[PRP] He's Not A Shifter, But I Am!! [April RP]

[Lunadriel]

This is a private rp between Lunadriel and Juliette06






 

[Lunadriel]

The clouds loom above with a promise of rain. Sindi gives the clouds an observant look. If it rains, it won't change the trip, unless her followers don't want to get wet. Adventure doesn't stop for the weather! However, the clouds are puffy and white, and might not give them any trouble. All in all, it's quite a nice day. A soft, cool breeze whispers of a cooler weekend coming. Flowers sway beside the rocky trail they follow. Trees line the fields to each side. Their destination? Shifter country! Or perhaps rabbit country. Who in their right mind would seek out such a danger?! Sindi didn't ask questions. Having been hired to do a job, she would do it. Resolute in helping anyone, no matter how bizarre the request. The bunny shifter had become a bit of a legend around the area. Most would steer clear having heard. Some, wanted to see for themselves. Soquili were a curious breed, to say the least.

Sindi isn't afraid of what might lay ahead, but she is prepared. On both shoulders, is strapped a throwing axe. One is ornate, golden, with a ruby on the hilt. It shines red with the same crimson hue as her braids that hang down by the hilt. The other is rather plain, with a chip in the blade. Where her axes would fail, her fleet hooves would try to succeed in their place. They hadn't failed her yet! Then there is the new support that she brought along. A test for a hired hand, or claw in this case! Ayaz his name. There is a short story of how they met, word of mouth, and something her and her band of do gooders decided to try out. Her own money paid for the borrowed support as an escort on this seemingly pointless mission. A mission none the less. Then the other support, is her friend Pollux, the knight who dedicates himself to chivalry. So of course he'd come, to try and protect others.

Darkmane and her family live close by. Part of her reasoning, is wanting to protect her family. The other part? Purely thrill-seeking! Darkmane is frail and small, but absolutely loves the adrenaline of being scared. So while she says she is interested in protecting her family, she also wants to explore the threat herself, for fun. An oddball for sure, Sindi thinks as she shakes her head. The other stallion? Think he is a thrill seeker as well! Fritzwallace.

Danger to others is what fueled her willingness to start this merry band. Then it was a matter of finding others to come. Safety is in numbers after all.  

[Lunadriel]

Pollux scans the area, sword at the ready. He looks at Ayaz, with eyes he feels have a mutual understanding. If things got bad, he would protect them all, even with his life. An angeni with an absolutely pure heart. Even though he didn't know Ayaz, he felt like they might have some similarities.

Darkmane bobs along after her friends for the day, locking her muscles as she walks, to keep them from shaking. Is she afraid? Absolutely. If she thinks about it too long, her teeth will begin to chatter. Inhale, then exhale, she tells herself as she steadies her breathing. There is no fun in running away before they even get there! Though she might. The excitement is about to make her burst! Shifty eyes look at Ayaz, and his skull mask. Creepy! she thinks, and grins wide. This is already a fun trip!  

[Juliette06]

This was, by far, one of the strangest jobs Ayaz had ever been hired to do. A job was a job, though, and he'd do it - and do it well - even if it was just this side of completely pointless. He was operating as more of a freelancer, in this instance, having been hired by the small purple mare that was the one leading their rag-tag group. From Ayaz's understanding, she led a group similar to his own herd, except somewhat less structured and even less herd-like than his own nomadic brotherhood, and he had to admit that he was curious to see the little female in action; while he hoped she wouldn't need to use the little axes perched on her shoulders (one decorative, one practical, he noted), he did want to see if she could back up her claims with action.

And if not, he'd be glad to be there, to cover the possibility that Sindi wasn't all she said she was. They were following a dangerous path, looking for trouble, because this larger mare was apparently desperate to put herself in harm's way - if this was even a Shifter at all, anyway.

That was really the only reason Ayaz had agreed to come. He didn't think that it would be a Shifter, but if it was and these innocents got hurt because of it, Ayaz would never forgive himself. Darkmane would be disappointed, but Ayaz thought that disappointed and alive was better than thrilled and dead.

