Reclaiming Honor (Open)

[Lily]

A few days had passed since Lily's incident with the bandit camp. A few days since she was shot down, and a few days since she had met Eren, the man she now considered her commander, and somewhat of a friend as well. She was careful to apply that label so quickly, but... The man was friendly to her, and did save her life, so it felt wrong not to.

And all that trouble was over a bandit camp, that played off of Bern's rebellion to serve their opportunism and their greed. They were cravens one and all, vultures picking at the spoils of war. And they targeted a knight in training who got particularly offended by that. It was good, then, that she wasn't alone in this. She couldn't even bring herself to make a killing blow on a man who was trying to kill her. She couldn't even imagine taking on an entire camp herself. If it weren't for Eren...

Speaking of, she thought to herself.

"Do you think we should try finding more people?! Or will we be enough?!" Lily called over to Eren mid-flight, shouting to make sure her voice was heard over the wind which tussled her short hair. She didn't want to overestimate anyone, but she also didn't know where any towns were, either. She also had no clue how large the bandit camp even was...

She decided that Eren's advice would be the most reliable here. She would follow his orders.

[Eren]

"Now, Lily, does that sound like a sound military strategy to you?" Eren called back. He shook his head, partly in amusement, and partly in chagrin. Oh, my. Two riders against an encampment of bandits? He'd need at least two others with whom to storm the fort. "Lily, we're going to need more people, as I'm sure you've realized. There's a town about two kilometers west of here, so maybe we should stop there?" Banking Mika closer to the other mount so he could hear better, Eren was already thinking ahead. He'd teach the girl how to do a scout run, and how to storm a fortified position... He was almost too engrossed in his thoughts to notice a blackish cloud... Or really, more of a column... Rising from the... west.

"Oh, no."

[Klain]

Klain looked around the landscape with a passing fancy. He didn't know or couldn't remember how he had arrived in Bern. The cool wind agreed with him, every laugh or giggle sent pain through his lungs. Klain wrapped his cloak tighter around himself. He quickly realized a storm was rolling in which sent him into a laughing fit which quickly became coffing.

The dark clouds felt and looked like old friends. Klain sat and watched them the roll in with a calming effect, not even a slight chuckle passed his lips. Then suddenly something seemed wrong....off...Then it hit him there was two flying riders up there! Klain rushed towards a tree and began clawing his way up the tree with a energy he only had when he was in a battle frenzy. He needed draw his sword half way up to keep from falling, each thrust of his sword into the wood sent a chill down his spin. As he reach the top Klain Began flaying and yelling. "HEY YOU NEED TO LAND!! hahaha Not now....You Need to LAND!! A STORMS COMING HAHAHAHAHAHA AND *giggle* AND *giggle* AND YOU MIGHT DIE WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" An all to pleasent smell of smoke and filled his nose and he craved bloodshed. He looked west and saw a colum of smoke was what was turning the clouds black. What remained of the calm they brought was replaced by a evil joy which he fought down. "Some ones in danger *giggles* AND they may *Giggles* neeeed my help. HEY IF YOUR GOING TO FIGHT OVER THERE TAKE ME WITH YOU!!"

[Lily]

Right... She knew that. There was no way the two of them alone would take on a whole group. Even if they were untrained, and even if her and Eren could fly, the numbers were still too many and it was easy to guess their equipment. Axes, and just as likely, bows and arrows. So they'd need to...

... What was that?

"Hey! Eren, do you see that?" she called, less loudly with the reduced distance, but pointing towards the smoke column he was already fixed on. She could only guess what it was, but... Smoke so black could only mean trouble.

Her ear was then caught by the crazed man, shouting from the tree below them. She couldn't make out too much of what he was saying, but she looked down and pinpointed where he was anyway.

"There's a man down there... Maybe he needs help, or knows what that is. We should go see!" she said in an energetic tone, taking the initiative and starting to descend, but then suddenly pausing once she remembered that she was the apprentice, not the leader, "Erm, I mean. If you think it's a good idea. Sir."

