Retreat (Closed thread)

[Elisabeth]

((Except for Celes. Everyone else you can PM me, but unless you have a really good justification I doubt you'll be able to get in. Pegasus knights only, don't hit on us silly boys :3c ))

You'd that when you massively outnumber your foe, have every advantage, and are mad as hell that you probably would win a battle right? Well so did Lisa. Imagine her confusing when an influx of reinforcements arrive only for the retreat to be signaled. It made no sense. No it made less then no sense, it made like negative sense. If sense was gold, and she had to pay you to get answers, you'd have to give her money.

Still, far be it for her to disobey a direct order from not only Celice but the other commander that came with the reinforcements, and while the question burned in her mind it wasn't really the place nor time to ask it. Especially since she's still pretty sure that Celice is totally mad at her, like if malice was heat she'd be a peggy popsicle melting under her gaze. Or maybe not, that might just be Lisa's guilt tricking her into thinking that. Or maybe not, she might really hate her. Elisabeth had no idea really. It kept her busy though, as he mind was wracking a million and a half excuses and apologies and stories to tell to get let off easy, while also sprinkled with a handful of temper tantrums and outbursts about what was going on. Somewhere she felt she needed to be punished though, it would suck though, punishments usually aren't very fun.

There was snow, but then again that wasn't very noteworthy here in Ilia. It started to fall hours ago, but it was really starting to pick up now. Being sort of on the nasty side, it started of gentle but as time went on mother nature got more irritated and now it was like a blanket falling from the sky. It wasn't exactly the easiest thing in the world to fly through, especially now as the day was waning and night was approaching despicably quickly.

Night always fell quickly here in Ilia, the days were short but the nights were long. It felt like just hours ago she had been looking around at daybreak and found that weenie that caused half her squad to die and the other half to hate her for it. She was included in that hate her for it bit, she felt real awful about the whole thing. She vouched for him, believing she was being all noble and kindhearted, but it was like he was a viper and just bit her. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say.

They've since made camp. It wasn't a good idea to travel at night in weather like this. They landed in a snowy clearing and lit torch fires so passing pegasus knights could see them in the night. They were surprisingly bright, and made it real hard to sleep. Not like Lisa could sleep right now anyways, so instead she brushed the mane of her mare. Medusa seemed completely at ease, she envied that. Her stomach was tied in knots as she was still unsure of what was going on. Every time a soldier tried to ask, Celice responded with a simple 'not now'.

They weren't far from a stronghold, but they didn't want to risk traveling it in this weather. It was easy to get lost in the plains and mountains at night, nothing but white everywhere you look and darkness covering the sky. Strong winds keeping you from flying your best, and to top it all off the clouds stopped the stars and moon from shining. That's why they lit the torches, it was easy to get lost at night, any passing soldiers were welcome to join their camp if they are stranded from their squad.

The cold was biting, but it didn't really bother her. She had too much on her mind to focus on the chilling winds.

[Celestine]

And for a certain Pegasus Knight soaring far over the clearing, the chill of the wind in her bones was about the only thing she could focus on anymore. It had been... What? nearly a year since she had been back in her homeland? And what with the wind whipping her in the face, zero visibility, and the fact that she's already lost the feeling in her toes. Well, she's not quite enjoying the homecoming. "Where where where..." She mumbles under her breath, biting her lips as she leaned forward into Chippewa's neck and peered down through the flurry of the snow. "Leave it to the Military." She would huff under her breath, the poor mercenary already finding something to get all bitter about! Even if, of course, there was very little difference between Pegasus knights regarding whether or not they were sell swords!

"A-Hah!" She would suddenly cry, her off hand gripping her pegasususususus' reign tighter and jerking it gently to the right as the airborne equine rolled off to the right before it's wings snapped to it's side and down Celestine dived towards the flickering signal torches. Now, this was more what she lived for, the sensation of your stomach dropping, that itch in the back of your head that 'hey this is really just showing off you know' and the snow flying in your eyes. That was the best part no doubt. But finally, after her little joy ride, Celestine would yank the guide up, causing her steed to flare her wings as the Knight comes in for a dramatic landing, unsettling snow in a great plume as the flakes swirl around them.

