[The Bronze Wood] The Hunters Meet. (Miharu)

by **Sturlin** on April 13th, 2010, 1:53 am

"I can tell you that you should be wary of magicians. Some of us are more dangerous than we look, and not just because of the magic that we do. If you use it too often, or too greedily, you can do horrible things to your body. Some can do horrible things to their mind," he pauses for a moment to take a drink from his water skin and then looks to her again, "My own teacher went insane shortly before he began teaching me. It got worse over the years, until finally someone killed him for it. There is a reason that you don't see many magicians, and that those you see rarely use their powers in the public eye."

by **Miharu Mindi** on April 13th, 2010, 2:19 am

That brought her glance back up to him, and she blinked again. She seemed to be doing a lot blinking.

"Well, what petching reason in the world do you have to want to learn it then?" she asked, appalled. Madness, that was one of the fear things that could set Miharu trembling. She didn't understand madness, but she knew what it looked like, had seen both men and animals maddened from age or fear or sickness. What terrified her most was the most basic of questions: if you were mad, how would you even know it?

by **Sturlin** on April 13th, 2010, 2:24 am

Lighter scars were present on his palms, difficult to pick out as they'd had many years to fade. Her eyes would be drawn to them as he traced them with his fingertips and she would notice that he had similar scars all over his visible body as if he had been traced with a knife. They were faint, probably made during childhood. Nearly erased in all but memory. "The choice to learn was not mine, and you do not argue with a madman lightly. When he was finally dead I had learned too much to turn my back on it. Giving it up now would feel like giving up my hands."

He looked to her, wondering exactly what she was thinking. "Are you alright?"

by **Miharu Mindi** on April 13th, 2010, 2:34 am

Miharu had paled, something worried denting the spot between her brows. "Of course I'm not all right! You just admitted that you're doing something because a madman forced and tortured you into it, and that same something will one day drive you completely off your nutter, and yet you're still going to go through with it? Are you sure you haven't gone mad already?" she asked, shaking her head. "I mean, have you listened to yourself? It just sounds crazy."

by **Sturlin** on April 13th, 2010, 2:38 am

He laughs softly and runs his hand over his scalp as he does when considers what he's going to say. "My Uncle once assured me that I was sane as long as I wondered whether I was crazy or not...because madmen don't spend their time wondering whether they are crazy or not, they have better things to do." Reaching out he gently takes the pan from her and removes the jerky from it.

"And I never said it would definitely drive me insane. I only said that if you do not use it with extreme caution and practiced skill then it will drive you mad. Myself, I like to hope that I possess both of those traits." As he looks toward her he rests his hands on his knees. Pausing to lick his lips and see if she has anything to add.

by **Miharu Mindi** on April 13th, 2010, 2:44 am

"Right, well, that's all well and good, but once you go mad you won't be askin' yourself again, will you? More of a gauge than a prevention method," she sniffed, relinquishing the pan.

When he stopped and looked at her, she looked right back, shrugging. "I suppose I'll find out when I come to visit you again, huh? Either you'll be holding a tea party with Mr. Pickles in a dress, or you'll be fine," she snorted.

by **Sturlin** on April 13th, 2010, 2:50 am

Without missing a beat he decides to have a little bit of fun with her. Feigning shock he looked toward Mr. Pickles, "But, Mr. Pickles is already wearing his dress. Can't you see it?" He says this with all the sincerity he can muster, his eyes wide and confused as they look into hers. He allows a silence to follow for whatever reaction she has before he begins laughing, "Just kidding."

by **Miharu Mindi** on April 13th, 2010, 2:54 am

She stared at him, mouth hanging open a little, as he laughed. He'd barely smiled until now, and now he was making fun of her and laughing.

She dropped her chin to look down at poor Mr. Pickles, who let out a curious little "Prrrowrl?" and reached up to press a paw to her cheek.

"Totally bonkers," she agreed, sniffing derisively - but there was a hint of amusement flashing in her own golden eyes, and she looked more relaxed than she had since she'd first stepped out of the woods.

by **Sturlin** on April 13th, 2010, 3:00 am

"It won't be long before your jerky is finished. Feel free to pack whatever you can into your bag, and eat what you want. Whatever is left over i'll make sure doesn't go to waste," he said with a smile once again on his lopsided face. Reaching out with his hands he adjusted the rack to check and see how it was doing. Perhaps he and Mr. Pickles should invite guests more often. Or perhaps he had just been very lucky with Miharu and Sam.

Regardless of what the true case may be he found he was enjoying himself immensely. The smile remained on his face as he regarded his campsite with euphoric eyes. Whatever came later in his life, this spring was one he would remember fondly. A shadow fell over his features as her words echoed in his mind, breaking the mood. What if he couldn't tell if he was crazy. What if his father had once experienced a spring not unlike this one, before he had settled down. It was a disconcerting thought.

As he looked back to his new friend his smile returned. If he was crazy, at least he was imagining pretty women.

by **Miharu Mindi** on April 13th, 2010, 3:12 am

She giggled when he finally smiled back at her, shaking her head again as she turned the little pink cat over and planted him on his feet, scooting him off to find somewhere else to make his bed.

"Thank you for your help," she said, smiling back at him as she rolled up to her knees and began repacking her bag, making sure to leave room for the jerky. "I have to say, this has been by far the most pleasant run-in with a stranger I've had in these woods. I hope you don't drift too far into the wilderness for me to find you again," she chuckled.

She looked around too, suddenly, realizing that it was getting on towards afternoon. "Oh. I can go if you'd prefer. I mean, I'm sure you have... something... you have to do. I can make my camp elsewhere," she said with a shrug, though she looked a teensy bit like she'd been hoping to camp safely within this space for the evening.