If it was a Shifter, and it needed to be taken out - well, Ayaz would be glad to clear that problem, if necessary, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Ayaz paused to sniff the wind and twitch his ears forward, looking for their target. "I think we're getting closer," Ayaz said to the group at large. "Either that or there's a regular old rabbit warren under our hooves."

Fritzwallace was wiggling with excitement. A chance to see a real live Shifter! Terrifying, to be sure, but also thrilling. He completely understood Darkmane's urge to grapple with the unexplored and unexplainable - and the urge to run as far and as fast as possible from those frightening occurrences. It was fun! It was fun to live life on the edge.

As long as you stayed on the right side of the edge, anyway. That was why, in spite of the brave face he was putting on to make sure nobody knew he was already a little bit nervous, he was glad for the protection of Ayaz and Pollux and Sindi. They certainly seemed like they could handle themselves - even Sindi! He'd never seen a more fearsome little Soquili, and he didn't want to find himself on the wrong side of her axes, that was certain.

"Have you ever seen a Shifter before?" Fritz asked Darkmane quietly as they walked, doing his best to keep his voice low so that the protectors wouldn't be distracted at an inopportune moment. "Like, a real one that wanted to eat you?"

((wc: 525))  

[Lunadriel]

Darkmane squeals as she's spoken to. The hairs on her tail increase in volume, poofing out from the mild startle. Already so jumpy and easily startled! "Oop, sorry!" she says as she laughs at herself for being so easily spooked. Eyes widen at the mention of a walker. Pursing her lips together, she puffs out a breath. "I definitely do NOT want to get eaten. but maybe just see one, from very, very far away." she grins at Fritzwallace. "I've not seen one, but I might today! Ahahaha! Phew." she exclaims with another laugh at herself. The thought increases her breathing. A thud in her ears that isn't the sound of the many hooves along the trail.

Holding her breath, she listens to Ayaz as he notes they are close. Something in her feeling as if they were the only ones around, and everything else in the land fades away.

Sindi looks up to Ayaz and nods at his observation. Ready to do all she can. Small in size, but stout in heart. When others underestimate her, it helps to work to her advantage. Reaching over, she unsnaps one of her axes, ready to grab it, should the need arise. "Everyone deserves protection. If it wasn't for family being mentioned, I think I would deny this job. Unless, our travelers decided to go anyways." she sighs. Putting herself in harms way isn't ideal, but sitting in doing nothing, would be against her nature. "Let's hope we all walk away from this, and it's just a story we can share over drinks. You can flank the left, I'll flank the right, if we get caught in a fight." she said, without asking. She already knew Pollux would do as needed, and hit where he could benefit them most.

Pollux falls to the back of the procession, ready to guard the rear. His senses honed as sharp as his blade. Danger would not catch him by surprise.  

[Juliette06]

Ayaz nodded, pleased to see that Sindi was thinking strategically; all the bravery and prowess in the world wouldn't do anyone any good if you weren't smart enough to use what advantages you had.

"Quiet now," Ayaz instructed the others, looking at Fritz hard for a moment - he had a sneaking suspicion that if any of the gathered Soquili were going to give their position away, it would be the excitable, brightly-colored Unicorn standing before him. Fritz's too-wide smile did nothing to reassure him. "Stay calm, stay together." Ayaz added, before dipping off to the left as Sindi had ordered, eyes ever-watchful underneath his skull mask, scanning the trees and the rocky terrain that surrounded them. Lots of places for a Shifter - especially one that could turn into a rabbit, of all things - to hide and get the jump on an unsuspecting traveler. It made him slightly nervous, getting away from the rest of the group, but he decided he'd just have to trust in Sindi's axes and her aim if they were to see this through.

