Verdana and maluruloki 1x1

[maluruloki]

(( Continued from CS - please bear with me, I'm bringing over our posts for reference!!!
Also, as always - if you're not Verdana or maluruloki, please don't post. ))

It's been quiet for the last few years in Eldamore. Life goes on as it always does - pastorally in the countryside and busily in the bustling cities. In every corner of the continent, Rune Dragons are beginning to be accepted into human lives and once more, their magic is bringing more of a spark to daily life.

For every bright new start, however, there comes a shadow. Whispers...rumors...tales of Runes falling into a half-conscious sleep and slowly wasting away into skeletal nothings. Their magic wanes but never disappears entirely - it's as if this dreaded disease has a mind of its own and wants the human Bearers to despair.

So how does mankind solve this newest conundrum? How do they save a beautiful species that is slowly dying off? It seems like new hope came with the appearance of the Elkrin, an ancient breed of dragon-like deer who choose their Riders most carefully. Maybe the Elkrin know something of this new evil that the present does not. It's up to the Riders to find out and find a cure before it claims all of the Rune Dragons...and maybe more.

But wait...I thought I heard about a possible cure, or was it a discovery...? It was outside the capital, Alabaster City, in a smaller town called Raven's Grove, along the River Obestia. Head there. It'll be worth your time...

[maluruloki]

Username: maluruloki

The Main Character
Human Character's Name: Sophia LeClaire; "Dear One" to Delyth, "Rider" to Silvanus
Physical description of character, as detailed as need be (e.g. clothing, hair color, etc): This is a good start.
She stands about 5'7", with a fairly athletic build - but certainly not a gymnast or a body-builder, ohhhh no. Her strawberry-blonde hair is kept at just past her shoulders, all one length, and often tied back with a band of some sort. She prefers to keep it from her face. Her face is somewhat heart-shaped with higher cheekbones and hazel-gold eyes hid behind red-framed glasses. It's a face that manages to be pretty only if you stare at it for more than a moment; you really couldn't pull it out on the street in passing. She prefers practical clothing and is often found in jeans, a weather-appropriate shirt, walking boots, and a dark-blue weather-proof coat with many pockets. The coat has a large hood so she can wear her hair back inside it. She would be loathe to part with the tan hiking backpack always found on or nearby her.
Personality:
Sophie is a young lady who you'd probably get along with unless something about her bothered you; in which case, she'd drive you nuts because she's more at ease with herself than most people are. She accepts that she is who she is and won't change unless absolutely necessary.
When working on something or at her job, she becomes intently focused. Sure, she'll take a moment to address you and maybe consult with you about a problem if you have one, but there will be a point where you realize that she did stop listening to you about five minutes back. If given too many tasks, she's almost perfect about completing them all, but will inevitably forget something. This makes her feel quite guilty and she'll do her best to make up for her mistakes, since she does her best to avoid making them. If they are mistakes she caused, expect them to never happen again. If they are mistakes you caused and she has to clean up the mess, well...let's just say you get a rather icy wall of contempt. Especially if you flew in the face of common sense. Logic is one of her best friends.
When not working on a task and relaxing, you'll find her quite amiable and even dryly amusing in her choice of humor. She'll be working on making herself comfortable or making others happy, whatever suits her plans most at the moment. She has a bit of a sweet tooth, so chocolate will generally factor into the equation. She likes to be on the side-lines in any sort of social gathering, influencing but not being directly involved. In a council meeting, she would rather listen and give advice after a long period of patient thought. Impulsiveness, unless logical, earns a sharp response from her. She prefers plans that work, not plans that might work unless they stand a good chance of working.
Her being half-deaf influenced her basic personality quite a bit. She has a deep empathy for anyone with any form of a handicap and prefers her relationships to be meaningful, not brief. This means her circle of friends is rather small, but loyal. She is hypersensitive to being mocked due to her hearing loss and while she has learned to hide it well over the years, it isn't wise to earn a spot on her black list. Sure, she'll treat you like a human being, but that's about it; you've lost most of her respect.
History, as detailed as need be:
It took her many years, until she was about 20 or so, to come across the Rune Dragons in person. Many books had been devoured before she encountered Delyth.
She had been up late reading during the summer and while the sun was still just above the horizon, as it always is during those sultry evenings, she was bored enough to take her book-related musings out to her window-ledge. The window had been always easy to open and it let in peaceful wafts of warmed grass along with pine needles. It took her a moment, so deep in her daydreaming was she, to hear the whuffling of feathered wings. She had time to throw her arms up across her body before the Rune landed on her windowsill with a soft, vibrating chirp-like sound. It only took a second for their eyes to meet before Sophie realized that Delyth wanted to be with her - she had been lonely for so long, looking for something, no - someone to understand her. What deeply bonded her to Delyth the most was the Rune's solemn promise to be her ears as well as her shadow. It wasn't long before Sophie also discovered that Delyth enhanced her musical ability: when Sophie focuses and hums softly, her voice can act as a soothing way to relax others. Delyth herself can cause other beings to experience a form of narcolepsy, but this happens incredibly rarely and only in self-defense.
Silvanus chose her as his Rider when she was lost out in the Celtlands searching for a cure for a sickness in her own Summanus, a Spark Rune. He saved her from the Mist that stalks him. Now having befriended him, her presence seems to keep the Mist at bay.
Sophie now works as an apprentice veterinarian in the middle-sized town of Tuldaringa, located along the ocean. She sees mostly normal house pets in the forms of dogs, cats, hamsters, parakeets, etc, etc. Very rarely does she see a Rune Dragon and she is known as the "technician to go to" when they have a problem. Delyth aids her in keeping the distressed Rune calm while she takes the stats and waits for the veterinarian to come help. Silvanus chooses to be absent during her work hours.

Sidekicks?
Any Runes? If so, tell us about them! Maybe link to their picture too.
Delyth, the Sunset Ancient Rune. Rune form here.
She is a one-of-a-kind Rune with colors that reflect a spring sunset. Delyth became an Ancient not too long ago after forming a loving pact with her bearer, Sophie LeClaire. Her powers grew monumentally and she can now do multiple types of magic:
- Croon to send nearly anyone to sleep within seconds.
- "Absorb" light in order to darken a room to near-blackness in order to escape detection/attack.
- Create illusions that are beautiful enough to keep an enemy distracted.
She loathes physically attacking enemies, but those talons and her hidden teeth are lethal. Don't let those wispy wings fool you either. She gives off the impression of peaceful lassitude, like a summer evening, but danger always lurks in the deepening shadows at sunset.

Human form here.
Her human form does a passable job at blending into the population of Tuldaringa. She goes by "Twila Argall" when asked for a name. Her facial tattoos draw attention in the larger cities, so she can wish them away with a thought. She's always by Sophie's side, both looking and acting like an older sister. She's taller than Sophie, around 5'9", and all lean muscle. Those deep violet-blue eyes have gold around their centers and that gold both glows brighter and takes up more iris when she gets very emotional. She comes across as somewhat lackadaisical and with a dreamy, languid air. It's relaxing to merely be in her presence. When she gets mad...heaven help the person who ticked her off.

Any Elkrin? Regale us! Link too, if you can.
Silvanus, the last Silvervale Elkrin stag.

This Elkrin grew up in an idyllic fashion, surrounded by his loving family and herd. He ran freely, without cares, over the low hills and leapt over the still pools of trapped water in the moors. His personality, at one time, was centered around the pure enjoyment of being.
Now...
It is a struggle for Silvanus to understand exactly what happened on that fateful night when the strangled and muted cries of his brethren woke him from his dreaming. It was all chaos and sound from his family, but from their attackers, the mists - sickeningly silent destruction. He recognized that siren-like song issuing from within the billowing clouds as something to desperately avoid and while he was stumbling away, he watched his family vanish into the writhing fog. This broke him. He yearns for things that he cannot have, like his family and his once-mate. He holds onto useless memories and they get him through his sleeping, but only barely. Any other living creature he comes across makes him ache because the mist never pursues them - it only pursues him. He's coming to despise himself and he's of the opinion that he can make it through the world without help. The only being he can rely on is himself.
Despite the fact that he finds his existence almost sickening, there is a sad nobility to him. He knows that he's the last of his kind and that he must find another of the Silvervale Elkrin or the mist will have used time to win this war. He never gives up on achieving a task, even if it's just another day or night of avoiding the mists. Somewhere deep within him, that optimistic young buck still lives and leaps with joy - someone just needs to release it. The bangles about his antlers and tail are actually tiny blessed bells that ring out as he moves. They bring him a small bit of joy because their sweet music breaks the pounding silence that generally surrounds him. He was given them by an old wise woman and they ward off the mists at times. This old wise woman introduced him to Sophie and their adventure began with that simple event.

Powers?
How about some powers? Are they Rune-based? Elkrin-based?
- Telepathy with both Delyth and Silvanus
- The ability to sing in a very soothing way. So soothing, others might fall asleep...immediately...
- Silvanus, being an Elkrin, influences her appearance every time she rides. Her facial features become fine and softened and silvery streaks appear within her hair; her hazel-gold eyes gain a silver ring around the outside. Her normal clothing is replaced by a soft leather riding outfit in blue-grey with designs akin to the natural markings on Silvanus. Her belt is adorned with tiny bells, much like the ones that hang on Silvanus's antlers, and they ring softly when she rides.

Well, gosh...
Anything else you want to add?
Only that this should be fun!

Username:
Verdana

The Main Character
Human Character's Name:

His name's Alexander von Thrupp, but that's a tongueful, so you can just call him Ax.

Physical description of character, as detailed as need be (e.g. clothing, hair color, etc):

Alex is a local to the small towns and villages surrounding the Alabaster City. As a result, he's an almost alarmingly blonde (more silver than gold; straight and usually a mess), pale-skinned (prone to burning on the nose, cheeks and shoulders) and steel grey eyes. He has the appearance of one of the Alabaster nobles, which is a little bit odd, since his father is quite swarthy. Alex has always wondered about this (and about the 'von' tacked ever-so-casually into his name) but he's too affable a fellow to question it.

