Prologue is here http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?t=1088
A multicolored mist swirled before Drake's eyes, and his own heartbeat thudded in his ears. He was aware of his entire body, if only due to the uncomfortable amount of pressure surrounding it.
He scanned his ever-changing yet strangely constant surroundings. After a closer look he saw that the mist around him formed a perfect sphere, in the exact center of which he stood on some invisible surface. It was quite disorienting being here as the writhing walls of this strange chamber seemed to be near and impossibly far all at once.
Seeing no other option, he willed himself to move forward. He felt no activity in his legs, but he was moving.
Suddenly, and without warning, the sphere ceased the coalescing of distances. Now he could see that he was about three yards away from the wall in front of him. With another bit of travel the mist quit moving and formed a solid barrier. He continued forward and placed his hand against the wall. It was cool to the touch and had the same texture as marble that had not yet been planned or polished. Removing his hand, Drake turned and began to walk across to the other side of the chamber.
When he made it back to the center the chamber was filled with a soft glow that
emanated from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see his hand print glowing a stark red against the pastel colors of the wall. As he turned to face the wall as spider web of thin red lines shot out from the mark he had left to encompass the entirety of the sphere. At the places where lines intersected there were small knots of light. Some glowed a gentle white and others the same red as the lines themselves.
He stared into the light of one of the white knots and his mind was flooded with visions of fire and a stinging pains shot through the scarred places of his flesh. Shaking off the sensation he looked deep into another and found himself reliving one of the last conversations he had had with his mother.
One after another the white lights carried him back into his memories of the past, both pleasant and painful. The red ones, however, showed him nothing. When he looked at them, he saw only the wall of colors and the sources of the red and white light that now filled the sphere.
He was about to delve back into a memory of baking with his mother when he noticed that one of the knots did not glow white or red, rather a dull rusty orange. He stared at it intently and was rewarded with fogged visions of a large wheel being turned by a river, a soot covered gnome in bright green short-pants, and a tavern that he recognized as The Drunken Rat. He was entranced by the image of the gnome for some unknown reason. The little thing's mouth seemed to move as if he were saying one word repeatedly.
Drake put ever fiber of his mind into deciphering the gnome's mantric word. After some time he came to a conclusion. "Wizard? He's saying wizard," Drake said to himself, and as he did so, a voice began to accompany the gnome's word. It was a deep, almost guttural, rumbling sound, but it was unmistakably saying the word that Drake had just uttered.
At once the lights began to fade, the mist began to swirl, and Drakes vision began to cloud. He did not know what was happening, but it could no have been good.
Forgotten Faces
Drake's eyes snapped open. He was still in the bed in the little room he was renting at the Central Inn. The shabby brown curtains blew in a soft breeze that eased through the window he had left open. He could see the brilliant hues of sunset in the sky through the window.
After carefully pulling his shirt and jacket back on, arranging his hair to cover his scars, and putting up his hood, he left the in and strolled down Main Street towards the tavern that he had seen in the strange dream. He hadn't the slightest clue what any of it had meant, but he knew that if he wanted answers, The Drunken Rat was the only place he was likely to find them.
As he neared the building he could smell the sweat and ale in the air. The ladies of the Ale Star hung about outside bidding fair-well to their patrons, one of which Drake recognized as a portly shop keep he had sold his loot from the bandits' camp to upon arriving in Marn two night before. The ladies smiled at him and tried to entice him through the brothel's doors as if they could smell the fresh Bishani in his pockets, he ignored them and continued into the tavern.
Once inside he made his way to the booth in the corner farthest from the open windows that he had occupied on his every excursion through the front doors of the green building. With his face hidden in the shadows of his hood, he began to scan the night's crowd. He was on the look out for anyone that eyed him for too long, anyone that might have a few Bishani he could slip out of their ownership, anyone that might know of a place where the power of the Ofriyu turned a giant wheel.
After carefully pulling his shirt and jacket back on, arranging his hair to cover his scars, and putting up his hood, he left the in and strolled down Main Street towards the tavern that he had seen in the strange dream. He hadn't the slightest clue what any of it had meant, but he knew that if he wanted answers, The Drunken Rat was the only place he was likely to find them.
