(What takes place with Diane and the mysterious shooter during the time that they disappeared from the Side-plot, "Riding Bear Back".)
Dez:
Everything had grown quiet. From his perch in the trees, the mysterious
shooter had watched everything unfold, until at last he decided he
should distance himself.
He had not come unprepared - his body had been caked in mud, and to an untrained nose, the mystery assailant was invisible. If you knew what you were looking for, however, it might not be so. He had observed the fall of the dogs and the officers, another officer fled, and then Diane began to move. In his direction, no less. She was seeking him, and she would find what she was looking for in due time.
He adjusted the pack on his shoulder and began, as agile and silent as a feline through the boughs of the trees. It took a special kind of skill to do so in such an area, with the trees spread out the way they were. Nevertheless he went on for as long as the old branches would stretch out to one another, and when at last it no longer proved feasible, he slipped from a tree effortlessly as though he were a liquid, carefully climbing down and ending up in a crouch at its wrinkled base. Silas pressed his back to it's bark, inching up and peering round the tree, his ears so keenly tilted out as he listened for the footsteps of this Diane. A cat like tailed curled behind him once more before it vanished with the transition of his form, from beast to man, and he stepped out from behind his little hiding place.
He had not come unprepared - his body had been caked in mud, and to an untrained nose, the mystery assailant was invisible. If you knew what you were looking for, however, it might not be so. He had observed the fall of the dogs and the officers, another officer fled, and then Diane began to move. In his direction, no less. She was seeking him, and she would find what she was looking for in due time.
He adjusted the pack on his shoulder and began, as agile and silent as a feline through the boughs of the trees. It took a special kind of skill to do so in such an area, with the trees spread out the way they were. Nevertheless he went on for as long as the old branches would stretch out to one another, and when at last it no longer proved feasible, he slipped from a tree effortlessly as though he were a liquid, carefully climbing down and ending up in a crouch at its wrinkled base. Silas pressed his back to it's bark, inching up and peering round the tree, his ears so keenly tilted out as he listened for the footsteps of this Diane. A cat like tailed curled behind him once more before it vanished with the transition of his form, from beast to man, and he stepped out from behind his little hiding place.
May:
There was no question in Diane's mind that she would have the attention
of the silent ambusher as she walked through the wood, but that seemed
well enough; She did not know his intentions, but she knew she had been
spared his fire for some reason, and it suited her to walk willingly as
the more vulnerable in order to discover what reason it was. Even so
she carried a confident stride, though her head was bent down and she
was cautiously keen on her surroundings.
Becoming aware of the presence, she stopped, her bright green gaze lifting from the ground and coming to rest upon the man that stood near her.
He had come silently, and that was well.
Diane tilted her head up as she inspected the appearance of the stranger. He was covered in mud, and she expected no less, his skill spoke for itself. But more than this, she looked to see what kind of a man he was, for there was more than skill to be seen.
So after a moment, Diane stood up, slipping easily from her secondary form and again stared at the man. She did not look surprised, her eyes were narrowed as if visually scanning him, then her lips parted and she spoke.
"Certainly you are one of ours, but I do not know you. What are you doing here?"
Becoming aware of the presence, she stopped, her bright green gaze lifting from the ground and coming to rest upon the man that stood near her.
He had come silently, and that was well.
Diane tilted her head up as she inspected the appearance of the stranger. He was covered in mud, and she expected no less, his skill spoke for itself. But more than this, she looked to see what kind of a man he was, for there was more than skill to be seen.
So after a moment, Diane stood up, slipping easily from her secondary form and again stared at the man. She did not look surprised, her eyes were narrowed as if visually scanning him, then her lips parted and she spoke.
"Certainly you are one of ours, but I do not know you. What are you doing here?"
Dez:
Silas had nothing to hide so, he did not so much as flinch away or cross
his arms in defense as she examined him. He stood tall but his posture
would reflect respect more than pride. What might be gathered in his
expression, against the dark shadows of the waning night, was that he
was tired, though he smiled politely towards the other, and that he was
examining the other just as well as she had him.
"And you are certainly correct, Ms. Diane. My name is Silas Vance Thaddeus. I could lie and say I was in the neighborhood, but, judging by that expression, you'd probably read right through me. I will say that I am a scout, and my current task happened to place me in your vicinity, buuut that was.. a ways back, and I followed you to this place. What is that they say.. curiosity killed the cat? Anyway.."
