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Post by ivory on Nov 30, 2009 19:46:59 GMT -5
Marina stuck her tongue out at his back, annoyed at his final words. She was half-way amazed that she'd stayed with him this long. She'd never handled authority figures well and it felt as if he did nothing but boss her around, but then again, her thinking had a tendency to be biased in such a way. She shoved her true thoughts aside and mounted her own horse before following.
The man led them down a steeper, rockier path with every stride and she had to wonder why they'd even come this way in the first place, when they turned another corner. The view was spectacular and the air almost felt as if it sizzled with excitement and daring. She pulled her steed to a stop as she gazed out over the rocky terrain, craning her neck slightly to better see the bottom of the cliffs. She started to nudge her horse foward when a scream broke the air and her wild captivation.
Shrugging over the feeling, she hurried to Monkuta's side.
"This way. The lad's this way." The man's steps were more feverish as he neared his goal and Marina prayed he didn't slip. His horse seemed to have had enough of an excitement today and didn't need a tumple down the side of the rocks, to top it.
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Post by JezusBagels on Dec 4, 2009 19:18:40 GMT -5
Monkuta glanced over the side of the cliff and then at Marina. She seemed to be enjoying the moment. He remembered that feeling. The man kept leading them along towards whoever they were rescuing, though no one was in sight yet. Who was this man? More importantly, why did he know the location of Monkuta's home? It wasn't a place that he'd made easy to find. A fluke, he decided, and shrugged it off.
As they went, this stranger's horse seemed to be getting more and more anxious. It worried Monkuta, but the man seemed oblivious to it. The last thing they needed right now was another person to rescue.
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Post by ivory on Dec 9, 2009 13:44:27 GMT -5
Marina followed her mentor in silence, her eyes trailing the environment around her. Every once in a while, she'd start to nudge her horse in a different direction before realizing what she was doing and nudge her back behind the others. ~ * ~ Joseph gritted his teeth as he tried once again to unsuccessfully move his leg out from beneath the crushing boulder. Now how was he supposed to go about on the raids? His men would never listen to him if he wasn't right there with him. They'd think he'd gone weak. And dammit! Where was his father? He froze, his anger settling for a moment at the sound of horsebeats. |
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Post by JezusBagels on Dec 9, 2009 23:12:26 GMT -5
Monkuta's trained eyes allowed him to spot the man before Marina or the stranger did. He quickly rode on ahead to get closer. Dismounting from Jaeado, he jogged the remaining distance and put his arms at his sides.
"Well, I daresay you're in a bit of trouble here, sir."
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Post by ivory on Dec 10, 2009 17:03:59 GMT -5
Joseph glared at the man above him. "Of course I'm in a predictment," he snapped just as Marina muttered, "Points to Mr. Obvious." He glared at her too before turning on his father. "Who are these people?" His dark eyes were hard and accusing.
The man who'd led them here gave a startled blink as he turned to the ranger and his apprentice before looking back at his son. "Truthfully, I have no idea. I happened to chance upon them in the woods." What he didn't say was that he'd been lost for a few hours before accidentally doing so. He might not be a perfect father role-model, but he still had his pride.
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Post by JezusBagels on Dec 11, 2009 23:58:17 GMT -5
Monkuta, a little wary now from the less than gracious greeting they'd received, closed the remaining distance between himself and the man beneath the rock. He ignored the comments obviously meant to signal him to introduce himself. He looked blankly at the man and then at the rock. It was a very big rock. He gave it a light shove. Nothing. He scratched his chin.
"I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you didn't crawl under there," he said with no lack of chagrin in his voice. "How'd this happen?"
He stepped back and examined the giant rock. It wasn't exactly round. It wouldn't roll; at least... not easily. Perhaps if he pushed and the horses pulled? Possibly. He glanced back at Marina, wondering what she thought of the situation. The man clearly wasn't in peril of dying. At least, not for the moment. Maybe this was a teaching opportunity?
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Mri
Apprentice Scribe
:)
Posts: 207
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Post by Mri on Dec 20, 2009 21:11:50 GMT -5
"We should just leave him. He's rude." Marina glared at the man after having caught Monkuta's glance toward her. But then sighed and began to walk around the rock. "I guess we could help though. If he says please." ~ * ~ Jospeh returned her glare with the same amount of viciousness. That little girl was asking for it and once he got out of here, he was exacting revenge. "Please," he gritted out through his teeth. |
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Post by JezusBagels on Dec 23, 2009 16:18:00 GMT -5
Monkuta smirked. "Well, he said it," he replied. Turning to his apprentice, he continued, "So, what do you think, princess? How do we get our new friend out his predicament?" He crossed his arms, symbolically cutting himself off from the situation. Marina had to know that it was her problem to solve. Besides, it's not like he had any great ideas at the moment. It would give him time to think.
