A Beginning for Toril

[Jones]

ARUTHA TORIL: Rain. There was something about it that was cleansing. There was something about how it fell and hit the skin. How it hit the ground and turned everything to mud. There was a smell to it that was calming. --- Arutha Toril normally loved the rain, but the storm that broke open above him now was more than he was ready to deal with. It was torrential, biting cold, stinging his face with a wind that whipped against him, almost buffeting him off his feet regardless of the hill he climbed or descended, of the valley that he took a few minutes respite. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: He pulled the black cloak tighter around his body and staggered on, feeling almost immune to the thunder that rolled across the heavens, and the lightning that could crack trees asunder. At one point, he tried to traverse a shallow brook, which was teeming over with water, a small river that was up to his knees, and he slipped upon a rock, bumping and bruising himself on arms, legs, and torso as he rolled with the current, grasping at the shore on the other side. Once up again and moving on, he couldn't help but wonder, would he last much longer? -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: As if in answer, it was toward nightfall when he saw the lights burning bright through the trees. He was on a road, one of many that traversed this part of the countryside... Of what city, he didn't know, but he knew the lights to be that of a tavern. Even here, under the cacaphony of the elements, he could hear the boisterous laughter of patrons, and the constant murmur of conversations. -- Perhaps it would be there that he might find shelter. Without a second thought, he strode with purpose, rejuvinated by the idea of warmth and comfort.

decaying_kitten: -She was lingering mostly outside the tavern, her backside pressing against the main entrance's frame. She was oblivious to the world around her to be honest, her right hands fingertips twirled like spaghetti in her lush lavender locks, enjoying the slight shelter underneath the hem of the tavern's roof, watching the wall of water pour down relentlessly. Her eyes were fixed on a crow preening its drenched feathers on a very ominious looking tree right along the path to the establishment, enjoying how the light plucked at each feathers detail. She let out a deep sigh, (c)

decaying_kitten: she was already bored, and the night was young, so was her curse. Her free hand ran a nimble fingertip along the length of the black torn tank top she was wearing, following the dangerous curves it loved to hug. Then her fingertip jumped over the hem of her tank, and then playing against the fabric of her mangled mess of a pink fishnet skirt with the the thin black underlay, enjoying the slight damp moisture that was building from the soft breeze sprinkling her now and again. She didn't care, as many girls usually would, wince toward the weather. For right now, this horrible rain was keeping her slightly entertained.. she peered toward the open door of the tavern.. to enter, or to find someplace a bit less predictable. She rolled her shoulders, pretending only to herself, the turmoil (c)

decaying_kitten: of this indecision. She paused for now, it was obvious she was bound to go in.. if not just to control her urge to dance out into the downpour and strip of the thin miniscule binding pieces of cloth and call it a shower. But for now, she just peered around the bend of the entrace, and watched the patrons dance. (e)

EHTYAREANU: The tavern was rather quiet this night. Not many people had ventured out in the heavy rain. Only the bartender, and a small number of patrons sat inside. Mostly those who seemed to be seeking shelter from the rain. Among them was an elf, sitting alone at a table, soaking wet having only recently come in. He had blond hair, not uncommon for his kind, and wore a light green jerkin with leather pants. It was fairly obvious that he was far from home, though it wouldnt be wise to travel far in such conditions. He found it best just to wait it out for now. Weather permitting, he could always get on his way in the morning. (e)

ARUTHA TORIL: As soon as he rounded the last of the trees, it was nothing but open lawn between him and the tavern door. He quickened his step, the rain barreling on, chasing him on his way forward. The sounds of clinking glass and the murmur of conversation was too inviting to ignore after the day's travel. He was in a hurry to be inside now. However, as he took the steps up to the porch two at a time and began to press his hand to the door, he caught movement off to his right and looked at the lavender haired woman underneath the hem of the tavern's roof. The shapelyness of her, and her garb, made him pause for but a moment. A small smile spread across his pale red lips and he gave a small nod to her in greeting before continuing on in through the tavern's door. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: The door shut with a click behind him. The few patrons in the place glanced his way before they turned back to their drinks. Arutha glanced back, hard, brown eyes sweeping across the room. There didn't seem to be anyone who would be of any trouble to him... None that held any hostility in their presence, at the moment. Perhaps this place would be one of solace, for the night. He shrugged off his black cloak and shook it gently, being careful that the rain water was shaken only enough to hit the floor and none of the patrons nearby. He hung it up on one of the many hooks (nails in the wall), which he found conveniently placed near the fireplace to his right, taking up a whole part of the wall. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: The flickering yellow flames were welcome to the bare skin and partly soaked white tunic he wore. He would dry in no time. A glance at the black pants told him that THAT garb was relatively dry as well; nothing that needed changed immediately. Arutha stood still for a moment, enjoying the warmth of the fire, before he turned and made his way through the crowd toward the bar which was on the adjacent wall. "'Tender? A bottle of your cheapest, finest whiskey. And a glass, if you will be so kind." The man behind the counter was a big man, gray in hair, and a few teeth short of a welcoming smile. The man nodded and brought Arutha's order to the counter-top and traded it for a gold coin. "Keep the change," Arutha murmured before he swiftly turned with the bottle and glass and made his way towards an empty table nearest the fire. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha uncorked the bottle and poured, eyeing the dark contents before setting the bottle down and picking up the glass. He sniffed it for a moment, satisfied with the appraisal, and took the whole thing down in a gulp. He set the glass down and picked up the bottle again and poured it full this time, nodding to himself, apparently happy with the whiskey's taste. "It'll do." He sat back a little more comfortably and looked up this time, his eyes landing on the single elf in the room, seated at the next table over. The creature was an odd sight. "A long way from home, elf," he spoke up. "Can't remember the last time I saw one of your kind in these parts."

