The Nature of Beasts (Tinder and Zeraj)

[Tinder]

Etain raised an eyebrow as she listened to Egil react to the poison. Song of my heart? This man was a strange one. Most of the other freelancers she'd met in the past were far more…worldly was a word for it. They hunted for the coin and used whatever means were necessary to take a creature down. Egil seemed to have a very unique set of principles when it came to a hunt. Etain couldn't decide if she found it charmingly naïve or bullheaded. An effective hunter used all the option available to them in order to keep people and themselves safe. They didn't let pride dictate what weapons they used merely to impress others. His earnestness was admirable though even if his ideas seemed a little misguided.

There was no time to focus on his behavior however. They needed a plan and the sooner they started the better. She mulled over their options, her eyes losing focus as she leaned against the nearby table. Waiting in town was safer and gave them a more secure position. Always choose your battleground carefully and use familiar territory whenever possible. Use every advantage available to you. That had been drilled into her from the very beginning of her training. She frowned slightly as an image of the people after the creature's last attack surfaced in her mind. So many dead for no reason. If they waited for the chimera to return more would die, no matter how many precautions they took. She absently pulled down the high collar of her shirt that covered her mouth. It was good during a fight for keeping any hazardous materials out of her lungs, but it made breathing normally more of a challenge. Even if the man inside had some control, he'd shown that he lacked just as much by tearing into homes out in the countryside. There was a chance people would die either way, but her conscious wouldn't accept using the town as bait. Going out into the wilderness would involve far more personal risk, but Etain could stomach personal risk. She'd seen Egil in a fight and she knew her own strength. They would be fine so long as they were careful. She looked back up at Egil as she pushed herself back to her feet, "I say we go to the chimera and challenge it while it's weak. It'll be more effective than waiting around here for days. We need to head back to the tavern and get the rest of our gear."

She headed out of the lab to keep herself from changing her mind and to get rid of the odd feelings that had taken over her mind while sitting there. This was the better plan. Fewer people involved, fewer variables during the fight. Keeping citizens out of the picture would simplify the hunt. She cursed her own foolishness when she reached the outer area where Annabelle was with Mariel sitting in her lap. The little girl seemed much happier now and actually smiled when she noticed Etain. She jumped off her mother's lap and walked over to Etain, "Mama says you're going to help Papa."

Etain knew that lying to a client just to give them peace of mind was a bad practice, but she couldn't bring herself to tell the little girl the truth. She smiled despite the uncertainly she felt, "We'll do what we can."

"You were in the lab, right?" Mariel went on as she stared directly up at Etain, "Did you see my friend?"

"Your friend?" Etain asked, confused for a moment before remembering the earlier experiments that Annabelle had mentioned. Mariel must have thought one was alive. "I'm afraid not."

Mariel frowned, confused by her answer, "But your eyes are sparkly like Mama's."

"That's enough, Mariel," Annabelle called from her chair, her weary smile appearing as the girl turned and went back to her mother, "I'm sorry about that. She can be so inquisitive. She gets it from her father."

Etain nodded, shrugging the odd comment off though it did unsettled her a bit. Her eyes were sparkly? Was that why Egil had looked at her so oddly earlier? Perhaps they were watery from the chemicals in the lab. No doubt Annabelle had gone back to that lab several times since the incident to mourn her husband. She banished the thoughts from her mind. She was taking the ramblings of a child a little too serious.

 

[Zeraj]

"Alright." Egil agreed. It was the one he preferred. He wasn't the kind of person to wait and defend. Those kinds of stories did not end well and required much more patience than Egil could commit. Etain revealed the rest of her face which surprised Egil a bit, but he continued to follow. Etain's comment about their gear reminded he had left his flute in the tavern. It was a precious object to him almost as much as the spear. A gift from his aunt to better his sense of songs. He dreaded the kind of beating he would receive if he returned without it. Although she hadn't done that in many years, the memory of it lifted his spirits.

The sight of the Annabelle and Mariel was also uplifting, but there was a underlying sense of discomfort as well. The knowledge about the flask only made this dreadful feeling grow. Egil watched the interaction between Etain and them and noticed her hesitant responses. He agreed with her choice of words. Annabelle and Mariel certainly didn't need to know the full truth of their discoveries. Egil needed to do what he could even if it meant a chance of killing their father. The mention of sparkling eyes only slightly piqued Egil's interest, but he quickly turned to Annabelle.

"We'll be heading back to our tavern to get our equipment. Then we will head out of the city to track your husband. We'll do our best to do what we can."

Mariel expression stayed cheerful, but Annabelle's seemed to sense some tension in his words, but smiled for Mariel, "Thank you, Egil. Etain. Please return no matter the outcome. May the gods watch over you."

"We will," Egil nodded solemnly and patted Mariel's head. She gleamed at the attention.

"My friend is coming with you so I know you guys are going to get my Papa back," Mariel spoke.

Egil didn't know what to make of that, so he just smiled and left their home. The walk back to the tavern was thankfully uneventful. The town was still busy trying to recover from the chimera's attack. Injured men and women had already been sent to the tenders and the dead were carried by the families. The townfolk seemed to be dejected, while the hunters were in a panic. The few Egil recognized from the tavern seemed to be actively investigating the recent attack sites. It will likely yield very little, but Egil respected that they were trying. Etain was silent the entire time, her face indicating she was contemplating something. Perhaps something magic related. Egil wanted to ask several questions about her magic, but decided it wasn't the right time for it. A hunter's skills is their livelihood and divulging information would be equivalent to a blacksmith giving away his metal shaping techniques. Egil certainly wouldn't want others to bother him about his training.

Donna was in her usual place at the bar, tending to several anxious men. Most were already in an uproar about the chimera. There was a few who even challenged the hunters, saying they had not done enough and were the reason why some died. Egil didn't feel the need to correct them. A chimera attacking a town was almost impossible, but he couldn't reason with the townfolk. He he had to let them relieve their frustration their own way. Egil was about to approach Donna, when a man suddenly yelled, "Its him! The one that drove the monster away." A woman's voice added, "That one in black also shot at it." Everyone's attention focused on both of them. Egil was speechless. He didn't expect what they did to the chimera was worth mentioning. The chimera had almost killed him as well. It wasn't very heroic at all.

The first man continued, "I saw it with my own eyes. That man with that little stick of a spear fendin off that beast like a dancer. He was weavin and movin like his life depended on it. I saw him give the monster a nice jab in the side and it was roarin like a madman." He looked at Etain standing beside Egil and recalled, "And when the beast was comin to strike him dead. This women in black gave it an arrow. The great beast flew off all bleedin and hurt. These hunters are the heroes!" The rest of the crowd cheered, including Donna who recognized Egil. The rest of the hunters in the back only glared.

