Caroline
*The day was warm, the sun was shining, and Prince Astalios of Alynthi was hunting in the wood, near the whitethorn river. It had been a particularly fun few days - his father's advice to try hobbies other than jousting, as tourneys were more of an event than a hobby, was certainly paying off. It wasn't constant blood-pumping action, like the heat of battle, but it was at least a pleasure. Careful and meticulous, that was how he needed to be. It was also a good opportunity to practice his magic, and as he held out his hand, his plain steel dagger floated over his palm, ready to be propelled at a target. It was easier for him than using a bow, and required fine control.

Prince Astalios himself was a rather sturdily built man in dull gray plate armor that didn't make much sound as he moved. It was surprisingly fluid as it encased him in steel protection. He wore a simple crown upon his head made of pure gold, and on his right hand, there was a signet ring of the same pure gold that depicted a warrior with one sword raised above his head, the other in his hand.

His eyes and hair were brown, and his ears were slightly pointed, owing to his heritage as a half-elf. His jaw and nose were strong and masculine, and as he walked through the forest, he was accompanied by two leather-jerkined archers whose bows were over their backs and whose quivers were full. Their clothing displayed the royal livery of Alynthi, and they accompanied the prince as guards.

His eyes searched through the trees for a target, and he finally found it - a quail, picked out from the bushes nearby. One breath in, one breath out - and he propelled the dagger towards the bird as quickly as an arrow shot from a bow, his magic doing the work of the bowstring...*
Bobbie
Artemis Bladefire had been walking near Whitethorn River quietly when she sensed something—or someone—was nearby. She darted behind a tree and whirled around, looking in the direction of what she thought was a knight. Said knight let fly a dagger right where she'd been a moment before. 

Artemis held in a shriek as the dagger pierced a nearby quail's breast. She had been there only seconds before. The fighter looked again in the direction of the knight. He was accompanied by two archers. Upon closer inspection, the archers appeared to be dressed in the royal colors. As for the knight, he appeared to be a prince—no, *The* Prince, Prince Astalios of Alynthi. 

Artemis's jaw dropped. She was awestruck. One could only dream of such an encounter in a lifetime. She was still hidden by the woodland around her, so the prince couldn't see her. How should she go about this encounter? 

The Alynthian fighter decided to try to quietly slip away. Yes, that was the way to go. She straddled Apollo, her Indrik, and started going to the right of the prince and away from him. Suddenly, the Indrik cried out, fearful of being hurt by the hunting party. It bolted, leaving Artemis tumbling off the creature and landing on the ground. At this point, the fighter inwardly cringed with embarrassment, not knowing what to do.
Caroline
*The clanking of metal and the feel of steel around him were familiar to the prince. It was considered polite, however, not to stare at people that were clearly not interfering with the hunt. But as she tried to slip away and subsequently fell to the ground, he couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. He turned to face her, and with a wave of his hand, her armor picked her back up and set her on her feet again, ready to be introduced properly.*

"I'm sorry to startle you like that, but I did want to get that quail." *He apologized, a small smile running across his face and as he observed the woman in front of him.* "I do have a small question, though. How did you manage to capture an Idrik? Those stories are always rather fun to hear, if you would humor me." *His voice was low and steady, and he nodded his head politely as they faced each other there.*

*The quail for now they forgotten on the forest floor, but his dagger zipped back to his hand as if it was an arrow, floated around it for a few moments, and then slid itself into the sheath at his side.*

*Both of the royal rangers simply kept their hands on their bows, but did not raise them. It was much like the situation with Roesia - this woman hadn't provided any specific threat, and therefore they could probably be a little bit more relaxed than they had been.*
Bobbie
"Er, thank you, Sir Prince. I am Artemis Bladefire, fighter of Alynthi. I always did wonder what it would be like with magic. Sorry about the quail." She looked sheepish. "Oh, my Indrik? That's a long story. I wouldn't want to bore you." Under her breath she mused about where Apollo might be. "However, if you insist . . ." And Artemis proceeded to tell the prince about the time she captured an Indrik. "So, you see, never ever use the element of surprise on Indriks. Their hearing is exceptional," She finished. "However, if you don't do it the way I did it, then you'll be rewarded with a companion for life. Excuse me, Your Highness." 

Artemis stepped away from the prince and let forth an ear-splitting whistle. "Apollo! Come!" She called out. A moment passed. Slowly, a very frightened-looking Indrik appeared from some bushes. Artemis proceeded to try to coax her mount out of the bushes, but to no avail. The fighter turned to Prince Astalios. "See, he's scared because he thinks you'll hurt him. That's how I found out that threatening them doesn't work. If you want a closer glimpse, maybe put the weapons away?" The fighter shrugged. "I'm not demanding you do, though."
Caroline
"I hit my mark, which is all I should really ask for." The prince chuckled as he took in the sight before him. "A point well taken. I don't intend to capture an Indrik, however - they're beautiful creatures, but little else in terms of battlefield use compared to a good warhorse." He mused, looking the creature over. Certainly a novelty, but there was nothing more to it than that. People's companions were their own choice, and that wasn't a bad one. Besides his warhorse Tempest, which he rode once in a while, the prince had no real animal for a companion, and preferred it that way.

"It's all right. I can see him perfectly well from here. He's a beautiful animal, and perhaps a little bit skittish. I seem to recall he dropped you earlier. But then again, you can't exactly train them like horses, can you?" He asked, curious about the general habits of the animals. The woman herself seem to be fairly sensible, and an otherwise normal commoner of Alynthi.