decaying_kitten: She glared at the sheer wall of rain that was coming down, almost as if it was mocking her, and ushering her to go inside. Her eyes were continuously grazing from this wall of annoyance and the warm glowing inside of the small amount of patrons inside. She could feel her already slinky clothes becoming more like glue on her form from the moisture trickling in her direction now and again. She then stopped as the man came nearly running out of the wall of water, tilting her head curious.. god it was like he never once saw a boring four walled tavern with drunks in it before. SHe grinned to herself, her sarcasm only amusing her along at the moment, since she was.. not speaking to anyone, but none the less it was amusing. She arced a curious eyebrow when the man stopped, and eyed her up (c)

decaying_kitten: and down before pouring into this obvious sanctuary for him. She furrowed her brow, in her twisted train of thought, somehow that was an insult to her. She had the curvacious body of a youngin in the early 20's, but the mind of a selfish and greedy 8 year old with an odd sexual appetite. Because this man didn't either fall before her or feel her in some way, she was offended, so was the mind of a crazy person. She then began to slink inside, inbetween another couple making their way in. She huffed loudly, and went to where the man hung his coat, glaring at it. When the man turned and talk to some elf, she knocked it off the wall, just out of childish spite, precisely when he wasn't looking, and calmly walked to the other side of the tavern away from it-

EHTYAREANU: The elf just sat watching as another man entered the tavern. He wasnt even drinking himself. He was only really there to get out of the rain. He didnt care much for the human tradition of becoming intoxicated with cheap liquors. But no one could object to one finding a warm, dry, public place. Even if he didnt quite seem to fit in there, he had no interest in bothering anyone else, and hoped no one would have any problem with him. Though sure enough, someone had commented on his presence there. It wasnt just a matter of where they were. The elven population as a whole had been steadily declining. There were less of them in his own parts as well. With in a few generations, they'd likely be the stuff of legends and folk lore. Standing up, he walked closer to the one who had addressed him,(c)
EHTYAREANU: rather than shouting across the room. "Indeed... But it wouldnt be wise to return now. I assume you are not from around here either?" he asked, since the other seemed to be a traveler as well. (e)

ARUTHA TORIL: "You could say that," he replied. He motioned with a wave of his hand at the other chair at the table. "Take a seat. Care for a drink? I'm sure we could get another glass," he swiveled in his chair towards the bar to look at the bartender, and caught himself gazing at the woman he had seen outside. She was walking past the bar, coming from the entrance to the place. She looked even more attractive under the tavern's lights. He couldn't help but take an admiring gaze at her again, but then looked over her shoulder and saw that his cloak was absent of the nail he had hung it on. An expression of puzzlement passed, and once he looked down towards the ground and saw it piled there, he shrugged and gave it up to it being chance that it had fallen. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Oh well. It was something to be attended to later. For now, he returned his attention to the glass of whiskey in hand, and the elf before him. "I live in the city of Farsuth to the north of here, a day's journey. But I like to frequent the surrounding realm. The city can be suffocating. 20,000 souls... A few too many faces for my liking, at times."

EHTYAREANU: The elf took a seat, but declined the drink. "No thank you" he said, shaking his head. He wasnt much of a drinker himself. Cultural differences obviously. "I'm from the woodlands, east of here. About 3 days travel" he explained, not being too specific about anything. It would be frowned upon, were he to reveal the location or name of an elven encampment. As their numbers dwindled, they had become a fairly secretive race, believing isolationism to be the recipe for both peace and survival. "I dont think I've ever seen 20,000 of anything in one place, except maybe trees" he said. Urban areas were quite unfamiliar to him.

ARUTHA TORIL: "Sounds perfect," he commented, the idea of seeing only trees and as little of humanity as possible sounding like a dream. A dream that would pass, of course. He had left out telling the role he played in the city of Farsuth. A long absence, more than a couple days, would be a crime...especially to his father. His father would punish him severely if he ever left the city for longer than he thought was wise. It was the amount of time.. He couldn't have cared where his son went, or did. It was appearences that mattered. Or so Arutha had been told since he was a young child. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha found himself back in the tavern after the momentary lapse to experience the memories. He gazed at the elf in silence for awhile before nodding, taking another sip of his whiskey. "It's nothing special. Nothing one should want to see. There's clutter. Trash. And greed. A lot of greed. Everyone expects to live a rich and full life, with successful business and full pockets. None understand that the more of them there are the harder that is to accomplish. The fewer resources there are to go around." He shook his head, laughing lightly to himself, before looking at the elf with curiousity. "What brings you so far from your woods, elf? Just simple wandering? Or a certain purpose."

EHTYAREANU: The elf just shook his head, as the other spoke. All problems that were thankfully absent from his homeland. "Not my kind of place" he said confidently. In his lands, 20 people constituted a large settlement. Resources werent really a problem, since they lived both in and around the things they used, and with such small populations, they wouldnt be exhausted or overused. Though that also meant that they couldnt build sprawling cities, towering buildings, and other such luxuries of the more modern world. But they didnt really care for such things either. The elf reached into a small pouch, pulling out a couple of red leaves, placing them on the table. "I was gathering these. They only grow in a place to the west of here." he explained. Rather than trading or importing what could not be <c>

EHTYAREANU: obtained locally, he was simply sent to retrieve what was needed. There was little harm in such a journey once in a while. <e>

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha eyed the leaves the elf placed upon the table. He studied them closely, his brown eyes moving over their surface, searching for any signs of anything that would give them a special significance. But, Arutha could find none... At least, none that he or his fellow man would find especially significant. He looked up the elf, puzzlement written on his face. "Leaves? What is so special about a leaf? It doesn't look any different to others I've seen... Leaves grow everywhere!" Arutha was aware of how ignorant he sounded. He was sure there was a special reason elves would collect red leaves. And of course, they WOULD know a difference between the leaves and other leaves found elsewhere. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: He almost felt embarassed by the ignorance. A hint of annoyance probably slipped into his tone, but regardless, the elf would see that Arutha was genuinely interested and curious. The glass of whiskey was put down on the table and forgotten for the moment in Arutha's temporary zeal for knowledge.