Fritz wished that Ayaz had put up a bit more of a fight under Sindi's order. Wasn't that like, rule number one of being in scary situations? Stick together, don't split up? He opened his mouth to protest as much, but fell silent under Ayaz's no-nonsense tone and dubious glance, instead giving him a winning grin that did little to, well, win Ayaz over, it seemed. Fritz sighed quietly and stuck close to Darkmane; if she ran, well, he wouldn't be far behind.

For her own protection, of course.

Meanwhile, Lavender was also nervous, but not for any reason like 'a wild and possibly dangerous Shifter was possibly lurking behind every rock or treebranch' - if only because he had no idea what a Shifter was. He'd never even heard of the term, never mind knowing what a Shifter was or could do.

The truth was, Lavender was nervous because he was the most lost he had ever been - and he'd been lost a lot in his day. "What are we going to do," he mumbled worriedly to Bunny, his best friend, who hung limply - and unhelpfully - from his mouth. Lavender was trying to figure out, at least, what direction he had come from, because then maybe he could get back to where he'd started out, but between the wind and the terrain, he could no sooner find his footprints than he could find a dandelion seed in a tornado.

...Were there tornadoes in this part of the world??

"Not tornadoes..." Lavender murmured anxiously to himself, brows knitting in consternation. Was it stop drop and roll? Or get to a high place? Or get to a low place? Lavender could not remember what he was supposed to do in case of a tornado, and that just added to his list of rapidly-growing concerns.

With tornadoes on the mind now, Lavender decided the best thing he could do would be to get to high vantage point - at least that way he could see the tornado coming, right? So he set off once again, absolutely oblivious to the potential actual danger ahead: the scent of other creatures on the breeze, getting stronger by the step.

((wc: 544
total: 1069)  

[Lunadriel]

Adding someone new to the party, is always a gamble. As Ayaz's words cut the air, beckoning focus, and silence, she knew they had chosen well in hiring him. She gives him a short nod, confirming her obeisance. Sindi shifts gears, crouching to the ground with her head lowered, ready to bolt towards a threat. Ahead in the distance, she sees ears as they peak over the hill. Without looking behind her, she hooks her chin back at Pollux. Then she's off! With a speed that keeps up with those larger than her, and rivals others, she whips through the grass and up the side of the hill to the right. This is it!! Breathing deep, she paces her breathing to steady her racing heart.

Pollux pulls through the group, and into the front. The threat targeted up ahead, so being in the head of the group, now more important. Reaching to his side, he pulls his sword from his side, nestled in his mouth. Barely a sound is made as it slides from it's sheath. Both wings reach out, herding the two defenseless ones in the group, urging them to nestle in behind him. With this life, I will protect you. he vows to himself. The truth of these words, giving him courage. Pollux would gladly lay down his life to protect the innocent, but would do all in his power to assure everyone survived. He watched Ayaz and Sindi, guarding them with his eyes. Should they show any sign of danger, he would be at their side as well.

Darkmane panics. Oh spirits! What was she thinking by coming here!! The charcoal tipped black tail of hers, poofs to twice it's volume. Every muscle in her body, quivers, shakes with fear. Without permission, or even a glance to let him know her intentions, she pushes her way under Fritzwallace....then covers herself with her tail. A shaking, hiding, ball of fur. She wills herself to hide, out in the open, like this will keep her alive.  

[Juliette06]

Ayaz breathed out slowly through his nose, attuning himself to the noises of the landscape around them as he made his way slowly away from the group.

And then he heard Sindi take off, immediately recognizing her little hoofbeats and the decisive, no-hesitation speed at which she would move if a target was acquired--

Oh no. If a target was acquired?

Ayaz took off at a gallop, swerving toward the direction in which he'd heard her leap to action. If it was a Shifter coming over the crest...

Fritz started when all of a sudden everyone was in motion around them and their defenders leapt into action. His instinct was, admittedly, much the same as Darkmane's next to him, but the very expression of her fear was enough to inspire him to try and be bold, for her - he tried to huff himself up big, make himself look scary and intimidating, like his horn was good for something other than showing off.

