Secluded Woods

When the woman started to read out of a small book, a cold shiver ran down Alexis's spine. This was not the type of magic he was used to. He was not quite sure what to expect, and (when it came to magic) that was never good. But when nothing happened, a sense of relief came over him. He let out a breath and looked at the woman, "I wonder what that was." he said absentmindedly, thinking she could not understand him. when the green-haired man walked up and spoke perfect German, he was confused for a few moments before he understood. "Oh. That is what is was for. How odd." he paused for a moment thinking, then spoke again. "God's Blessings," he said to the woman who used the magic a moment ago. "I am called Alexis Jaeger. are you the one who posted this notice in the woods?" he pulled out the paper from his belt and unrolled it, showing it to her.

Aero stared at the man who wasn't able to speak his language. "What the....? How can you speak in our language so fluently in a short amount of time?" He was confused. Was it the Thu'um that Arci had chanted? Aero stared at the man again. "So you're name is Alexis Jaeger? Where do you come from?" He had a lot of questions to ask....

Cassandra slooked at Aero.
"Woah, don't flog him with questions just yet. You may not realise this yet but he hasn't understood a word we've said and he needs to catch up with us." She looked to Alexis. "Hello, Alexis. I am Cassandra and this is Arci. This camp is our home, and I am the Ranger. She's the Mage. I'll be teaching these two-" She indicated Valina and Aero, "-the way of Rangers."

Arci nodded.
"And I'll be your teacher, teaching you the way of magic. And, if you're up to it, the Way of the Voice."

He felt rather uneasy as she said that she would be teaching him magic. "My apologies, but the last time I was told that I would be learning magic, I was less 'Taught' than I was 'Experimented on.' He said quietly as he rubbed his hammers nervously. "I would appreciate some elaboration."

Arci smiled.
"Oh, don't worry about me experimenting on you! I would never. You see, you and two others will become my students," She put emphasis on the word, "not 'subjects'. You were brought here by the poster for a reason. I also enchanted them not only to bring you here if you had the intent, known or not, but also for us to know automatically which would become ours or the others upon seeing you. I can automatically know you're my student."

Cassandra smiled weakly.
"I normally don't put myself in with all of this magic, but this was very helpful on my part. She tells the truth." Then she looked at her two apprentices. "Well. Do you two want to start knife training tomorrow or today after lunch? We'll be going into the cavern complex sometime this week, and I thought you two should know all about it... Well, all we know. And that's not much." She handed them a leather satchel that contained a small journal and three maps on the inside. "Study that whenever. And another thing, more of a survival rule that us Rangers live by; Rest whenever you can. You could literally be attacked at any time and it's best to be rested, but always stay alert. Always. You two can rest, but talk together or whatever. Be alert, and you should probably study those maps and journal while I-" She took a breath. "Cook lunch."
And with that, she went to cook dinner for the five of them in her cabin.

<Pretend here that the journal contents and the maps are here: places-t78965.html in the quoted area.>

Alexis nodded solemnly, "I felt it was God's Will that I find it. I only with that my friend came with me." For the first time since he came to the camp, he wondered if Kristiana was safe. He wished deeply that she was there with him, but did not blame her for leaving him. he no not condemn her without condemning himself even if he wanted to, anyway. But even so, there was that nag of sadness that she chose not to come. Lord, I ask that You keep her safe. He prayed silently before turning his attention back to the group. "I apologize if you need to repeat anything, but did I miss anything too important?"

Arci shook her head.
"You didn't miss much. But this Thu'um, or Shout, I'm using to keep us all translated might... Wear off soon. In the mean time, do you know what your language is called in this tongue, or can you say it again so I may be able to locate a translate book?"

"Yes of course." he answered looking at her strangely. "I speak German. I recognised the language you speak. I know a few words but nothing more. The men in the North Islands speak it. Is that where we are right now?"

Sigil was late. Then again, when was he ever on time?

Since the first day he was born, Sigmund Michaels had taken his time. He hadn't learned to walk until he was two and hadn't learned--nor ever truly found the need to learn--to run until he was four. He tended to take detours on his walks, stopping to enjoy the scenery and smell the occasional leaf he found drifting in the air. On multiple occasions--too many to count, really--he had been scolded for this behavior but, Sigil never really minded. Once, he had been asked to deliver bread to his grandmother's house and return home by sunset. By the time he got there, the sun was already setting and Sigil ended up having to stay at his grandmother's.

