Just Passing Through

[Jaspenellar]

((Excuse the slight Auto-ing, not sure if Tauremi is going to come back... ?))

The half elf grimaced visibly at the man's words, her expressive features waxing between astonishment, anger, and bewilderment. "A dog...?" She looked between the two standing before her. The little messenger had darted around Lo'en as she had stepped out of the shop, disappearing inside before she could barely register the girl. Suspicion tinged her grey eyes as she leaned forward, almost sniffing the air, as if she would be able to discern dog hair on one of them. Of course, her senses weren't nearly as keen and the wanderlusting half-elf only succeeded in making herself look a bit daft or silly. Snorting in self-derision, Lo'en hefted her pack after she absent-mindedly tucked her bishani-laden pouch into her belt.

The months of solitary travel, with her non-human, not exactly aimiable avian companion must have had a more profound effect on her social skills than she had originally realized. "Well, I haven't been close t'anything remot'ly resembling a dog, wolf, fox, or any 'tother canine creature," she groused, half to herself. Her deeply buried civilities were resurfacing, slowly, and Lo'en realized her words might sound accusing and offend her companions. Clearing her throat and offering a wry grin, she shrugged at them and added, "What are th'chances th'ol' fat man blacklisted us? I've never been to Shim, but I've heard it's not far an'not as quick to turn 'way coin. Should we try our luck there?"

[Theuse]

Theuse pondered on Lo'en's question for a moment, considering their options. They had only been thrown out maybe a half hour ago and that meant that there had not been much time for the owner of the Rook to speak with his friends, assuming he had any. He also had to attend to the boy and get a local barber-surgeon or doctor to help him with his reaction to whatever dog had done that to him. Even then, he had known many inn keepers and tavern masters to be rivals first and friends second.

There was always another place that would enjoy profiting from the loss of another and Theuse and the others were no rowdier than most folk, so they should not have to worry about some of the more moderately priced establishments taking them in. The more he thought on it, the more that Theuse considered the choice of the Rook to have been a mistake; they were not the sort of crowd that frequented a higher class inn such as that one and it might explain the owner's disposition. He had made an error in judgment, but it had been born of ignorance regarding the city and the inn's reputation so he chalked it up to a learning experience.

“I think we should look into finding another inn, perhaps one that will be a little easier on our purses. My own is, admittedly, a little light.” Theuse grinned and shrugged as though it were no great lose and, in truth, it really wasn't.

Most inns had a healthy gambling patronage and, with some rolls of the dice he could easily up the amount of Bishani he had. Considering this, Theuse realized that he had already agree to once again sharing room and board with the other two women and he still know only a little about them. He would have laughed at himself if he didn't worry that the others would think he a little strange in the head for it. Instead Theuse only started to heft their baggage once again.

“Shall we be off?”

[Gia Rilan]

After a moment of wanting to thud her head against something hard, Gia gave a smile and managed to hide her feelings of annoyance at herself. She should have suggested going to Shim, that would have made it easier, but perhaps she could smooth it over...

"Shim sounds fine to me," she said. Gia was grateful that the conversation of the dog had been discarded as ridiculous. She shouldn't have shifted, it had been stupid to do so, but it made her cleaner and more alert, and that stretch had been simply divine. The wolf considered being thrown out alright in exchange for her moment of freedom.

She picked up her own small leather bag and strapped it around her shoulder, fastening it with a quick knot. It really was supposed to be either carried in her mouth or hanging across her back in wolf form, but the idea was to have something that wouldn't draw notice in human form. It was where she carried her emergency dress and money, and she was simply grateful that it hadn't fallen apart yet. The Zhaltevites were known (at least among themselves, because few others even knew where the city was) for their crafts regarding disguise and blending into human populations, and Gia didn't want to have to make another trip north to replace her lost goods.

She wasn't exactly welcome back there by certain populations in the city either. Sighing, she adjusted the leather bag on her shoulder so it fell across the front of her body and then looked at her companions. "Actually," she started slowly, "I've heard of a place where people can stay a few nights in Shim."

