[IC] The Rise of the Guardian

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash sat up slowly and rolled her neck, sighing then said “just tired…and sore but I’m okay” she slowly got out of the bed and rested her feet. “Food sounds amazing right now…”

Scarlet smiled and said “good. Means your body need energy to keep healing. We need to get food then head out. I heard a rumor more of those monsters showed up in the west. We might be able to get a lead”

[Jazz]

Carth looked to Scarlet when she proposed going west after getting something to eat. He also remembered the news from last night. "Wait now theres monsters North, South AND West?" Surprised about this new information. Thinking about it a bit before telling Scarlet their original plan. "We had planned North to the soldier base and see what happened there, then South to see why Assassin's were making themselves known." He looked to Ash before getting up from his seat. "I'll be back, I'll get us breakfast." He then headed down to the innkeeper about breakfast.

Going through the hall he felt a stinging pain to his left arm and hissed out like he had been burned. He rubbed at the spot on his forearm before continuing on. He was confused by what had just happened but would deal with it later knowing there were more important matters at hand then a sting to his arm.

Once breakfast was obtained, he took the tray back to Ash's room where they could plan and eat to figure their new plan.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash and scarlet were looking at the maps when he got back and Ash looked up when he came back. “Look things over, we should hit north first then go from there. We need to get the reports”

Scarlet nodded and leaned back in the chair. She saw him favoring his arm and asked “you alright there?”

[Jazz]

Carth looked over to Ash when he entered the room, setting the tray on the end table. Seeing that they had maps out and discussing their new course of direction, Carth looked to his arm when Scarlet mentioned it, giving a goofy grin. "It's just a cramp. Should go away soon." He told her. He was sure the stinging would go away but for now he needed to make sure that everything was set and ready. He took each plate and handed each to Ash and Scarlet before taking his own. "So have we settled where to go first?" He asks.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash nodded and said “yep, we have the route planned as well.” Scarlet gave him a look then said “well then we eat and then we can head out. Any trouble with getting the food?” Ash was rolling her neck to get the feeling back there.

[Jazz]

Carth gave a small thoughtful nod, glad that they had that much done and hoped all was good to go. Now to make sure food was eaten then out of the town on horses.

The Elementalist looked up when asked about having any trouble with getting the food. He shook his head. "Not really. Took a little to have it ready but it was also a small line." He supplied as he then started eating with no care in the world

[MegaraFoxfire]

Scarlet nodded as she started eating. Ash stood and went to the window, rubbing her neck. “Why would the assassins become more public? That what doesn’t make sense with all of this…” Scarlet nodded and said “true, and the other thing is where these monsters are all heading. They all seem to have a goal in mind…”

[Jazz]

Carth seemed to think about these questions as well. Assassin's were, well, assassins. Their job description was in the name. He had heard stories of the Assassin's Guild, the one mainly known as the Brotherhood. Also that they killed whom they deemed necessary for the goal of peace and freedom of the people. As he lowered his dish and utensil when when Carth began to wonder.

"What if they had to. The assassins were already public knowledge to those that acknowledged them. Now because of the rise in the strange beasts and every place being targeted that news can be picked up from, maybe they too know of the threat the beasts hold and had to come out of Shadows." He then looks up at the two women only to look a little confused. "It's a thought at least. I acknowledged their existence when I was a kid." Now looking a little guilty of his interest in those assassins.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash nodded and said “maybe it would be useful to find them and trade information” she finished her food and Scarlet and said “well let’s get moving and decide things as we go. We have a lot of ground to cover”

[Jazz]

Carth nodded, shoving down the rest of his meal before setting it down. He then grabs his bag and swallowed having looked back to his two companions. "I'm going to get the horses ready then." He says as he then leaves and goes straight to the stables. As he makes it there, he gets them saddled and ready, making sure they were fed and watered before their long trek. He feels the stings in his left arm continue to throb here and there but fights through the pain. Not sure why it was happening but was becoming a tad annoyed by it for this was worst time to happen. He wouldn't let the pain stop him though.

[MegaraFoxfire]

A few minutes later the girls came down and got onto the horses. Ash moved next to Cor and asked “is your arm still bugging you? Did you hit it last night during the fight?”

