'This is not a good idea.'
She looked around, keeping her head low, as she passed the guard at gate. The man nodded, barely taking time to do more than glance at the blue robes she was wearing, before waving her on. A lucky encounter with a distracted sorcerer had gained her the disguise; a helm from near a sleeping guard adorned her head, covering her pale gold locks. Even Tank didn't seem out of place in this hostile place as several other large cats appeared to roam freely.
Having passed the first guard, she paused and took in her immediate surroundings. This had certainly been a wrong turn, this desolate dry landscape mocking her every step. How had she gotten so off track, she couldn't say but she was determined to continue on her path, even if it meant backtracking through this hostile environment.
Quickly sidestepping away from larger group of men, she stood near a stable of steeds, pretending to tend the animals as she tried to make sense of their heavy accents. She couldn't recall having heard such an accent before, and she furrowed her brow in intent concentration as she made the words out. So focused was she, she didn't notice the swarthy man step up behind her until he barked at her, grabbing her arm. Her body stiffened, as she froze.
"If y'going to clean that horse, put y'muscle to it." he growled, his gutteral voice vibrating up her arm and into her chest as she held her breath. Unable to speak, she simply nodded her head, and made to brush the pale steed with greater vigor. This seemed to please the man behind her, for soon he moved on again, his heavy footsteps fading as he left her to her work.
Feeling the coast was clear she dropped the brush and, giving the steed a pat on the flank, began making her way through the camp once more. She strode past two cats, who looked up at her passing, but did nothing but growl. Tank returned the growl in passing, and she reached down quickly to pat his back, feeling the muscles beneath his white fur bunched and tense, much as she was. The sooner she made her way out, the better for both of them, she thought to herself.
As she drew near the other entrance, her pace quickened as the need to get away drove her. 'Almost out,' she thought and quirked her mouth in the slightest of grins, mere feet from the gate. She heard one of the men bark something down, but so close to freedom she barely paid any mind to him, only pausing to turn and glance up at him. In that moment he turned, looking down at where she stood. Squinting, he stared into her eyes and she could see them widen as what he saw registered in his head.
She swore a rohirrim oath, turning to run even as he raised the alarm. "Intruder!" he called out, rousing several nearby as they gave chase as she dashed through the gate, only to feel her arm grabbed in a vice like grip as she was whipped around to face one of the guards there. Kicking out, she connected with his shin and as he released her with a swear, she turned ... only to find her cat being held at bay by several more. "Tank!!" she cried out, moving towards him, even as two men grabbed her arms. She turned to one, defiantly jerking against him as he reached up and yanked the helm from her head.
Looking down at her, he sneered as his men led her cat away. "Take her to the pens."
