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 Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2022 5:23 pm
Anahita was out and about in a village in upper Tale. While most of her other siblings stayed near their home village in the forest, only venturing out maybe to the nearby village along the border of Sauti and Tale now that they were older, Anahita was always eager to go along with other rangers on expeditions. Some of the rangers had decided to take a break here with the merchants that they were escorting while others went out on an expedition to take care of some dangerous creature that the villagers had complained about. If the creature was continuing to disrupt the trade route then it could cause a major problem which would also interfere with their own assignments. It was best to take care of it now while they were refreshed and ready to fight whatever creature it was. Obviously Anahita had wanted to tag along with that group but they tried to entice her to stay behind instead.
It’s best if you simply rest up and what not.
Yeah, right! Anahita had refused to sit still so once the others headed out the girl grabbed her own supplies and sneaked off into the forest bordering the town. She was going to help find and capture this creature! What had they said? Something that was quick on its feet and stealthy with some rumors of seeing flashes of copperish coloring for its fur as it darted through the woods? Anahita tried to keep that in mind as she started searching for tracks.
[Anahita 1]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:21 pm
Ixia had decided to go wandering out aways from the encampment. The troupe had set up outside of a little town in Tale so that they could gather supplies while providing entertainment to the locals for the few days that they lingered in the area. The coin wasn’t going to be as much as going into the bigger cities but it gave them a respite, loosened the pressure of the shows’ ratings and allowed them to try out new acts while also giving them a chance to get essentials that would carry them into the city next month. Still while the others went around to get ready for tonight’s performance the girl instead went wandering outside. She still was not exactly allowed to perform with the troupe and doing chores over and over got so boring! Which was why it was so much easier to just do a few tricks here and there throughout the town and nearby woods. No one got hurt at least, only a bit scared and….then maybe a few baked goods here and there went missing. Nothing major though, just enough mischief to fill in the boredom as time slowly dragged along!
So when she saw someone with pretty teal hair going towards the forest, Ixia could not resist following with a small grin. What was this lovely doing out here away from the village?
[Ixia 1]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:21 pm
“Maybe a witu.” Murmured Anahita as she squatted down and pressed her fingers lightly against the forest floor. The faint traces of claws were familiar and she pressed a finger into the ground to try and get any type of scent from the dirt. Her nose wrinkled in distaste before she stood again and wiped her fingers against her leather leggings. If the marks went that way then she would assume that the creature lived somewhere along the northern edges of the forest. That would make sense considering how easily it could track anyone moving along the main routes….but why would a witu?
A sudden snap of branches to her left had Anahita twisting around, her bow raised and an arrow aimed directly at the heavy foliage. “Hello?” She called out, her lips pressing into a tight line as she slowly circled around a tree to try and get a better view of whoever and whatever was nearby.
[Anahita 2]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:21 pm
Eeep! Usually Ixia was a lot quieter than that and even she hadn’t thought much of the stray branches near her feet since others usually didn’t hear her footsteps. She must be a hunter then! How exciting! Instead of being terrified that an arrow was pointed in her general direction, Ixia found herself twisting around the trees without hesitation. She darted and tucked her legs against her body before tumbling through the foliage to try and lose the archer. Rather than any life or death situation this was just some fun game! She wanted to see if the stranger really could aim well or if the whole weapon was a farce, a way to try to look brave in the depths of the forest where Ixia felt most at home.
[Ixia 2]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
Seriously? Anahita’s gaze gleamed with frustration as she realized that she was not going to get an easy answer. It surely wasn’t some normal animal since most creatures would either run away or attack by now instead of simply darting back and forth around her. But who would want to mess with Anahita in this way? Was it Yuriy or another of the rangers who had warned her to stay behind? Anahita let out a curse before actually firing an arrow into the bush where she estimated the stranger to move next based upon her previous pattern of movements through the brush. Left, right then another tumble forward before stopping…there! The arrow flew through the foliage with precise accuracy, the metal arrowhead snagging on cloth.
[Anahita 3]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
Nice. Ixia’s gaze gleamed with amusement as she felt the metal arrowhead snag at her skirt. Staying surprisingly calm the young hybrid simply tugged her skirt free, only grimacing as she realized that she would have to sew a patch onto that material later, but then she darted forward once more. This time a rock came flying out of the bushes towards the other girl as a distraction before Ixia bolted forward from the bushes herself to tackle into the archer. “Got ya!”
[Ixia 3]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
A grunt instead of a scream left Anahita’s lips as she found herself falling backwards. Even though her bow tumbled from her hands the girl bunched her knees up so that she could shove against her attacker, her feet connecting with the other girl’s stomach. The stranger was a mixture of traits that Anahita had never seen before and she could not fathom why she would attack like this! Was this someone’s territory or was this a bandit waiting to ambush the rangers? What was going on here?! This was definitely no witu! Wiping the dirt from her face, Anahita started scooting backwards so that she could support her back with a tree and use it for cover. “Are you crazy?!” She found herself snapping when she realized that the strange hybrid was actually laughing and not attacking her anymore.