EHTYAREANU: Seperating one from the rest on the table, he began to trace around it with his finger. "Notice the shape?" he said. Most leaves looked the same at first glance, but just about any two leaves from different plants would likely have a different general shape to them. "And the veins in it" he said, his fingers moving inward towars the center of it. "And the color." he added. "It's naturally this color, it isnt dying." Most leaves turned yellow or red or brown when they were about to fall of, but these were perfectly healthy. All features he was taught to look for and notice. What was it about this particular variety of leaf that made it special? Well, that much he didnt quite know. But it was believed to have medicinal and/or thereputic properties. The details of which others knew more <c>

EHTYAREANU: than he did. He was only entrusted with gathering ingredients. The job of turning them into useful products, and the great knowledge to do so, fell to others. Which was why he needed to return quickly. <e>

ARUTHA TORIL: "You're right." Arutha bent his head closer, watching the elf's finger trace the markings that showed its health. The leaves were not dying. They were at full health; vibrant. "It is used for some medicinal purpose, I gather?" He glanced back up at the elf before looking down at the leaves again. Once he was done looking, he leaned back in his chair and took up the glass of whiskey again and began taking sips of it again. The glass was already 3/4s empty. "Very interesting, elf. The physicians I know of at home would never think to take from the natural surroundings. Their methods and conjurations are artificial. Medicine is made in dreary laboratories in the basements of a castle's keep surrounded by stone walls." He shook his head, marveling at the idea that medicine could be so ready at hand simply in the wild. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: "What is your name, elf? If we are to enjoy one another's company for the remainder of the evening, I would prefer to call you by your name rather than your race." He offered his hand across the table, watching for the elf's response.

EHTYAREANU: The elf shrugged, effectively stumped when it came to the leaf's purpose. He didnt know exactly what it was for. "They just told me to get them. I have no idea what it's used for specifically." he admitted. There was a big difference between being able to identify a plant, and knowing what it was used for. The elf chuckled slightly when the other asked for his name. "Éhtyarëanu" he answered, smirking. Elven names were notorious for being hard to pronounce. "What's yours?" he asked.

ARUTHA TORIL: "Well...uh...Eht...Ehtya....ranoo," Arutha definitely struggled, his mouth forming funny shapes as he tried his best to say the elf's name. "My name is Arutha." Upon the ending of his name, the door of the tavern slammed open, and the clatter of metal and boots hitting the floor sent some of the patrons up out of their chairs and creating a wide berth for the men that entered. Soldiers, from the looks of most, all holding short swords. They were covered in chainmail that clinked as they walked. But at their head was another figure entirely. He wore dark brown leather, and no weapon was in his hand. The most striking thing about him was the pure white hair atop his head. However, he was far from old. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Despite the deep and dark scowl upon his face, he looked no older than Arutha himself; somewhere in his early 20s. "TORIL!" The man sneered, his blazing green eyes staring at Arutha across the room. Arutha had leapt up from his chair as the others had, and stared back at the man. "Oh, Greggory." His tone was lilting and light, despite the obvious tension that showed in his face. "I didn't realize you frequented these parts. Isn't it a bit of a...lowly...place for you?" The man named Greggory chuckled, his sneer abruptly turning into an evil smirk. "It is SIR Greggory, you Toril trash. It is unusual that I would dare allow myself to be seen among such local trash, but I've come to collect a debt that your father has owed my family. You were seen leaving Farsuth, and consequently...easily followed." -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: "Your arrogance doesn't even allow you to think of covering your tracks." Arutha now had a turn to laugh lightly. "I didn't see it as being necessary, Greggory. I didn't know that you and your friends would be crawling after me, trying to regain some sort of importance through collecting this so-called debt. Why bother Greggory? The Callum family has long been bested by the Torils, and it would be wise if they learned their place quickly, before they are forced to." Sir Greggory snarled once more, his anger spilling once again into his features. "ENOUGH. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO SHALL LEARN HIS PLACE! KILL HIM!" --- As the armored men began to file past Greggory towards him, Arutha gazed towards the bartender, who nodded at him. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: And the bartender gave a whistle, while simultaneously grabbing up one of the many bottles on the shelf, aiming it true at one of the soldier's heads. As if on signal, the rest of the patrons in the place also turned and converged upon the soldiers, taking bottles, plates, chairs, whatever was easily at their disposal... Arutha turned back towards the elf. "If you know what's best for you, you will get out of here, and get out of here fast." With that, Arutha was moving off to the left, away from the door and the fight that had broken out, and towards one of the windows.

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu shook his head as the other tried to say his name. He wasnt even close, but he could expect little more of the other. Though it wasnt long before their conversation was interrupted. Not really sure what was going on, he just sat there, as the two humans conversed. It wasnt any of his business. However, when the conversation turned into a fight, the elf was still hoping just to stay out of it. The other's suggestion to get away was all he needed. Dodging the conflict as best he could, he made his way for the door, and back out into the rain. A little water wasnt going to hurt him, where a bar fight just might.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha had decided not to risk getting close to the fight and drawing any of the soldiers towards him, so he opted for the scenic route. With a crashing of glass, Arutha dove through the window, ignoring the shards that bit into a cheek, the forehead, and a few on his forearm. None of the glass stuck, and he ignored the wounds for the moment. He rose back to his feet and was running around the tavern just as Ehtyareanu made his way through the door. "A little hairy in there isn't it?" The commotion of the fight continued to rise as the fight grew heated. When Arutha reached the road, he heard a shout go up... and knew that Greggory finally noticed that Arutha himself hadn't joined into the fight. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: "Eht...Ehtyroo...oh for fucks sake!" He glanced at the tavern again to see a soldier and a patron...who had also pulled a sword out, struggling with each other out into the rain... before looking at the elf again in desperation. "Elf! Where do you go? And may I follow you? I'm afraid the way home for me won't be safe enough to take, and I know no other way to go. I know you don't know me, or why those men attacked me, but please... I swear. Get me out of here and it will be worth your while."

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu turned as he heard the other yelling for him. He was still wondering what had happened in there, but he assumed it was just one of those human things he wouldnt understand. "If you really want, you can follow me I guess..." he said, not wanting to seem rude. Though he assumed that the human would be less interested. Despite the rain, he was already heading out of the town. He would head back east now. He didnt even intend to travel on the roads, prefering instead to travel through the heavily wooded countryside. For him it was both easier traveling and navigation, but for humans it tended to be much less so.

