Grand Quest (Sharub & Kosmik_Khaos

[Sharub]

PROLOGUE​

Like in any major city, the Adventurer's Headquarters were used to design the very center of the town, making it a vibrant and thriving area with shops and inns of every kind and for every pocket, from the smelly and greasy holes in the overshadowed narrow roads to the brightly lit and expensive Taverns in clean and rich squares, well-known for having welcomed Kings and legendary heroes in their rooms. Such places would see any kind of race of every nation of the world, each of them seeking different paths, but most would agree on three simple things: Gold, Fame and power.

Despite being quite early in the morning, the area sorrounding the Adventurer's Guild of Poh'Rey was already crowded, with its streets already alive and loudly announcing in any language that another profitable day was starting. Knights in shining armors and newbies in ragged clothes and rusty swords queued in front of the massive building that housed the Guild, with its dark stonebricks almost menacingly rising and rising over the lightly coloured houses and mansions nearby.

Like a town inside a town, the GuildHall offered the same loud and lively atmosphere of a traveling port, with people coming and departing, some with greedy smiles on their faces while weighting the bag of coin received after a succesful quest, while others in tears for a lost companion during the last adventure, only to sign for a new one while tears still flowed on their cheecks. It was like a drug. A call that everyone must have felt at least once in their lives, a call so powerful that the whole existence in life seemed to be related directly or indirectly to such powerful Guilds, letting flow thunderous rivers of golden coins and falls of noble titles like there was no tomorrow.

Just to make numbers even...​

<<And what do you mean with just follow them and don't do anything?>> her high pitched voice echoed in the large halls of the GuildHouse, meking several heads to turn and watch what was going on. <<I mean what i said, ma'am>> simply replied the old recruiter while his fat fingers fiddled with his gold necklaces, his eyes looked with challenge at hers <<Just follow the caravan, stay safe, and a little of coins will wait for you at the end of the travel. Quite easy, isn't it? Now... just sign here and in a few days you'll be an happy little filly with coins in her pockets. Now... what was your name again?>>

The young mare looked at him with anger broiling in her brown eyes, her long, dark tail swatting from side to side nervously as she nervously pouted her lips, before dragging a long and almost resigned sigh; <<...Amalthea...>> replied her with the gaze fixed on the floor, her wooden staff resting on her shoulder. In few instants the fat employee handed her a small scroll with a fake smile <<Here it is little one, and congratulations for your first quest. >> with reluctance, her slender fingers moved to take it, but as soon as she opened her mouth, the recruiter looked past her shoulder and with a rough voice called the next.

Unceremoniously, the man with iron armor behind her begun to make comments and started to push forward, almost ignoring her presence, forcing her to take a jump aside. "...well... that's it, then..." thought her, holding the little scroll in her hands like if her whole life would depend on that. Straightening her neck upward, trying to regain a respectable stance, the young mare looked around with a renewed curiosity, knowing that now she was part of that orgy of smells, growls, clanks and ringing coins.

Mumbling, she adjusted her apprentice's robes, remembering how much it just resembled a rugged apron worn over a pair of rather tight raw-tissue shorts, hoping that her apron would be enough to cover her shapes. Almost lost in that labyrinth of halls and loud groups, she slowly walked in search of her party, the sound of her hooves almost unadible in that cacophony of excited adventurers, until she found a large group fitting the description of that old man.

Knowing that the first impression was the only one the mattered, Amalthea passed an hand trough her long, dark mane and adjusted her clothes, then, with an encouraging sigh, took her staff with both hands and approached the caravan, feeling like a fish out of water, not knowing what to do with such experienced travelers, trying to erase from her mind that she was there just because the Caravan Master wanted even numbers.

<<...H-Hi... I... Am Amalthea. Your last member... apprentice shaman. ...and... Excited to be here...>> her voice trembling with excitement as she find with difficulty her words, hoping that they would be friendly and welcoming...

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

The Guild Hall was bustling with life and sound. Countless bodies moving through the many twisting halls acting as the life blood coursing through veins of a giant. The constant movement and sound of hundreds on hundreds of bodies all living in the same moment. It was enough to make him miss the solitude of the Broken Mountains despite their many dangers, or even the harsh climate of the Lo'vi Desert. Through the eclectic sounds of the Guild Hall he faintly realized he was hearing his name. "Zoroial. Zoroial! Zoroial Mantiros you dear bastard I know you hear me talking to you!" The distant voice that prodded Zoroail from his distracted musing grew louder finally catching his attention. "Hmm?" He grunted in reply to the pestering voice. "Don't just Hmm me. It's been nearly a year since you have been back and over two since we have spoken to one another."

That was all true Zoroial agreed silently his eyes still closed to the world as he leaned against the stone wall with his arms crossed over his chest. "Mmm." He grumbled in agreement to the speaker whose voice he recognized now that he was actively listening. It was a deep, melodic voice that could easily hold the attention of anyone that heard it, well almost anyone. "Lazy fucking human." The voice muttered in part annoyance, part amusement. "Persistent fucking Knife Ear." Zoroial shot back his stoic expression cracking with a faint hint of a smirk. He knew the insult would strike a nerve with the speaker and he waiting counting off the seconds between his blatant racial insult and the victims retort. "Did you just call me a Knife Ear?" The voice was low and dangerous and finally Zoroial opened his light green eyes lazily to to stare at the face of the Elf he had insulted. "No. I called you a Persistent fucking Knife Ear. If you are going to be upset with me for saying something make sure you get what I said correct."

The Elf stood just outside of arms reach of Zoroial with a scowl on his face. "Gods below Ailduin that look isn't going to frighten me so stop it. You look like a pissed off little princess having menstrual cramps." Ailduin's face fell flat and he just stared at Zoroial with a dumbstruck expression. Finally finding his voice again he spoke. "You've gotten worse since you last time back. You spend to much time alone you heartless bastard." Zoroial shrugged at the comment at first, then thought about it tilting his head to the side before nodding in agreement. "You're probably right Ailduin. You will just have to give me time to adjust to being around so many useless things all at once, I'm out of practice and frankly I am a bit cranky because some obnoxious Knife Ear keeps yelling my ripping name while I am trying to rest. I haven't been here more than four hours and I am already signed up to go again, the least you could do is let me rest." "No can do friend, our last member is due to join us any moment and the caravan leader is wanting to head out as soon as we can." Zoroail just growled in response and shifted his weight from one leg to the other.

A moment later a young woman approached the group, a Beastman, horse type. Zoroial had his eyes closed again and was not paying attention. He didn't cafe about any of the others on this assignment. He was only on it as a means to leave the town while getting paid instead of paying to leave. In spite of looking like he wasn't paying any attention to his surroundings Zoroial was listening intently to everything going on around him. One didn't become a veteran in this line of work by being lax. Before he heard her speak he head the sound of hooves on stone, followed by a nervous voice introducing herself to the group of nineteen. Opening his eyes again he stared straight at the horse woman and his expression darkened. "Not another one." He muttered in disgust. "Hey! What do you mean by that?" A voice growled from his right. Turning his head to see who spoke he met the golden eyes of a wolf Beastman glaring at him, he was the only other Beastman in the party, which consisted mostly of humans and elves, with exception to a pair of Orcs. "Do you have something against Beastmen, human?" He growled baring his teeth. "In fact I do pup, and that is part of what I meant. I now have to deal with another of your kind and another complete greenhorn." The wolf man snarled and started to step forward but was stopped as Ailduin stepped in front of him. "You will only get hurt. He may be human but he is stronger and more experienced than you." Ailduin warned before turning to glare at Zoroail. "And you... You will be tasked with watching after Amalthea on this mission. Say a single word about it boy and I will take the losses on my person to rip your foul tongue from your head. I am in charge of his party and you will do as I say, are we clear?" Zoroail frowned menacingly at his friend. "Transparently so."

Turning to face the entire group Ailduin cleared his throat in needlessly to catch everyone's attention. "Now that we are all here I will go over the details of the assignment. We are tasked with the safety of a caravan of goods from Poh'Rey to a small village four days north of here. Those of you that are familiar with this area know that two days north of here is the start to the Ulaquilt forest. As I am certain most of you know that can be very dangerous territory. There are twenty of us and the caravan has five carriages, so do the math, four guards for each carriage. I'll be breaking us into pairs. First Zoroail and Amalthea."

Zoroail tuned out Ailduin and pushed himself away from the wall to walk to the nervous girl. "You heard the man. I'm stuck with you for the next four days. Do as I say and stay out of my way and I will make sure you live. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will feel free to ignore any and all of them. This is a means for me to get out from this place and nothing more." Turning his back on her he started to walk off. "Come on horse, I don't have all day for you to stand around." He called back to her gruffly ignoring the stare he got from Ailduin as he passed the man who was still pairing off the others to head to the caravan wagons waiting outside.

Each wagon was twenty paces long, tall enough for a full grown orc to stand in and made of solid iron with covered windows. He could tell they were driven by magic cores. These were expensive and well defended. It nagged at him why the caravan leader would need so many people for a simple escort mission with this much armor on his side. Pushing the thought away adjusted the sword on his back and looked over to see Ailduin and the rest joining them. "When we get in the wood stay aware. I assume those ears are not just for decoration, listen for any sounds of anything larger than a squirrel moving though the brush." He instructed Amalthea.

It took another half an hour for the caravan leader to finalize his checks and get everything in order before they set off through the heart of the town, on the only road large enough to fit the grand wagons. Within a quarter hour they were outside of the town walls and the quest had officially begun. The entire through town Zoroail was silent, his eyes flowing over the multitude of people passing by and being passed always watching for something, anything.

