"Ugh Ronin can we go now? I can't feel my feet." Nod complained to his commanding officer. They were in the winter apparently 'frost proof' armor. It was like their armor they used in the summer, but it was thicker, colored in grays and the markings were off white or light gray. All leafmen had cloaks on but Ronin's had special white rabbit fur cloak which other leafmen had mole or mouse cloaks. Though Nod had some kind of cloth around his neck, a gift from MK. The female stomper who lived in the woods with her father and a dog.
Nod rubbed his hands together blowing into them, his nose and cheeks were red from the cold. Ronin rolled his eyes, slightly shaking his head. Though he won't admit it, but he was freezing too.
"Nod you know how important this is," Ronin began, "An ambassador is coming from a forest, we need to wait for him to come" he told sternly.
"But it has been three days! The thing said he would be here before than." Nod told, which was the truth. You see this 'pinecrest' had sent them a message saying that they were going to send an ambassador to discuss a peace treaty with them. To become allies which Ronin had supported. So they had gotten ready for this ambassador's arrival.
Three days they had waited, Finn switching out with Ronin to keep watch. And well Ronin was getting a bit edgy.
"I know Nod, but we should stand by still." Ronin told, his blue eyes caught something in the distance. A little red spot, bumping up and down till it lurched right. He knew what it was, a bird.
"Nod-" Ronin began but Nod was way ahead of him, he had already jumped onto his bird and flew towards the scene. Ronin managed to catch up but the red bird; an cardinal.The poor thing was going was going crazy.
It looked like it flew through a thorn bush, feather's missing, scars on it's beak. On it's back, what looked like a saddle or what was left of one. Ronin looked down below them, noticing some of the leaves that hung on the tree had moved. Some frost had been shooken off. Dead small twigs had been broken.
"Nod! Go below." Ronin ordered, pointing down "I'll handle the bird, scout around on the forest floor!"
Nod managed to escape the talons of the cardinal. Glad not dealing with the bird, he dove his bird straight down. He swiftly landed on the cold floor of the forest. It was creepy down here, the trees towering over him. He shuddered getting the chills from the creepy dark forest. He liked the summer and spring better, everything was so full of life. Easier to hide, more places to fly around. And well it was when he met MK. He shook his head trying to focus on his task. He looked around not really seeing anything abnormal. He wasn't like Ronin who had the hawk eyes, that could see every detail. It was crazy, the most likely reason why he couldn't get away with stuff. Like when Mari and him tried to go for a ride and Ronin threw a bit of a fit at them. Honestly he must of had super hearing or something.
He rubbed his hands together and blew on them, getting the warmth back at them. His bird let out a chirp. It was one of the only sounds besides the screeching of a fight and words of Ronin above. He walked around the forest floor. Trying to look for something that poked out. Nod looked about, then something poked out to him.
Broken twigs were littered on the ground. A piece of leather layed there. Nod bent down and picked it up. It could have been part of a strap or something. A terrible smell, a faint order more like it, filled the cold air. An dead boggon layed at a root. A noise, like a rustle caught his attention. Frost covered grass, something was in the frost covered grass. Pulling out his sword, he stalked towards it. He pushed the frozen blades away.
"Ronin!" Nod yelled to his commanding officer. "Come down quick!"
Laying before in the blades of frozen grass, was a guy. Clearly not in the right wear for the cold weather. His black hair lined with bits of frost. His cheeks and nose bright red. He was barely breathing. His clothing was torn. He had nasty cuts on his arms, head and chest. But worse of all, right in his right shoulder was an arrow.
Laying before Nod was the ambassador of pinecrest. He had been attacked. And now was clinging to life.
