Dead Man and Tales (D Rank: Guard the Deads)

(Guard the Deads)

Arai ha never been so hesitant in accepting a mission before (and not because this was her first one). When she learned she had to guard a cemetery, she was less than thrilled, but not all that unwilling. When she learned that she was guarding it from grave robbers who do who-knows-what to the corpses, that's when a little bit of apprehension crept into her mind. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to have large, metal-plated, intimidating figures guard the resting place of the village's founders? Wouldn't that make more sense than sending a 16 year old fresh genin girl to do it? What was the kazekage thinking? Regardless of her own feelings, the wolf-girl sped off to the graveyard, hoping that the defiler was there right off the bat so she could apprehend him/her and leave the creepy sight in a snap. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. Is it ever?

It was as if the temperature of Suna dropped 20 degrees as she entered the forest of sand and stone. She could practically feel the ghosts of the fallen dance around her, their subzero tendrils floating just above her skin. Arai stood in the center of the grave yard, waiting for something... ANYTHING to happen. Night descended faster than the young Suna ninja would have liked, leaving her in the darkness that only seemed to compliment the creepiness that floated about the old, dusty graveyard. The temperature dropped even further, leaving Arai to shiver pull her clothes closer around herself in a futile attempt to resist the brutal chill of a desert night. Arai's eyes began to grow heavy and she nearly fell asleep before she heard shuffling off in the distance and coming closer. At this sound, Arai's eyes snapped open, alert. She dove behind one of the taller graves, controlling her breathing so that it wouldn't be heard by those who would be looking for it. The shuffling came closer, became louder, until it stopped, one grave to the right of the one Arai was hiding behind. She peaked out from around the side, getting a quick look. The figure's gender was very difficult to distinguish, as it was covered in a thick (and heavy looking) black robe. What she could make out, however, was that it brandished a shovel, carrying it as if this was just another day in it's casual routine. The figure then began to stick the shovel spade into the sand right in front of the grave stone and that was when Arai leaped from her hiding spot, intending to barrel him/her over. Her plan came to a scratching halt however when a blow to the side of her head caught her off guard, sending her sprawling to the left. Arai held a hand to her bruised cheek, blinking her eyes rapidly. The figure stood over her, shovel blade pointed at her neck, its wicked edge glinting in the moon light. Arai thought fast, throwing a blind kick into the attacker's kneecap. She felt a rush of satisfaction when she heard the crunch of breaking bone. The figure began to tumble and Arai got to her feet quickly, slamming a knee into the figure's gut. All the air went out of the figure then and he/she fell to the ground, knocked out. The wolf-girl stared at the criminal for a moment, tempted to remove the hood but quickly decided against it. It wasn't her business to know who this person was, just to bring her back to the checkpoint for assessment. Arai flipped the body of the figure over her shoulder and began making her way back into town. At least she hadn't botched up her first mission.

(Exit)
WC: 614

Claiming 500 ryo, 3 ap and 614 words towards Wind Release: Recurve Bow

boop