Kylar sat in his tent. At that current time, Crimson was out somewhere, with Faith and Padraig he assumed. He wanted to go with her, but she assured him that she would be back within Bits. He sat in the tent patiently for a moment, before sighing and looking down at the ground. He didn't have anything to do. He could go out and practice a little with his crossbow perhaps? But he'd already done that all morning, and it was now coming on to the evening. He was conflicted, and it was far from fun. "By Karem, what am I doing?" he asked himself and Karem alike. He shook his head in frustration, knowing that if he didn't know what he was doing - Karem would probably have no idea either. If she ever watched him, she probably did so with great annoyance, wondering why she was stuck with someone like him. Despite how self-deprecating he was being towards himself, a smile spread across his face. Here he was, talking to himself in a tent. His life really had gone somewhere, although far probably wasn't the word.
After about a Bit of sitting around and doing nothing, he decided to head out to the forest. He put on his armor, before grabbing his crossbow and walking out. The cold air was uncomfortable, but he could manage it enough. He didn't know why he was going to the forest, at all. Perhaps he was hoping to find himself some prey, something he could hunt. Or perhaps it was just the fresh air he hoped to find.
After a short amount of time, Kylar arrived at the edge of the trees. He wouldn't go further than that for now, in fear of getting lost and dying alone and cold. That would be rather unfortunate. Instead, he leaned his back against a tree and looked up to the skies. When he had asked himself what he was doing, he wasn't doing it for fun. He meant it, he didn't know what he was doing. He was now a Skyrider, and he wanted to rise through the ranks. But he was a hunter of the Lotharro, or so he thought, but his path felt distant. What was he hunting and why?
"Karem, if you're out there, please show me the way" he said to the sky. He might be talking to nobody, or maybe Karem was listening but couldn't help. Only time would tell, if it told anything at all.
Kylar hadn't been leaning against the tree long before a great silver wolf walked out of the forest ahead of him. Upon seeing Kylar, the wolf dropped to her haunches and tilted her head to the side, regarding him with a piercing blue gaze. After a moment, the canine let out a yip and moved to head deeper into the forest. After a moment, it paused to look back at Kylar and yipped at him again. The wolf would keep up this strange behavior until the Lotharro consented to follow him.
The wolf led him through the forest for a while, before it suddenly lept ahead as if in a hurry, soon disappearing from site. However, it wasn't long after the wolf left Kylar behind that he would come across a woman sitting against a tree with her legs stretched out in front of her. The woman appeared to be injured, or at least she had one leg bandage and was tying up an arm with a blood-stained cloth. When he arrived, she looked up at him with, her expression wary.
"Who are you?" she asked, picking up a shortbow she had lying next to her and putting an arrow to the string. The woman had short brown and dark brown eyes, and was wearing rough peasant clothing that looked to be in tatters. The only item of warmth she appeared to have was a heavy brown cloak. "What are you doing out here?" she asked, her tone still somewhat suspicious.
For most, a wolf exiting the woods would be a fearful sight. One that would make you run with fear, or fight for your life. But, that was a creature of Karem. As he had prayed, nonetheless. Kylar was rarely one to back down from a sign, especially one his Immortal had potentially given him. He stepped forward slowly, cautious not to get himself hurt in case this was just a wolf. His hand remained away from his dagger, so he didn't startle the creature.
As Kylar got close, the wolf walked in to the forest, seemingly wanting him to follow. Kylar knew this wasn't normal, he spent time around animals. Hell, anyone would know that this behavior was abnormal. So he followed, silent for a moment. He wanted to speak, but would the wolf speak back? He might be missing an opportunity if he didn't, but by the Immortals would he have reached a new level of insanity if he found he was just talking to a normal wolf.
Before he could make his decision, the wolf sprinted. He followed after it, then arrived at the woman who was out alone in the woods. His eyes fell straight to her injuries. He was no medic, but he could at least try and help her. That thought died, however, as the woman drew her short-bow and aimed it at him. So she didn't trust him. However, the wolf led him here. Perhaps he needed to help this woman, somehow. "Please...lower your weapon" he said gently, putting his hands above his head to show he wasn't dangerous. "My name...it's Kylar. Kylar Fulthar, I'm a member of the Iron Hand."
