The Unexpected Savior (Jean) (Complete)

[Sahashkalila]

TImestamp 16th Spring 512AV

Kalila held the waterskin filled with and herbal tea close to her body as she made her way through Tent Town, searching for any more of the local children that she had treated form time to time. One of the boys, Easton from what she recalled, had shown up on her doorstep and begged her to come down and treat his younger sister who was ailing. She could not refuse the desperate look in his eye and so she had pulled him inside her small home while she brewed a tea that would help the child, promising the boy that what she had brewed would help his sister. And so she had followed him to this dismal and depressing part of town, treating the small little girl and leaving some of the tea there with them so she could drink it daily, hoping that she would get better soon.....or at least hold off the sickness that was ailing her. All she could do was hope, and so she had left the children and was on her way back, moving through the sea of tents when suddenly a lanky man stepped out in front of her, eyeing her up and down with a leer.

Kalila stopped in her tracks, the greasy looking man blocking her path. She eyed him calmly, assuming that he was most likely drunk and did not understand what he was doing. "You are blocking my path ssir....and I would like to get home before dark,"she said softly, shifting her feet to a better stance. She did not want to have to hurt this man, especially since she did not want to be revealed.

"You ain't goin' nowhere sweetheart,"the man chuckled nastily, stepping close enough to grab her arm, his hands and nails dirty, his breath rancid with alcohol. You is comin' back to my tent tonight."He jerked her arm hard, causing her to drop the waterskin with what was left of her tea, the contents spilling into the dirt. Her nose wrinkled in distaste and her eyes narrowed in anger. She could easily kill this man if she was in her other form, but she could not risk that, especially when she wanted to stay in this city. "That would not be wisse you wretched man, now get out of my way,"she said with more force, yanking her arm back so he would let go.

How was she going to get out of this one?

[Jean]

This morning Jean had done a bit of shopping. She'd restocked her arrow supply, bought a quiver, some feed for Lebanon, and done a lot of browsing to get a general idea of what the merchants here had to offer. She wasn't disappointed by what she'd seen. Prices could be steep, but there was obviously a wide selection of wares throughout the city, which pleased her. All of this stemmed from the fact that she would be out of food soon, so Jean needed to go hunt, and today seemed like a good enough day. She had relaxed throughout the day after her shopping so she wasn't too tired to go out, and readied herself as the evening came around. Stretching gingerly, for she had more fresh bruises from a fight just 2 days ago, she packed and dawned her gear, then stepped outside her tent to tack Lebanon. They were staying in the Tent City like so many others seemed to be. The storm had taken a tole on these people, but she'd seen several families making the best of their situation, which she guessed was all they could hope to do at this time. Lee greeted Jean with a gentle snort, and stood politely as she was tacked and mounted. Sitting in the saddle with so many bruises definitely wasn't Jean's cup of tea right now, but she couldn't walk all the way out to the wilds then carry back whatever game she caught, so she'd have to ignore her protesting muscles. Urged forward with a gentle command, Lee set off at a brisk walk, moving between the tents and the few people that were out. This wasn't the safest place to be roaming when it was getting dark, so by the time evening rolled around it wasn't very crowded. Jean was starting to relax her sore muscles to Lee's steady pace when she heard a pair of voices. It wouldn't have caught her interest if it weren't for the way they were talking to each other. One, a female, sounded angry. The second, a male, sounded unpleasant. Curiosity got the best of her and she steered Lee toward the voices. The two came into view as she passed between a pair of large tents, the woman was obviously wanting to get away from the man, who was looking just like she'd thought. Unpleasant. Stopping Lee several lengths away from them, she called out confidently, "Miss, are you alright? You don't look to be enjoying that man's company very much." Jean really hoped there wouldn't be a confrontation. She'd already been in two fights since she'd been in this petching city. She didn't want any more bruises right now. Luckily she'd strung her bow before she left; it was taught and ready, tied to the saddle behind her leg. She shifted in her seat, the new arrows clacking threateningly in their quiver strapped to her back. Jean wasn't a great shot, but she wasn't horrible. In self defense and to also to protect this lady, she would shoot him without much of a hesitation. Killing wasn't beneath her. Receipt-20 GM for Quiver, -1 GM for 20 Shortbow Arrows, and -5 CM for 10lbs of Feed

[Sahashkalila]

Kalila was just about to punch the disgusting man in the nose when a voice hailed her, and she looked over curiously at the newcomer. It was a young woman, who looked as if she could take on the man holding onto her arm with ease, judging from the bow that she carried. The man holding onto her obviously thought so as well, because his grip loosened on her arm and he shifted nervously, his actions saying that he didn't want any trouble.

