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 Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 12:06 am
✦ THE HERMIT ✦  music if ye want
Dez accepted the healing potion from the wizard, his lips twitching in a curious expression.
This was an odd feeling.
He had been alone for so long, and now... Here he was. Surrounded by people, conversation, constant noise... loose ends. So many things to worry about. Out in the desert, it was just him and Dog. And she came and went as she pleased, and hunted for herself. He was responsible for no one, and no one was responsible for him. If he died out there, that was it. No one would likely know for months, and certainly no one would care.
He trudged silently along as they made their way along the road, sticking closely to the wagon this time.
So many responsibilities now, in the span of only a few hours. So much deadweight.
And yet...
Alto had given him bandages, and Jalen supplied him with a potion from his own stores.
Dez didn't remember the last time he had actually been given anything.
His temples throbbed slightly, unwanted memories threatening to resurface-- a flash of a daisy flower, a freckled face, a scent from a lifetime ago. He shoved it all away quickly, burying the half-formed thoughts in the sand where they belonged.
He didn't like the feeling. The faster they found the Bounty and the girl, the faster he could get back to his life alone.
As they advanced, the sky dimmed, sinking quickly beneath the treeline. They made camp, and Dez helped out where he could. His eyes glowed amber in the firelight. The only good thing about his half-orc lineage was the ability to see in low light, even if his reflective lenses looked a bit cat-like and spooky in the dark.
“Right,” he said, his voice gravelly after not speaking for several hours. “I'll go see if there's any good game in the woods. Should be able to bag a few hares, or maybe a boar or wolf if we're lucky.” He stood and disappeared into the treeline, his greenish skin camouflaging him perfectly into the dark foliage.
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Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2020 11:27 am
✦ THE TANK ✦  ((I was listening to this, not necessary though))
While the menfolk set about their tasks, Brida carried the dainty dinnerplate down to the river for her washup, after which they returned to a nice fire and the beginnings of a soup. The dwarf shook the water from her ears and tweaked her little finger inside for good measure. Ah, she missed Pixie. He could fight as well as a newborn deer but he was right useful at bathtime with that water magic.
The smell of dinner made her stomach growl, but Moira needed her bath as well now after tasting foe flesh. After retrieving her battleaxe from the wagon, Brida plopped down beside the fire and laid the weapon across her lap for cleaning.
“Ma brothers and me used to hunt game together, before the drought last year,” she said, twisting her thick, wet hair to drain it. “Well the eldest, Baldr, comes in one day--covered in shite. So I says t’ the others it seems fit Farmer Durr’s hog run off but why’s he snortin’ round our house, ay? Course they dunnae chuckle a’ that, and Baldr slings an arm at me an’ gives me a fair smatterin’ for tryin’ to take the piss out of ‘im. And he says if he’d been as quick as the mouth on me he’d’ve bagged Freyck’s beast. Baird, the youngest by our Ma, pipes up he thinks Baldr caught the wrong end of it. Next thing ya know, Baldr’s wrestin’ him to the ground til they’re both muddy and smell like a horse’s arse. Lucky Pixie was handy to wash it out or Ma woulda tanned both their hides.”
Laughing, the dwarf shook out her hair and let the damp curls fall behind her to fluff up in the fire’s heat. The braid behind her left ear alone remained intact with its blue ribbon.
“So the rest of us, of course we dunna ken what’s that--Freyck’s beast? We never heard o’ such an animal. So Baldr says he’ll take us on his hunt the next day,” she went on. “Next day comes. My brothers and me go out, weapons in hand, to catch the beast or kill it. Before long we hear a skitterin’ in the leaves. Before any of us chances a gander, Baldr sets off at a rush. Braith with his bow ready, me with my hatchet, Baird his sword like a gaggle o’ murder geese after this thing.”
Brida laughed to herself and paused to spit on the axehead before wiping the thick cloth on it again.
“We run down to the gorge, Baldr rounds the bend, Braith starts shooting arrows like the quiver would nae hold ‘em. And he’s chucklin’ and chuffin’ red-faced as a spanked babe.” Here, she stopped to shake her head, and leaned her weight toward her knee to tell the rest. “My friends, we slipped in the mud arse over tit, boot leather to the sun--but Baldr comes back with a jackrabbit in his net. Wee b*****d’s got one arrow through his fluffy arse and not even bit into flesh. Freyck’s beast indeed, the accursed pest! Wasn’t even worth the arrows spent to catch him!”