He looked to the woman's injuries, then her rough clothes. In these conditions she would be freezing. "You'll freeze to death with just that. Please, allow me to look at your injuries and lend you my coat for more warmth. I can take you back to the camp and find you a medic. Just...trust me. I'll disarm myself if you'd be happier, but these wings should be enough proof" he said gently, gesturing his head to the Riders wings that sat on his chest.
The woman peered suspiciously at Kylar's wings as he pointed them out, then let out a strained breath. "A symbol that means nothing without purpose. Am I meant to take more comfort from the wings than the Lotharro who wears them?" she asked, her tone calmer but also questioning. However, as she spoke she lowered her bow and used the tree to gain leverage to pull herself to her feet.
"Regardless, I thank you for your offer, but I cannot accept. I am here to help one is lost, and I don't mean to leave until either I have done so or the situation becomes hopeless." the womans voice was determined, but her steps when she started to walk were shaky. "And I come from the far north, near Viden. I am used to colder climes than this." she said with a hint of amusement in her voice before she gave Kylar a questioning look. "Those wings mean you're a soldier, yes? I thought Lotharro were more likely to be hunters than soldiers. And is not Uthaldria on the other side of the sea? How came you to these woods, if you do not mind my asking." she said, her tone mildly curious but her demeanor said she wouldn't be too upset if she didn't get the answer she received.
Kylar smiled a little. There goes his attempt to help, great. "Well, you can trust more in a sign of loyalty than someone who claims it without proof" he replied, hoping that made her feel better a little. As she stood, he looked a little on edge. "You really should be careful" he said, concerned. Despite that this woman had aimed a bow at his head, she was injured - and alone. She needed help, and seemed to refuse it all.
Kylar saw the woman step forward in pain, so he approached her. He put his hand on her shoulder. "Please, allow me to help you" he said, keeping his hand gentle on her until she gave her response. "Even if you don't see a medic, at least let me help. Please, it's the least I can do to help you."
Kylar stopped at her question. Just what he'd been asking himself not a minute ago. He sighed. "I am a hunter, and a soldier too. My prey moved on a while ago. It's...complex. I suppose I hunt injustice. I don't know if that means I am still a hunter, but I like to think it does" he explained. "As for the woods, you'd think me crazy. But as you asked. A wolf showed me the way here, and I ended up here with you. It was strange, to say the least, but I believe it might be a sign. Perhaps for me to help you?"
After a short pause, he spoke again. "I don't wish to disturb you, if you're here to help someone. But I wish to offer my services. In exchange for my services, allow me to help you home or at least somewhere safe. That's all I ask."
The woman shrugged at Kylar's attempts to explain the meaning of the wings, though when he told her to be careful, she just gave him an amused look. However, his offer of help was met with a nod. Then came his explanation of his occupation and what he was doing in the woods. "Interesting. You seem unsure of whether you are still a hunter or not. Have you been given some reason to doubt that you are?" she said, again with that half-curious tone of hers.
"As for the wolf, I do not find it so odd, no. Many so-called "wild" animals are kinder than they receive credit for, after all. It is one thing so many who dwell only the city fail to understand. The wild is not some evil force seeking to consume all who enter it, or even some implacable thing beyond understanding. Wolves though, they are easier to understand in principle, but perhaps less so in detail. They are not so different from their domestic brothers. Will a dog not go to find help for an injured party? Why should you find it odd that wolf will do the same?" the woman said, her rambling monologue breaking from her dispassionate curiosity into a gentle, lecturing tone, as if she were a teacher.
When he spoke of offering her help in exchange for her accepting his earlier offer, she laughed. "An odd offer. You offer to help me, and as payment I am to let you help me even more? Very well, Kylar Fulthar, I accept your offer. I go by Mareth, if you should wish to know what to call me." she said, before pointing deeper into the woods. "I believe our best bet, if we wish to help the one who is lost, lies in that direction."
Kylar pondered the woman's question for a moment. "Perhaps. I have no doubt my heart is in the place of a hunter, but my actions may not fit what the Immortals and my ancestors had planned for me. I've always been one to believe in what I'm doing, and I have never once doubted that what I'm doing is the right thing. But perhaps it isn't the right thing for me" he explained. Then he shook his head and fell silent, smiling at his own rambling.
