--31

[earthen_hope]

Hey, Bastet, do you have some free time soon? There's something I want to talk to you about.

Comments

[treeleopardess]

Nah, I don't want to get busy tomorrow and forget. Now is fine.

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

Okay then.

[She knocks on Bastet's door a few minutes later with her spear 'cause you never know when nocturnal animals will want a snack.]

[treeleopardess]

[Bastet's sitting on the couch with Mugen on her lap. She's wearing a robe over her nightclothes and her hair is pulled back in a long braid. She'd left the door unlocked after speaking to Cara.]

Come in.

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

[She does, propping her spear up against the doorframe and taking a seat in one of the chairs. She's a little nervous about this, but it's also something she feels a need to do.]

It's about the Guard. With--what's happened recently, and the animals getting more active anyway for winter, I think we should do some kind of patrol to make sure that people are safe from predators.

[treeleopardess]

[Bastet nods, listening as Cara speaks. She's silent for a moment, one hand stroking Mugen's fur.]

We don't really have enough people to add another patrol, kiddo. We've been short on manpower for a while now, and none of the applicants we're getting have worked out.

[To be honest, the last attack sounded like Tree death, and quite frankly, she held no confidence that any of them could stop that. But she wouldn't say so.]

But I'll talk to Snap; he may be able to spare some people. We can at least stick to the edges of the residential area.

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

[Cara nods slowly... unfortunately, it's not a surprising answer. There wasn't exactly a flood of volunteers when Bastet announced Guard positions were open again.]

Yeah... I kind of figured. Still, just keeping things away from the houses would definitely be a good thing.

There've got to be a least a few people in the Adventurers who are good at taking down monsters. I know not everyone knows how to fight them, but it probably wouldn't take more than four people at a time.

[treeleopardess]

[Bastet gives Cara a faint smile meant to reassure her.]

I can think of a couple.

[Kiba and Victory, specifically. Dash might be interested as well.]

We'll see what we can do, all right? We want to help, but we've got to be realistic about our resources.

[The animals generally stayed out of the residential area, unless they were specifically sent to kill someone who'd found out too much. But if they had the manpower, and it made people feel safer, maybe it would be worth establishing.]

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

[Cara still isn't too clear on the difference between an animal attack and a Tree-induced animal attack--she knows it's suspicious, but all the conspiracy type of stuff is still something she has to work her head around.]

All right. I know we're undermanned and it'd be tricky to sort out.

[She smiles back a little and gets up, not wanting to keep Bastet awake.]

Sorry about how late this was again.

[treeleopardess]

[Bastet shakes her head and stands up as well, ignoring Mugen's disgruntled hiss as he was dumped off her lap.]

Don't worry about it. It's worth pursuing; we just need to figure out how to make it work.

[She walks Cara to the door, meaning to lock it behind her.]

I'll keep you posted, all right?