Sword & Spear

[Riyami]

Deep within an isolated desert, the night winds blew cool against the sand smoothed caverns dotting one side of a large mesa. Though one such cavern, a maze of tunnels lead deep into the mesa's interior and a massive oasis within the rocks. Crevices in the towering ceiling allowed just enough light, water and vegetation to survive in the cavern, along with a decent sized tribe of canine thropes. They mostly kept to themselves, only venturing out when necessary to gather food and resources. But they knew of the dangers of the outside world, and trained many in their ranks as warriors to protect themselves.

Spear in hand, Isis stood vigilant in the tunnels near the exit to her home, diligently taking her post as guard for the night.

[Val]

The cold night air wafted through Finn’s fur as he strode confidently across the sands. Being here reminded him of his own home somewhat…though this was far more desolate. He liked it. It felt more peaceful…more pure, uncorrupted. What ruins he could make out as blackened silhouettes against the midnight blue sky were ancient beyond memory and sinking ever downward into the earth to be hidden from the world.
Approaching the mesa, he gave a slight sigh of irritation. Here he was on a mission that demanded he play the part of one of those average people. He had to become mundane, “normal.” The thought alone was almost enough to make him spit. He wasn’t normal, he was –not- mundane and everyone should know it.

Clearing his throat, he tried to clear his head. It was only an act to get him what he wanted. They would know who he truly was soon enough.
Up ahead he noticed a guard and a toothy grin spread across his muzzle. Show time.

[Riyami]

It took a few moments before Isis noticed the dark silhouette rising up from the nearby sand dunes. She turned sharply, instinctively turning the point of her spear in the figure's direction and taking a defensive position.

"Who is there?!" Isis called out with a frown. Animals were simple to deal with. Outsiders were difficult.

[Val]

Despite the spear pointed in his direction Finn still couldn’t feel threatened. One guard? Pathetic. Still he held up his hands defensively as he continued his steady approach.

“You must help me!” He called out, the words almost choking him to say, “I’ve been wandering the desert all day, I’m lost.”

[Riyami]

Isis's ears folded back a few degrees as she narrowed her eyes. Her tribe didn't care for tourists. The fact that the mesa was so far out into the sands that it was made impractical for others to venture into this territory was the very reason they settled there. And yet for whatever reason here one was, without extensive supplies, wandering for a single day directly onto their doorstep.

Isis reinforced her grip on her spear with the rest of her arm, and shifted her legs sideways to brace herself.

"That is close enough, stranger. I do not trust you." she growled.

[Val]

Of course she didn’t. Only a complete imbecile would. Finn obeyed and halted his approach, still holding his hands up to try and seem as unthreatening as possible. Should the worst happen he was certain he could take this girl and contact the rest of his squad not far away to just raid the mesa. He’d chosen to take on this mission as a precaution rather than blindly barrel in, however.

“Please.” He uttered. By Chaos, he hated that word. So pathetic and weak sounding. It made his hand twitch with the impulse to claw that offensive word out of existence. “I have nowhere else to go, this is the only settlement for miles. I’ll die out here.” He stated matter-of-factly.

[Riyami]

"Then you were a fool to wander in the first place." Isis retorted, a faint scowl tugging at the corners of her lips.

This is why she disliked dealing with outsiders. Most of them thought they could simply walk these fickle sands like they would a smooth street. Isis inspected the stranger from behind her spear. She didn't see any apparent supplies or anything to shield themselves from the sun. The hair on the back of her head bristled before she caught her mouth as it opened. Instead, Isis sucked in a long breath through her nose, pressing her lips closed.

Another thing about wandering outsiders she disliked, they always became so noisy.

Isis gave a long drawn out sigh before sharply looking up at the stranger from under furrowed brows. "If I help, you will leave at dawn."

[Val]

Behind tightly shut lips Finn’s teeth clenched so tightly they hurt. A fool? He felt the urge to pounce like a predator building within him. How dare she! A strained breath forced free of his nose. Calm. Stay calm. He was getting what he wanted afterall.

“Oh, thank you.” His voice trembled, unable to hide his mounting disgust. It was fine, it helped him seem more helpless. An awkward smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, “I swear, I’ll be gone just as you say.” This was it, the wolf nestling among sheep unaware of the slaughter coming their way. “My name is Finn.” He added, hoping to seem more casual and unassuming.

[Riyami]

Isis looked Finn up and down one more time. He swore, but Isis's ears remained tilted back and her eyes narrow as she sternly looked him dead in the eye.

Isis lifted her head and let out a small huff as she stood back straight and pulled the point of her spear away from Finn, tapping the blunt end back down into the sand with a soft crunch. Isis remained silent. She didn't make much effort to acknowledge his attempt at conversation, nor necessarily spurn it. Exchanging their names simply wouldn't matter after dawn.

Turning toward the shadowed entrance to the mesa, Isis motioned with her nose for Finn to follow. She walked inside, moving around a sharp corner and into a small alcove.

