Kotori - The Songbird (Tee-hee!)

Trudging along on horseback had always been a pleasant route to travel, for the sweetness of springtime on the air, the kiss of a cool breeze on her cheek were a far cry of the scent and salt of the sea. Catching a glance of a wildflower on the side of the road, with its fragile petals of cyan waving gently in the wind, the Guardian smoothly slid down alongside the flank of her steed, extended her mechanical arm and easily plucked it away to inspect it.

Casually returning to a proper stance upon her mount and meticulously inspecting the blossoms, she caught a briefly disdainfully envious gaze from Alaric as he awkwardly bounced and bumbled along on his own ride. Unable to help a small bout of laughter at his expense and tucking the plant into a side satchel for later, she simply smiled warmly beneath the ivory guise of her mask. Surely they were bound towards a hazardous task, but with her, Tegan, and her dear charge, the Guardian did not think that in the least that anyone in their little troupe would come to any harm.

And she would see to it personally.

Even if they were wandering into a prominently more hostile land.

Checking to insure her weapons, explosives and even her arm had continued to work properly or were intact, the Guardian noticed then too what the others had seen. A long pillar of smoke that rose into the sky from the center of a distant town; no less the very town that they had been sent to investigate! Digging her heels into the side of her horse simultaneously with the other two, the inconspicuous and easygoing ride quickly transferred to one of credible haste. With the wind whipping through her hair, and her stance lowered, she took the lead first so that she could be on point for any conflict that might arise.

The scene they arrived upon however, was simply horrific.

Sitting upon her mount at Alaric's side, her onyx eyes carefully took in the scene as screams found her ears and burning flesh found her sense of smell. Cursing beneath her breadth at the situation, her worriment first came in their proclamation to destroy and burn all Magi. Which meant that even if he used his talents to help, Alaric would be subject to such a rule. It was more than clear however, that the mind of the mob was the literal opposite of that, especially when it came to inhumane cruelty towards the innocent.

As Alaric hissed beneath his breadth, she quickly came to understand just why his gourd of water was trembling. A pair of small charred bodies, still tied to the stake, smoldered and spat smoke from eternally burnt and screaming lips into the midday sun. It made her sick, yet she still had a task to perform; quickly, Kotori reached out with her regular arm and seized her childhood friend's tightly. He spun to look at her, and though her mask may have had hidden the tear that streamed down her cheek, he could still see her sorrow.

But it was not the only emotion that was there. Deep within those pools of black were a sense of purpose and distinction. They were here for a reason, those bastards would receive their due comeuppance in good time.

Thankfully, Alaric eased up from his tension as her touch calmed his storm, and Kotori relinquished his arm. What came next was an additional surprise as out of nowhere, an Elderly man whispered them over to him. Quickly moving along and watching on silently as Alaric followed him, the Magi gave the signal for her and Tegan, the veteran of their party, to keep an eye out for any trouble.

Glancing at Tegan then, Kotori eyes then flickered towards the rooftop of the house. Her message was simple, she was going on top to get a bird's eye view. If there was any adversaries or threats about to arrive, both Tegan and Alaric would hear her mimicry of a Sparrow's call as always. Dismounting and reining in her horse, it did not take but a moment for the Guardian to disappear towards the side of the house, and with a slight running start, she literally ran up the height of the wall to land quietly upon the roof.

Slipping into a low crawl, she slowly and stealthily made her way across the rooftop so that she could keep an inconspicuous eye on the monsters in the town center from on high.