Today, wasn't too different. The chocolate-haired boy flew through the sky, a white speck that could have been easily mistaken as a bird, doing somersaults through clouds and loops around hills. He wasn't exactly sure where he was going, the poster hadn't specified a 'where'. Either that, or Sigil had missed that line. In any case, it was too late to worry about that--he had accidentally dropped the poster in a cloud a few somersaults back. Sigil didn't mind. He'd find the place sooner or later. Can't be that hard to miss a campsite in the middle of the Secluded Woods, he thought as he let his electric blue eyes close and lost track of time. The feeling of the wind flowing through his hair was wonderful; Sigil could spend an eternity soaring off the ground.

Unfortunately, while Sigil could mentally spend an eternity doing that, physically he couldn't. His alteration spell for wings only lasted five minutes--after that, the wings would fade away. It had been five minutes.

"Aw man," the boy groaned as his wings flickered into nonexistence leaving him floating alone. "Not again!" He plummeted to the ground and grimaced, bracing himself for the impact. Fortunately, there was a tall tree to break his fall. Unfortunately, the tree still hurt. He hit a branch, "Ow!" Then, another. And another, and another, and another, until finally he crashed to the ground--head first. He made a groaned in pain and rolled onto his bottom.

In front of him, was a woman dressed in robes and a white haired man--they seemed to have just been in conversation. Behind them was a decently sized cabin. The one that had been described in the poster. Sigil had, accidentally, found his destination. "Ahahaha," he chuckled slightly nervously, looking at the woman who seemed to be the one in power. He scratched the back of his head, a typically movement when he was nervous. "Sorry, I'm late?"

Valina's face went red when he said they were married, and her mouth dropped open in a kind of comical fashion. What did he just say?! He then said he was kidding, which didn't really help her much, but before she could say anything back Cassandra came and gave them knives. Her thoughts about Aero's comment almost completely vanished as she looked at them. After a minute of confusion, trying to get her brain to catch back up to the present, she sheathed the blades as Cassandra showed them and just watched people talking.
Valina looked at Alexis, trying not to snicker as he first failed to speak. It was mean, but she wasn't really laughing to be mean. She just thought it was cute. Then, Arci did something and he was speaking English. She wasn't really that surprised that Arci could do that, but it was still impressive. She listened to the boy, learning his name was Alexis. But then she stopped paying attention and started to zone out.
She still hadn't finished her bread, and began to nibble on it again. Then, she nearly choked on it when someone fell in front of Alexis and Arci. Is there nothing normal around here, she thought, looking at the new person curiously.
Strange way to show up.

Arci raised an eyebrow at Sigil.
"And then there was two." She said.

Cassandra sniggered quietly at Arci's comment from across the campsite. She was getting her things ready. Then... She felt something strange. She perked her head up and looked around. She held her hand up so the others would be quiet. She gave the apprentices a death-glare. It seemed to say Make any kind of noise, any kind at all. I. Dare. You. Then she turned away and cocked her head. Quietly, she sneaked into the cabin, and brought out two Ranger's Cloaks. She handed one to Valina and one to Aero, when she came back out. "Now, listen. Follow me, and be quiet. I'll give you a few pointers, for one put on the cloak. tWo follow me, in a stealthy half-crouch stance." She gave them soft leather boots, the kind Ranger's used, it would make their footfall quieter. "Don't tense up and think too much about being quiet. Doing so will make you make more noise." Then she lead them away from the camp, sneaking quietly and stealthily. She seemed to flicker in and out of existence as her camoflauge cloak consealed her to even the most sharp eyes.

Arci raised a finger to her lips, just to make sure her apprentices would be quiet. She knew Cassandra's better judgement, and even if Arci had all of the magic and the title of Dovahkiin she aknowledged Cass as her higher.

Cassandra when she reached a bush, she hid in it. She expected her apprentices to follow, and when they arrived she wispered "Now listen someone's coming, who's not part of our group. When they come, don't tense up. That will cause a slight movement, and it's not you people notice it's the movement. Also, you'll feel a need to duck and hide. Whatever you do, don't move. Stay still. Want to know an old Ranger's saying that will save your lives on multiple occasions? 'Trust the cloak.' Make sure you take all this information it! It's part of your training, even if these people coming aren't planned."

Valina slid into the cloak as soon as she was given it, not questioning it at all. When she told them to move stealthily, she naturally went into her normal sneaking-around attitude and followed Cassandra, completely silent. Why are we hiding,she thought curiously, then listened to Cassandra explain what was going on. Even with Cassandra's warning, Valina almost tensed. Now that she was paying attention, she did feel something off. Like she did when someone was about to catch her stealing so she would play cool and walk away. Almost every time, there was someone rounding the corner, like a guard. Valina let out a breath, doing what Cassandra said and not moving at all.
It's part of your training, even if these people coming aren't planned, Cassandra said, making Valina slightly curious. Who would have found this place?she thought. She hadn't even got here on purpose, so she didn't see how someone could come here with bad intent. It didn't surprise her much either though, since she had learned a girl here was the dragon born. Maybe word had gotten around.
Voice barely even a whisper, Valina asked, "Any idea who they are?"

