From the Wild [open]

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon strolled through the woods, not really hunting technically, but on the look out for potential game. Jonathon didn't feel like hunting yet, not so soon after his last trip, but he was bored enough inside the city to go exploring outside. Besides, every moment outside was another moment familiarizing himself with these woods, which is always a good idea for a hunter. Jonathon wasn't watching where he put his feet very well, though...

With a thump, Jonathon smashed to the floor. Cursing and rubbing his various aches and pains, he got up. The thing he had tripped over appeared to be a rock, but next to it... "What the hell kinda tracks are these..." Jonathon kneeled and stared. Like a big rut in the ground... All curvy, like a giant snake? Jonathon, intrigued, followed the tracks, or more accurately track.

This lead to the edge of the woods, near the path around Syliras. Jonathon stared out at the path... and saw his prey. "Caiyha help me... Dhani!" Judging from the position of the two travelers, who seemed quite alarmed and in danger, this Dhani seemed very unfriendly. Without hesitation, he broke from the woods, stealthily working his way towards the Dhani. When only a couple dozen feet away, he drew his bow, placed an arrow in, and pulled it back.

"Hey! Dhani! Get away from those two, or so help me, an arrow will find your heart." Jonathon's voice wavered a bit; he was a hunter, not a warrior. But his aim was straight.

[Sanibelle]

Sanibelle was no fool. She had heard of the Dhani and the things they were capable of doing, though she had never seen one in person. It was surreal, seeing one for the first time, but she could not let herself be fooled by his candy coated conversation. She let out a small snarl, pulling her lips back over her teeth. The sun gleamed off her slightly elongated canines.

With sudden realization, it occurred to her that she was unarmed. Compared to Coba, she was vulnerable. She withdrew a step slowly, towards Coba though still slightly in front of her. She bent her knees, realizing that if this creature was being deceptive with an interior motive, she would have to rely solely on her evasive skills. Her evasive skills, which, were still not that effective. She hadn't really practiced them, seeking as they were composed of acrobatics.

From the woods came shouting, causing Sanibelle to glance up and away from the Dhani, and then back at him. She was instantly stressed. She had never been confronted physically before. She felt useless to Coba. Then, at the sound of the stretching of a bow, she released a growl. Her mind raced for a split second before it registered that the man in the woods was aiming at the Dhani.

She turned her glare back to the Dhani, though still unsure of who was who, and who meant harm or not.

[Coba]

Oh goody. For the love of the gods, all she'd wanted was to leave behind the numerable humans crowded within the walls, but such reprieve had been absent. She was glad to have heard the crisp ground crunch under the sole of the fourth member of their little party, watching him with equal suspicion and slight bloodlust as she kept her eyes on the Dhani. She was not at all eased by the fact his bow was focussed on the Dhani, less so by the quiver she noted in his speech. A brave boy, maybe. But he was not like her. He did not survive by the blood of his enemies. She cared little for the position that the newcomer had taken, quite aware that should he miss what seemed to be his intended target, she would most likely end up with an arrow through her heart, not the snake. His intentions seemed well enough, and she liked the slight advantageous position it claimed. She could sense on Sanibelle a tinge of unease, and realized that of all of them, Sanibelle was the one most at risk. Dammit. She was willing to take off her coat for this woman, and she was not about to have what might be a new friend harmed. It would be a waste of a good gesture. As Sanibelle edged closer to the protection her blade proffered, Coba stepped around the kelvic so she stood between her and the threat presented by the poor idiot that thought she needed saving and the being that had started all this. She noted, though this was not the time for such thoughts, that she really had to clothe the girl. Unlike the sheepish humour found on the snake's face, the snarl on Sanibelle's, or the grim determination on the newest, Coba's face remained rather passive, the mess of red hair had fallen into the top half of her face, obscuring for the most part the maniacal violence in her eyes, though her vision was uninhibited by the veil. Kill. Rip. Kill. Slash. Kill. Bite. Kill. Attack. Kill! Chorused her freer mentality, madness cheering on such thoughts that rose like bubbling acid in her brain, struggling desperately to break through the physical stillness she forced her body under, quivering ever so slightly with the contained energy, balancing on the balls of her feet, waiting for the fight. Oh, how she wanted to attack. But here she must exercise caution. She could see on that snaky face the same studying that she directed on him, feeling that she was being sized up as he hissed at them. She from that got the distinct impression that she was coming up somewhat short on his list of most dangerous things. It was the height, she figured, that always had people thinking of her as rather harmless. No one expected much threat from a small, slim girl, no matter the deadly edge on the blade in her hands. They never expected, and in that advantage they would often find themselves looking down at the knife in their gut and weakly screaming when they felt her teeth at their neck. Even if she was not deft with the sword in her hands, people respected it, despite their lack of impression in her size. It's principals were simple enough: slash, slash slash. It suited her, being able to cut like her right arm was a razor in itself while she delivered the animalistic attack she favoured. Caution, warned the the growing sanity in her as she withheld her violence. She could feel the calm moving through her, though by no means did she relax her stance. And here was the rub. On any other day, somewhere far away from here, Coba wouldn't have hesitated with attack, wouldn't have waited to allow peaceable nature to invade. It was habit to slaughter her enemies with ruthless violence, one that kept her safe. But here, with the city within sight, she had another factor to add to her calculations: the Knights. It would bode ill for everyone, especially Coba, if she ended up with a dead body on her hands. And if she did launch into a fight, Sanibelle would be completely unprotected if she failed. Even tired, this Dhani, white flag waving as he might be, was a worthy enemy, his venom just scratching the surface of the danger her presented. But somehow this entire situation had to be defused. "I believe, everyone, rather unfortunately, it is in none of our interests for this to devolve into madness." Even if her words were tainted with prevailing tranquility, she did not lower her sword. "It seems, that we have a . . . misunderstanding upon us." She did not truly believe that anyone here could be trusted, but it was a start. "I suggest that we might restrain from raising arms for long enough to introduce ourselves. I am Jacoba to you two. I am willing to put this aside myself, and head back to the city for the warmth of a tavern and some good, hot food."

