[center][h2][color=D34C25]Primrose[/color], [color=BC8DBF]Therion[/color], [color=gray]&[/color] [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]Pit[/color][/h2]
[color=D34C25][u]Level[/u]: [b]11[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 346/110[/color] [color=2e2c2c]------[/color] [color=BC8DBF][u]Level[/u]: [b]10[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 416/100[/color]
[color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color] [color=2e2c2c]----------------------------[/color] [color=gray]𝙱𝙿[/color] [color=gold]●[/color][color=gray]●●●●[/color]
[color=lightgoldenrodyellow][u]Level[/u]: [b]8[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 373/80[/color]
[sub][i]Friday Afternoon[/i][/sub]
Word Count: 1374 (+3 exp)
[b]Location[/b]: Fields of Gold, the Forbidden Kingdom[/center]
For a moment it looked as though Therion was going to make some sarcastic remark to Ms. Fortune when she mentioned going after the rest of Kazuya's stuff, but part way through opening his mouth to do so he paused, his tail swishing as he actually considered what she said. Knowing her she might have just meant it as a joke, but once the man was gone his stuff did have to go somewhere, right? Might as well actually be them. It would be a great last laugh, too. [color=BC8DBF]"...good point,"[/color] he begrudgingly agreed. Those, and whatever else valuable they happened to find.

Rather than spend time discussing future plans or potential tactics, it behooved the group to start getting a move on. Towards that end, the feral directed them all through the village towards a building that stood apart from the bulk of the rest.

[color=D34C25]"Very subtle,"[/color] Primrose remarked as they neared the stable, looking up at the huge horse head structure that stood above it. 

Some were more enthusiastic about the suggested travel situation than others. Pit went right over to the edge of the stable to get a look at all of the animals, glancing over at the feral once to say, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"nice find!"[/color]

While he leaned over the fence posts, Therion walked the length of it to give the potential mounts a more scrutinizing look. His eyes moved from the wulgs to the white wolf in the Seekers' party, wondering if they couldn't just use her as a ride for one of the lighter members.

Primrose kept a little back, not too worried about the quality of the animals. She intended to hitch a ride with someone else, and suggested the same to the rest of the group. [color=D34C25]"I recommend pairing up, if possible."[/color]

It would save some time on learning, make it less likely for the group to get too separated, and even if her friend was rich enough to foot the bill it would save her a little money too. Primrose glanced at Nadia after hearing the slight hesitation in the other woman's voice. 

[color=D34C25]"Interesting, isn't it? I wouldn't have guessed it."[/color] she said. They wulgs especially seemed odd choices, but they must have been docile enough if they were kept with the giant chickens. Without a road to follow there wasn't much choice, though. [color=D34C25]"Hopefully its a smooth ride... I fear having those cars and ships really spoiled us."[/color]

It had been a while, but she recalled long trips on horseback to be rather unpleasant. Still, she couldn't imagine an animal better suited to the task; so when Nadia went in to talk to the stable master, Primrose wasn't surprised to see that Therion had chosen a horse out of the options for species. When he led it over she did raise a brow at the type he picked.

[color=D34C25]"This one?"[/color] she questioned, to which Therion nodded.

[color=BC8DBF]"It's just as sturdy as the others and comes with extra equipment,"[/color] he said, tapping the nose of the gas mask it was fitted with. The hors flicked its snout away. [color=BC8DBF]"Some kind of filter I think. Might be useful."[/color]

Primrose couldn't argue his logic, though she did give the hors a more squinted look. The creature appeared able to see out of those dark lenses that covered its eyes, because it tilted its head towards her and looked back. Fair enough. It's size was certainly capable of accommodating two passengers at any rate. 

Meanwhile, Pit was considering his own choice. He'd driven chariots before, but hadn't actually ridden a horse himself. Unless Phos and Lux counted, though Pit thought they'd be offended to be considered mere horses. The badger looking thing was neat, but he couldn't decide if they'd be a comfy ride or not. They had fur, but would probably get hot now that the sun was coming out. The chocobo seemed like a pretty good in between choice.

Pit called the closest one over to him. Up close they were pretty cute, and their contour feathers soft. Although living in a stable with a bunch of different animals, it seemed like the chocobos couldn't preen themselves enough to keep up with the dirt and dander that got kicked up. It might not have been immediately apparent to others, but as a feather-haver himself Pit could tell. 

So, after petting the chocobo he started to expertly comb his fingers through the bird's feathers, smoothing bent barbules and untangling ruffled down while brushing out the dust from stable living. He moved from its neck to its breast to its wings, smiling as the chocobo cooed in contentment. As he worked the longer flight feathers, he wondered if they could actually be used to fly. The wings themselves were pretty small compared to the bird's body though, much like Pit's own, so he guessed not. 

