Roses and Thorns

5- Fieldwork

Today, I awake before the birds. I rise up from the darkness into the dying night and am dyed a thousand shades of red and gold by the sun as it spreads its fingers over the town.

    Not far from me, beneath tree cover, lie four Canira covered in shadow. Their silhouettes are distinct and toned even without the additional sheen daylight gives them. If anything, they look even more intimidating in the dark.

    "Morning, Rose." The tallest figure approaches, the color of his fur and the intricacies of his pelt becoming more readily obvious as he draws near. He has deerlike features and an almost melancholy expression, though his pale eyes convey predatory power. His long legs are well muscled and around his neck is a ruff of white fur, splaying out like a tuft of cloud. I can put a name to the face- North- but little more.

    Another voice cackles, "She really came, didn't she? I can hardly believe it. Look at that tubby face." The second Canira, draconic wings spread wide, descends from the lowest branch of the tree. Her eyes are as richer gold than Eris's. "Nimbus."

    "What?" I ask.

    "Didn't know if you knew my name or not. I think you looked at me this one time in the Stocked Pantry, but that was all. Shame."

    "Are you hazing the newling?" asks Lark. Out of the four of them, I know him best, as he has a habit of attempting to bridge the gaps between the fragmented groups that form the Glade. He resembles his namesake in nigh every aspect, including his large, feathery wings.

    "Me? Never!"

    "She's lying." squeaks Llore, who is little more than a gray phantasm in the early morning. Nimbus rushes over to her and cuffs her around the ear playfully. "Nimbus!"
    "How's this for hazing?" The two are wrestling in the grass like pups, much to Lark's mild indignation.

Llore's thicker ears and white as bone coloring make her look tame, but she's holding her own against Nimbus. There's a determination and strength even in her that lies dormant in most of us who barely leave the Glade's cozy confines.    

    North growls, a soft sound located deep in his throat, and the group falls silent. "Better. We need to be moving. Rose, you know basic hunting skills, correct?"

    "Yes." I tell him. "Little more, though."

    "We'll be spending most of the day tracking small game, then. I dare not practice formation with a newling."

    "I'll learn quickly." I promise.

    "Glad to hear it. Now, let's chase something a little more substantial than clouds, shan't we?"

    The Cloud Chasers move nothing like clouds. Every movement they make is deliberate, coordinated, and they waste no time with formality. I feel my paws ache just minutes into it and only then realize how woefully out of shape I am. Still, I keep my paws light and try to follow their footsteps through the forest.

    "Not to be rude, but what landed you here?" Llore asks.

    "Hm?" I realize she's talking to me.

    "Was it a punishment? Was Eris angry about how Ivy doesn't work and you had to beg for both your places in the Glade?"

    "What? No!" I try not to break formation but truly, this level of density is like a stab to the paw.

"What was it then? No one ever does hunting duty just to be helpful." Lark asks.

    "They should," North growls.

"I'm sheltering a prisoner down at the jail. He's the only lead I have on the death of my sister." I tell them.

"We could solve this." Nimbus perks up.