Re: !! Shadow of the Mountain

[Shae-Lantern]

He couldn't help but simply laugh at the both of them.. partl because Sol had NO idea just how much time he'd spent with his "cheetah-boy" in slobbering filthy make outs on the couch.. at all.
But that wasn't a necessary detail to bring up... though it did make him blush a light shade of pink.

And then of course Sol gave up her position.. as he had expected.. and he proceeded to move forward and attempt his best to easily jump up onto the horse, which wouldn't be too hard as he wasn't excactly short or unfit. All the while an amused smile playing his expression at Larita's supposed confidence.

"So am I only scary when it's dark then am I? Or in forests.. is that it?" he chuckled and turned his head to raise his brow in her direction. "ooooo scaarryyyy- maybe you should be careful riding with me~"

[Solasta]

Hearing Shae's and Larita's conversation behind her back, she gave a loud, moody exhale as if to signify that she indeed did not care about whatever they were talking about. Forcing her to give up her position on the horse, it was downright shameful. Not to mention said too probably towered over her - a peeve most particular to her own race.

She continued to press forward, ignorant of their squandering. They were probably talking about her, calling her names behind her back. Well, she didn't give a damn, so there! Reassured by her own superiority, her attention turned to the blood trail before them.

She crouched down, swiping up a drop of red with her finger. It was still relatively recent. Assured that she was still on track, she moved on, her long legs taking big strides over the plains. Larita and Shae could catch up whenever they pleased, but she sure didn't mind leaving them behind.

[Larita Marten]

As Solasta got further away, Larita started to panic, but only slightly. She spoke to Shae without turning her head to face him. "No. You've just lost the fear factor for me. Don't be offended, but there's obviously more scary things than you out there." She aimed her chin at the blood and urged the horse into a trot, eager to catch up.

"Hey, Sol! Wait up!" she called. Once the horse had carried Larita and Shae close enough so that they could talk comfortably with Solasta Larita spoke again, her voice shaky. "What is it? What did you find?" Of course it was probably more blood, but Larita asked anyway.

They were coming to the edge of the forest, to the base of the mountains. Larita sincerely hoped that Dolce would be able to make it the whole way. She didn't feel like walking. She tilted her head up, looking at the steady incline of ground before them. "Does the trail go up there?" she said, almost whining, because it obviously did.

[Shae-Lantern]

He gave a small 'heh' and just sat silently, patiently waiting as the horse was catching up to their tall, grumpy friend. Larita could think that if she liked, and indeed it was true.. but it was dumb of her not to fear him- dumb, and of course, excactly what he wanted.
He'd have plenty of time to remind her why she was scared in the first place as well.. but no need for that- for now he'd just.. play dumb.

He rolled his eyes as she asked what Sol had found though, gee he wondered? Apple juice? Free candy?
In some respect he supposed it could be considered a fair question- she may have found something of interest but really..

"You really are nervous, princess... easily damaged fragile thing like you.." he chuckled and gave a small, dark smile, unable to contain it. ".. I would be too.." He looked up the mountainous trail and almost rolled his eyes again.. she was really good at asking obvious questions.

[Solasta]

As she heard calling behind her, she didn't turn her head to acknowledge it. It wasn't worth the mere effort of the gesture. It was only when they approached close enough to her that she bothered to raise her glance towards them. "Jus' more blood," she grunted, rolling her eyes. "At least we're on track." She paused. "Well, I am anyweh. Yo' two are jus' fannyink off or somet'ink."

Actually, she didn't care what they were doing, just that they were chatting... about something. Probably flirting. It failed to stir her interest, and she felt the need to emphasize this fact by twisting her head away sharply, her long tail flicking dismissively behind her.

At her question, she gave a nod. "Ayup! All de way up dere. Yo' scared? I bet yo aare..." she cackled lightly to herself. "But you two 'ave horses to sit on. Lazeh asses." She continued to stride up the sloped ground, expecting the others to keep in pace with her, her head kept high and confident.

[Larita Marten]

"Of course I'm scared! I'm following a trail of blood up a mountain with a couple of idiots!" Despite her words, she continued to keep pace with Solasta, and was just glad that she didn't have to walk up the mountain on her own two feet. "I don't even know why I'm here."

