Fun, Frolic and High Speed Chases (Ishi)

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

Let them hunt her down! This land may belong to royal family, but everyone still had to pay the Daring Lady. Jo Lockwood was in high spirits...of course she always seemed to be in high spirits. She was also being of great annoyance to the people she was robbing. This time, there were extra guards hired to try and bring her in. So far, it was not faring too well.

The chase had long the roads that she taxed and now carried on through the plains of the Eastern Lands. Not that she cared. She enjoyed a good chase and her horse was up to the task. One hand clutched the reins, the other ensured her hat did not fly off her head. Shouts barely reached her ears but the wind and pounding gallop of the horses reduced it to garbled mess. It probably wasn't very nice, anyways.

An arrow sailed past her ear. Now there was a sound she understood.

"Perhaps I should have gone to the woods, eh?" she grinned looking over her shoulder. One of the riders readied another arrow, while trying to maintain his precarious aim.

"They are persistent, I must grant them that!" there was an odd excitement in her voice. Although, what most would say was odd was rather commonplace for the thief. Reaching into the bag she had secured at her lap, Jo took a small gold jug and threw it. The wind handled the rest and it smacked the would-be marksman square in the face.

His tumble was an unpleasant looking one and his horse didn't seem loyal enough to stick around as the armored guard bounced to an unceremonious halt. With one down, Jo had two remaining guards in hot pursuit. Oh, what fun day it was!

[Ishi]

Ishi had been wandering the roads looking for something to do to take her mind off her boredom when she heard an arrow land at her feet. Looking up she just managed to glimpse a girl riding on a horse pass her by before spotting two armored men chasing her. Quickly fumbling her fingers to her pouch she pulls out two ninja-stars and tosses them unceremoniously in the guards direction hitting both on the head. However Ishi hated hurting people so the stars were both blunt and simply worked at knocking the two out.

Blushing Ishi then mounted the horse as it was galloping and tries to catch up with the girl who had passed her earlier urging the horse on with little whispers.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

Was that a girl she had just passed? A rather attractive girl, at that. Let it not be said that Daring Jo does not maintain priorities. She watched as her two pursuers were promptly dispatched and the stranger took one of the mounts and was soon following her. Jo did the only thing she could do at that point. She laughed.

The highwaygirl was greatly amused by this newcomer. And she felt a bit less threatened now that the remaining guards had been take care of. Still, she led the other girl on, as she continued to put distance between herself and the hired help. There were priorities, after all. Chief among them....Don't Get Caught.

Soon enough, Jo did slow down to allow the girl to get beside her. She didn't stop, but their pace did allow for conversation.

"And to whom do I the owe honor of thanking this fine afternoon?" Jo grinned, "And such lovely looking help, as well!"

[Ishi]

Ishi hearing this did her best to cover her face with her crimson hair trying unsuccsessfully to cover her blushing face.

"Ishi is Ishi so who has Ishi saved from those mean men earlier?" She asked still frantically pawing at her hair glad that her ears and tail were for now at any rate hidden however she hadn't been paying attention to the road and soon crashed her horse jumping from it nimbly into a rolling stand.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"Ishi? A fine name." Jo grinned and looked back over her shoulder, "As for the gentlemen back there, they were a tad surly. Though I can hardly blame them. Just a band of poor fools hired to carry out an impossible task. Preventing me from stealing!"

Chuckling, she returned her attention back to Ishi who was attempting to hide beneath her hair. What purpose that served was quite beyond Jo's reasoning. But, she wouldn't pay it much mind, even if it did obscure her view.

"I suppose my notoriety does me no good." she said with an overly dramatic sigh, "I'll just have to perform better crimes if my name is to be carried far enough around the land! I am Daring Jo Lockwood! Highway robber, master thief and lover of fine things. At your service!"

She removed her hat and from atop her horse gave as deep a sweeping bow as survivor manage. As she rose up, Ishi took a tumble in the sand. With a playful laugh, Jo brought her horse to a halt and swiftly dismounted.

"You should pay more attention to the horse than to hiding that lively face of yours." she said while offer a gloved hand to help her to her feet.

[Ishi]

Taking the hand Ishi blushed again covering her face once more.

"Ishi guesses that you have a point. B-but Ishi can't help herself she gets embarrased around others." Ishi mumbled.

"As for her title Ishi is a princess of the neko-ninja b-but due to Ishi's differences Ishi has been banished for a while. Its all because Ishi likes girls and not boys though and in Ishi's tribe it is frowned upon." She sobbed a little and wiped her eye after saying these painful admissions but tried to brave it up anyways.

"So in other words Ishi has been here for a few days living on picking pockets so that Ishi could survive but Ishi plans on finding a legendary ninja around here somewhere and bringing her back with Ishi so that Ishi is accepted again"

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"A princess! How wonderful...and dint be ashamed of your tastes! You can pick no finer a companion than a woman! I should know. I've had many, myself." Jo grinned as she hauled Ishi back up to her feet. She did not release the ninja, as she pulled her in closer. The breeze off the water tossed her blonde hair a bit and brought a flutter to the cloak she wore.

"Now, tell me more about this other ninja." Jo requested, "I have been searching fir just the right means of repaying you! Restoring your honor seems like a proper start. And will be the first, truely honorable thing I've done in ages!"

Jo suddenly broke away and tapped at her chin, "My, I must be in good mood, if my plots no longer revolve around thievery...ah, but this shall prove exciting!" in another flash of motion, she was back beside Ishi an arm casually hanging off her shoulder, "Consider me in! This new partnership of ours simply must be celebrated! Do you have any wine, by chance?"

