The Long Road to a New Life [Sasin, Stag, Emmagane, Nihvane]

[Iasc]

“My name is Iasc”, the man said with a smile. “And this here is Sasin.” He pointed to his companion. Suddenly, before he could say another word, a horse came galloping towards them. Iasc found it to be quite beautiful and majestic. It had a chestnut coat except for it’s rump which was dotted with white. It came straight for Stag who took the reins of the horse. “This is road to Zeltiva”, he said pointing the way they were walking, not making any move towards the horse. “What’s your horse's name?” He asked following along as Stag led the way down the road.

The three companions spent the day walking the well worn road to Zeltiva. Iasc didn’t talk much and let the other two have whatever conversations they wished. He still wasn’t sure of the men and, although Sasin wasn’t going to accompany them far, he felt he needed to be wary. The chill that the morning had brought persisted throughout the day with the sun never really making an appearance. It shone in the sky but it was dull and gave off no heat. Iasc couldn’t help but worry about his mandolin and bow as he walked. The cold would surely warp the wood of both so he would need to find a solution soon. The musical instrument he had received from his grandfather and wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if anything happened to it.

They walked for a few hours occasionally stopping for a rest. Iasc didn’t find the going tough as he was used to taking long walks in the Cobalt Mountains. Soon the light started to fade. The sun reached its zenith and started to descend again. It would soon take what little light it had with it. As they walked he noticed a pre-built shelter that had been built for travelers such as themselves. “It’s time we stop for the night”, he thought to himself. He eyed the shelter suspiciously, wondering how safe it would be. He had heard stories of brigands and the like preying on unwary travelers and this seemed like a prime location for it. He passed by the shelter without stopping. He had a tent with him and that would be a fine alternative.

They walked for another half an hour before Iasc stopped. He looked around and took in his his surroundings. Trees stood tall and proud on either side of them and roads stretched long and lonesome before and behind them. No sound came from the woods, all he could hear was the footfalls of the men and the breathing of the horse. The silence was quite ominous, the calm before the storm possibly. “This seems like a good place to stop”, he said, feigning knowledge. This stretch of road looked entirely similar to him to all other parts of it but he felt as though he should be the leader, for whatever reason that was, even though he knew very little, if anything at all, about surviving out here. He lay down his bow and instrument on the ground, placing his pack beside them. “We should get ready for the night”, he said, untying his tent.

[Nyahna Sasin]

His smirk faded a little as he noticed Iasc tighten his grip on the bow. Perhaps flourishing a blade was not the best idea here. Still, it was done, and it wasn't like the bow could do any serious damage before he was gutted

He rolled his eyes at Stags comment, but put it down to dehydration. He did not look so young as to be the child of a teenager. He looked twenty something, at least, even if he was a lot shorter. He slipped the waterskin back in his pack.

Oh good gods. More people coming along with them. "How is it" he wondered aloud "That everyone you meet seems to be willing to go with you?" For a single instant, his mind flashed to the image of a lamp cover, hanging on the wall, before he shook his head, and forgot about it.

He sighed softly, and began walking with the other two. Along the way, he chatted occasionally with both men. He was careful to keep from telling anything about himself, and gently probed for information from both of them.

He smirked softly as Iasc passed by the shelter without stopping. Smart move. There were bandits here, and as nice as it would be to be able to sleep in a real bed, he didn't really feel like fighting them for it. ….Huh. He wondered when his mind had changed from "joining them in a day walk" to "staying with them for the night." He shrugged, and said to Iasc "Well, it's too late to go back to Syliras. I think I'll stay with you two tonight."

He sat down half an hour later, watching Iasc untie his tent. Sasin was useless with a bow, and he was wondering.. "Hey, Iasc. How good are you with that bow?" He asked. He had slipped his pack onto the ground, and his dagger was sitting on top of it, out of reach, if that was any consolation to him.