The mountain sloped slowly at first, but then grew steadily taller, steeper and rockier. Dolce was able to keep up with the changing terrain, but even the sturdy horse was breathing heavily from the exercise. Larita leaned forward slightly to make it easier on the beast.

The sky was unusually clear, but it was also much colder in the higher altitude and Larita shivered, wishing that she had worn a heavier jacket. "Hey, how much further are we planning on going? We have no idea where this trail ends."


((I think Leon can rejoin any time ^^))

[Shae-Lantern]

Listening to the two girls not-getting-along was somewhat amusing.. amusing enough to keep him listening to the conversation at least- and not just ignore them both and let his mind wander.
They really didn't get along. And people who don't get along, are amusing. At least to Shae anyway, but it didn't show on his perfectly casual smile.

He did know, however, that he was in neither of their good books.. Which could always be problamatic and annoying- it was always important to try and stay in everyone's better half. Everyone's friend... right, everyone's friend.

Sighing he looked around for inspiration and then noticed that his riding partner seemed to be feeling the weather.. or at least the temperature. It was always funny to he- who didn't feel temperature- to observe its effects on everyone else. Chuckling he decided to use that fact.
"Hmmm.. are you cold princess? Would you like to borrow my jacket?" he raised a brow.. wondering if she'd be to high on this horse to accept...

[Leon Barner]

Leon followed the trail of blood with his eyes in both directions, but it was just mountain on either side. Well, this was why he had wings, wasn't it? For a moment he wondered if he really cared enough to investigate the blood. Then, with an almost frustrated sigh, he decided he had nothing better to do anyway.

Leon took to the air, pulling away from the trail a bit and then rising before making his way back to it at a high altitude. One way, the trail extended deeper into the mountains, and other way it moved to enter the forest.

Coming from the forest, Leon spotted a small caravan. He recognized Larita and another boy he'd met multiple times already, but he couldn't seem to remember his name for more than 3 minutes at a time. The third character reminded him largely of something he'd seen in his spellbook.

Leon assumed they were following the trail of blood as well, which told him it continued into the mountains not back into the woods. He debated whether he should just continue into the mountains himself, or go back and meet the group. After a moment of deliberation, he flew in the direction of the group, gliding to lower himself.

He moved to hover several feet above them, but only looked directly at Larita. He knew the black-haired boy annoyed the hell out of him and didn't want to bother with the girl that looked like a distortion. He tipped his head back to gesture to the mountains in general rather than the blood. "Exploring?" A very slight smirk showed on his face at Larita's obvious discomfort.

[Solasta]

Solasta ignored Shae and Larita's needless little chatter. They were merely jesting - at least, he was - and Solasta doubted their ability to contribute anything that her tiny thread of patience would bother tolerating. Well, Larita's question did recieve a glance though.

"We're here bcause dat harpy wo'mon ruined mah kill! it was de perfect set-up! And we ain't stoppink 'til ah teach 'er a lesson!" she exlaimed, before averting her attention to the path before them. She did notice a bird high in the sky, and-- that was no bird. Baring her teeth as it neared, she posed as if she expected it to strike. The boy was only vaguely familiar, but he did hold a sort of uncanny likeness to the harpy, so Solasta was inclined to be a little suspicious.

"What do yo' want," she demanded, disregarding his inquiry. "If yo' got anyt'ink to do wi dis," her tail gestured towards the trail of blood, "den you got anodda t'ing comink!"

[Larita Marten]

"Why yes, I--" Larita started, about to accept the boy's offer of his own jacket, but was interrupted by the winged shadow that appeared. The girl raised an arm over her face and ducked as much as she could, assuming, of course, that the shadow belonged to the harpy that they were tracking. As soon as Leon landed and Larita was able to get a good look at him, realizing that it wasn't the harpy at all, she straightened her back, and shouted. "What the crap, Leon! You can't just swoop down on people like that!" She reached up a hand and smoothed back some loose strands of hair.