As he neared the building he could smell the sweat and ale in the air. The ladies of the Ale Star hung about outside bidding fair-well to their patrons, one of which Drake recognized as a portly shop keep he had sold his loot from the bandits' camp to upon arriving in Marn two night before. The ladies smiled at him and tried to entice him through the brothel's doors as if they could smell the fresh Bishani in his pockets, he ignored them and continued into the tavern.
Once inside he made his way to the booth in the corner farthest from the open windows that he had occupied on his every excursion through the front doors of the green building. With his face hidden in the shadows of his hood, he began to scan the night's crowd. He was on the look out for anyone that eyed him for too long, anyone that might have a few Bishani he could slip out of their ownership, anyone that might know of a place where the power of the Ofriyu turned a giant wheel.
-
Cody
Cody still had a few coins on him, and thought it was time to once again carefully surround himself with other people. One of the main places humans seemed to enjoy socializing was taverns. They enjoyed getting drunk, or whispering rumors in dark corners, gambling with money they couldn't stand to lose.
Cody had alcohol before on several accounts, but he avoided taking in large supplies of it. He could just never decide if he really liked it, or really hated it. The first time he had some with his owner, the man had told him he wasn't walking steady the entire way home. Considering Cody was the one doing all the work, it didn't seem fair to care if he walked steady or not but well....it had always been like that. Cody was suppose to do the work properly and without complaint.
It was scary a lot of the time being on his own but no one was telling him what to do or how to do it. There was at least one thing nice to this.
Opening the door to the Drunken Rat he first waited a second to make sure there was no large scene or fight going on. That happened at points in places...and he didn't want to be anywhere near it.
No tables were being turned over...no bottles breaking on tables or peoples heads. Good...it seemed as safe as these places ever got. Cody always tried to get the perfect spot around the middle of the room and off to one side. If your right next to the door and someone aggressive comes in, you are the first person in target range...too far away makes it harder to escape.
Cody took a seat that was a bit farther back than he preferred having to deal with what choices he had. Those youthful eyes flicked to the right, then left trying to notice everyone in the room all at once. Horse's had a much better range of visions than humans, and unfortunately there was just no way for that trait to exist at all in his human form.
He had done it again...come in to socialize and sat himself alone at a table. This didn't help socialize very well, but how do you start a conversation? Still, there were humans near, it was enough for now to spend time in their presence even if it was to simply go by unnoticed.
Cody had alcohol before on several accounts, but he avoided taking in large supplies of it. He could just never decide if he really liked it, or really hated it. The first time he had some with his owner, the man had told him he wasn't walking steady the entire way home. Considering Cody was the one doing all the work, it didn't seem fair to care if he walked steady or not but well....it had always been like that. Cody was suppose to do the work properly and without complaint.
It was scary a lot of the time being on his own but no one was telling him what to do or how to do it. There was at least one thing nice to this.
Opening the door to the Drunken Rat he first waited a second to make sure there was no large scene or fight going on. That happened at points in places...and he didn't want to be anywhere near it.
No tables were being turned over...no bottles breaking on tables or peoples heads. Good...it seemed as safe as these places ever got. Cody always tried to get the perfect spot around the middle of the room and off to one side. If your right next to the door and someone aggressive comes in, you are the first person in target range...too far away makes it harder to escape.
Cody took a seat that was a bit farther back than he preferred having to deal with what choices he had. Those youthful eyes flicked to the right, then left trying to notice everyone in the room all at once. Horse's had a much better range of visions than humans, and unfortunately there was just no way for that trait to exist at all in his human form.
He had done it again...come in to socialize and sat himself alone at a table. This didn't help socialize very well, but how do you start a conversation? Still, there were humans near, it was enough for now to spend time in their presence even if it was to simply go by unnoticed.
Drake had been swirling his finger in the sweat on the side of his mug when the door to the tavern had opened again. He glanced at the new comer without raising his head as he had done everyone that had entered after him. Something about the young man that strode through it made him freeze in place. He was not threatening or marked by a strange appearance, being quite handsome in fact. No, there was something else about it him. Something about his presence and the inhuman amount of grace that went into his every movement was somehow familiar.
His interest piqued, Drake sat up in his set and pulled back his hood just enough to unhinder his vision without exposing his scars, and watched the other cross the room. He watched him take a seat not too far away, and survey the room much the same way Drake himself had, though this young man seemed to do it more out of paranoia than simple caution.
