Fire [finished]

[flippedside]

To the south lay the small outpost of Ashata. Kaye leaned back against the tree, a bundle of paper in her hands. Her small band was carefully concealed in the trees behind her, waiting on her orders. Orders that wouldn't come today.

She shifted and sighed. She wasn't happy with the arrangement, but couldn't come up with something better. Her mind twisted about older memories. Thievery had no place in her current life, but sometimes it tempted her. It seemed simpler, somehow. Now her thoughts were tangled, not only with what was best for her, but for the rest of the band.

Kaye narrowed her eyes, picking out the edges of the town leaning haphazardly against the mountainside. It should be an easy decision--take the money the rebels had somehow scrounged up and use it to run down a caravan. Not a hard job; in fact she thought that it ought to have less bloodshed than many others that she had taken. That wasn't the problem.

The problem lay with the mystifying source of "magic" that all Rhyallians had. Her ability to shape-shift was normal, something she had never questioned. Until now. Coming here, she had run into one of the monks of the old religion. She didn't understand their tenacity to cling to a faith that was dead, to her mind. Nor did she understand their undying belief that the stones were evil. The Earth Stone was simply a force, a tool maybe, though so far as Kaye knew no one had ever been able to truly harness its powers. None of this should have anything to do with her.

But it did. It did because she was the one to end up with the papers in her hand. She gazed at them again. The neat black marks blurred in her vision into one ghastly black smear. What could she do with what she knew? What should she? She turned her head west, looking at the snow-capped peaks and unconsciously pulled her coat tighter. She was regretting her decision to leave her heavy cloak back in her tent.

Somewhere in that mountain range lay another stone. Supposedly the Fire Stone. Whoever got a hold of it would have unlimited power--or unlimited ability to destroy. The Earth Stone protected. The Fire Stone destroyed. Or so legend said...She looked back at the page. Somehow the Priesthood had uncovered evidence of the stone's existence to the north in the Castan Mountain Range. Said information had been stolen and forgotten. Until now.

The pages sat still and cold in her hands until a breeze ruffled them, bringing her back to the present. To find the stone would be...she wanted to say "wonderful," but couldn't bring herself to believe the words. It would be an awesome power, to own a stone for herself. But it could also bring a war so terrible...Such power would hold her responsible for what she did with it. She didn't think she could live with it. Kaye cursed her conscious.

She was a mercenary. There was no prize greater than holding a stone for herself. The little money brought by this job was nothing compared to that. But something kept stopping her, forcing her to see a bigger picture. One in which the whole world was at war, and she was the center of it, ripping horrendous destruction...No. She could never be that way.

Stiffly, Kaye climbed to her feet and looked around. Mushed piles of snow and pine needles lay in dirty patches across the ground. Massive pine trees scented the air with a spicy tang mixed with vanilla. The faint scrunch of pine needles told her that one of her band was patrolling their perimeter nearby. She shivered and thought about changing shape, but then she wouldn't be able to carry the papers--or not without ruining them.

Still, thick fur and a long run up steep cliff sides and through thick snow called to her. She looked up at the mountains again, considering.

[Willow]

A large timber wolf trotted easily across the light dusting of snow on the sparse grass that ran alongside the tree line, larger flakes of the white almost-ice caught in her coat like tiny quartz chunks, rainbow lights refracting out and fading before they hit anything.

A faint noise came from the giant creature’s left, making her pause and tilt her ear towards it, nose rasping quietly as she stole the scent from the air. Just a vole. Not worth bothering with; and besides, she’d ate only a few hours ago. No need to resort to raw animals yet.

The she-wolf continued on her lonely trek under the trees, head at shoulder level, her tail low as she kept up an easily maintainable trotting speed, her large, slightly webbed paws denting the pale grass she walked upon.
Maybe a mile on, and she was still with the trees when a new, un-forest-like scent breached her nose. Thick, musty materials, human food, metal. And humans. Quite a lot of them, and animals. Both tainted with the slightly mingled smell of all shape-shifters; mainly whatever form they were in at the moment, but tinged with their counterpart.
They weren’t in sight yet, but after another thirty seconds, one of them was visible maybe thirty metres away, standing by the foot of a tree trunk, with the others lurking in the trees behind her, a little in front of the source of most of the smells; a camp. There was no fire, probably in case it warned nearby people they were there. That usually meant they were on the run from the Emperor, or up to no good, or both. Usually both.

The green-eyed wolf crept forward a few more paces, then slumped down in the slight hollow created by a tree’s roots directly at its base. Her black and grey-brown head stayed up though, green-tinted mother-of-pearl orbs watching the humans calmly, allowing herself to lay in clear view of the camp.

She noticed the front-most member of the band – presumably the leader – gazing at the mountains, a thoughtful expression on her face.
The wolf tilted her head, watching curiously. What did she want in the mountains? Sure, snow can be fun, but...
Must be something to do with her animal.
The canine yawned, her breath steaming the air as her long tongue curled out then retracted as her black lips pulled away from her few inch long pearled teeth. Her jaw snapped shut again soundlessly, muzzle coated with fine drops of condensation.
She gave a small ‘huff’ sound through her nose, then lay her head down on her front paws, bored, baleful eyes flickering from sight to sight in the human camp, waiting either for them to move off or to notice her, whichever came first. The she-wolf wasn’t stupid – if she just waltzed past a band of soldiers, they might attack just in case she was a spy for their enemies. No, if they noticed her, she’d deal with it, convince them she was no threat to them. If they didn’t, then she’d avoid an unnecessary confrontation. So she lay in the tree hollow, watching and waiting, for something to happen.

