Death Approaches (open)

[HG]

Geoff returned from his mission only two days ago and already he had another one. He was leaving after getting a quick meal in his stomach. This time though, he was going with only one or two others. They had to be quick and quiet. There was no room at all for failure. If they were caught they would no doubt be killed or worse...tortured then killed. The young boy was not exactly terrified, after all the enemy was weakened. This was only a spy mission to find out what the defenses were like around Refuge Weyr. Still Geoff was looking a wee bit peekish now.

Stealing from cotholds was one thing. Sniffing out around the Weyr was another entirely. Dragonmen were dangerous killers. He would have to be at his most cautious, most serious. If they caught him he would not be able to defend himself. He was about as muscular as a girl child. His only hope would be not to get caught and to run like the wind was helping to carry him. Taking the paltry amount of stew, if thats what one could call it, offered he sat down at one of the tables. His water held that murky brown that it usually did. Better to just go to the river later and drink it out of there.

Staring at the stew he realized, he had absolutely no appetite. No one could reassure him right now. What he needed was a pep talk. Yeah, well no one here was likely to do that. After all, he should be pleased. He'd only been with the active group for a few months and already he was being sent on a special mission. He ought to be thrilled. Geoff thought about things, he'd almost rather be a coward than walk willingly to his death. Oh dear sweet Pern he did not want to die!

[Ise]

Sorlen didn't give a flying flitter about this mission. All he wanted to do was go find his sister and drag her back to the camp by her hair then hang her by her feet to make sure she couldn't do anything else to embarrass him or the rest of their family. Instead he was being sent out to go take a look at Refuge Weyr. At any other time Sorlen would have been honored and eager to please Riverton and the other Holdless leaders. His parents were even pleased with this and had offered him words of encouragement (if you could take 'if you screw this up you had better hope the riders kill you cause I'll skin you alive' as encouragement).

He had gathered up the few things he planned on taking with him; a hunting knife, rope, a canteen for water, and some hard bread that tasted worse then dirt but would last forever. Everything easily fit on and around his belt, and he made sure none of it moved around on him, what was the point of being able to walk and move quietly when you had things clinking together on your belt? Feeling as prepared as he could in such short notice, Sorlen started wandering through the camp looking for few others that he would be going out with.

The Mess Tent was the first place he went to and he easily spotted Geoff. Sorlen scowled a little, the boy looked like he was either going to puke into his bowl of food or pass out. Not that Sorlen could blame him for wanting to throw up with the kind of slop they ate. The older boy dropped heavily onto the bench next to Geoff, leaning over to see what he was eating.
"Ugh no wonder you look sick. I think I'd rather start a mission on an empty stomach then try to swallow that filth down. I didn't even think we had any meat around here for a stew..."
Sorlen took the bowl from Geoff's hands and slid it down the table.

[HG]

A smirk lifted to the corners of the boy's young face. "Oh I'm sure we could steal any meat we wanted besides don't you have family that hunts?" Geoff knew Sorlen's family or rather knew of them. Especially his sister, the little wretch who did nothing to help the cause. If Sorlen started anything with him, he'd just bring up how Sorlen's family was a disgrace to the Holdless and it would be over. His point would be made. As it was, Geoff was a young person and not given to anger as easily.

Changing the subject to a more positive one he said, "Recon of the Weyr that has it all. Should be a challenge. No doubt we'll be rewarded well and our families given something to be proud of when we return. If we capture a Shield Member we might be even more appreciated." Geoff did not relish the idea of having to capture someone but he did like the idea of what that would mean for him. Finally his parents would notice him.

"We should probably be off, don't you think?" He said as he stood up from the table. Geoff did not know who else was in their little party but he did know that they were supposed to be meeting at a pre-designated place before heading out. His brother knew so much more about missions than he did. Geoff never brought much with him on missions. The more you had the more slow you were. All he brought were his knives and a canteen for water. Food was not necessary seeing as there were plenty of edible plants in the jungle and he could fish and kill small game if needed. Trip wouldn't last more than a few days anyway.

[Ise]

"My father hunts. Right now the only thing he wants to hunt down would be my sweet sister."
There was no point in trying to pretend that the whole camp didn't know of Laure. No one was stupid enough to bring her name up though near his parents. His father went into a rage every time he was reminded of Laure. That didn't stop the other Holdless from making snide remarks when the rest of them were around.

After this mission though things would change. They couldn't get any worse at least. And if they managed to catch a Shield member, everyone would have to forget about Laure. Though Sorlen hoped they'd avoid any Shield members, especially the female ones. Everyone knew that the Dragon Shield was full of nasty people but the women were the worst. Man-hating wenches with weapons who were utterly ruthless in battle. And they were made only worse if the rumors of them training the wild felines were true.
"If we catch a Shield member we had better be rewarded. Might just be safer to kill them and bring a body back. I've heard enough stories of them being able to rip a man's throat out with their teeth that I don't want to find out if its true."

One last check of the few items he was bringing with him and Sorlen nodded. The sooner they started this mission the better. Though he hoped that it wouldn't be just the two of them, if they did come across any riders or Shield, Sorlen didn't think the two of them stood much of a chance against them. Geoff looked like a strong gust of wind could knock him down and while Sorlen knew he could fight, he was untrained and sloppy.
"Lets go then. The sooner we finish this the sooner I can do more important things."