Egil hadn't garnered this much attention before. Certainly he was thanked for his help from several farmer and travelers on his journey here, but this was different. Egil didn't feel he should receive such praise as he was almost killed during that fight. Many had died before he could even reach the chimera. The crowd was closing in to get a closer look and questions were beginning to flood the room. Before Egil could even comprehend what was happening, Donna raised her voice, "Step back from those two and let them be. The chimera is still out their and the hunters still need to finish their jobs." She followed up by giving the entire room a icy stare. The crowd backed away and dispersed back into their tables. They would often glance occasionally, but the overall tension was dispersed.

"Thank you," Egil said to Donna. She nodded in response. "Donna, we'll be grabbing out gear and heading out for the chimera. I thank you again for the room."

"Get your things and come back here. If what that man said was true, then both of you deserve a treat before you leave, " her words did not allow refusal.

Egil returned to his room upstairs. It was already cleaned and tidied. Their things laid neatly in a pile in front of the beds. He looked over his stuff and saw nothing was out of place. His flute was fitted into his pack and he felt much better. He noticed Etain repacking as well. She certainly had an efficiency about her. Her collar was still down and he realized she was quite beautiful. Egil had certainly noticed her eyes, but now completed with the curve of her lips, it was now a full picture. The scar across her right eye only made the beauty more tangible. Egil blinked away. He was staring too much. There was still packing to be done. After he finished, he went back down to Donna.

She had prepared two meals and two glasses of dark red. "On the house," she mentioned while tending to a fire in the back. The meal consisted of full bread rolls, sliced meats, and a heap of vegetables. Egil felt grateful for the meal. He hadn't eaten anything since last night and the fight with the chimera had made him hungry. Egil began eating with as much enthusiasm as his travel worn self. It was delicious.

Donna approached both of them, her hands wiping clean a cup. "You two seem to be the only competent hunter's I've seen. So I'm betting on you guys to take out that chimera." She smiled wistfully looking at Egil devouring his food, "I used to know a young boy just like you. Brave, hard headed. Ready to get into trouble at a moment's notice. Just don't be foolish like him and get yourself dead." Donna turned her head towards Etain, "And you, make sure you keep this man upright and fighting. A hunting pair isn't made of individuals, but of one body and mind." She sniffed at the air and seem to remember something. She went to the back room.

Egil realized, "I guess we technically are a hunting pair now at least for this hunt. Donna seems to know a lot about our profession. Do you think she used to be a hunter? She certainly seems to be built like one."

 

[Tinder]

Etain waved as she followed Egil out of Annabelle's home, realizing that Mariel had been talking about an imaginary friend. With the oddity of the situation, Etain had taken the girl a little too seriously. If Mariel was anything like her at that age, she'd made up an imaginary friend who could take down mountains without trouble. It made sense that her creation would be out helping others to save her father. Etain dismissed the matter when they left the house and headed for the tavern. Her attention was drawn to the destruction around them. Most of the bodies were out of the road excluding a few which appeared to have been hunters. They were being loaded into a cart, likely to be given burial elsewhere. Most of those men had likely come alone looking to find their fortune. Some might have had family who would never know of their final resting plan. They would assume them dead after a few weeks and grieve without a body. Etain's situation wasn't much different from theirs. She looked away from the scene and focused her eyes straight ahead. She needed to begin formulating a plan. There had to be a safe way of going about this. Coat their weapons in the potion? There was no guaranteeing that a miniscule amount would yield any results. Throw the flask at the creature? The liquid alone wouldn't penetrate the thick hide.

They entered the tavern and her mind was drawn from her planning by the men standing by the bar. They rushed forward to talk to the two, but Etain was infuriated by their callous dismissal of the other hunters. Men had died for them that morning; not the most moral of men, but good men. Anyone willing to lay their lives down for someone else deserved a little respect. Judging from what they had just found out, she may have done the town more harm than good. Letting Mariel give the flask to the creature might have ended the trouble right there. The people were disbursed by Donna before Etain could say anything which was probably better. She doubted her angry words would have done more than confuse the people. She'd been raised in a world where facing monsters was expected and any praise that could be given only came when someone accomplished a challenging feat. No point in celebrating the mundane or what was expected of you. She was glad to see Donna seemed to understand that logic.

She continued to trail behind Egil as they headed up to the room where they found their belongings and the room had been cleaned. Etain walked to the bed she'd slept on and started going through her things, pleased to find only a few items out of place from this morning. Whoever had put her things back together had at least attempted to find the correct place for her things. She righted the few misplaced items before closing the bag, noticing someone's gaze on her while she packed. It had to be Egil again. Was there something wrong? She glanced to the side only to see him still packing. She returned her eyes to her pack, cursing her own vanity. Egil was a hunter and from what she'd seen a good one. He would be focusing on their hunt, exactly as she should be doing.

Egil left the room shortly before her as she finished taking stock of her supplies. There had been little trouble on the road here so most of her stocks were still full. She headed down after Egil and found Donna's surprise sitting in a table near the back away from the other people. She sat down next to Egil and started eating, not realizing how hungry she'd been until the food was in her mouth. It had been ages since she'd eaten anything other than travel rations. The warm meal tasted better than anything she could remember eating.

Donna returned to speak to them, showing that she knew more about professional hunting than she let on. Etain was a little surprised when she mistook them for a hunting pair. She hadn't really thought much about their partnership, but she supposed they really were responsible for each other for the time being. She glanced at Egil when he spoke, chewing slowly as she thought. "Could be," she replied, looking toward the door to the back, "She carries herself like a fighter, that's certain. Likely retired now. Perhaps she lost a son to a hunt."

It would also explain why she was so fond of Egil. Etain continued eating, taking a sip from her glass which, thankfully, contained something other than the ale she'd had yesterday. She really couldn't blame Donna for taking a shine to Egil. He seemed like a genuinely kind person. From what she'd seen of him, he was both strong and gentle, a bit of an enigma. One look in his eyes could tell anyone that. His appearance added to the mystery with his well-trained body, but soft face and eyes. Almost like someone had taken entirely different people and put them together.

Etain refocused her thoughts on planning. This was no time to be getting distracted. They needed a way to get the potion into the chimera without getting themselves killed in the process. Ranged attacks would be too risky. If they spilled the contents of the flask, there would be no going back. There was no way to replicate the poison after they'd used it. One shot was all they had. After that they would need to kill it the old fashioned way. If only they could get it to hold still…wait. She looked over at Egil again, "I've been thinking over how we're going to get that…potion into the chimera. What if we got it into a binding circle and forced the vial into its mouth? It's a little risky, we'll need to use a strong spell to keep something that big still long enough to attempt this, but it's the only way I can think of to ensure all of the potion gets into the creature's mouth. Anything less might not be effective and that's a risk we can't afford to take." She flicked a vegetable on her plate, a little hesitant to continue. Drawing attention to her magical abilities was usually a bad idea, but there was no other choice at the moment. Ordinary traps would never be able to hold the creature, "I can make a binding circle that ought to hold it, but we'll need to lure it to the trap in order for it to work. It's going to be a game of cat and mouse if we want to pull this off. There's no telling how resistant to magic that thing is considering the circumstances. If we don't want to lose limbs, we'll need to be careful." If she was honest with herself, this idea had death written all over it. There were hundreds of ways direct confrontation with the creature could go wrong, but there were few other options outside of killing it. Her report about this hunt when she returned to her family was going to get her reprimanded for recklessness, but if it meant the town was safe she could take some scolding.