[Jaspenellar]

"Shim? Here? I don't really have a pref'rence." The half-elf grinned amiably and motioned for Gia to lead the way. Lo'en had taken her pack quickly from Theuse, slightly embarrassed at having him carry it from the inn, even though there had been nothing she could have done to prevent that. She was slower to come to the realization that he must have paid her share of the room. The trio had started walking down the street before the half-elf paused.

"I owe y'something right?" She muttered, half under her breath as she fiddled with her pouch. With only a slight twinge of regret for giving up money not well spent, Lo'en thumbed a few bishani at Theuse. "Easy come, easy go, I guess..."

[Theuse]

Theuse rearranged his traveling pack, making it more comfortable across his shoulders now that it was the only one that he would be carrying. The lighter load was more than welcomed by his shoulders and there was a comfort to it. It meant that it was time to be moving again, through hill and dale and maybe with some excitement and adventure mixed in. That was all he ever really wanted, to travel and explore and see new sights. Though in truth he had never heard of Shim.

Still it was a place to go, outside of the city of Marn, and for a traveler who never really planted his heels that was enough. Perhaps there would be something there to see, some old mystery or interesting happening? Treasures hidden in the ground, or a fair lady to safe from bandits? One that might give a kiss to a brave hero! Before his imagination could overwhelm him, Theuse realized that Lo'en was trying to give him some of her newly earned Bishani. He raised his hands and quickly shook his head.

“My temper surely got us ejected from the Rook.” he admitted. “Had I kept calm I might have been able to keep our rooms by reasoning with the owner. Keep your Bishani and pardon my hastiness.”

[Gia Rilan]

They were complying so easily. Gia wondered for a brief moment if she should feel bad, but then she realized that her master knew what was best. Of course he did. He was ancient, he'd traveled the world probably five times over, and certainly he knew what he was doing because of that. Anyway, he probably wasn't going to do anything bad to them. he'd said he just wanted to talk with Lo'en, after all. The strange lady in the mirror...

Gia shook her head slightly to herself. That had been a strange night. Actually, come to think of it, she hadn't really had a normal night since she'd gotten to this small place, with the exception of a few nights in inns and the like. That was probably better phrased as 'there had been many strange nights' (certainly more than half of them). Smiling back at her companions, she moved into an easy walk that would both cover ground and conserve energy. Gia knew that she had to be careful about acting too much like a wolf, though, because that would prompt suspicion and she really didn't want that. Coming right out and telling people, or doing as good as the same, was tantamount to suicide, and that was just stupid.

"I think the man just wanted us gone," she commented quietly as she led the way through the streets. "Good riddance to us then, if he was such a rude ass. Shim will be quieter."

[Jaspenellar]

Rolling her eyes, Lo'en took one of Theuse's raised hands and forcefully shoved the coinage into it with her other hand. It wasn't that she was disinclined toward chivalric acts, more that the half-elf was not comfortable feeling indebted to someone she had only known for a day. She moved off before he could refute the payment again, taking long strides to catch up to Gia.

As she fell alongside, the half-elf thought she recognized the efficiency in the other girl's leggy movements. Despite her waif-like appearance, Lo'en assumed this girl must be something akin to the two herself and Theuse, a traveller of the world. The trio moved smoothly through the growing sea of city-folk, most of whom took short, almost halting, steps in comparison to the seasoned long-distance travellers, moving here, then there, stopping frequently to turn direction or go into shops or engage in conversation with their fellow Marnians.

Something unidentifiable, some underlying current of energy seemed to be disturbing the silence Lo'en was so accustomed to walking with. Like a scent trying remind her of a wisp of a dream that she didn't want to recollect, the quiet but incessant feeling finally moved her to talk, making small conversation where she normally would have remained silent. "So, Gia, how far north did y'say you were from? I would hazard a guess farther than m'self, y'don't sound much like my backwards self."

