The Journey Begins

[Ricky Maze]

Day 61st, Winter 510 AV

"Who is she?" Ricky hears as he awoke, talking to himself apparently. Odis was still laid out over the floor, while Ricky was still lost in his thoughts. Staring deeply into the space above him, he tried to make out any details...but even the mysterious world had vanished from memory. The only thing he could remember was him lying down, maybe under a tree...

Ricky leaned up to see the sun just barely rising over the horizon, he was still wearing his linens when he went to bed. They were always comfortable to sleep in, usually it was either that or sleeping naked. He figured it would've been best if he kept his linens on though, so he would avoid any awkward interactions when he wandered through the house.

He carefully slid onto the chilly wooden floor, his feet felt chills traveling up his legs; giving him goosebumps. He slid on his leather shoes and his old vest, though the white had faded to a dull gray after having it for so long. He carefully tip toed his way down the hall, seeing his guest laying perfectly still in the bedroll as he passed by. The thought of having a new friend enjoying a play to sleep made him feel joyous, it was good to have another person to relate to than Odis.

He sneaked out the front door as quiet as possible, slowly shutting the squeaky door. He looked down the street to the stalls, the one he was looking for wasn't hard really; in fact it was right on the corner near the end. Quickly he jogged to the stall, searching for the item that would serve its purpose for his companion. Right there: Zeltivan rope, short enough to be used as a collar. Just at the right price too, but Ricky could practice his haggle a bit. It would be easier later on if he practiced now.

"Good morning sir," a man occupying the stall turned his attention to Ricky, "Can I help you?"

Ricky smirked, "Yes actually...."

Meanwhile back at the shack...

Master...where'd you go?.... Odis sat at the door, nearly whining... he couldn't help but happily wag his tail at the thought of surprising his master when he walked through the door. Suddenly his senses tickled him as he sensed movement in the other room, the other man had turned. Oh boy oh boy, someone to wake up and play with. He hastily made his way to the guest room, finding Nex sleeping like a angel on the bedroll. Heeeeey, time to play! he happily thought sniffing Nex's face, following up with as much kisses as he can give.

[Nex Paciscor]

Nex groaned as he was roused from his sleep, awaking to the hot warmth of the dogs breath, that proceeded to lick him even as he awoke. He didn't to mind its breath, his wasn't much better afterall, but the disturbance of his sound sleep after so many restless nights was enough to make even him want to complain.

Looking at the dog incredulously, he picked it up and stared it in the eyes, all the while it continued to lick him. "Your quite the energetic one arn't you pooch?" he said eyeing the pup, while holding it aloft with his thumbs hooked under its front legs. The dog, Odis, had finally stopped licking his face, and settled on just staring at him and licking his lips occasionally. His master was quite generous, and for that Nex was quite thankful. These next few days would pleasant to say the least, and parting would be hard. Still he had a promise to keep, and he was pressed for time.

As he could see outside beyond the furry protrusion that was the dog's head, that the sun had already risen. Oddly enough the house seemed very quiet despite the rhythmic noise that was the dog's pants. He suspected that Ricky had rose early, but for what purpose he had no clue. "Do you know where your master went Odis?" he asked the dog not expecting a reply. When the Odis answered him with nothing except a particularly wet kiss, he set the dog down gently, and sat up.

He had decided to remain in his traveling cloths for the night, and so was wearing his light brown linens, and a brown sackcloth shirt, with more holes than not. Nex figured it might be a bit awkward to his host if he where to walk around nude in his abode. Seeing as the humble man was not here at the moment, he decided that it wouldn't be to awful if he was to allow himself the luxury of a temporary freedom in his more natural form. Very soon he was stripped of all his cloths, and just as instantaneously transformed into his wolf form. Then curious of what remained to be explored in this house, he padded along looking around as he did.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky placed his successfully haggled rope into his pocket, the price he paid for it wasn't a lot lower but conversing with the merchant did give him some experience and ideas on how to get later discounts. Now he had to get back and make a decent breakfast for Nex, and Odis of course.

What should I make for the two? He wondered what family recipe could be brewed today, after all he only had so few. However there was one thing he remembered he stored.