 

[Zeraj]

"A binding circle," Egil repeated after Etain. It wasn't a completely foreign idea, though Egil would never be able to pull something like that off. Perhaps a simple binding for non-physical entities, but a physical binding on a magical entity like the chimera like the one Etain described. If it were up to him, he would want a team of hunters with chains and hooks. Bring it down the forceful way and finish it of when it's completely chained. However, that plan would require more men than he had. Egil's respect for Etain grew tremendously and he trusted she could do it even though he couldn't imagine how to even begin. He finished the rest of his meal and downed the rest of the wine. He said confidently, "Alright. Sounds like a plan. I don't mind tangling with the chimera a bit more. You set the circle and I'll bring it close."

Egil waited for Etain to finish her meal and said, "We just need to find him first. Lets get ahead while the sun is still hot." He pulled his pack onto his back and thanked Donna, "Thank you again for such a lovely meal. I'll be sure to bring good news concerning the chimera." Donna merely nodded and waved him off. Egil returned the gesture with a bright smile and headed out of the tavern. Donna's face seemed hopeful.

The sun was still blazing in the sky. Egil breathed deeply, embracing the scents of the town. It wasn't pleasant, but he didn't mind. He would soon be out tracking and that is where he truly felt at home. The world is too vast for a single song to hold. Even back at Yakind, the Bloodsong ancestral home, he didn't feel quite cozy enough. As a child, he always slept in a single room with the rest of children. It was apparently to toughen them up, but he swore his uncle did it too mess with them all. The stone floor was much worse than any dirt one. He often found himself just sleeping outside anyway and being scolded for being so dirty. He chuckled at the memory and stretched out his arms, feeling the warm air.

"Where do you think we should check first?" Egil asked, "The alchemist flew northeast when it initially fled, but thats not a sure indicator. The attacks were all over the countryside and I didn't really get a sense of a general point of origin for the attacks. We can certainly start there, but if you can think of anything else we can do that first."

 

[Tinder]

The way Egil spoke of the chimera, it sounded more like a sparring partner than a killer. Etain was beginning to think keeping him alive would be harder than she'd thought. The rest of the meal transpired in silence. Once they were finished, Egil stood and led them out, stopping by Donna to thank her for the food. She seemed happier now, though her face grew serious when she looked to Etain. No words needed to be said for Etain to know Donna's thoughts that moment. It was her job to keep the idealist young man alive no matter what. Etain only hoped she could live up to the woman's expectations.

They headed out into the street into with the noon sun high in the sky. The people had left the streets for the most part with only a few brave shop vendors still manning their stands in the marketplace. She listened to Egil suggestions, considering their options for a moment. There was little for them to go on. Knowing the creature's history did nothing to help them locate it. Etain started off, aiming for the town's entrance, "The attack sites are our only solid leads, so we might as well start there. If we just wonder off in a random direction, we're just likely to get lost as we are to find the beast. We should find some nearby homesteads and ask for directions to the attack sites. There may be some clues there." It was only a brief stroll down the boulevard to get to the town entrance and even less space between that and the forest that surrounded the town. A main road cut through the trees, though it had seen better days. The path was riddled with encroaching roots and holes which made any form of travel other than walking hazardous. However the trees offered them shelter from the sun and the sounds of the wildlife within created a relaxing atmosphere. It almost made Etain forget the dark hunt they were on.

She was glad to be out of the town after all that had happened. She'd always loved the woods for the sense of freedom it brought her. Out in those trees, no one could find her so no one could tell her what to do. As a child, she'd escaped to the woods more than once to skip out on training for the day. There she would play to her heart's content, returning home at dusk to be scolded for recklessness and laziness. It had been worth it though if only to be away from her family for the day. Even now she didn't regret her choice to go out and live a little.

After a few minutes of silence, Etain realized that for the first time since the night they'd met, there was actually time to chat with Egil. They had a plan and nothing to do now except head for their start point. Her mind drifted back to the previous night and she remembered Egil's flute playing. After everything that had happened that morning, she'd forgotten about the skill he'd shown. She glanced his way and figured now was a good a time as any to mention it. "I forgot to tell you something earlier," she said, keeping her eyes half on him and half on the road as she spoke, "Your flute playing was beautiful last night. If I hadn't seen you in action this morning, I would have sworn you were a bard masquerading as a hunter." She smiled as spoke, her voice almost teasing as she spoke. It seemed silly to bring up now, but something in her wanted him to know how she felt. She still felt bad for how cold she'd been earlier and she wanted to make it up to him.

 

[Zeraj]

Etain's idea was reasonable, so Egil agreed and followed her. The walk out of town felt good to Egil. The music of the town was too somber after the attack, but the the outlying woods still had their beautiful song. He could feel each beat of the forest with each step. The silence that was occasionally broke by animal movements, buzzing insects, and their own footsteps formed a slow and steady rhythm.

Egil was almost absorbed into this melody when Etain suddenly spoke and asked him a question. He grew a bit embarrassed, remembering that he did play his flute last night. He was so tired that he completely forgot. His words shyly escaped, "Thank you. But you must have been exaggerating. Bards have much more dignity in their music than I. I just play because thats what my family does. I've been listening to songs since I was little. Its just something that surrounded my life. But you can hear much better things just out here." Egil gestured all around him, "Out here is where the true songs lie. The gentle trickle of a mountain stream. The wind blowing against the fallen leaves. Even the constant moving of our steps. They are all small songs of their own. Each one important in the great story of the world. We each weave our tales with these simple sounds. Even during our fight with the chimera. The fear. The intensity of our battle. The cries of the dead. Although that song was of desperation and loss. It was meaningful in it's own way. Hopefully we can remedy it by weaving a new song of our victory and perhaps salvation for the alchemist. Whether by death or restoration — Oh, I apologize. I seem to be rambling. I'm just saying, I'm no bard, just a child of a family of songs. Actually, I don't even think I've seen a troupe play. Let alone a bard, but I assume them to be good. If you'd like to hear more, I'll gladly play some tonight. Perhaps I can even recite a story or too. I love stories!"

