Theron paced forward, moving unhurriedly along the forest edge. There was little reason to hurry; he did not need to return home anytime soon, and he did not want to miss any details of his surroundings. There was a greater reason for the latter than simple caution, though even if it were it would have been enough cause to keep watch. To him had fallen the unhappy duty of checking on the progress of the infestation along the southern forest edge, and for that he needed to note every detail he passed by.
The infestation in this case was no simple matter of insects, as occasionally happened in a forest such as this. No, this time it was a plant which caused it, and a decidedly abnormal one at that. The Weed, as it was referred to in its city of origin, had spread rapidly outward from that city, advancing across the land like some fell plague, and no permanent means of removing it had yet come to hand. What was worse, the Weed's juices were toxic, as was the smoke that resulted if it was burned, making it all the more dangerous.
Save, of course, to the rulers of said city, who apparently had the means to control it, but kept that knowledge to themselves for their own selfish purposes. Regardless of their motives, it left Theron and everyone he knew within and around the forest in a troublesome situation. The Weed was already at the edge of their lands, and would quickly start to consume them if it was not stopped. A distant relation of his had been sent to that city to the southwest to attempt to obtain the secret to destroying the deadly plant, but thus far there had been no news. This wasn't entirely surprising, as it hadn't really been long enough for there to be any as of yet.
Still, that secret was urgently needed, as Theron's observations on this excursion had confirmed. The Weed had already advanced into the forest edge, and the trees whose roots it choked were beginning to die. The foliage in the infested area was already dead, and there were no signs of any animal activity within the fouled region either. Even they seemed to know that it was time to move out when the Weed moved in.
Theron's thoughts were abruptly interrupted as, with no warning whatsoever, his surroundings suddenly changed in mid-stride...
-----
Deamth paused outside of the stone keep in front of him atop the small hill. He spoke to the old man he was helping, but never tore his eyes away from the ancient looking building, "This is where you live?"
The old wizard grinned to his company and replied, "Yes. Impressive for an old man, eh?" He wheezed a cackle and continued toward his home. After another moment or two of examining the small castle and the surroundings, Deamth continued along behind the man.
Upon coming inside the stone keep, Deamth had to once again pause to take in his surroundings. He had to pull the hood of his cloak back so that he could see it better. It was lovely adorned with carpets, and candlesticks aplenty. Mirrors were hung in just the right places to make it seem larger then it was. He was only there for a minute, and he already felt right at home, as if he had been living here for years. Deamth could only give an impressed smile to the man.
The old mage, pleased with the young man's reaction just grinned back. Again, it took another moment before Deamth spoke up, "Well, where is that item you had found? The one you wanted me to help you with." The old man threw his hands into the air in rememberance, "Oh! Yes! It is upstairs. Follow me!" With that, the old wizard rushed up a staircase to the West with a speed that belied his age. Deamth merely smiled, adjusted his bag, armor and belt, and continued after the man.
Upon reaching the top, he entered a room that left him stunned. There was almost no area of the wall or floor that was left unadorned. There were carpets - both on the floor and hung on the walls - mirrors, skulls of all sorts of animals. He had everything from suits of armor, to swords and maces. He had things that Deamth couldn't identify, and things that he couldn't even describe. The decorations in this room indicated that the old wizard must have led a very full life. On the desk in the corner to Deamth's left was a very odd looking orb. It appeared clear, but it was giving off a faint white-blue light. It seemed to be held by what looked like the fore-paw of a Dragon.
The old wizard went for his desk, picked up the orb in his hands, and brought it over to Deamth, "Here, hold this for a moment."
Deamth blinked and took a step back. He didn't know a lot about magic, but this didn't look safe, "Uh...no thanks."
The old man's face quickly grew into one of irritation, "Oh come, come now! I thought you were supposed to be some kind of soldier!"
Deamth narrowed his black eyes at the mage, "EX soldier, thank you."
The old man glared back, "Whatever. My point being you're supposed to be strong, not some coward! Look, I'm holding it!"
Deamth sighed and knew it was a bad idea, but agreed and took it from the man anyway. With that, the old wizard rushed off throughout the room, gathering the items he needed for whatever experiment he was going to produce. All Deamth was told was that this was some new object, and that the old man didn't know what it did yet.
Deamth examined the orb in his hands carefully though curiously. ~Now why is that rotten Dragon hand on here?~ He thought. He experimentally pulled back on the index finger, and it the tip peeled back fairly easily. Underneath, where the finger had been, there was a strip of color. It was green, but it started changing color. Slowly at first, but then it shifted to blue...red...yellow...all of the colors in the rainbow, and it did it in the most beautiful way. It being so pretty, Deamth peeled back the rest of the finger, and saw that it was a long strip, and it was doing the same thing.
Deamth was breathless - magic certainly did have it's beauty! He looked up to tell the wizard about this, but didn't see him in sight, so he instead looked back to the orb. Upon looking back at the orb, he noticed that the other 3 fingers had peeled back slightly, and that under those tips the same occurences were taking place. Being completely intrigued, he carefully peeled back the other fingers. Once that was done, the entire orb very slowly began to shift colors also like the strips. It was absolutely gorgeous!
Deamth looked up, and still not seeing the wizard, decided to just yell out for him anyways - this was just too good for him to miss! "Sir! Sir! You have to see this!" The old man's head popped up from behind his desk, his face still twisted in that look of irritation which quickly changed into utter surprise upon seeing the orb. He rushed out, and began to run towards Deamth, "No child! What have you done?!"
Suddenly, the stupidity of what he had done hit Deamth...and so did a blast of raw energy. Deamth felt himself fly back...but didn't land. Instead he was surrounded by that white-blue light, as if he was falling down a hole. After what seemed like ages, he finally was spit out, and hit a large boulder upside down, slowly sliding down the stone until he lay on the grass.
-----
Theron blinked in surprise and immediately reached for his knife as he glanced around in alarm, taking in his new surroundings. Where he had been walking along the forest edge but a moment ago, he now stood in the middle of an open grassland, with no familiar features whatsoever. He relaxed slightly when he sensed no imminent danger, and left the knife in its sheath.
A gnawing disquiet settled upon him as he fought down the disorientation to consider what had happened. There was no sign of anyone nearby, so it wasn't any kind of magical trick - if magic were reliable to begin with, which it wasn't. But then...
His heart sank. A portal! Since the return of magic to the world, portals had been opening at random across the world, sometimes changing places or destinations without any rhyme or reason. There had been many people pulled to the world from elsewhere by those chaotic gateways, but it was equally possible for someone to be sent elsewhere by one. Had that just happened to him? If so, he could be in very dire trouble, as those portals usually did not function both ways...
His downcast thoughts were interrupted by a sudden movement to his right. He wheeled about in time to see someone fall against a large boulder that was sticking out of the ground, and slide down the other side out of view. Someone else taken by the same portal, perhaps? Theron moved cautiously towards the boulder, circling wide around it just in case an unwelcome surprise awaited...
-----
After a few moments of groaning, he finally got to his feet and did a quick check on himself, only to find that he had lost his bag, his weapons, his armor...he lost everything! Well...almost everything. He still had his clothing, and once he checked he found he still had his sling and leather pouch full of carefully carved stones...but still. He had no idea where he was, and he was almost helpless. He looked around and found he was in the middle of some sort of short grass plain...no trees for miles...no mountains...and no roads.
Due to his training, he could hear footsteps. He was very disoriented and dazzed from the hit from the magic, and from smashing into the stone, so he couldn't tell where it was coming from, but not seeing anyone around suggested that it was on the other side of the stone.
Wearily, he took a few steps to the side, and paused, taking on a defensive stance as he saw a cloaked man circle around the stone, some distance back from it. "Ho there....Greetings... Is this your land?"
-----
Theron observed the stranger, noting his rather unusual appearance. While the man across from him seemed to be a human of about six feet in height, his skin was an unnatural dark grey color, his eyes as black as coal, and not a single strand of hair was visible anywhere upon him. The stranger's clothing seemed more normal, though the belt he wore seemed to lack whatever weapons or tools its design suggested it normally held.
Theron noted an empty sling in the man's hand and shifted his stance slightly, ready to react in the event the stranger's intentions were hostile. "No, this land doesn't belong to me," he replied, his voice steady and slightly deep. "In fact, I don't really know where I am."
-----
Deamth noticed the man in front of him shift his stance and followed the man's glance to his hand that held the sling. Realizing this, he hurridly placed it back under his vest. "You too, eh? What happened to you? I just got hit with something...I think it was a blast from some kind of magic." Deamth kept his distance, just incase this man decided he didn't like him.
Almost like instinct, Deamth took notice of the man, everything he was wearing, his build, how well he handles his strength, just about anything someone could notice. He seemed to be a human male, slightly tanned and of average height and build, though his muscles appeared fairly well toned from regular exercise. He was in his early to mid twenties, with medium length, straight brown hair, but no mustache or beard.
He was wearing a deep green hooded cloak over a deep green shirt, leather pants and vest, and soft leather boots. A leather belt was at his waist, from which hung a pouch and a sheathed hunting knife. A light backpack was over his shoulders, a presently unstrung bow and small quiver strapped to that.
To Deamth, he seemed like a well prepared man for travel, much more then himself at the moment, but he seemed to be someone of the wild...perhaps a herder or hunter. He wasn't sure, but Deamth was somewhat confident that he could handle the man if things became confrontational.
-----
Theron relaxed a bit as the man stowed his sling away. There were still no guarantees about the stranger's intentions, but it was a beginning, at least.
"I believe that I have become the victim of one of the portals which have been erupting across the land," he said, glancing out over the terrain as he spoke. "But then this may not be the same place as I came from..."
-----
Deamth sighed and nodded, relaxing his stance and standing upright. He tried to look nonaggressive, but kept his hands and body-weight in position so that he could still defend himself if need be. "Yes, I understand what you mean. I already know that this is not the same place I came from. With the blast I was hit with, I can only assume that it wouldn't just send me a mile away, and this land doesn't look like any part of the place where I come from. We don't have any meadows this large, for instance."
-----
Theron considered the man's words for a moment. "What magical blast are you referring to? Since magic returned to the world... or at least my world... a short time ago, it has been very unstable. Is this the case with you?"
-----
Deamth furrowed his brows - well, the muscle that would have controled them, had he any hair - and shook his head. "Oh no. Where I come from magic is quite stable, and has been around for centuries. I was helping an old wizard with an item he had found, and I...err...it wasn't very stable, and blasted me with a strong wave of magic. All I remember really is traveling through a sort of light tunnel that spat me out, and I hit this boulder not so lightly. Believe me, the last thing I want to do is cause trouble."
He was also looking around, trying to make out the different directions of North, South, East, and West, but he didn't know anything about this place, and if the rules of his world could be applied here. It couldn't hurt to try though.
-----
Theron sighed, returning his gaze to the stranger. "We've both found trouble, whether we wanted to or not. Now," he reached up and scratched his chin thoughtfully, "I'm at a loss as to what to do. I must get back to my home if it's at all possible, but the portals that afflict my land are one way only trips from what I've been told. I certainly hope there's someone here who knows a way to open a new one for me..."
----
Deamth turned his gaze back towards the man in front of him just as the man returned his eyes to Deamth. "I...um...I do not wish to crush your hopes...but I do not think that would be possible. There must be more worlds out there then can be counted...how would you, or he, know which one to send you back to?"
-----
Theron hadn't considered that point until now, not really having any expertise on the topic. His stomach started to tie itself in a knot as he realized he might well be trapped... and it had a much greater implication for him than it might have had for others...
-----
Deamth gave a small shrug, and a look that said "Sorry" and continued looking around. "I for one do not wish to go back to my home. It could be intresting here...after all, I met you." Deamth turned back to the man and gave a friendly wink.
-----
Theron started to reply, then stopped and sighed. The stranger didn't realize the predicament that Theron was in, and probably hadn't meant to upset him the way he now was.
"I must get back there if I can. I don't belong here," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. He patted his stomach lightly once, futilely hoping that that would coax it into settling down. It didn't help, and he resignedly tugged on his jacket to straighten it.
-----
Deamth furrowed his brow muscles again, taking a few steps towards the man. "Hey, look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you...I just felt that you needed to know the reality of this situation. You must have a family, right?" Deamth noticed that the man seemed to be growing ill, and he could imagine how the man must feel. "Hey, look, why don't we find the nearest village? I'll buy you something to eat and drink. It'll help calm you down an--"
Deamth's eyes widened, and he began to frantically pat the pockets of his cloak, his vest, and his pants, "No..no...no..no..no no no no NO!! Damn the damned!" Deamth squeezed his eyes shut and made his hands into fists, clenching his jaw. "ARG! I have no money!" Deamth released his jaw, and his eyes, and his fists, mumbling to himself in thought. "Alright...it seems that the blast ridded me of all of my metal...which would explain why no sword or armor or the such, and why it left me my sling and clothes...but it took my money! I'm broke!" Deamth sighed and gave the man another appologetic look. "Sorry, seems I can't buy you that drink after all..."
-----
Theron listened to the stranger silently as he tried to calm himself down. The stranger's outburst didn't help matters, but at least he was making an attempt to be helpful. Theron massaged his stomach for a moment, trying to think about what he should do.
"I don't have any money either," he answered, his voice a little less steady than usual. "I do have some food and water, but I don't think I could keep them down at the moment. I..." he took a deep breath and stepped up to the rock, then turned and leaned against it, laying his head against its rough surface.
He couldn't take any chances with what he said to this person, he had a big enough problem already without adding to his troubles. "Yes, I have a family, friends, a home... and I have to get back to them all," he said quietly.
-----
Deamth sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I can understand that. Look, how about I help you out? Maybe we can find someone who can get you back. Besides..." Deamth interlocked his fingers and stretched out his arms, popping his knuckles, "...I'm a pretty good thief. If we need some money, I could probably get us some. Just need to find a marketplace or something."
Deamth began looking around again, not wary of the man anymore, no longer deeming him a threat. "We better get walking...seems we have a lot of ground to cover. We can talk while we walk." He turned back around and looked back to the man. He took a moment to ascertain the man's condition, and shook his head, "Or we can stay here. You seem not well, as I suppose you should be. I'll bet you already miss your family, eh?"
-----
Theron titled his head downward, staring at the ground. "More than you realize," he replied glumly, then looked up. "But you're right, we should try to find somewhere we can gain information and supplies. I don't want to resort to thievery, though."
He straightened and tugged on his jacket once again, then took a slow step forward. "Lead on then, though please don't move to swiftly just now."
-----
Deamth nodded and was taking long though steady strides towards the sun. As far as he could tell, it was morning, so going toward the sun should be going West, but he was still not sure. "I know, but if it comes down to it, what other choice do we have? I have nothing to sell other then my sling ammunition, and even that wouldn't get us much, if anything." He reached into the leather pouch that hung on the right of his belt and pulled out a stone. He offered it to the man for examination. "Any other suggestions I'm open to."
-----
Theron glanced sideways at the stone, but waved it away. "We'll find someone who needs work done. If nothing else comes up, I can go hunting and sell the meat and skins," he said, massaging his stomach again as he walked. Now that his initial panic had passed, it was settling down to a dull ache.
