Fate - First Reply A Desert Rose

[Crux]

Crux knew the frustration that came with a long chase. Something as little as dumb luck could leave you tailing your target for months on end, and even when it wasn't your fault, it could sure as hell feel like it was. Still, something about the story smelled, and Crux grumbled as he rolled his neck and dropped to sit on the ground.

"Less than five at a time, mostly elf kids from Falwood..." But not always, apparently... "Have you physically seen any of the nabbers? The specific numbers and the demographic they're after make me smell Faerie bullshit. Those assholes can be heartless, but extremely organized and efficient."

If it was Faeries, Riley may well be out of luck. Some nasty types lived in the northern part of Falwood. Not the kind he would tangle with without a sizable team. Unfortunately, his attempts to dig for information were coming up empty, as Riley herself hadn't seen much of anything, as far as she was telling him.

"So, all you know is that you don't know anything, then." Crux huffs a bit as he raises back up to his feet and gives a stretch. "We'd better get moving then, every minute we waste is more distance and less of a trail. I have a small camp not far outside of this outpost, which should be in the direction we're headed. We'll stop there, gear up, and take my horse."

He had his whip-blade and some water, and that was really all he needed. Still, there were a few things he'd left behind that would help them in a wild goose chase as she had them on. Moving to the mouth of the tent, he looks back toward her. "Hey, we take those smugglers out and we'll score a faster ride to boot. See? It'll all work out."

 

[Riley]

"Didn't see yah as an optimist," she huffed as she followed him out of the tent, slinging her own pack on her shoulders. Fuk, she was fukin' sore. And here she was following the devil who did it. But. She didn't see any other choice or path.

If his hunch was right, they were in deep shite.

She didn't know much about fae. Growing up in a xenophobic nation did that to a kid. And even though she'd broken away, she'd been so focused on the elves. And all the beasts in the falwood. She wasn't about to admit this to Crux but a part of her never believed in the tales of the fae and that they even existed.

"How long of ride do we have to intercept these smugglers? And," she hesitated, waiting to ask the question as the spaces between tents lengthened considerably. "How much do you know about the fae? You're not gonna back out on me if it's them, are you?"

Riley didn't know who they were. She hadn't seen them. She'd just been following their breadcrumbs.

 

[Crux]

An optimist? That almost made him laugh. Crux was a realist, and the fact of the matter is that he was focusing on the good to keep from stating the obvious fact that Riley was in way over her head. Turning to stand in the mouth of the tent, his smirk turns to a frown. "I know they can be real rotten bastards, and if we come up against them we're gonna need a lot more than the two of us to take back your kids. They're tough, but they aren't invincible."

Crux had killed Fae before, though not with any measure of ease. Not all of them were violent or hostile, but cross one from the wrong group and you were in for a nasty fight.

"I'm not a fuckin' liar though. You help me and I'll help you. The smugglers should be crossing through about half an hour from where I have my camp set up. I'd say we have an hour and change to mount up and get out there, else they'll pass us by and we'll have to swing around and catch up."

A flicker of that playful competition crossed his eyes again.

"Unless you have a better idea?"

 

[Riley]

"Well," she huffed. "Like I said before we have a deal. But if we do find out they're fae, I'm taking them down so you're gonna have to tell me the best way to do it." She'd been tracking them for too long. There was no way in the nine hells she was letting them slip through her fingers one more time. Or not getting those kids back.

Arius was counting on her. And Kaius, well. He'd probably start to worry soon enough. Riley didn't even know if he'd return from his own mission. And she had no doubt he'd be fuking pissed at her if he found out she'd cut out after the kids on her own. Even though she and Arius had agreed it was the best shot to get them back.

"As for your plan. We go now and ride hard. You know the Abtati, right? We hide in the sand and take them by surprise. Just like they would."

Getting a nice wad of juicy spit in her mouth, she released it onto her dirty palm and held it out to him. "We should probably shake on our deal, though." Nothing was set unless there was a good hand-shaking to seal the deal.

 

[Crux]

Crux's face wrinkled a bit as his eyes slid down to the spit-covered hand Riley offered him. He might have shaken it if it wasn't soaked in her slobber, but that added spice to the gesture was really something he could have done without. "An ambush certainly sounds like the most practical approach here." He agreed through clenched teeth, reaching out for a discarded rag tossed aside and using it to shake her hand.