Alex has a cold, bleached appearance, but has a rough-hewn, powerful build from working (heh; see 'lazing') on farms, callused hands and feet and a scar on the bridge of his nose, from where he got into a brawl at the inn and somebody smashed their tankard over it. He's quite a tall fellow, at around 6'1, and brawny, but he's never imposing. He has a slouched, laid-back posture, slightly crooked teeth and an affable, good-natured smile.

His clothes are exactly what you'd expect on a farm boy: An old, ripped tunic, cinched at the waist, some sort of leg-ware and sturdy boots. He wears a hat on very sunny days.

Personality:

Alex has never done an honest day's work in his life. He is a lazy, laid-back, friendly slob, far more interested in having a good time than he is in achieving anything. He is a peaceful, sedate fellow, almost impossible to get worked up and even more difficult to anger. He holds no grudges, has no concept of revenge. He sees everyone as a friend, or a friend who doesn't know that they are a friend yet.

Al is a daydreamer and an imaginer, with a keen eye for beauty and the absurd. He loves to tell stories and spin yarns, and has a rather unique style of presenting information. He's often far too busy enjoying the world around him (and he can find something to enjoy in any situation, be it mundane or bizarre, marvellous or unpleasant) to pay attention to what other people consider to be 'important', and so is regarded as a lay-about good-for-nothing. This is probably not untrue.

Alex is a goofball, a joker, a playful, amiable friend to the world. He enjoys his life, and doesn't let anyone take that away from him. He sure isn't the sharpest knife in the draw, but he has an ear for mimicry, a love of tall tales, and a general enjoyment of his life and the world around him. He loves to whittle little sculptures out of wood, and he is a compulsive whistler.

History, as detailed as need be:

Alex was born in a small village outside the Alabaster City. His mother worked in the City itself as a maid for one of the noble families, and his father was a farmer who carved bowls and little animals, and sold his excess produce and his creations in the city on market days. Between his parents, a happy, warm, substantial living was provided. Alexander was always well-clothed, had shoes to wear and enough to eat. He helped out on the farm and accompanied his father to the market. The family was peaceful and caring, and Al never knew much hardship.

He grew up amongst his father's two steady carthorses and other livestock, for they kept fowl for eggs and creatures for fleece and milk, even though his father's living was based on produce. Some of Alex's jobs were to plough with steady old Samson and Bethany, milk and groom, clean up after and collect eggs; and he enjoyed working with they animals beyond any other chore.

Alex never got an education. In a farm community, it was seen as neither beneficial nor necessary, and schools were expensive. Alex cannot read or write, as a result, and can only comprehend basic numeracy. Instead, he played with the other farm children, learning Eldemore lore and farm tales, and by trial and error, learnt how to hold an audience's attention and tell a good story.

He grew up, as boys do, but never really settled down. Oh, he had girlfriends and friends and a thrumming social life, but he showed no inclination to get a wife or settle down. The farm was getting too small for him, and so he sought out work on other farms, then in other villages. He began to explore a little, taking odd jobs not so much to make money as to discover the world around him. He had no driving ambition, no goals, no plans.

His life was as unexciting as a life could be.

Until now.

Sidekicks?
Any Runes? If so, tell us about them! Maybe link to their picture too.


Ardent, or Denny, is Al's friend. She is impulsive, determined, stubborn and brave, and paired with Axel, makes up the more outgoing part of a potentially disastrous team. She is a happy little dragon who, like her friend, enjoys the simple things in life, and unlike him, enjoys a good scrap every now and again. Besides her bug-stunning energies, she has no particular powers or talents. She's just hardy and resilient.
Alex found her in the corn field, eating grasshoppers. She had wandered far from home, but didn't seem to mind much. They took a liking to one another over time, and almost without realising it, started to seek each other's company. Now Denny just follows Al around for the heck of it, although she is not tied down to him and is under no obligation to stay. She won't leave for some time, though. She likes Alex, and he likes her.

Any Elkrin? Regale us! Link too, if you can.

Not yet. Teehee.

Powers?
How about some powers? Are they Rune-based? Elkrin-based?

Nope, not even slightly. As far as Alex is aware, he's pretty useless. His Rune friend has no powers, and neither does he. Nah, he's your average lad off the farm, him.

Well, gosh...
Anything else you want to add?
To be revealed through roleplay. Trust me, there's far more to him than this.

[maluruloki]

(( Shoot. I can’t place the time period. Isn’t Eldamore supposed to be Victorian steam-punk?
I'm also already sorry for how long this is. The inspiration bug bit me. I even cut it short. X) ))

It was a normal day at the clinic – well, as normal as it could be. There was a placid silence about the place, now that the busiest time of the day had passed. Only the soft noises of half-asleep pets, the whirring of machines and the occasional yowl of complaint broke the cool calm. Sophie had just finished writing the time of her last check-in on the injured cat when she heard an owner suddenly raise their voice.
“That doesn’t make any sense, Dr. Brewster! She was just fine two days ago and now this?! Skin and bones! You fix her! Fix her now!”
She was used to emotional outbursts from both owners and patients. After all, one really never came to the vet for positive visits. This though…this seemed different. More desperate. Hanging up the clipboard and giving the sleeping cat a gentle scratch on the forehead with one fingertip, Sophie quietly walked into the main hallway behind the visiting rooms. She paused just out of sight and listened to Dr. Brewster patiently talk with the frazzled owner.
“Evaline, there is nothing I can do.” …wait a second. Dr. Brewster, admitting defeat? Sophie’s heart jolted painfully; her mentor NEVER admitted defeat. He was infamous in the county for being the most stubbornly successful veterinarian. He took in cases that other vets wrote off and worked miracles.
“You must be able to do something! None of my other pets are sick! Not that you’re a pet, sweet Angel, no you’re not…” The owner baby-talked the creature and Sophie frowned at the catch in her voice. “You have to save her, Dr. Brewster… I won’t be able to live without her…” Now a strangled sob broke the coherent sentences. Swallowing down a lump in her throat, Sophie made to walk by and casually glance inside. She couldn’t help pausing: it was a Rune Dragon. It was a sweet little First Frost Rune, the breed normally found flitting about the room and leaving frost designs on the glass window panes for fun. This one lay on its stomach, eyes half-lidded, and barely breathing. The senior veterinarian seemed to sense the technician’s presence and glanced over his shoulder. Sophie didn’t miss the swift head-tilt-of-summoning that the dark-haired man gave her. She was by Dr. Brewster’s side in an instant, close enough to brush the long white lab coat the vet wore compulsively.
“This is Sophie, one of our technicians. She’ll take your Rune back for some tests. You can either wait here or in the main office, Evaline.” He carefully picked up the limp Rune and wrapped it in a warming blanket. It weighed nothing in Sophie’s arms and again, her heart panged. “The usual tests, Sophie.” With a nod, she retreated into the back of the clinic and into the room reserved specifically for injured Rune Dragons.

It was a silent affair, carefully weighing the sick Rune, taking its vitals, and collecting samples. Sophie wished that Delyth could join them if only to provide that soothing aura of calm that she always projected.
I would, Dear One, but we all know that my posterior is unable to fit through the back doors. The strawberry-blonde young woman smiled despite the sad sight lying in the blanket before her.
Just say you have a big butt, Delyth.
Blunt as always, human whelp. That made Sophie snort quietly. As she carefully wrapped up the Rune once more, the brief wave of good humor ebbed, leaving her woeful once more. It’s another Rune, isn’t it.
A First Frost, not even a full adult. It won’t see the morning, I can already tell. She knew better than to touch the Rune, but in her mind, she envisioned holding it close against her cheek so that her warmth could reach its shivering body.
This is why the good doctor lets you handle these cases, Sophie. You are so full of empathy. Go tell him that the tests will mean nothing. You and I both know. The emphasis on the word was to remind Sophie of the partially-accepted excuse that she regularly gave Dr. Brewster when he asked her about her source of Rune knowledge: she just knew.

She was the second-last to leave that afternoon, seeing as Dr. Brewster always made it his duty to close up the clinic himself. Saying a brief good-bye to the doctor, she grabbed her dark-blue weather jacket and stepped out into the weak spring sunshine. It wasn’t quite the seductive hint of summer, where the flowers are teased open only to be blacked by frostbite the next day. The mornings were still cold and yet so beautiful in their stillness. Sophie plodded rather than walked down the gravel road for a mile, far out of sight of the clinic, before detouring into the small copse of trees that grew on either side. It was the customary meeting place of her legendary duo and an arrangement that suited both well: privacy and mystery for one and a lack of gawkers for the other. As she pulled her hood tighter over her head, she saw the first step into view and waved. Delyth was in human form, wrapped in her tan-colored pea coat and wearing sensible black waders. Her deep-auburn hair hid beneath a rather feminine newsboy’s cap; the brilliant sunset-shaded tips were unseen. She greeted Sophie with a sisterly hug and grin.
“I brought along the Old Man, no worries. He’s somewhere around here.”
I should just give you a good push off the next bridge I find, Silvanus responded as he stepped into view and walked sedately over to stand next to Sophie. The male Silvervale Elkrin, last of his kind, stood easily two heads higher than Sophie at the shoulder. He craned his neck down and leaned his cheek against her face in a rare show of affection. I heard another succumbed today. I’m sorry, Rider. Sophie sighed and placed a hand on his neck; he would allow not much else as far as physical displays of affection went. His fur was like the sleekest velvet, pale silver like the full moon and with natural patterns that glowed like starlight in dark places. The small bells hung on his antlers chimed as he pulled away, looking down at her with ochre-hued eyes. We need to find out who is causing this calamity. The Elkrin have always thought of the Rune Dragons as good friends.
“You seem so sure that it’s ‘who’. Could it be ‘what’?” Delyth asked, folding her arms in an unconscious show of disagreement.
You know as well as I do that we’re both right, Ancient. Let it rest. For once, Delyth did. Her violet-blue eyes shifted to Sophie and then to the road.
“We should get going. It feels like rain and I hate being caught in it.” Sophie nodded in tired agreement. She felt like a cup of warm tea and a book at home with her other Runes. Silvanus knelt down to allow her to slide into her customary place behind his shoulders and all three paused to look around. The Elkrin stag seemed rather focused on the road and noted Sophie’s curious mental prodding.
Just checking, young Rider. I hate staring. With that, they turned to travel through the forest paths.