[Anahita 4]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
“Maybe!” Ixia’s stomach ached from the impact but she had twisted away in time to avoid most of the damage from the kick. Now she simply gathered herself up, bouncing back onto her feet before finally approaching the other girl and actually offering a hand. “Just wanted to see if I could test ya. It’s dangerous in this forest, ya know?” Her gaze was playful as she studied the stranger, noticing her strange mixture of traits. Ixia had traveled across several countries and towns over her childhood years but this was the first time she had seen someone with such pale skin and blue hair! Even the girl’s eyes were a similar shade of blue which were enticing despite the anger shining there. Like an ocean before a huge storm. Ixia chuckled at the thought as she kept her hand out in case the other girl needed help getting up. “Sorry ‘bout that. I guess I got a bit carried away there.”
[Ixia 4]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
“Mmhmm.” Anahita glared towards the other girl before pushing herself up and ignoring the offered hand. “You really should consider not attacking someone in the forest, especially if they have a weapon.” She chastised as she went to retrieve her weapons, still baffled by this whole situation. Seriously! Who played around by attacking strangers like that? Anahita shook her head before looking back towards the girl again, her bow and arrows now secured. “There’s a wild beast out as well. I was tracking it until you decided to act like a beast instead.”
[Anahita 5]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
“My bad.” Ixia shrugged lightly as she watched the other girl collect her items. It wasn’t as if she were in the market to make friends and play nice. What was the point since her troupe traveled so often and rarely saw the same person twice unless they were traveling with them? It was much more fun to see what type of reactions she could get. Though the idea of a beast did get her interest again. “Something is bothering the village?” She had thought she heard rumors though some of that was honestly….well it wasn’t exactly a creature at fault. She did have a habit of playing some various pranks and the local village was not excluded from those.
[Ixia 5]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
“Yeah.” Anahita frowned as she studied the hybrid with a thoughtful expression. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about it, would you? I’m looking for a witu or something else that’s been getting into supplies and causing havoc on the merchant’s path.” She took a few steps forward and stared really hard at the stranger. Reddish hair, tan skin and someone who had proven she was fast and as strong as some sort of beast. She already looked like a natural when it came to slipping through these woods. If she hadn’t been so intent upon picking an actual fight then Anahita could have potentially lost her if she ran away. There was no way, right? But it could very easily be someone doing a series of pranks while pocketing some goods for themselves instead of simply a beast causing so many issues. The very thought made her expression darken as she walked forward threateningly.
“Either I find a witu that I can trap and bring back to the rangers or I find something else and see if the mischievousness stops.”
[Anahita 6]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
Ixia swallowed. That expression was the same one her Aishan mother had whenever she was about to invoke the wrath of their ancestors for Ixia’s pranks! For once the hybrid found herself fidgeting. “Well…hmm.” She managed after a moment as she reflected upon the fresh baked goods she had already taken for herself this morning and the smear of blood that had been left along the road to scare away some of the more skittish merchants as they approached town, their yells and running always amusing to watch. “I suppose that finding a witu could work. There is one that actually has been roaming closer to the roads. I can take you to its den and we can set up a net together? As for some of the other strange things then….well I have no idea. Surely they’ll stop soon, right? Then if you want all that credit can be yours.” Not like it mattered since the troupe was leaving within a couple of days. Surely Ixia could behave herself for that long, right? As boring as that sounded.
[Ixia 6]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
“Fine.” Anahita replied after a long drawn out moment. “Help me track down the witu and I’ll consider forgiving you for that earlier mischievousness. Would be a shame for anyone to have to get in trouble for simple pranks, right?” The other girl was most definitely behind some of the strange things happening around town. Anahita had plenty of younger siblings to be able to pick up on those small habits, like the little eye twitch of a lie and the purse of the lips when pondering what risks to take after already stealing plenty of sweets and the like. Even if they didn’t catch the witu it seemed like she had caught something of the town’s beast after all. I suppose a mission well done. She mused with a small smirk before starting forward. “Lead the way, stranger.”
[Anahita 7]
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2022 8:22 pm
“Ixia.” The girl murmured as she started forward. “At least call me by name instead of simply stranger.” She huffed as her fun was ruined by the stranger. Ixia knew she was at fault though so there wasn’t much more that she could do on the matter. It wasn’t as if anyone in town would recognize her name either, unless someone from the troupe was nearby and even then they would always keep any issues within their family. There was no need to get any troupe members in trouble with a town if they could help it and that was another reason Ixia behaved now. Plus she could help capture a witu which would prove to be a fun afternoon! Just a few of my nets and some bait….that should do the trick. A soft hum escaped her lips as she continued along, the hybrid refusing to allow the prickly stranger to ruin her good mood.
[Ixia 7]
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