[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5404355][color=cadetblue][u][b]Kiba[/b][/u][/color][/url][right][color=cadetblue][u]Location[/u][/color] | [i]Forest Clearing. [color=silver]Rembrandt Outskirts[/color][/i]
[color=silver][i]Interactions[/i][/color] | [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5401576][color=BFB4B0]Adelyn Amberfield[/color][/url] [@Lunarlord34], [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5404640][color=9400D3]Mark Penderghast[/color][/url] [@Sanguine Rose], [@Zarkun][/right][hr]The serenity of the woods surrounding Rembrandt were a familiar comfort to Kiba. The group trotted along on horseback with only the crunch of crisp, fallen leaves and snow beneath hooves to accompany them. The silent swordsman ran a hand along the neck of his steed, admiring the beast’s composure. He expected nothing less of the garrison stablemasters. These horses' nerves were steeled through years of proficient taming and selective breeding. They were the perfect companion for military business. He was more enamored with his animal companion than the discussion between Adelyn and Mark. Capture or kill, Kiba was confident he would perform his duties as necessary. He spared a glance to the back of Adelyn’s head, his own personal mission to ensure her safety and wellbeing at the forefront of his mind. He had never seen her fight and had no reason to doubt her abilities, but he believed himself and Mark to have an understanding that the dark haired mage could provide the requisite power to subdue or slay the beast with little assistance from him. So Kiba would become a guardian, allowing Adelyn to act freely. The only challenge lied in performing his role in such a manner that the girl in question wouldn’t feel coddled or belittled. It required a certain subtlety and discreteness that Kiba unfortunately lacked, but so long as the end result was the same he would endure any potential fallout from a scorned Adelyn.

The horses were latched to sturdy trees and fed sweet apples and grain to occupy them. The Rising Starborn group was to head out on foot, taking care with their steps so as to not rouse their prey’s suspicions. Mark took point and Kiba headed up the rear. Their guard escort took up position as overwatch, providing reconnaissance via the devices Sergeant Munroe had given to each of them. His ear buzzed with the occasional update on various movements throughout the forest. Ahead of him Adelyn queried their capabilities to the mission. If she had spared a quick glance back at Kiba, he would have tapped the hilt of Saint Shiva’s blade. He’d been fairly liberal with his magic in previous missions, so his capabilities as a swordsman and ice mage were known throughout the guild. Though Adelyn was a somewhat fresh face, the likelihood of her knowing that probably wasn’t as high as he’d thought. He concluded that she would see for herself soon enough.

Mark’s signal to be quiet was more aimed at Adelyn than at Kiba. It would have been somewhat redundant to ask him to remain silent. Even his steps through the woods had been light and graceful, barely a sound rummaged underfoot. He nodded in response to the simple hand gestures and moved into position, keeping his eye on the slumbering beast whilst ensuring Adelyn and Mark’s position were in his periphery. He anticipated that Mark would make the first move against the beast, and they had done well to pincer it within the clearing on almost all fronts. All they had to worry about now was if it decided to retreat from the threat instead of facing them. Crouched amidst the shrubbery, Kiba cupped his palm in front of him and conjured a cyan magic circle with a snowflake crest. It hovered over his upturned fingers, his eyes tracking the space behind the slumbering creature. A row of eight identical circles appeared high above the clearing, the air around them crystallizing into the pointed tips of Kiba’s Ice Blades. He held their position, awaiting either Mark or the creature to make their move. He’d rather not leave the outcome of that move to chance, ensuring he was ready to remove the creature’s escape route with a barricade of frozen swords.