Covah

[Covah]

Covah

[img]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7672/bud ... 1432221920[/img]

Name: Covah

Age: 18 arcs
Race: Lotharro
Sex: Male
Date of Birth: Cylus 41, 699

Marks:
Velduris (Favored)

Factions Joined:
The Alfweyr
The Bonde Path

Languages Spoken:
Haltunga - Fluent
Common - Broken

Appearance

Broad shouldered and bearing the build of a Lotharro who was raised to work hard in the fields, Covah is an impressive physical specimen. Standing at 6'7", weighing in at 258 lbs., and carrying with him muscle well-earned from wrangling and wrestling animals, Covah looks more like a mountain than a man who spends his days caring and cooing over the animals he raises. His skin is dark, tanned from long hours under an unrelenting sun, and his hair, an interesting mix of dark red and blonde, sits in a short, messy style on top of his head He has well-defined facial features, high, angular cheekbones and a cutting jawline. A strong storm of freckles swarms his face and limbs, giving him and almost speckled appearance. His eyes, a pale-green, stare out with a hungry ambition that many Bred Lotharro share.

Since receiving the blessing of Karem, Covah's pale green eyes have shifted to a brilliant gold. The only remnants of his native eye color exists in small flecks of emerald which dot the outskirts of his iris on each eye. His eyes look almost inhuman, shining in darkness and bearing more qualities akin to a wolf than a man. So too have his canines sharpened, fangs sprouting from where normal teeth once were.

Personality

Before anything else, Covah is a kind, simple soul. There is a gentleness to him that one might not expect from a Lotharro, or from one of his imposing build. Sweet, and at times a bit naive, Covah views the world through a pair of rustic and awe-filled eyes. He has a hunger to experience life, and despite a bit of social-awkwardness that comes from being spending more time around animals than people, the young Lotharro is always willing to extend a friendly helping hand to a stranger in need. He carries with him a quiet charm, and his farm-boy roots show through plain-as-day as he experiences the wonders and terrors of Uthaldria.

Covah also exhibits the typical Lotharro loyalty, especially to his animals. He cares for the creatures he owns like they were his own family, because in his eyes they are. However, as a good trainer, he always makes sure those animals know he is in charge. He doesn't abuse this power of position, but instead wields it like a father might towards his children. With people, he is a fair bit more submissive. The confidence he displays with animals near vanishes when he interacts with any sentient race of Idalos, even his own kind. Covah becomes more awkward, stumbling over sentences and finding himself at a loss when it comes to maneuvering through social etiquette. If one does happen to become Covah's friend, he will extend the same loyalty to them that he lauds on his animals. Should harm ever befall his friends or his animals, only the gods could save the poor soul who hurt them from Covah's wrath. Covah is slow to forgive such transgressions, and he will never forget that act.

The Lotharro finds himself happiest when working with animals, and he is at home within his profession in the Bonde Path of Uthaldria. He has a natural empathy and an intuitive skill when it comes to working with animals; understanding their wants, their needs, and even their social structures with a type of instinct that many Lotharro assume is based on a past life. However, as Covah is Bred and not Reborn, he approaches his work with creatures with a type of single-minded drive that borders on obsession. He knows he must prove his worth, earn his reincarnation, and as such he puts forth every effort he can to become the best beast tamer in all of Uthaldria.

However, as much as a natural-born talent Covah is with animals, he has little patience or passion for pursuits outside of his field. He care not for combat unless it can aide in the capturing or the taming of animals. He has no drive to dive into the complexities of mathematics or magic, and cares even less for intricacies of politics and law. Covah knows where his destiny lies, and anything unrelated he finds uninteresting at best, and a needless distraction at worst. He's a simple man who knows what he wants in life. The only trick is getting there.

Summary:

Starting alignment: Neutral Good
Current alignment: Neutral Good
Likes: Animals, nature, directness, teamwork, music
Dislikes: Politics, Lies, Flirting, Overly-complex situations
Aspirations: Become a Beastlord, Earn Reincarnation, Domesticate a Blood Wolf
Fears: Public Speaking, Failure, Being Forgotten
Virtues: Kind, Loyal, Hard-working, Driven, Passionate,
Flaws: Awkward, Single-minded, Overprotective, Naïve, Vengeful

History

Covah was born to a Lotharro Overseer and one of his many wives in Uthaldria. However, he did not know his birth parents for long before he was given over to the Brederhan Adoption Agency. There, among other foundlings, both bred and reborn, the baby was raised. Covah was a difficult child, not interested in socializing or playing with the other Lotharro. He rarely spoke, answering only as needed, and found himself alone most of his days growing up in Brederhan. The other children scared him, and even as caretakers encouraged him to play and explore with the others, the boy found himself withdrawing further and further inwards. When asked why he didn't want to socialize, Covah couldn't give an answer. Something about talking with other children, opening himself up to them, it summoned waves of anxiety which paralyzed him.

Covah spent his earliest years living with this anxiety, unable to explore and too fearful to interact with others. He found himself locked in a state of ongoing fear, and any attempts to shake him out of it proved ineffective. Too quiet, too shy, and too small. Covah's outlook began to sink, and so too did his chances for adoption. The caretakers were at a loss with what to do with the shy child, and many worried for how this inability to socialize might hamper his ability to find a family or a Path to follow.