He looked at Etain, wondering about her own life's song, "How about you. I've seen you do an amazing thing with magic. I didn't know magic of that kind could even be done. There didn't seem to be any preparation. No circle. No tool. I've seen some runic bombs before. Quite powerful and activated with just an incantation, though I've heard the preparation beforehand was overly difficult and tedious. Alchemist probably could cook up a stronger explosive with less effort. Anyway, it's fine if you don't want to tell. It must be quite the secret to use magic like that. Instead I'll ask you what brings you here to this town, hunting down a strange alchemist chimera with a likely foolish hunter. It must be quite the story." His words were followed by a grin as he recovered from tripping over an overgrown root.

 

[Tinder]

The ways Egil spoke about music was beginning to sound eerily familiar. Etain couldn't put her finger on what it reminded her of exactly, but it seemed wrong to her somehow. She'd thought it was only her own beliefs passed down to her that made her hesitant to accept his views. Her relatives used to go on about the importance of seeing the world as it was and not believing any of the foolish philosophies that clouded people's eyes. Now she was beginning to think that these views reminded her of something specific, but she could think of what it was.

She was distracted from her thoughts when Egil changed the subject to her own background. He asked about the magic first, which she was uncertain how she should answer. Not many hunters used the higher levels of magic as it took a lot of study, something her family was known for. Admitting it was her family that taught her would be a far too obvious. Thankfully he decided to ask another question and ended his question by tripping over a root. She smirked and laughed lightly, "I would have said reckless, but however you prefer to name yourself. I was just looking for a job. I…haven't hunted much on my own before. My mother was huntress before me and she trained me to hunt with her, but I decided to start off on my own. I figured finding some remote jobs would make getting hired easier and be a good way to build my reputation." Nothing she said was a lie, unless omitted truth counted as a lie. Her mother had had a hand in training her and she had been a huntress before marrying into the family. She still worked occasionally, though she was slowing down as time went on.

She needed to address her magic however. She suspected just leaving the subject hanging in the air would make him more suspicious than anything she said would. She glanced back toward the road, "As for my magic, it's a hobby of mine. I learned a bit as a child, that's all. What I did before was sloppy to be honest. That was a basic shield, but if I really wanted it to be effective, I would have used a physical circle and a few other elements to strength it. There wasn't time with Mariel behind me and the chimera coming to kill us. It cost me far more than I gained." Hopefully that would be enough to keep him from questioning her abilities too much. She knew nothing she said would take away all of his suspicion, but it was a start. She looked back to Egil, brushing her hair back behind her ears, "What about you? What brought you out this far out to hunt? Your skills seem impressive. I'm a little surprised you wouldn't be able to find better work in the Crown Cities."

 

[Zeraj]

Egil was slightly surprised to hear her speak so much, but he didn't mind at all. Her voice was alluring for some reason. That spark of the reality beneath the mystery. However, her words about her mother struck a certain cord with him. His father was apparently great Bloodsong hunter. They often spoke of stories of his father and sometimes even of his mother. But they were just stories. Egil had not known them for long. Being raised by his uncle did soothe the pains of not knowing, but occasionally he felt a longing that could not be satisfied by mere stories.

Etain continued by explaining her magic. This however, did not seem entirely truthful. Not many practice the magical arts, fewer can even master it, but to do it as a hobby. The idea was strange, but Egil did not take to magic like he did with the spear, so perhaps it was just something that interested Etain. He could see her striving to do what others could not. She finally returned his question back.

Egil paused to think for a moment and answered, "Well... I guess I'm in a similar situation as you. I was trained by my family. Though it was mostly my uncle that taught me the most." He chuckled remembering something, "I was often reprimanded because I worked too hard. I may have been a bit obsessed about training. Especially with a spear. It was just something I took too naturally and grew to love. Like music. It just flowed into me like a river. He would often tie me up just to stop me from overworking myself." His eyes turned towards the distant trees as if trying to peer through them, "Though most of the time, I'm not even sure why I try so hard myself. The training. The learning. Fighting with all manner of creatures." He returned his gaze to Etain, "And why I'm not working in the Crown Cities? Its just too crowded. Too much hunters. Too much people. The different guilds and clans are pretty established there. Its actually quite dull for how much monsters they have to hunt. I like to travel. I like to get experience the world and its wonders. Get my shoes worn and my spear full of monster blood. I want to prove I'm not just another hunter. Not just another man looking for wealth. I want to achieve something great. To save who I can to the best of my abilities. To protect who I cherish and love." His face reddened in embarassment at revealing so much, "So thats why I'm here. Just wandering about the countryside. Doing what I can for the people in need."

Egil stopped speaking. His body tensed. There was something ahead behind the trees with feelings of aggression. It was similar to a monster staring at his prey, but not quite. The effect seemed lesser and had a familiar quality to it. Egil stopped and spoke quietly, "I think we have company ahead."

A raspy voice said, "Ah, it seems out lovebird hunters have noticed us." A man stepped out into Egil's sight. He was dressed in pristine leathers that had to have gone through hours of polishing for the amount of shine it had. His face was the kind you see at tavern rooms, covered with past brawls. He was heavily built like a woodcutter, but lacked any tools of that trade. There was only a sword sheathed by his side. "I don't like how you've been struttin around the town like heroes. Makes us hunters look bad. My band and I been lookin at this chimera since it first struck. We got rights you know. We've been here longest. Doesn't matter if the Lord is sayin anyone can join. You can't do nothing here without my say. I hope you understand. Just tell us what you know about the beast and I'll just let you leave and go find something else to kill. Simple right?" He gave a crooked grin. "Now to make sure you get the point." He sharply whistled and four men came out. Two at each side were holding crossbows aiming at both Egil and Etain. The other two were behind them, wielding shortswords. They all had leathers on, but these were of a much lower quality then their leader.

Egil didn't like how dense the trees were. He couldn't wield his spear properly with so much in the way. The knives strapped onto his own leathers would have to do. Those crossbows wouldn't be that much of a threat with so much cover. It wouldn't be hard to weave around. Egil was a bit worried about Etain. He knew he could avoid the first shot, but could she. Being surrounded didn't help the matter at all. The entire situation was just plain ridiculous. These so called hunters were probably just bandits that had killed something small, made some money and decided it was easier than raiding caravans. He decided to let Etain make the first moves. He backed up closer to Etain, "So what do you want to do? Follow what the man says? I'm ready both ways." Egil eyed the man with the sword who was slowly walking closer. The crossbowman he kept in his peripheral vision. He didn't care about the leader. The man would reveal himself when Egil hears the sword leave the scabbard.

 

[Tinder]

Etain smirked as Egil described his childhood. She never would have been reprimanded for working too hard. Once or twice her father had scolded her for studying long into the night instead of focusing on her training, but that was all. She could see Egil pushing himself that hard. He had a fire inside him that made it seem like he could do anything he set his mind to. The confidence showed in his eyes when he talked about his passions, making it so she could hardly look away from him as he spoke. However when he mentioned wanting to protect those he loved, she glanced away feeling a tightening in her chest. She scolded herself for her own foolishness, but felt compelled to ask just who it was he cherished.

