Voyage of the LunarTiger (Lunareclipse x mystictyger)

It was a dark and stormy night in San Marco. The moon hid well behind towering storm clouds that flickered with lighting and roared like an angry lion. It was pouring, rain pounding the roofs and pooling upon the dirt roads, filling in the various tracks from horses and wagons. The wind howled through the trees, breaking leaves from the branches and sending them swirling through the angry sky.

A horse and it's rider galloped through the night towards the dimly lit windows of a small tavern up ahead. It wasn't common that a rider would risk going out upon this road late at night, especially in the midst of a storm. She did, though. She braved the weather and raced her way to the nearest shelter she could find, one that was familiar as she often passed through the small settlement. The closer she got, the louder the rickety sign sounded as it swung carelessly in the wind, the hinges squeaking in protest. There was a small barn off to the left, meant for visitors who wished to stay the night and needed a place to keep their horses.

Dismounting her steed as they arrived, she led the beast into the barn and prepared a bucket of oats. "There you go Arrick. You'll be safe here till the morning." The beautiful black horse huffed and stamped his foot into the dirt beneath his hooves, a thanks for the treat he was about to thoroughly enjoy. Giving his rather wet raven mat a good pat, his rider turned and moved to the front door of the tavern.

Pushing her way inside, she found that it was fairly empty, except for a few straggling souls who seemed far too drunk to recognize where they were. One was passed out off in the corner, tucked away at a table. Another at the bar where the innkeeper busied himself with cleaning tankards for the night. He gave the cloaked rider a nod as she moved into the room towards the fireplace on the fire wall, where the fire crackled and roared and promised warmth.

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

As was the way of such places, the other patrons that were capable of it stopped talking to eye the newcomer up and down for a moment before returning to their inconsequential chatter. The weather was bad outside, and getting worse - the general consensus was that only fools would be abroad if they didn't have to be. The wind picked up, and the rain drummed a staccato beat on the tiles. A storm was coming.

Lifting his collar and trying to huddle against the coarse wool of his cloak, Jean swore violently into the wind. The new world was supposed to be warm and calm and peaceful. He cursed his choice to wear something elegant and fashionable that was about as useful at keeping the wind and the rain off as was throwing a loaf of bread at a shark. "Become a knight they said. See the world they said." He wrapped a gloved hand about the crucifix at his neck more out of reassuring habit than anything else.

The lights danced dimly in the rain-hazed windows as he muttered darkly - it looked like someone had just stepped in maybe 10 meters ahead of him. As he trudged towards the door across the muddy streets, he was dimly aware of the thunder...

No. If that was thunder, where was the lightning?

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

Settling down upon a chair nearest the fireplace, Willow let the hood that concealed her face fall to her shoulders before peeling the soaked cloak from her body. A trail of water had been left in her path, and the innkeeper glared at the newcomer. Taking a cloth, he moved around the counter and bent down to clean up the mess, so one of his drunken patrons wouldn't slip and kill himself. Cleaning up blood was not on his agenda tonight.

Willow ordered nothing to eat nor drink, just simply sat in silence and stared at the fire. Her long mane almost seemed to match the color of the dancing flames, as the long locks were fiery in their own nature, falling elegant waves around her face. As the storm roared outside, she seemed unphased by the unusual weather, as though it was a common occurrence in these parts. A small group of men sitting nearby dipped their heads inwards, whispering among themselves. It was rumored that on dark nights such as this that strange creatures took the form of a beautiful woman to lure men to their death. Though she heard every word, she simply smiled to herself and propped her boots up on the mantle.

A few large rumbles of what seemed to be thunder echoed through the settlement, but there was no lightening to be seen. How odd. Willow perked up, straightening her posture and watching towards the door. Something seemed off. If that wasn't thunder, what was the noise?

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

Illumination, both metaphorical and literal, was provided in the manner that only heavy naval artillery can. The blast was disturbingly close by, showering Jean with fragments, splinters, and dust, and also knocking him to the ground. The rain-slick dirt clung to his clothes, and in turn the powdered mortar hugged the mud. His formerly elegant black outfit made him look like some childish rendition of a specter.

Jean's first instinct was to draw his sword. But then to what end? I can't very well parry cannon-fire. Still, better to have a weapon in hand should he need one. Not waiting to dust himself down, he dashed towards the only building that had signs of life that he could see - the tavern.

