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Compared to where he'd come from Jauhar, and Tale before it, was sweltering hot but he couldn't really complain. There was plenty to eat, plenty of safe places to sleep, and the most distance between himself and the one he was currently avoiding. Walking along he looked up toward the massive trees, eyes going a bit wide, a large stick in hand. He'd learned not too long after entering the forest that being armed was a good thing. He never knew when he might have to club some sort of overly large insect to death... something he'd learned doubled as a meal. The idea of it wasn't one he'd thought about, mostly because back home they didn't have any large bugs, but here they were as abundant as any other creature.

Utterly oblivious to the fact that anyone else might be around the halfbreed continued on his walk, eyes flickering from side to side, seeking out any sort of danger, while keeping an ever severe look on his face. He wasn't sure exactly who lived in this area, only the rumors he'd heard on the way here. Something about people who were able to change color and something about warrior women that looked a bit like bugs. Given those he got his information from were Younglings though who knew how far off such rumors were. Still, he'd keep an eye out for such things if only because he was curious to see the two races that had such strange traits to them.

"Really, I hadn't noticed." Came the halfbreed's instantaneous reply before he'd even seen the one that had spoke. Yeah, he had a lot of markings, something he was well aware of he thought to himself before he turned his full gaze on the one that had said those rather obvious words... he blinked a couple times as he found himself starring down at a rather short girl, "Eh?" Now that wasn't at all what he'd been expecting to see. As to who he was expecting to see there, that he couldn't really say, someone sarcastic for certain, but not a Youngling. It dawned on him that her words likely weren't meant as sarcasm or mockery, just the simple observation of a child. Damn it, he really needed to try thinking before speaking he quietly scolded himself as he starred down at the girl.

After a moment he tried again, "Yeah, a lot of markings, it's comes with leading a less then ideal life." He said, then squatted down in front of her, finding himself rather curious as to where she belonged. She seemed rather small, surely she couldn't be like him, all alone in the world? That wasn't any way for anyone to grow up he thought to himself before asking, "You lost or something?" Maybe he should help her find... well, wherever it was that she should be at the moment, with a parent or something? He really had no idea but he figured he'd offer to help if he could, Younglings were something he actually didn't have a distinct and instant dislike of given that they were basically innocent in all respects. They were the ones he'd be the nicest too though a few others, with time, might be able to worm their way into his good graces.

It was a strange thing, to have someone reach out toward him in a manner that was without malice. Despite himself though he couldn't help to flinch slightly when the Youngling's hand brushed against his. She was just curious was all he told himself, no reason to get upset, it was fine, she wasn't going to attack, she was far too tiny for such a thing. He drew in a deep breath, held it in a moment, then let it out slowly to keep his emotions and words in check for the moment. Let her be curious, it was something that children should be allowed to be.

He gave a slow nod of his head then said, "Well, I am alive still so I suppose that means that I am tough. Especially given that I was facing off against an opponent that was far more skill then I was at the time." He should at least be proud of that, right? That b*****d had done his best to break him but here he was, still up and walking around, that was more then enough for Oulixes at the moment. He would grow stronger to and revisit all of the pain upon that man one day... but that day wasn't today or anywhere in the near future but one day for sure. When the suddenly folded her arms over her chest and shouted at him about 'not going back without a fight' and 'hating it there' he starred a moment, then gave a ghost of a smile, "Then I won't force you back, I know full well how it is to hate where you come from, to the point you would do anything to keep from going back."

Giving a nod he pushed himself back to his feet, "If they are so bad that they are chasing you off and making you hate them... then just screw them, they aren't worthy of you." He muttered, wondering if the girl was trapped in a situation similar to his. He sure hoped not, not wanting anyone so small to have to deal with what he had.

Oulixes glanced down at the girl, away, then back again after a moment. He supposed that it wouldn't really hurt would it, to tell her. Not as though she was really old enough to do much of anything but listen, "Yeah, it's what happened to me." He said, giving a slight shrug as though it meant little to him. He didn't like to talk too much about his past, about what it was like when he was little. She was nice at least, even going as far as to call him 'cool looking'. A shame that his family didn't think as much he thought to himself, "It's nothing that you need to worry about, it's all in the past since I am almost as far from those who dislike me as possible." The only way that he could get any further away would be by throwing himself into the depths of his forest. Not something he felt he needed to do, so long as he wasn't in Zena he felt as though he were safe enough.