 

[Sharub]

Amalthea tried her best to not look completely harmless and apealing to the group, feeling their eyes on her, wondering what will those expert adventurers and warriors think of that innocent-looking horse dressed with the green apron, feeling her heart to run excitedly in her chest as her tail nervously swished from side to side, feeling the time almost to mellowy pass over her. "...oh gods..." thought her, remembering how much she disliked first approaches and first encounter, not knowing what to say or how to behave; the young mare was about to open her mouth and introduce herself, but as soon as she was about to, the man leaning on the wall opened his eyes and looked straight into her eyes. She felt his gaze almost trying to scorch her soul... a cold stare enough to make her legs to tremble and freeze her lungs, then, his voice... his comment...
At first she was about to giggle at his comment, ready to joke about the fact that he wasn't happy about another apprentice, sure that such unskilled parts would be a weight for many experienced travelers, but when she realized it was not about what she was but about WHO she was... it sealed the jar of her hopes to feel accepted in such a group. With her mind going blank for a brief moment, wondering what to do... what to say... how to react to such a behaviour from the man, she was brought back to reality by the voice of another male, together with growls and snarls. Lifting her gaze up, she spotted more of the party members, all looking at a wolfman, menacingly showing his ivory teeths, almost ready to snap around the neck of the cold elf, before the party leader ordered them apart.

She felt a wave of emotions to flush over her mind, shame... sense of unfitting...a bit of resentment... nervousness... her grip on her staff tightened as she gulped loudly and bit her lips, silently thanking the wolfman for having said something in matter even if it was not directly to defend her, all while praying the Gods not to have anything else in common with the elf other than sharing the same party. But again, her expectations were broken in front of her eyes and spat upon, with the party leader ordering him to look after her "...c'mon... really... no..." thought her, while she tried to put up a smile of circumstance, ignoring the turmoil brewing in her guts, but with a sigh, she shrugged and approached him, somewhat feeling the pity of the other party members.

<<...w-wha!? First ones!? >> she almost neighed in joyful squee and excitement when Aiduin communicated the caravan's order. Soon the whole group moved around, each of them getting in its designated post, and soon even the elf and the horse were near their chart. <<Uhhhhh...>> exclaimed her << ...those charts are huuuuuge! What are they made of? How do they move? Incredible! And...>> her gaze suddently met his stern's, making her freeze in place, wordless <<...oh...>> muttered her before silently walking at his side.

Amalthea tried her best to listen to him, anyway, nodding and humming in response to his words, orders and suggestions, trying to forget what he said about her kind, knowing that, afterall, he must have been a professionist and, for what she knew, they usually tend to be grumpy and bitter with newcomers.

Soon the whole party begun to move. She felt her chest explode with joy and emotions, feeling again alive and ready to take the world by storm, feeling each step forward being the first one of an endless adventure that begun in that town. She couldn't resist smiling at anything, the sole thought of being in that group on her first quest enough to make her feel joy, only to cast occasional peeps at her teammate and return serious for a brief moment, before returning to smile like a children.

The town opened up in front of them, letting the large wagons to pass trough the busy streets, while all around of them, the smell of food and spices danced in the fresh breeze that carried adventures from all over the world, melting in her nostrils with the smoky smell of torches that burnt all night long. Buildings and palaces, houses and homes of any kind of shape and height followed their slow march trough the town, until the gray walls of Poh'Rey appeared in front of them. The tall walls of cities and villages were traditionally declared the beginning and the end of quests, and when they walked past them, leaving the lively and chaotic melting pot on their backs only to be replaced with the open view of grass fields, farmlands and smal patches of bushes and trees, she took another deep breath.

She kept silent for a while, barely listening to the sound of the road beneath her hooves, randomly thinking at a songbird or the gentle frush of leafs on the branches nearby, until, with a bored huff, she looked at him <<...uh... i'm Amalthea, by the way...>> said her with a shy smile <<...i guess we hadn't properly presented ourselves so... i thought it was nice, isn't it? Oh, i'm so excited to be part of this group, you know? Oh, i've been dreaming to explore the world since i was a little filly in my village and my older friends said that they will go on a grand quest... oh how i envied them! I'm a shaman, by the way...>> the talkative filly giggled when she declared her skills, showing him her wooden staff << ...this is my staff... the village's shaman gave me his, he said that i am young and so i will need something like that in my travels. And you? Where are you from? Are you a warrior? Is that your sword? Are you experienced, right? Oh, will we pass in a forest? Are really four days of walk? Oh and now that i think... ...wait!>>

Suddently she slowed her walk, ears perked up, twitching as she frowned, trying to listen as carefully as she could the sorroundings. Humming she closed her eyes and took slow, calm inhalations, her brows moving nervously, as if she was worried about what her ears heard, until

<<...nothing, it must have been my immagination!>> she laughed at that before resuming her walk and her questions to the annoyed elf.

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

Zoroail glanced over at the excited newbie as she chatted away. His face was grim and appeared to constantly hold a displeased expression. 'At least she is asking questions and willing to learn. Better than most new comers.' He thought to himself giving the young filly a point in her favor. "They are made out of darksteel, it's a magically forged alloy that is stronger than regular steel so it can withstand far greater damage before it breaks." He answered, his original guess of them being made of iron proved wrong now that he was closer and could inspect them. 'And it's very highly expensive. Just who are we really working for to be able to afford ten carts of this size made of darksteel, and why do they need it if we are only going to a semi-remote forest village?' Something wasn't sitting right with Zoroail about this entire job and it had just began. "They are powered by magic cores, which are stones found inside most monsters and greater beasts. You won't find them inside a mountain wolf, but you will in a Dire wolf." He explained with an example. "The cores are more potent inside stronger beasts, and they are all valuable, the stronger cores naturally being worth more. They are used to power most magical technology."

He was relieved when she finally went silent for a while. Keeping pace with the cart he kept his senses on alert while maintaining a look of calm disinterest. He thought about the job he had signed up for, it was a bottom tiered job, there should be little danger involved if any at all. Which made him all the more suspicious about he vagueness of the destination, the supplies being carried, and the wagons themselves.

Passing through the town gates into grasslands beyond Zoroial took in a deep breath of the fresh air. He could barely stand the overwhelming cacophony of sounds and scents inside most large towns and cities. It was to much distraction, but out here in the open, he loved it. He could see for miles, would be able to hear most anything that approached and smell if something was near. This was freedom to him, the entire meaning behind doing the jobs he did.

It wasn't long walking through the country side before his partner started to speak again. She introduced herself to him and he responded with a terse grunt and obvious refusal to return the favor of giving her his name. "I have no need to know the name of someone that will more than likely perish within the next few weeks, nor do I have the inclination to give out my name freely to those not deserving of knowing it. Even if you survive this job the likelihood of us meeting ever again is almost nil."

His eyebrow did twitch upward when she declared herself a shaman. That could be interesting to see her skills if the opportunity showed itself to them. Her torrent of questions annoyed him and he only answered a few of them, ignoring the rest as he warned her he would. "Yes I am a warrior, and who's else sword would I be carrying but my own?" He asked sarcasm heavy in his tone. "I'm very experienced and no we will not pass a forest, we will enter into it. Ulaquilt forest to be exact. It's one of the largest woodlands in the area. Nearly a five hundred leagues across and three hundred long. It is full of beautiful and deadly life and is notorious for 'swallowing' travelers who enter it unprepared. We should reach the edge of it in two days walk if we can keep pace, and according to the caravan master it will be another two days into the forest to reach our destination." Turning to stare right into Amalthea's eyes he held her gaze long and hard before speaking again. "Do not, I repeat once and only once, Do NOT wander off when we get inside the treeline. A place that old holds it's own will in a way and the Ulaquilt Forest isn't friendly to intruders." He warned holding her eyes for a few moments longer before breaking the contact.

Zoroail paused whens he called for his attention, his senses going up in alert at the sight of her ears perking up and moving about to find a sound. He knew he wouldn't be able to hear as well as her so he took her warning seriously. "Do me a favor horse. Trust in your instincts and feelings like you just did. It will keep you alive. When we enter the forest stay constantly aware and let me know if you hear anything, smell anything, sense anything in any way even if it is just a bad feeling in your stomach or like you are being watched. More than likely once inside all of us will have eyes on us from the inhabitants."

Having said more than enough, or so he thought Zoroial returned to his quite state of being, his eyes moving over the flowing plains that were slowly starting to take on the form of softly rolling hills.

After several hours of walking and listening to the excited filly yammering away at him, with his only response being noncommittal grunts and shakes or nods of his head he spotted a large hill about a league away from them. "When we reach the crest of that hill ahead you should be able to see the start of the forest on the far horizon. It will get much clearer the closer we get of course.

A little over an hour later they arrived at the top of the hill he pointed out and Zoroail pointed far ahead, slightly to the east. on the horizon the sky met a faint line of darker green than the grasslands they were currently on. "In two days time we will be there." He said staring out across the land. The wind caused the grass the move in shimmering waves of green across the vast plains, and overhead the sky was clear with the exception a handful of lazy clouds that floated carelessly by.

Reaching to his side Zoroail lifted a skin of water he had hanging over his shoulder and drank from it. Without thinking about how she would react or what she would read into the gesture he offered the skin to Amalthea. "We have a few more hours of good daylight before we will settle for camp. I doubt the Caravan Master would want to keep traveling at night."

 

[Sharub]

IThe travel begun under an auspicable serie of odds: the sky was clear of clouds, allowing the sun to shine over the sweet grasslands and farmlands that dotted the sorroundings of Poh'rey, while the roads where clear enough to make the whole party to not to worry about their surely incredibly weighty magic-trained chariots; the breeze carried within her nostril smells of distant farms and their freshly-cooked meals, remembering her that they must have already marched over those dusty roads for a considerable amount of hours, and Amalthea sneakily casted a quick glance at her partner-of-travel, wondering if he had something about them to stop for a little, but nothing. His mouth remained sealed, looking forward or around them, scanning for menaces and enemies of any kind. Sighing, the young mare tried to ignore her grumbling belly, favouring the idea of suffering hunger while carrying food herself rather than appear weak and needy by whining... especially whining with him.