Cassandra nodded, though barely at all.
"They're humans and they don't know we're here, keep hollering like that and they just might find out."

To Sigil, it seemed as though he had fallen in at the wrong time. After receiving one woman's questioning expression followed by the others be-quiet-or-face-the-consequences glare, he wasn't exactly sure what to do. The chocolate haired boy observed with interest as he watched sneak into the cabin, return with some cloaks, hand the cloaks out to the green haired boy and the brown haired girl--who, judging by her sharper ears, seemed to be an elf--, whisper something to the two and skulk off--all done in nearly complete silence. Sigil was impressed; staying silent wasn't exactly one of his stronger points. Looking at the woman still present, he whispered, "What's going on?" Then, "Are we under attack?" Followed by, "Is this part of training?"

The strange newcomer's arrival was already enough to set Alexis on edge. as soon as the boy crashed, Alexis leaped back, both hammers in hand. He crouched ow to the ground, ready to leap forward and crush the threat. When it turned out to be something little less than a child, he relaxed. but not much. He was younger than the boy when he defeated his first army. But no one else reacted to him as a threat, so he stood back up to a less threatening posture. It was not until he heard Arci refer to the kid as a student before he finally returned as part of the group.

However just as he let his guard down, Cassandra reacted to some sort of threat. He knew better than to make a noise, he was used to traveling through enemy territory which required noise discipline. he nearly crushed the boy when he spoke. But he took a breath, and put one hammer to his lips motioning to be silent. Seeing The ranger people leave, he silently looked to Arci. He was still wearing his armor, and was ready for a fight if need be. However he always preferred to avoid violence if possible. something that always got him in trouble with the priests who gave him his orders.

Arci threw her hands up in an exhasperated Really? gesture. "Shhh." She said just under her breath.

Cassandra watched as a group of three bandits in between the trees where they were. Two of them were carrying a third, who was injured. The man grumbled, "Ugh, I'm still sore from where I took that arrow to the knee. I hate Archers." Then, the girl said "Go to college they said, use your smarts they said" Cass brought out her longbow, aimed, and fired three arrows in rapid sucession. They each hit a different tree, yet they all hit their targets. The bandits turned their gazes to the opposite side of the forest from where Cass and her apprentices were. "What's that?" "Did you hear something?" They said. She jumped out, silently, and knocked two of them out with her strikers. The third fell with them.
"Ow! Son of a..." The bandit looked at her fearfully.
"Come here," She said to her apprentices.

Valina watched Cassandra as she tricked, and attacked, the people who were wandering through the woods. When she called for Valina and Aero, Valina immediately walked over to her, but her hand instinctively went to the knife now at her hip. "Yes?" she asked Cassandra, generally curious what she wanted to be done about the three unwelcome guests. They looked like bandits of some sort, but one was already injured. Well, already injured before Cassandra had done anything. She was sure that the two knocked out would have one hell of a headache when they woke up. If they did.

Sigil pouted at the woman's gesture. And, quite frankly, he had also already gotten off to a bad start with the silver haired man next to her. He looked like he was ready to pounce the boy at any moment. Sigil wasn't even sure what was going on...

How could I NOT ask questions? For a moment--a really long, reeeeeaaaally boring moment--, everything was silent. The boy was about to let out a sigh when a noise cause his ears to perk. He heard voices, older voices.

"Ugh, I'm still sore from where I took that arrow to the knee. I hate Archers."
"Go to college they said, use your smarts they said."

Sigil felt his left hand instinctively reach for his wrist band--which was actually his Guan Dao in its altered form. Then, he heard the whistling of arrows, followed by three thunks farther off. The tones of the voices changed, slightly more confused this time.

"What's that?"
"Did you hear something?"

Then, the voices disappeared. What's going on here? Sigil gave the woman beside him a questioning look with his electric blue eyes.