[Nyahna Sasin]

He had heard the man almost as soon as he smelled him. Honestly, the idiocy of these people. He rolled his eyes as the man shouted. Turning to face the hunter, he laughed in disbelief. "A tip for you. If I was as young, inexperienced, and scared, as you obviously are, I wouldn't be standing where, firstly, there's a risk of shooting an innocent, and secondly, I can smell you. You're upwind of me. I could smell you almost the instant you came out of the forest. And if you shoot me, I will be very, very pissed. Very, very." He paused for an instant. "Also, I wouldn't alert me to my presence. Just a tip."

He turned back to the two women before him, noting with an amused smirk that Coba was now in front of the Kelvic. "Smart." He remarked. "Of course, unless she's a mouse or something, I doubt she's exactly defenseless."

He grinned as the human spoke. "Very well said, thank you very much. I am Sasin, by the way. Might I add something?" He turned to the hunter. "Now, I have done absolutely nothing. I have not menaced them, nor have I harmed them in any way. You are pointing an arrow at me, yelling death threats. I could, hypothetically speaking, report you to the guards for threatening an innocent, and possibly racism. So put that weapon down. Someone might get hurt." The double meaning in that sentence was obvious to all.

The part about the guards was, sadly, not true, of course. The guards would most likely say that it was an understandable mistake to make. Still, with a bit of luck and bluffing, the hunter would believe him.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon, if he had been watching the travelers, might have noted their desire to help fight the Dhani. However, what experience he had as a hunter told him to never, ever, ever take eyes from the prey; that invited disaster. The Dhani began to speak, and although it had obvious contempt for the rest of the (presumably) human people, he didn't seem all that dangerous. But could he be trusted?

Jonathon sighed, still looking at the Dhani. Upwind, of course. Duh. Rookie mistake... And possibly your last. To be fair, he was a rookie, though. "Defuse the situation, huh...? And for your information, I'm not as scared and inexperianced as you might think. I could put an arrow between your eyes from this distance, no problem. I have no trouble slaying monsters." Jonathon thought about the situation a moment... Something didn't add up. "Maybe you're right, it could be a misunderstanding. And I'm more prone to believe it from someone I'm trying to help." Jonathon didn't lower his weapon, though.

"But, I feel much, much safer from behind my bow then with it lowered. Coba, if you really think that you and your fellow traveler or whatever are safe enough, I'll lower the weapon. Think carefully. Right now I have a clear shot, whether or not he sees me. We lose that advantage, small as it is against a Dhani, if I lower this bow. If you really, actually, truly trust this..." Jonathon had no words.

"...individual, then tell me lower the bow, and I will." Jonathon sighed again, still keeping his eyes on the Dhani. "As for you, Sasin... I don't think you've hurt them-" He had yet to spare the travelers even a passing glance- "so... It may be possible this is a misunderstanding. I've never met a Dhani before, and the story I heard once about one is all the information I have. I didn't know your kind had the ability to speak..."

Jonathon's words failed him at this moment, but sparked up again. "Ahem. So, tell me, Coba, shoot or not?"

[Sanibelle]

Sanibelle's breathing grew heavy and glazed with low snarls. This "misunderstanding" was beginning to really make her angry. Angry, was actually an understatement. She was tired, hungry, and lonely, despite this posse that had congregated around her. When she had wished for a way into the city gates of Syliras, she hadn't wanted this. A hunter drawing aim, a Dhani swearing innocence, and Coba... Well,Coba had been the only one who appeared to have her head on straight. She had offered her coat. Maybe the coat was cursed and brought about this hellish entourage?

On the other hand, there wasn't much she could do about the situation. She wished she had the ability to obliterate the opposition. She just wanted to pick the coat up, and go with Coba. She smirked at the idea of an introduction. She thought of what a stupid ploy it was. How could she be sure that the hunter and the Dhani were not in cohorts? It seemed likely that he could appear over the hill to "save" them only to hold them hostage at a later date/ Or turn on them right then even, and kill them both.

She had another thought. Her horse. She wasn't sure how to approach the situation. She felt she should have him moved away from the potential possibility of harm. She clicked her tongue, and he backed up a few steps near her and Coba. Maybe if either of the two intended harm, they would strike then assuming she was making a move herself, with Coba. And if not, perhaps they didn't mean harm after all.

