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 Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:55 am
When Kade and Mitsuki approached him, he spoke in a quiet tone, so none of the recruits could hear him.
“We may have a problem. At the river, I saw the footprints of Ice Wolves and several dead bandits. It seemed the bandits were killed by the Ice Wolves.” Stopping for a moment, he looked at the three recruits, “I don’t know why the Ice Wolves left the mountains, but they shouldn’t be here until the winter season. We’ll have to keep watch, I don’t want the recruits to face an Ice Wolf so early in our journey.”
Ice Wolves were peaceful creatures and would only attack when they feel threatened or provoked. They are fast and work together to take out there pray. You can feel the present of the Ice Wolves as the temperature freezes, as these creatures radiate an ice cold aura.
As long as they kept the fire going, the Wolves wouldn’t come near as they fear fire.
Holding out the bowl, Alexander hadn’t noticed Sami was worried.
“Some berries. Kade and Mitsuki found an entire bush. They also got a deer!”
This all camping outdoors didn’t seem bad, even though he got lost. Alexander was just glad he found Mitsuki and Kade instead of the bandits.
“Hey, Sami. I’m sorry I got lost.” He felt bad for leaving Sami alone and more so, because he didn’t help her out gathering wood. It didn’t cross his mind if she was worried, because he isn’t used to anyone worrying about him. Back home, everyone knew Alexander could get into trouble, but they knew he could get out of them.
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:37 am
Kade looked a little concerned for once. This was no time to laugh and joke around. "I don't think we should let our recruits out of sight," he spoke softly, looking over to the three before turning his attention back to Mitsuki and Vincent. "If one of them get lost, they could be facing far worse than a bandit or two."
Mitsuki's frown deepened. This was a problem. You could see that, especially when you knew Kade wasn't enthusiastic about the situation. "I'll watch through the night," she decided. "Someone has to make sure the fire is safe. And someone has to make sure the temperature doesn't drop while we sleep. I'll do that." Mitsuki never slept much anymore anyway. Keeping watch wasn't too hard. It wasn't like she'd be careless enough to doze off. None of the veterans would do that. But this way Mitsuki would be positive they were protected.
---
Star poked at the bag of deer Mitsuki had dropped upon her walk to speak to Vincent. She could tell something was up, she'd sensed it since she and Vincent had returned from the river. But she found it best not to pry. Whatever it was, Mitsuki, Kade, and Vincent could handle it. She untied the bag and opened it, to see a bloodied up deer and a few rodents within it. Star groaned, realizing that this was what she ate for surivival, and retied the bag. A part of her no longer felt hungry. Oh well.
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yummeh-applesauces Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:36 pm
Sami looked at the bowl and then at Alexander. "That's great. To the berries and the deer. Looks like we'll have a good meal tonight." She wiped her eyes. "It's ok, I'm just a glad that you didn't find the bandants."
She saw Star open the bag, then retie it. "What's wrong?" She moved over and peeked into the bag, closing it quickly. "Ooooo. Yeah, I see." She sat back down, wondering what the three knights were talking about.
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:52 am
Vincent nodded, “Very well. You’ll take watch, but if you want to sleep, wake Kade or me. Should the Ice Wolves attack, we all need to be ready and well to fight them and protect the recruits.” Now that he mentioned the last, they better discussed a strategy should they be attacked. Should the Wolves strike, the recruits will be caught of guard and be confused on what’s happening. Telling them about the Ice Wolves may get them worried and they will need their rest.
“In the case of an attack,” Vincent had quickly come up with a rough plan, “One of us should protect the recruits and take them to Samund. The other two will distract the Wolves, so the everyone can get away safely.”
Looking at the recruits, the three better joined with them before they would get suspicious.
“I’m willing they stay and fight the Wolves. Maybe I can find out why they are aggressive.” With his ability to talk with creatures, Vincent could talk to the Wolves, if they were prepared to talk with him.
Putting the bowl of berries down, Alexander sat down warming his hands.
“Well, I did meet the bandits, only they were already dead.” He smiled, “Not that I couldn’t deal with them. I’ve fought against a few back when I was a guard.”
The highlight of his life, when he accompanied his father to attack a bandit camp.
“Those where the days.” He said to himself quietly.
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yummeh-applesauces Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:19 pm
"Kade will take them to Samund," Mitsuki replied firmly. "If things get rough I'll stay behind and aid you. Kade is probably the best to keep the recruits from worrying." She glanced over to her fellow veteran, making sure Kade was okay with this decision.
Kade nodded, forcing a grin. "Yeah, they'll be safe with me!" He assured the two.
---
Star bit her lip, crossing her arms. She silently listened to Alexander and Sami talk while her thoughts wandered from one subject to the next.
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:10 pm
"Really? What was that like?" Sami asked. Her thoughts going back to her own parents and the fun she had with them. "My father was a guard as well, but he didn't want me on the force. He wanted me to follow my mother and become a mage. And schooling there was so much more boring than with the Shendai." She made a face, sticking her tongue out to show her displeasure at the teacher. "Though I did set his robes on fire at one point. He never found out who did it."
