Business as Usual (Tyree and Nekela)

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree
"And that's the latest report you have?" "Aye, sarge! The new schedule should give your squad free reign of the beach for maneuvers every third day of the week, sah, an' the new offisahs are comin' in, sah. They'll need instruction, sah." "Yes, of course, can't have the flippin' squad leaders marchin' our hares out of order, wot? Well, dismissed." "Aye, sarge!" The young hare saluted and dashed away, leaving Tyree at the gates of the small fishing town that had grown around Salamandastron. What a day it had been... papers, orders, yelling at recruits, trying to teach the leverets how to march in step! Being a sergeant was much more stressful than a regular Long Patroller. But Tyree had to do his duty... even if he did have a scant three hours of free time before he had to dash back into the mountain and go do all those important officer things that he was supposed to do now. He leaned against the gate, rubbing his eyes. It was late afternoon, and he hadn't even gotten a wink of sleep since last night. False alarm about a vermin raid had kept him up. He walked back into the sleepy village, into the shadow of the moutain, fiddilng with the hilt of his saber, enjoying the sound of the waves over the palisade. If only it were always this quiet.(F)

Nekela
Neke is wandering the small village at the base of the mountain, not up to any trouble but merely perusing and having a look around. She had heard of the mountain before from various mouths and had been by this way and decided to see how majestic it really was up close. Wasn't anything to her liking, a big lump of rock sticking out of the earth, ugly if you'd ask her. The second thing she would notice is all the hares running around, she doesn't think she's ever seen so many in her life, and all so dang jovial and happy-go-lucky, giving her strange looks because she doesn't fall in step with their games of smiles and laughs. What's to smile and laugh about? She wrinkles her nose and glares sky blue eyes in the direction of a young hare whooping and carrying on. "Children all grown up," he mutters, hand playing on the pommel of her sword, her paws itchy and her whole spirit restless.

Tyree
Tyree continued walking down the streets of the small village, watching an otter couple go by happily. They could enjoy life. They didn't have to worry about duty and military and whatnot... that was what Tyree was here for. He wasn't really paying attention as he passed through a veritable crowd of Patrollers out for a night on the town. A couple of them called out to him, but he shook his head. He didn't have time to enjoy a drink, no time to just dilly dally. He had work to do! He had responsibilities to take care of, recruits to train. His dark hazel eyes were clouded and distracted, looking at the ground as he walked, ears erect but hearing little. He didn't notice the female hare that had wandered into his path at the next corner.(F)

Nekela
Nekela was thinking about a jumble of nonsense, which she never does so it must be the atmosphere, as she turns a corner and runs smack dab into Tyree. She cusses as she stumbles back and into another someone else, then tripping over her feet and landing in a puff of dust. She jumps up and glares in the male's direction, covered in sand (oh how she hates sand! it gets everywhere!). Of all the times she was looking in another direction and the fellow coming at her had to be off daydreaming himself. "Whatchit!" she snaps, looking down at herself and with much moodiness tries to shake off the particles clinging to her blue tunic and breeches, all over her sandy fur. "Hate it! Hate it!" (ROFLMAO! She's grumpy!!!)

Tyree
Tyree had been knocked flat onto his backside when he bumped into the female, and was much more surprised than angered when he fumbled back onto his footpaws. "I say, wot!" he blurted out as he dusted himself, looking around for whoever he had smacked into. That had hurt, and- oh no! Now his uniform was all out of sorts! "Oh, corks..." he muttered as he straightened it out, finally spotting Nekela. He had just been about to help her up, actually... He sighed, mortified that an officer of Salamandastron had been so careless. He held out a placating paw. "Miss! I'm... I'm so sorry! My apologies! Profuse ones!" he stammered. For how dutiful he was, he had never been good at talking to people, and was easily flustered. He reached out and tried to pat the sand off her himself, looking very, very hesitant as he does so. "Here, er... lemme get that?"(F)

Nekela
Nekela sighs huffily and bats his hand away, chalking the event as simply an inconvenience. "Forget it," she mutters and drops her arms, giving up on the removing the rest of the sand from her fur. She takes a deep breath to be sure she had thoroughly calmed down, for the first time looking at Tyree. She looks him up and down, noticing the uniform and the weariness in his eyes. "You look worse off than me anyway, in the long run," she says with a raised brow. (BLAH! Sorry...brain died a minute there.)

Tyree
Tyree withdrew his hand as if she had bitten it. "Sorry," he muttered again, and started swaying on the spot. He blinked several times when she spoke, and went back to straightening out his uniform again fastidiously. He didn't stop. No matter how straight it was it just didn't look right after that fall... "The long what? Oh! 'Course. Yes, I'm..." He paused to rub his eyes. "Yes, I'm just a mite fatigued, mm-hmm... bein' a hare of the mountain rather cuts into the old slumber schedule, wot?" He smiled wearily, and held out his paw again, bowing elegantly despite his tiredness. "Ahh... Tyree Wincello Tuddrunner miss," he said, letting his ears flop down. "The pleasure is... all mine. I must apologize again... my eyes are little, er, off. Haven't closed them in some time."(F)

Nekela
She takes his paw only because she is assuming he wants her to shake it, nodding her head once in response to his elegant bow, though she expects him to fall over at any moment. "Nekela...Sandrunner..." she offers, albeit hesitantly as socializing is really not her forte. So at least they have that much in common. "Don't worry about it," she assures, still frowning in her own sort of way, smiles are not quite her regular thing, "though I recommend sleep..." she finishes with a mutter.)

Tyree
Tyree sighed awkwardly and looked back and forth. "Sleep... right. Well, can't really do that, I've got an appointment in a few hours to meet with some of the new officers," he said a little despondently. Much as he loved his duty, he did like to sleep. "Can't let them run around training our new recruits when they're just recruits themselves!" he said with a chuckle that quickly petered out. He rubbed his paws together, looking rather nervous as she just kept frowning and staring at him. It was making him quite uncomfortable. "Ahh... perhaps I could... get you a drink, miss Sandrunner? It's the least I can do for ruining your mood..." He rubbed the spot between his ears. "There's an inn not far from here, after all."(F)

Nekela
She really doesn't know what it is he is talking about, but doesn't try to figure it out, and she doesn't realize how much she's making him nervous. And now the female hare has to try to get out of a drink? Her hand rests in a relaxed manner on the pommel of her sword, looking about subtly to try to find a distraction. "Oh, not necessary. I'm never in a good mood anyway," she says with a shrug, taking a small step back. (bah)

Tyree
Tyree blinked when she rejected his offer. Well that wasn't supposed to happen. He hadn't apologized properly, and now he was going to just leave her run off in a bad mood because of him? He'd be distracted by that thought all day! He took a step forward, rather alarmingly keeping pace with her. "Are you sure?" he asked, holding out a paw again. "Because I can... I have time!" he said with a smile. "I really do. Are you certain? There's no need? It's just, I... I really don't like leaving beasts with a bad impression." He had spent his whole life living up to expectations and impressing others of a higher status than him, after all. It had rubbed off into his behavior with everybeast else as well. "I'll pay and everythin', really!"(F)

Nekela
"You're not going to take 'no' for an answer, are you?" she asks, half to herself as she stares at him with a wider-eyed expression. This is the problem with talking to beasts and going into villages for no good reason other than to check it out. She sighs, seeming a little frustrated with a hint of impatience. "Alright then, one drink." She caves in, telling herself that if it'll get rid of him that it will be all worth it. She's been in inns before, that's no big deal, and the crowd she'll be used to. It's just the fact that she'll be there directly in company with someone else that is the odd part. She assures herself that it won't be long and she'll be in the comfort of her lonesome soon enough.