"Nothin' like a stroll in the woods to clear the 'ead, eh Pet?"

Axel von Thrupp was let loose in the forest, and having a jolly good time of it. Above his head, a bright red ember of a dragon swooped and dived, munching cicadas and bouncing with wild abandon into boughs; snapping stems and tearing twigs. She was fast and strong and determined, and Axel delighted in watching her. Occasionally, he'd throw a stick or stone into the air to watch Denny catch it, and laugh merrily as she pelted it back at him.
"Tha's a lass! You catch it! Show some spirit!"

With a handful of silver from his latest job (he'd repaired a barn or two in a village, now quite a way behind him) in his pocket, some nearly-fresh bread in his pack and a wide wide world before him, there had never been a being happier than Axel von Thrupp. He was in no hurry, and had no pressing places to be. He took his time, enjoying the rich smell of loam and the rustle of trees above his head. As he walked, he whistled to himself.

Axel was a particularly fine whistler. He couldn't sing or hum worth a farthing, but by jove could he whistle. He could carry a tune, and morph it to suit his mood. Each note was clearly defined and of the highest quality. Axel took pride in his whistling abilities. The skies knew he had little enough to be proud of. Was it terribly unfair of him to take pleasure in his talents? In any case, it didn't matter so deep in the forest. There was nobody around to hear him, anyway.

"Looks like them trees're thinnin', Pet," he observed to Denny, who landed on his head with a plop, her wing-claws pressed lightly against his temples. He swatted at her playfully.
"Awww, gerroff, you," he chuckled, but didn't mean it. He liked having her there, with her warm, fuzzy belly against his head and her tail around his neck. Besides, he didn't think that she knew the meanings of his words; just the tone.

It occurred to him, just then, that Ardent's claws were digging into his head, rather than just resting there. Her tail, likewise, was not wrapped companionably around his neck.
"Oi!" But he made no move to bat her away. She was tense, and Ax responded to this with concern rather than annoyance. He was learning to trust Denny's intuition, and if she had found something to be upset about, he wasn't going to dismiss it.
"Wot's got you worried, Pet? Wot's wrong, then?"

In response, Denny took off from his head and swooped away (leaving some gouge-marks on his scalp; she wasn't a light-weight), chittering anxiously.
"Wait up!" Ax called, breaking into a shambling run in order to keep the dragon in sight. His anxiety grew, and this was quite something for Axel, who was no more used to being anxious than he was to being a duchess. He was a sunny, good-natured person, not in the least prone to worrying.

He lost her for a moment, and when he came upon her again, she was on the ground, crouched over -
"Oh, law," he breathed, dropping to his knees.
"Oh, law."

A little Nightingale Rune lay in the leaf litter of the forest floor, its bright plumage almost obscured by scattered dirt. Axel lifted it tentatively into one of his big, rough hands, cradling it with remarkable tenderness, his face creased dismayed. This expression then turned to one of pain and grief. The little creature was wearing a leg-band of wood, lovingly painted, in a small child's hand, to read 'Singer' (though Axel couldn't read the words; he just interpreted the clumsy little letters to mean some form of belonging).

It had been a pet. Had been being the operative words, for even as he held the wasted little thing, it gave a shiver and ceased breathing.
"Came out here to die, din't you?" he whispered, engulfed with pity for the critter, and its owner who was probably searching high and low for it. He grabbed Denny and held her close, and for once she didn't complain.

They sat like that for quite some time, subdued and sorrowful. Sure, Axel had seen death before. He was a farm boy. He'd slaughtered a fowl or two for dinner every week, hadn't he?
Only, that was fowl.
This was a Rune Dragon.
Had it been Denny lying there, all still and frail and sick -

A snapped twig raised his head, and he scrambled to his feet. That was a human noise, that was. Didn't no animal move so clumsy in the forest. It was a light tread, too.
The child.
Axel was instantly horrified. What a thing for a child to come upon! He couldn't let it happen!

"No no - don' you come no closer!" he called to the unseen noise.
" 's unsafe 'ere, see? Real danj'rus. You gotta go back the way you came. Go back now. Go on!"

It had to be the child, hadn't it?

Who else would be walking in the deep forest, so far from human habitation?

[maluruloki]

(( You're a sneaky-pants... I don't know if I found your fixed contradiction... >.> I'm going to bold Sophie's spoken words as well from now on. NO WAIT, I FOUND IT. I never would have noticed without a second read-through. Hah.))

Sophie tried hard not to dwell on the memory of the pitiful First Frost Rune, but it was a slippery quicksand-type of process. Every time she tried to appreciate the little hint of approaching spring within the woodlands that Silvanus deftly loped through, it invariably led her back to the untimely passing of the Rune. It had shivered itself into stillness while Sophie was off checking on another patient and she had dutifully handled the bundle off to Dr. Brewster. He was always better at giving owners the worst of news than her.

Quit dwelling, Rider. Your face will get stuck like that. The Elkrin stag could be abrasive and the comment did sting a bit, but it pulled Sophie from the quagmire. Heaving a sigh that was laden with negative emotion, she sat up straighter and tried a smile.

That definitely looks better, Delyth added from somewhere in the partially-leafy canopy. She had decided to shift into her Ancient Rune form and flew silently above them. I think you're much more charming that way.

Thank you both. It just...sucks.

We never said it didn't. Don't drag us down with you though. The Elkrin stag glanced back at her. You were exuding a most heavy aura of depression. Sophie nodded as she shifted carefully on his back; it wouldn't do to suddenly fall off, even if the leaf-littered forest floor was softer than gravel or grassy knolls. Then she remembered that Silvanus would never let her fall off and a warmth of appreciation spread through her. Remember how the Mists are attracted to such behavior. The Mists...stupid thing. Things. Whatever it was. They were. Just whatever. Something flashed within the lower branches of the trees far ahead, just slowly enough to catch Sophie's eye, and she thought at first it was a cardinal. The beautiful red birds with their bandit-like black masks, showy colorful crested bodies and liquid-like songs were her absolute favorite during the colder months.

"Oh, look! A cardinal!" Silvanus came slowly to a halt and paused, one front leg lifted in indecision and both broad ears perked forwards. Even Delyth landed with an owl-like grace beside them, craning her head in all directions forwards as if trying to see something. "What...?" Sophie breathed, her grip on the Elkrin stag's fur tightening.

Another Rune. Bonded. You said it was red? A Ruby Lizard Rune then, Delyth replied to her Bearer's nod. I sense a magical void as well. Silvanus? Another infected Rune, perhaps.

Agreed, Ancient. Proceed slowly with silence. Silvanus had a propensity to swiftly step in as a leader in situations and Sophie had always found it surprising how Delyth had so readily accepted the action. Perhaps it was part of her benevolent nature. Her Bearer suspected otherwise, but nothing had happened to make her shift opinions...yet. She shifted her straddled stance on the Elkrin's back to one of readiness in case the stag decided that flight was better than fight and they all headed in the direction of the last sighting of the ruby-like Rune. Sophie found herself with bated breath and the entire group froze again as some noise just barely reached her ears. Silvanus side-stepped to the left and then, through the trees, she saw the young man. He was kneeling over something, his back to them. The bright red Rune was within his arms; she could just see a rubescent tail. They appeared to be studying the ground. From above, a squirrel attempted a jump from tree to neighboring tree and just barely made it. It scrabbled, breaking some small twigs, and one fell loudly beside Silvanus. The Elkrin stag took one startled step to the right and broke another louder branch beneath his hoof.

Good job... Delyth muttered as the human suddenly staggered upright, looking around and raising his voice. She disappeared in a swift fog of colored lights and was revealed once more in human form.

"No no - don' you come no closer!" he said; " 's unsafe 'ere, see? Real danj'rus. You gotta go back the way you came. Go back now. Go on!"

"We won't hurt you, if that's what you're worried about," Sophie called, ignoring Silvanus's irritated shifting beneath her; she could tell he was annoyed as all get-out that yet another human was going to ogle at him. "Step into view, Silvanus, please. Did you find another Rune?" she added as the Elkrin stag plodded out from the thicker stand of tree trunks. Delyth stayed on his right side and tried to look beatific. Sophie took a moment to apprise the young man: country worker, lean, well-worn clothing, pale coloration. His hair looked bleached even. Such pale eyes as well. "Well, did you?"

It wasn't a child's voice that answered Axel. The voice belonged to a woman, confident and clear.
'The edjucayted sort,' he thought to himself, unabashed but interested.
'Them rich nobs is never comin' in the forests all alone-like. They travel by the paths an' roads. What's she doin' in 'ere?'
It passed through his mind, briefly, that the woman may have been looking for her Rune, but he just as quickly dismissed the theory. The trinket on the little thing was of a child's doing, not a full-grown woman's.

"Never said that, miss; never said that, did I?" he called out in return. While his tone was not disrespectful, it was not exactly 'of his station', either. His tone was familiar and friendly and open. He was neither meek nor forceful. He was just Axel.
"Seems to me many folks think forests're danjrus grounds, but we tree-wand'rers know better, don' we?"
His posture relaxed. His default, innate trust in the good (or decency, anyhow, which was slightly different) in people took over his tongue, which was naturally prone to motion.

The woman gave a command, which was shortly followed by a question. Axel barely heard the question, though.
He was far too busy observing the woman's mount.