ARUTHA TORIL: "Onward then!" He'd cry. Another scuffle broke out at the tavern's entrance. One of the patrons had fallen down the steps, blood covering the front of his shirt. The soldier who killed him was standing at the top of the steps, gazing into the rain, and then raising his hand to point in Arutha and the elf's direction, shouting something unintelligible from this distance. --- Arutha would run after the elf, the rain soaking him to the bone once more. This time, however, he was without his cloak, and the elements felt much more severe. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: When the entered the woods, the rain would die down bit, the canopy of the trees acting as a shield for the two travelers. Arutha would feel relief for it, but was already moving on to cursing the pace they were moving at. The elf was definitely more nimble, seemingly finding the wooded trail easy to traverse... Except for the fact that the trail wasn't a trail at all. They were moving through fallen trees and thick brush, and running at almost break-neck speed. It was a given that Arutha would fall behind as they kept going, but he did his best... It was obvious he was well-conditioned for a human. Standing at 5'9", Arutha's face was chiseled, and his forearms were corded in strong muscles. It was evident that the same could be said for the rest of him. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: But Arutha knew he was no match for the endurance of an elf. Once he started to lose Ehtyareanu in the trees ahead, Arutha finally shouted..."Wait...wait up!" wheezing the call, just as he began to leap over another fallen log... This time, however, the tiredness got to him, and Arutha's leap was just a few inches shy of clearing. "Acchhkk!!" he grunted, as his back foot caught the log, and he was sent falling forward into the brush, thick with prickers, rolling until he came up thudding against a tree. "Oof..."

EHTYAREANU: "Are you ok?" Éhtyarëanu asked, turning and seeing the other fallen on the ground. "We can stop for a while. For the night even?" he offered, seeing that the other was struggling to keep up. As deep in the woods as they had come, there was little chance that they had been followed so far. The elf sat down against a tree, looking to the other. To him, this place was as good a place to stay as any. They could keep moving after the rain had passed, or once the sun was up. It would certainly make it easier on the other.

ARUTHA TORIL: "Here? Without shelter?" Arutha gazed into the darkness that had started to overtake them in the forest. The sun was almost down, and no doubt, they would be thrown into complete darkness before the hour was through. "I suppose we have no other choice." He glanced back the way they had come, and listened for a moment... "Yes. It doesn't seem they've followed us this far." He sighed deeply and raised himself up, sitting his back against the tree. This was a great moment to catch his breath. He glanced over at the elf. "I'll be fine. Just winded. I'm used to a good run...but not in deep woods like this." His breath slowly returned to normal. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: "What do you do for a shelter? I have no tent. No sleeping pallet. I didn't even grab flint and steel..." He cursed beneath his breath and began to rise...but hissed in pain once he put his right foot down. "Damn!" He was back sitting down, and holding his leg up, staring down at his ankle. "For fucks sa..." he stopped mid-sentence and shook his head. "The ankle is sore as hell. Yes. We'll have to camp here for the night. I won't make it any further tonight." He looked at the elf again, but stayed silent for a moment. "At least, I won't. If you want to move on... You can. I can fend for myself. Just point me in the direction I need to go to get out of here tomorrow morning."

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu shook his head. "We're not going to find any of that stuff out here" he said. There was no shelter to be had here. Making a fire in the rain likely wouldnt even be possible. But then again, he didnt see a need for any of those things. "We'll have to do without them, where ever we camp for the night..." he reminded the other. "I wont leave you though." he said. Despite what Arutha said, he didnt have the confidence in him simply to leave him out in the middle of the woods. "Even I cant travel all night" he said, noting that he would have to stop sooner or later himself. So they may as well stick together.

[Jones]

ARUTHA TORIL: Between discomfort, pain, and worrying dreams, Arutha found the night a hard one to pass through. He didn't move far from his spot against the tree. The natural bowl of roots and bark provided an established enough place of rest. He didn't help with making camp. In fact, Arutha remained oblivious to Ehtyareanu's actions as the night drew darker. He had taken off his tunic and taken two twigs nearby, tall enough to stick into the ground, and make a half-assed tent over his head and bare upper body. For the most part, it worked against the drizzle of rain that managed to fight through the tree's canopy overhead...-c-

ARUTHA TORIL: But it was still a chill night. There was no fire, considering how wet it was. --- So Arutha endured. He wished silently to himself for his servants to be here, with packed fresh linen and tents sprung up around the area...a flat ground cleared away. THAT was the normal way to camp. This method...with no equipment whatsoever, simply lying down on the forest floor...seemed so primitive. Before he drifted off, Arutha had to wonder if that was just the elvish way of things. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha was awakened by a single drip of water hitting his face. He glanced up at the tunic, which he saw held a small bowl of water, and the water had begun to soak through. By the sounds of the leaves, it was still drizzling. But the woods were much lighter than they had been. It must have been well past dawn. There would be no sun...with the rain continuing as it was. A yawn expelled from Arutha's chest as he began to flex the extremeties, unfortunately becoming aware of just how many aches and pains there were. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: "Well...can't sit here like a cripple," he muttered softly to himself. He took the sticks and his tunic down, and began his first attempt at standing. He worked his back against the tree he'd sat against, and with its help, he was able to stand all the way up on his right leg. Slowly, he put down his left...becoming acutely aware of how tremulous his left ankle felt. However, stepping fully down on it wasn't impossible. Although sore, making him limp slightly, it was usable. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: With that done, Arutha began to glance around at his surroundings, looking for his elf companion.

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu had woken up a bit earlier, and already made himself busy. He was practically at home already. Any deep woods were more than comfortable for him. He was just returning to the other, when he heard him stir. "You're awake?" he asked. He wasnt sure how the other would have slept last night. But he though it best to at least check on him. Now it was morning and they could both continue on their ways, sooner or later anyway.

ARUTHA TORIL: "You could say that," he replied. Arutha rubbed his face hard enough to leave lines of red from his palms, trying to ground away the last of the grogginess that held onto him from a rough night's sleep. He limped a little out from behind the tree and glanced in the elf's direction. He held his soaked tunic in his hands and wringed it hard to get as much of the water out as he could. After, he shook it, and then draped it around his shoulders. He glanced down at his bare chest and ran a hand over one of many scars...this one in particular, running from the middle of his chest down to the right side of his ribs. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: He was inspecting for bugs, or any other small creatures that might have crawled on him in the middle of the night. A few more sweeps of his hand, behind on his back as well, he gave the elf a nod. "Awake, and ready to move on at your convenience. Where are we going?"

