AAAA 25 - On the road + Story UPDATE!

The AAAAugust is here! For a duration of whole month I'll try to create and post an anthro pic per day, click HERE for more info!

This week theme is AAAAdventure! This means you should come up with all kinds of crazy stuff! Just like we were focusing on animal form a couple of weeks ago, this time around we will focus more on situations and places the characters ended up in.

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For the final AAAAdventure-themed entry I once again reference the older entries, Story Begins and Sir Knights!. There was supposed to be story added to this one, but I'm running short on time, so I'll update it with some short narration next week.
UPDATE: The story's here, it's a bit more exciting than the pic itself, I think.

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Since they were joined by Naiara and Lito, a pair of orphans, they had to slow down so that the kids could keep up. Julla, the bearfolk dragon huntress, didn't mind, proving to be a low maintenance companion, often lagging behind them when she saw something that caught her interest or maybe even just a tree perfect for some back scratches. Mord was happy that this was the case, though he now regretted being so stingy on their travel. He expected to cover the expenses of whatever champions they could hire on their road back to Czerno, but the bear-lady seemed happy with camping in the clearings. It was Helikon that insisted on stopping at an inn when the evenings seemed particularly chilly, out of fear of the children catching a cold or something worse.

Soon they left the hills and were back among the familiar flatlands. Moving in a bigger group, especially one that looked like it had little value but lot of threat, the Czerno knights decided to cross the forest that led to the Duchy of Cai, instead of moving around it. Helikon fretted about slavers that could after all make a move to catch the kids, but Julla promised to try to stay close, taking care of his worries. He was in the middle of the hunting story their fathers had bored them with, with Mord, who was more adept at it, providing the sounds of animals, much to Lito's delight, when the young catgirl suddenly stopped.

- Yara? his friend sounded worried, so Mord turned around, but not before scanning the vicinity for dangers.
- Uhm... sir knights, I think I've heard something.
- Nearby? Helikon asked, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Naiara shook her head.
- Somewhere that way she pointed at the forest. They were nearing the crossroads, another path was going through the forest along the Duchy's border some noises and...
- Yes? Mord relaxed a bit, but the other dogman was still alerted and barely kept a soft, calm tone of his voice.
- I-I think someone screamed for help.
Helikon looked at his companion expectantly, fully aware that he was about to dismiss this whole thing. Mord's brows furrowed, but he knew his buddy well enough to know he wouldn't be able to stop him from 'doing good'. Especially not in front of the children that had a glorified image of chivalry and knights in their heads. The decision was about to be made for him anyway.
- What'sh the shtop? Julla caught up with them.
Lito bleated in response and the catgirl followed with an explanation.
- I think I've heard someone calling for help she admitted, blushing.
- Are you shure about it?
- I'm sure I've heard something... the catgirl lowered her eyes and shrunk, like she was getting scolded unfairly.
- Shomething ish not nothing. Not like we can't check, right?
Four pairs of eyes turned expectantly on Mord. Not wanting to be a dramatic, whiny ass in an already lost scenario, he just loosened the belt on his shield and nodded.
- Right. Kids, stay close and keep an eye on some tree to climb when I tell you, okay?
Julla unclasped her lute and gave it to Naiara while Helikon took off his cape to wrap it around his arm. Then they marched between the trees.

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The catgirl jumped up nervously and soon enough the rest of the group started to hear the noises that startled her as well. They were now close to the other road and Mord whistled at the two children, Lito bleated in protest, but Naiara quickly put a paw over his mouth and whispered some words into the goatboy's ear, before rushing him up a tree and climbing right behind him. Both dogmen and the bearlady reached for their swords and crept closer, Julla moving with surprising grace and silence, contrasting with her usual, dismissive attitude toward obstacles in her way.

There was an open wagon in the middle of the road, not richly ornamented but clearly belonging to nobles, but the animals pulling it were cut loose and only one of the Widehorns was still nearby, shaking its head and trying to kick one of the two scruffy-looking rodents trying to calm it down. The driver, an adult goat, was still sitting on his bench, his thigh bearing an open wound, and he was successfully scaring two more brigands from coming closer with his winged spear. One of the richly dressed passengers was lying on the seats, a man too old to fight, but still full of energy, as another bandit found out, trying to climb the side of the wagon and falling off it with a loud scream, when the elder's cane cracked his skull. The other one was a girl with a sword in her hand. She was about the age of Mord and Helikon, but clearly lacked experience with that particular weapon, as she almost lost it when swinging above another ratman that was trying to climb the wheel and from there drag the driver down on the ground. In front of the coach was a massive rottweiler in a torn doublet, a knight without a doubt, judging by both the insignia he carried and the way he expertly kept his opponents at bay with his longsword. All three, the elder, girl and knight, were dogfolk, the attackers were various, from ratfolk to a couple of catmen and finally an unkempt mastiff throwing curses at his men.

