Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

So, here's how it goes. I finished my latest prompt, and then Word decides that it's fun to fail on me. When I get it back from the recovery, it's only half-done. So, I finish it again, in a different way this time, and put off saving it - only to find out that my computer restarted overnight, and it's left at the half-way point. At this point, I'm having trouble finishing the prompt - I'm just too frustrated. I do plan on having it done on time, though.

Not exactly sure if this one quite fits the prompt, but...eh. Enjoy!

#7 – Clarion

"Thank you for the journal, Florina," Mark said, tucking the leather-bound book into his robes. "I'll make sure to take notes on our finances, additional members, and such in it."

"You're welcome…Mark," Florina said. She was walking Huey, as apparently Pegasi needed their exercise by walking as well as by flying. Mark supposed it was useful if the knight was ever grounded, and so had given the go-ahead readily. "But really…that's not necessary if you want to take down tactical knowledge. I thought…" she looked down. "I thought that you could write down anything that you remembered."

Mark blinked at her. "I'll be sure to treasure it, then," he said, meaning every word. He remembered little, due to his condition, but he was pretty sure that nobody had ever done anything so…personal for him before. It saddened him that nobody had at the same time it delighted him that someone was doing such a thing now.

"Lycia at last!" he heard Sain blurt from the front. "It's been a long time. Tomorrow, we'll dine on a feast of Lycia's finest foods! And the mistress of the inn at the crossing is said to be a beauty. Ah, yes..." Mark tuned out the rest of the speech at that point, as Kent reprimanded the knight and Lyn defended him.

"Ah! We'll finally be able to get a good night's sleep," Florina said, obviously listening as well. "Oh!" Over the next hill and through the trees, axe-wielding figures began to pop up.

"Those bandits are persistent, I'll give them that much," Lyn groaned.

"And to think I had hoped we could go one day without someone having to wash the blood out of their weapons…oh well. It can't be helped. Lyn, if you want to negotiate with the bandits, you can try, but you might as well cut down the approaching one now. It's not like he'll listen to anything you say," Mark finished, as Kent glared at him. "What? It's the truth."

"You're encouraging the lady to mindless bloodshed," Kent snapped.

"No, that's the bandits," Mark explained patiently. "If you want to blame someone for making the lady fight, blame them. Better yet, run your sword through some of them. Of course, maybe if you explain it carefully to them, it will teach them a lesson. We can all get through this by making and exchanging daisy chains in the end." Wil snorted, and Mark saw him covering a grin.

Suddenly, a loud noise rang out. Florina winced, and Wil commented, "Why would anyone be practicing a musical instrument at this time of day?"

"No, Wil," Mark said, trying to keep himself from snickering. "Although extremely high-pitched, that noise was one of a scream." He looked at Lyn, as she came back from talking with the bandit, frustration clear on her features. "I should have just cut him down then and there," she muttered.

"No, your compassion and willingness to negotiate is becoming of you," Kent assured her. Mark grimaced. Sure, encourage her to talk to the people who would cheerfully run her through without a second thought. I'm going to have to tell Lyn about Kent's little crush as soon as possible – make sure his praise doesn't go to her head. "That scream came from somewhere in this forest," he said finally. "Florina, fly up and see if you can find the screamer. Ground yourself if archers try to attack. Kent, Sain. Your horses will have trouble going over the hills and through the forests. Take the path to the north instead."

Sain was about to protest, but Mark cut him off. "Don't look at me like that! We can't afford to move in a big group, which is what they'll be expecting. Take them by surprise while we make lots of noise. Lyn, Dorcas, Wil, with me through the forest. Once Florina finds the source of the scream, she'll rendezvous with us and we'll see what's happening and offer assistance if necessary."

"Sounds like a plan," Lyn said. "Let's move!" As the group began to disperse, Mark noticed that Kent was glaring at him. Possessive much? Lyn was about to take point, but Mark motioned her back, instead letting Dorcas lead. "What are you planning to do about Kent?" he asked quietly.

Lyn blinked at him in astonishment. "What do you mean, do about Kent?" she responded. "It's not like he's Sain, hitting on every girl who passes by. So far, I have seen nothing but dedication and hard work from him."