Now he moved a little closer but with a certain caution, keeping a respectable distance.
"Not to doubt your abilities, Miss, but, I have not seen anybody else who might have escorted you out here and, it seems that there's quite a lot going on. I admit that I did not feel comfortable leaving you on your own.. actually, I'm going to venture to ask you, what on earth were you thinking?" when at first his tone was calm and collected, with his last inquiry it quickly took on a passively irritated tone, as if he was asking a question to a young child who could hardly yet understand language, and the question was trailed with a sigh. "Look, I'm sure you have your mission, but, no task is worth risking your life for. You should have back up in case things go sour."
"And you are certainly correct, Ms. Diane. My name is Silas Vance Thaddeus. I could lie and say I was in the neighborhood, but, judging by that expression, you'd probably read right through me. I will say that I am a scout, and my current task happened to place me in your vicinity, buuut that was.. a ways back, and I followed you to this place. What is that they say.. curiosity killed the cat? Anyway.."
Now he moved a little closer but with a certain caution, keeping a respectable distance.
"Not to doubt your abilities, Miss, but, I have not seen anybody else who might have escorted you out here and, it seems that there's quite a lot going on. I admit that I did not feel comfortable leaving you on your own.. actually, I'm going to venture to ask you, what on earth were you thinking?" when at first his tone was calm and collected, with his last inquiry it quickly took on a passively irritated tone, as if he was asking a question to a young child who could hardly yet understand language, and the question was trailed with a sigh. "Look, I'm sure you have your mission, but, no task is worth risking your life for. You should have back up in case things go sour."
May:
Diane watched the man closely, and as he spoke that same delicate smile
that had appeared more than once that night came to her lips again and
sharpened her eyes. She was more in control now, and caution need not be
so much exercised as was before. Though she had not known this man, he
knew her, and what was more he understood her rank and treated it with
some respect. That pleased her finely and set her rightly at some
advantage, but this was all to be observed and not spoken, so Diane did
not say anything regarding it.
"You're a information analyst." She observed aloud with her smile deepening. Then speaking with an altered tone more directly and pleasantly, she tilted her chin down while continuing to look upon the man. "Though I appreciate your courteous initiative I am not in need of an escort at this time. I am merely taking a walk, and what if it so happens that I step into a matter that does not concern me? In your words, any walk that is in the least eventful might go sour, yet I see no reason to forbear."
Diane spoke with confidence and grace, her voice never failing to be gentle though she disagreed with his concerns and slight annoyance.
"As for yourself, I see that you are rather good at what you do, though not so much at sticking to it." Diane narrowed her eyes ever more slightly before relenting her gaze and casually glancing around at the forest, as if to imply that he had come too far out of his way. When her gaze returned to him, it was less accusing and far more pleasant.
"Your interference was timely, though unnecessary." She summarized simply, then added, "However, if you are offering yourself as an escort, and if you still have time for such an excursion, then you may accompany me. Otherwise I shall take no escort and proceed about my affairs without further hindrance."
"You're a information analyst." She observed aloud with her smile deepening. Then speaking with an altered tone more directly and pleasantly, she tilted her chin down while continuing to look upon the man. "Though I appreciate your courteous initiative I am not in need of an escort at this time. I am merely taking a walk, and what if it so happens that I step into a matter that does not concern me? In your words, any walk that is in the least eventful might go sour, yet I see no reason to forbear."
Diane spoke with confidence and grace, her voice never failing to be gentle though she disagreed with his concerns and slight annoyance.
"As for yourself, I see that you are rather good at what you do, though not so much at sticking to it." Diane narrowed her eyes ever more slightly before relenting her gaze and casually glancing around at the forest, as if to imply that he had come too far out of his way. When her gaze returned to him, it was less accusing and far more pleasant.
"Your interference was timely, though unnecessary." She summarized simply, then added, "However, if you are offering yourself as an escort, and if you still have time for such an excursion, then you may accompany me. Otherwise I shall take no escort and proceed about my affairs without further hindrance."
Dez:
Silas listened to her every word and placed his eyes intently upon her
every expression, and though he regained a small smile, he did not seem
convinced and only shook his head lightly in response for a good few
moments.