Scarlet put her hat on and moved her brown horse around and headed down the trail.

[Jazz]

Carth was double checking to make sure everything was secured and ready on his horse as he checked the others. He looked to Ash as she came over next to him. He gave her a smile before getting on the horse, giving a small discomforted look before smiling again once he was settled. "I don't remember doing so but I should be alright. Nothing else to do but grin and bear it. It should stop soon. At least it's not my primary hand. That would be awkward." He says with small chuckle. He didn't understand what happened. But it just felt like a day that would a challenge like any other day and he would pull through. At least he would have help. That was a plus.

Carth soon got his horse in motion down the trail with the others. "So where to first? What's the Route?"

[MegaraFoxfire]

Scarlet pulled the map from her pocket and looked at it for a moment. “Head west then find the fork in the road…then we take the left side and it’s that path for a while” Ash nodded and said “sounds like a plan. Shall we?” She lead the way as Scarlet smiled and moved next to Cor. “So…what’s her story? I mean, where did she come from?”

[Jazz]

Carth understood the plan and proceeded to follow. Seeing that Ash took the lead while Scarlet hung back, he listened to her questions and shrugged. "All I know if that she was brought up as Ranger. Before then, no clue. I honestly haven't asked." He replies, though he was curious it seemed better not to ask yet.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Scarlet nodded and said “the markings we saw last night…make me wonder where she could have picked those up…a lot of mystery around Asteria…” Ash looked back and asked “what’s going on guys?”

[Jazz]

Carth had wondered that himself though had no idea how he wanted to broach the subject and ask Ash. He wondered if Ash would answer such questions. Looking to Ash, he saw her look back to them. He gave a sheepish grin before figuring out now would be better than never. Awesome didn't know how to ask exactly.....though we were wondering...." Carth felt embarrassed and honestly nervous too. Scratching the back of his bead and looked away a little. "....we saw markings that were strange and wondered if by chance where you got them?" He finally asks.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash blinked and after a moment said “oh the runes? No idea. The captain told me I had them when he found me ten years ago. I was wondering the north alone and wounded. No memory before that. He took me in and trained me to be a ranger. That’s all I really know about them. Do they look familiar to you guys?”

Scarlet gave Carth a look then said “kinda…I’ve seen similar before…not as detailed as yours though…”

[Jazz]

Carth had begun to wonder if the Captain had any idea about the runes but it seemed from Ash's explanation that either the Captain didn't know what the runes meant or that he did and didn't say anything for whatever the reason. Either way another mystery. Feeling eyes on him, Carth looked to Scarlet only to see that she gave him a look and guessed it was about him asking Ash about the runes. He shrugged with an innocent look figuring there had been no harm behind his question.

"I wouldn't know. Sorry." He apologized, sadly not able to give her the information sleight have hoped. For now Carth let himself be lulled by the ride. It was nice to have such companions along. Granted he felt a little our numbered being the only male in their trio and hoped no one got the wrong idea. He would defend them with his life. "I hope Maybe we can find something on it together. It would be nice to learned something new." A grin on his face.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash smiled and nodded saying “agreed. I have a lot of questions about my past…and why I don’t remember” scarlet moved her horse closer and asked “is there any other clues?” Ash thought as they passed a grove of trees and said “well my wounds were bad. The rangers called it amazing I had made it as far as I did with them. And they thought I had been somewhere very warm before being lost in the snow…another strange thing. Not much of it made any real sense…”

[Jazz]

Carth was surprised to say the least. Life threatening wounds, was somewhere warm before being lost in snow. It didnt make sense at all. At least Carth couldn't think of a place that would be warm before suddenly being lost in snow. For now, he would keep this information somewhere for now till anything else made sense. Carth stayed at about the pace he was at while watching their surroundings. For now all seemed alright. Carth had nothing else to add and for now his arm wasn't hurting.

Further on into the trip we'll into the afternoon, all was calm by traveling standards. Riding along with your fellow companions and making sure nothing came to attack you. Carth had his eyes closed while enjoying the sounds of nature.