[Skirmish Group B] Walking Into Trouble

[Meepfur]

Anyone involved in 'Skirmish B' may post here! To begin with, the two pairs have net run into each other yet - both are minding their own business/haven't sighted each other yet. Until they do officially encounter each other, lions may only interact with their faction-partner.

This takes place just inside Burkuteshti territory, while the Qyrhyreshti are looking for their missing Bey. The Burkuteshti are simply out on a routine patrol along the coast, in the northwestern corner of their territory. It is nearly dawn.

ICly, this RP occurs several hours after the other skirmish - too soon for anyone to have had word of it yet.

Depawsit

Behiye bint Sadika

Puhterodactyl

Disin bint Pence

Annchen

Omurtak sim Narfi

Meepfur

Asil sim Kosoro

 

[Meepfur]

Asil sim Kosoro was trying as hard as he could to play it cool, but less than an hour into first real patrol, he was starting to have trouble. It was his first patrol! How was he supposed to stay calm for something like that? This wasn't one of those little baby patrols he'd been on as an adolescent, in some section of their territory deemed relatively safe - they were near the border! The actual border! He'd never even seen the border before, and tonight he was going to. And, desert willing, he might even see actual Qyrhyeshti! Better yet, he might kill some! He might get scars!

Of course, he knew that that was rather unlikely, as the border had been reasonably quiet for some time, but the youthful excitement remained. He'd fantasized about glorious battle ever since he'd been a little cub, about what a hero he would be, about catching the eye of a lioness as brave as he was... There were so many things to look forward to, and today was just the start! And he had so many questions for Omurtak that he was practically bursting, but he didn't want to aggravate the older male, or worse, come across as being as young and inexperienced as he was. Not that he didn't already know.

Asil glanced over and away again as they walked, watching Omurtak at least as much he was watching their surroundings.  

[Depawsit]

Behiye bint Sidika walked in silence for the first portion of the two's walk, her thought's trying to sort themselves out. But now, as she had finally realized she was free from her Father's protection. That he wasn't going to show up and save the day, she was becoming a bit more loose, and care free. This was the first time, in what she could only imagine to be her entire life, that she hadn't been under her Father's shadow during a fight. Though she loved her Father greatly, she did quite enjoy the fantasies she had of taking down on of those filthy Burkuteshti all by herself!

The skip in her step was beginning to turn into a prance as she and Disin rounded another corner. The tides were changing, it was definitely a sign of the approaching dawn. Soon the would no longer have the cover of night to protect them, only their own wits.

"I sure hope your wits are as sharp as mine Disin." She whispered almost playfully as she looked back over her shoulder to the female on her flank. "Because soon, we're going to need 'em!"

Puhterodactyl

 

[Annchen]

Omurtak sim Narfi had been on many border patrols, and the novelty had worn off long ago. In fact, he couldn't remember a time when it was new and exciting at all. He had probably been excited about it at some time, but time had faded any memories of it.

Nighttime patrols weren't his favorite, even if the lack of scorching sun was nice. He had grown used to patrolling with Özge, a large female eagle, but she was hopelessly diurnal. If he brought her along she'd just anchor herself at his back, claws digging into his hide, and sleep. He scanned the horizon, trying to make up for his lack of air support. When he patrolled with the eagle he was more relaxed, since he knew she was high above and would spot anything suspicious before he did.

"Focus," he said as he caught Asil watching him again, "I'm not the one who might ambush you."

Not that he thought they'd walk into an ambush tonight, but it wouldn't hurt to keep the newbie on his toes. Tonight he was his newbie and it would be very embarrassing if Asil was injured.  

[Meepfur]

"I-" An excuse began to form on the tip of his tongue, but the young lion thought better of it before it could slip. "Of course," he replied instead, looking away hurriedly to scan the horizon and generally look at anything other than Omurtak. "It won't happen again."

At least not for another hour...or a few minutes. For Asil, the time was passing very slowly as he waited for something - anything! - to happen. "Have you ever, you know, been ambushed?"

Annchen

 

[Puhterodactyl]

Disin bint Pence's lavender eyes watched the shore idly, no sign of Kotu sim Shan since they'd left for their patrol or the two weeks that preceded it. Being in Burkuteshti territory always set her nerves on edge. Treading on this ground almost made her scars itch, as she remembered how she'd won them. The lioness paused to rub at the ones on her face for a moment before falling in beside Behiye bint Sadika.

"As always, Behiye." Disin wasn't the most chatty of patrol partners, but she didn't mind Behiye, so she made an effort to humor the lioness.

She had low expectations and even lower hopes for finding their Bey, and even less optimism that they'd return home after an uneventful patrol. Disin glowered at the sea with mistrust, the sound of its rolling waves could serve to cover enemy footfalls.