[flippedside]

It was strange and startling, sometimes, how deeply night called to a Night Elemental. Kaye studied the stark white on the peaks and missed the soft blackness that overtook the light and allowed her to fade into her surroundings. Then again, snow was what snow leopards were made for, their fur blending into the ice and rocks.

She glanced down. There wasn't much in the way of snow down here, under the trees. She grimaced at the dank muddy piles mixed with pine needles and half-trampled grass. There was no way to completely conceal her camp; and the animal half of a shape-shifter would be more aware of the small signs that they made than a human would. Oh, well. There was nothing that she could do about that.

Rolling the clean white pages in her hand, she pulled a tie from her pocket and bound them up before sliding them back into her pocket. She didn't want anyone to know what she had; it was safer that way. Not only for Rhyallia, but also to keep the thief from having his throat slit by Kaye. She didn't abide well with others stealing from her, but in this case she especially didn't want the information on the paper to get out. She half-wondered if it wouldn't be better to simply burn the pages and be done with it. Maybe. Maybe not.

She sighed as she scanned the trees. It had become habit to scan the landscape around her for threats or danger and she did it now without thinking. What she was thinking about was the wealth and power related to owning a stone. She was too much a mercenary, and couldn't get the idea out of her mind. "Crazy old man," Kaye muttered to herself, just as her gaze caught on a shape under the trees.

Almost more shadow than creature, it was still large enough to be picked out from the surrounding dirt and flattened grass. Unconsciously, her hands jerked out long-bladed twin knives. She narrowed her eyes, studying the creature. It wasn't far off, but the light was in her eyes. She approached cautiously, her movements slow but balanced and graceful, poised to strike.

A wolf. A big one, head on paws, but it appeared to be staring at her. She stopped, still about twenty meters away, and frowned. It was possible that it was merely a hungry wolf passing by that had stopped at the scent of food. But she doubted it. These woods were full of game--as evidenced by the number of pelts stretched about the camp. Most would be sold for a profit. No, it was more likely that the creature was a spy, sent to watch them. It wouldn't be the first; she'd even had one manage to join her gang. He died with with his head separate from his body. Why, though, would a spy be in such an obvious place?

She hailed the creature. "Hello! I doubt that you're a true wolf, whoever you are. Why are you watching us?" In Kaye's mind it was best to come straight to the point. She waited, standing loose and balanced, briefly regretting that she didn't have her bow and an arrow. She couldn't guarantee a hit with a knife from this distance.

[Willow]

The ghost of a grin was lost in her fur as the wolf watched Kaye mutter to herself - something about a mad old man - notice her, then draw her knives. She seemed to have come to a similar conclusion to what the wolf had expected and would have done in Kaye’s place; a large creature lying staring at her when she was heading what seemed to be a rebel camp was more likely to be a spy than an innocent, hungry animal. Kaye was quite right, too. At least about the wolf not being just a wolf; she only spied on her enemies, and at present, Kaye and her band didn’t fall under that category.

The she-wolf lifted her head slowly and yawned wide; showing she was neither worried nor on edge, ready to attack. She considered pretending she was a real, normal wolf, but abandoned the idea. No need to give the band leader any more reason to start a target practice session. She then pushed herself to her paws and padded over, thick tail waving jauntily behind her. Once she was only just outside knife-slashing range she slid effortlessly into her human shape; tall, pale and dark haired, dressed for battle with her twin light-weight swords strapped across her back in an ‘X’ shape by a sturdy leather harness that was attached to the sword scabbards.

The young woman raised her hands briefly to show she hadn’t picked up any weapon whilst transforming, then dropped them to her sides again, where it would take her a fraction of a second longer to draw her swords than if her hands had been at shoulder height. However, the girl didn’t need swords; she had a few daggers, shuriken; even poisons on her person hidden in virtually unnoticeable pockets, or in small pouches that were attached to her sword harness. Despite her being better equipped for battle than the average army, she gave no move to attack; instead she calmly drew one of her swords, but let it hang at her side; not wanting to attack unless she had to defend herself.

Only once she had done all this; in a matter of seconds, did she open her mouth and answer Kaye.
“As you can see, you were right about me not being just a wolf, and I was watching you because I was bored, put simply. Believe me or don’t, whichever you choose. And my name’s Willow; so you don’t have to call me ‘whoever you are’ each time you address me.” She answered, the smile that had been hidden before more prominent on her human face. It bared white, rather sharp yet still human-looking teeth in a twist of a cheeky grin. “D’you mind telling me your name? Or just a name to call you by, if you don’t like giving your name out for whatever reason. Like the rather large reason behind you, for example.” Willow continued, nodding in the direction of the hidden camp.
“And although I seriously doubt you’ll just take me at my word when I say this – I’d call you either mad or a fool if you did – I’m not spying on you. The phrase may be curiosity killed the cat, but wolves get curious too.” The wolf-girl gave another toothy grin, then dropped it, settling for a calmer, more subdued and peaceful look. Gabbing like a smartass might not be the best thing to do at the moment.
“I’m not going to turn you in to the Empire either, if you’re banded against them. I’m not too fond of it myself,” She said, sincerity weaving through her words. It was true; Willow may be a fighter/killer etc for hire when money for emergencies was tight, but she avoided accepting jobs from the Empire, and relished ones that involved harming it.