-----
Deamth smiled and nodded, replying, "Alright. We can do that." At the same time, he was thinking, ~Yeah, you can do that, I'll get my money MY way.~ Deamth glanced towards the man, then continued looking toward where they were headed. "So, tell me a bit about your world? It sounds interesting."
-----
Theron thought about what he should say for a moment before answering. "It's recently been affected by the return of the magic which was lost to it for many ages. this has been a blessing and curse, for while it is once again present, it is also very unstable. I've had little to do with it other than being pulled through this portal today, but I've heard of several major disasters being caused by people trying to manipulate it unsuccessfully."
-----
Deamth's eyes widened slightly in interest, magic always intriguing him...even after what had just happened. "Really? In what ways?"
-----
"There is a large city to the southwest of my home, which has suffered the most disasters. Although given how they've treated others, maybe they deserve it," Theron frowned slightly. "At least a couple of magical storms, one of which supposedly filled the city with shards of glass and another of which sank a fleet of ships, are two things I've heard of. There've also been stories of a huge temple to some fell power rising in the heart of the city. A plague of the revived dead assaulting them too. Those are just the things I've heard of, I'm sure there've been more."
Theron let his hand fall to his side again. The massaging wasn't making him feel any better, but at least he wasn't feeling as ill as he had been at first.
-----
Deamth nodded, picking up his pace slightly. "Sounds very interesting. I guess having a place where magic is unstable could provide as many amazing situations as a place where the magic is stable and has been studied. There's still that element of surprise with each side. Well, I won't ask you more, because you're probably continuing to feel ill, and I don't wish to worsen that."
Deamth sighed and looked around, enjoying the silence and taking in his surroundings, trying to find out what he could about new area.
-----
"Tell me about your world then," Theron ventured. Talking at least provided a bit of a distraction from his worries, even if it might mean he had to evade certain questions that were likely to arise later on.
-----
Deamth shrugged slightly. "Depends on what you want to know. If you want to know the basics, then I'm not going to tell you it's a good place or a bad place, because it all depends on which side of the coin you're on...or sometimes, the spell. If you're looking to fill in the silence, then I could tell you stories and give you details. I may not be that old, but so far I've seen and heard a lot in my lifetime."
-----
"Speak then, and I will listen. There's little else enough for us to do as we walk," Theron smiled. It was a rather halfhearted smile, thanks to the discomfort he was feeling. "Tell me about some of the things you've done, perhaps."
-----
Deamth noticed the forced smile, and knew that things were hard on the man, but he still had hope. Deamth felt badly for the stranger for how he was going to feel when he realized things were hopeless, but he wasn't going to spoil the man's hope...he'd done enough as it was. Deamth took a deep breath and cleared his throat, preparing to speak.
"Well, where I come from, magic is very stable...most of the time. Has been for centuries back, and I imagine it will be for centuries to come. There are all types of magic there; Nature, Blood, Dark, Water, Fire, all of those good ones. There's also a few that aren't so popular, I dunno if you'd know them or not. They're magics that mostly are translated only through a bloodline. These can range from shapeshifting, to some of the most grotesque ideas that you've ever seen."
"Some of the most amazing things I've ever seen have to be the duels between mages." Deamth smiled and shook his head in rememberance. "Oh...you should see it...Especially if they're old! The old ones not only know the best spells, but they're experts in them! The sky fills up with light, and you see some of the most amazing spells and counter spells you'd EVER imagine! I mean, they'd meet on a mountain and sit there...staring at one another...sometimes they'd just stare for hours on end, then suddenly, there's an arc of light as a spell is cast, and EVERYTHING just explodes into power! This one turns the enemy into a worm, that one lights the other's foot on fire. In reaction this one send the other a mile away with a blast of water, the other one reacts by teleporting behind the first. Oh, it's so fast paced...it rivals that of a sword fight between masters."
"We have lots of creatures also. I'm not sure which ones you would know, considering you said that magic only returned, but we have Dragons, and Cadras, and Mythcots. These things can often be a very large hardship on a village, but some are more reasonable then others."
"Hmm...let's see...the land is beautiful. Very resilient though. Very. It has to be. A fight between a large Dragon and a Mythcot could tear up the countryside for miles! Give it a week tops, and everything's grown back, and you'd never know that there was ever a fight. I think it's because of all of the magic present, but that's just a theory."
-----
"What are Cadras and Mythcots?" Theron inquired, not having heard of them before. Dragons were hardly commonplace in his world even after the return of magic, but he at least had a basic idea of what they were.
-----
Deamth thought of how to describe a Mythcot to someone who had never seen it before. "Well...it is basically the mammalian version of a Dragon. It is covered head to toe in a very very thick fur which actually provided ample protection when one met up with an enemy Mythcot or a Dragon. It wasn't often that a Mythcot would come down from the mountains and battle with a Dragon, but when it happened, everyone for miles knew it. A battle between them would often last for days on end."
-----
"And the Cadras?" Theron prompted.
-----
"Ahhh the Cadras. No one knows for sure how they came to be, but there are certainly plenty of theories. A Cadrae looks like a very flat, but very large lizard. Hmm...have you ever heard of a fish called the "flounder"? It has both eyes on the same side of it's head. That is the position of a Cadrae's eyes, although both are directly on top instead of on a side. It has no spikes or spines, no wings, no tail, but 6 legs, and is actually very intelligent. They normally travel in groups, and hunt in packs of at least 3. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who has traveled a forest infested by the Cadras and has survived."
-----
Theron nodded to this. Neither creature existed in his own land as far as he knew, though with magic being what it was he supposed that anything was possible. "What sort of activities did you pursue there? I'm afraid my own life isn't terribly exciting, I've spent most of it either working the farm or hunting."
-----
Deamth smiled and gave the man's arm a playful backhand. "A fellow farmer, eh? So, turns out we do have something in common. I was a farmer, like my father before me. He's the one who taught me actually. I was a farmer until I came of age, then I got conscripted into the king's army. I was basically in it because of my parents. See, the army was paying me quite a bit, and so I'd send it to my parents...after they died, I had no more reason to be in the army, so at the next war, I escaped in the carnage and left. Been traveling since...that's actually where I've seen almost all that I have."
After all of the walking they had been doing, Deamth caught sight of what may be a village, or a town up ahead. It was too small to tell, but at least it was something to head for.
-----
Theron managed to avoid flinching at the admittedly friendly gesture, despite his lingering wariness. He listened to the stranger's tale with mild interest, but found little way to relate to a king's army, or conscription for that matter. Neither were an issue where he lived, and were unlikely to become so anytime soon. Assuming of course that the Weed didn't put an end to it all. "I've never travelled outside of the region I was born in," he stated a bit distractedly. "At least until now. I've never had the need to."
He too noted the settlement slowly coming into view on the horizon. To some extent, he hoped that it was a small place, as he would feel much less comfortable anywhere that was crowded. On the other hand, a larger center would offer better opportunities and information. Regardless, he managed to speed up his pace a little bit, now that he had a goal in sight.
*****
In the half-light of the early morning, the young woman stirred. Unsuccessful at stifling the moan of soreness and weariness, she silently mouthed a pentinent prayer and scrambled to her feet. If any had been close enough to see her, she would have cut a strange figure in the rocky, mountainous terrain. She was small, enough so that she could nigh have passed for a child among the barbarians, her form lean and wiry from long training. The traditional sunset colored robe of the Sisters of the Mountain Tiger hung loosely from her spare frame, the white embroidery on its sleeves indicating an initiate of the lesser mysteries.
ChaiDhal chafed at her raw wrists and looked about, sighing inwardly as she realized that there would be little chance of finding food before she reached the civilized side of the pass. She absently brushed aside a strand of her black hair and set off up the treacherous slope, her bare feet leaving no tracks. Years of study and training had ingrained obedience into her.
Again she heard the words of the Holy Mother, just before the attack.
"Run, Cherdre, little tigress, for we are lost here. The Holy One in Yherdai must be told of this as quickly as possible. Make your way over the Springing Leopard Pass, and thence down through the Vale of Crystal Songs. You must not fail, for the sake of the Empire."
Much time had been lost already, and she knew that the barbarian mage-hounds were hunting her. As she leaped between two boulders, a tingling sensation reached her. What, the mages had caught up to her allready? She turned, expecting to see the robed forms of the barbarian's tame mages further down the slope, but even as she turned, the scene changed.
She found herself in a wide field of tall grasses. This was certainly not anywhere in the Enlightened Empire of a Thousand Songs.
Inwardly she cursed the mages, though she was unsure that this translocation was actually their work. A path had been apparently forged through the grasses. Even though it likely led to other barbarians, hopefully at least it would also lead to information on how to get back to the empire.
She hadn't gone on the path too long when she spotted a duo on the horizon. Now getting tired, and with her hunger and thirst becoming more than a mere annoyance, she knew that she had to approach them, much as it irked her to ask aid of barbarians. She warily approached them, unsure of her response, but guessing that things couldn't get much worse.
*****
As Deamth continues to walk, he looks around as a habit, keeping track of that which is around him. First look...nothing. Five minutes later...nothing. Another five minutes...someone is approaching. Deamth tilts his head, trying to acertain who this person might be. After a moment, he figures it must be female by the build, and the walk. Silently he turns back around and gives his traveling companion a small nudge with his elbow, "Don't look now, but I believe we're being followed." Deamth turns to the man and grins, giving a nod behind them.
-----
Theron starts slightly at the nudge, then glances back at the approaching figure, silently cursing himself for allowing his preoccupation with his plight to cause him to let his usual caution slip. It was only a single person following them, but it could have just as easily been a group. Even one person could be dangerous if they caught someone unawares.
He looks at the man next to him, slowing to a halt. "We'll have to see what they want," he sighs. "Let's just hope this isn't trouble." He turns to face the person - a small woman, from the looks of her. He does his best not to show his renewed discomfort; his stomach has begun to tie itself in knots again at the possibility that further problems are about to reveal themselves.
-----
Deamth smiles and replies, "She my friend...she. Worry not, she cannot want trouble. After all, who here knows us? We both just arrived." Deamth gives the man a reassuring smile and turns around to face the girl as she continues approaching, his hands behind his back.
-----
"That's not a guarantee, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt until given a reason otherwise," Theron says, raising one hand in greeting to the woman. She is still a bit far away to reply save by shouting, but he doesn't think it will hurt to show that their intentions, at least, are not hostile.
-----
ChaiDhal watched as the two beings noticed her approach. Not that she had expected to sneak up on them anyhow. The grass was not quite tall enough for her to approach from concealment unless she was crawling. Besides, as her instructors were so fond of reminding her, it was fear and startlement that caused most of the violence in the world. If people lived without fear, they would not hold such anger, and there would be no war. The Enlightened Empire had lived by that rule for several centuries, proof of it's validity.
The men had turned to face her, from their stance attempting to judge her intentions. 'Well,' she thought, 'it's not like I want to hurt anyone, so it will look best if I approached directly.' Without breaking stride, her face held in impassivity, she walked directly toward them. She tucked her hands into her sleaves and prepared herself. These may be barbarians, but it never hurt to approach things with proper courtesy.
She remained silent until she stood within about twenty feet of them then glided into a bow of the degree offered to strangers. They were an oddity, the pair of them, one a man of grey skin, quite unusual, the other more normal, but in appearance like unto the barbarians. But she sensed no magic directly in use here, so she'd trust her luck. Silently she rubbed the stone dragon figure tucked into her sleeve for luck, hoping she was doing things properly.
"I offer you greetings, sirs. I fear that I know not where I am, for I was sent here by foul magic. Know you the way to the Enlightened Empire of a Thousand Songs, also called Yahlear among the barbarian city-states to the west?"
-----
Deamth smiles warmly, and with his hands behind his back, returns the bow. "Greetings my Lady. I would like to be of some assistance, but I'm afraid that I just arrived here in somewhat the same way as yourself, and know nothing of the surrounding area." Not wanting to speak for both of them, Deamth turns towards Theron for his reaction.
-----
Looking only somewhat less uncomfortable than he feels, Theron mumbles, "It seems to be going around." He suspects that the woman before them is likely to end up travelling with them before this meeting is done. It does, he decides, make sense, if she's arrived the same way the two of them did. Still, it will mean he has another person to worry about, in more ways than one...
He looks back at Deamth, shrugging slightly.
-----
Deamth gives a small chuckle to Theron, but wonders what the shrug ment. Not thinking much about it, Deamth looks back to the girl. "Well my Lady, if you would like, perhaps you could accompany us? We are traveling to the village just down that way, perhaps someone there would know the place you speak of?" Deamth smiles again and awaits her answer.
---
ChaiDhal nodded seriously, studying the two men for a moment. "There is more here than is obvious. If it would not be too much of an imposition, it might be wise for us to travel together for a time, until we find out why we are here, and where we are at least." She brushed back a lock of hair that annoyingly had fallen in her face and tightened the sash around her robe, waiting for their decision.
-----
Theron nods slightly, giving a short, somewhat tired looking smile. He glances at Deamth for confirmation, then speaks. "We could use the company, I'm sure. If I may ask, how long has it been since you've eaten? You look half-starved. I have some food in my backpack if you need it."
He forces himself to relax a bit more, as it seems there is no danger in the offing, at least for the moment.
-----
Deamth gives a small nod in response to Theron's questioning glance. He smirks slightly as he sizes up the girl, watching how she holds herself, especially her eyes. One can easily feign confidence through body language, and speech, but the truth always lies in the eyes. The eyes are the doorway into the soul, and the soul cannot be hidden. This fact makes Deamth grateful for his eyes. They're so odd, no one wants to look into them. As he listens to the two talk to each other, Deamth pulls out one of his sling stones and rubs it between his fingers idly.
-----
ChaiDhal regards Theron for a moment with a hint of surprise in her eyes. "I am grateful for your concern. It has been two days since my last meal at the Citadel, and no time nor opportunity to search for food since." She is silent a moment, then continues, "Forgive me for my lack of courtesy, I am ChaiDhal, of the Sisters of the Mountain Tiger, from the Enlightened Empire of a Thousand Songs. I fear I have no way to repay your kindness. When the magic brought me here, I had been traveling over the Pass of the Springing Tiger. I had been commanded to bring word as quickly as possible to the Holy One of the fall of the Citadel of the Tiger's Paw, to the barbarian invaders."
-----
Theron's brow wrinkles slightly at the unfamiliar names, even as he shrugs off one of his backpack straps and swings the pack down to the ground in front of him. "I've never heard of those places, I'm afraid," he replies as he rummages around inside the pack. "Although since it's likely you're from another world than I am, that's not surprising. At least, I assume that's the case - magic hasn't gone wild where you're from?" He pulls a pair of apples and three strips of beef jerky from the pack, holding them up in ChaiDhal's direction. "I'm Theron, by the way."
-----
Deamth smiles and listens as the two talk, still playing with his stone between his fingers. He doesn't really have anything to say, so he remains silent and just listens to what's going on. Perhaps he can learn something.
