Grass, Blood, and New Beginnings.[Merenwen, Ronan Windsong]

[Merenwen]

Merenwen thought the process over in her mind and nodded. She, too, looked towards the sun. It had been a while since she had a good sleep. Poor hunting often leads to an empty stomach, which in turn leads to hunger pains. And Merenwen had never met anyone who slept well under the gnawing conditions of hunger pains. She looked down at her belly again, patting it as a long yawn parted her lips. It was in her nature to sleep during the day, and prowl around at night. Today had been an interesting exception.

She looked back at Matthial with a lofty grin, "It's not the run I'm worried about; it's making sure you two can keep up!" She laughed and laid over, shutting her eyes. There was no denying her exhaustion as it soon overtook her, casting her into the bowels of sleep.

[Matthial]

For a while Matthial watched both his companions sleep, and then stood up. He circled the small camp several times. Watching the sun was a boring task, as it never seemed to move. He usually used landmarks to tell how far it had moved, but out among the plains it was best to use shadows for exact times. It was several hours before Matthial found himself watching the sun set. He found comfort it watching the sun give the sky to the moon, but he wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the solitude. He always found himself watching the dusk alone. Turning around, the man shook Ronan's shoulder before moving to the Kelvic, and gently pushing on hers. Satisfied that both his companions where awake, he gathered up his pack and waited for them to rise to their feet.

[Merenwen]

Merenwen awoke to Matthial gently shaking her shoulder. She was glad he didn't find it necessary to give her a slap on the back or some such. Immediately her feline eyes were adjusted to the dark atmosphere, and she took solace in the fact that her nap had enlightened her into such a splendid mood. As she thought of her task in the coming activity, she turned onto her belly, and stretched as far as her body would extend. A grin crossed her face as she shut her eyes, allowing herself to shift into her lynx form.

Her paws gripped the ground as she arched her back with a playful yowl. She arched the other way, and then sat on the ground near Ronan. Merenwen was awake and ready.

[Ronan]

Ronan blinked into the sun. By the God's, I actually had a decent sleep! How long have I waited for one of those? As he sat up, he saw Merenwen up and ready too. Matthial was just standing there, seemingly lost in deep thought, hands on his head. He wondered what the swordsman and the Kelvic had discussed while he'd been asleep. Had they planned and plotted? Or maybe they'd just bickered, he thought with a hint of a smile. Ronan realised nights veil had begun fall... the hunt was about to begin. "Are you feeling ready for your little mission Matthial?" He watched the swordsman come out of thought and look up at his question. Anticipation was crackling in the air, and as Ronan's body fully awoke, the terrible, looming presence returned. Fear, and something else. Something darker, watching from the shadows...

[Matthial]

Matthial laughed. "Always. Simple plan really. Merenwen is going to distract the slavers during the slave walk, we move in, grab the boy, and get out. Try not to kill if you don't have too. This is our meeting place, and once everyone is here, I am returning to Endrykas for the parents. You are free to do whatever you please." With this said, Matthial slid his pack under some dead grass, and strapped the shield to his arm. Motioning for the others to follow, he stepped into the grasses. He knew where the spot was, simply because it was the only wide-open space for miles. It was a small plateau looking area where caravans often stopped. He figured they would be about there, and it would take Matthial and his companions a few hours to trek there, and prepare for dawn's attack.

[Merenwen]

Merenwen bounded forward after Matthial, headlong into the grasses. She kept slightly away from the two men, keeping her ears and eyes open for any tasty creature that happened to cross her path.

Her mind was flittering with excitement as she crisscrossed to Matthial's other side to scout for a snack. All the while, she remained focused on their mission. She knew if she were in her human form, she would have been bouncing and senseless. She hadn't been in a confrontation in a long while. It was one of those occasions she didn't exactly enjoy, but it certainly helped her blow some steam off.

She stopped to scratch her ear for a moment before leaping forward again. There was no denying she was prepared to cause a ruckus.

[Ronan]

As they began to walk, Merenwen bounded off, her eyes flitting between the grasses - searching, seeking. Matthial's stride was more purposeful, and his countenance spoke volumes. He had a mission to complete, and failure was not an option. As Ronan walked he pulled out his brother's dagger, fingers sliding across the knot work once again. This time he was not pondering on the past though - instead, he was fearing the future. Should he tell the others about his divination, or would they only shoot him down with their laughter? In all his years of practising his mothers art, never had he felt that feeling earlier in the gully. A rising shadow. Piercing eyes. That shaky sensation returned, unease washing over his whole body. Something was imminent. He turned to Matthial with a pained expression. I have to say something! "We're in danger."

[Matthial]

Matthial blinked and observed the other man out of the corner of his eye. Without turning his head he nodded. "Yes, neither the guards nor the caravan master will take lightly to their stock being stolen. They will want blood. You don't have to do this you know." Ronan must have started to realize how truly dangerous what they where about to do really was. Matthial had his own reasons for doing what he did. Yet he didn't expect anyone else to have his blind conviction. "I'll be fine. So will the boy."

[Merenwen]

Merenwen paused in the grasses, listening to Ronan's fearful plea. She stood tall, but the tips of her ears folded backwards on themselves. She saw the terror in his eyes, sensed his anxiety. Something was off, she was sure. Yes, they were positively headed towards certain danger, something they had all established as a group. The stealing of a young boy from a slaver caravan wasn't exactly going to be a leisurely chore. Beyond the verification of definite peril Matthial had noted when telling his plan, why would Ronan find it necessary to point it out? She thought back, once again, to Ronan's voice, declaring he had saved Matthial's life once again. This countered any suspicion Merenwen held that Ronan was frightened. He didn't seem to be afraid up until now. What could he possibly suspect...?

[Ronan]

Ronan bristled as Matthial waved his fears away. He seemed to be saying that Ronan could leave if he was scared. But that wasn't it. The naive swordsman did not understand. Ronan reached for Matthial's arm and grabbed it, turning him round. "Listen to me," he demanded, "this isn't just the normal danger we're all prepared for." He let go, turning to Merenwen too. "I divine.. fortune tell. And something isn't right. Something just isn't right." He waited for their responses, feeling their eyes bore into him. He couldn't just let them run headlong into this. That shadow... it wasn't just some petty slaver trying to sell a child. There was something murkier beneath the surface, something foul and festering. "Please, just listen."