When the girl suddenly announced that if anyone had done to one of her sisters what had been done to him that she'd beat them up he gave a nod, "That's good, if you have siblings you should look after them." He wasn't lucky in that aspect, it had just been him and his father after all. Giving a bit of a grunt he looked away, doing his best to push such thoughts aside, not wanting to think about that. There were better things to focus on after all, like his interesting little companion.

"Eh?" That was a strange sort of invitation, to go and stay with her. He didn't know what it was that he thought about the idea. He didn't really think that he wanted to stay with her because that meant staying still. He didn't think that his father would stray so far from Zena, not for him. He was sure the man was hoping him dead after he ran off, "You're nice to invite me, but I doubt I will stay long. I feel uneasy staying still too long. You have my thanks though."

An adopted sister and an older brother, that sounded nice he found himself thinking for a moment, one of his mangled ears giving a slight twitch before he said, "Fighting with a hammer, huh? Interesting." To crush someone with a hammer sounded as though it would be interesting and quite painful, something that caused him a moment of deep thought before shaking his head. No, no... that wasn't for him. As amusing as hitting that guy with the hammer was he already had his weapons picked out, he just had to figure out how to get them was all, "I hear that spears are good weapons, personally I am looking to get a pair of twin swords." How he itched to get his hands on them though he worried that he might have to steal them, not something he was looking forward to.

"Yes, as a Youngling you shouldn't have to worry about such things as weapons yet." He didn't think that she was quite as bad off as he was at her age that she would need to get herself a weapon to defend herself. It was something that he was glad of, not wanting to find another like him.

When she told him that if he ever needed a place to stay that he should ask for her he gave a nod of his head, "I will keep it in mind. If ever need somewhere to hide out for a bit of time I will seek you out." It seemed odd, the idea of seeking out a child for help, but he was more then willing to do so if he really ended up dire straits. He didn't think it would happen, but one really never knew. He knew full well that you couldn't come to guess what might happen in the future, needing to be ready for anything and everything, but it was nice to have a few options for places to hide if he needed to hide. At the moment though he felt as though he were alright, not thinking that his father was going to seek him out so far from home, "It is kind of you to offer such a thing to someone like me... so... thanks." He said after a moment of silence.

Instead of explaining he merely made a hand motion at himself as though that explained it all. All of him was wrong, he knew this full well, but it seemed as though this girl didn't understand that. She was rather sweet and innocent in that manner and it made him like her that much more. Not that he said as much, he merely watched and listened as she went on about how she liked how he looked, that it was awesome. Apparently his mixed blood and scarred form weren't things that bothered her. It was rather nice of her.

As she said that everyone in her village looked similar to her and that she'd killed to look different he gave a chuckle, "I was the opposite when I was little, begging the Goddess to make me look exactly like everyone else. It's like if I was like everyone else I would actually fit in." He murmured, then flushed a little, lifting a hand to scratch it against his head, "Ahhh... but that isn't something for you to worry about." He added quickly. No reason to bother her with the things he used to think since he'd learned quickly that such thoughts and prayers didn't change a person. It was what led him to flee, knowing he'd always be exactly how he was. Such a bother...

Oulixes gave a bit of a jolt when the girl took hold of his hand in a firmer grasp, something that was quite unexpected, before he gave a bit of a lopsided smile. She really was a nice one, wasn't she? Not at all what he had expected of the other races, but then again he'd been lucky in meeting with a few nice people in a row. A part of him wanted to believe that it was really what people were like but another part, the majority, didn't believe it possible. No, most people were like his father, they were terrible people that shouldn't be trusted. He'd just had a bit of luck during his journey, that was all he told himself in a bitter manner before he focused more on the girl and what it was that she was saying. She was curious, that she may look like a kid but understood a lot, that she wanted to hear more about him.

"There isn't much to hear about me. I used to live in Zena, when I got old enough and strong enough I left and ended up as far as here. If there was anything beyond Jauhar I would keep going in that direction but from what I gather after the great forest in an ocean." At least it's what he heard. A shame, if there was anything else he would likely just keep going in that direction to avoid ever having to return home but given there was nothing... well, he might wander around Jauhar for a time then maybe return to Tale or Sauti. All he knew was that he couldn't really sit still, not if he wanted to keep ahead of the one he was certain was after him. Paranoia was what it was, but it was a driving version of the feeling.

Shifting in place, giving a bit of a grunt he asked, "What about you? I am sure you are far more interesting then someone as dull as me." He said, doubting that what little he'd revealed was worth her curiosity about him.