Watching and Waiting

[mioka]

Elito felt a shiver run down his back as a bird called directly overhead. He hoped with all his heart it wasn't a crow.
His companion pushed him ahead gently. "Go on ahead," she said. "It's just a bird."
Elito turned to look at her. "Maia, maybe we should camp outside these woods. I don't like it here."
Maia smiled. "Then we'll do that," she said. "If that's what you want."
He smiled back at her. "I think we'll reach the mountain soon. I heard there's a gang of rats that live there; maybe they know about... you know."
The two squirrels pressed on, trying to ignore the dark, threatening atmosphere of the forest.
Elito ran spotted the peak of the mountain just towering over the horizon. "We're almost there," He grinned, running on ahead into the trees.
Maia lagged behind, rubbing a bit of dried blood off the gigantic double-bladed axe she'd slung over her shoulder. She wasn't enjoying this trip, and could only hope they'd be getting somewhere with less scary trees soon. Like any squirrel, she greatly enjoyed climbing, but put it off while they were in such an unfriendly place. Who knew what kind of terrifying birds lurked in the branches above them.
She smiled again and began walking. But it would all be worth it if she got to shed some vermin blood, although she felt sorry Elito wouldn't get what he was looking for.

[suicune]

(first post with Asther. )

High above the gloomy black and green canopy of the Northern forest, the bat soared quietly through the air, gliding slowly as she watched the crows below flap among the trees, cawing and screeching loudly enough that she could easily hear them from her current altitude. Before her, a massive mountain rose like a fang from the earth below, cutting off the forest abruptly; the bat quickly slowed her speed above the trees and glided down to the canopy.

"Out of the way," she growled at the layer of crows covering the trees; the birds inched only slightly out of the way and she slashed at them with the sharp point of her wing-tip. The claw ripped into the body of one of the crows and knocked it unceremoniously to the side; startled, the rest of the birds took off, leaving their wounded comrade slumped over the tree branch. With a snarl, the bat hooked a claw into the crow's neck and yanked it off the branch, letting it drop onto the forest floor far below with a dull crunch.

As she perched lazily on the newly-won branch, there was a low mumble of voices from the ground below; Asther poked her thin fox-like muzzle through the trees, eyes easily adjusting to the darker light under the canopy as she watched a duo of squirrels marching through the forest. One of them was currently carrying a massive axe over its shoulder. With a flutter of wings, she launched herself into the trees, pushing the boughs out of her way and landing a few feet in front of the squirrels, watching them lazily.

"If there's one thing I hate more then woodlanders," she said irritably, "it's woodlanders with axes."

[mioka]

Maia's face hardened, and quick as a flash she darted forward, her axe at the bat's neck. "If there's one thing I don't like," she said tonelessly, "It's nosy beasts."
Elito gripped her shoulder. "Maia, put the weapon down," he said. "I'm sure we can talk."
When she reluctantly stpped back, Elito cautiously approached the creature. "If you'll excuse me," he said politely, "Who might you be, and what might you be?"

[suicune]

"If there's one thing I don't like, it's nosy beasts."

Asther lifted her lip slightly, exposing her canine teeth in an irritated scowl - before she could reply, however (not that she had a response ready) the other squirrel stepped into the conversation - if you could call it that.

"Maia, put the weapon down. I'm sure we can talk."

If the flying fox had her way, there wouldn't be any talking; as a general rule of thumb, the bat preferred to either leave other beasts alone - something that definately wouldn't happen this time - or fight them. Asther wasn't a big talker. She lowered her wings, pointing the claws on their tips at the duo of squirrels as the one (who wasn't Maia) spoke.

"If you'll excuse me, who might you be, and what might you be?"

"I think I'd like to know your name first, before you know mine, squirrel," she replied harshly, flattening her fox-ears. "As for your other question - I'm a flying fox." Revealing her species would do no harm, as far as she could tell.

[mioka]

Elito bowed. "My name is Elito Wintertree," he smiled. "And this is my lovely companion Maia."
Maia gave the bat a frosty glare and twitched her tail.
"Are you going anywhere?" he continued. "Because we're headed for the mountain on lookout for a band of rats. Have you seen them?"