The landscape around them begun to vary, passing from pure flat farmlands to the very first slight slopes of sweet and placind hills, the road beginning to assume more and more undulated shapes, dancing around those little earth-bumps before occasionally returning straight and plain. Around them little streams of water that lured birds and butterflies into a delicate and deadly dance for survival. Again, the sound of those watersources made her feel her tongue dry... sandy... almost feeling sand grains rollin in her teeths, and the occasional slosh coming from Zoroial's waterbag made her feel almost the painful and ready vicinity of that... but to ask for water... no... it wasn't the case "...and what if he scholds me? And what if i drink and i need to pee, then? They wouldn't stop... and i would have to hide... and then a wolf could come out and eat me! And a bandit... a thug... a thief... a kidnapper..." her mind went busy thinking in how many horrible ways she would have ended her adventure if she dared to jump behind a bush by the road, and so, gulping, and feeling her throat like sandpaper, she pouted her lips in effort and continued to silently walk forth, trying to imagine the little blocks of dirt and stones beneath her hooves, enjoying the way they often gave up and crushed, cursing the way they hit their soles causing her to nervously swish her tail and emith a low neigh.

Time passed by, she begul to feel tired, not used to such long marches and not used to the weight of being the first in line of a caravan, often and over again thinking that if she wouldn't warn them of something, they all would blame her and her alone, feeling the pressure from that, she somewhat forgot about thirst and hunger, focusing instead on following her task, with her ears perked up and twitching at each sound that was different from the null whisper of the wind. The slow and sweet hill that appeared on the horizon a few hours before, now turned in a slow, sweet and terrible yet delicate climb, with her legs feeling almost uncoordinated, her shoulders aching for the dead weight of her wooden staff, feeling her warm fur dampening in sweat on her smooth back, feeling the occasional whiff of breeze to freshen her whole uncovered back.

The hill climbing stopped almost abruptly before turning in an almost surprising flat peak, allowing a big part of the caravan to rest for a few seconds in a plainlike position. Zoroail stopped and pointed forward, immediately the young mare approached him, ready to listen to what he had to say.

<<...t-two more days of walk. At least...>> murmured her in an almost unaudible echo of disbelief, feeling her smooth and furred legs to tingle for the efforts of the morning, catching the chance to let go of her staff and let it lean on her chest, shaking her hands to make blood to flow freely again her tired fingers. But the negative thoughts soon were erased, tossed away in the air, as, in front of her eyes, the whole plainland appeared in all of its greatness. Without clouds nor fog to reduce visibility, from side to side of her gaze, endless leagues of grass fields, crops and tiny dots of homesteads and farms; golden sparkles shone beneath the sun's joyful caressing rays, making known where larger rivers or lakes lied, but the dark line of trees that begun in the horizon, the forest they need to traverse, so dark and remote that appeared like a dreadful omen. In that breathtaking sight, she felt at peace, amazed by the beauty of such a sight, feeling again the wind to touch her soft and farm coat, fresher this time, making her wonder why did they insisted she wore that rather revealing apron as a primary clothing-item rather than her usual outfit, enjoying anyway the freshness of the air on her exposed back, but feeling clearly out of place for the occasional feel of air on the sides of her chest, wondering if that occasional inches of sideboob where something trendy in Poh'Rey or where something that apprentice shamans had to wear for unknown reasons.

Lost in her thoughts and enjoying the unusual stopping they made, she didn't heard the sound of Zoroail drinking from his waterskin, making her to gasp in surprise when that object obscured her sight. "...w-water..." thought her, following his hand and his arm, looking for a brief instant in his eyes before looking down, feeling his imposing and stern presence impossible to look straight into the eyes. But the sound of water made her forget of everything, forgetting even of the list she made about the dangers of her potential nature's release once she had drunk... she gladly took the skin in her fingers and drank.

Even if it wasn't fresh... but warmed by the sun's and having spent hours on his flank, she gladly gulped down the smooth fluid, feeling her dry throat like ploughed fields and then fresh rain pours over. She sealed her lips around the opening, drawing a couple more gulps, closing her eyes in a content and relieved smile before letting her lips go of the waterskin and drying her muzzle with the back of her hand <<Ahhhh.... thanks! I was so in need of that...>> chirped the mare. Soon she realized what she have done <<...s-sorry... i... i mean... i know that many don't like to have other's mouths on their belongings and... w-wait... lemme clean that!>> with that, she stroked the waterskin's opening with her fingers, as if trying to clean something invisible from it...

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

He watched the mare take the offered skin and drink deeply from it. His expression grew even more dour than it normally was as he watched. When she looked at him and started to apologize he shook his head. "Don't." He said reaching out and taking the skin from her. "From now on, when you're body tells you something you listen to it. If you are thirty then drink, hungry then eat. If you have to use the bathroom or rest do so. You are already little use to us as is, if you fall out from dehydration, or exhaustion then you will be completely useless."

Reaching into the satchel he carried on the opposite side he carried the water skin he pulled out a piece of dried meat and took a bite of it chewing in silent contemplation. This was a good a place as any to take a break, but that wasn't his decision. As he chewed his eyes roamed over the mare giving a through looking over for the first time since they had met. His pale eyes started at the tips of her ears and moved down to her face taking noting how her mane was darker than the rest of her coat, and that her eyes were large and curious, full of excitement and eagerness to learn and experience. Down the curve of her neck to her shoulders then over her generous chest that was scantly clad in a simple open backed apron that exposed a great deal of the sides of her breasts. "Is this what she normally wears or did she get tricked by someone into wearing something so exposing because how naive she is?" He questioned himself, figuring it was the later of the two. Still further his eyes fell, over her flat stomach and the curve of her hips down to her strong, shapely legs finally ending at her hoofed feet, then traveling back up her body in reverse ending with his eyes locked on hers.

Though the entire slow inspection his face did not change once at what he saw. "You will need to build up your endurance and stamina if you want to continue this lifestyle. It won't do you any good to get tired half way through a single days walk, though I can only guess how tiresome it can be to have to heft those massive things around all day." He said his eyes pointedly moving to her chest then back to her face.

"Were taking a half an hour break here!" Ailduin's voice called out from behind him. The message was repeated several more times earning many sighs of relief and a few cheers. Walking to the pair Ailduin waved to Zoroail. "So my ill tempered friend, how is the new girl holding up?" He asked giving Amalthea a warm smile as he mentioned her. "Not to horribly, she is very talkative but at least some of what comes from her mouth is decent. She asks good questions but they are buffered by too many pointless ones in between. She also has to learn to listen to her body and properly feed and water herself." At the last words he shot Amalthea a chastising look. "Ahh, good! At least your ward is smart enough to ask questions. Mine has just been going on and on about his dreams and aspirations and telling endless story after story about how long and how much he has waited for this chance." Ailduin admitted giving a sheepish smile. "Tell his to shut his mouth and observe. Teach him a thing or two to keep him from ending his long awaited career from being a short lived one." Zoroail said dismissively. "Anyways Ailduin, are we setting camp tonight or walking straight through until we reach the forest before doing so?" "We will camp tonight, there are to many untrained people with us, and the Caravan Master has already requested that we stop by nightfall and start again at daybreak. He is a nervous sort and doesn't trust moving about in the darkness." Zoroial nodded to this while taking another bite of his food. "Sounds good to me," Glancing up to the sky he measured the Sun to the horizon and worked out how long they had left until dusk. "We still have at least six hours of good daylight left before it begins to get dark." He said to Amalthea giving her a quick look.

Ailduin watched the two for a brief moment before sighing heavily. "I see you two are alright, I need to go check on the others. Remember, we start moving again in half an hour." Zoroail nodded and watched the tall elf depart from them to go check on another group of the party.

Turning to face Amalthea fully he took in a deep breath and closed his eyes holding it for a moment before letting it out. "Take this time to eat, drink, relieve yourself then stretch and work out the stiffness of your legs. If you just sit and do nothing you will cramp up when we start again." Taking the water skin from his shoulder once more he sat it and his satchel on the ground and turned away from her and walked off a short distance. A few moments later the sound of water hitting the ground joined the sound of the grass rubbing against itself in the wind. The man was less than ten paces from Amalthea before he relieved himself, modesty being something lost to him years ago.

Finishing his business he walked back over and took a seat by the large wagon resting his back against the darksteel wheel, pale green eyes looking off into some distant place that was far beyond the fields laying in front of him.

 

[Sharub]

Her hand trembled in nervousness, trying to remove whatever trace her lips left on his waterbag, almost fevirishly stroking her slender fingers over the opening, fearing that she've upset the cold and stern man with her reckless action "...oh my... oh my..." thought her, until his hands grasped for the waterbag, making her to emit a surprised squeal <<...oh... o-okay... >> repeated her, echoing his words <<...drink when thirsty. Eat when hungry. Understood.>> his words made her picture herself on the side of the road, starving and tired, forcing them all to either stop for her or abandon the dead weight and proceed forth, a shiver running trough her back at the sole thought, urging her to nervously nod and state her learnt lesson.