[Theuse]

Theuse stared at the purse of Bishani that had just been shoved into his hand, dumbfounded and not sure what to do about it. When his senses returned, and a protest rose to his lips, Theuse realized that Lo'en had already hurried after Gia. With an exasperated sigh, and a small smile, he started to follow after them, stowing the bag of Bishani inside of his coat pocket. He was not entirely sure what to make of his two companions.

Lo'en was a rural woman, at least in origin, and Theuse could relate to that. She had certain values and she stuck to them; she was also not like the delicate city girls that a charming young man could dandle on his knee. Gia, on the other hand, seemed much closer to those sorts of girls. A shame she struck him as being so innocent; he couldn't help but see her like his younger sisters back home. 'Come to think of it, I might want to send them another letter.' It had been almost three months since he had last sent any news home.

Theuse caught up to his traveling companions, but he was lost in thought.

[Gia Rilan]

It felt good to be moving with her rangy stride again. It was like the wolf, economic and comfortable, and Gia had to remember not to push herself too fast. Once they broke out of the city it was easier to gentle her pace--the wolf didn't like crowds. There was something about a defensive scenario that got her blood and adrenaline racing, and once things were less frantic and there were fewer people it was always easier to relax. She supposed that humans were probably like that as well, but it had been a long time since she'd been a human, and she barely remembered her days as one.

But that was all behind her now, like the city. She looked back at Lo'en with a slight smile. "Far enough. Up near the water, where there's snow more often than not." The inhabitants of Zhaltev made it something of a point not to talk about their haven too much, because getting outsiders who possibly didn't understand about the workings of shifters would be hazardous to the denizens of the place. She shrugged to take the ambivalence of her words off. "A small place, nothing much."

Looking back, Gia spotted Theuse with a somewhat glazed expression on his face. Mildly, she wondered what he was thinking about and then her attention was caught by a flash of white against the dull greyish green of the bushes alongside the road. Rabbit. She could smell it and even though she'd just eaten recently, the wolf didn't like human food and... no. Gia let herself swallow quietly and then turned her face back to the road. There was no need for her to go run off chasing rabbits... and that might unnerve her traveling companions as well. And not now that they were so close to the Manor, she couldn't lose Lo'en now.

Shaking her head briefly and sharply, she looked around at the two of them again. "We'll be at the Manor shortly. The man who lives there is said to look kindly on travelers." He'd been kind enough to her, at any rate.

[Jaspenellar]

As soon as the trio had crossed the bridge leading out of Marn, the half-elf felt an oppressive, ominous weight lift from her spirit. The happy-go-lucky wanderer hadn't quite realized the toll the city had taken on her until the low breeze wafted the scent of green forest toward them. The bustling noises had finally become only a whisper in the background, muffled further as they entered the wooded part of the path between the city and town.

Lo'en nodded noncommittally to Gia's vague response, distracted by the quiet she felt in the forest. She looked up at the canopy, not for the first time wishing to see the outline of a red-furred friend. Was he a friend? He seemed more like a spy, though for what purpose the half-elf couldn't begin to guess. She was just a wanderlusting goat-herd who travelled the world in very small steps. She had never witnessed or partaken any illicit or exciting actions. She knew only survival tricks and trivia. But there was some kind of friendship burgeoning between the half-elf and the griffin, inevitably due to the time spent together, and in the midst of two relative strangers, Lo'en found herself missing the harsh, alien griffin.

Deeply internal, the half-elf would have missed Gia's comment if the girl hadn't sharply and suddenly tossed her head, catching her attention once more.

"We'll be at the Manor shortly. The man who lives there is said to look kindly on travelers."

She blinked her grey eyes, her mind trying to decode something subtle in Gia's voice or words. There was a familiarity that seemed out of place, despite her casual tone. Before she could trace that ephemeral thought to a solid analysis, another movement and a presence distracted her.

The path leading from Marn had started as cobblestones, paved with all the semblance of civilization, but as they had moved into the forest, the stones gave way to nature, becoming a hard packed dirt road, wide enough to accommodate a small cart or four or five travelers walking abreast. Trees were becoming thicker, and bushes and shrubs were densely packed, growing almost desperately between the tall, thick trunks. Their current position was at a switchback in the path, the sharp bend in the trail ahead obscured by the vegetation. Something, or somebody was lurking just on the other side and not making much effort to keep his position hidden.

Lo'en halted abruptly, dropping her pack to one side of the road. She had been deep in thought, but she hadn't noticed anyone take the road to Shim ahead of them when they had started their walk. She gave a quick glance to Gia and Theuse, surely they would have sensed the same presence ahead of them, heard the scuffing of feet or the quiet, out-of-place rustle of clothing. The half-elf was immediately alert, though not tense, gripping her bow but leaving her arrows in the quiver at her side. Perhaps these were just travellers coming from Shim, paused for a picnic.

[Theuse]

Theuse enjoyed being on the move again, the cool wind through the trees, and the way the ground felt more natural when the cobblestones faded away. He barely listened to Gia's remarks, instead choosing to get lost in his thoughts without worrying about rubbing shoulders with some stranger. No carriages would run him down, no pick pockets would steal his money, and no inn keepers would yell at him for a dog he didn't have... or steal his money.

He barely noticed the subtle cues that the women gave off, the eagerness that Gia expressed at the prospect of coming to the manor soon or Lo'en's brief stiffening that meant that maybe she had. What Theuse did catch was the hint of something wrong, of danger; obviously Lo'en understood it much better. As her pack hit the dirt, Theuse followed suit and laid hand to sword hilt.

“You heard something?” he whispered, peering hard at the trees. His sense were not as sharp as hers and he only saw the trees and heard the wind in the leaves.

[Gia Rilan]

Gia felt the almost-imperceptible signs that there was trouble ahead when Lo'en seemed to. If she hadn't been distracted by the rabbit (but she had that under control now, she was fine...) she might have scented them sooner, but then again, perhaps not. She listened hard, body going tense and obviously not city-bred human. Closing her eyes, she strained her ears and let her nose sniff the air, getting a scent-map of the road in her head.

Behind them, a trail echoed in colors. Gold and silver of magic, earth-tones for the elf and a slight overly of copper for her griffiny friend. Lighter red, but not pink, for the human, laced with hints of the alcohol from the previous night. There was leather and cloth and weapons, metal, sifted in among them. And then her own brown-grey scent, colored with copper magic. She could smell the woods off to the side (green and brown), that damnable rabbit (red and brown and prey-colored), and... ah.

The shifter could see them in her scent picture. They smelled human, they were rank with it and she assumed that they hadn't bathed in a while, although perhaps one of two had a touch of elf blood from an ancestor. Overtones of leather and metal (it was funny how she never seemed to get one without the other--chalk it up to human nature) filled in the blanks. And there was a horse. If she relied on her ears she could hear the creaking of its leather harness and saddle, light stamps of its hooves on the rock-like dirt, and its breath... chase. Hunt. No. There was no time for that. Four humans--she got alternately three and five different scents, so she assumed four. They were rank, too.

She opened her eyes again. It had only taken her half a minute to process the information, and she murmured quietly to her companions. "Four. One's mounted. I don't know what they want, but I would assume nothing friendly." Belatedly, she realized that they would likely want to know how she came by that information, but she didn't have an explanation. Instead, she padded forward along the side of the road, using the bend in it to cover her advance and hoping that Lo'en and Theuse would follow.

[Jaspenellar]

Cory hadn't signed up for this. When his older brother had originally propositioned him to join his friends on some "antics", Cory had thought perhaps the bully had finally decided to turn his attention to torturing some other poor soul. His hopeful wishing had come to fruition as Dawe led his kid brother away from the bustle of the city and deep into the Virdara Woods. Their first mark had been a wizened old couple, a pair of farmers who had been easily intimidated into turning over their few goods and their work horse to the band of four vagrants. Fortunately for the troublemakers, the couple hadn't been travelling to Marn to sell their produce; they had already done that in Shim and were on their way to the city to spend their hard-earned bishani. The easy money had bolstered the confidence in the already cocky young men, one of whom thought it would be hilarious to ride the ill-gotten steed around.