-----
ChaiDhal accepts the food gladly and smiles a bit, taking a bite before responding, "No, magic, and mind-magic, are common, but not chaotic. Not in my land at least, since the first Holy One brought our empire to peace and prosperity. We have learned to train the mind and body, and have mastered much of the world around us, but choose to live in harmony with it."
-----
Theron nods slightly, mainly in response to the last part of ChaiDhal's statement. "If what you say about magic is true, then there is no chance that we come from the same world. Most likely the two of you," he glances at Deamth, "Are of separate worlds as well, all of us drawn to this one."
Even as he speaks, he knows that it's possible that they are actually on the world that one of these two people came from - but since he, at least, is certainly from a different one, it wouldn't make sense for that to be the case. The two had better prove trustworthy in the long run, he realizes, or it's unlikely any of them will see home again. Even if they both are, he suspects that the odds are stacked heavily against them anyway.
-----
Deamth nods, "The same is true of my world. The magic is stable, and has been around for centuries now." He shakes his head, "But we have been at constant war with eachother, there's almost no peace anywhere. I've been traveling throughout my land for years now, so I would know. I think it is most likely that we are all from different worlds."
----
ChaiDhal nods thoughtfully, and finishes her meal. "Again I thank you for your kindness. I suspect that there is much in this pattern here that we do not yet understand. But I feel that perhaps we are meant to travel this road together for a time. Shall we head down the road, to see what it is that we are led to?"
-----
Theron shoulders his pack again as the two speak and ChaiDhal eats, looking over his shoulder at the town that still lies some distance ahead. From his current vantage point, he is able to make out what looks like a small lake shimmering in the sunlight at one edge of the town, and catches hints of the same shimmering from what must be a small river flowing into and out of the lake.
"We'd better get going," he says quietly. "That town is the best place to start looking, unless you both fancy wandering aimlessly about this grasslands for a while."
-----
Deamth smiles and keeps his comments to himself, other than, "Sure, let us be off then."
As they start towards the town, Deamth puts on his gloves, and pulls his hood over his head. No need to startle anyone, they may get the wrong idea about him.
-----
As they near the walled town, the group can easily discern that it does indeed sit on the edge of a small lake that is both fed and drained by the same equally small river. It's not a large one, not even large enough for the town to have bothered building a proper dock onto it.
They are also able to make out a trail approaching the town to their left, heading up to a presently closed gate set into the wall. They make for the gate, taking note of what little can be seen over the wall which surrounds the place.
Aside from the tops of several buildings, there appears to be one large keep sitting proudly against the opposite wall, near the lakeshore. It's far from impressive at first glance, but it certainly looks functional. As to who or what the keep and wall is intended as a defense against, there is no sign.
A pair of men are lounging against the wall on either side of the gate. Both are clad in a dark orange surcoat, and lazily hold onto spears. As they see the trio approaching, however, they become more vigilant, standing upright and holding their weapons more formally.
-----
Theron grimaces slightly at the sight of the two guardsmen as the group closes the remaining distance to the gate. If what he's heard of towns such as this is true, the three of them are probably going to be asked questions about themselves. The answers to those questions aren't likely to be accepted, even if they tell the truth. Lying would be worse though, especially since they have no way to know what might be believable in this place.
-----
ChaiDhal watches the guards quietly, walking just a few steps behind her companions. She realizes as Theron does that an explaination must be offered at the gate, and likewise that the truth as they knew it would almost certainly not suffice. But it irks her to no end having to be dishonest. However, truth is often the best of deceptions. And it is a useful tool, certes.
"It may be wise deciding on a single tale for when they ask us who we are, where we are from, and why we are here. Perhaps a part of the truth, carefully worded, would be sufficient."
-----
Deamth walks a little off to the left side of the group so that he's able to keep both of his companions in his peripheral vision, not knowing them well enough to turn his back on them *just* yet. Never having had to worry about the guards in the past, it doesn't hit him until ChaiDhal speaks up, and he realizes that she is right. He pauses a moment, dropping back so that he is keeping pace with her, and can see both of them clearly, "You have a very good point, my Lady. I don't know what I may suggest, other then saying we are all travelers."
-----
"We're obviously travellers," Theron mutters, turning his head to regard the other two. "Albeit unintentionally," he continues more clearly. "I have no idea what would be plausible here, but saying we just popped in at random from other worlds probably won't go over very well. But what else is there? We don't even know the names of any places in this world to fib with."
-----
The small woman seems to ponder a moment before speaking, "Perhaps the best solution is to say merely that we are pilgrims. We are companions who had chanced upon one another after losing our way. We do not know the way back to our homes, and are thusly journeying with no set goal. I think that should not be questioned overmuch, and should explain things effectively."
She rolls a pair of stone spheres in her hand as she thinks, a look of contemplation on her round features.
-----
Deamth nods slowly as he listens to the two. "You both have good ideas, although, my good man, we may not know the names of all of the places here, but neither may they. We could, in all likeliness, make up some names, say it's far away, and leave it at that." Deamth gives a small shrug, "That's what I say anyways, although I have not traveled with companions before, so I'm not sure what to do in this type of situation." Deamth continues rubbing one of his sling stones in his fingers as he tries to think, at a loss for what to do, but not really worrying about it.
-----
Theron waves towards the two guards, who are now watching the trio with interest from only a short distance away. "You'd best deal with them then," he says to ChaiDhal. "I've never had cause to visit anywhere like this."
-----
ChaiDhal nods and approaches the gate. Her small frame seems to become larger as she steadies herself, drawing upon her training to make her seem more believable. She tucks the stone spheres into the edge of her sash and walks up to the guards. "Good Sirs, pray tell what place is this?"
The guards seem somewhat surprised by her boldness, and more yet by her question. They relax their grips on their weapons and look over the group carefully. One of them, who sports a rather large scar on his left cheek speaks up, "This is the city of Tharel, miss. Who are you, and your companions, and why are you here?"
ChaiDhal bows formally, "I am ChaiDhal, Sister of the Mountain Tiger. These are my companions, chance encounters on the road. We seek shelter for a few days, and perhaps an idea of where to go. We are far from our homes and do not know the way back. It seems that we hail from lands far from here, though our paths are lost in shadows."
She bends down and mouths a prayer, appearing to bestow a blessing upon the guards. They look at each other in surprise, then shake their heads, as if thinking that these strangers can't be much of a threat with a harmless priestess as spokesperson. "There is an inn, down the street and past the market square," the same guard replied. "The Sign of the Wounded Pheasant. Go there, and stay out of trouble. Though I'd be off with the dawn and away from here, if I were you." The guard shook his head again and waved up towards the top of the wall. A moment later, the gate swings open, stopping when wide enough for the trio to pass through.
The small woman bows again and passes through the gate, Deamth and Therion following.
-----
Deamth watches as the small Lady talks her way through the guards. ~Very impressive. Whoever taught her has taught her well. We didn't even learn that - but then again, it wasn't needed.~ He gives a small smirk as he keeps tabs on everyone's condition. Theron seems to be nervous, no doubt worrying that the group is going to get caught. Why he always seems so anxious is beyond Deamth, but perhaps it is just his way. ChaiDhal, in contrast, appears confident to Deamth, and yet he senses that she is very slightly worried also. Most likely, she has gone through some trying situation before coming here.
The guards though, they are obviously on edge about something. Their little group doesn't seem to be the cause - something else is worrying them, though not so much that they've volunteered that information. Deamth gives a slight shrug and a small salute to the guards as the group continues past them and into the town.
-----
Theron brings up the rear as the other two lead the way in, looking up at the wall and gate that towers over them as they step through. This is the first time he's been to a town that has walls, and he can't help but feel that the fact that they must need them isn't the most auspicious sign.
That concern, he concludes, will have to wait until later. Right now, the group needs to find its way around this unfamiliar place.
-----
The streets prove to be cluttered and winding. What seemed like a straight path from the gate quickly becomes a meandering journey past narrow alleys and old shopfronts. The trio walks quietly down these cheerless streets, looking for the inn that the guard had mentioned, as a sense of unease descends upon them. Along one narrow twisty street, past some laundry hung across its entrance, a battered sign sways in the wind.
The painted image that once graced the old wood of the sign has peeled away, making it impossible to tell what it originally depicted. Hoping that it indicates the inn they were directed too, they turn the corner, pushing past some laundry hanging across the entry way.
The narrow street that they find themselves on is even more dingy than the surrounding area, and travels only a short distance before turning to the left. The trio proceeds down it, their unease growing. It isn't until they round that corner that their disquiet finds justification.
-----
ChaiDhal rounds the corner warily, moving with the quickness and agility of the cat she is nicknamed after. The street ahead is a dead end after only ten more feet, yet this is not so disturbing as what it holds. In the resulting gloom, several rough-looking men are surrounding and huddling over another figure who is sprawled on the ground. ChaiDhal halts in surprise, trying to understand what is going on. She can hear one of them hissing something angrily to the downed individual, but his sentence is interrupted as he and the other figures turn their attention to her and her companions.
The men react almost immediately, five of them brandishing weapons and stepping towards the three of them while the sixth continues to hold the unknown individual down. Only one of the five seems focused on her, but he wields a large, long knife that is already lightly stained with blood.
She looks at him uncomprehendingly for a moment, unwilling to believe that anyone actually wants to hurt someone else. But the scent of blood and sweat, and the look on his face as he charges her reminds her that she's not in the Citadel anymore, and things are different here. Agilely sidestepping his first attack, she loosens her sash while fighting back the cramps from two days without food.
-----
Deamth's eyes widen as he sees the men rise up and attack them. He is about to help ChaiDhal when he realizes that she isn't the only one in trouble. He prays that his training is still with him as he quickly sizes up the two men who are closing in on him. He narrows his eyes and takes on a defensive stance out of trained instinct, leaping back as the first slashes at his chest with a knife. Deamth is about to follow in and punch the guy, but a second one swings a club down at an angle, missing his skull by inches. This is not going to be easy...
-----
Theron feels panic creeping up on him as a pair of the ruffians close with him. He yanks his knife from its sheath and holds it up defensively, backing up and holding himself in the best defensive stance he knows. This is exactly the type of event he has been dreading. His knowledge of fighting is very limited and thus far untested against anyone. Having two people attacking him at once just makes matters worse.
And he's in the middle of a city, and there are people he can't afford to alienate with him, so he can't even defend himself the best way he knows how...
-----
ChaiDhal twists to avoid a slash at her side, nearly falling as she does so. Reaching down, she manages to get her sash loose and swings the heavy end of it at her attacker's head. He grunts and staggers back a bit, stunned momentarily by the blow. She she takes the moment's respite to center herself. ~What kind of land is this, that people use violence to solve their problems?~ She shakes her head and readies herself for another attack, wondering how they are going to get out of this in one piece.
-----
Deamth grits his teeth as he smacks the first man's wrist with his own. It has been too long since he was last involved in a hand-to-hand fight. His movements are rusty - not as smooth or quick as they used to be - or should be. He pulls his head back, arching his back to follow it as he evades a swing of the club at his head. He rears back and introduces his knuckles to the second man's face, taking advantage of the second man being off balance from the use of his clumsy weapon. Deamth snaps his eyes back towards the first just in time to see the knife headed towards his stomach...
-----
Theron backs away as the two press forward, slashing defensively at the air before him. The thug on his left lunges in with a short but heavy knife behind Theron's swing, forcing him to leap back out of the way. As he recovers his balance, the thug to his right follows up the assault by raising a long club and swinging it down towards Theron's head. Once again, Theron scurries backwards, then makes a futile lunge of his own towards the club wielding thug, trying to force him to back off.
Unfortunately, all that does is give the other thug an opening. The knife wielder slashes at his outstretched arm, drawing a bloody cut across the top of his forearm. Theron lets out a pained grunt as he scrambles back further, but manages to retain his grip on his own knife.
-----
ChaiDhal spins, her foot arcing up to as she turns, launching a powerful kick at her opponent's weapon hand. He drops the knife in suprise but reaches out and grabs her ankle, his fingers biting into her bare skin and knocking her to the ground. She hisses softly in her own lyrical tongue and twists away awkwardly, barely regaining her feet before he's on her again.
------
Deamth acks and again smacks the first's wrist with his own. Instead of the knife penetrating his stomach, it slashes across his middle, gouging in his side. The pain momentarily throws Deamth off balance. The second bruser who is standing behind him catches notice of this, and swings his club at Deamth's right side. Deamth growls as he sees the blow coming. Instinctively, he reaches out and grabs the first man's head with both of his hands. Twisting aside, he pulls the first man into the club's path. The crude weapon strikes a glancing blow against the first man's skull, knocking him unconscious. Before Deamth can recover fully though, the club comes at him again, striking his shoulder at just the right angle to dislocate it.
-----
The right hand thug presses the advantage, forcing Theron back farther with a pair of quick swings of his club while the knife wielding bruiser closes in again on the other side. Theron fights down his rising panic, all too aware that he is badly overmatched by the duo. A third club swing forces him back a third time - right up against the wall of the building behind him.
Grinning, the knife wielder steps in again, enacting a powerful stab at Theron's midsection. Theron slides to the right to avoid the attack, and the knife thunks into the wooden wall, forcing his assailant to pause for a moment to yank it back out.
This gives no respite however, as Theron realizes immediately that he's been backed into the corner of the street by evading as he did. The club wielder moves in, raising his club for another overhead bash.
Theron knows immediately that he has no choice in his response. His secret is going to be out, but there's no avoiding it. Lunging forward at the club wielder will just get him stabbed by the other man, and he can't hope to parry the attack with his knife.
It takes only an instant for him to call forth the necessary instinct, and the result is almost as swift.
-----
ChaiDhal dives forward into a roll. She twists just before she comes out of it, allowing her to face her opponent. The man is much larger and heavier than she is, but not nearly as agile. She calms herself forcefully and begins the springing tiger routine, clearing her mind to better focus her actions. She swings out with her makeshift weapon and connects squarely on his head, but almost trips as he he nearly falls on her, unconscious and bleeding. Then she hears the snarl...
-----
The momentum of the blow - and Deamth's staggering attempt at backing away - causes Deamth crash backwards into the wall, impacting hard enough that his shoulder pops back into place. Deamth lets out a yell of both pain and anger, fixing his eyes on the villain in front of him. Then he looks past him to... What in the world? It looks like Theron has a few little things he failed to mention. The shock is only enough to make Deamth pause for a moment before noticing that his opponent is also fixed on the Theron - in terror. Deamth snatches up the knife from the fallen foe, and stabs it into the gut of the clubber, pulling it up to split him open.
-----
The thug smiles wickedly as his club decends on the hapless appearing intruder. This is too easy. Then his eyes widen in surprise.
The form in front of him changes in the span of a heartbeat, becoming larger and heavier. A short, hairy coat appears on his victim, and a snarl passes lips now curled in a not quite human face. His club bounces off of the beast, apparently doing no more harm than forcing its head to bob slightly. Stumbling backward, the thug stifles a cry of absolute terror at the man that isn't a man, but a monster.
----
It is now Theron's turn to press forward, and he does so, viciously striking at the thug's chest with his knife. The knife wielding thug who had previously been a threat is no longer, turning to flee with only slightly more self-control than his companion is displaying.
