(no subject)

[avenging_archer]

Characters: Clint Barton & Whoever else wants in on the madness.!
Open? Open to whomever
Where: On the road South of town
When: Day 9 mid-morning
What: A very confused Hawkeye is seeking some answers about just where the hell he is.
Warnings: Potential naughty language and grumpiness.


The sandy haired man who was riding up the road towards south gate had a watchful look on his face. His seat was excellent and obviously knew his way around the horse judging by the loose, one-handed grip he had on the reins as the black steed loped towards the town. In his other hand, he held the bow with an arrow notched and held at the ready just to be safe. Clint wasn’t the type to shoot first and ask questions later but after the morning he had had, he definitely felt like taking the ‘better safe than sorry’ approach.

Tugging lightly on the reins, Hawkeye pulled the stallion to a stop and surveyed the bridge ahead carefully. “Well, boy, should we see if they’re friendly?” Clint asked, musing out loud more than anything else. One of the horse’s ears flicked back at him before prickling one again.

“Right, well, let’s hope they don’t shoot us full of holes.” Not wanting to be viewed as hostile, he dropped the reins long enough to slip the arrow from the bow-string and into the quiver tied to the side of his saddle. Nudging his mount forward once again, they set out at a measured walk towards the city gates.

Comments

[greatsquirrelhunter]

As he approached the gates, he might have become aware of a puppy watching him intently from the side of the road.

Faolan didn't much like strangers, but the horse seemed friendly enough. He was willing to believe that the man wasn't too bad. He barked twice to get attention.

[avenging_archer]

Scenting the wolf pup, the horse snorted warningly. Being prey animals, equines tended to get nervous around wolves no matter how small they might be.

"Whoa, boy." Clint soothed, studying the puppy curiously. "He's just a little guy, why are you freaking out?" Dismounting smoothly, the sandy haired man gathered up the reins beneath the bridal. "Hey there, little guy. Are you friendly?"

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Daddy had told him to be careful of strangers [as if he didn't already know that] so Faolan crouched down and whined softly. His eyes moved up to look at the stranger piteously.

[brosif]

Sif was on her way to the Two Faced Forest, breakfast in one hand and a sword in the other. She crossed the bridge and gave a cursory nod to the man and his horse. Something about them seemed off in a way that Sif was becoming increasingly familiar with.

"A good morning to you, traveler."

[avenging_archer]

"You're a little cutey, aren't you." The blond man murmured, a warm smile pulling at his mouth. Dropping the reins, Clint cautiously approached the pup and knelt down as best as he could so he could hold out his hand to the pup.

[avenging_archer]

"Morning, ma'am." Let it not be said Clint Barton wasn't a polite one when it suited him. "Do you live uh...here? Or know just where the heck 'here' is by any wild chance?" She was the first person he'd seen on the road so far and was kind of hoping she might have some freaking answers for him.

[brosif]

Apparently, it was becoming a habit for Sif to run across newcomers on horseback. She chuckled a bit to herself at the thought.

"I am here, for now. In the Kingdom of Eswareinmal, though my home is considerably further away. There, I am The Lady Sif of Asgard. Here, they call me Prince."

Is this okay? If not, I can absolutely delete!

[sorcerous]

And then: a warning growl.

The darker wolf had blended in, hidden himself in the shadow of tree and leaf. His eyes were yellow and his form was tense. Protective, of the little puppy.

[avenging_archer]

He silently repeated that strange sounding word. Eswareinmal? Never heard of it but it definitely sounded European. Sif's next words however had Clint's brows climbing upwards in surprise. "Asgard? Like the Asgard? Do you know Thor too?"

Clint had met the Asgardian in passing and had certainly heard plenty about him.

Aww it's fine by me!

[avenging_archer]

The archer's eyes widened in surprise when he finally caught sight of the rather ominous looking wolf. "Oh, fuck me."

Hawkeye muttered under his breath, climbing warily to his feet. shooting a look back at the horse, he inched backwards in hopes of reaching the quiver so he could notch an arrow in case the other wolf decided to attack. Unfortunately for him, the black stallion caught Loki's scent and half reared with a shrill whistle.

[brosif]

At the mention of her comrade, Sif’s expression was bright and unguarded.

“Thor Odinson is my closest friend! You and I are well met, then. How did you come to know him?”

How did I miss this before? Deletes other reply

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan saw where the man was reaching and jumped to his feet, yapping shrilly. Don't hurt Loki! Don't hurt Loki! Bad human! Bad human!

[sorcerous]

Loki gives a growl and snap at Faolan, too -- slinks out of the forest without fear, entirely unlike an ordinary wolf, dipping his head to take the killed rabbit in his jaws. He had hunted it down; a meal for the both of them.

