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 Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:06 pm
Really? Anahita pursed her lips but took a step backwards as there was finally movement from the shadows. Of course, food was always a good way to work with someone. Anahita wanted to make a quip but instead kept her guard up with her hands ready to flick out her hunting knives just in case. Once the figure moved into the soft glow of the light though she found her expression softening just slightly. “Sorry if we spooked you.” She managed, her aqua gaze skimming over the ragged looking child that was so thin it looked like the next breeze would knock her over. Did they even feed this one? “If you put down the knife then he’ll trade you the bread.” The glint of crimson along the rough looking blade made Anahita wince. That was probably why her arm was screaming at her at the moment, the girl had managed to snag a cut along her upper arm where the leather brace didn’t extend.
[Anahita 16]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:06 pm
“I promise I won’t do anything else.” Lautaro added as he sat down on the ground and held out the offering. “So come this way?” Apparently his innocent looking gaze and soft voice was enough for the girl to slowly lower her weapon, the child scooting around the edge of the corner like some wary animal before darting forward to grab the bread.
“They don’t feed you often? Can you not go get more food yourself?” Lautaro asked, trying to stay calm even as the girl retreated a few steps back and started to shove the food in her face. All she did was shake her head rapidly, the girl gesturing to the chain that wrapped around her ankle and kept her tethered to this space. It was long enough to go about for any errands, but not long enough to allow her passage outside of the cavern itself. The very sight brought a rare flash of anger to Lautaro, the ranger thinking of his own little sisters. “Ana…please.”
[Lautaro 16]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:06 pm
“You don’t need to ask me.” Replied Anahita quietly as she crouched to try to look less intimidating. “You know if you’d like we could get you more food, but you would have to come with us.” She kept a hand on her wound to staunch the bleeding, but showed no sign of anger or pain as she forced those emotions aside. “My name is Ana and we could get you out of here, if you’d like.”
The girl seemed hesitant, looking around as if someone would come to strike her from the shadows at any moment if she dared to even think about escaping. But the fresh bread and the calm manner of the pair kept her interested, especially since she had cut Anhita but she wasn’t striking her back for it yet. All she ended up doing then was shoving the rest of the bread in her mouth before gesturing once more to the chain.
“Oh don’t worry. We can take care of that.” It would slow them down by a couple of minutes, but hopefully they could work quickly enough to free the girl and get back to the caravan in time. “May I get closer?”
[Anahita 17]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:06 pm
“Mmm.” The girl nodded as she plopped on the ground, her bright gaze only darting towards her knife once before she opted to keep her hands in her lap. Maybe desperation was making her more willing to work with them, but Lautaro truly hoped it wasn’t a trick. “Do you think you can help us if we free you from here? Do you speak?”
The girl pursed her lips before slowly nodding.
“Oh good. If you know anything about what this group could be up to then….well, it would help us out a lot since we need to protect some people.” He offered with a small smile. “Do you feel comfortable enough letting us know what you can?”
[Lautaro 17]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:06 pm
Anahita dug through her supplies and broke out the lockpicking kit that she had. “Stay still.” She instructed, quickly tying a cloth around her upper arm before working on the cuff that was around the girl’s ankle. “If you can help us out then I promise we’ll take care of you. Nothing in this world for free, right?” She offered with a small smile. Maybe that would help the girl to feel more comfortable, Anahita feeling like anyone raised by this sort of group would be wary of free help without consequences. At least the girl seemed to be okay with the idea as she stayed still while Anahita worked the cuff and finally freed her.
[Anahita 18]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:06 pm
“It’s a good deal, I think you should take it.” Added in Lautaro quietly as he looked between the pair. If anything happened to Anahita because he was showing kindness here in the middle of a bandit encampment…well, he would never forgive himself. That much was for certain. But he also wasn’t about to leave a child behind in this type of environment. Was she even from a family within the bandits or simply someone caught and forced to work for them? He had so many questions, but kept himself from asking since they had to focus on the task at hand first. At least the girl was settling now so that Anahita could work on the chain.
