[b] [u]Astrid[/u] [/b]

Astrid was breathing heavy by the time she reached the top of the stairs to the massive tower. Looking over the edge she could see what would probably be a long, painful fall. Shivering she pulled back waiting to here Gnarl's inevitable speech. He loved those things way to much. For the most part she ignored what he said, something about riders scouting their place and gathering info. Not exactly what she wanted to be doing, but it was better than staring at Sikarthis's ass all day. 

After a long, much-easier climb down the stairs, Astrid made her way over to the barracks to grab her gear. Couple daggers, Her sword, and she also donned her light armor. After she was completely ready she began walking over to the stables where everyone seemed to be preparing. Personally she didn't give a crap about the steads. They were animal, a means to an end, a system of transportation. Brushing the hair on the right side of her head out of her face, she grabbed the closest horse to the entrance and quickly rode out the gate. The faster they made it to the town the better. 

As they rode Wren and Joachim took the lead. Astrid didn't know what she thought about Wren, she was something like her, only more... noble? That was probably the right word as Astrid didn't have a noble drop of blood in her body. Wren on the other hand was related to the previous Bear. At least that was what she had heard somewhere through the other mercenaries.

---

A few minutes away from the town, something strange triggered Astrid's senses. A smell in the air, like roasted pork. It was the smell of something burning. Looking into the sky, she could see a large black cloud formed in the air. Mouth drying up, and heart thumping fast, Astrid took off as quickly as Wren. For a moment they were neck and neck before Wren broke away along the path. Moving with the path would take too long, so Astrid went straight into the forest alongside the building. The horse fought against her lead, but she kept it straight, quickly maneuvering around the trees closing in on the house-line of the small town.

Suddenly the world tilted around her, and the ground rose up to meet her. Landing on her face and skidding along the ground, Astrid smashed her. Looking up while groaning she could see that the horse had tripped over an outstretched root, breaking it's ankle and throwing her from her seat. Face scratched up, she pushed herself up with the help of a tree and moved over to the beast laying on the ground in pain. Pulling her sword off of her back, she sliced through the neck of the horse without a second thought. She couldn't spare the time to help the horse, and even if she could there wasn't much you could do for a horse with a lame leg.

Blood dripping from her sword blade, Astrid sprinted the short distance to the village. Her beast had done it's job and gotten her close enough. Moving from behind a building she could see a group of bandit/soldiers lining up preparing to attack the Iron Company. Fools, all of them. A straight line up attack was like stabbing yourself to see if it was going to kill you. You had a chance to live, but a very small one. Stepping out from behind the building her blade swinging, she caught a man across the throat, killing him just like the horse. Pulling back her sword she left into the fray, stabbing and slicing at the evil men who thought it alright to rape, pillage, and take slaves. Anger at the injustice coursed through her, powering her in the fight. Blood soaked into her clothing and hair, adding to the impression of fear she gave off.