[Tale] Playing Thief and Ranger (Solari x Jhin)

[Sabra Knight]

Tasinei

The forest that stretched between Tale and Sauti was an extensive area of land covered in a variety of vividly colored trees, many of which had changed color due to the shift of seasons. Many trees attempted to rival those found in the rainforests of Jahaur while young saps sprouted around trails centuries old. It was in this twisting forest, one that crawled and opened up only for the cliffs of Sauti that kissed its edges, that Jhin traveled. He along with his aunt and other seasoned rangers and their apprentices roamed these dangerous trails in order to help those who were not as familiar with the forest path. It was rare for many to travel the side roads, but there was one main path that did cut through part of the forest towards the outskirts where the trees thinned and open fields flourished. It was this path that Jhin found himself constantly on as he rode with caravans seeking help and protection from the forest and any outsiders wishing to make profit from the caravan's belongings.

At the moment Jhin was sitting on the back of a smaller cart and watching how the morning sunlight flickered through the trees. Seems like we will need to stop soon to let the beasts rest and gather water. A small stream would be up ahead around the corner and if he knew the ranger he was paired with today then the group would be stopping there. They could take a good hour if not more since they had traveled so quickly this time and Jhin was oddly excited for it. The poor man had been working to earn his callouses after all and was definitely eager for any break, little or big. Once this caravan reached the end of the forest, almost less than a day's travel now, then he could go back home and focus on training again and get some sleep until the next ranger requested his help as an escort.

He just hoped that it would take at least a week if not more for that request to come through. Though with the changing seasons it was highly unlikely as many were traveling through to prepare for the winter and even more were on the run towards the bigger cities to help stay safe against the newest danger, the Dretch.
 

[Tasinei]

Sabra Knight

In an attempt to at least save her reputation or make a name for herself, and perhaps because she was a bit foolish, Solaria had joined a band of thieves. They weren't the smartest, nor were they cruel, but they got the job done when necessary. They were also probably the only ones who would have accepted her into their little thieves group with little to no fight about it. No one else had wanted her, they didn't know her, but they'd taken her in without asking about her background which was nice. Did she want to be associated with them? No, but did she have a choice? No.

Their leader Marion though was starting to get on her nerves. The man was greedy and obviously the smartest of the bunch and he took every opportunity to hit on her. He'd probably wondered which god tot hank to have a woman thief join is band and Solari was certain it was the only reason she'd been allowed to join their little band. She hated it, she was better than this, she was good at what she did damn it! She wasn't going to let past failures dictate how well she did on these future jobs.

So she would endure because like right now, they were eyeing a rather large caravan. The seven of them were scattered and hidden away in the trees waiting. The bottom half of their face was covered to hide their identities and everyone was still. They could hear them now, getting closer at what Solari deemed the pace of a snail. She was the one closest to them, the first the caravan would pass but she was the last to leave her hiding spot. Too dangerous they'd told her. Pfft as if! She would show them.  

[Sabra Knight]

Tasinei

He was getting comfortable as the caravan moved along. Crossing his legs Jhin settled into his seat and simply watched the trees as they passed along. However, it was during his observation of the trees that Jhin suddenly realized something - the forest was far, far too quiet. Why weren't their any animals or birds making noises?

His expression flickering with worry the archer quickly notched an arrow tipped in red feathers and shot it towards the front of the caravan. It sailed through the air with a loud hiss as it landed towards where the leaders and the other ranger would be. Jhin was hoping that he was wrong, but at least they would know that there was some potential danger around them.

For now he would just wait. Jhin's fingers tightened around his bow as he gathered up his quiver and loose arrows....please be wrong...  

[Tasinei]

Sabra Knight

Solari spotted him just as the arrow landed at the front of the caravan. Her eyes narrowed and she hissed under her breath. She had to warn the others that things weren’t going to go as planned, but as Solari turned to move towards their leader the pack had already let loose a shrill of a cry and were running towards the caravan away from their hiding places.

“Idiots!” she muttered before pulling out one of her throwing knives. An archer would have a field day with those idiots running down towards them. So Solari decided she ought to do something too.