She couldn't make out any details about the man below to know his intentions, his inclinations, or who he was. But that made her want to see all the more.

[Eren]

"Lily. I think we both know what that is... Dammit, I have to check this out. Lily, see what this man needs, but maybe stay airborne...? He looks a little...funky to me."

Eren shot off toward the plume of smoke, his body laying almost horizontal, his head on Mika's neck as they accelerated. The trees blurred beneath them as the two flew. Suddenly, Mika banked abruptly, and Eren slid before stabilizing himself. Before he could say anything, Mika jerked again, and this time, Eren was hanging precipitously over the side. Giving a grunt, he scrambled back onto Mika, who was giving a low, anxious growl. "Damn, no, damn! The weather!"

The sky was rapidly turning black, and the wind gusts picked up even more, as Eren hunkered down. "Mika, turn around! Quickly!" As they now raced back against the storm, Eren fervently hoped that Lily was okay... But he had to focus, there was thunder behind him, and he was wearing metal armor.

[Lily]

Lily only nodded, lowering her head and taking herself down towards the man while Eren took off towards the smoke. She wasn't exactly for the idea of splitting up in these circumstances, but at the same time... She focused on the man, her eyes fixed. She didn't even notice the dark clouds on the horizon, but she could smell the rain faintly.

She pulled on the reins as she approached a decent conversation distance with the man below, looking him over. He was an... Interesting enough sort. There was this look in his eye, though, something about him...

"Sorry!" she started, hovering in place with her pegasus as she spoke, "Kind of hard to hear from up there! What's the trouble? Do you know anything about the smoke over there?"

In truth she hadn't heard much of anything the man had said before from her altitude, but she spoke in a cheery tone. She was always willing to lend a hand wherever needed.

[Klain]

"What I said ways. *Takes a Deep breath in* THERE A BLOODY STORM COMING IN!!! That said all I know about the smoke is it looks like fun over there. Hahahaha." Klain put his sword away and put his hand forward. "People might be in trouble so if you can fight we might want to go over there and help. So let me on your horse-bird.....thingy and lets land and make our way there....OH before I forget the Names Klain the Hydra. Part time artist full time Madman....I mean swordsman. HAHAHA. *clears throat* If you could ignore the depraved laughter that would be great. Oh and saving your friend might be important to."
Klain said the last line pointing at the other rider in the distance. "They might be str..*giggle* Struck...*giggle* Struck By Lighting! WAHAHAHAHA. *clears throat* and that would be bad so lets hurry.

[Eren]

"This is getting bad... Just a little farther, come on," Eren urged as Mika frantically flew back toward the Pegasus knight and the strange man. "We can do it, just a little... whoa... bit more..." The ruthless wind gusts were buffeting wyvern and rider as they began their descent toward the treeline. Eren was finding it increasingly hard to hang on to Mika, with the combination of slick scales and the torrential rain, and Mika was having difficulty fighting the destabilizing currents. As they neared Lily and the other man, descending to near the treetops, Eren raised one hand in greeting... A grave error. Before he'd even realized his mistake, another wind current slammed into the wyvern, and without his firm grip, Eren was sent soaring down toward the foliage.

"Oh, bloody hell..."

There was barely enough time to cover his head and scrunch before a leafy embrace enveloped him. The trees rustled as he entered their open arms, then fell silent. Under the canopy, however, Eren had slammed into a few thick branches before colliding full-on with a tree trunk and limply collapsing to the forest floor.

"D...da...damn..."

[Ilheod]

"Anything yet?"

"Nothing!"