"I'll take that jacket," she said to Shae.
As she waited for Shae to give it to her, she looked back and forth between Solasta and Leon. For a brief moment she hoped that they had been wrong about this whole thing. From a distance she could have easily mistaken Leon for Kale, and he did have a large splash of blood on his shirt that made Larita frown, disgusted. "Is that yours?" she said, pointing to the blotch of red on his stomach.

[Shae-Lantern]

He was slightly alarmed as Leon swooped down, but didn't show it- only blinking slightly as the others argued, accused and scolded each other- honestly this was like watching a comedy or something... at least for Shae it was. And he wasn't even doing anything to stir them up... Free entertainment.

As Larita got back around to accepting his jacket he smirked slightly, he had a feeling she would accept anyone's help, as long as it didn't require effort on her part.
Absent mindedly eyeing Leon's stained shirt he wondered what excactly about it upset miss Princess.. it was just blood, was she squeamish? Oh it'd e just too precious if she was, wonder how she'd react if he told her the amount of blood (other than his own) that had been stained in and washed out of the jacket that he now set about unzipping and removing from his person to hand to her. It was a warm enough garment, not that Shae would know either way. Which was also why he was perfectly happy to take it off even if it left him shirtless- it wasn't like he'd feel any difference with or without it.

He held it out to her with a slightly raised brow, maybe he should have let her suffer.. it'd be funny to watch and doing this for her would only stoke her princess attitude but, he had needed to get back into her good books after all.

[Leon Barner]

Leon did his best to understand what the purple monster was saying, without actually having to listen to her. Harpy woman? Kale. It made sense. He laughed a bit at Larita's reaction to him. She had the best reactions. He didn't have to try.

"Says who?" He asked, entirely disregarding Solasta's threats... or just Solasta in general. What sort of dialect was that anyway? At Larita's next question, Leon looked down at his windbreaker, pulling on the bottom to hold it taut so he could see the stain better. Then he gave a shrug. "No, but I'd like to find out who's it is." He looked behind him to the continuing trail of blood. "Did she kill someone? It's a lot of blood."

Leon made off to sound a bit more concerned than he really was. Really though, as long as it wasn't anybody he could actually tolerate, he didn't care.

[Solasta]

When Larita drew attention to the red stain, he gaze lowered towards it. Admittedly, she hadn't noticed it before, but blood wasn't an entirely uncommon sight for her. It was all too easy to bat an eyelid over it.

She didn't take too kindly to being disregarded. People just didn't ignore her like that. In fact, she felt her very presence demanded attention, and that was exactly the way she liked it. "Whadd'ya T'INK," she barked at Leon's redundant comments - Larita had already blurted that dumb question before. She tossed her hand up as if the matter was far too obvious to discuss before folding both of her arms, twisting her back forwards them, a grudge steadily brewing within her.

She'd already arrived at the conclusion that this would probably a dangerous trip - not that the danger deterred her, though. But it did set up the perfect scenario. The moment those two - three, now - cried for her help, she was going to sit back and watch the show. They'd reach their tiny, pathetic human limbs towards her, moaning in despair, eyes begging for mercy... She'd look down, and she'd whisper.. 'No'. It played so well in her head. She couldn't see anything wrong with it.

Finally, she summoned the will to toss a glance over her shoulder towards them. "Are yo' goink to spend all day chit-chattink about it rather dan," she flicked her tail towards the mountains, "findink out?"

[Larita Marten]

Larita accepted the jacket with a huff. She pulled it on over her arms, apparently ignoring any exchange that might be going on between the rest of the group. Once the jacket was on, she pulled her bun out from under the collar and straightened her arms to make sure it was an alright fit. She frowned as she did this, the jacket not being quite up to her usual standards. The truth is that even if it was up to her standards as far as price or brand, she still would have made the face, since it wasn't hers.

"Yeah, that's what we're doing," she said to Leon, sighing again as she took another look at the mountain that they were planning on climbing up.

"Maybe she didn't kill anyone," Larita said, not really believing herself as she said it. "Maybe she's hurt or something." But it was an awful lot of blood for the harpy to be hurt and still flying. This didn't occur to Larita.