[flippedside]

"Rebel are you?" Kaye raised her eyebrows slightly. It was enough to show both skepticism and curiosity without actually revealing anything that she was thinking. She gave a casual whistle and was rewarded by momentary silence, followed immediately by another's whistle. So, she wasn't the only one to have noticed the wolf shape-shifter. She wondered who was watching them. It didn't matter much, but she suspected it was Evan. Excellent with the bow, he'd already have the girl in his sights.

That, she thought briefly, was probably better for the girl. With someone watching her back, Kaye was less likely to attack without warning.

She brought her attention back to the tall wolf-girl before her. Kaye was small, but not bothered by it. This girl could almost appear her opposite...even down to the fact that she was a walking armory. For herself, Kaye preferred loose clothing with a number of hidden weapons. While she was an excellent swordswoman, she rarely carried her sword. It was easier to blend in when you weren't wearing any obvious weapon.

"I'm Kaye," she replied casually to the girl's question. She had never been bothered by giving her name out, unlike some she had known. "We're not a rebel army, but a mercenary band." She shrugged. "You can report us to whomever you like, but I doubt that they'll care. I've worked for the Empire on a number of occasions, so they know my name."

Well, some of them do, Kaye amended silently. She allowed herself an inward smile, though outwardly her face remained calm and expressionless. Especially the dead ones. She tilted her head thoughtfully, considering the stranger before her.

"My reasons for being here are...logical. But it's not often that I meet a girl who's more of a walking armory than a traveler. I won't ask why you're watching us," {you wouldn't answer anyway} flitted through Kaye's mind, "but it is unusual to see travelers in these parts." Which is why I picked this spot, Kaye added silently. A bit of irritation crept out of her. She really didn't want to have to move the camp again. Of course...Only Willow knew that they were there...

She considered killing the girl. She was a stranger, and of no importance to Kaye, though it was rare that Kaye killed without good reason. She had left that part of her past behind her. Mostly. There might be good reason to kill this one, though...Willow already knew too much and might well be a spy. If there was one thing Kaye hated, it was spies. But...she would wait and see what this girl revealed of herself.

[Willow]

Willow barely tilted her head at the sharp whistle and its response, but the placid smile on her face shifted just slightly; gaining a wicked edge. While the signal wasn’t the same, she could see enough similarities to this band and her own adoptive village that she recognised the whistle for roughly what it was. At least one other person knew she was here, although that didn’t bother her. What troubled her slightly; although no sign of it showed, was that she knew full well she could be a sitting – or rather, standing – target right now. Great. Oh well; if she was attacked in a surprise attempt, she should be fast enough to move out of the way of a lethal attack. And besides, there was still a risk to these people too – if Willow was attacked and survived it, or at least survived it long enough to respond, she’d most probably take Kaye’s head off. Literally.

“Hmm....not a rebel, as such, more a free lancer who’s not exactly fond of the Empire and who enjoys the risky side of the rebellion. If it looks fun or has any benefit in it for me, I occasionally help them out. The rebels, that is.” She replied, shrugging. Some people didn’t like how she took the rebellion etc so lightly, but they had to live with it. Willow had already broken a few noses over the matter, and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again.

’A mercenary band, but not rebels. Okay then.’ She thought, already speaking. “Unusual, but not unheard of,” She said lightly in response to Kaye’s traveller comments. “I’m actually searching around for someone, and I figured that searching the remote areas would turn up just as large a chance of finding them than searching the populated ones.” She explained, although her tone hinted at the matter being one of relative secrecy.

Willow thought she saw a slight glimmer of annoyance in Kaye’s features as she finished speaking, and guessed she was the cause of it, although exactly why, she wasn’t exactly sure.
’What’re you thinking?’ She wondered, tilting her head back a little as she thought, although she kept her narrowed, carefully calculating eyes on Kaye and her keen ears on the forest to her left, tensed to dodge or block a sudden attack.
A grin twitched the corners of her lips up again, in a wry smirk.
“I get the feeling you don’t trust me, for some strange reason,” She said, with her usual sarcastic laugh lacing her tone. “I wonder why that could be.” She continued, almost rolling her eyes, accenting every other word a little.

[flippedside]

One of the most disconcerting things about Kaye was her ability to completely hide everything she was feeling. She could speak of anything with a bland face and voice or she could talk and laugh, while raging inside. Even her band didn't know how to gauge her moods.

So it was that she calmly held a conversation with Willow while internally considering the best way to dispatch of her. There was clearly no worry that anyone knew that the girl was here. She could of course simply kill her and no one would be the wiser. She could see already that she was more experienced than the girl; if it came to a fight, Willow would die. But she had already discarded that idea for other possibilities. Mostly, she wanted information.

Kaye listened silently, head tilted slightly, as Willow spoke flippantly of the rebellion. Just as well. Kaye had little patience for those who revered the rebellion as a force for justice and equality. In Kaye's mind, the only worthwhile thing that the rebellion offered was the occasional paycheck. Mostly she considered them a waste of time. However, it was the general flippancy of the girl that warned Kaye that she could be dangerous. Not in the way Willow might have thought she was dangerous--with her weapons--but with her likely over-done sense of bravado and lack of tact.

