Into the Woods

[Caehli Galesong]

Timestamp// Year 512, 14th of Fall “Ouch! Ouch! Curses- agh!” Caehli clutched her thumb in surprise. “Stupid thorny spindly vine plant!! Aghhh I hate you!” Caehli yelled at the shrubbery before her. Caehli waved her non-injured fist beckonly at the plant as though it could argue back. After that, the silly horsewoman tended to her hand grumbling under her breath. If one would look closely you could see small brambles embedded into her thumb. Caehli had wanted to make a trap for small animals, and very stupidly decided to attempt to weave a net out of a formidable foe “Crawling Blackthorn”, a bristly weed that grew flat and fast on the ground. Caehli had been dumb enough to try and pull at it with her bare hands. “Might be a good idea to use the knife they gave you Caehli...” Caehli scolded herself while kicking her new trapper’s kit.This casted the contents of her kit about the forest floor. She had purchased the kit early morning to gain some sort of skills for her adventure to Kalea. If Suria could see her now she’d probably laugh…or hit her upside the head for her stupidity. Caehli wasn’t sure why she wanted to use Crawling Blackthorn but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Now she regretted it as her thumb throbbed. Caehli had found herself outside the city on the edge of the Fringe Forest. After purchasing her Trapper’s kit it seemed like the perfect place to practice with it. She just wished the kit came with a manual of some sort, she felt somewhat lost. Then again, rather working with the rope or net that came with the kit, Caehli had decided to tackle a much bigger project. Without even knowing how to weave nets or make any sort of trap she decided to get her hands (quite literally) on the accursed spindly Blackthorn. “Aghhhh Gods send me a sign of some sort will ya? I need some sort of guidance in this almost futile project” she yelled to the skies before flopping on the ground cross legged and started fiddling with the long rope .Her attention was soon stolen by the cord, no longer hone to her surrounding. Someone could so easily sneak up on the poor lass.

[Ronan]

The fringe forest was inviting to Ronan. The air always felt so clear when trees clustered in an area. Less... stoic, and less tense. He wandered through the foliage, thinking, pondering, and planning. At least, he had been until he heard the shouts and screams of a female. Drykas instinct took hold of him, thoughts flashing through his mind. He always assumed the worst. Glassbeaks. Zith. There were a myriad of dangers just outside of the confines of a city. He would have checked the Web if there was time, but instead, he sprinted towards where the sound had been coming from. He nearly tripped, flying into a small clearing once again, but came to an abrupt halt as he saw the young woman. She was alive and well, busying herself with what looked like trapping. He exhaled deeply and shook his head. "Oh."

[Caehli Galesong]

"How do you do that one...loopy knot..." Caehli pressed her lips into a hard line as she fiddled. The rope seem to only conform into useless shapes, and give her rope burn on her hands. Caehli huffed now livid with herself "Oh you STUPID PET-" Her cursing was interrupted by the sound of rustling and footfall.A man appeared from the fringe.His eyes fell onto hers, for moment they were dark with what looked like worry or concern.Then the furrow in his brow smoothed and relief washed over his face.He exhaled and shook his head. "Oh" was all he said, Caehli blinked at him, a little surprised by his hurried entrance that ended with such an anti climatic word "Oh".There was a stretch of long silence between them as Caehli pondered on what to say to the man."You seem disappointed almost..." Caehli teased lightly, she carelessly threw her rope aside, giving it a somewhat angry glare. "Are you looking for someone?" Caehli asked, head tilted slightly in a curious fashion before busying herself with other trinkets.She started to unfold her net on the forest floor."I'm Caehli by the way!" she chirped cheerfully, smiling up at the man.

[Ronan]

The girl turned to look up at him, blinking. He gave a start at her words, and then felt all the more foolish. What had he expected? Really? "No... no. It's not like that," he said, waving his hands in mercy. "I was just walking. Hello Caehli, my name's Ronan." He softened somewhat. It was testament to how far he had come. Hermit to a sociable fellow indeed. He smiled at the girl, moving closer so he could see what she was doing. "Is that a trap you're constructing?" he asked with curiosity, genuinely intrigued as to what it was she was doing. He had never made many traps himself, but he remembered watching his brother Darus make them with curiosity. There were so many materials, and it seemed rather intricate. He watched, and waited for an explanation.

[Caehli Galesong]

Caehli gave a lighthearted giggle and shook her head.It was best to give the poor man mercy. He seemed very kind afterall. "Merry meet then Ronan!" she said warmly, but maybe slightly absentmindedly, only because she was focusing on her new project ahead of her." Yes it is, although I don't think it's going too well, Lo and Behold!" she cried out and held her thumb before him, the brambles still embedded into her thumb. Then flicked her head over to the entwining thicket "That's Crawling Blackthorn...it would be an excellent snare, however its harder to wrangle than I thought...oddly enough " She trailed off begrudgingly. Her eyes finally met his for a moment " Perhaps the gods sent you and you're actually a trapping expert? " She said in hope but also lightheartedly.

[Ronan]

"Merry meet," he replied softly, eyes still flitting about her workings. When she lifted her hand, he saw the briar thorns caught there. He visibly winced. She had really gotten herself into a muddle. Letting out a small laugh, he padded towards her and crouched down to inspect what she was doing. "Not an expert I'm afraid, but I'll see what I can do to help." He lifted pieces of the bramble carefully, eyes scanning over the intricacies. "It could be used as a snare, I guess. Are you trying to shape it in a particular way?" As he spoke, he toyed with the plant, trying to curl it into a circle. He knew what she meant almost immediately. It snagged his fingers twice, drawing blood on the second occasion.