"Let's head to my camp then, It shouldn't take us long." Crux abhorred idle chat, and they'd wasted enough valuable time pontificating without truly knowing what they were up against. Exiting the tent greeted them with far more eyes on them than they'd entered with; it seemed every native to the outpost bore holes through their forms with piercing gazes of doubt and dubiousness. Crux wasn't particularly worried, but should they try and stop their leave of town, things could get messy.

"Keep your eyes peeled." He murmured back to her as they neared the edge of the outpost and broke from the condensed cavalcade of tents into the open Savannah. "Short walk to camp, but I can't promise we won't have people following us."

Indeed even now one could see the dot of a camp in the distance, growing larger with every step they took. Trust wasn't something Crux gave easily, but if the outpost decided they needed to be dealt with, he wouldn't be able to escape alone.

 

[Riley]

"Well considering you're not as sore as me and no longer bleeding I"d say you'd be able to handle yourself fine," she harumphed. Still amused at how he'd shaken her hand. Didn't take him to be such a germaphobe.

Still, she glanced over her shoulder as they hit the open. She didn't see anyone following them. At least not yet.

"Your horse will be able to carry the both of us?" Riley was a great rider and she was pretty good with horses. So, she wasn't too worried. And even if the horse didn't like strange riders, she'd be sharing the saddle with Crux anyway. She didn't know if she liked the idea of him being that close but beggars couldn't be choosers and all. Or something like that.

 

[Crux]

"So you admit I kicked your ass back there?" Crux smirked, the soft crunch of his boots against the sand ticking back and forth in his head like a clock, a sound he'd always found relaxing. "My horse can handle whatever I need it to. Holding the both of us won't be a problem. You ain't exactly heavy, lady." And neither of them was decked out in any significant amount of armor either. The horse would do fine until the 'borrowed' something better.

It didn't take long for them to reach camp, and apparently, those they left behind them didn't want to go through the trouble of pursuing the matter. Crux's tent was a bit less sheltering than Riley's, to say the least. As in, it was less of a tent and more of a large cloth propped up by rods with a mat and some supplies tucked into the shade it created.

Hell, the muscular, impatiently huffing black horse beside the small little shelter was almost twice as big as it. Crux merely passed the mount, raising a hand to stroke its snout with a muttered foreign word, something orcish, sounded like, before dropping to one knee and digging through his belongings.

"Riley, meet Bhala. Bhala, Riley. I would feed her one of those apples over there before you try getting on her with me. She doesn't like strangers who don't feed her. "

 

[Riley]

So you admit I kicked your ass back there?

Arms crossed and she harumphed as she gave him a long look up and down. "Are you always this much of a numpty cocksplat?" Shaking her head, she walked over and snatched up an apple. She'd never met a horse she didn't get along with, so she wasn't worried. Taking a bite of the apple first and noisily munching on it she walked over to Bhala and offered the apple up.

"Must be a special horse if you put up with this guy," a lopsided smirk offered to the horse as she began munching on the apple Riley offered. There was a shake of her head. Hard to tell if it was the horse agreeing with her or not. With a hand stroking down the side of the neck, she moved to the side and hauled herself up and onto the horse's back.

"Good girl," she patted her side. Maybe the horse sense that Riley wasn't a person that would take any shit. Probably much like her owner.

 

[Crux]

Crux didn't fight the smirk that came from Riley's always creative tongue. Thankfully, it looked like Bhala had done her job of watching his things well; everything was just as he'd left it. Namely, the money and the whipblade hidden underneath the rest of his bags, which he quickly retrieved and hilted to his side. "Cocksplat, huh? Lady, you keep flirting and Bhala is going to get jealous." He called behind him as he stood, looking over his shoulder to Riley and his horse. At the very least they seemed to be getting along well.

"Here, make it last." Crux tossed his spare canteen to his new 'partner', filled with fresh water. There was no telling how long they'd be stuck in this fuckin' heat, and he needed her alive. "Only have enough for one canteen each, so we'll have to refill somewhere later." With that, he kicked the support holding his shade up, and it toppled into the sand with a thump. There wasn't anything left he needed to take with him.

