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Theriar was miserable in Oba, it was so hot he dared not come out of the hotel bathing pool. Who lived like this? If Oba didn't produce some of the best and little known netting for fishing he would not have set foot in this acursed place.

The food was spicier than he was used to, why when outside was already spicey. He missed fish.

It was so different from both of his previous homes, which wasn't a bad thing, they had great markets, but well the heat spoiled it for him.

A loud crack of thunder spoiled his reverie and he came out to see clouds marching upon the sun like they meant business. PERFECT! Time to go out!

He toweled himself off and set out for the market.

Theriar was a predator, he hunting (fished) for things, he knew when he had caught the interest of someone but when he looked around all he saw where a few passer's by in the thick of the crowd. An exhausted looking Oban businessman, a very pregnant noble woman with an escort and a young lady who seemed to be of mixed parentage.

His neck prickled..well it was one of them. What a pregnant lady would want with him he did not know. And the business man had just turned the corner. He scanned his surroundings again but the only one left was the girl.

His mouth quirked. Let's see how serious she was. He ducked down an alley.

Theriar found a hidey hole to fit his large frame in and waited. He had decent cover. Time to test how astute she was. He slowed his breathing until it was silent and waited relaxed but coiled ready to pop out like the proverbial weasel.

He could hear her footsteps she was coming close. He smelled a suttle scent. She smelled good. Hard to do in this heat.

Thunder roiled over head and it started to drizzle..just his luck.

Theriar waited. The goal was to try and corner her so he could ask her what she wanted. Someone didn't just follow you for no reason. What could she want? His purse would be a good target but she could have taken that at any time.

He narrowed his eyes and thought. Maybe she was curious, or she had a thing against Icelings who knew.

He was tempted to risk a peek because he didn't really think she was a threat but the hunter in him told him to wait. That he could not trust that someone was weak based on appearances alone, especially as she had to be decently brave enough to follow an unknown male down an alley.

Theriar blinked slowly as she peeked into his hiding hole. He had been quite thoroughly found out. From the way she had pased deliberately before the spot she had known the whole time that he was there.

Still it took someone special to outsmart him. His eyes met hers and he asked,
"Well you have found me, what is it exactly that you want?"

He noticed the pink crystals and admired them. She was young but very pretty, she would make some oban very happy one day and from the vibrant spark of intelligence in her eyes, that man would never be bored.

He was a hermit, not dead.

Theriar still pined for his own lost love. He looked after her pearl garden, despite it being a lot of work. He also wove pearls onto the outside of his cast nets in rememberance.

"Also it is not wise to follow strange men into dark alleys."

He noticed she was chilled from her posture. What was a relief to him, ( even though he was used to Matori heat, Matori at least had wind,) was cold for her.

He considered then pulled out a shawl for her to use.

"Well I can't offer my coin, but I wouldn't mind taking you to dinner. What do you say?" Funny, he didn't usually talk this much.

Hiding from a girl indeed. This one would get chomped on by the real wolves. He hoped that she would have help if that time ever came, or that she really was more dangerous than she looked.

"Ahem, yes well if you will excuse me madam." He attempted to nudge her aside.

He blushed, he had felt her hand. A slight brush but he had felt it.

"Hey! I said no coins!" He reached out and held her steady.

"Come now, you have to give it a sporting chance, I get my coins back and you try again to steal without me noticing. Deal? You get practice, I get a chance back at honor." He smiled winningly, hoping she would play, it had been so long since he played.

Theriar stared at her. "Fine. My name is worth more than a couple of coins though." He squished out past her to freedom. "You will have to earn it." He darted out into the crowd away from her.

He wondered if she would just take the money or if she would take the freedom he offered her. He wasn't sure why he did it. Probably because after net shopping he didn't have much coin left.

And maybe, just maybe he was having fun again for the first time in what seemed like forever.