Dogs~...~

[Ingrid]

(ooc. Honestly, we can probably just pick up between when they met and where we ended on FB. I'd rather prefer we pick up in the middle, actually....)

"Jacopo, I think I could use a dog." Ingrid said.

"Ok...And how is a dog supposed to live up here? And what are you going to do when it has to go to the bathroom but can't get down to the ground? And what are you going to feed it? Are you going to be at home more often to play with it? Can it even leave your house without stumbling on the bridges?" He asked.

"Details, details. You sound like my cousin. Think about it. A dog. A happy, playful dog."

"Get a cat."

"You know, I really don't want a cat. They're going to take over the world one day, I just know it."

"Get a cat."

(ooc. I forgot her cousin's name....it's now Sulla. Because Sulla is a nice name.)

Sulla came running up.

"Inggie, Jaco, you two need to come with me. We're doing a border patrol."

The two good naturedly groaned.

"Do I have to?" Ingrid asked.

"Well, you weren't at home the last time it was your turn, so yes."

"Damnit." She said, getting up from where she was sitting on the floor with Jacopo.

Soon they were all heading out to the edge of their lands in the forest, ready to face the dangerous unknown for about four hours.

[Kevin]

(ooc. Sounds perfect to me! I love her picture by the way!)

Kevin and Smith were pealing apples sitting on the roots of a tree, joking about some old story that involved a stuffed teddy bear.

"And you decided that it would look pretty covered in fire!" Smith said.

Kevin blushed a little and gave a chuckle. "Well...It did!"

[Ingrid]

(ooc. Yay! Thanks! My face used to hurt like hell and a half! But then my mummy gave me toothnumbing cream, so now it only hurts like half of the half (I didn't spread it real well...))

"I don't trust you with daggers." Sulla said.

"And why not, Mr. Big Shot?" She asked.

"Because honestly, I'm afraid you'll "accidentally" stab me." He said.

"If I stab you, it's no accident." Ingrid pointed out.

"That's what I fear the worst. Just what would I have to do to get you to stab me and have it not be an accident...Hmm..." He said.

"Breath?" She suggested.

"Yeah, that." He said.

They passed people...Wait....Why were they passing people? That made little sense. Unless they had gone too far and needed to back track. And that would be shameful. The sentries missing the area that they were supposed to be sentrying.

[Kevin]

(ooc. Well! That's better than hell and a half! You might wanna spread it well the next time)

Kevin and Smith laughed hard at something that Smith had said.

The two hadn't noticed the people, so were still being silly.

[Ingrid]

"You, know if we wandered too far, I blame you. You're the guide." Ingrid said

"Oh yeah, and who distracted me?" Sulla protested.

"You. You're so short-attentioned. I'm surprised you've lived this long." Ingrid replied.

And this lead to an argument between the two of them. While Jacopo was trying to ask directions.

"I think we've wandered too far." He said to the people talking nearby. "Are we at the border of the Tree People's lands or no?"

Of course, by this point Ingrid and Sulla were getting a bit too loud for Jacopo's tastes.

"Shut up love birds." He said.

They both quieted and looked at him for a split second, confusion and then disgust upon their faces.

"That's revolting!" Ingrid said, at the same time as Sulla said "We're cousins!"

"So? Interfamilial marriages are common."

"EWWW!" Shouted the two of them, quickly running as far as possible from one another and still being within speaking distance of everyone. "THAT'S DISGUSTING!"

"She's like my sister!" Sulla said.

"He's like a cat!" Ingrid said.

"So, have we gone too far or should we keep going?" Jacopo asked, unfazed by the two cousins who were currently shuddering in the background at the thought of having to be married to one another.

[Kevin]

Smith who was chuckling as he said. "Your about a half a mile into areas that are pretty much unclaimed, I'd suggest going back at least a mile to be back in your own lands."

Kevin just sat there.

[Ingrid]

There was a sudden shout.

"Don't move!"

A middle aged woman came plunging down from a tree top.

"I've got a change of orders for you three. And you all are way past your mark." She said, chidingly. "Alright, my loves. Sulla, Jacopo, my children, you're golden. Just head back and meet up with Drake. Ingrid, my dear, come here."

"Later Mom." Sulla said, kissing his mother's cheek. He and Jacopo headed back.

