Ashi had made it a personal mission not to be home as much as possible, therefore she'd take any mission given to her. Her newest? Escort a band of metal merchants to the main gates. Not a problem. Maybe this would even prove to be some fun in a twisted sense of the word. 'How hard can it be?', she thought to herself as she and Akai, her ninken, met up with the group.
She took in their appearances as each one introduced themselves, the last being Tanama Housuki, dressed in the brightest colors she'd ever seen. 'Oh boy... could this guy be any more of an eye sore?', she thought before introducing herself and explaining why she was there.
"They sent a child to escort us?", she heard Tanama mutter to one of his companions.
Ashi gritted her teeth, glad they weren't paying much attention. 'This just got horrible...', she thought. "Lets go, gentlemen, best not waste time."
"Maybe we should say something when we get there about them sending a child to protect us..."
"If we ever do get there."
More mumbling, but at least they were on their way. She couldn't wait to hand this group off. Akai seemed to agree, given her agitated expression and quick growl to the first of the group who'd attempted to pet her. Ashi was sure they weren't going to try that again anytime soon, Akai had been all teeth.
"You're going to get the biggest steak I can find you when we get home, Akai.", she mumbled to her companion before rubbing her gently on the head.
Hours had passed, and darkness was beginning to creep in, but at least they were getting close to their destination. Ashi kept walking though, this was definitely not a place to set up camp, and she was darn sure they were going to want to stop. They'd been complaining about walking for so long for the past two hours. It had just taken Ashi and Akai this long to get overly agitated by it.
A few more feet and then 'Yup, perfect... well covered, fresh water nearby, and plenty of dry fire wood because I know they're gonna whine about that next...', Ashi thought. She nodded to Akai who took off at once, running three times around the entire perimeter of their small little camp site. She was doing the usual, checking for anything that looked, sounded, or smelled out of place. It didn't take her long, four legs having their advantages after all when Akai returned to her side, barking a confirmation that it was all clear. "Alright, gentlemen, this is where we're settling for the night since you're all so exhausted."
Mumbling of greatfulness was her response as the group all but threw themselves down to the ground. Ashi picked up a nearby small branch, picking at the tip of it and slowly breaking off piece by piece until the tip got sharp and ragged. "So, Ashi is it?" came Tanama's annoying voice. She'd all but tuned it out, having thankfully had other things to concentrate on instead. Ashi didn't give a verbal response, instead she just turned her gaze to him and stared. "Is your village short on ninja or something? Why'd they send a child to protect us?"
Akai let out a growl, the dog had taken all she could of the man. But, Tanama didn't seem bothered by it.
"Akai, don't." Akai turned her gaze to Ashi, having stopped her growling at once before she laid herself down on the hard dirt ground. "Mr. Housuki, I am not a child, I'm fifteen."
"Really now? You don't look a day over twelve, except in the chest area.", came Tanama's response.
Ashi face palmed, a twitch beginning on her left temple that more then signaled her agitation. She was liable to strike the man before the night was over at the rate he was going. Through gritted teeth she spoke after having dragged her hand down her face with a deep sigh, "Why don't you get some rest like your friends are, eh? There's still a decent bit of a walk tomorrow.", dead toned, annoyed. You'd think a guy would take a hint, right?
Not this one. "Oh no, I'm fine. Just glad to be sitting is all. Bad back you see."
Akai suddenly stood, taking on the usual canine attack pose; shoulders slightly hunched as her head lowered, nose going wild as she sniffed the air.
Ashi had stood as well, the now sharpened small branch in hand. "What's wrong, Akai?", she whispered. Akai gave a growl of a response but that was all Ashi needed to know what was now moving on the other side of those bushes.
Tanama began to shake, looking like he was about to start crying any second now. "Oh god, why did I have to follow this little girl here? Now we're all going to die! I'll never make that sale tomorrow! Oh why, oh why?!", he began to wail.
Through the bushes busted a small black boar that began to kick the ground almost at once. Tanama's wailing was agitating the creature even more and it began to toss its small head wildly before it charged forward.
Akai charged forward as Ashi placed herself in the path of Tanama. Akai head butted the bore in the side, knocking it over and causing it to roll in the ground, before Akai moved herself out of the way. That was all the time Ashi needed; she clapped her hands together, words spoken drowned out by Tanama's frightened cry. Powerful wind picked up instantly, compressing itself around the sharpened branch and helping carry it faster towards the bore after Ashi had released it. It impaled the creature, lifting it up from the ground as it pierced through the other side of the creature. The momentum slammed the stick and the creature into a nearby tree, the tip imbedding itself slightly into the tree and pinning the impaled creature there before its weight caused the branch to break and sent the creature down to the ground a foot or so below it.
"Looks like that's dinner...", Ashi mumbled, with a shake of her head. She gave another nod to Akai who took off once more, checking around the camp site once more for any more boars that might've been lurking around.
Akai reported back to Ashi that it was all clear again and she sat herself back down, choosing not to partake in the boar as it was skinned, roasted, and then eaten by the group.
Thankfully the rest of the evening went by uneventful, and the snores of the group filled Ashi and Akai's ears. Akai kept running the border from time to time, making sure that nothing else was lurking about.
It seemed like no time at all before the sun was rising. After some grumbling about wanting more sleep Ashi got them up and moving. By noon they'd made it to the gates. Ashi was more then glad to hand them over to the next escort team, having had to endure another several hours of Tanama and his questions and talking.
Once the merchants were out of ear shot Ashi reached down and lightly scratched Akai's ears. "So, how 'bout that steak, eh?" Akai gave a happy bark in response.
After reporting in that the merchants had made it safely, and the little boar incident and how she'd handled it, she treated Akai and herself to the biggest steaks the two could find.