[The Bronze Woods]Pig in a poke (Kaie)

[Teague Therin]

Timestamp: 10th Summer 513

Well, this was a treat! At least, for most of the family members and friends that were in the party of merrymakers, it was to be a day of having fun, even though they were not going to be completely idle. For Teague, well, she would have a certain amount of pleasure in being off and away from the daily routine of the farm. For the past year, her heart seemed incapable of finding any true, deep joy in anything. But on the surface, she could smile placidly and help the children and the older folks who were along for the fun. A cadre of maybe three dozen of the farmers from the Syliran fields were off into the Bronze woods, in search of truffles. The underground delicacy was much sought after, by the farmers and also to sell in the bazaar. The fungi were almost literally worth their weight, and then some, in mizas. In support of this, five or so female pigs – big and pink – were along too, on leashes, just like a dog would be. The lady swine had a particular nose for sniffing out the truffles, and would receive a small amount of the bounty as a reward for their assistance. It was something like a tiny holiday, between the rush of spring planting and the back breaking, intense dawn to dusk labor of the autumn harvest. Teague was looking forward to it on behalf of the others, for she still had a beating heart in her breast, somewhere, and she could still be considerate. But for herself, she saw it only as a slight distraction, from the constant grief of her loss.

They had risen well before the sun, and piled into wagons, and taken the Kabrin Road north, skirted about the city, and gone further, a short way north. Arriving at the spot where they always set about hunting, they had set out blankets to sit on later, for the mid-day meal they’d brought along. Then taking leather satchels, and bread and cheese to gnaw on as they ventured into the woods, they formed up into parties of five to ten, each choosing who they’d like to spend the morning with. Chattering and laughing, they set out from the wagons and began their search.

Teague had chosen to accompany two of her youngest nieces, her brother and his wife, and several of his friends. She meant to keep an eye on the little girls so her brother and sister-in-law could spend some time not having to worry about them. The morning was a productive one. The pig was quite successful in finding many truffles, they dug and chatted and told jokes and even sang. Finally come mid-day, it was time to go back to the wagons. For some reason, Teague had a hold of the sow’s leash, and the others had gone on ahead just a bit in front of her. when she felt a pebble that had worked its way into her shoe. Thinking it would take no time to remove it, she plopped down, but did not call out to the others to stop. It really was the work of a just a minute to remove her shoe, shake out the pebble and replace it. But the woods were thick right there, and when she looked up, she saw none of her party. Only the pig remained, patiently waiting for her to get up and move on.

Teague wasn’t too bothered. They were close to the wagons after all. She was sure of it. She had only to walk…that way. Right?

“I hope you have as good a sense for wagons and mules as you do for truffles,” she muttered to the sow. “Come on, let’s go. Show me the way.”

They set off, young woman and tethered swine, in the direction Teague knew was correct. Within five minutes, she had stopped, looking around, frowning. She couldn’t recall having seen that huge moss covered boulder before, had she? Her head swiveled about, the long dark braid down her back twisting this way and then that. Biting her lip, she looked down at the pig.

“Well, go on, make yourself useful,” she urged it.

The pig grunted, lifted its snout, lowered its snout and began to amble forward. Taking this for a hopeful sign, Teague gave it its head and trailed behind, looking around for any familiar signs, before calling out tentatively, “Hello? Hey – where are you? I had to stop – didn’t you see me? I had a pebble, in my shoe? Hello? Are you close by? Can you hear me?”

Walking resolutely forward, she was reluctant to admit to herself that she was, really, lost.

[Kaie]

Three years living in the Bronze Woods had made Kaie confident in her surroundings. She felt at home there. Sure, they certainly weren't a jungle of any kind, but they were the closest things to home she had. Kaie was very far from home though one would never know it. Her skin had the bronze pigment of the Myrians and her eyes burned with the intense blaze of her people. Surprising most was the fact she was not outrageously pierced and had no tattoos at all. In the streets wearing her cloak, she could pass for a human if she wished. Of course as soon as she removed her cloak all would see she wore her traditional clothing: a loincloth (altered to adhere to the civilized world she worked in) and a leather vest. Out in the forest she felt no need to hide and so she simply wore her usual attire sans cloak, letting her brown curls billow behind her as she ran.

The Myrian woman was well versed in survival just as much as she was skilled with her bare hands in combat. Her hunting on the other hand? Well it could use a bit more work. Nonetheless, she ran along with a crafted wood spear in hand in the direction a set of deer tracks had headed. She was moving quickly and nimbly as she ran, dodging tree trunks and low hanging branches as she moved. Bare feet were quiet on the dirt, working to keep from alerting her prey. The woman had been running low in a predatory stalk for the preservation of stealth. She knew she had to be just behind the deer now.

