The First Day III
When the pair of our brave freelancers made it back to the town, the guards at the south gate greeted them in turn, probably glad to see that they both made it back in one piece no less. The sun had fallen pretty low in the sky, with a bright amber glow shining over the peaks of the mountains. "It's always pretty here." Telion felt the need to complement as she too noticed the rays, and how they broke through clouds to filter down over the mountain range. Rickter couldn't help but turn his gaze down to her next, quietly thinking about that compliment she made, and how he could admittedly see reason to believe she was right.
Loras was actually a pretty town now that he looked upon it a second time, as the people of the community went about their business along the streets, it strangely felt akin to the one place Ricky wanted to call home. But he knew better than to think it so, because he'd been mistaken in thinking Tirek was ever a place to call home. Not that it mattered anymore, as he doubted he'd be back to visit anytime soon. Loras, however, had its own little charm to it, a quality that the wolf could admire now that he's worked alongside one of its residents. "Something wrong Rickter?" The bard checked with him as she noticed he'd stared off into a daydream.
Rather quickly when he heard his name, of course, Rickter's focus returned back on Telion as he quickly responded. "No. Why?" The bard tilted her head at him slightly, with a brief grin before shrugging as a response.
"You just seemed out of it for a moment. Anyways, ready to visit Erma again?"
"After you." Rickter gestured for her to lead on, apt to walking alongside her as the two headed towards Erma's hospice. It was a rather quick and easy stroll when they started from the gate, one that felt on the verge of relief when the building itself came into sight. Erma had taken to sit in her rocking chair on the front porch, with a pair of sewing needles she was using to crochet.
"Erma!" Telion called out with a wave as they approached the lawn, giving the older lady ample opportunity to notice them, and in turn, set aside her needles and yarn before slowly rising to a stand.
"Oh Telion! Already back from you're little trip, are ya?" Erma inquired as rested her hands at her hips with a grin.
"Yup! Even got a good amount this time." Telion answered as they finally reached the front porch. "Rickter here got a couple of scratches from a Feòr though, do you think you could patch him up?"
"Oh? Let's take a look-see!" The old woman crooned in a concern tone, with hands held out to gesture for Rickter to come closer.
The wolf merely shifted a surprised stare from her to Telion, before looking back to Erma once more, "Oi'm fine. Their just a couple o' scratches is all." Erma's gaze diverted from Rickter to Telion, before she cracked a smile and briefly chuckled.
"It's okay Rickter, Erma won't mind." She tried to assure him as Rickter bit his lower lip.
"It's fine!" He reiterated with a bit more certainty, although that didn't stop Erma from saying her piece.
"Oooo, hush it you! If they don't bother you so badly, then what harm is there in at least treating them?" The older lady argued in a hearty, yet somewhat stern, tone of voice when she spoke to him. Rickter took a deep breath before sharply exhaling through the nose, slowly giving them an apprehensive nod as he agreed with the point. Telion of course beamed another grin up at him, taking him by his right forearm before guiding him inside after her.
"Come on Rickter." The bard encouraged softly as she led the way, guiding him through the threshold of Erma's front door, and into the quaint little shop she had set up. Aisles of shelves were lined with samples of herbs and ingredients, as well as bottles of whatever concoctions the lady made, all in an orderly manner nonetheless as the three walked to the back. Erma led the both of them towards the back of her shop, near the staircase that led up towards the second floor.
"Wait here you two, I'll be right back." Erma told them as she started to walk up the stares, albeit it was a slow pace with a few groans along the way. Rickter watched her until the lady had climbed out of sight, before shifting his gaze back towards Telion, who still held onto his forearm as she brought him towards a stool.
