08-14-06

Characters involved: Triss & Zoe_Lang.

Salamandastron: Caverns - Archery Range

The walls of the archery chamber echo with the thunk of arrows hitting a target over and over again. Taking advantage of the the fact nobody has yet noticed her return, Triss practices her slightly rusty archery skills as usual. Upon emptying her quiver, she sits down on a sack of something-or-other and sighs, unstrapping her wrist brace and leaning against the cool stone walls. After nearly 8 seasons of meandering and adventuring, she's returned to her home. She thought she'd find another one, but found that the place she was raised suited her the best. Finding out Oxeye was with Zoe and having Taceo reject her...she thought running away would be the best...apparently not. Another sigh, and she closes her eyes.

It's funny how word of an unfamiliar hare in the archery range can reach an officer's ears. And, indeed, reach it does. The one-eyed Colonel appears in the doorway, looking skeptical as she surveys the room. And aha, there's the culprit of this strange rumor. Zoe's brow furrows ever so slightly as she considers the other doe in profile. Familiar, very familiar... With a clearing of her throat, she starts to approach. That old eye of hers just isn't what it used to; otherwise, she might already have recognized the other.

Startled at the sudden sound, Triss' eyes pop open and her head straightens from it's resting place on the wall. A slow smile creeps across her face as she recognizes the visitor. Her eyes wander over the old doe, noticing new scars, wrinkles and the missing eye. Leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees, Triss hangs her head between her shoulders and waits for the Colonel's approach.

And approach she does, coming close enough that something finally clicks. It's at this point that the Colonel's forward motion falters and her eye widens, both eyebrows simultaneously raising as she stares at the other. Several seconds seem to pass before, with an awkward clearing of her throat, the uncertain greeting comes. "... Triss?"

An amused smile spreads across Triss' face as she stares at the floor. Good, she remembered. "...Yes, Colonel?" she replies, raising her gaze to look at Zoe. She stands after a moment, crossing her arms and raising a brow at the Colonel's expression.

For a long moment, Zoe seems uncertain /what/ to do. In the end, though, she smiles a small smile and steps forward, catching the other doe in a quick squeeze of a hug before holding her back at arm's length, looking her over while the small becomes a grin. "Spirits... 'tis been seasons. I don't even want t' think how many seasons." She laughs, shaking her head in apparent disbelief. "/Triss/."

Triss's smile widens as she returns Zoe's embrace. "Far too many seasons, m'friend." she replies, pulling Zoe into another hug. "Hahaha...'tis me alrigh', a bit older, but still me," she adds, still grinning.

"Ya don't look a day oldah than last I saw ya, m'deah... Oldah m'arse," Zoe offers with a smirk. Shaking her head, she gives Triss a firm pat on the shoulder. "C'n we expect t' have you around fer a bit? Or are ya just visitin'?"

"Oh, I'm stickin' 'round fer good now..." she replies, moving her gaze to the ground, a bit of a guilty flush touching her cheeks. After all, Zoe was part of the reason she left.

This is a slightly... awkward moment, isn't it? What with having to pretend you don't notice the flush, while trying /not/ to look like you're avoiding their gazee? Yeah. All that. In the end, and with a quickly flashed smirk, she steps back and away from the other doe, turning her gaze to the rest of the room. "... Well. We'll be glad t' have ya, m'friend. No doubt about that."

"Thanks..." Triss trails off, looking to the floor again and restrapping her wrist braces simply to do something. "Well...uh..." she mumbles, picking up her longbow again...

"Do ya need a dormitory? M'not certain yer old one's still... yers." Heh. Zoe smiles faintly, glancing back to the other.

"Eh...sure. I don't suppose sleeping in the dunes is fitting of a long patrol hare," Triss muses. "I didn't sleep there fer 'bout a week," she admits. "I was afraid to come back..." She stares at the stone floor again, slowly walking to the target to retrieve her arrows.

Looong pause. "... Well. You needn't be afraid any longah. Yer more'n welcome." And that's all Zoe has to say about /that/, as she turns for the door. "I'll have one o' the privates fix up some quartahs for ya, 'n' they'll come find ya when they're ready. Unfortunately, I've got that endless bloody papahwork t' work on, so I'll have t' say m'farewells fer the evenin'. 'Til t'morrah, then?" She glances back.

Triss smiles, still staring at the floor. "'Night, Colonel...'tis good to be back...thank ye..."

"... G'night, Triss." And off the Colonel goes, to her work.