[Lautaro 18]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:06 pm
It seemed to take a moment once the cuff dropped to the floor, the echoing sound of the metal clanking making both Anahita and the girl freeze, but after the initial shock both seemed willing to trust each other enough for Anahita to help the girl up so that they could make their way towards the exit.
“They’re roosting in trees so that they can fly out at dusk.” The soft whisper nearly made Anahita jump as she looked back towards the girl in surprise. “I’m supposed to make breakfast for them when they come back, but I’m not allowed to eat anything for myself because they count everything.”
“Is that so?” Anahita pursed her lips. “Do you mind telling me more about their traps and pointing out their location?”
“I…can try.” The girl’s voice was rough, almost as if it was rarely used for much more than direct answers and apologies, but her gaze seemed clear enough as she looked towards Anahita. “Just promise you aren’t lying to me.”
“I promise we aren’t. We have a group that we’ll fly towards…Lautaro can take you along with him while I take care of a few more things here.” She looked towards her friend with a small smile. “Send Yira if you can’t come back for me, but tell them to go with the aerial ace plan.” They had at least five rangers with them this mission and some of those traveling with the caravan also knew how to fight. If they went with one of her plans then surely it would be alright. Anahita had drafted fighting plans, working with others to make strategies to fight back against any ambushes, and already knew which one might help them if the bandits had a lot of aerial fighters. “If she tells you anything else then make sure to note it.”
[Anahita 19]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:06 pm
I don’t like this. Lautaro felt sick in his stomach at the very thought of leaving Anahtia here to deal with things. But he also had to respect her decision as squadron leader. It wasn’t as if he could just send her flying ahead with the child as well since Zephyrus was fairly tricky to work with, the kinfa not usually accepting other riders without Lautaro. That was the last thing they needed since they had to act quickly today before the bandits struck. “Just be safe.” He managed instead, the ranger reaching over so that he could fix the cloth along Anahita’s injury. “I’ll tell Yira so that I can fly back as quickly as possible.” Like hell he would leave Anahita alone here and trust anyone else to get her. The sudden wave of protectiveness nearly startled him, but the determination in his gaze was honest as he looked over his companion. He wouldn’t fail her, not when she was trusting him to take care of this.
[Lautaro 19]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:06 pm
“Don’t worry.” Anahita smiled towards Lautaro, her cheeks warm as he stepped back after tying the cloth around her injury. “You both be safe and I’ll see you soon then. Just make sure you tell Yira everything that you can and get the others ready to fight.” They would take care of this. She was confident in her plans and it helped having someone with insight, as long as the girl didn’t betray them. Her gaze shadowed at the thought, but Anahita wanted to have faith in the child so she couldn’t risk not listening to her advice. At least her plans would tackle any surprises and staying behind would give her a chance to explore more just in case there was any additional information here that would help them even more.
“Fly safely.” She gestured for them to go ahead, Anahita slipping back into the shadows so that she could investigate more while waiting on Lautaro to return for her.
[Anahita 20]
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2025 4:07 pm
“I’ll be back soon.” Lautaro promised, his heart twisting in his chest as he watched Anahita until she disappeared from their sight. “Let’s go, little one. Just make sure you point out anything that you can on the way, alright?” The youngling nodded as Lautaro guided her towards Zephyrus, the ranger helping her up onto the kinfa before mounting behind her and taking flight. His blood was rushing through his ears the entire flight and he barely waited a few minutes after explaining the situation to Yira so that she could notify the others before jumping back towards Zephyrus again. “Sorry, but please keep going for me so that I can help Ana out.” He begged his familiar, the ranger hugging the great bird’s neck for support before taking back off into the skies once more. They could rest after this upcoming fight, but first he had to go back and make sure that Anahita was safe so that she could guide the group through this mess.
[Lautaro 20]
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