Welcome of Wolves {Vanator, Naomi}

[Naomi]

Naomi, garbed in light linen and leather, believed the Spring heat completely comfortable, most due to the lack of humidity. It was a blessing out in the grasses. Zeltiva was built along the coast, making the summers not too hot, but somewhat...sweaty. A dip in the ocean was always appreciated underneath the midday sun. However, out in the Cyphrus wilderness, she was utterly relaxed. Her stomach began to grumble and a thin pain crawled through her belly. Bringing her backpack around to her front, she opened the top flap and rummaged through. She withdrew a small cloth bag and returned the pack, sliding each strap to rest upon each shoulder. Opening the bag, she brought out a few raisins. Popping a few in her mouth, she held out the bag toward Vanator. "Would you like some raisins? They're a bit old, unfortunately, but they still seem to be keeping. Their tang is still sweet." Smiling at him, she tilted her head. "A walk out in the wilderness, mm? I know how you feel. I didn't quite have this much space to roam, I took frequent walks next to the sea or out in the forest when I needed to relax." She chuckled. "Though wow! You certainly wandered far out. I'm very lucky that you ran across me."

[Vanator]

The Drykas and Zeltivan rode until the sun sank to touch the horizon. Vanator said they would stop for the night, and the two found a fitting site near a small spring. Naomi dug right into to setting up camp, and Vanator was pleased with how well she worked with him to set up their tents and establish a suitable home for the evening. Obviously she had been on her own for a while and the chores were second nature. Once a suitable fire was started, Van approached the woman. "I am going to set up a security web." HE spoke in a amatter-of-fact tone. He was not sure Naomi knew about webs, or what was required to create them. "If you would, keep your eyes open while I create it. I will not be aware of my surroundings as I do it." The Drykas knew Naomi was the curious sort, and he paused, giving her the opportunity to ask questions. Once her curiosity was satisfied, Vanator sat next to a small rock near the spring. His eyes closed and his breathing slowed to a deep, steady rhythm. His hands moved strangely, as if handling something invisible. It continued for several chimes until the webber laid his hands upon the rock. His eyes opened slowly, and after a chime or so more, he stood to his feet and returned to the fire. Glancing at Naomi with a smile he inquired, "So, what are you cooking us for dinner?"

[Naomi]

Naomi wiped at her brow after she helped Vanator set up the tents, chucks flushed and lungs working. Though it wasn't tough work, it was tedious and kept her mind wandering, and sweat formed in consequence of her dislike. As they finished, she looked to the horizon and watched the sun fall almost completely beneath her visibility. When he spoke of webs, she glanced at him, head tilting inquiringly. "A...security web? What are those?" She tried to think of classes in the university that might've covered them, but came up empty. "How do you...make them? What are they made of?" She watched him sit near the spring and, as asked, kept a close eye on their surroundings. However, curiosity led her to watch him for a chime or so, looking at his hands strangely. Interesting. As she sat next to the fire, she watched him draw near, though could not feel anything different in the air. His question caused her to laugh. "What am I cooking? Well, it depends. You wouldn't happen to have any meat on you, would you? All I have left are a few bags of nuts and raisins. I haven't been able to catch anything since I entered Cyphrus."

[Vanator]

Vanator glanced at the light-skinned woman, seeing the bright curiosity in Naomi's big brown eyes. She had been like a sponge, happily absorbing any information about Cyphrus or the Drykas that the horseman was willing to share. And she always welcomed it with a smile. Her interest in his land and his people pleased Van, and he was willing to share with her more than he usually did with outsiders. "The Drykas use a form of magic as a type of information gathering and communication tool. It is very similar to a spider-web, in that it is created as a system of inter-connecting strands of djed. Ancient webs cover almost the entirety of the Sea of Grass. We can also make smaller ones, like around our camp, that will alert me if something crosses the web as it approaches." It would also warn him if the curious girl decided to wander off without him. The Drykas grinned as Naomi confessed she only had a few nuts and raisins. He had been teasing her, already planning on making stew. He had the ingredients, but the young woman was going to help cook. Vanator disappeared into his tent, returning a chime later with a pot, a pitcher, and a bundle of something wrapped in a leather cloth. He returned to Naomi's side, stooping to set his armful of supplies on the ground next to her. The leather coth opened to reveal a hunk of salted game, several root vegetables resembling carrots and turnips, and a sealed pottery container. "I just happen to have a few things stuffed in my pack that we may be able to eat." He smiled widely and winked at Naomi, having caught her contagious congenial attitude. He handed her the pitcher. "Would you fetch some water?" Vanator uncapped the porcelain jar, pouring some of the dark soup stock into the pot before resealing it. Then he pulled out a small knife, and began cutting pieces off of the preserved meat and dropping it in the pot. He spoke up at Naomi as she filled the pitcher at the spring, his tone lined with a playful taunting. "And what exactly did you plan to do when your nuts and berries ran out?"