It proved a lucky day when one caretaker brought a friend's hunting dog to Brederhan. The caretaker thought it might be a good idea for some of the older children in the Agency to experience handling an unruly animal, especially if they wished to enter the Bonde Path. Unfortunately, the animal proved too much for even the handler to oversee; running wild in an orphanage filled with young children. Eventually, the dog managed to find its way outside where a few children were playing, with Covah resting alone only a few meters away. After being chased throughout the Brederhan facility, the creature was riled up and in a state of frenzy. Its frantic barks sent the other children running, but Covah found himself paralyzed with fear. The wild-eyed dog caught the boy's scent, and began to stalk over to he young Lotharro. Growling as it approached, the dogs panicked eyes met Covah's own frantic gaze. The boy had no idea what to do, pushing his hands outward in an attempt to keep the animal at a distance. The dog's jaws snapped forward, only drawing blood where it could have ripped and mangled Covah's hand, but too constrained by fear the boy still did not move. He held the dog's gaze, shock taking care of the pain and terror ensuring his gaze did not tear itself form the creature's. Even as its growl deepened and body lowered for a pounce, Covah's intuition and anxiety kept his eyes locked with the creature. His Lotharro instincts kicked in, adrenaline making the boys claws unsheathe and fangs bare themselves, and a deep sound rumbled in his throat. Covah, the child who couldn't hold a conversation without breaking eye-contact, growled back at the hunting dog twice his size. The animal pressed forward again, and Covah responded with a wild swipe which bit into the creatures muzzle. The dog whined, cowed by Covah's strange actions, but accepted the boy as dominant. It lowered its tail and kept its belly to the grass, its domesticated nature brought back after the boy re-established pack hierarchy.

The pain from where the dog bit him finally set in, and tears began to stream down Covah's face. When the caretakers arrived and separated the boy and the animal, even among his crying wails, Covah begged that the dog not be punished. He knew the creature was just scared, and only acted so aggressively because of that fear. He empathized with that feeling of terror, that inability to control one's actions, and would not calm himself until he knew that the dog would be fine.

Strangley, it proved to be this event that set Covah down the path that would become his passion. Instead of becoming fearful of animals, the boy found himself drawn to them; especially canines. He became more engaged and relaxed in the presence of animals, and though they were confused as to why, the caretakers could not argue with the results. They allowed the boy to work more closely with animals, bringing in other dogs for him to play with and train.

As he grew into an adolescent, Covah threw himself into studying more and more about the treatment and care of animals. He found that he had a natural talent for understanding creatures, both their biology and their social habitats. More often than not, Covah found himself in the company of animals he was working with than others in Brederhan. Though he was never adopted, the now-growing boy was lucky enough to find an apprenticeship under a farmer belonging to the Alfweyer clan.

Covah studied under this farmer for the remainder of his adolescent. It proved here that the young Lotharro would learn the majority of what he knew about his chosen profession. He began working with the horses, cows, and dogs on the farm; ensuring their health and aiding in training them to be able to hunt alongside Lotharro. Covah kept himself bust with farm chores, milking cows and cleaning their pens, exercising with the dogs and training them how to hunt, and even aiding in breaking wild horses when the opportunity arose. The once scrawny boy from Bredelhan grew strong in those fields and under the watchful eye of his master. His hands hardened with a callouses from working with the beasts, and, with permission, the boy even accompanied his older kin on hunts to observe monsters and creatures of all sorts in their natural habitats. He worked the land, learned how draw discipline from animals, and grew into a burgeoning animal trainer with a drive to prove himself a worthy Lotharro.

Now an adult, Covah has attempted to shape out a life of his own out in the fields of Uthaldria. Be it beast or man,
Covah will not stop until he has earned his reincarnation.

Housing

A farm he's only recently bought, Fildais serves as both Covah's home and the place wear he trains his animals. The cottage itself is made primarily of sturdy wood and thatch, in total covering 400 sq. ft of the 1/4th arce of land which he owns. It is a cozy little home with little space to move in. Three rooms, one for rest, one for food and warmth, and one for washing and self-relief, prove messy and ill kept by the owner; decorated with only the most basic supplies which indicate someone lives there. Near the house lays a large barn, in which the larger animals raised by Covah are kept.

Knowledge & Skills

Skill	Points Acquired	Total Points Spent	Proficiency
Animal Husbandry	25/100	NA:FT	Novice
Animal Training	20/100	(20/251)	Novice
Endurance	25/100	(25/251)	Novice
Mount	7/100	(5/251)	Novice
Research	5/100	(5/251)	Novice
Strength	5/100	(5/251)	Novice

[anchor=marks][/anchor]

Knowledge

Animal Husbandry: Proper care and cleaning of horses
Animal Husbandry: Keeping a dog happy and healthy
Animal Husbandry: Milking Cows (MB)
Animal Training: Rewarding good behavior, and punishing bad behavior
Animal Training: Disciplining a startled animal (MB)
Animal Training: Asserting Pack Dominance (MB)
Endurance: Pushing through physical pain
Research: Basic Animal Biology (MB)
Research: Canine Pack Hierarchy
Research: Canine Behavior (MB)

Skill Point Ledger

Thread or Skill Name	Points Awarded	Points Spent	Running Total
Endurance [RB]	25[RB]	25	00
Starting Package	50	00	50
Animal Husbandry	..	20	30
Animal Training	..	15	15
Mount	..	5	10
Research	..	5	05
Strength	..	5	00
Animal Husbandry	3 (Mark Bonus)	3	00
Animal Husbandry	2 (Munchkin Approval Bonus)	2	00
Animal Training	5 (Munchkin Approval Bonus)	5	00
Mount	2 (Munchkin Approval Bonus)	2	00

