Jennifer
*Sivne, on the otherhand, did accept the drink. She took the waterskin and chugged a bit of it before handing it back, clearing her throat. Once she'd done everything she needed to she sat down in the entrance of her tent.* "Mmh. We'll try to meet the warlords while here."
Brent
*Seeing the drink accepted seemed to cheer him up. At least someone wasnt drinking healing potions only... Probably best to have a discussion with Carlyn about that later.*

*Thoughts aside he got back to preparing a fire. Just throwing twigs and sticks in a pile and chuckling thin shavings of kindling on haphazardly. Still being light out though he decided to wait to light it for whenever it begins to get dark. With that final chore done he laid himself down on the ground with a sigh*

"They cant be f-far off no?" *He rolled over slightly so as to face the others*
Jennifer
"Must be close. We'll find the way easy enough." *She grunted and rubbed her neck, her eyes glancing to the twk of them.* "Mmh... Trail rations, can't wait." *She said sarcastically.*
Norma
Didnt realize with noooo ping

Carlyn quietly closed her book, wiping the ink off of her quill into a leaf and tossing it aside before putting away both the ink jar and the quill itself.
Seems she had finally finished what she was doing.

*"I go where you go,"* She replied back, which truthbetold was almost a motto for her at this point. Only, for once she finally had something to say about it.

*"I do wonder how long we'll be out here for, though. And, I don't just mean out here on the field, but... Fighting in a war we're not apart of. Granted, I guess we're a part of it now, but... I know war goes on for years, sometimes. Will we be fighting here for that long..? Surely not, right?"*
Jennifer
Carlyn quietly closed her book, wiping the ink off of her quill into a leaf and tossing it aside before putting away both the ink jar and the quill itself. Seems she had finally finished what she was doing. *"I go where you go,"* She replied back, which truthbetold was almost a motto for her at this point. Only, for once she finally had something to say about it. *"I do wonder how long we'll be out here for, though. And, I don't just mean out here on the field, but... Fighting in a war we're not apart of. Granted, I guess we're a part of it now, but... I know war goes on for years, sometimes. Will we be fighting here for that long..? Surely not, right?"*

"Assuming things go the way I plan for them to, we won't be out here all that long. Mmh.. Why, getting tired of Mentia? Want to move on from this country and try our luck somewhere else?" *She asked, quite curious as to if Carlyn was getting tired of Mentia.*
Brent
*He chuckled at the quip about trail rations. Salted meat, dried fruits, and stone hard bread did seem daunting but at least they had a lot of it. He didnt seem too phased by the thought of going long on such foods. He did think about how he could help supplement such basic food stuffs with game and wild veg and greens from the forest.* 

"Hmm I can always go hunt-ting. We'll be fine"

 *As the topic of the war came up he stopped thinking about food and paid attention. It was something to listen to for certain. He looked between Sivne and Carlyn as they spoke and he wondered what each of their thoughts were. Part of him felt worried that the fighting indeed may go on.* 

"I mean... If it goes on too long we can always leave?"
Norma
Carlyn hummed, giving a huff of amusement at the idea of getting *Bored* Of Mentia.
She shook her head and said, *"No, that's not it. I left Kadho to explore anywhere that* Wasn't *Kadho, and I'd say I've done a good job of that thus far travelling with you guys. But, I've just got this... Pit in my stomach, I guess."*

She paused for a moment and looked at Shaw.
A muddled sigh was given, and she looked back to Sivne and gave her a bit of an explanation in Hasaapian, before translating it back for Shaw - though leaving out some details.
**"I worry about him more than any of us, too. He's reckless. Not that... We aren't, but he's different. I worry about it, and well... Now I've got to worry about you and Sonja, too, after seeing what happened yesterday."**
-
*"I'm worried one of us will get hurt one of these days, is all. Not that we don't already, but I mean...* Seriously *Hurt."*
Jennifer
*Sivne rolled her eyes and rubbed her neck.* "We'll be fine. Look at me, that was a close shave with death and all that did was piss me off." *She played off the gravity of the situation, an inch to the left and she'd have died.* "We're all good fighters, those bastards just tried their hardest to kill me and we still won."
Brent
*He raised an eyebrow at the Hasaapian talk. His expression quite obviously not happy that discussion he cant understand is still going on. He just rolled his eyes and assumed some level of privacy was wanted for this topic. He was after all just a rookie and the newest member. He didnt find such behaviour surprising but he couldnt help but feel a twang of pain at being excluded.*