Olga drew Ingrid aside, still within any hearing range that was trying but far enough away to give a semibalance of privacy.

"My dear, you're being sent on what is SUPPOSED to be a scouting mission." Olga said.

"So one person, in and out, back by dinner time?" Ingrid asked.

"One person for a mission that seems like it should be for two people, given the amount of space you need to cover and how far away your mark is. This is more a get in, try to get out before they notice you're there, and they will, and get back.....in a few days, maybe? Oh..I really wish I didn't have to send you alone, but we couldn't spare anyone else..." Olga said, fretting. "You're just one person and this is such a two person mission and your destination is the Earther's Summer Camp, which is a fairly hidden target as well as fortified..."

"Auntie, who assigned it?"

"Not your father. I believe it was Peter, but I'm not sure. I was told by John to give it to you and I read it before I left." Olga said.

Ingrid took her Aunt's hands into her own.

"I'll be fine, really. Make some goose soup for when I get back. " She said.

The older woman nodded and quickly kissed her forehead.

"I'll be worrying and pacing at my house. And pestering Sulla to catch up with you somehow so that you don't have to go alone."

Ingrid smiled.

"I'll be fine. Now go. I should be on my way."

The older woman nodded and quickly left.

[Kevin]

Smith had over heard and shook his head.

"You want some company?" Smith asked. "We have a fire cracker over here." Kevin took his que to snap and have a small flame shoot up. "I promise Kevin won't hit on you, can't guarantee the same for myself."

[Ingrid]

(OOC: Met or no? And by that matter, according to our timeline, they met a time before they got together. Timeline can be adjusted if need be. And if they have met, objectively the person he is alone might not be the person he is around others, so...yeah..)

She looked at them for a moment. They didn't seem harmless. And while two on one is definitely not her strong point, she could probably handle herself well enough to get to safety if they weren't harmless. Probably not beat them, but get to safety. And she would be glad of the company.

"Sure." She said.

[Kevin]

(ooc. I think their met. Kevin's different alone then around others. Really quiet around strangers- actually him around Smith and friends... So met, they just aren't really acknoledging it, and I don't think Smith knows. And even if they didn't do the name exchange, Kevin coulda picked up her name in the previous conversations.)

Smith gave her a very flirtatious grin. "Why thank you lady," he said, with a bow.

"Keep it in your pants, Smith," Kevin said, standing up to join the party. "Lead the way, Ingrid."

[Ingrid]

(ooc. Yup! )

She nodded goodnaturedly and led the way.

The sun was shining, the day was bright, there was a few birds singing. It was a pretty good day to be happy. So she was happy. She stayed on the ground, though it would have been faster to move through the trees. If she had done that, however, they'd get far behind. Which would have entirely screwed the idea of having company on the trip. Even if she wasn't much of a talker.

She stopped a little while ahead, perking up, making sure that she didn't hear anything out of the ordinary. In a few hours they would be entering the enemy territory. The mark that she was supposed to be scouting out was a day and a half's trek inside the territory. It was going to be a long walk.

[Kevin]

Kevin and Smith walked calmly behind her, occasionally making comments, or whistling. Most of the comments came from Smith, the whistling from Kevin.

"So, where exactly are we headed, cherie?" Smith asked.

[Ingrid]

"Summer camp of the Earth Benders." She said, calling over her shoulder. "It's a day and a half walk from the entrance of their land, which is about a four hour walk from where we started. Given the nature of the mission, stealth is a must and if I walk all the way there with no breaks, stealth is not going to happen, so when twilight hits, I'm setting down camp."

She looked up at the sky where the sun was breaking through the leafy canopy above and closed her eyes for a mere moment while they walked, basking in what little light she could. She knew her aunt was right. This was dangerous. When one is that deep into enemy territory, having to scout out a heavily guarded and occupied fort, where many people before of any tribe besides the earth benders have gotten caught....well...one does not get too hopeful. But she'd been in worse straights before and she knew that she was going to make it out to be in even worse ones later.

[Kevin]

Kevin looked at Smith.

"You mean that thing they have every year around that big rock?" Kevin asked Ingrid.

[Ingrid]

She looked back at him.

"Well, that is one of the things that they do at their camp." She said.