Hilda
```The Forests to Thunush```
Nancy
It was Nature's domain, this forest. The crickets played their instruments and the wolves in the distance called for an infinite encore. Macens had no power here, Water, Fire, Air, ... Or Earth, too used to their habitats of artificiality, too used to comfort, normality. 

`"It's dangerous to go out, especially during the night, for any reason at all."`

These words echoed in his mind, trying to distract him from the cold breeze. He gritted his teeth and tightly shut his eyes.

He was 28, the age where men of his past would lead his tribe and hunt great creatures, risking life and death for the glory of his legacy. Was he not in the right place? 

As cold as the winds could grow, he could feel no warmer, or colder than the death of his passionate soul. Nay, but he would already have climbed out of his grave. He found his soul in the underworld and dragged him back into life through sheer spite and hatred— the cold winds, and the tingles that called "DANGER!" Awakened him. 

Against this cold wind, under the cruel stars who only watched, and for the life ahead of him, Vaulter Juenger, 28, a simple guard of East Mentia carrying its banner on his armour, —be it wrath, be it heroism, be it foolishness, be it **His death**— he picked himself up, and moved forward.
Anthony
"And 1...And 2...And up and over-"*Melody would say, gracefully hopping over a fallen tree that she had used as a marker to determine where she was in the forest. Her breaths would come out as quiet spouts of air as she'd recover back into her normal trot only to start once more. She had been practicing like this for some time now, having to find forestry obstacles to help keep her busy while she traveled to the Capitol. 

It had been a long trot to here from Northern Mentia and now that she was so close, she couldn't help the flurry of excitement that resided in her chest with every passing moment of her progressing further. She had been working as a Bounty Hunter for some time now since her departure from home, though now she was hoping to settle in Salvania while she looked for an appropriate guild to work at.

She'd turn back around, hooves planting themselves on the ground as if she were readying to go again, only for a cold wind to blast past her in mild distraction. Melody would give a gentle sigh at the brief attack.*"Alright, alright. I'll continue tomorrow."*She'd say aloud, tightening her Gambeson around her while she turned to leave the oversized log behind. Part of Melody couldn't wait for the summer heat to rid her of the cold night air or at the very least spare her from it until she got to the Capitol. It shouldn't be long now, however. She could handle a few more nights.*

*As she walked, she couldn't help but notice the faint sound of movement further out in the forest, one unlike her own. Melody would narrow her eyes slightly, her hand lowering to her weapon. Maybe it was the unconscious itch for some action or merely her excising caution, nevertheless, she found herself straying off the path she was following to follow the noise.*"Who goes there?"*She'd ask in a more authoritative voice than what she could possibly have out here. Melody would draw closer, following the faint glint of armor where the rest of him remained shadowed and hard to see for her.*
Nancy
Vaulter snapped at where the voice came from and pointed his axe at its source. Instincts took over, and only inches close to a decimating swing, but:
*A woman's voice?*
Anita
He stumbled, raised his tower shield up to his chin. His lips parted, yet no words came out. 
A frown, he gulped, and the cold winds became much more prominent to him. 

"Uhh..." He uttered, most words spoken over by Mother Nature, "A... A guard of East Mentia. Patrolling... The forest."
Anthony
*East Mentia? She thought to herself. Only recently had she crossed through, though it wasn't exactly a short walk away. The Centaur would clear her voice, resuming posture.*"Pretty far across the border for a guard of East Mentia."*She'd come to a stop a small distance away in seeing him holding up his shield and weapon, seemingly in defense.*"Woah-"*She'd say, having to keep at bay from it to make sure she didn't end up on the wrong end of the axe.*"Relax. I'm an officer from Mentia."*The Centaur would say to him, hoping to at least quell him from the idea that she was here to fight.*"Has there been an occurrence here to warrant you patrolling this forest?"*She'd ask him more curiously.*
Anita
"Occurrence? Well," 

His eyes faltered, observing futilely the fallen leaves around.

He had no reason to be here— the damning realisation dawned upon him and his ears slowly turned to a red, blood rushing to his head. 

Vaulter stared at her hooves, as seconds passed awkwardly with no sound but Nature's ever-expanding orchestra. 

Before she broke the silence, he lifted his head and his tired eyes stared daggers into hers.
Nancy
"Well, I- supposedly, let's say." 

He sheathed his axe and put away his shield. With two hands in front of him to ensure no secret weapons, he closed the distance. 

"Maybe instead, I should ask why supposedly, an *Officer* Of Mentia would be strolling **Alone** At night." — Vaulter raised his hands higher as if to lift a boat — "I- I mean, during this time?" — Vaulter looked around dramatically — "With no one protecting you? You would either have to be lying, or you have a terrible, *Terrible* Sense of security. I mean who walks alone at night like this, especially someone of your own standing?!" 

His arms dropped limp besides him.
