[Seasonal Quest] Hunt of the Season (Open)

[Ronan]

Ronan stood by Khasr, listening with a hint of a smile. It was clear that his frayed nerves were getting the better o him. Women had that effect on men. They turned their brains to gruel, and twisted their tongues so that they could not speak properly any longer. He shouldn't judge. He had made plenty of mistakes himself, and he was hardly experienced enough to qualify for moral ground.

When the man glared at Khasr, he folded his arms defensively. Khasr was a friend of Akilah's. That made him a friend of Ronan's. "Keep your raging eyes for someone else," Ronan said with a glare.

Glancing through the crowd, he saw Akilah heading back towards them. Why had she even run off? Oh, that was right. Something strange was going on in that tent. Ronan could do nothing about it though.

"Cousin," he said with a questioning eyebrow.

[Colt]

Awkward silence. Very awkward silence. Khasr shifted uncomfortable, then slunk back into the crowd and away from the suddenly mute woman and her guardian. Once he was out of eyesight, he cast his gaze around for Akilah, but she seemed to have vanished. He felt panic rising and claustrophobia coiling to strike, and sighed in relief when he caught sight of Akilah’s cousin. He angled towards Ronan, eyes shifting around cautiously. The crowd was beginning to thin. “We need to go,” he said. “I… I think we might be the only ones left to hunt. You, do you want to team up?” He looked to the sun, which still wasn’t quite at its zenith. “If we head out now, we can get a good headstart. I think I have a plan.”

[Ronan]

Akilah seemed to divert, leaving Ronan standing alone. People were forming teams and heading out, yet his own chances of joining the hunt seemed to be collapsing around him.

It was then that Khasr reappeared from wherever he had gone, and offered to join Ronan. He did not know the young man well at all, but he smiled at him and nodded.

"It's high time we got this thing started," he said slowly. "A plan?"

Ronan watched him carefully, unsheathing his dagger.

"I'm all ears."

[Colt]

Khasr smiled. It was a small smile, granted, but it was a smile. “Come. We should get moving. I’ll explain once we’re out of earshot of everyone.” He turned and set off at a strong pace towards the outer fringes of Endrykas. Everyone else seemed to be gone, including the people he’d been trying to make a team out of. “By the way,” he asked, “do you know webbing? And what’s your weapon going to be?” His tone was staccato, as if he thought he was already wasting too much time on what little he said.

[Skram Silverstrider]

There was nothing left for Skram to do here other than to try and fail yet again with his own form of protection over his cousin. He will not be good enough for that as it would seem. Loud enough for Caoin to hear if getting the boys was not the only thing she had in her mind he asked "Auldwin, tell Caoin that I will be waiting for her to bring the boys with the cart" then quietly he told the ghost that "make sure that the men she picks are suitable. People you would hate to compete with for your wife" assuming that the ghost's partner was around too. Along with the thinning crowd who already had their team picked out, Skram left so that they may leave right away.

Since he already prepared everything earlier, Skram only had to lead Mornax with him to the meeting spot. "Where are they..." he asked himself impatiently as he waited in place only able to watch as so many other drykas left for the hunt. Other than himself, who would be left? So close to him his answer was the other two. There were so many other people he has been glaring at earlier that he could not pick them out from then but now "Caoin can be petched if she keeps me waiting" and if by chance he was able to get the glassbeak with these two men then that would show his cousin even more.

They were already discussing among themselves so Skram had to make his move now. Moving towards them he asked whether "are you joining the hunt too?" Of course they would if they were men but it did not hurt to ask so he can also ask if "do you have room for one more?"

[Akilah Windsong]

She wasn't the tallest or strongest Drykas here, and it didn't help when a group of hunters started to leave together. The flow pushed her along to the fringes almost before she fought her way back in.

Akilah didn't have the time for this. Her strider was still at her pavilion, along with her hunting dog, and without either she wasn't much use on this hunt. Jumping, she turned her head around to spot the duo.

There would be no time to show them the ghost--that would have to wait till later. Maybe after the hunt, if he had already found his team.

(A question bubbled in her mind--could ghosts really join the hunt? She had never heard of the case before, but then again, he was part Drykas. Even if he was dead.)

Maybe--and she heard their voices, the curt sentences that defined the men. They were nearby and perhaps it was a good thing that group pushed her so far out. She could see them clearly where she was, clearly and it wasn't much effort to break free of the clump and just skirt the edges toward them.

She could see another man approaching them as well, asking if he could join. Asking, but she wasn't sure how the two would respond.

They were rather secretive, she knew. Secretive and anti-social, but this was a hunt. You didn't really need to become friends with the other hunters, though that would help. You didn't really need a group either, but they probably realized the usefulness of one.

Which meant she would have to prove her usefulness. Even if she was a friend or cousin, it didn't mean much when it came to the deadly lands around them.