"That'll make the perfect breakfast!" He exclaimed while picking up his pace, if he could get there in time he could surprise Nex before he was awake. However seeing as how Nex was a traveler, the odds were saying otherwise.

When he finally got back to his shack he noticed Odis and a black wolf lounging around, it sort of startled him at first but he remembered Nex being Kelvic. "Morning boys!" He cheerfully bellowed while shutting the creaky door. Odis happily charged up and nearly jumped on him in excitement, but managed to halt and happily bark at his masters return.

"I thought you'd be asleep still but then I wasn't too sure, guess Odis must've gotten bored and woke you." He said pulling out to large eggs from a basket next to a worn out cabinet. "Hope you don't mind eating sea gull eggs for breakfast, that's about the only thing I have to make for breakfast right now anyway." He mentioned, getting the eggs ready for an omelet, it'd been a great while since the time he attempted to make one but he remembered what mistakes he made before.

Grabbing some other spices he could use, along with his own sea salt he gathered he got to work on getting ready for cooking while waiting for Nex to give a reply.

[Nex Paciscor]

A faint click from the front door echoed throughout the house, and Nex could hear the tumblers turning in the simple as Ricky opened the door to the house. Light poured in after the man, and Nex looked up to acknowledge his arrival.

He had chosen to lie on the floor directly across from the door, after his searching of the house turned up nothing of interest. Odis had been in the same posture as him, and right next to him, but at the arrival of his master quickly broke ranks leaving Nex alone to stretch out languidly on the floor. The comforts of this place reminded him very little of his former master's place, but what the place stood for comforted him just the same.

It had been a very long time since he had felt this relaxed and he was rather enjoying the break. He rolled over on his back and turned his head to face the man whom was now speaking again.

Sea gull eggs? What the heck are Sea Gulls? he thought to himself, but the prospect of eating eggs made him lick his lips, his tongue running over the front of his sharp fangs. With a fluid movement he rolled over onto his belly and then transformed into his human form, leaning against the wall after the brief change of forms.

" Eggs sound delicious " he said with a grin and rubbing his hands together. He craned his head to look over Ricky's shoulder to get a better view of the meal he was preparing. The eggs themselves looked much like eggs he had seen before, and by that logic they should be delicious no matter what bird they come from. " By the way what are Sea Gulls? " he added curious still.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky couldn’t help but laughed at the question Nex asked, after all seagulls were everywhere here in Zeltiva. He smiled a good smile while finally flipping the eggs over in an attempt to make the omelet, his focus and determination to make sure it stayed all together made him look at it with fierce gaze.

“Seagulls are birds of course but they are carnivorous, they eat fish and crabs or any other opportunistic meal that washes ashore. They usually fly around on the shore in flocks, you might’ve seen some already. The big white birds that never really learn to shut their beaks, annoying most of the time anyway.” He answered but a little differently, his voice was sounding more like sailors voice today than yesterday, and that usually meant he was carrying on too much.

Gently he tossed the omelet until it was ready, sliding it onto a plate while grabbing a handful of flower. “If you’d like some gravy then you’re welcome to it, I usually make this for Odis when I cook us morning meals.” Odis happily barked at Ricky’s gesture, his tail wagged energetically everywhere as he patiently waited for his bowl.

[Nex Paciscor]

The smell of the eggs cooking was enough to make his mouth salivate, and brought him more quickly to the table than a ton of gold would. Nex tried never to miss a meal, and very much enjoyed food, not to say that he was fat or anything as he kept himself fit, but never passes up a good meal. The prospect of an unknown food to try out urged on his hunger even more and almost without thinking of it he nearly reverted back to his more natural form, but a splattering of drool on the tabletop drew him out of the egg induced trance, and almost shamefully he wiped of the saliva from the table. From then on he made a point to keep still, and his mouth closed till the food was ready, to avoid any more accidents.

The change of accent did not escape him but neither did he really care, so enraptured was he by the tantalizing scent of the eggs, and his wild imagination on how they would taste. He'd have to make a point of staying around people who could cook more often, he hadn't ate this well since he lived with his old master back in Lhavit. Even then the older man didn't give him much, and he had little variation in his diet besides fruits and the occasional non-descript meat product. This man, as far as he was concerned was good people in his book, and he was good company. " I thank you graciously for your hospitality" he said with a smile. Indeed he felt like he was in this man's debt, something he would try to repay after this business in Ravok.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky finally finished the gravy made for Odis when Nex had thanked him for the food and hospitality, which the thought that maybe Nex hadn't had such good things to come in sometime made Ricky feel even more so glad to have accepted this company.