She opened her mouth to ask, but stopped when she glanced back at Egil. He was on edge and she quickly realized why. She'd been so distracted by their chat, she hadn't felt the eyes watching them. She muttered a curse under her breath as a man appeared from the trees. He was a hulking brute who looked like he belong in quarry hauling boulders rather than standing here claiming to be a hunter. The way he spoke put fire into Etain's gaze as her eyes narrowed into a glare. No Taggart would ever give into the threats of a common thug. His men, however, complicated things. They had them out numbered, though not outclassed. She surveyed the four, her mind working out a plan. The big one was standing back, likely waiting for his men to take care of them. He'd only bloody his blade if something when wrong. That gave them time to deal with the others. The crossbowmen stood on either side, starring them down as they waited for movement. The swordsmen were slowly moving closer, getting into striking range. Etain moved her attention back to the crossbowmen. The one closest to her had a shaky grip on his weapon, likely from an old injury, while the one across the way looked a little wobbly. The result of enjoying the town's hospitality no doubt. It would be safer to give them the information, but it went against every fiber of her being to do so. Even when hunters competed for their prizes, there was an unspoken rule among them that kept them from interfering with each other's hunts. Only cowards would stoop to this level and she did not reward cowards.

She glanced at Egil, as he moved closer, his body tensed to strike. She sank into a fighting stance and whispered to Egil, "Take out of the swords."

Without another word, she sprang forward, her hand going behind her back and under the quiver there to pull out an arrow with a cloth covering the tip. The crossbowmen fired, but she dodged the one closest to her. He stumbled back and Etain pulled the cloth from the tip, plunging it into his calf. He howled in pain and fell down, his body going ridged. The arrow was coated with a nerve toxin, one she kept on standby for situations like this. A woman traveling alone could never be too careful. She pulled it out and turned on her heel, pulling her bow off her back and drawing it in a single breath. The tattoos on her arms hummed as she took aim at the other crossbowman. He turned to get behind the trees. She fired the arrow, hitting his leg. He grunted in pain and hit the ground. Etain pulled out another arrow and looked over at Egil to see how he was fairing, but was distracted by the sound of a sword being drawn. The leader had pulled out a gleaming sword and was beginning to advance on them, a glint in his eyes that said he meant for no one to get out of this alive. She took aim, readying to move if necessary.

 

[Zeraj]

Egil's heart began to beat faster. His body was eager for the fight. The rhythm of it gave his mind something to follow. A steady beat before beginning of the song. Etain's words became the spark that ignited the music building in his body. The bolt flew passed as Egil swiftly moved out of its trajectory. His eyes focused on the two men with swords coming closer.

The two men were only a few paces away now. Just several more steps and their would be in sword range. Egil moved. One step towards the closer man. He seemed surprised at Egil who came closer with nothing in hand. Second step, Egil's knife came into his left hand in an instant. Third step, avoided an incoming blow. Fourth step, Egil lodged his knife deep into the leathers of the man's shoulder. The man immediately let go of his sword and Egil took it with his other hand. Egil did not kill people, so he merely kicked at the man's knee as he clutched his shoulder. The man fell.

The song continued as Egil felt movement of the other swordsmen behind him. He turned and deflected an overhead blow. It was heavy, but showed that the other man was inexperienced. The strike had too much weight into it and the man was slightly off balanced by Egil's parry. Egil smiled. The beat of his song raged on. He swung it overhead, intending to throw the man off. It worked as the man raised his sword to deflect the blow. After the swords clashed, Egil's other hand moved forward, striking the man in the chin with his palm. It was precise with power coming from his legs. The man fell backwards. His sword sunk slightly into the ground beside him. Egil could now feel the burning within his body. He turned to see Etain had already taken care of the crossbowmen. She was definitely a capable woman and somehow that made her seem even more beautiful. But it wasn't time for Egil to admire her any longer. The leader was making his move.

The leader had already unsheathed his sword and was charging straight for Etain. It probably didn't occur to him that his men were all down. The leader seemed to be in a frenzy to be defied like this. Etain was already readying another shot. Egil decided to help her out by throwing the shortsword in front of the leader's charge. It was clearly not made for throwing, but it would distract the man for a few moments. Egil began moving towards her just in case she missed.

 

[Tinder]

With his men all down, the leader began a rage-filled charge toward Etain. She stood her ground, readying a shot for his sword arm. All she needed was a clear shot. He was not as dumb as he looked however. He kept his sword up to guard against her arrow, closing the gap between them fast. She could feel her arms beginning to burn as she looked for a clean shot. While her tattoos had saved her several times in the past, they made aiming for extended periods of time a chore. The continual absorption of energy took its toll on her muscles when she held her shot too long. She'd never be able to hit a vital area if she couldn't find a hole in his defense. If he would stop for just one minute, she'd have him down.

Suddenly there was a metallic flash and a clang as a sword flew between them. The projectile shifted the leader's attention from Etain for a moment and dropped his guard as he went to defend against the sudden threat. She held her breath and shot, hitting him square in the shoulder. He grunted and lost grip of his sword. Etain lowered her bow a hair, stepping back as the sword fell.

The man looked back to Etain with an enraged glare. In the blink of an eye, his left hand shot out and caught his sword. He used his momentum to continue forward. She was caught off guard by the sudden resume of his charge. She strafed to the side, but found her foot caught by one of the roots. She hit the ground hard, nearly losing hold of her bow. The man appeared above her, heaving his sword above his head with a yell. She rolled to the side as the sword came down, but the blade's edge caught her side.

She found her feet again and continued her retreat, her breath hissing out between her teeth as her free hand touched the cut on her side. There was blood, but she could tell the wound wasn't deep. She'd been lucky he was using his weaker arm. Wiping the blood off on her pants, she pulled another shot to defend herself with.

 

[Zeraj]

Etain's shot got the man in the shoulder, but apparently it was not enough. If anything, it seemed to enrage him further. The leader had dropped his sword, only to pick it up with his other hand. Egil saw the flash of steel as it cut Etain on her side. The beat of Egil's heart increased when he saw her get wounded. A fire once again ignited within Egil. He knew not why, but the sight of her blood had stirred something within him. It wasn't rage, but something else. A feeling that was new yet utterly familiar.

Egil charged forward towards the leader. His movement was now lithe and effortless. There was a distinct oddness to the way his muscles pulsed and moved as if moving along an unearthly song. The leader's eyes was still on Etain who had now brought up another arrow. Egil didn't care for the steel in the man's hand nor that his own were bare. Only the beat of the battle, the feeling of his heart, and the melody of the song drove him. When he came in range, Egil drove his shoulder at the leader's current sword arm. The leader stumbled to his side, surprised at the sudden assault. with The sword still clutched in his left, the leader swung weakly at the new assailant. However, Egil was too swift. He evaded with ease and stepped around the leader's flank. Then Egil began a flurry of blows towards the man's face. The sword dropped once again to the man's side as he tried to raise both hands to guard against the blows. Egil did not relent. He only continued his onslaught. Before Egil could peform the finishing blow the the man's neck, the leader fell down. His already scarred face was now covered in blood. His moans joined the chorus of his men.

