Faelyn Tries To Catch a Rabbit (closed/moderated)

[Ilhor Skyglow]

Ilhor was shocked by the sudden appearance of this man, seemingly from nowhere. He didn't expect anyone else to be at this place, except for any wild animals, who he tought unlikely to approach them. As the man talked an moved towards them, Ilhor instictively reached for his dagger, though the kind voice of the stranger before them made him not to draw it. Quickly, with the adrenaline rushing inside him, he assessed the man. His voice was soft, but he was dressed in rags, his skin was starting to go blue, apparently from the cold, and his hair was messed up and full of tiny icicles. "An escaped prisoner", he thought, his hand immediately tightening around the hilt of his dagger, his other hand reaching for the horn to sound an alarm. "Stand back!", he yelled. "Don't move an inch closer! Who are you and what do you want?". Ilhor couldn't move his head to see what Faelyn was doing, but he hoped she wasn't going to panic, or they would both be in big trouble.

[Faelyn]

Faelyn moved quietly behind Ilhor, clasping her hands together. It was less of a panic, and more of a shying away from social interaction. She peered around him. "Is... he dangerous?" She asked, looking up. Her face was serious, her voice soft, and trembling only a little. She noticed that he had lifted his dagger, and she too, removed hers from her waistband, gripping it in her hand awkwardly. She had little to no experience in using a weapon. She had spent most of her life perfecting her singing, not... not fighting. She didn't really like the feel of the dagger in her hand. A fear in the back of her mind told her that she needed to learn how to use the crude instrument of death. It might save her life one day... whether she liked it or not.

Her eyes moved from Ilhor's face over to the other man. "W-what kind of deal?" She asked in a soft voice, clearly somewhat intimidated. Well, clearly -very intimidated. Her eyes, by now, had changed from their beautiful violet color to a bright turquoise color. She eyed his clothing. What on earth could someone so filthied have to offer them?

[Viq]

They both looked green with the blade, and he had definitely brawled against many stronger opponents in the past. But in his haggard state, a violent confrontation started to look more and more like a non-option; he certainly hadn't noticed the daggers before.

"A man must look as pretty as the Lights to be an honest businessman?", he exclaimed, responding this way both to the vigilant boy and the alarmed girl. "Well, aren't you two lovebirds quick to a fight?" , he uttered mindlessly, not realizing this could potentially insult the two Vantha, that, for all he knew, could be siblings.

He decided to recover from this blunder by giving them the answers they so desired: "But where are my manners? My name is Velocks Winterflame...", he said, pausing for a moment, as if trying to remember a long-lost memory. "..and I'm a vintner; you should try my wine one day.", he added with a glimmer of pride in his eyes.

"But enough about me, I'll let you have my offer: A chunk of roasted rabbit for a fire; if you're feeling peckish you should hurry and come light it, before the bark and wood I've gathered gets damper than my spirits.", he finished, somehow doubting they would be willing to trust him.

[Ilhor Skyglow]

Ilhor understood the possible implication with the rabbit, but it didn't matter. What did matter was if this man was indeed an escaped prisoner, and if this was a trap, other criminals waiting to ambush them as soon as they set out for this stranger's supposed camp. Quickly, Ilhor formed a plan in his head and started to execute it. He lowered his dagger a bit, which he had drawn a moment ago since Faelyn had drawn hers, and started sidestepping slowly around the strange man. He did half a circle and carefully searched for any indications of a trap. Seeing nothing unusual, he said "If warmth and food is what you need, I will be happy to extend our hospitality. Please, come with us to my Arvinta. The city gates are not more than 10 minutes away, if we follow the main road." Ilhor watched the man carefully, any facial expression, any gesture, anything he said, even the pitch of his voice, could indicate his intentions. He lowered his dagger even further, and turned to Faelyn, giving her a reassuring look, beckoning her to lower her dagger as well. Ilhor knew that if the stranger was a prisoner, he could never set foot in Avanthal, and if he had a trap set up, he would never follow them to the main road, but would want to have them follow him. Ilhor thought that he had put the man in a situation where he had to reveal his intentions, directly or indirectly. He turned to the strange man and smiled thinly, waiting for his reaction.

