Corrine stepped out from behind a tree, arrow pointed at the girl as she looked her and her guardian up and down. After a moment, she scowled and stepped through the bushes, keeping her bow raised. "You have no weapons," she accused her eyes flickering again to the guardian. He wasn't as large as she expected a guardian to be, so she looked back to the girl with narrowed, red eyes. She was terrified, probably about to cry. Hesitantly, the soldier lowered her bow, but kept the arrow ready. "Identify yourself. You're not a deserter, are you?"

Above, her guardian stalked quietly about the canopy. Serafina wouldn't show herself until Corrine gave or needed some immediate defense, but she was worried that the dog would sniff her out before it mattered. Though, it didn't look like a fight would break out, so the large cat's tail swished from side to side in annoyance.

As Renan stared up at the lioness it just seemed to pass over him apathetically, continuing the hunt for whatever it's prey was. However, this didn't stop Steve from trying to make his life just a little bit harder.

"In case that beast comes back we need to get you down from here. This is for your own good," the crow said, and as soon as he understood where this was going Renan began to make strong yet desperate "no" signals with his hand until he was rolled off of the branch and onto the ground. Fortunately, he had landed on a pile of twigs which promptly snapped below him, breaking his fall. However that is not to say that Renan wasn't sore. Standing up awkwardly, Renan stared menacingly at the bird that drifted down to him after dropping him yet again.

"You do know that you are the worst guardian ever, right. And that if I die you die, right. Because some times I wonder if you flew into a wall when you were a hatchling or something" Renan thought to the bird as it flew in low, shallow circles around him. Refocusing on his surroundings, Renan looked up to see two young women with guardians - that is assuming that the lioness had been one of them - conversing. Renan quickly shooed the crow off and away from him in the way that a high schooler would shoo off a friend that they were ashamed of as he sat down, put on his most smug face and spread his arms, as if to say, "Hey ladies."

"Good, then--" Corrine scowled as the dog started barking, and then sighed when she realized why. "I knew he'd sniff you out."

The white lioness dropped in between the traitors and Corrine, poised as if ready to pounce at the other two. Not only was she far larger than the other guardian, but she was bigger than her own mistress as well. Hello, pup, Serafina half purred and half growled.

"Sera, relax," Corrine snapped. With that, Serafina hesitantly stood to her full height, her tail again swishing angrily as she gazed upon the guardian. "We don't mean you harm," Corrine explained, turning her attention back on the other two.

We? Serafina repeated incredulously. Then she snorted as she turned and sauntered around Corrine in what could have been a protective circle if it wasn't to display her size and prowess. Not yet, I suppose.

Then suddenly, a snap and breaking of twigs. The lioness turned her head in the direction, body suddenly going rigid. She eyed the boy with a curious tilt of her head. Corrine looked as well, raising her bow again and this time at the boy who had dropped out of the trees above. "Who are you? What do you want?" she demanded. Then, quickly followed up by looking to the girl and her guardian. "And don't you two move," she added, keeping her arrow pointed at the intruder.

Kidd said "Who are you? What do you want?" she demanded. Then, quickly followed up by looking to the girl and her guardian. "And don't you two move," she added, keeping her arrow pointed at the intruder.

Why does everyone want to shoot me today? This is ridiculous.

With an exhausted look, Renan pointed at the crest on his shirt as if to say, "Are you happy now?" He then stood up and took out a piece of rolled prepared parchment that he carried just for unfortunate encounters such as this. He walked over to the girl with the dog and held it up, letting the girl read it while he did his most mocking, obnoxious imitation of a royal guard, holding the paper as if it were a royal decree. The letter read,

Dear Whoever-you-are,
My name is Renan. The bird is Steve. We don't like Steve. Anyway, ignoring the black, branded jerkin, military grade crossbow and rapier, I'm with you. If you don't believe me then fine, but other people dressed like me are significantly less likely to be friendly. Let's go.

P.S.

If there is an actual soldier(s) nearby, then we can try to take them, run, or do something tricky, like act like you're prisoner or something. If you want to do the first option, say potato. Second option is rice pudding. Third option is chopped Steve. We really don't like Steve.

"Oh, I'm sorry--you surprised me," Corrine said, lowing her bow as he pointed out the crest. "You're just not one of my men, so you're way out of position..." she explained as he approached the other girl, though her voice trailed off and she frowned, looking to Serafina. "What is that?" she demanded, highly disliking anyone--but particularly men--undermining her authority. "I have this under control."

Serafina watched the solider boy suspiciously, her long tail continuing to swish. At the ground, her long longs protracted and retracted.

Alex scowled ignoring the nick in the ear. "no one ever listens do they." Alex then leaped onto Nero's back and they ran after the girl and the panther. Nero then howled alerting other soldiers nearby, who got on the back of their guardians and joined Alex. Five soldiers appeared, all on wolves of different colors. Alex signaled to them and then then spread out to make a V shape as they chased after the Eldalia and her panther.

Between the non-stop barking of the dog and the emotional weakness of the girl before him, Renan had had enough.

