Bert felt uncertain. The prisoners, the very same individuals who were supposedly strangers to the farmfolk were now begging for help, speaking of promises not kept and words broken. They spoke of the dark lord. Bert knew this wouldn't end good. He glanced at Ezekiel. He stood solemnly, calculating and making decisions at a speed Bert could only imagine, showing his true character as a leader and a warrior. Bert decided this, this of all times, would be his hour in the sun. He'd arrest them. As if he hadn't known them to be darkfriends from the very start, this display of kinship only affirmed his belief, and he knew he was in the right. The creator's justice would be visited upon these foul darkfriends, and Bert would be the tool through which He channeled his mighty fury. After all, he was the good guy, he couldn't lose. He drew his blade and pointed it menacingly towards the two farmfolk to whom the begging was being directed at. "In the name of the light," Bert said, voice quivering, "I place you under arrest!"

'Urray! ^^

Take care dude!

Everything!

:D

RP you!

*shakes fist*

:D

Bert considered the question. Sure he knew how to ride. He just didn't know how to do it well. I mean, he thought, you just sit on the bloody animal and kick it till it moves, nothing more to it. Nuhuh. He raised his hand. "Me too, sah!" The instructor raised an eyebrow at his somewhat relaxed attitude. It wasn't as if he was the first, Bert noted. Lowering his hand again, due to the fact that he didn't like keeping it up for longer periods of time, Bert started looking around him. A few more of the children raised their hands, and the tutor duly noted them all with small nods or smiles. He seemed like an ok guy. If it hadn't been for that "You'd all be dead by now" comment, Bert might've thought him happy, even though it seemed none of the senior children were anything of the sorts. And the sad sacks of shit comment wasn't the most tactful neither. Bert silently harrumphed. Bert turned his gaze on the horses. They all seemed like good animals, no apparent misshapings or missing limbs. Bert didn't know a whole lot about horses, but as long as they had four legs and knew how to use them, Bert was pleased. Well, mostly pleased. A saddle would be nice too. And some speed. Couldn't get enough of that. He waited in silence for the instructor to make his move.

After being slightly disturbed by an odd smile from Kuroshiro, Bert trotted down to the water, chuckling to himself as the other children had to remove their heavy armor to cool themselves in the refreshing spring. Bert himself merely jumped in. It would probably be better if he hadn't landed on a rock, but he still didn't complaint. First after a few minutes in the water Bert started noticing the burns. The sun had been less merciful than he'd thought, and, he had to admit, it hurt like something out of the pit itself. As he was splashing happily, and painfully, Bert started noticing looks from the other children. Poor souls, Bert thought, unaccustomed to the physique of man. He waved at them all. Zoe seemed to giggle at the sight of him, so he saw no other option than to smile back at her and continue his trashing through the cooling wetness. It reminded him of the last time he bathed. It wasn't all that long ago, couldn't have been more than a week. He started counting on his fingers. Nevermind that. Feeling he was clean enough, Bert stood up, somewhat abruptly and, as an effect of that, in a cascade of spring water. Walking up to the bank Bert found himself a cozy spot next to a hot rock and lay himself down for some quick shuteye... ZzzZzzz...

Bert was giddy with excitement. His right hand rested on his swords handle whilst the other one hung limply at his side. He wished he could do something dramatic and appropriate with it, but alas, there it hung. They had entered the farm and rounded up the inhabitants. Bert was certain they were all darkfriends, but, as sorry as it was, he had to wait to brandish his blade until Ezekiel gave the ready. Soon enough Ezekiel had taken command of the situation, and sure as light, there they were, the two darkfriends, given up by the people Bert was now starting to doubt were darkfriends after all. I mean, no one would give up one of their own, except... Except a darkfriend perhaps? Bert scowled around. So many faces, looking... Looking as if they anticipated something. But what!? Bert tensed himself, awaiting their onslaught. Any moment now. They'd throw themselves upon Ezekiel, but they would not be fast enough! Nay, in their way, blocking their thrusts and slashes would be Bert, sword in hand, defending Ezekiel and defeating the darkfriends. This heroic feat would, of course, grant him at least three promotions and a nice bonus. Ah yes, Bert couldn't wait. Time moved slowly as Bert drifted into his imagination.

