T

he scholar had chosen to follow the mingling scents of a crowd of strangers. They seemed to be family, but Edric really couldn't be sure. He had spent his last few weeks avoiding contact with others where possible, but he could never escape his oaths. A woven satchel hung about his shoulders, a glaring yellow flower woven into the front side by his ever-joyful sister. He'd given Lilith a barely-concealed grimace, accepting the gift all the same. He was grateful for the gift, of course he was. Lilith was so talented with these things. But he knew she had woven the flower into it simply to get a rise out of her brother, for he preferred not to draw attention to himself. Something that this satchel was bound to do.

Lost in thought as he was, Edric was taken aback when he heard voices. Many of them. All overlapping one another and all of a sudden the knight's ears were perked, his eyes wide and his tail straight and stiff out behind him. Paws kneaded anxiously at the ground below him as he took in the number of wolves that gathered amongst the hills. He already knew he would come across strangers, but with all his wisdom he had never considered the possibility of there being this many people here. After a moment of listening to passing groups, he understood. He had wandered into one of the main settlements. There were whispers that left him believing that the royalty of the lands lived in the castle ruins that stood on the horizon.

Squaring his shoulders, the scholar moved through the crowd stiffly, carefully avoiding bumping shoulders with passersby. He kept his eyes up and steady, searching the sellers for things he might need before noticing a book salesman. Edric made his way to the peddler with haste, his eyes shining as he stared at the leather bound treasures before him, reaching out with a paw to softly stroke the cover of the closest one. But what was the local currency? Edric looked up, green eyes scanning the nearby displays hoping to see someone hand over a payment. The salesman eyed him suspiciously as he started sweating, taking a small step back. "Uhm..." Edric muttered, clearing his throat and throwing a desperate glance around himself. Perhaps he could barter with them? He thought, stuffing his snout into the satchel to fumble through the assortment of items within.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Meissa bacchus

Nomads are said to know their way

Meissa found herself back in the Castle Stuart, for better or worse. There was no true reason to be here, of course, but she rarely had a true reason for going anywhere except if it was to the Barracks or if she was called in to do something in particular. That happened so rarely she wasn't certain if it ever had or if it had been a fever dream some time ago.

You knew your life was a mess when you were dreaming about work.

She was actually busy wondering about that dream when an unfamiliar scent caught her nose. It wasn't to say she knew all that many wolves here, but there was a certain odor to the place that most of the denizens seemed to pick up and keep.

In other words, there was a foreigner here.

She turned from her thoughts, following the scent and spotting a brown and black man having a bit of a trouble.

She watched him for a moment, somewhat amused. When strangers came to the kingdom, they often didn't quite know what they were getting themselves into as far as bartering. Certainly, she knew very little more than they did, but it was still a bit entertaining to watch him waffle about, drawing suspicion and more than a little annoyance from the merchants.

The man glanced around, his gaze probably barely missing hers, when she decided she might as well step in. She strode closer, giving the merchant a polite dip of her head before looking at the Outlander. You're not from around here, she said with a sliver of a smile. Here in Rionnach, bartering is the game.

by an exact spot in the sky

W

hen the woman first approached him, he wondered how he had missed her startlingly bright visage. The scholar shuffled aside nervously, allowing her an extra bit of space as she nodded to the trader and turned her strange eyes on him. His stomach rolled uncomfortably, and he dropped his eyes from her own bright pink gaze. If he was around family he would have scoffed at her statement. It was obvious, wasn't it? The knight surely did not share features nor mannerisms with anyone in this country, then again that was something he was used to. The Zyphears never took refuge in a single place. They were nomads at heart after all.

Emerald eyes roamed her features, noble as they were. The way the stark white wrapped over her shoulders, clashing so delightfully with the reds and black that adorned the rest of her figure. Swallowing hard, and ignoring the sarcastic quips that sprung to mind, Edric answered the woman stiffly. "No, M'lady, I am not from the area." He cast a glance back at the trader before returning to her, doing his best to hold his gaze on her pink eyes. "What items hold value here?" The man was pulling out the bits and pieces collected in his satchel. A clump of herbs held together by a reed of grass, a rock that glimmered curiously in the sun and a peculiar shaped piece of a ruin he had come across. To the scholar, the rubble reminded him of a flower. Looking over the assortment of items, he felt a rush of embarrassment as he realised he had merely collected items that had captured his curiosity, nothing would be worth enough to get the book. Shoulders slumping slightly, Edric glanced longingly at the book, letting out a short sigh.

@Meissa

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Meissa bacchus

Nomads are said to know their way

The stranger seemed to be nervous at first and she idly wondered why. Was the intensity of her gaze too much? She tapped her molars together silently in thought, watching as his gaze traveled her face, her body. Initially, she felt a tightening within her.

The inspection was not that same sizing up as fellow soldiers might do upon first meeting. Yet, he did not seem too intensely aware of her form, especially as his eyes turned upwards to meet hers again. He was not a bad looking fellow by any means but...

She shook off her nerves with a polite smile, thinking over his question. She watched as he began to display the collection he had. None of the meats that might tempt a hungry trader. The rock caught her eye but, glancing at the merchant, she was uncertain if he would be the type to delight in such a thing. Food or medicines are most common, books most valuable.

The man's disappointment was clear and she frowned thoughtfully, eyes turning to the book that had caught his eye. Her mind whirled for a long moment before she turned to the merchant with a bright smile. Sir, she began, how much for the book? Would it be possible to put it on hold for a few days?

She looked back at the foreigner, whispering an I'll help - if I can read it too?

by an exact spot in the sky

E

ven as she eyed off his items, he knew what she was going to say before she even opened her mouth. Food or medicine, she said. Good, he thought, he knew about food and medicine, knew the basics for pain management, and was a decent hunter, if he did say so himself. Lost in his own thoughts of how he would gather the necessary items, her voice made him jump slightly. Edric turned his gaze first to the woman beside him and then to the merchant as he began speaking in return, answering her question. "I sure can put that on hold for you, little lady. I'd say... Four hares and a pain salve should cover it." The dark man nodded along, going through the options in his head.

So lost in thought he was, he almost squealed when the woman's voice tickled his ear once more. This time it was a whisper, one that made his heart skip a beat. Was she... flirting? Edric had seen his brother, Rafiel, flirting with many a she-wolf in his lifetime, but had never had his own successful encounter. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he turned to her with a smile. "I'd be happy to share my spoils... Miss...?"

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck