Crossover Escape: Gotta be more than Lucky to survive

2.23 Means of Stealth

After four hours of marching across the plains the group was collectively tired, hot, and getting low on water. Luca had asked an hour ago for Ghost and Räv to see if they could find a water source.

“Hey Shade, how much can a skinwalker mimic of a person?” Luca asked as they walked. They’d wandered off the topic earlier and he’d not gotten a full explanation on what could be used to identify one. Jokes aside he didn’t want to rely on his instincts to try and pick them out.

“They mimic, looks language and an ability to a limited extent. For example the magic they used when pretending to be your friends is probably only a third of their actual abilities.” Shade explained. Luca nodded and then repeated the explanation for Declan, Räv and Holly who wouldn’t have understood.

“Does that include athletic abilities?” Luca asked he needed to note what he could check for each person.

“You want to find something to check amongst your friends? They will not be able to replicate your athletic abilities or Räv’s metal magic that will be too foreign. Language is the only thing they manage without having an initial understanding.”

“What about Ghosts stealth?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure how stealthy –”

“Found water,” Ghost appeared at Luca’s elbow as he spoke cutting Shade off. Shade jumped like a scalded cat as he stared at the newly re-appeared man. Luca remained calm as he’d noticed the approach on the map even if he didn’t know how he managed to stay out of sight. Though Luca liked the tone Ghost had used not at all.

“They will not be replicating that,” Shade muttered as he looked at Ghost as if he couldn’t understand what he’d just seen or more accurately not seen.

“What’s the bad news.” Luca reached out and patted Shade on the shoulder in sympathy he’d get used to it.

“Is beside centaur camp.” Ghost gave Shade an amused look that said he’d be taking every opportunity to scare him that he got.

“Of course it is, naturally their camps would be near a water source.” Luca sympathised with Tails bitterness even if no one was surprised by this bit of information. Unfortunately even though they’d stocked up at the river they needed to drink in the heat of the planes and that meant they needed more water.

“How close to the water is the camp and were if the water sourced from?”

“15 metres and is fed from underground.” Ghost shrugged as if to say no problem, unfortunately some of the group wasn’t that stealthy. Still fifteen metres was outside the visual range they might be okay.

“Shade, how are the senses of the centaurs?” Luca directed the question of the only native in their group.

“Senses? There sight is normal their hearing and smell about the same as the beasts.” Shade responded with a frown he clearly didn’t understand why Luca asked. Tails and Räv looked grim while Declan looked thoughtful. Ghost chuckled and vanished clearly heading back

“I hate sneaking round animals they always notice something.” Tails bemoaned to the world at large.

“Räv I don’t think that’s a nice way to call them.” Räv’s tone was joking as she prodded at Tails.

“Well gee I must have lost my manners somewhere when I was running for my life,” Tails retorted in a dry tone.

 “I might be able to mask our scent and muffle the sound slightly?” Declan offered with a slightly raised hand.

“That would be very useful, though I hate to ask why you didn’t do that earlier?” Luca didn’t want to poke at him but if that was something he could add to the camouflage it was strange to only offer it then.

Declan scratched the back of his head looking somewhat embarrassed before he replied, “I never really thought about it. It’s not something we tend to need at home, can’t use magic with the humans. It just occurred to me when you started talking about dodging animals and I thought about your request for the sunshield.”

“Alright then so what’s your magic plan?” Luca wanted an explanation because even though he knew nothing magic he was aware that he was placing trust in Declan’s intentions. Therefore he wanted to know what was supposed to happen, so he’d have some idea if it was wrong. Though he figured there was the chance that Declan could just make things up.

If he did that though he’d have to fool both Help and Shade who were likely not as uninformed. Besides nothing about Declan had really pinged as suicidal or against them at this stage. He felt safe enough with Declan particularly when he needed help to save his friends and go home. Just Like the skinwalkers could be trusted in the wilds where they were on menu.

“Two spells, one that mirrors the surrounding scents and one that crates a vacuum just out from us to stop sound traveling.” Luca was quite on board with the first option the second though.

“A vacuum? What about air for us?” Declan opened and closed his mouth for a few minutes before he started muttering to himself seemingly counting on his fingers as he went. Luca checked Ghosts’ position on the map not to far away maybe fifteen minutes.

“I got it I can do a tube; it will stop sound traveling across while letting air through from the top.” Declan declared his tone was a bit loud and Luca snapped around to stare at him before swivelling to check all the way around. “Oops,” Declan apologies in a much quieter tone before he quickly cast his magic. Once the spell was cast another thought occurred to Luca.

“Does magic have scent?” the dampening spells would be essentially useless if they magic would be noticeable itself.

“A scent? Not really more like a sensation. They will notice if they pass through it.” Shade tilted his hand from side to side as he spoke as if to indicate that it wasn’t quite accurate to say feel but it was a close as he could describe it.

“Certain witches can see magic traces but I’m masking my magic, there will be a sensation as if someone is staring at you that people notice if they pass through.” Declan looked at Shade after he finished speaking before offering an explanation of his own since he hadn’t understood what had been said he clearly wanted to make his own observation.

Luca nodded in thanks then paused mid step. “Do centaurs have witches? Is that a race thing or a talent thing?”

“it’s a race thing. They are maybe able to use specific magic, but it won’t be witch magic.” Declan shook his head as he spoke.

“Centaurs have shamans, and they specialise in weather magic.” Shade started speaking at the same time as Declan but stopped and waited for him to speak before he spoke. Luca nodded at the pair and then quickly repeated the whole conversation for translation purposes. That was going to get old fast he needed to find a better solution then repeating things and relying on the translation magic from the crystal to get the information across. The main issue was that there hadn’t been the chance for any language lessons given the constant attacks. Still that needed to happen somehow.