"Hy-eah!" She shouts out, quite dramatically as Chippewa neighs and kicks at the snow. Celestine, despite being ill equipped for the weather, is all smiles as she dismounts her horse and takes a stride forward with lance in hand. Though, her triumphant arrival is damped as she furrows her brow and takes a glance around. This did not seem like a cadre of soldiers preparing for war, in fact, it looks like they just lost! But, that would be ridiculous, they were Ilians, neigh! They were pegasus knights. An' there ain' no knight like a peggy knight darnit! Though, all this does is leave a very confused looking knight standing in the middle of the camp, armed for battle and looking quite flustered!

[Elisabeth]

You know, they place those torches all the time when they set up camp. Lisa's never actually seen one work. It was always 'just in case' and a roll of the eyes by the ones setting it up, being all 'oh no one ever travels at night' and 'blah this blah that harumph old people noises' because it's scientifically proven that when people are told to do boring things they didn't want to do they sound like old people. It was a fascinating thing really, but it wasn't really the point. They hooked in someone this time, like a... fish on a... fishing rod? Lisa didn't fish. It was a pegasus knight though, which was awesome and everything. It was enough to make Lisa forget her little cage of self pity and woe-is-me-ism for now as she stood up, and like everyone else, gawked at the newcomer like they were some kind of silvery valkyrie thing. Though, judging by her snow white hair, maybe it wasn't that far off of a guess.

Celice wasted no time, still wearing that face obscuring helmet as she approached the pegasus and her knight. The knight was wearing her armor, wielding her spear, and looked in general ready to bust some heads. Which was silly, considering the circumstances. Looks like she missed all the fun. The commander bowed to the new comer in some kind of proper fashion that went over the observing Lisa's head. Celice was being all nice and proper and junk, which was also silly considering the circumstances. These were definitely some silly circumstances, and Lisa could feel that things were gonna either get sillier or a whole lot more serious. Secretly she wished for silliness. You know, even though they had like dying people and corpses everywhere. Actually that made for poor taste. Crud. Serious is how it was gonna go, isn't it?

"Greetings sister in wings." Celice said after she did her little curtsy. "I am glad our light could guide you here. I am Major Celice, in charge of the 28th Company of Ilia's military forces. This is just one small squad, however, that I am leading to deal with threats in the region." This was all the soldiers that were sent when they got the news, commander Celice decided to lead it herself. They probably should have sent more. Or maybe they wouldn't have needed to if not for Lisa. Ugh, it brought up unpleasant thoughts. "May I ask what your business in the area is?" Lisa squinted her eyes as she looked at the knight. Something was... different, she wasn't wearing the same kind of armor. The same insignia. Was she a mercenary?

[Celestine]

Celestine pushed a rogue bang back behind an ear, that same bang that just loved to torment her forever and ever and proved to be her second arch-nemesis behind the damned Ilian cold! Of course, she's currently under the impression that all of the soldiers are gawking at her and her short summer time skirt, which given the gentle shudders of her lance is quite the indication that she's freezing in them! But then, her wing always had the motto that they loved their skirts excruciatingly short, their runs long and the weather positively nippy!

Though, at the sight of the other Knight approaching, one of which bore those fancy schmancy command insignias with the fancy little doodads and the extravagant armor she would snap to attention with her lance facing outward and her left arm resting behind her back. "Celestine Chere of Rosarie's Raiders Ma'am." She snaps out sharply, quickly hitting a bow that would probably snap a weaker woman's spine with it's ferocity.

She'll come up quickly, reaching out to grip her lance with her left hand now as she holds it ramrod straight in some old archaic salute. It really looks quite silly, especially as the wind picks up and her hair beings to fly behind her. Of course, Celestine would say this makes her look awesome like one of the Peggy Knights in the old fairy tales, standing on the precipice of doom with pride and strength! Even if uh... She's kind of freezing to death, half starving, and has just been augmented to the saddest squad this side of just about anywhere.

"Er-Hk! Just this one squad ma'am?" She asks, her eyes wide as she straightens up a bit. For the Entire Region?! Well, it was a tall order, but the pegasus Knights could pull it off! OOOHRAH etc etc. She'll quickly shut down her questioning at the commander's question and nod sharply, fixing her posture in one quick sweep even as her maroon eyes dart over towards Lisa and her pegasususus. Hmm... Young fliers. "I have been sent from my company to aid your forces in battle ma'am." She barks out, establishing her nice Big Girl Voice as she cages her eyes forward. Things seemed much dire now than before, where was the bravado! The songs! The dancing? Where were the other miniskirts?! "My wing was recalled back to the Capital to help stomp out this rebellion. Which, no doubt, is well on it's way?" She asks, sounding oh so very confidant. Clearly they were small because they swept away the rebels like so many little sheep! Tiny little soft cute sheep! Eeee!