"Whoa there. Never seen nothin' like tha' before," he said, with an admiring whistle. Once again, his tone lacked deference or awe. He was surprised, curious, impressed, but not overwhelmed in the least. It took a lot to overwhelm Axel von Thrupp.
"What're you then, 'ansome? he asked, just as he'd address a new farm steed, and extended a hand.

Ardent had hung back, knowing an Elkrin from some common farm beast, and sensing something remarkable about the woman on foot (but, young as she was, not quit able to place what she felt). She, unlike her bearer, knew that such creatures deserved great respect (far more than he was showing, in fact) and when he stepped forward, approaching the Elkrin without permission, Denny knew that she had to act. She swooped up from her vigil beside the lifeless Rune Dragon with a mortified squawk, shot over to her recalcitrant bearer, and delivered a very swift, sharp bite to his offending hand.

Ax yelped in surprise and pain, and shot Denny a wounded look.
"Din't hafta bite so hard, Pet," he muttered, but withdrew his hand obediently. Satisfied that she had saved her bearer from a terrible fate, Denny took her perch on Ax's head, preening in self-congratulation. Her bright ruby plumage contrasted starkly with her bearer's pallor, making Axel look paler than ever.
"I was listenin'. Coulda jus' tole me..."

The woman has to repeat her question before Axel took notice, and even then, he needed a moment to establish context.
"Did I wot?" he asked, scratching Denny's head in lieu of his own. Then, in recollection;
"Oh! Righ'! Yeah, I did, at tha'. 's lying 'way back there. Din't do nothin' to it," he hastened to add. He was fully aware of what people in 'fancy towns' thought of the simple farmer folk. It amused rather than bothered him, but he was always sure to clear himself of blame, just in case.
"Denny foun' it and show me, din't you, Pet?"
The Ruby Lizard made a series of purring, clicking noises in response. Whether she understood the conversation was another story entirely.

It took a moment for him to grasp the finer grammatical implications of what the woman had said, but when he did, he was astounded (and a little bit disturbed, too).
"Cor! 'Another'? Y'mean t'say y've seen more like this? Never seen nothin' like it afore, me. 's 'orrible, innit? Think of the kid wot owned it. 's why I got all defensive-like with you, in 'onesty," he confessed, a sudden, tender fierceness infusing his features.
"No littling d'serves t'see their bes' frien' dyin'."

It occurred to him, right then, that some sort of social nicety was called for in the present situation. His ole mam have always strove to bring him up right. She'd worked in the fancy big mansions and the rich bits of the city, and learnt all the howdeedo of meetings and greetings and introductions and suchlike.

But, for the life of him, Axel could not remember what he was supposed to do and say.

He reckoned that a farm greeting was better than nothing.

He walked confidently into grabbing range of the young woman (giving a quick nod to her mount in response to Denny's claws digging very firmly into his scalp, a signal that she found very effective, and he very painful and largely unnecessary) and extended one large, grubby, work-worn hand.
"Axel von Thrupp, at y'r service," he offered, with a cheerful, inviting smile.

"Unless you're one of them bandity types. Don' hold with no stealin' from 'onest folk, I don'. But I don' reckon you are or nothin'," he confirmed swiftly, and then, in a burst of inspiration, remembered some line taught to him when he was no more than a boy.
"'s a pleasure, miss," he offered, and then looked at the other female on the ground, who, while more accessible in distance, had this unplaceable 'thing' to her. It was a strange feeling of distance and otherness, and it made his teeth tingle something awful.
"An' you, ma'am," he added, looking her over in frank fascination as he tried to find out what about her made him feel edgy. Was it her clothes? Her look? She didn't look too different from another woman on the outside...

Claws in his scalp brought his attention back to Denny, who was looking very pointedly at the first woman's mount, and gesturing subtly with her tail.
"Wot, 'im too? Aw, alright, Pet, as y'say," he said under his breath, starting to feel foolish but also trusting his Dragon. He dipped his head to the stag.
"An' you too, sir."

He stepped back, then, not wishing to threaten. The women were clean and well-groomed, and while Axel had had a wash recently (was it last Sunday, or the one before?) one never knew what would upset them nobby types. He offered the group a self-assured, good-natured smile, and waited, rather proudly, to see how his mannerly introduction had been received.

[maluruloki]

(( It is such a pleasure to RP with you. You are so good about little details and nuances! ))


Oh gosh...he's so peculiar. A mental pause as Sophie thought about shaking his hand, but then the young man stepped back to politely address Silvanus as well as Delyth (after some thoughtful intervention from the Ruby Lizard Rune, for which Sophie was quite thankful) and consequently earned more points with her. I think I trust him. He's likable.

Likable like a thorn in the frog of your hoof... The Elkrin stag was still fighting off the urge to mock-charge this Axel character for attempting, no - daring - to address him like a barnyard goat. What plebian speaks to the Elrkin like that?

Peace, Old Man. He meant no harm, Delyth added as she stepped up beside Silvanus's head, probably in order to grab at an antler if he suddenly changed his mind about standing still. The Elkrin stag didn't know it yet (or maybe didn't want to admit it to himself...) but Delyth, even in human form, could drop him like a rock if she chose. Sophie gave each of her companions a pointed look before turning her attention back to Axel. She tried her most charming smile, the one that her past admirers had lauded as 'being able to light up a dim room' and that 'made her eyes twinkle like gemstones'.

"It's lovely to meet you too, Axel. My name is Sophie LeClaire. This is my friend Twila Argall and this is Silvanus." She gave the Silvervale stag a soothing pet along the neck not only to attempt to settle his ruffled fur but also to give an obvious impression that he wasn't going to take anyone's hand off. He didn't cease his pointed glare at Axel. "We're certainly not bandits in any form, thank goodness. I work up at the veterinarian's office about two miles that way," she gestured with a free hand back towards the roads, "and we were headed home for the day. But here, let me just dismount..." It took some effort, as her legs were tired from flitting about the clinic for the majority of her shift, but with a grunt she landed on the loamy forest floor. Thank you for lowering the Glamour, Silvanus, she mind-spoke at the stag. He had been thoughtful enough to cease the Rider Glamour when they all realized another human existed nearby. The glance and short incline of his head was her only reply. Adjusting her knapsack's straps on her shoulders, she walked up and stood before Axel. She actually had to tilt her head up to look him in his grey eyes and that was novel enough to bring another smile to her face. "But you asked about the Runes earlier. You must have found one then. You said it belonged to a child too?" Sophie was quick to take a side-step around him and then she saw the fallen Nightingale Rune. Her smile faded as she uttered a gloomy sigh and knelt down beside it. "Yep...another one." Delyth, can you figure out what the other Rune knows? Oh, and you should probably explain to her why you make her quills stand on end. The Nightingale Rune was indeed nothing but skin and bones and Sophie noted how the forest floor around it was disheveled, as if it had flipped about in throes of pain. She too saw the wooden leg band. "Singer..." she whispered, the name catching in her throat. It had indeed been a child's friend then. Swallowing thickly, she rose to her feet and rubbed at her eyes quickly before turning back to Axel. "This sickness is spreading in the Rune Dragons and no one knows why. We've had at least one Rune a week visit us at the clinic looking like a skeleton, on its last breath, and they usually die shortly after they arrive. Dr. Brewster, the head veterinarian, can't figure it out and I can't either. It doesn't matter what breed or how old. Only the oldest Runes seem to have an immunity to it." She meant, of course, the Ancient Runes - those Runes with powers beyond human reckoning. Sophie glanced over at Delyth, who was still communing with the Ruby Lizard Rune; the focused look along with the faint golden glow within the Ancient's violet eyes gave away her intent. Sophie was glad that Axel hadn't noticed...or maybe he had and was too centered to be afraid. She pulled her attention back to the gangly young man. "I want to know why it's happening. I have a family at home to protect and I can't imagine a world without them. Have you heard anything about it? Anything at all?"

(( By the by - Delyth is just explaining to Ardent that she's the Sunset Ancient, don't be afraid, not going to eat her or hurt Axel, that they're looking for information regarding the sickness, ignore cranky Silvanus, Sophie is nice, and last but not least - Delyth is wondering if Axel would freak out if she went back to her Ancient form. ))

[Haha, thank you! I love your descriptions. Sorry about the wait. Had an essay to write.]

Well, they didn't seem insulted. Axel felt that this was a pretty good start, seeing as the nobby folk tended to take offense to anything and everything he said. He remembered, back in the market, the way he'd heckle, all good-natured, all in good fun, but they didn't give him the time of day. They turned up their noses and hurried away. They were always in such a hurry, the city folk. Always hustling and bustling from here to there. It didn't really matter how fast they went. It was a terrible waste of energy, Axel had always thought.

So, neutral was positive, and the trio seemed more positive than neutral.

Except for the stag. He looked plain murderous. Axel was careful to keep out of his way.

"Sophie, Twila, Silvanus. My, wot a colleckshun of names y've got there!" he chuckled, shaking his head slightly. City folk and their fancy names... He never could quite comprehend it. Then again, farm folk and their amalgamated family names were no better.
"Don' mind if I jus' call you 'miss'," he told her. " 's more respeckable, see?"
And Axel was brought up right, and brought up to be respectable.

Or was it respectful?

It didn't matter; they were both good things to be.

He smiled back at the girl. She had a good, open smile; not like a nob at all, really. He thought that he could like the owner of that smile. Axel put a lot of stock in the information that a face could portray. He put far more weight in faces than he did in words. Words could be abused and twisted and knotted. That, and Axel didn't know too many words himself, and so was disinclined to trust them.

"Ohh. A vet'rinaryin. I see," said Axel, but didn't, at all. He'd never met a veterinarian. His father had always doctored the animals himself, and their village had been too small and insignificant to warrant the presence of any sort of professional. Those sorts lived in the city, and Axel had learnt from an early age that he did not belong on those streets. He had a claim in the market, and a claim on his farm, but Alabaster City was not kindest to farming folk. Oh, sure, the grand people acted very accepting and tolerant, but farmers were farmers; uneducated and not of much consequence. Even the folk from foreign lands received more credit than the peasantry.

