[Northern Wilds] Squirrels for Lunch? (FINISHED)

[Roka]

He released a deep breath, his warm lungful swaying stray stands of his hair. He took in her every gesture, and especially loved how warm her face appeared, he wanted to nuzzle his nose into her cheek like he had as a fox.

He was indifferent to his name, but it sounded warmhearted from her mouth, and he enjoyed her saying it. His lips were already suffering fatigue from the smile that tugged at his lips when he looked at her. She was so refreshing, like he'd been greeted by a stream for the very first time.

Roka began to feel concerned with himself though, was he so easily roped in by kind words? He had fought the entirety of his life to not become attached to anyone and here was this hunter, albeit a beautiful, sweet, talented, and-no! He had to stop; he couldn't let this happen so easily.

He had to at least prove to himself that he could resist at least a little. He wouldn't be anyone’s pet, wagging his tail at their every word.

'AGH! Why is she making this so hard?' He was washed over with a fresh wave of adoration when she continued speaking, stammering over her words.

When Theodore spoke up after a pause in which he realized he had been simply staring into her dark green eyes, they looked like a sparkling stone the likes of which he had never seen. What was said again? Oh yes, he remembered.

He tore his eyes from her to better focus on forming words. "Uhh, yes." it amused him that he was aware of Kelvics, but then again they seemed to more numerous than once rumored. "Our races were born from a mage's whim, he was a powerful but lonely man, and began to give human form to the creatures of the land. This, of course, is only what I heard from my mother as a child. I don't know much else, besides that I was born to her a Kelvic and a human male." He didn't refer to his father as that, because he wasn't someone he considered family.

"I guess we are somewhat common now, seeing as you ran into a female Kelvic not long ago." He thought back to the little doe in the meadow that had tumbled into Andalusia's canine. "Speaking of" he turned to Dante extending an upturned palm. "Thank you for not hunting me down." He smiled at the beast, his beaming showing his sharp canines peeking over his lip.

[Andalusia]

"Our races were born from a mage's whim, he was a powerful but lonely man, and began to give human form to the creatures of the land. This, of course, is only what I heard from my mother as a child. I don't know much else, besides that I was born to her a Kelvic and a human male." "I-I've never... I've never heard this story," she furrowed her brows and looked at him in disbelief, obviously in shock. So she was right about the magic, but Roka was another race... of animals turned to humans? It seemed far-fetching, the tale. Then, it hit her. Her eyes snapped open wider, and her jaw slackened, her body making a jolting movement. "D'oh," she said, eyes looking into the distance for a moment, "I do remember a story my uncle told me, when Dante broke his leg..." she said with a rather amusing look on her face - an expression that seemed to be a mix of dumbfounded and triumphant. "He... they... he made them to be his, little helpers," she added, turning to Theodore and Roka to see if she was correct with her memory. The words were simple, just like a child's story, told in front of a fireplace, on fur blankets, with sleepy eyes and the soothing comfort of a family figure, and a furry pup. She was taken much more to the realization that the woman she found clad in nothing was a Kelvic. "I guess we are somewhat common now, seeing as you ran into a female Kelvic not long ago." Roka confirmed it for her. She blushed, "so that explains things." Thank goodness for that, she was little worried that Lusa was an insane girl, going around clad in nothing. Apparently, she was just a Kelvic. But then, a terrible idea struck her - where there a lot of Kelvics in the forest? Had she killed any without meaning to, on one particular morning or afternoon out hunting? A pang of fear and guilt stabbed her in the stomach and she lurched forward a little bit. She wanted to ask a few more questions, but stopped herself when Roka spoke up once more, his eyes set on Dante as he stood faithfully next to their killed boar. "Speaking of," Roka turned to Dante extending an upturned palm, "Thank you for not hunting me down." Andalusia's insides warmed up at the kind, simple gesture of gratitude, but the smile that formed on her lips faltered at the sight of the canine-like fangs that Roka had when he grinned. It was quite a shock, though she was more fascinated than horrified. In fact, it was quite suiting. Dante took a few steps forward and barked twice, "your pelt was beautiful, a little too beautiful." the dog made a playful yip, his tongue extending out of his mouth as he pawed the ground in front of him. Roka made him miss his parents, and he sort of reminded him of a father, or even a brother of sorts. It was a nice feeling.

[Roka]

Roka traced the emotions that crossed Andalusia's face, feeling as if he could nearly pinpoint her every thought. When she stumbled into a memory and recalled a tale, he recognized it. She made it seem almost like some fantasy just in the way she recalled it in such whimsical.

He nodded to her acknowledging she was indeed correct, his story and hers were two sides of the very same coin.

After he spoke of the doe, she had flashed a concerned. That he was unsure of. Was she worried about the girl, or had something else altogether occurred to her? He couldn't say.

Roka stroked under Dante's chest as he barked, a hum of chuckle forcing its way into the air. He then scratched behind his ears, it was a fitting reward and one he knew he'd be happy to receive now knowing how amazing it felt to have hands stroke one's fur.

He turned back to Andalusia and Theodore. "Well? Are we going to get this feast back to your camp?" he stood, hand still gripping his side, forgetting again, that he was naked, as the cloth fell from his waist.

Though he felt no embarrassment he knew how she would react. "Perhaps I should fetch my clothes beforehand." He scratched at his head, trying to recall what the fast way to fetch them and return would be.

He twisted to face the opposite way, scanning the land and the distance required. He stood still for a instant and then began to gait forward, and was quickly enveloped in a familiar spiral of white threads of light. Almost immediately he was only visible as shadow along the grass, though he couldn't bring himself to properly sprint due to his sore rib, he did manage a fair trot.