[Coba]

To be frank, Coba was hungry, grumpy and no longer interested in fighting. Part of her was disappointed to let the buzz she had worked up anticipating it drain out of her, but she knew that this was neither time nor place. She derived some comfort from the horse as it drew into her circle of influence, watching carefully on the others for signs of aggression. But by now, she figured, if something was going to happen, it would have happened. If the Dhani really had sensed the currently nameless hunter, he would have struck before allowing the man to draw taunt the weapon. It was what she would have done. Even if they were plotting something together, she could always test the theory by telling the hunter to let fly. But if he took her seriously, there would be a problem. A big, dead or severely injured problem. So Coba sighed, yawned bit and said without interest: "I really can't say what anyone's intentions are but my own. It is my opinion that Sasin here would have already taken his chance to strike an armed party before they had raised their guard, if he intended to eat us. Or if you, bowman, were to be in league with him, you would have shot us already. In any case." Keeping her sword in hand in case someone did something stupid, Coba marched over to the place where the coat had been flung, crouched to sweep it up in one hand and walked back to Sanibelle, draping it over her shoulders. "Shoot, don't shoot. You two can duke it out if you wish. I intend to head towards that city," she pointed to make her point exactly clear, "and buy Sanibelle here some lunch, and clothes if need be, and I'll extend the same courtesy to either of you." Even if someone did attempt something funny while she walked back towards the city, they would find that even if her stance aired laxness, she was more then ready to take trophies from anyone who attempted to harm her or her companion. She never sheathed her sword, openly declaring that until she got under the watch of the Knights, neither of them were in the clear from her. Someone would do something. They usually did.

[Nyahna Sasin]

This hunter was ticking him off. Extremely. He did his best to hide it, however, and said nothing. Monster indeed. Sasin sighed softly. What a mess. "This is what I get for trying to help people." He grumbled to himself softly. This was not a good day. At all. There was an idiot trying to be a hero and save the day, a kelvic who was currently naked, a human who looked very annoyed, and to top it off, he was cold and extremely hungry.

What was wrong with this day? He felt like banging his head against a tree again. Ugh.

He smiled at coba's suggestion. "Wonderful. Everyone goes on their way, and there's no need for anyone to get hurt. Now." He said, turning to the hunter. "For the love of Siku, put that thing down. "

Regardless of whether he lowered it or not, Sasin slithered past him at top speed. Within the blink of an eye, he was far away from them. An instant later, he had disappeared into the forest.

A minute later, they would see a young man hop out onto the road, tugging on a boot, falling over backwards before getting up again and dusting himself off.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon sighed, for the third time in as many minutes. Things had gotten out of hand, for sure. Two choices to put it right; arrow or peace? Slowly but surely he disarmed himself, letting the string go limp and putting the arrow back in it's quiver. "All right... I'd like to come, Coba, if only to figure out what is exactly going on... Sasin, since you haven't killed me yet, I-" Suddenly, Sasin lunged towards Jonathon. He barely had time to shout before Sasin had blown right past him into the woods. Jonathon breathed out in surprise. "... apologize..." Jonathon stood there a moment, watching the forest, then he walked onto the path.

"My name is Jonathon DuFraine. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding... You're Coba, and this is..." For the first time since they first 'met', Jonathon actually looked at Sanibelle. He took a step back in surprise. "Uhh... Why...? Forget it, I don't want to know. Or at least I want to talk about it over a meal." Although the coat covered her pretty well, without leggings or shoes or any other kind of clothing, and also from Coba's statement, it was easy to guess how much clothing she had underneath. He extended a hand, first to Coba, then to Sanibelle for a handshake.

A man stumbled out of the forest nearby, one who looked vaguely familiar. Jonathon put two and two together, remembering the story he had been told. Jonathon debated sending him a wave, an apology, a glare, or an arrow, decided on nothing, and decided to just stand there.

[Sanibelle]

Sanibelle was perhaps the least at ease compared to the others. She trusted no one without good reason. Coba had won her trust by blatant kindness. She allowed her to slip the coat over her shoulders, and then shifted underneath it's weight.

She observed quietly as everyone dropped their guard and assumed passive demeanors. The Dhani reappeared as a humanoid, Coba stood at her side, and Jonathon drew closer. She took a step back as he reached out with a hand. Her fierce golden eyes bore into his. With scrutiny she eyed him, observing his features, his stance, his expression. She sniffed at him as she did Coba before the right side of her nose crinkled. She huffed and with a fluid, sweeping stride, she turned and pulled herself atop her horse.

Sanibelle decided she would follow Coba's lead. Although she had just eaten, food still sounded like a marvelous idea. And warmth? How long had it been since she had laid near a fire? Or slept in safety? It felt like ages. Still she would not be swindled by strangers. A handshake.... Puhh. She felt like laughing but maintained composure.

She nudged the horse's haunches, guiding him around and to Coba's side, where she looked down at her, awaiting her move. She drew the coat closer, and looked to the city.
Finally...