No; his was not a world of technology and specialisations. Things like that went right over his head.

It didn't matter, anyway. The woman was off of the stag. Axel wasn't sure that he liked that. He had been far more comfortable having the woman between him and old Blood-Eyes. He didn't like the creature's look. It was definitely smart, and aware, and it looked annoyed. Axel wasn't certain what he'd done wrong, but he hoped that he could fix it, and soon. Those antlers looked mighty pointy, and Ax didn't fancy having one through his gut.

She was a taller sort of woman, the Sophie one. Not tall in the way that he was, but tall enough to stand her ground. This didn't really affect him, one way or another. He listened to her question, and his smile faded.
"Hum. Think it was a littlin', tho' can' be shure. Jus' thought so, due t'the ban' on the leg."
He watched the woman examine the little corpse. Her hands seemed professional, and he almost asked her whether she worked with animals, but decided not to at the last moment. He was glad that he didn't, for her explanation made it very clear that her job did, in fact, entail work with Runes (and possibly other critters too). So a veterinarian did animal things. He stored this fact away in his mind.

Sophie's news was sobering. Axel shot a worried glance to his own beloved Denny (who seemed deep in conversation with the other woman, Twiggy or what have you. This didn't surprise him unduly. Ardent was a social little Rune and would make friends with nearly anyone) but thankfully, she didn't seem to be listening.
" 's it catchin', this Rune-ill?" Axel asked.
"Only, I don' wan' my Denny to 'ave none of it. She's a good thing. Got a 'uge 'eart. Don' wan' nothin' to 'appen to 'er. You got a cure?"
The city folk were always coming up with new ways to fix and improve things (even those things that didn't need fixing) and Axel was hopeful. Surely they'd find a way to make this looming, ominous cloud seem light and far away.

In the meantime, Denny was meeting with Twila, who was not what she appeared to be. The poor little Rune was in quite the flutter, much like a poor housewife visiting a queen. She dithered and dathered and twittered, but eventually she managed to answer the older Rune's questions and respond to her information.
Pleased to make her acquaintance.
Much respect, and thanks for not disemboweling them both for impertinence.
Consider Silvanus ignored.
Sophie seemed quite lovely (though privately Denny thought that she didn't have a patch on Axel).

The last question took her longer to consider. Denny scrutinised her bearer, tilting her head left and then right.
Nope, was her final reply. Axel was pretty unflappable, and he'd probably reel back and say some loud human words, but he would not run.

Axel knew none of this. He was thinking back, trying to remember if anyone had said anything about sickening Rune Dragons.
"No," he said slowly, eventually.
"'aven't 'eard nothing' about no ill, me. Woulda got more worried if I 'ad. I just - Wai'!"
He'd chanced upon a memory.
"There was tha' bloke in th' pub! Tha' Rune dealer! Said his littler 'uns were sick'nin' for somethin'. Said they'd bin fin 'n' dandy, righ' up 'til they come out -"

He frowned.

No, that couldn't be right, could it?

"Said they were fine 'til they come out the Big White City."

[I'm so sorry; I had no idea where I was going with this. If this doesn't fit into your plans, please let me know and I'll simply edit.]

[maluruloki]

(( Oh pssht, I had no real plans. It works just fine. Remember that they have a chance to travel to the smaller city outside of Alabaster City on the way, so they'll still figure something out. And sorry for the delay! My doctor said that I have to get off caffeine for a week to combat headaches and it really slowed me down yesterday. :p ))

Sophie let out a slow sigh and shook her head when Axel asked about a cure. They had come nowhere near being able to even stabilize the dying Runes at the clinic. It had been more merciful to let them succumb. Then, the gangly young man remembered the White City.

"Wait, you mean Alabaster City? Farther north?" Her hazel-gold eyes shifted left and right in bewilderment. "That can't be...? Or could it..." Her voice had dropped to a disturbed murmur.

Alabaster City was supposed to be the shining jewel in the crown of Eldamore, forefront of architecture, technology, medicine - especially medicine! Surely someone in the city would have already noticed the decline in the Rune population and began to act.

With great power comes great responsibility, and Dear One...some aren't able to handle that burden. The strawberry-blonde looked back at Delyth. The Ancient appeared finished and contented with her betwixt-Rune conversation and leaned casually on Silvanus's side. The Silvervale stag stood still, his facial expression almost human-like in his quiet disdain for her touch. Consider too that with such a gathering of humanity, things will be grey. There are those who still hate us with venom in their words and darkness in their hearts.

Those who are afraid of the new will also be startled further by our appearance, of the Elkrin's return. We also bring new magics into this world, Silvanus added as he shook himself, both releasing some stress and not-so-subtly removing the hand leaning on his shoulder. Delyth frowned at him before rolling her eyes. It occurred to Sophie that she had been staring at her companions in utmost silence and how socially awkward it must have seemed to Axel. Laughing breathily, she shifted her knapsack again and spoke aloud.

"I'm sorry you weren't included in that exchange, Axel. We were wondering if the cause of the sickness is from within Alabaster City itself or maybe you just happened on to something the last time you were there." A prickling on one side of her body, all along her skin, was the only warning she got that the Sunset Ancient was resuming her original form. Panic at the possibility of a stranger's overreaction flashed through her mind as she glanced over her shoulder at the now fully-transformed Ancient Rune. Delyth was dazzling in comparison to the bleak palette of the near-spring woodlands, all the hues of the sunset within her scales and feathers, the wispy blues of the light clouds within her wings, and the final gleam of the setting sun within her eyes. The anxiety faded for a moment as Sophie was given a warm, soothing wink and the Ancient spoke with the intent for everyone to hear.

My apologies if I have startled you, Axel von Thrupp. I do hate leading others on and I feel that you could handle seeing me as such. This matter with the Runes...it must be solved. I am immune to the malady, but your Ardent is not. What else can you tell us about the traveling Rune salesman? The Ancient stepped slowly closer until she stood just behind Sophie, looking down benignly at the tow-headed young man.

[Don't worry about it; no rush. I'm sorry to hear that! I hope your headaches get better soon.]

Axel was just as puzzled as Sophie was. The White City? The origin of a horrible disease? That couldn't be right! The White City set the example for advanced thinking in Eldemore. The White City was the ideal. It was the place that everywhere else aspired to be like. The notion that something terrible, something destructive, could come out of such a place, was shocking. It was frightening. It shook the foundations of Axel's belief in the world.

He looked to Sophie, hoping that she would dismiss his offering -
Only, she wasn't looking at him any more. She was staring blankly at her friend and the stag. Nobody was saying anything. They were just standing there, all quiet-like. It made Axel feel slightly uneasy, and he was relieved when Denny flew over, taking a perch on his shoulder. She seemed restless. Axel patted her head good-naturedly and she relaxed a little, but didn't quite lose her edge.

Finally, Sophie seemed to wake up a little. She laughed, looked embarrassed, and explained.
Or, tried to, anyway. Axel was no more enlightened at the end of her speech than he was at the beginning.
"Oh. Heh. Yeah," he said, scratching his head. He didn't understand how the three had been talking, since they hadn't used any words that he could hear. Clearly they had, though. He didn't have much more time to think about it, though.

This was because the Twiggy woman abruptly became a dragon.

Now, Axel liked to think himself as an open-minded young bloke. He believed that he did not rush to opinions, and was willing to accept new ideas as they came.
But, come now! Women did not usually change into dragons, and not without warning! Give a guy a break!

He reeled back, astounded. A guttural noise burst out of his mouth, half yell and half curse. He started at the towering dragon woman, mouth agape.

When she proceeded to not attack him, he started to calm down a little. When she continued to not eat anyone, and nobody else (not even Ardent) looked particularly surprised, he calmed down even more.
"Heh. Sorry," he said, smoothing down his hair and looking sheepish.
"Gave me a bi' of a turn, that. 'ow 'bou' we warn a fella nex' time, huh?"

Part of Axel's mind was aware that the usual response to this sort of situation was to dissolve into blind panic, and run away very fast. But he'd never believed in jumping to conclusions, and besides, Denny was a dragon, wasn't she? Admittedly, she was a very little dragon, but the principle was the same. She'd never hurt nobody before. Surely a big dragon couldn't be too different, besides the size, of course.
And in any case, she had this lovely, comforting glow about her...

"'s alright, Ma'am," he said, touching his forehead respectfully.
"Phew! Din't 'ardly see tha' comin'!"
However, the rest of her mind-speak (or whatever it was; it certainly didn't go through Axel's ears) was sobering. He glanced at his little Denny, and put a hand on her neck. She gave a chirrup, as if to reassure him. He gave her a half-hearted smile, but could not shake the feeling of dread in his gut.

If anything were to happen to her...

"Shure, I knew 'im," said Axel, as if surprised that she was asking.
"Small Town Curse, 's called. Ev'ryone knows ev'rybody. 'is name was Sal Cavendale. We called 'im Soap-Tongue Sal, on account of 'is sellin' ev'rythin' 'e could get 'is 'ands on. Runes was a new bus'ness for 'im. If I know Sal, 'e's already done with 'em. Lives up in Fallow Crossin', not two days' walk from 'ere. I could - "

- give you directions,' was what he wanted to say. Axel liked having no path to follow, no promises to keep. He hadn't had a purpose to his meandering in - Oh, years! This woman, the dragon, and the stag which isn't a deer, they were trouble, and he knew it. They were headed into the thick of something serious and dangerous.
They were headed into adventure, and Axel held no truck with adventure.

Denny sensed his hesitation, and dug her talons into his shoulder warningly. With a barely perceptible sigh, Axel threw away his free abandon and lack of responsibility, not without regret.
" - I could show you where 'e lives, if y'd like."

