Sleeper's Seranade (closed)

[DT!]

The quiet Fiorair swaps home to some of the more vicious and secretive prey, predators, and insanities hidden within it's murky waters. The perfect hunting grounds for Reimund to practice his stalking, but for normal people?

To venture too deep would be suicide without a fair amount of people with you. What lurked deep within the swamp were creatures of legends- well, mostly anyways. There were still some normal animals and monsters that lurked deeped in the swamps, but today's hunt was special.

Today's hunt had guests, The Biologist who wanted to get documentation of today's prey and their bodyguard. Reimund, wearing a long sleeved tunic with a scarf and a pair of long boots (which were mostly hidden by the pants) and something that looked like a breathing apparatus held around his neck, looked around to see the sun setting. Yes, that meant it was almost time for the hunt.

The hunt for Morpheus' Pet, the monster that has been said to put people to sleep with its brilliant colors and its wonderful singing voice. It was time to test those rumors. Reimund shrugged as he sat on the bridge in wait.

[thewriter]

Narida's eye twitched once more beneath her mask, Neoku beside her keeping silent. "You realize that if you weren't paying double, you'd be back on the street waiting for me to bring you its head," She reminded him. "You shouldn't be here - your kind don't last long in these forests."

Her long platinum hair was held back in a pony tail, but instead of a leather string she held it back with a great, clean knot. "Where is he, anyways? This creature of yours? You wouldn't tell me any details of location, I'm simply following you!"

A creature lunged out to take the two as lunch, which would have scared the hell out of many, but Narida kept walking coolly, took out her stiletto and sliced its head off clean and easy, re-sheathing it.

"Neoku, wanna grab that to cook for dinner tonight?" she said calmly. Neoku picked it up in his mouth and trotted over to keep walking.

"Anyways, back to details," she insisted.

[DT!]

"Morpheus' Pet," Reimund said still sitting on the bridge looking deep into the swamps continued with whatever details he had. "Or as some people like to call them, Singerbeasts were spotted recently deep in the forest." Beginning to get up he continued. "Our employer said that there was a rather big one in there and whats to document it so that we know the truth about these things." The cold hard face that the Jaeger was mistakenly called heartless for turned towards the masked woman. It wasn't personal, it was just time to get the game face on. "My job is to kill the monster and get to the real work. Your job is to protect our employer enough till they get what they want."

Stretching out his arms a bit he looked around again into the water this time. There were probably amazing creatures deep in that murky and deadly water that no one has seen yet. One day he would find a way to hunt those creatures. One day. "But you probably knew that much."

Looking past the woman his face was in distraught. Their employer really did take their sweet time to get here. New Rule: If their going to come with me they need to be on time. Focusing his sight back on woman and her seemingly tame wolf he knelt down to try to coax over the wolf for a closer look. It was strange to see a wolf so loyal to anybody, but his pack. Naturally, the woman couldn't have been a normal person either though that being neither here nor there at the moment.

"Problem is though I haven't seen the Biologist yet and with him I can't begin my part of the job and you can't start yours." Sighing slightly he looked back up towards the seeming young lady. "I do hope they come faster though. If we waste to much time we won't even be able to see the creature before I kill it."

[thewriter]

That insulted Narida. "Well, when it goes to kill you, me and Neoku will gladly save your ignorant self from defeat," She said coolly, not showing emotion. "Try not to suck your thumb when it makes you fall asleep - and what are you doing to Neoku?"

The wolf looked at the man and growled through the creature he held in his mouth.

[DT!]

"Your companion is a rather unique wolf." He stopped trying to coax the wolf. It wasn't worth having to put it down if both parties started brawling right on the bridge. "And please do not get insulted Miss, but I this is my lifestyle. My next meal and my supplier." That stone cold glare was there ever so vigilantly. "Being Ignorant does not pay those necessities. Neither will being cynical and rather doubtful of my abilities, Miss."