He threw open the door and stood in the doorway. Framed by the storm outside, he was lit only by the dim and flaring firelight from within. It caught his blade and his eyes, making both flash angrily, and only further serve to highlight his outlandish appearance. When he spoke, he was gasping for air from being winded. His heavy French accent would ordinarily have sounded cultured, but now? Now it sounded like a threat.

"Monsieur - where is the ... how you say... garrison? I fear we're under attack"

God alone knows what the drunks heard.

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

Everyone froze in the Tavern, turning their heads as the lightening flickered behind the figure in the door. One drunk bastard screamed at the top of his lungs, pointing at the door and cried out "Demons lurking in the darkness! They've come to collect our souls!" Just as he started to run, he passed out drunk in the middle of the floor. The others who were sober, knew he was no demon, but might have an evil soul who came ready to slaughter those in the building. Even Willow was glaring now, worried about the threat this male presented.

At his inquiry of the garrison, men lurched to their feet with weapons drawn, approaching with care. "We? Sir, there is no we. The way we see it, it's you and us, considering you are the one who appears to be ready to slaughter the town." The innkeeper slipped into the back and shut the door while three men started to slowly progress towards their threatening guest.

In a flash, perhaps quicker than normal, Willow was standing between the three men and their target with sword drawn, pointed towards Jean. "You, Sir. Friend or foe? I suspect friend, otherwise you wouldn't have come in here warning us of an attack. Then again, you did come in here with sword drawn. Tell me, shall I spare your life or run you through now? I would love to see the looks of the mens faces behind me as they bear witness to a woman doing the killing for a change."

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

He was impressed. Fiery like her hair. He carefully, slowly, deliberately brought the hilt of his blade up to his face and swept it downwards (making a swoosh-noise as he did) in what was a salute to her beauty and her courage before sheathing it. Not used to being told what he could and could not do by the English, or by women, he took no more than academic interest in the blade or her threat. He wasn't going to die in some armpit of a colony this far from home, covered in mud. Especially when there was work to be done.

"I'm no demon, merely French. And were I a demon, I would be deeply ashamed of myself if I had to rely on gunfire to attack a town. Now, unplug your ears and listen. I have no idea who or what is out there, but they clearly mean us ill."

He finally turned his attention to the woman pointing the blade at him and noticed for the first time that she was quite beautiful. In a scruffy, unkempt kind of way, of course.

"Where I come from, it is considered gauche to run someone through without first introducing yourself. My name is Jean du Paix." He lifted his hat, revealing the top of his head to be a disappointingly human head topped with hair.

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

Lowered her weapon and slid it home, securing it within it's sheath. Her movements didn't have that grace that those who were trained in the art of swordsmanship often had. Her movements were skilled, yet more rugged, and hardly beautiful to the eye. Then again, a man might argue that a fiery woman with a blade was the most beautiful creature in the lands. Lifting her nose, she peered down to the Frenchman and sniffed once, as if looking down upon his status, or him as a human being. By now, the other men were backing off due to their suspicions of what the fair lady might possibly be. Legends and myths came in abundance in these parts, but it made even the most sensible man fairly superstitious.

"Very well, Jean du Paix, as I see no horns adorning your crown, I suppose you shall live to see the dawn. Or at least, you shall not die by my hands tonight." Another round of thunder sounded, though it wasn't exactly mother nature making the sound. She was no leader, more a loner who wandered from town to town and didn't belong in these parts anymore than Jean did. Perhaps it's why she felt no obligation in barking orders to rally the men to stand up for their homes. Instead, she grabbed her cloak that hung by the fire and moved out into the night without so much as a fairwell.

Once the door was shut, the men turned their sights back to Jean, all of them huddled inward as if protecting their precious tankards. "What out for her, mate. She's not right, that one. Aye, I suspect she's dangerous. Watch out for yourself. Legends say that in these woods, terrifying creatures turn into beautiful women, just to lure unsuspecting men to their deaths. No one knows why, but if you fall prey to their call, you won't make it out alive."

As if right on cue once the tale had been told, a wolf's howl echoed off in the distance.

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

"Ah. We have those mysterious creatures in France as well. Mysterious, enigmatic beings that haunt the dreams of men during the day, and cause serious damage during the night. We call them... women" He grinned wolfishly and winked.

He knew something of some of the darker beings of the night, or so he thought. Regardless, someone was attacking.

