Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Would you leave me alone?!"

Finn snarled and pushed back on a large, fuzzy face only to have that face push back. The mammu calf was apparently an orphan that had been taken in after it's mother was killed by hunters, and since it's ears had been damaged in the attack it wasn't likely to be released into the wild. As such the little fuzzy thing had taken to earthlings fairly well after some work, and much to his displeasure, Finn.

Despite the magical healing they'd received upon their arrival at the Sanctuary, Finn was still experiencing some soreness. He was cleared to get out and help with chores, but too much lifting left his side aching. Still, it was better than being stuck around Katori's family for long so he'd agreed to help with...harvest things? Whatever the hell that was.

The calf laid it's trunk over his shoulder and tugged him back toward it, and even when Finn tossed it's trunk off him in a huff it just made a noise that was suspiciously like a laugh.

When the calf tucked his trunk around his torso and gave a squeeze, a lingering pain flared up. Finn's immediate reaction was to hiss, tense up and push the calf away. There was heat surrounding his hands - an unconscious reaction, one he hadn't even been aware of - but one that likely gave a warning to the little one. He pressed a hand to his side as the calf gave a little mournful whine and reaching out for his ponytail instead. The yaeli gave it a firm scowl before turning to Katori.

"I don't think he's going away anytime soon so you might as well." To prove his point Finn took a few steps forward, and the calf followed, it's trunk calmly holding onto his ponytail like it's mother's tail. "You won't screw up your arms that way either." He'd seen the way her family had looked at them when they arrived. In all honesty Finn hadn't expected to be taken in as he had been. Rather, he'd expected accusations and a firm kick at the door. Still, he'd been taken to a bed and healed of all things.

Finn had done his best to avoid spending unnecessary time around the creatures that called the Sanctuary home. He had the experience as a stable hand to make chores easy enough, when he was allowed to do them, but connections weren't his strong suit. All that aside, he had visited the chicks a few times and had even spent the better part of an afternoon working on his letters with the two little bundles asleep around him in a pile of hay. He had no intention of bringing them with him when he left, but as far as animals went Finn didn't hate them.

Much in the same way he was tolerating the mammu calf happily tromping behind him.

He took the basket with his good arm and settled it into the crick of his elbow. "When we go further North? I thought this was your stopping point?"

With the orchard in sight, albeit still a ways away, Finn started guiding their little group toward the bridge that would cross over the stream. He wasn't about to get his feet wet if he didn't have to. The yaeli had enough issues adjusting to the cooler nights as it was without adding wet socks to the mix.

"Seems crazy that anyone could live that far into the mountains." From what he understood the snow was as tall as any grown man and three times as cold. Wild creatures roamed the mountains, mad with hunger and a spite cold enough to turn blood to ice. Finn wasn't much of an adventurer so proving any of that wrong didn't appeal to him, and the thought of going even a little further didn't settle well with him.

So, maybe having a little extra muscle around wouldn't be so bad? She'd already proven herself and Katori wasn't the worst companion he could travel with.

"Might as well then. It's smarter to travel in a group anyway." Finn stepped up onto the bridge and when the calf showed some hesitancy he reached behind him, his basket falling down his arm a little, and gently touched the little one's trunk to lead it forward. "So, monks huh?"

"I don't hate your company." Finn looked over his shoulder toward Katori before focusing back on the path ahead. "If I had as much fur as everything up here then hiding out in the mountains might hold more appeal. Since I don't I doubt I'd last long." Finn may have loathed what others were capable of, but he didn't hate everyone. He'd made a friend in Oba, as weird as that was to say, and his brother resided there. With whatever odd connection he had with Katori in mind that meant he had three people he could trust so surely that counted for something.

When she brushed past his brows lifted a bit in surprise before furrowing down into a frown. Getting cheeky, isn't she? Miss her when she was gone? He'd moved a damn hillside just to make sure she was alive of course he was going to -

Wait, were they flirting? Was this flirting? This back and forth thing, this little....Finn's lips curled back in horror and he may have remained there like an obtuse statue if the calf didn't push past him as well. It seemed that the apples were more appealing than the stricken yaeli and eventually he snapped out of it to start helping out.

With one arm it was slow going, but eventually Finn started making progress. His body worked on autopilot with his mind nearly a million miles away. With one key exception; he had enough control of his surroundings to stuff an apple in his mouth and chew on it while he worked.

Finn passed her a droll stare, apple still half hanging out of his mouth. He gave it a hearty crunch before plucking the half-eaten fruit out. “You’re supposed to be resting your arms; not making them worse.” Climbing was almost entirely an arm and torso activity so he could only imagine what kind of strain that would have on freshly healed limbs.

“Your family has enough brats running around that they can afford to send a few of them up into the trees for whatever we can’t grab.” It seemed like every time he turned around there was someone knew coming by for something or another, and after a while Finn stopped asking if they were related.

"I don't know; what's cider and how do you make it?"

He'd heard the term a few times here and there, but details about it were vague at best. When Finn felt a little bump at his side he turned to see the mammu calf sneaking apples from his basket instead of the ground. "No! No no no! What did I tell you?!" Finn tried to tug the basket away, but instead of being deterred the calf wrapped it's trunk around the handle. In terms of brute strength the little one had an advantage over the one armed yaeli and wrestled it away from him.

Soon enough it was trotting off with it's winnings, giving little toots of excitement, with a frustrated Finn giving chase. Running hurt like a b***h, but he couldn't let that goofy looking thing get away with his payload!