PM to join Knight, Tiger and Boar. [Tara]

[Markus Andres]

The knight was happy that the tiger offered to help him get to the city. It meant a lot to him that she wanted to help him. More surprising was also taht she did not ask for anything in return. Perhaps the dropped remark of having it set was her repayment. Perhaps he had found another person who was as uninterested in material wealth as himself and S'Essy. If only more people were like him in that regard. Would remove much of the strife between people. That was his theory at least.

"Well, I won't say no to having a tiger escort me back to town." He chuckled lightly. "I can imagine that would turn some faces. A man and a tiger walking casually down the street." The chuckle came again as he leant back and Kvist sent a curious glance after Tara when she left the cave. Still trying to get a feel for the woman. Split between pushing her a little more for coming to visit them. Perhaps invite her over for something to eat and drink one evening. He could imagine the sassy tone from S'Essy when he explained he had invited another woman over to join them for dinner.

The knight had a silly grin on his lips at the thought. As he lay there he realized she would probably be worried sick about him. He had given the possibility that he'd be out here 'til the morning. But the way his leg felt, he wasn't sure it would only be a single day before he would be okay to travel again. He would hate to be a burden to Tara after how helpful she had been. There was a sound from the entrance and Kvist raised his head and looked at her as she came through with his backpack, quiver and bow. A bright smile came on his lips.

"Thank you!" He exclaimed gratefully as he extended his hand to grab the quiver and bow. With little more than a passing glance to the arrows. They seemed to all be there, but his worry was on the bow. Had it taken any damage from the long drop and extended stay in the water. He hoped it hadn't for he was quite fond of the bow. Served him well for several years. He let his right hand wipe down the side of the front of the bow. Trying to wipe the worst of the excess water off of it. It would do well to be allowed to dry. He pressed a flat hand against the ground and leant forward. Ignored the grimace that accompanied the pain in his leg as he reached into the bag that she offered.

"Hmm? I think everything is there. I mean, who'd take anything?" He asked half absent-minded. He trusted Tara enough that she wouldn't take anything. He withdrew the full waterskin and poured some water into his mouth before offering the skin to the tiger in disguise. The water was nice and cool. "Have you always lived here in Sunberth?" He was very curious as to how one could make a life work in the city.
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[Tara Kenja]

The idea of a man walked with a large tiger by one's side was actually very amusing to her. Although, more than a few people would be relatively intimidated by both man and animal. With a smirk on her face she wiped her damp hands on her brown pants. They were certainly becoming worn down. A new wardrobe would be in order sooner rather than later. Tara nodded as he thanked her for retrieving his belongings. Not much words were to be exchanged at the time, on her part it was more curiosity than anything else.

There was a little emotion of relief on her face as Markus found everything inside of is bad. Tara raised her brow as he questioned why any items would be missing. Many of times she would leave something unattended one tick and the next it would be gone.“You'd be surprised, there are plenty of travellers and even little scavengers that like to pick at everything.” Slowly the sound of failing rain drops echoed in her ears. Only for a moment did she look back at her front entrance to see the coming of precipitation and darkness.

Lifting her hand up, “No thank you, I've got.” She politely rejected his over. The question arose if she had always taken up residence in Sunberth. There wasn't much to loose if she told the truth but, Tara still had her little doubts in this man. Would he be the type to bring her back to Kenash? Or maybe he would try and sell her once more in Sunberth. She choose to lie through her teeth. Just to be sure, she had always been one to never tell the truth. It was not in her blood. Her parents did it to her so Tara followed in their footsteps.

“Born and raised.” Smiling she took pride in her lie and acted as though it was the truth. Of course she felt bad, he opened himself however much he wanted yet she did not. As her guilt seeped through her thoughts there was something missing. The lightness she felt around her throat was because her father's gift was missing. Creasing her brow for a chime, placing a finger she excused herself from the conversation for a moment. “Hold on, I believe I left something.. somewhere.”

Getting up Tara moved slowly, looking on the cold ground for her necklace. It was a natural habit for her to remove the necklace before every transition into her animal form. As there was a very, very high risk of the chain snapping. Finally, near her little makeshift bed was the necklace. Picking it up, the chain was cold but felt good on her warm skin. Whenever the cage was moved it always made a little jingle as the two stone orbs moved around in the metal encasing. It was not a good accessory if one wanted to be stealthy, even the little white bird that hung on the chain made noise.

