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Post by clouds just clouds on Jun 17, 2015 10:06:46 GMT -8
As much as she wanted to, Tonina decided to ignore Garron. Because that name was girl and weird. Confident and strong? Well, Tonina would hate to see Aria before she went to the guard. Well, not hate. She would probably really enjoy it. "My name is Tonina!" She said, brightly. It probably was best not to ask about family, because she didn't want to think about family. "Master thief!" She winced and said, "Well... not masterful enough because I have some owies." Smiling lightly, Tonina sat up and said, "But I am the best lockpick of all Adalinda!" She laughed. "You know what was fun? Stealing from the nobles. But stealing small stuff, the important small stuff. Like a toothbrush, or a shoe. You would be surprised how much someone would pay for a noble's shoe. It isn't that much." Shrugging, Tonina looked over at Aria. "Have you fought any battles?"
Evariste nearly sighed. Walking beside Garron had become a mindless effort. Funny how most of Evariste's life, he had walked everywhere with Garron following, and now it was his turn. A small part of him felt pathetic. He would love to be a monkey, or something smaller, so that Garron could carry him. His paws ached, and he was tired. Maybe he just wanted to curl up and sleep. That was probably it... Evariste glanced up at Garron and flicked one of his ears. It was his doing that they were stuck with this motormouth. Garron didn't really deserve to be treated like a packmule.
"Lady Tonina," Evariste said softly. Either Tonina didn't hear him, or blatantly ignored him. Either way, his ears heated and lowered.
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Post by Dina Doo on Jun 19, 2015 7:11:39 GMT -8
"Funny how willingly you would admit your criminal activities to a group capable of locking you away for it, little thief," Garron growled back at Tonina, only to snort, full of disdain. "Of course, not that much can be done now about it," he muttered the last part to himself, or perhaps it could have been heard by those who walked close to him, or rode on top of him, just as Tonina did.
Aria waited in silence for Garron's words to die down before quietly answering Tonina. "No.. not unless you count practice battles. There was rarely any reason for us to go into real battle.. It was the job of the regular guards to handle skirmishes.." And that was probably why they had failed, wasn't it? But who could have possibly been prepared for such a calamity?
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Post by clouds just clouds on Jun 19, 2015 14:41:21 GMT -8
Tonina couldn't help but laugh at Garron's words. Though, she didn't comment. Garron could come to the conclusion that that was the reason why she was so ready to admit it. Her eyes flickered over to Aria and she said, "All of you are so pampered. I bet Sir Grumpy Bear has never been in a real battle either." Grinning, Tonina patted Garron's head. "Not that I doubt your skills, good sir." Then she frowned and looked at Aria. "He's heartless! He was going to leave me to starve!" She smiled brightly. "But you're nice, aren't you? You're really pretty, for a tiger. From what I can see." Glancing over at Evariste, Tonina chirped, "Well, your highass, you're a tiger too. What do you think?"
Evariste looked up, surprised to be addressed. "Excuse me, what is your question?"
"Ohh, his highass is too busy thinking," Tonina cooed. "Well, Sir Grumps, do you think we should find a cave or somewhere to hide?"
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Post by Dina Doo on Jun 19, 2015 19:41:46 GMT -8
The compliment nearly made Aria want to hide away, though her ears were folded back, on fire. She couldn't muster the courage to reply, not that she had time to before Garron began speak.
Garron's ears were folded back as well, though out of anger more than anything. "I know you're nothing more than a lowly little thief, but you address the prince as 'your highness." If he was a bird, it would have been easy to note how often his feathers were ruffling that day. But as a mammal with fur, perhaps it was much harder to see. "I don't know of any caves nearby. But if we find one, then I suppose we can hide there for the night and work out a plan." How would they get food? If they found a cave, how long would they stay? Should they stay in a cave? Would they end up getting trapped? There was so much to think of, and yet there was no such opportunity to do so.
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Post by clouds just clouds on Jun 19, 2015 22:30:27 GMT -8
"Nothing more than?" Tonina asked, her brows lifting. She gave a distasteful look at the bear beneath her. Oh, how she wanted to argue. She wanted to tell him how unfair he is--but that would get them nowhere. It would most likely end up with her in someone's mouth. Tonina moved to get ready to spring up, to catch onto a branch, but pain made her slip and flop back down onto Garron's back.
"My lady?" Evariste asked. "Are-"
"I'm fine," Tonina replied, sharply. Pausing, Tonina said, "Sorry, your highness. It's just a few bruises... mm, I don't really know this area. I was just visiting this area..." Pulling herself forward, Tonina peered around. "If we're looking for a cave, we should look towards a mountain side something."