Turning his head slightly in view of the swamp, now having a low, humming song coming from within. Could it be the Singerbeast? "Be ready for everything, Adapt to anything." Holding up the breathing apparatus he looked at the lady again. "Ignorance is a myth when it comes to being a Jaeger."

Footsteps could be heard from behind his rather unwilling parter, but the figure was too dark to tell who or what it was. Did the employer finally come?

[thewriter]

"Miss," She scoffed. "Why do you insist upon calling me 'Miss'? Is it a rich man thing - perhaps, because you are the first in years to address me 'miss' or anything close to it. I've earned myself no respect in the world, yet I ask for none, I kill others and take the forelocks of their hair, yet leave their money and jewels behind for their close ones to distribute, I have honor and morals, yet this job goes everything against it - and here you have the guts to stand here and call a monster such as myself 'Miss'. You have not seen me unmasked, you do not know me, yet you entreat me with a title I hear on women of court."

Neoku sat and began eating the creature himself after Narida nodded to his begging eyes. "I have food rations - you probably miss fresh meat anyways.

Her keen ears picked up the steps long before he did. a small twitch could be seen on them when the strained. "And yes, that is your employer," She told him. "His feet are heavy - is he big, or just wearing something too lavish and burdensome to walk quiet? Either way, how can you expect to draw a creature out in that racket - I heard him long ago, and if i can, so can your sleepy friend."

[DT!]

"Because it's polite to a new face. Please calm yourself a bit. Your job like my job is just that. A Job. An occupation that we happen to be good at." That undieing coldness it was strangely well done. The hooded figure approached at last."Focus on your current job for now though. You can settle the matter on if you're a Miss or a Monster later."

Strangely the employer seemed quite secretive lately, but Reimund quickly found the source of the noise problem. Boots, but even then the rather small employer shouldn't be able to make that much noise. Strange. "Shall we go?"

[thewriter]

"It appears we shall - and my job is not simply a job - it is a necessity," She said quietly, a hand gently scratching Neoku, who recently finished eating the creature.

But she paused. "Did this employer of yours bring anyone with him? Another body guard, perhaps?" She asked, only the slightest hint of urgency in her voice. Her ears twitched. "Because the man in front of me is not the source of the noise."

[DT!]

"Not that I know of." Looking at their employer. Hooded covering her face. A small figure with a rather large bag on her back. Reimund quickly went to the obvious; it was a struggle to hold that thing up. "Heavy bags into the swamps? Not the smartest thing I've seen."

Turning he began walking the length of the bridge towards the entrance into the swamps. From here on out it was war with silence. "From here on out we only have a few hours. Maybe more if we're lucky, but as soon as the sun rises again the Sleeperbeasts will migrate to somewhere new in the world." Looking towards the swamp and stepping into it carefully. "Or at least that's how the rumors go about it." Continuing on the employer really was a quiet one. She hadn't said a word yet, but could clearly be seen struggling with that bag.

This should be an interesting hunt.

[thewriter]

"If I'm supposed to protect you, it won't do you a damn bit of good if you can't run away," Narida told her, taking the bags with ease. "Whatever is in these bags isn't worth your life. I'll take them for now, I can bear heavy weight easily. Also, you may be small but you don't appear to be accustomed to walking in swamps. I could hear you a long ways away and if I can hear you, our target can for sure."

She casually lifted the woman onto Neoku's back. She was small and light, and Neoku was much better with walking on the soft, muddy ground.

"Alright, lead the way, since your the one who's supposed to kill it," she told her partner.

[DT!]

Reimund looked around the path. Newly broken branches on the ground with footprints in the still wet mud from various beings of the swamp, but of course there was always one that stood out. Footprints that looked like giant bird claw prints followed closely by some very colorful feathers. They were definetly on the right path.

"Ms/Mr Employer, you haven't exactly given us any information about yourself?" Reimund asked curiously while continuing to look for more signs of which direction the monster went. "Care to share anything? Maybe a gender? Or what's in the bag."

