby, arms hanging limply at her sides, though her fists are clenched. Her expression, as she catches sight of Shane, is one of disbelief and despair.

JUSTIN: * Shane is pushed and dragged toward the center of the room, where he is quickly shoved hard onto his knees to keep him from attempting to run. Shane, for his part, is looking a whole lot less confident after seeing Jo's face. He sits and waits for the inevitable questions.

JENNA: "Well, Jo? You heard Bann. He says he knows you -- is it true." Jo shoots Shane a look, daring him to speak, whatever she happens to say. "Chief, he's a guard from Juno -- I didn't know he'd tracked me this far --" But he cuts her off with an irritable, "God damn it, Jo, I already know you're a shitty liar, and I'm tired of listening to it. Someone beat you to the goods -- why the HELL didn't you get back to us immediately?" Jo falters, looking at the floor, and mutters a weak "There .. were complications." "Yeah?!" barks Teague, thrusting a finger at Shane. "They have anything to do with him?! You selling us out, Jo?!" Jo's back stiffens, and she gives a protesting shout. "N-no! Are you crazy?! I wouldn't --"

JUSTIN: * Shane lifts a glare up at the man in front of him, completely undaunted due to a rising hate in his chest. "What kind of outfit are you running here, anyway?" He spits, struggling to his feet without the use of his bound hands. "Look, I don't know what she told you before I showed up, but she's not lying about the complications. And I'll have you know, not all of them had something to do with me."

JENNA: * Jo turns to him, shaking her head sharply, and Teague slams his fist sharply on the arm of his chair. "Well, if that's the case, why don't /you/ tell me the story, since she's so reluctant to." Jo's expression becomes somewhat frantic. "I swear, I didn't bring him here!" But Teague waves her silent.

JUSTIN: "She didn't bring me here." Shane says plainly, shifting himself into a more comfortable stance and staring coldly at Teague. "I followed her, like she said. It was hardly her idea -- she tried to give me the slip on several occasions. But the shipwreck on the way from Izlude to Alberta was no fault of hers, or mine. Nor was having her peco killed by bandits on the way to Morroc from Alberta. Want more, or is a shipwreck and a dead peco enough for you?"

JENNA: * Careful as he is to avoid mentioning their travels as a pair, Teague knows enough to read between the lines. His gaze shifts from Shane to Jo, mouth curving into a grimacing smile. For her part, Jo's expression has gone empty, as if she's beyond any hope this will be resolved well. She snaps out of it when the chief says her name, expression grim. "Well, Jo?"

JUSTIN: "Hey, I think she's had enough interrogation -- you want to talk, talk to me." Shane moves to put himself between Teague and Jo's line of sight, scowling at the larger man.

JENNA: "Shut up, boy," Teague barks, "You've got no idea the situation you're in --" He pushes himself from his chair, turning to face Jo again. "You know the penalty for this, Jocasta." She stares at him for a moment, shaking her head. "You can't be /serious/ -- it's a mistake!" The boss, however, is deadly serious. "You're lucky you don't face the same fate, girl --" Her fists clench. "He doesn't have anything to do with this!" He roars back, "What the hell are you thinking? There are guild laws you can't just toss aside!" Jo sucks in a deep breath, blurting "Then I'm calling in my debt!"

JUSTIN: * Shane is unable to get a word in between the rapid firing of the other two, and he begins to grow in agitation at always being ignored and underestimated. And guild laws be damned, he thinks, because this entire thing is just ridiculous -- how dare this Teague think that he is above everyone else. He opens his mouth to voice his opinion, but it closes again when he's surprised by the sudden silence following Jo's last sentence. He turns to look at her with a scrunch of his brow.

JENNA: * Jo is not looking at anybody, her gaze cast down and to one side, while Teague's is fixed menacingly on her. The silence stretches thinner and thinner, air becoming so tense that Bann uses the moment to make a strategic escape, leaving no one behind to guard Shane. The faint thump of the door closing snaps the thread at last, and Teague lurches to his feet. "Do you know what you're saying?" he asks in a breathy growl, and Jo looks up at him, the last vestiges of her second thoughts falling away. "I'm sorry, Teague," she says shortly, and the large man sinks back into his chair, resting his forehead against his hand. "You have 'til dawn," he says at last. "If the sun rises and you're still in the city, I can't speak for what may happen to you. Or him."