Most of the time it even distracted Tara. "I thought I had lost this." She mumbled to herself as returned to Markus, moving the cage to and fro as entertainment. The time of day was coming to an end and soon the clouds above would be replaced with bright shining stars and a large moon. Surely her patient was getting tired. Even she herself would need rest soon. "The fire should last a little while but it wont be to bright. Hopefully some darkness will put your mind at ease." It was only comfortable for her to sleep in her animal form. It provided protection and comfort. She would have slept in her own bedding but even know she wanted to keep and eye on Markus or if he needed anything during the night, she'd be at arms reach.

[Markus Andres]

Kvist pulled the waterskin back when she rejected the offer. He didn't think any further about it, kitty wasn't thirsty. He put it to his lips and poured himself another mouthful. He plugged it up again and tied the string around to keep it from popping open in the middle of the night. He placed it to the side and reached for his backpack to place it under his head as he rested it against the ground. The rest of his body had learnt to sleep wearing full armour so the unyielding rock that adorned most of the cave didn't bother him. Not that it was very pleasant to sleep against it, but as long as he could rest his head on something softer, he wouldn't complain. He nodded to the tigress when she admitted she had been born and raised in Sunberth. And judging from her age she was in her early or mid twenties. Surviving for that long out here outside of the relatively safer city. Kvist could not have done that, he'd would have either starved or been killed by a balicani - if they had those around here - rather quickly. Then again, he wasn't a tigress. He stirred when she suddenly remembered something. She left him to go rummage through her stuff and he raised a brow in her direction. Wondering what was going on. She had lost something within her own cave?

Well... She isn't used to having guests... maybe a little quirky because of that. Just like knight Shatter. She was also a strange one... - Kvist let his mind wander as he recalled his colleagues back in Syliras. He missed the stone fortress and what it represented to him. Solid and unyielding like the stone he lay upon. Things were the same, no sudden changes in alliances and no sudden street warfare for no apparent reasons other than insanity. A simpler time. Orders were orders and you did those the best you could. He yawned and covered his mouth. It was soon time for him to get some shut eye.

Emerald eyes switched to the tigress as she made her way over by his side again. What attracted his eyes was the sound around her neck. Something jingled inside of what she had found. It took some time before he could properly see what it was. The white marble, he assumed, birds were what first caught his eyes as their colour stood out more against her darker skin. The shapes came next. It looked like a cage of sorts. Birdcage he assumed from the birds. What took the longest for him to locate was the origin of the jingling sound. For a brief moment he wondered if she were carrying a bell behind her back and driving him insane with it before the orbs were seen within the cage. Two of them. It was a peculiar trinket. Obviously the work of someone very talented with his craft and obviously something Tara treasured.

"That is a peculiar necklace." He said softly. "Can't say I have seen one like it before." He leant on an elbow and reached out carefully with the other hand. "May I?" He let the hand hover gently and would move according to her permission. Wanting to look at it closer and examine it. Perhaps gently shake it and make the plinging sound again. He smiled warmly that turned into a half-yawn before he suppressed it. Off in the distance the sound of rain mingled with the sound of her necklace.

"An heirloom? Or a reminder?" He gestured to the birds outside of the cage.

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[Tara Kenja]

Nodding to his request at seeing her necklace, Tara reached back and unclasped the jewellery. She placed it in the palm of his hand, forgetting to cover the two whip lash scars that wrapped around her wrist. They were obviously painful, as though someone had taken a knife and drew into her soft skin. Of course that is what they felt like when the Kelvic earned them. She was not thinking of it at the time. Her reason for wanting to hide her scars were out of shame.

Growing up thinking that slavery was something that no one wished to be involved with had an impact on her. For in her mind a slave would be the lowest someone could go, she believed no freedom was not a life anyone should live. In Kenash it was almost a disgrace to be a slave. Especially of the Kelvic roots. You were nothing but an animal in their eyes. Tara only dreamed that the past was in the past and no one needed to know.

“I suppose I consider it to be both.” Shrugging she simply added, “My father gave it to me.” She had kept it intact for such a long time, it was a miracle the chain that supported the necklace had not snapped. Either from a fight or her having to shift. Tara wouldn't lie, it was a little more than distracting at times. While Markus observed the jewellery she got up one last time, hopefully the last time for the night.