When she finished speaking, he reached up and wrapped a hand around his jaw, "Pray tell, Miss.. where on that little figure do you keep your weapons? Unless of course, you mean to tell me that you would take those two, should they have gone rogue," at this point he was referring to Jackie, but the officers were a factor as well, "in your werewolf form?" he cocked a brow now, and wondered sincerely if she possessed the abilities to overtake the both of them. "Well, never mind that.. yes, I got a little distracted, however, I would say that my current task gives way for a little detour. On the other hand, I can see that when you make up your mind about something, your intentions are well planned and deliberate. I respect that."
He reached up with a hand and secured the strap on his shoulder, letting his other hand drop to his side, and then began towards Diane. "Proceed on then, I would hate to keep you from your stroll. You won't even know I'm here." even as he walked in the presence of a familiar pack member, his feet made little sound as they stepped upon the earth - and for a man of his size and stature, it could be observed that this was a trained habit, and certainly an asset in his line of work.
He walked past her, and while still facing the opposite direction, took a cautionary visual sweep of the area, before turning around and stepping beside her. Now he reached into the pack on his shoulder, withdrawing a pear and, before taking a bite, he offered it to Diane. "Hungry?"
When she finished speaking, he reached up and wrapped a hand around his jaw, "Pray tell, Miss.. where on that little figure do you keep your weapons? Unless of course, you mean to tell me that you would take those two, should they have gone rogue," at this point he was referring to Jackie, but the officers were a factor as well, "in your werewolf form?" he cocked a brow now, and wondered sincerely if she possessed the abilities to overtake the both of them. "Well, never mind that.. yes, I got a little distracted, however, I would say that my current task gives way for a little detour. On the other hand, I can see that when you make up your mind about something, your intentions are well planned and deliberate. I respect that."
He reached up with a hand and secured the strap on his shoulder, letting his other hand drop to his side, and then began towards Diane. "Proceed on then, I would hate to keep you from your stroll. You won't even know I'm here." even as he walked in the presence of a familiar pack member, his feet made little sound as they stepped upon the earth - and for a man of his size and stature, it could be observed that this was a trained habit, and certainly an asset in his line of work.
He walked past her, and while still facing the opposite direction, took a cautionary visual sweep of the area, before turning around and stepping beside her. Now he reached into the pack on his shoulder, withdrawing a pear and, before taking a bite, he offered it to Diane. "Hungry?"
May:
Diane, whose smile never
faded, offered only the slightest scoff at the man's first few remarks,
but said nothing to interrupt him; In her opinion, she need say nothing
to answer or correct the scout's observations, so she let him say what
he may. Her cards were yet to be played, and there was no reason to
explain the game to a stranger who was yet to be dealt in, therefore she
let the earlier matters alone.
Lifting her chin as Silas approached, and now turning to look over her shoulder, Diane watched the man from beneath her dark lashes and out of the corner of her eye. He walked as if in the presence of familiar company, while Diane herself knew nothing of his existence prior to the moment. Now, everything about this pack member was being carefully observed, from his manner of speaking to the way he walked; To Diane, who knew how to read such things, every second in his company helped to determine his character.
It was with a brief and feigned chuckle that Diane declined the fruit that the man offered, saying only with a smirk, "Keep it." Then she turned herself from him and artfully dusted off her cobalt blue skirts.
"Do you like it?" She asked, tactfully going on to explain with a hint of sarcasm. "I wear it especially to catch the clever eyes of wandering spies such as yourself."
Her sharp green gaze flashed carefully over her shoulder before she began again on her way. It was left to Silas to follow, but as Diane walked there was no hesitancy when she spoke again.
Lifting her chin as Silas approached, and now turning to look over her shoulder, Diane watched the man from beneath her dark lashes and out of the corner of her eye. He walked as if in the presence of familiar company, while Diane herself knew nothing of his existence prior to the moment. Now, everything about this pack member was being carefully observed, from his manner of speaking to the way he walked; To Diane, who knew how to read such things, every second in his company helped to determine his character.
It was with a brief and feigned chuckle that Diane declined the fruit that the man offered, saying only with a smirk, "Keep it." Then she turned herself from him and artfully dusted off her cobalt blue skirts.