She let a low, almost melancholic sigh, her eyes turned to roam at the landscape that opened in front of her eyes like the books she saw in the GuildHall, feeling her long mane and tail to lightly wave in the wind; taking a deep breath, feeling the air to fill her lungs, feeling her apron becoming tight at the chest against her soft coat... letting loose her mind and just stop there, for a brief instant enjoying the sun...
Out of nothing, the young mare closed her eyes and smiled, feeling a sudden sense of freedom, until his voice, like a thunderous grumble, awakened her from her trance-like state, making her to look at him and curiously cock her head to one side <<Mh?>>

"...endurance and stamina..." repeated her in her mind, nodding back at him like a dutiful student <<...understood. Yes. I might brew some potion for that when we'll have the chance... maybe tonight i could already attempt to... ...mh? ...m-massive things? What are...>> her eyes spotted his own's, curiously frowning at him, wondering what he was pointing out, then again, his eyes looked further down, this time her own looked in the same direction, realizing he was looking at her generous and rather revealed bosom, underlined by a sudden whiff of fresh air that caressed its sides. Her eyes widened in realization, immediately emitting a surprised neigh as her hands darted to cover her chest more, turning away from him, lips trembling in an annoyed pout <<...d-don't stare! >>

Just as she turned from him, her ears twitched hearing another voice calling for Zoroail; with her hands still clutching her chest, she turned her head, just to see the two mens having a chat. Amalthea looked at the breathtaking sight again, trying to hear what they were saying, trying her best not to appear curious about their words, occasionally waving her long ears to catch their voices better. "...yay...a break!" the sole thought made her to sport a little smile, making her appear like smiling at the nothing... and for nothing. Soon the other man bid farewell to them and disappeared, she barely nodding at him in an attempted and shy bow before casually approaching Zoroail again <<...are we taking a break here?>> asked her as if she've not heard their words.

<<Eat. Drink. Recover energies. >> echoed her again like a good student and reaching for her hipbag and extracting a small, squared and brownish item and as she was about to bring it to her lips, she heard him to place his items on the ground and then walk away; curiously she followed him with her eyes... watching him stepping into the grass and then... "...fumble with his pants?"
Strangely, she begun to hear another sound added to the one of wind and leafs... "...w-water?" the fear of someone spilling water made her turn her head around, but nobody was wasting water, nor any of the charts was leaking its content, then, returning to him, she realized what was going on, making her emit a low <<...ah...>> before crunching the dry-bar.

Amalthea casted her sight away, giving him her back, not wanting to being caught staring at that, casually crunching off a bite of her food, picturing herself to relieve herself like that and under the gaze of so many people... people she didn't knew "...there's no way i'll do that... like that..." thought her "...it's disgusting... how can he?"

Spending time without walking seemed already strange to her, feeling her blood to smoothly run trough her veins and into the soles of her hooves, occasionally massaging her smooth legs and thighs, relaxing her muscles in the foreseen long march that will occupy the day until darkness will claim the day. She was gently massaging her ankles when she realized that, bending over and knelt like that, the apron, tied to her neck, did nothing but sag forth, creating a bubble of nothing from her hips to her neck, feeling her breasts dangling free and uncovered, resting on her knees. She squirmed and jumped up, stiffened like a frozen fish as her eyes nervously looked around, trying to see if someone was watching. But to her relief, the caravan members were all far away behind their chariot, while Zoroail, on her back, wouldn't have had much chances. She hoped.

"...gotta get rid of that apron..." thought her cursing her clothing item "...at the first chance...". Nervously, she took slow paces around, like he said, allowing her legs to relax and not cramp out, before she too leaned against the darksteel chariot, letting her gaze to get lost into the dark line on the horizon "...tomorrow we'll be there..."

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

In spite of the far off look in his eyes, Zoroail was actively watching everything in his field of vision, Amalthea included. She was the most animate thing in his field of vision so his focus was pulled mainly to her. Unblinking he watched her, studied her, like he did with most everything else he came across. His natural curiosity of how things worked, moved, reacted and influenced the world around them didn't allow him to look away.

He studied her face as she ate, the way the muscles in her jaw worked just under the skin as she chewed. How her legs supported her body and the way she took each step, watching the muscles loosen and constrict to balance herself. The way she moved her hands over her legs to massage the muscles, how the tendons moved to control her fingers. Without thinking about it Zoroail was learning the way she moved and was constructing ways to react to those movements. After all the years he spent in this field of work and the years before training his body and mind to handle this job he unconsciously sized up everything he saw so that he could better understand it to better protect himself or others from it if it became a threat. He knew she wasn't a threat to him but that still didn't stop him from doing this, he did it to everyone, every time he came into contact with them, even Ailduin, his oldest friend.

When she knelt down to rub her ankles he was given the sight of even more of her exposed body as the apron hung low uncovering even more of her to the world. She really would need to get something better to wear if she wanted to keep her modesty. The view however was slightly obscured and he didn't see the full flash of her chest from his vantage point, but he was given a decent view of the curve of her rear from how she was positioned. Somewhere in the back of his mind he found himself admiring the view. Her reaction to noticing the exposure removed all questions and doubts from his mind. She was duped into wearing that exposing garment by some lecherous man who knew a girl from a small village would listen to him if he told her it was appropriate clothing for the area.

When she finally came to lean on the wagon near him he blinked and looked up at her from his spot on the ground. "Take a seat and relax." He said his voice still hard but somehow not as sharp as it usually was. "Since I am to be working with you and helping keep you alive tell me about your skills. What do you know as a Shaman?" His eyes stayed on her intently as he waited for her answer. If he was to protect her from herself and the world at large on this mission he needed to know what he was working with. What she could do to help him help her.

 

[Sharub]

Amalthea leaned her body against the darksteel chart, her hands, on her back, casually touching the large and cold object, enjoying the difference from it to the warmth of senses of the plateau in front of her, thinking to her legs, imagining the tiredness she've accumulated that morning to disappear. His voice sounded in her ears like the same cold and dark steel her hands were touching and almost making her to gasp, making his voice to sound like a commanding order even if led by a genuine suggestion for the mare.

Amalthea begun to lean forward, just to make enough room for her to sit nearby, but the realization soon sparkled in her head <<...no...>>, whispered her, knowing that to sit like that would show the man nearby something he shouldn't see. Mumbling for an instant, she preferred to slowly and elegantly place her knees on the ground, feeling the fresh grass brushing her kneecaps, but unadvertidedly it wasn't enough to secure her apron-like dress from moving forth in a similar behaviour. Not noticing that, she then placed her hands on her knees and sighed, feeling almost a triumph for her effort, keeping her gaze down into the grass a few feets in front of her, fiddling with her fingers nervously.

<<...a shaman is an intermediate between the Spirits and nature...>> said her sharply, as if she've learnt that from a book <<...n-now i'm but an apprentice... but i already know how to brew an...uhm... sufficient number of potions... healing ones. And... i... i could tame some beast... >> her gaze went to the dark line of trees in the horizon, feeling that that forest would be her training camp <<...and... and of course ... i can... with meditation... might... connect with the Gods... and... like... horacles... guidance... yeah... th-that sort of things...>>

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

Zoroail heard her whispered no and thought to question her before she slowly lowered herself to her knees on the grass. Her posture still caused her loose fitting apron to fall forward a bit revealing more of her chest to him. She didn't seem to notice so he said nothing and kept his gaze on her as she stared at the ground ahead of her while fidgeting about nervously. She looked almost like she was going to start praying to the Gods but was afraid of saying anything to them.

He listened to her textbook explanation of what a shaman was and her budding skills in the art. "You really are as fresh as they get horse. Do you have any skill in fighting with that staff of yours? Know any offensive magic or poisons to protect yourself?" He inquired wanting to know if her minimal skill in beast taming was her only offense in a fight. Once she got better with that she could eventually tame a creature that would be able to handle most of her fighting if needed but until then she appeared to be defenseless.

Sighing he followed her view to the dark line of the forest in the distance. This was going to be an interesting and trying few days for him if he wanted to keep her alive. "This is only my problem until the job is done, after she is on her own again and it's no longer my concern. I just need to survive these next four days with her. I've had to deal with much worse. At least she knows a few useful things." He thought to himself quietly.

He watched her for a moment but found his eyes falling from her face to the loosely fitting apron that was dangerously close to revealing her chest to him and he let out a heavy sigh. "You really need to do something about that." He said leaning over and grabbing the edge of the cloth and pulling it back to somewhat better cover her modesty. "There are a lot of people in this party that would enjoy nothing more than catching a glimpse of those massive things." He warned letting go of the apron and resting his hand back by his side.

Leaning his head back against the hard wheel he closed his eyes and took in a deep regulating breath, centering himself and clearing his head. "The break is almost over." He muttered with his eyes still closed. He could hear the sounds of people moving about again, getting their personal gear ready to resume their march towards the forest edge. "You can carry the water skin so you don't have to bother asking me for it when you need a drink." He offered still not moving from his resting position against the wheel.

 

[Sharub]

<<A-attack spell? P-poison? N-no...no, i mean... not yet>> said her, caught off guard about her actual skills, she continued to stare at the grass in front of her, straightening her back as she continued to speak <<...is that... you see... i thought to become something supporting... helping bigger groups, like this one... i've never even thought by far to travel across the land alone... nono... never thought.>>

Keeping her gaze forward, she hoped not to match her eyes with his harsh ones <<...need to do what about what?>> asked her curiously, turning her head toward him, just to see his hand inches away from her generous bosom and pinching the apron and lifting it up to her neck, feeling the rather thin green cloth to press with the right tightness against her chest... before he let go again the apron, letting her breasts and apron to return to their revealing place, feeling the rough tissue almost barely covering her nipples.

She neighed and covered her chest again <<...i i said not to stare!>> protested her, trying to move the apron to the sides, just to see it to return in its unfitting place every time she let go of it <<...AND they're not so big, okay!?>> her voice rising in an high-pitched tone, before she got her hands on the grass for leverage and stood up, with the apron cruelly giving up and returning to reveal too much of her soft breasts, making her to growl and stomp her hovves on the ground. Holding her hands on her chest, she returned to him <<... uhm... d-do you happen to have... uhm... s-something... w-well... >> she shyly looked on the ground, hearing the other voices to approach their wagons, feeling that if they would resume their march, she'd have to bear with that apron until that night...