[Sorry about shortness. Lost muse today. I can add stuff if you need more.]

[maluruloki]

(( I didn't feel it was short at all! I liked his response though. Good man, Axel, not wetting yourself and running away screaming! ))

I'm beginning to like this Axel. He's easy to startle, Silvanus said snidely from behind Sophie, interrupting her scrutinizing of the gent in question. She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a silent frown in response. The Elkrin raised an eyebrow in retort and proceeded to not only give her a disdainful sniff with a lifted nose, but to begin browsing on the newest leaves of a nearby bush. He missed his Rider's knowing smirk as she turned back to Axel's explanation of this Rune selling character. This...what was it...Sal Something-or-rather...sounded shifty to start with. Selling Runes...? Sophie found herself offended at the concept. Runes were their own creature, not items to be bartered and last she checked, they didn't give their love to just anyone.

She noticed then that Axel had paused in mid-sentence, words clearly hanging on the end of his tongue. Her hazel-gold eyes met his and she read a certain...guilty recalcitrance. He was at odds with what he wanted to tell them. However, it was also important enough to cause this personal dilemma. She glanced up at Delyth. The Ancient Rune had her head tilted to one side, quietly observing Axel's muddling. The opalescent bead that hung from one crest-tine swayed gently back and forth. Finally, he finished his sentence with a kind offer to show them to this town of Fallow Crossing.

"If you wouldn't mind, that would be wonderful, Axel," Sophie replied with genuine warmth in her voice. It was so gratifying to finally have a lead - or at least, something! - to follow after the many months of failed attempts to save the sickening Runes. "We can't go right now though. It's going to be dark shortly and I have mouths to feed at my home. What if we met...say, here? Tomorrow morning? That gives us both time to pack for the journey ahead." The gloom that had been settling in her heart seemed to melt away quite a bit at the thought of another adventure, especially with Delyth AND Silvanus.

That sounds like a wonderful plan to me, Delyth spoke to everyone once again. The Ancient Rune shifted her wings, buzzing them lightly like a large dragonfly, and Sophie's hair ruffled briefly in the breeze caused by the fluttering. I haven't been to Fallow Crossing in many decades. I wonder how it's changed since then. Thank you too, Ardent, she added in acknowledgment to the Rune's part in convincing her Bearer to share information. It was around that time that Sophie noticed the late-Spring evening chill creeping around her ankles and shuffled her feet. It was too late this point - cold toes meant a cold everything by the time she got home, regardless of the agile speed Silvanus displayed. As if reading her mind, the Silvervale stag quietly stepped up beside her and nibbled at her knapsack's closing knot.

Let us get home and out of reach, Rider. She knew he meant away from the ever-reaching grasp of the Mists; long had they haunted his step and now they hunted all associated with him. Sophie nodded and placed a hand on the stag's neck, intertwining her fingers within the silky fur. It was so incredibly soft and yet, she could tell it was anything but frail. She knew it to be water-repellant and warming beyond measure. He knelt down and she carefully assumed her place behind his shoulders as he rose up again to full stance.

Hold, Silvanus. Let Axel speak before we leave. I promise that we'll be safe, Sophie added soothingly - she knew the Elkrin stag's patience was wearing thin by how he stomped and shifted his weight, much like a flighty horse.

[Sorry, it's short again. Should pick up when the action mounts.]

Axel would have liked the woman's gratitude to make everything worthwhile, but he was not sure that it had. Sure, her gratitude and friendliness were nice and all, but -
But -

It was not just a slight detour, to Axel. It was a return too quickly to a place he'd thought long behind him, only to be revisited as a much older, much wiser man. He had not intended to retrace his steps, and certainly not so soon after he'd set off. It was not just this, though. Axel prided himself on being tied down by nothing and nobody. He simply did not want to be in any way obliged to this young woman and her strange companions. He had always been a simple fellow, and he had intended to stay that way.

Events were taking a turn for the complex, and Axel wasn't sure that he could stop them.

"Aw, 's nothin' miss," he said bashfully, grinning.
"Jus' a gennlemanly thing t'do, innit?"

Then again, the womanly warmth was not entirely unpleasant...

She was quite right, though, that they could not set off immediately. The day was turning, and Axel had a fire to start and dinner to catch, not to mention plenty to mull over. He kept shooting surreptitious glances at the very large dragon, half admiring and half astonished that nobody else seemed to find her presence at all strange. Surely it could not be so commonplace to have a dragon bigger than a horse standing in one's immediate vicinity, could it?

He withheld a shudder as the big dragon spoke into his skull. Felt right uncanny, it did. It surely could not be natural for any creature to sneak into another's head in that way. It made him feel very uncomfortable. He experienced a niggling anxiety, wondering if she could see anything going on in there, and if so, if she'd tell him.
Even worse, if she'd tell Sophie.
He tried not to think of anything but, as is the way with the world, the more he tried not to think, the more thoughts (and often of an embarrassing and personal nature) erupted.

He wondered if there was a polite way to request that she kept her thought-words to herself.

"Fine by me, miss. In tha' case, I'll jus' set up camp righ' here."
He plonks his pack down with a sigh of satisfaction, rubbing one shoulder where the strap had rubbed.
"Don' you fret none, miss. Got nowhere t' go, no promises t' keep. Y'll fin' me as y'leave me an' y'll leave me as y' see me. Y' do wot y'need t'do. 'm in no rush t' do nothin'."

He turned his head to the dragon, and shrugged.

"The Crossin's the Crossin', ma'am. People come and gone, but the place an' the tradishuns 'aven' changed f'r cenchuries. 's only the people wot make a diff'rence, an' people 're short-lived. Land's stronger, an' I reckon you'll know it even now."

Axel could see that the stag was restless, and the girl was too. They had no time to wait for his words. This was a business arrangement more than a friendship. Axel understood that, just as he understood that this wasn't the sort of business arrangement where he would be paid. It didn't matter much to him. He didn't work for money, and if he did, the money was secondary.

He made a shooing motion with his hands.

"Go now! Dark's risin', an' footin's awful treach'rous in the dark. Don' you worry; Axel von Thrupp'll be here 'n the mornin', cookin' breakfast an' shootin' the breeze. Off with you!"

Axel couldn't wait to be alone.

He had an awful lot of thinking to do.

[maluruloki]

(( I decided to take the turn-of-story-plot that I did because I figured that you might want to expound on Axel's past while he's thinking overnight or something. Plus, Sophie couldn't just leave her little Runies to fend for themselves without telling them first! ))

Sophie was beginning to enjoy Axel's nonchalant bantering more and more the longer she was around him. He almost seemed like someone out of one of her childhood storybooks, all good-nature and sunshine. Speaking of the sun...she glanced off to the west and saw the rapidly-reddening light begin to fade behind the dark silhouettes of the vast spread of leafless trees. Sighing slowly, she looked back at him and gifted him with tired smile.

"We'll be back in the morning then, bright and early. Don't worry about us though - Silvanus is more sure-footed than anything on this earth. Here, at least let me give you something to help you through the night." Slipping her knapsack off her shoulders and into her lap, she began to rifle through the contents.

The Silvervale stag shifted his weight again, the bells on his antlers softly chiming in the silence like a whispered song. He's a big boy. He can survive a night in the forest, Rider.

I know this, Silvanus. Sophie frowned as she pushed aside one of her packets of trail mix. She was searching for her thickly-woven waterproof blanket that had saved her more than once from a sudden summer downpour. It was treated with a pleasantly odorless chemical that repelled water and yet managed to retain the supple nature within the weave. Finally, there it was, all folded up in the very bottom of the knapsack.

"Of course at the very bottom..." Sophie muttered as she yanked it out, nearly spilling other objects everywhere. Oh dear - the little vial of lavender oil that she kept for vanity's sake had leaked a bit; the rough search had loosened its cap. The strawberry-blonde deftly twisted it shut once more. The excess oil on her fingertips was wiped on the collars of her coat and its soothing scent wreathed about her head like a ghostly breath of Spring. She stuffed the contents back inside and pulled the drawstring shut with a grunt. "Here, Axel, use this blanket for tonight. It's very warm and it should keep out the chill." The blanket was tossed towards him but landed short, hung up on a nearby fallen log. Her cheek grew warm and she hoped that the fading light was enough to disguise her embarrassed blush.

Right. Kind gesture accomplished. We're leaving now. A squeak escaped her mouth as Silvanus abruptly danced back a few steps, readying himself and his Elkrin magic of traveling swiftly. Next to her, Delyth gave a trumpeting dragon-laugh that shivered in the cooling night air and lifted herself from the ground as lightly as swan down. Sophie watched the Sunset Ancient, powerful in her prime at the falling of the daylight, zip away in a blur of warm colors towards their far house over the treetops. Silvanus bugled, his lighter ivory markings glowing like living starlight, and took a momentous leap right over the top of Axel's head.

"See you tomorrooooooooowwwww!!!" Sophie called back, hoping that her voice carried quickly enough. She clung to Silvanus like a cockleburr, her fingers tightly woven into his neck fur, and tried to make sense of the world blurring around her at a high speed. Finally, she just gave into the confusion and closed her eyes. The wind of their passing roared in her ears and how she managed to stay on the Elkrin stag's back never ceased to boggle her mind.

They arrived home not much later - maybe minutes or...was it less? Sophie's befuddled mind could never make sense of how time passed when she was astride her Elkrin. Silvanus, puffing clouds of steamy breath into the night air from what he considered only a mild exertion, shuffled slowly as she dismounted with another pained grunt.

I will be out here at sunrise, whether you like it or not. Sleep tight, my Rider. Giving her a gentle nudge that ended in not a shove but a pause of rare affection, the Silvervale stag took off again into the far darkness beyond the reaching light of the windows. Sophie slumped a bit and glanced over as Delyth landed beside her with a quiet thud.

