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 Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2024 4:14 pm
Talisia looked over the path that led from the nearby village to her home at the animal sanctuary. The village was nestled at the base of the mountain pass that led further into Zena while the sanctuary itself was in a valley that spread along the borders of Zena and Sauti. It was there that her family resided in a grand stone manor which had been converted from a more private estate into a sprawling area with stables and fields for animals to wander while recovering from whatever illness or injury that Talisia had treated for them. Of course not all of the animals were there to rehabilitate and return to the wild, she had her own herd of roati for example and quite a few raptrix and chiavi living there by now which were owned by the family as mounts and such. Thankfully her family was around to help take care of things and lately there had been spare hands to help with more chores as various members of an iceling group had gathered under her roof for some peace while regrouping. The older abandoned stable towards the edge of the property had been turned into an encampment of sorts, a discreet space that no one would suspect of holding a few knights while they recovered and prepared to head back north once winter gave way to spring allowing easier passage through the mountain paths. Not everyone had stayed, some had gone to other locations to prepare themselves, but the few that did were more than welcome as long as no trouble came directly to her home. Not that Talisia was a pushover either. She knew that her family was quite capable of defending the valley if necessary, but she would much rather avoid such a thing. It also was in the brotherhood's interest to be as discreet as possible, their investigation still not complete as they prepared for the upcoming spring.
Still, here she was looking along the path for some roati who had been startled by one of the brothers training and escaped their enclosure. A young raptrix was at her side, the dark blue creature sniffing the air before darting this and that way in an attempt to track down the loose creatures. “Well if anything at least this is good training for you, Midnight.” Mused the hybrid with some amusement despite everything as she slowly trudged after the familiar further down the path.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2024 11:55 am
Rhag'na stood amidst the snowy expanse of the clearing, the cold air biting at his exposed skin as he trained. Despite how cold it was, he’d dressed down to be able to train and exert himself. He was drenched with plumes of steam rolled off of his body. Tall pine trees surrounded the training area, their branches heavy with snow, casting long shadows across the ground below. The occasional gust of wind sent flurries of snow dancing through the air, adding to the serene yet harsh beauty of the winter landscape.
Despite the frigid temperatures, Rhag'na remained focused on his training. He knew the upcoming spring would bring the promise of battle and was determined to be ready. The brotherhood's investigation was far from over, and he needed to ensure that he was in peak condition when the time came to confront their adversaries. He wouldn’t let them run him out of his own home ever again, of that he was certain. That one fateful night was still fresh in his mind despite some time having passed between then and now, the anger still felt raw in his chest.
With each movement, Rhag'na felt the weight of his training sword in his hand, its familiar heft a comforting presence as he practiced his forms. He could almost hear the clash of steel and the roar of battle in the distance, driving him to push himself harder with each strike. But as he focused on perfecting his technique, a disturbance drew his attention away from his training. His senses sharpened, Rhag'na scanned the perimeter of the clearing finding Talisia who seemed to be looking for something.
“Talisia,” he called out to her. “Is something wrong?” She seemed to be searching for something. Maybe she’d lost something along the road.
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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:33 pm
“Hmm?” Talisia blinked, the hybrid turning at the sound of a voice. While she was wary the raptrix that was bounding around in the snow was the opposite and didn’t waste any time running up towards the iceling warrior. “Oh, Rhag’na.” Talisia smiled as she recognized the warrior who was staying at the sanctuary with some others. It looked like he had been training once more, something she had grown accustomed to seeing from most of them as they continued with preparations for an upcoming confrontation. Perhaps it wasn’t just Midnight who could use an outing this afternoon? The thought made her expression soften slightly, the hybrid honestly concerned about the well being of all those that were living at the sanctuary currently. All she could do though was hope for the best, Talisia realizing that she couldn’t personally go and fight their battle with them.