With a surprising display of gentleness, Crux deftly pulled himself onto Bahla's back and began to stroke her mane, whispering more Orcish-sounding words as he pulled an apple from her saddlebag and fed her another bite. "Okay girl. We have a little extra this time, but she's going to help us. Easy on the backside this time?"

A short huff from Bahla and she spun in place, pointing her backside at Riley as if inviting her to climb on.

 

[Riley]

"Thanks," she huffed and attached the canteen to her pack. A raised dark brow on olive skin as he spoke his love language to his horse. Something about a man and his horse. Riley was too busy making sure Bahla wasn't about to kick her. She slid to the side of the horse. Fingers wove around the crook of one of Cruz's elbows as her other hand went to brace herself on the horse's back.

With a small grunt and tug on her partner, she was up. Fingers locking onto Crux's sides as she sat behind him. A glance over his shoulder at the ground they'd have to cover. A shift of her grip on him and legs around Bahla.

"Alright, let's do this thing." Her tongue wound gingerly over her split lip.

 

[Crux]

Crux'd be lying if he said he was used to having a passenger grabbing on to him; despite his admission that this was a job for two, he wasn't really what you'd call a team player. In the end, though, he'd choose putting up with the smart-mouthed wildcat of a woman behind him than dying on a suicide mission. "I have a plan, but I don't think you'll like it too much."

There was a reason Riley was perfect to help him catch the smuggling bastards off-guard, and it had nothing to do with her fighting prowess and everything to do with the fact she was easy on the eyes. Bhala's hooves thudded against the sandy earth beneath them, kicking up biting grains that nipped at any inch of uncovered skin. The leather that Crux wore showed just how long he'd been living in this element, stained with age and blasted with the sands.

They were coming to the intersection now, little more than an empty crossroads amongst miles of Savannah in any direction. It was an ordinary place, but a crucial one; to get anywhere, those smugglers would have to cross this path, and soon.

"I thought maybe we'd have you play damsel. A pretty face roughed up and left to die in the sand? They won't pass up an opportunity like that..." What exactly 'opportunity' entailed was a morbid thought, but if anybody thought they were taking advantage of Riley, they were solely mistaken. She'd proven capable of handling herself. "When they stop and let their guard down, I'll ambush from the rear and we'll both paint the sand with them. What do you think?"

 

[Riley]

"Oh for Kriff's sake," she muttered behind him, relaxing her tenuous hold on his sides as they stopped. Without waiting for permission, she dismounted and landed softly in the sands by the crossroads. Hands fell to her hips as she looked up at Crux and Bhala.

Her attention drifted to the horse.

"You put up with a lot."

Hazels shifted back to Crux. "This is the shittiest idea I've ever heard of. And if these moof-milkers are that stupid, I'm surprised you need my help at all." But the thing was? She was at the point of desperation to get those kids back. And if it meant she had to play a fuking damsel in distress, she fuking would.

"I'm never going to do this again. So you should be lucky I'm feeling generous today but don't you forget it, Crux." Grumbling and glaring at him the entire time, she walked to the crossroad, flipping the rich brown strands of hair over one shoulder and sprawled out, watching the vultures begin to circle her overhead.

 

[Crux]

The Horse huffed down at Riley, as though it wished to confirm what she'd just observed. Crux just gave a little smirk. "You underestimate just how desperate some of these lootrunners are for some action, Riley. There isn't any time for brothels when deliveries have to be made with strict time limits." Crux stopped there, though it seemed maybe there was something else he left unsaid before he fetched what looked to be an old spy glass from his saddlebag and peered through it down the road, running his tongue slowly between his lips.

"Yeah, I can see the dust they're kicking up. We have three... maybe four minutes." Plenty of time. He couldn't wait to put his whipblade through Amrac's skull... "Give me another little dose of that magic, would you?" He suddenly asked, reaching his hand down from the horse to her. At her expected hesitation, he would look back towards the road before giving a sigh. "Look, I'm asking this time at least. Not enough for you to feel, just a jolt."

Either way, he slid from Bhala's back and gave her a swift smack on the rump. "Go on, girl. I'll whistle when I'm ready for you." His companion reared back before galloping off in the opposite direction of their impending company. Crux could hide himself, but hiding a horse Bhala's size was a bit much even for him.

 

[Riley]

You underestimate just how desperate some of these lootrunners are for some action, Riley. There isnt any time for brothels when deliveries have to be made with strict time limits.