Theron's rush is powered by greater strength and agility than he normally possesses, and his attack easily slips through the man's admittedly shaky defenses. His knife drives deep between the man's ribs, and the blow sends the brute sprawling to the ground. Theron's grip is strong enough that he does not lose the knife in the process, but the man's stunned yelp of pain and immediate flow of blood from the wound speak to its severity.
-----
ChaiDhal turns toward the snarl, an instinct within her telling her that she is in for more surprises. The now not quite human form of Theorn, however, does not frighten her when she sees it. With a quick nod in his direction she glances at Deamth. He is injured, but seems to be capable of handling things. Which leaves the one in the corner, still holding someone down. She remains indecisive, not knowing whether she should interfere or not, but her instinct for helping others prevails.
Stepping over to the thug in the corner she taps him on the shoulder, her eyes cold and hard, and her voice dry. "Excuse me, but I think that your friends have deserted you. And you might want to remove yourself considering my companion's current state. It would be most painful if they had to deal with you as well, no?" Slipping in front of the startled man she positions herself to stop any attack on the man lying prone next to the wall. "Besides, I don't understand why you want to attack others. Life is much richer when you work for your goals rather than try to steal them or force them from someone else."
-----
With his right arm hanging at his side, Deamth holds the knife in his left hand, and walks to stand slightly behind ChaiDhal. He looks the man in the eyes also and adds his two cents, "I agree with the Lady here. You have two choices. You can either stay here, and die, or you can cut your losses, and flee like the coward you are. The choice is yours," Deamth gives a rather evil grin, "though personally, I'd rather you *stuck* around for awhile." As he says that, he holds up his bloody knife and hand. "What's it going to be?"
-----
Theron races after his second assailant, quickly gaining on him as the thug flees down the street towards the lines of washing. He can't afford to let this brute raise an alarm about him, or there's likely to be a mob showing up in short order. While not significantly faster as he is now, Theron still proves to be the speedier of the two in the chase. Reaching out as he catches up to the thug, he grabs the man's collar with his free hand, giving a hard backwards yank. The sudden pull trips the thug up, and he stumbles to the ground.
Theron lashes out swiftly, plunging his knife into the thug's torso three times in rapid succession. A faint groan escapes the man's lips and he goes limp in Theron's grasp, his eyes going wide. Theron drops the man and stares down at him, realizing with some shock what he's done.
He pauses, his mind racing. He's now killed two men, albeit with justification. Whatever laws there might be here, they will probably not fault him for that. But the other two he is with have seen his change, and there's no guarantee they won't want to hunt him down either. And yet if he simply tries to disappear there will be an even bigger chance of that. In addition, he'll be even less likely to find a way back to his own world on his own than with the other two.
A moment of instinctual thought returns him to his customary form. He stares down at the dying thug for a moment more, then turns and jogs back down the street towards the others. This is going to take a lot of explaining...
-----
ChaiDhal nods to Deamth as he comes up beside her then looks piercingly at the thug, who is edging away. "I would suggest hurrying, it looks as though my companions do not seem to be patient with such foolishness." She schools her features to impassivity carefully, caught between the shock of the attack and surprised excitement over what she'd witnessed just seconds ago.
She turns to look for Theron, curiosity overcoming her wariness in the situation. "You are a shapeshifter then, one who is beast as well as man? This is strange luck, but certainly not unwelcome. I sensed you reluctant to use that gift, may I ask why?" Her tone conveys both respect and curiosity, and a slight smile crosses her features.
----
Deamth glances towards Theron, making sure he is under control and not in some sort of frenzy. He then turns back, his eyes locking with those of the terrified thug. As he listens to what ChaiDhal and Theron say to one another, he begins to step towards the thug. He brandishes the knife in front of himself, bloodlust in his pure black eyes, and declares, "That's it you coward. Time's up."
-----
Theron is taken aback by ChaiDhal's greeting. It's not at all the kind of response he's expecting, and he finds himself momentarily at a loss for how to reply. Finally, he gestures towards the nearby corpse of the thug who had attacked him with a club. "Wolf kin are feared, here as well as my home. If any learn of this..." he mumbles, then pauses for a moment, trying to decide what he can say. "If what I am is known here, then I will probably be hunted down."
He notes as he speaks that the figure formerly on the ground has risen to his knees. From the way he's dressed, Theron concludes that the near-victim of the thugs is a merchant of some sort. The merchant's attention is riveted on the remaining thug however, rather than him. Theron can't help but hope that the merchant failed to see what happened. It will spare him a lot of trouble.
-----
ChaiDhal looks questioningly at Theron, but understands that what must be said will probably be best said elsewhere. She bows respectfully and walks over to the merchant, the slightest hint of a limp in her movements. "Are you well, friend?" she queries, her tone proper and respectful. The slight cut on her heel where she'd slightly misjudged her attack against the knife pains her a bit, but she has had much practice at ignoring pain, and showing weakness here might not be a good thing.
-----
With his stomach burning from the knife wound, his shoulder aching so badly it feels like it's going to fall off, and his head spinning from both the pain and the surprise of everything that has happened in the past few seconds, Deamth isn't exactly in the best of moods. The thug begins to backpedal away from Deamth, his eyes shifting from Deamth to Theron, then back again. Without saying another word, Deamth leaps forward and sinks the blade of the knife through the bottom of the man's chin, driving it up into the thug's brain. He gives it a small twist, killing the brute almost instantly. Deamth grimly rips the blade from the thug's head as the man collapses. He turns around, looking from ChaiDhal to Theron, and then to the merchant, his eyes cold and emotionless, although his entire right side is limp.
-----
Theron's eyes widen as he witnesses Deamth's cold blooded act. Suddenly, he feels very ill. The two deaths he has caused aren't that much better, even if they weren't as calculated. Despite what legends say about his kind, he's never killed anyone - until now.
He does his best not to show how shaky he is, but can still feel himself trembling. Absently, he starts massaging his stomach again and glances around at all of the corpses, his face ashen.
-----
ChaiDhal bows to the merchant camly and offers her hand to help him up. "Sir, I am ChaiDhal, and these are my companions. We had lost our way before we found ourselves here, and would be pleased if you could direct us to the nearest inn?" She is once again as calm as if she'd just been out for a stroll, not crossed worlds hours ago and fought for her life mere moments before.
-----
Panting faintly, Deamth cleans off the blade of the knife on the dead thug's clothing and slips it into the back bind of his pants. He then begins searching each of the bodies for money, weapons, or anything else of value.
-----
The merchant accepts ChaiDhal's assistance in rising, then dusts himself off. The effect is mostly lost due to the numerous tears in his clothing, courtesy of the thugs' attentions. "You have my thanks, all of you," he declares, his voice deep and melodious. "These fellows didn't have my continued good health in mind, and I'm only alive now due to the fact that they wanted me to divulge certain secrets first. Is there any way that I can repay you in return for your aid?" As he speaks, he looks appraisingly at the three in turn, nodding slightly at each as he does so.
-----
Theron suddenly realizes as he sees what Deamth is doing that he's still holding his own knife, also stained by the thugs' blood. With a great deal of distaste, he fetches a cloth from his backpack and cleans it off, grimacing as he does so. That done, he retires the knife and looks over at the merchant, still shaking. Given his lack of reaction, it seems that the merchant failed to see his transformation during the fight. A small mercy at best, but it seems to be the only one forthcoming from the situation.
-----
ChaiDhal nods quietly, "We are newcomers here, unsure of our bearings. It would be of great assistance if you might show us to a nearby inn, and possibly suggest to us some work we might do to earn a bit of money for our upkeep." She dusts off her robe absently as she speaks and works a bit harder at trying to ignore the cut on her foot. Now is certainly not the time to be any less than the best she can be.
------
Deamth searches each of the bodies carefully, with a casual manner that only comes from experience. Upon finding interesting items, he steathly slips them into his cloak and continues the search. As he finishes going over the last of them, he stands with a silent groan and turns back around to face the others. In looking at him, one isn't likely to notice that he is hurt, though that is merely the result of the self-control he learned while in the army. He pulls his hood over his head to hide his features and takes a few steps forward, but remains behind the three others, his hands concealed within his cloak.
-----
"My good lady, I shall do that and more for you. Please come with me, and I shall see to it that you have more than enough coin to pay for your stay at any inn in town! I wouldn't recommend staying too long though, since this place is likely to fall under attack within the next few days." The merchant gestures broadly towards the corner leading out of the alleyway as he speaks, a grateful smile upon his lips.
-----
Theron can't help but wonder at Deamth's odd behavior, but at the moment is less concerned with it than leaving the scene before someone else stumbles onto it. "Yes, let's go," he says quietly in reply, still trying to conceal how upset he is.
-----
ChaiDhal nods and falls in behind the merchant. She is wary, but notes that he probably has no reason to lead them astray. Things are indeed amiss, if this city is to be under attack soon. She tilts her head, glancing back at Deamth in concern. Although she'd been quite busy with the attack on herself, she knew that he'd faced worse odds and been injured as well. She resolves to see to him when they are somewhere halfway safe.
-------
Behind the concealment of his hood, Deamth wears a face of pain. His right arm hangs in its sleeve as though the latter were a sling, and his left arm clutches the knife wound across his stomach. His head is spinning, and he is finding it hard to concentrate. A bit of rest and he should be fine, but for the moment he certainly doesn't feel his best. He sees that ChaiDhal and Theron have taken notice of him, but merely gives each of them a nod in reponse, remaining silent. Deamth looks around one last time and double checking everyone's condition, then follows the other three.
-----
Theron falls into step behind ChaiDhal, preferring to have someone else take the lead and deal with the merchant. He isn't going to feel entirely comfortable until this town is far behind him, but the group does need to get its bearings, and the merchant's offer is the best chance they have for that.
-----
The merchant leads them through the winding streets. His round red face is dampened with sweat as he tries to calm down from the attack. "None of you quite look like you are from any areas I've traveled," he begins as they wind through the city. "Newcomers to the area. A very poor time to find yourselves lost in this neck of the woods, I'm afraid! Seeing as how you saved my life, I should identify myself. I am Rolden Mikos, and I am in charge of the Silver Falcon trading coster's operations in this area. I wouldn't be here myself except that I am obligated to see what I can save before the Hurnot arrive."
He draws in a breath. "Seeing as you are strangers here, and capable in a fight, I might be willing to sign you on as my own guards. I need assistance in getting what I can salvage out of here before we are overrun."
ChaiDhal studies him a moment, watching his reactions. "Who are the Hurnot, and why are you expecting troubles with them?"
The smiles widely. "You truly aren't from these parts, my lady. Not know the Hurnot? They are tremendous brutes! Tall and strong, though they run great distances like beasts, on all fours. They usually don't attack in large groups, but the riders have run horses to death trying to get warning to this area. A horde of them is up in the foothills whelming for war. This place is their regular target in such events, in no small part due to the fact that it's the only significant one in the area. It has something to do with their religion as well as I understand it - Every few decades their shamans rouse them up and they tear across the plains! They've managed to overrun this place a few times the past, though usually they are repulsed in a very bloody battle."
He pauses a moment and studies the trio again. "I'm hoping to get out of here in the next two days before they arrive, as I am not so certain that they will be repulsed this time around. My offer remains should you care to take it up during that time, and I shall pay you fairly in that event."
Abruptly, he pulls up next to an open doorway under a creaky sign. "Ah, here we are, the Dancing Bear Inn, a fine place at a not too unreasonable price! I shall return momentarily."
The merchant disappears within for a few minutes, then emerges with a pouch in his hand. "Please take these, with the gods' blessing, in thanks for your timely aid." He presents the pouch, faint clinks audible within it. "Should you decide you wish to take up my offer, leave word at the desk within."
-----
Theron glances at the other two, wondering what they think of the offer. Being a guard of any kind isn't something he'd normally be interested in, but given what has just happened and the apparent impending attack, he is seriously considering accepting it.
-----
ChaiDhal nods to the merchant and accepts the money, "We will consider your offer and reply to it soon. May the gods smile upon you and your efforts. In the mean time, I think it would be best for us to rest, and tend to a few minor needs."
She bows, then turns to her companions, signaling that she thinks it would be a good idea to take a room here. She knows that a few minor things will need to be purchased, supplies they will need, weapons, and medicines to tend to their injuries.
-----
Being wounded as he is, Deamth is hardly in a good mood. His keeps his hood over his face, hiding his solid black eyes from the man's veiw. As the merchant speaks, Deamth scrutinizes him carefully. ~Offer to be a guard, eh? Well, he doesn't appear strong enough to try and betray us. It wouldn't make sense to try and steal from three penniless travelers. Perhaps his offer is valid, but I'll leave it up to the other two.~ Deamth gies an inaudible sigh. ~If only I could find a sword...or a bow! Oh, what I wouldn't give for a nice bow, and a quiver full of arrows. For now, I'm stuck with this dagger and sling, but I guess they'll do me for now.~ Deamth groans quietly as the man departs and waits for the others to enter the Inn before following.
-----
Theron glances both ways along the street as he follows ChaiDhal in. The three of them and the merchant might well be notable enough to attract attention, particularly given their injuries, well concealed though they are. Fortunately, no one in the area seems to be paying them any mind. Hopefully, that will remain true for however much longer they spend here...
-----
ChaiDhal enters the inn and looks around the dimly lit room. She has never been in a place like this before, and the strange sounds and smells wash over her, threatening to overwhelm even her discipline. Behind a counter near one wall stands what seems to be the proprietor, and several people lounge at various tables nearby talking and sipping from glasses.
She looks at her companions for a moment before approaching the man at the counter, open hesitation showing in her features for the first time since she'd met the two of them. This is one thing she has had no cause to learn before, and she doesn't even know what the coins she has are worth. ~It is too bad that Deamth is so ill; he seems to know more about towns such as this than I do.~
Looking at him she signals with the coins and nods towards the counter, not willing to speak lest her lack of confidence become known. ~I hope he understands, because I am at a total loss as to how to deal with this situation. And I hope he can remain standing until we get him up into the room.~ She fights back a sudden wave of nausea and prays that she can make it until she's acquired the medicines that they need.
----
As they walk in, Deamth takes note of the inn's interior. It seems like a nice enough place. There is a bar over against the right hand wall, flanked by a small area for those staying in the Inn to meet and talk, perhaps over something to drink. A fireplace against the opposite wall appears to be well used, though there's no fire in it at the moment. They probably start it up at night, or during colder months to keep the people warm.
There are modest decorations on the walls, such as silver candleabras and nice tapestries here and there. The head of a bear is mounted up above and behind the counter. All in all, it seems like a nice place to stay, and Deamth knows just how to handle this type of people.
As he is looking around, Deamth catches sight of ChaiDhal's look. He walks past her, straightening himself up and taking the bag of coins swiftly and secretly as he passes by, hoping that no one notices.
Deamth approaches the counter, and is greeted by a rather gangly looking man.
"Well hello sir, and welcome to the Dancing Bear Inn. What may I do for you?"