"Do you like it?" She asked, tactfully going on to explain with a hint of sarcasm. "I wear it especially to catch the clever eyes of wandering spies such as yourself."
Her sharp green gaze flashed carefully over her shoulder before she began again on her way. It was left to Silas to follow, but as Diane walked there was no hesitancy when she spoke again.
"So
then, you really must tell me where they chance found you. As it is
quite plain that you are not one of my kindred by blood, and as you seem
the foreign sort, I might as well inquire where you were recruited
from." She did not glance back as she spoke now, her voice was quiet and
her attention seemed more focused ahead. Yet despite her clear
attentiveness to the surroundings, she went in an idle direction at a
loitering pace, as if she hadn't a care concerning her destination.
"Also," she added casually, "Who sealed approval? Surely one of the Beta's subordinates hired you on, so which part of the agency do you work under?"
"Also," she added casually, "Who sealed approval? Surely one of the Beta's subordinates hired you on, so which part of the agency do you work under?"
Dez:
The man only gave a
short shrug before lifting the fruit to his mouth and taking a large
bite, not yet following Diane. It wasn't a second later he spat the
piece out, furrowing his brows and examining the fruit with obvious
disgust, which only grew more when he realized the bite he had taken was
part of a large mold spot on what otherwise looked like a good pear. It
was only after this unfortunate event that he realized Diane had
mentioned something about her skirt, her words previously only an echo
in the back of his head.
"Oh, sorry, no, no, the skirt is fine." he replied absentmindedly. With a final disapproving grimace towards the fruit, he chucked it at a tree where at least the plants and animals would get some use of it, and then he was left to wonder just how long it had been now since he'd been away. And also, how much of his food was spoilt.
But he turned his attention back to Diane, even with the prospect of rotting food in his pack lingering in the back of his mind, and began to follow, listening to females words with his full attention, only beginning to speak once she was finished.
"So you wear a skirt to.. what again? I will admit at first sights you looked like a gentle damsel but, I fear I am mistaken." Silas replied with a slight chuckle, shaking his head. "Forgive me. Anyway, you don't beat around the bush when it comes to asking questions.. maybe I should go back to following you from the branches, eh?" he laughed lightly, raising a hand up to his face and pressing his fingers across his face and temples. "I feel like I can go days without a blink of sleep but you women folk always seem to exhaust my reserved in just a few moments.. alright, where do I start..." he did not want to be vague, lest he might leave room for more questions yet, and at the same time he wanted to avoid giving her the story in it's fullness.
"Oh, sorry, no, no, the skirt is fine." he replied absentmindedly. With a final disapproving grimace towards the fruit, he chucked it at a tree where at least the plants and animals would get some use of it, and then he was left to wonder just how long it had been now since he'd been away. And also, how much of his food was spoilt.
But he turned his attention back to Diane, even with the prospect of rotting food in his pack lingering in the back of his mind, and began to follow, listening to females words with his full attention, only beginning to speak once she was finished.
"So you wear a skirt to.. what again? I will admit at first sights you looked like a gentle damsel but, I fear I am mistaken." Silas replied with a slight chuckle, shaking his head. "Forgive me. Anyway, you don't beat around the bush when it comes to asking questions.. maybe I should go back to following you from the branches, eh?" he laughed lightly, raising a hand up to his face and pressing his fingers across his face and temples. "I feel like I can go days without a blink of sleep but you women folk always seem to exhaust my reserved in just a few moments.. alright, where do I start..." he did not want to be vague, lest he might leave room for more questions yet, and at the same time he wanted to avoid giving her the story in it's fullness.
"Ten years feels like an eternity, so the details are a little hazy, but, to sum it up.. after I left home early, I didn't exactly get off on the right foot in 'the real world', if you want to put it that way. In short, I was good at what I did, that is to say, I was good at being bad, and I never got caught, but I got noticed. There was a man who eventually took me in off the streets, taught me how to hone my skills - really, he taught me how to be a mercenary of sorts - and then referred me to, er... organizations, that hired on people with my particular set of skills." he took a moment to catch his breath and consider carefully what he would say next. "I found an organization and started as a grunt, however I guess I managed to work my way up too quickly for some people, so, my employment was.. terminated, and my ties severed. At which point I went back to taking odd jobs while looking for a pack or organization, and fate would chance it that I would eventually meet a subordinate working in your agency as an information analyst who thought my skills may be of use. So I went through the tests, and some.. six years later, here I am." it was lengthier than he would have liked it, and he decided at some point that he began to over explain things.. as a matter of fact, he had been a bit of an open book, but it seemed only right in the presence of Diane.