*chuckle*

maybe we like them in that universe? xd

Wooooo!*does the happy dance*

Moimoi!

welcome!!!!

I'd like to fight :D

Bert's behind hurt. He was pretty sure Tuc's hurt harder, seeing as he had ridden all this way without a saddle, but he still complained. Loudly. Tuc didn't seem to be bothered by it, though, so he kept at it. He rather liked Tuc. And his eye patch. Bert figured he probably liked the eye patch more than he liked Tuc, but then again, he had to admit to himself, he liked the eye patch more than he liked most of the things he'd seen in the children so far. Maybe Tuc should be a pirate. Their horse had collapsed from exhaustion a couple of miles back, quite possibly from having to deal with two children of the light, one severely drunken and swaying dangerously, and one shouting and wishing he had his boot back. Thinking back on the whole affair, Bert thought the horse might be faking it, seeing as he was certain he'd heard a mocking whinnie and galloping hooves just after they'd started walking away from the not-quite-so-poor-afterall beast. "My foot also hurts, the left one that is, the one without a boot, and I'm hungry, you don't have any chicken do you?" Tuc's only answer was a drunken burp. "I thought so..." Bert said sullenly. He was damn hungry. If only he'd remembered to shove some potatoes in his pockets before rushing out of the inn. But alas, now he was stuck out in the wilderness, with no hope and no friends, besides Tuc that was, looking for darkfriends who could be halfways to Tar Valon by now. He and Tuc were probably off course by miles and miles, and since none of them could figure out the right end of a hoof print, well, not Bert in any case, Tuc might've been able to if he was somewhat more sober, they were completely and utterly lost. Bert had already started composing a little death note to leave by their bodies. He figured that, if things got too far out of hand, Tuc might present a tasty treat. If only he could make some fire and roast him. His mouth got wet just thinking about it. Tuc burped again. "Yes, I know what you mean... Damn shame none of the other children have passed us though. We must be in the middle of nowhere." Tuc looked like he might be nodding, but then barfed a bit in the grass. Bert patted his back in companionship. "There there, my tasty friend..." Tuc seemed to raise an eyebrow before another wave of nausea washed over him.

They walked for another few minutes. Bert was hungrier than ever before. Well, at least as hungry as he'd ever been this evening. Looking once more at Tuc, wiping vomit off his sleeve and looking somewhat confused, Bert thought once more of food. Of chickens and fish and bread, and perhaps some tasy butter. Then, in the middle of a most hunger inducing thought, he saw a light. There, on the horizon! Surely that was a ranch! And a ranch meant food! And a food meant he didn't have to eat Tuc! ... Yet. "There! Do you see it!? We're saved! Saved I says!" Tuc didn't seem to fully comprehend the consequences of this, and gave a slight nod, looking as confused as ever. And then, just before Bert started waving his hands and shouting, he saw something deeply disturbing. Two people, moving on foot and looking very worn out were slowly making their way into the ranch. From this distance it was hard to tell who and what they were, but he had a nasty gut feeling telling him these were the very people they were chasing. His gut was also telling he was hungry, but that would have to wait. "It's them!" Bert urged. Tuc silently agreed. "Be quiet damn you! If we sneak up on them and take them down, we'll be heroes! We'll be given all the gold we can eat!" Tuc once more agreed without making any sorts of motion. Bert admired his odd ability to do things without really doing them. "Get down!" Bert insisted in a more stern tone of voice. When Tuc once more did nothing, he pushed him down on his belly so they could crawl to the ranch unnoticed. "There, now we sneak up on them!" And so they started their slow and somewhat down to earth approach towards the ranch.

"YAAAARGH!"

