Asta smirks as she communicates with Strawberry Deathstrike, clearly more amused than irked.
Seraph smiles at Asta's comment and winks at Marten. "I'll get you alone eventually~"
She turns her attention to Svetlana and her features soften, she hoped Svetlana had many children because she would make a great Mother. She smiled warmly and briefly looked down at her empty soup bowl before saying to her. "Bless your heart Svetlana, I will make sure Elaina and I get plenty of rest so don't worry a moment. Have to admit though I will miss this stew so expect me back for another! You should seriously consider starting a full on Inn my dear, it would be the talk of the River Kingdoms~" She smiles more broadly as she includes Oleg into the conversation. "Or are Oleg and you planning for a large family, maybe five or six children eh?" She holds back her chuckle, she really liked this place, the people she traveled with now. Even Torod, who's dour attitude she hoped to change.
After she recovered from calling him a.... Nevermind.
"With that..."
She rises to her feet then, taking up her helm and strapping it on once more. Her horns jutted out as designed and made her look like some Ulfen who got lost somehow. She smiles widely at Elaina as she speaks confidently.
"... I hope you ate hearty Elaina because today we have a rough ride my dear, especially as I plan to beat this sorry bunch to the Sootscale's. Loser's has to do something interesting~"
"If you're picking what the loser has to do then let's get out of here. I'm sure that it'll be suitably embarrassing and entertaining." She says with a smile, a real one this time. In less than five minutes she has her horse saddled and her gear ready to go.
"Right, then," Asta says. She gently dabs her mouth with her napkin, puts it down and rises, holding out a hand to Marten. "Let's get going. Time to move the troops out."
Strawberry seems very put out when Elaina stops rubbing her. She gets off and pads off.
Seraph enjoys the more chipper Elaina and as their saddling up their horse she can't help but chuckle. "We better ride quick, who knows they may make us where a dress..."
Julias bobs his head from side in a disapproving manner as she tightens the last belt. After they clear the gates she makes sure to glide past Torods camp and shouts. "Good luck and hope ya beat us there Torod. I'd hate to see you in a dress~" She chuckles as she rides off with Julias then allowing time for Elaina to bid her fellows goodbye.
"Farewell and safe travels!" is all Elaina says before riding after Seraph and laughing at the thought of someone as stuffy and conservative as Torod in a dress.
Once they were good and away from the fort Seraph slowed to a brisk trot as she got alongside Elaina. Her once playful and happy expression was replaced by a more serious look as she spoke. "So aside from trying to downplay your bad dream, which is fine. I regret to tell you something of grim interest. I too suffered a vivid dream last night, enough it shocked me to awake. Shall we wait to camp before discussing it more?" Seraph wasn't mad, just worried. She was hoping it was nothing more than a coincidence.
"Have a safe journey, girls. I must say I am almost glad, I am not the one riding with you, Seraph." Marten smiles.
Then he takes Asta's offered hand. "I am afraid we have to settle with talking about magic, my braiding skills are somewhat undeveloped." I am not sure staying with the main group is much safer now.
"War first, Sir Mikmek, fine dining later," Asta gently tells the Kobold. She turns to Oleg. "Are the troops ready to march? We should leave. If they balk, tell them they'll all be in skirts and mascara for the push if Seraph gets to the meeting-point first."
Once they were good and away from the fort Seraph slowed to a brisk trot as she got alongside Elaina. Her once playful and happy expression was replaced by a more serious look as she spoke. "So aside from trying to downplay your bad dream, which is fine. I regret to tell you something of grim interest. I too suffered a vivid dream last night, enough it shocked me to awake. Shall we wait to camp before discussing it more?" Seraph wasn't mad, just worried. She was hoping it was nothing more than a coincidence.
"Vivid?" Elaina asks before shuddering in fear as the memories wellup in her mind.
"Do you remember what I said about how I wound up in the company of bandits?"
EARLIER
"Worry not Mikmek. We will get you some moon radishes~"
__________________________________________
Seraph nods before replying. "Yes and I told you of my battle with the ogre yes?" She was very serious now, speaking of that horrible day wasn't easy for her.
"You fought a WHAT?!" Elaina squeaks out. From the way her eyes widen and how slack her jaw is, Seraph apparently hadn't told her.
She taps the large blade with one hand. "Perhaps you were absent then... But it was in that fight that I obtained this sword. However... I lost that fight initially..."
Elaina looks at Seraph in stunned silence, but the horrified look in her eyes give away what's going on behind them. She has heard of ogres before, and she has heard of the horrible things they do to those that fall into their hands.
"I was lucky to have survived. However I didn't unscathed... I won't give you details but I am thankful that no one else suffered that day. I went there that day with an old farmer named Oakheart and my faithful horse Molly. The ogre killed Molly and nearly killed Oakheart and myself, after it tired of hurting me I broke free and... did what I had to do..." She was quiet for a time before speaking again, somewhat quieter than before. "I don't remember what I did, how I won, only coming to my senses after the Ogre was good and dead, its blood was all over me, especially the bites of skull that were on my hands. After that the people were afraid, I burned Molly and never went back..."
