James' expression lightened again to a degree with an amused huff. "I'll take that as a compliment." It felt odd to have the tables turned on him. He was usually the one subtly concerning over someone. Specifically a certain sickly kid with a penchant for acting without regard for his own well being if he believed in the cause.
Buck dipped his head in a nod of understanding and shifted back to his feet. He slipped outside, moving exceptionally quietly for a walking tank.
The drop ship seemed to have landed in a clearing close to the edge of the wooded area. It seemed tropical in nature. Out here, alone, it was easier to clear his head. He could fall into the task and dedicate everything to surveying and assessing their situation. The closer he crept to the ruins of the city, the eerier his surroundings became. The smell of decay hit him hard and turned his stomach, but he soldiered on with practised ease.
By the time he returned, the Soldier's entire demeanour had shifted back to the mindset of the assassin, but Buck was still behind the wheel so to speak. He'd been gone twenty minutes at most. He moved like a predator, but seemed to still completely when he laid eyes on Daryl again. He, again, cleared his throat to announce his presence before speaking,
"I didn't spot any wildlife in the immediate area. The deeper into the forest you go, you can smell death. It's strong around the outskirts of the ruins. The city looks to be heavily fortified, if a bit weathered. It looks like they were trying to keep someone out, but I didn't detect any signs of current occupation." The report was delivered with cool detachment, but if Daryl noticed, there was any hardness to James' eyes that spoke volumes about his discomfort with what he'd seen. Even the brief glimpses of the Soldier's acts he could recall, none of them were filled with so much decay and morbidity.
"...there were also bodies outside the city. Decomposing. Dozens of them. I was too far off to get a complete headcount." Still spoken clinically. It had cleared his head and refocused his calm, even if that meant leaning more on the Soldier for support.
(Giving you a sneak peek at what to expect. ;D )
Buck dipped his head in a nod of understanding and shifted back to his feet. He slipped outside, moving exceptionally quietly for a walking tank.
The drop ship seemed to have landed in a clearing close to the edge of the wooded area. It seemed tropical in nature. Out here, alone, it was easier to clear his head. He could fall into the task and dedicate everything to surveying and assessing their situation. The closer he crept to the ruins of the city, the eerier his surroundings became. The smell of decay hit him hard and turned his stomach, but he soldiered on with practised ease.
By the time he returned, the Soldier's entire demeanour had shifted back to the mindset of the assassin, but Buck was still behind the wheel so to speak. He'd been gone twenty minutes at most. He moved like a predator, but seemed to still completely when he laid eyes on Daryl again. He, again, cleared his throat to announce his presence before speaking,
"I didn't spot any wildlife in the immediate area. The deeper into the forest you go, you can smell death. It's strong around the outskirts of the ruins. The city looks to be heavily fortified, if a bit weathered. It looks like they were trying to keep someone out, but I didn't detect any signs of current occupation." The report was delivered with cool detachment, but if Daryl noticed, there was any hardness to James' eyes that spoke volumes about his discomfort with what he'd seen. Even the brief glimpses of the Soldier's acts he could recall, none of them were filled with so much decay and morbidity.
"...there were also bodies outside the city. Decomposing. Dozens of them. I was too far off to get a complete headcount." Still spoken clinically. It had cleared his head and refocused his calm, even if that meant leaning more on the Soldier for support.