As they were marching toward their destination, To'brel was nervous. He knew the workers would be relatively safe compared to the guards. Their job was simply sitting back and raining down bolts on the enemy while the guards charged in. Still, the idea that soon they'd be fighting for their lives left him a little shaken, as was evident by his unsteady hands.

The motion apparently didn't go unheaded by Chal'ac, who'd apparently decided she'd better keep an eye on the younger male. "First time in a kill or be killed situation? You have led a sheltered life, haven't you?"

The grin on her face took some of the sting out of the female's words, but it still rankled the younger male a little. "First off, I'm not that much younger than you. And second, I'll have you know that the night I was kidnapped and all this started, I was also fighting for my life. Or at least I thought I was, which amounts to the same thing."

Chal'ac tilted her head in thought. "Yeah, kinda, I suppose, but that also came out of nowhere for you. This time you've got plenty of time to think about it, time to worry, and all that worrying is building up inside you until you start to wish the fight would just happen and you could get over it already. Am I right?"

The upturned eye ridge on Chal'ac's face further annoyed To'brel as he looked at his feet as let her words stew inside him a moment before answering. "Well, I suppose you're not entirely wrong. So, do you have any advice on how to deal with... this?" He held up a mildly shaking hand as he spoke.

Chal'ac smiled sympathetically. "Well, you could do what I'm doing..."

To'brel could tell she was baiting him out, but his curiosity was getting the better of him. "And that is?"

The huntress grinned wickedly as she pounced on her prey, figuratively speaking. "Find someone more nervous than yourself, then go over and pester them until you forget your own nervousness!"

The young noble rolled his eyes. "Just one problem with that idea. I don't think there's anyone more nervous about the upcoming fight than me."

Chal'ac looked contemplative a moment before nodding toward Sare'en. "Oh, I don't know. I think you're probably doing better than our resident arlack and wolgen master. Poor girl seems ready to abandon the hunt at a moment's notice!"

To'brel looked toward the female and her two ardent companions. "Maybe she would be if she wasn't being encouraged by such close friends."

The huntress's gait became ever so cheeky. "Well then, aren't you lucky to have such a close friend offering her encouragement?"

The noble raised an eye ridge in response. "I thought you said you were simply pestering me. Does this really count as encouragement?"

Chal'ac shrugged nonchalantly. "There's no reason it can't count as both. After all, your hands have steadied!"

Looking down, To'brel could see she was right. But, somehow, that made it all the more frustrating.

-

Em'brel looked over to Sare'en. "You know you don't actually have to fight, right? Someone needs to look after the arlack and the pups. They're way too young to bring onto a battlefield!"

The herder girl looked forlorn. "I know, and that's part of the problem. I don't want to fight, but I don't want to sit back while everyone else fights! I know there's no other option, but it bothers me... I just want to help, you know?"

Lon'thul, who was on the other side of the girl, laughed. "Yeah, because you're usually so lazy! I don't think I need to list everything you do around here, and quite frankly, I don't know if we have the time. People call me an overachiever, but watching you work makes me feel exhausted! I have no idea how you do it all!"

Sare'en looked like she was going to object when Em'brel spoke up. "Honestly, it'll be a relief knowing you and the pups are safe, allowing us to focus on the fight. Besides, the last thing we need to have happen is we survive the battle only to find all our arlack are gone along with half our supplies!"

Em'brel's expression became serious as she turned and held Sare'en by the shoulders. "Seriously though, your safety means a lot to me, to all of us, really. I know it's not easy being the one left behind. I've been that person on more than one occasion. Even though you'll be within sight of us the whole time, I realize that doesn't mean it'll be any easier for you, but someone needs to tend to the animals, and there's no one better qualified than you. But hey, at least you won't be alone!"

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Sare'en looked over at Dar'shal, who was walking on his own as usual. The hunter on loan from the local tribe never seemed to really connect with anyone else. Not that he was rude, far from it. In fact, he was almost too polite or rather too formal. Though he was a hard worker and a good student, Sare'en always felt a little intimidated by the male. Well, more than she was by most males anyway.

It was decided that since he was a guest of the caravan, he shouldn't be forced to risk his life with the rest, so he'd be caring for the animals along with Sare'en. Appearing to sense her attention, the hunter looked over and nodded in acknowledgment of Sare'en, who tentatively waved back. He then refocused his attention forward while the herder girl turned back to her friends. "Yeah... I'm sure I'll be in good hands..."

Lon'thul laughed again, slapping Sare'en on the back in what was probably supposed to be a supportive manner. "Oh, he's not so bad once you get to know him. He's intelligent, respectful, and a hard worker!"