"Here, sit." She told him with a finger pointed at the stool, to which Ricky merely looked down at her unamused. The bard nearly started to frown in that moment, clearly tested by the fact he resisted. "Please sit down?" She then tried with a soft but also pleading tone. Again Rickter exhaled sharply through his nose, giving into the request as he finally budged to take the seat. "Thank you!" Telion awarded him as she approached his left side, leaning closer to his arm to inspect the scratches there. By now enough blood had dried and caked onto his skin, sealing the wounds long before they had made it back.
"We got pretty lucky. Least I think so." She admitted to him as Ricky could tell what she meant, in regards to the earlier fight they had with those overgrown squirrels. Damned things. Rickter didn't like them very much, as they certainly made a lot of noise when they threatened you. However, Telion's point was the fact the Feòr that latched onto him, nearly had the chance to bite at him had she not reacted in time. It was a close call for sure, which was why these injuries weren't such a big deal to Rickter. "Thanks by the way, for tagging along and helping me."
"It was your idea..." The wolf muttered as he sat patiently on the stool, his eyes diverting from the ceiling to the floor as their conversation continued.
"True!" She took credit for it with a small bit of confidence. "Fact is you didn't have to come along. Just like I know you don't want to be here either, yet you're here anyway, doing whatever I ask you to apparently." The wolf nearly scoffed when she made the remark, his eyes warily on her as she found his reaction amusing.
"Oi do not. Oi'm just... returnin' the favor is all." Rickter deflected quickly as he looked away, noteful of the footsteps that were heard coming down the stairs.
"Even so, thank you Rickter." Telion repeated once more with another soft smile, leaning into view of Ricky's line of sight. The wolf couldn't help but close his eyes then, giving her a sigh before he opened them to look directly at her.
"Call me Ricky." He told her bluntly with a plain expression, giving her cause to straight up and look to him in surprise.
"Ricky?" She said it after him once, the shift in her expression back to her old soft grin. "Sure thing!" She said as Erma came around from the bottom of the steps.
"Okay kids, this is the last of the salve I made. Luckily we don't need much to coat these scratches!" Erma pointed out as she opened a small metal canister, where she then rubbed a finger along the bottom to collect it.
"Oh! Where would you like me to put these Erma?" Telion inquired as she remembered why they were really here, in turn pulling out the bundles of flowers they had collected.
"Right on the table, there is fine dear! I'll be sure to get the payment for you, after we wrap these up a bit!" Erma seemed to chuckle after she said that, clearly entertained by the fact she was getting to play doctor. The old woman took her finger and smeared the salve on it delicately, trailing it along the dark dried lines of crimson on his right bicep. When she coated the few lines on that arm, she then moved to the other side and began the same process from step one. Telion left them where she had been told, and returned to Elma and Rickter's side as the old woman herself took a roll of cloth, to wrap around each of his arms as bandages over the wounds.
Admittedly he didn't like the feeling of having something snuggly squeezing his upper arms, as that was how tight they were wrapped by Erma, but of course, the wolf wasn't going to argue with the professional in the room. "All better! You did good lookin' after her dear!" The healer commended with a few pats on his shoulder, a warm and welcoming smile given to Rickter as he reluctantly looked to her face. "Goodness you're a shy one! Not accustomed to courtesy are ya?"
"... You could say that." Somehow that comment made both of the ladies present laugh, leading Rickter to nearly blushing a little as he lowered his gaze.
"Dear me, I think he's a keeper Telion!" The remark instilled more laughter from the two women, garnering a speculative glare from Ricky for a moment, before the old woman herself finally remembered the other part of their agreement. "I sincerely appreciate you both collecting these for me! It's not much but I'm sure you both will put it to good use." Erma continued on as she moved towards a counter space, collecting a small pouch from a shelf within, before handing it out to Telion when she came back.
"Thanks Erma!" Telion responded in turn when she accepted the pouch.
"No, thank you, my dear!" Erma corrected with a hearty grin, gesturing to both of them in turn. "If both of you ever plan on going back out into the wilds again, I could always use more herbs and ingredients to resupply my stock!" At that offer the old lady laughed a little, with Telion joining in with a soft laugh of her own, as Ricky watched the two quietly from where he sat. And he didn't quite know what, but for whatever reason, seeing the both of them laughing together... brought another smile to his face.
