|
|
Post by tenebria on Mar 7, 2024 16:09:42 GMT -8
The patrol was quiet as Adira and Sabine slipped through the forest, the stench of stallions growing in their nostrils. When it came to be quiet strong, Adira motioned for them to move south, pin pointing their approximate location. It seemed, from what she could tell, that they were all together, and unmoving. Which was certainly a good sign.
|
|
|
|
Post by wingfeather on Mar 7, 2024 16:21:09 GMT -8
Gareth lifted his head and sniffed the air, ''looks like they are sending spies now,'' he told the stallion beside him.
Swiftly Artemis cantered beside her mentor, they had to go twice as fast to make up for lost time, but Artemis didn't care she liked the feel of the wind through her mane it gave her a wild and free feel. She was also thinking about Sugar and what her reaction would be once Gus revealed this to her. She also thought about how glad she was that she didn't have to worry about any romance business herself, at least not for a little while.
|
|
|
|
Post by Abbster on Mar 7, 2024 16:22:50 GMT -8
Gus felt his thoughts spinning. "Applejack" He said. Applejack slowed and looked at his apprentice. "hm?" he said. "I know Sugar isn't allowed a mate....but can I at least tell her how I feel?" He asked. Applejack sighed. "I suppose" He said. "But in the morning" He added. Gus smiled and nodded
|
|
|
|
Post by tenebria on Mar 7, 2024 16:29:49 GMT -8
Adira suddenly let out a low neigh to her apprentice, stopping still in her tracks, Sabine sliding to a halt as well and staying motionless, eyes darting about. "Do you sense that?" her mentor asked. The filly frowned, focusing on her surroundings. But she could not detect what her mentor could. Adira's eyes were worried. "The wind has shifted." She said quietly. Sabine's eyes widened and she scented the air, only to find it blowing away from her. If they were upwind... then the stallions were downwind. They would be doubtless detected. "Come" Adira said urgently, turning and picking up a swift trot, moving further out from where she had last scented the rogues. If she could not scent their movements, she would be sure they did not take any unnecessary risks.
|
|
|
|
Post by wingfeather on Mar 7, 2024 16:58:00 GMT -8
The other stallion also scented the air, ''yes, but getting fainter, made quite the blunder didn't they? Well they fixed their mistake rather swiftly.''
Treth and Artemis continued on their path northwards, stopping every once in a while to scent the air and get their bearings. Both knew that the warrioress and her apprentice were well ahead of them and most likely traveling south by now. Artemis wondered if they were able to see the stallions or not, she wrinkled her nose at the thought of them, hoping that she would not need to meet with them again any time soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by Abbster on Mar 7, 2024 17:08:51 GMT -8
Gus stopped at his spot beside his mentor, and he kept his ears pricked for any sounds of danger or hoof beats, but he didn't hear a sound. Good.
|
|
|
|
Post by tenebria on Mar 7, 2024 17:34:14 GMT -8
The night passed surprisingly peaceful and quiet as Adira and Sabine followed their charted path to the south, then began back tracking as the moon passed by over head. Sabine was still feeling alert and full of energy as they stepped out of the forest, the stars much different than they had been when they had entered the dark wood. "Go get some rest, I will join you soon, once I alert Lorcán of the patrol and our findings" Adira said quietly. Sabine glanced at her, then gave a nod. She knew rest was important... but honestly she'd rather continue patrolling. But she knew that was unwise, as she would most likely pay for just having stayed up this long in the morning. She gave a swift nod and turned, cantering off to the outskirts of the herd as Adira headed towards the gray stallion who stood dozing at the edge of the herd.
|
|
|
|
Post by wingfeather on Mar 7, 2024 17:53:21 GMT -8
The patrol northwards went as uneventfully as expected. They turned east and traveled a little known forest path for a while before going back south, passing much farther out than Adira and Sabine had. Soon they exited the forest, the moon was already high in the night shy and illuminated the path back to the scouts area, Treth dispatched the next shift before settling down for what he knew would be a short yet much needed rest. Before Treth fell asleep Artemis walked over to him, ''do you think I can sleep with Sugar,'' she asked him hopefully. Treth looked up and gave her a weary smile, ''if you think you can get over there,'' he responded. ''Thanks,'' Artemis said trotting bak to Sugar. ''Young'uns,'' Treth said before falling asleep. Artemis soon found Sugar already asleep, carefully she maneuvered herself beside her and closed her eyes.