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The Meadowlark Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 2:22 pm
✦ THE PERFORMER ✦ Brida was a Bad. a**.
During their bath in the river—which had been way too cold!—the dwarf regaled Mei with adventure stories of her and her brothers. She had such a funny and fun way of talking that entertained the entertainer. A natural storyteller. The human found herself taking note of some of the things Brida did naturally to keep her listeners engaged. Mei wanted to be able make people laugh the way the redhead had made her. She laughed so hard that her sides hurt and the sting of the cold water did not even bother.
Once again seated among the group, close enough to the fire for warmth but far enough not to get nicked by any flames, the human smiled at those surrounding her. Now that she was clean and warm, being outside with everyone was starting to feel more like a fun camp out with friends than a survival training exercise. She still did not want to really think about sleeping on the floor with all the nasty, crawling bugs and spiders…
Ew.
But for now, she could just enjoy everyone’s company.
“Alto!” Mei called as she put the finishing touch on tying her wet but drying hair into a loose braid. “Do you need any help? Whatever your making smells de-lish!”
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Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2020 7:25 pm
✦ THE WANDERING WIZARD ✦ ((Issa mood?)) Most of the party had taken damage in some form. Mei and Dez had been hurt significantly—they could have been permanently disfigured even without the aid of magicked medicine. But Jalen still found himself calm and collected. Movement. It was movement, and they could handle problems along the way.
After making their stop for the night, the camp had divided itself. Dez had done what Jalen wasn’t, the women had gone to wash up, Brida helping the wounded Mei, Alto set about preparing to feed the caravan. Jalen himself utilized his skillset in setting about the camp perimeter with protective enchantments; cloaking to avoid drawing attention, muffling to dampen the sound they’d put out into the world. He had been studying a small weather spell to see if he couldn’t do basic climate control in camp setups—but that was not something happening today. It was more likely that he’d freeze them all in their sleep than anything given his knowledge of that spell currently.
Once it was all set up, Jalen came back into camp. Just as they had all split, they all now reconvened around the fire. Mei wasn’t wrong—whatever Alto had fixed up made Jalen’s gut growl something fiercer than any packmate ever had. But without knowing whether it was ready or not, the wizard found himself a seat on a felled log. There was no…real, comfortable way to sit without… Ugh. Honey eyes glanced around camp as he shuffled himself around, batting at the back of his cloak to rearrange, uh…something.
”She’s right,” Jalen chimed in on Mei’s comment to Alto. ”About it smelling amazing. If you need help, I’m your guy.” He nodded to Mei’s leg, lowering his voice her way. ”You should stay off of it for tonight.”
Even though he’d tried to settle himself to hide it, the back length of his cloak sloped away from his perch on the log and swished gently.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 7:48 pm
✦ THE SCHOLAR ✦ 
Alto laughed heartily at Brida's story, only feeling a small twinge of disgust when the dwarf spat. Freyck's beast! He pulled out his little book and made a few notes to help him remember the tale so he might recite it sometime. Though he wasn't sure he'd do the story justice without Brida's . . . flair.
With the stew needing only a little while longer to simmer over the fire, the halfling brought cups and the freshly brewed tea around their campsite. Fawler family tradition said sharing a cup of tea with a new friend was essential to making them a friend for life.
He beamed with pride at the compliments to his cooking. "You're both very kind. In a moment, you'll be able to help by eating and letting me know if it tastes as good as it smells!" He leaned in to inhale deeply as he stirred the stew, adding a pinch more sage before deciding it was ready to serve. He fetched a stack of wooden bowls and ladled out enough helpings for everyone. With a curious glance at the woods for any sign of their orc-blooded companion, Alto left Dez's portion to keep warm by the fire.
"We all have my sister Caralotte to thank for our warm, fully bellies tonight!" he announced cheerfully. "She calls this a traveler's essential supper. Mind you don't burn yourselves," he added, handing steaming hot bowls of rabbit stew to Mei and Jalen first.