"Rather than huddling here like... like Belgians, you should look to the defences of your town. Or if that is beyond what you can stomach, take what valuables you have and flee into the woods. Pirates and raiders rarely have stomach for a long pursuit"

There was a shortage of perfect breasts in this port he mused and the most promising example just walked out the door, Jean. Time to follow.

He bowed his head once more to the drunks and bar-standers wishing them a halfhearted "Bon chance" before turning out into the night. He wasn't entirely sure what he hoped to find, but he knew his destiny didn't wait for him in the tavern!

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

Willow left her horse in the barn, as he wasn't going to be needed. Instead of taking off on her noble steed, she took off on foot through the pouring rain, her boots leaving clear prints in the mud that quickly filled with ponding water. To avoid being seen, she veered off into the darkness of the woods, disappearing behind the thick, overgrown brush that lined the edge of the trees. She wasn't running from the danger, but towards it, and running on two legs through the dark forest was proving to be difficult. Twigs reached out, grabbing for her clothes, thorns bit at her ankles. Finally, she gave up the run and started stripping off her clothes.

Taking care to hang them from nearby branches away from site of the road, it wasn't long before the rain was coating her naked flesh, cascading down her curves like a waterfall. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the tremble of her inner beast claw it's way out. It was a grizzly sight for anyone who would see it, though she suspected not a soul would venture into the forests during a storm as this. A clap of thunder drowned out the gun fire as lightening flashed, lighting up the sky. Her maw extended, fur sprouted upon her back, and a piercing cry of agony slowly turned into a howl. A monsterous beast stood in her place, and took off in a sprint towards the chaos.

Arriving at the scene of destruction, houses burned and women and children fled in fear while men tried to defend their families. It had appeared that an army was successfully invading, though from where wasn't easy to be seen. She was no fool, and didn't rush out there to grant the intruders a grisly demise. She'd not live to see the morning. Instead, she followed the trees, sticking to the shadows, remaining out of sight. Slinking behind a barn, she awaited the opportunity to reach out and strike, grabbing an enemy and quickly sending him to meet his maker.

The battle was ugly and brutal, but remaining hidden was proving no help as the village was quickly overrun. Angered, she let out a howl so loud that it stopped the battle altogether, everyone looking in the direction of where it came. A few intruders backed away, the sound so close and so fierce that they feared for their lives. Villagers who were still alive fled into a nearby, untouched house and sealed the doors, grabbing weapons of their own. The villagers had heard tales of such creatures, and knew to take cover. No one seemed to know what to do at this point, but their numbers were dwindeling quickly as man men scattered back to where they came from.

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

Jean was amazed that someone could disappear so easily into the darkness. His gaze studied the horizon such as it was, looking for where she might've gotten to but gave up. The more urgent task, however, was the noise of combat coming from further down towards the coast. He broke into a dash and made his way towards the sound of conflict.

Blast it. He was only supposed to be here to change ship, and then head along the coast, not fight a war against whoever decided to try and pluck this place.

Still, the oath was to serve and protect, and that equally applied to flesh as well as souls. With a sigh he at how capricious fate was he slowed his headlong dash through the storm-dark night and drew his blade. It would be terribly embarrassing if someone ended him with a shiv in the back in the dark.

His choice of clothing would've let him blend into the dancing shadows thrown by the raid with ease, but for all the mortar and brick-dust that still clung to him despite the rain. He looked rather like a drowned and dilapidated wharf-rat rather than a young gallant. His cautious steps, boot over boot like a cutpurse, led him to the margin of the town where the trees met the farms. There was a gasping sob from one of the buildings he was passing. He didn't need a firmer grasp of English to understand what it meant.

So much for surprise

Applying boot to doorway, he made his second dramatic entry for the night. Two men were standing over a young woman with nothing but malice in their eyes. Without slowing he barreled through the room, eviscerating the first and causing the second to flee out the front door. Triumph in his mouth, Jean pursued...

... to find himself in a small courtyard with five or six of the villains before him, weapons at the ready.

"Surrender" one called

"You surrender to me? How kind" quipped Jean back and flourished his sword with a most impressive swooshing noise. His blood was up, and his heart was pounding in his ears such that he didn't hear the primeval growl from somewhere off behind him. All he saw was the raiders flee before him.

Of course they're fleeing. I'm Jean du Paix! he couldn't help but grin wolfishly.