Kalila took the opportunity to yank her arm back and shove him away from her, watching him stumble to the side. "I believe he wass jusst leaving....weren't you?"she said tightly, keeping her anger in check from the whole incident.

"Er...yes, I was just leaving. Sorry miss, I thought you were someone else." he mumbled nervously, his eyes flicking back and forth between the two before he stumbled away, muttering curses to himself.

Kalila took a deep breath before she reached down to grab her waterskin and dust herself off from the encounter. She was grateful to this stranger for interfering when she did, otherwise it would not have ended pleasantly for the wretched man. Once she situated herself once again, she looked back up at the stranger, her eyes studying her curiously. Only her eyes showed through her veil, and she approached the woman with a bit of caution, more so to now startle the horse that she rode. Animals did not really like her and she did not want to make it uncomfortable.

"I would like to thank you for your timely interruption. The poor fool wasss drunk and I'm afraid that I did not know how to handle it,"she said with a nod of thanks, holding the waterskin close.

[Jean]

Jean's brow furrowed as she watched the exchange between the two strangers. The man's excuse of mixed identity hadn't even remotely fooled her, but he left without any issues so she shrugged it off. Relaxing now that the apparent danger was gone, she sighed and smiled as the woman picked up her waterskin and trudged over. Lebanon's ears shoved forward and she stood erectly, seeming tense, as the woman approached, which was confusing. Jean murmured comfortingly to her and patted her shoulder. It seemed to help, if even a little. Odd, she thought absently. The woman was dressed very differently than she was used to seeing. Practically her entire body was covered, save for some of her face that wasn't shielded by a veil. Good thing it wasn't summer, else she'd probably be as hot as a campfire in that outfit. Jean accepted the thanks with an awkward shrug of her shoulders and smiled again. "I've had a few encounters with people like that while I've been here. You looked like you might need some help," she explained humbly. "You might want to be more careful around here once it gets late, but you're welcome. Were you heading anywhere? I'd escort you if you want." Jean nodded toward the waterskin she was carrying. "Were you delivering something?" She'd picked up the way the woman's voice sounded, but didn't really want to pry. It sounded like she had an accent of some sort, or even a faint lisp. If that were the case, it would be embarrassing to bring it up, but her curiosity was starting to really get the best of her. Hopefully the woman wouldn't be insulted, and Jean asked, "I'm sorry, I couldn't help but pick up your speech..." A quick, apologetic smile and she continued, "...are you from outside Sylria maybe?" Lee was starting to act up now, much to Jean's confusion. As she tried to prance sideways, Jean steered her in a tight circle to face the woman again. Patting the mare's neck, she remembered her manners. "My name is Jean, by the way."

[Sahashkalila]

Kalila could see that she was making the horse nervous, and so she backed a few steps away, trying to stay away from the animal to not further upset it. The woman though was very talkative, and Kalila was amused that the stranger couldn't take care of herself.....and she supposed that if someone met her for the first time they would probably think that, seeing as she was rather tiny.

"Once again, I thank you for your timing. It may not have ended pleassantly,"she said with a nod of thanks, not mentioning that it would have been unpleasant for the man. "I wass giving some of the children here ssome medicine to help with their ssicknesss and I wass on my way back home when that fellow decided to intervene. But...if you would like to accompany you may. I alwayss appreciate company,"she said, cocking her head to the side. At the mention of her speech though, Kalila's eyes widened in surprise before she cleared her throat, shifting her feet a bit. "Yess...I am not from here, I came from Ahnatep....and it iss a pleasure to meet you Jean."

She watched as the horse circled her, belatedly realizing that she hadn't said her name. "My name is Kalila."

[Jean]

Jean took a fistful of her mare's mane and used it as a handhold as she swung out of the saddle, then patted the horse's neck affectionately. Turning to Kalila, she smiled warmly. "I was going to go hunt, but it's not a priority yet. I'd gladly escort you back home, especially since you were on such a charitable errand today. You definitely don't deserve to be roughed up by any mugger, so maybe between the two of us and Lee here, they'll keep their distance." She shrugged off her backpack and tied it securely behind the cantle of her saddle. Much better. Wrapping the reigns around her fist, she motioned for Kalila to lead the way. "What's Ahnatep like? If you don't mind me asking. I like to keep my travel options open, you see," she asked as she made to her to Kalila's side.

[Sahashkalila]

Kalila watched her with faint amusement, noting that the woman liked to talk. She did not mind though, Kalila always appreciated company and people who were willing to give it. "Perhapss we sshall sscare them off, two fierce women and a horsse,"she said with a chuckle, appreciating the woman's offer. "If I am not keeping you from anything I would alwayss appreciate the company on the walk home." She waited for the other woman to get situated before she began to walk towards home, smiling at Jean's question about Ahnatep.