Deamth slaps his hand down on the counter, then lifts it, revealing a silver coin. "I need one room, large enough to hold...maybe...4 people. This is all we have between us. This is all that I can offer."
The man blinked in surprise at the small amount of money being offered for the size of the room requested. "Well sir, I'm sorry, but I can't just...I mean...that's not enough money for the room you want."
-----
Theron hangs back as the other two move forward, casting his gaze over the occupants of the inn. Every last one of them is human, albeit of varying nationalities, and most were seated in small groups at the tables. Food and drink is set before nearly all of them, and the scent of yet more food being cooked wafts in through a curtained doorway on the left hand side of the wall opposite the entrance.
The mood is fairly relaxed, though there seems to be an underlying tension that is just barely perceptible. Theron is able to make out small snatches of conversation, and the warning of the merchant that he had helped to rescue is quickly confirmed, as more than a few mentions of an impending attack reach his ears. He presses his lips together to suppress the sigh that seeks to escape them at the idea of being forced to flee before a horde of creatures like the merchant had described.
At least Deamth is handling the transaction with the innkeeper, something that Theron, never having had cause to travel any great distance, has never had to do himself. He walks slowly towards ChaiDhal, feeling rather uneasy about the situation. At least neither she nor Deamth have pressed him on the matter of his change...
-----
ChaiDhal casts a silent glance over at Theron, noting that he seems as uneasy as she is in this place. The mountain citadel may have been an excellent place to learn the disciplines of mind and body, but it was far from any place such as this, and she had had no cause to wander or mingle with most of her people. Silently she went over the mantras, using their repetition to help hold her under control for just a bit longer. She was tired, moreso than she had led her companions to believe, and the traveling without food had taken its toll on her, but while things had yet to be done, she should not give in to weakness.
She watched Deamth haggle with the innkeeper, trying to understand what he was doing. That skill would be useful later, she was certain, although she hoped that some luck would be found to send her home. Though with a war there, and a war here, it seemed that there were less of a difference than was immediately obvious. At least her companions, although they were strange, and looked like barbarians, were rather civilized.
-----
Deamth sighs inwardly as he realizes he's going to have to do something he doesn't like doing. Sympothy and guilt. "Look, I'm wounded, maybe dying. This is all the money we have. We need a place to stay so that we may help to heal each other, otherwise, you're going to have three dead bodies on your hands. Now, do you want to be held responsable for three deaths, when all you would have had to do is give them one room for a little less then what was required?"
The man thinks about it for only a moment, then looks back up at Deamth, his face filled with cold apathy, "Well, I guess I could handle it if --" The man is cut off as Deamth leans in closer, allowing the man to see Deamth's features more closely, including his eyes. Deamth gives a soft growl, his voice quiet so that only the man can hear. Everyone else can't hear what Deamth is saying, but whatever he said, it was enough to make the man behind the counter start to shiver, and swallow.
The man looks behind Deamth at the other two, and says in an even higher-pitched voice, "Follow me please."
Deamth's face changes, and he smiles kindly, "Thank you." With that, he gives a signal to the other two to follow.
-----
Theron does not fail to notice the exchange between Deamth and the innkeeper, and his apprehension grows. Threatening the innkeeper as Deamth has done isn't going to make him terribly well disposed towards the group, and could easily spell trouble later. Nevertheless, he falls into step, casting a worried glance at ChaiDhal.
-----
ChaiDhal frowns slightly as she witnesses Deamth's covert threats. ~This cannot be good...And I thought he was civilized? But I should not judge yet. Watch and wait, as my elder sisters always reminded me.~ She follows Deamth quietly and returns Theron's glance, agreeing with his sentiments exactly.
She pauses a moment, a frown furrowing her brow as she works to get her stomach under control again. Hardly a time to allow such an inconvenience as hunger to affect her performance. She feels a bit faint, but is fairly certain that she can last as long as need be to get things taken care of.
----
The man leads them up the stairs and down the hall to the right. Still shivering, he unlocks the door and opens it with one hand, passing Deamth a shiny brass key with the other. "And here is...is your key sir...have a nice...stay...and thank you for choosing the Dancing Bear Inn." The man swallows as he slips past the other two, back down the stairs.
Deamth grins to himself and walks into the room, scanning the area quickly before leaning against the far wall. He closes his eyes, trying to get his vision to clear and steady.
-----
Theron watches the innkeeper depart, still concerned that Deamth's tactics may land them in more trouble later. He glances through the doorway as the innkeeper turns a corner to the stairs, and is somewhat relieved to see that the room seems to be a nice one. Polished wood panelling, a plush carpet, and a well made and clothed bed, all of them clean, are visible from where he stands.
He waits quietly for ChaiDhal to enter, looking down at the slightly bloodied tear in his sleeve where his arm had been slashed. The injury beneath it is well on its way to being healed, at least...
-----
ChaiDhal enters quietly and looks around, quickly locating all exits and what is in the room before turning to regard Deamth. "Hrm, interesting way you handled the innkeeper, though you probably know more of such than I do. It looks however that it might be wise for you to rest a while, and I'll take some of the money to look for bandages and medicines. I saw enough of your injuries before the battle was over." Her voice is not only controlled, but almost flat and inflectionless as she regardes the dark man.
Something in her eyes, and the way she holds herself now brooks no argument, powerful and capable. She holds his gaze intently, the calm determination evident clearly. Somehow she suspects that Theron is less than likely to argue with this, and anyhow, medicines are one thing she knows fairly well.
-----
Deamth groans silently to himself as he pushes off of the wall, and slowly approaches ChaiDhal. "Yes well, I wanted to conserve what little money we have, and after attempting to appeal to his soft side, I was forced to that which I was assured would frighten him. Have no worries." Deamth reaches into his cloak, and pulls out the bag of money, handing it to ChaiDhal. "Would you like me to go with you? Mayhaps for protection?" Slyly, he slips his hand under his cloak, placing it over his wound, the blood loss slowly getting to him, his thoughts already cloudy.
-----
Theron looks squarely at Deamth as he speaks. While he can't be sure that Deamth's second movement is intended to hide whatever wound he has, the scent of fresh blood is still wafting over to where Theron stands. "You're still bleeding," he says, his voice holding no hint of uncertainty. "You'd better lie down and let one of us tend it before you get worse."
-----
ChaiDhal nods to Theron. "As I told him, he needs rest, and I'll be ok, I'm pretty certain. Now that I know that people here do not behave as they do in the Empire, I will be more alert for trouble. Besides, someone should be here tending him, and I have some experience in identifying medicines and things we will need. But, he will need to be kept resting until I can return."
She shakes her head at Deamth, "I know what you tried, but there are other ways to convince people to aid you. Because we are all for reasons unknown to us, I will aid you as I may. However, it might be best if we find other ways to deal with people in the future."
------
Deamth looks from Theron to ChaiDhal and blinks. "Hey, wait a minute..." Deamth turns to Theron, pointing a gloved finger at him, "Firstly, I'm fine. It's only bleeding a little, but it's stopping." He then turns to ChaiDhal. "And secondly, I'm not some child. I'll rest when I want to. And as far as that little pansy downstairs is concerned, I didn't tell him anything he didn't already know - or notice. You act like you know what's happening, when you don't. In the real world, people are afraid of that which they don't know, or of that which is different."
Deamth reaches up and pulls back the hood of his cloak, fully showing his dark bald flesh, and his solid black eyes, "THIS is what scared him! I gave him a good look at me, and played on his fear of the attack he already knew was coming. You handle things your way, and I'll handle things mine."
Its effects compounded by his upset state, the loss of blood finally gets to him. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to focus, but loses his balance. He takes a few quick steps backwards to try to catch himself and ends up smacking into the wall behind him, which doesn't help his hurt shoulder at all. Deamth grunts at the impact, and slowly slides down the wall until he is sitting on the floor, his head hung and his voice quiet, though deeper then normal. "I didn't ask for your help, so don't behave like you are doing me some sort of favor."
-----
Even as Deamth slides down the wall, Theron is already moving forward. He kneels down and reaches out to lie Deamth down on the floor so that he can take a better look at the injury. It's more than a small wound, he is sure, given the effects it seems to be having, and the fact that it's still bleeding. "I know we have no reason to trust each other yet," he sighs as he fights past Deamth's weak attempts to slap his hands away. "But we've got to, or we're never going to get out of this."
-----
ChaiDhal drops down beside Deamth as well, a hint of concern in her face as she checks him for his injuries. "You may not like it, but I do know somewhat of healing, and I do not intend to allow any companion I have, whether by choice or chance, die if I may stop it. By the Holy One herself, I swear I mean you no harm, and will offer what aid is in my power to do so. We're in this together, and I intend to see that we get out of it together, if it is at all possible."
----
Deamth chuckles weakly, then winces at the stab of pain that doing so provokes from his wound. "Well...maybe I am a child." He grunts quietly as they inspect his wound, and just closes his eyes. "I'm not about to die because of this...it's not life-threatening...is it?" He furrows his brows as he tries to think of whether the wound would be or not, but finds that his thinking process is slowing down as consciousness begins to flee.
-----
Theron frowns as he examines the injury. Too much blood is oozing forth for the depth of the cut, though at least nothing critical seems to have been hit. He quickly glances at ChaiDhal. "We need to bandage this at least, and it might need to be sewn up as well. Can you do that?"
-----
ChaiDhal nods quietly. "I can sew it up, though I have neither needle, thread, nor bandages here. If we can get him to rest and get them washed, we should be able to hold the injuries until I can get the things needed to sew them up. I spotted an alchemist's shop not far from here, and it should have what I need."
She looks around for some water and gently removes the cloth from the wound, gauging its severity. "It's not nice, but it's not necessarily life threatening, if we can get him to lay still long enough for me to repair it."
-----
Deamth struggles to hear what they're saying. Bandages...sewing...alchemy...what is going on? And what is all of this "him" stuff? He groans quietly and he struggles to speak. "Don't talk about me like I'm not here until I'm dead, ok? You go do what you want, I don't plan on going anywhere." He grunts as he pushes himself back to rest his head against the wall, letting his eyes slip shut.
-----
"Hurry then, I'll try to keep the bleeding down," Theron nods quickly. He returns his full attention to the slash wound. Until something better can be done, the only option he can see is to hold the wound closed by hand with some cloth over it to try to staunch the flow of blood. Unfortunately, the only cloth at hand is currently engaged as clothing. With a sigh, Theron draws his knife and slices off part of Deamth's shirt. Sheathing his knife, he arranges the improvised bandage over the cut and gently presses the sides of the wound together as best as he can. The technique seems moderately effective, but it's obvious even so that proper stitching is going to be needed.
-----
ChaiDhal takes the pouch of money and hurries out of the room and down the stairs. She knows that time is of the essence, so she concentrates firmly upon drawing on the final reserves of her energy as she heads through the inn's main room and out into the street. Despite her wariness after the earlier attack, she finds that no one seems to notice her, at least not until she is arrives at the stall she was looking for anyhow.
-------
Still with only a vague idea of what Theron is trying to do, Deamth struggles to stay coherent. He puts his hands over Theron's, trying to signal that he'll take over the bandage. "Look, why not get something to eat? I'm hungry, I'm sure you and Chai are also. You can tell them to charge it to the room...we'll pay for it later. I can handle this."
-----
"You just lie still and let me do this!" Theron declares. "You're barely awake as it is and if you fall unconscious you'll split yourself open again as you lose your grip." He continues, softening his tone a little bit. "I realize you don't want to rely on anyone else, but sometimes you have to. I'm relying on both of you not to tell anyone about me, so it's a fair trade."
-----
ChaiDhal hurries through the streets, drawing upon her training to remember exactly where it was that she'd been when she had seen the sign for the apothacary. In almost no time she finds herself standing outside of the shop in question, where she takes in a deep breath and calms herself. ~This will work. He'll be ok.~ Quietly, she opens the door and enters.
-----
"Heh, yeah...well, I..." but Deamth is unable to complete his thought as his consciousness drains from him. His eyes close, his breathing slows, and his hands go limp along with the rest of his body.
-----
As ChaiDhal opens the door, the small tinkling of bells signals her arrival. She slowly gazes around the shop, spotting jars, bottles, and bunches of herbs on the shelves. Drawing in a deep breath, she looks around for the storekeeper, as the scent of savory plants fills her senses.
-----
Kallina browses the back of the shop, marvelling at the vast array of herbs and medicines that seem to be readily available. She spots a woman entering and glares suspiciously in her direction, feeling intimidated in the big city still; everyone is a threat.
Drawing herself back into the shadows, she runs a hand nervously through her hair. While watching the woman silently, she casts a glance around the room, unable to help but wonder where the man who had grudgingly agreed to let her browse the goods had gone.
-----
Still uncertain about the place, ChaiDhal walks over to the only person visible within the shop, a young, red haired woman, whose eyes are a striking mauve hue. Idly shifting her exercise stones in her hand, she speaks. "Are you the storekeeper? I have a friend who needs medicines and bandages, and I have need of haste here." As inconscpicuously as possible, she pats her sash, reassuring herself that the pouch containing the funds remains carefully tucked out of sight.
-----
Kallina narrows her eyes at the newcomer, assessing her appearance. Her dark eyes seem somber, but her manner is alert, and she holds herself with a fierce determination under her orange robes. Not one to trifle with, despite her unassuming appearance... "No," Kallina replies, aware that her thick accent is even stronger than the woman she is speaking with. "There was...a man here, but I am unsure where he has gone." She is silent for a moment. "I...have some healing skills, maybe I can help?" She curses herself silently. Damn the helpful nature that mars her otherwise distanced character.
----
ChaiDhal looks up in surprise, not expecting such an offer of assistance. "It would be most appreciated, miss. My companion was sorely wounded, though we must needs get bandages at the least to bind the injury with. He is not far, luckily, and being tended by my other companion." Despite her wariness in this strange place, she senses that this woman truly means to help, and decides to trust her.
-----
Kallina nods sharply once and removes her backpack, peering inside at its contents. "I have bandages. Not many, but some."
She pulls the hood of her cloak up around her face before stepping out from amongst the glassware. "If you show me where to go, I can commence my work and you can return to purchase further supplies."
She curses herself silently once again as she feels herself - and the concealing hood of her cloak - shake a little. She is determined to help however she can, but that is doing little to calm her nerves.
----
ChaiDhal pauses a moment, noting that the woman who is seeking to help her seems self-conscious, as if there is something about her that she would be ashamed of. Realizing that she is perhaps the most 'normal' of her own companions thus far, she takes the lead, swiftly showing the woman the way back to the inn. Belatedly she hopes that Deamth does not frighten this woman; many people seem to fear that which is different from them.
In her most reassuring tone, the priestess identifies herself, "I am ChaiDhal, Sister of the Mountain Tiger. My companions and I are newcomers in this land, so I hope that you do not find us frightening in our oddities. We are, however, grateful for the offer of aid."
------
Kallina nods once, brusquely. "Kallina A'Mor, of the Sha'Morin," she introduces herself, not unaware of the unmistakable sarcasm dripping from her voice as she names her tribe. "And as for oddities, well..." Under the hood, a faint smile plays around her lips. "The Sha'Morin have their own share of them. I will not be frightened."