[Elisabeth]

"This is only the squad of soldiers that were sent on this mission, we had assumed that this would be sufficient." The major almost seemed the have a whole emotion when she said that, which was frankly shocking, but if Lisa could put it through her 'stoic captain to average person' translator, it would probably amount to something like regret. Or shame. Or something sappy like that, because while this should have been enough it clearly wasn't. Which was totally crappy. "I regret to say that I may have misjudged such a thing, the battle has long since finished and we have taken heavy losses." She shook her head as she spoke as she faced the mercenary that had shown up at their camp. The peggy knight was watching from a relatively safe distance, just like everyone else, at the two. Of course she was feeling guilty about everything and junk, but she was too busy being interested in what was going on to waste time lamenting and gazing at her navel. Or whatever it's called. Which was weird, what was so interesting about belly buttons anyways.

"If your company has sent you to aid us, you must be aware of the situation. The skirmish with the bandits ended in their favor." She looked about the same as she did a moment ago, but all this nonaction and just simply talking was making Lisa a bit jittery. She felt like that Celice should be gesturing, or shaking her head, or changing the mood of her voice or something. It felt a little awkward, still maybe that's just how soldiers are? Lisa was an awful soldier, after all, so maybe it makes sense. "I'm afraid you came all this distance for nothing. You are welcome to accompany us back to our outpost however until you receive new orders from your company." Well now, wasn't that nice of her.

"As for the rebellion's actions... this isn't something I can discuss openly. Perhaps once we adjourn to the outpost." Rebellion? Wait, wasn't it bandits? That's a bit confusing now, but Lisa could just go up and ask or anything. Well not Celice anyways, she was pretty sure that that bridge wasn't only burned but that a volcano emerged from just earth just to douse it and the surrounding area with lava. Maybe she could as the other lady? Something something, Lisa heard the name and everything but it kinda just went right through her ears and refused to actually stick.

[Celestine]

Celestine had seen that face flashed in her years of mercenary work. And she could feel her stomach drop even as the first thing Celine commented to her was really of little consequence. Pegasus Knights being a little too overconfident and stretching their (wo)manpower? Perish the thought! A normal person would probably interject with a 'it's not your fault' or 'you couldn't have seen this coming' but they were hardcore Peggy knights, not to mention that no matter any defeat they never failed! Heck, a full blown retreat was only ever a mass attack in the opposite direction. Celestine would barely flinch at the even worse news regarding the causalities before she frowned just a smidgen, they must have been facing down quite an opposing force for something like that to happen! "Understood." She replies simply, her eyes flickering back over towards Lisa. It seems Celestine has noticed the belly button staring! And the dark skinned pegasus Knight is starting to catch on that this may well be much more serious than she could have expected!

Then there's the hiss as the ranking officer explains that not only were there heavy casualties, but for all intents and purposes it sounds like they lost without actually saying the dirty L word! "We... Had not received such word." She'll reply, quickly fixing her posture as she cages her eyes once more, if only to not show her confusion! And well, her worry! They were supposed to be invincible! Wherever they went their enemy fell before their lances in droves, they were without equal! Without compare! Chest beating! Yeah! But, right about now, Celestine was feeling like anything but chest beating between the routing of the unit she'd been attached to and the seeming failure of their lines of communication. "Of course ma'am, it's my duty to do as such until relieved of your command." She remarks sharply, smacking one closed hand to her chest and bowing to Celine. Chest thumping! Yes!

"Yes Ma'am." Military strategy and secrets and all those fun things weren't exactly the type of topic to blab about in the middle of blizzard in the mountains, especially with everyone else watching them! Mind you, Celestine loved the attention, why else would she wear the armor and ride winged death? For the attention duh! Well, partially for the attention maybe. She'll end up peering back towards Lisa once again. "How many other Knights are stationed here ma'am?" She'll ask, blinking several times. Oooh, they'll be able to swap war stories and hair styling tips!