Oh my god... Why can't people just listen?! Now I have to go out of my way yet again to get someone to listen to me! AND I have to invalidate me excuse for working with the kings men to an entire squad! Fantastic. Oh well, it's my job to keep this girl safe. She'd never make it in the military.

Renan drew his palm to his face and sighed disappointedly. He turned around and casually drew his crossbow, locking in a bolt. Fortunately because it was smaller than the average crossbow it didn't take as long to load. He would ignore any questions asked by the soldier during this time. He then, still with casual movements, aimed the weapon and fired directly into the back of the lioness before drawing his rapier and taking up a stance for a duel. During this time the crow had flown away, accustomed to the type of situation and knowing its duties. It flew off into the distance cawing, until it could no longer be seen or heard. The words "En Garde" flashed along the silver blade of the rapier as Renan elegantly flourished it in the air, awaiting a response to his challenge. After all, he was a gentleman.

Corrine's attention was on the girl, not the solider. Both she and the young man had the same goal in mind: help the girl. However, her idea of helping was far different. "No, look you're scaring her more--please, just relax. I want to help you, okay? With the army, you could--"

Serafina yowled in pain and dropped to the ground, thrashing suddenly as the bolt bit into her flesh and stained her white fur red. Corrine gasped and had to step back from the flailing lioness until she calmed down, but she cried out worriedly, "Sera!" Then her red eyes quickly settled on the boy as he pulled his sword and she glared. "You traitor!" she growled angrily, quickly raising her bow yet again. "Drop your weapon!" she ordered, practicing all her self restraint not to simply let the arrow fly.

Just shoot him! Serafina hissed, though she stayed down. Any move she made was utterly painful and she couldn't get the bolt out of her back on her own.

Eldalia sighed, "I really need to stop attracting trouble." She crouched lower and the panther moved even faster. Eldalia didnt know it but Infinity was following Renan's scent. With tjeir current predicament it was the only thing she could think to do.

Eldalai carefully stat up and nocked an arrowand turned her body. She shot the arrow, hitting one of the soldiers in the chest beforw shooting another in the leg, careful to avoid the guardians.

The bolt that Renan had fired sunk into the lioness with a satisfying sound, followed by a burst of blood which formed an interesting pattern on the fur. However, the artistic value of what otherwise could have been an intriguing scene was ruined by the arrow pointed once again at Renan's chest. He checked back behind himself at the bandaged girl, and upon turning back around lunged forward. In an attempt to knock the arrow out of the bow's notch, Renan also managed to drop his blade. However, he immediately followed with a roundhouse kick to the hand that was holding the bow. He may have been unarmed, though Renan was no stranger to hand-to-hand combat. However he was tired, and likely wouldn't perform as well as he could have. In any event, he drew his fists and launched himself at the soldier, aiming for her diaphragm.

Against the darkening sky the faint form of several birds, about fifteen or sixteen, could be seen approaching, with more starting to join the group. The ominous cawing slowly began to become louder.

You're too soft, Cori--shoot him, the lioness growled again, struggling to stand.

Corrine shot an annoyed glare at the lioness as the man backed up, but then he was suddenly coming at her. Gasping, she released the arrow, though he had managed to knock it aside, causing it to fly off to the side somewhere. Then, when he kicked at the bow, she allowed it to drop to the ground before his foot reached it, pulling her own sword from its sheath instead. As he lunged at her, she brought the tip of the sword up to meet his chest should he continue with his punch. "Explain yourself," she demanded. If one man was able to infiltrate the army so easily, then there could be others.

Serafina was ready to pounce at the boy, fighting against the pain. Though, the cawing above made her pause as she gazed up at the sky. Kill him, she hissed eagerly. Then, more noise, from their other side. The lioness turned her head and growled. Finally, though, she caught wind of another cat. However, its scent was mixed about dogs, as well. Her mistress was far too concerned and taken off guard by the pseudo-soldier to notice Serafina's distress.

Infinity put on a final burst of speed as she caught scent of the other group. Her and Eldalia came tearing into the clearing before sliding to a halt as they realized what was going on.

"Sorry to interrupt but there may or may not be a bunch of soldiers and their wolves coming this way!" Eldalia yelled, not really caring who was who and what they were fighting about.

infinity turned the direction they had come from while Eldalai kept her eye on everyone in the clearing, waiting to see what they did.

It had been almost a month since Darrow left the north and dare he say, he was loving it. The plants here are huge, tough, and flaky. Some friendly villagers he had met told him they were "Trees", how neat. There was even many different types of animals that he had never seen before, like these small animals that ran among the trees and had big, poofy tails and Math'Ura really liked these scaly creatures that lived inside the water. However, there was one down side. It was so hot, he even had to ditch his winter furs. The villagers were kind enough to give him a "shirt" and "pants" and he took them eagerly, but kept them underneath his armor which rattled as he walked along.

His and Math'Ura's peace was shattered however when they heard cries of pain from across the river. A girl was firing arrows at several men...no kings men. She must be like me.

"Mother Bear,we must help her! Darrow said frantically.

