The Reik loved big events. It loved showing and shouting "We are the greatest, that's us."  And everything the Reik loved,  so did it's loyal Hounds. Anje was no exception to this. Her personal favorite was parades. Leading a squad of young Hounds, escorting a war hero of the Reik while the crowd cheered and rained appreciation on them. Neither the quiet decay nor the mass of armed guards was noticed by the old wolf, both were something she was used to in her daily life. Hounds didn't exactly get the newest and best-maintained premises and all that, but that hardship bred strength, conviction and durability.<br/><br/>Of course, today wasn't a parade but the official start of this expedition. Anje didn't really understand much about the portal. It took you to other places. The only difference for Anje that it was somehow instant compared to the troop trains or airships she was more familiar with. That, and the outsiders. The small group selected for this endeavour held more than loyal reik soldiers. Her distrust was more towards the tall leather-clad warrior than the horned slab of beef. That one unsettled Anje greatly. He stunk of decaying magic compared to the primal sweat scent the minotaurus had mixed with small tinges of nervousness. Well, that was normal for outsiders witnessing the power of the Reik. It's easy to get overwhelmed by such grandness.<br/><br/>As the anthem of the Reik began to play Anje stopped staring at the minotaurus and undead human and snapped to attention. Excitement brewed in Anje's core as it always did when hearing those overfamiliar tunes. Saluting, Anje stayed rigid even as the anthem grew silent. A perfect soldier, at least on the outside. Anje's inner self bounced around full of energy and eager to serve. The Rittmeister had Anje's undivided attention when she arrived, the Wölfentreue's one good eye gazing at the woman full of adoration. The hound greedily absorbing every word spoken by those lips as if was the gospel truth spoken by Teutar Gerhard himself.<br/><br/>Though Anje had relaxed her pose when Emlin had called for it, the Hound quickly snapped back to attention and saluted when the Rittmeister called out to her. She swiftly followed her superior, tail wagging, only briefly risking a glance behind her to smirk smugly at the Paracelsi left behind. Few hounds could stand those artificial servants. For a start, they looked too similar to their Reik Elf masters which occasionally caused confusion for the not always mentally gifted Hounds. More importantly there was something sacrilegous about something artificial so closely resembling the Reik elven purity. It felt like an insult that something born in a lab could approach a perfect purity centuries in the making. It didn't help that they were smug snobs who thought themselves better than the Hounds just because they pissed medicine and drugs. They hadn't bled for the Reik, not like the Hounds have; who sacrificed their lives in every conflict for the glory of the Reik. Their masters deserved better and more loyal servants, not these organic machines.<br/><br/>Anje didn't let her distaste slow her too much, arriving very shortly after Emlin in the Rittmeister's room. Her one good eye took in the place as Anje straightened herself into a salute. The room was surprisingly spartan, but this was a military installation not an officer's mansion nor a central command outpost. Anje did her best to ignore the bed and any implications it might have, instead focusing on the Riek Elf peering at the painted landscape.<br/><b><br/>
<b>[Teutari] </b>"Stabsunteroffizier Varichsen 51 reporting as requested, ma'am."<br/>
</b><br/>Anje stood at attention, not relaxing until Emlin gave the command to do. A perfect little soldier, eye gleaming with an eagerness to do<i>anything </i>Emlin requested of her.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>