define('WP_CACHE', true); Chapter 2: Companions – Crossed Paths – Logs

Mar 10

Chapter 2: Companions

Chapter 2: Companions

In Which Soquan and Jozra Decide to Travel Together.

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Arrin says: After a while the otter groans, shifting slightly.

Catamount says: Jozra mops the otter’s brow with a damp cloth she salvaged and tries to get the otter to drink a little from her canteen.

Arrin says: He groans again. “No more… Please stop…”

Catamount says: The ferret looks at the otter quizzically then speaks. “You’re all right now. They’re gone.  You do need to drink something though.”

Arrin says: The otter’s mouth opens slightly and he drinks the water.

Catamount says: The ferret smiles encouragingly. “There. Feel better?”

Arrin says: The otter nods slightly.

Catamount says: “Good.  Will you be okay while I get a fire started?  Let’s see if we can get some food in you…”

Arrin says: He nods slowly before falling asleep.

Catamount says: The ferret watches the otter for a bit then begins gathering firewood.

Arrin says: The otter curls up slightly, brow furrowed.

***

Catamount says: A few minutes before dawn the ferret wakes.  She checks that the otter is still sleeping then scouts about their meager camp.  There’s no trace of the others except for the dead stoat in the ditch.  Fortunately, the body hasn’t begun to stink yet.  She returns and begins making breakfast as the sun rises over the trees.

Arrin says: The otter groans and shifts as he wakes up. He sits up slowly, his ears perked up slightly. “Hello?”

Catamount says: The ferret looks at the otter quizzically for a second. “Good morning. I have some breakfast if you’re hungry.”

Arrin says: He frowns. “Who are you?”

Catamount says: The ferret dusts some crumbs off of her muzzle and replies. “Just a wanderer.  My name’s Jozra.  Who are you?”

Arrin says: He gives a gruff grunt as he rises. “T’name’s Soquan.”

Catamount says: Jozra indicates the other breakfast cakes. “Well then, Soquan. You hungry?”

Arrin says: He nods. “A bit.”

Catamount says: The ferret frowns slightly but says cheerfully. “Well, I have breakfast over here near the fire. Help yourself.”

Arrin says: He rises to his paws, and slowly begins to feel his way towards the fire.

Catamount says: Jozra cocks her head quizzically and then realizes something. “You can’t see very well, can you?”

Arrin says: He barks a laugh. “Smart one, aren’t you?  I’m blind…”

Catamount says: The ferret shrugs. “It’s not like it’s obvious until you start feeling around…” She stands and brings some of the cakes over to the otter and presses them into his paws. “Here.  Breakfast.”

Arrin says: He nods his thanks and munches on one of the cakes in silence.

Catamount says: A thought suddenly occurs to the ferret.  “I think I gathered all of the stuff your attackers dropped when they ran…”

Arrin says: He nods again. “Thank you.”

Catamount says: The ferret resumes eating her breakfast cake. “No problem.”

Arrin says: He goes back into silence as he finishes his meal.

Catamount says: Jozra begins cleaning up around camp. “So… If you don’t mind my asking… How did you get into that situation anyway?”

Arrin says: He shrugs. “They jumped me, stole my stuff, and beat me up…”

Catamount says: She scowls. She knows exactly what Soquan is talking about but doesn’t let it show. “Well, they’re gone now and they left behind a money pouch and a pack of supplies I’m assuming is yours.”

Arrin says: He nods.  “Yeah, it is…they didn’t happen to leave behind a staff, did they?”

Catamount says: Jozra raises an eyebrow. “Yeah, they dropped one when they ran off. I thought it belonged to them but…” She retrieves it and passes it to the otter. “Here it is.”

Arrin says: He grins as he receives the staff. “Thanks.”

Yazeth: Finishes cleaning up the camp and hoists her own pack. “You’re quite welcome.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He rises to his feet, groaning as the bruises all over himself complain loudly. “I guess I’ll head off on my way then…”

Yazeth: Jozra eyes the otter and furrows her brow in a concerned manner. “Where are you heading, by the way?”

Arrin Woodgreen: The otter shrugs slightly, leaning heavily on his staff as he flexes a leg experimentally. “Nowhere in particular.  Wherever my paws take me I guess, what about you? Where are you heading?”

Yazeth: The ferret smiles sardonically to herself but says in a cheerful voice, “South! I’m off to visit my family. Or at least see if the farm is still there.” She pauses, “I could use a traveling companion…”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods gratefully. “It would be a lot better to have someone watching my back… Especially this far north…I heard that wolves live up here…”

Yazeth: Jozra chuckles, “That they do, but they tend to keep to themselves. You’re more likely to have trouble from roving bands of brigands… err.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He chuckles. “I guess I found that out the hard way… Well Jozra, we better head off if we want to cover a lot of ground today.”