"It's okay," Fritz whispered, though his eyes were wide and just slightly panicked as they glanced around, trying to catch what had spooked Sindi into taking off so quickly. "It's okay, don't worry!"

Lavender's ears pricked forward slightly as he heard noises coming toward him - perhaps whoever was headed his way could offer some guidance or direction or anything like an explanation for where the heck he was and where the heck he should be going.

He was not prepared for the sight that greeted him as he made his way over the nearest hill. A tiny horse, couldn't have been bigger than a foal from his homeland, was barrelling toward him, kicking up dust in a whirlwind behind it.

"Hello," Lavender called, his innate shyness taking him over at the last moment, so that his voice came out hoarse and gravelly. He was going to ask for help, or the horse's name, or maybe introduce himself, but a terrible thought occurred to him: maybe this foal-thing was running from something! Something very bad and very scary!

"Should I be running too?" Lavender asked, immediately coming to a halt. "What's wrong?"  

[Lunadriel]

Sindi didn't even have time to process that a possible threat, might find them to be a threat. She saw long slender ears like that of a rabbit, and didn't hesitate! Closing the distance, but leaving enough room between him and her, she stopped, crouching, ready to move. She observed that his color was not white, but in fact, a dapple brown. Her eyes narrow, still uncertain, even with his greeting. She looks over to Ayaz, wondering what his observation is. Yes, it had flowers too, but that could also be part of the deception. Yet, there is also a familiar with this stranger. Signaling over to Ayaz, she does a quick dip to the familiar. A shifter wouldn't have a pet. They'd eat it for sure! Nodding at Ayaz, she relaxes a bit, and whistles over to Pollux, twice. Letting him know to stay on guard, just in case.

"Pardon our intrusion, traveler. Might I ask, what are you doing here?" she doesn't answer his questions, but asks her own instead. She wished she had a better nose, so she could smell if he had blood on him. Taking a slow step, she rounds over down the hill, closer to Ayaz, and the party, but still at a healthy distance.

Over in the trees, blending into the shadows, Acanthia watches the show. Breathing slowly, so as to not make a sound. What exactly were they doing to that Soquili? For a moment, it appeared as if they would attack. Not that they seemed the dangerous types, but there was a formation that spoke of one who had been in fights before. Interesting. None of them had noticed her, which made her feel good. While not dangerous in her new shifter body, she enjoyed the perks it gave her. She continued to watch them, listening to their conversation.

Darkmane continues to hide under Fritz. She doesn't hear carnage happening, but is still scared out of her mind!

Pollux doesn't lower his sword, and listens as Sindi addresses the stranger. Her fighting style is one of move first, ask questions later. Quick to take the lead, so she can use the element of surprise. Then wait for others to fall in beside her. His own mate is an usdia, so he never once, judged her for her size. Pollux knows how strong they can be.  

[Juliette06]

Lavender couldn't contain the startled squeak that escaped him as he started to take steps backwards - this little lady (lady?) was way too intense and was that a weapon and oh no had he found himself in her territory somehow and already broken a local rule that was going to get that very shiny weapon lodged in his suddenly-feeling-very fragile body??

"Nothing!" Lavender managed to squeak out, his stuffed bunny falling from his mouth in surprise. "I--I--I--"

For just a moment, Ayaz thought he smelled something...else. Something that was coming from down-wind, something that was not this stallion, who was either a very good actor or genuinely terrified; it wasn't enough to determine if he was a Shifter yet or not, Ayaz wasn't close enough to determine if he had the tell-tale pelt, but something else twinged at him. If he had been alone, he would have investigated it, as he believed in following his instincts above almost everything else.

'Almost' being the key word - the only thing he believed in more was doing his job, and that meant he disregarded the strange scent on the wind in order to get a better look at the stallion Sindi had stopped in his tracks.

"Excuse us," Daffodil chirped, infinitely braver and far less confused than Lavender at the moment. She hopped forward confidently, the sun making her flowers shine extra brightly, and, she hoped, extra convincingly.