Anthony
*Melody would raise an eyebrow at him, finding a bit of insult to his words.*"Well Sir, if you are curious. Any officer at a high enough ranking with proper warrant can be granted permission to patrol a place alone especially if it's suspected of being a simple inconvenience rather than a full threat or if it's seen as wise to send in less people so as not to alarm the threat. As far as I've learned while being out here, we are the biggest threat there is in this forest unless you have clues leading you on to believing otherwise by your own troop."*She'd say back, speaking daggers at him with every word that left her mouth with his accusations about her.*

"I'm currently off duty sir, but if there is trouble in this forest, I think it best to be reported as I see not why you would have any better standing alone out here."*With those final words, the smile would leave her face, replaced with solid glare as if daring him to say anything against her words with his own faltering ones. Perhaps he was the one who was lying with a terrible sense of security. If not for her announcing her presence, he could have easily gotten snuck up on and attacked in the night.*
Nancy
He gave her no rest. Faltering? He was just getting started. At some point during her talking, the man spoke over her voice— a messy overlapping of words and emotion.

"Oh, big deal. Makes you sleep **Real** Good at night thinking you hold absolute power over RATS and INSECTS of this fecal-filled-hell-hole of a forest. *High-ranking deer-girl CLICK-CLACKING in her gold-embedded hooves*, ANNOUNCING HER PRESENCE __ALONE__ in the forest because __NO ONE ELSE__ is brave *__OR__* Stupid enough to accompany you." 

Walking up to her face, Vaulter squeezed his cheeks and bared his gritted teeth, holding fists up as if to punch himself in the cheek-bones. 

"Not even the damned ANIMALS of this forest dare even to look your way. Wolves look at your rear and see a deer, but when they look at your FACE they TURN AROUND AND *RUN OFF*! BECAUSE YOU ARE *THAT*. *MUCH*. **UNLIKABLE**."

...

...

...
Anthony
*Her eyes would flash towards them, a surge of offense running through her in his raised tone and series of insults. Some guard he was, though Melody wasn't one to stoop to that level of immaturity.*"Sir, now wouldn't be the time to be speaking so loud if you're on the trail of something or someone."*She'd say simply after a moment of silence, waving off his insults and pocketing it for another time.*

"If I'm that hard to look at, I'd say you must not meet a lot of centaurs in your troop nor have an open enough mind to accept one in if it ever comes down to that."*Her lips would curl downwards into a partial frown.*"What are you really doing out here. I'm aware of the state I left Mentia in, but I don't think it to have gotten this bad in the days I've been gone."
Anita
Breathing hard, Vaulter stopped there, his muscles flaring and his shoulders raised as if he had just wrestled a bear. 

He flashed a glance at the floor, back to the Centaur, and then to the floor again, his eyes a little watery under the moonlight. 

The nameless guard turned sideways as if about to leave the conversation, but he only stood there with quivering lips. Slumped shoulders, lowered head, he was relaxed now. 

"I- I just..." He muttered, barely audible, "I just want to... Have... An *Adventure*."
Anthony
"Well you have an interesting way of showing it..."*She'd say under her breath before giving a swift shake of her head.*"If adventuring is what you're looking for, then I can say as far as I've noticed, this forest is relatively safe for traveling as long as you don't disturb the wildlife."

*She'd come to lean against a nearby tree, relaxing on it.*"I think it wise to eventually return to your post though, the other guards may be worried about you or suspect something may happened. You managed to cross Salvania's border after all. Not to mention an empty spot can lead to destruction if given opportunity."
Anita
Vaulter shifted and turned to face her, his front-body training onto her every move. He lifted a hand as if to reach out to her from afar. 

"No, no. I-... Don't think I'll be going back. I, umm," He looked aside, dropping his hand, "I told the captain I'm done working with him," — the guard shook his head, once again locking his tired eyes with deer-woman — "He won't be getting me back."

`That was a lie.`
Anthony
"I see..."*She'd say more quietly at him announcing him practically quitting. It was very strange in her eyes, but she knew little of went on in his life.*"Well at any rate... Apologies for disturbing you out here... I figured it was better to be safe than sorry without me seeing anyone else out here up until this point. I'm new to this country's lands."
Anita
Vaulter blinked as a surge of dopamine went through him— the lie worked. 
He let a second of silent pass by, before whimsically pursing his lips and curtly tilting his head.

"N- no, don't, I- I should probably be the one apologising. I uhh, don't know what came over me back there..."
He stared at the wet dead leaves on the soil and scratched his chin.
"Probably looked quite suspicious in your point-of-view."
Anthony
"Offensive would be a better word."*She'd say.*"And defensive. I won't say I could talk much not knowing whatever happened leading up to you... Quitting your job...? But it is rather impolite of you to throw your anger onto another."*Part of Melody wondered if he was actually fired with an attitude like that. Who knew really? She doubted it was a story she was going to hear anytime soon.*"Are you planning on heading to the Capitol as well?"*She'd decide to ask him instead.*
Anita
To oppose true words was to be foolish. He only nodded and continued staring at dead leaves, until she raised another question. 
"Well, maybe, maybe," He pondered, giving a look for the deer and then another longer one for the moon, "Thunush... Then to Rathwu, hopefully some time to fish in between." — he chuckled at the idea — "Hunt some animals, build a hut, eventually a community. If I do go to the capitol, maybe pick up some mercenary work. Make a name for myself. Find myself a cute city-girl, get married-..."

Abruptly, he snatched his eyes away from the moon and glanced at the deer-woman. The glance was so curt that she could've easily missed it. Now, he was looking at dead leaves again with a dumb smirk on him.

"Sometimes I forget... That we are truly *Free* In this world."