Ahnatep was a beautiful place, if you could survive the trek there. The desert was dangerous and sandstorms were frequent, meaning that you could get easily lost if you weren't careful. She had fond memories of the city and she would love to go back there, if she was able to. The viper nest was close to the city, and she did not want to risk anyone finding her there. "Ahnatep, the jewel of the desssert, at leasst that is what I like to call it,"she said with a shrug of her shoulders as they made their way through the maze of tents. "It is a beautiful city, if you can survive the journey there. The gate into the city iss mosst likely the mosst beautiful thing about the city, but I will not sspoil the ssurprisse. You musst ssee if for yoursself to understand." She briefly reflected on her memories of the gateway, the glittering stones that lined the pathway inside, and the stone jackels that almost seemed to be playfully following you inside. And The Lady. The watcher of Ahnatep. The person who greeted you first and last on your journey, watching you as you made your way into the city. It truly was a remarkable site. "Ass for the city itsself, it iss almost like everyone iss consstantly at play, and the inhabitantss are jusst ass exotic ass the sstoriess ssay. It iss an enjoyable place, and ssomewhere that mosst people sshould vissit." She cleared her throat and glanced to the woman beside her, wondering what she though about it all. "Doess that ansswer your questionsss?"

[Jean]

Her eyes glazed over as she imagined the city Kalila was describing. She pictured red sand all around, then a giant, vibrant city rising out of the dunes. Jean tried to think of what sort of people would live there. Colorful and exotic clothing, music, dancing, veiled women, and dark skinned men. Kalila's question pulled her from the daydream. She smiled at her and nodded. "It does, thank you. I would love to see it someday. I wouldn't mind the heat of the desert, I hate the cold so anything opposite of that is fine with me. Maybe I'd even tan for once too," she said and laughed. "I've never left Sylira, but I've been to a handful of the cities in this region. I was born in Syliras, have you ever been to it? It's magnificent, but it was dull for me. I tend to move around. Maybe I'm just looking for the right place to setting down. How long have you been in Sunberth? This is only my sixth day." she prattled on. Then Jean suddenly blushed. She realized how much she'd been talking, and then rambled on in an apology. "Sorry, my mouth isn't bothering you is it? Sometimes I can have a hard time shutting up. I don't know why, it doesn't happen all the time. Boy, I must really have a lot of pent up energy right now." Her face reddened even more. There she went again. "How about you take a turn? I'll listen, you tell me a little about yourself."

[Sahashkalila]

Kalila smiled in amusement at the woman's chattering, she must have been quite young to talk so openly about things. Kalila had learned that you must always be wary of the company that you were in, not that she was going to harm Jean nor did she think that Jean was a threat to her. Perhaps she could teach Jean a small lesson from their encounter here.

"I do not mind your chattering, it iss nice to have ssomeone who iss sso willing to talk,"she said with a chuckle, glancing over to the younger woman as they continued walking. "But alwayss remember that not everyone you meet iss going to be ass friendly ass I am, your tongue could get you into trouble, esspecially in thiss city." She chastised the younger woman gently, not wanting to kill her spirit, only wanting to make sure that she was a bit more careful with what she said.

"Now, ass for mysself, I have never been to Sylirasss, but I hear that it iss a marvelouss city. I have traveled far and wide in my lifetime.....but now I am sstuck here for the time being, trying to make it in a city full of cutthroatss,"she said with a chuckle, not intending to tell this woman her whole story. What she did say wasn't quite a lie, she just didn't say the whole truth, something that she seemed to be doing quite often. "I have only been here a few weekss ssince the companionsss I traveled with dumped me here. But if you don't mind me assking....what brought you to thiss lowlife city?"

[Jean]

Jean nodded, mulling over Kalila's words. After a silence, she smiled solemnly and said, "It must be lonely, being on guard as much as you claim to be. Not trusting easily. You didn't seem like a danger to me. I open up more to people like you." She looked down at her. Jean couldn't imagine such a small woman being a threat. If she had to guess, she'd say she was about half a foot shorter than herself, and very slight in body. Jean wasn't an overly large woman, but compared to Kalila, she was very burly. "But thank you for the warning." "Trust me when I say I know not to open up so quickly with everyone I meet. I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of character." She smiled more like herself now. "The way you talk about your travels makes it seem like you've lived a long time. You couldn't be much older than me! If you're even that I came to Sunberth for knowledge and experience, I guess. I want to travel to all the cities I can. Meet new people, try new things. Learning." She grinned and half shrugged. Jean loved to travel and experience all she could. Being cooped in one place all her life made her want to scream and pull her hair out. "I think knowledge is the highest pursuit someone can follow. With knowing comes acceptance."