Warriors' welcome|Poldora

[Toyoll]

Aakel sighed gratefully as she finally set down her pack. The new village was located only a mile or so from the original field, so new foliage abounded for the herbivorous members of the Warriors' Clan.

Ever since facing off with Ruurl in the wintering grounds, the Fire-Beast worked tierelessly to spin a network of allies. These mostly consisted of Warriors under her direct command and young, liberal Beasts who felt that Thavan was as much a Poldoran as they were.

These allies have naturally set up their huts together. This was normal, as every circle mostly kept to themselves. However, Aakel was careful to set up next to Thavan.

[Kender Bard]

Thavan had tried to keep his head in the political intricacies of the clan, but it was all very confusing to him. He'd never been taught anything about a world where allies were everything; in Ronduin, almost everyone was a commoner and nobody had much animosity for the next guy, or envy. So strange...

So he threw himself into his duties and the more mundane aspects. He did try to keep up social niceties. If he wasn't any good at recruiting allies, then he was at least good at not making enemies as he tried to stay polite (but not weak, never weak) with those he spoke with.

For now he had something else on his mind. Hands behind his back, he sought out Aakel, grinning. "I got something for you!"

[Toyoll]

Aakel looked up at Thavan with a curious expression. Then, with
a sudden smile, she stood. The poor vixen was morally exhausted after the marathon networking, so Thavan's surprise immediately perked her up.

"Hmmm....What would that somethin' be, hedgehog?", Aakel drawled.

[Kender Bard]

Eyes sparkling, Thavan held out the fist containing the jewelry he had bartered for his stored up healing water. He held it so that he could see its coloration against her and swelled with pride at his choice; it would look lovely against her skin. "A beautiful gift for a beautiful woman."

[Toyoll]

Aakel's amber eyes sparkled, it was a gorgeous talisman! Speechless, she tenderly plucked it from Thavan's hand and noted it's quality, it was obviously crafted by skilled hands.

The vixen looked up at her mate, "Thavan..."
It must've cost him a fortune...
Smiling Aakel pulled out a roll of soft leather cord she usually used to sew clothing. She slipped the crimson talisman onto a piece and tied it to her neck. There was no question of putting this one onto her talisman ring.

With a sudden giggle she wrapped her arms around Thavan and hugged him as tighly as she dared.

[Kender Bard]

Thavan chuckled as he hugged her back, kissing her tenderly and then, with theatrical drama, wheezed. "Can't breathe," he panted, making his eyes cross humorously. She liked it, she liked it, she liked it! He couldn't stop grinning like a lunatic.

[Toyoll]

Aakel growled playfully and nipped his ear before finally letting go. She turned the talisman between her fingers with a smug look.

With a mockingly disappointed look, she drawled, "But it's getting late and I hate hunting at night." Aakel leaned against Thavan and winked slyly, "Lets go by ourselves tonight, I'm sure the others won't mind...."

[Kender Bard]

"That sounds like a good idea to me," he murmurs, feeling a bubble of.. well something, excitement perhaps, rise up in him. "Just let me get my bow." Pecking her cheek, he takes off like a shot and returns swiftly with his quiver and bow as well as a little dagger he'd picked up. He wasn't very good at hand to hand yet, but he's still learning. "Ready?"

(( I need them to get separated at some point, just for a little bit. Need to fulfill my own Force Wish))

[Toyoll]

((That's fine, since they'll have to fan out to search for prey anyway.))

[Kender Bard]

(Big post then!)

As Thavan wandered away from Aakel in search of what he hoped was dinner, he heard a rustling, and spun towards it. A beast-woman froze in mid-stride. She looked like any other human except incredibly muscular, bearing the clothing of the clans, and had leopard spots covering her skin. Thavan found himself pausing in surprise before he brought his bow to bear again.

The woman laughed softly, deeply. "If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead by now," she rumbled, smiling cockily. "Be at ease, I am not your enemy. I was simply making my way through."

Thavan didn't move an inch, nor did he let his guard down, but he felt curiously frozen. And yet.. no fear.