Though speaking of training…Talisia let out a soft sigh as she glanced around once more. “It seems that some of the brothers may have scared my herd of roati outside of the fence. I know it was an accident, but I’m looking for the remaining strays that are wandering in the woods.” She glanced back towards Rhag’na, her expression a bit sheepish. “Would it be too troublesome to ask for some help? I was going to try and take this chance to train Midnight more, but as you can tell…he’s not quite invested in tracking at the moment.” And true to her words the playful pup was bouncing around Rhag’na, sniffing at him and trying to see if there was anything akin to a treat to be had from the iceling warrior instead of looking for the roati.
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Posted: Thu Feb 29, 2024 6:37 pm
Rhag'na watched the raptrix with an amused tilt of his head, the creature's boundless energy a stark contrast to the serene, snow-blanketed surroundings. Midnight's antics, far from being a nuisance, brought a rare, genuine smile to the warrior's face.
"It's no trouble at all," he assured, his gaze shifting from the playful creature back to her. "I'd be happy to help.” It wasn’t a request he couldn't deny especially if other brothers had caused her the disturbance. He was going to have to speak to them, they ought to have better manners while they were here. He then knelt down to give Midnight a brief, acknowledging scratch behind the ears before standing back up, he looked towards the dense tree line marking the edge of the woods.
"Let's find your strays then. The sooner they're back safely, the sooner you can focus on other matters. And perhaps Midnight here can learn a thing or two in the process," he added, half-joking, knowing well the raptrix's current interest lay far from the task at hand. Rhag'na's offer was sincere. The sanctuary had become more than just a temporary dwelling for him; it was a place of unity and shared purpose.
"Lead the way," he said, ready to follow her into the woods. Tracking the roati would require all his attentiveness. His eyes scanned the snow for tracks, his ears tuned to the slightest sound that might indicate the presence of the missing herd.
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:35 pm
Well, at least Midnight was helpful in ways other than tracking. Talisia couldn’t help the small smile that crossed her own lips at the warrior’s reaction to the playful pup. She knew things were harsh for the group that was taking refuge with them as of late and it was rare to see any happy expressions with how much rode on their shoulders. It almost made her worry that the mountains of Zena had forced them to freeze their own hearts, Talisia curious about what type of lives they lived until this moment. Still she was determined to help, especially after hearing their case from Tryston and Serana. Her own family history had a touch of corruption that died with her mother so it was not hard to believe such a thing could exist elsewhere and Talisia was more than happy to help support those who wanted justice for their home. Even if it did mean a fence got accidentally destroyed and some raoti had to be gathered.
“Thank you.” Talisia replied, watching as Midnight bumped against the warrior before bouncing back to her side where she placed a hand against his back. Her fingers dug into the warm fur, Talisia gently scratching there before letting go again with a nod. “It was an older fence, it was bound to happen since I missed repairing it. They’re working on it in the meantime.” She offered after a moment to try to save those who may have been responsible from too much trouble. At least they were taking some wood to fix it up themselves so that the fence would be secured once the herd was brought back.
“As for Midnight learning something? Here’s hoping.” Talisia let out a soft laugh before whistling, gesturing for Midnight to go forward again. Even if his attention span was short since the pup was easily distracted it was a start. “Looks like they probably went towards the south. There’s a meadow there beyond the forest where they probably found a good grazing spot.” Her bi-colored gaze was thoughtful as Midnight bounced forward again, the hybrid offering Rhag’na another smile before starting forward along the forest path. “They’re usually fairly amicable creatures so I don’t think it’ll take much to bring them home, it’s just a matter of finding them since they’re also easily enticed by berries and fresh flowers.” If anything they probably thought it was better to go there instead of back to the field with unfamiliar smells, the creatures still getting accustomed to the presence of so many ice warriors.
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Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2024 7:32 am
Rhag'na watched with amusement as Talisia interacted with Midnight, the playful pup injecting a rare moment of joy into his otherwise sombre day. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of warmth at the sight, grateful for the small reprieve from the weight of his responsibilities. He quickly made his way over to the tree which held his over shirt, jacket, and cloak. He quickly put them on and enjoyed the wrap of warmth, he’d have to wash them later on since he’d be drenched in sweat, but he didn’t mind.
“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said as he eyed the fence. At least they’d had enough sense to repair it themselves. Maybe he’d have them look over all the fences and make sure they were in good condition. That was, however, a task for later tonight when all the other warriors were gathered.