Monkuta looked back at the man under the boulder and raised a curious brow. He looked eerily familiar. Had they met before? No... The man would recognize him. Where had Monkuta seen his face? He squinted, concentrating. He hated moments like these.
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Mri
Apprentice Scribe
:)
Posts: 207
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Post by Mri on Dec 23, 2009 21:37:45 GMT -5
Marina did her best impression of a snobbish upperclassman, staring down her nose at him before saying quite matter-of-factly. "I say we just cut off his leg and be done with it."
The father's mouth dropped open at that, but she ignored his attempted sputterings of denial. She simply gave him a perfected glare to silence him before turning to Monkuta with an air of boredom.
Of course, she wouldn't actually go for cutting off the poor chap's leg, but let him squirm a bit, teach him some manners for it was obviously clear he was in need of some. Hmpf.
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Post by JezusBagels on Dec 24, 2009 19:41:43 GMT -5
Monkuta scratched his chin, honestly considering the prospect of amputating the man's legs. He almost went with it but, seeing the expression on the man's face, decided against it. With a deep exhale, he sat down near the man. Just out of arm's length, now wary of his familiarity.
"Tell me," he began, scrutinizing the man's features. "Ignoring the fact that you never did tell me how this happened, how would you get yourself out from under the rock, were you in my position? It isn't exactly the simplest of problems to be solved."
He was putting more thought into recognizing the man than helping him now. It was on the tip of his tongue.
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Mri
Apprentice Scribe
:)
Posts: 207
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Post by Mri on Dec 24, 2009 19:51:37 GMT -5
Joseph glared at the man, wondering if he worked for the King or some other criminal association. Whatever the case, he doubted he was a normal civilian; and what was with that little brat? He sent a scowl her way too before answering Monkuta's question.
"I'd figure out a way to lift the damn rock."
"Joseph, now don't cuss at them," his father started to protest before catching his son's eye and swallowing his next words. He'd always been afraid of his boy, but he'd made a promise to his late wife to keep him safe. He mumbled a half apology at the ground and stood quietly off to the side as his face burned in embarassment.
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Post by JezusBagels on Dec 24, 2009 19:58:57 GMT -5
Monkuta nodded, chuckling. "Now, now. No need for hostility. You're absolutely right. We need to find a way to lift the damn rock," he said, using the same inflection that the stranger had used to create a mocking tone. He stood up, dusting off his pants.
"However," he continued, placing one hand on the side of the boulder, "it is, as you can see... a very big rock. Also very jagged. One man cannot move such a fine piece of stone."
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Mri
Apprentice Scribe
:)
Posts: 207
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Post by Mri on Dec 24, 2009 20:12:36 GMT -5
"Then get out of here. I'll do it myself," he snapped with an exhale of air. Of course, there was no way he actually could do it himself, but he wasn't about to put up with this crap. He had a deal to make by tonight and damn it, he was running out of time... ~ * ~ "You heard him Monkuta, we're not needed here." Marina turned to leave, even as her mind thought at the challenge. How would they move it...if of course, they wanted to? The man didn't seem to be in any pain so she doubted it was actually on it. Probably just had it trapped between another rock or something...Maybe they could haul it off with help from their horses? But they'd have to go get some rope unless the older one had some on him. Or maybe by the time they got back he'd save them all the trouble by getting eaten by coyotes or something. Hmm... |
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Post by JezusBagels on Dec 24, 2009 20:21:43 GMT -5
Monkuta shrugged shook his head. "You go, Marina. Head to town and get some strong men to help push. I need to have a little chat with our new friend," he said over his shoulder at her. He sat down again and crossed his legs, remaining carefully out of arm's reach. He stared intently at the man's face.
Then he remembered the old man. "Go with her. You'll remember the way back and she won't," he said loudly, turning to him. It was a joke, even if she would take it offensively. A sense of humor was important to have in their line of work.
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Mri
Apprentice Scribe
:)
Posts: 207
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Post by Mri on Dec 24, 2009 20:55:28 GMT -5
Marina was miffed that he'd actually go with her idea. She didn't want to go to town and miss all the action, but then she doubted anything would happen while she was gone. After all, the guy was stuck. Though she didn't want to miss seeing him get eaten if it actually happened...though then again, she wasn't just about to argue with Monkuta over her own suggestion.
Giving an inward sigh, she gave a nod and turned back toward her mount.
"Go with her. You'll remember the way back and she won't."
She glared at his back, then stuck her tongue out, her own manners be damned. But she waited for the man's father regardless and as they headed back to town, she was glad the man was with her. She really didn't remember the way back. She hadn't been paying much attention on the ride up here and had too much pride to stoop down and look for their signs of passing while Monkuta was still within eyesight.
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