Depawsit

 

[Annchen]

Omurtak had a feeling it would happen again, but he didn't say so. Instead he walked on, stopping to listen and scent the air now and then. Sometimes his ear and nose would tell him things before his eyes saw them. He didn't really think they'd run into trouble tonight, but he was trying to show the right way to do it.

"The trick to make an ambush truly enjoyable," he said, without really answering the question, "Is to be the one doing the ambushing."

He stopped again and faced Asil.

"Where would you hide if you wanted to make a surprise attack here?"  

[Meepfur]

While Asil certainly noticed - and was disappointed - that his question wasn't answered, he knew better than to press the issue. If Omurtak didn't want to answer, then that was his business. And when asked for where he would set up an ambush, they gray-eyed Muharip was given something else to think about. Stopping beside the other lion, he bit his lip and looked around. If he didn't get this right, he was going to look terrible.

"There's, uh, well, there's the water...but we're not crocodiles, so uh - nevermind." That was not clever, that was stupid! Way to go, Asil. "In the rocks, I guess?" Which were partially submereged in the coastal waters, so...still sort of in the water.

Annchen

 

[Depawsit]

She was of course joking with her companion, to be sent on such a mission ... one would have to have their wits about them. Not just now, but at all times, she had no doubts that her life was in capable hands with Disin bint Pence. A small smile worked its way across her face as she noted Disin's glare upon the seascape before them.

"Y' think it will cause much of an issue?" Her voice held low, so as not to disturb any potential enemies in the shadows. "I wonder if we should stay this course, or find one with a bit less noise."

She was no fool, she knew her orders well. Patrol the coast, look for any clues of their Bey's existence. But after such a long time of being gone, would there really be any promising clues to be found? Of course, she would hold her head high! She wanted hey Bey back as much as the next lion, but one's heart could only take them so far before logic began to rear its ugly little head.

Puhterodactyl

 

[Annchen]

Omurtak nodded as the younger lion spoke, but his expression was fairly neutral and didn't give away much of anything. He watched the places Asil suggested and even walked closer to the rocks he pointed out, investigating their potential as a hiding place.

"It wouldn't be very pleasant to hide in the water," he agreed, "But it would be surprising, don't you think?"

He suddenly had a mental image in his head, a half lion-half crocodile lurking in the water with murky green fur and rows upon rows of sharp teeth. The thought made him smile a little.  

[Meepfur]

"Pleasant, no. But surprising, yes. Also not very practical, but it's - it's a thought, I guess." Asil drifted toward the rocks as Omurtak did, wondering if they really would be a decent spot for an ambush. The darker male placed a forepaw on the the rocks and pushed, testing his weight before moving to clamber up them. "Maybe a good place to get a look around from, too."

Annchen

 

[Puhterodactyl]

Disin shrugged without taking her eyes from the water. "It works as much for us as it does against us. It also brings in seals that Kotu sim Shan could hunt if he were around here... I don't like it, but I'd regret leaving any stone or shell unturned." The lioness sighed and threw her head high in the air. Only salt and brine stung her nose, no scents of lions were carried on this wind.

She would never have expected their bey to use the shore as refuge. Any caverns to hide in were at risk of flooding and trapping any inhabitants if the tide came in, and without protection from the harsh sun and little to no fresh water in the area, it would be unwise to loiter. And what would their bey be doing just hanging around here anyway? Disin shook her head at her own musings, but she had a job to do. "Let's keep going, Behiye."

Depawsit

 

[Annchen]

Omurtak put his front paws up on one of the large rocks and flexed his claws. The stone surface felt a bit slippery, but it looked drier higher up. He backed a few paces before jumping up. He probably looked like a geriatric lion being so careful, but there was no sense in injuring himself on rocks. Little things like that could potentially become very dangerous if he entered a fight with injuries. Being injured in battle was sometimes unavoidable, but being injured while playing around was stupid.

"What do you see," he asked. Asil should have managed to get a good look around by now.  

[Meepfur]

Once he got past the slippery bits, scaling thenrocks wasn't too difficult, although he did kick a smaller rock loose towards the top. He cringed and looked back, but it rolled harmlessly down - good, it would have been horribly embarrassing if he'd whacked his first patrol partner in the head. Anyway. He was up here to look around, so he should have a l-

"...uh, Omurtak? You know that ambush thing? You might wanna hurry and get up here, 'cause I think we're going to need to try it."

Annchen

 

[Annchen]

In the blink of an eye Omurtak was snarling instead of smiling. He scaled the rocks as quickly as he could safely do, but he tried to stay low when he reached the top. His eyes narrowed as he saw what Asil had seen. Intruders. Vermin. Filth.

"Stay low," he said quietly.

The snarl turned into a dangerous grin as he realised the two intruders were both lionesses. Killing one or both of them wouldn't be enough to avenge his mother, she had been far superior to any Qyrhyeshti scum, but it was a start. The tip of his tail twitched, and he pressed his body down against the rocks, trying his best to look like he belonged there.