Jungle Hijinks (Flame / Iza)

[Flame]

The long plains lush with grass were mostly quiet. The grass was quite tall nearly so much so that it threatened to cut off vision to her 5'6" eye-line. But it didn't, not quite yet so it was with ease that she could spot the massive trees still probably a mile or two away rising out of the horizon. Hopefully we'll find something interesting there these plains have been a waste. She'd normally have expected a run in with some sort of animal as she crossed the long plains that covered the coast of Death Island. But this time nothing, absolutely nothing, the reason why was obvious as well.

As she glanced behind her she looked upon the long conga-line of clients threading their path behind her. She scratched her head pulling the strands of pale purple hair behind her ear. Then unholstering a single pistol she spun it in circles about her ring finger before catching the grip in her hands with a casual ease. The money was good and it was doing what she loved, how could she complain. Locking in one of the well-dressed men holstering a long rifle in hand she aimed her pistol at him. It'd be easy as that the pull of a trigger and he'd drop to the floor bloody and bleeding. That, the scent of blood, it would bring in the hunters. She knew big cats roamed these open plains as did some slightly less dangerous grazing animals.

Seeing eyes turning to her she gave a happy smile dropping her grip on the pistol so that it hung loosely upon her finger. Holding both hands up in the air she turned her back on them. Yeah ... this was a great idea she shrugged her shoulders and started whistling to herself. The twenty or so thrill-seeker noblemen and women who had created this 'expedition' with a few actual professionals to lead it about were all fools. She laughed to herself and stared down the sights of her pistol with ease. The rustle and soft padding of feet coming near her caused her to look over. "Yo Elm, why are you up here I've got another few hours before I'm done if I remember correctly ..." She asked curiously looking up at the excessively tall man with the longer sword on his back and rifle in hand.

"Ahh Nina, of course it was you. Leader says you're scaring the sheep, so I'm here to relieve you." She paused then laughed, smiling obviously amused by the situation. "Alright then." She said holstering her pistol. Giving Elm a knowing wink he sighed in response. With glee she turned about and began to skip down the conga line. The professionals had a few carts in the back where they took turns resting. Leader was back there, she'd go see that one, she had the feeling the leader wanted to see her after that incident. Not that it bothered her, she was off duty now thanks to that little trick. It'd cost her some of her eventual pay but she didn't mind it. Anything to feel a little free from this boredom.

[Izananana!]

Emi's crazy adventures had somehow managed to lead her to the south blue. In particular, she had found her way to the infamous Death Island. She had been told stories about it at the island she had been on previously. They were had probably been meant to scare her but they didn't really serve their purpose. Instead they had done nothing but encourage her. She lived for adventures especially with the cards she had been dealt early on in her journey.

The bright haired girl had left the island she had been on previous in hopes that she would hit death island with luck. She had tried to find someone who would willingly take her to the island but she found no takers. It wasn't like she had money to offer them either. She was hurting in the money department but that fact didn't seem to bother her one bit. She'd worry about that type of thing later.

There was a big grin on her face as she had drew nearer to the island and could see that it fit their description almost perfectly. Its funny how they knew so much about it but had never been to it. This thought didn't stay in her mind for very long because it was filled instead with the different adventures she could have here. She didn't seem to care that it had been named Death Island because the humans that were once here had been killed. She tied up her boat as best as she could. With her thoughts filled with adventures, she failed to notice that her boat wasn't the only one that had beached on Death Island.

Emi didn't hesitate to enter the tall grass that surrounded the outer coast of the island. The fact that she couldn't really see in front of her or around her at all made it all the more interesting to her. At one point in time, however, she removed one of her katana from its sheath as the tall grass started to annoy her. She cut down the grass in front of her and this left a path as she headed further into the plains of the island. She was really starting to get bored because nothing fun or interesting was happening yet. Wasn't this place supposed to be full of death? Maybe all those things had been meant as a scare tactic because what you really died of was boredom.