"Speech"
Ash 19th, 117 AoS
(Continued from here)
(Continued from here)
Loras was actually a pretty town now that he looked upon it a second time, as the people of the community went about their business along the streets, it strangely felt akin to the one place Ricky wanted to call home. But he knew better than to think it so, because he'd been mistaken in thinking Tirek was ever a place to call home. Not that it mattered anymore, as he doubted he'd be back to visit anytime soon. Loras, however, had its own little charm to it, a quality that the wolf could admire now that he's worked alongside one of its residents. "Something wrong Rickter?" The bard checked with him as she noticed he'd stared off into a daydream.
Rather quickly when he heard his name, of course, Rickter's focus returned back on Telion as he quickly responded. "No. Why?" The bard tilted her head at him slightly, with a brief grin before shrugging as a response.
"You just seemed out of it for a moment. Anyways, ready to visit Erma again?"
"After you." Rickter gestured for her to lead on, apt to walking alongside her as the two headed towards Erma's hospice. It was a rather quick and easy stroll when they started from the gate, one that felt on the verge of relief when the building itself came into sight. Erma had taken to sit in her rocking chair on the front porch, with a pair of sewing needles she was using to crochet.
"Erma!" Telion called out with a wave as they approached the lawn, giving the older lady ample opportunity to notice them, and in turn, set aside her needles and yarn before slowly rising to a stand.
"Oh Telion! Already back from you're little trip, are ya?" Erma inquired as rested her hands at her hips with a grin.
"Yup! Even got a good amount this time." Telion answered as they finally reached the front porch. "Rickter here got a couple of scratches from a Feòr though, do you think you could patch him up?"
"Oh? Let's take a look-see!" The old woman crooned in a concern tone, with hands held out to gesture for Rickter to come closer.
The wolf merely shifted a surprised stare from her to Telion, before looking back to Erma once more, "Oi'm fine. Their just a couple o' scratches is all." Erma's gaze diverted from Rickter to Telion, before she cracked a smile and briefly chuckled.
"It's okay Rickter, Erma won't mind." She tried to assure him as Rickter bit his lower lip.
"It's fine!" He reiterated with a bit more certainty, although that didn't stop Erma from saying her piece.
"Oooo, hush it you! If they don't bother you so badly, then what harm is there in at least treating them?" The older lady argued in a hearty, yet somewhat stern, tone of voice when she spoke to him. Rickter took a deep breath before sharply exhaling through the nose, slowly giving them an apprehensive nod as he agreed with the point. Telion of course beamed another grin up at him, taking him by his right forearm before guiding him inside after her.
"Come on Rickter." The bard encouraged softly as she led the way, guiding him through the threshold of Erma's front door, and into the quaint little shop she had set up. Aisles of shelves were lined with samples of herbs and ingredients, as well as bottles of whatever concoctions the lady made, all in an orderly manner nonetheless as the three walked to the back. Erma led the both of them towards the back of her shop, near the staircase that led up towards the second floor.
"Wait here you two, I'll be right back." Erma told them as she started to walk up the stares, albeit it was a slow pace with a few groans along the way. Rickter watched her until the lady had climbed out of sight, before shifting his gaze back towards Telion, who still held onto his forearm as she brought him towards a stool.
"Here, sit." She told him with a finger pointed at the stool, to which Ricky merely looked down at her unamused. The bard nearly started to frown in that moment, clearly tested by the fact he resisted. "Please sit down?" She then tried with a soft but also pleading tone. Again Rickter exhaled sharply through his nose, giving into the request as he finally budged to take the seat. "Thank you!" Telion awarded him as she approached his left side, leaning closer to his arm to inspect the scratches there. By now enough blood had dried and caked onto his skin, sealing the wounds long before they had made it back.