"For Kriff's sake, Crux. Speaking from experience yah muppet?" Hazels shifted to his offered hand. Head shook. "No. When they're here I'll give you some."

It was clear she still didn't trust him.

What if he tried to drain her?

She'd boost him in the middle of the fight if need be.

"Go hide before it's too late," she hissed and scooched over to the side of the road herself. Eyes squeezed closed. The sound of thundering hooves was growing louder and louder. A part of her was looking forward to killing these fukers.

 

[Crux]

This woman was going to be the death of him, quite possibly literally, if she was going to keep being so damned uncooperative.

"We're on a path down the middle of the fucking desert! Where the hell am I supposed to hide, you-- Oh for fuck's sake..."

There wasn't any time, Crux would have to use what little he had in reserve after their fight and hope it lasted long enough to spring the trap. Gritting his teeth and dropping to one knee in the warm sand, Crux slowly began to fade from view, the sun shining through him as his magic cloaked him with an invisible barrier of some sort.

Not a moment too soon, either. The caravan of smugglers now cleared the horizon line, three black painted wagons with at least four men on each, seemingly led by a stout but muscular dwarf sitting in the front, wearing expensive dress wear with his beard trimmed and permed to look far more dapper than was fitting for a man of his kind.

True to Crux's prediction, they slowed as they approached Riley, the horses crying as the group stopped beside her, the group of humans, elves and the dwarf leading them peering down at the strange woman with... unreadable expressions.

"Ye stranded, lass? Nee' a ride? We migh' jus 'ave room for ye if we squeeze tight."

The dwarf grinned, earning chuckles from his men.

Riley would feel an invisible force squeezing her wrist. Crux, holding her, but not draining her. It was a silent plea for her to keep her composure.

Gods, I hope she knows to wait until they dismount.

 

[Riley]

Riley's eyes cracked open. Head lifted as she was addressed. A curl of her fingers into a fist as she felt Crux's grip on her wrist. If that goblin shite tried to drain her right now she'd fukin' kill these bandits first and then kill him.

"Water," was the only thing she said. One elbow propped herself up, then another as she feigned weakness. "I need water. Can you-can you help me?"

Sign her up for the next kriffin acting troupe that traveled to Alliria.

She should get a fukin' award for this performance.

It was two men from the first two wagons who got down. The four stalked toward Riley. "There, there lass. We'll make yee feel real better real soon."

 

[Crux]

Crux was an asshole, he'd admit that much freely; but he wasn't the type to turn his back on an ally, uneasy or otherwise. Once Riley laid on her act and started luring the bastards off their literal high-horses, she'd feel him release her wrist. Now these dumbasses thought they were about to get some, and that made them the lamest ducks in the pond.

He kept a close eye on the Dwarf who led them all, Amrac, as he barked in Dwarvish for the one man who hadn't left his wagon to begin making room in the back for their guest to join them whether she wanted to or not. The pasty thin human nodded and began shifting boxes of stolen goods in the back, stacking them on either side.

They were all distracted, and that was the opening Crux needed.

Quickly, the still invisible bounty hunter crouch-walked to the rear wagon, still holding all four of its occupants, and retrieved his whipblade, wrapping the end of it around the spokes of one of its front wheels as quietly as he could manage. Once he was satisfied, he pulled it tight and lead the long segmented blade with him back to Amrac's wagon, climbing carefully onto the side the Dwarf faced away from.

He was far too busy giving his new prey the eyes to notice as Crux took careful aim with the end of the blade.

"NOW!"

And drove it through his skull with a sickening crunch and splatter.

 

[Riley]

Before any of the slimy bastards could actually touch her, she suddenly sat up. Eyes looking alert and sharp.

"The fu-," he barely got out before she sent her TK power into his chest and that of the other three surrounding her. They flew backwards. Two hit the sides of wagons with a sickening crunch before they fell to the sand dead. The third landed in a mangled and twisted mess beyond the road - flying right through the material from one of the other wagons.

The man on the wagon behind where Crux was panicked and hit the reigns, trying to get away.

"Oh no you don't," Riley growled and pumped her fist forward. The wagon shot partially in the air by that invisible, powerful force and tipped over. Those inside screaming. The rest were rushing toward her and Crux, weapons raised and a mixture of angry and fearful looks on their faces.