Solo
Gaining Claws
Patreen was watching the people, they had reached a port town on the coast towards Ayr. The child was kept close more so out of his own instinct in large crowds than anything. He listened as the adults talked over his head. Mentally counting the days till he would be on eye level with at least one of them. They had to find a ship that would take them to the new land, one that the child hoped held no hidden foes. The child was curious, he heard stories about the rocks of Ayr. The valleys hidden away from prying eyes. The sight of dragons in flight-----erhm. Forget that last one. The child suppressed a shiver. Dragons were quickly getting on his list of “Things To Never Take On Alone” right next to a “Mother cooking”.
The sights of the bustling people were interesting. Especially since it seemed like they were giving their small group a rather wide berth. Patreen smiled with pride beneath his mask, as the reaction meant his master was indeed strong. He had to get just as strong if not a tad stronger to support this man. The child owed it to him, he could have refused the child becoming apart of the group. Could've left the dragons to finish him off for being so weak when face with them. Instead he not only allowed the child into their group, he let him sleep on his shoulder. Heck he even helped him start to recover from his just now starting to mend bruise. Patreen blinked as he pulled the front of his shirt out to glance down at the wrappings. Iggy hadn’t let him wrap himself, the archer preferring to tend to the child himself. Patreen didn’t mind that. It was cute.
He looked back up as he heard talk of the twins finding a ship. Since their shared meal time a few nights back, Patreen found himself getting used to their antics. He chuckled at a few, as long as it wasn’t as his expense he was alright with them. As the child followed his gaze wandered to the sight of a gruff looking male passing them. As the male did so...he dropped a small item. It glowed and the more childish part of Patreen had him following it to see more. Picking it up he looked at the male, he was odd looking to the young oblivionite. His large bulky frame was topped by spiraling gray horns. Sharp gray eyes were seen under a head of tightly braided amber waves. Patreen was on guard, that was for sure as he walked up. The male didn’t look down till he felt a small hand tug on his belt. Patreen held up the orb without a sound.
It was a few moments of silence before the male reached down to pluck the orb from the child’s hand. Blinking he patted Patreen on the head then boarded the ship...Patreen looked over at the group before trotting to Yolana’s side. Rubbing his ear when he felt her gently pinch it with her nails. A reminder as to where the child needed to be. As they boarded the child took note that the male he saw took to resting at the starboard bow. It was a few hours later Patreen learned it would take them nearly a week to get to Ayr. Sea storms were mild this time of year, but would slow them down nevertheless. He was able to explore little areas, so long as he kept to the view of one of the others. One traveler the child found himself watching was the horned male from before. He had, a few times, purposefully explored neared the male to spy on him. Taking any new info to one of the others in excited whispers.
It was one day that Patreen noticed the male was breathing on a small metal orb, then carefully shaping the metal like clay. The child merely walked up and then sat as he watched. The male chuckled, “A child interested in forging?”
“Is that what your doing?”
“Yes. Have you not seen a firani dovaa blacksmith?”
“Your a dovaa?”
“Yes.” the elder sighed. Hearing no further response. He glanced up to the masked silent child. A few moments passed then the blacksmith quirked a brow before putting the small arrowhead in his lap as he stared at the child, “You’ve never seen one of my kind before have you?”
“Nope.”
Another round of staring before the male held out his hand, Patreen looked down at the object seeing a simple metal claw. Recalling his choice of weapon the child scooted closer. The male glanced up to the watchful eyes of the others before looking down. He retracted his hand, “What’s your name?”
“Patreen.”
“What do you want to be at the end of your days?”
The child didn’t hesitate, “A weapon for my Master.”
The male stared long and hard, “Why?”
Patreen blinked beneath his mask. He never really thought about it..but-- “Because he’s Home. I spent most of my early memories in a place of rules and edicts. When I was given to my Master...suddenly. Those didn’t matter. He...became Home. The others became Home. They are now my Family. My start, my end...there’s just nothing to it.”
The male was shocked. Those were...quite solid sounding words from a mere child. He looked him over, “What do you want to use to defend your Home?”
“Myself. I am a weapon. I use my hands. My feet...everything. I only lack proper weapons. Like claws...”
“You lack claws...alright then. When we get to Ayr see me before you leave.”
Though the male told the child that, he found that Patreen was watching regardless. Chuckling as the child could be seen peeking. The blacksmith would call out with a request, smiling as it was filled. Every so often he would glance to Patreen’s hands, then look back to his own work hidden in his lap. The child needed claws if he was to use his body as his weapon. The male glanced back up as the child looked away to a small group of Oblivionites. He saw rank and mastery among them. His eyes narrowed slightly as Patreen ran over to the center one. Accepted a small treat, ate then after a moment ran back to where he was “hiding”. The male shaped the sharpness with his own claws.
As they neared the port a few days later Patreen was excited. The child had taken to running to the side to watch the waters. The child was a bundle of energy and questions. The voices of his new family answering any question he voice, the sight of the blacksmith out of the corner of his eye thrilling. The ship docked, the travelers descended. Patreen turned to the blacksmith as the bulky male step down. He beckoned for the child to follow as he stepped away.
Patreen tilted his head as he did so, “Yes?”
The blacksmith smiled down at the boy, “For helping me when you didn’t have to. I made you these…” he offered Patreen a cloth where a set of claws laid. They were small enough for hm as he reached out the child...felt something. Like...a call. Reaching out he picked up the claws and shivered. Thankful he had his gloves on the child slipped the claws over them flexing them as he felt a rush. The child smiled beneath his mask before looking back up and pausing at the knowing inky blackness of the blacksmiths eyes.
Patreen shared a nod with the elder before going back to his Master. Slowing as a small pouch was placed in his now clawed hands the child turned around and went back.
“Master says crafts are to be paid….thank you for the weapon.” the child said with a bow, “What’s your name?”
The blacksmith chuckled, “Devion. Take care, Patreen.”
The child nodded turning to return to his Master’s side. Feeling his claws there was a smile beneath his mask.
Word Count: 1353
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