"Your welcome Nex, it's actually decent to meet up with another person who is ready to leave Zeltiva soon. I was about to get ready to leave for today until I met you last night, traveling alone is pretty dangerous but it's better than being stuck in one place. So really it's you I have to thank, since your about to leave as well we both can head out together for the road. After all when we both reach Syliras we still have a long journey ahead." He replied, placing the plate of eggs in the center. Taking a dull pewter knife and cutting the huge tan omelet in half he gave Nex the side that was slightly larger than his, and placing it on the plate in front of him.

He could tell Nex would enjoy it as seagull eggs are some of the most delicate eggs to to find and eat, very rarely would Odis find a nest or even dig up a secret patch hidden somewhere on the shore. As they both started digging in, Odis had happily eaten away at the gravy served for him. The silence that followed for the next couple minutes was filled with the satisfying feeling that a good meal and happy household had met it's peak of peace in the silence, as they all were finishing their meals.

[Nex Paciscor]

With food now before him, he could resist diving into it taking a huge first bite. The omelet like a perfect mixture of sweet and salty, the smoothness of the flavor filling his taste buds as he chewed the light, fluffy eggs. It was ten times better than the raw eggs he was used to eating back home, and the taste of it cooked made it so much richer. He took another big bite, and savored every chew. It still didn't rival the taste of a freshly killed deer, but cooking wise it was some one of the best things that he had ever tasted, not including that soup the man made for him the other night. The cooked fish was really good, and it made him wonder curiously how it would taste raw. If he ever found himself near water again, he'd try to catch one of these fish and solve this mystery, but for now he was content to enjoy the delicious omelet before him, the mellowness of the taste inducing contentment in him.

Once he finished the eggs off on his plate, he placed the fork down on the table and licked the plate clean before settling back in his chair, contentment of having his fill plain on his face. " A very fine meal, it rivals your fish stew of the other night " he said warmly while patting his full belly. " With eggs that taste so good, I wonder what these sea gulls themselves taste like " he asked curiously to no one in particular.

[Ricky Maze]

Ricky gave a grin at Nex's last remark, he never really wondered what cooked seagulls would taste like; until Nex brought up the idea anyway. He eagerly picked up his and Nex's plate, setting it in the bucket where the other dirty dishes were. Pretty soon they would all need to be washed.

He turned to Odis, licking his lips to make sure he hadn't missed any extra gravy, and pulled out the item he had bought earlier this morning. It was a teal colored rope, small but strong. Odis sniffed it with curiosity while Ricky started to knot it, then he tied the rope on Odis' neck. Making tight so it will stay but comfortable so it wouldn't hurt Odis, a collar that suited him perfectly.

"Now you have something that shows where your from on you at all times, because this rope is only made here in Zeltiva." Odis barked at him with excitement, as the moment sank in both of them. After a minute Ricky turned his attention to Nex, a grin still on his face. "So are you planning to head to Ravok today?"

[Nex Paciscor]

He watched Ricky as he humored him with a grin, and smiled pleasantly. Placing his hands on the edge of the table he rose up, and paced to a corner of the room, suddenly noting to his surprise that he had not dressed yet. Indeed he had been naked during the entire breakfast but since his host didn't seem to mind, he took that as a good sign.

While Ricky was leashing Odis, Nex took it as his chance to dress, and quickly threw on his cloths, just in time to hear Ricky's question addressed towards him. Sliding out the chair with one hand, he sat down, and looked up at the man before speaking. " Yes, today would be good with me, I’m afraid I may have kept some people waiting too long " he said with a gentle smile. There was a tinge of worry in it, thinking that maybe his friend had arrived in the city before him and gotten himself killed, but with a brisk shake of his head he shook the unneeded worry away, focusing on the fact that he was still running more, or less on schedule. " I pray that isn't an inconvenience for you "