Quest A Hunting We Will Go

[Traverse]

Linoa nodded curetly as slender hands placed themselves flush against the Akalak's chest, feelign the gift of Rak'keli surge from Gnosis mark into his flesh. There was something soothing still to be had in such a sensation, and it would be something the combat healer would never tire of in all the years she may or may not have before her.

Her lips pursed at the questions, fingers retracting and sliding down to her hips as she processed return information. "The main group is only a day and a half ride from here." She paused long enough to glance at the widening of the two pairs of eyes fastened on her.

"The reason you haven't found the scouts..." She frowned. "Apart from being slightly off the trail you were to follow, is because they found a large group of Zith making their way to the side of the main force, now both groups have merged as it were, their plan being found out. Every extra body is needed, so I rode out in their stead to meet with you. I'm glad I insisted on coming, you wouldn't have made pique fighters in your state."

Her stern voice and stare were like that of a judgmental mother, but that was quite enough of that. The Konti jogged back to her mount, hopping back into the saddle and waiting...somewhat patiently for the two males to collect their things.

Once they had mounted up Linoa took point of the three riders, setting her Sungold into a steady gallop. A day and a half with the battle surely already under way...they needed to make good time.

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[Razkar]

Once again, Razkar remained silent. The Konti did not mince words and everything she said was relevant. So concise was she that he didn't even feel the need to ask questions. When, where, whom... all were answered.

And, if the Myrian was honest, it did feel oddly nostalgic to have a female to adroitly and fearlessly order around a pair of blatant killers. The note of reproach she bluntly put in her last sentences was clear as day, but she added it without a qualm. Probably because she was right, and that was that.

She was born on the wrong continent...

Packing took a mere chime, even with the Akalak lagging. Razkar waited with the Konti atop Trikken, tent and bedding and everything in else rolled up on the saddle behind him. Riaris had barely settled his rear in his own before the Konti kicked her heels and shot off at a steady gallop.

"Let's go, boy."

He mirrored the woman's actions as best he could but riding was still new to him; especially on the back of such a beast as Trikken. Mrrko was not without fire, but he was as a foal compared to this stark warhorse. Soon the three of them were at a steady but brisk gallop, grasses parting for their mounts, and Razakr grinned, feeling Trikken's joy at being released so.

Feeling his own. Hearing his weapons sing in their sheaths, eager for yet more feasting.

Soon, he promised them as he concentrated on keeping his arse in the saddle, eyes fixed on the promising horizon, soon...

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris felt both soothed and relaxed as the Konti went to work, and if Recoomas had his way and Razkar wasn't around, he'd help the konti to a bit of healing for herself. But that wouldn't be the case and Riaris had been so frustrated with it all that he was more than ready to fight and kill as many Zith as possible. He watched her delicate features, but otherwise kept his brother's mumbles to himself as he listened to her explanation.

"Look at the way she glares at you. As if she could have done any better. She rides out after dawn has come, after all the snarl wings and Zith are dead, and she has the nerve to judge us? I'd like to see her in action, or better yet to PUT her into action...Then we shall see who has the right of judgement." Recoomas' thoughts raged within Riaris' mind but he tried not to let those emotions show through.

Once she headed off to her horse, Riaris grabbed what was left of the rations backpack and got to his horse. He cared little for the tent and bedding and whatever else they had been given, seeing as how he didn't pay for it or was planning to spend another night sleeping in the forest like a dirty Myrian. The bird that he had been given was still in it's cage and setting upon the horse and he doubted that he needed more.

With the konti in the lead, Riaris followed behind her, already dreading the awkward trip by horse. He knew it would be fast, bumpy and sloppy, not the best of times.

[Traverse]

Fast and bumpy it surely was. The Konti led her new companions over the grasslands with the practiced ease of one who rode outside of Riverfall often. Her equine was no Strider, but all three horses were in good shape and sturdy mounts that could take their riders long distances, able to take in the leagues that lay before them.

I will not bore the reader with the exceedingly repetitive landscape of swaying grass that the three riders traversed over the span of that day. Suffice to say that their journey, apart from being sore upon the rear, was quite uneventful. The stray bird, a small herd of Olidosapux, and a nearly cloudless sky was their only scenery that day Syna marking the passage of time as she slowly arced above their heads.

Twice they stopped to water the horses and stretch their legs, two silent times did the Konti stretch her legs, wait in silence with the males, then mount up. She was a serious one, Linoa, but it wasn't as if she didn't have reason to be, and urgency hung in her every step.