In the middle of his allopreening, Ms. Fortune emerged from the stables main area with the bill settled and a chobobo of her own led by the reins. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Good choice!"[/color] he told her. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"Oh, and thanks for getting them for us."[/color]

Procuring stuff like this should probably have fallen to him, but unfortunately he did not have a windfall of cash, illicitly gained or otherwise.

After the rudimentary lessons for whoever needed them, the group was off. Just before leaving Pit waved at Big Band (and anyone else staying behind). [color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"We'll be back soon, with one less Consul to worry about! Hold down the fort in Esaka for us 'til then!"[/color]

Pit urged his chocobo towards the front of the group, happy to blaze the trail. He didn't normally navigate, but he didn't have to - if they started veering off course, a quick check in with the Goddess of Light with an eagle eye's view of her ward would be able to point them back in the right direction. 

It had been a while since Therion had ridden a horse, but he found he remembered the gist of it. Unsurprisingly Primrose chose to ride with him, sitting side saddle. If gave her a nice view of the landscape passing them by.

When the group eventually had to take a break due to their way forward being down, the dancer slipped from her spot on the horse and stretched out a little. Her core was strong enough that the side saddle posture didn't cause her any soreness just yet, but longer rides would certainly be testing her. She felt for the Seekers that had never done any riding before and would have to suffer the muscle stiffness. 

[color=D34C25]"Based on the map, the Tyrannian Plateau is a day or more away. I don't think we'll even need to go half as far so long as we can find a decent spot for an ambush,"[/color] she commented, looking ahead from their higher vantage point in the hills. [color=D34C25]"Not to mention if R decides to take a scenic route and we have to change direction..."[/color]

She didn't really forsee that happening based on what little she knew of the man's personality, but technically it was possible. Pit nodded his agreement. Having yet to dismount, he glanced around the area from the broken bridge to the fields to the sparse people and creatures to see if there was another way forward. It would be good to at least go a little farther, he thought. Thankfully there was one among their group that had a simple solution to the present stop: just fix the bridge. While Amaterasu got to work, Pit piped up.

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"We're still too close to some settlements though, so let's keep going! Thankfully we've got the Goddess of Handiwork on our side!"[/color] he said, throwing a cheeky smile Amaterasu's way. Her help with that sort of stuff really was invaluable though, so he'd have to remember to throw some more gratitude her way. 

[color=lightgoldenrodyellow]"I'm gonna see if I can get a better look around,"[/color] he said next, steering the reins of his bird towards the hillier river. Even if Amaterasu finished her repairs before he returned, it wouldn't take long to catch back up. As they trotted off, the little blueberries and their strange mission came into view. The scene was intriguing, so he made a beeline there.

[hr][center][h2]...& Kayna![/h2][b]Location:[/b] Tyrannian Plateau: Warfang, the Forbidden Kingdom[/center]
The monster rider had frozen still as a statue when suddenly approached by a woman apparently prone to rambling, but she didn't look offended, only surprised. About part way through Anais' hurried words, Kayna loosened back up and swallowed the food that had been in her mouth. Then she took another bite. And one more, her brows knitting together as she chewed, sorting through and thinking over everything Anais was saying. When Avmar the velocidrome (who'd finished his first omelette in one bite) leaned in to sniff Anais curiously, Kayna made no move to stop him.

"Urmf, shorry, I wash chinda-" Kayna started, then paused to polish off her food, wipe her the back of her hand across her mouth, and then smile at the stranger. "Ehehe, sorry, the stomach called. Yeah, I'm Kayna! And this is Avmar."

She shifted, placing her hands on her hips with the little bag of food hanging from one wrist. 

"Primrose, the dancer? Yeah, I know her! So you're all friends of hers?" Actually, hadn't there been a Grimm back at Meridi-at-Hanz too? It had been a little bit, but it was hard to forget the day a trio of gigantic monsters had attacked the city. She was pretty sure the circus that had pulled in was called the Grimm Troupe or something like it... who would have known all the people from back then would have become friends! Maybe she should have stuck around a little longer!

"Nice to meet ya, Anais. I'd be happy to help you out, but..." Kayna pursed her lips, tilting her head up to the nearby mountain. "I've never met him. I've heard about him but I don't know 'what he's up to'?"

She looked back at Anais, amused at the phrasing now that she'd repeated it herself. 

"I didn't know he had fans. He travels a lot, but he's around right now, I think. I've gotta meet with the Beastmakers today but if you don't mind walking and talking, I'll tell you what I've heard about him!"

Kayna then blinked, glancing down at Anais' crutches. Her smile turned a touch sheepish. "Was that insensitive? I'm a wild country girl so I'm not really used to... uh, nevermind! Avmar can give you a lift, if you want, but if you're good I'll fill you in while we head my way!"

The velocidrome gave a bark of agreement before nosing into the bag for his next snack.