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

Even in her wolf form, she recognized the voice of the man just on the other side. Creeping through the shadows, she saw the men surrounding Jean. Stepping into the flickering light of the burning village, she made her presence known to those who happened to be ready to flee, scaring the few stragglers that hesitated to make a break for it. She was a massive beast, 7 foot tall with fangs that were sharp enough to bite a man's head cleanly off. Her claws were more like talons, and she was covered in reddish brown fur that clung in clumps thanks to the rain.

As the men left, she snorted once, then leaned forward with a wet snout to get a good pull of Jean's scent. Yes, she was putting herself in danger by exposing herself in such a manner. There were already men far more armed than the ones who fled that were charging in their direction, firing their bullets at lightening speed. As one grazed her arm, she howled in pain. They paused, expecting her to attack, ready to strike and slay the beast. She wasn't about to confront the army. Spinning, she took a leap into the shadows, romped towards the tree line, and disappeared into the night. Dodging tree branches, she raced ahead with canine speed, leaving muddy prints in the soft earth behind and smearing blood upon those leaves that reached out to brush against her fur.

Reaching where she left her clothes, it was a quick, but painful transition back to human legs and normal body. "Bloody curse...never...gets easier." It left her breathless, shivering in the cold rain. Examining her arm, she found the wound deep, but not enough to kill her or even put her life in risk. It did, however, need tending to as fast as possible. Quickly slipping into her clothes and tying her corset tight, she used what was left of her energy to get back to her horse. No other horses were present but one, likely the innkeepers beast.

"Hey Arrick." He nudged her with his nose, sniffing the wound she had been foolishly forced to take, and followed her as she collapsed in a heap upon a pile of hay. "I'm alright. Just...tired." The white cotton sleeve of her shirt was now stained red. Using a blade she kept upon her belt, the fabric of her shirt was cut beneath the tight bodice. There was a problem. She couldn't tie the piece of cloth by herself, as it was in a position that kept her from using both hands. Frustrated and giving up, she threw the thin strip and leaned back into the hay with eyes closed. "I'll be alright. It should heal soon enough."

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

The howl and the gunfire did penetrate his heady haze of heroic courage. It was the noise he was familiar with. Something... unnatural. That was curious - there hadn't been any reports of attacks here. This place was so boring and safe and ... English! He wasn't about to bring a sword to a gunfight, but his training and instincts told him to follow the howl. And so he blundered out of the gunfight and the fire-wracked courtyard back into the rain-dark forest.

With eyes dazzled by the fire, he made no progress in the dark. Stumbling and tripping more than once, he ended up back at the tavern a long time later. There were a few times that he had to fight a desperate melee in the dark against pursuers, but they were as dazzled and useless as he was - perhaps more-so.

When he finally emerged from the wooded area, he looked like some kind of mud-elemental. His clothing was a ruin, his hair a mess, and his face a mask of misery, frustration, and anger. Dawn was starting to break - a distant, water light creeping at the eastern horizon - when he saw the barn and stumbled in.

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

Willow passed out in the pile of hay with her noble steed standing watch through the last bit of night. Though after a while, he too fell into a deep slumber. It wasn't the warmest of mornings, and her entirely drenched and muddy clothes didn't aid in holding body warmth. Instead, it only made the air feel far colder than it really was. She lay there shivering, teeth shattering convulsions that looked almost seizure like. Perhaps part of it was the wound she inflicted was in a great bit of pain, and treatment was needed.

As the barn door was pushed open, Arrick awoke and stomped his feet, bucking and making a bit of a ruckus as he didn't know who it was. It startled her from sleep, and she lurched upright, first goal to calm the beast. "Hush you silly horse. What has gotten your tail in a knot?" That's when she heard the footsteps, and her first thought was an enemy tracker having chased her back from the village. "Ssssh Arrick. Be quiet would you?" Finally, she lulled him into comfort as she hummed a soft tune, a melody she had learned while sailing the high seas.

Once her horse was calmed, she dug for her sword within the pile of hay and brought out the shiny steel. In one swift, graceful movement she jumped from the stall in front of Jean, sword raised high and ready to swing towards it's target. Luckily, she recognized the scent before even catching sight of who it was, and halted in her attack. "What are you doing? Don't you sneak up on me like that! I could have sliced you in two in a heartbeat." With her weapon lowered, she stood there breathless, arm stained crimson, hay woven into her disheveled mane. She looked like a good definition of a hot mess!