A long day indeed, Delyth commented. I'll be certain to let the others know what is going on. You just get yourself to your bed and sleep. You'll need all the rest you can get. Things are...how do you humans say it. Going to get hairy. Giving her Chosen a gentle smile, the Ancient Rune turned and walked towards the house. Sophie watched as that mystical swish of golden light surrounded the Rune and Delyth walked into the house in her human form. The door snapped shut, blocking out most of the Rune-babble that greeted her arrival, and left Sophie standing alone in the backyard. The young woman sighed and looked out towards the forest, where the treeline began beyond the many rolling hills that stretched behind her house. She hoped Axel would be alright overnight. Who knew what lurked in the woods after sunset...?

(( I figured that her bedtime routine is boring and that my next post will start with her waking up/traveling back to Axel, if you're alright with that. ))

[You wanted more Axel backstory, did you? Here we go!]

The Sophie woman seemed tired. Axel can't blame her. She must have been worn out, he thought, handling a humungous dragon and an angry whatever-the-thing-was all day, every day. Why, even Denny could be a handful, and she was Denny!

"Aww, no, miss! You don' gotta do tha'! 'm alright, 'onest! Used to 't, I am. Takes more'n a little cold to shake Axel von Thrupp."
She wasn't listening, though. She seemed obstinately set on being kind. This bothered Axel ever so slightly. He had been raised to be a gentleman, and gentlemen did not accept chivalry from ladies.
"Tha's no' ne'ssary..."

However, his protests were dwindling with the night. Sophie was offering him a blanket. If she had held out anything else... The air had a chill to it, and Axel's blanket was tatty and thin.
If the woman was quite set on being kind...
Well, who was he to crush her joy? That would be downright cruel of him. Far kinder to take it. He didn't want to, or need to, you understand. Oh no. Axel was terribly tough.
It was simply the right thing to do.

"Thank y' kindly, miss," he said, dipping his head and plucking the proffered protection from its post with curiously tender hands. He took the gift for what it was, and not what it looked like. He understood that this was a test; a gesture of goodwill. More than ever, he comprehended the finality of his offer. This was not a quick jaunt down memory lane. This was some sort of quest, and Axel had been tied into it, whether he wanted to be or not.

It was too late to worry about it. He would just have to go along with it.

The blanket smelled of flowers and cleanness. It smelled faintly of the fields before harvest, when everything was ripest and freshest. It gave Ax a pang of nostalgia to sniff at it. He'd loved his fields. He had liked his home. His leaving had not been one fuelled by dislike. In fact, he felt that he was always searching for home, or something as close to it as possible.

In no time at all, the forest was in motion. The dragon gave a bugling cry, which Denny responded to, unexpectedly and loudly in Axel's ear, causing him to scream too. His howl was only amplified when the stag (Axel knew that the creature disliked him, he just knew it) leapt over his head.

Axel's yell in answer was not entirely made up of words, and not all of them were appropriate.

He sat down with a thud, and waited for his heart to start beating again. Once he could breathe without fear of collapsing, he stirred. His foot bumped a pile of kindling. Next to it, without having to look, he knew that Denny was waiting expectantly.

Axel grinned. The fire was Ardent's favourite event of the day.
"A'right, Pet. Be patien' now. 'm settin' it 's we speak," he murmured. Bloomin' girl, getting his routine all out of whack like that...
Ax was quite the expert with flint and steel, and in no time at all, a merry little fire was burning. Axel toasted some bread and a bit of cheese he found lurking in the deepest corners of his bag, and while he ate it, he stared broodingly into the flames, trying to place just why he was so reluctant to return to his home.

It wasn't the place itself that he didn't want to see. If anything, he missed the farm and his home. It wasn't that he disliked his mam and da. He wouldn't have minded seeing them either.
It was -
It was...

It was probably the stares that he dreaded most.

He hadn't noticed them when he was a lad. He'd noticed them, but ignored them, as an adolescent. But once he'd become a man, and began to look for a wife and a farm to call his own, then he'd felt those stares in full force.

He'd always had a suspicion that he'd been... Well, a little different. His friends growing up had had flaxen or light brown hair, with golden skins from the sun, smattered with freckles. Him, he couldn't tan if he tried. He was ghost-pale, his hair was nearly white, it was so bright.

He looked rather like...

Well, like...

They'd never said it out loud, the village folk. Or, if they had, they had said it away from him. But the insinuations had always been there. Any asking after his da had been loaded. His da had never said nothing either. But...
But he had looked.
Denzel von Thrupp was a brunette, see, with swarthy skin and brown eyes. Tinna von Thrupp was a sandy blonde, and her eyes were greeny-blue.

And then there was Axel.

He didn't want to think about that, though. He pulled a smile onto his face and nodded to Denny, basking in the dying embers of the fire.

"Gonna turn in early t'nigh', Pet. Early mornin' for us."

He pulled Sophie's blanket tightly around himself, and went to bed with a gnawing in his belly which had nothing to do with hunger.

The day dawned bright and unseasonably warm. Axel awoke with refreshed spirits and a roaring appetite. He scooped up his Rune friend and tossed her into the sky with a laugh. She squawked indignantly and flared her wings.
"Go get us s'me eggs for breakfas', Denny Dot! Breakfas' enough f' three. Four, if y're 'ungry."

Whistling merrily, Axel went about collecting ingredients in order to prepare a forest feast fit for an Alabaster City nobleman.

[maluruloki]

(( HOLY MOTHER OF CHEX MIX, my internet finally works. I hate my router. -__- Thank you for being patient! And I'm intrigued by your little look into Axel's background. *eyebrow*))

It took a loving - well, thoroughly enjoyed - bounce of Phaedrus on Sophie's ribs to wake her from her slumber. With a wheezing cough, she pushed the fluffy Grassland Rune off of her chest and glared.

"Phaedrus, w-why?!" she coughed again. He gave a pleased chirrup that was followed by a laugh from Delyth, who was standing in the doorway in human form. She wore her tattered green bathrobe, a hand-me-down from Sophie that was gratefully accepted.

"He just wanted to see us off. Breakfast is ready and lunch is packed, so as soon as you're done eating, we'll leave. Oh, and Silvanus is impatiently waiting to speak with you," she added as she turned away, waving a hand dismissively towards the back of the house. Sophie rubbed a hand down her face and blinked blearily again at Phaedrus. The Rune just beamed, swishing his plush tail.

------------

Breakfast was a short affair, harried along by Silvanus and his mental shoves.

Are you done yet? Humans, they eat everything. Hurry up already. I'm growing grey hairs.

Silvanus, I'll shave you bald. Sophie retorted as she swallowed her last bite of toast. It was gritty going down her throat, but the unpleasant feeling was countered with the affronted silence on the Silvervale stag's end. Finally came his reply:

You would never, he muttered and she could tell his feelings had been touched. She chose to ignore him anyways - the rude thing - and brushed the rest of the crumbs from her jacket. After reassuring Phaedrus and the rest of the family that they would return and making sure that the youngest understood that wanton destruction was unnecessary and unappreciated, Sophie and Delyth stepped out into the morning sunshine. The human sighed, expecting her breath to wreath in misty clouds, but it didn't and gave her pause. The air was warm on her skin as a breeze whisked by and she gave Silvanus a peaceful smile as he stepped forwards to meet them. He was obviously anxious to get going as he immediately knelt down, presenting his shoulders.

Let us get going now, please. I've been standing out here since sunrise. Gracefully rising to his feet, he shifted into a ground-eating rolling canter before Sophie could get a good grip. She squeaked but managed to keep her seat as she felt the Rider Glamour swirl over her skin like liquid silk. Her usual clothing was immediately transformed by the magic and even her physical features became accented. Instead of jeans, now she wore grey leather pants; instead of wading boots, now slick black riding boots; instead of a long-sleeved shirt and coat, now a heather-grey riding jacket with a vest lined thickly with Elkrin fur to keep out the wind-chill and shoulder pads; no longer a plain belt but one adorned with small golden bells that chimed in the same pitch as her stag's adornments. Her golden-hazel eyes gained an inner ring of silver and within the length of her strawberry-blonde hair appeared silvery-white streaks that caught and held the sunlight.

I hope that Axel won't mind your new looks, because I've seen what you don't - the looks of the people AFTER you've blazed past! Delyth's peal of laughter was like motes of joy that danced in their minds. Sophie glanced up to see the Ancient in Rune form flying high above them; it was her attempt to remain unidentifiable to anyone who happened to spot her silhouette within the blue sky. Their jaws normally hit the ground before clattering afterwards. Oh, the gossip you inspire. A hot blush warmed Sophie's cheeks and she was glad for the wind of their swift passing. As Silvanus arced over a river as if it were a mere sheep fence, she wondered about the intelligence of showing up in Rider Glamour at the forest camp.

His opinion matters naught, Rider. You deserve the world's deference. They whisked into the shadows of the trees and the Silvervale stag began the dizzing dodging dance between tree trunks. After all, you're MY Rider and we're singular. Yet again, Sophie was astounded that the stone-hearted stag would speak to her like this. All of his normal bluster and swinging moods seemed to pale in these quiet moments of bonding. We're nearly there, so hold on. As he slowed to a halt, she felt the blood rush to her forehead and back again with the swiftness of their stopping. Silvanus seemed to prance a bit as he moved through the trees towards the camp. She thought that she saw Axel's blonde hair through the low branches but wasn't sure, so she called out to make him aware of their presence.

"Axel? Good morning! Are you there?"

[Sorry it's so short. I'm devoid of muse.]

There was nothing quite like wild hare and fresh eggs for breakfast.

Axel had been lucky. One of the traps he'd laid had yielded a fat hare, and Denny had come back, burdened under six large eggs. The eggs sizzled happily on a flat, clean stone, while the staked hare dripped hot fat into the fire. Axel whistled merrily in anticipation of a hearty breakfast. He was glad of the food. His bread had gone stale, and meat was a treat when he could find it. He'd woken up hungry, and his protesting belly had not helped to soften his misgivings about his newest path.