EHTYAREANU: The elf shrugged. "I'm going back east. I'm not sure about you." he replied. Moving over to the other, he offered him a long, white root. "Here, eat this" he said. It was a little tough, but it was edible. It wouldnt be wise to begin traveling on an empty stomach. He bit into one of the roots himself, just to show that it was in fact safe to eat. The other had to be hungry, since neither of them had had any food since the previous night. "Dont you have someplace you need to return to?" he asked the other curiously, since he seemed intent on following him wherever he went.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha took the root, looking at it warily and then, taking the elf's example, biting it. It was pretty tasteless, but definitely edible. Whether he was going to get sick later or not...would be learned. But for now, from the rumblings in his stomache, he decided to trust the elf completely on this and began to eat at the rest of it. -- "Thank you for the food. And yes...I do have to be somewhere. But, as you saw back at the tavern, I'm in some considerable trouble." He gave a mirthless grin and sighed, glancing back at the way they had come. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: "Farsuth is...a very intriguing place. Can be, depending on the level of society you live among. As it happens, I live among one of it's higher orders. And it can be very cut-throat. People war against each other. Families... Clans... In anycase, I'm part of one those families. And...Sir...Greggory..." he sneered, "is from another family. He has an old grudge against me and mine, and I suppose he decided to try and act on it." He laughed, lightly though, before taking a step to flex his ankle some more, loosening it. "What he didn't plan on was, although it may be looked down upon for associating yourself with the common rabble.." -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: "...it can inspire undying loyalty. Hence the possibility of escape."

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu just shook his head at the other's story. "Why cant people just get along?" he asked, not seeing a need for so much conflict. It was more of a rehtorical question though. No human had ever been able to explain it to him very well. He was starting to think fighting was just a part of their nature. "I guess you dont have anyone waiting on you to return?" he wondered outloud. Éhtyarëanu himself didnt feel bound to any one place. He could call anywhere home, if he wanted to. But he had someone waiting on him, so sooer or later, he would have to return.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha watched Ehtyareanu's face betray a slight expression of frustration once he'd told his story. But the moment passed. He could understand that the elf probably didn't experience any such problems as he was talking about...or, perhaps, he had experienced something very similar. Regardless... "Well, I probably do. I could imagine my father's household being very taken up with my return...or lack of it. Depending on what Greggory takes back to Farsuth in the way of news of my whereabouts. I don't know what he'll do since he failed in taking me." -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: He sighed, rubbing his head, but this time with the tips of his fingers. He was thinking hard, trying to think of his next movie. He wanted to go straight home but knew that that could only turn into a foolhardy decision. Greggory might not even head straight back home himself. He would probably wait upon the roads, knowing that he would take them to get back home. "I would go home, but I know that the road isn't the safest to take. But I know of no other way there. It's probably just best if I lay low for awhile... If possible, find a different way to Farsuth."

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu shook his head once more. "I dont know. I dont go up that way" he said. Human cities were of little interest to him, and he preferred to avoid them if possible. If it was as conflicted and unstable as the other led him to think, he couldnt see why anyone would want to be there. He could only hope that his own home land would never become like that. "But you should find a way back, if people are waiting for you" he added, thinking on his own situation. While he was fortunate enough not to have anyone after him, he wouldnt let any sort of obstructions keep him from getting back to the one he loved. It would just be wrong not to return in a timely manner, as expected.

ARUTHA TORIL: "Easier said than done! Elf." Arutha had given up on Ehtyareanu's name by this point, but he respected the elf all the same. Maybe moreso than he had. An idea was occurring to him as he stood there, wondering what his next move should be. "I can't go straight home. But if I could go somewhere for a day, maybe two...perhaps, find someone to gain knowledge on another route home, that could work." He paused a moment, leveling his gaze at the elf before dropping the idea. "Would I be welcome among your people?"

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu shook his head. "Probably not. We have nothing against humans, but if I brought you to our lands, we fear more humans would come, bringing the problems of their cities and all..." he explained. They saw it as a threat to their very way of life. "I'd be in more trouble than you" he added, if he had brought the human back with him. "Sorry." he offered, knowing his answer would be disappointing to the other.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha nodded and sighed again. Well, perhaps he was going to have to be on his own from here on. He stared into the deep woods, considering what other options he'd have. And there weren't many. None that seemed sensible. "It's okay. I understand. In that case... What's the northern-most route I could take from here? How far do the woods go? I think I'll have to strike it out alone from here on. I can try to find my way back." --- Even if he felt skeptical with himself, there would be no expression on his face to betray that. And every bit of confidence he had had last night about staying out in the night by himself was there now in his voice.

EHTYAREANU: Looking eastward, Éhtyarëanu spoke. "You could travel for some... 8 days or so" he said, trying his best to estimate how massive they really were. "Then you'd reach the mountains" a near impassible obstacle. They were tall and treacherous, extending almost endlessly in both directions. "Beyond that, the forests continue for some distance" he said, before finally looking back to the other. "But my home is 3 days travel from here alone, likely more with you along. By the time we arrived, you could have returned anyway, no?" he asked, trying not to discourage the other too much, and at the same time convince him that there was no reason to follow him far.

ARUTHA TORIL: "Home is much farther than that." Arutha began to make his way in the direction Ehtyareanu had looked. "I won't follow the forest all the way. Perhaps another day and a half, and then I'll turn...in the direction I think I'll meet the road again. If I can just get past Greggory or take long enough traveling through this for him to reach Farsuth ahead of me, I'll make it home alright." He stopped and glanced back in the elf's direction, giving a small smile and a nod. "I appreciate the assistance you've given, friend elf! If you happen to find yourself in Farsuth and I'm alive, I will return the hospitality! I shouldn't run into any of your people going this way, right?"

EHTYAREANU: "It's unlikely, but you never know." Éhtyarëanu said. "But even if you did, they probably wouldnt give you any trouble. It would only be a problem if I had brought you." he explained. "Are you sure you'll be alright?" the elf asked the other. "I wouldnt want you getting lost in the woods..." he said. Many a human had gotten lost in the deep forests to the east. He had even heard stories of humans so hopelessly lost so deep in the woods that they had never found their way out, or back to where they came from. Éhtyarëanu would feel terrible if that had happened to his new friend here.

ARUTHA TORIL: "I don't have much of a choice." He stopped and shrugged his shoulders, shifting the tunic still draped around his shoulders. He gave a look up at the ceiling of the forest, then to the east, and then back the way they had come, still unsure...but, nontheless, ready to commit to action. "Greggory and those soldiers with him will be waiting for me on the road, since they didn't follow us this deep into the woods. I'll have to take my chances. Unless you have any better ideas?"

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu let out a small sigh. He could tell the other was really in a spot. "Well, I guess you could come with me.." he finally said. He couldnt just leave him in such a predicament. He would just have to hide him from the other elves for a while, and there would be no problems. Or so he hoped anyway. "What do you think?" he asked the other.

