They sent her on this mission because they knew she would succeed. She was the best, and she knew it. She had worked hard to become who she was... the champion of her race. She took the mission without question however she knew not where she was going.
South, they told her, we want you to scout the south, we think there is another race reaching a point where they could be a threat to us.
A threat to the Chamoline's future.
So Chile had set out into lands unknown for her species future... and now she was lost.
The trees all looked the same to her, the scenery from the air was similiar. There was no denying it, she was quite lost, and in enemy territory too to boot. Toor hummed in his sheath which made Chile look down at it with a blank face... someone approached.
He and his small troupe had been wandering for nearly three days, broken off from the main army after a skirmish. Kaelum was tired quite frankly and tired of walking so much. But he didn't, couldn't, show weakness to his comrades.
"Sir, must we keep walking through this unknown territory without sending out a scout to check the area first?" One of the soldiers asked him, wearyness in his tone.
"I realize that we could be walking into an enemy trap with every step we take, but we don't have enough men here to dream of sending out a scout without seriously hurting our numbers and chances should there truly be an attack." Kaelum replied softly, "But I will walk ahead of all of you to check things out, if only to ease your minds. Rest for a few minutes, I will return." With that he moved swiftly ahead of them.
Chile leapt to the tree branches with ease, her claws grasping the boughs as she seareched her area of sight for a view of the enemy, if it was an enemy at all. A slight sound behind her made her turn her torso around before she went back to facing forward and climbed to a higher branch, shifting her sword to the side and her carriers pouch around to the front, hanging from her neck as she crouched. Chile brushed her soft sand colored hair out of the way for a better view.
His golden ears twitched as he walked, for a moment Kaelum thought that he'd heard something. His hand rested softly on the hilt of a sword, he'd be ready should someone attack. He looked around cautiously, his gaze hardly missing a detail.
"Ho stranger..." Chile called from above, quite comfortable in the trees when she finally caught him within his sight, not to mention she figured she had the advantage in a fair fight between them. "From where do you hail?"
"I should be asking you the same." Kaelum replied smoothly, bowing respectfully, "My name is Kaelum, I come from a ways back in the direction that I've just arrived from. Now what about yourself?"
"North." She said simply, her small wings shuffling softly, folding across her back where they were not seen. Crunching the soft bark with her large claws as she flexed them, Chile seized him up with her emotionless silver eyes before speaking again, "I am Chile, of the Chamoline race, are our races at war?"
"I am of the Caether race, and I have heard nothing of our two races being at war." Kaelum said softly, "What are you doing way out here on your own, anyway?"
Chile swung her head around to make sure no one was near and dropped straight thirty feet to the ground in front of the man, "I am a scout."
"Interesting, at the moment I, myself, am a scout." Kaelum said with a smile, "I am making sure that there are no traps or anything of that sort ahead so that I can escort my men through this area."
"I have made no traps." Chile said, not responding to his smile. She would not under estimate her opponent.
"I am glad to hear that." Kaelum said, "I would rather not have anything to do with battles right now. I just want to get my men back with our group."
"You are against fighting, yet you are a warrior?" Asked Chile, curiosity getting the better of her, "But fighting is an art..." She set a delicate hand on the hilt of Toor affectionatly.
"I was drafted." He said simply, "And my only goal right now is to protect my men."
"Hmmm..." She hummed to herself, not used to meeting someone with as little passion for fighting. Opening her small wings, Chile decided to play the peacemaker: She would not make an attacking motion unless it was made against her first.
"Good luck with your scouting." Kaulum said softly, "I must continue with my own and return quickly. This is unknown and dangerous territory."
"We are in very similiar circumstances,
" Chile answered back just as soft, "Mind if I join your people for a while? I am peaceful and I mean no harm."
"I suppose it would be alright." Kaulum replied, "This is far enough for me to go scouting anyway. Follow me and I'll introduce you."
Chile padded after him on silent claws, her hand staying on Toor's handle axiously, expecting some controversy from his peers considering how different their species looked.
His men stood up almost immediately after he returned, all of them were weary and quite ragged looking, "Sir?" The questioned him uncertainly.
"This is Chile, she will be accompanying us for a while." Kaelum said.
She bowed low, the small orniments of her clothing clinking innoccently and both pairs of her wings spread out behind her, "I mean no harm," Chile said simply.
The four other men bowed respectfully to her, "If General Kaelum trusts you then so shall we." They murmured simultaneously as they rose.
Chile's cheek twitched, General? No matter, they were lost together and rank meant nothing to her. She had no rank, but she didn't need one, the red gem at her belt meant everything in her race.
"It's time to head out. I've searched the area before us and there is no danger. But do not let your guard go lax. That doesn't mean that the situation will not change." Kaelum said smoothly.
Chile followed them a short distance away, her wings folded tightly against her back and her steps cool and calculated. She needed to find out where she was, or was this the race her superiors meant? Impossible, this race was not blood thirsty like the Modohnn, nor were they warriors of the art like the Chamolines... they were fighters because they were forced to.
After a small while, Kaelum called a short halt near a stream, "Fill your canteens and eat a little." He said to his men, climbing a stout tree and focusing his attention on the land to keep watch for possible danger.
Leaping up after him, Chile balanced on a bough near him, "The land all looks so similiar... it's no wonder both of us managed to get lost."
"Yeah..." Kaelum responded, glancing back down at his men as they ate ravenously, "We're almost out of provisions too. Despite the fact that we're in a rather fertile area there seems to be no real food in sight."
"I noticed there are few birds too, I may be able to help you." Chile said softly, "I could catch them for you, I have plenty of provisions for myself, but myself only."
"It is alright, I do not want to bother you." Kaelum said, "It's time to head out again, they've finished eating." He leapt from the tree silently.
"And what will you eat?" She asked him, her eyes finding his, "Even the leader has to eat."
"I am not hungry." Kaelum said calmly, "Alright, men. It's time for us to be on our way, we've got a lot of ground to cover and not a whole lot of daylight left."
Chile looked surprised for a second, the emotion giving her face a whole other look as she quickly neutralized her features and looked up at the sun as it was slowly making it's way to the horizon.
They gathered their things and set off silently once more, their feet moving tiredly along. "We'll have to set up camp soon... I hope to find a decently sheltered place." Kaelum said.
In the gray in-between of the sunset Chile sped ahead, her skirt flowing behind her gracefully as she quickly found a suitable cave in which was deep enough to defend in case of an attack and tall enough to not be a nuisence, "Over here!" Chile said loudly when she heard them approaching.
Kaelum and his ragtag crew diverted themselves to the sound of her voice, and when they found the cave they began to ready themselves for bed.
Chile set herself at the entrance, her wings open beside her and she redied herself to meditate. Chamoline's rarely slept.
Kaelum leaned against the wall just inside the cave as his men situated themselves and drifted off to sleep.
Watching the night sky, "What is the purpose of you army?" Chile asked curiously, her mind wandering over recent events.
"We are often plagued by wars, and it is our militia that keeps the people safe." He replied.
"Keeps your people safe from whom?" She was trying to gain information on their attackers to see if they had a common enemy.
"The Arachlians." Kaeulum replied simply, "They've been burning our crops and villages, and many have disappeared without a trace."
"The who?" Chile asked surprised he had not said the Modohnn, "Who are these Arachlians?"
"They came from the west and carry an appearance akin to spiders." Kaelum said, "They have six arms and a pair of legs and their skin color varies, their mandables are overly large and they can spit poison from them."
Chile's wings shivered... sounded like a fun challenge, "May I help you with the problem?"
"Do as you wish. Though if you really want to-" There came a scream from outside of their cave, Kaelum stiffened immediately.
"Was that humanoid or animal?" Chile asked, perking her head up to listen for the sound if it came again.
"It was the call of an Arachlian." Kaelum said, shuddering.
Chile instantly stood, her lithe body uncurling into her long torso as her claws clenched and relaxed against the sand of the cave, "Toor?" She comanded softly and the sword glowed gently in reply, "I'm going out there." She told the general next to her, not caring what he said to stop her, Chile wanted to see how well this species acted against her.
"I'd rather you didn't." He said in a soft whisper, "If they haven't noticed us yet it would be best to keep them from noticing us."
"They won't find you," Chile nearly growled, her wings spastically opening as she took a step forward and fully folded her wings against herself and slid Toor out of it's sheath, the blade softly hissing.
"I'm not worried about myself." He replied coolly, "But listen, Arachlian's tend not to travel alone. Even if you see just one, don't ever let your guard down. And... here." He reached into his pack and pulled out a vizor, "I'm finding it hard trying to convince you not to go... at least wear this to protect your face."
Chile chuckled and allowed herself to smile, "A Chamoline doesn't wear armor, but thank you for the offer." She bowed gracefully and darted from the cave in a zig-zag fashion, using her momentum to leap into the tree tops.
