We're Gonna Be Legends — Bellini & Hellsangel.

[Bellini]

"What do you mean, raspberries are better than strawberries?" The indignant voice rang through the forest a bit too loudly for the early morning hour, but it didn't seem a soul was around to hear the petty squabble. Side-by-side, an elf and a young woman with catlike features ambled along the beaten forest path, the latter taking two steps for her partner's one but making up for it tenfold in volume. It was the smaller of the two that had spoken so loudly, leading the taller elf to chuckle mirthlessly.

"Of course they are," Elennia hummed, as though it were fact. "It's much like you or I. If there was only sweetness to dwell on without the tart, what fun would that be?"

The cat seemed to pause to consider it, but quickly dug into the pouch at her ample waist, popping a strawberry into her mouth with a defiant face, tongue out petulantly and all.

"You know I'm correct," Elennia added, a laugh ringing out in earnest this time, shaking her head at her friend. "Never a dull moment with you."

"And don't you forget it!" Gwyn mock-snapped, smacking her lips in satisfaction, though she soon dug into her pouch for another berry as a treat. "Where are we even going, anyway?"

The elf didn't answer, only trod up the hill with her friend in tow, sighing as she realized the third interrogation would be as fruitless as the first two. When they had set out the evening before after a mid-day nap, Elennia had refused to elaborate on the direction they'd set out in – "you'll see when we get there" the only promise she'd make, her eyes twinkling – and it was driving Gwyn crazy. As impulsive as she could be, moving through the kingdom without a plan was dangerous, a lesson she thought she'd imparted on Elennia early on in their companionship.

It hadn't been intended. Gwyn had been just fine on her own, thank you very much. Sure, some nights she stole so she'd get to eat dinner, but who didn't? At least she had fun, traveling from tavern to tavern, changing regions of the kingdom entirely when she became suspicious someone had cottoned on to her methods of survival. It was in one of these taverns that she'd met Elennia, drunk off one cheap ale and drowning her sorrows in sobs and drink. When the elf had awoken in Gwyn's bed, she'd been terrified, but when Gwyn heard her story… Well, it wasn't like she could turn her out on her own, could she?

Conscience and karma and… whatever.

They were an odd pair, to say the least, and drew looks from nearly every group they encountered. The elf, Elennia, was tall, slender, but with elegant curves, with long, pale blonde hair reaching past her hips. Always worn in elaborate braids and styles, it surrounded her pale face like a glow, striking light-grey eyes peeking out from behind long lashes. Gwyn, on the other hand, was shorter and stout, volume to her hips, thighs, backside, and chest, with reddish-brown curls to her mid-back, freckles scattered over tanned skin.

The unlikely duo continued on, further and further from Elennia's home kingdom. Over time, Gwyn learned her friend's history – though none else alive would be able to say the same – and they decided, without speaking it aloud, that they would continue indefinitely. The world was much more navigable, Gwyn found, with someone watching her back on the road, and rooms were cheaper with two sharing them. It all worked…

Until Elennia decided to hide things from her.

As they reached the peak of the hill, Elennia pointed in the direction of a cliffside, long fingers stretching out towards the horizon line. "There."

"What's there?" Gwyn countered, impatient as ever, her tail twitching with interest.

"La Caverne du Saumur," Ellenia stated simply, as though Gwyn would understand its meaning. Unsurprisingly, she did not.

"Bless you," Gwyn responded, deadpan, staring at her friend as she waited for further explanation.

"I seek an old friend who may be able to assist us… But I know not if he still remains."

Gwyn paused before taking off in the direction of the cave. "Well, whatever. If he's there, it'd be nice to have someone else pick up the slack for once."​

 

[hellsangel]

Glayden had returned to his cave home after a nice long day of hunting and gathering food, having brought back a forest elk with plenty of herbs and berries to make medicine. He had been living a forest life of seclusion as a way to maintain a life of peace. Orcs are known to be violent, strong, and have quite the libido and lust as part of their DNA. Glayden didn't want to live such a life after some reflection in the past and opted to live in this very forest close to elven territory, though it may have already been part of the elven territory. Being free of such temptations of the other races, he found some peace and control of his desires and opted to remain in this lifestyle for as long as he can.

Years had already gone by and he made himself a home in this cave. It was protective from predators and the elements, needing only the usual torches and fire stones to keep the insides lit and warm. Traps and defenses were made just in case and always checked in the morning. It was then he would have the lifestyle of doing training, hunting, gathering, and preparing medicines to eventually having to traverse to a town to sell some of his medicines to earn some gold to have supplies the forest can't provide. And because he is in the elven kingdoms territory, he normally would avoid confrontations with them.

It was quite a fateful day for one particular elf that tested himself with her, a young Ellenia at the time. This young teenage elf girl had gotten lost in the forest, hunted by a large pack of Dire Wolves. Had he not intervened, she would've become wolf food, especially with a sprained ankle from running and falling. He warded the wolves away and would save this young elf. He took her back to his cave where he tended to her wounds and would carefully take care of her. It goes without saying at first he didn't get a warm welcome, being called a perverted monster and treating him like all the evil monsters in the world. Glayden did not falter and waited for her to calm down before showing that he was only trying to help her. He would help heal her and gave her food and water, his cavern home being a safe place for her to reside in. It would only be a few days stay but he never once touched her lustfully or treated her wrong. When she was strong enough, he packed her some travel rations and water, and escorted her to safer territory where she could go to a nearby elven settlement. Waving goodbye and seeing her off, he stayed there until he could see her picked up by some of the local elves who had been searching for her in the settlement, before he disappeared back into the forest.