Only after his lengthy explanation did he get an idea of the direction they were going. "Is there any way we're going this way, Diane? It could be populated.." he considered out loud.
May:
Diane was attentive as
she walked, for though her senses were devoted to calculating her course
with every subtly, she still gave heed to Silas' vague story. She had
not afforded him a response in reply to his earlier inquisition
concerning her dress and stature, for she was unamused by his sarcastic
remarks, and respected him the less for them, though she did not let it
be known.
Needless to say however, if one knew Diane, that she was unimpressed by the many deliberate obscurities in his history, and the element of concealment that he carried was very clearly detected.
Needless to say however, if one knew Diane, that she was unimpressed by the many deliberate obscurities in his history, and the element of concealment that he carried was very clearly detected.
Nonetheless,
Diane did not ask any further questions or interrupt Silas in the least
to demand a more direct explanation. His half-tale was sufficient to
her for the present, and her tools were already devised to discover the
more detailed history behind this man at a later date, when convenience
and intrigue permitted her seek it.
"Reclusive and suspicious, isn't that just like a spy?" Diane commented in answer to Silas' question when at length he finished his summary and inquired. But she did not stop, nor answer him directly.
Of course the direction had not been as idle as it appeared, Diane had carefully chosen it to lead her to a vantage point, but she was in no immediate hurry. Her advantage lay in secrecy and distance, therefore she need only determine the position of her point of interest and allow for a calculated lead. Once this had been achieved, she came to an idle standstill and turned upon her heel to face Silas.
"Tell me," Diane said pleasantly, "What name are you identified by the Svalnaglas, and which mark did they set upon you?"
"Reclusive and suspicious, isn't that just like a spy?" Diane commented in answer to Silas' question when at length he finished his summary and inquired. But she did not stop, nor answer him directly.
Of course the direction had not been as idle as it appeared, Diane had carefully chosen it to lead her to a vantage point, but she was in no immediate hurry. Her advantage lay in secrecy and distance, therefore she need only determine the position of her point of interest and allow for a calculated lead. Once this had been achieved, she came to an idle standstill and turned upon her heel to face Silas.
"Tell me," Diane said pleasantly, "What name are you identified by the Svalnaglas, and which mark did they set upon you?"
Dez:
Halting as Diane did,
Silas turned towards her and considered her tone carefully, as well as
the expression and demeanor of the female. Perhaps she was being
genuine, but he couldn't help but assume it was a façade. In any case,
he was out of "witty" remarks for the moment and took her question with
more seriousness than the previous ones. Keeping an unchanging, hard set
expression, he stepped back and changed his form. When the
transformation had finished, coming easily like the simple change of an
outfit, he lowered to the ground in a genuflect, with one arm tucked
carefully behind his back, his other hand wrapped in a fist and pressed
against the ground to support him as he gave her a sort of low bow.
After a couple of quiet solemn moments he arose, his ice blue eyes cast down towards the female, his tail coiling and swaying slowly behind him. "My birth name is Silas Vance Thaddeus, but my Svalnaglas company refer to me to Actaeon. My business affairs are whatever task is passed onto me - in that sense, I can be considered a mercenary - but officially my title is a Class A Information Analysis, or, Spy, and most of my assignments fall under that category." every word retained an even tone of seriousness, but alas after the silence had extended a few seconds at the end of his sentence, a smirk crossed his face, "And, in case you were wondering, my blood type is B positive, my birth date is March the second, and I'm a vegetarian. Am I missing anything?" he laughed slightly. Already he knew she wouldn't take the humor in the same light as him, and as he turned and took a couple of steps in the direction she had been leading him, his smug expression dissolved into an exasperated look that translated his weariness and present lack of patience. Quietly he observed what lay ahead of him, and he tried to piece together the motives of the female..
