April Rosevolt
The therian army had been delayed a few days after the initial surprise assault. As a precautionary measure they’d swiftly relocated their camp to avoid the hybrids. After that, more time had to be dedicated to the tending of their wounded, further halting their progress. Fortunately they had the miraculous healing powers of Touya to rely on, which greatly advanced the process. Arriving at the agreed meeting place two days later, their congregation split up to avoid suspicion on the roadways. Concealing an army’s advance to a city was no small task and hardly subtle in any respect. Even if they evaded roadways, there were an abundance of Altheim’s scouts waiting elsewhere.
April was far from calm as she trudged alongside their group, hefting a backpack near the entire size of her body with apparent ease. Her hands had remained firmly located over the hilt of her weapons ever since they’d crossed over the borders into Altheim. She was anxious and tired from worry. At any point she almost expected to see the hybrids closing in behind them, tying the noose as they say.
Quite the opposite, bobbing through the crowds came the distinctly fair features of one particularly vexatious fire mage. She’d almost failed to register his presence before the mercenary had his arms spread over her shoulders in a friendly hug.
“Damea!” she gasped by way of greeting.
"So nice to see you again," he beamed, absolutely thrilled to see them safe. Apparently his time away from them had done nothing to dull the man’s endless vigor. Rather than Damea, April found Touya’s reaction most disconcerting. The therian was noticeably on edge as he regarded his friend coldly, or at least initially before recognizing him. Had the man been anyone else April was certain he would’ve lashed out. She couldn’t blame him for feeling that way either, the constant threat of hybrids had taken its toll on them all.
"And you haven't gotten any calmer it seems either," Damea commented, clearly noticing this also.
”Nor have you grown up any," came the therian’s scything remark. She expected him to warm up to the man like usual but oddly, the distance remained.
Damea showed him a smile regardless, apparently unhurt by the constant display of austerity. "I think you should lighten up a bit. Would do you some good."
On that part she could agree a little. She understood that everyone had their personal way of dealing with war, being a Lieutenant exposed her to all sorts, but the line between order and self-destruction did exist. Sometimes crossing that line could drive men to gamble and fall into debt with the wrong kind of people, sometimes their behavior became erratic. Watching Touya, she began to wonder whether or not the war had pushed him towards that edge once too many.
"A little tact on your part would help that childish mannerism of yours."
“We could all stand to lighten up a little. Circumstances notwithstanding,” April interjected.
With their reunion completed, it was time to get down to business, starting with informing Damea of what happened. Apart from the mercenary, April also noticed a few individuals rising out of some nearby brush to meet them. Standing out most was Miles Riverbend, the tall, infamous soldier of the Beastmen Wars. It was almost impossible to tell what his stake in all of this was. April was honestly shocked that they’d let the man out at all for he could be spotted from miles away. Almost matching his presence but not quite was a red-headed woman wearing a black greatcoat. She caught glimpses of dark velvet out from underneath her slightly tilted peak cap as the woman paced casually just a step behind Miles. Abigail had an attitude and aura of capability all of her own, but unlike Miles, was far from strict. There was one key figure missing from the group that April was glad to note, Reginald.
“Here comes the brigade,” April murmured to Touya and Damea who’d just concluded their own little conversation. The two had agreed to resting for the time being, Damea even offering his assistance should they need it, though April had no idea what purpose the mercenary would prove useful in other than being a salary man. Fresh from their wait however, Reginald and his compatriots were obviously eager to commence.
“Touya,” Miles nodded. Abigail immediately followed up behind him by saying, “Are your leaders available to speak? We have much to discuss and little time. As you can imagine, this location isn’t particularly ideal for long term dwelling.”
She gestured to the rather horribly exposed, open fields which they currently resided on with a wave of her hand and smirked slightly. “I know you’re tired, but if we don’t figure this out now you won’t have the luxury of being tired later.”