mods please delete

[Madame Butterfly]

Daichi listened as Briar and Kael talked, having been startled out of the half-dose he’d slipped into by the conversation. It was too easy to relax, riding quite calmly in the warm sun with people he trusted and his piebald Kuma needing very little of his attention; Kuma followed his friends, and those were the other ponies of Thayet's Dogs.

He was almost disappointed to hear talk of the trainees, socially awkward as he was; that meant getting to know more people and probably avoiding dangerous questions. Or plain annoying ones, like the one about the scar on his lip. He touched it gently. It was not anything special, just a stupid mistake made by a stupid kid who didn’t understand how to properly care for a horse. If it’d been something cool, like if he’d gotten it in a fight where he’d barely scraped by alive… that would be different.

They did need fresh recruits. He turned to look back at the ponies behind them, dragging the corpses of their respective owners. It was a pitiful sight and it made his stomach turn over painfully. Sonja and he had been particularly close, being that she had been around longer than he had and was apt to mother. She’d been one of the reasons he’d found his place with the Riders so quickly. He would miss her terribly… somehow being 24 felt too old, as if any minute he’d wind up there being pulled by his Kuma, the stout gelding hanging his head in despair.

Kuma shuddered beneath him, as if he could feel Daichi’s terror. Which he probably could. Daichi sighed and then patted his thick, strong neck reassuringly. “I am fine, old friend,” he whispered.

Hearing Kael’s offer, Daichi called out, “If you need help, I can also offer my assistance.” His deep voice was solemn and all too serious, as always; but then what else could you expect from one with Yamani blood? Tortall’s new Queen did not count (in his respectful opinion).

[LegionWolf]

Feeling her pony Caine begin to drift toward the edge of the road where the stubborn thing spotted a juicy clump of grass he wanted to nibble on, Briar softly scolded him and pulled his reins so he was back talking center. Glancing back at the five behind her, the three bringing up the rear engrossed in their own conversations, she smiled. "If it were up to me, I'd accept both of your help in a heartbeat," she answered with a dark chuckle before turning back to pay attention to the worn dirt road ahead of her again. "Trainees at the beginning are so full of piss and vinegar and think they can do anything, so all the help would be appreciated, but again it's up to Sarge and Evin. They may place you elsewhere... though I pray the Goddess allows me the good fortune of having you two."

[bipolar-wolfcat]

Kael's shrugged softly and chuckled, "I guess we'll be placed how we're placed, no use worrying about it for the moment. Maybe Dai'll loosen up with this new batch of trainees. What do ya' think, Briar?" He grinned jokingly and glanced at Daichi, searching the overly serious man for some crack in his stony exterior, not noticing for a moment that his pony was starting to wander from the path. He quickly pulled his horse back to its proper placement, fervently hoping that no one had noticed his momentary lapse in attentiveness.

[Madame Butterfly]

Daichi knew that well; he remembered his own training days, and the behaviors of his peers. It wasn't that he was less full of himself, honestly, but rather no one really could tell because he kept his head down and his mouth shut. He thought, slightly amused, that he'd gotten his ego smashed plenty back in those days. It'd been good for him in the end, though. He'd certainly grown more practical, much more brave, and certainly more social--not that anyone could really tell, save for himself. This new lot would probably be just as thankful, after they broke them a bit.

He raised his eyebrows, confused. "Loosing up could cause problems," he mused, "We should be alert at all times." He had that nagging feeling again, that he'd just missed the point or something.

[LegionWolf]

"Loosening up doesn't mean you have to let your guard down, Dai," Briar replied with a bit of amusement in her voice, not longer looking back at the two young men talking with her. She wanted to keep alert for the most part, though didn't see the harm in conversing since they weren't trying to sneak anywhere. "Just means that you don't have to be so tense all the time. We're your friends; we've been through a lot together and care about each other."

Up ahead, perhaps a mile or so, Briar began to see the trees thinning and beyond that in the distance, the palace of Corus shone in the mid day sun. She grinned suddenly, a relief flooring through her at the site of the Conte' palace. "We're almost home," she whispered to Caine as she stroked his neck, fingers trailing over a few scars the battle pony possessed. She resisted the urge to kick her mount into gallop, wanting the last couple miles to be fun. But since two of the ponies were pulling a cart with the deceased, she knew it was a bad idea.

(g2g now. Good night and happy hunting!)

[bipolar-wolfcat]

Kael gave Daichi a wry look, though his eyes still twinkled with his playful nature, "She's right, y'know. Maybe I should take you out to get a drink when we get back to Corus. That'd loosen ya' up, I bet." He laughed, then, catching sight of the palace in the distance, broke out into a smile once more, "Lo and behold, the city awaits. It's good to see home again."

The sight of Corus seemed to smother out his sorrow, at least for now, and Kael felt like venting a whoop of joy... but he merely shook his head and smiled, mentally remarking, You aren't that young anymore... and people give you weird enough looks as it is. Best to keep your composure, even with close companions.

[Madame Butterfly]

"Right," Daichi said, flushing red slightly. Wow, did that make a guy feel slow. He tried to smile, it failed spectacularly and came out looking like a grimace. It wasn't that he didn't consider Briar and Kael friends... no, he considered them and the rest of the Sixth the closest friends he'd ever had. But expressing his emotions were difficult and he was still confused about certain terminology "normal" people who were used to having friends understood. Sometimes he felt like that sort of thing was going to take a while to understand.

He gave that same sort of half-smile to Kael, feeling frankly terrified of the offer. He'd always avoided drinking with the group. It made him feel funny and act funnier.

But before he could fret over that and drive himself crazy, they spotted Corus. Daichi could feel the tension ease from his shoulders, could feel his heart lighten. They were back, after so long. He thought about their fallen comrades, and bit his lip. They hadn't all made it this time.

[LegionWolf]

That last couple miles to Corus was the best part of the trip home. Everyone's spirits seemed to have risen after laying eyes upon the shining city in the distance and the palace that told of home. Even if none of them actually lived there, but rather the Riders' barracks between it and the Royal Forest, the palace was still a beacon of home when it came into view.

As the remaining members of Thayet's Dogs arrived in the city, they were greeted with warm faces and welcoming looks by the townspeople. The Riders were more loved by the people than the knights were, as the Riders came from all walks of live, be it nobility or a farm, a natural Tortallan or someone of a different race. The Riders worked with the people to teach them how to defend themselves so that they didn't' always have to rely on the protection of the knights.

After arriving, the Group Commander knew that she couldn't waist any time with the Sixth's fallen companions. She sent one of her group off to inform their families what came to pass, then lead the rest of the group of the barracks where she knew Evin Larse would be. The young man was in charge of them all and would have to know what what happened before funeral preparations could be made. This task certainly put a damper on returning, but alas it must be done.

[bipolar-wolfcat]

Kael sighed, a sound of contentment at having returned to their home, smiling as he entered the Mens' Barracks and stowed his gear beneath his bunk. He couldn't help himself... He grinned as he looked at his bunk, loving the idea of sleeping in a bed once again after so long... He flopped on it, not caring that he still had the dirt of the road clinging to him and his clothes, and just lay there, staring at the ceiling as he laughed a little, taking a moment to relax finally.

[Madame Butterfly]

After a quick thanks to Yama for his own safe return, Daichi followed his group commander along with the rest of the Sixth down into Corus. He flushed lightly, the warm greeting by those they met still strange to him. Corus was more tolerant than most parts of Tortall. Here, those with Yamani blood or Bazhir blood were near-common. Daichi fingered the necklace his mother had given him. If he saved up enough of his earnings, as he'd been carefully doing up until this point, he might even be able to move her here. He smiled slightly at the thought.

They entered the barracks, more familiar to him than the palm of his hand at this point. Briar looked serious, but Kael looked cheerful and relaxed. Daichi himself was starving, he was glad they didn't have to rely on hunting for themselves anymore. It would be nice to sit down and eat without having to have done any of the work himself.

"It's good to be back," he said quietly, as they waited.