"We got pretty lucky. Least I think so." She admitted to him as Ricky could tell what she meant, in regards to the earlier fight they had with those overgrown squirrels. Damned things. Rickter didn't like them very much, as they certainly made a lot of noise when they threatened you. However, Telion's point was the fact the Feòr that latched onto him, nearly had the chance to bite at him had she not reacted in time. It was a close call for sure, which was why these injuries weren't such a big deal to Rickter. "Thanks by the way, for tagging along and helping me."
"It was your idea..." The wolf muttered as he sat patiently on the stool, his eyes diverting from the ceiling to the floor as their conversation continued.
"True!" She took credit for it with a small bit of confidence. "Fact is you didn't have to come along. Just like I know you don't want to be here either, yet you're here anyway, doing whatever I ask you to apparently." The wolf nearly scoffed when she made the remark, his eyes warily on her as she found his reaction amusing.
"Oi do not. Oi'm just... returnin' the favor is all." Rickter deflected quickly as he looked away, noteful of the footsteps that were heard coming down the stairs.
"Even so, thank you Rickter." Telion repeated once more with another soft smile, leaning into view of Ricky's line of sight. The wolf couldn't help but close his eyes then, giving her a sigh before he opened them to look directly at her.
"Call me Ricky." He told her bluntly with a plain expression, giving her cause to straight up and look to him in surprise.
"Ricky?" She said it after him once, the shift in her expression back to her old soft grin. "Sure thing!" She said as Erma came around from the bottom of the steps.
"Okay kids, this is the last of the salve I made. Luckily we don't need much to coat these scratches!" Erma pointed out as she opened a small metal canister, where she then rubbed a finger along the bottom to collect it.
"Oh! Where would you like me to put these Erma?" Telion inquired as she remembered why they were really here, in turn pulling out the bundles of flowers they had collected.
"Right on the table, there is fine dear! I'll be sure to get the payment for you, after we wrap these up a bit!" Erma seemed to chuckle after she said that, clearly entertained by the fact she was getting to play doctor. The old woman took her finger and smeared the salve on it delicately, trailing it along the dark dried lines of crimson on his right bicep. When she coated the few lines on that arm, she then moved to the other side and began the same process from step one. Telion left them where she had been told, and returned to Elma and Rickter's side as the old woman herself took a roll of cloth, to wrap around each of his arms as bandages over the wounds.
Admittedly he didn't like the feeling of having something snuggly squeezing his upper arms, as that was how tight they were wrapped by Erma, but of course, the wolf wasn't going to argue with the professional in the room. "All better! You did good lookin' after her dear!" The healer commended with a few pats on his shoulder, a warm and welcoming smile given to Rickter as he reluctantly looked to her face. "Goodness you're a shy one! Not accustomed to courtesy are ya?"
"... You could say that." Somehow that comment made both of the ladies present laugh, leading Rickter to nearly blushing a little as he lowered his gaze.
"Dear me, I think he's a keeper Telion!" The remark instilled more laughter from the two women, garnering a speculative glare from Ricky for a moment, before the old woman herself finally remembered the other part of their agreement. "I sincerely appreciate you both collecting these for me! It's not much but I'm sure you both will put it to good use." Erma continued on as she moved towards a counter space, collecting a small pouch from a shelf within, before handing it out to Telion when she came back.
"Thanks Erma!" Telion responded in turn when she accepted the pouch.
"No, thank you, my dear!" Erma corrected with a hearty grin, gesturing to both of them in turn. "If both of you ever plan on going back out into the wilds again, I could always use more herbs and ingredients to resupply my stock!" At that offer the old lady laughed a little, with Telion joining in with a soft laugh of her own, as Ricky watched the two quietly from where he sat. And he didn't quite know what, but for whatever reason, seeing the both of them laughing together... brought another smile to his face.
"Speech"
"I didn't realize it at the time, but I started to like her without even knowin' it."
