[Jaykobell]

She relaxed, sitting on a rock. The sun was slowly coming up over the horizon. It would be time to depart soon, but she still had a moment. What a beautiful sight this was. Despite her rather criminally-charged life, even she could appreciate the little things in life.

She pricked her ears, listening for the smallest sounds. Nothing stirred in the tent behind her. She sighed internally. Even though they were on a very loose schedule, that was no reason to delay.

[Jaykobell]

She prompted herself off the rock and back onto firm ground. She walked over to their carriage. The Pencitorns were still asleep, but that was fine. They could be woken up once they were truly ready to leave on this little mission.

As she looked through their supplies, she reviewed the plan in her head. A Chimerantula needed to find a small chick that she had lost. She was asking basically anyone to help... and that included the Ferrikoon's little group.

[Jaykobell]

She had been surprised by the Chimerantula's approach. After all, the Ferrikoon was rather infamous now, thanks to the relentless efforts of a certain Sygriff who refused to leave her alone. The Ferrikoon lived her life by participating in poaching various animals — a job that seemed to be rather looked down upon by the majority.

The fact the Chimerantula hadn't even done anything akin to a background check, either... Was she so desperate to find this lost chick of hers?

[Jaykobell]

If the Chimerantula was so determined to find this chick, that could only mean one of two things. Either the Chimerantula was truly simply worried about the chick; or the tiny bundle held something much more important. Perhaps it was a special baby, a rare species of chick. And if the latter were the case, then the Ferrikoon had the right idea to try and find it.

And even if it weren't anything special? Hah, well, that was what ransoms were for, wasn't it?

[Jaykobell]

Of course, there was the one problem that a lot of people were out there, also looking out for that little chick. Fortunately, the Chimerantula asking literally everyone and anyone, meant that there were many, many amateurs out there. They wouldn't cause her much trouble at all. In the worst case, someone else might find the chick first; but if that happened, the Ferrikoon had no qualms stealing it from them.

She nodded satisfyingly as she looked through their supplies.

[Jaykobell]

Everything they needed to go on a successful capture was in their small carriage. Various traps for various terrains, baits, and even some basic weapons. Oh, sure, she and her little companions had teeth and claws and powers, but sometimes, nothing could do the job better but simple, sharp knives. Plus, it saved the Ferrikoon and her accomplices wasting their natural resources.

She straightened everything out, and then she pulled the cover back over the carriage. With everything ready, only two things remained.

[Jaykobell]

She made her way to the tent, and she loudly slapped the flap open. It sent some dust and debris inside, and the sun came shining through, a blinding light in the darkness. "Fenlock! Lenjack!" she called out. She walked inside some more once she had spoken. "Get up! We have to leave."

The sun illuminated just enough for the two Stargoyles to be seen partially in the darkness. The gold one seemed to be sleeping like a rock, but the silver one looked more alert.

[Jaykobell]

As she would have expected, the silver Stargoyle was quicker on the uptake. With a groan, he shuffled until he could look up at the Ferrikoon. "Is it time, Sam?" he asked groggily.

"It is," Sam, the Ferrikoon, confirmed. "Now get up," she demanded, while turning to look down at the golden one, "now."

She heard the silver Stargoyle shuffling more, from getting up, she assumed. The golden one, on the other hand, continued to ignore her. He was awake, though: she could tell that much.

[Jaykobell]

"Lenjack," she hissed menacingly from the darkness, looking down at the golden Stargoyle, and her now being right next to him. "Up."

Lenjack groaned unhappily, and the Stargoyle shuffled; to turn and look away from the Ferrikoon. He made a muffled sound, and then spoke more clearly, "Just a little bit longer."

The silver Stargoyle behind her tensed. With no time for either of them to react, Sam grabbed onto the golden Stargoyle, and with incredible strength, launched him outside the tent.

[Jaykobell]

With a shriek, Lenjack was propelled through the air and eventually landed in the dirt outside the tent with a sickening sound.

"Lenjack!" Fenlock gasped from inside the tent, peeking out to take a look at the other Stargoyle.

Sam stepped outside, leaving Fenlock behind, and she stopped right beside Lenjack. "When I say you get up," she growled, "you get up." She didn't accept even the smallest sliver of insubordination. "Did you forget why we're out there, Lenjack?"