After a couple of quiet solemn moments he arose, his ice blue eyes cast down towards the female, his tail coiling and swaying slowly behind him. "My birth name is Silas Vance Thaddeus, but my Svalnaglas company refer to me to Actaeon. My business affairs are whatever task is passed onto me - in that sense, I can be considered a mercenary - but officially my title is a Class A Information Analysis, or, Spy, and most of my assignments fall under that category." every word retained an even tone of seriousness, but alas after the silence had extended a few seconds at the end of his sentence, a smirk crossed his face, "And, in case you were wondering, my blood type is B positive, my birth date is March the second, and I'm a vegetarian. Am I missing anything?" he laughed slightly. Already he knew she wouldn't take the humor in the same light as him, and as he turned and took a couple of steps in the direction she had been leading him, his smug expression dissolved into an exasperated look that translated his weariness and present lack of patience. Quietly he observed what lay ahead of him, and he tried to piece together the motives of the female..
When he had turned, there was something curious that one could take note of - and that was a symbol on his back left shoulder, a simple "tribal" image of a lion facing the onlooker.. it was not paint or a tattoo however, but rather it was burned on, like a brand on a horse.
May:
It was in direct
response to Silas' gesture that brought to light a more authentic Diane,
for as he knelt to the ground in respectful submission, she
instinctively arose to the occasion.
Being the daughter of a Beta it was commonplace that Diane be privileged to inspect members of lesser rank, and in formal circumstances it would have been required that this be done at the first with any new acquaintance in the pack. What anyone of higher rank would see determined the value of their subordinate to them and all those over whom they had authority. But it seemed that both Diane and Silas had neglected formalities until just then, so with him having presented himself in a bow, she naturally examined him more carefully.
The difference in her manner was reflected outwardly as Diane's chin lifted and her stance gracefully changed from the delicate and playful pretense to genuine control and dominance. Her eyes narrowed taking careful note of many of Silas' features, none more particularly than his facial mark. A few moments following, Diane would be pleased to at last receive verifying information about the scout, but the mark alone told her all and much more than he had said.
In those brief quiet moments, Diane recognized the white mark Silas bore as a "Crescent Arrow", revealing to her that whoever had been his superior not only thought very highly of him, but also expected a great deal from him. His rank therefore was readily guessed before he confirmed it. Then, that the crescent was upon his forehead, Diane knew that not only one, but perhaps several Betas had approved of him, furthering the significance of the mark in a way that perhaps not even he knew.
Thus by making it known, Diane had gained all that she desired to know about her acquaintance by his mark, and it exceeded her expectations a little disappointingly. Nonetheless, there was much of which to make use.
Being the daughter of a Beta it was commonplace that Diane be privileged to inspect members of lesser rank, and in formal circumstances it would have been required that this be done at the first with any new acquaintance in the pack. What anyone of higher rank would see determined the value of their subordinate to them and all those over whom they had authority. But it seemed that both Diane and Silas had neglected formalities until just then, so with him having presented himself in a bow, she naturally examined him more carefully.
The difference in her manner was reflected outwardly as Diane's chin lifted and her stance gracefully changed from the delicate and playful pretense to genuine control and dominance. Her eyes narrowed taking careful note of many of Silas' features, none more particularly than his facial mark. A few moments following, Diane would be pleased to at last receive verifying information about the scout, but the mark alone told her all and much more than he had said.
In those brief quiet moments, Diane recognized the white mark Silas bore as a "Crescent Arrow", revealing to her that whoever had been his superior not only thought very highly of him, but also expected a great deal from him. His rank therefore was readily guessed before he confirmed it. Then, that the crescent was upon his forehead, Diane knew that not only one, but perhaps several Betas had approved of him, furthering the significance of the mark in a way that perhaps not even he knew.
Thus by making it known, Diane had gained all that she desired to know about her acquaintance by his mark, and it exceeded her expectations a little disappointingly. Nonetheless, there was much of which to make use.
Subsiding
back to her casual pretense, Diane held her ground while the man,
though now a beast, stood and looked into the forest beyond her. It was
then that she saw the lion on his shoulder and immediately took it into
consideration. To her, the branding might have one or two meanings -
that he was or had been a member of another werewolf tribe, or that he
got mixed in with a different group at some point. - Either way it was a
strange mark to her in that she did not recognize it, and certainly she
did take careful note, but said nothing regarding.
All the while Diane's glance had been a fleeting one, she would not let Silas know she had seen or wondered about his unusual scar.