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Post by Dina Doo on Jun 20, 2015 8:34:50 GMT -8
"There are no mountains in southern Adalinda, the land here is mostly jungle, (maybe)" Garron muttered, uninterested in Tonina's little tumble, or her well being at the moment. He really didn't care much about the elite guard that followed them. His only concern at the moment was Evariste. "If we want to find a cave, we'll have to travel further into the jungle until we find some."
"There are stories about mountains far in the north," Aria said in such a soft quiet voice, she doubted anyone could hear her. Not that Garron was paying attention. "Covered in snow.."
If Cloudy wants, they were probably traveling in the jungle now anyway, off the road and traveling farther and farther away from the town they had left behind.
(I'm still working on Adalinda's geography. I'm sure there are other mountains, but Idk yet so hush hush)
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Post by clouds just clouds on Jun 20, 2015 16:00:02 GMT -8
Tonina shivered at the idea. "Ugh, snow..."
All of that sounded like a lot of walking. A lot of walking. Evariste was so godsdamned exhausted. But he wouldn't try to be pampered. A sigh left him and he tried to think tactics, but...
"Do you suppose we'll get by trees with large enough roots to shelter us?" Evariste looked up towards Garron. "And at times, there are small caves found among the jungle floor, surely." His ears went down only slightly. "I wonder if we should find a river, for water and for food. There might be some fish..."
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Post by Dina Doo on Jun 22, 2015 15:58:27 GMT -8
[Skip]
By the time they had found a shelter Garron had deemed acceptable, the sun had already started its descent. By the time they had, perhaps, finally settled, it was growing darker. Perhaps the shelter they had found was a small cavern that carved into the thick stone walls of the jungle. The cave was damp and what little light from the outside that managed to creep in was fading quickly. But, perhaps, before the light had faded all together, they had been able to gather up foliage and whatever else they could to make the cave more bearable. Settled now, another problem soon became apparent. How would they get food? Garron inquired who could hunt.
"But if you can hunt," Aria chimed in quietly, "you would still have to stay here with his highness. I..I could go and find food.."
"By yourself?" Garron shot back, though he didn't object about his duty to stay with the prince. After all, his duty was to the prince first. "Can you even hunt?"
The anxious little guard seemed to shrink even more under Garron's intimidating gaze. Could she officially hunt? No. Could she stalk and creep up on? Yes, she could. "I can," came her quiet answer. "I can go.. then I'll take first watch."
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Post by clouds just clouds on Jun 22, 2015 20:58:45 GMT -8
Evariste honestly didn't care what the others did. He was finally able to lay down, and he wasn't getting up. Not any time soon, at least. Not even his empty stomach could propel him to move. His eyes watched Garron and Aria and his fatigue blocked any potential sense of guilt for not offering to help--not that it even occurred to him. People always helped him his entire life without say or complaint.
Paws on his fur caused him to lift his head. Tonina had since groomed herself excessively, and now her fur shined--Evariste expected to see his reflection in it. "What... are you doing?"
"Well, your fur is all gross, and I thought I could clean it for you!" Tonina mused.
"What do you eat?" Evariste asked--and then he realized something with a jolt. "Garron," he lifted his head, "None of us should go on our own. I should be safe in here." He felt his jeweled collar unclasp and he turned to look at Tonina, who had a seemingly innocent look on her face. "No one is going to buy that collar. Not now. I don't even know how you plan to parade it around, Tonina."
Gasping, Tonina mocked a look of hurt. "You think I would steal your collar? I was simply setting it aside."
Grunting, Evariste rested his head again. "How about Tonina goes with Aria. Or, Aria stays with me, and Garron can go with Tonina."
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Post by Dina Doo on Jun 24, 2015 10:46:03 GMT -8
The bear snorted quietly at the prince's suggestion. Not because he thought the prince himself was dumb, but because the idea that leaving Evariste alone with an elite guard who had failed her only duty was ludicrous. And as his uncertain gaze flickered over to said elite guard, he could see she was thinking the same thing. Good. At least she understood. "Tonina," he spoke suddenly, turning his attention to the thief. "You'll go out with Aria and help her find food. I'll stay here with Evariste and keep watch." Finally, he rested his gaze on Aria, who nodded in acknowledgement to his order. But if she wasn't dealing with enough anxiety as it was, the knowledge that she wasn't trusted because she had failed was just as heavy, if not more. There was no one to apologize to.
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