(PSA: In accordance with Viera naming conventions the 'j' in Ritjil is close to an 'i' sound.

"Ritjil." A rough voice cut through a fitful dream of the stars tearing loose from a tortured sky. "Up, now." Rubbing the sleep from his deep purple eyes a Viera nearing the border between boy and man stood and joined an older male near the edge of a rough-hewn platform built in the canopy of the Golmore Jungle, both bore spears of simple but effective make.

Without turning to look at his charge the elder raised his weapon to point at a flock of birds as they fled an unnatural rustling in the trees. "There." Ritjil nodded having grown used to Shura's way with words or more frequently lack thereof, he supposed he may as well get used to a lack of conversation now rather than when he became a full-fledged Wood-Warder. "What is it?" He asked tentatively. "Invaders, listen." Straining his long ears Ritjil could make out metallic grinding and clanking noises contrasting sharply with the normal sounds of the jungle, frowning at the strange noise he glanced at his mentor. "What should we do?" With a look of disapproval Shura leaped off the platform onto a nearby branch silently expecting Ritjil to follow.

Hopping from tree to tree Ritjil struggled to keep up with Shura's swift sure-footed pace until the experienced Warder stopped and help up a hand, waiting a moment for Ritjil to catch up he pointed to a two-legged monstrosity of steel plate with a man perched on top as it brazenly trampled a fragile sapling, in it's wake half a dozen people followed on foot in two messy ranks clearly sweltering in their ill suited armour.

"Soldiers of a nation called the Garlean Empire." Shura said anticipating a question. "They seek to add our lands to their conquests." Glancing up at him Ritjil frowned in confusion when the man riding the clanking armour paused and turned to bark orders at the struggling troops. "They so brazenly disrespect our lands but they care to speak our tongue?" Tilting his head to listen Shura looked at Ritjil sceptically. "I know not what language they are speaking but I am certain it is not ours."

Down below the mounted leader shouted one more time then pressed onward at a faster pace ignoring the way his underlings fell further behind. "No matter, I will take them from behind, pick off stragglers. You follow and observe." Bristling at the idea of being sidelined despite his concern at messing with the strange machine Ritjil protested. "But this is exactly what you've been teaching me for!" Eyes flashing with anger Shura glared him into silence. "Enough! I will decide what you are and are not ready for. Now remain above and keep watch."

Letting the Garleans move a little further Shura descended to ground level and stalked through the undergrowth that hadn't been trampled, a pair of soldiers bringing up the rear were dispatched by Shura with a whisper of sound that went unnoticed among the cacophony made by the armour crashing through another young tree and the screeching of a pair of birds that had been perched on it.

Another fell before one of the remaining soldiers looked behind her and noticed that half her comrades had vanished, calling out to the rest of the soldiers they turned and began scanning the area frantically suddenly feeling the green walls pressing in on them.

"I had hoped to take more." Ritjil jumped as Shura's voice came from behind him without warning earning another look of disapproval. "Pay attention." He snapped. "Now we wait, their lack of discipline may make them scatter."

Down below the interlopers were milling about in confusion while their mounted commander gestured wildly and alternated between barking at his remaining underlings to keep in line and threatening those that had vanished with painful deaths for desertion, to Ritjil's bewilderment each shout was as clearly understandable as Shura's own speech.

Seeing the look on his face Shura nudged him lightly. "What do they say?" Hearing the scepticism Ritjil cocked his head to hear better. "Orders to stay together, calling for the missing...wait that one is asking for help." He pointed to the leader who seemed to be speaking to no one in particular. Looking about Shura scoffed. "I doubt that very much, there's no one to hear in any case."

After a couple of impatient minutes for both the hunters and the hunted a low hum echoed through the area followed by a sharper staccato sound while the two Viera looked about for the source the Garleans sagged in relief. Looking up Ritjil tugged Shura's arm and pointed. "Up there!" Skimming the upper branches another armour appeared this one flying on two sets of rapidly spinning blades, in it's wake a pair of oversized steel hands followed.

Realising that they weren't nearly as well concealed from above as they were below Shura grabbed Ritjil's arm and half dragged him to another perch before a chained harpoon pierced the branch. "Keep moving!" Letting go Shura led the way this time looking back to ensure his charge was keeping up, leaping around further attacks from above Ritjil was beginning to hope they might escape safely when a shot from below blew the branches ahead into splinters sending him crashing to the ground.

Pushing himself up with a groan Ritjil realised he had dropped his spear in the fall and felt around for it frantically until a shadow fell over him, turning to look up he met the furious eyes of a soldier raising a sword to strike. Before the blade could fall a spear pierced the assailant like a javelin and as he fell Shura appeared to retrieve his weapon then hauled Ritjil to his feet. "Run!" Staggering unsteadily Ritjil realised Shura was bleeding in several places where larger fragments of wood had struck him. "But you-." Shoving him backward Shura turned away to block the grasping talons of one of the flying claws. "Go now!"

Spurred into action Ritjil fled, looking back he saw the Garlean soldiers surrounding Shura as he wrestled with the claw. Racing through the brush he heard a crashing behind him and turned just as the other claw corkscrewed through a thick shrub, ramming into him the machine slammed Ritjil against a tree pinning him in place. With the wind knocked out of him Ritjil tried to get his breath back but the claw's grip tightened as he struggled until his world faded into darkness.

So yeah I may have gotten a bit caught up in Endwalker hype and also grabbed a fantasia as soon as I saw the bunblokes, I also saw people saying "but muh lore says they have to stay home and alone" so I thought about perfectly reasonable ways one could wind up at the start of ARR and it's become a full on plot bunny (badum-tiss) that I decided to write out while I wait for November to roll around.

Updates will be when there are updates.