Just as expected, Diane dismissed the scout's humor as she turned toward him. "Actaeon?" She said, "I hope you're telling the truth and not just being clever again." Her tone spoke very clearly that she was unamused as she looked up at his face, and then gracefully she swept by him and walked in the direction he was staring, adorning a preoccupied air.
All the while Diane's glance had been a fleeting one, she would not let Silas know she had seen or wondered about his unusual scar.
Just as expected, Diane dismissed the scout's humor as she turned toward him. "Actaeon?" She said, "I hope you're telling the truth and not just being clever again." Her tone spoke very clearly that she was unamused as she looked up at his face, and then gracefully she swept by him and walked in the direction he was staring, adorning a preoccupied air.
Dez:
The scout, unmoving as she commented, raised a brow and turned his head
towards her a bit only as she moved beside him, a small smirk peeling at
the corner of his lip. He turned his head away and again faced it in
the same direction as before. "Is it that ridiculous?" he asked, before
going quiet. "Actaeon.." he spoke the name as if it were his first time
hearing it, carefully and slowly pronouncing it. The tone in his voice
was a contemplative one, as if the name had taken him away to another
time or place.
Upon his return from whatever world his mind had been cast off to, he turned again towards Diane and gestured on, "Well then, should we continue on, or will we continue to postpone our rendevouz? I await your orders, my lady." he said, with a hint of playfulness, but not entirely carrying the same sarcastic tone as before - it was far more genuine a question and statement than some of his previous ones may have been.
Upon his return from whatever world his mind had been cast off to, he turned again towards Diane and gestured on, "Well then, should we continue on, or will we continue to postpone our rendevouz? I await your orders, my lady." he said, with a hint of playfulness, but not entirely carrying the same sarcastic tone as before - it was far more genuine a question and statement than some of his previous ones may have been.
May:
Diane cast a thoughtful glance downward out of Silas' view. His tone
seemed to imply that the name he had given was still new to him, which
might well mean that it was genuine, and if that was the case then Diane
had another thing to consider... But the moment he turned toward her
the expression was gone, replaced by a pleasant smile which received his
more genuine words with a playfulness of her own.
Diane opened her mouth to reply, but no sooner had she done so when two successive gun-shots rang out, effectively silencing words that were never spoken.
In an instant Diane's attention was trained in the direction the shots had come. Her keenly trained ears alerted her that though the shots were loud, they were some distance from where she and her companion now stood, therefore instinct need not instigate defensive precautions. In fact, if she were to take a guess, Diane estimated that the shots had been fired not too far from the edge of the wooded area, likely in the direction she herself had entered by.
All this was taken into consideration when Diane began assorting the events around her. Now her purpose in idling where she stood began revealing itself, for it became clear just then that Diane had placed herself in a vantage point where all her senses could alert her to happenings far out of her view.
Diane's bright green eyes glanced up at Silas, the meaning behind them revealed intrigue and an opportunity to act. But more than this, it seemed a clear gesture that she was analyzing her companion to see how he was naturally inclined to react to the situation.
Nonetheless, this calculative glance was short lasting, and looking forward she was changed in a breath. Then going steadily, Diane began moving onward to discover what had become of her other acquaintances that night...
Diane opened her mouth to reply, but no sooner had she done so when two successive gun-shots rang out, effectively silencing words that were never spoken.
In an instant Diane's attention was trained in the direction the shots had come. Her keenly trained ears alerted her that though the shots were loud, they were some distance from where she and her companion now stood, therefore instinct need not instigate defensive precautions. In fact, if she were to take a guess, Diane estimated that the shots had been fired not too far from the edge of the wooded area, likely in the direction she herself had entered by.
All this was taken into consideration when Diane began assorting the events around her. Now her purpose in idling where she stood began revealing itself, for it became clear just then that Diane had placed herself in a vantage point where all her senses could alert her to happenings far out of her view.
Diane's bright green eyes glanced up at Silas, the meaning behind them revealed intrigue and an opportunity to act. But more than this, it seemed a clear gesture that she was analyzing her companion to see how he was naturally inclined to react to the situation.
Nonetheless, this calculative glance was short lasting, and looking forward she was changed in a breath. Then going steadily, Diane began moving onward to discover what had become of her other acquaintances that night...