Marks Section

Marks

Velduris

Abilities

• Pack Bond
  • The Favored is granted an omega wolf familiar, a constant companion. The wolf is significantly more intelligent than regular wolves and is somewhat bigger. In addition, this spirit can communicate not only with it's companion, but with other wolves of its pack. Karem can, at any time, contact any of the wolves her blessing grants, but they can only contact her if she chooses to listen. If the wolf is too heavily drained or badly injured it will revert to a spirit form until it is either rested or healed. The wolf can also choose to revert to spirit form at will, though they generally only do so in crowded cities and such. The blessed can still communicate with their wolf in spirit form. The wolf can tell when someone else has been blessed by Karem, and will always be able to find others who bear Velduris.

• Sense of Prey
  • A skill that allows the blessed to tell where a prey animal may be found nearby, allowing the wielder to always be able to find food at need. They can also tell whether people around them have weak combat skills or are easily intimidated.

• Velduris Skills I
  • The blessing of Velduris enhances the bearer's survival, hunting, and animal skills, raising any one of the following skills by three points: Animal Husbandry (selected), Animal Training, Fieldcraft, Ranged Combat, Thrown Combat, or Trap Making. Any skill points granted by this Mark can break the 100 point cap on skills.

Knowledge

N/A

Items

• List your possessions here!
  • 1 x Pale green coat
  • 1 x White shirt
  • 1 x Set of brown pants
  • 1 x Pair of brown boots
  • 1 x Set of Toiletries: Soap, A comb or brush, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste.
  • 1 x Cow
  • 1 x Wheel Barrow
  • 2 x Horses
  • 1 x Tinderbox
  • 1 x Barn
  • 1 x Large Water container
  • 1 x Large Feed container
  • 1 x Cycle worth of animal feed
  • 2 x Dog (Medium)
  • 2 x Saddles
  • 2 x Bridles (leather)
  • 2 x Reins (leather)
  • 1 x Saddle Bag (medium)
  • 1 x Mane and Tail Comb
  • 1 x Hoof Pick
  • 1 x Dandy Brush
  • 1 x Hoof Knife
  • 1 x Hoof Nippers
  • 1 x Hoof Scrapper
  • 1 x Hoof Rasp
  • 1 x Curry Comb
  • 1 x Body Brush
  • 1 x Lasso
  • 1 x Dog (Large)
  • 1 x Red Bandana
  • 1 x Omega Wolf Familiar
    
    Prized Possesion- A simple red bandana given to him by his former trainer, Covah covet's this scrap of cloth. He can often be seen with the article of clothing tied neatly around his neck, and while he may be a messy man, this is the one part of Covah's outfit that he at least tries to keep clean.

Ledger

Item	Debit	Credit
Starting Package	...	...
Farmer's Starting Package	...	+300 GN
2 x Saddles	-50 GN	...
2 x Bridles (leather)	-30 GN	...
2 x Reins (leather)	-16 GN	...
1 x Saddle Bag (medium)	-9 GN	...
1 x Mane and Tail Comb	-1 GN	...
1 x Hoof Pick	-6 GN	...
1 x Dandy Brush	-4 GN	...
1 x Hoof Knife	-4 GN	...
1 x Hoof Nippers	-12 GN	...
1 x Hoof Scrapper	-7 GN	...
1 x Hoof Rasp	-10 GN	...
1 x Curry Comb	-2 GN	...
1 x Body Brush	-5 GN	...
1 x Dog (medium)	-40 GN	...
1x Lasso	-1 GN	...
1 x Dog (large)	-75 GN	...

Total Currency: 0 ON, 24 GN, 0 SN, 0 CN

Fame Ledger

Item/ Thread	Fame	Total
Starting Race	+10	10
Starting Race in City	+10	20
Starting Profession (if applicable)	+10	30
...	...	...
...	...	...
...	...	...
...	...	...

Thread List

Put links here for your current and past threads!

[Covah]

Animal Companions

Familiars

[img]http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/ ... 842331.jpg[/img]

Taranis (Omega Wolf)

Soot-black fur and eyes which bear a distinct orange gleam, Taranis looks far more intimidating than any Omega has a right to be. Nearly four feet tall at the shoulder and carrying with him sculpted muscle to match, the wolf is an impressively sized beast. Despite his dark appearance, Taranis makes no attempt to hide his presence in public or on a hunt. He is a warrior before he is a hunter, and his howl echoes of thunder and fury. More like a storm than shadow, Taranis uses his great size and strength to charge through obstacles which lay in his way.

A gift to Covah from the god Karem, much of Taranis remains a mystery to the Lotharro. Their bond is still forming, and there is still a barrier of trust that exists between the two. Their personalities can rub each other the wrong way, with Covah being more quiet and hesitant, and Taranis being more loud and brash. However, when the two do manage to work together, they are a frightening team to see. Their relationship as a pack is one of balance, with Taranis encouraging Covah to act more of the Alpha that he sees him becoming and Covah encouraging Taranis show more restraint and compassion to others.

