[OOM] The Westersand, First Day, with Jay. (Prethreading.)

[fluffiest_archadian]

The first hour or so out on the Westersand - an area more rock and clay than sand, but covered in a heavy layer of stuff nonetheless - is relatively uneventful. A few cactus-like creatures skitter across their path. Once or twice, something that looks like a burlap sack with a large, grinning tomato for a head gets too close and is shot down by an archer.

Sherral brings his chocobo alongside Jay's after a while, glancing over at him. "Are you dealing with the heat all right?"

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[fluffiest_archadian]

One of the other soldiers is using magic to heal Sherral's hand when Jay returns. Sherral is rather begrudgingly holding still while giving orders.

"Orig, Jones, stay here and guard this camp. Leban, take your chocobo and return to Rabanastre, have the garrison send men here to strip this place of any useful supplies and resources, and burn the rest to the ground," he says. "You know where we'll be making camp tonight - I want all three of you to catch up with us when you're done."

As the soldier working on his hand finishes, Sherral thanks him quickly and turns towards Jay. "We'll be ready to keep moving, minus a few men, shortly."

[runningred]

Jay nods and watches the efficiency with which Sherral's men do their thing. He's never been that kind of soldier but he can still appreciate it. "Onwards and upwards." He rubs Yanna's neck as he stashes his gear, glad to be seeing out the adrenal come-down while riding. He pulls a sugary power-bar from his pack and breaks it in half, offering it to Sherral.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral takes it, peering at it.

"What's this?" He asks absently.

[runningred]

Jay takes his helmet off and rests it between his legs as he rides. "Post combat power bar, my grandfather's recipe. It buffers the low that comes after the adrenalin rush. My older brother use to get really bad lows so we all use to carry them. Besides that, they taste great." Home-made muesli, nut, dried berries and honey. Or at least as close as the Bar could provide.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral quickly climbs onto Bridget, and snaps open the fastenings on his helmet, lifting it off and gnawing on the bar lightly.

"Hm. You're right, this isn't bad," he says.

The rest of the expedition, bar the three remaining, falls in behind them, with the two supply chocobos bringing up the rear.

[runningred]

Jay lets himself settle into the rhythm of the ride, enjoying the sway of the chocobos' gait. He checks his rifle over as they move on. It'll need a good clean when they stop for the night but until then, it's fine as is. He puts his helmet back on, just in case.

"How's your hand? I'm guessing that was pretty hardcore magic you pulled back there?" He keeps his voice low, speaking through the comms so no-one else needs to hear.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"It was a Quickening. I learnt it two years ago, but I've yet to - refine it," Sherral says, giving his hand a quick glance and finishing off the bar. He tugs his helmet back on, snapping the clasps back into place.

"It's a technique used by Judge Magisters. Drawing in and then expelling all the Mist around you in a single attack," he says. "During the war, I served under one. A Judge Magister, I mean."

[runningred]

"Knowing you, you'll refine it into something perfect and deadly. Just like your sword." Jay chuckles, dropping his voice lower will it's only a whisper only just picked up by the comms. "And the way you make love."

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral stammers a little (well, a lot), ducking his head.

"I, er, er - thank you."

[runningred]

"Sorry, I shouldn't tease." Jay smiles and goes back to scanning the horizon. Combat high makes him horny and he knows it.

"So are dragons frequent here?"

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Not frequent, no. The bandits probably pulled it in from afar in case of an attack," Sherral says. "That's twice in the past few months I've seen magick like that."

[runningred]

"Is that a bad sign? That bandits are reaching that far for back-up. Or did you just really scare them?"

[fluffiest_archadian]

"It may be naught," Sherral says, although he doesn't sound all that convinced. "The Westersand is a poor place for banditry, after all. If we hadn't gotten them, the Urutan-Yensa, Clan Centurio or the Rozarrian Empire would have done eventually."

[runningred]

Jay can hear the doubt in Sherral's voice but now isn't the time to press the point. Better to be on guard. "Oh well. Hopefully your guys can salvage some useful stuff from what we left."

[fluffiest_archadian]

"No doubt they will," Sherral says. Then, wryly: "I'd not expected the first day of this expedition to be quite so eventful."

[runningred]

"Let's hope we're not setting a precedent. We're going to make crap time if we're facing a dragon a day. Besides, the deep end's always a good place to start."

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral snorts. "We can but hope. One dragon is enough for anyone, I think."

[runningred]

"I don't know. I think we made a pretty good job of it." A little bit pleased with himself much.

Jay eases back into the rhythm of the ride, scanning the surrounding as they go. "So you think we'll have much time to make up before we hit camp?"

[fluffiest_archadian]

"We're still making good time, so far," Sherral says. "Provided we do not find ourselves stumbling upon any more bandit camps with dragons, we should make up the time we've lost with ease."

[runningred]

"One dragon a day is enough for me." Jay hums. It would be true to say he gets bored easily after combat. If things are quiet for a while, Jay turned down the comms inside his helmet and puts on some music. Yes, his helmet has an mp3 player.

[fluffiest_archadian]

The journey is fairly uneventful, and eventually they reach their camp for the the night.