Egil stared blankly at fists which was also covered. He snapped awake. The song now fading form his mind. The quickening of his heart slowed. Egil dared not to even look at Etain for . What came over him? Egil had never acted in this manner before. He had always a semblance of control during all his previous fights. Even at the highest moment of the battle song, he would always maintain focus. That was what he was taught. Only a foolish man gave into his emotions during a fight. Egil spoke, his voice somehow raw as if he was singing all day, "I think we should leave quickly." Egil began moving, unaware of the blood dripping from his hands. It seems it had sustained some damage.

Egil gripped his spear on his back, trying to remind himself of his training. His breathing slowed as he focused on that familiar steel. He was Bloodsong, slayers of monsters, singers of legends, and not a killer of men. After he put some distance from the men, he finally remembered, "Are you okay! You got cut." He went towards Etain, trying to ascertain the severity of the wound.

 

[Tinder]

Etain had been readying a shot for the man's wounded arm when Egil rammed him. She dropped her bow, grateful for the moment to think. If Egil could just keep him busy, she could poison the tip of her next arrow and put the man down in one shot. The sound of a sword hitting the ground pulled her thoughts back to the fight. Egil was fighting with his bare fists, beating the leader's face repeatedly. The fury in his attacks left Etain speechless. She'd been raised to do whatever was necessary to win a battle, but this amount of violence was excessive. Something was wrong with Egil.

His hands finally fell to his side after the leader collapsed, but he said nothing and didn't move. Etain felt a tightening in her chest though she could say if it was fear or concern to blame. She took a tentative step forward, "Egil…?"

A moment later he snapped out of his stupor, mumbled something about leaving and then began to walk away. Etain returned her bow to its place on her back, jogging to catch up with his longer strides. It seemed he wanted to put distance between them and the men. The movement aggravated the wound on her side, causing her breath to hiss through her teeth as her hand went to her side for a moment. It wasn't bad, but she knew it would need to be treated eventually. It would be best to stop soon. She could hear the sound of running water which meant they were near a stream and she would need water to clean out the wound. But that could be taken care of after she figured out what was going on in Egil's mind. She forced herself to catch up to him, dropping her hand from her side. "Egil, wait," she called after him. Just as suddenly as he'd gone off, he stopped and turned back to her.

She stopped before she ran into him, her breathing ragged. She did her best to suppress her reaction to the wound, her gaze intense as she focused on him, "It's not serious, but what about you. Are you alright?" She looked him up and down, stopping at his hands when she saw the blood. Images flashed through the back of her mind of a little boy walking past her, hiding his torn arm under a coat. Frowning she reached out and took hold of his wrists, firmly but gently, "Your hands." She pulled his hands forward and examined the damage. There was busing and a few cuts, but nothing seemed to be broken. The cuts needed to be washed to prevent infection however.

Keeping one hand on his wrist, she pulled him toward the sound of the stream, "Come on, we need to treat your hands." She led him through the trees until they came to the stream. Finding a relatively dry place, she knelt down and motioned for Egil to do the same, "Sit down. It'll be easier to clean off the blood that way." While she waited for him to comply, she removed her pack from her back and pulled out a strip of cloth. Dipping it into the stream, she turned back to him, "Hold out your hands." She waited again for him to move, taking his hands one at a time and dabbing away the blood with the cloth. Her touch was light in order to cause him as little pain as possible. As she worked, she couldn't help but think about how strong his hands felt. They were rough, but something about them felt dependable…safe even. Like she didn't want to let them go. She blinked and focused on her task again. Once she had cleaned the blood away, she reached back into her pack. She pulled out a bottled herb mixture and dabbed a little onto the cloth. "This might sting some, but it should help you heal faster," she warned before going over his hands with the mixture.

Once she was satisfied, she sat back and rinsed the cloth in the river. She glanced over at Egil's hands again, satisfied with her work. She was grateful to see that the mood that had come over him earlier seemed to have passed. The bandits had been taken care of as well. For the moment, they could rest. She glanced up at his face and suddenly realized how close they were sitting. Her mind caught up with everything that had occurred and brought a blush to her cheeks. She moved back a little, clearing her throat uncomfortably, "I…sorry about that. I didn't even ask if it was alright for me to treat your wounds. Instinct took over I guess. I apologize if that made you uncomfortable." She hadn't even realized how forward it was of her. Her mind had gone back to all those times when she'd found Se at home, hiding his latest injury because he didn't want anyone to put the "stingy stuff" on as he'd called it as a child. The only way to treat him was to force him into a chair and keep him there until the wound was cleaned. She'd had no problem doing that with her brother, but to have been so informal with Egil…it was embarrassing.

 

[Zeraj]

The process was almost surreal to Egil. The gentleness of her hands. The closeness of her body. Egil did not fully realize his situation until the poultice was applied onto his hands. The pain was familiar. How often had his family patched him up after training or sparring with his cousins? It had been so long ago. Though the way they did it had not felt like this. He somehow felt more comfortable with Etain's treatment over his own aunts or uncles. Perhaps she was merely skilled, but no. His family was experienced in all kinds of healing due to how frequently a Bloodsong would get injured whether by foolishness or actual battle. When she finished up, Egil could see the satisfaction in her face. He could only smile at such a content look. She seemed to realize their closeness and backed away. She tried to apologize for treating him. Egil thought this strange.

Egil responded quickly, "Oh no. It was actually quite comfortable. It would be hard to work on my own hands. I thank you, Etain." He finished his words with a great smile and a laugh. His hands were now feeling much better, and he held them out in front of her. "This is great work. You are truly a women of many talents. With magic, bow, and healing. I'm actually glad we are partners in this hunt."

Egil noticed the slight dampness in her side. "Oh. We'll have to treat your own wound. Even if the cut is shallow its dangerous to keep it untreated lest the wound get sick with infection. If you don't mind I can help you get that cleaned up and bandaged as well. Oh damn. I apologize. It was rude of me to ask you to take of your leathers to see the wound. I can look away if you wish to do it yourself." His face reddened at the thought. She certainly had seen his share of naked flesh, but to see hers. It was an entirely different matter. He just hoped the wound wasn't too serious.

 

[Tinder]

Etain shrugged off the compliments, knowing she had provided minor first aid at best. She was far from being a healer, but she knew enough to treat minor wounds such as Egil's. Every Taggart was given basic medical training in order to treat themselves or any hunters who needed help. Hunters and most civilians knew enough to mend an assortment of scraps and wounds. Had either of them injured themselves seriously, she would have suggested making their way back to the village. As it was, their wounds were nothing she could not handle.