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

He hadn't seen her. Rather, he'd seen somewhere that looked warm, dry, safe, and untouched by the raiding. He wasn't at all agricultural, and assumed that horses lived in barns in much the same way that peasants lived in houses. He stretched, wincing at how much everything seemed to ache, before looking for something to drink. It was only then that he saw movement out of the corner of his eye, and threw himself to one side. He came out of his roll into a pile of hay with a stiletto clasped in a tired hand. It was the second time in the space of a few hours that she'd leveled a weapon at her.

"We really have to stop meeting like this" he said as he picked himself up and tried to dust himself down, and then spitting out a few fragments of hay, and returning the blade to his boot.

"From the look of it, you've had a rough night" he said, gesturing to her arm. "Raiders?"

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

mystictiger said:

He hadn't seen her. Rather, he'd seen somewhere that looked warm, dry, safe, and untouched by the raiding. He wasn't at all agricultural, and assumed that horses lived in barns in much the same way that peasants lived in houses. He stretched, wincing at how much everything seemed to ache, before looking for something to drink. It was only then that he saw movement out of the corner of his eye, and threw himself to one side. He came out of his roll into a pile of hay with a stiletto clasped in a tired hand. It was the second time in the space of a few hours that she'd leveled a weapon at her.

"We really have to stop meeting like this" he said as he picked himself up and tried to dust himself down, and then spitting out a few fragments of hay, and returning the blade to his boot.

"From the look of it, you've had a rough night" he said, gesturing to her arm. "Raiders?"

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Sighed and looked down at her arm. "Yes, rough night. Wasn't uh... wasn't raiders though. " Not that she could lie successfully. Picking hay from her hair, she started to put herself back in order. "Well, if you are looking for a place to rest, the barn is yours. I need to keep going on my travels." Turning, she started to gather her things.

The sunlight was growing brighter outside, birds beginning to sing. It was beginning to look as if the storm had passed. Reaching up, she tried to mount Arrick, but her arm was in pain, making it hard to grasp the saddle and climb on top of her steed. "Bloody hell. Looks likes I need to fix up my arm first. Come on Arrick, we'll walk."

Grabbing the reins, she started to lead her horse out of the barn, squinting into the bright light. Everything was still dripping from the rain, limbs were broken and tossed about.

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

"Hold on a moment" he said, trying to sound re-assuring. "You're not exactly in a fit state to go anywhere. And besides, it's not exactly clear what's left out there anyway" he gestured to the door way he'd just stumbled through.

He watched her leave and followed after her and surveyed the wreckage wrought by both the storm and the attack. "It makes me wonder who they were and what they were after" he said as he surveyed the wreckage. "No sane pirate or corsair would attack into the teeth of a storm like last night's..."

And then her words caught up to him.

"Not the raiders? What did you do?"

RE: Voyage of the LunarTiger

Squinted into the sunlight and moved to head on down the road, until she heard Jean behind her. She turned, eyeing him curiously. "I'll be fine. The wound will close on it's own in it's own time. And I do not fear the dangers that lurk within the brush of the trees. There's far worse things to fear than a few raiders, Sir. You are in a different world, and there are beasts beyond your wildest imagination in these lands." He showed no signs of relenting, seeming prepared to walk along with her, and so she sighed while letting her horse move off to the nearby meadow to graze. Without her companion, it was only then that she felt weak, and she realized that maybe he was right. She was not fit for travel, and should have her wound tended to.

"It was nothing. Really. I just went into the stable last night to sleep and I must have cut my arm on something. It happens." She was a horrible liar, but didn't want him knowing that she was at the battle. After all, he had been there himself, and she didn't want him putting two and two together. He was there when the beast took a blow to the arm, in the same place she was injured. Any smart, superstitious man would put it together. "Well it appears my horse has decided to get a little something to eat. I shall tend to my wound if it makes you feel any better.

Jean tilts his head as he watches her.

"I would not wish to scare you, but I am aware of some of the terrors that lurk in the darkness; the beasts that prey on men and women in the still of the night. I work to protect ordinary folk from threats beyond raiders and pirates. The threats that would steal their souls. I carry stakes with me for that very reason. And you may think that the garlic is merely because I am French? No. These creatures of the night have certain weaknesses that can be exploited by the prepared individual - forewarned is indeed fore-armed."