"She's a good bit older than me, Lottie, and always liked sticking her big nose anywhere it reaches. Mother and father had her helping sell produce, but she always slipped off to visit the spice traders that came to the market. No one gave her much trouble for it because she was so small, people hardly noticed her sniffing everything. One day, when she was about ten, she runs off to look at the spices and finds a fellow selling a special kind of cinnamon. The trader, of course, doesn't see her putting her face up to this huge bowl of brown powder, and he tripped right over her! Sent Lottie headfirst into another bowl of some dried hot peppers. The trader starts yelling at the mess she's made until he sees poor Lottie crying and rubbing her eyes. He ends up slathering her whole face with goatsmilk, and the first thing she says when her poor red eyes open is, 'It's got a bite, but no flavor. You'd sell it better if you let people try it with food.' He doesn't say anything, but takes her home. Mother, of course, offered to repay the man with whatever he deemed fair. But Lottie goes bumping into things and comes up with a basket of vegetables, telling the spice trader they're the best for his hot pepper powder. Everyone thought she had a lot of cheek to do a thing like that, until the spice trader came back a week later, offering a contract. That's the youngest any Fawler's made a sale."
Alto chuckled to himself, unbothered by worry that the story might not be as funny to the others. Lottie could be loud, messy, and pushy, but he loved his sister, and the story of her first achievement for the family business was a treasured memory.
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:31 am
✦ THE HERMIT ✦ this is what i wrote to lmao idek
The half-orc didn't stray too far from the campsite, but he also steered clear of the river nearby to give the ladies their privacy.
He stalked off into the woods, following the fresh trail that some unfortunate creature had left.
A while later, after the moon had risen high in the sky, he picked his way back to the campsite, a golden-furred fox slung around his neck, two rabbits hanging from his belt.
Or at least... He thought this was where the campsite was? Dez had followed along the trail he had made, doubling back on his own tracks, but it seemed like they had all disappeared into thin air. He should be able to see the fire, hear their (loud) voices, smell the vegetables cooking, the scent of the girls' soap, the mule's dander...
But there was nothing.
He squinted into the darkness, amber eyes glinting in the moonlight like a cat's, studying his surroundings carefully. And-- there! There was something off about the air just a few feet in front of him. It shimmered strangely, and gave off an ever so faint green glow.
Ah. Some sort of sorcery. He should have expected as much. Still, he had no experience with such things.
Experimentally, he grabbed one of the rabbit corpses and chucked it forward. It bounced back off of the thin air, like it had hit an invisible wall, and sizzled slightly.
Raising a scarred eyebrow, he picked it back up. The thing was half-cooked, the fur where it had bounced off the barrier burnt and crispy.
Well. This was less than ideal.
But still. He had no problem sleeping apart from the others, in fact, he preferred it, and they seemed to be well protected for the night. Dez turned away, ready to go find himself a comfy spot in the woods, when another thought occurred to him.
Facing back toward the barrier, he extended the end of his longbow toward the wall, and... it disappeared through.
Huh.
He pulled it back, all in one piece.
Now, he gritted his teeth and pushed his arm forward. It also went seamlessly through, no sizzle or pain, although the air on the other side was considerably warmer.
He stepped through. Apart from mild disorientation, the barrier let him and all the belongings attached to his person through without a fight. That wizard was more clever than he had originally gave him credit for.
And now, here he was- party in full swing. Food on the fire, rosy faces exchanging stories, laughter bouncing off the barrier. Dez gave a small nod of acknowledgment to the others, then situated himself on a slab of rock slightly away from the fire and began skinning his game. It would be a tasty addition to supper.
All in all, the first day on the road had not been a total disaster, but they still had a long way to go. His eyes flicked briefly over to the young bard and her injured leg. It would be even longer if they had detours to make... But still.
He made quick work of prepping the meat, then skewered it and set it to roast over the open flame.
"Thank you," he murmured at the halfling before taking his portion of the stew and downing it quickly.
