WQ - Scouting Sector seven

_____Feather tip lightly pressed against Kaede’s chin, her hand slowly moving it back to the ink and tapping it against the lip of the glass before share finished the last line of her grid network. Each part of the map exactly sectioned with perfect squares despite the girl having no tool to assure her line who be so strain or exactly spaced outside her own mind. Setting the feather down in the Ink Kaede moved away from the center if the relief tent to her side. Laying the freshly girded map before her friend who looked over and rather comically began knocking on Kaede’s skull causing the Yladin to wave to stop her and hold her head.

”Nyaaa~ with that kind of mind why don't you stay sober? Heck why do you even get drunk Kae-chan?”

”I have explained this to you why Neka… Could you show this over to everyone else in the group of ours? Tell them to team up in teams of two or three and try to map a sector at a time. If they need to copy the grid, I used some special ink I had Diabloa make. Just lay it directly over the other map faced down and the grid should copy over. I’ll take sector seven, hence why the ‘X’ is over it.”

”Rodger capitan.~”

_____Kaede watched as Neka rolled up the map, stashed it in her hat and rushed off to go meet the group while they stayed at a nearby tavern. Kaede would have tried to go with them all to a more difficult to map area, mostly because she was a recorder, not a artist. Drawing perfect lines she could do, but showing the detailed landscape was more if Scarlet’s alley. Sure she could recite every detail for them to hit two birds with one stone.

_____But, Kaede still had her work to do with her father, and then she would be free to go roaming around to do the things she was more interested in. Moving back to the middle of the tent as she pulled a wooden box away from the large pile of them and set it down near her table cracking it open gently with her dagger and checking to make sure all the ‘decent sleep kit’ they had tried to fit in each box was there.

_____Kaede was almost done, after she finished this box her dad said she could go… She just had to make it another few minutes since the kits got taken quickly so far. Watching another group of people approach with one of her father’s baskets of provisions Kaede offered them a kit and smiled. It was the smaller things to help people that Kaede and her father carried about. They could not change the world, but they could make someone’s day brighter and THAT was the real prize as she passed out another kit.

_____Part of Kaede wondering of anyone got her letters, the slight annoying thought she was trapped out of her UI and had to painstakingly write out each and every letter that got sent was unfavorable, BUT if even one got a reply that was enough for Kaade to resign her hard work paid off. Another kit given to a young child and reaching to the opposite side Kaede gave them a small stuffed kitten doll. The kid clearly excited as they ran to go show who Kaede assumed to be their parents drew a smile to the girl’s face.
@Mahiru Wind | @Comet

 

Mahiru was taking a walk through the forest when she received a letter from Kaede. "Seeing a new land, huh...?" She wrote out a letter back to Kaede.

"To Kaede,

Hey, Kaede. I just received your letter about exploring a new area of the world. I'd love to go, I've been planning on seeing the sights and training with my magic some more. I'm on my way to the meeting point. Hang in there, okay? If you get hurt, let me patch you up.

-Mahiru"

Satisfied with her letter, she sent it and began running to the meeting point, fumbling with her menu to find a map she could use.

...

Mahiru ran into the meeting area, clearly out of breath. She had run a good twenty miles to get to the meeting point, as she had no mode of transportation. Reaching the crowd of people preparing to explore uncharted territory, she collapsed onto the ground accompanied and began breathing shakily. "That took a while..." She rolled onto her back and looked to the sky, waiting to regain some energy. I deserve some rest...

 

Receiving a letter from Kaede had Comet both confused and exciting. Reaffirmation of someone being her friend would always be pleasant enough, and exploring never failed to spark a looming curiosity. Yet, the fact that she wasn't sent a quick message through the system by Kaede had the young woman questioning the rare form of contact among real players within Terrasphere. Shrugging off any sort of thought, saving them for later, she decided to head for the rendezvous immediately without sending a letter. Frankly no urge to do so prompted the action. Though mapping proved to be an amusing hobby, Comet never did like sending personal messages due to her bubbling insecurity. Those negative ideas retreated once she broke through a tough shell old habits tended to persist. As if she'd never escape Violet even as an almost completely different person in-game.

