Kymani stabbed her boarding pike into the sand before climbing atop the crab's back and shimmying down through the hatch.
She bowed as Cato introduced them, smiling as she rose.
Ky took in the crab's interior. It would appear this Tengu had done well enough for himself. Where the hell did he get a stove?' Ky couldn't help but wonder.
Turning her attention back to the castaway, she couldn't help but eye the well-kept saber.
"We too are shipwreck survivors and have unfortunately been split up with some of the crew and we were wondering if you may have come across them and possibly know which direction they were headed?' Zarek asks then goes into a description of captain and his people we have been looking for.
The Tengu listens to the group often cocking his head to the side and quickly moving his gaze and facing from person to person in a very bird-like fashion.
To Cato.
”Yeah, the Maneaters are a damn menace. Good thing I’m not human. Only thing worse is ‘It’.” He says looking up at the sky.
Noticing Ki admiring his sabre.
”She's a beauty ain’t she?” Drawing the weapon and holding it up. He proceeds to relate a long and very inconsistent story of how the captain of the Crow’s Tooth, who he describes as a bright red plumaged Tengu. Gifted him the weapon. He actually gets teary-eyed as he talks. He also has a habit of petting the blade.
You have never heard of a Red Tengu, but who knows what’s out there. His story also changes events and characters as he tells it. While he may believe the tale. It is not the real story.
To Zarek’s question.
So you know them two.
Pezock proceeds to describe the two humans matching the descriptions of Captain Kovack of the Jenivere and the Varisian scholar Ieana. Pezock didn’t approach the two, but he can confirm that the Varisian was obviously the leader, giving curt orders to the other as they made their way along the jungle trail toward the south.
Cato's eyes follow Pezock's skyward. Cato then throws a glance at Ky and then Zarek. "Could you, uh, I'm sorry, 'It'? Would "it" be a large flying critter? Perhaps, nocturnal? Large enough to carry livestock?"
"Yes, tis a beautiful weapon. What happened to your crew? Where they taken by these Maneaters?'
"Do you know how long ago you seen these two men?" Zarek asks as he leans in listening intently. "And about this "it", you wouldn't happen to know where it resides would you?"
The Tengu glances up at the sky.
”It. Is big and is only about at night. The red hill is its home. The others? Now when was it I seen em?’ Pezock looks about. ”Oh, lets see, was it more than a week? Maybe. I don’t keep track of the days so much anymore. Oh right I had those gull eggs. Well. It must have been almost two weeks ago now.”
At the mention of the sabre. He draws it and looks it over several times.
”Aye, she’s a beauty. So shiny. A wonderful gift.” He suddenly clutches the weapon to his chest covering the blade from sight.”But remember she is mine. Yes, all mine.” He seems to recover his composure and sheathes the sabre. ”Now we eat.”
He then treats you to a lunch of poorly smoked fish and raw sea urchins. Pezock is grateful for conversation, and points out that talking to real people is so much more rewarding than talking to fish and sea birds and the ghosts in the surf, none of whom are particularly talkative.
Cato stays mostly silent until the important business is concluded, spending his time making notes about the information he's learned. Regardless of the quality of the food, Cato is audibly grateful to his host for the meal. "It is nice to have someone else cook for once. I understand, Pezock, that you may not be interested in joining our band of survivors, however, I would like to ask if there is a way we can let you know we want to check in with you, or call on you for a social visit? Without risking giving your camp away, that is to say?"
"We should go. Try to pick up their trail as soon as possible. Whatever they're up to can't be good."
Pezcock looks thoughtful at Cato’s question. ”Contact me? Well I do enjoy conversation.” Glancing to Ky.”Have your bird fly over the lagoon and I’ll meet you on the beach by the abandoned camp.He then pulls out the sabre and looks at it.”That’s a good plan. Don’t you think so?” He nods as if the item answered.him.
From Pezock’s crab (I 7) you see the two islands, about a mile distant to the northwest along the beach. Directly west along the beach also a mile away appears to be the coast. Southwest is a swath of jungle that quickly rises to jungle covered hills. Finally directly south is the path that leads…South of course it appears to head into a narrow valley between two tree covered escarpments. The last time Pezock saw the others they were heading south or southwest.
So which way?
"Thank you again for your hospitality, Pezock. We will do our best not to attract attention as we go. Take care, ta-ta!"
"Well thank you Pezock!" Zarek says as he gets up to follow the other two out. "And if you are ever in needed of assistance or come across any new information about our lost crew please let us know."