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

"That is all fine and good horse, but even a supporting member of a party should be able to defend themselves in case something were to happen. I suggest that you learn to fight with that stick of yours and craft some poisons at the very least. Then you could provide extra support when things get rough, take on a more important role in certain missions, or provide your companions with a little extra bite to their weapons with a strong poison. That is only my suggestion though. What you do with yourself is ultimately up to you girl."

His stoic face cracked at her reaction to him pointing out her wardrobe problem, he smirked, actually smirked[\i] at her and shrugged. "You have them out on display, who can help but notice them anyways. You say they are not that big but I couldn't fit one into both my hands if I tried. Then you have them only half covered which in no way helps your situation." Standing up he brushed himself off and stretched as she stomped around. He stared at her as she spoke, not quite getting to the point of what she was asking. Sighing heavily and rubbing the scarred side of his face Zoroail retrieved his satchel and rummaged thought it. A moment later her pulled out a length of leather cord and offered it to her. "Here, use this."

"On you feet! We are heading off!" Ailduin's voice rang out rousing the last few members who were still stubbornly sitting on the ground. A few complaints were voiced and ignored by the elf as he roused the party back to their feet. A few minutes later they were moving again, now heading down the hill and closer to the forest edge.

Zoroail quickly feel back into his silent ways and walked with casual ease down the slope his eyes scanning the land around him, it would be hard for someone or something to ambush the caravan in an open field during daylight but not impossible so he kept watch on the swaying grass as shadows of the sparse clouds overhead moved across the open fields. All things considered, Zoroail was enjoying the day, it was fair weather, with a cooling breeze and mostly clear sky. The air was sweet with the smells of fresh grass and wild flowers, nothing like the thick city air he so despised.

As they walked his mind went over the details of their current mission, then over the others that he had accepted from the Guild Hall before he left. He usually took on several at once whenever he went to a larger town or city to avoid having to return between jobs, much preferring the freedom of the wilds of the world.

 

[Sharub]

His comments about her chest still buzzed in her head making her feel a tingle of shame beneath her fur, wishing she had just disappeared without trace and everyone just forgot about her and her cursed apron. But just as she turned to cast a weak attempt of a stern gaze at him, the mare saw the warrior to fumble with his satchel and extracted a rope... a chord. She smiled at that, not necessarily at him... the rope, that thin line of intertwined fibers could save her for good <<THANKS!>> yipped her, almost leaping forward in order to take it, but as soon as the chord touched her body, the caravan master declared the end of the break, and immediately voices appeared vively and multiplied <...oh... c'moooon...>> protested her in disbelief, still with the rope un-tied in front of her.

And so the caravan resumed it travel and adventurers resumed their quests, leaving that spectacular plateau and the amazingly breathtaking sights it showed, proceeding to walk down the slopes of those sweet hills, each step bringing closer the dark stain of the forest... the dangerous forest...
Soon they returned to walk in the plains, farm fields long gone, sign that nobody lived in the sorroundings, leaving nature to live without control and wild, savage abandon; but despite that, it was as pleasurable as the most cured of gardens, with vast fields of grass waving in the wind, with flowers waving their heads in the same rythm, tree branches delicately frushing in the air, making even the coldest and hardest hearts to sigh in relief at that peaceful sight.

In the caravan, experienced mercenaries and travelers warily casting their gazes around, makind sure that nobody or nothing would be a threat for their assigned mission while newcomers tried to emulate their assigned partners, but in front of the first wagon, a young specimen of the beastfolk walked with unsure steps, her hands fiddling with her chest, trying to tie a knot beneath her ample chest, emitting a satisfied squeal before rumbling and huffing in annoyance, often kneeling to retrieve that rope from the ground, until... <<...it's too short!>> protested the young mare with a pout, holding the piece of rope beneath her chest, where she thought she would place that sideboob-almost-saving item, unaware of the way it encased her whole breasts instead, doing little to nothing for its sides but avoiding it to fall off each time she would bend-over or kneel.

Holding that rope in her hand, offering it back to him and casting her gaze aside, she sighed <<...it... it doesn't matter. Thanks...anyway...>> said her, retrieving her normal pace over the road, poking at the ground with her long staff, sometimes muttering something unadible, as again, she tried to be of help, trying to capture any suspected sound with her ears, that twitched in the breeze <<...uhm... Z-Zoroail... just wondering... uhm... why did he putted me here instead of that wolf? I mean... i'm but a low-leveled horse... a wolf's senses would have befitted that first spot better. ...y'know... their noses... and ears... a-and fangs... and teeths...>> said her looking at the gravel on the path <<...n-not that i have something against...is just... strange...i guess...>> the filly giggled at that, trying to appear natural...

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

Zoroail couldn't help but notice the troubles she was having with the chord and when she finally gave in he reached out to accept it back. Winding it up he returned it to his satchel and continued onward silently until she asked him about the reason she was assigned to be with him. Taking in a deep breath he let it out slowly as a sigh. "Ailduin put you with me because he knows me and knows that as annoyed by the situation as I am I will not do anything to rash with you. You're not arrogant but are very naive, you need someone that can teach you, and Ailduin thought I was good for the job."

Glancing back several carts he spotted the wolf who sneered at him baring his fangs in a snarl. Turning back around he huffed a single syllable laugh and shook his head. "If he had put me with the wolf we would be a party member short. That pup thinks way to much of himself just because of what he is. He believes he is an apex predator when in reality he is just a puppy that is going to get himself hurt." He thought about tonight when they were to set camp how that would play out, if there would be another confrontation between him and the wolf. He hoped not for the wolf's sake, and his own after a moment more of thought, Ailduin would be pissed at him for fighting.

"About the lead position, don't worry about it. How often do you think attacks on a guarded caravan come from the front? Usually its the rear carts that are in the most danger. Attack from behind to catch them off guard kinda mentality. We are at the front because I know these lands well and Ailduin trusts me to make judgement calls if we start to head in a bad direction." He didn't emphasize more on that he had a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right about this entire quest. There was no need to worry the rookie he thought keeping his feeling to himself.

For the next several hours Zoroail was silent again, refusing to reply to any comments or questions directed at him. The sky had began to take on a pinkish orange hue as the sun began to set. "Only about two more hours of daylight left then we stop." He finally spoke breaking his long quiet.

 

[Sharub]

Amalthea carefully listened to his explainations, feeling her curiosity sated as his words started to make more and more sense, feeling happy that Ailduin paired her with someone like him, afterall, she was there to learn and his words made her relaxed too as she repeated over and over " ...the first one is the safest one..." making her to walk with a renewed smile, knowing that bandits would not be a direct deal for her...

But as she've already learnt from him, he is the one the dacides questions, answering the ones he likes and falling completely silent with talks he didn't cared of, making her to try over and over, like a stubborn horse (that she is) to try to make him speak again. But nothing passed trough his silent mind, making her to almost emit a sigh of relief when she heard his voice... just to return with low ears when it was just for announce two more hours of walk. The young horse neighed in boredom, holding her heavy wooden staff on her shoulders, seeming a penitent crucifixed going to execution point...
<<...Zoroaaaaailll...>> whined her <<...i'm bored! Why you stay so silent? Come on! Say something else than ...bad news ... like more hours to walk or ...something else>> said her in a faked childish tone, playfully taunting him.

Suddently, she slowed her pace, her loud hooves sounding in a more paced rythim, ears perked up, twitching, scanning the sorroundings, until she pointed a trembling fingers toward them <<...s-something... t-this time is true! Is real! i hear that!>> as she finished her words, from a curve not so far away from them, an undistinguishable number of figures appeared on the reddish-orange road, she held her staff in her hands, hugging it like it was a teddy bear <<...who's them!? Who's them?>> her vocie transpiring fear at each lecter, but as they approached, the figures appeared to be carrying bannered spears and all bearing the same kind of armors, all with a yellow tunic, yellow drapes flying in the late afternoon's air, one of them, in front of the others, raising his hand in an halt.

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

With obvious skill in tuning out the world around him Zoroail continued to ignore Amalthea's near constant verbal barrage even when she began to whine at him like a spoiled child. If the entire trip was to be like this Zorail would probably end up loosing his temper with her before the second day was finished. Her sudden change of pace followed by her outcry caught his attention. Glancing to where she pointed he stared at the approaching figures until they came into view.

He recognized the banner they were flying and the colors they wore. "Don't worry, they are just the Carmenic border patrol." He explained. "We are approaching the borders of Carmenic if we are not already at them. The country consists of nine Princedoms held in allegiance under the High King Eamas Tolman, while each Princedom is in charge of controlling a specific aspect of the country, a means to keep them reliant upon one another, the border patrol are men under direct control of Tolman. They should pose no problems to us as we are part of the Guild. The Guild holds no allegiance to one king or country and operates as an independent entity within almost all the know territories. We do follow the laws of what ever country we are in though, so don't go thinking you are above them, that will get you killed, quickly."

Seeing the men come to a halt and spread out to block the road Zoroail sighed. Picking up his pace he moved ahead of the caravan jerking his head for Amalthea to follow. "Halt!" The head of the patrol called out when Zoroail was ten feet away. He stopped and looked at the man with his cold eyes and placid expression. He could see the soldiers eyes moving over the scars on his face, neck and chest before giving the rest of him a through looking over. "State your business." The lead patrolman demanded. Annoyed Zoroail stared hard at the man until he squirmed a bit. "We are with the Guild my good man, and we are on a mission to escort this caravan into the Ulaquilt Forest." Ailduin answered from behind Zoroail walking past his friend and shooting him a glare which Zoroail naturally ignored.