But they had gone two hours without so much as a squirrel crossing the dirt path, and now he was bored and growing restless. He was originally supposed to have met with his acquaintance this morning, and could have been scoring a considerable amount of "spice," lying in a glazed stupor in the alley behind their parents' house. The ten minutes of adrenaline rush from holding up the elderly couple was no comparison to an afternoon of being high. Also, he'd always been the more suspicious one, but his brother and his bulky meat-head friends kept him holding his tongue to comment on what he perceived as the growingly oppressive woods around them.

Just as Cory was finally losing his patience, Dawe straightened from his lazy post against a tree. Brandishing their father's old but still effective heavy mace, his eyes glinting dangerously, the older brother motioned to his brutish friends and younger brother. "Someone's coming from Marn."

****

Lo'en eyed Gia wordlessly as the waif girl leaned forward, her eyes closed. The action was brief, but the half-elf took note, even as she moved to follow Gia. She turned back briefly to ensure Theuse was following before stopping at the edge of the path. The grey eyes beckoned the man to move ahead of her, alongside Gia, as she purposefully strung her bow. Removing one of her newly crafted arrows from the slim quiver at her side, Lo'en pulled back the taut bowstring to half tension, the deadly tip pointed toward the ground, but prepared to snap up at a second's notice.

"W'might as well find out what these ones are up to," the half-elf spoke, not bothering to keep her voice low. Both parties knew the other was there, perhaps they could be intimidated if they knew they had lost the element of surprise.

[Theuse]

Theuse followed Lo'en, quietly loosening his sword in its sheath. He watched as the elf readied her own weapon with surprising speed; he could only guess at what kind of damage that weapon could do to even an armored soldier. He did not see Gia draw any weapon, then again she might not have need for one. Many travelers joined trade caravans or large groups where others could do the fighting after all, not everyone needed to use a sword or bow.

"W'might as well find out what these ones are up to," the half-elf spoke, not bothering to keep her voice low.

“Agreed.” Theuse finally drew his own blade, prepared to fight. "Why don't we see what these would-be bandits are made of?" He flashed a grin, to his companions to hide the thrill running through his spine and spilling into stomach. The flesh seeming to curl away from nails on his fingers and toes. There might be combat and it always made Theuse nervous and a little bit excited.

[Gia Rilan]

Gia bared her teeth in a smile, although there was a distinctive wolf-like aspect to it. She was leaning forward still, hunched in a predator's pose as much as her frail human body would allow. The wolf wanted to help, she wanted to break through and keep the human from harm. The girl's smile was more feral than ever as the wolf strode across her mind, but the last remnants of rationality kept the beast at bay.

As friendly and harmless as these people had been to her, the wolf wasn't exactly loved in polite company. Or any company of those who weren't used to shifters, at any rate. And she had no way of telling if Theuse and Lo'en would turn on her or welcome the wolf as a highly competent fighter... and just another part of Gia. Anyway, the girl needed their trust at least as far as the mansion. After that, she didn't care about showing the wolfy side, because Master Tuc valued her. That's what she told herself, at any rate.

Knowing that didn't exactly help when it came to fighting. The wolf was so much easier, because she was a sack of pent up aggression and liked to take it out on normal people. Of course, the wolf considered shifters 'normal people' rather than humans, but that was just a difference, one of the many, between the human and wolf sides of Gia. Stifling a deep growl at the limits of her human body, she pulled a short knife from a hidden slit in her demure dress. She drew the knife lightly up the seam of the confining fabric, breaking the stitches to just above her knee so she could move freely.

The knife settled comfortingly into her palm, even though she didn't like the feel of metal as opposed to claws and fangs. She didn't even bother keeping the glint of animalistic eyes out of her own, the liquid brown shading increasingly to yellow. Gia's legs were tense; if she had been in wolf form, they would have been shaking from the effort of not lunging forward. Nevertheless, she waited for someone else to lead into the fight--she might not serve Theuse or Lo'en like she did Lord Belatucadrus, but she still preferred to follow.