He reached the hallowed roots of the tree where his clothes were thrown and gathered the fabrics edges in his teeth and began to drag them across the ground back towards where he came.

It was only minutes late and he could see them again, he thought to remain at a distance while he changed would suit her better. So he was circled once more in light and began to glide into his garments.

[Andalusia]

The look in Roka's face, and the way he looked at her as she spoke, warmed Andalusia's heart. She could see that he was listening intently, and that was something to appreciate. "Well? Are we going to get this feast back to your camp?" Roka began to say as Andalusia prepared to get up. But the Kelvic was too quick for her, and while she stood crouched, he was standing. The cloak, with its presence forgotten, fell from his waist and landed on the floor. She let out another squeak and tumbled backwards, face immediately turning red. She covered her eyes with her hands once more. Dante barked profusely; it sounded as if the Luvanor was laughing at the scene. Andalusia lay on the forest floor, legs curled close to her, hands covering her flushed face. "Perhaps I should fetch my clothes beforehand," the Kelvic said, although she couldn't see him. She nodded vigorously in response. Bright rays of light filtered through her fingers, and she slowly resurfaced from her little hiding place to find his bushy tail scampering off to collect his clothing. Gently, she sat up, a bit shaken and wobbly from the surprise. Why were there naked people in the forest, anyway? Oh, right, Kelvics. The raven-haired girl sighed, turning to Theodore with a tiny little smile, obviously quite amused with the recent events. "Help me out... W-With the boar, will you please?" she said, still gazing at the blue-cloaked wizard as she fastened her manteau back on. Dante eyed the arrow that Theodore still held in his hands, his paws reaching over to bat his fingers. The Luvanor whimpered, desperately wanting the arrow back. Andalusia grabbed the boar's front legs and gestured over to its hind, "take the hind legs, please, Theodore." By the time Roka was back, fully clothed, her blush had dissipated and her face was emotionless, arm muscles flexing as they raised the boar. A feast indeed, and perhaps even quite a bit of mizas.

[Roka]

Roka returned aiding in returning the boar to Andalusia's encampment. He was still pleased with their kill and had a hard time not showing it.

When they reached her tent he concluded that she had taken home to the woods. He hadn't met many who would choose to do such a thing, especially when a cities confides, no matter how daunting, was within reaching distance.

"Andalusia," He paused savoring her name. "May I still stay with you....at least for the night?"

[Andalusia]

OOCSorry, Theodore, couldn't wait for you any longer. Closing the thread, now!

The boar stunk of blood and gore as it lay in a heap by the unlit campfire. Andalusia took a deep breath, and then sighed with relief. A grin had found its way to her face - she had forgotten that she was around other people. Quickly, she schooled her expression back to nonchalance, but couldn't help but gaze fondly at the prized game. Slowly, she allowed herself a soft smile; a Kelvic and a wizard wouldn't judge her, especially the former, she assumed.

Howlite stared at the carcass with wide eyes, stomping her hoof at the ground with curiosity. She turned to her master with a soft neigh, "I can't eat that," she seemed to say. Dante dumped the crushed arrow and Andalusia's crumpled beige cloak next to the dead boar and then lied next to it triumphantly. The two animals exchanged funny looks, before turning their attention to a giggling Andalusia. She wasn't one to giggle, no, not when there were people around. She blushed, turning to the pair of men who were initially strangers, but were now quite like friends. "I can't wait to roast this, and sell whatever's left of it!" she beamed at them. It looked a little uncharacteristic of her, considering she had just appeared incredibly shy and timid, but it was clearly genuine.

The day had grown a lot older so quickly, and she tried her best to mask her surprise over it, but it was quite difficult. Meeting these people, being able to gather these squirrels, the boar, it happened all so fast yet it's been so long. "Andalusia," she heard Roka say. She had her back turned from him now, opening up her square piece of cloth on the floor to reveal the smaller wild game she had hunted earlier. "May I still stay with you....at least for the night?" Roka muttered shyly, and she paused for a moment to register what he'd just asked. Slowly, without even acknowledging his request, she removed her bow and quiver of arrows, returning them neatly into her tent. She was blushing, her mind rushing to analyze the right response.

"It's, it's no problem," she said, her voice soft and demure, as she stepped back out of the tent with a small smile. "S-stay as long as you like," she remarked to Roka, and gave Theodore a quick glance in return, to show that the offer was also open to him. Today has changed a lot of things for her, but it was all for the good. Somehow, it had even given her quite a lot of hope that maybe, things are going to get much better for her. Starting today.

END.

[Cachet]

**Guest graded with permission** Andalusia : Andalusia SKILLS Hunting:1 Shortbow:2 Tracking:1 Observation:2 Animal Husbandry:3 Running:2 Stealth:1 Socialization:2 LORE Hunting: Avoiding people while hunting Misc: Having an odd morning Animal Husbandry: Luring a Fox What a Kelvic is Misc Notes: You keep what you kill. Any and all of it. Theodore : Theodore SKILLS Socialization:1 Tracking:2 Hunting:1 Observation:1 LORE Tracking: Following people in the forest Hunting: Pulling arrows out of a kill Hunting: How to find prey Misc Notes: Lusa : Lusa SKILLS Foraging: 2 Observation:2 LORE Thinking twice before trusting a stranger Misc Notes: Roka : Roka SKILLS Foraging:1 Observation:1 Hunting:2 Tracking:1 Stealth:1 Socialization:2 LORE The Joy of ones animal form Hunting with a stranger Misc Notes: Conclusion: Lusa is lucky not to have been shot dead with one of your arrows. In all it will be interesting to see where the characters go from here. Have a fun journey and contact me with any issues. Anything seem out of place? Any questions please feel free to contact me ASAP.