Ripping the mask off of her face, she bound out of the trees towards the last caravan. She wasn’t going to let him pick off her group one by one and she knew he would recognize her the moment he saw her face. She still wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, he could report her to the authorities but as long as she didn’t do anything against the caravan she felt pretty safe about it. Well. Maybe. She wasn’t really sure if she’d be prisoned for helping them after all. Solari kept her gaze on the same guy that seemed to ruin all of her plans.  

[Sabra Knight]

Tasinei

Dammit he had been correct! The archer could only curse as the first of the screams alerted the rest of the caravan. Was that some sort of attack ploy? To distract with screaming and to intimidate those who weren't fighters into fear? So annoying. Jhin swiftly moved from his position so that he could position his bow and notch an arrow. One arrow went flying into the leg of one of the front liners while he notched a second one quickly and prepared to fire it.

However, when he spotted who his next target was the archer's fingers hesitated and he found himself even more flustered. Not only was there a fight going on around him during what was supposed to be an uneventful ride she was here?! Jhin could only find himself baffled at the ironies of fate before slipping from the caravan and letting other fighters take over to combat with the bandits as they ran past him. As one of the bandits attempted to take the archer down as he passed by he found himself in an unfortunate position as Jhin reached out with his bow, tripped the man and then landed a sharp kick against his temple - something that was super effective considering the heavy leather boots that the archer was wearing.

As he ran to meet the Matori girl he fired off another arrow to the side to stop yet another bandit from getting closer. He wasn't certain why he was acting like this - running to this strange girl who constantly showed up in his life to cause trouble - but she always managed to get his attention. Noticing the throwing knives Jhin braced himself as the rest of the fighting echoed behind him and he gained ground towards Solari. If she along with these bastards wanted a fight then a fight she was going to get!  

[Tasinei]

Sabra Knight

"You!" Solari almost yelled at the man as she found herself in front of him. Ha! He'd run right at her, what good would his arrows do in such close combat? She would be the one at an advantage here if he got any closer. Solari held out both hands androlled the blades in them. A warning surely to tell him she would not back down from a fight if he moved forward with these actions. He'd already taken out a few of the raiders, which was unforunate but perhaps she could talk him down from his positon.

"So nice to see you again," she said with half a grin on her face. she was so sure the guy was following her around. He had too, how could they bump into each other like this all the time? "Why don't you put that nice bow down and we can have a nice chit chat while we raid the caravans?" She didn't dare take her eyes off of him, even a small glance would be enough for him to shoot off an arrow at her and she would get shot. No, best she keep her focus on him and don't bother with the noise going on around him.  

[Sabra Knight]

Tasinei

The gods surely hated him or truly wished to give him some tests. How was it that he had left Sauti but still here in Tale had found this woman again? Was she a vice, a test to see how resolute he was when it came to his duties? Jhin frowned, his lips tightening as he darted around so that he could get closer to her. One would have hoped that helping her out during the festival would have given her a chance, but it seemed that she was just a thief after all. His gaze hardened at the thought as he approached her and she called out to him in greeting.

She wanted to chat? The thought created a frown of confusion on his fair features and the man actually ended up coughing out a laugh, "Seriously?" He shook his head, his fingers tightening around his bow as he prepared to bring it up defensively, "You think...that you can raid these caravans? Do you even know who I am, what I'm a part of?" What fools. Sounds of battle behind him, the forest erupting with arrows as other rangers appeared - all it took was four for a decent guard - and Jhin found himself stiffening. If anything he could just capture her and let them deal with her...but the caravan leaders and his own mentor were not the type to show much mercy.

Oh gods why. Jhin closed his gaze tightly before daring to take a step forwards towards the woman, "It's going to be a bloody fight and unless you tell me that you're truly invested in that group I would suggest that should you wish to chit-chat we leave now." He placed his bow on his back and took another step forward, wary of her blades but bold enough to trust his own physical training from months with the rangers, "If not me then the others will be here soon enough...do you want to take the risk with them or leave with me?"
 

[Tasinei]

Sabra Knight

"Do you know what I'm part of?" She mimicked his words in a higher pitch, not mocking him but truly she wondered if he knew what organization she belonged to. However, she doubted he knew everything about these people he was protecting so hard. "But yes I think I can raid these caravans, they raid the poor and no one stops them now do they?" She spat back venomously. Truly! How could he be on their side, protecting these people. Is Solari hadn't been a lady she would have spat on the phone.

Solari gripped her knives tighter, even though she dared not look away it was hard to miss that more and more arrows were flying down on them. Rangers. They left a bad taste in her mouth. Except he had a point, she wasn't really invested in this group in particular. They were too dumb and stupid and she liked when things were a bit more organized. But did she want to leave with him? Why did he want to come with her if his place was protecting these people?

"Who says you won't just shoot me in the back whenever you get a chance!" She yelled at him, but took a step back, closer to the edge of the forest. If they were on the loosing end of this fight, Solari would rather not be out here when it ended. Best get ahead of all of them.  

[Sabra Knight]

Tasinei

Jhin's gaze narrowed, slight confusion decorating his brows, "What do you mean? Raiding the poor?" They were just merchant caravans and as an apprenticed ranger he didn't have many details on their clients. They just served to escort those through the woods as necessary - something obviously necessary considering what was occurring behind them. So much for a quiet ride. But now here he was staring at this woman as bodies clashed in the background.

If he were to follow his duties then he could turn around now and fire some arrows of his own against those fighting, but instead he found himself puzzled and slightly troubled even by her words. They were thieves so why did she seem to act so righteously against the caravans who were just wanting to pass through? Dammit. Jhin rolled his eyes at the situation and at her accusations, "Because I have honor and I promise I won't. If I wanted to shoot you I would have stayed on that wagon with my bow and arrows readied." He quipped back before boldly moving forward so that he could grab her wrist and tug her into the forest with him. If anything they both could explain to their companions that they had been fighting and he had chased her further into the woods - something that he would surely get chastised for but it was better than letting one of the archers see them simply talking at the edge of all the chaos.

As the sounds of fighting got dampened by the trees blocking their vision Jhin let go of her wrist, a sharp movement as if he were throwing her arm away from his hand, "Why...why are you here?" He finally managed in a hissing whisper, "And why do you think that it's fine to rob the caravans?" Why though did she always seem to appear to distract him from his duties? And why did he dare to let her distract him? It was a mess of feelings and a lot of confusion that frustrated the usually calm archer.  

[Tasinei]

If they weren't in such a position Solari would have thrown a fit right there and then. "Oh course the hired help doesn't know what's going on!" She snapped at him with a roll of her eyes. "I don't have time to explain everything to you right now!"Considering he was the hired muscle for the caravans she really shouldn't tell him why they had chosen these particulars caravans but maybe she could bring him to their side and that was worth at least telling him something.

There was no resistance from her when he drew closer and grabbed onto her wrist, at this close proximity she could easily stab him f he tried anything and his bow was about as ineffective as utensils. There was also something very honorable about him that told her he probably wouldn't shoot her in the back if she had decided to run back into the forest by herself. So Solari found herself following him deeper and deeper as the screaming died down behind them the further they got. Or maybe, a side had won.

Solari didn't want to think about it.

"I think the why I am here is pretty obvious," She sad giving him a face. "I'm a thief, that's why I think it's fine to rob caravans sir." She mocked him, throwing up her hands in the air and letting them drop at her side. "And that was a really good job." She pointed in the direction they'd jut come from. "Those people are worst thieves then even me! I only steal from other thieves." Well, she only technically stole from the rich, but they were all scoundrel in her eyes so.

"And now, I can't go back to my group because I'll be seen as a traitor." This would make it the second bandit group she would be banned from. Solari sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Can't believe this." She paced a bit, she was going to have to move to Yael or Belrea at this point if she didn't want her sour reputation to get her killed on Tendaji. "How are you always entangled in my business. The gods are playing a cruel trick." Somewhere, somehow, she's managed to piss off some god and she didn't even know what she had done wrong.

Sabra Knight