In The Face of a Monster

-The Bramble Wood,
Very Near Jocelynn's Inn,
Early Morning, 1 DSTR-

"Now how about you and Gareth try to put aside your differences while I check out of the inn we were staying at. I don't know about you, but I am very much awake at this point, and I see no reason not to continue our adventure now."

"Understood." Ponce said, niegh involuntarily. His instincts as a soldier had kicked in, and he couldn't stop himself. He let out a quiet grunt as Ceriden walked away. He wasn't a soldier anymore. And speaking of which...

Ponce began to strip himself free of his armor. He didn't need the attention that Verden colors would most definitely attract, being as ambiguous as possible was likely in his best intrests.

Knowing his armor quite well, it didn't take him long to remove it all. Under he wore a plain white shirt dark combat pants, along with boots. He looked down at his chest, seeing a red strip staining his shirt. He had forgotten, Wren had managed to give him a parting gift in the form of a long gash across his chest. It had barely penetrated the thick leather of Ponce's armor, let alone his skin, but it still drew blood. A grim thought then crossed his mind. Were it not for the armor, Wren would have surely taken his life. All the more reason he should have done what he had. It was his life or Wren's, and that man had never done a thing for him to deserve such a sacrifice in his honor.

Ponce walked over to the bags that Toldir had dropped. Inside was food, clothes, and medical supplies, all of which he helped himself to. He removed his shirt, and as a soldier, he would not be allowed to sit around milk drinking all day among the ranks of the other soldiers. His body was one of a fighter, altered through years of toil and exertion. Thick muscles pressed tightly against his skin. He was far from a bodybuilder, but it was obvious that he could be dangerous and fierce even without his magic. Ponce moved quickly, rapping gauze around his chest, and then replacing his shirt, and then covering himself even further with a plain leather coat. Finally done ransacking the bags, he stood, barely finishing off a piece of bread.

He turned, noticing Gareth, just standing there. As he looked over to the vampire, he could have sworn that he had seen him stiffen up. He let out a sharp exhale, before turning around and tiding up his things. It was then that Ceriden had resurfaced.

"Are you guys ready to go?"

"Si, ready when you are." Ponce simply said, looking over to Gareth once more, before preparing to move.