The young man looked his way, but his eyes slid over Drake without giving any outward appearance of recognition. In the split second it had taken the gaze to pass him by, the strange feeling of familiarity redoubled its self within Drake's mind. "Those eyes," called the voice of his "friend" from somewhere in his mind.
"I know," he whispered after covering his mouth's movements with the one sleeve of his altered brown jacket. He stared hard at the profile of other man's face, the lower half of his own still covered and a black-gloved hand idly playing in his long white hair. He wanted badly to know who the stranger was, but he had no idea how to go about approaching him.
His interest piqued, Drake sat up in his set and pulled back his hood just enough to unhinder his vision without exposing his scars, and watched the other cross the room. He watched him take a seat not too far away, and survey the room much the same way Drake himself had, though this young man seemed to do it more out of paranoia than simple caution.
The young man looked his way, but his eyes slid over Drake without giving any outward appearance of recognition. In the split second it had taken the gaze to pass him by, the strange feeling of familiarity redoubled its self within Drake's mind. "Those eyes," called the voice of his "friend" from somewhere in his mind.
"I know," he whispered after covering his mouth's movements with the one sleeve of his altered brown jacket. He stared hard at the profile of other man's face, the lower half of his own still covered and a black-gloved hand idly playing in his long white hair. He wanted badly to know who the stranger was, but he had no idea how to go about approaching him.
-
Cody
Cody imagined he should at least get himself a drink...it never made the people here very happy if you didn't buy something. He turned his head slightly to look for someone to assist him and froze. It was only perhaps 2 seconds that he watched the man stare at him. What had he done? The man wasn't glaring...or...looking upset at all but he was deffinetly watching him. Cody did turn and look at a few other people around him but knew it was senseless. The man had been watching him.
The question was did he want to find out why the man was staring. Cody thought up lots of reasons quickly of why the man might stare at him, with no proof behind any. His owner had said he could catch the eye of people...that he looked handsome. Mostly that was his horse form though. Did the man know what he was and was unhappy with that for some reason? Perhaps he just thought Cody looked odd or to paranoid in this enviroment. He wasn't that good at fitting in.
Cody didn't recognize him at all...of course with a hood covering his face there was only so much he could see. If the place didn't have so many strong smells or if he was in his horse form he might recognize a scent if he knew him. Cody shifted his muscles as if to stand up, then relaxed them and stayed in the chair.
What would he say? Hi my name is Cody why were you staring at me? Cody raised his head up stubbornly staring at the door for a moment. Then he turned his head again to face the stranger. Well...if the guy was going to watch him Cody could do the same thing. There was just a hint of challenge in those blue eyes. Waiting for an explanation while the other part of his mind kept an awareness of where the door was and if anyone was blocking it...just in case.
The question was did he want to find out why the man was staring. Cody thought up lots of reasons quickly of why the man might stare at him, with no proof behind any. His owner had said he could catch the eye of people...that he looked handsome. Mostly that was his horse form though. Did the man know what he was and was unhappy with that for some reason? Perhaps he just thought Cody looked odd or to paranoid in this enviroment. He wasn't that good at fitting in.
Cody didn't recognize him at all...of course with a hood covering his face there was only so much he could see. If the place didn't have so many strong smells or if he was in his horse form he might recognize a scent if he knew him. Cody shifted his muscles as if to stand up, then relaxed them and stayed in the chair.
What would he say? Hi my name is Cody why were you staring at me? Cody raised his head up stubbornly staring at the door for a moment. Then he turned his head again to face the stranger. Well...if the guy was going to watch him Cody could do the same thing. There was just a hint of challenge in those blue eyes. Waiting for an explanation while the other part of his mind kept an awareness of where the door was and if anyone was blocking it...just in case.
For a second Drake thought the young man was going to dart out of the tavern; he inwardly cursed himself for letting his inspection be noticed. Then just as Drake was preparing to bolt across the room in chase, the stranger turned and locked his vivid blue eyes on Drake's on bright green pair. Drake sensed some bravery behind the stare he was no receiving. Not the kind that fueled the heroic warriors of legend or even the kind that allowed bandits to slink through occupied bed chambers, but the kind that turned cute and cuddly creatures into savage beasts when cornered.
"I don't have a clue who the hell he is, but I like this kid," came the voice in Drake's head.
"I can't believe we're in agreement for once, but I do too for some reason." He had had to move his entire hand over his mouth to say the last. He did not want to spook the other.