[Faelyn]

A look in her eyes showed that she wasn't very happy about the mention of the rabbit, in fact, she looked a mix of outraged and depressed as her eyes locked with Ilhor's. But she did as he implied, and put the dagger back into her waistband. She stayed behind Ilhor, feeling that he, though they had just met, was some sort of safety net for her. She looked back at the stranger, and forced a warm smile, catching on to what Ilhor had planned. She figured the more inviting she looked, the better off their plan would be. The whole while, however, she continued to wring her hands together, although the motion may be seen as the product of a shy girl attempting to be friendly.

[Viq]

He had been played like a common lute; the Bard had strummed his chords and Velocks danced to the tune, like a finely crafted automaton.

He couldn't possibly accept such an invitation. Entering the city he so hated, risking life in bondage anew, after spending fifteen bitter years pining for freedom? He'd rather die hungry and alone, cursing the ones who bore him, and the goddess and her cruelty.

Frustrated by the futility of his efforts, he found the energy to utter a simple "Have it your way, young brood.", before turning away to leave the two at peace. They didn't seem to be enjoying this encounter either, and their daggers and horns dictated the rules of the game; not the stratagem he had so carelessly crafted in his distress.

Besides, who knows, someone willing to help might be waiting just around the next bend of the road. The road! The boy mentioned the gates? 10 minutes? That's too close for comfort; he had to keep moving, if his refusal of food and shelter was to have any meaning.

[Ilhor Skyglow]

Seeing the strange man backing off so easily, Ilhor was sure about two things: This man was a law breaker, and, most certainly, he didn't have a trap set up. Ilhor watched the man move away, thinking how desperate he must be to risk talking to them in the open, feeling that he would certainly die if he didn't receive any help. Truth be told, Ilhor was not a man to judge people as others might, and deep inside him, he detested the official justice system. For him, what was right and wrong could only be a personal matter, decided by those involved in the action, not by an outside mediator. As the man moved further away, Ilhor had to make a decision. Would he let the man die, not caring if he deserved such a fate or not, or would he try to find out what happened that got him in prison in the first place, and judge for himself? "Wait, I know you are a prisoner. I don't want to hurt you, or turn you in. I just have to know what is that you did." "And I have a flint with me", he added, to lure the man back. His impulsive nature, and his deep need to see true justice served, have taken the decision for him. He only hoped Faelyn wouldn't think him crazy for inviting the man back.

[Faelyn]

Her eyes didn't read that she thought him crazy. But they did show a tinge of hurt, for the rabbit. Perhaps she was a little too gentle-gentle hearted. In her mind, it didn't seem fair that the poor rabbit wasn't even being given a chance, but she held her tongue. At the same time, a look of pity was sent to the prisoner.

A look was given to Ilhor, a look of great respect. It took a big heart to offer someone as lowly and hated by their people as a prisoner. She nodded her consent, and finally stepped out from behind Ilhor, moving to his side, showing that she wasn't completely terrified of the stranger. If Ilhor seemed to trust them, it seemed she'd probably still be safe. She waited there, wondering if the stranger would accept Ilhor's new offer.

[Viq]

As he was moving further away from the two young Vantha, a sudden gale enveloped his body. He heard them bark some nonsense he couldn't possibly comprehend, due to the inclement weather. However, even if he had heard Ilhor's new offer, he wouldn't have been moved by it; his one goal was to move as far away from Avanthal as possible, to the potential detriment of his own health.

Before they knew it, he had disappeared. His two trails -one from his camp to the locale of his encounter with Faelyn, and one away from it, towards the wastes- would surely fade in a matter of minutes, as a blizzard was about to hit the area. If the hare was still alive, Velocks' camp was their best bet; if he had it with him, safely tucked within his clothes, the other trail was to be followed, if the critter was to survive his appetite. In any case, the snow had already began falling, and pressured for a decision.

[Ilhor Skyglow]

Seeing the snow picking up, a possible blizzard forming, and the man moving further away at speed, Ilhor thought that this evening had come to an end. Time to go home. As he was ready to start heading back to Avanthal, he remembered the rabbit. Faelyn had been very careful during this dangerous encounter, and even supporting at all the crucial points, so he thought he owed it to her to let her make the decision about their next action. He pulled his clothes tighter around his body and asked her in a steady voice: "The rabbit might still be out there, but the trail might disappear any second. Should we head back home? Or press on?"