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:46 pm
✦ THE PERFORMER ✦ If anyone were to ask, Mei would blame the red on her cheeks as consequence of sitting too close to the fire. Large brown eyes could only glance at Jalen as he spoke conspiratorially to her. Yes, it was just about her leg. But he was being so caring and thoughtful! Ugh! How was she supposed to talk to him now? She couldn’t! Not when she was potentially crushing on someone else’s boyfriend. There was no way this guy was single. He was way too handsome.
Then again. A crush didn’t mean she was doing anything wroooooong. A crush was just a crush, wasn’t it? No harm done! Still…
Smiling, Mei tilted her head and shrugged her shoulders with a laugh like tinkling bells, “Yeah…you’re probably right, Jalen. Thanks…” She allowed herself one more glance at the magician, just in time to see him fidgeting in his seat. From her viewpoint, she couldn’t see exactly what it was that bothered him. But seeing him like that was no less adorable. She smiled again and turned away to listen to Alto’s story. As a storyteller herself, she couldn’t be rude and not give the halfling her full attention.
From start to finish, Mei knew that she would like Alto’s sister. If even as a little girl, Caralotte had that spunk, Mei could only imagine how much fun she would be now that she was older. ALSO. THIS SOUP. WAS. AMAZING.
“ALTO!” The human announced with wide, admiring eyes, “This is fantastic!! Can you cook every night? Please?! Oh my gosh, thank the gods for Lottie’s tastes!”
Finishing her bowl with gusto, Mei only gave Dez a shy glance when he returned. After all, he had been the one to say she needed to leave. She didn’t feel like being particularly friendly to the half-orc after how rude he was, but still…he was a comrade. And she preferred making friends to making enemies. Besides, he probably just—
“WHAT IS THAT?” Mei’s brown eyes were wide, this time not in glee or surprise, but in something that almost looked like horror. Her empty bowl was set aside and the dark-haired human sat fully erect. She made a move to stand but when her injured leg protested, she fell back on the forest floor with her chest falling and rising with shallow breaths. Her gaze was focused solely on the half-orc. More precisely, his prizes from hunting.
“Is that a FOX?” Mei’s lower lip quivered, and her tone was accusatory. “Did you just kill a fox? Oh my gods! You can’t just hunt foxes, Dez!” The human stared at Dez, her eyes demanding an explanation though she offered none herself. “Did you even check to see if she had a family?!”
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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:21 pm
✦ THE HERMIT ✦ not necessary at all but again what I wrote to
Dez sat aside the hunting knife he was using to spear a chunk of potato, meeting the human's petrified gaze with his own. As a half-orc, horrified looks from humans did little to faze him. He set his soup bowl to the side, and regarded her thoughtfully.
“I did not see any other foxes, nor find evidence of her lair, but these rabbits were together in their burrow. Does that make their deaths more meaningful? All animals have their own thoughts, feelings, and families. What makes the fox different?” He was genuinely curious why she seemed to be so offended over the killing of one animal, but not the others. “If you are a hunter... Or, I suppose, if you eat meat at all...you have to accept that you are staying alive at the expense of others. It's the circle of life. Food is food, and we are fortunate to find what we can...” He trailed off quietly, then shrugged. Still, she was so distressed.
“If it helps, I make their deaths as quick and painless as possible, and thank each creature for its sacrifice.” He added as an afterthought.
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Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 9:20 am
✦ THE PERFORMER ✦ If it were possible, Mei’s eyes grew even wider. She pulled her lips together, feeling some irritation bubbling inside of her. She didn’t often get irritated. Being cheerful and happy came rather effortlessly to her. But this guy. Dez. Not only had he told her she should abandon the mission and go home, but now he was talking to her like she was stupid or something. Why was he explaining to her what she already knew? She ate meat just like most people and didn’t have qualms about it. If she had the energy to, she might have rolled her eyes.
“So, you didn’t even ask her?” Mei huffed, clearly disapproving of the hunter despite his wholistic methods. “Rabbits aren’t the same as foxes, Dez. They can’t talk back to you. Obviously.” Brown eyes drilled into the half-orc. Was he really that…
Clueless?
Mei blinked, a new surprise apparent on her face as she continued to stare at Dez, but her irritation dissipating.
