1 on 1 thing

[touchofdeath]

[Part of the problem with being a swordsman for hire is that you get the absolute shittiest jobs imaginable. They might pay well, but all the money in the world doesn't change the fact that you're trekking through calf-deep mud in a swampy forest to find one stupid bird for some rich idiot who has never even been in a field, let alone a swamp.

To say Michael is annoyed would be an understatement.

He knows he is being led around. He has circled past this same tree at least five times, and he's considering making a mark on it every time he passes it. Whatever is in this forest with him, it's leading him on a wild goose chase, and his temper is growing shorter with each turn.

But he is going to get that stupid bird. Michael is too determined, he won't give up when so many gold coins have been dangled in front of his nose. Even if this is frustrating beyond belief, he won't give up.

He just doesn't expect there to be nature spirits leading him astray.]

Comments

[naturale]

[There's probably some rule against messing with humans and other outsiders just for the hell of it, but if there is, that rule sucks. Besides, it's so much fun to watch them steadily get more and more furious every time she leads them in a circle.

She has to fight the urge to giggle, remaining unseen in the brush as she throws her voice, mimicking the bird's call from a ways in front of him. And then she'll lead him around and back, like always.

She's so enjoying it, that is, that she doesn't realize she's about to step on some dried twigs.

Crack.]

[touchofdeath]

[Michael had been following that bird's call for ages, but the moment he hears a twig snap, he whips around.

Someone else is out here. Michael doesn't know who or what, but he's not alone.

Frowning, Michael turns and carefully walks in the direction of where he heard the snap, watching carefully for any movement. If something's out there, then he's determined to see what it is.]

[naturale]

[Elins' skill at concealment in the forest isn't anything supernatural; they're petite, light-footed and instinctively know how to stay out of sight, but they can't turn invisible or direct someone's gaze elsewhere.

So, when she hears the twig snap under her feet, Lelyn freezes, hoping the human isn't going to turn around... except he does.

Crap.

She holds perfectly still in the shadow of a tree, hoping he won't see her.]

[touchofdeath]

[Frowning, Michael looks over the area behind him, trying to see something that he isn't entirely sure is even there. He's sure he heard something, but was it really a person, or whatever? Could it have been an animal?

Michael decides to test this idea.]

If you come out now, I promise I won't hurt you.

[No promises for if he has to chase down whoever it is, though. His voice does not sound particularly welcoming, either.]

[naturale]

[Like hell she's going to come out right now. She's been leading this guy around on a wild bird chase for what, two hours at this point? He's as likely to throttle her as anything else. So she backs into the shadows, ducking behind a frond--

--only to realize with horror that it's a blooming puffshade frond. And her breath, quiet and slight as it is, is disturbing the puffs.

She can't hold back the sneeze.]