Sierra:Sierra sat under the tree as she watched Arrats and Eos ran off into the night to take care of her requests. A part of her knew her sometimes companions wouldn't be ready for what they might encounter should they actually find Neclord, or even be ready for the vampires. But when it all came down to it, she trusted them, and she was far too old in spirit to be stupid enough to try to go at it alone.
Sighing, her head tilted up to watch as the huge, round moon began to climb into the sky above the grasslands. Soon, soon she would get back what was hers, tear apart the filthy thief, and order would be restored.
Her claws scraped small furrows in the dirt at her paws at the though of sinking them into Neclord's filthy hide.
Nash'Latkje:
Nash had been a lion of order, of discipline, and of structure. Every day had begun with a fresh command, a new duty to attend to, and the stern words of his superior. He didn't question a thing, he had no need to. He had his place and he was very comfortable performing what was asked of him without having to bear the responsibility of duty or his own actions. Afterall- he was just following orders. When he was left to think, his past managed to creep back on him, touching on the darkness lurking in the back of his mind. There were times he'd wake in the middle of the night with a cry, his eyes wide and wild. His fellows had passed it off as simple paranoia.
When his pride had fallen in the war for territory and his unit disbanded, the males sent to the four winds, Nash was left without purpose. His structure was gone, his precious routene, and worst of all- the distractions that came with it. He'd survived well enough on his own. If anything, he was no slouch at defending and feeding himself, but his nights were long and the days were lonely.
Unscathed from his prior battles, the lone male walked under the moonlight, his paws aching and his head spinning. The moonlight glanced off a sleek, slender figure in the distance, catching his attention. A female?
Sierra:
Sierra was not small nor was she very big. She was distinctly quite average, in size and physique. Her body was thin, but still built for power. What could be seen of her mostly white coat shown in the growing moonlight. A good bit of it was hidden under the cloth and pelt cape she wore around her shoulders. Arrats used to call her crazy for wearing it when it was hot out but she never seemed to mind to him. She was constantly chilled, even on the hottest, sunniest of days.
She was frowning in thought as she looked at the sky, trying to decide if she was doing the right thing, bringing the serval and wild dog along. She had a feeling both of them were still slightly wounded by the "injuries" she had found them with, would they be ready for something like this? It was one thing to fight your prey, quite another to fight an enemy.
A scent on the breeze caught her attention and her ears perked up slightly out of habit. A small turn and tilt of her head towards her shoulder and she could see another lion there, watching her by the looks of him. A slender eyebrow rose, but she did nothing more than watch him with her rosy eyes, waiting to see what he would do.
Nash'Latkje:
Well he couldn't stand there forever. NOt when she'd already seen him. With a smile and toss of his mane, the young lion loped forward, his posture completely non-aggressive.
"Lovely isn't it? So bright and soft against the night sky." He glanced skyward. "The moon's not half bad either." Glancing back her way he chuckled at his own half-hearted attempt to break the ice.
"What's a young girl like you doing out here by yourself? It's pretty dangerous you know."
Sierra:
The first words out of his mouth and she rolled her eyes. She knew she recognized that scent. This male had come up to her like this once before, had used a line that was equally worthless, then, too.
Sierra glanced back up at the sky, almost wanting to chuckle at the thought of what could happen if some "dangerous" idiot tried to come at her. Oh, it would be some fun.
"Meeting with two of my associates to plan an infiltration of a pride in order to find a thief, take back what he stole, and kill him before he hurts more people," she replied, her voice a cool nonchalance. Her voice was warm, but the tone chilled it several degrees.
"And I can take care of myself, you need not worry for that."
Nash'Latkje:
Well that was a suprise. This little lioness, perhaps just fresh into her adult years, was already taking like a soldier. He was no stranger to such tactics, but it seemed a little strange for a lioness to be leading an operation.
"Call me nosey but... what's all this about? I didn't scent any pride markers on my way here." At least he didn't think he did. HIs expression hardened, a strange contrast to the easy-going grin that had dominated his face just a moment earlier. "Are you in some kind of trouble?"