That was when she found with a swing of her sword a group of people. She froze with her katana hand in the air but a grin crept on her face. So there were other people here? Maybe they knew where the adventure was? That could definitely work! She could just tag along and follow them to the adventure! She sheathed her katana quickly and waited for the end of the line, which wasn't very far from where she popped out. She jumped into line behind and started following them humming happily. They wouldn't mind her tagging along right? Even though it had been two years it wouldn't appear that she had learned very much from her experiences.

[Flame]

Making her way to the back of the line she passed many a rich noble. They looked at her with such strange looks, perhaps it was because she was merrily skipping along or perhaps it was because she was a youthful girl in somewhat provocative clothing with the a pair of pistols strapped to her waist. Either way she didn't particularly care, no instead with a hop skip and a jump she bounded her way towards the rear. As she went she waved to her fellow comrades in arms, the mercenaries, hunters, and like who were travelling as the 'guards' for the group. As they waved back she smiled cheerily happy to have some who'm she could relate to.

It took a while but eventually she turned about hopping with a step onto a large hooded white coach. The largest of those to the rear it was the home of the 'desk' of their 'fearless' leader. Getting one foot up on the rear step she bounced upon it quickly glancing about at those walking in the rear. Her eyes slid carelessly over them glancing at weapons, hair colors, and the like. She liked to think she knew most of the people on this trip with them. But some of them didn't look very familiar ... she frowned momentarily before turning her attention back to what she was here for.

A pair of cheery knocks hit against the wooden frame of the wagon. "Come in." The throaty voice of their leader slipped through the white canvas and Nina happily entered the room. There he was, a massive man of nearly eight feet he seemed taller than her even when sitting. He was bent over a wooden plank spanning the cross of the wagon with papers out in front of him. A large machete and rifle hung upon the wooden framework which held the canvas up. Glancing up from his work he revealed his rugged face and weirdly handlebar mustache. She really didn't think it was in fashion though didn't feel the need to tell him. She vaguely remembered mentioning it once to him when he was drunk and well ... she didn't remember the rest of that day or the day after it all too well. "Ahh Nina. What's this I hear about you aiming your pistol at the customers ..."

He was obviously displeased. She glanced aside whistling with all the fake innocence in the world. "I was just having some fun, it wasn't even loaded. See?" She pulled out her pistol spinning it quickly in her hand once before aiming it up and pulling the trigger.

Bang! She flinched and their leader, Curtis shook his head. "I'm gonna have to fine you for this, not to mention having to give Elm some of your pay. Do you understand?" She nodded spinning about to leave. "Wait. I know you don't like this trip, but its good money. They're not such terrible folk, just ... don't aim your guns at them." Curtis said in what she almost thought was an apologetic manner. With a growing smile on her face she gave him a mock salute. "Sir Yes Sir!!" She said half laughing as she said it. Curtis gave her a troubled smile and shooed her away with his hand.

Turning about she launched herself out of the canvas. Hitting the grass at a tumble she rolled upon it before springing back to her feet. A few of her fellow hunters who were also resting/watching clapped for her. She smiled and gave them a quick bow before finding her eyes drawn to an odd green-haired girl. Girls were rare in the group, sword wielding ones rarer still, which was to say, she was fairly certain there weren't any. But then how else would one have gotten here. As the girl walked past Nina got to her feet and walked up to her. Patting her on one shoulder before twisting around her with some fancy footwork to come up on the other.

Throwing forth a hand she smiled "Yo! I'm Nina! And who might you be?" Her other hand was carefully resting upon the grip of one of her pistols. "Are you with them? Or us?" Her next question was more vague and looking for answers.

[Izananana!]

Emi paid no mind to what was going on around her. Or, well, she paid enough attention to what was going on so she wouldn't run into any of the people in the parade that she had joined. She was just happy that she had found a group of people that would most likely lead her to adventure. That was what she hoped after all. Even if they didn't then they would at least bring her closer to an adventure.

