(no subject)

Kendra: *peeking around DB at the fox, back enough to not get bitten if the animal does get hostile. She meets the fox's gaze.* Can you talk?

Zeirik: Don't be silly. Animals can't talk.

Jerrin: *normally he'd say the same, but this is /his sister/ asking, and so he's studying the fox.*

Fox: *lifts its head and glances around but then won't look at anyone.*

DB: *looks down at the fox . . . shifts his hold to pick him up and hold him at eye level, checking him out*  Uh . . . do you?  Talk?

PJ: *claps the back of his head*  Drill Boy!  Like Zeirik said, don't be stupid.

DB: *ducks from him*  Hey!

Fox: *soft whine at being moved, ears flattening when DB asks...and is struck for it........ * ....yes. *the answer is soft, but DB, Kendra, and perhaps PJ will hear.*

PJ: *jaw goes /slack/, optics bright*

DB:  Ha!  I was right!  *looks at Kendra*  /You/ were right.  *to PJ, triumphant*  We were right!  *cradles the fox back into his lap, looking pleased*

Dmps: *frowning over at them*   Right about what?

DB: *points at the fox*  He talks!

GM:  *been standing at the edge of the clearing, but right everyone's making so much noise, standing guard is almost pointless, so he crosses to get a closer look*  Last I heard, animals don't talk, Drill Boy.  Not even on /this/ world.

DB:  Yeah, well, they said the same thing about Deckard, didn’t they?  "That's impossible, robots aren't intelligent, they can't talk!"  But he does.  We all do.

PJ: *to the fox*  What's your name?

Fox: *voice soft, strained with pain, but louder so he can be heard.* Kemen.

Kendra: */beams/ up at DB.*

Inami: *wow...but she needs to prepare these medicines...*

DB: Kemen . . . pleased to meet you.  I'm-

Dmps:  Kemen, who hurt you and tied you to that tree?  And why?

DB: *gives Dmps a dirty look for the first instant at being interrupted, but that's forgotten when the questions register, looks down at Kemen for the answer*

Kemen: ...Demons. They needed no reason. Though as I'm Inriomai, I am an enemy.

Dmps: ………demons?  This close?

*The Braves all exchange looks, even DB /serious/.  There's no need for discussion – they'll step up their security measures.*

Inami: Demons....they.... *frowns* And were they planning to come back for you?

Kemen: I don't know.

Inami: .... Drill Boy, Dumpson. Where did you find him? How close to the den?

Dmps: *tells her*

Inami: *frowns.....* I think we should head back to my den.  It’s smaller, but farther from where those demons will be searching, farther from there than this place.  ...I hope Terris decides this is a good move, else we’ll have nowhere to go...