Liwei nodded. "Let's do both. We might have to do a bit of planning, though," he said, chuckling softly. They were approaching the river. Through the slightly open window beside him, he could hear the churning of water over the rumble of the vehicle. "So, should we just let her go?"
From the back of the van, Misha let out an indignant grunt. "Sure as hell will," she hissed. She stared out the shaded windows of the back of the van. The scenery was much more familiar, here, and she felt less anxious. She crawled back over the seat as Liwei slowed the car. "Anything else, huh? You want fries with that?"
Misha slid to the ground with a tentative thud as her feet hit the edge of gravel and pavement. Her eyes moved from the ground, up to the towering trees beyond the road, and then back to Mona. "Well, I'm here."
Misha grins awkwardly. She takes a short step towards Mona and fist bumps her instead. She gives a quick nod and then slides down the embankment and back into the forest, breaking into a run in the direction of the Brom camp as soon as she touched even ground.
Liwei glances at the exchange from the drivers seat. He leans with one arm on the wheel. "Wow," he said flatly. "That was like releasing a baby deer." He pauses for a moment, stroking his chin. "Or maybe a bear?"
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Fabine scowls a bit. "Hard to be impartial when you hate the Rabin leader as much as I do. I'd much prefer slit her throat. But as a member I'd be worried about her fellow Rabins hearing and trying to interfere."
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"How could we lure away from the camp a bit then?" Vera murmured half to herself. She blinked and glanced at Fabine. "Isn't Sacha the kind of weak leader that would blindly run to help anyone in trouble? Aya, too." She paused for a moment and nodded, deciding that this strategy may work. "For example... Maybe if they heard a young-sounding girl crying for help in the opposite direction of the camp?" she suggested, watching her leader carefully for his reaction.
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Fabine shrugs as he listens. He didn't think that would work, but wasn't going to respond unless she directly asked. "Sacha is weak. She's an archer who can't make a bullseye at 10 feet. "
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Vera frowns slightly, noting that he didn't seem to approve of her plan. She went back to the drawing board and hesitantly suggested, "What if I grabbed Aya? Could you goad her into giving herself up?" She had such little knowledge of the Rabin leader's personality and strategy, so she was intent on getting Fabine's approval before executing anything risky.
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"Goad her how?" Fabine asks. "It could work, I really doubt Sacha would keep prisoners at the expense of her own group mates life."
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Vera chuckled softly. "Well believe it or not, Fabine, you have a way with getting under people's skin and causing them to act quite irrationally," she pointed out, but said so in a gentle way. "Just make sure she does what we say."
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"You actually want me to do that?" Fabine raises an eyebrow then shrugs. "Just tell me what I need to do."
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Vera nodded. "You said you hated her to a point that clouded your judgement. The same is probably true of her." She paused and reminded herself that this was still her mission. "I'll grab Aya and start talking with Sacha, but I think it'd be best if you arrive at the same time as me and keep Sacha at bay with your dagger," she instructed. "If she's not cooperating, I'll signal you, and try guilt-tripping. Convince her to trade us our prisoners for their healer."
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Fabine nods. "Sounds like a plan. Do you have a backup if she doesn't cooperate?" He asks, pulling out his dagger.
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"We take Aya as our own prisoner until she changes her mind... Or until her group members start dying without a healer," Vera muttered. She strung her bow onto her back and began hustling silently towards the voices.
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Fabine nods and follows, eager to mess with Sacha. She was such a righteous fool it wouldn't be hard.
Aya had been entirely unprepared for her kidnapping. Not only that, but she was physically weak. She let out a weak scream, confused by what was happening. "Sacha! Sacha, help!" She struggled pathetically against Vera's hold but only managed to make it more uncomfortable for herself.
