[SpringsSong]

Chandani stepped out of the shadows carefully, her claws clicking quietly as she sniffed at the ground, trying her best to pick up the scent that she had been sent to track.  It was decidedly more complicated then she had ever planned on, but she knew that she could manage the task at hand.

"Having trouble, Phasi?"

Chandani sighed as she turned to the black-and-spectral-pelted female, a glare in her blood-red eyes as she said, "What have I told you about using my middle name to address me, Alani?"

"The same thing I've told you about using my first name to address me," the other Lucain said, flicking her tails lazily.  "Erias.  Air-EYE-as.  Not Alani.  I hate that name."

"At least Dad cared enough to name you, Eri," another voice said as a third female stepped out from the shadows.

"Kria, I don't think that this is the time--" Chanda started to say.

"Yeah, and Dad cared enough about Mom that he left her for your mother," Alani said in a short voice, crouching as her claws extended.  Chandani stepped in between the two other Lucain, her hackles raised.

"Will you two just quit it?!  We do have a mission we're here to complete!"

[1.2][1.2][1.2]

[Kitsumi]

To be completely honest, Telemachus hated the slums. Not only did they scare him, causing his hackles to raise and an uncertain feeling stir in his stomach, but it also made him feel a bit...well, depressed. The dirty disorder of the town, if it could even be called that, caused sadness to rise up from deep within him. If he could, he would help every single person who was unfortunate to live here among the more shady figures.

In fact, that was what he had been doing not even five minutes earlier. While shopping at the market place, he had come across a female kuhna who hadn't been able to pay for enough food to feed her five new kits. While counting out the money to pay for her groceries, Tele had asked her about her kits, and had been shocked to hear how worried the mother was about their safety. After inquiring further, Tele had learned that it was because she lived in the slums, with no man to protect her, and hardly any protection.

Of course, Tele had offered to come and install the highest security locks he could provide. It had only taken about half an hour, but then he had remained to fix a few leaky faucets, and replace a faulty boards on the fence as well. Afterwords, the mother had insisted on his remaining to share the dinner that he had helped pay for.

Now, it was beginning to get late, and Tele hurried through, his head down, afraid of what he may find. It wasn't exactly dark yet, but it surely wouldn't take long, and Tele had the feeling that the figures that hung out during the dark weren't exactly the friendliest nor the safest of creatures.

Hearing raised voices, Tele spotted three females. He debated passing them by, but his conscious simply wouldn't allow it. He couldn't leave these females to themselves, especially once the shadier figures began coming out. Moving close, he cleared his throat, saying, "Excuse me, ladies. I don't mean to be a bother, but might I be of any assistance? It's getting quite late, you know. Perhaps I could escort you safely to wherever you are heading?"

{1-1}

[SpringsSong]

The three women stopped their arguing when the male Lucain stopped and asked them if he could escort them to wherever they were heading.  Almost immediately, Alani stepped forward, her ice-blue eyes seeming even colder than they were normally.  She sized the male up quickly; he was definitely one of those kind-hearted folk; the kind that made their sensei, Krattia, sick to no end.

"And what makes you think that we're--"

"Erias, silence," Kria said, looking at the male dangerously, letting her pure-black eyes show.  "Obviously he thinks we're in need of assistance.  He might be able to offer it, and he might not.  But we'll never know unless we ask him for help; now, will we?" she asked, letting a faint glow of white fire come to her paws.

"Sisters!"

Chanda practically howled this, causing the other two females to look at her in annoyance.

"How about we stop talking and simply acknowledge this kind young man?" she asked, stepping forth to examine the split-pelted Lucain.  "Your offer is one that we would not mind taking up, save for the fact that we have no idea where our final destination is at this time."

[1.4][1.4][1.4]

[Kitsumi]

The friendly smile that had been on his face began fading slightly at the words of the three females. The first one seemed quite hostile, almost like his friend (if he could call her such) I'lanae. She seemed almost offended at his offer of help! Why she would be offended, Tele couldn't tell. Didn't she realize that he was just trying to be nice? He was a gentleman, offering help was what he did. How was he supposed to know that his help was not wanted?

Whilst the first female had seemed unfriendly, possibly even hostile, the second one that spoke seemed positively frightening, and Tele had to consciously keep from moving as a shiver went down his spine. Her eyes were pure black, and he saw an odd white glow around her feet that could have been flames...and her words seemed oddly cryptic. How wouldn't Tele be able to assist them? He was just offering to escort them somewhere. How hard could that be?

The third and final female seemed quite a bit more welcoming, although her near-howled words caused him to wince and stumble back a step. Fighting to find the words, Tele looked at each female in turn. "Well, I don't know this area well, so I'm afraid I couldn't direct you in the right direction. But perhaps I could accompany you, until you find your destination?" he looked around warily, noticing how it had already become considerably darker. "I don't think this place is very safe, especially not for females, even if there are three of you. I'd be happy to stay with you, just in case, until you're safely wherever it is you intend to be."

Remembering that he had yet to know their names, Tele gave a small bow, outstretching his front left paw and bowing his head in a respectful gesture. "My name is Telemachus, but you may call me Tele. Might I inquire of your names?"

{1-2}

[SpringsSong]

It was honestly taking all of Eiras' and Kria's willpower to keep from laughing when Telemachus said he didn't think that this place was very safe for females, even if there were three of them.  What did he take them for; delicate little flowers?  Oh, right--they were not in their human forms, so their assassin's attire was not visible.  Erias gave a slight snarl and a bark; a signal to the other two to huddle about for a few moments.