"That's because unlike Sain, who hits on everything female in sight, Kent has narrowed his focus." At her blank look, Mark sighed. "The man is head over heels in love with you, Lyn. Please tell me that you at least suspected it?" By her sputtering, she had not. He watched with a pleased smile as Lyn slowly began to piece together everything Kent had done in her presence, and begin to narrow her eyes in suspicion. "What would you do if you were in my situation?" she suddenly asked.

"About the crush? I'd tell him I wasn't interested in annoyances that way." He continued to smirk even as Lyn whacked him over the head. "Not that!" she complained. "How am I supposed to tell what he says truthfully apart from what he says to please me?"

"Hold on." Florina was swooping down, and Mark motioned her over to their group. She landed as the rest of the group gathered around her. "There's a pink-haired girl and a purple-haired boy being attacked by an archer," she said. "By the looks of it, the archer is a bandit. What do you want to do?" Lyn turned to Mark, who shook his head. "It's your call, Lyn. I may know about war, but you're our commander." He paused, frowning at a sudden thought. "…Someone's jealousy has reminded me of one important thing – you're the leader. All I should be doing is offering suggestions."

As Dorcas and Wil looked at him curiously, Lyn bit her lip. "If they're being attacked by the bandits, then the least we can do is help, if for no other reason than to take down the bandit that's attacking them. Let's move, quickly!" As she finished, she began to run through the trees. Mark turned to Florina as the rest began to follow Lyn. "Three people should be enough for one archer, and we shouldn't get you too near your greatest weakness," he said. "Cavaliers are to the north, we're heading east. You can either head to the south and by that lake we saw, flying over it, or you can fly to the north to provide assistance to the knights. Your choice." Florina looked uncertain for a moment, then nodded, taking off. Mark ran to catch up with the rest.

"So tell me, will you join arms with us?" Lyn was asking as Mark caught up, panting heavily. The pink-haired girl who Florina had spoken of nodded, clutching a staff. "Yes, we'd be glad to!" she chirped. "This is my escort, Erk. Be a good boy now, and go fight now, Erk." Is he an escort, or a pet dog? Mark found himself thinking wryly even as the purple-haired boy sighed.

"Hello," the girl greeted as he neared her. "You're Mark, right? I'm Serra."

"Nice to meet you, Serra," Mark said. "I take it that you'll be fighting with us. That staff…" He paused, and looked at it closely. "That's a Heal staff. Are you a cleric?" Serra started. "Yes, I am," she answered. "However did you know?"

"It's my job to know these things," he said, as he pulled out the journal Florina had just given him and jotted down 'Cleric his sister? Who is 'he'?' "It's good to have a healer on our team. Now we don't have to be as afraid of running out of vulneraries."

"Anyways, you see this contrary mage here with me?" she asked. "His name is Erk. He was wounded by that arrow. I'm Erk's employer. You might even call me his 'Master'!" Erk, now identified as a mage, had his head in his hand, and looked very close to screaming. It was all Mark could do to keep himself from laughing at the mage's plight.

"What I'm getting at is," Serra continued, "I was thinking of healing him free of charge." As Mark looked at her incredulously, she laughed. "I know, I know, I'm generous to a fault."

"I did not get paid enough to put up with this," Erk muttered. Mark smiled, while inwardly all his alarms were going off. Clerics are supposed to heal free of charge. Does this girl think that we're going to pay her for every person she heals? "Well, that is indeed…generous of you, Miss Serra," he responded cautiously. "I can only pray that someone of your limitless beauty will continue her boundless generosity towards these unfortunate fighters."

Serra giggled nervously, beginning to blush. "Of course I will!" she agreed hurriedly. "Let me show you my skill!" As she dragged Erk off to (presumably) heal him, Lyn sidled up next to Mark. "'Limitless beauty' and 'boundless generosity'?" she murmured. "What do you think you're doing?"

Mark shrugged. "It worked well enough on that one shopgirl," he responded. "I flirted with her enough, and she cut all my purchases down to half-price, and got every other store to give me a similar discount." Pausing for a moment, he pulled out the journal and wrote in it. "Remind me to get something nice for Florina," he remarked.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M NOTHING SPECIAL?!" Mark winced as he continued to write. "Even if she's not a good cleric, at least we have a reliable trumpet to signal charges and such."

EDIT: 10/11/08