Anthony
*Though Melody wouldn't notice the look, her gaze would soften slightly.*"You can be whatever you want in this world. Hopefully you find that whenever you make it to the cities."*She'd turn around briefly, emerald green eyes glancing back towards him for a short moment.*"And if you want you can camp out with me for the night. After all, would be dangerous traveling out here alone."*There was a hint of sarcasm to her tone as if it were a partial jab at what he said earlier in him thinking she couldn't handle herself on her own. She was used to being looked down on though, figuratively speaking anyways. There wasn't a lot of centaurs she's heard of making their way into law enforcement even less into bounty hunting.*
Anita
The man's eyes snapped towards hers, his smile faltering gradually.

Mother Nature, your trees filtered the moonlight with an emerald green, swaying under the rhythmic words of the wind. You were no domain of Macenkind, yet you, in all your beauty, drew Macens of all into your embrace. 

Her hair, brown and red, makes orange; the skinned logs of the forest, baring their smooth orange skin, glowed as if it was silk. Her ears, like those of a doe, hid themselves behind her hair; curious, poking out its head, they were which that hunters did not dare to kill, be it by their lovely youthfulness, or by the essence of their endearing nature. 

Those eyes like jewellery, glimmering an enchanting light green under the moonlight, like exotic emeralds that vain men purchase, only to stare into its depths every night in his lonesome— staring into the crystal's unending void, if not to fill his own; could any man resist locking his eyes with hers?

Vaulter felt a surge of blood rushing to his head, jittery and warm, cascading through his body and down to his toes, overwhelming, pleasant, and magical— he knew what it was, but he couldn't speak it. 

Ah, if only the seconds would last longer. If only, he could capture this very moment in a painting. For now, he could, and must, only stare, lest the Lord of Time, in all his cruelty, took away what he so rightfully desired.
Anthony
*Melody would stand there waiting for several moments, each second passing with the man not responding causing a sense of awkwardness in the air.*"Uhm... Sir...?"*She'd say to him, waving her hand back and forth in the air.*"You okay...?"

*Maybe it was something she said that sparked this uncanny silence, though with the way he acted before, she doubted she could consider him the most stable individual. She'd wait a moment longer before her shoulders would eventually slump in exasperation.*

"Well... If you want to join me later... I'm just a few strides out in this direction-"*She'd say, pointing in the direction she was going to head in.*"Just past the fallen tree."*After saying that, Melody would turn away to trot further off into a forest.*

"What a strange Macen..."*She'd say, mostly under her breath once she was sure she was out of earshot. Melody supposed she shouldn't be too surprised, maybe having any high expectations for forest dwellers was not in her best interests out here. After all, this was a new country for her.*
Anita
A bonfire amongst the trees, sparkling in the middle of the night, drawing in the seekers of light— and safety. 

The nameless guard stooped adjacent to it, his hands on the fire, dead eyes staring it down. Thoughts raced through his mind like chariots, darting through the roads of his imagination.
Anthony
*Melody would be resting on the opposite side of the campfire. The deer portion laid down relaxed while her human half would sit upright in her rummaging through her bag. She'd grab a brush out of it and would undo her ponytail to begin brushing at her long locks of hair.*"Glad you decided to join me."*She'd say to him to break the silence ensuing between them.*"I can tell you must not have been having the best day today, so... Sorry if I came off any way. Didn't expect there to be a guard investigating this place."
Anita
Arms resting on his knees, Vaulter only gave the deer-girl a timid peek and a nod before going back to stare comically forlornly at the bonfire. 

"I uhh, I'm not a guard anymore."
Anthony
*Despite the announcement, Melody didn't seem to carry any surprise to his words. He was merely confirming what she had already figured.*"Why's that?"*She'd decide to ask, continuing to run the brush through her hair until she was finally satisfied by the state of it and would return the brush back to its original place in her bag.*
Anita
Vaulter wanted to stare at the bonfire in silence. However, the draw towards her words kept him away from it. He gave an oblique glance— tracing her deer body's dots, dashes, and patterns. 

"Why."

He pursed his lips. 

"There's some kind of... Thing, over the border. To the East. A- a calling, maybe- yeah," The guard entertained the idea with a smile, "Something in me just said: maybe it's time you did something else, so- I just decided to... Leave."

He announced with a shrug. 

"Do good for the world, instead of just— sitting around in a city."
Anthony
*Melody would let out an amused huff of air.*"I guess I can understand that at least. I used to work in Mentia as an officer before deciding to set off here to spread my work further. Couldn't help but jump into action when I thought there were possible criminals about. But I'll have my chance once I get to the city."*She'd stretch out each individual leg, before leaning against a rather large rock to relax back a bit.*"I'm sure you'll get the chance to do good as well."*Melody would say with a yawn.*"Who knows maybe you can travel from place to place, helping others."
Anita
The man nodded along her words mindlessly.
`That spot over there looks like a tree.`

"Which... Mentia?"
Anthony
"North Mentia. Grew up in a small town there."*She'd close her eyes for the moment, deciding to rest them with exhaustion taking its toll on her.*"Salvania just seemed like a fresh start to me though. Which part of Mentia were you from?"*She'd ask sleepily.*
Anita
He talked over her, nodding, nodding: "North... North... Small town, nice. I-"

The guard saw her face. Suddenly, he felt not so tired anymore. Picking himself off his feet, he reequipped the shield, holding it with a stalwart mind controlled under an unconscious regimen.

"East. I've been there since birth." 

He looked around the perimeter.
Anthony
"East Mentia..."*She'd ask.*"Not too far away then..."*The Centaur would soon grow quiet, for a moment it seeming like she must have fallen asleep.*"Are you going to stay awake all night...?"*She'd ask him as she'd look over towards him through narrowed slits. Melody would rub at her eyes slightly, partially to rub the sleepiness from them with Vaulter seeming restless.*
Nancy
"Can't exactly sleep if you do, can I?" 

He said with an air of irritation. 

"I can stay awake, and I will wake you up if someone... Or some *Thing* Comes near. Until then..."

The guardian waved at her without looking at her, his eyes only focused outward into the darkness, and his ears, the orchestra of Nature.
Anthony
*She wouldn't respond afterwards, slumping in mild defeat with him seeming irritable at her question. Melody would turn away from him, resting her head on her hands for the time being.*"I never got your name sir..."*She'd murmur aloud.*
Nancy
He froze. Seconds were allowed passage without words as if he wanted her to pass out before knowing his name.

...

...

...

The man slightly turned around: "Meng... Mengele".
Anthony
"Nice to meet you Mengele..."*She'd say back to him with a smile appearing on her face.*"My name is Melody..."*With that she'd doze off, the quiet air around her only disturbed by her light breathing.*
Roger
``` The Forests to Thunush (End) ```