"Don't worry Julian, you're allowed to sleep at any time. Go ahead. Sleep right now. We don't mind. Unfortunately, I don't think that would work," Alpha says. "Sure, you guys all could meet at the path, but I've got to find some way to lead them there...and they aren't likely to let me go anywhere until they've checked out Master's 'hideout'."

"The only way I can think of is his idea," Shada says, pointing to Raven. "They might let you go is if you said you'd lead them to Master...but like we already pointed out, they aren't likely to trust you," Shada lets out a sigh, showing how hard she is struggling to think of an idea. Finally she notices Arco emerging from the bushes. "Hey, have you got any ideas?"

'It's rude to point girl, but I'm in a good mood so I will let off this time.' He says gruffly. 'About your last point you don't need to be smart to survive just resouceful. I should know.' He is quiet for moment as is contemplating or remembering. He then says 'You say they don't trust ya, how about we flip that notion, make it known that you don't trust them or even better play them on their lack of trust in you. Get them to move the point of the meeting outside the town to prove that you don't have anyone with you, that could be hiding in the many alleys of the town or that you won't enter because there could be others hiding and you don't trust them not kill you after you give them the info.' He says. 'No doubt you will not like the idea, but there's my suggestion.' He says dryly.

OOC:Not Raven.

When caught off guard or surprised, people avoid eye-contact and stare at the ground or sky (better yet, a campfire, if available). Arco hasn't learned this yet.

His gaze commuting from Alpha to Shada and vise-versa, Arco fidgets, trying to focus his thoughts and words as Raven speaks. Time passes. Finally, he swallows and tries to rock forward and backwards on his heels--a bad attempt at acting casual, at the wrong time to be casual.

"What... do we know about these people--and what is your--our--goal? Destroy them all?"

Therefore, know the enemy's plans and calculate their strengths and weaknesses...

After a moment of clearing his throat, as if holding back a tide of sayings being digested in his memory, Arco continues: "And what--who--do we have available?"

One who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be in danger in a hundred battles...

Julian sighs in regret. "Well, I believe that I have given enough input in this conversation. And the shadows of the trees are calling me," Julian says as he moves toward a large tree and sits at its roots. His eyes begin to sag and Juian's breathing slows to match the speed of the wind. Seconds later, he is in the grips of slumber.

"Hey, I think I'mthe onlt one who is going to agree with me, so i'm just going to let it out, I suggest that we get more guys, I'm thinking that they'll not be a walk in the park. I don't really care how, but I want to face these guys."
Hurrak then ran up to Malciore. "Malciore! Kxaj ajd'k oeih vawxk!" Malciore then kicked Hurrak away five meters.
"Hey, what do ya' know, new record."

Sesso came into a clearing, and saw a group of people. He then noticed a couple of them. Sesso knew that they would notice him, so Sesso did Demon spell #5, transformation. Sesso transformed into a little kikori kid, but with his blonde hair covering up his eyes. Sesso walked up to them.
"Why hello, what are you talking about?" He said in an inosent voice.

"That could work," Alpha says to the man. He'd thought it was Raven, but apparently the shadows could play tricks even on the Sheikah. "Though it definately won't be as easy as you think it will be. Their distrust will cause them to Polymorph first and ask questions later, at their discression. Your idea is definately the best so far, but I'd prefer to make it a backup plan.

"Arco, destroying them would definately be preferred, but I doubt that that's possible. The real goal should be to take out Zaboorak. Without his influence, we might get lucky and the Hakiems will decide to go back to their old ways, ways of secrecy. They were once simply an elite group of assassins that remained in the shadows, known only by a few select employeers. Our pool of resources is everyone who stands here, along with anyone who is willing to come to our aid during the fight."

Shada laughs at Malciores comment. The sound is soft and sweet, giving a moment's rest from the stress brought on by weeks of worrying over the threat of the Hakiems tribe. "Well, Malciore," she says, "your atitude is admirable, and I agree that we should try and get more allies to help us. But unless you know where we can get some..." She trails off, leaving the obvious unsaid.

Alpha turns towards the woods as a Kokiri emerges from it. His scar suddenly begins to glow, giving Shada a confused look. "The scar is new. Why is it glowing?"