Rhag'na followed Talisia's lead, he glanced down at the tracks and followed them with his eyes. “Most likely,” he said. “I have to admit I’ve never wrangled any animals before.” He wasn’t really sure how they’d be able to guide them back, he was certain he was about to make a fool of himself.
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Posted: Thu May 09, 2024 2:00 pm
Talisia looked over at Rhag'na, her mouth opening in protest before she simply shook her head with a soft sigh. It was a form of discipline and she knew that the warriors taking refuge in the sanctuary had to adhere to some sort of rules. "Alright. Though it won't be the first or last fence broken on these lands, my own family members have broken quite a few over the years." From a daughter who didn't understand her own strength to others with their playful antics...well it was a blessing from the spirits that her sanctuary was in as good condition as it was. Perhaps that was why she had been numb to the damaged fence this time and more understanding, especially when the brothers had promised to quickly repair it.
Plus, why get angry when she was more worried about the roati? The little animals made perfect prey for some of the more dangerous beasts that wandered the forests and mountains outside of the sanctuary. Talisia just hoped nothing else would tracked them down before they could be found. Though it looked like the roati had managed to wander pretty far, the prints still guiding them through the forest as Talisia kept an eye out with Midnight bouncing through the nearby brush to search around. "Well, there's always a first time for everything." Mused Talisia with an amused expression as she looked towards Rhag'na. "The best bet is to get the biggest roati, a gray one with some white flecks named Alba. If you can wrangle her under your arm and carry her home then the rest of the flock will follow." Talisia moved a branch as she twisted along the path through the trees, only pausing here and there to try to listen for any sounds of roati bleating. "She's stubborn and fast so it's always a bit of a task to capture her, but she means no harm and rarely attacks unless she's truly frightened." Sometimes it felt like a game with Alba and Talisia swore the roati just thrived on making trouble while getting the rest of the flock to follow her.
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2024 5:38 pm
Rhag'na met Talisia's gaze as she sighed softly. He could sense the weight of responsibility she carried for the sanctuary and its inhabitants.
"Understood," he replied, nodding in agreement. "Discipline is necessary with us, and I appreciate your understanding. It sounds like broken fences are a common occurrence around here." He offered a sympathetic smile, understanding the challenges of maintaining such a place. It would indeed be of great benefit to her then if he had the others look over all of the fences and make the proper repairs where necessary. It would be a win win situation for everyone.
As they continued their search for the roati, Rhag'na remained alert, scanning the forest for any signs of movement. Talisia’s instructions about Alba piqued his interest. He listened carefully, committing every detail to memory.
"Alba sounds like quite the character," he mused, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I'll do my best to catch her. If she's the leader, then getting her should make things easier." Pushing aside a low-hanging branch, Rhag'na's eyes followed Midnight's energetic movements through the underbrush.
"Let's hope Alba's not in too much of a mischievous mood today," he said, his tone light but focused. "With any luck, we'll have the flock back in no time." He appreciated the challenge, seeing it as a welcome diversion from the usual tasks.
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2024 6:12 pm
Talisia could only nod in return, a small smile of amusement on her lips despite everything. Common occurrence was fairly accurate, after all, and so she truly hoped the warriors didn't beat themselves up too badly for the simple accident. As long as no one got hurt...that was the most important thing, as long as they could gather all the roati again then there was no harm.
"She is indeed. I suppose one needs to have some character including stubbornness to guide the rest around." She could be considered a bully, but Talisia knew the roati could only n** or headbutt at others and not do anything truly damaging. It was surprising to walk around in the early mornings though and have something bolting at your heels to protect the flock, that was one of the many ways that one could snap to attention when they were fighting sleep during the early morning chores.
"Well fingers crossed." Talisia let out a soft laugh, her expression brightening up even more as Midnight let out a howl. "Looks like it'll be a good chance to see how much of a mood she's in." The hybrid expressed, gesturing forward to the clearing that they had found where there were scattered roati grazing about. "That's the flock alright, now to just gather them." Now came the fun part...herding them all back home, especially since the gray one with white flecks was already looking at them like approaching challengers.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 1:38 pm
Rhag'na observed the scene with a quiet intensity, his gaze settling on Talisia again as she spoke. His gaze followed her gesture towards the clearing. His attention quickly narrowed in on the gray one with white flecks, the one already eyeing them with suspicion.