Sierra:
"Oh, the pride is not around here... at least, not that I am aware of. I've been searching for this thief for a long time and just stumbled upon a rumor of where he might have settled. One of my associates is going to find someone who might know the location," Sierra replied, smoothly, glancing at him to catch his serious expression. She met it with a slow smile.
"I'm glad you're concerned, if it keeps you from using any more of your bad pick-up lines," she added, then slowly shook her head.
"I don't believe I am in trouble. I can take care of myself. This is just a... minor inconvenience." That has lasted way too long, her mind added bitterly. She wanted things to be back the way they used to... but she had trouble thinking that they ever would.
Nash'Latkje:
Nash cleared his throat and took a short step back. Bad pickup lines?! He thought that one was pretty good. "Hey now, there's nothing wrong with giving due complements! Otherwise I may be mistaken for a brute."
He followed the lioness' eyes out towards the horizon. "Well... I'm not preoccupied with anything. Maybe I can give you some help? Lend a paw? I'm not too shabby when it comes to driving off brutes."
Sierra:
Sierra just let out that little laugh again.
"Oh, I couldn't mistake you for a brute. Just like I didn't last time we crossed paths. I have a knack for reading people," she replied, raising a bracelet-clad paw and running the back of it against the side of her neck, rubbing at an itch there. She considered his offer. Let him help her? She wasn't one for ever needing help but this situation was complicated. She barely knew what she would be going up against...
"Perhaps. Have you heard of someone named Neclord?"
Nash'Latkje:
They met before. Nash hid confusion behind an uncomfortable smile as he picked at his brain. He'd met this one before? He'd met a lot of females before- a lot of pale-pelted ones. Narrowing the ladies down in his mind did very little to help his situation.
"Ahahaha- right. You." He almost wished he could suck the words back in the moment they left his mouth. Classy.
"Neclord? No I've not but... I'm not really from around here."
Sierra:
"Ah, well, then I don't know how much help you could be. I wouldn't want to drag you into the fight if it came to that, especially if you don't know the old b*****d," Sierra explained with a very childish huff and a shake of her head. She stood and looked towards where she had intended to go, to see if she could find that hybrid's clan again. When she had "lurked" around their lands for a while, she had seen some of them training. They might be able to help.
"There was another group around here who might have the information I'm looking for..." It was an off-handed comment, not really intended for him or anyone else. She slowly stood and the movement moved her shawl away from her left paw, the rune that marked the fur above it resembling a sickle moon.
Nash'Latkje:
"Well I really don't have much of a home anymore, or a pride. I wouldn't mind getting myself back into the swing of things. To be honest, I'm not the type that enjoys solitude." He shrugged his shoulders.
His ears rolled forward. It seemed like an open invitation- at least to him it did. "I can escort you."
Sierra:
Sierra looked back to him, head tilted slightly.
"My, you're persistent." She let out a sigh and her head dipped in a nod as if she was giving into something.
"Very well. But do try to stay on task," she added, her voice carrying something of a chiding tone as she feared he might become distracted by any female they happened to pass.
"My name is Sierra, by the way."
Nash'Latkje:
"I like to think it's an enduridng quality." He smirked and shrugged his great shoulders. "And frankly, I'm in need of something to do. This sounds like a worthy enough cause, so why not? I could always go back to rotting on my backside."
Her ton only earned a light-hearted laugh. was he really that obvious? "Fine fine, eyes on the prize. You'll have to fill me on otherwise I might find one of my own."
He cleared his throat. "Nash'Latkje. Just Nash is fine though. Full name's a bit of a mouthful."
Sierra:
Sierra shook her head again.
"All I can tell you is what he stole is important. Very important," she replied, hedging away from the topic as soon as Nash had tried to come to it. It was an interesting name, Nash'Latkje, but he was right, it was a bit of a mouthful. She had heard worse in her lifetime, but the nickname was certainly appreciated.
"Nash it is, then. Come, I'd hope to find this group before sunrise." She nodded once and took off into a steady pace, heading towards the Chokwe, though she was unaware of its name.