With Egil's hands treated, Etain turned her attention back to her own wound. It was on her left side, positioned near the back of her hipbone. As fate would have it, the man had managed to find a gap in her armor and sliced her clearly. The wound stung but she could move with it well enough, leading her to believe nothing major had been hit. She reached with her right hand and gingerly touch the cloth covering the area. Her hand came back wet with blood, more so than she'd thought it would be. Egil was right, it needed to be treated to keep infection from setting in as well as to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Fresh blood tended to bring all manor or creatures running. Due to the location of the wound, however, there was no way she would be able to effectively treat it herself. She looked back to Egil, doing her best to ignore his discomfort, "Actually help would be appreciated. I'm afraid I won't be able to clean the wound well by myself."

She rinsed her hand off in the river before going for the straps of her leathers. Because of the shirt she wore beneath, she had no problem removing the armor in front of Egil. She wasn't entirely sure why, but she felt she could trust Egil with this. Normally she didn't trust any man enough to let him touch her without armor to protect her, but Egil felt different. Ever since that morning, she'd felt her guard begin to drop around him. She told herself it was because he'd proved himself to be a good man, but if she were completely honest with herself she did not know the reason for the trust she placed in him. It felt natural, like it was just the right thing to do. Once the armor was off, she set it aside and retrieve the cloth. She shifted herself so that her injured side more or less directly faced Egil. Again she hesitated a moment, forcing herself to maintain a cool head. She smiled at Egil, her nerves showing a touch, "I don't know if you've treated many wounds and I can talk you through it if you'd like." They needed to treat her wound that was all this meant. She'd had her wounds tended by men before. She lifted her shirt to reveal the wound. Though she rarely showed this much skin, it was far from a scandalous amount. Only her side and a small part of her back could be seen.

 

[Zeraj]

Egil felt a strange kind of fire kindle within him as she bared herself in front of him. The wound wasn't too bad. It wasn't large or deep enough to need stitching. He just needed to clean and bandage it and let her body do the rest. "No need. I've tended to cuts like these all the time," Egil responded to her offer. He reached into his own pack for a clean rag. He doused it in the water for a bit and readied it. His hand moved precisely as he slowly cleaned her wound. He took his time and tried not to press too hard. Her occasional sounds did not shake his work. She must have endured much worse. Certainly he had.

After her wound were properly cleaned he got a bit of the poultice she used for he hands. His fingers rubbed the salve onto the wound. It must have stung a bit as he heard her intake air sharply, but he was already putting a clean linen bandage onto it. Using some more strips of cloth, he bound the bandage tightly around her. He could feel the heat of her body as he reached around to wind another layer. It was almost as if he was embracing her. His face slightly reddened as his gray eyes touched upon her gold ones. Egil quickly finished and tied the bandage tight. "There, it should be good for now. The blood was a bit deceiving, but the cut wasn't bad. I hope I didn't hurt you too much." He tried to follow with a grin, but his face was burning and he looked away to let her get her gear back on.

"Anyway, its probably a good idea to find a somewhere to camp soon. Encountering the chimera now wouldn't be good. We'll need to rest and heal a bit." Egil's eyes followed the sun's trajectory. There was still a good amount of light in the day, though he didn't really needed that much time anyway to set up a camp. He traveled light, slept light, and didn't mind the discomfort of sleeping on the ground.

When Etain had finished preparing her things, he smiled at her. He had grown to like this woman, though there was few that even found his disfavor. Egil generally didn't judge people. In fact, he rarely interacted with anyone outside of his family. Sure, there was many like those men they had fought earlier. Egil really didn't care for that kind of banditry and the dishonor of what he considered to be a hunter. However, Egil believed there was many more good people out there like Hardin, Annabelle, and Donna. But Etain seem to shine a bit brighter than these others. He couldn't quite figure out why, but she was alluring and interesting in a way he never saw in another.

Egil noticed he was staring too much and spoke, "Okay, you're ready. Then lets go find ourselves a nice little spot to sleep in. Preferably flat and not littered with these thorny bushes." Egil brushed his boots exaggeratedly, removing some of the twigs, leaves, and plants that were stuck on.

 

[Tinder]

Etain focused on the pain of her wound as Egil worked to distract herself from his closeness. His touch was gentle as he cleaned the wound, much more so than she'd expected him to be. He moved slowly, causing her pain only once or twice. After the wound was clean, he picked up the salve she'd used and put some onto his hands. She breathed in sharply, partly from the stinging the herbs caused and also the physical contact. Her cheeks grew hot despite her best efforts to focus on the stinging and remained red as he applied the bandages. She met his eyes for a moment, before looking away. Perhaps he would believe it was the pain that caused her reaction.

When Egil finished and moved away, Etain released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and pulled her shirt over the bandages. "You did just fine," she replied to him, trying to laugh off the discomfort she was sure they both were feeling, "I hardly felt anything." She buckled her leathers back on and moved to gathering her things. When Egil suggested moving on, she could hardly have agreed more. Though good sense told her to keep going for a while longer, the situation they had just been in had her mind far too flustered to be very helpful this night.

She stood once her pack was secured and looked to Egil. He was looking at her again and smiling. She was unsure of she should respond. Surprisingly enough, she didn't mind him watching her. A moment later, he looked away and made a joke about the bushes around them. She smirked before starting off, "Agreed. Let's head back to the trail and follow it for a while longer. I'm sure we'll find a clearing before long." She led them back to the trail and continued down it, keeping an eye out for camp ground.

Her mind wandered back to the river as she walked. She was hardly a great beauty, but she'd attracted the attention of a few men through her journeys. She'd hated it when they watched her so intently. Egil's gaze didn't feel so hostile. Whenever she caught him looking her way, she felt her heart jump. It was foolish to admit that it to herself, but something about this man she'd met only a day ago was drawing her to him. She blinked and focused on the path. This was ridiculous. She was acting like a starry-eyed child. Her father had always taught her to cast such unnecessary emotions aside and focus on work. As a hunter she would be paired with a suitable man once she'd proven herself. Her job now was to focus on her hunt and bring glory to her family. But despite her common sense telling her not to, she continued to think about Egil, her mind going back to their conversation before the fight. He'd talked about protecting those he loved and it had seemed he'd had someone in mind. There was no way a man like Egil had no one waiting for him. Something in her mind laughed at her. Why not just ask him? It would have been better than not knowing. All she had to do was say, "Is there anyone waiting for you, Egil?"

Etain's eyes widened when she realized the words had actually come out of her mouth. She looked over at Egil, checking to see if he'd heard her. Her voice had been whisper quiet when she'd asked that question so foolishly. There was a chance the sounds of the forest had covered her voice. Egil had proven to be rather perceptive however. She coughed to hide her embarrassment, ignoring the irritation to her wound, "I mean I see a good place to camp ahead, come on." She started to walk faster, going as fast as she could without running. Why had she said that out loud? Her mind was falling to pieces.