She urged the horse forward once more, and he grunted in response. "We're coming, we're coming," she said to Solasta, her voice obviously annoyed. "I don't know why you're in such a rush if we might get killed or something. Not like one of our own teachers would attack us." She hesitates and looks back and forth between the other members of the party. "Right?"

[Shae-Lantern]

He sighed, yet again resisting the urge to roll his eyes and shrugged as he looked at his two knives- now held in his hands- wondering where to put them with his lack of sleeves... pockets, perhaps?
It'd be a bother to simply carry them and he wished he;d thought about it sooner.

"Reaally princess.." he said offhandedly, studying one of the blades with something of fascination on his face. Oh how beautiful it looked dripping bright red... how deliciously perfect the scarlet drops appeared, running down that razor sharp edge. He made himself stop this process of thought, not because it was uncommon for him or that he found it disturbing to think such things.. purely because he didn't want to get himself wound up and then be disappointed- as far as he knew those blades would stay clean. Pity. "I'm suure they wouldn't and besides.. I said I'd protect you, didn't I?" he raised a brow, knowing this obviously didn't- judging from her previous reaction- comfort her...

He shrugged again, pleasant smile back in place as he lowered the knife.. even though he had nothing to do but hold it.

[Leon Barner]

Leon didn't even bother trying to pick out the important points of Solasta's latest comments. For all he cared, there were no important points. He didn't even give her the courtesy of looking her with his peripheral vision. Maybe when she learned how to talk...

Leon resisted the urge to laugh at Larita's vain hope. "First off, Kale isn't the type to be easily hurt. Second, I would put it past any of the teachers, least of all Kale, to attack anyone. And third, we're not going to die." After this he pretended to think then gave a light shrug. "At least, I'm not going to die. I wish you luck though." Leon chuckled, feeling slightly more jovial than he normally did, despite the fact they were currently following a blood trail of unknown origin.

Leon lifted his head a bit to meet Shae's eyes. "I'd rather nobody died today though, so don't try leading her into a false sense of security." He was well aware that Shae's words were in no way meant to provide a sense of security. Their methods conflicted. Leon found the direct approach to be much more entertaining around Larita though. Blunt honesty had always been his favorite.

Leon gave another shrug and lifted his wings some. "But I guess the monsters right." Evidently, he'd figured out what Solasta had said based on Larita's response, or maybe he'd just been listening after all. "Might as well get a move on."

[-NPC]

The drops of red where scattered over leaves and the ground, a plain trail for one to follow. They lead up a ways in to the mountain over light grey rocks as grass thinned. The mountains were not exactly prepared for travelers, but there appeared a decently cleared area that could be traversed, if one went around the odd boulder here and there.

Off in the distance, the silhouette of the harpy could be seen circling through the tree branches. She descended sharply, dipping out of sight amount the peaks not too far off from the traveling party's current location. There was a moment of silence before a there was a bang from that general direction that echoed out. It was quiet enough that it would not have been heard from the castle or the castle's grounds, but from the edges of the mountains, there was a discernible thud. It sounded as if a large rock might have fallen off the side of one of the mountains into the valley below.

[Solasta]

Solasta couldn't hold back the rolling of her eyes as her room-mate started spewing more silly questions. Usually, she would've flipped out, but she was almost getting used to her idiocy after being forced to share her company.

Leon's logical answers were met with an impatient huff. Hadn't he heard her? All this chit chat was giving her an imaginary headache, which she'd raise her hand to her forehead to soothe. What made him so certain anyway? And this 'getting a move on' wasn't quick enough for her standards.

It was a smaller voice that eventually set off her nerves though. Unable to contain her inevitable rage any longer, she whipped around, and pointed an accusative finger in Shae's face. "If yo' call 'er 'princess' WAN MORE TIME den I'm ganna fekkink SKIN YA!" she screeched. "I'm ganna paint de walls wi' yo'---!"

She was suddenly cut off by a thud in the distance. She paused, glancing over her shoulder into the distance from where the noise originated.

"Di' 'eck was dat."

[Larita Marten]

"Ah" Larita shouted at the sudden noise. Before that she had been smirking as she enjoyed the change of direction in Solasta's anger, which so often seemed to be aimed at her. Though she still had no idea why. Then there was a shadow, something in the sky that caught the girl's attention. She wasn't sure if it was something she should point out, but before she could, that noise came and changed everything.