Taranis is Covah's constant companion, and is always find at his side regardless of circumstance. While Covah doesn't always appreciate the feeling of being watched over, knowing that he is always there does ease some of Covah's anxiety in social settings.

Abilities:
Enhanced Strength, Speed, Endurance, and Intellect
Spirit Form
Telepathic Communication (Covah)
Tracking (Other Velduris)

Canines

[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0W-5pBYLYPs/V ... 1600/6.jpg[/img]

Brynn (Irish Deerhound, Large Dog)

Standing at 34 inches and weighing in at 130 lbs, Brynn is an alpha through and through. An impressive physical specimen, she towers over the other dogs at the farm in both physicality and personality. Bearing a grey coat and fierce brown eyes, the canine carries herself with the type of pride that one gains from being able to throw one's weight around. She is an furry engine of power and speed, bred to be able to take down a wild blood wolf should it be unfortunate enough to cross her path.

Intelligent and dominant, she demands respect from both the other dogs on the farm and from Covah himself. She can be a stubborn, and proves the dog that Covah usually has the most trouble controlling, but when push comes to shove she stands with her pack. If caught in the right mood, she can be quite sweet, but usually maintains her status as the farm's resident grump. Sharing Covah's overprotective steak, she does not trust stranger's easily and it takes quite a long time for her to warm up to a newcomer before letting her guard down.

A fierce hunter, Brynn can often be found stalking the land that Covah owns for game that she might snack on or on the lookout for threats she might tackle.

[img]http://www.puppiesclub.com/wp-content/u ... 00x197.jpg[/img]

Soren (English Pointer, Medium Dog)

Dark chocolate fur speckled with white, Soren is a handsome dog. He stands a bit short at 25 inches and 47 lbs, but what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in speed and charm. Nearly the fastest dog on the farm, only beat out by his alpha, once Soren starts running it proves hard to get him to stop. He is of a lean build, and beneath his well-kept coat there lies the muscles of a mammal made to run.

Put plainly, Soren is an incredibly sweet dog who knows how handsome he is. He has mastered the art of begging, and though most of the time Covah resists, he is the only dog on the farm who can manage to convince his master to give him extra scraps. Energetic and playful, Soren is rarely at a state of rest. When his master takes the horses out to run and to train, he is quick follow and nip at their heels.

Though less effective than Brynn, Soren is in the process of being trained a as a hunting dog. He struggles with focus and long hunts, but given time and enough training, Soren might prove to be an extremely effective hunter.

[img]http://www.royalcanin.re/var/royalcanin ... theque.jpg[/img]

Delilah (Schiller Hound, Medium Dog)

The smallest of the farm dogs at 22 inches and 42 pounds, Delilah carries herself with the quiet submission of an omega. Wrapped in short, black and tan hair, she is a pretty hound with sweet, soulful eyes. She is the designated tracker among the farm pack, and is used to quietly working in the background alongside her more imposing packmates.

Shy, yet subtly intelligent, Delilah has had a rough time adjusting to both her new master and the other animals. A stray taken in by Covah, she has always felt a bit like a stranger amidst the other canines, and often chooses to hang around her owner instead of the dogs. She exhibits this same shyness around new people, quick to hide herself behind Covah's legs should anyone she has not met try to interact with her.

Equines

[img]https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/23 ... 6ae429.jpg[/img]

Russel

Covah's riding horse, Russel is huge animal with an ego to match. With a height of 6'1 inches, a length of 6 feet, and a weight of 2,300 lbs, the horse is a truly imposing mass of muscle. A blonde coat with dark hair, Russel proudly stands out in any crowd the horse is in. Looking more warhorse than farm animal, Russel rarely shies away from any sort of challenge. His wild temperament can be hard for Covah to handle sometimes, but it proves that attitude which also makes Russel the only horse that his owner would take out into the wilds of Uthaldria.

[img]https://i.mycdn.me/image?id=55958828054 ... cyxoSgbixk[/img]

Shara

A beautiful horse of midnight black, Shara is Covah's pride and joy. Of a decent build, 5'7 inches and weighing in at 1,500 lbs, and having an incredibly sweet temperament, Shara is an incredibly easy horse to work with. She is responsive and caring, willing to work with inexperienced riders and exhibit an impressive amount of patience with first timers. An absolute joy to be around, Covah considers it a treat to take the time to brush the horse's mane after a long day of hard work.

Currently, she is in the early stages of pregnancy with Russel's foal.

Cattle

[img]http://www.youreventscotland.com/upload ... 0/8285.jpg[/img]

Fennel

The only cow on Covah's farm, Fennel proves to be even-tempered, if a bit of a goofball. She is constantly finding new ways to annoy her owner, from nipping at his hand for no apparent reason to stirring up the hounds for her own amusement, and is most comfortable when Covah is frustrated. Covah, for the most part, bears with these minor annoyances, as Fennel is getting up in years and he worries for her health. Fennel, on the other hand, continues to live with impish bliss; enjoying the uncomplicated life of cow to its fullest.

Though she currently has no health complications, Fennel is getting old for a cow. Being the animal Covah has worked with the longest, buying her from his previous apprenticeship at another farm in Alfweyr territory, the Lotharro considers her more family than farm animal. Covah fears for the day she shows signs of illness, for he knows he doesn't have the money to take care of Fennel should the situation become dire.

