Leaving the Past Behind|Mangeville, Ilyamen

[Skittlebug]

Janelle hums quietly to herself as the pair walks along. The best they could tell, they were out of the Beastlands now and past the border of Ilyamen. When Vincint had told her that he planned to leave the clan she had insisted that she come too. She'd lost her mother in the attack, the only family she still had, and she just hadn't known how to deal with it. Going on an adventure like this, well, it didn't make it better, but she had a lot more to think about. Back at home everything she looked at only reminded her of what she'd lost. She glances at her friend, what they'd all lost.

They'd managed to get through the forest without seeing anything unusual. She'd been terrified of running into the faeries. She still had horible dreams about them almost every night. Now that they seemed to be far enough away though, her spirits were lifting.

"Do you think we should stop in Haven or one of the villages, or go around instead and straight to Sensatia?" She wasn't sure how far the few coins she had would go in the city.

[karkahn]

It had been both strange and a relief to find Janelle in the barn with him after the attack, hidden away from the fire that had ravaged their clan. At first he hadn't spoken much, instead he'd settled by her in silence, not daring to step outside and survey the damage just yet. When Vincint had finally spoken it had been slow, almost halting like he couldn't really think of the words to describe what he needed to do. But the prospect of an adventure, of leaving the confines of what had been their clan to explore the new sign bestowed upon him was significantly better than trying to rebuild what they'd lost.

So they'd set out together, long time friends trekking away from their home to explore the vast world with nothing but the few remaining possessions and coins they had and a young buck that had taken to following Vincint since the fairies had come.

The new companion wasn't a bad thing, the little creature was good at helping them find a few patches of berries that they'd missed in their own scavenging and on one occasional had found a small source of water they'd used to fill up again before setting off once more. All in all the fawn simply seemed happy to be there, and Vincint didn't question it, instead assuming the small creature to be another survivor of a terrible day who just wanted someone around for company.

Like the fawn, he didn't question Janelle's decision to come with him, but had instead accepted her company happily. It was always better to travel in numbers than alone, and he couldn't have asked for much better than someone he'd known for so young. Vincint had never been overly fond of people, always shy and quiet, doing his best to stay out of the way most of the time except when it came to Janelle. Maybe it was because they'd been introduces when they were so long, or perhaps it was just that her nature was so similar to his own, skittish and a little shy, but she'd always been more outgoing than he was. He didn't remember who befriended who first, but he'd always suspected that the other girl had made the first move.

The sudden question broke him out of his reverie, drawing his attention back to the present and his friend as she spoke to him. Looking back at the forest his brow furrowed a little. Neither of them had much in the way of coins, but after several nights of sleeping on the ground a bed would be a much welcomed change.

"We should stop." He finally said quietly and began to rummage through the bag carrying what little he had left. "We could find an inn, somewhere cheap, just for a night. For food and beds."

[Skittlebug]

Janelle nods, she would certainly enjoy a nice bed too, "Hopefully we'll run into a road soon that we can follow, there's bound to be a village around at the very least."

Sure enough they did come across a road before too long, it's direction not quite the one they'd been travelling in. But by the logic that a road must lead to a village, Janelle urged Vincint that they take it. As the sun was beginning to set they began to glimpse a cluster of lights up ahead, enough that it must be houses.


Janelle jumps a little excitedly and picks up the pace, "Finally, look there's a village! I hope they have an inn, one that isn't too expensive anyway."

[karkahn]

Vincint couldn't help a smile as he watched her hop about and followed along at a more sedated pace. The fawn however was happy to trot after Janelle, kicking up dust on the road as they made their way to what they hoped would prove to be a village.

Their journey probably wouldn't be an easy one, but at least it would be enjoyable from the looks of things. The two had an energetic air about the, and while it would probably be a bit tiring later, right now it was refreshing and pleasant.

"Me too." He agreed with a small nod, watching the pair bounce along the path.

[Skittlebug]

Janelle grins at the young deer, ~You and Vincint are going to have to figure out a name for you sooner or later.~ She wasn't sure how much the deer could understand her, her affinity being a jackrabbit, but it was still fun to chatter at him. She picks up speed, trying to get closer to the village before him.

[karkahn]

The little fawn huffed and snorted as he chased after her, ears perking up at the sound of Vincint's name. It seemed that he at least got her meaning, bouncing about with an excited energy for a few moments before stopping and looking back at the boy lagging behind them. For a moment the young deer danced on the spot before charging back at him, butting his head against Vincint's leg before taking a few running steps back towards Janelle.

