This human stranger's pace picks up and his sprint proves to be short-lived. Thanks to my mask, I can watch his strange, four-legged companion of his. They're not particularly thick legs, but enough to more than outrun a normal pair of legs. Not that he would need them. Those throwing spears would probably sever the spine of anyone he's chasing.

My attention snaps back to the human as I hear his harsh stop, "Yes... Yes! This is a fresh jawbone! H-How did you get it?"

I hand him over the mouthpiece and he looks it over, fiddling with the still intact teeth. Guess my point of trying to preserve the saw-like structure was a smart move. Good thing his fingers are mailed and gloved, too. Those are some sharp little teeth he's forcing around under his print.

"I tore it off of the corpse of the one I killed yesterday this morning. This morning, I tore the bone off this morning. Killed it yesterday." I explain, repeating myself as I somehow end up confusing myself with my words.

"Killing the da' thing? Forgive me'a by quites the bit for the ignorance. But we don't see any'a weapons 'ere even capable of the feat. It's a da' sadroobell!" the reptilian thing points out and I look at my blood-stained bandages.

"I didn't use a weapon. I just hit it." I explain, showing them off clearly to the pair. Finishing my one-legged hop, I reduce the clear view to the claw alone. The human nods in understanding and his eyes widen to accompany more energetic nods. He reminds me of the face I make when I finally realise how a machine back in Tobaballe worked. Years ago such an experience last was, when I first started working as a wall-engraver, even.

"That explains the magic, then. You two are witches?" the human asks, a smile forming as wonder sparkles in his eyes.

"Bah, bladdy maghick-ushing tossers." the reptile scoffs a bit too loud for an under-the-breath remark.

"No." I answer, not even sure what a 'witch' really is. Maybe Vapooliar or Rose-sweerui have explained it at some point. But, it's slipped me mind since.

"I would fit the definition, yes," Rose-sweerui says, catching the human's attention.

The human looks at me and his mouth begins to mutter, "You are not? Well, guess I will have to go to the Drowned Weed and ask about that when I get back to town then. Are you two headed there?"

"Town? I know we are headed to one," I say and I turn to Rose-sweerui, "Can you get the map, please?"

The rose-haired aelenvari is more than happy enough to go and get the item in question.

"I am surprised it has taken me this long to realise how much taller you are..." the human comments and I watch in some amusement as he cautiously steps back. His reptile companion gallops up and squares his shoulders.

"What ya being a pansy for?" he barks down, his height not too different to mine when he puts the effort in.

"I know you. I don't know him. Besides, you're a skinny bugger," the human explains, drawing the seemingly easy-to-provoke lizard's ire. I stare back at the scaled thing's gaze, and he's quick to break eye contact.

"I'm surprised you haven't introduced yourselves yet." I comment with a hidden smile, finding it a little funny that my scale is possibly intimidating. Odd day indeed to intimidate someone other than a child with my size. If only my transformation wasn't how it came to be...

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"Oh, sorry! I'm Hunter Futhans. This here steed of the watering hole is Hunter Shraymeaus." he answers and a laugh almost breaks out. Both are called Hunter? Well, that's certainly an amusing coincidence. Getting my act together before my thoughts grow, I watch Futhans' small, courteous gesture. His small grey, feathered cap rises with a tilt, showing off his short, blond hair.

"I bet both being called Hunter must get confusing." I remark mostly to myself, but he hears anyway. They both do and both give me a strange eye.

"Shraymeaus is my name. Did he not jus' 'ear a word?" Shraymeaus complains, his arms finding his normal torso's hips.

"Hunter is our profession. Guess that means you're not from around here. Or you're from a right quiet place. Most Jhermonikra call themselves by their profession first. Actual name after." Futhans clarifies and I nod, my memories reminding me of the bug hive. Battcomm did the exact same thing. No, wait, not battcomm, that was his profession... Uh... Dammit.

"My love, here you go." Rose-sweerui goes, taking my thoughts away from the lost name. Eagerly taking the redirection, I open the map and she helps me set it up.

"Oh, seeing as she's back. This is Rose'lhia and I am Nin Urtuan." I introduce us as, drawing a quick jab from Rose-sweerui for most likely not calling her by the honorific. Whatever, I guess, what if they think the honorific is her family name or something? I guess it's a good reminder that I can show my annoyance with her by not involving that affectionate little title.

"Nice to meet you two. Rose'lhia, Urtuan." Futhans says with a nod of his head as he passes us over. His friend, on the other hand, isn't as polite.

"So, gods above us and all... Whatsa 'Nin,' exact?" Shraymeaus asks.

"Oh, that's right, what is it, if you wouldn't mind? Never heard of such a profession." Futhans adds on and I become confused. Utterly perplexed.

Oh, right, first names work differently for them...

"Hm? No, that is -my- name. My first name. Urtuan is just my family name." I clarify and the befuddlement leaps from me and clings onto them.

"Ah, right, foreigner. Tall and foreign... Well, guess there go my chances with Neeameth back at the local." Futhans complains and I frown at the closing mutter. Guess he has an eye on a girl who likes tall guys? Well, lucky him, we won't be staying long. We'll probably never meet.

Rose-sweerui taps me to alert me of the sorted map and I show it, "This' the town you are on about?"

Our first proper stop on the way to wherever Vapooliar, Vadei, and Dandelion went.

"Yep, that's it, Tryhpeltzweig." Futhans answers, his nose going back the way it came once he's sure of the map's name. I nod along, pretending I know what any of this language means. Don't think I'm going to be the best at remembering any of these place names. It all used to only be Tobaballe for me and now I'm travelling the world. Oh, I'm a foreign boy alright... Shit.

"So then, 'ow about its? You two wants to come back with me and this one and his Pa? Initial accommodations on us if yer willing. Rid of sadroobell does our town a great service." Shraymeaus surprisingly offers and I turn to Rose-sweerui. I look back at our modest camp.

"We haven't even eaten or taken down our stuff yet." I point out with a lazy gesture and a well-timed growl of someone's stomach. its rightward nature makes me want to guess it was Rose-sweerui's and her turned away blush is all but confirming it.

"Ah, right, sorry. We don't mean to rush you. Is the food you have portable?... Travellable? I got some rations to share, if you want?" Futhans offers as he slings his bag around to open it up. Notably sweet-scented, marinated meat stains the air and burns its way through my mask on its way to my nostrils. It only gets stronger as Futhans unwraps the metallic foil.

Looks certainly a lot more advanced than what I had access to back home. In fact, if I was able to make anything like this when I was there, I'd have gained a few levels to my name. Probably would have never ended up in Iishar's deal, either. Well... No point in crying about it.

"So, what do you think?" I ask Rose-sweerui, turning to her. She answers me with a head start on the deconstruction process and I move after her to take down the tent. She certainly seems more able to help now. Guess the good night's rest helped ease the pain?

"If we're close enough to run into hunters and other wilderness-goers, it will probably be worth the haste." Rose-sweerui answers quietly as she takes the moment of covered light to hug me tight.

"Make sure you eat up what they have to offer. It'll help our reserves last." I tell her and she moves back to rub her arm nervously. Trying to get a smile back onto her face, I aim to ruffle her hair again. I succeed and she starts to fight me off, with soft giggles escaping.