Lowering into her cradle that evening, the sun's light sent strong orange and purple hues streaking into a sky that was darkening by the minute, the sky slowly clouding over. Linoa reined in her Sungold and glanced at her two weary companions, giving the slightest of nods. "We can make camp here, put together some food." She glanced up towards where the faintest hint of stars had begun to appear.

"If Leth is with us tonight we can keep riding after we've supped, if not, he shall force us to wait till before dawn tomorrow to continue riding, I won't chance one of the horses going lame if we continue on."

And that...was, well that. Dismounting the Konti began scavenging dried tinder and hard leaves for a fire, the sungold beginning to graze.

x

[Razkar]

Doesn't leave much room for debate, does she?

Razkar snorted at his own backhanded compliment, but there was a smile on his face when he did it. Truly a strong female, and one that knew what needed to be done, when and what to take into consideration. Already she was hunched over in their little clearing, gathering up twig, branches, sticks, any kind of kindling like some pale bird.

The Myrian dismounted and hitched up Trikken to a rotting stump, but one still large enough to keep his truculent mount pinned for the night. Or perhaps not even that long, he reminded himself.

The Konti busied herself and the Akalak dismounted, leaving the Myrian to methodically unload a portion of their rations. Food was the priority, of course; fuel for their fires, and gods knew they would need them come the next day. Within a short while the industrious Konti had begun constructing their fire and Razkar had the rations ready.

For them, anyway. He still had some prime cuts of Zith leftover, and he was not letting them go to waste.

Syna seemed to yawn over the tops of the grass, light from her face shimmering and dancing, waving at them one last time. Dark eyes flickered around the sky, searching for the pale shadow of the moon in the darkening sky.

Choices, choices...

If they moved tonight, all the better, because it bought them closer to the inevitable clash of multi-hued warriors and wing'd monster. But if we must stay, Razkar thought, staring into the tiny embers of the fire the Konti had made, proper respect will be paid on the eve of battle. But that will depend on Leth, and one does not presume to know the minds of gods...

Razkar sat back on his haunches, legs crossed and weapons before him in a neat, ordered row. Gladius, hand ax, kukri, dagger, the two lakan... all of them but the last used that night. Until their decision was made - and the fire was free for his own meal - Razkar would be a silent and absorbed figure by the flames, motionless save for the steady tssssk-tssssk of his whetstone on steel...

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris' ride was not of ease in the least. What a sight it must have been for his enemies or even rivals to see the hulking man bouncing around on the back of the horse with a less than pleasant look on his face. He held tightly onto the reins, doing all he could to stay up while looking like he knew what he was doing. He would glance over at Razkar every so often to see if the Myrian was doing better than he. It was a competition between them for everything and even something as simple as riding wouldn't go unchecked.

He looked to the konti as well, a much better view, and she looked better on horseback far more than he ever would. As much as he admired the konti, Riaris was more interested in the fight to come. Once again he would unleash his rage upon the Zith and they would know the pain and torment from those blessed by Krysus. The ride was long and just as it had been with the Myrian it was as silent. They stopped, took breaks and the only thing of note was the few moments that he was able to watch the woman stretch her legs.

Once they stopped, for seemingly the final time for the night, Riaris maneuvered off his horse and led it to a place when he could keep watch of it. Once that was done, he headed off to help the konti gather anything they could use for the fire. He didn't bother with small talk and used his long arms to snatch up as many sticks as possible and dropped them into a use for the fire.

[Traverse]

It didn't take long before a small pile of sticks piled up, with an auxiliary stack beside them and a small trench dug around and grass cleared to make sure no fire spread.

It seemed that this Konti had more than a few tricks up her sleeve, for instead of working laboriously over twisting a stick to make a spark, or hacking flint against steel, she merely aimed her hand at the small pit, and blew. A soft curl of orange flames lifted off her skin, and the careful eye could see a strange pink mist form there before igniting into flames. The tiny sparks caught upon the kindling at the base of the construction, and soon a pleasant crackling surrounded them.

Linoa's eyes constantly went up to the sky, checking to see if the moon would grace them with his presence. She did not wish to delay any further, but they all needed to eat regardless.

From her own light saddle bags the Konti drew a series of strange vegetables, native of the Sea, mostly tap roots and tubers. Pouring some sort of oil on them she placed them around the outskirts of the fire in the small amount of ashes that had already formed, letting them heat that way.