 

[Zeraj]

Etain's question surprised him. It seemed to carry a multitude of meanings he couldn't immediately recognize. Certainly he had a family waiting for back home, but these didn't seem to be what she was aiming towards. The next step would be something Egil hadn't thought about much, a lover or spouse. Egil wondered what had prompted her to ask this. Did he seem like a married man or perhaps it was something else? He wasn't experienced in these matters.

No matter how much he dealt with his aunt's and cousins, women sometimes confounded him. They were strong, intelligent, and sometimes even capable of beating him during sparring matches. However they were similar to men, they always had a certain aloofness about them. How they thought, what they did. Egil couldn't quite manage to find the logic within it. And this was further proven by Etain's next words.

Before he could even get out a reply she seemed to dismiss her previous question and moved faster, saying she had found a spot. Egil sped up as well to keep up. His reply was lost with his new thoughts. Did Etain have someone waiting for her? The idea somehow made him slightly sad as if he lost something important. He looked at her back and felt something like a burning in his chest. Perhaps he was merely tired from the fight or the poultice had some other effect on him. Whatever the reason, the heat did not relent.

The site Etain led him to was a good location. The clearing was small but was good enough for two people. The ground was mostly flat. He could move away some rocks and foliage to make it a bit more comfortable. A fire wouldn't be difficult to maintain, but it would certainly attract monsters. The surrounding trees would be good cover in case those hunters decided to look for them. "Its a good spot. Hopefully it doesn't get too cold tonight. Even summer nights can sometimes get a man ill," Egil spoke cheerfully while clearing away some rocks. After he prepared the ground a bit, it was good enough to sit comfortably which he did with joy.

Egil gestured besides him, "Take a seat and relax. Theres going to be a lot more walking tomorrow. We're probably nearing the farms that were attacked at least I hope so. The stories I gathered from the city were all of the place and pretty jumbled. That alchemist did a lot of damage." He suddenly felt a bit hungry. Some time had passed since his wonderful meal at the tavern. He took out some dried rabbit meat and took a large bite. The smoky flavor was a bit dry but was good nonetheless. Egil offered another piece to Etain, "This is pretty good rabbit. I picked it up from a farmer who had a smoking hut. He was kind enough to let me smoke some rabbits I caught previous day. That man had quite the lungs too. We sang together as we cooked the meat. I swore his voice was so low it rumbled the walls of the hut. It was a good day." Egil smiled at the recollection.

 

[Tinder]

At least the clearing was actually useable. Etain had been so intent on distracting Egil, she'd barely given the area a second look before heading directly toward it. She relaxed once Egil began to settle and changed the subject. It was good to move her mind away from the confusing mess of emotion that seemed to be growing within her as of late. She found a spot next to him, shrugging off her pack as she took the piece of dried meat Egil offered her. She took a bite, listening to his story as she leaned back on one hand.

The sky was beginning to grow sharper in color as the sunset approached, turning the once bright blue color to a shimmering orange. Etain found herself lost in the color, her lips curving into a smile. It had been some time since she had just sat down. Since she'd left on this hunt, she'd been so preoccupied with finding something worthy to call her first hunt and surviving alone that she'd thought of little else. This moment brought back thoughts of simpler times.

She breathed in deeply, noting that the air had grown heavy with the scent of the night. There was even a hint of wildflowers on the breeze sweetening the air. She took another bite of the dried meat, chewing it slowly. She shallowed before beginning to speak, "The perfect night. Almost enough to make you forget the pain this area has suffered lately." She looked down, her expression growing thoughtful for a moment as she shifted herself to lean forward on her raised knees. She glanced over at Egil, giving him a small smile, "It reminds me of home a bit to be honest. My mother loved to take my siblings and myself out on nights like this. We'd go to the hillside near our home and watch the sun go down…well all of us except Marie, she hated the outdoors. Still does to this day. I used to have to carry my little brother home so my mother could have her hands free on the off chance that something tried to attack us on the way home." Etain had looked forward to those nights as a child and to this day she missed them. They had been the only way her mother had ever rebelled against the Taggart way. Father had scolded her endlessly about distracting his children from their duties to the family, but she never listened. It was her way of sharing her own customs with her children.

Etain looked away, laughing quietly, "Sorry. I'm rambling. It's just…this is a nice change of pace." At least she'd asked no more foolish questions. This moment was far too nice to ruin with an uncomfortable atmosphere.

 

[Zeraj]

Etain's story brought Egil's own longing for his family. How long had he left them for his search for his first song? It had to be several years now. In all of that time, he had not found a worthy story to etch into his soulsong. Certainly he had neared death facing some of the creatures before, but they had not instilled the fire he currently held during this hunt. There was a strange kind of sensation he felt throughout the search for the chimera. One that could not be entirely explained. Perhaps it was like a hearthfire churning in a cozy home, or even the sparks that comes from molten metal during the hammering of a new weapon. It had closer semblance to the latter. He was honing and making something new. What he was forging, Egil did not fully comprehend, but it certainly had shaped himself in someway.

Egil faced Etain, and watched her chew the jerky. It was as simple thing. Just the occasional movement of the jaw, the parting of the lips for another bite, but the way she did it stirred something within him. She apologized once again for something he didn't mind. Egil responded, "No no. You're not rambling at all. I'd listen about your family all day if I could." His face reddened and he said promptly, "I certainly long to see my family as well. We'd have such fun night if they were here. There would be great food. My aunt Tyra makes the best wyvern stew you've ever eaten. The meat is tough and unmanageable, but she does it anyway. Best of all, there would be song and dancing." The wind picked up a bit, bringing a sudden cold breeze. Unconsciously, he moved closer to Etain. Their shoulders touched and he continued, gesturing with his hands, "And of course stories! You would hear tales that would make you squeal in terror, jump in excitement, and even cry with sadness." Egil's mouth curved slightly at the remembrance.

"But I don't mind not having them here. There is a certain kind of peace in just being surrounded in trees, lit up by the great stars in the night sky. The moon isn't quite full enough, but the light from it gives the entire forest a fresh feeling. The edges of dark and light blend and create fascinating patterns. Look at that tree over there. Doesn't it almost look like a person pushing a cart? The way those branches shape the body and the shadows cross to seem like a cart. Ha. Now whose rambling now? I speak of shadows and trees."

Egil now sat there just enjoying the atmosphere. He felt joy like he never felt before. He wouldn't mind just sitting here with Etain for hours on end in total silence, enjoying the beauty of the forest, the slight sounds from the night animals, and the wondrous smells of life. The thought of the hunt evaded him for that moment. Egil had an itch to pull out his flute to express the feelings he felt, but he considered whether that would enhance or break the moment of bliss.