*Once he was given a response in Silnari his expression did seem calmer though still annoyed.* "A risk of the job" *He shrugged and didnt wish to add more than that. *
Norma
*"I suppose, and... Well, I realised yesterday as I killed that man that... Within reason, that man could've been any of us in the exact same circumstance. He was hired to do a job, and so were we. It rattles me more so because I had to come to terms with the fact that any of us could do, and not so much that I realised I* Had *To kill. It's just... The price of doing business, I guess."*

She scoffed, and looked at Sivne and shook her head.
Nothing was said in response, but she wasn't terribly amused with how quickly the bull was willing to downplay the situation they had been in. But that wasn't terribly important. She knew Sivne recognised the danger of it, too. A close shave with death, she called it. And indeed, that's what it was.
Jennifer
"He was a squire. He was training under that knight and would've done the same things that he was doing. We're mercs, we fight for money, but we all have our own plans and goals. A squire only plans on showing off for their knight." *She clearly had no moral issues with mass squire death, shrugging.* "Mmh.. Never understood you people, Sonja too. I get the impression that you hate slaverers more than murderers."
Brent
*Shaw started to shake his head at Carlyns words. He didnt look surprised or contrarian but he did seem to disagree with something she said.* 

"No one HAS to die... H-he could of been let go." 

*Emphasising the has he tries to make his thoughts clear. He did think she was right about him having a job and how roles could have been reversed. But dying wasn't a necessary truth in his mind*
Norma
*"I'm not entirely sure if I could decide which I hate more. They're equally as guilty of revoking the freedom of man."*
Carlyn had replied in a seemingly light-hearted manner, although she still had that solemn inflection in her voice. Whatever the case, a small talk certainly had helped a bit to cope with the current circumstances they were under. Since the beginning of their time in the war, it had been rough for the dog, who had gone from never having fought a man with the intent to kill, to having killed both actively on the battlefield.

*"Ultimately, we don't have to. It's to the choice of each individual soldier. But in times of war, from what I've heard of stories of veterans and naval captains who pass through my shop, that all hearts beat to the same rhythm. The rhythm of slaughter. So, while we may not have to... We... Still pretty much have to, otherwise it's our lives first."*
Brent
*He sighed and just shook his head still. He didnt seem swayed but he did stop speaking any objections. He just pulled his knees to his chest and glumly rested his chin on his knees. Talk of killing and slaughter certainly didnt seem to bring the most happy atmosphere he thought. Eyes looking up he started to wonder wether he should light the fire yet. It was certainly getting dark enough he thought. Hard to tell with nightvision though.*
Jennifer
"The squire had to die. He heard too much after the fight was over, could've heard our names too. This whole trip out is supposed to be deniable, no one is supposed to know we were here." *She shuffled back into her tent and laid down to rest.* "Never met so many mercs with a moral dilemma before."
Brent
*With that last comment he decided best to get to lighting the fire. May lighten the mood to have the warmth and light. It took him a few attempts to work the flint and steel properly but soon a spark lit the kindling and with a little care and attention the fire started to grow. Once that was done he started smiling again. Leaning back in the grass and looking up joyfully at the sky.* 

"Hmm maybe after a few more missions a trip s-somewhere nice could happen. A little holiday"
Norma
*"Aye, I know, that's why I killed him. Still, I'm not terribly happy about it, but... It almost felt deserved. Like I was doing something that was meant to be."*
Carlyn thought for a moment and grimaced at that realisation, casting it aside and shaking her head.

*"I agree. We've not particularly got a good break since we met up. Of course, there was the time we all part ways for a few weeks after the Teichmuller called us off, but... I mean, I went right back to working, and I assume you and Sonja did too. So, yeah, when we finish up here? Good, long break after."*
Jennifer
"Anywhere in mind? I might go east, never been past Mentia." *She admitted, considering things. She pulled out a small map she had, holding it up above her as she remained laying on her back.* "Mm... Where might be fun.."
Brent
*Shaw smiles at the thought of travelling more but something Carlyn said grabs his attention* "I've n-never seen the ocean. So coast maybe... By the way. Why the name? Teichmuller?" 

