• Solo • [Sweetwine Woods] Sweet Home

[Shl'Drei]

3rd if Cylus, 720

Shl'drei had lost track of the multitude of trials he spent cooping Liam and Leora inside the small room in Scalvoris Town. They were both grumpy, understandably so - but he kept them in line the best he could despite the obvious foul mood they had taken to. Leora had taken to sleeping at all breaks when the makeshift leader, Shl'drei, wasn't present. She'd also destroyed a blanket after a few trials, almost as if to show him she did not approve of the new home. The usually disinterested and calm Liam had both watched and allowed her. Shl'drei had a suspicion he'd joined in at some point due to the mess of shreds he cleaned up.

He felt cramped himself, and desperately annoyed by the constant fear or dislike for his makeshift family. He needed a home badly. One he could be alone with the two animals in- preferably somewhere with land they could roam. Naturally he'd arranged housing on arrival with his minimal savings but it had to be built. So he spent at least three or four breaks convincing the inn owner to let him rent with his companions. He'd paid a little extra to sway the decision...

Still, the trial he ran into the messenger was a blessed trial. He would've openly hollored and jumped around but he at least had some self control if nothing else. He thanked the messenger profusely and gave him a tip with what little nel he had left. He arranged to send the messenger back to arrange a meetup for the next trial.

With how quickly he collected his companions and belongings he was sure the inn staff were confused just as much as relieved. He didn't care much when guests gasped as he ran like a madman, two large animals chasing his heels. One would think he was being attacked if not for how the animals slowed to let him lead the way. Shl'drei made it to the edge of Scalvoris Town in record time, most likely a few ticks early- not that he minded, he was grateful to be out of the inn.

He was greeted by a burly man - hairy arms and chest, both bare and large. He gaped at the man for a good few bits, but pulled himself together quickly enough when the other man spoke. Naturally the home he chose was in the wilderness! Leora and Liam would have all the space they could want to roam and hunt and Shl'Drei could use the area to further his skills.

"Shl'Drei, right? Your hut is finished as you know. Gonna show you the way-- but are you sure that's all your taking? Confused, Shl'Drei looked at himself. The small pack he carried had some rations, his daggers, a few cooking utensils that had seen much better trials, and of course a crude map of Scalvoris Town. Did he truly need anything else. He looked around, unsure of his answer.

"You a hunter or something?"

"Or something," Shl'Drei sighed. "To be honest I don't think I have a job here. Now that I think about it, I do need one…"

A hum from the oversized man and Shl'Drei turned back to face him. "Ah, before that I'll settle I guess… you never gave me your name."

"...Bear," and with that the large man handed him a sheet of paper and turned on his heel, gesturing for Shl'Drei to follow. "Try to get some landmarks down, getting lost in Sweetwine would be dangerous. We have about a trials' trip until we breach the forest. ...are you sure you're ready?"

He'd fed his companions, packed his things, his whip was strapped to his hip, and the two animals beside him were following as diligently as their moods would allow. And the man, Bear, had given him a small map that looked to only cover the woods. Of course his nerves were haywire- but it was an excited nervousness, the prospect of a final home.

"Yeah, I'm ready."

OOC

• Shl'Drei received a Average Map(T4) from bear of Sweetwine Woods.

[Shl'Drei]

He was - in actuality - not ready for the trip to Sweetwine. He prided himself on being at least somewhat in shape physically. He had some built up muscle and decent stamina - or so he thought. Shl'Drei made a measly two breaks before he had to ask Bear to stop. Bear was perfectly fine, Shl'Drei was not. The beefy man rolled his shoulders and lifted a brown at him, but he shook his head to indicate he couldn't make it father without rest. This was what he had chosen. This was his commune. Immortals, he was a fool. He plopped onto a log and just... stared at the sky for a good few bits as he regained his energy. Perhaps he could blame the run to their meeting spot? He was huffy then, but now his legs just felt numb. Ridiculous, this was. Though Liam and Leora seemed to be enjoying themselves he couldn't bring himself to do the same.

“By the seven, ready he said,” Shl’Drei whipped his head to Bear when the foreign speech reached his ears. He’d never heard whatever language it had been before Sclavoris, and frankly he was curious because he heard something similar around the town in various places and the inn he hunkered down in. Bear seemed to be feeling something, but Shl’Drei was too occupied replaying the phrase in his mind before trying - and failing with horrible pronunciation - to push it past his lips to identify the emotion as irritation. Bear smiled and let out a brief chuckle at the newcomers expense, shaking his head almost fondly.