[Stag Fern]

"Iasc and Sasin huh well what are we waiting for" Stag said and then he mounted his horse, put his heels to his mount's sides then he was off... at about the speed of a walk. Iasc's comment about his horse made him turn and smile at him. "Daraq his name is Daraq. In old language it means twin" then he continued on the path. After that Iasc was'n't that talkative so Stag slowed down to talk to Sasin. Sasin was more social than Iasc occasionly asking information from both Iasc and Stag. Trying to dig for information like that's gonna work Stag thought to himself but that didn't stop him from telling Sasin about where he came from what he was doing and why he wanted to go to Zeltiva. Ignorant Stag didn't know what he just did and when he realized it, it was too late so for the rest of the day he kept as silent as he can. Soon it was afternoon. The sun was decending fast and it had a red glow to it. The three of them saw and passed a small little hut. Why did we just pass a shelter he thought but he didn't ask why. Figured he'll just sound like some idiot. They pressed on until they setteled on the side of the road. "This seems looks like a good spot to stop" said Iasc. Stag didn't really listen afterwards. He dismounted, found out he had riding sores again, cursed under his breath, mumbled to the others "going to get some firewood", dropped his bag, ripped his axe from his back and finally started on the nearest tree he saw,and he did this all within one chime. Honestly he was just a little upset that they couldn't stay in the shelter, a nice warm bed away from the cold. All Stag's emotions went to each and every strike but the tree he was whacking againts shrugged off each hit. This is gonna take some time he thought to himself and also wondered how much light he had left.

[Iasc]

Iasc looked at Sasin and grunted in approval. “You won’t get back before nightfall”, he agreed. “We would be happy for you to stay with us, although you’ll both need to have your own sleeping arrangements. I would share my tent with you two but it is only for one person.” He was glad that his tent would only fit the one person even if the other two didn't sense it. He didn't like the idea of sharing such an enclosed space with someone he had met less than a day previously. He looked at the slowly descending sun and dropped his tent on the ground once he had untied it. While he did this Stag dismounted from Daraq and muttered “going to get some firewood”, as if to himself. Iasc watched with quiet amusement as Stag walked over to a tree and began bashing at it with an axe. He seemed to be trying to use raw strength to take it down and was getting nowhere. “That tree isn’t going anywhere”, Iasc thought to himself as the axe bounced off, doing minimal damage. Stag must have thought the same thing as he stopped to take a rest. Iasc carefully looked over his tent’s visible parts to make sure it was still intact. Everything seemed to be in order so he began to move off the road, towards the trees.

"Hey, Iasc. How good are you with that bow?" Sasin asked as he was walking away from the two men. Iasc looked back curiously. “Is this a threat?”, he wondered to himself. “Maybe he has a mind to gut me, although he has been very nice up to now. There seems no reason for him to be hostile.” He kept his eyes on Sasin as he made his way back to his pack which was still lying on the ground beside his mandolin and bow. It seems he would have to wait to get his accommodation ready. He laid his tent down warily and picked up his bow and an arrow, noticing that Sasin’s dagger was out of his reach. However, the man could as fast as lightning for all Iasc knew. He tested the tension on the string, drawing the arrow to half tension and then removing it to it’s equilibrium position. Facing Sasin, he aimed at the small man and drew the bow to half tension again. In a quick, swift movement he raised the bow and fired before the man could react. Sasin would hear the arrow soar above his head and lodge itself in a tree ten feet behind him. While Sasin was coming to terms with what had just happened Iasc bent down and grabbed another arrow, just in case the man was indeed looking to pick a fight.

“I’m capable”, he said simply, unable to keep a smile that bordered on arrogance from creeping across his face. "Why do you ask?" He tried to voice it in an ambiguous way so, if the question was just a general wondering Sasin would not take offense to it, or if it was a threat, the man would know that Iasc was ready to fight if he had to.