Tyree
Tyree's smile was wide and perhaps unbalanced when Nekela finally accepted his offer, and jumped at the opportunity. If there was one thing he was good at, it was making reparations for accidents. He had done that more than enough with his brothers... "One drink!" he promised, and nodded towards the inn. He started forward with a bit of a spring in his step. Finally he could try and make up for his mistake! He strode right up to the inn door and opened it without any hestiation, and it was surprisingly quiet inside. This was just a fishing village after all. The beasts inside were inhabitants, talking in quiet tones as an otter played on a flute in the corner. Tyree smiled again and went right up to the bar, waving Nekela inside. "One damson wine," he said to the 'tender, "and whatever my friend will have. On my tab, wot!" He patted the stool next to him, inviting Nekela to sit.(F)

Nekela
Nekela follows him, one eyebrow raised as she watches with concealed humor the spring that suddenly manifests itself in his stride. All because she accepted his offer? Silly, but it's fine by her the ways individuals get their jollies. But she hangs back slightly, looking as if embarassed to be seen with him but it's not being the case at all (for she doesn't care either way), just taking a leisure and graceful time about it. When they enter the inn she pause at the doorway, doing a routine and practiced scan of the room out of habit before Tyree's wave catches her attention so that she approaches with a final wary glance around, perching on the stool he directs her to. The sandy-furred hare seems distracted until she notices the bartender staring at her expectantly. She shakes away the stupor and blinks at the beast. "Oh, wine makes me too sleepy. So...some sort of ale? I'm not picky!"

She turns her back to the counter, leaning on it with her elbows resting on its top. This way she can still keep one eye on what's going on around the room and yet pay attention to Tyree and what else at the same time. Yes, she is quite the edgy person. (F)

Tyree
Tyree continued smiling a little dumbly as the bartender nodded at their orders. He was a grizzled hedgehog, and looked very, very bored with his station in life. Nevertheless, he retrieved them their drinks and plopped them down in front of them. Despite Tyree's usually composed and quiet demeanor, the lack of sleep and constant stress of his job had weighed heavily upon him. He grasped his mug and took a long, powerful swig of his drink, dropping the mug back on the bar loudly. "Ahh!" he sighed loudly, sounding quite pleased with his choice. Nekela had received some kind of yellow-ish drink that had a very stiff, strong scent of nutmeg to it. "I wish they let us 'ave stuff like this at the bloomin' mountain," Tyree lamented quietly. "But I guess it's for the best. Every hare must be in peak condition after all..." Which was more than could be said of him. His eyelids kept drooping and his head kept bowing. "Must always be alert... always ready for action..."(F)

Nekela
These nice long ears of all hares makes them quite the avid listener, even if they don't want to be, and Nekela can't really tune him out as he yammers on in a burst of exhausted hyperness. She lifts her flagon to her lips and takes a long draught, lowering it only slightly as she swallows so that she is talking into it. Though quiet it seems to just echo the sound amplify what she has to say. "Peak condition my bobbin' cottontail," she mutters, setting her drink down on the counter and giving Tyree one of those stares that has 'such hypocrisy' written all over it but really isn't pinpointed directly on her male companion. "You aren't alert for anything! Bags under those eyes that keep drooping with your nose practically dipping into your wine. If that's peak condition then I'm flying around the summit. I could probably whoop you easy with no trying, all I'd have to do is sing you a little lullaby; and trust me, I carry a tune like a hoarse toad." She jabs him in the shoulder and watches him wobble a little bit. "Doesn't say much for a leader who allows their beasts to run themselves ragged willy nilly." She sniffs and takes another aggravated swig of her ale.

Tyree
Tyree seemed to be roused up by her sudden rant against him and his. His ears slowly straightened back out when she stared at him and made her cottontail comment. He opened his mouth slightly and tried to formulate a coherent response. "What..." he asked quietly, but it was too late to stop her, and she was off. He straightened up as she went on, narrowing his eyes slightly as she poked him roughly. "Ow," he muttered, rubbing his shoulder and setting down his wine mug. He cleared his throat and swayed on his seat a little. "Now hold on there m'gel," he said, putting up a claw for silence. "I'm not some fool! I know my limits, wot! An' the fact of the matter is, I haven't reached 'em yet. I'm perfectly capable of continuin' my duties!" He stood up and stumbled a bit, recovering quickly. He stood up as straight as he could. "This hare of the mountain is... oh, who am I kiddin'," he said, suddenly deflating. "I'm just a run ragged-"

"Sergeant!" shouted a voice at the door. Tyree looked up and saw one of his superior officers marching inside. It was Major Campion. Tyree snapped to attention. "Sah!" he said, saluting smartly as the major approached, twitching his whiskers. He whipped out an envelope and passed it to Tyree. "You're going to be needed first thing on the morrow," he growled through his mustache. "Lord Balthar Blackstripe is calling a campaign and all able-bodied hares will be needed. A conference has been called to discuss matters of importance, and you're going to be there." "Sah, I..." Tyree began, "I'm already double-shifted with the new officers! How will I make the conference?" "Like the rest of us," the major answered. "By waking up earlier. Hop to it." He saluted and turned to leave, leaving Tyree standing slack-jawed.(F)

Nekela
Nekela doesn't seem at all intimidated when he straightens and tenses with those eyes of his narrowed severely at her; she has seen and dealt with plenty scarier than this tired hare. She takes a sip of her ale in a relaxed and at ease manner, a real grin started to form on her face as she seems to be enjoying herself for once. A good argument is always fun, especially when she knows she's right and that she'll win. Besides, he's agreeing with her now and... Her ears stick straight up and her head turns sharply in the direction of the voice shouting from the door. Somebody ruining her fun. She doesn't bother hiding the on-the-brink-murderous glare she has pinned on the Major; she doesn't care, she doesn't live here or have to put up with them no matter who they think they are. She snorts when the officer turns to leave, shaking her head. "Able-bodied," she says with a small laugh, "is able-bodied dead on your feet? Well, the definition must have changed sometime while I've been hiding from society. Bunch of low-brained whisker twitching, loud mouth bawling orders tyrants around here, I think. Glad I'm not cursed this sort of fate." (I love Neke...so full of nerve...)