They walk a few more steps, Kallina's curiosity piqued. "Newcomers in this *land*? All of you?"
-----
ChaiDhal hesitates before replying, trying to figure out how best to explain the situation believably. "Although I don't understand all of the situations that set us on our paths, each of us came from far away. Such that our paths here are obscured, and we do not know our ways back. We do not come from the same place, but we each have come from beyond any lands known here. I fear I am little good at explaining this, but you will understand when we arrive."
-----
Kallina is silent. Her people are superstitious by nature and she, despite her own experiences, is no exception. However, her overwhelming desire to help those in trouble rules her decision and she continues walking with ChaiDhal, drawing the hood of her cloak more tightly around her face.
-----
Despite the need for haste, ChaiDhal pauses for a moment upon reaching the inn. Two women entering such an establishment unescorted might be something troublesome here, but she was the best one to send on this errand. Worried that she might already be too late, she hurries into the inn, down the hallway and up to the room.
-----
Sensing the urgency in ChaiDhal's movements, Kallina feels a pang of uncertainty. What is she doing, following a complete stranger like this? What if it's all a pack of lies? What if she can't help ChaiDhal's companion? Maybe these...newcomers... might turn on her.
Sternly berating herself for thinking such thoughts, Kallina jogs lightly after ChaiDhal. Her hood falls as she moves faster, and she grabs hold of it, pulling it back up again instantly in a reflex born of experience.
-----
Theron waits nervously for ChaiDhal's return, carefully holding Deamth's wound closed as he frets over his unwanted revelation to the other two of his nature. ChaiDhal's reaction at the time had been a bit confusing, and had suggested that his kind are viewed differently wherever she is from. He hadn't seen Deamth react openly, which leaves him to wonder what Deamth might do later...
The sound of someone approaching the door draws his attention towards it. Is it ChaiDhal returning, or trouble approaching? No matter, he'll find out soon enough...
-----
ChaiDhal quietly knocks at the door before entering, not wanting to disturb her companions when she enters. Although she has little fear of having a shifter among her companions, she knows that they are not a kind of being it is wise to startle. Looking back at the young woman who'd accompanied her from the apothacary, she smiles, "They're in here, and hopefully all will be well. I again thank you for agreeing to aid us."
Opening the door carefully, she enters, concern apparent in her placid face as to whether she's taken too long in bringing aid.
-----
Deamth, for the moment, remains unconscious and unaware of the new visitors or of Theron's attempts at keeping his wound closed.
-----
Kallina hurries forward, her hesitation and trepidation instantly replaced by concern for the prone figure. "What happened to him?" she asks as she kneels beside him, digging in her pouch for a number of things. She has several basic healing items, but until she knows the cause of the injury, she can't successfully treat him.
-----
Theron's gaze flickers between ChaiDhal and the new arrival. So far the situation seems safe. Glancing down at Deamth's limp form, he gestures with his free hand towards the wound he's still holding closed and replies, "He was knifed."
-----
ChaiDhal nods to Theron, then turns to explain matters a bit more clearly to Kallina. "We had just arrived in town, and taken a wrong turn. We ran into some ruffians attacking another, and they came after us. Our companion was knifed, and then walked further than he probably should have before tending..." She glances around for a bowl of water, expecting that cleaning is the first thing needed here.
-----
Kallina frowns. "He must have lost much blood," she says softly. "I'll do what I can, but first we must make sure the wound is completely free from any kind of infection." Standing up, she nods to ChaiDhal. "Water, please." Her tone is quietly authoratative but not bossy as she roots in her pack, bringing out a number of jars. She sifts through them, looking for the one she needs.
A little crow of delight heralds her success, and she holds up a glass jar of a dried green herb. "Horsetail herb," she says, more to herself than anyone else. She is speaking like she is reciting. "Externally, horsetail is indicated as supportive to healing wounds."
As she awaits the water, she also pulls out a needle and a length of cat gut. "I may need you to hold him very still when I stitch the wound," she says to Theron. "I have no anaesthetising herbs I am afraid." Her attention turns back to the figure on the ground.
-----
"I'll try, but if he wakes up..." Theron trails off as he looks back up at the new arrival. "He may be stronger than I am."
-----
ChaiDhal runs quickly downstairs, returning in moments with a bowl full of water. Setting this next to Kallina, she takes a position on the opposite side of Deamth from Theron. "If something happens, it might be best if we worked together. Neither of us is all that strong, but together we might be able to hold him down. And she's right, without anesthesia, he likely won't be happy about the stitching... if he's even aware of it."
-----
Theron nods slightly and shifts position to hold one side of Deamth down if necessary, though he still maintains his grip upon the wound. He licked his lips nervously as he considered the possibility of Deamth struggling. In his wounded state, he wouldn't pose too much of a threat - and thus there would be little danger of the woman finding anything out - but he could end up splitting his injury open even more, and that might well be enough to kill him....
-----
"I will be as swift as I can," says Kallina, gritting her teeth a little. Taking a wadded pad of cloth, she cleans the gaping wound as best she can. Once the wound is as clean as she can get it, she pats it dry gently before applying the fine powder of horsetail herb from the jar. "This will help the blood to stop flowing," she says by way of explanation.
Taking the needle that she has already threaded whilst ChaiDhal was fetching the water, she takes several deep breaths before bending over Deamth and piercing his skin with the needle.
-----
ChaiDhal places her hands tightly over Deamth's arm, half expecting him to jump when the needle touches him. Her observations of him earlier had shown her that he was a trained killer, but whether he will try to fight this remains to be seen.
-----
Deamth lies motionless as Kallina performs the first few stitches, but then everyone's worries became reality as he begins to slowly wake up.
It starts with a few groans, then Deamth begins to move...well, tries to, anyway. As he begins to come to, he struggles harder and harder against Theron and ChaiDhal's grips. Groggily, he speaks, "Hey...what's going on? Why can't I move? I must really be out of it...it feels like two people are holding me do--...hey! What's going on?!" He begins to struggle further, his mind fuzzy, and unable to put together what's happening.
-----
"Hold still!" Theron hisses, keeping his grip on Deamth's other arm secure. "You're being stitched up, and you'll spoil it if you move!"
Quickly, he glances over at the woman's handiwork, hoping it hasn't been ruined...
-----
ChaiDhal also reacts, her voice sharper than usual. "Ketchak..." she hisses, "We are your friends, hold still." She shifts her grip just slightly, reaching to press a bit differently and hoping she remembers the pressure points aright.
-----
Kallina glances briefly up and her strange, mauve-coloured eyes meet Deamth's for a fleeting instant before she turns her attentions back to the stitching. The job finished, she reaches into her pouch and pulls out a small knife, slicing through the cat gut close to the wound. She sprinkles a little more of her horsetail powder onto the wound and rests back on her ankles.
"I have done all I can do," she says, carefully picking up her items and beginning to put them back in her pouch. "He will need rest, but I believe he will survive."
-----
Deamth furrows his brow muscles - considering he doesn't have any hair - and looks from ChaiDhal to Theron, though doesn't appear to be speaking to anyone in particular, "You want to calm down a bit? No need to get so..." Deamth's eyes flutter for a moment, his body going limp for a second as he's hit with a wave of pain, now aggravated by the new woman's actions on his wound. "...so angry. I mean, last thing I know I'm talking to him..." Deamth nods his head in Theron's direction, "...and then suddenly I'm being pinned, and someone's repeadedly jabbing me with some needle. How would *you* react?"
Deamth looks down and runs his fingers across his closed wound lightly. "You all have some odd practices here. What is this supposed to do?" Deamth indicates the stiches by tugging slightly on one experimentally.
-----
Theron relaxes somewhat, though thanks the events of the last few minutes combined with his ongoing uncertainty of what might happen next, he isn't able to bring himself to let his guard down entirely. Standing up, he takes a couple of steps back from the others, glancing down at his now bloodstained hand.
At least this time it's not the blood of someone he's killed... the fight in the alley - and his killing the two men - replays itself in his mind, and he grimaces at the stain. "I need to go clean this off," he murmurs, turning towards the door.
-----
ChaiDhal releases Deamth and nods to Theron, then chuckles dryly, "It is to keep the wound from reopening. Your people you said have much magic, stable magic. Does that mean that you have forgotten the old ways of dealing with things? It should be enough that we have done what we can, that wound should heal well now..."
She turns to Kallina, bowing respectfully, "Again I thank you for aiding my companion. I appologize for his rudeness in response, for as I said, we are newcomers here."
-----
Kallina murmurs, "It's fine." She gets to her feet slowly, gathering all her belongings about her. She, like Theron, is bloodstained, but it does not seem to bother her. "Will you be staying here for a while? I would like to check he does not run to fever, maybe stay with him for a short while...then I will be satisfied."
From her tone, it is clear that she intends to ensure Deamth doesn't go anywhere in a hurry.
-----
Deamth's mind is still a fuzz, and thus not aware enough to acknowledge Theron's departure. He speaks to ChaiDhal, but keeps his focus on his wound, toying with it, begining to pick out the stitches, "I said we have magic, yes, but magic for this? Never heard of it. I have no idea what you're talking about, 'old ways'. What 'old ways'? You had a wound, it healed. You had a bad enough wound, you died, it's just the way things go."
Deamth then looks up to Kallina, though is replying to ChaiDhal again, "I'm not rude."
Deamth moves back against the wall, slowly climbing up it so that he is in a sitting position.
-----
Theron slips out of the room quietly, deliberately working the latch and swinging the door open and shut again with his unbloodied hand. Doing his best to force the unpleasant memories from his mind, he hurries down the hall. There has to be somewhere he can clean the blood off...
-----
ChaiDhal stares a moment at Deamth, disbelief apparent on her face. "You did nothing to keep the wounds from opening...to clean them, free them of the evils of disease? What kind of land could you have come from?" Carefully, she settles herself on the edge of the bed, weakness and weariness threatening to overcome her at last. A faint spasm crosses her face as she fights back a cramp, more of an after reaction to all of the tension than aught else. Now is not the time to give in to this, she tries to tell her body... but to little avail.
----
Kallina is torn between smacking Deamth's hand away from the stitches and the expresson on ChaiDhal's face. "You must leave it alone," she says sternly to Deamth. "Please." Her voice is low and melodious. "I am a healer amongst my...my people." The hesitation is slight, but unmistakable.
Turning to ChaiDhal she asks "You need attention, too." It is a statement, not a question. "At the very least you should rest. I can prepare a tea that will help you sleep..."
-----
Deamth furrows his 'brows' at ChaiDhal, "Yes, that's right. We just allowed nature to run its course. The thought of doing this didn't occure to them. Trust me, the land where I come from... someone like you really wouldn't last very long. I don't mean that as an insult, merely fact." He looks up at Kallina, "It doesn't matter. I'm going to pick them out in my sleep anyways. Thanks for the effort though." Deamth closes his eyes as a wave of nausea spreads over him.
-----
ChaiDhal nods mutely, her concentration focused inward. Only now is she begining to realize she wouldn't have made it over the mountains even if she hadn't been hurled between worlds. Steadying herself quietly is about all she can do. Between long term hunger, and putting her body under stresses it is unused to, she must have pressed it just a bit too far. Almost without knowing it, she looses consciousness, collapsing backward onto the bed.
-----
Kallina sucks in her breath as ChaiDhal collapses, and hurries over to her side. Becoming a nursemaid to two total strangers hasn't figured largely in her plans for the day, but things are becoming a little odd. Turning to Deamth, she shakes her head.
"What have you people been through? Are you in some sort of trouble?" Her face is lined with concern, for both her patients and for her own safety.
-----
"Trouble? The only trouble I know of is talk of some sort of beasts that are planning an attack on the town. Other then that... I don't *think* we're in any trouble." Deamth stands slowly, "I'm going to go get us some food and drink. None of us have eaten in awhile." He looks at the sleeping ChaiDhal. "I need to... repay them for this." He has never really been cared about this much before, and feels like he has to do something for them in return. He begins making his way towards the door. "Do you want anything, as well?"
-----
Kallina shakes her head mutely. She has very little money of her own and her pride prevents her from accepting charity. "Thank you, but no." That accursed inner voice of hers screams at her that she too needs to eat and rest, but she pushes the thoughts back and comes over to check Deamth's wound. "Please," she says. "Let me just give you this..." She digs into her pouch and pulls out the jar of horsehair herb. "It will speed the healing process... and if you are to travel again, you need all the help you can get." She hands it over to Deamth, almost shyly.
-----
"I... rather, you... Well, if you want, I suppose so." He takes it from her and nods, "Thank you." He opens the door and makes his way out of the room, off to get enough food for the four of them to eat. He is not about to let her go hungry for the kindness she has shown him.
-----
Left alone in the room, Kallina sighs heavily. She checks the woman on the bed, and is relieved to find that ChaiDhal seems to at least be breathing properly.
She begins to put her things away in her pouch again and reflects upon her actions of the past couple of days. She has travelled a great distance to come here and is very tired. Right now, however, she is more concerned with the well-being of the man whose wound she stitched. It is a blessing - or possibly a curse - that Kallina always feels duty-bound to help those in need. *Not that the favour is ever returned* she thinks to herself, bitterly.
Sitting cross legged on the floor, she closes her eyes in quiet meditation, awaiting the return of the other men before she decides what to do next.
-----
Deamth does just as he said he would do; he walks downstairs and seeks out the innkeeper. With a few moments of haggling, he arranges for enough food for the four of them - and a bit extra - to be brought to their room.
As he makes his way back up the stairs to the room, he reflects upon the pain of walking around with threads in his side, to say nothing of the extreme blood loss he's suffered. However, having been in the service, he is trained to deal with just this sort of thing, so he just grits his teeth and bears with it.
As he does, he performs a quick look for Theron, wondering where the guy has gone off to. Since Theron was the first person he had talked to when he'd arrived here, he would be more comfortable in Theron's presence.
Not finding him in his little half-second search, Deamth comes back into the room and sits down on the floor, up against the wall. He closes his eyes, speaking softly. "The food is coming. Should be up here shortly."
-----
"That is good," she replies, cracking open one eye and looking across at him carefully. "How are you feeling?"
She gets up and crosses the short distance between them. Placing a soft, gentle hand on his forehead, she smiles. His burning fever is already lessening. Even if this man won't wear her stitches, the wound had been cleaned out in time to stop further infection.
"When your other companion returns," she says, making a decision, "I will leave. I believe you will be fine now."
What is that...a pang of regret? The first people who have ever seemed grateful for something she has done and she is leaving them. She has to leave them. She has to leave everyone... eventually.
-----
Deamth - upon hearing her words - opens his eyes and raises a hand, taking her own in his gently, "Why must you go? It's dangerous at this time. There's talk of an invasion force about to hit the town. Please, stay with us, we could use your talents. At least stay long enough to eat something, and rest for a bit."
-----
Kallina starts at Deamth's touch on hers. She is not used to this kind of familiarity. Feared and scorned by her own people, she has grown up not knowing what it is to feel the hug of a loved one or a friend. Something moves her and she smiles faintly at him.