That was all she needed two hear as she unleashed an earth shattering roar while Darrow tossed several javelins, missing his marks but making his presence known to the kings men.

For a moment, there was a look caught in Renan's eyes. Maybe rage. Maybe tranquility. Maybe both.

Maybe pity.

He mouthed the words, "I was like you once," before returning to reality and noting that Eldalia had decided to show up. She wasn't here to help though, seeing as there was only more trouble following her. Five armed guards, one of them lagging behind with an arrow in his leg. And that boy from earlier, leading the pack.

There is no escaping this. I either die fighting or give up to that wretched cause that took me from my family, took all of them from their families. God rest my soul.

Renan's self-condemnation was interrupted, however, by the hungry crying of a murder of crows, at least twenty-five now, beginning to swoop down upon the group, attacking anyone and everyone except for Renan. It was chaos, a mass off black feathers flying through the air, when suddenly javelins were added to the mix. Renan couldn't even pretend to comprehend the situation, and fell to his knees in an exhausted sigh. Soon however, he found weapons thrust into his hands as three crows - one large and two small - stood in front of him, the largest with piercing, yet concerned eyes. Renan stood as the largest crow flew to his shoulder. He looked to the girl with the panther, then to the bandaged girl. He looked to the great sword wielding boy with his wolf, and to the pale girl. He looked to the javelin throwing giant. He looked to the crow, and at his own hands.

I've done quite enough to ruin the lives of these innocents. I'd best be off.

Renan began to run, he recrossed the river and fled into a new section of the village that he had been in earlier, and upon entering feigned a casual walk as he waved to city guards. Sheathing his weapons, Renan sat down on a public bench, and waited.

Alex ignored the two wounded soldiers, they were being taken care of. Alex saw the javalins and signaled to his other three to go after the one who threw them. Alex and Nero kept going and when they reached the clearing They stopped seeing all the crows attacking the group. Alex said "I have a Idea." Then Alex went up to a tree on the edge of the clearing and cut a chunk out of it then Nero jump and slamed into the tree making it fall right into the middle of the clearing hitting a few crows on the way down. Then they dashed into the clearing and faced Eldalia and her panther. Alex said "finally caught up with you, now are you going to come along quietly."

(pathfinder do whatever you want to the three guards approaching your character.)

Corrine blinked as he mouthed something at her, his gaze oddly sober. "What--" she started before the commotion reached her ears as well. She turned her attention away from the man to first note the birds as they approached and then the soldiers approaching on wolfback--they were in pursuit of a girl and her guardian. However, they were of course bumbling idiots. At first, it was only the girl's arrows that the had to worry about but then...were those spears? A roar echoed through the forest, deafening even the caws above and Corrine quickly spotted its source. Calling the white bear huge would be an understatement and her eyes widened in awe.

And then the birds started attacking, and Corrine slashed angrily--the day was just getting more and more chaotic, stressing the girl out. Their beaks and talons slahsed at her clothes and skin, but with the adrenaline going, the pain was easy enough to ignore (for now).

Serafina seemed just as overwhelmed--though it was mostly the pain in her back. The crows produced a nice distraction, though, and she swiped her large paws at the birds, taking at least one with each swing. Cori, get this thing out of me, she growled as her gaze flickered to the oncoming wolf and bear guardians. Her gaze rested for a moment on the stray riding upon a large, black cat guardian. Her dark haired master weilded a bow, just as Corrine did. How poetic, she joked, but yowled in surprise as her mistress pulled the bolt from her back.

Corrine offered and apologetic shrug as she sheathed her sword to again grab her bow. She quickly notched an arrow just as the girl on the panther came upon them and announced the pack. "Good, they're with me. Now get off your mount," she stated, pointing the arrow at the other girl. She was breathing heavily, angry and confused and annoyed with everything going on, but at least she had back up. Then the boy decided to run, though by the time she noticed it was too late, so she turned her gaze on the girl and her dog,."Don't you move," she ordered. She also noted the soldiers approaching the man his large guardian, though an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach. Regardless, she ignored and nodded at Alex in greeting. Usually she'd chew him out for being so far out of position, but not only did he bring to her a stray, she had lost one of hers, as well. So she didn't have much room to speak.

Eldalia just stared at the two and raised an eyebrow, "God, you people are all the same. Overconfident, and self righteous. Its really annoying." She gave an exagerated sigh and notched two arrows. She had designed her bow for situations like this.

Infinity growled and stood taller, her eyes narrowed to slits and her claws extended. No one was getting near her human, "Be careful Eldalia. Dont get too confident." She said into Eldalia's mind.

Eldalia ignored the birds as she looked between the two people in front of her, ready at any moment to strike.

Alex was annoyed. Alex said "fine I wont be overconfident." Alex the snapped his fingers and two guards, both also had Wolf guardians came into the clearing behind Skye and her german shepard. The two wolves takled and pinned the german shepard and the two guards grabbed skye and held a knife to her neck.
"surrender or we will kill her" Alex said sternly without a smile on his face.