She walked where his eyes could see her and spoke as she undressed herself, preparing for a shift. "If you need anything during the night don't be afraid to wake me up." Folding her clothing Tara than shifted. Her dark skin, within ticks, became a mixture of pale white and gentle oranges of different shades. Tara proceeded to blow out her pink, wet nostrils and it came out a few snorts. Though to many it would sound as a low purr.

It was meant as a non-threatening but for some reason it was the first noise she would do. Shaking her head, the thick fur around her cheeks and the sides of her face moved as well. The long tail behind her twitched at the end. With a thump Tara curled next to Markus, only a foot or two away from his face. Only for a tick or two did she look at the man's face and than, uncurling. She than turned opposite to him.

Stretching, Tara extended her front paws above her head and flexed her claws than retracted them.

[Markus Andres]

A pair of scars lined the wrist of the woman. He noticed, but did not mention it, scars had stories behind them. Deep stories often and not the kind one would tell a stranger. Though they intrigued him, very much. Didn't look like the kind one would get in an accident. Not without it being freakish. He accepted the necklace and examined it closer, though it had taken a backseat now. His curiosity at her scars much deeper. Told him the tiger had a past, not necessarily a good one. That she had allowed him into her home was even more profound now. He had to bite back his curiosity. If he knew her better, perhaps then he would ask a question, but for now he would keep silent. Attention turned entirely to the necklace. Symbolic? Heirloom? It was both, reminder of her father. Fond reminder or otherwise? He looked for a sign in her features when she got up and moved away from his resting place. The woman began to undress. The knight pondered whether the woman was about to change to night clothes.

"Okay" He answered simply. The woman folded her clothes and than changed into her night 'clothes'. Despite having seen her shift several times, it was no less mesmerising to see a young attractive woman turn into a majestic apex predator. The powerful muscles as the tigress walked over by him. A swat with those paws and he'd be hurting and in need of her human touch again. He almost chuckled at the idea. But what was he to do with the necklace in his grip now? Could she even wear it in her magnificent tiger form? He couldn't even walk away and stash it somewhere safe. He looked up at the tiger that lumbered over to him. Wondering briefly if she intended to work as a blanket for him. A giant living blanket. He really hoped she didn't - although the fur would be soft, he didn't like the idea of sleeping up against another woman than S'Essy. Even if it was a woman in a tiger form. It sounded like the tiger was purring though. Which made him smile warmly at the tiger. Still amazed by the sight as she curled up next to him. Reminded him once more an overgrown house cat, though he suppressed the urge to call her kitty. Something that became very easy when the cat brandished those claws of hers as she stretched out. There was a smirk ruined by a yawn as he laid down. He had known better beds. And warmer ones. But he would survive.

"Goodnight Tara." He said softly as he reached out and placed the necklace as far away from them both as he could. "and please don't dream of eating me..." He murmured with half a smirk before laying his head to rest. Thinking of the woman who was undoubtedly worried about him. He sighed lightly and drifted off to sleep.
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[Jashkataal]

“Heroes know that things must happen when it is time for them to happen. A quest may not simply be abandoned; unicorns may go unrescued for a long time, but not forever; a happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story.” ― Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn

 

Markus

Experience

• Animal Husbandry + 2
• Bow: Composite Short +1
• Detection +2
• Endurance +5
• Interrogation +2
• Flirting +2
• Socialization +5
• Stealth +2

Lores

• Tara the Kelvic
• Tara's Cave
• A sprained ankle
• Boar sounds
• Smell of Vyfox leafs

Miscellaneous

• Sprained ankle: a fortnight to fully regain range of motion, strength and flexibility - or a Rank 1 Healer.
• Ankle wound: 5-7 days before fully functional - or a Rank 1 Healer.

Great thread! Wonderful writing. I found myself a gasp at the length but am glad for it as well. Well done.

 

Tara

Please update ledger for grade. I've PMed you and I hope to post your grade soon. I would like to see you awarded for all the writing you've done on such a good, and long thread.

If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to send a PM. Please remember to delete your grade request. The pleasure was all mine.

Regards,
~Jashkataal