[Aylasa Caves] Reunion (Sturlin & Sam)

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam laughed at that, watching with vague interest as Sturlin waited to catch the boneless pink cat. What a choo-choo bear.

"Well, if you let me know which day you'll be in town, I could meet you... But why would you avoid the knights? And why would they like me? I'm not anybody special. I mean, I guess they might like me if I'm teaching them not to fall off their horses..."

[Sturlin]

"You seem to keep out of trouble. I am not as good at that. Knights do not like trouble. Perhaps we could meet there on the first day of Summer? I will be bringing in my meat to sell." Momentarily distracted, his eyes went wide and he jumped as the cat slipped and YOWLED all the way down toward the ground. Fortunately Sturlin moved his arms up and time and caught the cat, earning a few scratches on his arm for reward.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"We could do that," he agreed.

The first of summer; he didn't know whether his fate would catch up to him by then, or whether it would take him away from Syliras. He shook his head, smiling bemusedly at Mister Pickles' predicament and rescue. It was a choice, he realized. He would choose to be there on the first of summer come hell or high water. In a sense he would be challenging this fate that hovered at the edges of his awareness, teasing him, taunting him.

But as he watched the scarred man care for his cat, he recognized a goodness in him. It might not be the kind of goodness the knights of Syliras held dear, nor might it be the kind of goodness to be counted on for anything, but it was there all the same, and he was quietly pleased that he could recognize it as such. The world was too full of terrible things for simple goodness to be a cheap or commonplace commodity.

"Let's do that," he agreed. "The first of summer."

[Sturlin]

Sturlin did not have friends, other than his animals. And Francis was something of an acquaintance rather than a friend (though Sam was well on the way toward improving relations between man and horse). It was comforting to know that whatever happened throughout the rest of the spring he would have someone to meet on his way into Syliras for the summer.

"Perhaps at that time I will have more practice in riding Francis." Walking over toward Sam his face twisted into the half-grimace half-smile which was his friendliest expression. Holding out his arms he offered Sam a chance to hold the purring blob of pink flesh which happened to be a cat. It showed a trust of sorts. "Would you like to hold Mr. Pickles?"

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam was friendly, but didn't really have friends. He had Horse and he had himself and they had their endless pursuit of survival; endless, at least, until it finally ended. He hoped that fate didn't drive him away from Syliras before the First of Summer. It would feel good to complete this errand with an ally who walked on two feet, (though he had trained Horse to do that, too).

"You should ride Francis to Syliras so I can see how you're coming along with that," he said, holding his hands out for Mister Pickles. He hoped the cat liked him enough to be held, the domesticated sociopaths were difficult to charm.

[Sturlin]

Mr. Pickles swung his imperious gaze toward the horse master as he was held away from Sturlin. Though he sniffed the air for a few moments, and flexed his claws menacingly, in the end he allowed Sam to hold him. His skin was softer than the fur of many other cats. Strangely enough he curled his tail and twisted it constantly as he purred. It appeared to move independently of the cat's other actions.

"I will try to ride him into the city. I am not sure I will be able to," he added with a tight smile. As Mr. Pickles seemed to slip in Sam's grasp, as all cats seem to do as they flop around seeking a comfortable position, Sturlin's hands raised involuntarily to catch him. With an uncharacteristic worry in his voice he said, "Be careful of his back. Support his back legs. Yes, like that."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam nodded and did as he was told; of course he knew how to properly hold a cat, but he understood how Sturlin felt. He was never pleased with other people grooming or caring for Horse. Nobody did it his way, and so it was never good enough. He realized how irrational that might be, but it was just the way he felt and he had learned to go with it.

"Well, like I said, hold on with your legs and if you fall off, get back on again. The practice will do you good. I promise." He grinned, and dared nuzzle the hairless cat with his face a bit.

[Sturlin]

The cat returned the nuzzle with much vigor! Perhaps because he had no fur to muffle the sound Mr. Pickles had a disproportionately loud purr. Sturlin seemed satisfied, for the moment, that Sam would take good care of his friend. The reminder about horses made the hunter wince and rub his hands. Falling off the horse was still fresh in his memory. Getting back on was not his first choice of pass time.

"Yes. I will get back on. Perhaps twice a day. I refuse to devote a full day to falling. Perhaps spreading the falling throughout multiple days will help. It will certainly mitigate the pain."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"Well, don't do it on my account," he said, grinning wider for the cat's affection. "But if you do want to learn, that's the mindset you need to have. You won't learn by not doing, that's for sure."

[Sturlin]

"True words Sam. Learning is something I know of. Perhaps I should view it only as learning. Not as a painful ordeal." His smirk spoke volumes. He had told a joke! Hopefully Sam was not so startled that he fell down and dropped the cat.