38 Searing 123
This was quite the blunder on Dakkur's part as it would have saved him a lot of grief but knowing of course could be considered as a benefit he had earned on this day. Why did he indeed rush himself just to catch up, struggle with the confusion of following two routes- his own and those he was tracking, nearly trip himself into one of the biggest rocks he had ever seen in his haste, miss out on that fairly untouched house which looked like there were a whole lot of things ripe for picking. Why? Because after living in the grimy, filthy, vile and dangerous ruins of Zaichaer for so many seasons- actually why count it in seasons when it had been years?!, Nonetheless just looking at the street signs has become a skill he had long forgotten and while his spirit stuck in the pocket could not see them, he could still hear them. Fortunately cultural differences aside, the streets had very distinct names that even with the strong accent of some of the soldiers he could still tell which ones are which. Well it had to be that way to still be practical for those soldiers too. How else were they going to relay orders and information from one another if there is a risk some of them could not even understand?
'Sheckle Alley, Smoke Stack, Verowa Endl' Boy these expats have the flair for the dramatic. If he remembered right from eavesdropping into the soldier's conversations, the first was the nice place most of the people lived, ...where most of the damage and deaths had been. Dakkur pay a visit there later as unlike the soldiers who chose to avoid that spot until the end, he had no attachment to the people there to worry about losing morale and it was where he believed there were the things he could use. The second was the same although... he was nowhere close to the Dratori, Hytori, and Fae, chances while there are things he could use, they would not suit his purposes. Pass! The third? Well there would definitely be something which suited his purposes there but he would just leave it to end too. He might get put off seeing himself in some of the victims and he would not want to add to their number just yet. Better to let the soldiers do their thing first.
However knowing where they were headed to made it easy for Dakkur to decide on his next move. They were now at Sheckle Alley and waiting for another group so they could do some clean up establish a perimeter and whatnot before working their way back and doing the same with all the other districts. While there was no way they could properly clean out the Knob so soon, they decided the best way is to do it little by little as manageable chunks. The more manageable chunks, the better for them but Dakkur was under no illusion that it would be better for him since it would be easier for them to spot him in his attempts and stop him from accomplishing anything. Dakkur was going to have to wait until they did their first sweep to get the more courageous and aggressive of the shadows out of the way and then have them occupied with establishing their perimeter before he moves in himself. "No it won't take longer than today. Just relax and you'll be home in no time." he did not need to be reminded of the limited timeframe he was working within, or his agreement with the earth spirit he employed.
But until then? Dakkur was quite aware the soldiers had already at least worked on the first few buildings of each of the districts. If assuming the earliest ones were already safe... "just stay there for a little while longer so I can listen in. I'll be close. Just doing something else. Dakkur went to the bigger buildings close to him. Testing each door, the first he found unblocked and unlocked, he opened with an echoing "hello?" obviously no shadows would reply but as none came out to greet him either, he entered with an eye out on each crevice and corner. A large toobyefor at the corner which caught his eye became his makeshift weapon as he ventured in deeper. Tippy toes as he went up, 'creak' went some old stairs and floorboards. 'Creep, creep, creep, creaaaaak, moan, creep, creep, mooooan, creep creep, creak... chitter?' That did not sound natural at all. Dakkur peeked the corner, saw a shadow but it was smaller than the usual. Perhaps that was the reason it was not outside to be culled with its fellows? It seemed to be too occupied with something to notice the lumbering moratallen nearby so Dakkur took the initiative.
'Creep, creep, creep, creep, creep, hhhuuuufffffffff, thud! Slam! Slam! Slam! Bash! Bash! Bash! Crrrrraaacckk? Stab, stab, stab, hisssss.' In less than a minute the shadow was no more with no one the wiser. But just to be sure Dakkur took out his pistol. 'Bash! Bash! Bash! Bash!' Great. Now he was sure. Now what had this shadow so occupied that it did not even "eeeeekkkk....?!" Fortunately Dakkur stopped himself from being surprised too much. While the summoner had seen some things, spirits and the weird raw materials he worked with for runesmithing still would not be able to make an eviscerated rat any less disgusting or a shocking sight. 'Blarghhhhh' whatever he chucked up unto the rat in that spur of the moment did not make it look any better even if it was masking a lot more of the innards so it was easier on Dakkur's eyes but now it started to smell too. Even more than the rot of two years which would have already faded out. His objective remained unchanged, just with one more reason. He needed a window both for the view and now some fresh air.