Wanderer's Respite.[Sama'el]

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen smiled to Sam and nodded, before his attention returned to Matthial. His brows furrowed. "You might want to go with him. I'll prepare things for him here while you're getting him washed. Move some things to your tent and make this one more comfortable for him." He rose and dusted off his hands. "It probably isn't safe for him to be wandering around by himself." He placed a gentle hand on Matthial's shoulder, gave him a kind smile, and spoke aloud in Pavi, "Y-Y-You will...will b-be safe h-here." With that, he motioned for them to go, so that he could have time to get everything taken care of.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"I don't think he would appreciate company, but I will move things over and then check on him if he hasn't returned." To Matthial he said, "Just walk west from here and you'll hit the stream. I'll give you fifteen minutes or so of privacy, but then I'm going to come and make sure you haven't, you know, drowned." He chuckled and tossed him a chunk of soap. "Here. This will help." When Matthial was gone, he began gathering things up that he knew Denen would want to take with him for the camp out in Sam's tent. He hoped the odd stranger wouldn't steal from them, but if he stole anything of value, Sama'el could always track him on the Web and bring him to justice. The Drykas could be quite hospitable, but there were limits.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

"I don't think he would appreciate company, but I will move things over and then check on him if he hasn't returned." To Matthial he said, "Just walk west from here and you'll hit the stream. I'll give you fifteen minutes or so of privacy, but then I'm going to come and make sure you haven't, you know, drowned." He chuckled and tossed him a chunk of soap. "Here. This will help." When Matthial was gone, he began gathering things up that he knew Denen would want to take with him for the camp out in Sam's tent. He hoped the odd stranger wouldn't steal from them, but if he stole anything of value, Sama'el could always track him on the Web and bring him to justice. The Drykas could be quite hospitable, but there were limits.

[Matthial]

Matthial gave the soap a look of bafflement. Wether he hadn't seen soap in a while, or simply was interested in the type was up for debate. Giving a warm smile to both of his hosts, the young man stopped at his pack on the way out. Reaching down, he withdrew a small tanned pouch, and tucked his shirt into an outer pocket. Upon exiting the tent, he realized it was getting dark. They must have been socializing longer then he thought. He had a vague idea where west was, and headed in that direction. It wasn't long before the young man found the brook in question. Squatting down, he let his hand touch the water before he stood up. Standing shirtless, the man peered back behind him, as if to make sure he didn't have any unwanted guests, and then he sat on the grass and undid his boots. As he did so, he put the drawstrings of the pouch in his mouth, and let it hang. Peeking about again, he undid his trousers and placed these next to the pants. Seeing neither the healer or the warrior, Matthial grinned and undid the pouch and withdrew a small, briar pipe. He deftly pulled a pinch of tobacco an d sprinkled it into the bowl of the hand-crafted object. Pushing down just a pinch with his thumb he placed the bag ontop of his trousers and unceremoniously stuffed the pipe in his mouth. Placing his unmentionables near his boots, he withdrew a single match and reflected that he needed to bathe more. His travels normally allowed for such things, but in recent times he had been too busy with his own dramas to worry about personal hygene. Striking the match on a nearby rock, he deftly paced it in the bowl and circled a few times while taking a few puffs. The 'false-light' complete, he slowly inched himself into the cool stream while blowing out several puffs of smoke. It wasn't long before the visitor was leaning back against a particularly large rock while savoring his pipe. Sometimes, you just needed a break.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen watched the exchange quietly, before he began to gather together the herbs he wanted to use for treating Matthial. A soft fondness touched his eyes as Sam collected the things he knew he'd want with him. He laughed softly, biting his lower lip, and nudged him with his shoulder. "Thanks," he signed. He resisted the urge to savor their private moment together and kiss Sam, in favor of dropping dried sage leaves into his small, stone bowl. Still, a light blush touched his cheek, and he chewed his lower lip as he stole a glance at his friend every now and then. "This is exciting," he signed. "I've only treated one outsider, before." He tilted his head and paused, hands mid-air. "You don't think he'll take advantage of us, do you?" They weren't very well protected, after all. There were just the two of them, and Sam's "servant" and a baby. Hardly experienced in any sense of the word. He began to crush the leaves, shaking his head. "S-Strangers...m-make me nerv...nervous. I m-mean, g-g-gods...I've never...never left Endrykas, even."

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el smiled at Denen, but laughed and shook his head when he saw the blush. Cyphrus was often harsh, and what was considered 'weak' generally didn't survive. Many saw Denen as weak, but Sama'el knew his strength, his will to heal, his loyalty. He was glad that his own strengths could protect his friend while Denen's kept him alive when he came home injured. "Outsiders are built the same as we are," he promised in grassland sign. "It would be stupid of him to try to take advantage of us, because Endrykas would rise up and kill him painfully, but I'll put Dohaina on alert while he's staying with us, and she'll wake me up if he stirs at night." He handed over the last of what he thought Denen would need, then touched his shoulder before letting himself out of the tent. He ducked into his own for some old, ragged clothes that he didn't wear anymore. They were threadbare, but it was summer. And though he was much taller than Matthial, sleeves could be rolled up. The clothes ought to fit. He tended to the horses for a bit, then nosed around the fire to see what was likely for dinner, and tried to give Matthial some time and space to himself, but eventually. It was a half hour rather than the promised fifteen minutes before he sighed, grabbed up the clothes again, and headed west toward the stream from which they were getting their water. "Ho, Matthial!" he called ahead in case the Syliran was weird about his body like many Sylirans were. It didn't matter to Sam one way or another, but Matthial was a guest, so he would be treated with respect and hospitality. "Brought some clean clothes so yours can be washed if you like," he added, then paused, listening for sounds of life before following them toward the man.