Wind rushed by the Rider's hair, making the words from his comrade almost impossible to hear. The sound of wind around him far to loud a moment later as Astraeus tucked his wings and dove through the air current only to turn upwards and catch another pocket of air to glide on. Ilheod's brown hair flailing from the sudden lunge and blowing into his eyes. Taking a second to lower his hand to his bag behind him he grabbed at his crimson helmet before sliding it on to at-least keep his vision clear. The fully grown wyvern quickly darted through the air, five slightly younger ones moving almost as swiftly in formation. A standard one often used by Bern patrols. The way they had been trained...back in a simpler time. The dual shaded eyes darting side to side through the sky. A shift of unease at the darkening sky made him pause internally. They still had a few days of flight if they were going to get to the outer boarder. He couldn't knowingly risk poor conditions though could he? He took a moment to adjust his position and lean closer to Astraeus's neck while tucking down. A single hand lifted, balled fist with his index finger the exception, pointing down as he tilted his body to guide his Wyvern.

The weather was upon them quickly. Wind's picked up. Flying in a storm was bad enough, but flying against one was disastrous. He was about to signal for a straight drop through the thickets if he hadn't noticed the sight in the distance. Squinting he noticed another Wyvern Rider, and what looked like a pegasus flyer. A strange sight in Bern, even with the current situation given. Caution inching in, he frowned slightly. Were it not for the weather he might have taken a slower pace on approach. The Wyvern knight however had already been caught in the winds. Swearing under his breath Ilheod lifted his fist and crossed two fingers signalling for the others to drop and follow on foot. He knew they'd try to keep him in sight though. Patting his mount at the base of his neck he urged him forwards into the winds further speaking loud enough for the creature to hear him through the winds howling by them.

"Nice and Easy. We've seen worse."

Astraeus was a strong Wyvern. Larger than most, though his age helped. It wasn't often a wyvern and rider were lucky enough to live to their age. Not in Bern. It's wing beats pressing forwards, he approached the two only to notice in the distance them attempting to speak to a man. Or so it seemed. Words couldn't be made out over those winds from that distance. What he could make out though. Smoke. What initially had simply blended into the dark clouds came out as an unmistakable plume of smoke. Smoke only meant one thing. Fire. His hands tightened on the leather reigns for a moment, yet another thing he would have addressed were it not for the weather suddenly picking up. An all to familiar sound started to echo. Rain drops hitting metal, as rain began to come down heavily over him like it had engulfed the others. His crimson helmet kept the commander's vision safe from the droplet's though now in the blackening environment he was sure he stuck out. The Night blue wyvern matched the back-drop much better then the crimson clad wyvern lord however, though the insignia of Bern upon his chest plate and shoulder easily set him out for who he was. He started as he saw the other rider suddenly get caught in the wind and fall.

Tucking forwards against his wyvern and leaning down he guided Astraeus into a downwards dip quickly while the rider fell. The large creature crashed none to quietly through smaller less fortunate brances as they broke the tree line's tops and into a brief reprieve slightly from the worst of the wind and rain through the forest buffer. He could hear it. The crashing through the branches. He was unable to spot him though. Not until the final thud of him hitting the base. His Wyvern's wings spread as he slowed to the ground after two wing beats to even out while Ilheod slid off his wyvern's rain covered scales and onto the ground with a solid thud. Sprinting with a slight hustle in his step he moved to the other rider and quickly knelt. Formalities could wait if possible. Propping an arm on his knee he gazed at the man, speaking through a slightly echoed tone do to the sides of his helmet guarding his jaw and protruding around his mouth partially.

"You alright? No bones broken I trust...Else you better invest in some better armor eh lad?"

He was like that with almost every Wyvern Rider he saw. Even equally ranked officers. He simply felt older, even as he approached his late thirties in full swing. Ilheod remained knelt, looking over him for injuries but not moving past his kneeling position to assist unless he saw a need to otherwise.

[Eren]

Eren grunted. He had a few bruises, he was sure. Sitting up gingerly, he took stock of his armor. Slight scratches here and there, and a few minor dents. Ah, quality Bernese craftmanship was a fine thing indeed. "Well, I'm pleased to say that my armor took the brunt of the fall. And it's in mighty fine shape still, which pleases me immensely."