He tears a strip from his formerly-expensive-looking silk shirt. Of course, the clean part, none of the dirt or grime here. "Here - let me have a look at your injury. You're bleeding. And whilst red would suit your complexion, I don't think that arterial red is really you" he smiles thinly. He knew nothing of werewolves, and so couldn't put the two together even if he tried.

"There was something that I saw last night that did confuse me. Maybe it was the smoke and the fumes and the exhileration of battle - I swear that this town is protected by some kind of spirit. Or perhaps a wildman from the wilderness came to join battle. A huge, terrifying creature of magnificent strength! Did you happen to see him?" For all his knowledge, Jean doesn't connect an English woman with the were-creature from last night.

mystictiger said:

Jean tilts his head as he watches her.

"I would not wish to scare you, but I am aware of some of the terrors that lurk in the darkness; the beasts that prey on men and women in the still of the night. I work to protect ordinary folk from threats beyond raiders and pirates. The threats that would steal their souls. I carry stakes with me for that very reason. And you may think that the garlic is merely because I am French? No. These creatures of the night have certain weaknesses that can be exploited by the prepared individual - forewarned is indeed fore-armed."

He tears a strip from his formerly-expensive-looking silk shirt. Of course, the clean part, none of the dirt or grime here. "Here - let me have a look at your injury. You're bleeding. And whilst red would suit your complexion, I don't think that arterial red is really you" he smiles thinly. He knew nothing of werewolves, and so couldn't put the two together even if he tried.

"There was something that I saw last night that did confuse me. Maybe it was the smoke and the fumes and the exhileration of battle - I swear that this town is protected by some kind of spirit. Or perhaps a wildman from the wilderness came to join battle. A huge, terrifying creature of magnificent strength! Did you happen to see him?" For all his knowledge, Jean doesn't connect an English woman with the were-creature from last night.

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Willow sighed and offered her arm, allowing him to tend to it. "I do not fear the beasts of the woods, Sir. I do believe they are entirely misunderstood, judged based on their appearance and nothing more. It's custom for a man to spy a terrifying creature and just assume it's dark or evil. I, on the other hand, will take my risks, and get to know the beasts before I pull out my sword and try to slit their throats."

She only smiled briefly at the compliment, but her face fell as she realized he had noticed her. At least, he didn't seem to make the connection that she was injured in the same location as the were. "I... I did not see him. " She couldn't meet his gaze, and instead watched her horse feeding in the meadow. "It sounds like the noble wolf, Sir. Tell me, have you ever heard of a werebeast? A human who can turn itself into an animal, as it's soul has been joined with that of a beast. Terrifying, yes. But, as you might have seen, a fierce protector. But, no, I did not see the beast. I was, as I said, asleep."

"I judge these so-called werebeasts on their taste for human flesh." he does his best not to sound overly dramatic, but at that moment the distant rumble of thunder can be heard.

"A normal wolf only attacks when it is hungry or provoked; it does not do so out of any innate wickedness. But my understanding is that the wolves that walk on two legs and dwell in the night stalk and prey on us. Now, it may be in our nature to be cows to these beasts, but if anyone intends to turn me into steak, they shall do so at great personal cost!" he says with a broad grin, clearly making a joke out of his bravery.

"I had the misfortune to i.. read about a family of trappers in rural France. All that remained of them were the blood-stains. I do not wish to shock you with such tails of violence, miss. Merely to assure you that I have read voraciously on this topic all that has been put into print in Paris, Rome, and London."

He continues to tend her arm. His medical skills are rudimentary, but sufficient for the task. He absolutely does not make the connection between the wound she has suffered and the possible cause. There was a fight last night, and all truly intriguing women are mysterious.

She grew silent while listening to his opinion on the beasts, wearing a smile, finding it amusing. As he tended to her wound, she never flinched, even though there were times where surely it would sting. It was as if she wasn't able to feel the pain. While that was hardly the case, she just had a higher tolerance for it. It wasn't until he was complete in his little speech that she took a deep breath and turned, interupting the work he was doing upon her arm.

"I have a different opinion on the creatures. Sure, they are fierce and terrifying, but they aren't quite as dangerous as most might think. Perhaps it's the teeth. I am unsure. However, I believe they are fierce and loyal to those they trust, and very protective over their domain. Any animal would attack an intruder if one entered it's home. But, I do not believe that they wish to feast upon human flesh. But, I can assure you that hearing about bloodshed does not phase me. I am quite experienced in seeing things far worse than you can possibly imagine."

