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Post by RacingBelle on Feb 3, 2011 13:53:30 GMT -5
(Rab/Adriane)
A small cloaked figure, a Ranger's apprentice, rode her bay horse on the trail that would lead them to her mentor's cabin. Followed closely by a black dog that if you flipped him on his back had a white underbelly. The girl was new to the Ranger's Corps, Adriane didn't even have a official mentor. This was about to change, though. Crowley had finally assigned Rab Streamflag to 'officially' be her mentor. The Ranger that had accompanied her so far on her trip had said good bye last night, riding back to his own assignment, and she was left alone to met her mentor. This made Adriane feel a little nervous, but perhaps that was from her location. She looked around, surveying her surroundings looking for just the slightest sign that something wasn't right. Not for one second was Adriane's guard let down. The Mountains of Rain and Night still made her skin crawl lightly. Why would anyone want to live up here? Adriane thought. Now that Morgarath was defeated though, this place seemed less dangerous, less...forbidding. Bolder let out a growl. Lightning's chest rumbled, both animals signaling that there was something out there, whether it be friend or foe to Adriane.
"Shush, boys. I'm pretty sure that this stranger is a friend." Adriane soothed, stroking Lightning's neck and giving a hand signal to Bolder. A cabin came into view Adriane view.
"Ranger Streamflag?" Adriane called out loud yet there was a tentative note to it. What would Rab Streamflag be like? He sounded nice enough, for a Ranger that is. Silent questions raced through Adriane's mind wanting to be answered.
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Post by Firehead on Feb 3, 2011 14:27:15 GMT -5
Rab Streamflag sat on the porch of his small cabin, whittling away at a piece of wood. He was awaiting the arrival of his new apprentice. His apprentice--that sounded strange when applied to himself. He'd never had one before, she would be his first. he hid his emotions well, but behind the calm outer mask, he was nerveous, wondering what she would be like--would they get along?
How would she handle living in a fief so close to the Mountains of Rain and Night? Most people were nerveous about being anywhere near the mountains, but Rab was....well, I guess you could say, curious. He wasn't fazed by the erie tales and legend about the mountains, nor by the strange sounds or beasts that he sometimes spotted roaming the heights.
And then of course, there was the solitude. Being so close to the Mountains, the fief was rather sparse in human population. On any ordinary day, Rab had more beastial companionship than human, and not just from his horse. Rab smiled slightly, looking up to watch Windtreader as the horse grazed in the center of the small clearing near the stable. When Rab went exploring in the Mountains, the horse had it easy--he never went. Not since his first year in the fief, anyway. The horse had been attacked by some sort of wild animal and bolted, leaving Rab to hoof it home on foot. From that time forward, Rab had learned that if he valued his horses health, it was best to leave it home when he went off on an expedition into the Mountains.
The sound of hoofbeats coming up the trail reached his ears, at the same time as a voice called, "Ranger Streamflag?" It sounded young and tentative. Rab stood, sheathing his knife, and stepped to the edge of the veranda. "Here."
The rider wore the Ranger cloak, hood up, so Rab couldn't really tell what she looked like. She was on the small side though, he could see that much, and rode a bay horse that appeared to have something of a personality. Trotting along beside the horse and rider was a black dog. Rab leaned casually against the porch post on his right side, a vantage point where he could get a good view of the rider the dog. As always, he kept his left arm free of hindrance, just in case not all was as it seemed.
As the rider approached, Rab added, "Welcome."
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Post by RacingBelle on Feb 3, 2011 14:44:53 GMT -5
Adriane heard the Ranger's voice for the first time. She stopped Lightning and dismounted, cuing him to follow her the rest of the way. Bolder came and sat placidly by her side once the pair stopped, looking at Rab with a curious expression. Lightning nickered a greeting to the other horse, only half paying attention to his rider and the stranger, as Adriane let her dark brown eyes wander over the other Ranger that leaned against the porch. Curly brown hair, blue eyes, tan skin, and just the typical Ranger air was about him. Realizing with a start that her cowl was covering her face, Adriane threw back the hood. It would be nice for her mentor to actually see her face, no?
" Thank you. I'm Adriane, sir." Adriane said. She wasn't sure of what else to call him other than Ranger Steamflag. "This is Lightning and Bolder." Adriane gave a slight nod to each of them as she said their names. Bolder barked at his name while Lightning only flicked an ear to her.
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Post by Firehead on Feb 3, 2011 15:17:26 GMT -5
The rider dismounted and walked forward the rest of the way, stopping once she'd reached the porch and tossing back her hood. Dark brown eyes and hair of the same color met his gaze as he looked her over. She looked rather fragile and petite, but Rab knew from experience that that didn't necessarily mean she was.
" Thank you. I'm Adriane, sir."
"You can call me Rab. It's been awhile since anyone's used my last name--and it's a mouthful." he added with a half-shrug and a small upward quirk of his lips.
"This is Lightning and Bolder."
Rab gave another slow smile as he observed the animals' reactions. Bolder appeared to be a very energetic type, with a lot of enthusiasm. Rab took a step off the porch and bent to get acquainted with the dog as he gestured vaguely toward his own mount, who had stopped grazing and was watching the newcomers with interest. "That's Windtreader."
It occurred to him for the first time that Crowley may have had an ulterior motive for assigning Rab an apprentice--other than the ones he'd specified in the short note he'd sent. Like, perhaps, getting him to talk more? He wasn't used to talking a whole lot, preferring that others do it, unless he was the only one to do so--like now. "How was the trip?" he asked. "Didn't run into any trouble?" He realized that her horse might be tired or at the least hungery, and rose, gesturing for her to follow. "You can tell me about it as we get your horse taken care of." he added.
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Post by RacingBelle on Feb 3, 2011 15:38:32 GMT -5
Adriane nodded slowly. Rab seemed like he didn't talked too much, neither did she at first. Even then Adriane tended not to speak too much.
"How was the trip?" Rab asked. "Didn't run into any trouble?" Then he added "You can tell me about it as we get your horse taken care of." Rab motioned for her to follow him and that she did.
"It was fine. No trouble at all. Rather uneventful if you asked me. Lightning or Bolder would have alerted me if anything was crawling around, though." Adriane replied, starting to look after Lightning. "Don't get yourself in too much trouble. I mean it." Adriane whispered sternly to her horse. "You too." She added to Bolder. With a quick pat for each Adriane let the two wander off. Lightning bucked and galloped over to where Windtreader was, even when he reached the horse he didn't stop. Being restricted to walking and trotting left Lightning full of energy, so he was eager to show off and get rid of some energy in the process. Adriane groaned softly. Leave it to Lightning to find some way gallop around like his tail was on fire. Bolder started to sniff the ground a short distance away, reluctant to leave Adriane yet.
"Nice horse." Adriane looked to where Windtreader was looking at them. The horse didn't seem as high spirited as Lightning could act most of the time. "So what's been going on around here? It seems like a good place to be if you like peace and quiet." Adriane had a mind for adventure and traveling but already she was starting to warm to this place. The mountains didn't seem so off with another human being around.
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Post by Firehead on Feb 3, 2011 16:01:15 GMT -5
"It was fine. No trouble at all. Rather uneventful if you asked me. Lightning or Bolder would have alerted me if anything was crawling around, though." Adriane replied, starting to look after Lightning. "Don't get yourself in too much trouble. I mean it." Adriane whispered sternly to her horse. "You too." She added to Bolder.
Rab gave a nod as he watched her care for Lightning. Looked like she took good care of her horse--that was good. It meant one less thing for him to teach her about being a Ranger. She turned her horse loose, and Rab looked on as Lightning galloped over to Windtreader, who'd gone back to grazing. Windtreader threw his head up as Lightning approached, eying his new pasturemate skeptically. Then as if deciding that this new horse was alright after all, he wheeled away and took off at a run around the clearing. "Looks like they'll get along at least."
"Nice horse."
"Thanks." Rab reverted to silence as he watched the horses for a moment longer.
"So what's been going on around here? It seems like a good place to be if you like peace and quiet."
"I do, but there's not so much of that around here as you'd likely think, what with there not being many people around." Turning, he faced Adriane. "There's two kinds of trouble around here--humans and beasts. Most other fiefs have human trouble. We here have more of the bestial kind. It gets interesting at times." he finished. "Bring your gear and we'll get you settled into your room." he said, heading back in that direction.
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Post by RacingBelle on Feb 3, 2011 16:52:43 GMT -5
"I do, but there's not so much of that around here as you'd likely think, what with there not being many people around." Rab turned to face Adriane. "There's two kinds of trouble around here--humans and beasts. Most other fiefs have human trouble. We here have more of the bestial kind. It gets interesting at times.Bring your gear and we'll get you settled into your room." he said, heading back to the cabin.
Adriane listened closely to Rab, grabbing what little belongings she had decided to bring and following him once more. She didn't want to miss something important about her new home. Adriane's eyes darted nervously back to Windtreader and Lightning. They did seem to get along all right... I just hope that Lightning doesn't get Windtreader to join him in some kind of horsey prank. Adriane smiled, just a small, slight smile. "I guess having beastie problems beats having human ones. Adriane commented. She had once battled alongside some Araluen soldiers and a lady knight with her warriors against some Scotti bandits. It had been a tough fight, being out numbered and all the other complications you faced in the process. Facing warriors like that or similar to them didn't have too much of an appeal at the moment. "What type of animals have you dealt with up here anyway? It doesn't seem much lives up here. Other than Wargals and Kalkara at one time. Plus your regular game animals." Bolder circled Adriane, panting excitedly.