When she was close enough, she pinched them both in the arm.

Maybe she pinched them a little harder than necessary to grab their attention.

"Alright, I give up trying to find people in this crowd. I need to get my equipment and Adámas, so should I just meet you back here?"

[Ronan]

Ronan nodded at Khasr's words. A secret plan, or so it seemed. "I know a little Webbing. Enough to get us by, I hope, though it always makes me feel a little queer. I think I have a lot to learn. Oh, and my weapon. A dagger. I always use a dagger."

Suddenly, another man approached them, some kind of smirk or smile plastering his face. He asked them if there was room for another in their group. Ronan glanced over at Khasr, and then noticed Akilah moving back towards them.

"So we do exist," he whispered at her, sticking out his tongue, "ouch," at the pinch.

The man stood awaiting an answer, but Ronan was unsure of what to say. They had their team: he, Khasr, and Akilah. He waited to see if the others had anything to say on the matter.

[Colt]

Good. Webbing was good. A webber was good. “A dagger?” Khasr did his best to hide the incredulity from his voice. He looked at the sheathed weapon at Ronan’s hip, then shrugged. A weapon was only as good as the one that used it. He turned at approaching footsteps and frowned. It was the same man who’d almost stared him blind. Even so, he felt a small bit of relief at the question, and put aside his leeriness to look him up and down. He was well-built, and looked quite strong. Khasr nodded. He and Ronan were lean, and sheer strength would be invaluable. “Yes,” he said, nodding some more. “That would be good. Your help would be good.” He twitched in surprise as he felt a rather painful pinch. He looked over his shoulder with one eyebrow raised. The pinch was forgotten as he considered her words, and he nodded. “Yes. Good idea. We should all get what we need that we do not have, and meet back here.”

[Skram Silverstrider]

This was quite a group he has gotten himself into. The way that woman which just came and the man who practically ignored him reminded Skram a lot about how he and his cousin behaved. If only that Caoin would just suddenly appear with that ghost friend of hers then he would be able to team up with someone that he was more comfortable with. Also Caoin had animals which were strong like they looked, unlike Skram who preferred to keep his distance since he has other to look out for and unable to put himself at risk because of it.

At least he was in and "I already have everything I need" which was with his horse and cart right behind him. "I can wait here then" while they all got ready but the longer they took the closer every other participant is getting to the glassbeak. Excited with anticipation he told them that "we should hurry if we want out prize."

[Akilah Windsong]

Ah, so the stranger would be joining them. Taking him in, she noted the strength in his stance, the age in his expression. Older than her, she momentarily wondered why he wanted to join them before dismissing the thought.

Already the crowd was dissipating, groups disappearing through the cracks and crannies that led to the fringes. It wouldn't be long before one of them caught the trail. The stranger was right and she rocked on the balls of her feet as she ignored her cousin's taunt.

There would be plenty of time later to get back at him.

"Nice to meet you," she greeted the man, before turning back the path. "I'll be quick."

And with that, Akilah broke into a sprint, her legs moving down well-known paths before her mind could even think of them. The wind crashed into her like a wall, her clothes ballooning slightly as she pushed against the breeze. The bells in her hair chimed shrilly as she moved; she would have to remove them. Excitement coursed through her veins as she moved--the hunt, the hunt, the hunt.

She was a fast sprinter and with a twist and a turn she was outside her pavilion, panting lightly.

"Adámas," she called out as she turned to the back, "Vespera!" A deep bark alerted her to the latter's presence before he bounded up to her, almost tackling her to the ground.

"Down, down," she chuckled, trying to push his massive paws off her. Her hound was so much bigger than he had been when she first got him--it was hard to keep up with the changes in his body. His playful mentality hadn't left, though he actually listened to commands now.

Staring at him for a moment, she pondered whether or not she should bring the hound. He had helped with some hunts in the past, she knew, but would he be able to keep up with this one?

Running a quick check on his body, her fingers running through his fur to make sure nothing had lodged itself in there, she made her decision. He'd be more useful than not, considering she hadn't seen the others with a hunting animal. "Ready for a hunt?"

A whicker sounded in front of her in response. Adámas appeared in front of her, her yves already on. Suspiciously, Akilah examined the bags, noting the equipment she had set aside that morning all packed in. Her sheath was strapped to the side, easily accessible.

It was her father, not doubt. Flushing--she should have done all of this before she left--she looked back at the pavilion. No doubt he would be hidden somewhere, watching her right now, and she waved a small thank you in that direction.

Removing the wrap from her hand, her braids fell around her messily, twinkling as they moved. Fortunately she only had a few bells in her hair and she dropped them in one of the bags before tying her hair back.

Without further delay, she hooked her foot on the yves and swung herself on. "Let's get going."

She wasn't going to be the last one back.