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yummeh-applesauces Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:54 am
"My parents taught me all I know," Star mused, a small smirk on her face as she recalled some of her past. "They were both Shendai Knights. Then the assault came, and they both died." Star gazed into the fire, then turned her attention to the starry sky. "Then the Shendai Lord took me in. And that's basically my whole life story." Grinning, Star laid back to relax.
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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:44 am
The smile on Alexander’s face faded. Star reminded him of his older brother who, like Star parents was a Shendai Knight and was send to fight Ankinia. The night before the assault was the last time Alexander spoke with him. It was then that his brother gave him the necklace of their mother. His hand held the necklace.
Wear that and mother will always watch over you.
Alexander always wore the necklace on duty as a guard or when he was send on mission. When he thought things could get dangerous, he wore the amulet.
Now that everything was said, Vincent nodded and gestured they’d better return to the recruits. As he walked back, he spoke in a clear voice, so the recruits could hear him, “So, the ship is called Siren’s Tears?” It was his intent to look like they were discussing how the journey would go. The ship Siren’s Tears was on of the many ships that traded between Cinora and Samund. Now he’d hope the ship had survived the war. He walked past the bag with the deer and rodents and took a bowl of berries.
When the Knights joined them, Alexander put his necklace back under his shirt. He wondered what the next step was and how they’d continue.
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yummeh-applesauces Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:05 pm
Star turned her gaze to the three knights who had returned from talking about some important discussion. She watched as Vincent took a bowl of berries, then looked at Mitsuki, and a cheerful, smiling Kade.
Mitsuki nodded, taking the bag of meat and setting it over to her own side so the others didn't have to witness her cooking it. "That's right," she replied simply. Mitsuki untied the bag and pulled out the bloodied and battered deer. Taking a dagger she found among the bandit camp, she began to skin the deer.
"And I'm sure things ought to go smooth sailing!" Kade chirped. He quietly chuckled at his own joke. Kade knew he especially had to remain enthusiastic. He saw how everyone looked at his enthusiasm. It would be easy to see that something was wrong if he didn't spread any more enthusiasm. He beamed when he looked over to see Mitsuki smacking her forehead at the joke.
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Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:21 pm
Sami looked up from the fire as Vincent picked up the bowl near her. "So we leave tomorrow?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:21 am
“Yes, tomorrow we arrive in Samund and board the ship Siren’s Tears, which will take us across to Cinora.” Taking a few berries, Vincent continued, “The journey oversea may take another day. It depends.” Then he ate some berries.
“Depends on what?” Alexander looked at the bowl of berries, wondering if he’d get some. He hasn’t eaten in quite some time and he’d hope Mitsuki was near done preparing the deer.
Leaning forward, Vincent held the bowl out to Alexander.
“Depends if any pirates delay the journey.”
“Pirates? What’s the odds of meeting those? I thought they’d sail more to the east?” This was true, before the war, to avoid a military or armed traders ship. Yajun had no ships to spare and send after the pirates, so the east is were they were most active.
“That was the case. But with the Kingdoms rebuilding, no ship can be spared or send after the pirates. Every ship is used to gather resources to rebuild. Just like the lands of Licia, the waters are also dangerous.”
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:31 am
While the others were talking, Mitsuki had fully prepared the deer. You couldn't even tell it was a deer anymore. Probably made it a bit more appetizing. She placed the cooked meat on the bag and pushed it over towards the recruits and Kade, knowing Vincent didn't like meat and not feeling all that hungry herself. She grabbed a couple berries from another bowl and ate those. Then she ate nothing more.
Star took a piece of the deer Mitsuki had cut up and bit into it. It actually didn't taste all that bad. She listened into the others' conversation as she continued to eat.
Kade clapped his hands together, and waited for everyone else to take some deer before he took some of his own. "Looks delicious Mitsuki!" he chirped happily.
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yummeh-applesauces Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:54 am
Sami listened to the conversation between Alexander and Vincent. She grabbed a few berries and a slice of venison and started to eat. "Thanks, Mitsuki," she said between bites. To Vincent she asked, "What's the likelihood of a pirate attack? Wouldn't they be more interested in a merchant ship than a ship like the Siren's Tears?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:23 am
Alexander quickly ate some berries he took from Vincent and grabbed a piece of meat. The berries were to small to still his hunger. Taking a few bites, he thanked Mitsuki,
“This is good! Thanks.”
Vincent had leaned back and continued to eat his berries.
“The Siren’s Tears is a trade ship. With the shortage of supplies in Cinora, it will transport anything Cinora needs. There are many trade ships, so we may not see any pirates. None the less, we should stay alert.”
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yummeh-applesauces Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:29 am
Mitsuki gave a wave of the hand in response to the thanks, and laid back, looking up to the sky. She continued to listen to everyone talk, but she would not contribute to the conversation unless necessary.
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