"I saw her!" she continued, her arm reaching up to the point in the sky where she had most recently seen the harpy's silhouette. "Did you see that??" Her voice was high and panicked, but she choked it back, clearing her throat and lowering her hand. Still staring at the sky, Larita's eyes narrowed. She was nervous, her heartbeat picking up pace. Yet, she felt an irrational curiosity.

"That's it. Let's get up there already and see exactly what that woman is up to." She kicked Dolce, who had remained suspiciously calm despite the noise. Larita guessed there was something good about the massive draft after all. But at her kick, he jumped forward, picking his pace up to an awkward, uphill trot as they continued their ascent up the mountain.

[Valentin]

Something wasn't right. Readjusting the one remaining strap of his old worn and patched napsack were it bit heavily into his shoulder, Valentin frowned up at the mountain's monstrous trees. It was his turn to venture up the mountain, wasn't it? He was certain it was even though he'd spotted a bird on his way out, a large one. He hadn't gotten a good look and decided not to think too much of it. He'd even brought some additions and tools to busy himself with while he rested and regained his stamina before venturing back to the castle. But this...

The pungent reek of blood made him sniff awkwardly in disgust and he burried his nose for a moment into the sleeve over his wrist with a wince. He thought he'd smelled blood earlier, and had brushed it off as most likely being from some wold wolf's recent kill. But it was stronger here, and he was sure he should have left the scene of the hunt far behind a while ago. There was obviously a trail, and it spanned quite a distance. Even less assuring was that fact that he found himself growing closer to the trail the nearer he got to his destination.

A sudden and thundering bang yanked the faun from his reverie and he jumped despite himself. He stared with open concern in the direction of the noise and hurried forwards. He only got a couple feet before he pulled up short again and hastily pressed his back into the rough surface of a large boulder. People? Who was here, and why? He narrowed his eyes suspiciously and fanned his ears towards the conversation.

...saw her! ...get up there already and see exactly what that woman is up to...

Valentin's eyes grew wide before narrowing with suspicion and anxiety. Several possible senarios fabricated in his mind, and it didn't help that he had a knack for expecting the worst. Could Kale have come this way? Was she injured? Nothing about this blood smelled like the harpy to Valentin but could he be certain? One thing he was certain of... This small gang shouldn't be here.

With a steadying breath to calm his nerves, he did what he felt he had to, and hurried out from behind the boulder to face the other students. Hopping over some wild heath that nearly tripped him, the faun skidded to an awkard halt directly in the horse's path with his arms stretched out dramatically on either side like a road block. His eyes darted nervously around at everyone, not sure what to do now that he'd jumped into his plan before really devising it.


(( I finally get to join! /o/ DA DA DUUUM~ THE PLOT THICKENS >3> ))

[Shae-Lantern]

Shae had been rather enjoying the disorganization and discontent. And despite himself his face had split into a huge grin as Solasta snapped in his direction- patronizing response at the ready- but then the attention of everyone was distracted, pulled away by a loud bang.

His head turning sharply he strained to try and see something.. but he didn't see anything and they narrowed.
Not really like he had much time to be cynical- or even to make a remark or give opinion before Larita began urging the horse forwards, and he was of course taken with it.

And then of course, out of no where as the course of events seemed to happen so fast- their path was suddenly dead-ended by the abrupt intrusion of someone he vaguely recognized- not that he had time to consider who it was. Not having much experience with horses and as such being unsure of how the creature would react, or wanting a head on collision to occur- it was much less funny when he himself was involved- he lurched forward his arms either side of Larita slim form in an attempt to grab the reins and either bring the beast to a halt or at least avert their direction from the faun. It wasn't an action he thought about or considered- it was just impulse.

((not sure if I got my facts straight here- correct me if I've mucked something up and I can change it ^^;))

[Leon Barner]

Solasta's words had lost any meaning in Leon's ears. He didn't even know who she was talking to right now, but he told himself he'd simply filter her voice in general so he wouldn't have to listen to her anymore.