Deep down she hoped Kaede - and others, if they were to be some sort of group - wouldn't mind the missing information regarding whether or not she'd show up. Aiding Astorea as well as being loyal to the King and the players' lands happened to be a prominent, strong view of Comet's. Most likely the Yladian would be expecting her. After all, she'd been in every battle and movement occurring thus far to protect or defend or restore.

Long legs carried the determined, slightly excited woman to where Kaede desired. A dutiful mind with an impressive memory made traveling easy and tracking even easier. On the way she decided that no other place could make her feel as much at home as Astorea. She decided her views on the Civil War were right despite what guilt hid inside for turning on Roland. He angered her, and also brought about sympathy for his beliefs that were silly in Comet's eyes but not to be disrespected for he made her stronger in a way. And was a friend. Possibly still an ally of sorts. With a troubled sigh and twisted expression, she attempted to clear the negativity. It seemed fate planned for this to happen.

She bumped into a strange girl (@Mahiru Wind)... or more so tripped over the small girl due to not much attention being payed to the surroundings. Comet harbored enough luck to maintain balance and fortunately left her previous state of mind behind. "I would say sorry but you're the one laying on the ground," she defended her mistake yet couldn't hold back a friendly smile. Felis' were always particularly cute. Plus, children always had her heart no matter what they did. Childish innocence could conjure envy, but never create hatred.

"Here because of Kaede's letter as well?" the pink-haired woman decided to inquire seeing as she assumed more would be at the point where meeting was meant to ensue.

@Kaede Hoshi

 

_____Kaede was the last to arrive at the meeting location, and more so they would be the last group of people Kaede had called to help full map grid the area. Hands resting along her book as she smiled and gently waved to the two girls who already seemed to have a chance to meet one another. While she could fake her smile and happiness today, only time would tell if she could upkeep it during the trip they all would be going on. Moving to pull a piece of wood with a blank paper on it Kaede spoke.

”Forgive my delay, i still had to finish my task to help my father with his relief efforts. I don’t suppose either of you would like a piece of paper to write anything you would like to note about the section we will be going over for now? If you feel safer just keeping it in your mind that works, or if you don’t think you could walk around while holding and writing or drawing that is fine also…”

_____Kaede reached into her bag once more to get out two more offering one to each of them, taken or not she would move to start walking stashing them back in her bag if one or both was declined. Reaching into her bag to give each of them a gridded version of the map most could find from stores about Astroea with one circled in red ink.

”We will be going over that section of the map, it might not exactly have much but it should also be fairly easy to finish and should you two wish to keep going to the others around it to help fully map the area. I do thank you both for coming out to help me with this… that is… why you came… right?”

_____Kaede blinked slowly, looking over the two she recalled, but was unsure if either exactly wanted to go play eye-spy in the forest. She felt slightly pushy for her previous comments and took a moment to wait and see if the two of them actually wanted to help her with the task. Not like it really mattered as Kaede would still have to finish it later, it simply would take longer with only one pair of eyes and not three.
@Mahiru Wind | @Comet

 

Mahiru slowly got up from her position on the ground, somebody having tripped on her. She looked at the one who tripped on her, and tilted her head in confusion. "Letter...? Yes..." She looked around a bit, trying to see Kaede. Where could she be...?

When Kaede announced her presence, Mahiru's back was to her. She fell forward onto her face in fright. "Uwah! Don't do that..." She listened to Kaede's offer for a piece of paper to write on. "Yes, thank you..." She got up and took a piece of paper with a bow. "Any preparations...?" She tilted her head a bit.

 

Gratefully, Comet accepted the papers from Kaede and tucked them underneath a thin arm. Her memory rarely failed but having something to write on as their journey progressed would most likely become helpful. Especially since - as far as exploration goes - Comet wasn't all too familiar with what areas Kaede planned to go. Or so she assumed. They were aiding Astorea in rebuilding after such devastation. Charting maps of the large variety of land that the player-guided nation provided happened to be effortless aid for the experienced cartographer with ever so observant eyes.