Ailduin stopped just ahead of Zoroail and Amalthea and gave a slight bow of his head in respect to the men. "Please pardon my friend here. He is a heathen bastard from the Broken Lands of Zagrazat, his manners are a bit...lacking." Ailduin said in excuse of Zoroail's gruff manner. This reasoning earned the scarred silent man a few more incredulous stares from the patrolmen. While it was true that he did hail from Zagrazat it annoyed him that Ailduin was giving such information out and using it as an excuse for him, and more so that they took it for truth. His people were not heathens or savages that most of the world believed them to be. "Fucking knife eared bastard I would run you through right now." He muttered under his breath so that only those when exceptional hearing could catch. Ailduin's cheeks lifted in a smile at the insult and threat.

Returning his attention to the Patrolmen Ailduin looked over them. "So what is it that we can do for you sirs?" The elf asked politely, not sure himself why they were stopped. The leader smiled a wicked smile and stepped forward. "Oh it's nothing really, we were just stopping you to see if you had proper papers to cross the border is all. If not that's fine, I am sure we can come to an agreement of some sort to let you all pass safely." He said letting a bit on menace enter his voice. Instantly both Ailduin and Zoroail knew what this was. A group of bored, and probably disgruntled men trying to extort a group of travelers for gold and goods. They both were keenly aware of the laws and there was no border crossing fee for leaving the land, there was a small tax on goods coming into Cameric however, the same didn't apply to goods leaving the country.

Both Ailduin and Zoroail stood silently, their faces both expressionless masks held absolutely still. Each man was thinking of what to do. While they stood in stark silence Zoroail noticed the eyes of several Patrolmen, the leader included trailing over Amalthea with a hunger in them he recognized. Clearing his throat and returning his gaze to Ailduin the leader smirked. "Of course it doesn't have to be gold you pay us with." He said suggestively his dark expression falling back onto Amalthea, mainly on her chest.

Before anything else could be said Zoroail moved. His motion was fluid as a river. His right leg slid forward slipping between the leader's parted legs, his left knee bent causing his to be crouched. Lifting his right arm, the unarmored on to the leader's chest he placed his open palm just below the meeting point of the ribs elbow bent. The motion was faster then the Patrolman could follow and by the time he looked down Zoroail was already in position. Quickly shifting his weight from his left to his right leg, which caused his body to turn so the two were facing each other squarely Zoroail's wrist now nearly level with his shoulder he glared at the Patrolman and in a sudden burst of strength he twisted his body while extending his arm. An explosive breath of air escaped the Patrolman as he was lifted from his feet and sent flying through the air a good ten feet before hitting the ground with a heavy thud and sliding back a further five feet.

Straightening his posture and turning to face the rest of the Patrolmen who were all staring in awe, the entire thing having taken less than two heartbeats to happen. "The laws of Carmenic are very clear on the taxation of goods leaving the country. I will forgive you all for what you just attempted if you stand down, collect your trash leader and go. If not...." He paused his face growing dangerous. "We are close enough to the Ulaquilt Forest for it to not be to strange for an entire patrol to go missing." Several of the patrolmen stepped back from his threat and the look he gave them, while several glared growing angry. Their leader gasped and groaned from the ground and Ailduin shook his head. "That was unnecessary Zoroail. Now we have to deal with this mess." "Don't give me that Ailduin, we were going to have to deal with it anyways. You know Tolman wouldn't accept this kind of behavior from his men, and you know that I will not be treated like some coward and forced to do what some weakling wants because he wears fancy armor and works for the King."

The entire party of Patrolmen froze at the mention of Zoroail's and Ailduin's names eyeing the two two with completely different attitudes. "Zoroail Mantiros?" The question came from the still gasping leader of the Patrol. "Yeah, that's me." Zoroail answered looking the man who was now staring up at him from the ground, fear and what could be respect in his eyes. "Y-you're THE Zoroail Mantiros?" He asked again swallowing hard. "Yeah, what about it?" "Zoroail, you really should pay attention to the world more. You're well, I wouldn't say your name is famous, but it's not infamous either." Ailduin searched for a word for a moment before waving it off. "You're name is well know, as are your actions. A lot of people actually think you are a myth or fable created by the guild to draw more attention to glory seekers." Zoroail looked at Ailduin with a cocked eyebrow. "Really?" He asked obviously not believing the elf. "Uh..yeah, stories are told about you all over the place, you just don't listen to a ripping thing when you walk through towns and only collect new assignments from the guild then leave again. You've been doing this for nearly two decades. You have made a name for yourself and you're telling me you haven't even realized it?" Ailduin was a tiny bit impressed with just how dense he friend could be. "Guess so. But anyways what do we do about these fools?" He asked turning the conversation from himself back to the men in question.

Finally managing to pull himself from the ground the leader rose on shaky feet and stumbled forward. "Men, let them pass. We will not start a fight with them." "But sir! You can't let him get away with doing that you." A man called out stepping forward. "Do as I say. Did you see what he did to me? I am fully armored and he still tossed me like I was child. Do you think we would survive if he truly meant us harm?" Turning from his soldier the Leader bowed to the two. "I beg your forgiveness. We have lost sight of ourselves out here so far from the rest of civilization." Ailduin smiled and waved a dismissive hand. "No one was grievously injured so I see no foul if you do not. May we continue along our way sir?" The leader nodded and stepped to the side of the road his men joining him.

They stood and watched as the caravan moved past. Zoroail watched them until he had to turn his head back to face the road before him. "Ailduin. Never talk about me like that in front of anyone again. I will show you just how much of a heathen[\i] I am if you do." Ailduin laughed at this and slapped Zoroail on the back. "Fine friend. I will keep you dark origins a secret from the world. Let hurry on, we lost valuable time with that." He said falling back to his position at the middle of the caravan leaving Zoroail and Amalthea alone again. "That is a very good reason why you need to learn to defend yourself horse. If I wasn't who I was you would have been passed around those men like a wine skin until they all got their fill of you. Also, you should study the laws of each land you plan on visiting so you can stop people like that from taking advantage of you're lack of knowledge."

 

[Sharub]

Despite the mens in the road were recognized as soldiers of another kingdom she knew they were at peace with, she couldn't but feel her heart thumping loudly in her head, feeling her mouth dry and visibly nervous about that situation, she grab hold of her staff like an hammer rather than a powerful magical artifact, following with unwillingness her partner and approaching those warriors. Once they were near, she watched them... in their armors... and smelled them... the usual smell of military, close enough to make her nostril pinching and shaking her head, as if to kick that air away from her. She didn't knew what to do... and neither she had the slightest idea of what she should have done if something changed from that apparent scene.

Suddently, Zoroail spoke, her ears twitching and ready to hear any single word they were about to speak, but from their back, the sound of gravel and dirt announce the coming of another guest... and then, Ailduin appeared, speaking with mellow tone to the guards, and there she recognized him as a true merchant, with the savoire-faire that is demanded from someone handling so many peoples and in so many different towns and social classes, sure that, whatever the nobility of a man, a mellow speech would almost always find its spot. Something hit Zoroail, it seemed, making her to gasp and look at him with surprise, as never she would have expected the two to growl like that in front of another menace... even if she saw the mellow-speaking to just smile, as if his true task wasn't to see who was stopping the caravan but just to taunt the man of his party...

"...hm... money..." echoed the mare in her mind, wondering if they were a true patrol or something more, but in the silence that followed, in its unnatural way, the wind whispered in her ears and looking at the mens in front of her, she noticed that many were licking their lips, grinning strangely at her and someone in the back was talking with the companion on its side while looking at her...
She felt too much in the center of the attenction, and when their leader offered the solution of another payment, she jumped back <<...nono!>> yelped her, eyes widening in sudden realization. But like an hero, Zoroail solved the situation in a blink.

It all seemed almost a blur to her ears, they seemed ready to fight, then talk... then they moved aside and let them go. Amalthea slowly returned to her place near Zoroail, looking at the gravel and ignoring the patrolmans, sighing heavily she nodded at his words <<...w-wouldn't they have paid for passage?>> asked her almost shocked, surprised that the life of a party-member would be such low <<...t-they wouldn't... really...no...>> repeated her almost absently, still holding her staff like a doll in her hands and tightly pressed to her chest, as if feeling protected <<...w-will they not return, right? >> her voice transpiring worry and preoccupation <<...what if they follow us? The caravan? And in the night...>> her tail swished nervously from side to side before she fell silent, knowing that anyway, Zoroail wouldn' answer to her questions.

They walked again and again, the sky turning less alight and darker, the sun drawing with its red and pink hues amazing shades and shapes, as the bugs of the night begun to buzz, accompanying their silent march. Suddently, Amalthea coughed and then exploded in a loud laugh <<...sorry, sorry! My fault!>> explained her flicking a tear from her eyes with her finger <<...is that ... you know... i realized that i should be scary right now. >> her voice serious, like a teacher <<...k-know why? ....because i'm a nightmare!>> again she laughed at her own joke <<...you get it? Night. Mare. Nightmares! I'm a mare! And... is almost night! >> she looked at him with eyes full of laughter and expectation, wishing for him to reply to her joke...if ever...

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

"If they follow us I simply kill them all. I let them off easy and they should be thankful for my mercy." He answered only the last question, his tone flat and words simple. He could see in their eyes that they were not going to follow though. He had efficiently cowed then, or at least their leader. It was what potentially laid waiting ahead of them that held Zoroail's attentions. A group of men would be nothing compared to some of the things that resided in the Ulaquilt.