"Well, call the boy over. If he turns out to be a menace too great, you can always run away screaming like the raving lunatic you are." Drake could not help dropping his hand and giggling silently at the remark.
After carefully checking that his hair still covered the entire left side of his head, he pulled back his hood so the young man could see his face and waved a hand toward the seat across from him in way of invitation.
"I don't have a clue who the hell he is, but I like this kid," came the voice in Drake's head.
"I can't believe we're in agreement for once, but I do too for some reason." He had had to move his entire hand over his mouth to say the last. He did not want to spook the other.
"Well, call the boy over. If he turns out to be a menace too great, you can always run away screaming like the raving lunatic you are." Drake could not help dropping his hand and giggling silently at the remark.
After carefully checking that his hair still covered the entire left side of his head, he pulled back his hood so the young man could see his face and waved a hand toward the seat across from him in way of invitation.
-
Cody
The guy looked...creepy. Nor had he gone back to his own business when Cody had stared back at him. Cody's leg muscles were tensing and relaxing in an almost subconscious relfex as he decided what to do next.
The offer of a seat mildly alarmed yet did not completely surprise Cody. It was times like this he missed having someone around to suggest what the appropriate action would be. A few fingers twitch was probably the only sign of his indecision of what should be done next...well that and his sitting their quietly instead of getting up to run or go to the man.
Creepy...Creepy...but not mad. Cody snorted softly, then stood up and looked away from the man not wanting to constantly stare at him. Of course he never let him fully out of his vision. The air felt thicker, more pressure to it. Coward...Cody knew what he was at least. A slight shake of his head and he walked over to the man those eyes still somewhat challenging. He felt mildly safe walking towards him, confident he could outrun the man if need be. Sitting next to him would be an entirely different matter.
He stopped once he was at the table and found himself hesitant to sit down but hesitant to look as if he really wanted to challenge him by standing over him. Cody swallowed, darted his eyes elsewhere trying to notch down his glare a bit and sat down on the edge of the seat. Taking away the glare was hard...if he did he was afraid he'd only find fear underneath.
"Why were you staring at me?" Defensive...it soaked through. He hadn't done anything wrong, and he waited for the man to say different.
The offer of a seat mildly alarmed yet did not completely surprise Cody. It was times like this he missed having someone around to suggest what the appropriate action would be. A few fingers twitch was probably the only sign of his indecision of what should be done next...well that and his sitting their quietly instead of getting up to run or go to the man.
Creepy...Creepy...but not mad. Cody snorted softly, then stood up and looked away from the man not wanting to constantly stare at him. Of course he never let him fully out of his vision. The air felt thicker, more pressure to it. Coward...Cody knew what he was at least. A slight shake of his head and he walked over to the man those eyes still somewhat challenging. He felt mildly safe walking towards him, confident he could outrun the man if need be. Sitting next to him would be an entirely different matter.
He stopped once he was at the table and found himself hesitant to sit down but hesitant to look as if he really wanted to challenge him by standing over him. Cody swallowed, darted his eyes elsewhere trying to notch down his glare a bit and sat down on the edge of the seat. Taking away the glare was hard...if he did he was afraid he'd only find fear underneath.
"Why were you staring at me?" Defensive...it soaked through. He hadn't done anything wrong, and he waited for the man to say different.
The stranger's long period of hesitation had made Drake question his actions. Should he have approached the other man, or would that have seemed aggressive? He was unsure and was about ready to try another tactic when the young man finally stood and slowly walked over. For a moment longer he was unsure whether to prepare for a brawl or get ready for a chase as the other man simply stood over him and stared down into his face. Finally, he sat, indecisiveness showing on his face.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend you," he said, adopting the more political mode of speech he used with people he did not know, "It is only that...Well, I feel as if I recognize you, yet, I can't remember our meeting. My name is Drake Istalii. Might I ask what yours is?"
He heard fear in the boy's voice. Drake was unsure of how to answer the question without seeming any stranger or scaring the other off. He bit his lower lip and screwed his face up into a mask of thought. After a moment he decided to just come out with it."Why were you staring at me?"
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to offend you," he said, adopting the more political mode of speech he used with people he did not know, "It is only that...Well, I feel as if I recognize you, yet, I can't remember our meeting. My name is Drake Istalii. Might I ask what yours is?"