“Oh my gods…” Mei blinked again. The pieces falling into place in her mind. “You don’t…you don’t know about the huli jing, do you?” Sitting back, the performer felt her tensed up body relax. The fight left her as soon as it had come. For a quiet moment, her muddy gaze drifted from Dez and to the skewers of meat that he had been working on. After gathering her thoughts, Mei turned her gaze back to the half-orc and replacing the frustration and disapproval was understanding and kindness. Licking her lips before speaking, the human began in a much softer tone, “Fox spirits, they’re called in the common tongue. They are foxes that can take a human form. There’s no way to tell them apart from other, normal foxes…and if you kill one quickly like you said…she might not have had a chance to transform and let you know.”
Mei’s eyes became downcast as she pulled her hands into her lap. A small smile played on her lips, “My sister…well, half-sister. We have different mothers. But, she’s a fox demon. Like her mother. But they’re very private and quiet creatures. So, it’s not like they’re well known and if you don’t know about them…you wouldn’t know to look for them.”
The dark-haired woman pushed some stray strands of hair out of her face before looking up at Dez once again. It didn’t change reality. The fox could have been a fox demon. But it was dead now. They couldn’t change that. “I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you…sorry.”
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Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 10:55 am
✦ THE TANK ✦
Brida let out a deep, rumbling belch and sucked a shred of food from her teeth.
“D’ya ‘spect we’ll run into any such devilry wi’ this band we’re after? Any little four-legged bastards spyin’ on us? Ha ha!”
She laughed as she stood, and smacked the company’s mage heavily on the back. “Mayhap not, if this one keeps his charms in workin’ order, eh? Ha ha!” She knelt down by Mei and winked as she pressed the side of her nose. “Dunnae fret, lass. We can set you at point on the hunting trips from now on. Keep a sharp eye for them fox girls.”
Brida turned her smile to Dez and borrowed his shoulder to help herself up from her squat. “I thank ye lads for the meal. Now I’ve got to make a deposit at that bush.”
She gave Dez’s shoulder and extra slap, her idea of a gesture of gratitude, and continued away from the camp.
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The Meadowlark Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2020 3:49 pm
✦ THE SCHOLAR ✦
His dark eyes widening, Alto glanced back and forth between Mei and Dez in growing alarm. Were they really already descending into arguments? On their first night?! Good gracious. At this rate, it would take more than Lottie's stew to bring the group closer together. How could they expect to cooperate long enough to reach Mr. Langley's daughter while they still had whatever advantage their numbers could give them?
Thankfully, with Mei's fascinating explanation, some of the tension lifted from the air. He wasn't sure if Brida's idea of having Mei lead hunting efforts was the right one -- especially not until she was recovered from her injuries. He also wasn't sure he had a decent alternative in mind. Or the nerve to suggest it to their most intimidating companion. Besides, Alto knew far more about cooking meat than catching it.
"Ahem, thank you for getting us fresh meat for our travels, Mr. Dez. Do you need anything to help prepare or store them? Or anything more for your injuries?" He looked around, suddenly worried that he was being a bad host -- as much as one could be in a campsite -- and ignoring the others. "Does anyone need anything? Blankets? Bandages? More stew?"
Until he had a better idea of how to foster deeper camaraderie in their group, all he could do was fuss and make sure they were comfortable. Wasn't a feeling of fellowship and warmth something every adventurer he'd spoken to mentioned? Pity he'd never thought to ask how they formed those friendships. Or how long it took.
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 8:08 pm
✦ THE HERMIT ✦ writing music heart
Dez had not picked his dish up again during the entire exchange. He listened as the bard gave him the earful, his stomach twisting slightly at her words. Shape-shifting fox demons? He had heard of werewolves, were-mice, and even were-bears, but never...
He gulped, his mouth suddenly very dry. He had hunted countless desert fennecs like it was nothing. Like killing a squirrel. Taking a swig from his water skein, his eyes traveled back and forth between Brida and Alto as they attempted to make peace, the halfling frittering around with nervous energy.
He was silent for a moment, then his eyes landed on the wizard, sparking with an idea. An idea he didn't much like, but...
“Wiza... Mr. Jalen,” he stumbled, unused to using such formality. In the desert, it was just him and Dog. But Alto's politeness was rubbing off on him. He could at least return the same respect to the others. Especially when asking for a favor.