As the miles moved behind them and the sky darkened Zoroail kept an eye out for a suitable place to strike up camp. The reds and pinks of the sky had darkened into bruised purples and the deepest blues as the sun crept behind the horizon, above, the first of the nights stars could be seen shining down on them.

The tranquility of the late evening, with it's buzzing and chirping insects singing to the gently rustling of the tall grass was shattered by Amalthea's laughter. Zoroail turned his head to stare at her questioningly. Had she cracked and lost her mind? He wondered before she spoke. Zoroail let out a pained groan at the joke and shook his head. "That was almost as bad as some of the jokes Ailduin makes." He commented with a shake of his head.

The sound of laughter came from behind them and Ailduin was shaking with it. "Don't listen to him Amalthea, he has no humor at all. That was great." He praised resting a hand on her shoulder. It took him a minute to recover and stop his laughing before he could speak. "We are about to stop for the night. See a good place to do so Zor?" "We're in the middle of Gods be damn plain that stretches for leagues in all directions Ailduin. We can camp anywhere we please." "True, I just know that you are a picky man and would have already started looking for a spot to rest your head." Zoroail growled at the elf and turned away from him pointing. "A little ways ahead is an area with lower grass, less chance of causing a brush fire and anything to sneak up on us." "Good on you friend." Ailduin said clapping Zoroail on the back.

True to what he said a few minutes more walking and the grass became shorter, only ankle high compared to the mostly knee and thigh high grass that was growing in the fields behind them. Ailduin stopped the caravan to set up camp. The ten huge carts formed a great circle with space enough for two men to walk abreast between them. In the middle a decent bonfire was built and a great cast iron kettle was was set up on a spit over it. Within minutes the party had started to cook a stew with the supplies that were brought along with them, that they had latched to the carriage roofs. Zoroail stood away from the fire, leaning against the back of a cart cast mostly in shadow watching the dancing flames of the fire.

 

[Sharub]

Even if Zoroail, rather unsurprisingly hadn't laughed nor his face muscles gave notice to contract in a smile, but the sudden voice of another laugh made her not to feel too bad about her joke, especially since the laughter came from Ailduin, who approached to her and kept laughing. The contagiousness of laughter took her up again, giving the idea that the two were the only ones that might have got that joke right, as Zoroail kept shooking his head in denial. Slowly they returned semi-serious, but the thought that soon... very soon... they will camp for the night, made the mare to smile to herself again.

"...soon..." repeated her absently in her mind, wishing that her partner would soon be satisfied with a spot by the road, almost measuring the height of the grass growing nearby, impatiently wishing that that height would be low enough. But nothing. Again, the area opened up, a few trees sparsely sprinkled here and there, but the grass was finally low, seemingly freshly munched by an herd of placid animals, making her to sigh in relief when Zoroail gave the okay to set up a camp there. She moved away from the well-trained caravanmens, leaving them unobstructed space for their maneuvers, seeing as the magically-powered charts moved one by one in away from their path, slowly moving away into the grass and formed a rather resistant barrier against the night's dreads, as soon as the chain was closed in circle, the party begun to lit a fire and the sound of metal and metal tools clinked and clanked around, with a large cauldron being set up over the fire and warriors taking slow and tired sighs, knowing that a day has passed.

The young mare looked at them in a mix of hope and awe, wishing that one day she'll be like them. Maybe even famous. And use her own name to settle down threats and menaces just like Zoroail did. Her tired eyes looked at him at a discreet distance while leaning on her staff, mumbling about what did that man might have done to carry such an heavy name "...is he really that famous? Oh gosh...maybe he's just modest but he's an hero!" her mind fantasized about his past... his untold or unspoken one, until she felt something in her lower belly...
With trembling lips, she looked around, seeing the last rays of the dieing sun casting the last dark shadows over the roofs of the charts while the fire begun to replace the daylight with its own reddish sparkles "...gotta go..." mumbled her to herself, slowly sneaking past members of the party that barely aknowledged her presence, until she was in the middle of two wagons.
Slowly, an hoof after the other, she moved into the tight passing, cursing the man that said "two man could easily pass abreast", but once she was on the other side, she immediately felt alone. The clamour of the camp seemed muffled and distant, with the night's breeze whispering fresh words in her ears.

With a stomp of her staff on the ground, she whispered at it <<Ki-Nuru>>, as if speakin into its woody ears. Suddently, a low-intensity yellowish glow crept from the knotty head of the wooden staff, making her to giggle at her accomplished spell. Nervously, she looked around, attenctively scanning the environment for menaces and other threats just to find a small holt of low bushes a few yardes away. Looking around herself, with fear pushing her quicker and quicker, she reached the holt, moving the glowing staff into the branches, seeking for critters or vicious beasts, but the absence of whatever beast made her giggle and yip, before planting the staff in the ground.

---

<<....ah.... one more minute and i'd have to do like Zoroail... eeeewww...>> commented her thinking aloud while adjusting for the nth time her apron-like dress; but as she was about to leave the privacy of those bushes, something caught her eyes. Moving the staff into the branches again, she saw a brown box "...a crate? A chest?" mumbled her while crouching into the low canopy, kneeling and crawling in front of it. With eyes full of curiosity, she let her fingers touch the wood and iron surface <<Onisha>> whispered her again, her lips close to the box, causing a barely seen glow to move like a blink's shockwave that run across the chest's surface. <<No curses>> mused her before smiling and letting her hands to open the box. With a loud squeak, the box's lid opened up, allowing her to see inside <<ooohhh...>>

Her hands immediately went inside the mysterious treasure chest, retrieving a small bottle and moving that in front of her eyes "...what's that?" mumbled her, seeking the white fluid rolling inside the bottle. With a shrug she shoved the bottle in her satchel and went to retrieve another item before she realized that she was away from the camp... in the night... alone...
With a gasp, she closed the box and ran back to the camp, her staff showing her the way.
Panting and puffing, she reached for the safety of the camp's iron curtain and the warm, dense smell of food being cooked and smoked. Leaning forth to take breath again, she tried to seek for Zoroail.

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

Zoroail stood away from all the commotion of the camp and watched. This was not his element. He mostly worked alone, he was used to being alone. Having this many others around for this long of a time was different and bothersome to him. He enjoyed the quite sounds of the world around, not the clamor of a camp. A frown started to tug down on his face as he stared at everyone making so much sound for the sake of making sound.

Ailduin was walking through the group talking to each person and checking on them. He turned to look at Zoroail and waved him over only to receive a scowl and a curt shake of the head. Ailduin shrugged it off and went about his business checking on the condition of the party members and chatting.


Pale green eyes swept across the bodies before him and he noticed that Amalthea wasn't among them. His frown deepened at this, just where did that horse go by herself. A few moments later he spotted her returning between to carts looking about. Pushing himself from the wall of the cart with his shoulder he stepped forward out of the darkness and let out a shape whistle to catch her attention. Several people turned to look at the sound, a couple of elves, Ailduin, and the wolf beastman. Ailduin looked at Zoroail then around and saw Amalthea, figuring he was getting her attention as it looked like she was searching for him. The other elves turned away and ignored him, and the wolf, the wolf snarled at Zoroail.

Zoroail saw the wolf and just gave him a flat look. The pup wasn't worth Zoroail's time. Clearly dismissing him with the look he gave just before turning his attention back to Amalthea.

 

[Sharub]

The whistle sounded sharply trough the rather calm and placid atmosphere of the improvised camp, its sound sharply cutting trough the thick air, filled with the evening's moisture coming from the sorrounding darkness, bushes and woods and the woods slowly burning beneath the cauldron. Her ears twitched attenctively at that sound, eyes roaming around, seeking for the being that emitted such a strange yet powerful and unique sound, until she found the others to look in the same direction; following thier gaze, Amalthea found the one that did that... it was Zoroail.

With a faint smile she walked to him, her wooden staff following her as a third leg on her right side, rattling every now and then due to its tribal decorations. The young mare was now almost face-to-face with the warrior, still puffing and huffing for her run trough the frighting night, she smiled at him with an air of success <<...*puff* heh... i... *gulp* i was just outside the circle... no worries. No issues. Really. *pant* ...i ... uhm... might use a little more sip of that waterbag of yours... hehe...>> she giggled, a little worried to the idea of having made upset her partner, knowing how silent, reserved and apparently not-fond of beastfolk like hers he was... <<...uhm... and... well... anyway... just wondering... do you know something about abandoned chests of sort lying around? I mean... i've heard of treasure chests... abandoned chests... boxes with loot and anything else fitting the description... but... let us take the example of one mare... going in search of privacy in a little tiny holt of bushes... and she finds a tiny little box... and that cute mare opens it... >> Amalthea was looking down in the grass, avoiding his gaze, her fingers fidgeting almost midlessly with the staff <<...and... uhm... yeah... that crazy crazy and totally unrealistic example occurs... what is the praxis? is... free to loot? is avoided? Is... forgotten? I ask because... always by example... that cute young mare casted a little tiny spell to check for curses... and it was free...>>

Amalthea giggled like a little children that discovers a secret and tried to hide the clear truth in the face of her parents, maybe even knowing that she was staging it all for him, always in the faint attempt to please and not upset him.

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

Zoroial watched the mare as she made her way across the camp towards him. It was obvious before she even drew close that she was breathing heavy from the way her hefty chest heaved up and down. His pale green eyes bore into her as she stopped in front of him and apologized. "I am not, nor was worried horse. If anything had happened to you out there it would have been your own fault for leaving the protection of the group without informing anyone. I advise not making a mistake like that again." He said coolly then passing her the water skin.