"Stay Bolder. You know the rules." The dog whined but wandered off as Adriane followed Rab into the cabin.
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Post by Firehead on Feb 4, 2011 8:07:16 GMT -5
"I guess having beastie problems beats having human ones. Adriane commented.
Rab grimaced at that. "I suppose it all depends on the type of beast we're having trouble with."
"What type of animals have you dealt with up here anyway? It doesn't seem much lives up here. Other than Wargals and Kalkara at one time. Plus your regular game animals."
"The Kalkara are gone, thanks to Halt, Gilian and Will, yes--that just leaves us with Wargals, the occasional rabid bear or insane wild boar, black wolves--not your typical wolf, mind you-- and some beasts that I have never even heard of much less seen before. Here," he said, entering the cabin and pointing to the nearest of two doors, "this room is yours." he pointed at the other door. "That one's mine, " he gestured to the room they were currently standing in. "and this is the rest, other than the celler." he pointed toward the trapdoor in the floor on the far wall near the potbellied stove. "It's not much, but it's home." He turned to face her once more. "Any questions?"
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Post by RacingBelle on Feb 4, 2011 10:33:06 GMT -5
"The Kalkara are gone, thanks to Halt, Gilian and Will, yes--that just leaves us with Wargals, the occasional rabid bear or insane wild boar, black wolves--not your typical wolf, mind you-- and some beasts that I have never even heard of much less seen before. Here," he said, entering the cabin and pointing to the nearest of two doors, "this room is yours." he pointed at the other door. "That one's mine, " he gestured to the room they were currently standing in. "and this is the rest, other than the celler." he pointed toward the trapdoor in the floor on the far wall near the potbellied stove. "It's not much, but it's home." He turned to face her once more. "Any questions?"
The cabin was small but Adriane was used to it. The cabin already felt like home away from home. This was a Ranger's life and Adriane was thrilled to finally have a mentor that, it looked as if, they would get along. Adriane's smile grew into a grin. "No sir--Rab."
Adriane walked over to her room and put her pack on her bed. Adriane would unpack everything later. Then she walked out again. "What's a typical day around here? Um...I mean what's next?" Adriane asked. She started to finger the hilt of her Saxe knife, like she did when she was thinking or bored.
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Post by Firehead on Feb 4, 2011 11:00:51 GMT -5
"No sir--Rab."
"Alright then. Stow your gear." Rab turned away and went back outside. Seating himself as he had been when Adriane'd first arrived, he resumed his whittling. A few minutes later, Adriane joined him.
"What's a typical day around here? Um...I mean what's next?"
Rab looked up at with with a frown. "I thought you didn't have any questions." he continued to look at her for another couple of seconds, then turned back to his whittling, "It all depends. Mostly it depends on the wether." he paused in his whittling and looked at the sky. "Sometimes, when a blizzard hits, nothing happens; other times it's a beautiful morning outside and Wargals decide to come for a visit and then everything happens." he resumed his carving, shaving slivers of wood off the stick he held in his hands. "As I said, it all depends."
He was silent for a moment, busy with his knife, then he stilled as a thought struck him, and he paused to think it over. After another moments' silence, he looked back up at her. "Might be handy to see how well aquainted with your weapons you are--get your bow, and meet me back of the cabin. Bring your knives to." he rose from his seat and stepped around her to reach just inside the doorway where he kept his own bow and quiver. Slinging his quiver over his shoulder and carryling his bow in his hand, he headed around back where the practice range was located. After checking the targets as he always did, out of habit, he walked back to the starting line and gave Adriane a nod. "Okay, just start shooting--fast as you can as accurately as you can--and we'll see how you do."
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Post by RacingBelle on Feb 4, 2011 14:08:49 GMT -5
Rab looked up at with with a frown. "I thought you didn't have any questions." he continued to look at her for another couple of seconds, then turned back to his whittling, "It all depends. Mostly it depends on the weather." he paused in his whittling and looked at the sky. "Sometimes, when a blizzard hits, nothing happens; other times it's a beautiful morning outside and Wargals decide to come for a visit and then everything happens." he resumed his carving, shaving slivers of wood off the stick he held in his hands. "As I said, it all depends."
Adriane looked down. It was true she had asked a question when she said that she didn't have one. Oops. Adriane thought. "Sorry." Adriane mumbled.
Rab was silent for a moment, doing something with his knife but it looked at if he might be thinking something over. Adriane waited patiently. Finally Rab spoke.
"Might be handy to see how well acquainted with your weapons you are--get your bow, and meet me back of the cabin. Bring your knives to." He rose from his seat and stepped around Adriane to reach just inside the doorway where he kept his own bow and quiver. Adriane's bow was already on her back, as it usually was, so she just checked it over quickly and jogged after Rab. Adriane stopped and watched as Rab checked the targets over. Then he gave a nod.