-
Cody
Cody's first thought was rather rude, thus he did not speak it. He knew he couldn't have met the guy before because he wouldn't forget the way the guy looked. There was enough scents in the air that with this human form he really couldn't get anything one way or the other, but he didn't expect anything to come of it.
"I don't think we met. My name is Cody."
He still showed some signs of hesitation but some of the tense muscles calmed down. The man had mistaken him with someon else...that was all...
Cody told himself this could be a good thing. Maybe this would be the way he would get to socialize and be friends with someone. But why him?? Why not someone else...like the couple of guys who had sat a few chairs away. They had been smiling and spoke softly with each other and well...appeared normal and as close to harmless as people got.
"Why are you here alone?" It was a semi-rude question he imagined, but the one he'd wanted to ask had been why do you wear a hood inside here in the shadows. There were half curious, but he was pretty sure also good ways to make sure he wasn't being set up. Was he paranoid? Cody considered it practical but...he was never that confident in his decisions.[/i]
"I don't think we met. My name is Cody."
He still showed some signs of hesitation but some of the tense muscles calmed down. The man had mistaken him with someon else...that was all...
Cody told himself this could be a good thing. Maybe this would be the way he would get to socialize and be friends with someone. But why him?? Why not someone else...like the couple of guys who had sat a few chairs away. They had been smiling and spoke softly with each other and well...appeared normal and as close to harmless as people got.
"Why are you here alone?" It was a semi-rude question he imagined, but the one he'd wanted to ask had been why do you wear a hood inside here in the shadows. There were half curious, but he was pretty sure also good ways to make sure he wasn't being set up. Was he paranoid? Cody considered it practical but...he was never that confident in his decisions.[/i]
"Well hello Cody. I apologize again for staring rudely," he wanted to soothe the anxiety and fear out of his new conversation partner. It had been quite some time since he had had anyone to talk to, other than himself that is. "You must just have a similar appearance to someone from my past."
"Lier," the voice in his mind said teasingly. He had to quickly nip the tip of his tongue hard enough that it bleed to keep from shooting off a response.
"Now as for your question of my lack of companions, I am new in Marn. In fact I only arrived two nights ago, and, as I'm sure you're aware, the locals are not exactly.......intellectual types. They are more the type that like to corner smaller game, such as myself, for a little brutish fun. I avoid those situations by avoiding speaking to people, hiding in shadows, and running like a child whenever necessary. The only problem with those tactics is the difficulty they add to making friends in a strange place. Now, why might I ask are you alone on this fair night?"
He watched to see if his words struck a nerve or if he would even get an answer.
"Lier," the voice in his mind said teasingly. He had to quickly nip the tip of his tongue hard enough that it bleed to keep from shooting off a response.
"Now as for your question of my lack of companions, I am new in Marn. In fact I only arrived two nights ago, and, as I'm sure you're aware, the locals are not exactly.......intellectual types. They are more the type that like to corner smaller game, such as myself, for a little brutish fun. I avoid those situations by avoiding speaking to people, hiding in shadows, and running like a child whenever necessary. The only problem with those tactics is the difficulty they add to making friends in a strange place. Now, why might I ask are you alone on this fair night?"
He watched to see if his words struck a nerve or if he would even get an answer.
-
Cody
Cody was relaxing more with each sentence the man said and every second he wasn't charging to attack him. He seemed really quite relaxed now except for a flick of an eye towards the entrance once in a while.
"Oh." THe man was worried about people hurting him also? He really hadn't considered anyone in Marn differently than he would anywhere in particular. They were humans, or other species all of which were regarding with caution all having their good and bad points. Still, no one had ever told him they were worried of being attacked and thus being alone.
He felt sorry for the guy. It could be hard to be alone, and hard to be scared of being hurt. Sure wariness was still in him somewhere but Cody was allowing himself to assume the mans emotions would be similar to his own.
"There are nice people in this city, some really nice ones." Then of course there were people who weren't safe...
Why was Cody alone. Cody looked down at the table in front of him for a moment, actually taking his eyes of the guy and the door for a short time. He was alone because he couldn't find anyone else to stay with....not really the answer he felt like giving.
"I travel about...I enjoy the roaming." He seemed hesitant in his answer, as if carefully picking out what he would say. "Not many people enjoy that. The land isn't all that friendly, but I like open spaces a lot more than closed in." It wasn't much of an answer...but it was an answer at least.