Leon looked up quickly at the sound, spotting the harpy's silhouette. So it was Kale. Not that any part of him had denied it, but he was glad to have confirmed it himself. At least, it looked like it could have been Kale. As Larita seemed to find her nerve to continue, Leon gave a few quick flaps of his wings to get himself into the air. Once he was a fair altitude, he directed his wings to first fly back the way Larita and the other had come. Then he made a wide turn to continue following the blood trail.

When he looked down, however, he saw the "road-block" that was Valentin. A looked of bored frustration crossed his face, and Leon considered simply continuing on anyway, without the others, if anything because he was simply too lazy to actually make himself stop his flight. A thought hit him that this may have had something to do with the vial Pingo was looking for, but he didn't dwell on it long.

With an almost silent sigh, Leon lowered himself again and landed lightly beside Dolce. He crossed his arms in front of him and, though he didn't say anything verbally, his expression said something along the lines of "this had better be good."

[Larita Marten]

Larita had been so determined that she was not in a position or state of mind to stop the horse. She just stared wide-eyed as the sudden obstacle jumped in their path and it seemed as if they would run him over. Luckily, Shae thought faster than she did and the reins were pulled. The horse, a living thinking being himself, did not have any particular desire to run the faun over, and gladly complied with the command. He veered first. Then his knees locked, bringing the massive body to a halt just to the right of the faun. Luckily, the upward climb had kept the horse from travelling all the fast to begin with.

The horse whinnied lightly and shook his head, then began to look around as if he wasn't sure that anything had happened at all. Larita, however, had been thrown forward by the abrupt stop, her body falling against the neck of the horse. She grabbed tightly onto the mane to hold herself steady. But once she was sure that she wasn't going to fall, her head spun quickly to the side, eyes narrowed in the direction of the faun, who she only slightly remembered from their one and only meeting.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" she shouted. She was more consumed by anger and a worry for her own life and well-being than any curiosity as to why Valentin was there in the first place.

[Solasta]

In a rare moment, Solasta found herself agreeing with Larita's proposal of checking things out. However, what could be seen as any possible bond of friendship was instantly ruptured Solasta's general annoyance of her urging the horse forwards without her. She hastily strode after them, a determination to regain her position in the lead.

This changed, however, when a new obstacle appeared in their path. Her eyes focused on this new figure, and it only took her moments to realise that it really wasn't much of a threat at all.

She strutted forward. Yes, Larita had already yelled at him... but so to speak, yelling was her duty, no matter what her room-mate thought. She came to a stop before him, before seemingly clearing her throat. "Move out de way!" she demanded, her voice loud and grating.

[Valentin]

With his arm maintaining their positions jutted out to either side, Valentin merely scrunched his nose bravely in the face of certain death delivered by the great and lumberous horse. Of course, that isn't what happened and he almost wished it had when very suddenly he was the center of aggravated attention. Both ears plummeted guiltily when Larita shouted at him but it was the tall purple one directing herself to tower menacingly before him that actually made him cower a little, courage fleeing him in the wake of her shadow. He swallowed thickly and gaped a moment before mentally beating into himself why this was so important. His ears swiveled to pin back sharply, abandoning submissive for stubborn.

The faun took a brief moment to survey the gang, finding himself somewhat familiar with a few. Wings, one had wings. He would not be able to stop him easily if he simply decided to fly off. And Shae, who he recognized, had yet to say anything that gave away his reaction to this interruption. It looked like his best bet was just to stall them for as long as possible, or very hopefully try and convince them this journey was fruitless. Or dangerous. It wasn't much of a plan. In fact, he still felt entirely plan-less, but he had to roll with something.

Deciding he had delayed long enough, his gaze snapped back to Solasta with a small sneer. "I can't responsibly allow you to continue! I just came from that way, you really don't want to be headed up there. There's all kinds of.. rock slides. Happening that way right now. Didn't you hear the last one? It was huge! You'll all get crushed, I'm sure of it!" His hands he lowered a little at some point and he used one now to gesture animatedly at the scenery over his shoulder. He shook his head seriously and frowned. "Nah, stupid to go up there." He crossed his arms confidently over his chest.

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