Kylar smiled when she mentioned the wolf. "I have no doubt of their intelligence, nor that a wolf would willingly guide me, but the timing of said wolf guiding me was near enough to perfect. Many coincidences, or so they seem, stacking up. Makes you believe it's more than just chance" he said, smiling at her. Maybe this was what Karem wanted? Just as he thought Karem wanted him to meet Crimson, and Atashi. Maybe Karem even wanted him to save that man that Kylar watched get mauled by a wolf in Venora? It added up so perfectly.
Kylar chuckled as Mareth told him how strange his offer was. It was, of course, his intention - that way he was helping her twice. But he felt he should explain. "Well, Mareth, it is a pleasure. As for the offer, it's as strange as you say a friendly wolf is. By appearance a wolf is fierce to most, but behind all of them is the heart and mind of anyone else. My offer works somewhat the same. I made the offer, and by appearance it's all just helping you. But perhaps by being here for you I am helping myself, making myself feel better? You're repaying me just as much as I'm repaying you. Nothing is a better feeling than being there for someone who needs it."
Kylar looked out to the woods, where she pointed. He ducked under her arm to support her, then gave her a warm smile. "Then guide the way, and let's hope we can help this person to our fullest."
Mareth was silent as Kylar explained his troubles and they started into the woods, as if she were pondering what he said. However, before they had gotten too far she spoke again. "I believe we are well on our way to helping the one who is lost. As to a friendly wolf being strange, they only appear fierce to those who anger them, or to those who misunderstand them. As to whether your actions fit those that the Immortals or your ancestors have planned for you, why should they?" she said, her tone a bit more intent in its curiosity this time.
"After all, are you not yourself, do you not know yourself best? Why should you live by the will of those long dead, or by those who you seem to think so far above you? Do not mistake me, I do not speak of honoring your ancestors, for I try to do the same. But I do not live my life by my fathers will. Instead, I live by my own will and strength, and honor them by making my life my own and turning it to good ends, as opposed to letting it be dictated." she said, her tone slipping back into that mildly lecturing note.
Then a thought seemed to occur to her. "You said that the timing of the wolf was curious. What should be curious about it, you're in their home after all." she said, her tone slightly curious as they headed deeper into the woods.
Kylar chuckled after the woman spoke. "You seem to have all the answers I'm looking for, better than I seem to. Thank you" he said sincerely. He continued his walk beside the woman, thinking deeply. It seemed strange, how quick this had happened. Being in a tent one Bit, walking through the woods the next, now helping two people he didn't know. It was far from a normal day. "In truth, I know nothing of why I follow a path that may or may not be set out for me. But I will always remain a hunter, and that much is down to my own will as much as to my Immortal's and ancestors. In fact, it was that motivation that I believe led me to both. I found my immortal through the path I chose, and that is something I will remain ever grateful for. So although nothing is predetermined, my loyalty to her means I will stay true to that path" he said. Talking about Karem made him passionate, and almost at peace. It reminded him of the purpose he had.
Kylar looked to her as she asked her question, before looking back out to the trees ahead. "Well, it came to me as I prayed. Again, this may come across as crazy, but that wolf is a creature of the Immortal I am loyal to. I prayed to her for guidance, and sure enough it came - leading me to you. Perhaps the timing is fortunate, or perhaps it's a sign of some kind. But, I want you to have no doubt that the wolf is in no way why I saved you, nor is it the will of my immortal that caused me to do so. If I had found you without her guidance, then I would have helped you nonetheless. Please have no doubt of that" he asked, almost pleading. He didn't want her to think this was all just because of Karem. He saved people for the world, he just devoted that action to Karem. As he would devote saving this woman to Karem when he had achieved his goal.
Mareth just raised an eyebrow at Kylar's thanks, then shrugged. "Experience. I am...older than I look. Besides, I think you know the answers, but are simply having trouble finding them." she said, before she stopped and listened to him lay out the reason why he was on the path he had chosen, though he was apparently confused as to why he had chosen that path.
Then he explained why the timing of the wolf had seemed to be more than coincidence to him, before he hastened to explain that it was not only the wolf that had caused him to save her. "Worry not, I believe you would have saved me without the appearance of the wolf. However, there is one question that springs strongly to mind. You said you do not know why you follow your path. Earlier you said that you now hunt injustice, a truly myriad foe in my experience. This, then, is my question. Why do you choose injustice as your prey, Kylar? Certainly their are easier prey to hunt, that give more immediate fame." she asked, her tone now the most intent it had been since they had met.
