Kanieta stood under the night sky, enjoying the warmth of the fire on what turned out to be a surprisingly cold night for this area and season. Though it was still warm compared to what life was like back in the Broken Peaks, not that she minded the change, unlike others.

As an elder of her faction, honorary or not, she had to come to any official social gathering in a formal dress. It was far from the first time she had dressed up for such occasions, but for some reason, she felt especially self-conscious and kept smoothing out the waist of her light-green kimono accented with a white flower design.

Head snapping up at the sound of footsteps approaching her, Kanieta scowled at Heckarock. His easy smile stiffened momentarily, and then he made a visible effort to continue approaching her while remaining casual.

"I know you hate parties," the silver foxkin said, his voice mellow, "but you don't have to take it out on me."

"Are you not the bearer of annoyances and bad news?" Kanieta asked, her nose sticking into the air with perhaps not-so-feigned resentment. "Every time you approach me deserves a scowl because it means you are attempting to foist some obligation onto my shoulders." After a beat of the heart, Kaneita continued, "Or am I completely wrong, and suddenly your packed schedule, along with this meet and greet party, suddenly cleared up, allowing you to socialize with a colleague for no reason."

"…You aren't wrong." Admitted the other fox, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Though we could have already had this conversation if you weren't so hard to track down."

"We all have things to do," Kanieta said dismissively, thinking back on the hours of dressing up with a little amulet testing she performed throughout the day.

"It does not mean I can turn away from this conversation because of your glare and mild annoyance."

"Aren't you turning into quite the confident and dependable leader." Sighing and resigning herself, Kanieta asked, "So, what do you need?"

"Have your little experiments born any fruit? Is it possible for us to send people to Olimpia?"

Glancing around the party within the square, where hundreds of individuals, both Kin and Olimpians, were gathering and tentatively interacting with each other, she turned to the new Redtail Faction leader. "I'm not sure this is the best moment to talk on that topic or use of your time."

"Ahh, Kanieta," Heckarock sighed, moving to stand next to her and looking around at the mixing people amid the pounding of Kin drums and the higher-pitched string instruments from the Olimpians. The result was rather pleasant, in Kanieta's opinion. "That is where you are wrong. Right now, your answer is the most important thing to me. And it should be."

Skeptically looking over at the man, she asked, "Really?"

"That was your greatest strength and weakness as a leader, Kanieta. You focus on one objective and place it above all others. You can clearly see all the roadblocks before you, but you never look to the side to notice the rockslide poised to come down on top of your head. It's the main reason that Dergs' rebellion happened."

Back stiffening, Kaneita turned and looked at the fox, her voice tense like a drawn blade, "Are you saying that his actions were my fault? That I am responsible for all the deaths he caused?"

Placid, despite her burning eyes and voice, Heckarock turned and looked into her eyes as he spoke a single word, shaking her to her core. "Yes. You were the one leading the Kin. Ultimately, everything, good and bad, is your fault. You forced us out of the mountains into a shaky peace with the Olimpians, and in achieving that, you undermined and threatened the Crescent Moon's power and purpose. You should have expected, should have sought out, what their response would be if you pushed them into a corner where they had no resort but to act in an extreme manner."

"Are you saying that I had another choice? That there was a better option than the ones I made?"

"From what I have seen and read, no. Not if we were going to end up as potential allies to the Olimpians, and I genuinely believe that this is the best possible outcome."

"Then what is the point in second-guessing me and my actions? To point out all of my flaws and mistakes." Kathren was nearly hissing at the other man from her bubbling rage at this point.

"To point out that you never considered the consequences or thought deeply on the matter. That was your job as a leader, and honestly, I can only thank the Mother that you were able to realize you are no longer fit for the position."

"Maybe you should thank her for your life too… as I'm not sure how much longer you will be able to do that. I might not be a great leader, but my skills in magic have never been questioned."

Coughing into his ale, the fox straightened, shifted his clothing, and took a step away from Kanieta like he was distancing himself from some savage beast. A reasonable precaution on his part. "What I mean is that I am a better figure to guide the Kin through this new stage we find ourselves in, a fact you know well, as your support is the reason I have the position. But more to the point, your invention is a key point that needs to be addressed, so I need to know your progress."

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"Why."

The silver-haired man looked at Kanieta like her question was the latest reason proving their previous topic of discussion. But lucky for him, he didn't say anything as he started talking, "We have an opportunity before us. I relayed our intent to send a messenger to Olimpia itself, but I really didn't expect that chance to come for a few more months. And even then, I wasn't certain if it was possible. My plan was more about hoping to turn the situation around so they would send someone to us. But right now, there are two senators in the Triad, and obviously, there are some internal struggles going on between the Olimpians. I can use that, but I need to know if sending a delegation is viable or if I need to decide on another course of action."