"Oh." THe man was worried about people hurting him also? He really hadn't considered anyone in Marn differently than he would anywhere in particular. They were humans, or other species all of which were regarding with caution all having their good and bad points. Still, no one had ever told him they were worried of being attacked and thus being alone.
He felt sorry for the guy. It could be hard to be alone, and hard to be scared of being hurt. Sure wariness was still in him somewhere but Cody was allowing himself to assume the mans emotions would be similar to his own.
"There are nice people in this city, some really nice ones." Then of course there were people who weren't safe...
Why was Cody alone. Cody looked down at the table in front of him for a moment, actually taking his eyes of the guy and the door for a short time. He was alone because he couldn't find anyone else to stay with....not really the answer he felt like giving.
"I travel about...I enjoy the roaming." He seemed hesitant in his answer, as if carefully picking out what he would say. "Not many people enjoy that. The land isn't all that friendly, but I like open spaces a lot more than closed in." It wasn't much of an answer...but it was an answer at least.
"Oh, I am aware that there are some nice people here. I have even met a few, though I am speculative of a few of the number's sincerity. I was meerly making a sweeping statement based on the fact that I have been assaulted twice since my arrival and threatened at least that many times."
Cody's statement gave him the impression that he had also had a hard time of life, and it made Drake feel a bit of a kinship with the young man.
"Well, since you've found someone to talk to, why don't you ask about what you saw in the dream?"
"Say, you wouldn't happen to be familiar with this area would you?" he asked, taking the hint from his "friend."
Cody's statement gave him the impression that he had also had a hard time of life, and it made Drake feel a bit of a kinship with the young man.
"Well, my my, I thought I was the only one left these days." Drake was beginning to like the other man more and more with every word that passed between them. "Though. I do prefer the shadows of the forest to the open field, but that comes from a childhood of constant bullying." He said the last with a wane smile an stared down at the table before him in not so fond remembrance."I travel about...I enjoy the roaming." He seemed hesitant in his answer, as if carefully picking out what he would say. "Not many people enjoy that. The land isn't all that friendly, but I like open spaces a lot more than closed in."
"Well, since you've found someone to talk to, why don't you ask about what you saw in the dream?"
"Say, you wouldn't happen to be familiar with this area would you?" he asked, taking the hint from his "friend."
-
Cody
Cody remembered the men that had attacked his companions outside of Marn. It really wasn't the safest area. For all his fears he hadn't been beat up to many times. Once or twice at school till he learned how he was suppose to fit in it, then only by his master and that was training. His wife had been mean to him but Cody had been told that was different also...that was just dealing with women.
"I came into the town with a few friends. We were attacked a short ways off from the city's gates." He didn't bother mentioning how he was the only one who hadn't gotten hurt from that attack, he imagined it wasn't necessary for the conversation.
Cody nodded his head quickly on hearing the enjoyment of the forest. Of course he liked the open field as well, but bother were still outside. "I really enjoy running in the fields, but the forests have good points. The shade is nice, and I like the butterflies...the really big ones though, not as much the small ones." He sounded rather like an excited child for a moment finding someone who agreed it was fun outside. "But...the problem with forests is sometimes you can't always see whats on the ground easily. Like snakes, holes, tree roots...where the open field most often gives you a better view." Cody with held the statement of it was really hard to drop down and roll in a forest when the urge really struck you. Fields weren't really the best for that either, but there you wouldn't ram into tree's.
"Uhm..." The childish happiness ended with having to consider the newest question...how well did Cody feel he knew the area. "I don't know...I can generally manage to get from one location to another. Why? What are you looking for?"
"I came into the town with a few friends. We were attacked a short ways off from the city's gates." He didn't bother mentioning how he was the only one who hadn't gotten hurt from that attack, he imagined it wasn't necessary for the conversation.
Cody nodded his head quickly on hearing the enjoyment of the forest. Of course he liked the open field as well, but bother were still outside. "I really enjoy running in the fields, but the forests have good points. The shade is nice, and I like the butterflies...the really big ones though, not as much the small ones." He sounded rather like an excited child for a moment finding someone who agreed it was fun outside. "But...the problem with forests is sometimes you can't always see whats on the ground easily. Like snakes, holes, tree roots...where the open field most often gives you a better view." Cody with held the statement of it was really hard to drop down and roll in a forest when the urge really struck you. Fields weren't really the best for that either, but there you wouldn't ram into tree's.