[Jones]

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu had led the other through the woods for three days now. By now, they were getting quite close to the elf camp. At was at this time that Éhtyarëanu decided that they could go no further. Not together anyway. "We're getting close now. I'm afraid you'll have to wait here." he said. They were still seemingly in the middle of the woods. "I'll come back for you, in a few hours. I'll bring supplies too." he said, not wanting to have to leave the other stranded in the woods with nothing, as they had been for the past few nights. "Please, dont follow me." he requested once more. And with that, he left, rushing off into the woods once again.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha watched after Ehtyareanu and decided he would comply with the elf's request... But really, what other choice did he have? --- Arutha had been at Ehtyareanu's mercy for the last few days and nights. It was clear from the beginning that whatever outdoorsmanship Arutha thought he had was sorely lacking. The noble son was used to carriages, tents, servants that carried fresh linens and pillows for wooden cots that unfolded and could be put in a corner. He was used to transportable baths, water, and the like. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: The last few days with the elf truly showed what being in the wilderness was about. Arutha couldn't remember the last time he had gone so long without a bath. He looked as grimey as he felt. His face was covered in dirt smudges. Sweat, from the humidity that had risen after the rains had gone, stained his tunic. Small bug bites had sprouted like crops in the middle of prime season all along his exposed extremeties. And, after a small skirmish with some especially thick plants...-c-

ARUTHA TORIL: He glanced down at his arms and hands, which were blotchy and red with some kind of rash. --- Arutha sighed, and found a log to stretch out on. To his credit, he never once put his complaints into audible words. He may have groaned, cursed under his breath, but he never turned to Ehtyareanu for aid or help of any kind. He never demanded a cure for the rash, quite content with letting whatever poisons worked in his system to run their course, for however long. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: And he began to help. When EHTYAREANU picked a spot to camp, Arutha offered to help take watch. He even hunted, as well as he could, taking up a stick and whittling it with a small knife he carried in his boot to make a pointed enough end to stab whatever wild animals were available here. He never ended up catching anything, but it was the attempts that meant something, right? --- Arutha settled down on his log and waited patiently, enjoying the peace and quiet of the woods he had grown so accustomed to.

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu was gone for several hours. But just before dark, as promised, he returned. And this time he seemed to be carrying quite a bit of stuff. "Hey" he yelled, to get the other's attention. He had all kinds of things that might make the other just a little bit more comfortable. He had brought a large sheet of cloth, enough to pitch a small tent. He had some flint for a fire, some various fruits, and small bottle of fresh water. "I brought you some things" he said, laying the stuff down on the ground. "But I cant stay too long. I've got to get back." he warned.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha had fallen asleep sometime during the afternoon, and at the sound of Ehtyareanu's voice, he quickly tried to roll to his side and up to his feet...and was reminded what he had been napping on. An 'oof' was expelled from his chest when he slammed to the ground. No matter. Up again he was, no worse for wear, feeling even somewhat refreshed from those few hours of sleep and came up to the elf to help grab a few of the things he carried. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Really, the human couldn't be happier. Some of the very things he had day dreamed about having the past few days had been acquired. Maybe there was no bath, but the water bottle was more than enough to drink from and to run over his face. There was a tent and even cloth to lay on. Arutha would employ them well. He turned to the Ehtyareanu and grinned. "Thank you, friend. I am deep in your debt. This is more than I could have hoped for." He grabbed up the flint that had been brought and inspected it before addressing the elf again. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: "Why would you get in trouble if you brought me among your people?" He gazed at Ehtyareanu now, the question that had been plaguing him finally voiced. He had wondered if he should, somewhat wary that he wouldn't like the answer, but he had had enough with not knowing.

EHTYAREANU: "Today I bring you, then the next time you're in the area, you bring someone else. As that continues, the word gets out of a settlement here. Then every human traveling in this area will be stopping through. The next thing you know, they're building something, and one of your cities springs up..." Éhtyarëanu explained. That was preciecely how human settlements grew, but a nightmare scenario to elves. He gave a small sigh, knowing that as a city dweller, the other might not find that so bad. But to be fair, it wasnt all his own paranoia. "It's not personal of course. I'd welcome you to my home, but it isnt just mine. It's a small community, and the other's wouldnt appreciate it." he said, trying to explain further. The politics of such a small group could be difficult to understand. <c>

EHTYAREANU: But it was important that he maintain good relations with those he lived so closely with. He dared not do something that would betray the collective interests. <e>

ARUTHA TORIL: "Hm." Arutha thought quietly on it for a moment before giving an affirmative nod, and then continued on preparing his own camp. He took to the tent as if he was an old hand at it. It didn't seem much different from what humans used... In fact, he actually looked like human engineering. "For being so wary of humans coming in and affecting your way of life, I'm surprised you have human things." He nodded at the tent before continuing with its construction.

EHTYAREANU: "They're not 'human things'" Éhtyarëanu corrected. A makeshift shelter of cloth supported by wood posts was hardly a marvel of engineering. It was perhaps the most primitive type of dwelling available, and hardly a marvel of engineering. In fact, elves had been using them for generations. It was quite possible that they had been using them for longer than humans had. "What, did you expect me to bring you some elven treasure?" he joked. A tent was a tent. Though some elven crafts were known to be rare and valuable, Éhtyarëanu had not brought any such things with him.

ARUTHA TORIL: "Well, you know," he grinned at EHTYAREANU and chuckled, and then sat back to admire his handywork. The tent was totally put together, settled right up against the bowl of another tree, with a couple of logs to help provide protection at the entrance. Arutha took the cloth and started putting it down inside the tent...and stored the other things like the water bottle. Once totally finished, he stood up agan and turned to the elf. "Ehty...Eht...Ehty..rea...nee?" He tried once more, while he held his hand out toward the elf. "I really appreciate the help you given me. You had no cause to. And you've done more than I ever expected. I thank you. You're going to have to get going, hmm?"