*His eyes however wandered over to the map Sivne was looking at. Half tempted to go look at it but best not. He tried thinking more about places to go.*
Norma
*"Could board us on a ship to Runra, the land of my people. I've been a few times myself - though, I've been almost across the entire world at this point. Business and also bordem. So, reasonably, I could take us anywhere. I've got connections."* Carlyn replied, almost a bit prideful in her connections. It wasn't a big surprise the Dog had friends, and even less of a surprise that she was proud of them. Very... Dog-like.

*"Ahhh, well, Runra would be nice but they aren't terribly fond of foreigners. They like to call them «outsiders» there. I think I could talk my way to them, though."*
The word for outsiders in Runran certainly didn't sound very kind, especially the way she had said it. Spoken like a true native. With malicious dereliction.
Jennifer
"Our first job was at an estate called Teichmuller down in south mentia, small winery, place was invested with mushroom men. Hired to clear them out and keep the place safe." *She hummed and answered Shaw's question.* "Half the runrans i've met, i've killed. Granted i've only met two but still. Mmh... You both should come to the federation. I'll take you back to my tribe."
Brent
*The silnari's eyes opened wide in shock slightly. He seemed in awe at Carlyns claims about having traveled so far and wide.* "Amazing... One day I shall have to see this Runra" 

*Glad to be answered about the Teichmuller question though he looked perplexed at the answer... First job made it more sensible but what a strange word indeed. What he focused on next was the offer of going to the federation though. That put a slightly scared expression on his face.* "I'd like that but... Um Sivne dont your people hate..." *He gestured to his ears, both of which moved slightly as if to emphasise his concern about him being a Silnarian.*
Norma
*"Hatred, no hatred. We're already in a land where racism runs rampant. I don't think it'll matter all too much."*
The dog was ultimately right. Racism was virtually all across the continent, and then beyond that into other continents. It was as much a concern everywhere as it was here - save for in a few places such as merchant towns like Kadho, where diversity was key to their success.

Carlyn got up and walked over the Sivne, sitting and then laying on the ground next to her to look up at the map. She quietly pointed out a few places along the coasts of Runra, Kadho, Irutia, and a few other places, saying, *"If we're going to the beach, those are some of the best places to go."*
Jennifer
*She blinked a little, funnily enough, Sivne had never really conceptualised racism in her mind. It didn't make sense to her, and it wasn't all too common in beastkin culture beside tribal racial rivalries.* "What about you? There's plenty of non-beastkin in the federation. Just because we conquer others doesn't mean we hate them. Mmh." *She sat up and grabbed her breastplate, offering it over to him.* "Our gods are depicted on there." *They were notably all depicted as Macen. She then looked to Carlyn putting at the map.* "Mmh.. I'm not really a beach go-er."
Brent
*He wasnt sure how to respond. He just shrugged and tried to put his thoughts into words.* "I just t-thought cause... Silnari enslave your kind the most"

*He did stop once the breastplate was held out in front of him. At first he looked incredibly confused, once the god depiction part was made clear though he did start looking. He took the large plate, practically a tower shield in his grip and he began studying the artistry. He was slow about it, not recognising any of the gods at first*
Jennifer
"And this is the difference, we think nothing of it. Slavery is the strong enforcing their will on the weak, those who fall are taken as spoils of war. It's nothing to do with race. I've seen just as many Canifor slaves as I have Macen slaves back home." *It depicted most of the Hasapiaan gods in an artistic fashion!*
Brent
*He nodded, only half paying attention now as he was mostly just studying the breastplate. Carefully he put it down, not wanting to risk damaging it at all even despite its purpose being to take blows so Sivne doesnt have to. With that he decided to join the pair in laying down and looking at the map, seemed he didnt want to be left out.*

"Am glad race isnt a factor... I think" *At least they didnt judge races. The casualness of the strong enforcing their will on the weak though seemed worrying. After that worrying thought was over he simply relaxed and looked up at the map in thought.* "Do you not like b-beaches Sivne?"
Jennifer
"Sitting on the beach, mmh. Boring. Only thing its good for is reading, as long as you don't get sand on the pages." *She grumbled, she wasn't a beach kind of person.* "I prefer cultural landmarks."
Brent
"Hmm fair. I think. Hard to say" *He shrugged and looked back to the map.* "Ya know. Itd only a-add a week to the journey to the federation if we w-went..." *He paused for a while, struggling to say so much so quickly.* "Went by my home via the river" *He gestured to the city of Wushjik, a major city in the north of Middle Mentia*