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree
The major stopped dead in his tracks when Nekela began mouthing off. Now Tyree's shocked expression turned to her, eyes wide. You weren't supposed to talk that way to a superior officer! But it was too late, the words were out, and Campion looked angry. He turned around stiffly, glaring at the haremaid, and then seemed to sigh. "Tyree," he said, "I forgot to tell you... someone else has been assigned to teach the new officers. You have the rest of the day off." He glanced at the envelope in the younger hare's paws. "You're goin' to need it anyway." Tyree glanced at the enveloped and peered at Campion. "Sah?" "It's best if you don't find out from me. Just read it." He turned away and stalked out the door, giving Nekela one final glance. Tyree let his breath out in a big sigh. "You're lucky he didn't turn on you," he said, wagging the envelope at the female. "He's legendary for his temper back in the mountain... s'pose he was off duty."(F)

Nekela
Nekela watches him go with a satisfied expression on her face as she absent-mindedly picks her ale back up, one ear swiveling in Tyree's direction as he starts talking. "Hah! I'm not Miss Sunshine myself, ya know!" She sips her drink and smiles smugly at him, leaning out to make a light jab at him with her mug. "I'm not worried. I got you you the rest of the day off, though, didn't I, wot?" Her free paw flies up to slap across her muzzle, surprised at the 'wot' that had slipped out of her mouth. These mountain hares are rubbing off on her already. In such a short time? That seems hardly fair! She doesn't want to be a hare brained idiot; pun intended. (^_^)

Tyree
Tyree blinked at her use of the word 'wot.' He hadn't heard that before, her hare accent was not that strong.... still, it was rather amusing, seeing the reaction it garnered from her. He smirked dryly and tugged open the envelope. "Well, the rest of the day will be rather unproductive then," he said with a sniff as he looked through the envelope's contents. "It's rare to see a hare not associated with the Patrol around here," he remarked idly as he read through the short note, his expression rather bland at first, but growing somewhat concerned as he went on. "Where'd you come from, if you don't mind my askin'?"(F)

Nekela
She shakes off her shock and stares at the back of the parchment he reads as if she can see through it (and read backwards the faint ink scratches). His question gnaws at her though, even if he can't see it in the blank expression she has trained on her face. Surrounded by a bunch of hares with well-hewn skills of combat is not a wise place to reveal one's origins in. Sure, she's not a shabby battler herself, but she is quite outnumbered. But why is she worried, she doesn't have to be truthful. "Don't come from anywhere," she shrugs, "Family didn't stick in one place too long and I didn't stick around too long with them." Not entirely untrue.

Tyree
Tyree continued to read through the letter as Nekela answered him. He peered at her over the top of the letter at her when she spoke, and raised an eyebrow. "I see..." he said with a simple nod. Well, that certainly wasn't a suspicious and avoidant answer! But as he continued reading over the letter, his eyes widened concsiderably. He took a deep breath and suddenly crunched the letter between his paws. His breathing was considerably harder and faster than it perhaps should have been, and he stuffed the envelope into his tunic pocket. "Miss Sandrunner," he said stiffly, "thank you for joining me for drinks. But I must take my leave. Immediately." He turned for the door and started walking, but not before giving Nekela a short, elegant bow.(F)

Nekela
She pretends not to notice the quizzically suspicious look she gets, burying her nose in her mug of ale and playing as if preoccupied with finishing it off. She sets her mug down and watches the change in him, having something to do with that letter he recieved. He takes his leave quickly for his urgent business, bowing and recieving a nod from Neke in return. The hare doesn't finish watching him leave, hopping from her stool and straightening her tunic, adjusting the sword hanging at her side. "It's been fun," she says to the air with a ready air about her. "But I think I've had enough of Salamandastron for a time." The bartender stares at her, wondering who she might be talking to, but who wants to put a crazy person on the spot? He lets her go, finishing polishing a tankard. Females... (blah...so...you have an idea? :-P)

Tyree
It was night now on the beaches of Salamandastron now. Surprisingly, Tyree was still strolling along them, a deeply contemplative expression on his face. Even more surprising, he's still in full dress uniform, with his saber, as though he wasn't supposed to have been in bed an hour or more ago. He was walking, quite slowly, holding the envelope in his paws and looking at it every now and again. But mostly he ignored it, and stared at the ocean. Then back at the country farther inland. He looked down at the envelope one final time, and simply chucked it away into the sand, turning back to the mountain. He was surprised how far out he had come in such a short walk... or had it been a very long time instead?(F)

Nekela
"I thought the Salamandastron hares traveled in troops. I also had the strangest idea that you were supposed to be resting for some big thing tomorrow." Neke's voice pops out of nowhere, a form sitting on the sands loosely huggin her knees and staring out at the moonlight dazzled waters and listening to the waves. "I seem to finding today that I don't know much of anything." She smiles through the dark though he can't see it. He has the look about him that he is worried about whatever it is that pompous Major had given him earlier. But it's not any of her business, in fact he probably wouldn't have even noticed her if she hadn't piped up and given herself away. (blah)

Tyree
"Who! What! Whoa!" Tyree said, spinning in place in several directions before his eyes landed on Nekela. "Oh... it's just you," he said with a sigh of relief. "If another Patroller caught me out here they'd already be pepperin' me with bloomin' questions, wot," he said. He was very relieved it was an outsider that had found him. Surely he liked his comrades in the Patrol and how they worried about him, but... some things were his to worry about and his alone. He stood a few feet away from her, one of his paws resting on his sword handle. "Don't know much of anythin'?" he asked her curiously. "Well, I doubt that. You knew how to chase off one of the fiercest majors we have with mere words earlier today!" he said with a chortle. "That takes skill, m'gel. As for bein' up early... well. A lot of things have changed very quickly very recently."(F)

Nekela
Nekela feels some sort of satisfaction in startling the other hare, snorting at the '...it's just you' comment as if it were offensive when it's obvious that it didn't bother her in the least. Her eyes shift from the water to Tyree, the pale moon flashing in her sky blue eyes softly and giving away everytime she blinks as it disappears and returns. "I'm just a loud mouth, really, but I suppose I'm pretty great." She says it with all seriousness like she truly means it, shifting her legs and digging her toes into the sand. "Things changed, hm? Something to do with that envelope you had when you passed here a little while ago." It's more of a mention of fact when she says it, also pointing out absently that she had been there the entire time and proving how in-thought he must have been.

[Rockpaw Steeleye]

Tyree stared languidly at the female stretched in front of him, wondering how far he should take this conversation with a complete stranger. She seemed an all right sort, if unable to actually keep her tongue in check, but were the contents of the letter really her business? He thought not. And yet... there wasn't going to be anybeast to tell it to later on, if his orders were correct. He'd have to either share it now, or suffer his burden in silence. He looked back out over the sea, looking pensive and thoughtful. Suffer in silence. That was what he'd been doing for many, many seasons now... covering up for his brothers' mistakes, burying the memory of mother's death in his work, and generally making a mess of himself even as he became a stalwart, responsible soldier of the Long Patrol. Give up one life to dedicate himself to another. That was the story of his existence. Trade-offs, sacrifices of time and devotion. He had never once really considered himself in all his long seasons of work and no play.