Standing up, Eren addressed the other rider, standing and giving a salute as was the military custom. "I'm Brigadier General Eren Barrata of Bern, then Ilia, now neither. And you are?" As he finished speaking, Eren grabbed his lance and axe, resheathing the weapons, and then gave a dissonant two-tone whistle, casting a brief shadow over the two as a coal-black wyvern dropped in to land behind Eren. "Oh, and this is Mika."

[Ilheod]

Ilheod watched the man shakily rise, standing himself as the man did so and taking a step back. Heavy foot-steps of Astraeus moving closer to his rider and curiously sniffing at the strange rider. Astraeus was considered colossal for his size compared to the smaller more common sized wyvern's in the Bern military of day's old. Ilheod placed a single hand on the wyvern's snout, rubbing the scaled tip while listening to the man speak. When the man saluted, Ilheod slide his feet together and returned the action briefly before hearing the male's introduction. So he had held a rank. Though Ilheod had not heard of him personally, the last two years before the outbreak of combat had seen him hearing less and less of the other commanders and ongoings.

He spoke in a slightly quiet stern tone, as if reciting it in an official report.

"Kinght-Commander Ilheod Donsen. Commander of the "Night Wings", and Commander over the Western Defense forces. Former. I've no other allegiances or allies since..save for my units with me."

As if designed by the sheer mention, the sound of movement drew his attention while he spoke. His fellow five soldiers of the first unit were starting to approach. Their wyvern's all had a midnight hued scales similar to Astraeus though their size was visibly smaller. Ilheod lifted a single hand while signalling them forwards before turning to speak to the newly introduced former rider of Bern.

"We've been tracking the ghost trails of a specific bandit..however we also try to keep to the purge of any we find to begin with. However seeing you fall drew me to investigate. The storm does not seem helpful to flying conditions however. I spotted a pegasus flyer near you...a comrade I assume?"

[Eren]

Aha. This man was definitely a comrade. Even better, he hated bandits, which meant he'd have enough manpower to take the stronghold, if this man and his underlings lent their aid.

"Well, Ilheod... Actually, she's more of a student of mine. An apprentice of sorts. I assisted her when she was attacked not a week ago by vicious bandits posing as Bernese rebels. Bloody opportunists... However, we struck them down, and we were trying to raise some aid for an assault on their headquarters. As a result, we were flying towards that village in the west; the smoke column seems to suggest that the village was recently attacked. However, this blasted storm has destroyed all possibility of us intercepting the raiders... So now we simply have to view the carnage and then take on the stronghold. But it's a tall order for only two flyers... So, tell me, Ilheod Donsen, will you lend us your strength?"

[Ilheod]

While listening to the story of the other Bernese officer Ilheod took a shift in his stance, a more rigid one with his hands clasping at the forearms behind his back. Though it could do little to restore the old times and fond memories, it was a pleasant feeling to be briefed by a fellow soldier. Comrade no less. Near the end of his statement, the other requested assistance. Logically, the easiest and fastest way to locate his quarry was to track down the foes with little delay. However..it was a personal agenda. To put his own goals above the plight of the innocent people of Bern would be to defy all he himself had fought for. Ilheod briefly turned away from the male and spoke with the tone of a commander, stern as he called out to his riders now approaching on foot.

"Alexander. You all fit to fly lad?"

The soldier aside his wyvern near the center spoke out to the older officer. He stopped walking and slid his legs together clasping his closed fist to his blue breastplate.

"Sir! We are. None of the wyvern's seem to be fatigued from the winds either. Your orders?"

Ilheod approached the saddlebags near his Wyvern's saddle and tugged one of his spare rations bags, tossing it to the soldier and nodding upwards.

"Take Immen and Brom with you, find the other units and inform them to meet us at the old barracks on the west route near the entry patrol routes. Seth and Calvin will fly with me. Local banddit acvitiy it would seem. Were going to assist in their... permanent retirement. The moment this storm clears you three are to break off and head out. Understood everyone?"