EHTYAREANU: "Yes. I will have to go soon. I'd like to stay and talk more, but my lover's expecting me." the elf said, nodding. "But I'll come back in the morning" he said, not wanting the other to feel abandoned or anything. He felt a little bad leaving him out there by himself all the time, but what could he do? To him, it just seemed like the way things would have to be.
ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha sat down and picked up the flint once more, and a rather large rock next to him. He eyed the two, glanced up through the trees at the remaining daylight, gaguing how long he had left until he really need to start working on a fire... And then the elf was saying he'd like to talk more. Arutha was kind've surprised. EHTYAREANU and him had never really had a full conversation since the tavern, and even that had been cut short. And the elf had a lover? "Ah, well... I appreciate your hospitality, but for your sake and her sake, don't keep her waiting! In anycase.. What would you want to talk to me about?"

EHTYAREANU: "Nothing, just to talk. We're talking now." Éhtyarëanu said, not thinking it that unusual. For the most part, he enjoyed the other's company. And it was the least he could offer him, alone out in the woods as he was. But for now, the elf had to get going. He got up and turned, getting ready to leave, when he paused for a moment. "Oh, and uh... it's a he" he added, correcting the other once more before he left. He was reluctant to say anything, since that sort of relationship wasnt widely accepted in the human world. But out here, things were different. Before the other could pry further, Éhtyarëanu was on his way back t his own camp.

ARUTHA TORIL: The elf was walking away, and Arutha managed a call of goodbye before he continued to stare off in surprise for a second... at the idea that elven men could be together. --- Arutha almost forgot his plan for when Ehtyareanu left. He waited maybe five minutes, a few more, before he stood up and put the flint and rock down. He gazed off in the direction the elf had gone, trying to discern any particular trail... Not really seeing any, he shrugged and started off in the direction he had gone. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: The elf had said he couldn't personally escort Arutha into the community... And although he'd also asked him to stay in this camp on the outside, Arutha wasn't about to let an opportunity to see the elves on a first-hand account, go. -- It was rumored among humans that elves left no sign of their travels, their steps were so light. But Arutha hoped that, although they may be true, it was a concious decision and not just how an elf always walked. And...based on the small, slight disturbances he saw in the brush, on the forest floor, he was right. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha would continue to follow, stepping as quietly as he could, hoping to stay silent, and watched ahead for signs of the elves homes.

EHTYAREANU: The elven camp was not very large. It was just a small clearing, with a few tents, and a couple of light buildings. It hardly even seemed like a permanent settlement. It was certainly simple, if nothing else. A short distance away, Éhtyarëanu could be seen just outside one of the tents, with another elf. This one's hair was slightly shorter, but a darker shade of blond, and his eyes were blue. They were obviously talking, but they couldnt be heard from so far away. Watching for a few more minutes, and the other would even be able to see the two exchange a kiss. At the moment, they seemed to be the only two around.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha stopped at the edge of the clearing. He spied the tents, taking a count...and noticed that it seemed to be a camp of nomads. Nothing like he had imagined from the stories he had been told about elves. He had imagine great works of beauty up in the trees...bridges spanning between them. But this seemed to be no more special than something that people from Farsuth would throw together. --- Arutha saw EHTYAREANU and who he had to assume was his lover. He was again, struck by the intimacy they shared...but put it out of his mind. It only made sense that races had their own different ways of things. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha's attention was taken away again by the camp itself. Once he was sure he couldn't see any other elves about, he slowly stepped out of the brush and stepped into the clearing, and wairly began to move in. What was he doing here? Well, even he didn't rightly know. But Arutha was going to be damned if he wasn't going to see another elf... And perhaps, even catch sight of one of those treasures that his friend had mentioned.

EHTYAREANU: It wasnt long before the two elves had retreated into their tent. Having been apart for many days, they intended to make good use of their time together. While they were out of view of the other, they had begun disrobing within the tent. They werent aware of his presence yet, and didnt think their privacy would be invaded. If one couldnt tell from watching their interaction before, they were preparing to have sex. Arutha remained unseen as the two elves were now quite preocupied with each other. It made the camp seem almost empty now.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha looked for a more central tent, steering clear of the one EHTYAREANU had entered with his...lover. Based on how the elf had mentioned the other elf earlier, it wasn't hard for him to figure out what they were up to. So Arutha's interest took him elsewhere... and into further danger? Arutha couldn't help but feel as if he was doing something extremely wrong. That he was violating something sacred here. But whether that was an actual feeling or just something he was making up from the lore he had heard about the elves... He didn't know. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha moved up to one of the tents and took a peek inside. Would there be more elves, or treasure?

EHTYAREANU: The other had stumbled onto nothing more than an empty tent, containing no items out of the ordinary, or valuable. One of the only structures in the area that seemed to be semi-permanent, was a small wooden building. Though it was unique, in that it seemed to have live trees as parts of it's wall and structure. Even a building seemed to be in a state of harmony with the woods around it.

ARUTHA TORIL: Once Arutha turned away from the empty tent, he finally noticed the wooden structure further down the aisle between the tents. He stared at it quietly, struggling with whether he truly wanted to go this far and look...or turn back now, before he had really trespassed and gone over the line. But line could that be? As it seemed...there was hardly anyone around. And the look of the structure...how perfect it seemed... The opportunity was too much for Arutha to ignore. He had to at least witness some elven treasure...some monument, that few of his kind had ever seen. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha moved on towards the building..quietly, stepping as slowly and silently as possible. And once he was next to the structure, he searched for a window to look through, or even an entrance...just to peer inside.

EHTYAREANU: There was only one entrance to the structure, though inside, it wasnt exactly exciting. It seemed more like a storage room than anything else. There were various piles of pretty average looking supplies. Nothing too interesting. Perhaps all the stories of treasure were just myths after all. Or perhaps it would take a real elf to reveal such secrets.

ARUTHA TORIL: "Hmm." Arutha looked around for a few minutes, not daring to touch anything. Maybe lift the lid of a box up. So far, it seemed that most of the stories about elves seemed to be just that... Stories. Fables. He couldn't help feeling cheated, in some way. But he was thinking realistically too. How many preconceptions did other races have about humans? And how many of them were lost to legend and odd tales? Arutha could understand that elves would end up being more normal and plain than anyone thought.. With that, Arutha would make his way back outside, intent on returning to his camp.