He was getting a little tired of it.

He turned back to Nekela and, very hesitantly, with constant looks up at the female to make sure what he was doing was all right, sat down next to her. About four feet away. He didn't cuddle up to strangers that quickly after all. He copied her position, unbuckling his sword and leaving it on the sand next to him to accommodate pulling his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He looked back out to sea again. Yes, he was definitely tired of always following orders, and never having a say in his life. For tonight, for a little bit, he'd breach his own protocol and disclose classified information. What harm could it do?

"Yes. It did have everythin' to do with that bloomin' envelope," he said, and there was some bitterness in his voice. He picked up a pawful of sand and watched it slip through his claws.

"Me uncle's been murdered," he said plainly enough. "Hacked down in Southsward. Nobeast knew who did it at the time. I've been given three weeks' leave to travel there and attend the ruddy funeral."

He tossed the sand towards the ocean.

"I dunno what I'm gonna do after that. Uncle was the only family I've got left livin', aside from my siblings... and, well, they're not around here, an' they're certainly not gonna come around for a social call any time soon, wot."

He laid back onto his back, paws on his chest.

"I'm surrounded by an army of Patrollers... but I can't help but feel a little more alone."

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Nekela had left the silence go on between them, turning her gaze away from him so as not to stare as his thoughts roam his private mind. She has no intent of prying him for personal information. What he does with his private matters is his own business and none of hers, this time anyway. She barely spares him a glance as he moves to sit on the sands next to her, looking sideways at him once and then turning away again; she’s not uncomfortable with the idea. And she listens, this time turning her head to look straight at him as his dispenses the news to her, genuinely interested even if it’s only surprise that someone is actually openly talking about something that has seemed a very close-mouth thing to him a little while ago. Then again, he doesn’t really know her either.

“Hm,” is her initial response, turning away with a sad frown on her face, “I’m sorry.” And she really did mean it, another shocker. And then she thinks on the meaning of ‘alone’ and his situation of being surrounded by comrades and friends and still feeling the effects of loneliness. She sighs and nods slowly to herself, understanding. “Life goes on even when others’ does not, I suppose,” she says absently, “and you have to do what is right for you.” Neke shrugs her shoulders slightly and drops her paws into the sand, wriggling her pawfingers until they’re buried and gripping into the loose earth. “But maybe you can take courage with the fact that you aren’t alone. There are plenty of beasts out there feeling the same thing.”

Surrounded by others, possibly those others being ones that care about you in one caring way or another, and still alone. Though that doesn’t mean there aren’t those who side against you in your merry little ‘family’, who’d just love to trip you up to your death, but she doesn’t think that is Tyree’s case more than it is her own. “I don’t get along with anybody, much less feel comfortable with my own kind,” she states, “I don’t know what it’s like to be surrounded by comrades that like me. I’ve just had it the other way around. Guess it’s sort of the same thing though, in a round about way. Still alone, huh?” If half sounds like she is talking to herself, staring down at one paw as she moves it to watch the sand shift around it, half to Tyree.
~Nekela

[Rockpaw Steeleye]

Tyree had not expected nor wanted a lot of sympathy, and the rather cursory "I'm sorry" given by Nekela seemed to be all that he would be getting tonight. He nodded and shrugged, knowing there was little else to be said. His uncle was dead and he had to move on. That was what he told himself every time a death visited his squad. He or she was dead, and it was time to keep moving. Bury the bodies and light a fire in remembrance, but always remember there was no time to dwell. No time to stop. Tyree had always been more focused on his duty, his responsibility, which overtook reason, desire, and ambition. His duty was to the mountain, to live and likely die in its service. More and more, he was finding that was all he had, so he had thrown himself into it with a will. He didn't have a lot of time to decide to go to Southsward and mourn. He had never really mourned before, never having had the time or the need. Taking time off was a foreign concept to him. And what would he find down there except another dead body? He and his uncle Alder had never been that close. A little more alone now indeed.

“Like me?” he asked Nekela with a bit of a scoff. “They trust me, certainly. I trust them. We fight together. Joke together. We’re friends. But do they like me!” He scoffed again, and rolled onto his side. “That’s a matter of opinion.”

He raised a paw into the air, twirling it around frivolously. “I mean look at this! In five minutes, I’ve said more words to you than I would to my friends back in the barracks.” He sighed and rolled onto his back again. “Maybe it’s just that I felt like talkin’ to somebeast who’d just listen. So many these days give advice, and a shoulder to cry on, but I...” He traced a claw in the sand now, drawing random patterns into it. “I just don’t feel like listenin’ sometimes. Know what I mean?”

He looked down as the sand was pushed towards him, and scooted a little closer. They were three feet away from each other now. He reached out and started sculpting, rather out of the blue. Of course, since the sand was dry, it was very hard, but he could still draw lines into it where they could not be raised up.

“Sometimes it’s good to be alone. You get to think. But... sometimes you start wantin’ to run away rather than face things.” He looked up at Nekela and, very uncharacteristically, grinned cheekily. “But you don’t strike me as the runnin’ away type, m’gel. I wonder if goin’ to Southsward would be runnin’ away.”

[Moontouch Icebrink]

He scoots a little closer and she watches him drawing lines and trying to sculpt, pointlessly, the dry sand. She hadn’t answered his previous comments, thinking on them rather than adding her own observations right away, but she still nods just so he could be sure that she is listening. Neke finds herself fighting her own smile when he grins over at her, her forehead crinkled as a slight curl on her muzzle betrays the struggle to her acquaintance.

‘Depends on your definition of running away, I suppose. If you’re talking about a fight, then never, or a vow, most certainly not, but...I have been known to avoid a few things I’ve found most unbearable or difficult. She wants to say it, but barely has the courage to admit it herself.

Her family would be one of them, if you could call them a family; and if they are ‘kin’ then they certainly are the strangest bunch to ever live upon the face of this earth. But before she had taken her leave of them she had grown quite indifferent towards the ones that raised her or those she was raised with. Neke has always known that she didn’t belong, it was quite obvious and if you couldn’t see it then you were blind! Everything about them contradicted, they butted heads constantly and she couldn’t stand the clash. There were secrets, lies, and deceit (mostly about her) and she was tired of standing out, being different and despised by her own kind. The hare finds herself too ashamed, even fearful, for anyone to know about herself because what difference is there...between her and her “family”. So she runs away from both.