[Stag Fern]

Damn this tree Stag thought. One more strike ought to do it he thought again but in no way will he be able to fell that tree here and now. Well atleast not at the moment. He recalled a fight he had with a blind man named Stitch if he remembered correctly however he prefered calling him bandages instead, in the last bit of the fight the man's arm exploded with muscle and sent Stag flying If only I had that power...If only. It wasn't long before he was at it but this time he decided to study his advesary before continuing. The core of the tree had a good seven inch diameter maybe more by Stag's guess and he wasn't including the bark yet. The bark and core worked like a team, although bark was weak and brittle, it had no trouble stealing his axe away; the core was hard. Hard like stone by his guess maybe harder and every blow he made, it sent a stronger one back at him. A few more strikes later and he was running on empty. Panting he leaned on the tree then slid down to rest. He saw Iasc and Sasin talking but Iasc had his bow with him. Did Sasin upset him....Pshaw ofcourse not. The scene put a smile on Stag's face because it reminded him of his brothers Jon and Romel. The familiar voices filled his head when either Iasc or Sasin talked. Stag was too far to actually hear talking unless ofcourse if they shout. The voices came even when he couldn't hear but he knew the conversation. It was when Jomel found a rat and dared Jon to eat 0it. He knew each word that came out and Stag was about to break up the conversation the way he did before but then suddenly he heard an arrow penetrate a tree with a loud Foosh and Floop. Thanks to the near quietness any loud sound that was loud enough could have been picked up and this was just loud enough to wake Stag from his trance and remember what he was doing collecting firewood but how. The tree behind him already proved to be a tough opponent and if he went to another tree he would have looked like some kind of weakling so he was stuck with that tree and that tree alone. Brute force won't work he knew it for a fact but he tried anyway. Strike met tree and the same thing happened, nothing. Stag fell to his knees in disapointment Why Why Why he thought while smashing the ground with his axe till he felt it gave way...a root. "Yes" he muttered, the tree maybe hard but the roots were not. His axe met with root with root giving way. "Yes" muttering it out. Hacking like a wild man until It he had a bundle of good wood with three pieces of wood at each arm and one he kicked towards the two. When Stag came back he had the biggest grin on his face although he was a little bit cautious of Iasc after all he did have a bow pointed at Sasin but he thought he was showing Sasin a trick. His brother Jon put him in the same situation once but he had an apple on his head. Maybe there was an apple at Sasin's head and they already ate it he thought. How wrong he was. He let the wood fall to the ground in front of him in between Iasc and Sasin followed by him going back to his pack for his flint. Once he found it, he went back to the wood and squated. Stag realized the two were still there he didn't even look at their faces to assess the situation."Do you guys mind, Making fire here" if only Stag knew the what was happening between Iasc and Sasin he would have never have done what he was just doing. Ignorant to what was happening he blindly continued, using grass as tindling while reaching for his knife that was just behind him and hanged loosely from his belt. Finally he started striking knife on flint or flint on knife. While the Sparks flew he just had to ask "You guys hungry" in all earnesty.

[Iasc]

As Stag continued to try and fell the tree, Iasc stood with that cocky smile stuck to his face. He would wait for a retort from Sasin before being disturbed by the other man who would come walking towards them. Stag was grinning broadly as he approached, clearly delighted with his latest achievement. He was carrying a lazy man’s load of firewood, with three under each arm and kicking another towards them. Iasc gave a nod of appreciation. “Good work”, he congratulated Stag. It was quite impressive Iasc thought to himself. The young man didn’t look like he had much strength in his arms, yet he managed to take down a tree. It was quite a conundrum.

“Of course”, Iasc said. “Make a fire if you wish. Let me know if you need help. Food would be good as well. It has been a long day.” Stag got down and pulled out a knife and some flint. He began to hit them against each other, trying to make fire. Iasc would help if he was asked but he really had no idea how to make a fire. He had watched his uncle a few times but never really learned how to do it himself. In hindsight, he felt it would have been a good skill to learn. He had been feeling very worried lately about his ability, or lack of it, to survive in the wild. He decided to keep these fears to himself, not wanting to worry his companions too much.

Iasc then walked away from the two men, back to where he had left his tent lying on the ground. He found a suitable spot, or so he thought, among the trees and emptied the contents of the bag. He went through every component individually to make sure that he had not lost anything. When everything seemed to be in order he took a step back to take in the scene. He had practiced putting up and taking down his tent many times over the past week back in Syliras. It had taken him a few tries to get it right but eventually he had managed to assemble and dismantle it without too many problems. If he could translate that success he would be very happy.