After a few times of this pattern Vincint finally seemed to take the hint and took chase after them, smiling faintly as the young buck made excited little noises at the playful chasing.

[Skittlebug]

"That's the spirit!" Janelle giggles as the group runs toward the village. Once they get close enough she slows, wondering just how friendly the place is.

In the fading light a figure approaches them, then sits in the road and lets out a short howl, a hound. It not long before a man trots up, the Beast sign on his cheek meaning that the dog is likely his companion. "Hold there! What brings you to Mangeville?"

Janelle stops short at the howl, instinctively nervous at the noise. She eyes Vincint, not quite sure what to say.

[karkahn]

Vincint stopped short, just behind Janelle while a little ahead of them the young deer was skidding to a stop, his playful running cut short by the sudden appearance. Snorting and huffing the buck darted back to the boy, taking refuge behind him but was peering out at the man and his companion.

It was clear that Vincint was every bit as nervous as Janelle, fidgeting a little as he met her gaze, obviously wanting to just run off. Maybe a bed wasn't quite that important... He was careful to keep his eyes averted and on his friend rather than the stranger.

[Skittlebug]

Janelle bites her lip and looks back to the guard, fidgeting a bit as she speaks, "We're from Seere, we're just looking for a place to stay the night. We've been camping out since we left."

The guard steps closer and looks the pair over for a few moments seriously, then grins and shakes his head, "All the way here and you haven't got a weapon between you?" He chuckles, and turns back toward the village, beckoning them to follow, "We should be able to put you up, what brings you here though?" The hound gets up, wagging his tail and trots forward to inspect them, now that his companion has okay'd them.

[karkahn]

Vincint kept his silence, keeping close to Janelle as the guard led them. He was still nervous about the man, but the hound seemed to help put him at ease if only a little. He'd always gotten on better with animals than people, though his companion didn't seem very relaxed with the way he kept turning his ears back and would trot a few paces away from the canine.

He wasn't sure how to address the man, or if he should say anything at all, so instead Vincint gave his friend a look to convey what was both confusion and an uncomfortable shyness.

[Skittlebug]

The hound plays a bit of a chase and sniff game with the fawn until he grows tired of it, then trots back to the guard, ~They smell like trees!~ The guard chuckles, ~Yes, they do.~

Janelle relaxes visibly when the guard's demeanor changes and she gives Vincint what she hopes is a reassuring look. "Seere was attacked...it was bad, most of the clan was burned. We...couldn't stay there anymore."She looks to her friend with a pained look.

The guard pauses and turns back to them, scowling and seeming bothered by the news, "Who would do that?"

[karkahn]

"Fairies." The word came unbidden to Vincint's lips and almost immediately he looked embarrassed for it. He shut his mouth, jaw tensed and head down to avoid the guard's gaze if he looked over. Instead he focused on the fawn who was looking up at him with large, innocent brown eyes. Then a moment later he seemed to decide that the stranger and his companion weren't so bad and chased after the hound.

Vincint shifted a little uncomfortably and glanced at Janelle uneasily.

[Skittlebug]

Janelle puts a hand on Vincint's shoulder and nods to the guard, not sure if he'll believe them or not. She hadn't at first after all.

The guard looks between the two of them for a long moment, "Merchants from the Beastlands through here the past few seasons have been saying much the same. I didn't put much stock into it but, well enough different people saying the same thing..." He looks Janelle in the eye, and tries to catch Vincint's, "I think I believe you, enough that I think our Mayor might want to speak with you. A lot of our people were from Seere originally, a generation or two ago."

[karkahn]

Vincint keep quiet after that, refusing to meet the guard's eye, though whether it was due to discomfort or another reason entirely wasn't immediately obvious. Though the actions of his companion spoke volumes otherwise, bounding about happily, occasionally bumping one of them in an almost affectionate manner.

He shouldn't have said anything, he should have just kept his mouth shut and let the stranger lead them to the inn. A meeting with the mayor wasn't exactly what he wanted, too many people, far too many people would be around for that. Especially if the village had ties to their clan. But then, Vincint thought to himself, they did deserve to know what happened if they were of relation. But still, far too many people...

[Skittlebug]

Janelle's eyes widen a little bit, "I, we didn't mean to cause any trouble or anything..."

The guard shakes his head, "Nonsense, I'll show you two where the inn is, and then have a word with the Mayor. See what he thinks of this, might be best not to mention it to anyone else though, 'till you see him. Come on then." He turns again, walking a bit faster this time.