[Covah]

Blessing Story

122nd Ashan 717

An indigo night washed over the fields of Eastern Gauthrel, and Covah could not help but feel out of place amidst the prowling pack of Jeger. While he had been on hunts like these before, it had always been in the company of his master. In those times, he wasn't expected to operate as a fully-trained member of the Bonde path. It was not up to him to keep the horses calm and the hounds ready for blood. His decisions carried little weight as an apprentice, but he was an apprentice no longer. He had those responsibilities now, and Covah knew better than anyone that a bad call from an animal handler could ruin a hunt. It could even get men killed.

The presence of others of the Bonde path among the number of the Jeger did not alleviate Covah's nerves. He felt ill-equipped, even astride his horse Russel and flanked by his hunting hound Brynn. He wore no armor, and surrounded by the dark purple scale-mail and gleaming weapons of his fellows, Covah looked very much the farm boy. A hand-me-down coat, colored a forest green, coupled with a white shirt, roughshod brown pants, and thick leather boots clung to his large frame. If it were not for his height, and the bright red bandanna tied neatly around his neck, Covah might've actually blended in with the tall grasses of Gauthrel; the sweeping plains' greens and browns blending with most of the colors of his attire.

A Jeger near the front of their group raised his hand, signaling their group stop quickly. Covah pulled lightly on his horses reins, and though Russel let out a quiet, annoyed whinny in response, he did as he was told. He saw the men,
both Bonde and Jeger, hop off their horses and separate into small squads. Covah copied their movements, not quite sure what was going on but knowing better than to question the consensus of the group. He moved to join a group of Jegers, but one of them men raised a hand to stop him. Covah's brows furrowed together in confusion. Had he done something wrong?

Seeing his curious gaze, the Jeger approached him. Even now, away from danger, the hunter's movements carried all the grace of a predator searching for a kill. "Stay with the horses. Keep your dog with you, and keep a look out. We'll be back soon," he whispered to Covah in a low grunt. The young Lotharro opened his mouth to protest,
but hurriedly closed it. He nodded towards the Jeger slowly, understanding his position on this hunt.

Nodding back, the Jeger left to rejoin his hunting group. Another Bonde Path member joined their group, and within minutes Covah was left with the horses, his dog, the younger Bonde members, and a few Jegers to protect him. As he grabbed Russel's reins and walked over to the small herd of horses, a quiet indignation ate at the edges of Covah's mind. He had been nervous on this hunt yes, but he still wished to help the group as best he could. He had trained for this, but his nerves must have been apparent to the Jegers. Covah gripped Russel's reins tightly in anger. Once again, his anxiety had robbed him of an opportunity to prove himself to his fellow Lotharro.

Angrily trudging over to a slight outcropping of rock among the tall, dancing grasses of the plains, Covah took a seat on top of the cool stone. Brynn padded slowly behind the boy, unphased by the goings-on of Lotharro life. She sat next to her owner, briefly giving Covah a curious glance, and proceeding to lay her head down over her paws. Covah absent-mindedly scratched the dogs thick grey coat, still stewing over being left behind by the Jeger and Bonde alike.
He had no idea how he'd prove himself to his race, to Thetros, if he wasn't even given a chance. Or if he let his anxiety keep blowing his chances for him. Sighing, he placed his heavy head on his hand, and stared out towards wear he saw the hunters disappear into the night. With luck, they would be back soon enough and the young Lotharro could forget this night ever happened.

The moon moved high into the sky, but still Covah saw no sign of the men. He was not concerned, these men were Jeger after all. The fiercest hunters of all Uthaldria, respected and loved by their peers. Covah snorted to himself,
still slightly bitter about his role in this hunt. Brynn roused herself at the sound, and deciding sleeping was far too boring to continue, paced around Covah with an expectant stride. Sighing, the large Lotharro stood up from his makeshift seat. He motioned for his hound to follow him, and the dog padded lazily after him. He walked over to where he had handed Russel off, figuring that id he and Brynn were stretching their legs, his horse could use some movement too.

As he approached the herd of horses, one of the Jeger shot him a curious look. He was younger than Covah, probably still going through training, and smaller too. Still, he moved with that characteristic predatory grace that marked him as one of the Path, and quickly came towards Covah.

"Just, uh, stretching my legs. And my dog's and horse's. Not literally, but they get ancy sometimes if they stay still for too long out here," Covah hurriedly explained, not one for conversation.

The boy shot him a long look, almost as if sizing Covah up, but nodded curtly at him. "Don't stray to far," he added as he moved aside.

Covah bit back a harsh reply, tired of being told what he could and could not do. Brynn seemed to sense her owner's anger, but unlike Covah, she had no qualms voicing her displeasure. Even as her owner moved towards Russel, Brynn stayed and stared towards the Jeger as if to establish dominance. She stood there, staring at the Jeger with the beginnings of a low growl rumbling in her throat, until Covah whistled sharply for her to follow. Still, she stared a few moments more, growling once as the Jeger began to move away, and then bounded away as her owner's form vanished among the tall grasses of the plains.

