#fenixtj

Around the corner she hears a scream, and an animal snarl!

Sounds like it found other prey.

Jessica heads in that direction.....

and Jessica's long legs mean she doesn't do it slowly. She races to find a boggan childling flat on her back, the jaguar chimera choking her with the smog it is made of so she cannot breathe or speak.

She doesn't hesitate, using her speed to provide more impact with the maul as she barrels into the jaguar.

The great cat is partly intangible, but unfortunately for it, that 'part' is not what the maul strikes! The chimera is slammed away from the girl and into a wall. It turns, screams, and then leaps towards Jessica's head. The question of whether Jessica would be fast enough to swat it away before it could claw her nose off goes unanswered though, as an arrow strikes it through the neck and... this, coupled with the maul damage, turns it into mist.

Jessica's arms are coming up to protect her head as the arrow strikes and the jag evaporates.

"Hokahey, too tall. Little girl all right?"

She lowers them slowly, then looks around for the archer.

Straight Raven hair, copper skin, these are not rare things in Mexico... but this fellow does not look like the typical latino. The eagle feather in his hair and the fact he is a fae of some sort makes it easy to guess what he is, in general.

The little boggan girl looks with terrified eyes at the Nunehi with the bow.

"Thank you." Gravely. Then she turns to the little girl. "Sssshhhh...." comforting, she kneels "Are you hurt?"

"Yes. I .. is he ..going to shoot me next? I hear stories about raids and... dark native dreams." THe little girl says.

"If he does, he'll have to shoot me first. But I don't think he is." Jessica turns to the native.

The brave says "Dark native.. wow.. out of the mouths of the young. Relax young lady. I'm off the Cherokee dreams. We are much beloved... except of course by the Yamasee, the Creek, the crow hated our guts...the Iroquois kicked us out... but other than that, loved, much loved." The man smiles "And we don't sacrifice folks on altars to make the sun rise."

Jessica stands. "I'm Jessica King." She offers her hand.

"John Longfeather.. I Know, I know, terribly cliched name" He has put his bow away and is shaking the hand, "So you're Jessica King? Damn. It would be awesome to be named John Chief. You're the person I've come looking for , your excellency."

The boggan girl has scratches, only one cut to worry about, but she's breathing regular now.

Jessica offers her hand to the childling. "I'll walk you home."

The boggan says "Gracious. Chapulleh"

and takes it.

To John, she says "Will you walk with us, and then we can return to Fenix and speak?"

"Sure thing. I take it by the little girl's reaction there to me, Nunehi and Kithain peace talks are not a done deal and we are not all singing kumbyia and sharing pepsis' in a 'racism is over' moment?"

Jessica nods. "I cannot seem to get them to the table."

As they walk.

"Well, that's why I'm here, the Duke requested help from someone who might have a better chance than a Western Kithain to give some insight. Unfortunately for you, to the rest of what you call Concordia, the dreams down here border on the distant cousin. Flayed men, Snake people...obsidian warriors... it's a far cry from water dwellers, dancers, hunting guides an so on on up in El Norte. But I figured I'd try. My Family isn't known for its warriors but we're extremely good looking and we try to honor the old ways and so on. In short, they might open up to me because I am, however distantly, related to them. Don't worry, I'm not likely to just jump to 'White kith bad' stuff. Worked too long with some Gwydion who actually respect us. Heard your mom was a big name in the House and that made me think maybe I could trust you to be a square dealer."

"Are you Gwydion yourself?" She asks politely.

"Ha. No. Far as I know there aren't five Nunnehi that have joined a House. Honestly, a lot of us sided with the nobles mostly to screw over the Commoner Kith who had screwed us over first."

The little girl's spanish is better than her English "What is it meaning 'screw over'?"

An embarrassed look crosses John's face, "As you can see, I have real people skills"

"Um. Cheat. The commoner kith cheated his people." Jessica.... is close.

"Oh" The girl says "Wait, I .. boggans cheated the indians?"

"SOME boggans." he says "And some trolls. And some redcaps. And some satyrs. Just like some Nunehi did bad things too." John says "Mostly a lot of us are ticked because we didn't do bad things as effectively, but that's neither here nor there. THe point is, you have no reason to fear me just because I'm different, and I shouldn't hate you because of what you may or may not have done in a past life. We can fix what needs fixing better with peace than war"

Jessica nods. "Wise."

"I know right? Got it off a bubble gum wrapper" John smiles "Had this little cowboy guy pontificating."

"You like cowboys?" The boggan girl says sounding surprised.

"Many Native Americans love cowboys..." John explains, then adds "Often with barbecue sauce and a little bit of garnish on the side "

Her eyes widen

"Kidding... kidding..." He syas

"John, where in Concordia do you come from?"

"Lots of different places' He fakes a scottish accent "Cherokee got split, as you may or may not know by the infamous trail of tears. May Andy Jackson face burning anal pinecones in hell and never grow to enjoy it... so eastern band, western band... North Carolina to Oklahoma...but a certain Gwydion King 'went native' and Greyhawk caught our interest there... so a lot got invited to his court. Guess you could say I've traveled. I teach cherokee ways to mortals and fae alike, I listen to their stories and try to be fair, and I also sometimes shoot people when they don't listen. It's all part of diplomacy."

"Have you been to Apples?"

"I have been to every kingdom in Concordia at one time or another. " He answers "If only for a week or so. Sometimes on mortal business rather than fae."

She nods. When they reach the childling's place, she make sure sh gets in safe.

The parents are very grateful and take her in to tend to her minor injury. As the girl explains to her parents about the chimera, they thank Jessica profusely!

"My honor and my duty." She assures them.

No doubt Jessica will be getting a whole butt load of food or hand made garments she doesn't need despite it being her duty. Oen thing she's sure of, if she were elected, she'd have the local boggan vote on lock.

After making the right manners, she continues towards Fenix with John. "You came seeking me?"

"I was told you wanted a tonto to your lone ranger, though.. Tonto in spanish means stupid if I Recall so... John if you don't mind" Longfeather smiles, "I heard about what you're trying to do here. The Duke is a smooth talker, and I thought heck, I'll take the job if I can tolerate her. So far? You seem tolerable"

"Thank you." Dryly.