[Northern Wilds] Of Women and Horses (Stigandr)[Complete]

[Jean]

He was evasive to her question about the bandage, but she didn't press him. She nodded as he continued into a less reticent story of his time in the city. "You haven't gotten any friends here, then? After all this time?" Her brows knitted together, making her forehead crease. Did he deliberately avoid contact with the people of the city? Jean looked at him curiously. It sounded lonely to her. But then again he said he'd rather live in the wild. It made sense - for a moment she'd forgotten again that he was a horse. "I'm here because I want to experience as many cities as I can. I like to travel, but I think at the same time I'm trying to find a place to start my own home and... family." The last word she had to struggle to get out. The thought of raising a family terrified her. She was so used to being an only child, and didn't have any experience with kids. And she had been on the move for 2 years. She wasn't sure if she could ever get comfortable in once place. Her jaw clenched at the embarrassing, personal thoughts, and she quickly shoved them from her mind. Bad time to think about such things. Jean continued casually, "I was curious about this place. I'd heard a lot about it." She grinned ruefully. "So far most of the rumors seem to be true." Stigandr took a pear and began to eat, so he ripped a piece off the loaf of bread and took a few small bites, taking her time to chew. It was a comfortable silence as they took those few moments to eat, and she smiled around her meal. The bread was getting a little stale, but it was still good. "You're welcome. I assumed as much, since after all... you're a horse. I've heard stories of horses in Ravok that eat meat, but you're obviously not one of them," she said as their conversation picked back up. "More for me," she added with a coy smile. Their meal continued at a calm, lazy pace. Jean enjoyed it greatly. The company was a luxury she wished she was able to exploit more often. As the daylight finally started to fade, Stigandr made his goodbyes. She smiled, albeit a little sadly, and stood with him as he rose. "I understand. I hope to see you again sometime. It was good to meet you too. I'm glad you happened to be in the woods." Her smile grew warmer and happier, though her eyes were a little shiny. Despite only knowing him for the day, she would miss him. He was a comforting presence. As Stigandr made his leave, after stroking Lebanon's neck, Jean raised her hand awkwardly in a sort of half-wave. Lee snorted softly and bumped into her back, shoving her noble head under her arm. She smiled and brushed the mare's long forelock aside, kissing her forehead. "Just you and me again, sweetheart. Ready for bed?" she whispered lovingly. With a last look at Stigandr before he disappeared completely into the crowd, she bundled up the leftovers of the meal and ducked into her tent.

[Stigandr]

"I love being free and traveling too. I have seen a few cities before, but that was a different time. Friends are...something I do not pursue. I have found distance is better for me. Less trouble that way usually." He was not sure why he discussed his life with her, in any amount. He had just met her and even this much was far beyond his normal attitude towards people. What was wrong with him? "Family. I do not know if I will ever have one. I have been happy on my own thus far. Maybe one day, maybe not." He shrugged away the idea, though inside his head thoughts of his mother whom he had left in Syliras came up in a torrent. How he missed her being around, being close. He had left her to travel and had never made it back. Why risk that pain for himself? Slowly the sun came to it's setting point, at which time Stigandr made his good-byes with Jean. "Maybe we will see each other again," he said as he left her alone with her horse.

[Ink]

And in the Aftermath . . . The Rewards are Revealed. Jean : Skills: Shortbow 1 Skinning 1 Butchering 2 Horsemanship 1 Observation 2 Lores: Meeting a Kelvic Stigandr the Kelvic Loot: 10 pounds of poorly cut venison 30 gm for the sale of extra venison 2 gm for the sale of the deer skin. Notes: Jean has no points in butchering prior to this thread, her yield will reflect that. Further more you have shown her skill to be far beyond what her skills can back up. Someone with 10 in archery cannot kill a deer in one shot, even if they could deer die very slowly. Stigandr : Skills: Stealth 1 Observation 4 Navigation 1 Lores: Revealing a Secret Jean the Hhuntress Location of Jean's Tent Written in the ink : If there are any concerns or problems with my grading please feel free to toss me a PM. I am more than happy to explain my reasons or reevaluate them if you feel I've been unfair.