Welcome to Gaia! ::

It had been a few days since Draven had seen Aldara scuttle away after she had dared him to kiss her. While he had only kissed the top of her head, her face had turned so red that he thought she might explode.

”Perhaps it had been a little too far?” He pondered continuing down the road, ”I will have to apologize to her later… If I happen to see her again. Who knows, might never cross paths again.”

Draven gave a small shrug to himself as he glanced around at the thickening trees. He had passed into Sauti a while ago and now the plains were vanishing into trees. While the sunshine was still warm, it wasn’t as oppressive as it was back in Tale with its very few trees. There were other things that were on his mind. Aldara had mentioned seeing a Chiavi. The colors that were mentioned were so strikingly familiar to his own. Had Rhyne come all the way from Zena to try and find him?

Hoisting his pack to ease the pressure on his shoulders, the tall, slender looking hybrid earthling headed deeper into Suati in hopes of finding Rhyne. Days seemed to pass before Draven entered a small village. It was a small place with a few houses, most looked like residential dwellings. At first he didn’t see any place that sold general supplies or even to ask for directions.

”I wonder where a general store may be located.” Draven muttered as he looked around heading towards the village center to see if there was a place there.

Reaching the village center, things changed. There were more buildings here and there were signs of shops, even a place where people could take on quests to help others. Stopping a moment, Draven looked towards the shops thinking that he had better stock up on some supplies. Perhaps even get some information on where he could get to Zena the quickest.

Stopping at what looked like a meat shop, Draven looked at the slabs of meat that were being sold as well as the packaged dried meats. ‘Something I can help you with, lad?’ asked the vendor as they looked towards Draven, knife in hand as they were cutting thin slices off a hunk of meat.

”Um… Can I get half a pound of your dried meat?” He asked, pointing to the basket.

‘Sure thing, going on a long trip?’ the vendor inquired as he scooped up the meat bits and placed them into a bag.

”Making my way back to Zena, I forgot something there and I need to get it back.” Draven answered without being too specific.

‘Zena? That’s still a few days walk away.’ the vendor nodded as he placed the bag on the counter in exchange for coins.

Draven gathered up his purchases before turning to head towards the edges of the village. Feeling that he might have everything he turned to look back once more and plowed into someone who had been following him just a tad too closely.

”Whoops, terribly sorry…” He paused as something fell from the person’s hands and to the ground with a crack.

Draven looked down at the ground to notice something like pottery scattered into small pieces. Looking back up he stared at the woman who he had bumped into. The woman stared at her now empty hands and then to the ground before looking up towards the one who had run into her.

‘You! That was very expensive and I don’t have the money to buy more!’ the woman scolded.

Draven stared at the woman before looking at the ground again. He wasn’t sure what just happened, but certainly all this was just an accident. He hadn’t noticed anyone passing him that closely! Stepping back from the woman and the item that had scattered across the ground he held up his hands.

”Look, I honestly didn’t see you there. How was I to know you were right behind me when I turned?” He asked in a worried tone. ”Here, I can compensate for your loss of whatever it was that broke.”

The woman stared at Draven angrily, ‘What was broken was a jar of salve that was needed to help my mother.’ The woman shouted, ‘It was hard to get and expensive to make. I don’t know if the healer even has any more!’

Draven frowned as she spoke and looked around. Perhaps if they went back to the healer’s house they could at least ask? ”Never know, you can always ask them.”

The woman glared at Draven before turning around and heading back towards the healer’s shop. Once there, Draven was able to acquire another jar of the salve that had been broken. When all was said and done, the woman still glared at him as she went on her way and Draven headed for a road that would lead him to Zena. This was FAR too much adventure for him!

[[ WC: 874 ]]