"I will stay to eat and rest as you suggest, and then perhaps reassess my plans."
What plans? She doesn't have any - never has had any except that she needs to get away.
-----
Deamth returns her smile warmly, and gives her hand a gentle squeeze, "Thank you. Even if you decide not to stay with us, I just want to say that I'm thankful for what you've done for us so far."
-----
Theron paces slowly down the hall back towards the door, staring down at his now cleansed hand and flexing his fingers, deep in thought.
He had no choice in his actions in the alleyway. If he'd allowed either man to escape, he'd certainly be being hunted by now, very possibly even caught and killed. Yet at the same time, had he in so doing simply justified the mistaken beliefs people held?
Well, perhaps not so mistaken - this world might be different than his own. His kind here might actually be the monsters so commonly depicted in folk tales. Then what? If he can't get home, then he's well and truly alone among these humans, with much to fear both from them and from those who are his own here...
He pulls up short in front of the door, taking a deep breath as he stares at it. Hopefully the others will have the sense to keep quiet about it when others are around. There's always the danger that one of them will try to use that knowledge as a lever against him at some point - or to save their own skins if things become desperate enough - but he really has no choice but to trust them right now.
Sighing quietly, he glances back down the hall, then unlatches the door and steps inside.
-----
Kallina stares down at Deamth's hand on hers. Thankful? That's a word she is not used to hearing. "You...are welcome," she says, equally warmly.
She looks up as Theron enters the room and withdraws her hand from Deamth hurriedly, a faint flush reaching her cheeks. She returns to her seated position, watching them closely, through half-lidded eyes. "In my hurry to help you, I did not have the opportunity to introduce myself before," she says. "My name is Kallina. There. I am no longer a stranger." She opens her mauve-hued eyes widely and smiles at them both. Deamth's words have given her a sense of security she has never known before.
-----
Deamth really can't help it, and smiles a bit at Kallina's startled actions. True, he is startled himself, and doesn't do much differently, turning his attention to his wound for a moment before looking back up to Kallina as she speaks. Deamth groans slightly as he sits up further against the wall, "I am known as Deamth. Not the most elegant name in existance, but suiting in an odd way." He gives a humorous smile and looks to Theron.
-----
Theron halts in mid step as he sees the two together, then flicks his gaze back and forth between them as they separate. Despite his preoccupation, he is quite aware that he seems to have walked in at an awkward moment, and licks his lips nervously. "I'm Theron," he ventures, as his gaze shifts over to the prone form of ChaiDhal. Stiffening slightly, he closes the door behind him and quickly strides over to her. "Is she alright?" he asks, concerned that the obvious strain she had endured both before and after their meeting might have proven too much.
-----
"I am confident she will be fine," says Kallina, also glancing at ChaiDhal. "She is exhausted, however, and will need much rest and nourishment before you carry on with... whatever it is you were doing."
She does not mention how tired she herself is, not wanting to display any weakness in front of these strange people, Theron and... Deamth. Strange how his name makes her feel. She shakes her head irritably to clear the thoughts. "How are your wounds?" she asks Deamth when he groans. "Are you in need of pain relief? I have willowfine..."
-----
Deamth smiles, "My wound is fine, I need nothing for the pain. Time is the healer of all things." He gives another smile to her and slowly stands, making his way over to Theron. He puts his arm around Theron's shoulders, and speaks quietly to him, "I need to speak with you a moment, if you don't mind?"
-----
Theron, his attention focused on ChaiDhal, only barely manages not to jump at the unexpected touch. Half turning, he blinks and nods silently. Most likely, Deamth is going to question him about the transformation....
"Outside?" he replies softly, gesturing slightly towards the door with one hand.
-----
Kallina watches them leave, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. She doesn't stop to consider for long however, and simply returns to quiet meditation.
-----
Deamth leads Theron out of the room, making sure to give Kallina a reassuring smile as he passes through the door. Once outside, he steps just a bit to one side so that the conversation to follow won't be directly overheard by the woman.
"Alright," he begins. "I did not want to make you more uncomfortable then I know you are around people, so that's why I asked you out here. See, the thing is, I asked Kallina if she would join us, since she seems to be alone and we could use a healer. Now I know how you feel about people, and given your..." Deamth furrows his brows in thought, not sure how to put it. "Your... situation... I can't say I blame you. So tell me honestly, what do you think? Would you like her to join us, or nay?"
-----
Theron follows Deamth's lead, pulling the door shut and stepping away from it. As he listen's to the dark man's words, that sinking feeling threatens to creep up on him again.
Another person to worry about - and she is from this place, therefore likely to hold the same ideas of his kind as others here apparently do. Yet the argument Deamth has put forward is logical - any one of them could well end up seriously injured, somewhere far from other help.
He closes his eyes and shakes his head, though the gesture is meant to clear his thoughts, not indicate refusal. "I don't know if it's a good idea," he replies. "How will she react if she finds out? ChaiDhal and you have... stayed quiet about it, but she might not."
-----
Deamth nods. "I understand completly. Now, we have a few options. One is that I could just let you think about it, and then ask ChaiDhal when she wakes. Also, I was trained to be... more then a soldier. I was taught certain subtle interrogation techniques. Do you know what that is? Basically, I could find out how Kallina would feel about it, without letting on at all that you are... who you are. The technique was originally meant for use in gathering information from the enemy without him knowing it. I don't see why I couldn't use it here." Deamth vetures a smile to try and reassure Theron.
-----
Theron takes a deep breath, glancing down at the floor as he does. Then he looks back up into Deamth's eyes. "If you're sure it will work. I'm not uncomfortable with people in themselves - I just don't want a reaction like those thugs had when they found out, because it could easily lead to a mob coming after me - and perhaps you and ChaiDhal as well - and contrary to what legends say, I am not capable of tearing a group like that limb from limb, nor would I want to."
-----
Deamth nods again, "You have every right to be cautious. Where I come from, your kind are the more animalistic type, but through my years of travel, I've sort of adopted a 'wait and watch' approach to things. I saw how you handled yourself in the alley, and you seemed to have enough control over yourself. Now, I'm sure you'll understand if I don't trust you entirely, but I do trust you enough not to bring any unwanted attention to the fact. If you would like, I could find out how Kallina would react."
-----
"Let's hope it's better than those others," Theron nods slightly. Deamth's claims are not entirely reassuring, but it seems at least that for the moment he has no intention of shouting from the rooftops about what Theron is.
He gestures towards the door. "We'd better get back in before she starts wondering what we're doing."
-----
Deamth puts a hand up in front of Theron, "If I may make a suggestion? I'm not sure how you would react while I ask her the questions, but any surprised reactions or the such could prove to be very much... hmm... not good." Deamth gives a smile, "Perhaps you could check on our food that I ordered, or something of that sort while I speak with her?"
-----
"I..." Theron pauses, wondering what Deamth means by those words. "I don't think your questions would cause me much harm, but if you believe it would be better to do it alone with her... you know the routine more than I."
Turning away, Theron walks down the hall towards the stairs. Perhaps things won't be quite so bad in the long run... but then, they've still only just arrived.
-----
Deamth furrows his 'brows' as he watches Theron walk away, hoping he hasn't offended the man. He's just trying to be as careful as possible.
-----
Deamth opens the door to the room and steps inside. He glances over at the bed to check on ChaiDhal's condition, and is glad to see that she's still sleeping quietly.
He paces silently over to his spot against the wall and sits down, glancing over to Kallina and smiling warmly as he does. "So, I realize that I know very little about you," he says in a gentle tone. "Tell me a bit about yourself? Like, where are you from?"
-----
Kallina pulls her knees to her chest. "A long way from here," she begins carefully, not used to such questioning. "The village I... grew up in... is called Sha'Mori. It has been some years since I lived in the village, however." She sighs a little heavily. "Please excuse me if I am hesitant. I have... bad memories of my home and came here to Tharel to escape them."
She manages a little smile as she looks up at him. "Let's start again," she says. "What else would you like to know about me?"
-----
Deamth returns the smile, "I am sorry if I am making you uncomfortable. It is not my intention." He checks on his wound for a moment as he thinks, then looks back up at her. "Well, let's see... what sort of creatures do you have here? Are you, or your people, superstitous?"
-----
"Yes, my people are very superstitious. That is why they turned me away from the village at such a young age." She lets her hood drop and points vaguely in the direction of her purple-hued eyes. "They believed I was a freak of nature and took me out into the wilderness to die." Her voice is tinged with bitterness.
"As for creatures...well, we have many, and few of those are domesticated. Suffice it to say that the wilderness areas of this world are not safe places to be after nightfall. Horrors walk the night time shadows and those horrors usually have very big, very large teeth - and very bad tempers." Leaning forward conspiratorially until her face is a breath away from Deamth's, she drops her voice to a superstition-induced whisper. "Some speak of sighting strange, vicious men-wolves, who rip you apart with their bare hands." She shrugs and sits back. "I have never seen such things myself. My...people..." - again that twinge of bitterness - "call these creatures the Damuerin. Children of the Night."
Pushing the sleeve of her robe up she shows Death her slender arm which has a large, ugly scar. "When I was a little child, this was done by one of the more vicious wilderness creature. It ripped a chunk of flesh out of my arm, and would have had the rest of me for seconds if the old man who raised me hadn't come along at that time." She falls silent, reflecting again on the pain caused by the death of her mentor.
-----
Deamth can't help but feel a slight exhiliration at her coming so close to him. He listens to her, and carefully chooses his next words, not wanting to make her suspicious about anything. Subtlety is the key...
"That's all very intresting, and also very sad. I hope that you do not share your people's downfalls? Personally, I think your eyes to be very pretty. I'm glad to hear that you were raised by someone whom you obviously cared for, and who I assume cared for you as well. As far as the creatures are concerned, I guess there are too many to really discuss eh? There were a great many creatures where I came from, as I'm sure there are many here. These man-wolves you speak of, however, sound familiar. These... Damuerin was it? I believe we had something like that back home." Here it comes, time to bend the truth a bit, "They weren't as vicious however. As a matter of fact, I knew one that had a good control over himself, and we became good friends. Would you think anything like that would be possible here?"
-----
Kallina is thrown by the question.
"I..." Her face darkens for a moment as she considers. Never one for big speeches, Kallina likes to weigh her answers carefully. "I do not honestly know," she says finally, massaging her temples to stave off the headache that is encroaching. "If we were in some kind of totally neutral situation... then maybe. But maybe I would be too afraid." She smiles at Deamth, a warm smile of genuine friendliness. "At least I'm honest, no?"
-----
Deamth smiles back. "Well, that's more then I can say for just about anyone I've met thus far. Honesty is a hard quality to find in someone, but I'm glad it's not impossible." Realizing that he may be going too far with the compliments, Deamth clears his throat and glances down in growing embarassment. "I'm sorry for all of the questions, it's just that through my years of travel, I've learned not to believe all of the hysteria surrounding certain things, and it's kept me from missing out on some very incredible things... and when I meet someone like you whom I know to be intelligent, then I try to help them see things the way I do, so that they may also share in things that they would otherwise miss."
-----
Kallina says nothing. Deamth's words have struck a chord with her. Who is she to say she is not prepared to accept people because of differences? She would be hypocritical if she did.
"I will try," she says finally, smiling at him warmly. "You have been very kind to me - all of you - so far. I hope we...that is, um...all four of us...can continue to develop this friendship. I am sure we can learn much from each other."
She blushes.
-----
Theron pauses before the door, raising his hand to knock. Surely Deamth has had enough time to ask by now... regardless, the food will be arriving in just a few more minutes, and it might be thought of as odd if he's standing around in the hallway when it does.
Theron sighs. There's enough trouble for him and the others already without anyone here becoming suspicious that he's some sort of thief, loitering about in the hall. He knocks solidly on the door thrice, then steps back a bit as he waits for an answer.
-----
Kallina looks up at the door. Smiling at Deamth, she gets slowly to her feet. "Your friend has returned," she says. "Maybe he has sorted out this food you mentioned, in which case we should wake her up." She points at the prone figure on the bed.
-----
Deamth looks to ChaiDhal, and narrows his eyes slightly in thought, "I'm not so sure. She has been doing much to help us, then again, she doesn't appear to have eaten in quite a while..." After another moment of thought, Deamth smiles and nods to Kallina. "Yes, you're right, we should wake her. She can have something to eat, then rest some more if she wishes."
-----
Kallina smiles again. "I will admit whoever is at the door," she says, "Whilst you wake your friend."
Padding softly to the door, she pulls it open.
-----
Deamth watches Kallina for a moment as she moves towards the door, then he himself slowly gets up and makes his way over to the sleeping ChaiDhal. He sits down next to her and gently nudges her arm. "Chai...Chai, wake up. We have some food."
-----
"It will be here in a minute or two," Theron says quietly to the woman as he steps inside. He considers saying more, but decides that it would be better to wait until everyone has settled down over the meal.
-----
ChaiDhal shifts tiredly, slowly dredging herself up from the comfortable sleep she has fallen into. Blinking her eyes open, she starts at the figure sitting next to her. Training takes over and she rolls back, raising herself into a kneeling position in one fluid movement. As her eyes adjust to the scene around her, however, she begins to remember, recognizing her companions.
Drawing in a deep breath, the young novice steadies herself, forcing her voice and heart to calm. "Thank you. I believe you said something about food?"
-----
Kallina smiles at ChaiDhal. "Do you feel better for your sleep? Our friend Theron here tells me that food will be here in just a few moments."
She finds herself becoming more accustomed to her strange companions, but still remains a little wary, remembering her own villagers and how they turned on her. There is never any guarantee of safety, no matter how welcoming the people may be.
-----
Deamth smiles to ChaiDhal and pats her upper arm gently. "It's ok. No reason to be so jumpy." Deamth turns to Kallina and Theron with a feigned look of worry on his face, "Am I that hideous?" He then grins and winks to ChaiDhal.
-----
Theron ignores Deamth's jest for the moment, concerned as he is about other matters. "We should plan to leave here as soon as we can," he says at last, shifting his gaze between the other three in the room. "Not only are there these creatures coming, but the people down there..."
He sighs and looks straight at Deamth. "A lot of those people sound like they're quite willing to pin blame on whatever they can, and that might include anyone not from this place..."
-----
ChaiDhal nods to Deamth and then Kallina, then looks piercingly at Theron. Although she looks a bit less sallow, her complexion seems still a bit too light, a bit wan. She draws in a deep breath, running over the mantras she was trained in silently, forcing herself to be calm, but still cannot supress a slight shiver. "You believe we might be in danger still, friend?"
-----
Kallina blushes almost unconsciously when Deamth makes his crack about being hideous, but covers it up well. She turns her attention to ChaiDhal. "Are you sure you are well?" she asks softly, crossing to stand next to the other woman. "You are not looking too good to me. Is there anything - anything at all I can do to alleviate any pain you may have?"
-----
Deamth meets Theron's gaze and nods once, "I can both understand how they're feeling, and what you're saying. I agree we should leave soon. How about we eat, rest for a few moments more, then take to the road, hmm?" Deamth looks over to the women for approval or disapproval.