"Because this Kokiri obviously isn't who he appears to be." Alpha sighs. "I truly don't care who you are. I've got bigger things to worry about right now. You might as well reveal your true self."

The kikori kid snaps his fingers, which made him transformback into Sesso with his fang exposed like in most animes. "Damn, you're good."

"I may be good, but my scar is most certainly not. But still, this curse, unlike most, does contain some blessings...even if they are few and far between," Alpha says with folded arms. "Are you here to help? If so, we could sure use it."

Waiting for Julian to fall asleep, Arco scratches the back of his head, as if trying to stimulate clearer thinking. He looks back up as Alpha answers, doing his best to keep up with the other's keywords and notes.

Zaboorak... Hakiems... elite, assassins... select employees... everyone, here... fight...

And somehow, in the space of others speaking, and between filling away notes of Shada's reaction to the scar and of the odd kokiri--kikori?--child... Arco finds less cluttered questions to ask.

"Do the Hakiems have any weaknesses, holes?" he asks, working up nerve as he goes. "Or, er, 'Zaboorak'?"

Provoke him, to know his patterns of movement.

"And, with our group so far, what strengths or..." Arco inhales, "...complementary abilities do we have?" The last part of the sentence comes out in one breath.

Generally, commanding of many is like commanding of a few.
It is a matter of dividing them into groups.

And quietly, in accordance with his own words (and mind?), Arco looks at the rest of the group--familiar and unfamiliar, and all different sorts of people...

Like throwing a stone against an egg;
It is a matter of weakness and strength.

But also, as if looking past the others, staring at old friends, old teachers, and at new enemies, Arco focuses, as he every so often does, on the shadows in between the people...

Azador sees the crout at the lake. Hmm i think i could test my new powers on these mortals. Azador himeself is a good guy. So nobody will expect me to be so evil, and Azador laughs evil. And he walks to the crout

Shada answers Arco's first question. "Hmmm...weaknesses...I guess the main one would simply be that they're predictable in their approach and attacks. They almost always surround their target then swarm them, and rarely do they attack while on the ground. Which is why the plan thus far is to get them up into the mountains, where the narrow paths would make it difficult to surround anything, and the winds would blow them off if they tried jumping."

"As for our strengths," Alpha says in reply to the second inquiry, "I'm really not too sure. I've seen several people fight before, but if you're asking about abilities that lie outside combat skills, then I can't say." Then he mutters to himself, "I really need to pay more attention to these guys..."

He turns to see Azador approaching, and waves him over. "Come and join us, Azador. We need all the help we can get."

Arco shakes himself back to consciousness when Shada speaks, locking his eyes back on the other party members. Pinching his nosebridge, he takes a step back and sighs quietly, looking into the air as if imagining bloodthirsty Hakiems leaping down from the treetops. He murmurs something to himself, checks behind his back, and then looks at the ground, then to the sky again, only to realize that he's acting a little too theatrical for being in public.

With the conspicuous flush that comes only naturally to someone who's skin is pale to the point of gray, Arco transfers his attention to the others of the group, ending his survey by peering at Alpha, Julian, Malciore, and--mildly confused--at Shada, a second time. Is she a mage, like Alpha?

The factors in warfare are: First, measurement, second, quantity, third, calculation, fourth, comparison, and fifth, victory.

"The Hakiems, er," says Arco, "Are they very good with concealment, when they attack? All Sheikah?" A pause. Then... a slight stirring in his eyes hints that, perhaps, you think, he knows more than he knows that he knows, whatever that means.

"Very good with concealment, if you mean Shadowmeld and sneaking around without making a sound. Some of the best there are. And yes, they're all Sheikah," Alpha says. He lies back against a tree, tired from all that has happened in the past month. 'Will it ever truly end?' he wonders.

Subtle! Subtle!
They become formless.
Mysterious! Mysterious!
They become soundless.

Arco's body sags (further than usual) as he hears Alpha affirm his question. The stir in his downcast eyes hiccups again.

To cross mountains, stay close to the valleys;
Observe on high ground and face the sunny side.

"I agree," says Arco after a while, "That meeting them higher, where the shadows are greyer, and on open ground, would be best." Providing, he adds wordlessly, That we are not separated in the chaos. Then, as if reacting to a sudden gust of wind, the Bard shivers, glancing at Alpha and Shada.