Kaye considered secrecy and caution to be of paramount importance. All of her band were experts at both, able to disappear into a crowd or spy on anyone. She didn't take spying jobs, but she knew she could. Willow was too casual to last in a band like hers. Not that it mattered--Kaye was hardly about to invite her to join her band.

She signaled a second time, this time with her fingers. Whoever was watching would see, but Willow would not notice--the signal was blocked by Kaye's shirt. She shifted loosely, and signed again. Letting Evan--and anyone else--know her thoughts, since they couldn't hear the conversation. Since she knew Willow was targeted by at least one of her band, it was important to keep them informed. Otherwise, the girl might be accidentally killed.

Kaye let a brief smile touch her lips at Willow's sarcastic words, "I get the feeling you don’t trust me, for some strange reason." This was true, not only for the fact that the girl mysteriously turned up at exactly the wrong moment, but also because of her bold attitude. No doubt the girl made good money as a mercenary on attitude alone, but Kaye would never let someone foolish enough to broadcast herself about like this girl did into her band.

She let some of her thoughts out...Just enough to give a warning, while keeping the conversation going. "No doubt it's the fact that my best archer is trained on you that gives you that impression." Kaye smiled brightly. "He won't kill you unless I tell him to, although in my case, that's not necessarily any better for you."

She gave a thoughtful expression, pretending to study the landscape, while laughing inwardly. She was enjoying this stilted conversation just this side of violence. It laced each of their words with the silvery edge of a dagger blade. "Perhaps I am being rude and ought to invite you to take a meal with us." Her eyes lit up and she looked directly into Willow's eyes. "Then again, the last spy who managed to visit us left his head behind and his blood on my blade."

She grinned and flicked her knife blade as though flicking away imaginary blood. Her thoughts were shifting silently in a different direction, though. How to find out what Willow was really about? Kaye disdained torture. She would never use that sort of violence on anyone. However, she did need a better way of finding out about Willow and her sudden appearance than standing and talking in the snow. Whether she was a spy or not, Kaye wanted more information from the girl. Not only that, but she couldn't simply let her wander away. She either had to kill her now, or take her temporarily with them.

She held her hand tight, knife clutched by only two fingers, as she asked another question. The answer would decide Willow's fate. She looked at Willow consideringly. "Actually, I was about to head to my tent for the noon meal. You've fascinated me enough so far, so perhaps you'll join me?" She stepped back slightly, waiting.

[Willow]

“Your best archer, eh?” Willow repeated, smiling, showing slightly too-sharp canines. “Just as well, I guess. Anyone less and I’d be disappointed you thought so little of me,” She commented offhandedly, moving her free hand to rest on her hip. “And I’m not bothered which of you is planning to attack me, if events take us down that road. It’ll earn me a few extra scars then I’d be on my way...although having most of your band on my tail would be a bit of a hindrance, not to mention noisy.” She shrugged again, smiling as if this was the most normal conversation in the world. Then again, it was, to Willow. Half of what she’d ever said in her lifetime seemed to be fighting banter, so this seemed pretty ordinary now. Still, that didn’t mean she wasn’t on her toes, ready to react to anything.

"Then again, the last spy who managed to visit us left his head behind and his blood on my blade." Kaye was saying, a deadly look on her face even as she smiled. Willow returned it, but hers was as cool as Kaye’s was serious.
“Then he was both a fool and a poor spy; else you are exceptionally good at rooting them out. However, if he got as far as joining your band, then I’d be more inclined to believe the former.” Willow murmured, barely louder than a whisper, her tone even and cold. She had no time for idiots, and this dead spy sounded like one to her, merely for being found out. She may be loud and brash most of the time, but don’t be fooled; she was one of the best, and acted accordingly when she had to. Her bravado simply concealed her real confidence, that lied within her core, only showing briefly; in the killer’s grace of her walk, the occasional flint in her eyes and tone, and her unerring skill in battle, espionage and assassination, amongst others. Some of this showed now, changing everything about the girl. Her hand dropped from her hip and she stood straight, one foot a little behind the other as she stood almost sideways on to Kaye, her head assumed its proud tilt, her mouth now an emotionless line, and her eyes, brimming with exuberance mere instants ago, were unreadable; shuttered and cold, slightly narrowed in judgement.

She listened to Kaye as she spoke of her meal, and slowly the hunter in her faded, leaving her standing a little less straight, her eyes marginally softer and generally seeming more ready to listen than run someone through with a blade. By the time Kaye had finished speaking, a slightly ludicrous expression had crossed Willow’s face as she answered in turn.
“Hm...I might join you, but I hope you’ll excuse me if I don’t eat or drink anything you provide. I’ve been poisoned before and I have no wish to go through it again.” She said, with mock politeness and manners, steadily returning to her usual, sarcastic self. Believe it or not, Willow could actually be genuinely polite if she had to be. However, this was one of the times she decided it wasn’t a necessity.
“If I do join you, then I hope I won’t have a strung bow and arrow pointed at my all through the meal? No doubt it would make everyone even edgier than they already are,” She asked with faintly raised eyebrows, looking vaguely amused again. “Besides, I’ve no doubt you’ll be ready to drive that dagger you’re holding between my ribs at less than a moment’s notice.” She commented, nodding briefly towards it.
’And good luck with that,’ She thought right after, remembering the light scale mail undershirt she wore beneath the weapons she had laid across the gaps between her ribs. It wouldn’t be enough to stop a blow completely, but it should be enough to deflect the attack away from her heart and lungs. Despite how painful shattering her ribs had been – she still didn’t know how she’d survived it – she’d rather break them again than die, if they were her only choices.