He sat down near the cave entrance, guarding his still slumbering men, and worrying for Chile.
The night air was cool against Chile's skin, causing her to close her eyes briefly as she headed in the direction of the last scream. There! A large web, glistening in temptation and abnormal in size. Chile stopped and crouched on the bough, the bark crunching softly as it was crushed. Toor hummed to her, telling her of nearby foe.
A long dead animal hung by some of the threads, burns covering its hide. Chile narrowed her eyes... the creature... or creatures were close.
With a loud shriek the Arachlian revealed it's position stupidly before charging at her, level with the Chamoline in the trees. Her wings snapping open, Chile just made it into the air before the creature go to her, hitting the trunk of the tree while she hovered right above the spot. The Arachlian fell twitching from the branch while several answering screams came from nearby.
Kaelum stiffened at the screams, "Don't get yourself killed out there..." He muttered, clenching his jaw as a shadow hovered over the cave entrance.
Chile was quickly surrounded by several of the creatures, their screams and growls flowing through the night like an erie musical for Chile to dance to. And dance she did. Toor whistled through the air and connected with Arachlian limb after limb, sending hot blood hissing to the ground.
Kaelum stood slowly, drawing a sword as silently as he possibly could. With swift steps he leapt out of the cave and drove his sword through the body of an arachlian. He leapt backwards and the body where his head had just been sizzled and hissed. Frowning he turned towards another arachlian and the few who followed it, "So much for not wanting to get involved..." He muttered to himself, pulling the visor from his pocket and securing it over his unprotected eyes.
Tearing into the torso of one of the creatures that surrounded him, Chile stood gracefully, low to the ground with her long skirt around her lizard legs as if hanging in the air weightless. The Arachlians milled about outside of harms way, whispering to themselves gutterally.
"Oh wonderful..." Kaelum growled, "Just what I wanted- a scouting party." He tightened his grip on his sword as he waited for their next move.
"Well now, don't we all have something in common now?" Chile responded pleasantly, though her face was emotionless as she extended her arm with Toor all the way, the blade shivering before glowing blue. Chile grunted, the blade using her own life as energy for its use and she burst into action.
As the Arachlians tore forward to attack, Kaelum thrust his sword forward, catching one a glancing blow across the eyes. It screamed and he smirked, "Now you know almost the excruciating pain you've caused my men." He said.
A muscle in Chile's cheek twitched at his words. In her mind Kaelum was fighting for the wrong reason, but nevermind that, Chile had given Toor permission to perform a dance of death and perform she shall.
Kaelum glanced back at the cavern out of the corners of his eyes and kept a lookout for any arachliam that might try and slip past to attack his unprotected men.
Swirling in a circle, Chile's speed was incredable as she moved like a blur, her flexable torso serving her well as the arachlians tried to swarm her.
Kaelum followed her movements while he himself attacked the swarming arachlians, his sword cutting through their flesh. He grunted as one of them knocked him backwards and struggled to regain his footing.
The Chamoline threw herself in the air, one of her claws kicking the beast above him to the ground where she ceased it's struggles. The few left circled them warily, hissing.
Kaelum quickly straightened himself and lifted his sword, nodding a silent thanks to Chile for helping him. He'd thought he was a goner for sure there before she attacked the beast that had been after him.
"We have to kill these..." Chile said softly, trying to keep the other things from hearing, "I have the three on the left..."
"And I've the three on the right no problem." Kaelum murmured, "We can't allow any of them to escape or we'll be in some serious trouble..."
"So... them escaping is not an option eh? Fine by me." Chile whispered, one of her claws slipping back unnoticably.
Kaelum nodded to her and flicked a thin layer of blood from the blade of his sword, his gaze roving over the creatures that were slowly closing in on them.
Chile finally let out a battle scream and took one, two quick steps and became airborne, her wings however tightly folded against her back and her claws outstretched, catching two of her enemies in their faces. Toor in her outstretched arm decapitated the other and she landed gracefully, prepared to help Kaelum.
Kaelum moved forward quickly, his blade held before him. His mouth was set in a thin line as his sword met the brief resistance of flesh. He ducked, some of his hair singed from the acid spat by one and redoubled his efforts. "One... two... three..." He counted as he sliced through them.
She watched him, her eyes blazing at the fight and when the last one had fallen she sighed heavily, "Now what?"
"Now... we get away from here before more come." Kaelum said, slipping into the cave and shaking his men awake, "We've got to leave." He murmured softly to them, and they swiftly got ready to go.
Stumble!