Embrace the new Sun! [Continued from CoK, OPEN]

[Ashstripe]

The Badger quirked an eyebrow but gave no other visible reaction, "Our peculiar situation? Y'mean an uneasy Alliance?"

He breathed a deep sigh and took leaned against the warm stone walls of his furnace, listening intently to the crackling flames and embers of a fire that was probably older than he was. Yes, their situation could be described as 'peculiar'. They were fighting together for the sake of survival, nothing more - at least that was what he had told himself.

Who would've thought it'd be much harder to fight your enemy when you suddenly got to know them - and realised - that perhaps, they weren't so different from yourself.

"I'd rather not fight." He said with a grunt, "'Tis meaningless - what have either of us to gain from all this?"

[Luna Broadsword]

Luna decided now was not the time to point out that she was a warlord, and war was her job. That Ashstripe didn't even know why they had originally started fighting. That Luna didn't need very many reasons to fight. Instead she took a more diplomatic route. So, without looking in his direction, she told him what plans were being hatched.

"Aye... Zeffer and I have been talking. He mentioned that there are still WARR controlled areas in this world... We’ve come ta’ the conclusion tha’ i’ would be best if I took my troops an’ properly addressed the threat." Her eyes glistened slightly then. This plan held the promise of many campaigns, of sieges that would require enormous amount of cunning, not to mention to face legendary beasts in combat, claw-to-claw. If Luna had been prone to such shows of emotion, she might be shaking with excitement.

“I told ‘im tha’ I would see ya about i’, though I’m sure yer in as much approval as I.” She said, her eyes flickering to him. Luna betrayed nothing in her expression, except for the glint of excitement in her eyes.

“So, what say ye?”

[Sigurd]

OOC: Darky hasn't been answering, and i haven't posted forever. Sigurds interrupting.

"Hello, Ashsrtipe, Luna", the wall seemed to snap at them. A golden fox suddenly materilized out of nowhere. His gray-green cloak was a perfect weapon. It could make the Ranger vanish into thin air. Holding out his paw, he spoke in his normal, snappy voice, "Hello, Luna Broadsword, name is Sigurd Bladedale. Honorary member of the Luminar Isle Ranger Corps. But for now, I am employed in Lord Ashstripe's service", he barked, with a nod of the head in the Badger Lord's direction.

"My lord", he said, addresing Ashstripe with a rebellious tone. "About the matter we were discussing before. When shall we head out to Luminar?" The sooner the better, that was what Sigurd thought. "Like I stated earlier, we should head out sooner than later. He will probably be healed by the time we make it." He knew Luna probably had little clue of Atticus, but hey, that wasn't in his assignment. It was to reunite Ashstripe with his son.

[Ashstripe]

The Badger gritted his teeth at the presumptuous fox, just because he was in his employ, didn't necessarily mean he had to like the creature. Interrupting him was one thing, but moving through his mountain undetected was another thing entirely.

Such matters could wait.

The flames crackled more fiercely as Ashstripe absent-mindedly fuelled the brazier with another piece of charcoal, the light dancing in his dark eyes as traces of a smile crept across his lips - who knew diplomacy had it's merits?

"And just like that - after all that has transpired, you leave?" He waved a dismissive paw at Sigurd, the 'not now' remained unsaid. This was the potential resolve to the war that had been waged for so long, their bitter rivalry that lost more of it's meaning with every passing sunset.

He wouldn't claim to understand all of this, but he wouldn't hate it either - after all, this was a chance to find a supposed member of his kin and free himself of a vermin horde menace.

"If ye speak truth - know that ye shall have a home here." He said with a slight smile, his paw held out to seal the deal in a warrior's handshake - at the wrists.

[Luna Broadsword]

""Evenin' Sigurd," Luna greeted curtly. She had noticed the fox earlier, but if she was uncomfortable with his presence, she gave no indication. She watched his reaction, noticing the smile that had crept over his face. She wondered if the news was the cause.

Luna listened to what he said without comment. She wasn't sure what to make of this whole thing herself. She'd expected to enter the mountain as its conquerer, not as an ally. Now she was leaving it completely, after aiding in its defense and the destruction of its enemies. Perhaps fate had decided against her war... It was no longer important though. New plans were about to be put into motion. Might as well end things with a bit of grace.

"Aye, twas a pleasure ta cross blades both against an' with ya." She said, letting a smile cross her face. It didn't quite make its way to her eyes. "I may take ya up on tha' one day... If there is nothin' else ya'd like to speak of..."

[Ashstripe]

The Badger let his glance slip to the left in a sign of discomfort, concealing it behind a glance at the fox whom had interrupted their exchange. To say this was different was an understatement, diplomacy was something he considered over-rated and had never even thought of as a possibility. But stranger things had happened in these turbulent times.

Nevermind the rediscovery of his kinsman.

His lips parted but no words were set free for a moment, caught in his throat by his self-conscious image - he wasn't sure what else he could add. She was a foe and now she wasn't, like the flip of a coin. Just like that. Who could blame him for not quite coming to terms with it all?

"N..No," He readjusted his tone and regained the remnants of his imposing manner, "There be nothing else. Farewell and...Good luck, Luna."

"Now then, Sigurd was it? We leave on the morrow." He said without missing a beat, finding himself with a new sense of purpose and energy, "We have much to discuss, but until then, rest well friend."

[Sigurd]

"The morrow it is....", Sigurd said, and then in a phantom-like motion, vanished.