To show she wasn’t immediately about to attack or generally do something to deserve an arrow in the side, she smoothly raised her sword to her own head height and slid it back into its scabbard on her opposite shoulder, all without looking, she’d done it that often.
“Well, if the invitation is still open, lead the way. No need to worry about a surprise attack from behind – not even I’m bold or suicidal enough to risk getting shot at this close range,” She said, waving her arm in the general direction of the camp and waiting for Kaye to move.
’If you were joking about the invitation, then tough luck Kaye. Besides, it’d be more bad manners to turn me away now, wouldn’t it?’ She thought sweetly, smiling pleasantly as she waited to be shown into the snow leopard’s den.

[flippedside]

Kaye eased back. Good. She didn't have to kill Willow; the girl was going to come of her own free will. She stepped back and let her knives disappear into her clothing. She was slightly exaggerated in her movements, letting Evan know that the answer was "no." Spinning around, she jerked her hand towards him, signing, "wait." She didn't care if Willow saw the sign, since Willow already expected to have an arrow aimed at her chest.

"You amuse me," Kaye said bluntly, "by your assumption that you're simply the best that there is. Which I highly doubt." A smile tugged at her lips. This was a game, with words the weapons, rather than edged steel. "But don't worry, I'm not about to stab you in the side." She shrugged without bothering to look at the wolf-girl. She wasn't too impressed, merely curious.

When it came to fighting, there were those who survived, and those who were dead. Experience told her that Willow's bravado was misplaced and likely to bring her to an early end. That was why Kaye practiced caution and watched carefully to ensure that her band practiced the same. It was what kept them all alive.

Her thoughts shifted with a swift ebb and flow, bringing her back to the girl's early words about spies. "He was an excellent spy, else how'd he manage to fool my second into letting him into my band?" Kaye shrugged. "I'm very good at seeing who a person is and what they're about." This was a warning to Willow, since she still wasn't convinced that the girl wasn't a spy and shouldn't simply be run through.

She thought of Willow's words about being stabbed in the side and a flicker of amusement crossed her eyes. If Kaye killed the girl, it'd be her throat that she'd slit, not a stab to the side. No one recovered from a slashed throat.

The trees opened into a natural clearing, and Kaye stepped into a neat and orderly camp. She insisted on this form of discipline, knowing that if the camp needed to suddenly be moved, nothing was lost or forgotten. It also meant that those changing shifts in the darkest part of the night could still easily find their way about. Her tent occupied the center. She noticed a few curious glances at Willow, but most of the camp was empty, this time of day. Some were off hunting, others roaming about the perimeter or watching the town. None of them trusted the rebels, so everyone was especially alert.

There were some called greetings, and Kaye answered in kind. Jarad, her second, met her on her way to her tent, hand dropping instantly to his sword. Kaye jerked her head towards Willow. "She's here on my permission." He didn't move, waiting. Kaye tilted her head slightly, adding silently, "For now." Jarad got the message, dropping his hand and moving back, but not far. Ignoring him, she turned back towards Willow and pulled open her tent flap.

"Welcome to my humble home." Both the words and her smile were mocking. It was no more than a large tent, holding a thickly carpeted mat, with a cot in the back and a brazier in the center. There was a large chest to one side and a table opposite it. "This is Jarad," she added briefly, nodding towards the tall, lean man. He was slightly scruffy with a number of pale scars criss-crossing face and arms and a cold look that warned of a dark past. "We'd already planned to meet, so he'll be joining us." She wasn't worried about Willow trying to murder her over lunch, but she had important news to share with Jarad. Still, that would have to wait until she was done with the girl.

OOC: By the way, Jarad is an actual character that I am in the process of completing, so you can look at his bio if you want to know more.

[Willow]

“I never said, nor even thought, that I was the best – merely that I’ve survived so far against people twice my age, on a few occasions. Admittedly, the first time that happened I tricked the guy into knocking himself out on a doorway...” She added, wincing a tad sheepishly. “He wasn’t too bright...then again, no one expects to be outsmarted by an eight year old, so they tend to stop paying extremely close attention.” The corners of her mouth twitched, probably at the memory. After living her entire life in danger of dying, Willow had developed a rather twisted, black sense of humour. Then again, she might have been like that anyway, regardless of her lifestyle. Then her expression softened a little, becoming almost sad. “My first kill.” She said softly, thinking back on it. Although it was how she’d lived, she doubted kids should have to grow up killing to avoid being killed. But then, that was the way of the world for many.

” I'm very good at seeing who a person is and what they're about.” Willow smiled slightly at that, nodding as she accepted the matter.
“Then I hope it won’t take you too long to see I’m not here to spy or otherwise threaten you.” She said sincerely, but doubting the words even as she said them. A careful person like Kaye would probably quadruple check everything she examined about Willow before passing judgement on whether she deemed her a spy or not.