Kaede seemed unsure of herself and Mahiru, though, so with a small smile and a glowing expression the pink-haired woman said, "Thank you. I'd definitely be happy with exploring as far as we can today! We're here to help." with genuine enthusiasm. Exploration always kicked-started Comet's adrenaline. It created a ball of happiness that sat in her chest and could be expressed so easily the emotion nearly overwhelmed the once thick-shelled girl of cold-hearted, fake feelings and acting and playing to the beat of anyone who would lead.

"Shall we start, then?" she inquired aloud, though also wondered what the Felis meant by preparations. Most likely, the Archer assumed, their raven-haired leader would explain things as they moved along. "Wouldn't wanna waste any day light."

 

"Each section of the map should be small enough to finish and take a small break between it and the next should we want to keep going."

_____Kaede gently smiled and mouthed sorry to Mahiru before she turned to keep walking. Each of the starting eight squares that each group was sent out to explore was around the center of the map so they could easily move for sections to section in a line or however they felt to do it. Mostly Kaede hoped the other groups she had asked, those of her friends in the game would make sure to mark off parts of the map they explored as to make it easier to layer the results.

_____Moving her head to dismiss the idea they would make it harder on her later before she focused on the job before her. There was a decent deal of things Kaede would write about, well everything to be fair since her mind noted each detail as important even the rough number of leaves on each tree as she passed them, or the amount of blades of grass she saw. It was unwise of her to fully try and do this while sober, mostly because her mind was unhindered and left her taking in to much information that was not needed for this task.

_____Sure she could add the minor details in later, maybe even make a 3D scale version of the area when she had more time on her hands. That however, was not this moment as she reached into her bag to retrieve a bottle of poorly made wine and took a small sip from the bottle itself before offering it to Comet. Mostly because, one she hated not trying to share, and Kaede was still convinced Mahiru was a ten year old playing the game, even if the girl would say otherwise.

@Mahiru Wind | @Comet

 

Much like an attentive, sober Kaede Comet had the natural ability to notice just about everything around them. Exploration never failed to give her a thrill akin to someone's first roller coaster ride. She enjoyed taking in everything physically possible, and even more since she had the masteries to do so. They aided her generously most of the time regarding the five sense slightly enhanced more and more with each upgrade gained. Her excitement could be felt through a specific, enlightened aura resonated as well as seen by a youthful glow in the cheeks or that bright smile plastered on her flustered face.

Emerald eyes diverted their attention from the surroundings to take a look at what her raven-haired Yladian companion had to offer. Scrunching up her nose in rejection, Comet shook her head. Alcohol of any form never had been her thing. Having seen all the embarrassing and raunchy and idiotic actions drunkened friends took while under the influence made the young woman absolutely resent using. Though from time to time exceptions occurred - such as that silly ale contest from her days as a beginner - there would be no need for consumption while performing such an individual important task. The mission could mean a lot for Astorea's reform... perhaps Kaede would have tolerance, she hoped, so the time spent together wouldn't be ruined. That way conditions would at least be comfortable especially around someone a young-looking as @Mahiru Wind.

"Do you need help with anything?" she decided to look back and ask the Felis politely, a bit worried. The young always took priority in her heart. And that secret soft spot in such a cold, hardened soul. "I could help you with mapping, or knowing when and where to mark down important spots. There are useful things out here to be used by adventurers like us yknow." lithe fingers worked quickly and endlessly on the paper held by a steady hand. Carefully, she etched drawings and paths and areas of interest as Kaede had asked of her. A job done just as well as easily performed.

"We should be done pretty quickly, huh?" she pondered aloud, mostly making eye contact with @Kaede Hoshi while awaiting response from the leader. "Three heads must be better than one!"

 

Mahiru trekked slightly behind the Kaede and the other person. She was never good around strangers, so she wanted to keep her distance. She drew out a simplistic birds eye view of the area as she went along. The trees looked more like clouds, the hills a barely visible circle. She paid attention to animal dens and marked them on the map as well, mostly for her own reference.

The person who Mahiru hadn't met before seemed to want to help her out. Shaking her head as she scribbled down some trees, she idly responded with a "No..." As she finished drawing the cloud-like trees, she noticed that her map was starting to look more like a square. "Hey... We done yet?"