“What language was that?” Shl’Drei rubbed the back of his neck as an embarrassed heat crept up his neck. Of course he’d gone and tried loud enough for the large man to hear. Almost shamefully he turned away and coughed awkwardly which only gave Bear more reason to chuckle. Bogs, he felt foolish! Still, he’d already done it and now that his moment of embarrassment was passing he was curious. “I’ve heard it around the town but haven’t had the time to ask.”

“...Scalveen. It's common here.” The younger guessed that Bear was a few words sort and he could respect that. Though he was itching to ask more - and would - his attention split to a different line of questions.

“What did it mean?” Now it was Bear’s turn to shift awkwardly where he stood. Shl’Drei raised a brow, intent to learn but hissing caught his attention. Turning quickly, he was met with the sight of an injured… wolf? It limped, the front right paw gone but no form of blood leaked from it that he could see. Shl’Drei shifted his attention to its odd, plant covered form, but just as their eyes met the wolf whined and then it began to fall over. Before Shl’Drei could stand to try and do something, anything, the falling form began to crumble into dust which the wind swiftly scattered.

“Something wrong with your... pet?” Attention split, he half turned to Bear to ask if he had seen. He blinked and put a palm to his head. Surely he wasn’t hallucinating? Liam’s tense shoulders told him that he wasn’t, as the caracal’s hiss had been what directed his attention to the creature.

“Hey, you alright?” Turning to bear with confusion, he made to speak but the look on Bear’s face mirrored his. He hadn’t seen it, the former tamer realized. He shook off his shock and cleared his throat before nodding. Bear lifted a brow at his sudden shift in demeanor but said nothing. His mind was swirling with questions though- were such things common place? If Bear had seen it that would explain his reaction, or lack of.

OOC

• Learned of Scalveen.
• Saw an Elemental Wolf _{Unknown IC}

[Shl'Drei]

Once they were there, Bear turned to him, nodded, and headed back to wherever he was going. Shl'Drei had more questions to ask, but Bear let him know he'd be back in the morning to - whether or not it was a joke was unclear - see if he was still alive. He'd waved it off and then they parted ways. Now that he was alone, he took a moment to admire the little shack... hut? More hut honestly. It was smaller than he had thought- not that he could really complain. In all honesty he took the first listing that would get him and his companions out of the inn. He whistled to catch Liam and Leora's attention, pleased when he felt them move in closer to him. The wooden exterior was well done, as about as much as he could expect. He wondered briefly if Bear had made it- with his large arms and physique Shl'Drei wouldn't doubt it. Still, there was much to be done- including introducing the new place to the lumen wolf and caracal.

He knelt to face them, leveling himself with their field of vision as much as he could. He pointed to himself. "Shl'Drei," then to each of them repeating their names. He then turned his line of sight to the hunt and gestured to it with his thumb. "Home," he repeated the process a few times before opening the huts door to let them in. Liam immediately curled up by the fireplace despite it not being lit- that was his tamers only indication he was tired. He lifted a brow, but the feline simply sniffed and laid his head on his paws. Leora however was still full of energy to explore, and set about to do just that.

As he was taking a look around the rooms, he could hear her zip past him and into other rooms and back. He chuckled, but let her do as she pleased as she was the youngest. In the dark of the rooms, her illuminated form was a sight to see running here and there. Satisficed with the kitchen and main room, Shl'Drei figured the next would be were he slept. Not wrong, as he found a simple bed and chest tucked against the far wall. After he sat on it, his thoughts wnet back to the strange creature- the wolf? It resembled one anyway, aside from the plants and growth that seemed to make up its from. His exhaustion set in quickly during his thoughts though and before he knew it he had collapsed on the bed and gone to sleep.

[Kasoria]

Review Rewards

Name: Shhh

Points awarded: 10

Knowledge:
Scalveen(Linguistics) 2, Endurance 2, Socialization 1, Navigation 1

Loot: x1 Sweewine Woods Map

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriate to level

Notes:
This was an interesting little story. More a slice of life than anything else, but a nice insight into the demons still haunting Shl. Might want to run your work through a spellchecker next time - remember, "you're" instead of "your", and "Satisficed" is a weird way to spell it, ha! - but overall I liked the slow and lowkey nature of this. The map is yours, too, but bear in mind neither of your are professional cartographers, so it's just the broad strokes of the area.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns in regards to this review, feel free to PM.