[Matthial]

Did you ever even love me at all? Matthial blinked into the present and looked about with alarm. Someone was shouting. It took a moment for the young man to realize that it was Sama'el. His host was somewhere nearby. Matthial noticed with a start that it had become quite dark. He must have been zoning out for a good half-hour. Scowling at nobody in particular the wanderer crawled out of the stream and gave a tired sigh. The man rose to his full five feet and gave his pipe a slow puff before grabbing his clothes from the stream bank. Supporting his pipe with one hand, while holding his clothes in front of his privates with the other, the man approached Sam. "Hmm. Alright." Taking the offered clothes, he handed his own over in trade. In one smooth motion the man had pulled the trousers on, while slinging the tunic over his shoulder. He debated putting the tunic on, but assumed that it would come off anyway once the healer got started. Plus, he'd have to put down, or hand over his pipe. Which wouldn't happen if he was dead and cold, let alone still breathing. He then followed the Drykas, and gave an unhappy puff as they started back to the tent.

[Denen Sunsinger]

Denen nodded as he watched Sam's words. Sam was his source of outside knowledge. He had one sister-in-law who came from beyond Endrykas, but he hadn't interacted with her much before, and now that he was banished from his family, he certainly saw even less of her. But Sam had stories to tell, and knowledge beyond what Denen could ever hope to achieve. He offered a shy smile as he was assured that everything would be all right, and then nodded. He offered Sam a peck on the cheek as he handed him the last of his things, and then, having finished with his herbal concoction, he took his things to Sam's tent and set them where they ought to be, before he went out, dusting his hands on his hips. "I'll get dinner," he assured. There was some flour left, an egg or two, oats and whatever herbs he was willing and able to throw in for flavor. He'd have to see what could be done for flesh. He watched Sam go, allowed his eyes to roam what was in view from behind, smirked wickedly, and felt his face go hot. Oh, gods. This was going to be trouble. What a strange mood he was in! He cupped a hand over his face to muffle a snorting laugh, and went to lug out the flour. They needed milk. Fresh milk, but with the horses, and their limited income, buying a beast to provide it wasn't top on the list, unless, of course, Dohaina was bred. Or perhaps a goat...Did Sam know how to milk a horse? The image of Sam trying to chase Dohaina for milk made him laugh to himself, and he began to lob flour into a bowl while he waited for them to return so that he could tend to Matthial's injuries.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sama'el wasn't exactly trying to get an eyeful, but he smiled, friendly enough, and led Matthial back to camp. Jyn had not returned, but Denen was cooking, which was hit-or-miss, as was his own. He grinned and set Matthial's nasty clothes aside for Jyn to see to; sometimes it was good to have a servant. "We need a goat or two," he announced. "Milk, cheese. I don't know if we'll kill it for meat, though. It'll probably end up like a pet." He considered the hypocrisy of this, as he had killed more than one zibri on his way back from riding circuit so they would have fresh meat for the fire. Then he shrugged. People were people and starving people would eat their pets, but it would be a bit of luxury to have fresh milk at hand and when the weather was right, they could make sharp goat cheeses to add a deal of flavor to their food. He sat down by the fire, picking up leather satchel he was repairing for one of his Sunkiss cousins. He did what he could for them now Eldon was gone in search of himself in Syliras. Picking up where he had left off, he pierced the leather with the thick needle, using waxed gutstring because it was what he had on hand at the moment. With each stitch, he carefully tightened the binding enough to keep it strong and together, but not so hard as to distress the leather or the gut. "I can watch the pot while you tend to Matthial's wounds," he said when Denen looked his way, his hands busy with the leatherworking.

[Matthial]

The pipe was emptied outside the tent, and deftly slipped back into its pouch at his belt. Then he followed Sama'el into the healer's abode. Matthial took a seat, his scarred hand reflexively grasping at his pipe pouch while he leaned over to put it in the pack. Out of the corner he noted his hosts. He hadn't noticed it before, but they seemed rather close. Not in the conscious motions but the unconscious. They chatted, and moved about, each intent on his own task. It was interesting. Matthial hadn't seen anything resembling a family in a very long time. He was used to the awkward movements of two people looking over their shoulders at each other. These two didn't seem ready to stab, bite, or steal from one another. Which spoke to their goodwill, or Matthial's lack of civilized living in the last few years. It was probably a bit of both he decided as he awaited the healer's administrations. It would be easy to think back to the experiences he had with his old familiy. With the pain of his travels. To the empty hole that grew inside of him daily. Instead, the wanderer settled into a meditative state. His eyes just barely open as he tried to empty all of the thoughts in his head.