Norbert watched the people go about their day, waiting for an idea to come to his mind as he paced around in a circle. Seeing if he could make enough to get some shelter for the next couple of nights so he would not need to sleep in the open again. Exiting the town, Norbert looked at what he could do, seeing the many fields filled with vegetables and animals all fenced off; knowing that taking any of those would only result in a bad time, Norbert looked elsewhere for his job prospects.
But no matter where he went, the place he just exited always loomed. Heading toward the plateau, Norbert made his way into the surrounding forest. Making his way through the bushes, the birds rabbits go past, Norbert realised that there were still the other wolves he had previously fought. Although he did not know how long it would have been since then, there should still be something for him to sell to the town.
With a plan in mind, Norbert jogged over to the plateau, looking for some way to get to the top. Wishing he had his bag with rope, making at least the next climb if he took it much more accessible, Norbert looked for handholds. Walking around the plateau's base, the walls jagged, providing enough hand holds for him to climb up if needed.
Deciding on the rock climbing course where the land went a bit higher, he was, Norbert decided it would be the best spot and started heading up the wall. Grasping at the rock, Norbert pulled himself up, time and time again, finding a ledge to rest on. Norbert stopped climbing over the tree line and looked at the town.
The river was cutting on the side of it. At its narrowest point, a bridge divided the river, allowing the passage to the other side filled with farms, the little houses dotted throughout the land, forest cupping around the edges, once more leading off into the distance. The trees and animals he had seen down here were not as large, gigantic more accurately, as the ones above on the plateau. Looking at the town again, he could spot the centre where he slept for the night, the butchers next to it and a bit further away, the house that sheltered him for the night. Looking out, he had a smile; such an excellent place for it all to be and so close to the nightmare he just escaped from the previous day.
Norbert wiped his palms on his pants, ensured the wolf pelt was secure and continued the climb upwards. At the top, he looked once more into the forest; seeing the sun above, he looked out, seeing that he thought there should be plenty of time to make it there and back before the sun went down, at least to get a wolf back. Heading back towards the water fall Norbert jogged his way there, looking for any items that he might be able to collect or use along the way.
Finding the same leaves as before in the temple that had lightened up the path there, Norbert pocketed them, maybe able to get something of an answer in the town.
Continuing to jog along the riverbank, Norbert did not know how long he would need to travel, so Norbert made his way across without getting further distracted.
Looking at the winding river meander across the forest, Norbert was looking for a way to move what he found. Waiting to see how many wolves remained, Norbert continued jogging.
As the day grew longer, Norbert needed to replenish his thirst from the river, hoping he wouldn't catch something he continued across. As he continued, he saw the hill up ahead and the cliffs further ahead; slowing down to a walk, Norbert came across the fight, not thinking he would return here.
Looking at them only one closest to the river was undamaged by outsiders, only what he did that night. The rest had been picked through, moving them around from the blood. Norbert found that at list their fur was mostly intact or would have sections that could be used.
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Looking around at the four wolf's bodies, Norbert came around and looked for them. Knowing his backpack would be much further down the river and not wanting to stay in this place at night in case another beast appeared, Norbert looked around. Not seeing anything that would instantly notice as a way of moving, Norbert picked up one of the bodies, using the wolf pelt as a pouch to tie it to himself; feeling the squelch of guts on his back, shuddering, Norbert set off at a run, heading back to the village and the butcher to sell off what he could of the wolf.
***
Norbert made his way back each time, hiding the wolves at the plateau's base before heading off again to collect the next one. Having a pile, Norbert went and somehow could pile them all on his back carefully; like this, Norbert carefully made his way back to town, looking for the butcher.
As he neared the closer parts of town, more and more people started to stare at him and make way for him on the street. Much faster than he thought, he reached the butcher, opening the door but not stepping inside for fear of dropping his load on the ground and making a complete mess on the floor.
"Hey, how much can I sell you this for?"
Norbert exclaimed at the butcher, pointing to the items on his back and then at the coins in his hand he could extract from his pocket; the same man as before, with a horrified look, started shouting about something.
Norbert stood, slowly smiling, not understanding what he was talking about. With a huff, the butcher shouted some more before a kid came from behind Norbert, sticking his head in the door's crack. The butcher pointed to Norbert, then pointed towards the kid next to him; Norbert exiting the doorway, knowing that he would not be selling his wares here, looked down at him. Before his eyes, the kid rushed onto the street, waving at Norbert to follow.
Looking now he sighed, having to carry this bundle just that bit more; looking at the street as he followed, he saw several people just milling about, all watching him. Feeling special at the procession he had, Norbert continued to follow the kid.
The further they walked, the more nervous Norbert became. Were they kicking him out of town, not wanting him anymore, was he just a danger, or were they leading him someplace he needed?
As he continued with these thoughts, the houses became similar once more before the kid stopped at one very similar with the same little balcony. Obsius moving from Norbert's shoulder sat once more on the balcony railing, chirping to Norbert and nodding along at the wiseness of the bird, not wanting to get pecked with what he was holding.
The door opened at the door, and the woman behind, smiled as she talked with the kid. As he left, the woman called back and threw him a copper, the kid catching it before waving again and running away back to the centre of the village.
Looking up at the woman once more, Norbert saw she was in a flowing red dress, sleeves underneath covering her arms, her black hair tied up in a ponytail behind her, reaching halfway along her back, and her blue eyes twinkling with delight coupled with the smile on the face.
She stepped off the balcony, talking about something and indicating for Norbert to follow as she approached the house. His back was finally tired, and little liquid started to run down it, Norbert not knowing precisely what it could be but just saying it was sweat. To keep his sanity, Norbert went around the cabin.
Seeing the back, he was relieved, watching the tanning racks and the man taking apart some animals. The burden now felt like a boulder suddenly, but his victory so close Norbert followed the woman; she stopped suddenly and pointed away from the house. Norbert saw a little nook covered by wood dug into the hill.
Looking, Norbert saw where other kills were placed, the smell of the carcasses surrounding it. Norbert's relief washing his back put the pile of wolves on the ground, the weight finally getting off his shoulders. Norbert walked back to the couple, a smile on his face.