A sudden clash of fists to breastplates rang out with a shout in unison that always brought a comfort and smile to the old soldier's lips.

"YES SIR!"

Ilheod turned to the former general and nodded while walking over to re-secure his saddlebags from the opposite side. He spoke with an almost mix of matter of fact tone and approving tone. As if he was granted permission himself to remove a large burden yet had to do so in limited fashion.

"Well Eren Barrata, it would seem you've yourself some more able bodies. Aye. We'll fly with you, and by the king's of old if we won't ensure that those bastards never get a chance to harm another innocent. Bern may have her land's under another flag, but not until I've slept within the cold hard beneath shall I let it's people suffer without assistance. This storm though..it's going to slow us down until it ends..

[Lily]

Lily could only sit hovering while the man talked. He was... Unsettling, and possibly a bit on the side of insane, but he seemed cordial enough towards her. And she supposed his way of speaking had a certain charm to it, or so she convinced herself to his benefit. She held something of a curious smirk at his speech, until he pointed towards the storm clouds.

"... Tch!" was the only noise she made, as she saw Eren doubling back to her position. Struck by lightning... That would've been bad. Very bad. But then again... Once he raised his hand, and was knocked from his wyvern... That. That was far worse. Not to mention she could've sworn she saw other fliers approaching...

"... Listen! We- Agh!" she shouted to Klain, her instincts taking precedence over her formality, but being hit by a blast of wind and getting interrupted. She recovered quickly. "This is going to get bad, and I need to go make sure he's alright! Climb down from that tree, avoid getting hurt, and come meet me in the forest so we can have a real introduction! Sorry to leave so abruptly!"

Ever courteous she was, but she was more worried than anything. She snapped Serenity's (Or, her 'Horse-bird thingie', as Klain so eloquently put it) reins, bringing her companion into a graceful downward spiral towards the ground and landing. A horse was far better for the storms than a bird, after all. She called out to let Klain know which direction she was heading, before nimbly moving into the thicket with her lance in hand.

The rain was starting to pick up along with the winds. The forest blocked some of the water, but not all. Lily's hair was getting wet, as her vivid blue eyes scanned the scene before her. She had found Eren, and his company. Not that it was hard to miss a gathering of wyverns. Eren seemed at ease, but still... She gripped her lance tighter, and with no shortage of tension as she rode up to her commander.

"General, sir!" she said in a concerned tone, her eyes darting between Eren and the new men, her tone that of a soldier's. Disciplined, with clear military training behind it. She would keep the respect and formality around the new faces, especially ones so... Professional looking. "Are you unharmed, sir? And... Have we friendly company?"

Not that she would've stood much of a chance against a full wing of riders, with clear equipment and training. The rain only continued picking up, and the woods were no terrain for a rider to fight effectively in. But she was Eren's apprentice, and his loyal companion. If he needed her to fight, she would do so regardless of the odds. What she lacked in skill, she had in conviction.

She just hoped that counted for something here.

[Eren]

"Lily! Yes, I'm fine. These men are under the command of Ilheod Donsen, a former Knight-Commander of Bern. They've agreed to help us assault the bandit stronghold so we can eradicate that menace from the land."

Motioning between Ilheod and Lily, Eren continued speaking. "Ilheod, this is Lily. Lily, Ilheod.

We can continue these introductions later, but first, we should find some way to shelter ourselves from this unholy torrent. I don't think we want hypothermia, and I'd prefer we not rust our armor prematurely."

Eren moved closer to Mika, who raised one wing like an umbrella. Moving underneath, Eren turned slightly and opened a saddlebag, removing a rolled-up, waterproofed document -- the high-quality map he'd obtained after the successful raid on Detris's base. Opening it and briefly analyzing it, he then closed it, returned it to the bag, and rejoined the group.

"Luckily for us, there is apparently a cave of sorts about a half-kilometer northwest. Shall we head for it?"