He turned the tent over so it was right way up. He had two poles which were to come across each other. The four ends would then bend down to the ground where they would be secured by pegs. He placed the two poles in the correct places and secured with the provided straps. He then turned it over so the poles were facing the ground. This was the tricky part now. He firstly secured one corner with a peg. He went around to it’s opposite side to the same thing. He would have to bend the pole enough so it would be structurally sound, but not so much that it would snap. He slowly levered it up with one hand and readied the peg with the other. When he felt the time was right he tried to put the peg in the ground but as he shifted his weight to do so the pole he was holding seemed to slip from his grasp and fall to the floor. He licked his lips and tried again. This time the same thing seemed to happen. On the third attempt he used his foot to help balance the tent. This time he got closer to erecting it but, alas, it seemed to slip again. By this time he was feeling quite frustrated but thought he could power through.

Using his latest technique he managed to finally secure the second end with a peg. He stepped back to admire his work. It was looking good so far and he was hopeful that he would get it up. He went around to the third side and used the same technique which seemed to work. That was until the second peg that he had put in gave way and the whole tent flopped down onto the ground.

Iasc threw the peg in his on the ground and sat down, completely despondent, yet knowing that he would have to try again and get it right.

[Nyahna Sasin]

Sasin couldn't help but snicker slightly as Stag started to assault a tree. "You don't think collecting branches would be a better idea?" He called. Honestly. Some people. Well, at least he would have warmth tonight.

He watch Iasc curiously as the man tested his bow. He tensed slightly as the bow was aimed at him for the first time. The second Iasc raised his bow to fire, Sasin jerked, moving out of the line of fire. He was fairly certain this was just a demonstration, but still liked to err on the side of caution. He raised an eyebrow watched the arrow soar over where his head had just been, and thud into a tree.

He smirked at the man. "Capable? I'd say you're quite a bit more than capable." He smiled recklessly. Well, he decided, he went nothing. "Do you think you can teach me?"

People, he knew, almost never did anything unless there was something in it for them. (He said almost because he had once met Stitch.) He was quite to point out the benefits to Iasc. "You're certainly able to handle yourself, but, the bandits here are definitely going to outnumber you. Think of it as a little warm up." He would be willing to pay, or teach him how to use a dagger, if it came to that, but he was saving it for later.

He raised an eyebrow as the man brought back a few roots. Firewood? He might be wrong, but he had to say it anyways. "Roots absorb water for the tree, right? I'm pretty sure wet wood sucks to burn." He was also certain that you didn't try to burn a live tree. He had seen a forest fire once. The dead trees had burned much faster than the live ones. Sasin sighed.

"Going hunting." He told them. He started to undress, then paused. "Uh… Guys?" He waited until they were both listening to him. "Um, how should I say this. I'm a shapechanger." He neglected for now to say the word Dhani. "I'd be very happy if you two didn't, you know, kill me or anything."

He moved to the side, then undressed, and shifted. He deliberately placed Stag between him and Iasc, and he stayed far enough away that Stag couldn't stab him or anything.

He turned, and quickly slithered away, not wanting to risk a fight.

Now. Food. Deer? He flicked his tongue out, tasting the air. Boar. No. He still had bad memories of the last time he had fought one of those. various little animals, not worth eating. Well, perhaps for the humans. Stag? Too far away. Deer. There it was. And upwind of him as well.

He would eat in this form. Then perhaps follow the two for another day or two, then head back. With a bit of luck, he wouldn't make them uneasy enough that they did something stupid. Learn to use a bow in this form. Be less bored. With those thoughts in mind, he set off after the deer.

It was all rather simple, and over quite quickly. It had been facing away from him, and hadn't scented him yet. He had simply climbed a tree, and dropped down on it.

Now he was full, and it was unlikely he would be able to shift back for a couple of days. Heading back.