Aero laughed hysterically when the boy crashed into the ground. After a few minutes of coughing, he finally managed to bring himself to offer the boy a hand. Suddenly, Cassandra raised up a hand to signal absolute silence. Her death-glare reenforced this command, and Aero shut up for good. He saw Cassandra creep into the cabin, not making even a single sound. She came back with cloaks and boots.
"Now, listen. Follow me, and be quiet. I'll give you a few pointers, for one put on the cloak. Two follow me, in a stealthy half-crouch stance. Don't tense up and think too much about being quiet. Doing so will make you make more noise." She said. Aero followed her, as with the others, away from the camp. He had trouble following her since her cloak concealed her well at times whilst other times she allowed herself to be seen by the rest of the group. Aero was amazed at how easily the Ranger can blend into the enviroment, especially with the cloak. Even with the leaves in the way, Cassandra didn't make too much of a rustle. In fact, she practically didn't even make one.
"Now listen someone's coming, who's not part of our group. When they come, don't tense up. That will cause a slight movement, and it's not you people notice it's the movement. Also, you'll feel a need to duck and hide. Whatever you do, don't move. Stay still. Want to know an old Ranger's saying that will save your lives on multiple occasions? 'Trust the cloak.' Make sure you take all this information it! It's part of your training, even if these people coming aren't planned." Cassandra whispered to her apprentices. Aero sighed and tried his best to not go with the natural reactions that would make Aero blow the group's cover. Suddenly, there were voices.
"Ugh, I'm still sore from where I took that arrow to the knee. I hate Archers." A man's voice entered Aero's ears. Then, a girl said "Go to college they said, use your smarts they said." Aero had the reaction to snicker, but he must stay still, even if it means remaining calm during a statement as funny as this. Suddenly, Cassandra took her longbow and fired her arrows. Instead of hitting the bandits, they all hit the trees. Usually, Aero would protest, but he saw what she was doing. The bandits suddenly turned to the opposite direction, thinking there are archers there.
Then, Cassandra lept from the bushes and hit the bandits with some sort of weapon Aero couldn't identify. However, it was still able to knock out two of the three bandits. The one who took the arrow to the knee fell along with the two knocked out ones. Cassandra motioned for Aero and Valina to come, so Aero followed Valina to the Ranger, still awestruck from seeing what a Ranger could do, even if it wasn't at her best.

Arci held up a finger in a 'Just wait' gesture, telling Sigil to hold on.

Cassandra looked at her apprentices.
"Okay. You tell me, if you were in this position what would you do to them? Without killing them."

Valina looked at Cassandra like she was insane. She had no idea what to do with these people if she couldn't kill them. Then again, she'd have avoided that in the first place anyways. Murdering wasn't something she did lightly. After thinking it over, she still didn't really know what to do with them. Knock them out and drag them off? It would work, but seemed like a waste of time. Normally she'd turn them in, but, she wasn't even sure where or why they were in trouble. Though she had guesses. Finally, Valina just shrugged. She didn't have a smart answer, so she gave the honest one. "Maybe I'm overly sympathetic, but I'd give them a chance to get lost and fix their lives," at the mention of fixing lives, she wrinkled her nose. Something I should have done while I was thieving,she thought.
Valina looked at Cassandra, waiting to be told why her answer was wrong.

Aero looked over to the bandits. He pondered over the choice. Sure, he was mischeivous, but stealing isn't exactly supposed to be made up with death. He could probably tie up the bandits, hoping that they didn't have anything in their personage. Aero pondered some more about all the different options. Then, he said "How about we tie them up? However, in this kind of circumstance... maybe not..." It wasn't the wisest of choices, but Aero gave it a shot.

Cassandra nodded at both answers.
"Letting them go sounds good, exepting we'd have to go through trouble to blindfold them, take them far from here, and get back before they get their blindfolds off." Then to Aero, "And tying them up is liable considering there's almost no doubt they've commited crimes." Then she paused to let that sink in. "But. Bandit's rarely travel in small groups. After all, they raid better in large groups. Plus they normally have a leader." She stopped and gave them a look like; Do any of these three numbskulls look like leaders?
"No, what we'll do is assume there's more of them. That way, if we find out there is a large group of them, we won't be surprised."

Aero nodded. "I see." He muttered. It's true that the idiots on the ground with lower IQ than him weren't fit to be leaders. Even if they were, they wouldn't get far in their profession of theivery. "So what do we do?" Aero asked. Part of him wanted to raid the group of bandits, for revenge for his homeland that was burned down. The other part was undecided. "We can't let them go... That's for sure. A raid on the group of bandits using a good tactic might work... Then again, they might outnumber us..." Aero started to ponder and mumble out loud, trying to find a good answer on "What do we do now?"

Cassandra nodded, understanding what Aero meant.
"It's never smart to run blindly at something. Raiding them without knowing their numbers isn't a good thing." She looked back to the bandit that was wounded in the knee, but awake. "How many are there of you? More importantly, where are the rest of you?"

The bandit hesitated,
"I don't know what you're talking about!" He exclaimed.

Cassandra narrowed her eyes at the bandit. The, she knelt down next to him.
"Now listen here. If you don't give me the information I want, you're useless to me. If you have any doubts I'll put an arrow straight through your heart, you're wrong. I will do it. I am specially trained with my longbow, and tracking. If you don't tell me, there's two more of you that might. If none of you do I'll track them down myself while you're dead." Then she paused to let it sink in.