He shoots Hawkeye another look of warning, before setting the rabbit gently down next to Faolan.

My fault for ignoring posting order like a dork! <3

[avenging_archer]

Grabbing at the reins to still the panicked horse, Clint found himself yanked around as the animal wheeled and was almost knocked off his feet by the force of the stallion slamming into his shoulder.

"Whoa, easy boy, easy." He was more concerned with the panicking animal than Loki now. Grabbing a firmer hold on the reins, the archer turned the animal in a tight circle to keep it concentrating on that and not the scary freaking wolf that had suddenly joined their party.

[avenging_archer]

A smile broke out on Clint's face at the recognition. "Yes, ma'am. We work together back in New York, with the Avengers?" Deciding this woman was safe, he dismounted and caught the stallion's reins to lead the animal over to Sif.

"My name's Clint Barton." As was his custom, he held out his hand to the pretty woman and smiled warmly.

[brosif]

Sif held her hand out and gave a firm handshake – perhaps overly so. Still, she was bothered.

“The Avengers? New York? I know neither of these terms, Clint Barton. When I left Thor yesterday, he was in Asgard. Stuck there, in fact. The Bifrost is broken and the Aesir have no way to travel from our home world. It has been a source of great sadness to my friend.”

If more time had passed in the span of a day, then that presented a new set of problems for all of those stranded here.

Up to you whether this works or not...

[sorcerous]

Rabbit thus deposited, Loki pads over to the horse, and makes a sound, a strange one for a wolf. It's a reassuring noise, an all is clear, everything is fine, or at least something approximating it; Svadilfari notwithstanding, Loki had never been all that good at speaking to horses without touch, without eye contact.

He sits back on his haunches, tongue lapping blood from his muzzle, his eyes on Clint.

[avenging_archer]

Hawkeye was used to the bone-crushing grips of Asgardians thanks to Thor. He'd been pretty sure the other man had broken every metacarpal in his hand the first time they'd shook hands.

"Really? Huh. How strange, he predates even me with the team." Clint looked decidedly puzzled by that. "Maybe we're talking about a different person? Tall, blond, carries a big honking hammer and has a penchant for shooting lightning bolts at people who piss him off?"

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Ooh! There was a rabbit! Faolan wanted to devour it, but it was Loki's and he wanted to wait.

And then Loki was looking at the horse and the stranger, so Faolan left the rabbit and padded over to Loki's side to sit and look at them too.

It took a very short amount of time for him to start fidgeting.

[avenging_archer]

Clint cursed under his breath when the wolf padded over to them and panicked his mount further. When the horse reared up again, Clint didn't try and hold onto the reins and prudently stepped away from those flashing hooves.

"Now look, wolf. Come any closer and I'm gonna shoot your fuzzy ass." Clint growled, grabbing for the reins once the horse had four hooves back on the ground. Hawkeye made a grab for his quiver now and hooked an arrow by the flights with the hand currently holding the bow. At least the stallion seemed to calm down somewhat though its ears were still pinned back and it was prancing nervously.

[sorcerous]

Loki glanced back at Faolan and gave a little bark, an eat your rabbit kind of bark.

He gave the arrow a deliberate look, and then lifted his eyes to Clint, as though to say Really? Really, you expect that to work? -- Shifted, to place himself between the arrow and Faolan, and tensed, ready to spring at a moment's notice.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan glanced back at the rabbit, but stuck by his decision to share. He tensed as well, ready to run. He would like to fight with Loki, but he was too small to be much help.

[avenging_archer]

"Back off." Clint tried to project authority in his voice. If he'd known more about wolves, he would have known a show of aggression could be interpreted as more of a challenge and just about the last thing you wanted to do when faced with an aggressive wolf. Still, he wasn't the kind of man that liked to take potshots at animals and had a strict no killing policy.

Loki didn't need to know that. Besides, the wolf, who he could only assume was the pup's mother, was only trying to protect her young. "I don't want to hurt you, wolf. You're just trying to protect your baby, I get that so let's not make this an issue alright?"

Still, he kept the arrow nocked and ready all the same.

[sorcerous]

There was somethIng... Interesting, about this man's smell. It didn't fit with Schwanheim, nor was it a part of the forest. Loki found it distantly and strangely familiar. He considered, his nose twitching, and then he decided to follow. It was an interesting scent, and perhaps interesting things would happen to the man involved.

His form shimmered and settled smaller. Stepped closer on little cat's feet and took a leap. His claws caught on the stirrup and he climbed to the horses rump, his tail curling primly. Hawkeye had plenty of room to mount the horse. But Loki's coming with.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan whined, not wanting to be left behind. Besides, why did Loki become a cat? Loki was playing with him!

He whined more, laying down and barking.