Yazeth: The ferret hefts her pack a little higher on her shoulders and straightens some folds out of her cloak. “Right.” She leads the way to the path going south, taking care to avoid going to close to a certain ditch.

Arrin Woodgreen: He follows, his brow furrowing, as he smells the beast in the ditch. He doesn’t say anything but he hefts his pack. “So how far do you think we’ll get today? Three, maybe four miles?”

Yazeth: Jozra frowns slightly but then considers the conditionals, as well as the fact that she is slightly ahead of schedule. “Perhaps that. We can take it slow today, if you like. Give you a chance to recuperate a bit from that beating.”

Arrin Woodgreen: Once again, the otter nods gratefully. “I appreciate that…” His nostrils flare slightly as he sniffs the air again. “I’m guessing you’re a ferret, am I right?”

Yazeth: Jozra chuckles again. “Yeah, you’re right. Forgot to tell you that when we traded names and such.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He chuckles also. “Yeah, you did. So what’s a southie like you doing this far north?”

Yazeth: “Aw, that’s a long story of youthful foolishness and a genetic predisp’sition to wandering.” She grins. “Actually, in a nut shell, I got bored of the farming life and wanted to see the world. I suppose I was also hoping to strike it rich.”

She bends a crick out of her neck and continues, “Heard there was riches for the taking up north and struck out that way at first.  Never did get wealthy and I finally got homesick, so here I am, walking home.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He laughs. “The riches are supposed to be much further than this… There’s gold in the mountains… I can show you to them if you want…I used to live in the area…”

Yazeth: The ferret glances at the otter, “Really? I had heard there was this mining camp and so I went there first only to find the whole place devastated by plague.  I wandered for a bit after that but I ended up more on flat, snowbound tundra.  Must have missed those mountains of yours…”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. “Really, there is… you want to go?”

Yazeth: The ferret mulls it over a bit, “Perhaps someday soon, but I really would like to see how the ol’ family is getting on.  I’m actually kind of worried about that plague spreading, that’s why I spent two seasons in the wastelands. To make sure I’m not contaminated.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He shrugs. “Suit yourself, it’s a pity my sister would of loved to meet you…” he stumbles over a root, grabbing Jozra for support. “Sorry.”

Yazeth: The ferret pauses to steady the otter. “No problem.  Besides, who says we can’t make our way back up north?  If we make it home about the first of summer, well, my home that is. But that gives us a whole season to travel south and if we leave not to long after, we have a good season and a half before the possibility of the deep snows setting in.” Jozra shrugs and continues. “Or, if not, we could always start out north again next spring.”

Arrin Woodgreen: “I haven’t seen my sister in a long time… I think we can get north quickly, we can make it in a couple weeks of traveling, stay there a couple days and head back down… I think we can make it.”

Yazeth: The ferret lifts her eyebrows. “Really? I hadn’t realized it was so close.” She chuckles. “Considering how far north I think I’ve been, I must have assumed you meant very north.”

Arrin Woodgreen:  “You must have missed it. It’s not directly north, it’s to the west…”

Yazeth: She thinks for a moment and then nods. “Yes, that’s probably what happened. I was traveling in a rather easterly direction, now that you mention it.”

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. “Come on then, lets get going, we need to travel fast. I think I can speed up a bit. You just need to be my eyes…”

Yazeth: The ferret grins as well. “Alrighty.  To the west and north then?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods and waits for her to change direction. “Yep.”

Yazeth: Jozra alters their direction and leads the way. “Any particular landmarks I should look out for?”

Arrin Woodgreen: He chuckles. “You’ll see the mountain tops, they sometimes look like they’re clouds. That’s just cold weather coming in.”

Yazeth: “Hehe, alright, I’ll watch for them. Oop, watch your head, there’s a low branch right here.” She raps the side of the branch, hoping the blind otter can pinpoint the location by simply listening.

Arrin Woodgreen: He ducks his head as they pass by the branch. “Thanks Jozra…”

 

Jozra

1 comment

  1. Oh, so Soquan is blind. I admit, it didn’t actually come as a surprise. I took a mosey through your art section. Awesome pictures, by the way.

    I was holding my breath a bit for when Soquan figured out Jozra was a ferret, but I guess his lack of reaction makes sense. Can’t be much harm in trusting someone who saved you, regardless of their species. It’s nice to see you guys presumably won’t be strictly adhering to canon stereotypes as far as vermin/woodlanders go.

    The story just keeps getting more intriguing. ^_^

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