"If you care for them, you can help yourself." She said as an aside, sitting back and watching the two males fend for themselves. Her legs crossed beneath her, and lavender eyes flicked between her companions towards the sky periodically....waiting.

x

[Razkar]

The Myrian waited for his companions to eat first, out of respect. He was, after all, the visitor in their lands, and what sense was there insulting those who might save his life and he theirs come the dawn? Once their rations were prepared, steaming skewers of Zith meat were soon sizzling over the flames, Razkar hungrily watching them as their skin blackened and that familiar stench teased his nostrils.

Then the Konti spoke. He blinked, genuinely surprised. He hadn't been expected an offer of food... and his eyes lowered to the vegetables. He assumed they were vegetables anyway, but they looked almost like... coral. Or petrified fungi. The Myrian cautiously extended a hand, picked up one up... sniffed it suspiciously... then bit down... chewed...

A pleasurable sound that the Konti was not expected broke the silence, and Razkar nodded, smiling.

"My thanks, Mistress..."

He grabbed a couple more of the strange but succulent growths and ate them with his sizzling, dripping meat. He caught her eyes on him and the Myrian realized he was being remiss in his manners. Without preamble and shame, but with a certain ceremony, Razkar selected the choicest cut and extended it towards her with both hands.

"For you kindness."

That was all he said, and despite the sudden revulsion in her eyes, he left the skewer where it was. Balance was important. She had been kind to him, offered him sustenance... what was he if he did not reciprocate? Kindness did not come easily in their world; it should not be ignored when it was revealed.

Then the Konti frowned anew as the Myrian began to carefully gather the still-hot ash, placing handfuls into a small bag. Puffs of the desiccated wood, black and smoky, partially obscured him... but she knew instantly when his black eyes swiveled onto her again, and saw the flash of his white teeth.

"For later," he said, serious voice at odds with his smile, "If stay tonight, make offering. This help."

Once again he retreated into silence, chewing silently at the roasted Zith and warmed sea cucumbers, wondering idly if she had any salt on her... and casting an occasional but piercing eye skywards, willing for Leth to show his face and end their uncertainty.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

There was something to be said about the world, and the different races in it. They were similar, different, liked in some areas and disliked in others. Riaris was seated beside a Myrian and Konti, two very different and interesting races, for very different reasons. It was true, Riaris had gained respect for the man in battle and couldn't' deny his abilities, but the way that he ate in front of the woman was inexcusable.

Did Myrian women like such displays of dog-like behavior? He attempted to offer the woman an apologetic glance, but all that showed was irritation and boredom. He was ready to fight more, needed to unleash his furry upon more Zith. It wasn't often that he was able to completely loose control and allow his rage to consume him, so when ever such a chance came by, he was more than ready to take it.

He watched the woman with Razkar, her expressions at what he did and said, and the hulk of a man could only shake his head. There was no need to comment, the woman could handle herself he was sure, and if she had something to say to the Myrian he doubted she'd hold back her tongue. Riaris watched them both more, before closing his eyes to the world. He let his hands rest in his lap and calmed his mind so that he could meditate.

If they were going to stay for the night, then he felt that he should recenter him form. The Akalak didn't need much sleep as he had already did so and hadn't fought since, which left him with ample energy to spin. If the Myrian and Konti wanted to speak, he would watch his companions back as he had for the past few days and he would also watch any part of the konti that she desired.

Riaris breathed in and out slowly, pulling himself from the world around him and into his own mind. He could feel his muscles loosen up and cooling effect washing over him as everything went away and nothing remained.

[Traverse]

While the Konti had been all business and professionalism up to that point, there was something exceedingly feminine in the way her face curled up, nose twitching, lips pulled as the Myrian offered her the slab of meat. She declined it with a simple shake of her head, and couldn't help but smirk as she saw the look of annoyance written upon the Akalak's face when she glanced over. Men.

Once dinner was finished she vaguely observed the Myrian gather his ashes, curious as to these barbarian rituals, but not enough so to keep her eyes from the sky for long. She did not wish to spend a night out here when surely now in the darkness the fight had already begun to rage. They would have need of her healing, and these two males' fighting prowess.

The sky was overcast, she could see it by the way some pockets of familiar stars were blotted out in darkness, the night almost fully upon them.

But then...then all three saw Leth emerge simultaneously, round and full from his gibbous state the night previous. Linoa leaped up, and knew she had no need to instruct her companions what to do. A triumphant smile was upon her features, and a whispered word to Leth was all she needed before the fire was stamped out and the three were back on their horses.

Tonight, Zith would die.

Once more she set the pace, and once more they followed. If the moon's light disappeared the horses were slowed to a trot until it re-emerged, and thus they crossed the Sea, guided by the pale counterpart of Syna through the night.

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