JUSTIN: * Shane hates the feeling of helplessness that fills the room around him. He hates knowing that nothing he can do will change matters, even though by all rights he thinks Jo is being treated unjustly. Then again, looking for rationality and justice in a place like this is probably a severe misjudgment on his part. He stares at Jo with a pained expression, a look that turns to anger when it finds Teague instead. Everything he stands for says that he should give the man a piece of his mind, but realistically, he knows it could only make things worse for the woman by this point.

JENNA: "Of course," Jo says curtly, not meeting the man's gaze. "We'll be gone before evening, if we can manage it." The man glares at her for a moment. "Then go!" he barks. "And hope you never cross paths with us again." Jo doesn't respond, pausing to fish her guild emblem out of her pack and drop it on the floor at her former boss' feet. Then she turns to Shane and tugs out her knife, cutting his bindings and looking at him wearily. "Let's go," is all she says.

JUSTIN: "But--" Shane looks dismayed, despite all the reasoning he's just done. "But you can't just--" He can't quite find what he's trying to say. Can't just what? Isn't there nothing either of them can do? He turns sharply toward the man in the chair, a homicidal look on taking over his face. His gun feels suddenly heavy in his belt, and he realizes that with one swift motion he could drop the fiend. His fingers are already curling about the handle before he regains control, and before he can do something that would inevitably get them both killed -- and if not, surely not gain Jo's approval -- he turns his back to Teague and suppresses his immediate fury.

JENNA: * Jo catches him by the wrist before they've gone too much farther, leading him through the narrow passages of the guild's headquarters. The halls are strangely empty, as though word has gone ahead that things went ill with Jo and Teague. It's only when they step into the shadow of the archways that some members reappear, and their expressions are not friendly. Though some settle for looking away from the retreating pair, Bann at least gets a final say by spitting on the ground in front of Jo. She sidesteps the missile, however, and continues on her way, grip tightening on Shane's arm.

JUSTIN: * Shane would have whirled on the man if Jo wasn't dragging him further away from the bigot with each step. He scowls with barely contained rage, and though completely unlike a man who despises violence, he wants nothing more at the moment than to make /someone/ hurt for all this trouble. When it is clear he isn't going to get his wish, he turns his face to the ground in front of him, the heat from overhead nothing compared to the burn in his face.

JENNA: "You have all your things?" Jo asks suddenly, after several minutes of silent walking. Her expression, in contrast to Shane's is blank, her tone of voice even and emotionless. She doesn't appear affected by what happened inside her former guild headquarters, though her grip on him hasn't loosened since they walked away.

JUSTIN: "All I have is in my pack." Shane's voice quivers slightly, and his anger is beginning to change into something very different -- like a schoolboy being led to the principle's office by a displeased teacher. It's too late to take back his stupid decision, but he tries to console himself by saying he only did what he thought was right given the circumstances.

JENNA: * She nods, the motion jerky and abrupt. "Good. We can't go back to that inn." She stops suddenly, looking around, as if she can't figure out where there's a safe place to be in their situation. "We should go to the oasis," she says, changing directions. "We can at least find a caravan going somewhere." Her grip finally loosens, though she doesn't release him entirely.

JUSTIN: * At the moment, Shane can't find it in him to speak again. The change in pressure brings him to consider her hold on his arm, staring eyes unhinting of the complex thoughts within his head. Even though the grip has loosened, his dread only increases. When is she going to ask? She has to ask eventually.

JENNA: * Jo's head is spinning far too hard for her to formulate any such question, barely able to accept her own actions, let alone decipher Shane's. She continues to drag him, half aware, through the city, until she reaches the east exit, where several merchant caravans can be seen in the near distance, congregating around a pool of water. "That's it," she says unnecessarily, and makes for it without another word.

JUSTIN: * Shane would like to reply, but he feels bad enough as it is, and he hardly deems himself worthy of talking at this point. It would seem that everything that seems like a good idea ends up backfiring, so he thinks it would probably be wise to ignore his instincts for at least a while. He lets himself be steered around as they make their way toward the water and the caravans surrounding it.