It wasn't until she heard the sound of a gun that she was knocked out of her day dreams. She had been enjoying the adventures that she was making up inside her head. Her bright green eyes scanned the area as she tried to figure out where the gunshot had come from. It was clear that she wasn't the only one that heard it but the others almost acted like they hadn't cared. Maybe she was just hearing things. That must have been it.

The green haired girl was just about to go back to her daydreams of being chased by monsters when she heard the sound of clapping. Being naturally curious, she looked for the source and saw that a purple haired female appeared to have done a trick. Well, that wasn't really that important. She turned her attention back to watching where she was going as she kept walking. She was just ready for the reason why she had even appeared on the island in the first place. Death island wasn't proving itself very worthy of that name yet.

It wasn't long before she was approached by the very girl who had just been applauded who had allowed her to just walk by. She turned her head to the side when she was patted on the shoulder and blinked when the girl came up beside her with some pretty fancy feetwork. She'd had to ask her how she had done that so she could incorporate that into her own fighting style. It had been really cool!

Now wasn't the time for that, however, as the girl was thrusting a hand at her with a smile. She couldn't help but smile back at her. So the girl with fancy feet was named Nina? That was a nice name! She was asked for her own name but she didn't miss the action that the other girl did. She didn't bother worrying about it even if it did seem like a threat as she asked if she was with them or them. Well that was certainly confusing!

"I'm Emi! Nice to meet you~!" Emi said cheerily and easily taking the hand that had been thrust at her. "Them or you? I don't know anything about that~ I came here by myself and happened upon you guys~ Are you guys going somewhere for an adventure?" It was almost as if she said it all in one breath but she had definitely breathed somewhere in there.

[Flame]

The cheery response she got back caused her smile to grow greater. Hand in hand she shook it with energetic and emphatic movements a little overdone. All the while her eyes slipped over the one before her, a katana or two and a pair of oddly green goggles were the only ornaments really of interest upon Emi as she named herself. A not so dangerous warrior it seemed.

Her explanation of how she came among them was, revealing. She was of neither group in the end, just a random wanderer who had forged in among the group for safety or company, or as it seemed adventure. "Happened upon us eh, walking these parts for fun are you?" Nina asked rhetorically with an amused smile, only a fool would do something like that. That was okay, if she had to confess she enjoyed fools. They were silly and funny, and generally more amusing to be around than the pompous idiots that were funding this little expedition of Curtis'.

Her fingers let slip from her pistol's grip and she began to laugh. "Oh Emi ..." she said patting the green-haired girl upon the back with three amused slaps. "Boy did you stumble upon the group for you. We're on an expedition! An adventure so to speak, at least for some of the members of this caravan." Grasping her around the shoulder as if they had been friends for ages she put forth her arm waving it in front of them. "Do you see them? Those idiots up front? They're paying us for the thrill of hunting the beasts of Death Island. We're just here for safety. They're idiots, idiots all of them." Laughter continued to sprout from Nina's mouth rumbling from within her stomach and was deep, for a young woman such as herself at the very least.

Then gripping Emi on the shoulder she looked into her eyes. Searching Emi's face for a moment Nina looked more serious than she had for a while past. This katana-wielding girl, leaving her out alone on the plains seemed a terrible idea, even if she could get to the shore it'd be near useless by herself. And getting out of the plains while being hunted by all manner of beasts which inhabited it would be tough enough as is. Even Nina experienced as she was with this work wouldn't want to be out alone here. Glancing to the pitched wagon she'd just been in she frowned. Would Curtis allow it? Perhaps if she ate no food nor earned any payment it'd be okay. If she wanted to eat she'd have to work.

Squeezing Emi's shoulder tightly Nina's face formed a smile once more. "You know what you'll be just fine. Stick with us just stay in the back and we'll have nothing to worry bout." Then pausing she added on a quick superficial note to that thought. "Also the big guy in the tent by the name of Curtis. He's to be avoided at all costs." Letting go of the girl's shoulder Nina stalked forward a few steps before wheeling about around a single foot. "As for food and a place to sleep, you can share my tent and we'll see if we can scrounge up something for you if you don't have yer own supplies."