Placed around the small alcove were some personal affects. Among other things, there was a small bedroll, a few smaller sacks tied to a larger satchel, and various other wooden and metal tools, all seemingly handmade. The alcove itself looked like little more than a makeshift campsite.

[Val]

Too easy. It was insultingly easy. All it took was the sting of swallowing his pride to get this far already. The second Isis turned her back Finn felt his heartbeat increase, a rush of adrenaline as he had to dig his feet into the soft sand to keep himself from tackling her. She was vulnerable…and had insulted him. He wanted to hear her scream.

‘No.’ he reminded himself. ‘There’s something of value hidden in here and we don’t know how many already live here.’ He was still on a scouting mission. This was not the attack. Whatever treasure she was guarding would belong to him…in time.

“So you’re by yourself?” He asked idly as the camp came into view. “I was unaware anyone else lived out here.”

[Riyami]

Isis reached a hand down to the nearby pack and began to rummage through it.

“No need for talk. We part ways at first light.” She said plainly. Isis glanced up again, as if to size him up. Two small sacks and a gourd were taken out of the larger pack and set in front of Finn.

“One mouth full at dawn, one mouth full at dusk.” Isis pointed down at the sacks. “Walk toward the ruined spire. When you reach it, you will see the Oasis. Go there and you will find a village that can help you.”

Isis sat down with her spear near the alcove’s entrance, keeping one eye and ear out into the night, and another on her guest.

[Val]

A brow perked as Isis set the packs and gourd down. His attention turned to the outside. So there was a village within a day’s walk it seemed. If the rest of the tribe here were anything like Isis he couldn’t imagine them dealing with them often so it was unlikely they’d come to help should anything happen.
Still this woman’s attitude was beginning to annoy him. Finn felt his hands flex again. He wanted to just explore the mesa and find whatever it was he was looking for but going anywhere out of Isis’ sight wouldn’t be possible without shedding the innocent façade.

Then an idea hit him. She said no talking but maybe annoying her right back would work to his benefit. Finn slumped down against a stone wall, watching the fellow Jackal intently.

[Riyami]

Isis continued to keep watch silently, trying to ignore her guest's nigh constant gaze. It briefly reminded her of the stares she would sometimes get from the village's children, and the fact that Finn was a Jackal just similar enough to herself, had thrown her off a bit. Thrown off just enough to be curious, and that made her wary.

Isis let out a soft exhale from her nose and turned her head sharply to Finn. "Why are you staring?" she asked bluntly.

[Val]

“I’m curious.” The fellow jackal replied simply. “You’ve held me at arms length and live in this mesa alone. What drives you to choose such isolation?”

Of course the answer seemed obvious to Finn himself, even though he knew for a fact this girl wasn’t alone here. Drawing attention to his incorrect assumption purposefully. But isolation wasn’t nearly the hell everyone seemed to believe it to be. Not when the rabble were so insufferable.

[Riyami]

Isis narrowed her eyes, mulling the question over.

"I want to live in peace. Outsiders are nothing but trouble. They take, even when there is nothing to take. Out here, I earn what I have. I protect it. The rest belongs to the sands. There is nothing worthwhile on the outside." She spoke with an almost informative tone. Informative but not entirely genuine.

Isis folded her arm over her knee, turning away as the frown returned to her face. She sat there with a wrinkle in her brow a few moments before subtly glancing back over at Fynn.

[Val]

Finn was unable to hide a surprised grin at her answer. Perhaps she did understand the way of the world. She might’ve even made for a decent member of Jackal Squad but…Unlikely she’d consider it if she was so loyal to staying and protecting whatever it was he was here for. It was a shame to see wasted potential but he wasn’t about to blow his cover on some foolish attempt to sway her.

“I suppose you’re right.” He answered, leaning back against the stone wall. “But so many confuse peace with quiet. Just because you can’t hear the screams of war doesn’t mean they aren’t out there to be heard…But then that’s none of your concern, is it?”

[Riyami]

Isis stared at Finn for a moment. She knew he wasn't entirely wrong, and she didn't like the small pang of curiosity that came with it. Isis tightened her fist as her ears flattened again. Turning away with a small huff and putting her eyes back out into the dark.

"It is not." She murmured in response. "Get your sleep, Finn. You have a long walk ahead of you."

[Val]

He couldn’t help but grin. He could tell that had made her uncomfortable and whether she was talking or not, she was thinking about it now. Perhaps with a few more nudges she may be worth picking up for the squad…if she survived.

Continuing to play along, Finn lay down and allowed his eyes to close but he had no intention of sleeping. He’d wait and listen until he saw an opportunity to search for what he was here for, or eliminate Isis and call in the rest of his team.

[Riyami]

Isis sat there for the better part of half an hour before Finn could faintly hear the shuffle of feet hitting sand. Isis walked out of the small chamber and stepped back into the entryway of the caves. She leaned her shoulder against the rocks and stared out into the darkened desert. Isis knew that being a sentinel to protect her village was a great honor, but the more she thought about it, the more it felt like they were simply hiding from something.

Isis pressed her eyes closed a moment, chasing the thought away. For now, she focused back out into the desert. Isis still had her job to do, at least until morning.