“Is there any sorcery you can do....” He stopped, unsure of exactly what he was asking. “Is there any way you can tell if the fox had magical properties? If she... was a human...there's not much we can do for her, now, obviously...” The animal was skinned and half-cooked over the fire. He removed the fox, setting the meat to the side. “But we could at least give her a proper burial...”
The half-orc turned his gaze back to the bard.
“And I apologize. I did not know. No more foxes.”
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2020 10:09 pm
✦ THE WANDERING WIZARD ✦ ((I TRIED TO KEEP IT LIGHT. XD Werefolk mentality is interesting and I'm still trying to figure it out. XD))
Foxes. Mice. Wolves. Humans, half-orcs. All beasts of different kinds. But hearing the lull in Mei’s tone, the moon in place of the sun, Jalen picked at his meat more gingerly. He hung back from the conversation, his cloak no longer unnaturally swaying behind him, golden gaze focused on the fire and the spit above it.
Physically he was probably more like Mei. More human than Dez. But mentally, he was much more like the half-orc—for a moment deigning to think that his temperance could possibly be more humanity than the half-orc had. But Jalen had not been raised human. Jalen was as much a predator as Dez. Their only difference was in style. If he hadn’t the time to see his prey for what it was or wasn’t, then he seemed to be a ‘strike first, check later’ type of hunter. Weres, at least the kind Jalen was most familiar with, would stalk their prey first.
”…Mr. Jalen,” His name caught his attention, human ears quirking at the sound as if they could swivel. Dez wanted to know if she was a fox spirit? Following his apology to Mei, Jalen spared a tight-lipped glance the woman’s way. He didn’t need any sorcery—he had his nose to tell him the answer Dez sought. But what about Mei?
Jalen set aside his skewer and rose from the log he’d perched on. His hands disappeared into his sleeves, eyes on the fire, and with a lick of his lips, he spoke.
”Where I come from… We believe that all things have a soul. From the tiniest bug to the tallest mountain. From the earth we are born and to it we shall return.” He spoke to the group at large. Procuring a tiny, stoppered vial from his sleeve, Jalen moved as close to the fire as he dared. He held it out, wafting the miniscule container through the smoke around the fox’s body as the bottle’s brown-black contents finely glittered in the firelight.
”We acknowledge the life we must take to survive and in turn realize that someday we may meet an equal fate. There’s of course, the circle of life—plants and animals sustain us and someday, we return to the world and go on to sustain the next souls. But there is also the inevitable predator and prey. The hunter and the hunted.” Jalen stopped, fiddling with the bottle in his hands now as he looked back at Mei. He didn’t need to ask if she wanted to know the answer to Dez’s question. The apprehension on her face, the mention of her sister and the inevitable worry that would ensue if he gave her an answer she didn’t want to hear—it would have been enough to stop him in his tracks. Would have been, if he hadn’t already made up his mind the moment he stood. ”We give thanks for the life we take and make sure it doesn’t go to waste. Tonight we may dine on fox but someday we will become its dinner.”
He turned back to Dez, the firelight glowing in his inhuman eyes.
”Purple flames mean magic. Green, mundane.” He popped off the cork, watching it sail into the flames before he cast the container of glittering grit after it. It hit a few twigs and sank into the pit. Seconds later and the crack of the glass shattering in the branches sounded. Sparks leapt through the spaces between limbs and with a hissing gasp, the fire flashed an unnatural green before returning to its natural state. With a demonstrative wave of his hands, Jalen returned to the log without sparing Mei a look. He picked up his skewer once more and picked idly at the meat.
”Would it have changed the outcome had you been given a different answer? A life was taken for a purpose. It’s best to give thanks and learn from this. It seems that we each have something to gain from working together. None of us are perfect. We have led our own lives up until this point and have not been challenged to live differently by each other.”
Sitting again, Jalen gave the group a half smile as he attempted to weave the mood back together neatly.
”Dez has excellent battle skills. Brida is an interesting storyteller. Alto makes a most hospitable leader. Perhaps we can take some of your ability to forgive and admit mistakes, Mei. What say you, Dez?” Jalen asked, smiling through the flames. ”No harm done?”
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