Covah, Russel, and Brynn trotted slowly away from the camp, still within eyesight but far enough away that its sounds became lost echos in the grass. The young Lotharro cast a cautious eye at his surroundings, trying to keep an alert eye for signs of danger. During the day, the Fields of Gauthrel carried with them a savage beauty. Rolling hills of golden grasses and plains of vibrant greens, were it not for air of danger and the fear which infected its darkest corners, life here might even seem idyllic. So too did the night in the plains carry its own beauty, and though Covah was raised under this familiar moon, he could not help but marvel in awe and terror at the sights and sounds collected here. When wind blew against the grasses, it seemed like waves of rolling black crashed against the hills. Shadows and ill-lit shapes crept under the cover that night brought, and the air of fear that arrived in the day seemed only more intense at night. Mystery and terror, that was the beauty brought out under Gauthrel's moonlight. Covah knew that in this indigo darkness, anything could be waiting underneath the cover of the plain's grasses.

Covah noticed that Brynn had stopped suddenly, nose close to the ground. He looked down curiously at the animal,
attempting to catch her attention so they could continue on their walk. Brynn stayed low, however, still catching whatever scent had clung to the ground. He called her name, quietly at first, but then louder as she did not respond. Rolling his eyes, Covah began to hop off his horse when his hound began to bolt away, further from the camp. Cursing loudly, Covah awkwardly re-saddled himself and galloped after his unruly dog. He didn't know what kind of scent Brynn had caught, but nothing was worth traveling alone at night in the Fields. Russel quickly headed off the hunting dog,
but Brynn simply darted around the horse and continued after the scent. Covah was tempted to shout after her,
but did not wish to draw any sort attention from the many predators which stalked these plains at night. Another man might've just abandoned the dog, not willing to risk life or limb for an animal seemingly intent on killing itself. However, Brynn was family to Covah.

Covah did not abandon family.

He whipped the reins harder on Russel, urging the horse to speed onward towards his hound. While Russel was far and above faster the Brynn, Brynn was keen on tracking this scent as if the dog's life depended on it. She darted and corned and chased after the the clues only she could see, and as Covah kept pace with her he desperately hoped that whatever she was tracking was not more than he could handle. Brynn could be impulsive, but never like this. This scent, whatever it was, urged the hunting dog on like the Lotharro had never seen before.

They raced together through the rolling waves of grain and grass which marked the plains, the low fires of camp growing more and more distant. With every stride of Russel's powerful legs, Covah and his horse knifed through the landscape of Eastern Gauthrel. Stars burned bright with stark beauty, and had it not been for the urgency of their trek and the danger which lurked underneath the moonlight, the Lotharro might have taken a moment to appreciate the sights which blurred past him. He had no head for numbers, but he figured that he must have been almost a half-a-mile out from camp by now. Too far to be heard or found by the hunting party. The trail that Brynn had led them on left them alone in these fields, with not a soul in sight to provide company or safety.

Brynn stopped suddenly, tongue lolling out of her mouth as she panted from her sprinting. Covah pulled his horse's reins tight, willing Russel to stop alongside the canine. Going from full gallop to standing, Covah was launched from his saddle and crashed loudly onto the ground in front of his horse. His muscles ached from the impact, but he picked himself up and glared lightly up at Russel. He'd have to work on training the horse better later, right now Brynn was his first and only concern.

"What has gotten into you girl?" he asked the dog quietly, walking over to where she was still sniffing and placing a light hand on her back. She moved slightly at the touch, continuing to pace about tracking whatever strange scent had launched them on this journey. Covah stood and watched with cautious curiosity, wanting to head back to the safety of camp but trusting of Brynn enough to know that this was serious. The dog paced about for a few minutes longer, nose close to the ground and bearing the single-minded focus of a hunter, before once again stopping and picking something up with her teeth. She padded over to Covah, before dropping the object at his feet.

It was an arm. A Lotharro's arm, still clutching a Jeger's axe. The limb was covered in bite marks and long gashes which still oozed with wet blood. Brynn must've heard the conflict from the outskirts of camp, which sent her sprinting here and searching for a scent. Whatever had happened, it had happened recently. Covah felt like he wanted to retch at the sight of the gore, but steeled his stomach and his mind. Whomever this arm belonged to, they could still be alive. They would need his help.

Worse, they could be dead, and their rebirth beginning. In the wilds, without friends, dying after only being reborn was the cruelest fate a Lotharro could suffer. Gritting his teeth, Covah pried the ax from the dead fingers which still clutched at it. He had a feeling he would need the weapon.

"All right girl, you've led us this far. Keep tracking that scent," he ordered, grabbing hold of Russel's reins after Brynn began to hunt after the wounded Lotharro once more.

The blood trail they followed was a winding, almost incoherent one. For a short while, Covah was worried that Brynn had lost the scent. That this great chase was all for not and somewhere in these plains there was a wounded or reborn Lotharro without any chance of aide. But he casted those doubts aside as the signs of conflict became more and more obvious to him. Blood splatter was more apparent, grasses pressed flat by large bodies signaled another fight, and Covah grew only more determined to locate the man's body.

"Help..." came a small cry from somewhere in the grasses. Covah's body froze, frantically looking to locate the source of the sound. Brynn barked loudly, catching the Lotharro's attention, before bolting away again through the grasses. Covah sprinted after the hound, Russel in toe, sure that this voice belonged to the missing man.

"Please help," the voice begged again, this time a little louder. Covah could see him now, the outline of a man missing an arm sprawled against an outcropping of rocks. Covah stumbled a little when he saw the man's face.
He was older, a Jeger, and the man who instructed him to stay behind with the other Pathmembers not prepared for the hunt. Shaking off his surprise, Covah continued his approach towards the wounded Lotharro.