Seeing a clearing up ahead, Kaie shifted her grip on the spear. She raised her arm so that the spear was level with her head, prepared to throw or rush with it. Just as she was about to exit the foliage she heard a call. No, a voice. It was in the Common tongue and there were many words. Startled, the hunted halted and lowered herself into the brush. Chocolate brown eyes scanned the area, hearing the voice nearing as the speaker walked. Kaie heard a faint snorting and her brow immediately furrowed. Was that a...Pig...On a leash?

The Myrian stood up as soon as she had heard the speaking woman call to some long gone companions. No doubt like she said, she was rather lost. Left behind. In fact not even Kaie had run into any from her party from the direction she approached. They must've been farther up some nearby path. The woman had volume, that was for sure. Kaie leaned up against the tree trunk, spear loosely in hand as she watched the dark haired woman pace past her, calling out loudly still.

"I think the whole forest can hear you, actually. At least I certainly can," The savage said suddenly with a grin, one brow arched in amusement and curiosity. What exactly did this barbarian woman thing she was doing?

[Teague Therin]

Teague’s eyes grew as large as saucers and she jumped back at least a good two feet, almost tripping over the pig, which grunted its discontent at her almost falling on top of it, and shuffled a few inches over. Hastily regaining her balance, her alarmed gaze went to the person who had spoken. Although, she actually had to peer a bit into the dense foliage to make out the other young woman, whose natural coloring and clothing blended in so very well with the forest’s greens and browns. Teague’s agitation only mounted when she saw too the spear the other girl held, and as she managed to regain her balance and bring herself upright, her hand flew to her mouth, fear more than apparent in her whole demeanor. This was all the work of a combination of feeling lost, and alone, and the suddenness of the other’s appearance, layered onto her wild look and outlandish outfit. Teague almost blushed on behalf of the girl’s immodest dress. But within the next moment, her brain began to settle down to the task of processing a bit better, and part of that was what the other girl had actually said, and the fact that it was relayed with a grin.

With a gulp, then, she said tremulously, letting her hand drop a bit. “I – oh – I – I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to – I mean…” Her words were still a step behind her thoughts, but then she realized that she had indeed meant to be heard. She needed to be heard, if she was to be found. For lost she was. She knew that. With a calming breath, and her hands running down the front of her dress as an unconscious way to straighten out her thoughts as well, she said in a steadier voice, “I mean, I’m sorry if I startled you, or – or upset you in anyway.” Truthfully though, the fierce looking brunette looked anything but bothered. She looked…amused. And as she didn’t seem at the moment to be offering up any ill will or threatening behavior, Teague decided to just admit the obvious.

“I’m lost, you see. I was out hunting, with her.” She shook the sow’s leash gently. “And I had a stone in my shoe, and we got separated from the others, that being some of my family, and some friends.” She finally felt comfortable enough to leave off staring at the other girl and let her gaze move around the small spot of tress and underbrush uncertainly. When they came back to the odd looking stranger, she added, “I have no idea which way to go. I – I don’t suppose you’ve seen anyone else around, have you?” Her voice was not quite hopeful. But it stood to reason, if this strange young woman had heard her calling out, maybe the others would have too?

Once again she looked about but there was no comforting rustle of leaf, no echoing call that they had heard and were on their way.

[Kaie]

The fear was evident in the woman. Not just on her face or in her nervous behavior, but even in her speech. Her voice had been unsteady and thoughts seeming jumbled when she choked out a reply. Kaie simply remained how she was, a neutral expression plastered on her face. Just leaning against the tree lazily. Her eyes watched the woman carefully as she tried to explain her current predicament, which only earned her a perplexed stare from the savage.

She was hunting with the pig? You've gotta be kidding...

Chocolate orbs flickered from the stranger to the snorting creature leashed at her side. Disbelief flooded her and she couldn't decide whether the girl was completely joking. Thus far she seemed pretty serious about her story. Kaie couldn't help but serious wonder if this woman was mad, her story completely some sort of delusion. How could she think any differently? Back at home, they hunted with Myrian Tigers as their companions, not swine. Unless this was some sort of rare barbarian carnivorous pig, Kaie was simply lost.



"How in the hell do you plan on hunting anything down with that?" She asked strangely, pointing the end of her spear at the fat beast. The savage watched the woman, waiting to see with what kind of explanation she could possibly have for her companion.