EHTYAREANU: Just as Arutha was about to leave, Éhtyarëanu's lover emerged from the tent. Now, the human wasnt exactly hidden or disguised. He was spotted quickly. "What are you doing here?" the other elf yelled, staring right at this intruder. It seemed he had finally been spotted snooping around.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha froze mid-step. 'Shit', was the word that went through his head. He slowly turned and looked at the other elf and gave a smile, and a small wave. "Hey there! Uh. Just, a little lost. I was wandering through the woods and uh...well you know. I don't know my way around well and stumbled onto this place." He motioned at the tents and the clearing with his hands, and then gave a small shrug. "And I was just on my way back out. So, don't worry! I'll be leaving you well enough alone." With that, he quickly turned and strided away, a little quicker in step than he had before...

EHTYAREANU: The elf didnt believe that one for a second. "Where were you headed then?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. There were no human settlements anywhere near there. They were quite deep in the woods, so the idea that he had just wandered off and gotten lost was farfetched. "How did you get here?" the elf demanded now, convinced it was not some coincidence.

ARUTHA TORIL: What else could he tell him? Arutha had stopped and turned again, and tried another nochalant shrug... Hoping some tale or excuse would come to him. But in the end, he knew it was no use. The elf knew the surroundings better than he did, and in anycase.. He didn't want to get into any more trouble than he was in, addying lying to the pile. "Ask your friend," he replied, pointing back at the tent the elf had come out of.

[Jones]

EHTYAREANU: "He's asleep" the elf said. He didnt seem like he was about to disturb the other. "You'd best go back where you came from. There are no human settlements in these parts." he said. So in theory, there would be nothing of interest for him there. Just a vast expanse of unexplored wilderness. The elf didnt appear that hostile, though he also didnt seem interested in hosting human passers-through.

ARUTHA TORIL: "Well, thanks!" Arutha couldn't believe the turn of events. He watched the elf a moment longer before deciding that he was really in the clear and it wasn't just some cruel joke, and he was off... Making his way across the clearing, leaving the elven camp behind him. --- It wasn't hard to find his own trail back to his own small camp. His foot steps had left much more an impression than Ehtyareanu's had. Once back to the camp, the evening light had begun to settle within the trees again, and darkness slowly crept into the woods. Arutha decided it best to slip into his tent, and put the day behind him.

EHTYAREANU: The very early next morning, Éhtyarëanu returned to the other's camp, to find the other sleeping. The sun had just barely risen, and he was already there. He poked the other lightly a few times to wake him. "Hey, get up, come on." he said, trying to rouse him from his sleep.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha stirred slowly, barely aided by the elf's pokes. "Mrmmghghopph..." he mumbled, unintelligibly, as he slowly raised himself up to his hands and knees from the sheet beneath. The night had been a rough one. Arutha had tossed and turned, and found nothing but troubling demons and worries to accompany him in his dreams. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Sir Greggory Callum was the most visiting face among them. --- Family rivalries were common, even, a part of life in the city of Farsuth. There were hundreds of families, each competing among the ranks for dominance and influence over the city's happenings. Once upon a time, the Callums had been a force to be reckoned with. Several positions in the governing community, positions that ranged from the the master of the sea-docks to the governor's position itself. But that had been the past. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Over the past decade, the Torils had risen high. Recently, Arutha's father had won the governor's position from the Callums. Ever since, the Callums had begun to fall. Bit by bit, the trust friends of the Callum family had begun to slip away, and before long, badluck and political strife, had robbed the Callums of their rich lifestyle and business successes. --- Perhaps Sir Greggory had thought to swing back at the Torils. Arutha knew of the public forums that the Callums had blamed and accused the Torils for much of the changes taking place, and their fall.. -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Whatever the reasons, it was the first time Arutha had been accosted publicly and openly. He could only wonder what Sir Greggory's plan had entailed. Surely he knew the consequences that his being kidnapped would have brought to them? Had ransom been the goal? In either case, maybe there was more happening back in Farsuth than he realized. Perhaps, the Callums had taken things to a different and drastic level... -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha had to get back to Farsuth. --- Arutha rubbed the last of the sleep in his eyes and glanced at the elf. "Morning to you to, friend. What time is it? I should get moving." He began to take down the tent and pack away things, before pausing and glancing in all directions. "Although...I'm not entirely sure which way I be going, if I'm trying to find the road."

EHTYAREANU: Éhtyarëanu nodded as the other spoke. "I know you followed me yesterday..." he said. He didnt seem too upset about it. More disappointed than anything else. "Arianwyn told me to guide you out of the forest." he said. Most humans needed help just to get out. Help that the elves were all too eager to give them if it meant being left in peace. But rather than to guide the other, Éhtyarëanu had been asked with making sure the other would leave, and not be able to find his way back easily. "Oh, and um. I brought you a gift." he mentioned. A parting gift of sorts, for a new friend that he likely wouldnt see again once he was gone.

ARUTHA TORIL: "A gift?" Arutha was relieved to hear he could be escorted out of the woods. With his luck, had he had to leave these woods on his own, he'd end up wandering them for eternity... The mentioning of a gift was surprising. Arutha couldn't imagine he had grown to be a friend with the elf. After-all, he had felt more or less like baggage for the creature. Someone to watch after. However, when Arutha looked at Ehtyareanu, he could see that the elf was being genuine. "What is it?"

EHTYAREANU: The elf held up a small knife, offering it to the other. It was unique, in that the blade was made of glass. To a human, making a blade out of such a material likely seemed stupid. Though actually, glass could be made much sharper than steel or other metals. While it was fragile, it was more than useful if used carefully. If the other was wreckless with it, it would surely break. But it wasnt for hacking and slashing. It was a tool, not a weapon. And if used properly, it would serve well. "Now, are you about ready to get going?" he asked, having offered the other the small gift.

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha took the knife with, something along the lines of...reverence. The small glass knife may have seemed plain, and yes...essentially, too delicate of a material to be used, but Arutha was confounded enough by the fact that it was a gift from an elf. --- Although much of what Arutha had ever heard about elves could probably considered legend and myth, Arutha still felt some of it had to be true. Whatever else could be said about the blade, it was enough that it was a gift from an elf. Perhaps there were hidden properties to it. But even if there weren't... -c-

ARUTHA TORIL: Arutha slid the blade into his belt, strapping it securely to his side before looking at Ehtyareanu, giving him a nod. "Thank you, friend. I will use it well. And yes! I am. Lead the way." He had taken the entire tent down, and with the straps that held its pieces together, along with the sleeping sheet, he had created a make-shift backpack that strapped easily around each of his shoulders. He waited patiently to move.