Em'brel smiled as she reached around Sare'en to poke Lon'thul in the side. "So pretty much your complete opposite?"

Lon'thul grabbed hold of the spot Em'brel had poked as if gravely injured and acted dramatically. "Your words cut me to the bone o fair Em'brel! Have pity on one such as I! I am nothing before your razer sharp mind!"

Apparently, Angela had been listening because she spoke up over their headsets. "Em'brel, I'm surprised at you picking on poor Lon'thul like that! You know that in a battle of wits, he's unarmed!"

Lon'thul further voiced his protests, though his grin seemed to indicate he enjoyed the attention more than he minded the ribbing. Everyone continued laughing as Lon'thul played to his crowd.

-

Ger'ron was staring at the female in front of him in frustration. "Damn it, you stubborn kovaack! Will you just listen to me this one time? I'm not asking you to run and hide. I just want you to hold back with Em'brel rather than leading the workers from out in front! You'll just make a target out of yourself!"

Fea'en stared back, equally irritated. "I'm not going to hide behind a bunch of young pups to save my own skin! I'm the craft master of this caravan, and I'll lead my charges in a way they'll understand and respect! Besides, You're the one who's putting himself at risk! You were brought on to train the younger guards, not lead them into war! You're too old and injured to fight on the front lines like this!"

The old guard shook his head. "If even one of those kids died when I could have prevented his death, I'd never forgive myself! It's my job to ensure they all get out alive, and I intend to do right by them!"

Fea'en stayed quiet, trying to stare down the stubborn male. Usually, he was the first to bend in a battle of wills, his easy-going nature making him less combative, but for once, he was unwilling to back down. Finally, after a few more moments of uncomfortable silence, she sighed and shook her head. "I guess we're both too old and stubborn to compromise on this subject, aren't we?"

Ger'ron smiled sadly. "Aye. There's no way either of us will endanger the kids under our charge to save our own hides. Just do me a favor, and don't do anything too crazy out there, alright? I know you can handle yourself, but this isn't going to be like fighting off some raiders or dealing with some unruly workers. This will be a down-and-dirty kill-or-be-killed kind of fight. Don't pull any strikes, and don't expect anyone else to either. It's going to be a chaotic mess, so take care of yourself out there."

Fea'en looked at the male who'd unexpectantly come into her life not long ago. "I will, but you watch your own back out there, old wolgen. Make use of all those dirty tricks you've been teaching the kids over the years."

Ger'ron grinned. "Of course. Anything less would be a discredit to my students, my lady, and myself."

Off to the side, Orth'kun breathed a sigh of relief before turning to Lack'nul and speaking quietly. "You know, it's easy to forget how tough the old wolgen can be. I can't believe he stood up to Lady Fea'en like that! She's the second scariest female in this caravan!"

Lack'nul elbowed his friend in the ribs. "Keep it down, you idiot! What if they overhear you!"

However, the glare Fea'en directed their way indicated the warning came too late, and her words drove that point home. "Second scariest? Obviously, I've been too easy on some of the males under your command. I'll be sure to rectify that soon..."

For his part, Ger'ron simply smiled sympathetically at his subordinates. "Don't look to me for help. It's my job to keep you alive, not to save you from your own stupidity. Personally, I recommend begging for forgiveness before she decides how to punish your indiscretion!"

-

Looking ahead, Jack could see the lake off to the right. Turning to S'haar, he sighed. "Well, looks like we made it. Now we need to get into place before they catch up. This won't go well if they catch us out of position too early."

S'haar nodded and hugged her human. "We'd best move quickly then. Be safe."

Jack returned the hug before they separated to go about their own objectives. "Of course, you too. After all, my fate is in your hands!"

S'haar sighed and rolled her eyes. "I wish you wouldn't say it like that."

-

When Dek'thul turned the corner, he could see a lake off to the right, but more importantly, right ahead, he could clearly see the end of the caravan he'd been chasing. It was hard to tell at this distance, but it looked like Jack and the silver "goddess" were pulling up the rear. His orders were clear, he wasn't supposed to fully engage, but this was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. Besides, taking the smaller male hostage was the best way to stop the caravan's retreat, as Bar'thon had ordered. Turning to the warrior next to him, the hunt master issued his orders. "Give chase, and if possible, take the small male riding on the wolgen alive, but don't fully engage. If the whole line turns to fight, pull back. We're just buying time until Lord B'arthon is in position."

The warrior nodded his understanding and started issuing orders to his own subordinates, and soon they started giving chase to the survivors of Dragon's Outpost. Dek'thul allowed a few dozen warriors to pass by as he faded into some of the nearby underbrush so he could see to his personal objectives in the coming fight.