Once her own little rant had ended, she turned again, letting him return to fixing her arm, even though it seemed pointless. It would heal quicker than a human's wound would. The rumble of thunder in the distance meant another storm was brewing, which mean there would be no traveling again tonight. While she could travel in wolf form, she refused to leave her horse behind. "Well, it appears I will not be moving on tonight. How about you, Sir? Is your bravery enough to have you continue your journey in poor weather? Or will you stick around for yet another day?"

"You are quite the unusual specimen, miss. What is it that you do that makes you so accustomed to violence and gore? And also the creatures of darkness" he asks, his head tilted to one side as he finishes the last of his field dressing.

He stood back and watched her flex and move her arm, nodding in satisfaction that there was nothing seriously wrong.

"As for me? My plans remain unchanged. I was to meet a ship here to take me to the far North. Between the storm and the raiders, it would appear that I may be stuck here ... indefinitely. Or at least until I can find alternative means of transportation. I have to say that the temperature is far more agreeable than the snow that I am expecting, and the scenery is quite lovely. Except for the storms and the pirates" he says with a chuckle.

He looks back to the ruined settlement - the surviving inhabitants would be pulling themselves out of their holes and places of refuge, looking to rebuild and count their losses.

"It looks as though there is work enough here to keep me busy though" he muses to himself.

Her arm felt great, and she new it would be healed in no time. The focus on her arm gave her a moment to word her answer to his questions, but she had every intent of dodging them entirely. Some men, though, she knew never gave up until an answer was given, thus resulting the conflict rolling through her thoughts. The truth was out of the question, as she didn't wish death to greet her upon swift wings today.

Turning, her often hardened face softened, and a smile eased across her red lips. "I consider myself quite unique, yes. Not at all a typical female that you'd expect to meet. I am one of a kind. However, I am a woman that does not belong here or there. I just am, and I tend to live wherever I can rest my head for a night or two. I refuse to settle in one town or another, and spend many days and nights within the comfort of the forest. When you spend enough time traveling and living like an outcast, you come across many things."

SHe also looked towards the ruins, smoke still rising in the sky from burned houses. Women wept for the loss of husbands, children cling to their mother's skirts for fear of the pirates coming again. She was wondering if those massive paws had left noticeable trails, or if the rain was on her side and washed them away. The last thing she needed was for someone to find that the beast came their direction. There were enough rumors as it was, and she didn't need them spreading life wildfire, growing to uncontrollable proportions.

"Yes, there's always work to do somewhere. Perhaps a noble man such as yourself can help the colony rebuild. You can be the foreign hero who sweeps in and saves the day. I just pray that this storm doesn't last long. It's not in my plans to dwell in a location too long." Mostly, she didn't want to be found out, and staying more than a few nights would guarantee her downfall.

"Foreign hero? You have not heard, then, that our peoples are at war back in Europe? Or at least were when I left? I had hoped to make my time here brief. Because otherwise i fear it will become... permanent. And I regret that I am no noble, miss. i work for a living" he mimes reaching for the bars on a cell.

"I have a daring and somewhat forward suggestion. If we are headed in the same direction, perhaps we could find a boat. My obligation is to reach the North by winter. That leaves me... four months. One or two detours could be a diversion from the inevitable tedium of bureaucracy that awaits"

She didn't know about the war, having been out of the loop for quite some time. However, it didn't change her opinion about her gained companion. "Hero seems to fit you well anyway. Anyway, Once the storm passes, I think it's time to move on. SO get some rest, we're moving north."

**Time Skip**

A few days later, their journey had let them up north, following along the coast as they stuck close to ports and villages for easier sleeping arrangements and meals. However, on this night, they were between settlements and were needing to make camp. The day was warm, the sun casting shadows upon the trail as they moved through the middle of the trees. Willow's injury had completely healed, though it remained hidden to keep her companion from seeing. She was entirely at ease on horseback, trotting along while humming a song from her childhood.

Soon, she pulled the reigns on her horse, and paused in their travels. Surveying their surroundings, she nodded and dismounted while moving into a small clearing. "This looks like a good place to rest. And there's plenty of wildlife around for hunting. Come on hero. We'll need firewood. I'll go kill us something to eat."