“Taking a break from your lifestyle isn’t really running away, Tyree,” she decides out loud. “Everyone needs a breather once in awhile, even a dutiful Long Patrol hare.” She snorts and falls back on the sands with a light whump, ears pointed forward as she stares up at the stars. “I mean, you’ve lived your life honorably, thus far, for others, right? Then why would anyone deny you a little bit of something for yourself? If they can’t give that to you then they aren’t worth serving. And if you can’t give it to yourself..? You have to love yourself before you can love others, as they always say.”

She turns her head with a shrug to look at him. “Did that make sense? I’m a good smart aleck, but wisdom isn’t my forte.” As she says this she lifts a paw up and makes a ‘chatty’ gesture with it, looking more like a duck quacking in panic. The hare doesn’t even notice that she’s lightening up a bit in the Salamandastron warrior’s presence.
~Nekela

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree
Tyree wondered about that for a while, idly drawing in the sand as he processed her words. He didn’t look like he had registered them for a few minutes, wondering about the "break" thing that Nekela had mentioned. He had never really fathomed leaving as a break of any sort. It sounded like running to him. Running away to find solace, to make sure that he didn’t have to face up to the fact that, in reality, he was starting to crack. He had to admit it sooner or later, otherwise he was just going to have a break down. It was inevitable. Anybeast who was looking in from the outside could tell that Tyree was working himself raw and weary. But was he willing to admit that?

Tyree scratches the back of his neck as she outlines why he should reward himself. "Well... I have. I mean, I don't want to sound like I'm trying to blow my own horn, wot. But I do my best... I mean, the mountain deserves it. The Patrol deserves it. It's my duty. My life," he said insistently. "It's... it's all I 'ave nowadays," he admitted in a voice just above a whisper. "You're makin' sense. I just... I don't know what to do with myself outside the Patrol, y'know? It's all I've ever known."
Rockpaw Steeleye: (Done)

Nekela
Nekela stretches unconsciously, her paws above her head and back arched slighty, getting comfortable on the sands. She can understand where he's coming from, sort of. It can be hard, maybe even a little scary, to leave something that you know when you know little else on the outside of it. She had been worried when she left 'home', but she had made it alright once she got used to it. She rolls over on her side facing him, a little closer, propping her head up on a raised paw, elbow sunk into the sand. "Do something enough and you learn to hate it. Eat your favorite food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the rest of your life and it won't be your favorite anymore. That's why you have a little of everything." She grins, pleased with her example. Hares love food, so it should be a good one. "You'd learn. I think you'd enjoy some freedom." (blah)

Tyree
Learn something... learn what, though? Tyree doesn't know. What she says does make sense, though. And a lot of it. Tyree too even turns onto his side, leaning on his elbow as he stares at her. Less than two feet. Barely a foot, now, as he scoots even closer to hear her over the surf, and see her through the growing dark. It's very good to know some companionship. Even if it is with a total stranger. "Freedom," he repeats quietly, tasting the word. He lies down on a small mound of sand like the beach is a giant bed to be slept on. "You look like a free beast, miss Sandrunner," he comments off-paw. "One can only hope you enjoy it. I probably would. Being able to go anywhere without fear of retribution. Learning so many different things besides how to kill. Where have you been?

Nekela
Nekela has almost a full blown smile on her face, enjoying their little conversation and feeling satisfied that she can make some sense for this poor hare, trapped in the prison of his career (that's how she sees it anyway). She rolls her eyes upward thoughtfully, counting on the paw not being leaned on. "Lots of places, I like to travel. Been past redwall a couple times, big place and nice if you like the quiet life. Good food. Was in trouble in Southsward once," and she pauses to giggle, remembering, "North, South, East...first time I've been near your mountain though, believe it or not." She pauses and then offers a shrug in place of the others, "Too many for me to recall all at once. Had some good fun though, tasted good drink and food, interesting conversations, couple good scuffles." Her eas move about in excited hare fashion. (blah)

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree
"Ahh... Redwall," Tyree said with a sigh, smiling widely and looking like he remembered the place. "Never been there," he said simply, breathing in and out on his back, staring up at the stars that were lighting up. So much sky, and this was the only part he had seen. "Sounds like you've led a good life," he murmured. "I've never been farther than the coasts and the flatlands along here," he added. "I was never really given the opportunity to go many places else. Rather ironic given that we're called the Long Patrol and everything," he said with a small smirk. (F)

Nekela
Neke blinks and glances up at the starts, noting that it always seems different every time she looks at it. Then again, that's probably the beauty of it, one of its fascinating features. She's seen a lot of sky, she thinks, maybe more than some will ever see, but it's always soothing to see it over and over. "You already know what I'm gonna suggest," she says, still looking skywards. "Don't think I need to say it again, do I?" (done, blah, sorry)

Tyree
Tyree shrugs, knowing what she'd say. Go and find something to do, go and enjoy life while he still can, go see another star he never has before. It seems good in theory, but... it also seems an awful risk. He's got a lot invested in the moutain. Basically, his entire life revolves around the routine he's set himself in. Get up, do his job, go back to sleep. What'll happen if he breaks that routine? He doesn't know, and isn't sure he wants to find out. He puts his paws on his stomach and twiddles his thumbs. "Southsward is a long way away," he says. And he's just going to go there for a funeral. But perhaps the closure will be good for him. "A very long way. Never traveled alone, either."(F)

Nekela
Nekela is having an argument with herself at that one. 'I know what you're thinking and it's not a good idea! You're going to go from being solo to traveling around with a Long Patrol hare? Let's focus on that last part: Long Patrol hare! Doesn't seem very wise to me. You two are not going to get along, especially if he finds out about you know what.' Nekela almost visibly rolls her eyes, wiggling a paw in her ear as if that would settle the argument. 'Gotta admit he's pretty pitiful though, can't ya? I'd be bored to tears! I'm so glad I didn't get stuck with this sort of life. It'll just be one time.'

It's ironic that she would think about how lucky she is not to be fated to serving Salamandastron when one mere incident had changed what could have been completely. "You making excuses? I'd head along with you just to hear that stop." 'You didn't...' She smirks inwardly. 'I did...' That's the end of that.

Tyree
Tyree blinks at the sudden silence he gets from Nekela, figuring that she had run out of things to say. He knows that nothing really is going to come of this conversation. Everybeast was going to prod him to go and attend his uncle's funeral, he was going to waffle about it fo a few days, and in the end wasn't going to go, Nekela would be gone by then, and everything would go back to normal. Just a momentary, charming pipe dream that he was going to remember for a few days, and then simply forget about sooner or later. But then, when she spoke, he raised his ears and turned his eyes to her. "Really?" he asked, but then quieted down. No, no, she was joking of course. Was she? "Because given all the covering I've done for the more... hm... no, less... competent companions of mine... I've gotten very good at excuses," he said with a small, humorous smile. "I might need somebeast to keep me in line."(F)

Nekela
She gives him a stare that says very well, "does it look like I'm joking" without her ever having to open her mouth, a sort of blank eyed, raised brow, loose mouth sort of look with ears perked forward. But it isn't necessarily one of her bad mood expressions either, the air about her about as easy as it gets. "One, I can probably call you on all of them. And two, I'm very good at keeping other beasts in line." She surveys her claws with mock interest, looking quite pleased and confident about herself Though, that isn't to say that she hasn't needed to be kept in line a time or two herself, heaven's no she wouldn't say that. That would be a lie...and lying is bad. Hah! Neke grins up at him, a darkly mischievious look. "So?" she asks expectantly.