This of course was still pending Ishi's acceptance. But Jo acted as if it were a done deal, nevertheless.

[Ishi]

"The other ninja is called Liliana, but she is unable to be brought back due to her having a mistress now who owns her. Ishi was planning on studying under her as a slave. But Ishi doesn't wish to be a slave any more then Ishi wants to return home with the stupid traditions in place. Ishi is confused at the moment due to this." Ishi said managing to fit all the senteces into one breath.

"Ishi is sorry but she has no wine, Ishi does however have this." She said rummaging in the guards bag that had been left on the horse when she had taken it from him she pulls out a bottle of high-quality sake.

"That is of course if you don't mind rice-wine that is, Ishi can understand if you don't like it. Ishi didn't like it for a long while herself but she would be happy to share it with her new friend."

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"Well, that's rather dull." Jo said, a disappointed look crossing her face, "Why live as a slave when you have the perfect training to excell in the criminal profession. It's much more profitable and far more entertaining!"

She plucked the bottle of rice wine from Ishi's hands and inspected it closely. Removing the stopper, she gave it a good few whiffs before handing it back over. "Yes, this will do nicely! A splendid find, my dear!"

The alcohol meeting her standards, Jo took a nice long sip before handing it back to Ishi, "To new friends and ill-gotten gains! A wonderful combination."

As Ishi took the bottle, Daring Jo continued, "Now, this little problem of my repaying you and this stubborn ex-ninja. Surely there is some one way of convincing her of how dreadfully boring this slave's life is...not to mention what a waste of potential."

[Ishi]

"If only there was." Ishi said in response to Jo's statement.
"But alas some are doomed to the curse of masochism. Still little be it to us if she refuses to join once more to try and convince her further. Although I think from the sounds of things we may be able to start a very profitable relationship for the both of us, who knows maybe you could help Ishi perfect her theivery skills and Ishi in turn will teach you all she knows of the arts of stealth." Hoping to get her new friend focused on a different subject as she rose to her full height of 7 foot.

"There are two things about Ishi that you should note though. First Ishi is a cat and therefore very catlike sometimes, Not in the poor loyalty compartment. There Ishi is more like a dog, But in the silent footsteps and always landing on Ishi's feet so if you see Ishi attempt something and drop from a high-place don't worry. Also second thing Ishi has bi-polar between being very shy and being quite outgoing."

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"My, my aren't you the tall one..." Jo smirked, slyly as she wales around the tall cargirl. "I'm not above adding to my already impressive array of skills. Perhaps there are some tricks you ninjas use, that may prove handy."

Jo chuckled and halted in front of Ishi. Looking up she grinned, "But stealth? For you, my dear, you should be up front and out on the roads. With your height, you could politely ask people for their money and they'd be sure to hand it over! We just need to get you properly dressed! Something imposing! Grand! After that we just need to make sure you aren't all shy and bashful. Highway robbery is about good planning and superb execution. Luckily for you, no one is better than me!"

Jo started to dart around Ishi, throwing her cloak around the catgirl's shoulders and tossed her hat up on her head. As she finished, she took a step back and tapped her chin. Giving Ishi a critical eye, she concluded, "No, those won't do...my cloak is far too short. Well, I can make something better. Failing that, I'll just steal something."

[Ishi]

Blushing as Jo finished changing her clothing Ishi sat down again and gently felt the fabric of the cloak. "If Ishi can interject she does have this." She said reaching inside her clothes she pulled out her ninja outfit and gently folded it to look like quite an imposing cloak.

"If it fits then Ishi will have something to wear. Hmm." Eying Jo up and down she quickly started rummaging through various parts of her own clothing and pulls out some soft shoes and a few little garments that she kept on her at all times changing Jo quickly so that she was wearing clothing that appeared to be made from the darkest shadows.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

The darker colors were a far different look than Jo's usual bright attire. It's most notable absence was that of any bright and gleaming jewelery. Jo picked at the fabric, "Yes, darker colors are more suitable for sneaking about. But, they are dreadfully dull. Perhaps I could add a few onyx stones."

She looked up and grinned, "You have the right idea! But, I must make something a bit flashier for you. Dark colors are all well and good, but you'll need to draw eyes right towards you! Maybe some gold trim? A fine shirt should help. Maybe red silk...a dark red! Might not go well with the gold, but whats the harm in trying! By the time I'm done with you, they'll be throwing their valuables at your feet! Yes! I do believe it will be a wonderful success!"

Jo, moving at her usual frantic pace had returned both of their clothing to normal. She was fastening the cloak around her shoulders as she reached her horse once more.

"But, this is no place to discuss the finer points of fashion, my dear. Follow me and we'll retire to a fine little hide-a-way where we can get some real work done."

[Ishi]

"Sounds like a fine plan so where shall Ishi go with you?" She asked ready to debate the sense of comfort and shadowy quality her garments gave as best as she could.

[Daring Jo Lockwood]

"Well, just follow along, my dear!" she grinned once more, "All will beads clear once we arrive."

It wasn't so much that there was an actual need for secrecy. But, Jo so enjoyed being dramatic. Hooking a foot into the stirrups, Jo deftly mounted the horse once more. She glanced over her shoulder.

"Our great debate will be accompanied by the finest brandy. Tobacco, too, if that suits your tastes. Believe me when I say that I only steal the finest things! Now, let's get a move on, before those honorable gentlemen make enough of a recovery that they cam start on our trail, once more." a haughty smirk was on prominent display.