His face didn't even twitch as she continued to speak, giving him a very poorly constructed story about finding something out there while she handled her business. Not speaking until she was finished with her story he blinked slowly and drew in a deep breath holding it for a prolonged moment before slowly letting it out from between his teeth in a soft hiss. "First, you must think very little of me if you think I cannot see through this little lie of yours. Second, you mush think very highly of yourself, not once but twice you referred to yourself as cute. Third, you are not as stupid or as useless as I first expected. You can check objects for curses? That is impressive and very useful, but let me venture a guess that after you checked the chest you found for curses you just took what was inside without checking the item itself for a curse. Also I assume you didn't check it for non-magic traps in your excitement." His look was hard and a flicker of impatience dance in his eyes.

"You need to consider such things when you find stuff in the wild, now to answer the question you asked, if you find it out in the wilderness, or in ruins, or anywhere that isn't populated essentially it is open to be looted, if you are...lacking in moral fortitude...to put it nicely, anything you can get open and away with if free to be looted."

Stepping past her he paused and spoke. "You should check that item for anything that could cause harm horse, and be more careful. I am not your keeper nor will I be around to make sure you do not kill yourself or anyone around you by making such beginner mistakes. Now get something to eat and relax, tomorrow is going to be another long day of walking." He continued to walk cutting a straight path to Ailduin to speak to the elf.

 

[Sharub]

The smile she was portraying in the camp, trying to be as playful as possible, slowly turned into a serious face at each word of Zoroail, each word hissed trough tight teeths, his tone stern... annoyed... scholding her.
She felt like being caught off-guard by a storm.... feeling confused for the way he reacted to that explaination... and the way he dramatically made her feel like a thief for the discovery she made, and, just like a storm... a tempest, of winds and rains and air and words, Zoroail left her and walked away.

Amalthea blinked a couple of time without moving her eyes away, trying to let her brain register and understand that what did just happened was a true thing and not the fruit of her brain, until <<...what the...>> exclaimed her, turning her head, trying to see him. Stomping her hooves in annoyance over the ground, making her satchel to rattle, clenching her fists as she neighed and rumbled <<I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!>> she snorted before sitting where he was, holding her staff between her legs, looking in front of her with a frown, just like Zoroail liked to do "...i... i can't believe he thought i was lying to him... it was as clear as a day that i was just running around the clear fact i did... and gee... you think too much of yourself calling cute thrice" in her mind, she tuned his voice exaggeratedly "...stupid. Crazy. Serious. Damned warrior." thought her before feeling her chest light again.

Taking a deep breath, letting the fresh evening's air to tickle her nostrils with the smell of nature and the smell of a burning fire, she understood that it was nothing. Nothing but a man. One in millions of billions that had one, little, incredibly silly talk with her. And, with that thought already in the back of her head, she felt her stomach to grumble, claiming a little more something in it before another long, hoove-breaking day of walk, and then, she rose to her hooves and directed over the center of the encampment, wondering if there was something without meat in it....

 

[Kosmik_Khaos]

"Are you serious Ailduin!?" Zoroail growled at the smug looking elf man. "Am I not always serious?" He replied with a smug grin. "No, no you are not. I swear you planned this just to fuck with me didn't you?" "Seriously? You think I did this because of you? If you recall I had all this worked out before you dragged your sorry carcass into the Guildhall and tagged along with me. So no, I didn't do this just to fuck with you Zoroail. There are only ten tents so every pair will have to share. Or if you want you can give your tent to Amalthea and sleep out under the stars." Ailduin said obviously amused with himself and the situation. Zoroail just growled and scowled at the man before turning away and storming off.

He cut straight through the camp, the storm on his face causing everyone to part for him as he moved in a straight line. He passed by Amalthea without a word and kept walking towards the edge of the carts planning to leave the light and protection of their circle. Just as he was drawing to them someone cut him off and blocked his path. It was the wolf. "Look human, I don't know what your problem is but I will not stand for your attitude and how you are treating that girl just because she is a beastman." He said loudly. Zoroail stopped and glared at the wold like he was a particularly vile pile of excrement.

Stepping to the side to go around him the wolf matched his side step cutting him off again. "No, you are not walking away from me human. I am speaking to you." He snarled his white fangs showing. "Move pup." Zoroail commanded, his voice cold and hard. "I've had enough of you calling me a pup and treating me like I'm lesser than you." "You are lesser than me." Zoroail cut the wolf off. It was clear the words struck the wolf like a fist to the face. Clenching his jaw and baring his teeth the wolf growled wordlessly at Zoroail, his ears flattening to his skull. "You really don't want to go there pup. I will break you before you can even touch me." "That's it!" The wolf howled in anger and lunged at Zoroail.

By this time they had drawn the attention of several of the party, and Ailduin was trying to reach them before something happened. He was to late. A foot from Zoroail the wolf suddenly shot off straight into the air. Zoroail hadn't even moved. One second the wolf was lunging at him claws and teeth ready the next he was howling in fear as he appeared to fall upwards into the sky.

"ZOROAIL!" Ailduin shouted at his friend. "Bring him back down NOW!" He demanded, there was no anger in his voice or on his face, there was concern though. "Are you sure about that?" Zoroail asked his voice had a dangerous edge to it, the wolf was no longer in sight but he could still be heard. It was clear that he was very, very high now. "Gently." Was Ailduin's answer. With his back still to everyone Zoroail just scoffed and walked out of the ring of carts. The howling cries of the wolf were coming closer and a moment later he could just barely be seen falling back to the ground, limbs flailing about in terror. Just ten feet from the ground his fall slowed considerably. He still hit the ground, but only about as hard as if he had jumped from the top of one of the carts and hit. There was a thump and a explosion of breath followed shortly by a grown of pain and soft whimpers.

Ailduin sighed and watched Zoroail walk off into the darkness. He watched until Zoroail was barely visible in the dark. Turning away he looked to the wolf. Kneeling down he put his hand on the wolf's shoulder. "You really did pick a loosing fight there kid." His words were met with a hateful glare and a weak growl. "Oh don't be that way. I'm not being disrespectful, this is your first mission, you are young, very young compared to me, and Zoroail is way out of your league. That man has been doing this for decades and is probably the strongest mortal I know. He is hard to get along with so I would just leave him be. Next time things might not go so smoothly for you." He advised and stood. Glancing over the staring faces he dropped his head in exasperation. "Everything is fine, go back to what you were doing. It was just a little misunderstanding."

Walking to Amalthea he looked at her with a tired smile. "How are you doing girl?" He asked clearly tired. "Is the bastard giving you to much hell? I can find you someone else, but if you can stand him long enough he will have a lot to teach you these next few days."

 

[Sharub]

Despite the vivid clamour of the night camp, and the merry chatters and laughters of the travelers, talking of their past adventures and sharing their knowledge with other pros and the less-trained and prepared ones, gurgling water and what seemed ale while munching bread and loudly slurping the steaming stew that was still bubbling in the cauldron in the middle of the encampment, her hears perked up and twitched, the sound of Zoroail and Ailduin discussing animously and seemingly always about to burst into a fight hitting her equine ears. With an huff and a shrug, she shared an annoyed gaze with her new colleagues, seeing how much each and every one of them knows those scenes.

But as she was about to lean over and ask if she could get a raw vegetable not tainted with a dead prey's blood or meat, she saw her partner walking by. The equestrian girl stood up attenctively, eyes following his walk, picturing a black cloud of rage exiting from his head, fearing that he was still on what she told him few instants earlier, until the wolf-man jumped in front of him, barring him the passage. Amalthea gasped, holding her staff tightly in her hands...
"...how he treat that girl?..." echoed her in her mind <<...l-look... that's not the...>> muttered her, but her voice not listened as the two kept exchanging words, tension becoming thicker, palatable, until, with his fangs and claws bared, the wolf howled and jumped, sending a shiver down her spine, a primal remembrance of survival instinct, feeling her equine ancestors sharing fear for that predatory howl. It was then, that the whole party expected to see blood and the sound of slashed flesh, that the wolf, with a surprised growl, disappeared from the ground, only to be heard howling and growling up in the dark sky.

Her jaw opened in disbelief, eyes blinking, unsure of what they've seen "...impossible..." , realization appeared in them all, pointing their noses up high, her heart raced in fear and surprise as she begun praying the spirits, hoping in their help to save the flying wolf, until the voice of Ailduin forced Zoroail to "...bring him back? " thought her "...so... he's not only a warrior... but a powerful mage as well. " mumbled her, the sound of the wolf's noises sending unsettling shivers trough her mind "...the power to make someone to disappear in the sky... to control their fly.... and also bring them back with the same ease. All without casting a spell, using a rune nor pointing a staff...". Her scholarship-like thoughts interrupted, suddently, by the wolf falling at incredible speed toward them, sensing a bone-shattering fear ruling over the wolfman.

Amalthea closed her eyes, hugging her staff and trying to deaf her ears, not wanting to see the wolf to splat on the ground, nor to hear his howls turning into a mix of thumps, followed by the cracking sound of his bones and the splat of his flesh. The sole thought and an image made her about to puke, instead, there was a thud... but followed by a sigh of relief of the whole company, with the pained snarls and howls of the still-alive beastman.

<<...just a little misunderstanding...>>

Opening her eyes, she couldn't believe it... "...just... a misunderstanding...? Is that what happens for a misunderstanding here?"

<<...N...uh... yes! I mean.... i'm f-fine. Yes. Sir. >> exclaimed her, awakened from her thoughts, turning to face Ailduin with a weak smile, still proved from the happenings <<...oh, no, nono, not hell... >> said her, trying to find her words <<...but neither paradise>> she giggled, before returning serious <<...he's... powerful. I can see that even without sensing it... it seems the usual phrase but... is true... i mean... he's an experienced adventurer... he's the best teacher, for sure.>> she fell silent, looking around, seeing the camp returning to normality, as if nothing but a little joke occurred <<...did... was that... normal... i mean... that was... sh-shocking...>>