---

It was a good memory of the time as Glayden had finished skinning the elk and had cut the pieces up to prepare to cook and to smoke. A fire crackled over a stone stove he made for himself as he got ready to prepare his meat for storage and for dinner tonight. As Gwyn and Ellenia took their first steps into the cave entrance, Glayden's orcish ears picked up on the faint echoes of new footsteps into his cave. He didn't know who it was as he was in the deeper part of the cave, but to him intruders had come in. He picked up an axe and would keep to the shadows of the cave, amidst some of the lit torches that were hung alongside the cave walls.

THe cave would appear to be quite wide, a size that large monsters would likely enjoy using this cave. It was a bit damp from some rain a day ago, yet there would be that faint smell of smoke from a fire, a sign of someone living inside this cave. It would mean for Ellenia that her old friend was still residing in this part of the forest and in this cave where he once took care of her in her past.

Early on in the cave, there would be a rope net trap. It was pressure activated by the weight of the person who steps within the trap. It was one among a few that was littered throughout the cave and the darkness with dim light from the wall torches would make it hard for most of the average people. But when the two of them stepped into the trap, a faint click would be made and be heard by those who know this sign, and then a quick moment later a net would flash up from beneath their feet where it was a slightly fall ground, revealing what would look like a hunting net for large animals.

Glayden might hear a yelp in surprise and panic echo along the walls and come out of the shadows with his axe in hand, his large muscled orcish body easily towering over the both of them. "Who goes there? Who dares come to my home?" Glayden shouted out as he looked up and down these two intruders, and if any of them were caught in this simple trap of his.

 

[Bellini]

The rest of the journey was spent mainly in silence; Gwyn would attempt to begin a conversation, but Ellenia was wholeheartedly focused on reaching their destination, and so the only responses returned were one- or two-worded, which left Gwyn sulking in dissatisfaction. Soon enough, she gave up attempting to fill the silence, and simply trodded along behind the taller elf, making a game out of attempting to fill her footsteps without predicting their direction. When Ellenia suddenty stopped short at the wide, gaping mouth of a cave, Gwyn slammed into her back, tripping over the hem of her robe as she struggled to right herself.

"It's wise to watch your step," Ellenia chided gently, earning her a stuck-out tongue and wiggle of fingers from the halfling. Disregarding the show of immaturity, Ellenia paused, attempting to reach out into the cave to detect any unwanted surprises.

Gwyn, however, wasn't as patient. "Well, what are you waiting for? He in there? Let's go get 'im!" With that, she charged ahead — moving far too quickly for Ellenia's warning. In an instant, the halfling was swept up in a crude yet well-made rope net, dangling just out of Ellenia's reach. Beginning to kick and scramble, the rope knot holding the contraption in place only tightened as Gwyn began to sputter indignantly.

"Get me down!" she yelled, continuing to struggle despite it worsening her predicament.

"No, I think it might serve you well to — " Ellenia was interrupted by a booming voice, one she recognized instantly. Where Gwyn tensed up, reaching frantically for her bow and dropping a few arrows from her quiver in her haste, Ellenia was calm, staying in place as the figure approached, but turning to face it.

"Glayden, my old friend," Ellenia called into the dark, sensing his presence before she was able to see him. "It seems you've managed to catch yet another intruder in your trap." The words were spoken without a hint of mirth, no hint whatsoever as to the fact that she was joking, and Gwyn sputtered.

"What? Intruder? You brought us here, you lying little — "

Ellenia waved a hand to cut her off. "I jest. Would you mind undoing the net so we may have peace and quiet? I have something I'm hoping to discuss with you, and we'll hardly be able to do so with this one yapping in our ears, hmm?"

"I'll show you yapping, you twiggy — "

Ellenia waved a hand again, rendering Gwyn's words silent; though her mouth was moving, no sound came out, though the reddening of her cheeks and straining of her vocal chords would show that that was not for lack of trying.​

 

[hellsangel]

It had been years since he heard the young voice of the elf Ellenia before he stepped out from behind one of the cave stalagmite spikes on the ground, holding a large axe in hand but now lowered his guard. "Ellenia. It's been years. You're looking well," he said in a non booming voice now and had quite the nice chuckle to his voice.

Glayden looked up at the halfling who was now dangling in the air and upside down and decided to have a little fun. "Let her down? But it's been so long since my trap caught something .... snack worthy," he said and licked his lips with a happy growl. "Yes, she looks crunchy and worth filling my belly till dinner," he said some more. He let this play out a bit for his amusement before he set his axe down and held his hands up to show he meant no harm. "I'm kidding," he said and walked over to the rope connected to the wall. He undid the rope and held the end firmly to lower Gwyn down slowly for Ellenia to right Gwyn back up and take off the rope around her ankle.

"Come. Have a seat around the fire. I'm just about to cook up some Bear I hunted," Glayden said, inviting the pair over to the fire where there were some skin seats that was comfortable to sit in. He had already skinned and prepared a large slab of bear meat, all seasoned and ready to be roasted over the fire.

"What brings you here to my humble home, Ellenia? And who is your new friend?" Glayden said while he worked and started cooking the meat. The smell of roasting meat easily begun to fill the air around them, enhanced by the herbs and salt he set on the cooking meat. He started to rotate the meat in circular motions while he listened to what Ellenia and Gwyn had to say.