[Naomi]

Naomi's stomach growled as she saw the various utensils he brought out from his tent. Gods, she was hungry. She laid a hand on her stomach and rubbed unconsciously, smiling with excitement. "Well, you are the perfect man tonight," she laughed, gently taking the pitcher from him. Her nod was swift before she turned and walked to the spring, dipping down to take up some water into the pitcher. At his voice, she gave a short bark of almost sarcastic laughter. "Well, I had been planning to catch something when I crossed the border." She shook her head, mouth curving into a frown. "That, or finding someone. I didn't expect to get stuck without any food, that's for sure. I just wasn't expecting the grasses to be so high...impossible to find small game, mm?" Careful not to spill, she returned and knelt, setting the pitcher next to her as she watched him work. The smell from the soup stock and dried meat was a blessing to her nose and stomach. Her belly began to turn, anxious for the ensuing stew. "Thank you again, Vanator," she blushed, embarrassed. "I would've been dead earlier, but...Gods, I need food." She placed a hand on his shoulder for a moment to display her sincerity. Moving back, she stood and waited for instruction. "What else would you have me do?"

[Vanator]

Vanator turned his head away and grinned slightly at Naomi's compliment. He watched her as she walked to the spring and stooped down, then turned back to slicing the vegetables into the pot. He shook his head as she revealed her ill-conceived plans to feed herself in the open grassland. Again, he wondered what god or goddess she had found favor with to get her this far, and if that deity would have stopped the wolf if he hadn't. There were far more dangerous things in the Sea of Grass. She would have been a fine prize for some slavers. His temper flared slightly at her ignorance. He would have hated for something like that happen to her. Vanator was determined to get the outsider somewhere safe before parting ways. His irritation subsided as Naomi returned with the pitcher, and a grumbling stomach. Van continued to cut up the carrots and turnips, simply shrugging as Naomi thanked him. When her hand touched his shoulder, he finally looked up, giving her an honest smile. "I'm glad I came along when I did Naomi." He pointed at the pitcher with his knife. "You can pour that in the pot." As the stew cooked over the fire, Vanator gave Backlash a good long brushing. He applied the brush with great care, almost as if he were caressing a woman. The Drykas spoke in hushed tones to the mare in the language of the horseclans, the Strider moving her head and nickering almost as if she understood him. For the most part they ignored Naomi, though Vanator would toss a sidelong glance at the young woman from time to time. The sun dipped below the grass-fringed horizon in another color-splashed Cyphrus sunset, the campfire quickly becoming their only illumination. The Drykas and the Strider seemed to pay homage to the spectacle, staring out over the plains, the man's arm wrapped around the bucksin mare's neck. Van eventually turned back towards the camo, returned to the fire and, using the head of his hand ax to hook its handle, lifted it off the fire and set it next to Naomi. Suddenly Van realized he had no bowl for her. He always ate out of the pot with a knife and a wooden cup.. He looked down at her sheepishly. "Uh, we are going to have to share the pot."

[Naomi]

Naomi nodded, doing as she asked. As she poured the pitcher of water into the pot, she watched the steam rise with a smile. "Ohhh, I can't wait," she laughing, her stomach aching painfully. The two went their separate ways for a time: Vanator to his horse and Naomi to the spring. She had Arrow follow her to drink the cool water as she sat thinking to herself. She failed to look back at Vanator, but it wasn't from being rude or uninterested. Her thoughts traveled to her home and to where she still needed to roam. The dazzling sun, the beautiful garments...six arm-ed warriors fighting for their lands. Arrow whinnied and walked off towards the fire, immediately bringing her to attention. She stood, stretching with her arms above her head. Naomi returned to the fire after a chime, sitting next to the stewpot anxiously. Her nose caught the scent of food and her mouth began to water, stomach twisting. "Oh, that's fine. I have a knife, though...would you happen to have an extra cup?" She gave a thoughtful smile. She stood and headed to her tent with long steps, entering and feeling around her backpack for her eating knife. She returned less than a chime later, sitting before the pot with a hungry look in her eyes. "If you don't that's fine. I can eat some meat while I wait for the water to cool."

[Vanator]

Vanator looked at Naomi, then down at the wooden mug in his hand. "Here, you use it." Stooping down by the pot, he dipped the cup into the steaming stew, drawing out a serving. He wiped the brownish liquid from the sides of the mug on his pants and held it out towards the woman with a smile. Van was still curious about Naomi, what motivated the young woman to travel alone on such a grand journey. Lost love had driven his Vantha friend from the frozen north. Rejection had forced Hex to leave her Chaktawe tribe. He had no idea what compelled his Kelvic friend to leave Zeltiva. There would be a bell or two before he would turn in, and the Drykas figured they needed some topic of discussion or be forced to stare at one another across the small campfire. His inquiry would be quite personal, but out there, in the middle of the Sea of Grass, where life is snuffed out on a regular basis, etiquette and social sensibilities seemed irrelevant. Vanator met the woman's big brown eyes before he spoke. "Naomi, why did you really leave home? Was it really just for some adventure? One does not usually take off on such an epic trip without a pretty big reason." Stabbing a hunk of meat in the pot and tearing off a generous bite, Van shoved it in his mouth. His probing gaze did not leave Naomi's, though he softened it with a subtle grin.

[Limey]

Vanator Skill and Lore Rewards Skills Lore Observation 2 Drawn To The Sounds Of Danger Bow 1 Not Just To Kill, But Force To Flee And Buy Time Battle Ax Naomi: Another Clueless Traveler Rhetoric 2 The Solitude Of The Plains Webbing 1 Explaining Webbing Cooking 2 Lore: Security Webbing Teaching 1 Horsemanship 1 Additional Notes : Naomi, if you ever do come back, lemme know and I'll give you a grade for this. Fine work as always, Van, but next time go into a little more detail about what goes into the process of "security webbing". Sounded fascinating, but you didn't really do into much detail about what happens or what is required or what the risks of doing it are. Any questions or queries, please PM me.