The end to a quest?

[Tslisher]

Almost skipping Tasha Klennard strode out of the Redboot barracks, her fancy new red uniform flashing in the sun. Sure it was a sobering duty, and a frown suddenly came over her face as she realized really what had just occurred and how serious a duty she had just committed herself to.

Although she had been looking forward to this day for a long time now, almost since the day her parents had been killed, she still had moments when she wondered whether it was worth it. Would her parents have been proud, or treated her with scorn for such a path?

Sitting down on the bank overlooking the sea, she started to think back to that awful day that started her on her current path.

to be continued.....

[Earavien Erinen]

Dirk watched Tasha depart from the Redboot barracks in a sprightly fashion; she was obviously delighted about being accepted into the ranks. He wished he could feel as lighthearted.

For Dirk, this was part of his duty, not to be taken lightly. Certainly he was honored and most satisfied to be a part of something bigger than himself, but he knew that dark days were coming to the land, and realized that from now on he would have to be ever-vigilant in his watch for evil.

He thought about saying something to Tasha as she left. Something about how the new red uniform suited her....but he didn't have the words.

"Bah, fine talk is for bards."

Feeling guilty about even contemplating Tasha's trim form, he resolutely turned his thoughts to other things. He knew Tasha was very intelligent; she would make a fine addition to the Redboots. She asked such piercing questions about troop deployments on the borders, and military tactics. Things that even he wouldn't have though to ask, with all his fine training in Dasar.

And Amir, their fellow new Redboot, seemed to be a most worthy scout. Yes, he had an "earthy" humor (as did Tasha.....he pushed that thought aside), but he had certainly saved them more than once from running into trouble with his skills. Dirk frowned, thinking that he'd just have to keep an eye out to make sure the fellow didn't start working on his pick pocket skills.

Standing in seaside, watching Tasha sit by the water, he knew he could go to her, talk to her about these feelings of foreboding he was having. She would poke fun at him at first, it's true, but she would really listen and discuss things with him. He shook his head and with a sinking feeling, realized this was a path that his mind should not be travelling. His duties lay elsewhere, not with the easing of his own mind.

Squaring his shoulders and flexing his biceps unconsciously, he turned back to the barracks and returned to his lonely bunk. Laying awake, listening to the snores of his fellow Redboots, he prayed to Girru for strength. Strength against the evil he suspected would harrow the realm in the coming months, and strength against temptation......

[Tslisher]

Tasha stalked her prey carefully, blending in to the background underbrush as the wild boar looked up, startled. "How did he sense her? the wind wasn't right?"

Then she too smelled the smoke, and heard a faint scream in the distance. Her prey forgotten, she slowly picked her way back to the village, doubt growing in her mind.

When she got there, she stood aghast as she witnessed most of the humble dwellings ablaze. Frantically she ran to her parent's house, only to see it consumed by the fire as well.

No, this could not be! The flames were too intense and beat at her face and singed her hair as she tried to enter the building and was forced back. Had no one survived? In the past, in the war zone, one side or the other would raid the village for food and plunder. But they had always left the people and buildings alone. Had no one survived?

Almost frantically she cast about, looking for signs of survivors. Tasha almost stumbled over the body out back, behind the barn. A single Dasarian soldier lay there, his body pierced by three arrows. The fletching looked oddly familiar...

To be continued.