[thewriter]

"Why do you need to know that information?" Narida asked him. "I'm happy, so long as this beast has some fur I can cut away and pay for a meal and bed when I get home. If she doesn't want to talk, I'm fine with it. By the way, she is a woman, I can tell by how she walked - her hips are too wide and has too small feet and body to be a man."

She heard it again. Those heavy footsteps. She held a hand out to Neoku, signaling him to stop and gently gripped Reimund's shoulder. "There it is again. Those heavy steps, I'd say forty yards behind us." Her ears twitched. "And this is not our target." she turned behind. "Go, take our employer with you. I'll take care of whoever is coming." She handed the bags back to the employer, who was put back on the ground. "For your safety, you must go with him - me and Neoku will take care of who is following."

[DT!]

Reimund answered rather blankly. "I've never had an employer follow me on a hunt before, just wanted to understand why she came along." Picking up a rather large feather of the Sleeperbeast. The color was strangely bright. It had the distinct feeling that it was completely out of place here in the swamp and yet felt exactly in the right spot. Almost directly blending into the background and yet still there. Was it something special about the feathers that he didn't know about?

Finally coming out of his trance like "Oh man I could totally make something kickass with these feathers." state after he heard the large thumps again. Before he could even volunteer to take care of that noise the Miss told him gently that she'll be right back. Assertive woman were hard to come by these days. Quickly picking up the Employer's pack he continued on towards the preverbial scent of the beast.

"This way please, and do keep up. By your information we're on a tight schedule of slaying to keep; though you barely keep to it." Though you probably wouldn't ever notice, but under that shroud the employer wore she was scowling quite hard at Reimund for that last comment.

[thewriter]

"I don't suggest insulting your employer," Narida told him. "Just a warning - last time that happened with my, I only got half my pay."

Then she noticed the feathers.

They really were pretty things - it wa almost like they shone their vibrant colors from under an opaque silver outer layer. They truly were entrancing, even attracting the attention of Neoku, at least for a little while. She picked a few up and put them in her pack. "Miss, I'll escort you to where you must go - it's not safe here," She reminded her employer. "Reimund, I'll send Neoku with you to help bring down the beast. If I need him here again, he'll call. He knows what to do."

She nodded her head, and followed the mistress.

[DT!]

Reimund continued to move on with his new best friend following him. The different footprints they have seen so far are slowly disappearing leaving only their own...and the giant bird ones. More branches were broken and the smell of blood filled the air around him. Yes, they were getting close alright, but by the looks of things the Sleeperbeast didn't care one bit. "Alright, I hope you're ready, Neoku."

Reimund held the Unsung Sword which was still sheated with his left hand. Ready. "Because I don't think it likes anything but itself at all."

[thewriter]

Neoku nodded to him and got in a crouched position, emitting a low growl. He was a beautiful wolf, if not smart for his kind as well as big. He was not the traditional gray or solid black. No, his face and chest was pure white, an auburn blaze down his nose. The rest of his body was auburn as well, save for the tip of his fluffy tail and all four paws. A beast elf rune was in his ear like an earring, held in by some black cord. This told the beast elves that saw him who's companion he was. and his teeth were long and massive things, that could bite the head off a man easily.

either way, he ducked and was ready.

(Might also want to explain what the employer is doing)

[DT!]

Reimund looked around in his general area. It was a little to empty for him even in a swamp and shifting trees with no wind wasn't exactly normal either. Unsheathing his sword he quickly scanned around again. There wasn't anything out of place that he saw, but he could feel it out there. He could feel that the Sleeperbeast was watching him and the pooch. It wasn't a pleasant feeling when the prey was messing with the predator this early in the game.