"Uhm..." The childish happiness ended with having to consider the newest question...how well did Cody feel he knew the area. "I don't know...I can generally manage to get from one location to another. Why? What are you looking for?"
Drake had been thinking hard over how to ask the real question, but as he was nearing a conclusion Cody provided him a better route.
"Well, potholes and snakes aren't normally a problem for me. I tend to stick to the high branches and boughs of the trees. I love the feel of the cool breeze in my face and watching the small animals go about their daily lives. I find it comforting. At one point in time I spent so much time high in the trees that my own mother accused me of being part bird. Which brings me to my question. While I was amongst the leaves before I decided to enter the city, I over heard some people on the road talking." Drake was only slightly uncomfortable with feeding his hastily constructed tale to the person across the table. It was much easier to explain than how he had actually come across the information. "They mentioned a place where many gnomes live and the Ofriyu turns a giant wheel. I thought it would be a marvelous thing to behold and was wondering where I might find such a thing."
He leaned forward in anticipated hope. Perhaps his new companion would have some clue that would lead him to the answers he so desperately sought.
"Well, potholes and snakes aren't normally a problem for me. I tend to stick to the high branches and boughs of the trees. I love the feel of the cool breeze in my face and watching the small animals go about their daily lives. I find it comforting. At one point in time I spent so much time high in the trees that my own mother accused me of being part bird. Which brings me to my question. While I was amongst the leaves before I decided to enter the city, I over heard some people on the road talking." Drake was only slightly uncomfortable with feeding his hastily constructed tale to the person across the table. It was much easier to explain than how he had actually come across the information. "They mentioned a place where many gnomes live and the Ofriyu turns a giant wheel. I thought it would be a marvelous thing to behold and was wondering where I might find such a thing."
He leaned forward in anticipated hope. Perhaps his new companion would have some clue that would lead him to the answers he so desperately sought.
-
Cody
Branches and tree's had never been something Cody had much experience with. He had once tried as a child to climb one and then been firmly reprimanded. What would happen if he had fallen? No, Cody was to expensive to be injured by such a childish routine, such things were best left to ordinary children. At the time he'd been a bit jealous of those 'ordinary' children getting to climb tree's, but then again they would never feel the wind flying through their main.
"I never climbed a tree." He smiled at the notion of the man being called part bird. Cody could beat that! Too bad he was scared to offer to much insight. Not because of the guards, only because he didn't want people to find out he was an expensive tool. Just let me be Cody...
Cody imagined a wheel being turned by the river...but to be honest it just wasn't coming to his mind. Did it really matter anyway? Water did a lot of things...some nice some not so. It was always good to drink and bathe in on a hot day, but it could also hide the slippery algae, or the small pebbles that would get dug into your hoof. As far as the gnomes...well...he hadn't really been on the look out for them. He tended to pay more attention to the details that scared him, than to anything that looked safe. So if he had seen gnomes...and they hadn't appeared scary he might have ignored them.
Amazingly in these last few moments he'd completely forgotten to watch the door! "I'm sorry...I don't remember seeing a wheel, but if you like I can help you look for it." Translation to this was in reality 'please let me follow you so I have someone to be near who might be safe.'
"I never climbed a tree." He smiled at the notion of the man being called part bird. Cody could beat that! Too bad he was scared to offer to much insight. Not because of the guards, only because he didn't want people to find out he was an expensive tool. Just let me be Cody...
Cody imagined a wheel being turned by the river...but to be honest it just wasn't coming to his mind. Did it really matter anyway? Water did a lot of things...some nice some not so. It was always good to drink and bathe in on a hot day, but it could also hide the slippery algae, or the small pebbles that would get dug into your hoof. As far as the gnomes...well...he hadn't really been on the look out for them. He tended to pay more attention to the details that scared him, than to anything that looked safe. So if he had seen gnomes...and they hadn't appeared scary he might have ignored them.
Amazingly in these last few moments he'd completely forgotten to watch the door! "I'm sorry...I don't remember seeing a wheel, but if you like I can help you look for it." Translation to this was in reality 'please let me follow you so I have someone to be near who might be safe.'