Needed Sprint

"If we're going, we'll need to move fast."

She'd made her mind, although it was an unknown area, potentially dangerous, demanding and very risky, saving as many lives as possible was the priority, and with a barbaric villain on their way, many precious lives were in danger, so Tracey had to do something.

"Yeah... So pack light... or not bother at all?"

Tracey asked, while Amanda voiced some of her concerns.

"I wouldn't go without anything... but..."

From what they knew, Kibble was another similar sized town, further toward the east, and a more direct path from the Empire, in the north, to the Alama's heart and small city of Pearyeld, which also housed the power of this land.

"...we'll still need some basics..."

But an unknown trek, with only a handful of food and some water, plus the small stash of other items they might need, it would still surely slow them down, and with a savage fiend on the way, Tracey didn't want to waste a minute.

"I say we go now, with the fastest amongst us, carrying whatever we can..."

She looked to her strategist, Amanda, who didn't object, only adding.

"We should pack some more banners and share out our load too."

A few packs had been hastily gathered and were now sitting on a round table, in the middle of them all in the Hall's largest room, they'd originally been for if the group had needed to make a quick withdrawal from Yarn, but they looked fairly crammed full of handy equipment too, and would add even more delay to be evenly redistributed.

I really wish that lousy Lord hadn't nicked all the horses...

The locals had some lesser-animals, but mainly ponies and plough-horses, so not the right type and nowhere near the number they'd need for a quick dash anyway.

But as several members of her group still needed to gather and get ready, there was a little time to sort some last minute things out, so Tracey left the others to pack and turned her attention elsewhere.

"Kyle, you'll need to stay put, now you're the 'Praetor'..."

"Yes boss."

The usually cheery blonde was keeping clear of the others anyway.

"Maybe have a crack at teaching those undisciplined misfits out there how to properly hold a sword."

Kyle gave an uneasy smile, and then replied with.

"I'd rather leave that to Justin..."

Justin was a younger student, still 23, who had some breathing irregularities that would prevent him from a long dash, so he was also staying behind, but maybe partly because of his lesser breaths, the short, black haired lad had excellent control, with a well practised, fine precision of the sword, so would probably be a better choice as a teacher.

"Okay, let him try, just watch over him... and the others."

"Sure thing, head boss."

He returned a better smile, with a sure nod.

Tracey moved on to the next, as Lilly had mentioned to her that Nina wanted to complain about the Humans; probably about them being camped all over her fields, but as she waited by the Hall's doors, when Tracey went to her, the Horse-girl instead offered her assistance.

"I'll do it..."

She'd obviously overheard and seemed pretty eager.

"I'm very strong and have good endurance."

"So... as in carry those bags there...? Are you sure?"

Tracey pointed back to the waiting load, and the Beast-girl smiled.

"Yeah, I can carry that heavy load too, if you need someone to. And I'll take you the quickest way... I've been many times."

Tracey was sure she would have difficulty with it.

"Are you sure you're sure?"

"I can go straight way... and if it's to prevent something terrible happening - I'm very sure..."

Her small ears on her brown haired head flicked back, as her eyes showed concern.

"You see... my mother's family all live in Kibble; so I'd really like to help."

Tracey was already sure the Fox would tail her, so why not have another Beastfolk come along too.

"Very well then."

Nina wavered herself with some excitement, before stretching lightly, then went right over to the two heavy bags and snatched them up in her hands, seemingly effortlessly.

"When do we leave?"

The Horse-girl asked for only one last thing, a brief stop, to amazingly pick up another large bag, but as the group then departed Yarn, Nina then took the lead, showing them which small roads to take, and impressively set their pace as well.

It was actually some of the lightly packed Humans who were slowing the group down, needing small stops to catch their breath, about once every hour, depending on the terrain, but they only finally stopped for the day when the sunlight had stated to fade.

"I'm done for..."

Shizuka sunk to her small furry knees in the open grassy spot they'd decided to rest at for the night.

"I think... this will do..."

Amanda lightly wheezed as well, slouching a little beside the Fox.

"I've not run like this since my early training days..."

The smaller Beast-girl lightly slid onto her chest and lay as she dropped, exhausted from jogging the long distance they'd covered.

Tracey, who had broken a sweat, still felt mostly alright, as she really hadn't needed to push herself that much, so watched on as more of her people arrived, and then semi, or totally collapsed around her too.

"I guess this will be camp..."

Agreed the also lightly sweaty Horse-girl, as she let her bags she'd been carting, on her lightly-tanned shoulders, crash to the ground either-side of her, before more delicately dropping her own before her.

"We are... I'd say... a little more than halfway to Kibble..."

"Halfway?"

Shizuka's half muffled voice repeated with disbelief.

"A little more..."

Nina unclipped her collected last-minute bag, to reveal it was jammed full of sticks of healthy carrots, which she then handed one out to everyone, starting with Tracey.

So that's what was in that bag...

"Here you go... And you too... Have this... Good job..."

She darted around handing off a large carrot to each member, before dashing to the next to offer another.

Tracey lightly chewed on hers, as she slowly circled the decided campground, looking at the fairly open area, while also counting everyone.

I've still got fifty-six of my followers... and two Beastfolk - so that's everyone still...

The other members of her group from the Empire had remained in Yarn, to help keep it safe, and in Kyle's trusted and fair control.

But as she completed her circle, Tracey was slightly concerned that in all the long day's travel, they'd not come across a single other traveller, which she didn't know if it was because they'd seen the hasty troop coming and successfully hid, or if there'd been none, because something ahead had already stopped any travellers, which could be a very bad sign.