Meanwhile the Employer was following close behind the Miss. Her silence should've started unnerving any normal person who was next to her and traveling with her at that moment. Sadly the Miss didn't really seem like a normal person at all, but you never know do you? Still her job was to protect and so far the Employer was strangely happy about the fine job she's doing with that. A smile went across her face if one could see it. It meant that she wouldn't have to use her hidden weapon under her cloak for protection, which made her a very happy person. This Beast Elf she hired is really good.

[thewriter]

Neoku nudged Reimund's upper arm with his muzzle, and gestured his head to the east. The darkness of the night sky was fading there. They had to be quick. He then treaded carefully on a more northward trail, out of the bushes and into clear view of the beast. Then, as if uttering a command, he howled. In the silence it would feel mind-shattering. The long, drawn out sound was a whole note, experienced in it's sound. The low, buttery tone carried for miles, And strangely, creatures that paid attention to it came closer to Neoku. The thumps grew louder.

--

The howl could be heard even by Narida and her Employer. She sighed casually. "Don't fret over that miss, Neoku's just drawing out the target. He was born from a pack of wolves that have a deep connection to other beasts, so he's trying to call it out."

Then she heard the footsteps again.

"Behind me, miss," She told her urgently, standing with one arm on the trigger of her loaded crossbow, and the other protectively keeping her Employer out of the way. She then closed her eyes and listened. Whoever decided to follow them was very clumsy in the trees.

[DT!]

((This will be my last post till monday because I won't be around the computer at all.))

"And there it is." The Sleeperbeast came out in its shining state. The colorful feathers of this giant bird seemed to distract Reimund from the fact that this thing was dangerous. It's crest seemed to show that it was the leader of the Sleeperbeasts, but like the feather he picked up before it seemed to fade in and out of view. This was not a good thing. "Ok, split up." Reimund went left, slowly around the beast who of course eyed him with its cold black eyes, it's beak glistening with power as what little sun was left hit it. Yes, this was the beast of legends, but it hasn't done its name sake yet. The song that puts all to sleep, but why?

------

Meanwhile the employer stayed behind Narida. She was actually quite proud at her choice of bodyguards even if the hunter was an asshole, but more pressing issues are happening now. Those thumps weren't something from this forest and she wasn't sure what it was.

[thewriter]

Neoku obeyed, but his body was very tense. Moreso than usual. He sensed what was coming for Narida. All she had to do was whistle, and he'd come. But at the same time, this human needed his help. so he crouched down and growled low in the throat to the beast, his paws digging into the ground under him.

---

Multiple tribesmen came out at once, some throwing knives. Narida kicked them away and fired a bolt that grazed a face. Or, a face hiding behind a mask. From behind the mask, two long ears sprouted.

"Is this...?" she said aloud. Quickly, she threw down the weapon and yelled, "I am princess Ryah Ya'kii of the Wolf Tribe! Bear me no harm!" This was of course, in her native language. You could see a solid pause where the men just stared at her through their masks. Then they took them off to look at her. She did so as well. They saw the Ghost gray eyes and nodded to her.

"What does the Wolf Tribe want with us? They only hide in their villages all day and piss their fires!" one taunted. "We Snake Tribesman don't owe you anything."

"No, but as the heir to the Tribe, you are going to let me and my companion pass in peace," she commanded firmly. "Or there will be hell to pay."

"Where's your wolf?" Another demanded incredulously. The Snake tribe was never trusting, it was a known fact.

"Hunting," she said simply. "He has to eat now and then too, you know. But do not fear, he won't be killing any snakes - he knows better. Now grant us passage." Her hand tightened around Black Ice, picking up the crossbow. They grunted, and with great reluctance, parted.

"Thank you," She said, putting her weapons away calmly and putting her mask back on.

"Don't worry ma'am - you have the rare pleasure of seeing a Beast Elf tribe without getting killed. They'll leave us be, so long as you stay with me, so keep close alright? Now lead on." She spoke with a hasty but still somewhat concerned tone.

Trust a snake and you'll get bit She remembered. If she wasn't royalty, they'd both be dead right now.