Fear of the unknown mingled with excitement in Axel's chest, to form a chaos - not entirely unpleasant - which he picked through meditatively as he waited for his meat to cook. He fed Denny the occasional scrap, but while she took them dutifully, she was far more interested in bouncing after the fat flies and beetles which fluttered teasingly over the flames.

Ax decided, once he'd worked his way through his turbulent thoughts, that he wished to get going. Fearful or not, he wanted to leap at adversity and strike at the unknown, rather than dithering and dallying. The more quickly he moved, the faster 'unknown' would become 'known'. A known darkness was better than an uncertainty. 'sides, he told himself, it couldn't be all bad, could it? He'd have the lovely Sophie to keep him company. She and her silver stag and the dragon... They'd stand in between himself and harm.

He hoped.

Where were they, anyway?

Ah! Sophie's light, cultured voice (law, did she sound fancy with the way she spoke and all!) filtered through the trees. Axel looked around and rose out of politeness. He was completely at ease. He lacked deference, but made up for it in good intention.

"There y'are!" he called back genially. "We w're gettin' worried 'bou' you, weren' we, Pet?"
He looked around for Denny, who had disappeared behind a shrub, still quite in awe of the Ancient. Axel, on the other hand, was not, and strode forward to meet his new friend.
"Law!" he exclaimed, clearly impressed by her altered appearance. He touched his forehead.
"Lookin' passin' fine t'day, ma'am," he offered with a quick, bashful smile.

Then he gave a quick grin, and gestured behind himself at the crackling fire.

"Come! Catch a bi' w'me an' Denny real quick. 's no 'urry. Plenny time for a nibble. Nothin' like startin' a 'venchure on a full belly, 's my way o' thinkin'. 'sides, we go' plannin' t'do."

He settled himself by the fire, giving the hare a prod. It was tender, and so he lifted the spit off of the flames.

"Now, 'ow are we approachin' the City? We coul' take the main Road, o' course, bu' won' fin' nothin' there. It'll be quicker, shure, bu' the towns're travel towns. You wan' gossip an' rumour, you need t' fin' th' deeper fells, where ev'ryone knows ev'ryone, an' a stranger gets 'is fair share attenshun. Which're you an' your donkey after?"

He couldn't resist it. He knew that he should not provoke the creature, but Axel reckoned that it already disliked him plenty when he was inoffensive, and offending him could hardly make things worse. He gave a smile, to show that he didn't mean it; that it was all in jest. Then he lifted his knife and began to carve slices of soft meat out of the hare.

"So, what're you after? Speed or 'stensive searchin'?

[maluruloki]

(( I think you're too hard on yourself. ))

The scent of burning wood and cooking meat followed in Axel's wake and despite her earlier breakfast, Sophie's stomach grumbled a bit. The scent of fire had always been a favorite of hers, mostly because it brought back fond memories of her childhood home, especially on the colder winter nights. His countrified compliment to her Rider Glamour had her cheeks reheating once more and she was glad that he just as quickly turned to walk back to the little fire.

He's a lovely gentleman, Delyth mused as she landed beside Silvanus with nary a sound, much an owl alighting. The Silvervale stag snorted and finished traversing the short distance to the campsite with a slow step, as if he was dreading interaction with the tow-headed lad. He halted just beyond the fallen logs used as seats and Sophie dismounted, the Rider Glamour fading from her like morning steam rising from a lake. She looked her normal self once again and was glad for it. She didn't mind attention, but if it was unwanted or unplanned, it...unnerved her. The log was cool through her pants, not yet warmed by the morning sun, and she hugged her arms close about her chest as she listened to Axel ponder aloud the possibilities for getting information. When he slipped in the quip about Silvanus and donkey-dom, her eyes widened. He was certainly asking for a well-placed kick! She quickly glanced over at the Silvervale stag, but for all appearances, he had been too far away into the woods with his browsing to have heard the jest.

"Probably searching," she replied to his question after making quite certain that Silvanus wasn't going to ambush Axel and toss him like a rag doll with his spread of antlers. Delyth remained in her Ancient form and walked silently up beside her Bearer.

I would think that the deeper fells would provide us with the most information, but we won't be of much help there. There was a note of disappointment in the Ancient's mental voice that reached all. Axel is country-bred and raised. We are city folk, even if we aren't of the highest class, Dear One. The gossip will be about us, not about the diseased Runes. We would have to stay on the outskirts and let Axel do most of the talking. That is, if he would be comfortable with this idea. Her golden eyes, with the weight of ages behind them, shifted to Axel. Our goal is not to make you wish against joining us. You have unique talents that will be most helpful for gathering information. Sophie glanced up at the Ancient, but Delyth didn't really add more to that cryptic statement. The strawberry-blonde young woman remained suspicious; the Ancient Runes always knew more than they let on. Delyth wasn't one to drag others along though, unlike other Ancients. Some delighted in making humans go mad with "what ifs".

"Delyth is probably right," Sophie grumbled, placing her chin on her hand and staring into the fire. The eggs looked more appetizing by the moment, even though she doubted they were seasoned. "I don't want to split up either. How do we keep track of each other...? Also, what if there's trouble? I'd rather we stayed together. You can help us with our...inability to relate to people." A peal of laughter left her mouth as she acknowledged the absurdity of it. She had always thought herself so able to connect with any person. "Just laughing at myself," she explained with a shake of her head to counter her grin.

Let us go to the Crossing then and get this quest moving. I understand how planning can be useful, but this is borderline ridiculous. We're wasting time. Sophie was glad that Axel couldn't hear the snide tone of the Silvervale stag and she turned around on the log to level a frank glare at him. He continued chewing the spring-green twig with a banal look in return.

I know you heard him mention speed, Silvanus, but I'd hate to see this quest fail because you were in a hurry, she thought back. The stag snorted again and went back to grazing with a snap of his tail.

"I say our goal should be to get to the Crossing today, at least. Don't all roads lead from there? We can go where the information leads us. I think we wouldn't be too obvious there too," Sophie added. "We don't even really have to pretend to be what we aren't. We really are looking into the diseased Runes. Someone there has to know something. Oh, and we need to find that Sal Something-or-other, that Rune seller."

I have words for him myself. Delyth spoke tartly and Sophie felt a pang of sympathy for the man. Momma Delyth on the loose was...well...hmm. Disastrous. Contained words, Dear One. The Ancient daintily laid down, crossing her front paws over one another, and gave a croon of greeting to the ruby-colored Ardent, wherever she was hiding currently.

[Sorry; RPer insecurities ^^']

The eggs began to bubble. Breakfast was near completion. It was time to serve the meal.

Usually, Axel would simply eat from the rock, but since he was in company (and the company was a fine-looking young woman and her noble companions) he knew that this simply wouldn't do. He picked up two wide, flat, thick shards of bark, and began to whittle plates.

Since he could pick up a knife, Axel had whittled. He'd always had an eye for detail, and had made short work of repairs, with minimum wastage. His hands instinctively felt for the shape of the plate, hidden in the rough wood, and while he peeled away the layers, seemingly without any plan, he considered the problems before himself and his companions.

"Oh, tha's no problem," he said dismissively.
"You folk won' hafta come inno th' towns. I'll do all th' talkin' an' findin' ou', I s'pose. An' you c'n do wot needs be done w' it."
He wondered what he was promising, and, briefly, whether he would regret it. He pushed the thought out of his mind. He had made a pledge, and he would stick to it. His honour was at stake, and he had no wish to appear deceitful.
"Me, I'm a mighty fine talker, if I say so m'self," he offered, with a touch of pride. "I c'n fin' ou' wotever y'need. Won' be no burden or nothin'."

He hoped that this would prove true.

He couldn't help but laugh at Sophie's concern.
"Why!" he exclaimed, discarding one finished, square plate and starting on a second, "Tha's the easy par'! We'll jus' have Denny sen' mess'ges, some'ow. She c'n fly awful fas', can' you Den... Denny?"

He looked about, confused (and not a little bit concerned) for a moment. What if she had -
No, there was no need to worry. There she was, emerging from the undergrowth with a fat black beetle in her mouth. She proffered it to Delyth shyly as a gesture of friendship. Axel smiled fondly at the little creature. He loved her, he realised, more than any other being in his world. He was startled by the intensity of his fondness.

He had to follow Sophie, if only to ensure that his little pet would not suffer the same dreadful fate as the Rune in the clearing. If there were any other motives for his participation, he did not consider them, or did not let himself.

"Bu' we c'n travel together. No 'arm in tha'," Axel reassured the girl, examining the second plate, now finished. He dished up a third of the eggs onto one plate, a third onto another, and then looked uncertainly at Delyth, who could be a woman, but currently wasn't.
"Will ye..." he gestured to the remaining eggs.

"Shure," he continued, beginning to slice the hare with practiced ease, "We coul' make the crossin' by this evenin'. Any luck, I c'n ge' in th' pub an' fin' Sal, or fin' someone who knows where 'e's got t', an' we coul' set ou' th' nex' mornin'. Ge' some roadfood, too. Won' be easy, travellin' on foot, an' some of them villages don' got much t' offer a stranger. "

While Axel may have grown up comfortably, he knew that many people didn't. The closer one got to the Alabaster City, the worse the poverty became as taxes, and tax-collecting, increased. There was ugliness in that rural beauty. Axel knew it better than anyone.

He proffered a plate, neatly-carved and covered in hare and eggs, to Sophie.

"Bu', for now, le's break fast," he grinned, still uncertain about how to consider Delyth. Was she to be treated as a woman, or a dragon, or both? He had reserved food for her, and was willing to create another plate. It wasn't the effort that bothered him. It was the uncertainty. He had no idea how to act around a dragon-lady.

Denny was busy with the Twiggy woman-dragon, and the stag-creature was grazing. It was time to eat. With a smile of eager anticipation, Axel picked up his knife and tucked in.