"What do you think, ladies?" she asked.  "I don't know what to make of this fellow here."

"You think you're the only one who's confused," Kria said.  "I don't know what to make of him either!"

"Look; Erias, Kria," Chandani said quietly, her blood red eyes peering from behind the Shadebane mask.  "We don't know the area, he doesn't know the area, but he's willing to accompany us.  Wasn't one of the orders we had from Sensei Nightwing to remain as unsuspicious as possible?  Our target will be far less suspecting of a group of ladies being escorted by a male then three ladies roaming the Slums this late at night."

"Point taken," Erias said, turning to Telemachus.  "My apologies... Telemachus, was it?  You see, my younger sisters and I have long been trained in ways to stand up for ourselves, so to have help extended to us is something that does not often happen."

Here, the three Lucain arranged themselves in a line: the black-and-spectrum-pelted one first, then the purple-and-red, and lastly, the gray-and-lavender one.

"I am called Alani Erias Krishna, but I prefer to be called Erias," the leopard-patterned one said.

"And I am called Chandani Phasi Krishna, also known as Chanda," the second, purple-pelted one said, bowing slightly.

"And I am Kria Hîma Krishna.  I don't care if you call me Kria or Hîma," the third Lucain, marked with blood-red Dweller, said.  After this, Chanda spoke again.

"Anyways, we would love a little assistance in finding our desitnation.  Our directions were terribly vague, weren't they, sisters?" she asked the other two, and they nodded in agreement.

[1.6][1.6][1.6]

[Kitsumi]

One of them, the one who had first spoken to him in a slightly hostile way, gave an odd snarl and then a bark. The three huddled together, and Tele waited patiently, wondering what they were saying. It was obvious they were talking about him and his offer...of course, he couldn't understand why they were debating so much over this. If he wasn't welcome, then they should have just told him. And if he was...well, then why the heck were they so opposing to him joining them?

The lucain who had given the bark turned back to him and spoke again. At her words, Telemachus bowed his head respectfully. "Yes, it was Telemachus, but feel free to call me Tele. I'm very sorry if I offended you with my offer of help. I have no doubt in my mind that the three of you would be able to protect yourselves here, no matter who it is that comes against you." He looked them up and down, noting the well toned muscles and sleek, lithe bodies. Yes, he was sure that they could protect themselves. "But being a gentleman by nature, I simply had to offer my services. And even if you don't need me, I could at least tag along and make things easy for you, eh?"

They introduced themselves, and Telemachus bowed his head at each in turn - Erias, the one who had spoken first, Chanda, the most welcoming one, and Kria, the one who had scared him. "It is a pleasure to meet you, ladies," he said. "You have beautiful names, if I may say so."

Chanda started to speak again, and Tele smiled at her words. "Well, I can definitely help; even if I don't know the area, I can help you look for an area that matches your directions."

{1-3

[SpringsSong]

The three looked back to each other quickly, trying to communicate their feelings and concerns to each other with simple looks.  Kria's was definitely the most hostile of the three; We've trained for missions in areas like this tirelessly; we don't need some gentleman to escort us through an area that he doesn't even know!, and Erias' look reflected the same feelings.

Look, it's not what I'd choose either, but remember what Sensei Nightwing said about this, Chanda's eyes said.  We're supposed to be simple women, doing nothing more than looking for a particular place late at night.  Mention nothing about the mission, unless he should happen to ask about it. Now, I suggest we act like women who, despite being well-trained in self-defense, are actually quite terrified of the possibility of being swept up.

As Chanda gave a terse nod, Erias approached Tele first, a shy smile on her face.  "You'll have to forgive my terseness.  You've no idea how many men we've run into pretending to want to offer help to us, but then they tried to take advantage of us.  Naturally, it is only natural for us to be untrusting of such an offer.  However, my younger sister seems to trust you, so I will also give you the benefit of the doubt."

"Just be warned that if you give me one reason to doubt you, I will--"

"Kria Hîma Krishna, what have I told you about threatening people with your white fire?" Chanda snapped.  "You'll have to forgive our youngest sister.  Father wasn't exactly the best to her when she was younger, so she has an inbred distrust of the masculine kind," she said as Kria snarled.

[1.8][1.8][1.8]

[Kitsumi]

It didn't take a brain surgeon to see that the three were communicating through looks...or perhaps telepathically, even? Telemachus had heard of such things - in fact, he had been named in such a way that his parents had hoped his name would somehow bring about telepathy. Of course, it had been utter nonsense; Tele's mind was no greater than that of anyone else. Still, the way the three were staring intently at each other, made him think that perhaps it was, indeed, possible.

A sudden transformation took over Erias, and Tele couldn't help but find her attractive without a snarl on her face. Of course, he wouldn't have ever told her, having a feeling that it would put the snarl back in place. "You are forgiven, of course." Tele said. "I can understand how past occurrences might make it hard to trust others in your present circumstances."

This time, Tele did not flinch away from Kria. On the contrary, he met her gaze with ease. "Don't worry about it, Chanda." he said in response to her scolding. "Kria may threaten me all that she wishes. She will not have to make good on any of her threats though, as I do not intend to do anything to harm you or make you uncomfortable in the slightest. I am merely here to offer my assistance as you see fit. If I do somehow hurt you, then I will deserve whatever your sister can do to me."

{1-4}