Tyree
Tyree smiles again, looking down into the sand, and not quite sure what to make of what had just passed between them. A total stranger had just suggested that they go off somewhere together, and a female hare at that. The squad back in the barracks would never let him hear the end of that, stoic old Tyree suddenly waltzing off into the sunset with a female. Ha, if only they knew what she was like. Strange, but in a unique way. More mouthy than any other hare he had ever met; usually shrews were like this. Could he do it? Pick it all up and go, if only for a few weeks? "So... I 'ave to warn you... I might be slowed down readin' the bloomin' the map," he said with a waggle of his ears. "Are you willin' to lead the way?"(F)

[Moontouch Icebrink]

“I won’t do nothin’ but lead,” she answers, joking but looking serious enough for it to almost pass as such, unless you know to look for that small spark that is alight in her eye and in her expression. She brushes her black headfur back from her eyes as a small breeze ruffles it down over her view. She’s getting used to the smell of the sea salt in the air and takes a moment to enjoy it before shrugging her slim shoulders. “I’ll get you there, no doubt about that. So you won’t have to worry your little head over it.” She’s wondering how this will go. She is used to flying solo, making her own decisions and going her own way. Neke won’t say that she is all easy about the whole thing, but she had wanted to try it anyway. The female hare complains to herself about being alone, but she never does anything about it. So what does she have to lose? The worst that can happen is that everything will go wrong, she’ll have to spend a few weeks with someone she learns to hate, and or her secret will be revealed after she finally starts to really get used to the company. What’s new? She’s up for it! “The question is, when do you wanna leave?”

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree
Tyree can't believe his good luck! First of all he's got a reason to actually leave, and secondly a companion that'll make him feel guilty and embarrassed if he backs out now. So he's stuck. He's regretting everything all at once, but strangely, he's also feeling enticed by the idea of actually leaving. It's going to be hard, and maybe even a little annoying and dangerous. But will it be worth it? He knows he can't stay here. It's only going to get worse, and he's been able to see it, which makes him more fortunate than most. He looks up to the sky and sighs quietly, glad that she had come. Now he has an excuse. Something to justify to himself why he can leave. She'll be there, she'll prod him on, certainly. His pride is on the line. He can't just say he's not going after all that. He stands up slowly, taking a deep breath. "Tomorrow," he says. "Before I can change my mind. I don't have much to get ready."

Nekela
"Then I'll see you tomorrow, then, Tyree." She doesn't get up from where she is, crossing her arms behind her head and watching him from there. "Just don't ditch me now because I'll be waiting. I don't like the wait too long." She grins and rooches down into the sand, getting comfortable and closing her eyes. "I can be quite scary..." She opens one eye and makes a shooing motion with her paw. "Go on! Get sleep!

Tyree
Tyree does indeed go and get some sleep, though not very much. He was up most of the night, wondering what he had just gotten himself into. This was going to kill him! He had to have been crazy! Why had he agreed to this? To leave everything he knew and just wander off into the unknown with a stranger. To Southsward of all places, one of the farthest countries he could go to to leave him. When he got up that morning, it was almost like the whole conversation had been a dream more than anything else. But he still remembered. He remembered the note that said he was excused from duty, he remembered that Nekela had offered to lead the way. He said his goodbyes to all the hares he had grown up with, and stood at the gates of Salamandastron, looking terrified of the southern horizon. He seems unable or unwilling to take that first step, and looks down at his paws, wondering what he's going to do out there. So much unknown. He hates the unknown. He loves the stability he had here... but it can't sustain him. It's bringing him down. That doesn't make him move, though.

Nekela
Nekela moves quietly through the early morning shadow of the mountain, pleased with how the sand makes her steps effortlessly quiet as she moves towards the entrance of the fortress. She has slept well, no worries disturbing her rest under the stars. Sure, she had to do a thorough dust off of sand after rolling about it in her sleep all night, but it's not enough to bother her now. She's in good spirits. She adjusts the pack on her shoulder and steps out beside Tyree, sharing his gaze southward with a grin. "You don't look so good, Mr. Hare." she observes without looking at him, with her free paw adjusting one of her belts so it hangs around her hips more comfortably. "Didn't sleep well, anyway, huh?" Neke turns her blue peepers on him now, blinking.

Tyree
Tyree looks up at Nekela with a rather forlorn expression. "Nope," he says simply, and stares back out to the path leading away from the moutain. The whole world right in front of him. Southsward is, obviously, south, but with his lack of experience out there, he'd likely get lost somehow and end up in the far north. He sighs and looks back down at his paws, and slowly unbuckles his saber and looks at the scabbard it's contained in. "This is all I know," he says quietly. "I don't know what the world out there is like. I know how to make a camp and lay out a bedroll, but I don't know the first thing about the world around me. So much I've been trained for... and so little I know." He replaces the saber and notices he's still inside the gate. He glances at Nekela out of the corners of his eyes. "I do want to know, though," he says quietly. "I want to go out there. But I've been too afraid. Can you believe that, a Long Patroller afraid of the world he's supposed to campaign in?" He waits for a few more moments in silence. "Well... lead the way," he says with a small smile.

Nekela
Nekela smiles and takes two steps away from the shadow of the mountain, turning around to walk a couple more backwards, one paw slipped under the strap of her pack and the other resting on the hilt of her sword. "One small step and we're on our way," she encourages, grinning from ear to ear triumphantly as he joins her out on the sand, nodding curtly and turning around on her heel to face along the beach. A little ways down, many footprints in the shifting sand later, and she thinks to answer him. "By the way. It's okay to be afraid of the world, everyone is. It's a big place. Just remember what you've learned and have been told, keep alert and stay on your toes. That's the best advice you can get." She nods once and puts an extra bounce in her step for a couple strides, for no reason really except glad to be back underway. "Said your 'so longs' to your pals?"

Tyree
Tyree is a little late in coming. But one step he does take. The first, momentous step out into a wider, scarier, and more interesting world. The first step to maturing and moving on. But take it he does, confidently following Nekela's lead on out, and suddenly he feels much more grateful towards her. He follows along slowly, walking in her steps. "I did," he answers. "They all seemed surprised that I was going anywhere, much less to Southsward. But there's a funeral to attend and sights to see, hmm?" Maybe even a murder to solve. "For some reason it wasn't as hard as I thought. The more I walk, the easier this becomes."