As the balance could easily tip against them if the knight would fall, there was little time to devise a strategic plan. They jumped out of their hiding place, Two dogmen in full charge and Julla slowly moving behind them.
- CZEEERNO! CAAAI! Mord and Helikon shouted in unison, first surprising the rottweiler and then making him grin.
- MARAN! CAI! he responded, lifting his sword and then throwing himself at his enemies with renewed vigour.
The bigger of the dogmen hoped that their appearance by itself would be enough for the brigands to flee, but they quickly regrouped and their ringleader threw himself at Mord, his hefty mace cracking against the knight's shield with a force that made his teeth ring. Helikon quickly dispatched the surprised bandit in front of him, but now had two more trying to flank him, putting him in a tight spot as well. And then there was Julla. The bearlady simply slammed herself into one of the brigands, who fell with a loud and ugly crack. The others tried in vain to block her wide swings, and soon enough one of the catmen fell with a nasty gargle.
- Ah, Powers curse it, run away! the mastiff shouted, but it was too late for him as well.
His mace bumped against the sword and Mord led the slash, cutting across his fingers, then slamming him with a shield. The bigger opponent dragged him on the ground, reaching for his knife, but in the same moment Helikon came in, stabbing between his ribs. Mord rolled away and quickly followed with a thrust into the brigand's throat. The Count of Czerno and his knight taught their sons no mercy for the bandits, the trade being the lifeline of the whole of Cai. Despite that, they felt no urge to run after the fleeing men, though the elder in the coach dropped another hefty hit on a wounded bandit trying to lift himself up and the driver sent his spear after another one jumping into woods.

The Barony of Maran was a small strip of land in the center of the Duchy of Cai, surrounding a small castle, and, as far as young Tumult was aware, had only a single knight in the form of its ruler, so apparently it was the Baron himself standing before them. He was an impressive sight, taller than both Czerno knights and with enough muscles for both of them as well, older but still in his prime. He bowed before them and opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the lady who jumped off the wagon and ran to them. With a happy squeal she threw herself at Helikon to leave a peck on his cheek, but the sorry state in which Mord's struggle left him gave her a long enough pause to remind her that it was inappropriate behaviour. She composed herself and curtsied before him instead, causing the tallest dogman to erupt with laughter.
- I was almost afraid that this is the default reaction my soon-to-be wife has for every knight he scratched his chin it made me feel slightly less special.
- Now you're just being mean, sir Tybaut she climbed on her toes to hang from his neck you can't blame me for reacting recklessly, when those good knights saved me, my father and my beloved one she had more than merely a smooch in store for the giant.
Mord couldn't help but feel awkward - and slightly cheated - in this situation, until an elbow hit his arm.
- Hey, if you want shome too, I'm here, you know Julla said with a wide smile, showing off an impressive set of teeth. It was enough to stop the amorous couple, which bowed in unison before the bearlady.
- If I may, lady Julla, the Dragon Huntress Helikon hurried to introduce her.
- Ohoho, lady! Tall one ish not the only one wanting shome, huh?
Instead of blushing like his friend, young Otawar caught her look boldly with a sparkle in his eye and they kept it for a second, breaking the connection before it got even more awkward.
- And we are Mord Tumult he pointed at his friend, before bowing himself and Helikon Otawar.
- Tybaut Barda and Auice...
- Barda the girl quickly interrupted.
- Orchan! yelled the elder from the carriage in protest. After catching everyone's attention, he added in more apologetic tone My firstborn will carry my name proudly until the Duke marries you two!
- Glad to meet you, Julla, Mord, Helikon the baron said, still with a grin on his face very glad. I assume you're travelling to Czerno, rather than from it?
- Indeed, sir Tybaut, we're bringing Julla to deal with our little dragon issue Helikon decided to remain the one to do the talking.
- Then I need to insist that we should travel together. We were going to Orchans' winter home which is on the way to Czerno and I don't think lord Orchan will have issues with extending his invitation to you...
- It's enough that I don't have issues with it Auice said boastfully, before being taken down a notch.
- Your brothers may not think so, darling he gently tugged at her ear, making her blush the day will come to an end either way before you reach Czerno, wouldn't it be better to set off tomorrow with a full stomach and after a night spent in soft bedding?
- Ah, we'd love to, but I'm afraid we cannot. There's a pair of orphans we're travelling with and we wouldn't...
- Nonsense, whatever you wanted to say, boy! the elder finally managed to get himself back to sitting on a bench and now was slowly getting off the wagon feeding and housing two children will be nothing compared to feeding and housing this bear! he pointed his cane at Julla accusingly, poking the fur on her belly and I refuse to not have her fed and housed, at least for one night, after her deeds today.
- Everyone wantsh shome, it sheemsh.

***

- Good evening, sirs and lady, this is Lito and I am Naiara, sir knights' mistress!

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#AAAAugust