|
|
|
|
Post by Abbster on Mar 7, 2024 17:56:03 GMT -8
Gus felt his eyes grow heavy. "we're almost done" Applejack promised, as the exit to the forest came into view. Gus smiled. "you can go to your mom and dad" Applejack said. Gus smiled. "Thanks Applejack" Gus said, sleepily. Applejack nodded. "be here early tomorrow" he called as Gus cantered away. "got it!" Gus said as he cantered to his parents. His father was still up, he had promised his mate he would wait up until their colt returned. "there you are" Creampuff whispered. Gus smiled and nuzzled his father, settling down beside him and falling asleep instnatly
|
|
|
|
Post by tenebria on Mar 7, 2024 18:41:35 GMT -8
Lorcán lifted his head from his dozing as he heard hoofbeats, looking around swiftly before relaxing slightly as he saw the chestnut mare emerge from the darkness. "We have finished our patrol, nothing to report, we met two scout patrols on our way in, and organized it so we could work together. The stallions are seemingly in one place, approximately 255 leads into the forest towards the east. They are upwind at the moment if you approach from the east or south east" she said quickly. The gray stallion digested this information then nodded. "Well done, go rest now" he said firmly, trotting off to go wake his apprentice.
Galmúr was roughly nudged awake by his mentor. Swiftly he lifted his head, trying to smother a large yawn as he looked around in exhaustion. "Time to patrol" the gray stallion said abruptly. The buckskin looked around at the darkness and gave a very slight sigh. He was so tired.. but he was eager to prove himself to his mentor. He gave a nod. "Good, we shall go in from the west and go directly east, then north. We shall return near sunrise" he said, then, without waiting to see if his apprentice had gotten all that, he leapt into a canter, heading swiftly into the darkness towards the looming forest. Galmúr let himself yawn then sighed. It would be a long night. With a sudden shake of his head at himself, he leapt after his mentor, charging swiftly towards the dark figure ahead.
Once they reached the forest they slowed to a rhythmic trot. At one point the gray warrior scented the familiar scent of a scout patrol ahead, and altered his course properly to avoid contact, not wishing to draw attention to themselves, but rather stay as silent as possible.
Despite Galmúr's assumption it would be a long night, he in fact began to enjoy the silence and darkness of the woods. It was alive in a quite a different way than in the day, raccoons, owls, bats, insects, and even the faint sound of coyotes yipping in the far distance. It gave him a wild feel that was totally different than in the day. And suddenly, before he knew it, he realized that the sky was growing lighter and lighter.
|
|
|
|
Post by wingfeather on Mar 9, 2024 7:35:56 GMT -8
Artemis woke just as the sun's rays were coming over the horizon. She looked over at the sleeping filly beside her and nudged her gently, ''morning Sugar, how've you been?''
|
|
|
|
Post by Abbster on Mar 9, 2024 8:36:32 GMT -8
Sugar blinked a bit and she smiled. “ARTEMIS!” She said excitedly, nuzzling her best friend lovingly. “It took me a while to fall asleep last night, but when I did I slept pretty good” Sugar told her. “How was patrolling?” She asked
|
|
|
|
Post by tenebria on Mar 9, 2024 9:14:35 GMT -8
Lorcán squinted slightly as the sun's rays burst over the horizon and he nickered slightly to his apprentice. "Our shift is over, we may return and you may rest if you need it" he allowed, turning back to the west and picking up a swift canter. Galmúr certainly was tired, but he was not about to show weakness in front of his mentor. Quickening his pace, he drew up alongside him. "I'm fine" he said quietly. The gray stallion glanced down with a raised eye. Really? Hmm... well he'd see just how long the endurance of his apprentice could last.
|
|
|
|
Post by wingfeather on Mar 9, 2024 11:07:52 GMT -8
''It was fun,'' Artemis said blinking her eyes sleepily, ''but nothing grand occurred, though I am tired.'' She got to her feet wearily, ''hopefully I won't fall asleep,'' she said with a laugh.
|
|
|
|
Post by Abbster on Mar 9, 2024 11:31:52 GMT -8
“Did you see Gus?” Sugar asked, standing to her hooves as well and shaking the sleep away from her coat.
|
|