"I used to believe that it took a monster to kill a monster. At times I still do but my Mother taught me differently. However ever since that day the Ogre returns from time to time to haunt me, its not a memory I like reliving but thankfully its only in my sleep. Last night it was much worse... The level of violence and fear were on another level this time."
She shakes it off for now and taps Julias into a faster gallop. "Sorry, enough of my worrisome thoughts, lets reach the Fey's forest and beat them to the tribes den." She smiles lightly at the thought of their victory. "Oh the things I want to do if they lose. But if we lose that mean's Torod might pick our punishment. That is a nightmare in itself..."
"I suggest we leave the potion-maker to his own affairs," Asta says to the Marten. "I doubt he'd be interested in joining a battle... Or that he would be more useful than having clerics on our side."
Torod tries to avoid Aston and Martin. He keeps well ahead of them unless they make effort to catch up to him and he goes as he's planned.
"It is your call. I have not met him yet, so I have no idea about his capabilities. Or lack thereof" Marten nods.
Then he looks at Torod "Surly, isn't he? How long do you think that will last?"
Seraph smirks as Elaina walks right into an embarrassing moment~ "Remember, the winner gets to choose, so he could have you wear something revealing. It seemed like he fancied you and Asta~" She smirks at the coming reaction from Elaina.
Arriving at the radish patch she takes a look around...
"So we just take as many as we need to eh?" Seraph was a bit lost as to what to do exactly for a moment before finally shrugging her shoulders.
"Time to snatch some up, some for Mikmek and some for Svetlana's stew~ Right?"
"Nononono! He is not going to dress me like some prissy, spoiled noble's daughter! C'mon Maks! I hope your ready to run." Elaina spurs her horse on and Seraph sees that her face is a color red that only people with pale skin see to ever turn.
At the Radish patch, she laughs and shakes her head.
"You need to make sure you get the ones that are ready to be picked. And if I could find one, I'd show you what to look for."
Torod stops to see Bokken. What does he have in his supply?
"It'll last until something knocks it out of his system for him," Asta grumbles. "Tch. We might as well see if he wants to join us for dinner and camp along the rest of us, if only for security reasons. Would you mind asking him? He's less huffy about you of late."
Marten nods and approches Torod.
"Will you join us for dinner and camping? The wilderness looks calm around here, but one can never be sure about wandering dangers."
"Of course I will." Torod answers in his surly way.
When the time comes, Torod helps set camp as always. He left Girty at the trading post, so he doesn't have his tea. He doesn't have his tent with him either, but he gets comfortable in his blanket and turns away from the others.
Strawberry spends some time prowling around the camp area before settling down close to Torod.
Seeing as the too were able to hide like cheeky rogues Seraph had to consider for a long moment on as to how they were going to either. Draw them out or attract their attention if they weren't nearby...
After a long moment she smiled broadly at Elaina as a silly thought entered her mind.
"I think I have an idea as to how to attract their attention. We can either try some friendly boobytraps or we could play tag..." Her tail swishes back and forth for a moment before she adds. "However that could attract some unwanted guests I think too. Not sure its a toss up but I think tag and some laughter would get their attention."
Torod purchases the Potion of Invisibility and Potion of Bull's Strength.
Seraph planned to make it a genuine game of tag, however she couldn't go unarmed. She chuckles at Elainas reply and nods in agreement before dismounting. She secures Julias to a strong branch before sneaking back over and tapping Elaina on the leg. "Your it then!" She laughs and scrambles to get some distance between her and Elaina but she tries to always keep the horses in sight.
She manages to get her fingers under Seraph's armor and tickle the back of her neck before rushing by.
"TAG! You're it!" she shouts in triumph.
Elaina's earlier tagging success had literally caused an electric shock to Seraph. She didn't realize she was that ticklish and had enjoyed the game greatly.
The eggs made her chuckle. "At least someone noticed~" She smirks as she puts forth her fist. "Rock, Paper, Scissors for who is the red cape Elaina."
Elaina grins in delight as she wins the Rock, Paper, Scissors game to determine who got the cloak.
"Looks like your it!" she giggles and snatches up the cloak, hastily putting it on and putting some distance between her and Seraph. She sees a hollow in the roots of a tree, and her eeys light up as she has an idea.
Elaina was gone...
"Shi... She is a ranger after all... This got a lot more interesting!"
With egg in hand she tried to locate Elaina but she wasn't having much luck, she stumbles over a tree root but somehow manages not to break any eggs as she chuckles at her misfortune. Never thought rangers would be so elusive in a Red cloak...
So much for the ambush.
She scurries out of her hiding place and rushes for some new cover, hoping to still get the drop on her egg-toting friend.
:KER~SPLAT!: The impact was right on target, a surprise for the less then dexterous Seraph. Who couldn't help but scoff at how perfect the shot had been, the egg had broken apart on the back of Elaina's neck.
Seraph shuddered just trying to imagine the slimy feeling Elaina had to be experiancing. "Guess its my turn~" She chuckled quietly...