Round 2, Callaghan "The Salogel"
	Gracie knew better than to open her eyes with the Rettii still so close. The tiny creatures did not watch their prisoners closely, but they watched nonetheless. She had only recently become aware of her surroundings when the peoples, the tall ones with silvery hair, had come close enough to touch. They were the Salogel, and the female of the two Scouts had bade her to keep her body quiet and her mind still for the Rettii, though not as powerful as the Salogel, would be able to sense her thoughts. She thought it should be disturbing that these Salogel would invade her mind and thoughts, but it wasn't. Gracie welcomed them as they welcomed her. They had to wait though, they had to be careful. The Rettii were small but they were great in numbers and confrontation was not what the Salogel needed or wanted. The Scouts, upon contact with Gracie and Hoshi, had retreated and returned now with more. Gracie could hear them...not all of them...just the female of the species. The words however were soft and shaded...almost...protected. They moved stealthily without a sound, without moving a single leaf or disturbing a single blade of plant, making sure all were untied who had not freed themselves by some other means that Gracie was not aware of. "Quickly, quietly," one of them whispered gesturing for them all to follow the two Scouts that looked back eagerly and impatiently at the group. Gracie felt a hand on her shoulder, it was Archer and he looked to her questioningly. She nodded her head quickly, placing her hand on his and squeezing it gently. 'It's alright,' she thought at him. 'Go, quickly, he can't hear your thoughts,' one thought to her. She was confused not knowing who could hear whom...but it didn't matter, it was time to leave. She followed the blue jump suit in front of her trying to listen to the clouded thoughts passing through her mind. The group reached a small clearing in the forest some ways away from where the crew had been held and they paused as the humans caught their breath. They stood proud now, most easily near six foot tall, even the females, and they watched over the crew in silence. "Who are you?" Archer began immediately. "My name is Bacwin," one of them said softly, stepping forward and bowing low, "I am the leader of this party." "Archer," the Captain replied dipping his head deeply, "I am the leader of this one," he swept his arm as he spoke. "Thank you...for helping us." Bacwin nodded his head, "we must go quickly from this place before the Rettii discover our ruse," he smiled, "then we shall meet formally." "Too late," Hoshi said just as Gracie had felt it. The Salogel and the two women turned towards the forest from where they had just come. The others could only watch curiously sensing or hearing nothing of what the others seemed to. Gracie could feel it, like a slow moving wave across the canopy of the forest, it was rage. It hit her a moment later, a soft pain in her head growing increasingly stronger as the shrill cries of the awful creatures slowly grew in volume. She could see the stuffed cloth laid out where the crew had been kept and the Rettii upon discovering it were enraged. She clasped her hands over her ears trying to block it out even as the rest of the crew looked at her, not hearing the silent screams of the Rettii so far away. "Help them," Bacwin ordered and Gracie felt hands on her immediately, strong hands, lifting her. She could see Hoshi being lifted as well by another as the rest of the crew were shuffled in front of the Salogel, 'to protect them' one of the Scouts thought at her. The group moved quickly then through the forest and the ever-thickening smoke. They stopped only for a moment before bursting into a large clearing where others were waiting. 'Can you walk' one of the females thought at her as she approached. "Yes," Gracie answered and Hoshi echoed. It seemed difficult communicating with them by thought and it was just easier to speak out loud. 'The Retti won't bother you now, come, you will rest soon,' she smiled leading the way. The group traveled slower, now with the danger seemingly passed. Gracie didn't understand why the Rettii wouldn't follow but she was too tired to question. They moved over the clearing and around a small embankment where a river carved it's way through. "Our village was destroyed," Bacwin explained to Archer and the rest, "we were forced to move to another location, a hidden one, in case the Brown ones come back." "Who are the Brown ones?" Archer asked, ever the inquisitive one. Gracie, who had been listening passively grimaced as the picture was sent to her mind. "Do you know?" Bacwin asked her and Hoshi. "Klingons," Hoshi answered, "they're called Klingons." "Klingons...what the hell are they doing here?" Trip chimed in. "They came two suns ago, destroying everything, killing many, yet they demanded nothing. We do not know what their intentions were or what they wanted, but we do know, they will come back. That is why we sent for help." The groups moved through a cave of sort, some sort of strange opening that didn't seem to be there before they were actually in it. Then the canopy opened again and they found themselves in beautiful fields of green dotted with trees adorned in white flowers. The crew stopped, looking around taking in the beauty. A single female moved towards the group. Her hair was silvery blonde like the others and she wore a crown of silver thistle that sparkled off some unseen light. She was as beautiful as she was graceful. The rest of the Salogel bowed low as she approached. It was obvious she was their leader. "My name is Kyrpura. I am the leader of the Salogel. Welcome to Elendil," she said as she smiled warmly. Archer stepped forward, "I am Captain Archer of the Starship Enterprise. I thank you and your people for rescuing us from the...Rettii? Was it?" She nodded, "Yes, the Rettii. They are the forest dwellers of our lands but you have journeyed far. You will rest now and we shall meet at sunrise. I will explain everything then." With that Kyrpura bowed and left. "Come," Bacwin said, "we will show you where you can rest." Return to Itinerary