Nekela
Neke continues walking, very aware at all times of her companion behind her. She feels responsible for him, you could say even protective, since he is in her company and she had encouraged him to this point. She glances back at him now and again, one ear turned backwards to be able to listen to him at all times. The female hare feels like a mother trying to keep track of her young and it makes her blush beneath her fur for how silly she feels. She looks back, sky eyes blinking as he comments on how much easier each following step becomes. She nods once, suddenly feeling awkward. She isn't used to chatting while she travels, always being by herself and not thinking favorably about looking crazy to any who might be observing her by getting chatty with herself. She senses herself slipping into the habit and wonders, absently, if she should warn him about her habitual quiet. Neke turns her head to look at him out of the corner of her eye, blinking.

Tyree
Tyree already does seem like a young kit. As they head down the path, through the highlands surrounding Salamandastron, his eyes are alight with new, more curious and seeking light, trying to take in everything he can put his gaze on. Here, there, everywhere, only Nekela ahead of him to provide a solid point for him to rest on again. Why, the rocks and the grass had never seemed all that interesting... but it's dawned on him that he's actually doing it. He's actually on the trip he's had in his heart for a long, long time. It's all actually happening. He's gone. Salamandastron is starting to vanish under the horizon. He catches up to Nekela and smiles. "Have you ever been to Southsward?" he asks quickly.

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree actually saved her by his question, her mind already having started to wander to less light topics, her expression already turned grim and dark. Her companion forces her out of the dank, shadowed corners of her mind and her head snaps back up from where it had been drifting downward towards her footpaws. It’s a force of habit, really, that she always starts to return to the darker points of life as soon as she sets off traveling again. Neke’s eyes don’t light up with the love of life, by all means, but they are brightened to what he is used to. “Once, but I wasn’t there long enough to really see the scenery. I ran into some trouble and couldn’t stick around.”

How was she supposed to know that the ferret lord that she was hired to kill had a brother, one that would seek revenge for the death of his kin? That was the quickest that she ever got out of a region. But, hey! She got paid and she knows the risks before she even takes the job, so she can’t say that she was surprised. Oh, it was scary there for a few days, but nothing she couldn’t handle. And Neke can disappear when she wants to and must have left them guessing for days before they finally gave up.

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree
Tyree waits for several minutes for a more elaborate answer than that. When it's clear that none is forthcoming, he seems to get a little disappointed, his ears drooping from their at-attention posture ever so slightly. When you talk about something you're supposed to explain it. It's the only proper way to do things. He clears his throat and nods. "Ah. Well. l suppose that's as good an answer as any," he mutters, and then quickens the pace a bit. He wants to be in the flatlands by nightfall, to avoid walking through the marshes in the dark. "I understand running into trouble. Heh, but aside from battle, the most trouble I've ever run into were drunken comrades down in the fishing village. Or leaving my weapon unpolished. Old Campion despised seeing unpolished weaponry." He shook his head. "I suppose that's one reason I didn't get out much. My life was... very regimented."
OfMoonTears: Neke senses his disappointment, can note it in the slight droop of his ears. She stares at him for a moment, contemplating whether to elaborate or not. She's not sure the whole truth would make her a very safe hare "maid". Suspicion is not good between traveling companions heading on a dangerous road. She matches his pace unconsciously, blinking and setting her eyes to look at where she's going. "Regimented is not my kind of life. You wouldn't know it, but my mouth gets me in trouble...or I do something that I probably should have looked into first...like in Southsward. But I think I'd rather be hiding from a blood thirsty ferret than being stuck in one place for too long under someone else's thumb." There! A clue! That's all he's getting! He better be happy with it or suffer being unhappy.

Tyree
Tyree raised an eyebrow at Nekela's little slip, realizing that she led a more raucous and rowdy life than even she had let on. Bloodthirsty ferret, eh? He could hardly wait to hear about that one! He smiled behind her back and glanced down at the ground to hide it. "Well, it's not about being under someone's thumb," he clarified. "It's about... It's about making sure that everyone knows where to go and what to do so that when danger threatens, we don't all just run around in a bloomin' panic! It's for safety, wot," he answered, even if it did feel a little hollow. He had gone above and beyond the call of duty, far beyond what was considered just keeping regulations. He had grown into a workaholic. But no reason to mention that now. "Of course... that all only works when you live alongside others," he added in a murmur, remembering Nekela was a loner anyway. She'd never understand.

Nekela
"Never did have much of a controlled life, anyhow," she says, adding to the conversation, "everyone bloomin' panicked, not much loyalty and the order just rotting away." She tilts her head back and looks up at the sky, a pretty blue with the sun shining - a perfect day to start a trek. She shrugs her slender shoulders and sighs, shaking her head and muttering to herself, "Ah well, wouldn't be welcome around that mountain, or anywhere else for that matter." But she doesn't even seem to realize that she's talking. "This'll be good for you though. Everyone needs a bit of fresh air."

Tyree
Fresh air... now there's something Tyree hasn't had in a long, long while. The mountain, she had age. Aged air, aged hares, aged traditions. It wasn't stuffy, but it could get overwhelming to the unintiated, or to those going through a personal crisis like Tyree. He thumbed the handle of his saber, and then compulsively wiped it off. Three times. Make it clean. The rest of the day seemed to pass in silence, with Tyree unable to think of anything, and not being very accustomed to talking on the march, anyway. They found their way to the flatlands as evening fell, with the sun setting, just an orange glow in the sky. It made the grasslands shine like liquid amber. Tyree found himself struck by the sight, glad they were going east before south. The moors and marshes would be terrible to trek through for just them. "Ohh, I never get tired of such sights," he said to himself as they entered the wide grasslands.

Nekela
Nekela had stopped walking, not looking favorably to going any farther and thinking she had found a decently comfortable place to stay for the night. Her pack drops to the ground with a rustle of grass as she flops down on her cotton tail to give her footpaws a rest, sitting them straight out in front of her. She leans back on her elbows, tilting the toes of her long hind paws outward so she can see the glow of the sunset between them. "Yes, very pretty," she agrees with a nod before flopping backward full on her back, arms lounging above her head as she lets her eyes close slightly. (Bah)

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree
Tyree smiles at the female's assent. It was good to know that someone else could appreciate nature like he did... of course, he had not appreciated it very much at all before now. That didn't mean he didn't think it was a grand place to be in. He, however, kept right on walking when Nekela stopped, and went several paces before he noticed that she was no longer beside him. He turned his head and saw her actually lying down, right there on the grass. He slowed to a halt and blinked a few times. The sun hadn't even completely set yet, and she was stopping? Tyree was used to double quick and forced marches, which went well into the night and even beyond. Even regular marches didn't stop this early. "Uhh... pardon?" he asks, hurrying back to her. "We're, ah... we're stopping already?" He glanced back the way they had come. "We aren't even out of sight of the bloomin' mountain!"(F)

Nekela
Neke might have giggled if it were in her nature but she stares up at him with widened blue eyes, tapping her toes together leisurely like some little dibbun. "You're in that much of a hurry?" She gets a quizzical look on her face and looks back at the sky she had been noticing a little while ago. Her ears twitch and she looks back up at him again. She's never in much of a hurry, but she sits up anyway, thinking about whether she wants to listen to him complain about the early rest or to just give in. "We're not in some marching formation, you know. We can stop to smell the roses. You said you like the sunset, didn't you?" She leisurely reaches in her back, easily finding the small pouch she is looking for without looking away from Tyree and pulling out one of the biscuits she had gotten the other day, nibbling at it. (:-P She's not used to traveling with anyone...)