-----
"Yes, let's do that," Theron nods. Addressing ChaiDhal, he continues, "I haven't been around places this big before, but I've... heard just how easy it is for people who are frightened like they are to take it out on whoever is a convenient target, and seeming unusual just makes for a better target..." He trails off, glancing at Deamth. "Whether its a visible difference or not."
Theron turns as someone knocks sharply upon the door and reaches out to open it. "The food, I hope," he says to no one in particular as he pulls it open.
-----
ChaiDhal glances up to see a serving girl enter, bearing a large tray of food. The fresh-baked scent rising from the bread and the steam wafting from the soup upon the tray makes her mouth water involuntarily. Turning after a moment to look at Kallina, she shakes her head, "What I'm dealing with, little other than rest and food will aid in. But I thank you for your concern."
With a deliberate will, she waits until someone else makes a move for the tray, not wanting to seem too famished. She notes with wry amusement how quickly the serving girl sets down the tray and leaves the room, almost droping it in her haste. Are she and her companions that frightening?
------
Kallina shrugs a little. "It is not a problem. I am a healer, that is what I do." She takes up the bread and breaks some off. "Here. At least accept some food." She passes the hunk of bread to ChaiDhal and ladles out some soup for her, handing the bowl over as well.
She does not take any of the food herself, however. Instead, she retreats a little, allowing the two men to approach the tray.
------
Deamth makes his way over to the tray, picking and choosing through some fruit, then taking some bread and soup for himself. He then picks up another piece of fruit, whistles over to Kallina, and tosses the fruit to her. "C'mon, you have to eat something." He smiles and nods his head towards the tray. "Help yourself."
He gives her another smile, then moves back to the wall, sits down, and begins eating.
-----
Seeing that the serving girl neglect to close the door in her haste to depart, Theron quietly shuts it before turning back to the others. It was plain that the serving girl is either frightened of the four of them, or of being seen around the four of them. Both possibilities bode poorly for the future.
"We'd better eat quickly and get going, I don't think we're going to stay welcome for very long..." he muses aloud, stepping towards the tray to obtain some food for himself. He doesn't mention his belief that Deamth's earlier method of browbeating the innkeeper into giving them the room probably hasn't done their cause any good with the townspeople...
-----
ChaiDhal eats hungrily, though paces herself carefully so as not to overload her stomach. As the void in her belly becomes more filled, she glances over at Kallina, for the first time taking the time to study her. Her instincts sense no harm from the healer; if anything, she senses that the woman is frightened, caught in a situation that is as difficult and strange to her as it is to them.
"You should eat too, friend. If we are to travel, you will need your strength as much as any of the rest of us. And this city does not seem like it would be safe for us for long."
-----
Kallina stares at the piece of fruit that Deamth has given her and listens to ChaiDhal's words. Although oddly accented, ChaiDhal's musical voice seems to hold an overture of friendship...
Is she prepared to travel with these people? She does not trust them, and is indeed a little frightened. But she tries to conceal those dubious feelings.
She bites into the fruit, its sweet taste bursting forth in her mouth and she savours it. She has eaten only meager rations for the best part of two or three months. Fruit has been a long forgotten memory.
Suddenly aware that she might seem gawkish and silly enjoying something as simple as fruit, Kallina blushes, pulling her hood back over her head and continuing to eat in silence.
-----
Deamth sits against the wall, momentarily oblivious to what's going on around him. He is stuck in a mental dilema. He knows he should eat. He knows he needs the food for later, but he also knows that his stomach absolutly refuses to accept anything. He also knows that whatever he puts in will come back out very shortly along the same path. Finally coming to a decision, Deamth grabs a piece of bread, dips it in the soup, and eats it.
-----
Theron steps away from the tray, having selected a generous assortment of bread, fruit, soup, and sliced meat from the offerings upon it. Holding his plate carefully in one hand, he attacks the food with the small utensils that have been provided on the tray, wolfing the meal down.
He glances up from the plate after a few moments, and is somewhat surprised to see the reluctance with which the others appear to be dining. His eyes flick back down towards the partially eaten contents of his plate, then he looks at each of the others directly, creasing his brow slightly in concern. "Is there something wrong?" he asks, somewhat hesitantly. "You all look like you're afraid to eat..."
-----
ChaiDhal tilts her head, amused by the statement. "Hungry I may be, but eating too much when you have eaten very little for a time is as bad as not eating at all. Or at least so my teachers taught me." She eats a bit more of the bread and soup, feeling the warm glow of a good meal radiating from her. "The food is good, however."
-----
Kallina lowers her head. "I...do not have any money to contribute," she says finally, a light flush coming to her cheeks. "I was always taught not to take that which I could not pay for."
It is a simple statement, and one which is hard for her to admit. She does not really want these people to know how impoverished she is.
-----
Deamth glances up to Kallina, swallowing the food that remains in his mouth, "Oh, worry not Kallina, you're not getting off that easy." Deamth ventures a humorous wink. "You will be repaying us. As a healer, you have a very valuable skill that, well, I don't believe the rest of us possess. I know I don't. So, eat, and be secure in the knowledge that you're not getting any charity." He smiles again, then resumes eating.
-----
Theron nods vaguely to ChaiDhal, then turns his gaze towards Kallina as Deamth speaks. "You did help us out here, consider it an extra payment if you want." He glances over at Deamth for a moment before looking back to her. "As well as whatever coin is appropriate. Frankly, I have no idea how much things are worth here."
-----
ChaiDhal nods quietly. "A healer is highly prized among most peoples I have heard of. You would be repaying us and more to accept what we wish to share; your skills are likely to be all the more valuable in the near future as well. My companion spoke truly when he said that we should try to be quit of this place before the attack hits, with as much lead as we may get before it happens. If you would consent to travel with us, for travel is much safer in a group, in my experience."
-----
"I...."
Kallina looks from one to the other, flustered and uncertain. Finally, she manages to get the words out. "I am not used to being part of a group," she says slowly. "But..."
But what?
She nods once, abruptly. "I will come with you. And..." she adds, casting a shy glance at Theron. "Consider this service my introduction. I do not require payment. Your offer of protection and friendship is more than sufficient."
-----
Deamth smiles and nods, holding up his hands. "It is settled then. Excellent! Let us finish eating and rest for a moment more before continuing on. Of course, where we shall be headed I am unaware, but the answer usually appears soon enough." He gives another smile and resumes force-feeding himself.
-----
The four unlikely companions finish their meal as quickly as possible, then head downstairs, obtaining directions to the eastern gate from the rather reluctant innkeeper. Thanking him, they step outside and begin winding their way through the streets, all too aware of the less than welcoming looks the remaining patrons of the inn had been giving them.
-----
"Almost there," Theron murmurs, glancing back at the other three. "If we get out of here, it won't be a moment too soon. The people we've been passing by don't look all that much more friendly, and besides that, this place just... smells bad."
He turns his attention back to the street ahead, hoping Kallina won't think anything of his comment.
-----
ChaiDhal nods to Theron's comment, agreeing with his assessment of the physical odor and of the more spiritual stink that seems to hang over the area. The young monk paces even with the others, begining to wonder if she's as capable as she's always thought she is. This is a new land, and a very different situation from what she is used to. She hopes that she won't find it too difficult.
The dinginess of the streets just adds to the feeling of gloom and danger hanging over her. ChaiDhal shivers involuntarily as she wonders if they will even manage to be quit of this place so easily. She hopes it will be swift going to escape.
-----
Kallina trots along with the others, her warm woolen cloak pulled around her for security as well as the heat it provides. She raises her nose to the wind and sniffs automatically at Theron's comment. Although she's agreed to become one with their party, Kallina is now somewhat uncertain that she had made the right decision.
Her eyes glance sideways at Deamth and she feels the warm flush suffuse her pale skin again. What manner of man is he to do this to her? She is almost angry with herself for acting like a teenager.
-----
Deamth walks along, completly oblivious to the fact that these three feel out of place. To him, this is home. Being a man of the land, he is used to run-down villages. He also has experiance with the richer areas. He isn't exactly in heaven, but certainly isn't uncomfortable in this situation.
He makes sure to have his hood up and covering his face, for fear of how the villagers might react. Were he alone he wouldn't worry so much about it, but now he has three others that to be aware of as well. He glances over just as Kallina looks away, and a small smile spreads across his lips as he looks back ahead. He is glad she agreed to join them, but now wonders if it was the right thing to ask. He also isn't sure how she will react when she finally discovers Theron's true nature. Still, he can worry about that fork in the road when they came to it. For the moment they have more pressing matters to attend to.
-----
Theron starts to sigh in relief as he turns one last corner, bringing the gate into view, but cuts himself short as he takes in the scene in greater detail. He slows to a halt, seeing the gate securely barred from within by a large beam of wood, and a steel grate pulled across the exit right behind it.
He spots much more activity around the gate and upon the walls flanking it as well - armed men, patrolling and setting up what looks like various kinds of combat gear. He swears softly. "Great. We're locked in," he mutters, staring glumly ahead. "Now what do we do."
-----
ChaiDhal studies the gate and nods. "Locked in, but why? This cannot bode well for us, I fear. Mayhaps we can convince them to let us out?" She shivers a moment, then forces her body to relax, trying her best to look like a calm, serene monk. Although she trusts her companions instinctively, there is something about this situation which worries her. Nonetheless she tries to conceal her reactions.
-----
Kallina shrugs a little. "To the best of my knowledge, they generally only lock the city gates if they are keeping a criminal in - or raiders out," she says in a low voice to her companions. "And unless any of you have committed something terrible, I suggest we at least ask for right of passage." She glances again at Deamth, her violet eyes meeting his briefly before she falls silent and twists a section of her cloak uncomfortably.
-----
Deamth meets Kallina's gaze for a moment, wondering why she's looking at him like that. He clears his throat and furrows his brows in thought, then speaks up, though softly, still feeling a bit weakened. "I suppose I will go. The worst that can happen is they yell, but I can understand their sense of panic." With that, Deamth begins to make his way over to the nearest guard to request passage.
Deamth takes in a deep breath as he walks over towards the guard, who swiftly notices his approach. "Hold!" the guard declares. "Where do you think you're going?"
Deamth doesn't slow his walk, but holds up a hand in greeting, "I wish merely to have a word with you."
The guard lets out a sigh, clearly viewing Deamth's presence an unwanted distraction. "Well make it quick, we have to prepare for the coming attack!"
Deamth stops within conversational range of the guard, though far enough away so that the fellow can't readily see into his hood. "My companions and I have very urgent need to exit this city. I was wondering if might be possible to..."
He is rudely interrupted by the guard, who shakes his head firmly as he sharply replies with, "Nope! Sorry! Can't be done! Those doors are shut and locked! There is no way they are going to be opened. Why, what if one of them comes charging through just as we open it? Sorry. Can't take that risk. Looks like you and your friends are stuck here."
Deamth sighs inaudibly, and ponders for a moment. A city with only one exit or entrance? That would be absolutely unheard of where he's from, and he doubts that things are much different here. "Are you to tell me that there is no other way out of here?" he asks doubtfully.
The guard's hand strays slightly towards the hilt of his weapon, and he replies in a deliberately even tone. "Why in such a hurry to leave, stranger? We need all of the capable people we can get here to fight. You're not going anywhere."
Deamth suppresses another sigh. This certainly isn't going to be easy. Nodding once, he and speaks in a rather dry, sarcastic tone, "Thank you for all of your assistance."
He turns and walks back towards the group, shaking his head in frustration, "This isn't the exit for us. They are not going to open it for anything. There must be another way out, I'm sure of it. Traveling merchants, I assume, would be privy to this type of information... The merchant!" Deamth turns to Theron, "The merchant was looking for guards! He may be our only way out at this point."
-----
Theron is a bit dubious about the idea at first brush, but as he considers it is forced to admit to himself that he really doesn't have any better ideas. "Then we'd better find him, and soon," he replies, glancing at the two women. "I don't know about the rest of you, but fighting an army of monsters isn't something I'm really cut out for."
-----
ChaiDhal shakes her head, an odd look in her eyes. She supresses a shiver and nods to Theron. "I agree, we'd best be out of here. I just escaped from one army, it's not like I want to be facing another right now. And none of us is exactly in condition to fight, at least not more than one or two at a time." The woman rolls her stone spheres in her hands, the pain of the recent memory still bothering her. "Yet I don't like abandoning anyone to such horrors as war holds..."
-----
Shaking her head, Kallina says nothing, but her slightly frightened expression conveys her feelings adequately enough to the others. She lifts her head fixes the guard with a cool, mauve-eyed stare, and very briefly considers simply going up to him and using the only other bargaining tool she has ever been able to use. But she won't do that in front of three complete strangers. They must surely already think her strange - there is no point in their thinking she is also some sort of whore.
The sense of danger is almost palpable now, and she wonders if she has made the right decision in coming along with these people after all.
"Merchants tend to gather at the Grapes or the Bear, where you were staying," she says instead, speaking to the air rather than to the group. "The grapes is one of the more affluent inns on the eastern side of town, and you already know the Bear." She turns finally to look at them once her expression has calmed somewhat. "Neither far from here."
For the first time, she is thankful that her short while spent in the town has given her a rudimentary knowledge of its layout and common practices. Bereft of literacy, Kallina's memory has developed to a quite phenomenal level, and she remembers the way to both of the inns without needing to think twice.
-----
Deamth turns to Kallina, "May I ask why we are waiting, then? We should go now, and hope he is at the Bear. That's where he was staying, and I'm sure his offer is still valid. Shouldn't be too tough, either." He adjusts his cloak and hood a bit. "Lead the way."
-----
Theron follows along as Kallina leads the way back to the Dancing Bear, concerned not only about the difficulties they're facing in getting out of the town, but what they might end up involved in acting as guards for the merchant. Few of the merchants that he'd met travelled light, and avoiding the Hurnot already seemed like it was going to be enough of a problem without having a big wagon along to slow them down - and to attract extra attention from both the Hurnot and anyone else that felt like doing a bit of raiding...
-----
Chaidhal keeps her pace even with Theron's retreating deep into herself. She tucks her hands deeply into her sleeves and bows her head, trusting the others to give her warning if she should need to act. The events of the past few days rest heavily upon her, and she knows she needs time to meditate, to try to figure out what has happened. Despite his statements about others fearing his kind, she feels safe around the wolf-man. After all, did not a shape-changer save her life as a child? There is so much to assimilate, to understand, and yet there is no time to do so yet..
-----
Kallina finds herself slightly irritated at having to cross town again, but she keeps her thoughts to herself. From time to time she glances, a little shyly, across at Deamth. He doesn't seem to be paying her any attention, though. This in itself doesn't really surprise her; she's spent most of her twenty years of life learning how to blend into the background and be inconspicuous. In fact, she is almost glad he doesn't seem to notice her, though she's unsure as to why.
The Bear looms into view and she gives a one-shouldered shrug. "We are here," she says in her soft melodic voice.
-----
Deamth finally turns his attention to Kallina, "Once again you have proven to be invaluable," He offers her a reassuring smile as the group heads back into the inn.
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