As they got within sight of the camp, Willow’s posture and general demeanour shifted. She wasn’t tense, exactly, but she was even more aware than before. Some of her careless facade dropped and her eyes were flickering to every sound she heard; her steps seemed lighter, as if she were ready to jump or run at an instant. She reflected that this probably wouldn’t make the best impression, considering where she was, but it was habit. Just waltzing into a new place had never been part of her personality, as carefree as the rest of it seemed, but even if it had, it would have been trained out of her within months. Caution – especially in a hostile settlement or encampment – was paramount. She should have actually been a tad more careful on the boundaries too, but that was over now. The real danger – if there would be any – would probably be in the heart of the camp.
Whilst she was examining everything and thinking all this, Willow was noticing the looks she was getting and returning them with slight nods, subdued now.

When Jarad approached, Willow figured it was best to keep her mouth shut and let Kaye do the talking.
’Looks like he’s going to be even harder to convince than Kaye,’ She thought unenthusiastically, holding back a grimace.
At the tent entrance, Willow waited until it was clear she was free to enter before doing so and speaking.
“Humble home...compared to where I’ve been living these past few weeks, this is luxury,” She muttered, daring to let a small, brief smile back onto her face.
“I’d say pleased to meet you, but I seriously doubt the feeling’s mutual.” She commented when she was introduced to Jarad, nodding when she heard he’d be joining them. It made sense, to have someone there just in case the newcomer tried anything funny, even if that wasn’t Kaye’s specific intention.

Willow waited until Kaye and Jared had chosen the places they were going to sit or stand, then sat on the floor, making a point of being as far away from both of them as she could, to try and emphasise she wasn’t out to assassinate anyone today.
“Well, you’re pulling all the strings here, so...” Willow raised her hands, then let them fall again, resting them lightly on the opposite elbow, which in turn were rested on her bent knees, her hair sprawled out around her like a dark pool.
She glanced between the two of them, waiting for them to respond in some way.

[flippedside]

Willow's comment on knocking a man out against a doorway brought a startled laugh from Kaye. It sounded like something she herself would do. She was as much spy and assassin, as mercenary, and so often found herself finding discreet ways to kill. She didn't like to leave a trail. Willow's words took a turn towards sorrow, but Kaye could only shrug. She thought she'd been nine when she'd first started living on the streets. Black thoughts, there, worse than death. She brutally pushed them away, defiantly striding forward confidently.

Though she caught the wariness in Willow's movements in the camp, she was not surprised when the wolf-girl moved easily into the tent. She suspected pride and the overwhelming bravado that she carried everywhere with her wouldn't let her do otherwise. Kaye grimaced slightly--those were the very things about this girl that dragged at her nerves. Still, Willow hinted at containing infinitely more and she wanted to know what it was before she decided what to do with the intruder.

She mulled that thought over as she slipped into the tent. Yes, she still considered Willow to be an intruder, though hospitality fought strangely with that sense as she dug out food from a loose bag to the side of the chest. One conversation told you little about a person.

Jarad, not surprisingly, dropped cross-legged on the floor before the door, sword laid flat across his knees. He looked to be meditating; for all Kaye knew, he was. Compared to the life and energy of the young Willow, he was flat and dull as a board. She considered him briefly. Strangely, despite the three years that they'd worked together, she still knew little about him. In spite of that--or maybe because of it--she trusted him. He was as cold and hard and as faithful as death. She knew he distrusted Willow, but then again, he distrusted everyone. She tried to imagine how he could ever have been a leader amongst the rebels and failed miserably.

Ignoring him, she tugged out bread and cheese and dropped cross-legged on the floor herself. Willow, she noticed, sat on the far side of the room. She guessed distrust of them kept her over there, which was no surprise to her. She'd been in the girl's position before--visiting a strange and antagonistic camp--and it was always a dangerous position. You walked a knife's edge and one slip would send you crashing over into death. Briefly, she considered the girl, still not quite sure what to make of her. Perhaps it wasn't caution at all that kept her separate.

She dropped her head to the food and focused on slicing the bread and slivers of the aging yellow cheese. She knew that Willow had said she wouldn't eat, but she set the food of a rough board in the center of the floor anyway.

"Feel free to take what you want." She couldn't help grinning in amusement. "I'm not likely to poison my own food."

Jarad stared silently at it for a moment, before neatly slicing away some for himself with a boot knife. He ate silently a moment before turning to Willow. "Welcome to Nightfall. That is, our band's camp." He shrugged slightly. "We call ourselves Nightfall." He turned back to his food, ignoring them both.

Kaye was so shocked by the fact that the man had said anything, that she thought the emotion actually showed on her face. Then again, maybe it didn't and it only felt that way to her. Turning to Willow she said honestly, "You should feel honored. Jarad is usually more apt to chop off a stranger's head than say hello."