"Okay, just start shooting--fast as you can as accurately as you can--and we'll see how you do."
Adriane nodded back, stretched the bow string back once then nocked an arrow picking one target and firing quickly before reaching back for another arrow with practiced ease. As fast as I can... Adriane didn't bother to take too much aim just enough to make sure the arrow would hit the selected target where she wanted, or at least close. If it landed in the bull's eye, good. If it landed near it even better. Any where else and the girl would mentally scold herself. Adriane was enjoying herself, as she always did when she was shooting her bow. Adriane stopped for a moment, to look at the targets. Most of the arrows had hit where they were suppose to but a few of them landed short or went past the target. Adriane looked to Rab, did he want her to stop? Then Adriane put another arrow on the string and fired, getting back into that rhythm of nock, aim, fire, look briefly where it hit, and then repeat everything again.
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Post by Firehead on Feb 4, 2011 14:19:13 GMT -5
She shot well for someone with only a month's training with the bow. Rab looked on as arrow after arrow made either a direct hit or struck close enough to not make much of a difference. There was still some definite room for improvement in markmanship and speed, but the way she handled the bow was fine.
When there were three arrows left in her quiver, Rab reached out and laid a hand lightly on her shoulder, indicating that she should stop. "Enough. You do well with a bow. Room for improvement, but very good for an apprentice of your status. Fetch your arrows and then we'll see how well you can throw those knives of yours."
He paused a moment, then removing his hand from its resting place on her shoulder, asked, "How long have you used a bow for?"
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Post by RacingBelle on Feb 4, 2011 14:58:36 GMT -5
Adriane was reaching back for another arrow when she felt Rab's hand on her shoulder. "Enough. You do well with a bow. Room for improvement, but very good for an apprentice of your status. Fetch your arrows and then we'll see how well you can throw those knives of yours."
"Alright." There was only three arrows left in the quiver. No wonder it felt light.
Adriane jogged out to the targets to retrieve her arrows. It didn't take long, this was all a ritual by now after being an apprentice for a month. Adriane walked back to Rab, waiting for further instruction. "How long have you used a bow for?" Rab asked.
"My father taught me how to hunt with a bow when I was eight. Though I've never shot as fast nor as accurately as Ranger's usually shoot." Adriane replied after a moment of thought. Her father had raised her with little to no help from other females, so of course he would teach Adriane how to use a bow and hunt with it. Adriane scuffed the dirt with the toe of her boot. "I have to warn you, I'm not very good with these knives yet."
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Post by Firehead on Feb 7, 2011 8:50:47 GMT -5
"My father taught me how to hunt with a bow when I was eight. Though I've never shot as fast nor as accurately as Ranger's usually shoot."
"You do well enough, and you will learn to shoot faster with accuracy. If you don't," he added, with a hint of amusement, "I'll be a very disappointed Ranger. Let's see those knives in action."
Adriane scuffed the dirt with the toe of her boot. "I have to warn you, I'm not very good with these knives yet."
Rab gave her another slow, thoughtful smile, and gestured toward the targets. "Nevertheless, let's see what you can do."
He made her throw the knives several times while he watched her, checking her technique which, while wobbly and rough, was sound nonetheless. Afterwords, after a quick glance up at the sky, he announced that it was time for supper. "I hope you know how to cook. After a while, one tends to tire of their own cooking and I'm no different. But if you can't cook, I think I can stand my own cooking another five or six days while you learn."
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Post by RacingBelle on Feb 7, 2011 18:22:21 GMT -5
"You do well enough, and you will learn to shoot faster with accuracy. If you don't," he added, with a hint of amusement, "I'll be a very disappointed Ranger. Let's see those knives in action." Rab gave her another slow, thoughtful smile, and gestured toward the targets. "Nevertheless, let's see what you can do."
Adriane nodded at this. She hoped that she would not let him down. Adriane didn't doubt that she wouldn't, already she could tell that she was more accurate and faster than she was when she first started her Ranger training. Adriane did as she was told, noting that thoughtful smile. The girl concentrated hard giving it her all, even though her knife throwing skills were no where near as good as her bow skills. Adriane knew that over time, with lots of practice, it would become easier and her throwing would become more accurate, same as the bow. When Rab annouced it was time for supper, Adriane realized that she was getting a little bit hungry. Though hunger starts to grow from the time you realize that your hungry to the time that your actually eating your meal.
"I hope you know how to cook. After a while, one tends to tire of their own cooking and I'm no different. But if you can't cook, I think I can stand my own cooking another five or six days while you learn."
Adriane smiled sadly. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Rab, but...no I don't know how to cook. I'm kinda the one who caught the game or brought the ingredients, Father cooked it. Though I'll do my best if you teach me."
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