-Caught in a Bad Romance-

[Mama Z]

There wasn't much Zay could say. She was afraid to. Everything she said seemed to be flung back at her. Some how she upset Auster and she wasn't sure how to soothe his wounds. And thats when the banter between Aunt and Nephew began. It was truly unusual though. They spoke like relatives, however, bickered like siblings more so.

Zay was the center of the conversation, the thing that now needed to be protected. Her frown tightened as Tiamat and Auster tossed around words. Auster was obviously trying to prove something and Zay felt insignificant in that moment. A royal shouldn't be the one to protect her. She was built for scouting. Her speed was great and her ability to camouflage wasn't something to laugh at. It was her job to protect by watching and reporting. Not be protected.

IT was even more confusing when the male she was with called her by her name. As if it was to prove something special to his Aunt. He turned to walk and she blinked and faltered for a moment before following after him. She took a glance back to Tia then to the one who gave her the direct orders. She licked her lips and waited till they were some distance before tilting her head, 'If you have other things to attend to, i'll understand.'

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[Felypsa]

What Zaynah did not realize was that Auster could get very stubbornly attached to certain causes. In his mind now, he wanted to watch over Zaynah to prove Tiamat wrong. He hardly realized that his aunt had played him like a fiddle, sending him right into a situation he was not trained or prepared for, and would more likely muck up. All because he wanted to prove a point.

So when the scout spoke up, Auster just gave a snort. “I do not disobey an order from my cousin the Empress.” If that sounded harsh, certainly his irritation had nothing to do with Zaynah, but with the entire situation. As they walked on, Auster fell into a moody silence.

The rain began to lessen eventually, and he released his magical shield, which was beginning to drain him somewhat anyway. They had been trotting along for a long time, and though the noble Druin had more stamina in him, he began to wonder whether they were making good time. “Are we near the area, Zaynah?” he asked, breaking the oppressive silence at last. His voice was still kept to a low rumble; Auster was not completely an idiot when it came to discretion.

[Mama Z]

His answer was firm and set. He didn't disobey his cousin. She should have known better than to say anything, but she didn't need him uncomfortable with all of this. Or disliking her because of it. She pressed her lips together, keeping them closed the entire way back to where they were originally.

After some time he slowed and progress, Auster spoke up. She loked at him then around with a sure nod. 'It should be a clearing beyond that clearing,' she whispered, 'I spotted them across the way. I saw onl eight or so, but Im not sure if more were behind them or not.'

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[Felypsa]

Once she confirmed that they were nearby, Auster let out a little huff, like a sigh of relief. But he turned his impassive face toward the clearing she indicated, which was on the other side a tall ridge of rock—not high enough to be considered a mountain or even a hill, but enough that even the tall Druin would have to climb over it. They were safe, for now.

Now that he was here, he was not sure what to do. Auster was no strategist or leader. He was a soldier, a follower, who stood fast in battle but never came up with the ideas of his own. A sigh left him as he dropped his head down. He could not appear weak in front of Zaynah. Not after all the fuss he had made with Tiamat about this.

“Can you mimic birds?” he asked. “If you can, I say you climb over that rocky ridge carefully and try to spy on them. Get a good look this time. If they appear hostile, you can call out one set of notes. If they appear to be misguided wanderers who mean no threat, you can call out another.” It was the best idea he could think of and it was not much.