Tyree
Tyree blinks again, taking a few steps forward as if he thinks Nekela is merely joking. "Stop and smell..." He looks around carefully. There's no roses anywhere nearby! Is she trying to toy with him or something? He turns back and puts his paws on his hips, looking highly distressed. She wants to get out out the bedrolls and he's not even tired! "Well, yes, I did say I like the sunset, but we're supposed to enjoy it on the move, m'gel," he says, extending his paws and gesturing down the path as if holding the door for a proper lady. "As in... moving. Marchin'. Thataway." He points to the south. "It's not that I'm in a hurry, it's just... well, it'll take almost a month to get there even if we do hurry! Ahh... mayhap we should've just taken a boat..." He scratches the back of his head and watches her start on a biscuit. He's never been a big eater, unlike the rest of his hare brethren. Purely impolite and improper behavior. "So... we're not movin' then?"

Nekela
Nekela rolls her eyes at him and hops up with little regard for gravity, leaning over to sweep her pack up again. She can't take the complaining and the whining, she'd much rather be on the move and maybe he'd be quiter. She'd rather be weaned off silence than to have her ears chattered off in one go. If he wants tired then he'll have tired. "If you're going to cry about it..." she says with a smirk, ears sticking straight up as she sweeps past him, still munching on her biscuit. "I can do tired." It's not like she hasn't been wearied before. She was already so comfortable too. She'll just find another spot, not too difficult. She'll just make him walk as far as they have to find a new one.

Tyree
Tyree huffs and crosses his arms when Nekela accuses him of whining. "I'm not cryin' about it!" he insists. "I'm just sayin' there needs to be a proper procedure for this kind of thing. You don't just take a fancy stroll for as long as you like, we're tryin' to get somewhere!" Of course, he doesn't know all that much about camping either. Just setting up a tent with others and letting problems be taken care of by the rest of the troop... so he'll be depending on her for the most part as far as finding a good spot way out here in the wilderness. How he longs for the days when he could just command a squad and tell it to drop down and worry about itself! Now he's going to be scrabbling for everything himself. He leads the way, confidently, waiting and watching as the mountain slowly, very, very slowly, begins to get just a teensy bit shorter over the horizon. The march through the grasslands is wide, slow, and beautiful, but Tyree is on a mission. Even when his footpaws begin to get hot and tired, he soldiers, on, determined not to do anything but his best. He has a guest to impress, after all, and he's not going to get shown up by someone not of the Patrol!

Nekela
Neke is ignoring him, or at least making an appearance that she is though she can hear him just fine. She's not used to procedure and schedules and all that, doing things pretty much according to how she wants to do them and rarely rushing around for any demand. But she'll llet him have his point, silently of course with no pride to spare to admit it out loud to him. The hare finishes her biscuit without realizing it, it having been something she was taking her frustrations out on. She's glad she at least noticed before she took a bite out of her paw, lost in her own thoughts. She glances over her shoulder at Tyree. Besides, she can't let him think his patrol can do it any better than she can. "Happy back there" she asks, adjusting her back to a different place on her shoulder. It was a general question, not necessarily about his getting his way with this new section of trek. Out of the corner of her eye she determines the descent of the sun and shrugs. (done)

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree is still walking stoically onward, ignoring the aches and pains that may develop in his footpaws. He's a Long Patroller. He's marched days on end without more than a few halts. He's not going to be outdone by this snarky maiden! He troops on, one step after the other. When she turns back to speak to him, he smiles grimly and soldiers on behind her. "I'm perfectly peachy, wot," he declares. "Couldn't be better. Nope, I could do this all day!" He hefts his traveling pack, starting to notice the weight of his saber and spear by now. But nothing serious. Apparently it's not just about making good time... he's actually looking to show her up! Or impress her, as he would a superior officer. That's kind of what she was out here, being the only one with experience in the wider wolrd. He'll go for as long as she can. "Do you think we'll meet much civilization on the way? Or will it be mostly... wilderness?"
OfMoonTears: (>_> I'm not really sure what is along the way to Southsward...Did you have any ideas? Or any clue as to what sort of terrain they'll be passing through?)
OfMoonTears: (......?)
Rockpaw Steeleye: (Oh! Uh... not much, really.)
OfMoonTears: (hmmm...okay! *starts a reply*)
Rockpaw Steeleye: (If I remember correctly there's thick forests in Southsward, but it's kind of boring before that. We can make stuff up, though)
OfMoonTears: (lol okay. ^_^ Don't have to stick to the rules, huh? ROFL)
Rockpaw Steeleye: (Nope)
OfMoonTears: (:-D)
OfMoonTears: She had looked back so as not to stumble over anything in the gathering gloom, not wanting to look foolish in front of her recruit, which would not due at all for whatever respect she might get though she can't bruise the amount she has for herself either. She's ignoring the weight of her sword and pack for the sake of keeping up a strong and collected front, making a good face of whatever weariness is creeping up on her. "I believe it's pretty much wilderness, but every once in awhile you run into something you don't expect. I'm sure they taught you at that mountain to expect the unexpected, right?" She glances slightly. Neke doesn't think the world of Salamandastron to begin with, to hear that they don't would really tarnish them for her. Oh, the beasts there are probably fine and all, but she still can't stand the stoic and stuffy atmosphere it seems to have, if Tyree is any example. (not done)
Then again, she isn't the prime example of a good time either.

[Moontouch Icebrink]

Tyree
"Expect the..." Tyree murmured. He seemed to be at something of a loss, but then his ears shot up with recognition. "Ah! Yes. I've never heard it in so many words, however. We really try to have all our bases covered afore goin' in, eh, wot? But yes. Yes, there's a fool who doesn't think his plans can go awry." He smiled lightly, glad to know that he was indeed traveling with an experienced, worldly creature like Nekela. It would certainly help if things got rough on the road. The grasslands began to look a little less inviting in the gathering dark, but as the stars and the bright milky celestial lights in the sky began to glow, it got easier and easier to see their way through the land, almost as good as if they had a sun again. However, Tyree called for a halt before the sun began to vanish, not wanting to fumble around in the dark with their packs. He began unfurling his bedroll. "Used to tents and the smell of other beasts' sweat, usually," he remarked. "Refreshin' to have the breeze to myself!"