The woman smiled and moved closer. "What is a waterling doing in the land of Beasts, hm? You remind me of a young boy who tags along behind an army, playing at soldier."

He grit his teeth, fire lighting in his eyes as his pride felt sorely bruised. "I am a warrior," he growled, "Of Poldora."

"A noble rank," the woman agreed, coming closer still. Thavan still didn't move, though he felt he should be. "But you did not answer my question. Why are you here, child? Why did you come to these lands?"

And Thavan felt an overwhelming compulsion to tell her. He struggled against it, but he might as well have tried to run up a rockslide. "I went to the closest land that seemed like a good idea. Khelek is a giant, icy wasteland. This place has life, and strength. I wanted to get stronger."

"And?" the woman prompted.

"And... I wanted to help people."

The woman tilted her head back and laughed. It made Thavan think of sunshine, of power, and of the jungle. "You will do well here, child. But you need some help I think. You are like a deaf man amongst these people." She reached around his head and caressed the back of his head and neck tenderly. "Open your ears and listen. Really listen."

There was a sudden rustling behind Thavan. Instinct made him look for a second. There was nothing there. When he turned around, there was nothing there either.

Shaken, he started to run back to Aakel, but tripped and fell hard to the ground. Groaning he tried to get his bearings.

"Hey, watch where you're falling!"

Thavan opened his eyes. There was a hedgehog in front of him. "What?" he mumbled, sitting up.

The hedgehog blinked. "What, did you get some dirt in your ears? I said watch where you're falling."

I've gone mad, Thavan thought dreamily a moment until his brain caught up with reality and figured it'd had enough. He started to scream.

[Toyoll]

Aakel came, trotting through the thicket, sure footed and without a sound, "Thavan!" she whispered, "Thavan, what's going on?" The sound of his screaming sent chills of worry up and down the vixen's spine.

She went to step closer and saw the little bristly creature at her feet, she stepped sideways to avoid crushing it (and getting a foot full of spines). "Sorry" Aakel said quickly before moving to Thavan's side. She whined and yipped, fussing over him.

[Kender Bard]

"Not my day," the hedgehog grumbled.

Thavan sat straight up, pointing stiffly at the hedgehog. "It spoke!" he yelped. "The thing.. talked!"

"So're you, and I'm not making a big fuss," the hedgehog continued to grumble.

Thavan jumped and said, "See? See? It spoke again!"

[Toyoll]

Aakel frowned and cocked her head in puzzlement.
Of course the hedgehog could talk, all animals could--Well, more specifically, all Beasts could comunicate with anim......

And then something dawned on Aakel.

She eyed Thavan carefully, her fiery golden eyes narrowed. Aakel looked to the hedgehog on the ground, then to her Hedgehog beside her. It would be a while before she spoke next.

"Thavan...can you...can you understand him?" Aakel gestured towards the grumpy creature, pointing would have been rude.

[Kender Bard]

"Well yeah, he's speaking clear as day," Thavan protested. "Why do you think I'm a little spooked here? First that lady back there comes out of nowhere, says a few words, and suddenly I'm babbling my innermost thoughts to her! Then she told me to open my ears and disappeared. Now this hedgehog is talking to me."

The hedgehog was amused. "He's not very quick, is he?" Thavan glared at it.

[Toyoll]

Aakel looked at Thavan with a mixture of surprise, suspicion and sheer joy. She very nearly forgot her manners.

Turning to the little hedgehog, laying flat on her belly to be level with him, she appologized for Thavan's outburst. Although her appology was sincere, she couldn't stop smiling.

Sitting upright again, Aakel could only shake her head in bewilderment, "Forces above! Thavan, only Beasts should be able to hear 'im!" Suddenly, she was curious about the vanishing woman, "Who d'jou see? Who wuzzit? A Seereling? Whad she do?" The faster Aakel spoke, the more pronounced her Poldoran accent became.

The vixen's eyes shone with curiosity, her biggest vice and virtue.