"How did this happen?" Covah removed his red bandanna from his neck, pressing it tight to the wound. He was no trained surgeon, but even he could recognize that the Jeger did not need to lose anymore blood. The man's leather armor was torn and ripped from what Covah could only assume was the animal that fought him. The tears were jagged, and bite marks traveled up the right side of the armor. Whatever attacked him, it was doggedly determined to draw blood.

"Got...got separated. L-lost my way in the grasses, b-b-but found a wolf."

Covah furrowed his brows. This man was a Jeger, one wolf should have been no trouble for a man of his Path, his training. The Jeger coughed, and Covah pushed his many questions from his mind. He supposed it didn't matter how it happened, as long as he got this man help as quick as possible.

Putting his hands underneath the man and carrying him bridal style, Covah moved to put him astride Russel despite the pitiful sounds of pain escaping his lips. He was heavy, especially clad in his blood stained leather armor, but Covah managed to get him sitting upright and stable enough to ride. Russel wouldn't be able to carry both of them and the Jeger needed help fast, so Covah would have to send the horse ahead and simply pray that they made it there safely.

"Russel will keep you safe, but he can't take us both. Make sure that when you get to the camp, you tell them where I am. And, by the way, if my horse gets hurt, I will hunt you down in the afterlife. Just so you know."

Just as he spurred Russel to move, and effort that required calming the horse and assuring that he would follow swiftly after, a low whine filled the encroaching silence. Or perhaps that whining sound had always been there,
and Covah was simply to involved with helping his fellow Lotharro to notice. He looked down towards Brynn, but was surprised to see that the sound was not coming from his hound. Against his better judgement, he set about searching for the source.

There, not twenty meters away and hidden in the grass and hills of Gauthrel, was the beast which had caused all of this pain. It was indeed a wolf, but of a severely different kind than what Covah was expecting. It was massive,
outsizing even Brynn's impressive build. Covered in rough white fur stained red with blood and staring out with blood red eyes, Covah had only read about such a creature once in his training. Many of his Bonde thought they were going extinct, hunted into nothingness by both Lotharro and monster alike. However, the row spike along its spine and panicked red eyes spoke otherwise of its existence.

This was a blood wolf.

As it saw Covah approach from a distance, the beast attempted to sprint away from what it saw only as another aggressor, but stumbled instead. It let loose another heart-wrenching whine, legs struggling to support its massive weight. The blood which matted its fur shone bright even in the night, and Covah could see it pooled around its left hind leg. It was scared, separated it from its pack, and nursing a wound that kept it from running free.

Raising his ax, Covah could see he had a decision to make. The wolf was a monster, it had ripped the arm off a Jeger,
and the just thing to do, the Lotharro thing to do, would be to cleave its head off and take it as a trophy. Covah gritted his teeth, the ax suddenly feeling impossibly heavy in his hand. He wanted the respect of his fellows, of his and others of the Path. Coming back to camp with a wolfhead would be a surefire way to accomplish that.

It was also in pain, alone, and afraid for its life. As he drew closer, Covah could see intelligence in those scarlet stained eyes of the wolf. Its teeth were bared back, warning Covah not to move another step forward. It looked so scared of him, so ready run. Covah knew that feeling, and to see it in an animal so rare as this, it stirred such empathy from the Lotharro. Without a pack, and infected with terror, the wolf would not survive long on its own.

With a heavy sigh, Covah stepped towards the blood wolf with ax in hand.

Panic was apparent as the wolf saw Covah draw closer to it. Its low growl had shifted into full-fledged barking, and it frantically began to back away from the approaching Lotharro. The wolf's leg gave out, its wound unable to support the animal's movement, and it tumbled to the ground. It looked up, seeing the smiling blade of the ax hanging overhead, and stared one last time into the green eyes of the man standing above it before the weapon came crashing down.

The blow never came. Instead, the loud cracking of wood echoed throughout the empty field, and the ax-head landed next the blood wolf. The animal looked cautiously at Covah as he knelt down to its level. In his hand was the broken handle of the ax and what appeared to be scraps of cloth cut from his own shirt. Covah moved slowly, his hands reaching for the animals injured hind leg. The wolf, confused, snapped forward at the man; its razored teeth barely missing the meat of his forearm. Still, Covah persisted. He moved as slow as he could, trying to keep the canine calm while he tried to treat the wolf's leg. It took what seemed like almost a break, but finally Covah managed to splint the handle around the animal's injured limb.

The massive creature tested its limb slowly at first, as if it didn't trust that Covah had done a good job. It put little weight on it at first, but slowly began to put more and more on it until it could use its leg comfortably. Walking at first, but soon transitioning to jogging, the blood wolf carefully strode away from the exhausted Covah. As it left, however, Covah saw the creature look back towards him. He could almost swear he saw a smile in those blood red eyes.

"Why?"

Covah turned around in a panic, exhaustion from his efforts and the lateness of the night turning his strained mind terrified. Standing behind him, there was a woman clothed in furs which looked hand-stitched. She was of average height for a human, which was extremely short compared to Covah's lumbering build. She had an athletic appearance about her, brown hair braided in a style which would make sure it didn't hang in front of her eyes. Her stance was confident, not overly so like some Jegers that Covah had seen, but enough to ensure that one knew she was not to be intimidated. What caught Covah off-guard out of all of her, not including her sudden appearance, were her slate grey eyes which seemed to cut through the Lotharro's being.