“Gathering them will be a challenge,” Rhag'na murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly. “But challenges are meant to be met head-on.” The herding would require patience and precision, but he was confident that they would succeed, even if it meant earning a few more nips from the gray one.
“Let’s see how much of a challenge she’s ready to offer us today,” he mused, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation as he stepped into the clearing. Did he wrangle the leader with his bare hands? He’d never done such a thing before, he’d never even had a pet before, so he was very much out of his depth. This gave him pause.
“Do I just walk up to them?” He asked, turning back to look at Talisia.
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2024 9:53 am
Talisia chuckled. "I quite enjoy that attitude." She offered, the hybrid clearly amused with the situation despite everything. "You can walk up to them, but be careful. They might not pose too crazy a threat but they will try to trip you up when they run." As much as she loved those little roati the tamer also understood how tricky they could be when in the mood for mischief. And since they had just recently escaped and were still enjoying the field of wildflowers she had the feeling it would be a bit of a struggle today to round them all up. Maybe she could have focused on the fence and sent the rest of the warriors this way instead? Might have been the easier option. Joked Talisia silently before letting out a sharp whistle. "Midnight." The raptrix moved forward, his gaze bright with a playful energy as he started to chase after some of the roati who were grazing towards the opposite edge of the clearing so that they would come closer to Talisia and Rhag'na instead of going into the forest over that way. Midnight was still a pup, but he clearly enjoyed herding...so that much Talisia could rely upon him for, as long as nothing else came to distract him.
But as a couple of the roati started bouncing their way, Alba let out a bleet and jumped forward to intercept which caused the pair to run in the opposite direction. "And there she goes. I guess we'll have to help out, after all. Good luck! Also, here!" She tossed some spare rope towards Rhag'na, just in case they had to actually wrangle some of the roati instead of simply guiding them along. Still, Talisia only grinned as she started to move forward to chase after the two roati that Alba had turned way, trying to help Midnight from allowing any of the smaller creatures back into the forest. It was much easier to gather them out here where they could be easily spotted in the open area but once they returned to the forest then things could get really tricky and that was the last thing Talisia needed.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2024 5:57 pm
Rhag'na's eyes narrowed as he watched the scene unfold before him.
"Enjoyment has little place in this kind of task," he muttered under his breath, though there was a trace of dry humor in his tone, acknowledging her light-heartedness. He caught the rope she tossed his way with a quick, practiced hand. He wasn't one, nor had he any plans, to be tripped up by small creatures, no matter how mischievous they might be.
As he watched Midnight chase after the roati, Rhag'na assessed the situation, eyes darting from one escape route to another, calculating where the creatures might bolt next. When Alba made her move and sent the roati scattering in the opposite direction, Rhag'na’s lips pressed into a thin line. This was quickly becoming more complicated than necessary, and he didn’t care for complications. Without hesitation, he moved forward, the rope coiled in his hand ready to be used if needed.
"Luck is for those who don’t plan," he called back to Talisia. "I prefer to rely on skill." With that, Rhag'na set his sights on one of the roati moving towards the edge of the clearing. He moved swiftly, blocking its path with a calculated precision, his stance low and ready to react to any sudden movement. His gaze remained fixed on the roati, assessing its every twitch and shift in weight. As the creature tried to dart past him, he was ready, the rope snapping out with practiced ease to guide it back towards the center of the clearing. He wasn't one to rely on brute force alone; intelligence and strategy were his weapons.
"Focus on the task," he said, more to himself than anyone else, though the words carried an edge of warning. He wouldn't let these creatures get the better of him. Family or not, Talisia's creatures wouldn't find him an easy opponent, even in their playful mischief. Rhag'na’s expression remained serious, but there was a glimmer of satisfaction as he successfully redirected the roati. His eyes flicked briefly to Talisia, gauging her progress, before returning to the task at hand.
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