[Kallile]

Alistar------------------------Shasta

Alistar leaned against the fearsome looking Frightmare out of boredom. It was an action only loosely tolerated by the otherwise nasty-spirited creature, who tossed her flame-mane in annoyance at both waiting and being used as a leaning post. They seemed, for the moment, unified only in their shared annoyance at their latest charge. It was still winter outside, and while the Frightmare had a built-in heating system she didn't exactly like to be out in the cold anymore than the rest of the herd she lead. The two Cavallion were sure to agree had they been close enough to share a glance with their matriarch.

"These city types will never learn how to pack light..." The man muttered between the two of them before clearing his throat and speaking again with more gusto. "This isn't a beauty pageant, Miss! One bag, and one bag only! We're only going on a one week trek."

[Kallile]

Kida

Archer------------------------------Quiver

The woman in question had just finished loading yet another bag onto Quiver's back. The spirited mare was prancing in place and tossing her head anxiously--what the heck had Alistar gotten them into now? Archer stood beside her, much more patiently, and only watched as his sister fretted and complained. He was always the mount chosen by the paying explorers...but just once he wished he could be the pack animal and take in the scenery instead of making sure nothing in the scenery was trying to eat them.

"This isn't all fashion related, I'll have you know!" The young woman called as she tightened the final strap to Quiver's saddle and brushed her hands off on her jeans. "This equipment is needed to record those stone pillars you're going to lead me to! They're out there in the forest somewhere, and I'm going to be the first to record their story!"

[Kallile]

Alistar sighed, but at least she was finally making forward progress again. Her request was highly unusual--most people who hired he and his team were seeking monsters or treasure...this girl wanted to see some stone with a dead language on it. He'd heard of it, of course, but he'd never bothered to go out of his way to find them. The science-y types always drove him nuts. Pity, really, this girl had seemed so normal when she had come to him asking to hunt some myths down in the Whisper Forest. When she had mentioned 'runes' he'd honestly thought she was talking about some kind of creature.

"Just get on your mount and let's get this thing started. We're losing daylight."

[Kallile]

It took Kida a moment to find herself situated comfortably on the saddle, but the moment she did she found the reigns and guided her steed with some difficulty towards her guide and his charge. Archer tossed his head towards Shasta and pawed at the ground--a motion which the much fiercer Frightmare mimicked. "If I remember right your mount's mane glows--you can lead on into the twilight hours anyway," she retorted.

Quiver--securely fashioned to the back of Kida's saddle, whinnied and gave a few little hops. Alistar looked to the irritated Cavallion and nodded. "We'll see what we can do, let's just get moving before we have a riot. These creatures like to work, not stand and chit chat."

[Kallile]

Finally the tour guide was off and the fresh and eager creatures beneath them were moving quickly on fleet feet. Every so often Quiver would swing up level with Archer--challenging her partner in a way-- before her tether would pull her back into place. Though she couldn't see the happenings Shasta was well aware of the pair's quarrels and would occasionally slow up just to make them pay attention.

"So these pillars, what's supposed to be so special about them?" Alistar asked over the thunder of hooves and the rushing wind. If they were truly valuable his services would have been booked up for months with every would-be explorer trying to claim the fame and cash for themselves. But this was the first he'd seen of anyone interested.

"Well, that's why we're going to find out!" the young woman answered happily. "I'm in the business of keeping the old stories and legends alive. I need to find the story in these pillars before it's too late to save it."