"Guard duty, can you believe it?" Siiri griped as she whittled away on a block of wood with one of her daggers. The keen edge of the steel blade easily shaved chips off the mahogany block, the sheared pieces falling noiselessly to the ground below. The Myrian warrioress did not know was going to carve yet as she was only beginning to peel away the corners of the rectangular object. She had learned well from one of her mentors, Baba, allowing her fingers to 'see' the wood by tactile feel as she imposed her will, not to mention her blade, on it to change its shape.
"You have to understand, Siiri, we were decimated pretty badly, what with Amir and Noni struck down from out last outing, and you on the shelf with your injury. Eena was glad to take any assignment she could get for us," the usually reserved Onna explained.
Siiri tuned out the younger woman. She did not need to be reminded of the fact, as she and Eena already had a heated and rather violent discussion about the state of their fang. A frown formed on her brow as she recalled that event and chips started flying from her carving as she worked on it furiously. Carving had always been a soothing exercise for her when she first discovered it, but now her frustrations - on both Eena and the slow healing of her own injured arm - were beginning to seep through the each flick of her dagger.
"Aye, and Mistress Swooping Talons wanted ye as far away from her as possible 'fore ye start running yer mouth again. She be wit' yer little doggy girl, findin' -""Shut up, Garou."It was another sore point for the Snapping Jaws warrior: her bondmate was not with her, having been employed by Eena to act as messenger girl as she looked for temporary members to fill in for their absent comrades. The man Siiri had rudely cut off took no offense at her words, cackling instead from his position of hanging upside down from a tree branch. His laughter soon turned into coughing and it wasn't long before hocked up (or down as the case were) spit and phlegm and spat the wad out at her direction. It goopy missile narrowly missed Siiri's carving before it hit the tree trunk beside her with a soft splat.
"Ever are you a disgusting var'tsa," Siiri muttered sa she resumed the motions with her blade, boring shallow canals on the wood's surface this time using the dagger's tip. Onna, sitting cross-legged on a separate branch across her, long bow on her lap, chuckled in amusement at the pair. Her gaiety was interrupted when a shrill, bird-like whistle sounded right above them. It was Kai, the fourth member of their group, giving out the prearranged signal for trouble. All three stood immediately from their perches, instantly alert. Garou righted himself, Onna nocked an arrow on her bow, and Siiri sheathed her dagger and quickly stuffed the half-finished carving into her pack. She looked up questioningly at the girl who gave out the warning. In response, Kai raised her hand to point to the sea.
A small ship had dropped anchor a couple of hundred yards from the dock.
"Onna, take up positions with Kai," Siiri ordered without hesitation.
"Garou, to me."The pair immediately obeyed her commanding words, Onna climbing higher up the tree to hide within its canopy with her fellow archer, Kai. The two of them would stay out of sight and serve as missile support for the two fighters - standard Myrian tactic when operating within the jungle. The vessel was within the range of their arrows, but with the strong breeze coming from the open sea, Siiri knew that their aim would be quite off and they would just be wasting their ammunition if they fired. So she restrained from giving the order, instead turning to Garou to consult the more experienced veteran.
"That one of those from the Rock?" she asked in a whisper.
Garou shook his wild hair in reply. He had seen the vessels coming from Black Rock before, and even had the chance to ride the strange ships, and the one they were spying on right now was certainly not from that unnatural place.
"Looks like a trading vessel.""Then what's it doing stopping here? They're not getting anything from our land!""Watch."Sage advise, one which Siiri complied to. In silence, the two Myrians kept their eyes glued on the ship. There seemed to be a fair bit of activity on its deck as a rowboat was lowered to the water and a lone figure climbed down to it. No one else among the crew joined the person, though they did provide him or her a length of rope which was then subsequently tied to the smaller craft's stern. The figure began to row for the docks.
"What's that? A prisoner exiled? A scout?""Not a prisoner. Saw 'em put two bags on the boat 'fore they dropped it in the water."Siiri snorted.
"Don't tell me that's a merchant coming in for trade?" she asked, her tone incredulous.
"Maybe. But seems a one way trip though. See the rope?" Garou pointed at the rowboat's tail end and traced his finger to point back at the ship's deck, where several men were uncoiling more of the rope's length as the boat drew nearer.
"They be pullin' it back soon as it makes land. This one be comin' here willingly.""A fool then," Siiri decided. She dropped down to the ground, the dead leaves on the jungle floor cushioning her fall. A rustle behind her told her that Garou had followed suit.
"Come, let us welcome our guest."The two of them broke from the cover of the trees, their pace matching the stranger's approach such that they would meet at the midpoint of the dock. Nearer now, Siiri could see that the lone boatman was in fact woman. She looked well-built, probably a warrior. And she carried herself with confidence as well. It was looking to be an interesting encounter. Still, Siiri was not worried.
The woman was only ever a human, after all.
"Halt!" she called out while they were a mere spear's throw away from each other.
"Identify yourself and your purpose here, deyhan!"