"I-I'm sorry what? Where did you come from? Who even are you?"

"You first. Why?" The woman responded, rolling her eyes with annoyance. She didn't seem the type who liked explaining herself or waiting for an answer.

"Why...what?" Covah began, still bewildered by her sudden appearance. The information clicked in his head as a frown began to carve itself on her face. "Oh. Oh! You mean, the wolf. Blood wolf, I should say. Why did I not kill it, I suppose?"

The woman simply nodded, seemingly relieved that the Lotharro was beginning to understand.

"Right, that must seem pretty strange," he chuckled, embarrassed that someone had been watching. When the woman didn't laugh in turn, Covah coughed slightly to distract from growing silence. "Well, it was hurt. And alone. And terrified. The...the fields aren't forgiving to any of those categories, much less all three. I know a bit about what that is like. I just...I just couldn't walk away, any more than I could kill it. I don't know why, but it didn't seem right to leave or to draw more blood. It was in pain, and I needed to help it. Simple as that"

The women was silent for a moment, staring at him with a curious look on her face. She seemed to be considering something, almost as if she were weighing unseen options. Covah grew worried when she didn't reply, afraid that he had said too much or made her think he was soft in the head.

"I know it's strange. I know I must seem crazy. Another Lotharro would have killed the wolf, kept its corpse as a trophy. But you didn't see it's eyes. You never saw the fear and the pain," Covah hoped this would clear it up, but instead it only caused the women to look at him more intently. "I'm sorry, I'll just go."

As he moved to leave, the women walked closer. She was staring at him with those slate grey eyes. Eyes that pierced and pried at him. She said nothing, but instead stuck out her hand. "Karem."

"What?"

"The answer to your question. Karem." Her hand still hung there, palm outstretched and waiting.

"Karem...what? Of what family or clan?" Covah inquired, the events of the night and her sudden appearance turning his usually trusting nature suspicious.

"Karem, last daughter of Luesco. Karem, Master of the Hunt," The women smiled for the first time that Covah had ever seen. It was a bright smile, the type of smile one wore when seeing family or friends. It seemed odd to Covah, that such a women as her wore such a smile as that so easily. Stranger still that she shared it with him. The Lotharro could even almost swear he saw pointed canines in that crooked grin.

"Karem, the Immortal. Karem, the Wolfmother." A howling wind surged forth at Covah's back, sending unearthly chills spiraling throughout the whole of his body. The sky cleared of all clouds, and silver moonlight streamed down upon the feral fields of Gauthrel. Shadows with golden eyes stalked out of the high grasses which surrounded both Karem and him, and as they entered the moonlight Covah saw the shapes as they truly were. Wolves. The largest pack he had ever seen, all standing beside the stranger whose hand still hung outstretched towards Covah.

"You are right Covah, you did a strange thing this night," Karem began to circle around the Lotharro, ignoring the low growls that Brynn had begun to summon from her throat. With a raised eyebrow and a steady smile, Brynn's curled lips turned flat and the stubborn hound bowed its head at the unknown women. "You aided a wolf when you had no reason, no cause to. You saw it in pain, and you helped it. Simple as that."

"You could have taken its head as a trophy, earned that respect you so desperately yearn for from your kin. You could have walked away, washed your hands of the whole affair. But you saw the pain. You saw the fear. You saw the loneliness, and you helped it. It was natural to you. Instinct."

As she paced around Covah, so too did the wolves encircle the two. A field of fur stared inward at the exchange, eyes bright with anticipation. Sitting close enough to touch if Covah so wished, the Lotharro should have been nervous being around this many feral animals. Instead, Covah felt oddly at peace. The anxiety that made his voice tremble and his hands shake when he was in a crowd dissipated into nothingness. Amidst this pack wolves, Covah felt almost at peace.

"You have good instincts Covah. Kind instincts. You didn't need to help that wolf, but you did because it felt right and you trusted that feeling. Your race might not appreciate those instincts, Covah, but I do. They might see it as something that holds you back in your hunts, in your passions, in your goals, but I see the truth in your nature. I see past the fear, the pain, and the loneliness. I see you, Covah, and you need not be alone anymore."

Covah was frozen in place. Not out of fear, but out of shock. Nobody had ever talked to him like that, like they understood him. His fears, his passions, and his nature; all of laid out before him by a stranger whom had appeared out of nowhere. A stranger surrounded by wolves and claiming to be an Immortal. A stranger who not only surprised him, but seem to know him better than he knew himself.

"I'm...I'm not sure I understand."

She laughed at that. A bold, barking sound that cut through all social boundaries and pretenses. Her face soon grew serious once again, those slate grey eyes staring deep into his forest green.

"Yes, I think you do. Covah, join my pack. You've already taken the first step. Take my blessings and find comfort among your new family. Trust in your instincts, as I do."

He closed his eyes. This was all so unbelievable, so unreal. His brain was telling him this was all some sort of dream. That he had drank too much ale the night prior and he was going to awake with a splitting headache any bit now. That when he awoke, it would just be him and his dogs, no wolves or strange women in sight.

His instincts, however, knew better. His instincts told him this was all real. Everything from the wounded Jeger to the wolves which sat expectantly near him. That this women was really who she said she was and that her offer was true. More than that, his instincts told him that this was what he wanted. That the family he so desperately yearned for was just an answer away.

He opened his eyes. Green met grey, and he took Karem's hand.