He passed a fallen tree, and paused. Just in case, he deciding, wrapping his tail careful around a rather large limb, and yanking. It snapped at the base, and he gingerly picked it up, avoiding any splinters.

Slithering back into camp, he dropped the dead limb. "I think you'll find this burns better."

[Stag Fern]

So there Stag was. Busy scrapping and striking his knife at the flint towards the wood. Sparks flew and they hit the wood, but nothing happened. Not wanting to look bad for not starting a fire he tried again, and again, and again. But no fire erupted. He was just about to give up when Sasin said something that took Stag by shock, almost cutting himself then and there. "Roots absorb water for the tree, right? I'm pretty sure wet wood sucks to burn". Stag's face had gone white then to red. He has wet wood and it doesen't even burn. Annoyed, embaressed and a little angry he stabbed the wood with his knife and was about to hit Sasin really hard on the head but he said something again that caused him to stop and nearly fall on his backside. Sasin was a shape changer but not any shape changer but one that can turn to a snake. Stag watched the man change. His transformation was a little on the slow side taking about thirty seconds to finish. And when Sasin did finish he just slithered away. Stag was a mix of all emotions but mainly anger and dumbfoundedness. Part of him wanted to ask questions the other part wanted to beat him up and another part of him wanted to eat him. Yes he was hungry and he tried snake before but he wasn't that hungry to kill Sasin...still. In the end he went back to trying to start a fire. The grass he used was a very bad tindling so he usesd bits his own hair, his horse's hair and even part of his cloak. They caught fire fast but fizzle out just as quick. He's right this is just wet wood Stag thought. He really didn't wasnt to believe Sasin's words but it was true. He stopped trying to make a fire for a bit and just lied down on the grass and closed his eyes a bit. It wasn't long before his eyes opened. He sat up and found a dead dry piece of wood right before him then Sasin said it was from him.Oh well Stag thought, while reaching for his knife and flint and struck them again. The bark of this new wood was so dry that it served as tindling, when the sparks hit, a loud cracking noise almost like bone breaking was heard, the wood instantly turned to fire easily expanding to a mans size then quickly shrinking back to the size of a regular camp fire. Although the fire expanded, it only expanded up and no one was injured. But that still didn't stop a few heads turning towards the fire then dropping to Stag. "Ta da fire now if you'll excuxse me I'm oftly tired". It was an obvious lie even three year old can tell. He lied down on the grasss, closed his eyes and fell asleep.

[Iasc]

“Of course I’ll teach you some archery if you want”, Iasc answered Sasin, always willing to share his skills with others who wished to learn. He lowered his bow realising there was no threat from the man. He let Sasin’s next comment go without reply. He did not wish to think of the threat of bandits, not yet anyway. He would like to get a few days traveling under his belt before such things occurred. That was when they were interrupted by Stag with his pieces if wood. “You should probably take his advice”, Iasc told Stag. “Use dead wood first and foremost. He seems to know what he is talking about.”

After Iasc had had his little tent problem he looked back towards the other two men. It was then that Sasin announced that he was a shapeshifter and began to take his cloths off. Within thirty seconds the man had shifted into a snake. He left Iasc completely speechless as he slithered away.

When the snake had left the youth turned his attention to Stag who seemed to take very little notice of recent events and just went back to trying to light a fire with wet wood again before lying down on the grass. “Sasin must be one of those kelvics”, Iasc thought to himself ignorantly. He recollected the first and only kelvic he had ever seen, when he had met Kuujin the bear in the Cobalt Mountains outside Syliras. He didn’t feel comfortable around potentially dangerous animals, although when he had met Kuujin he was out of his mind which helped quite a bit. Little of that insanity had survived over the past few weeks to help him in this situation.

Iasc was still rooted to the spot unsure of what to do or say when Sasin returned, unable to take his eyes off the snake with it’s tail wrapped around a piece of wood. The stare he gave was not menacing in any way, just dumbfounded. After getting the fire going Stag went to sleep on the grass, something Iasc would have found slightly odd although it didn’t really register at that moment, leaving only Iasc and the snake.