[Willow]

Willow smiled vaguely at the mention of the possibility of poisoned food, but pulled some of her own – dried meat, bread, water, all kept completely separate from her numerous poison vials – from her shoulder bag.
“No, you’re not,” She responded, tearing a small bun of bread in half as she spoke. “But I’ve seen people poison their own food before, and merely avoid the poisoned items and choose something else from the plate, tricking the spy into death. Believe it or not, I do actually know how to be cautious...to the point of being overly so,” She admitted, rolling her eyes at one of her little faults as she popped a small chunk of bread into her mouth.
She was almost as surprised as Kaye when Jarad spoke, but had the emotion hidden again by the time Kaye had recovered and told her about Jarad’s usually hostile view on strangers.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” She said seriously, then in a lighter tone, smiling again; “Hm, maybe I’m starting to make a good impression on someone in Nightfall, at last.”
Willow finished her bread roll, then, after looking thoughtful for a moment, leant forward a little, one knee falling to almost tap the floor, the corresponding hand rested on it as she started speaking with a more defined purpose now.
“So, supposing I get out of this meeting with my head attached to my shoulders and with no other fatal wounds, what then? Do I just wander off without having to worry about any consequences of anything?” Her tone showed what she thought of that idea; layered as it was with sarcasm and scorn. “Seeing as that is extremely unlikely at best, what is it you’re planning to happen to me if you decide against killing me?” She didn’t seem worried or scared by the idea of dying, nor of that possibility being so close, her eyes were speculating; not curious, per se, they were a little more intense than that, but honestly wanting to know what might happen to her after this meeting, and most importantly, whether it would involve losing and spilling some blood.

[flippedside]

Jarad's hard face flickered with a slight smile. Answering them both, he explained, "I won a bout of cards. Got a new piece of steel." He pulled out a dagger from his back, admiring the sheen of light on the silver-blue steel.

Kaye raised an eyebrow. "Considering how you play, I doubt it was a fair game."

He grinned back at her. "Gotta learn something from being a pirate." He shrugged and went back to eating. A smile tipped the corners of Kaye's mouth, but she brought her attention back to Willow as the girl spoke. Surprisingly, it was Jarad who again answered her. Kaye decided that he must be in an unusually good mood.

Jarad tucked his new weapon back into its sheath at the back of his belt. "You're too young to have your head removed from your body yet, hey?" His gold eyes scanned over her critically.

Kaye leaned forward. "That is the question, isn't it? I can't just let you walk away from my camp." She showed her teeth in a smile that was more predatory than friendly. "I don't trust you and I don't know who you are. Or why you're here." She sat back, studying Willow. "We're in the middle of a deal, and I don't want anything to ruin it."

"You could test her," Jarad suggested.

Kaye rolled her eyes. "Your idea of testing and mine are completely different." She thought of some the more violent means Jarad had for questioning, and shook her head. "I thought you said she should keep her head."

"Hey, missing an arm and missing a head are two very different things."

The ghost of a smile touched Kaye's lips. Long years together had gotten her used to Jarad's penchant for violence. They didn't agree on it's uses however; if Jarad were in charge of Nightfall, half of Rhyallia would already be razed to the ground. They had an unspoken agreement though, that she led and he hunted and enforced discipline as necessary. He was an excellent fighter--Kaye knew of no one more swift and deadly accurate with a sword--but unpredictable and apt to be cruel. Kaye thought that just as well that he didn't desire to lead.

Her knowledge of his past was limited to bits and pieces that he had let fall like scraps for dogs. She was fairly certain that he had once been a leader in the rebellion, but he didn't speak of it and she'd never asked. Kaye found it hard to imagine Jarad leading a group intelligently and patiently. She knew only of his violence.

She let her thoughts return to Willow, focusing on the girl's question. What to do with her? She had a couple of options. The most obvious was to kill her, but she wouldn't do that here in camp without provocation. There were other choices, none particularly kind or friendly.

An eerie howl cut through her thoughts. Jarad was on his feet almost instantaneously. "They're back with news." His face was flat, guarded. His attention was focused outside the tent, but Kaye knew a part of him remained aware of her and Willow and their movements.

"Go see. Let me know if it's good or bad. Willow and I will settle things here." Her blue eyes focused on the tall figure on the opposite side of the tent with chilling intensity. "Lucky break for you, I don't like to spill blood in camp without reason. But that still leaves the problem of you...Being here."

Her face was blank again, her eyes dark and emotionless. "Tell me what I should do with you Willow? If I don't leave your body as scraps for dogs, then what should I do instead?" She was already spinning a plan in her mind--something that she'd used successfully before--but she knew the girl wouldn't like it. Kaye waited to see how Willow would answer.

[Willow]

Willow shrugged at Jarad’s so-called question, before looking at him again with bland eyes to answer.
“If someone’s trying to kill you, you kill them first no matter how old they are; if they pose even the slightest serious threat,” She replied matter-of-factly. Age didn’t matter to Willow; if someone is old enough to have a weapon, know how to use it, and purposefully aim that weapon at you; then you can’t spend time dithering over their age. Especially if they were born and raised in the same town as Willow; being taught how to use a weapon as soon as she were old enough to hold it by yourself and not accidentally kill anyone with it.

Her steady gaze flickered onto Kaye as she started speaking, her ready grin flickering into place at Kaye’s rhetorical question, and kept her mouth shut when Kaye mentioned a deal. No need to tell her that saying anything at that point would make the two mercenaries even more suspicious of her than they already were. She didn’t have time to get a word in edgeways while Kaye and Jarad bantered over the ‘test’ idea, but when Jarad mentioned missing arms and heads, she cut in.
“Hey, if it’s all the same to you two, I’d prefer to leave here in one piece. If I wanted to be decapitated I’d go and provoke a hungry bear or something,” She said, half laughing, half serious.

She looked sharply towards the entrance of the tent as the howl rang out, mildly startled for a moment, then made herself busy packing the small amount of her remaining food away when Jarad announced what it meant. Willow had a feeling that this little meeting was rapidly pulling to a close, and this prediction only strengthened as Jarad left and Kaye began speaking again, her voice flat.
Willow made sure that her bag was closed properly and settled comfortably on her shoulder before answering, a thoughtful mask on her face as she considered her options.
“Perhaps do what Jarad said; test me. Maybe not as violently as he may like, but again that’s up to you. I wouldn’t mind fighting a few of your people, in whatever conditions you name. Or, you could do whatever it is you’re already planning. I’m sure you’ve got a few ideas,” She smirked a little at that, almost ruefully going through a few of the plans she would have come up with if her and Kaye’s roles were reversed.

“And there’s no need to take my age into account; nor whatever age you think I am.” She paused to shrug; knowing she looked a few years older than she was. She felt even older than she looked, most of the time. “Treat me as you would any other older, more ‘experienced’ person if they were in my place.” She continued, calm green eyes level and serious. No matter what Kaye threw at her, either metaphorically or literally, Willow was almost certain that it wouldn’t be as bad as some of the pain she’d already gone through. It would take something extraordinary to top that.
So she watched Kaye’s face, half-heartedly trying to read it whilst doubting Kaye would let anything on it to read, waiting for whatever Kaye decided.

[flippedside]

"Jarad's idea of 'testing' someone rhymes with 'torture,' so unless that's what you want..." Kaye let her voice fade out. "Needless to say, we disagree on that...But I'll admit that he gets the information that he wants out of prisoners." She shrugged, disinterested. "I'm willing to make a deal with you. You agree to willingly be bound, and I agree that you won't be harmed. Once we're done here, you'll be freed again. By then, whatever you know--or think you know--won't matter anyway."

Kaye waited on Willow's answer. If the girl said no, she might be forced to hand her over to Jarad. She'd keep his hand from being too harsh, but time was running out. Truthfully, she'd been thinking of binding the girl since they'd first met. That had been part of her original intention in taking her into the camp...It was easier done here. She'd done it before with a stranger who stumbled on their camp at the wrong time. She still suspected that the man had been a spy, but it didn't matter. He'd been bound and carted after them until they arrived at the nearest large city, and then he'd been dumped off there. She hadn't heard from him since.

Kaye's thoughts were interrupted harshly by the bright light of the sun as the tent flap was flung back. Silhouetted against the white of sun and snow stood a huge dark skinned man. He seemed to be as large around as he was tall, though Kaye knew him to be amazingly agile and frighteningly strong.

"Bad news," he said shortly. He stepped into the tent, taking up all available space. Jarad was half a step behind. His sword immediately spun out to Willow's neck, his eyes cold.

"We're known," Jarad said flatly. Kaye sprang to her feet, reading his intention clearly.

"Wait!" she exclaimed before blood could be spilled. Willow had no chance against the three of them...It didn't matter. "Bind her," she told Jarad matter-of-factly. It didn't matter what the girl thought anymore, circumstances were rapidly spinning out of control. "I said we wouldn't hurt her."

Jarad glared, but nodded. Kaye knew he'd keep his word not to slice Willow in two. Kaye briefly wondered if that was better or worse for the wolf-girl.

Ryss had his hand near the massive broadsword strapped to his back. He tossed a length of leather cord to Jarad, who caught it easily in his free hand. It was the swift, unspoken movements of a band who had been together for several years.

Kaye's thoughts swirled briefly, remembering when she and Jarad had first met Ryss. He was lying in an alley, drunk out of his mind, and muttering dire threats of revenge. Against Jarad's bitter advice, Kaye had dragged the big man into their temporary home. Broken in mind by the violent deaths of his wife and children, Ryss had wandered between drunkenness and a blood-soaked desire for revenge. Jarad brought him the revenge. The two had hunted down the killers and with effort, Ryss had dried himself out and become a friend. That was the start of Nightfall.

"What happened?" Kaye demanded.

"Got wind of something, somehow..." Kaye caught Ryss' dark look at Willow. "They've got guards now, and more of them than us."

Kaye shrugged. Things were suddenly moving fast, but she was ready. "Never been a problem before. Unless we're outnumbered more than three to one...?" She raised an eyebrow, but Ryss shook his head. They fought for money, and evaluating the odds was always important. It was better to walk away from a job than to risk losing anyone. "Then it's not too bad. Is Sylaerel there?"

Ryss nodded. "Already. She's watching the road with Fynn and Braen."

"Then we'll pack and go. Get Kane to lead emptying camp; there shouldn't be much to do. Bring Evan here, he'll watch the girl." She jerked her head at Willow. "We'll take the job. If they're guarding it that well, that ought to be something good in it for us."

"Should we send word to Ashata...?" Ryss asked.

Kaye grinned wickedly. "Nah. We'll run 'em down, take whatever's worthwhile, and then send news back to the city. Drop the girl off, too."

Ryss merely shrugged, but amusement touched his face. He was looking forward to this as much as she was.


{OOC} Extra, Extra: I listed all of Nightfall's members under characters, so we could both keep that straight. Also, Willow can put up a fight, but it'd be stupid...the odds are too far against her. Kaye doesn't mean her any harm, though, and she might end up on the caravan raid, as things stand.