Bert shouted a fierce battle-cry. Somewhat fierce in any case. And whether or not it was a battle cry could also be questioned. In fact, if you looked into the matter, you might find it was a "Curses-I-forgot-my-left-boot-in-the-damn-inn" cry. In fact, that was probably what it was. Riding through narrow streets on his horse, pursuing the evil doers, Bert felt strangely alive. This was without a doubt the most exciting thing he had ever done. Except the incident with the trollocs. And as far as everyone knew, that was true. Bert tried another shout.

"AAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

Ah yes, that sounded better to his ears! Those darkfriends were probably shaking in their boots by now. Darkfriends. Bert hadn't seen a lot of those. He hoped that he'd be the one to catch them, however unlikely that was, with him being amongst the last of the children to get on his horse. Damn horse. Bert supposed the whole kicking-it-to-make-it-run-faster plan he'd conjured wasn't the brightest of his ideas. He yelled some more.

Bert ran. He could feel his privates slapping against his thighs. Jogging at a fast pace behind Kuroshiro, Bert couldn't help but grin once more, as he sensed the heat emitted by his fellow children. Running naked had it's advantages. Though, he had to admit, his feet hurt something awful, and he was certain something small and pointy had stuck itself inside his left foot. Breathing heavily, Bert jogged on, much more fit than his gut would propose. Looking around him as they jogged, he noticed a few queer looks from passerbys, both children and civilians. He waved at some farm girls who subdued to a giggling fit as he jogged by. Smiling widely before he remembered how tough this whole jogging scheme was, Bert jogged on, forever on and on. After a while, once the sun rose, Bert started wishing for clothes again. Sure, nudity had its perks, but as the sun's rays caressed his skin roughly, hurting him more than the wind blowing in his face would soothe, Bert could feel a nasty sun burn working it's way into his system. Fixing a steady expression on his face, Bert jogged on, forever on.

More time passed, it felt like days, though Bert knew hardly three quarters of an hour could've gone by. He'd just remembered how much he hated running. And it hurt. Everywhere. He wanted to run up behind Kuroshiro and strangle him. If only he could catch up with him. By now, Bert had fallen behind the lead, and was jogging docilely with the rear guard, who seemed to be shunning him. Bert figured it was the nudity. That or the smell. He figured jogging nudely would produce a lot of bodily fluids, and by the Light, he was right. And forever on he jogged. Until they stopped.

sorry 'bout not posting : p

i'll do it soon >.<

Twisting and pulling his left sock off, and throwing it in the little pile of clothing next to him, Bert stood up straight after having finished his unclothing. Part of him wanted to smile at the irony of the situation, seeing as he had infact preferred going out au naturale this morning, but was, as always, hindered by the strict rules of the children. The other part wanted to punch this Kuroshiro back for the punch he himself had just recently received, though he knew this was hardly the wisest course of action. His stomach still hurt from the blow, but he'd be damned if he rubbed it and showed weakness infront of the instructor. Instead he affixed a blank and obedient look on his face and stood upright, not even blushing at his nakedness. Passing children cast him strange looks, but when they saw Kuroshiro they seemed to accept Bert's state of clothing and wandered on to their own little private doings and whatnots.

Standing there, feeling the wind and sun on his naked body, Bert felt strangely at east, the pain and anger at the punch nearly forgotten. Tilting his head slightly upwards, but not too much so that Kuro would notice, Bert gazed at the blue sky, dotted with white clouds and as a burning fire at the top of the world, the sun itself, the symbol of the children. Bert smiled a private smile to himself and tried to concentrate on the lesson at hand. Bert stood attention. He called out his name. He thought some bad thoughts about Kuroshiro.

oh gawsh, i thought of another thread

yeah!

Bert's being beaten!

poor fellow :P

so

when starteth this?

My name's Daniel

i got somewhat confused seeing this topic

's all good now :P

be back soon!

ooc: I'M NOT FAT! XD

Will reply soon :D lovely post ^^

*laugh*

awesome :D

*clap clap clap*

w00t!

espionage would be cool >.>