Kanieta couldn't help but nod along with the train of logic, which meant she had to answer the annoying, perceptive, and intelligent man. "…It works," Kaneita muttered, though she continued a moment later to not get the other Kin's hopes up. "The problem is that my current amulet needs a constant supply of mana, and the infused will from Green is finite. If either one runs out, the field collapses, and it only lasts a couple hours at best. I believe that the time will increase or decrease depending on the size of the domain, but I only tested on about four feet around the body. There are plenty more tests and information I need to run before I can say if it is practical or possible on a larger scale."

"But it worked," Heckarock clarified, his eyes burning with ideas and plans that Kanaita thought she was better off not knowing. "And you could cast spells and gather mana from within the domain?"

"…Yes." Kaneita reluctantly admitted.

"So, is it possible for a team, so long as you and Scout Green are with them, to travel to Olimpia?"

As Kanieta opened her mouth to answer the question she knew would saddle her with responsibilities she didn't want, a booming voice filled with merriment rang out, "Such a pleasure to see the two I am looking for in the same place!"

Turning to the sound, Kanieta was surprised to see the Olimpian politician who stormed into the square earlier that day, making a big scene. She should have remembered his name, as she knew she had heard it before, but for the life of her…

"Senator Ponpti," Heckarock said from beside her. "It is a pleasure to see you. I had hoped to see you at this gathering, but I did not expect to."

"How could I not?" The senator said with a wide smile, not a flicker of his previous anger or emotion to be seen. When he drew close enough, he stretched out a hand and traded Grips with Heckarock. "I am told that you are the new Faction Leader of the Redtail Faction, the main driving force behind making peace with us within your people."

Though the way he said it didn't really make it sound like a question, Heckarock treated it as one, returning a smile just as wide as the man's own as he enthusiastically pumped the arm. "You are correct. I am only days into my position, but I have been leading my clan for many years."

"Clan?" The senator frowned, though it did not detract from his physical attraction. "I am not sure I am familiar with the context of how you are using that word."

"Hmm, I would say it would be comparable to one of your noble houses, though it is a collection of families that usually share common ancestry or goals. However, the numbers involved can reach your midsized towns."

"Really? Clans can be up to ten thousand?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was mistaken."

"Ahh, understandable. Providing for that number wou—

"I was expecting your towns to be larger," Heckarock said, cutting the other man off. "A medium-sized clan will number around twenty thousand, but my own is a bit more than that."

A look of shock came over the Olimpians face. Gathering himself, the human carefully asked, "How many clans are within a faction?"

"Now that would be telling, Senator," The Foxkin said, flashing his teeth in a not-so-friendly smile, "But I am sure that you aren't here to talk about the size and number of my Redtail Faction."

"You are right, but before that, I would be remiss not to introduce myself to the lady with us." Turning, the man bowed at the waist slightly, "I am Senator Ponpti, and I believe you are Kanieta, the previous Faction Leader."

"That I am," Kaneita said with a stiff smile, suddenly glad that she no longer had to concern herself with dealing with such a person. It was much better to only have to worry about standing based on her personal strength. "But my title would be Elder Kaneita now."

"An elder? Can I ask what the position entails?"

"Mostly, it's just an adviser that the chieftains and faction leaders have to listen to when they make a decision." Kanieta flippantly said, thinking of all the times she had to justify herself to them.

"They are also in positions of some importance, getting a portion of the wealth of the faction or clan. They are often tasked with overseeing projects or any other important task that a chieftain cannot, or will not, do themselves."

A flash of understanding appeared within the man's eyes that Kanieta wasn't sure she liked. But the feeling was nothing to the sudden revulsion she felt at the smile the Olimpian turned onto her, dripping with fake sincerity. "Ahh, wonderful! Just wonderful! And you are right. I am here to ask you if you would consider sending a delegation to Olimpia sponsored and back by the Ponpti Family."

Heckarock's eyes flicked to Kaneita, the intensity of his gaze demanding an immediate answer. Nodding her head in resignation, a smile blossomed on Heckarock's face as he turned to Ponpti, whose eyes were flicking between the two Kin, wondering what that interchange was about. "I am interested in the proposal, as we have been trying to have official talks with your government for some time. What exactly are you offering?"

"Nothing would please me more than to explain that!" The man said, clapping his hands twice, "But let us talk about such things in a quieter and more comfortable place." As he finished his words, a rush of attractive humans entered the square and came rushing for the group, offering up trays of food and wine as they pressed into Kaneita and Heckarock while shepherding them toward the eastern exit.

Head whipping around as she tried to find an escape path, Kaneita happened to see and lock eyes with Green, who looked relieved and amused… Scowling in annoyance, Kanieta clenched her fist, planning how to get back at the stupid man.

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