"We mean you no harm, stranger," Daffodil continued. "Lavender - him -" she said, gesturing with a paw to the trembling stallion behind her, "is new to these lands and knows nothing of our ways, you see?" Behind her, Lavender nodded enthusiastically, eyes wide and anxious. Then he paused and shook his head, with equal vehemence, because he didn't know which answer the strangers were looking for.

"I'm helping him find a place to rest and gather himself," Daffodil finished. "If you could please let us pass, or show us safe passage, we would be much obliged, miss...?"

"What's happening?" Fritz whispered excitedly to Darkmane. "Can you see? Who's talking? Are they attacking him? Should we help? Should we run?"  

[Lunadriel]

Sindi narrowed her eyes. At first she didn't think that a shifter would have a familiar, but what if that was the shifter? They didn't appear threatening, but that didn't mean she trusted them. "Hmm." she raises an eyebrow. "Let you pass? We could say the same about our party. It seems we have a mutual desire." Well, they had came here, prepared, ready to fend off evil, and now what? They didn't show themselves to be evil, yet. "Have you heard of a white rabbit in these parts?" she asked, trying a probing question about the shifter.

Pollux felt the observation of Ayaz, that something was off. His keen senses, told him this stranger was no threat. Hopefully that didn't come back against him. So why were the hairs on his neck still raising? Could they be so good at acting, that the evade his sense of judgement, yet his natural instinct told him he was wrong? Gazing towards the forest, he saw nothing. Mumbling around his sword, he answered Fritz with a cold, serious air to his voice. "Don't...run into the woods." that felt like a very, very bad idea.

Darkmane wishes she could burrow into the ground, instead of running. All her family were stellar runners, but not her!!

Acanthia might not smell of blood, but she did have the stench of bones, and poison's on her. Bones she collected, but didn't kill herself. She felt it wouldn't be long before the two larger males, picked up on her presence. They senses something in the air, likely her. Giving a shrug, she pads out of the treeline, as a bored cat might. Already shifted into her black bobcat form. She waltzes up to the party, coming up behind the side where the larger bird with the skull mask was. Big boy. She liked him. Grinning, then giving a yawn, she calls out. "I see you and your...merry crew, are terrorizing this innocent? Might I ask why? Not that it's my business. But well, I'm bored, so I'm making it my business, temporarily." Curiosity killed the cat as they say, but she didn't think this is her day to die.  

[Juliette06]

Fritz was suddenly very, very, very glad that Pollux had decided to tag along; he'd thought for sure having Ayaz and Sindi would be plenty, that three brave heroes was completely unnecessary, but here he was, alone but for Pollux with a quivering Darkmane beside him, and he would have absolutely run into the forest if Pollux hadn't spoken up at that exact moment.

Fritz opened his mouth to say exactly this - because he believed in telling people the compliments that crossed his mind - but then.

The shadows. Moved.

It was pure instinct. Later, Ayaz would realize that it was, perhaps, a slight over-reaction; that there was a chance that the thing approaching from his peripheral vision was not a threat but merely an innocent bystander, or a familiar, or any number of things that were not the trouble they had gone looking for.

However. That was later. In the moment, with his senses finely-tuned and tensions were running high, Ayaz saw movement. It was pure instinct; he didn't even hear what was said - the smell coming off her, the way she held herself - it was enough.They had been looking for trouble, and it had found them.

He swooped sideways into her and knocked at her with his over-sized wings, putting his full weight behind the movement. His claws scraped the dirt as they tumbled together, and only one word escaped him as he tried to untangle his claws and paws from those of the threat's.

"Sindi!"

Daffodil was going to reply - they had no issue with this overly-paranoid group, after all - when a noise cut off the thought, coming from the woods. Her ears pricked up and Lavender made a worried noise behind her; the poor thing was not having a very welcoming welcome to their lands.

"Is...everything alright over there?" Daffodil asked the small Soquili, eyebrows raising slightly. "Is that a friend of yours?"