"It was a sharing experience, so shut your cake hole."

((GM's note: the events in Zoe's section are not occuring at the same time as the events in Kikut and Graythorn's scenes. Zoe's stuff is probably... a day or two behind.))

__Zoe__: During a meeting at court to discuss the disappearance of Gerard and his squad, Zoe backs Visla (Philipe's elvish advisor) into a corner and forces him to concede that sending someone to try to find and aid her brother's unit would be best. She then manages to get Philipe himself to allow her and a small team of scouts to go on the mission, reasoning that if Gerard has been taken by Charles (which the court thinks is likely), a diplomat such as Zoe would be able to negotiate best. She leverages her relationship with her 'dear brother' in this, playing the hypocrite.

__Kikut__: Gerard tries to persuade Kikut to escape their captors and take word of their capture back to the castle. Kikut resists, as this is risky and dangerous and he wants no part of it. The man in black (who had been meeting with Squall) leaves, but not before looking in the direction of the prisoner's pen, murmuring to Squall, and gesturing ominously. Kikut plans his escape (he won't go running off for Gerard, but he'll DEFINITELY run off to save his own hide).

__Graythorn__: After Graythorn realizes he's quite possibly revealed Gerard's noble blood to Nightpaw, he tries (and fails) to convince him to release the rank-and-file soldiers -- keeping only himself and Gerard as hostages. Nightpaw isn't interested in this -- it would be political suicide, with the challenges to his authority that Squall represents -- but he agrees to help the squad with more medical care and to send word to Philipe that the Ratkin have captured someone of importance.

If Graythorn agrees to help Nightpaw in the coming political struggle. Graythorn considers this for a few moments, but in light of what it can gain for 'his' men, is choice is (to him) obvious.

Under The Ratmoon