Tel'ron missed the days of working on crazy inventions at the whims of Jack and Em'brel, but these days his services were needed for more practical work. The spear tip he was looking at had definitely seen better days. It was made of finer steel than anything his village had made not so long ago, but even this metal had limits to what it could endure before requiring repairs. Looking back to the female hunter, he sighed. "I've got a lot of repairs on a lot of equipment backed up, but making sure you can keep us fed is a priority. I'll have it ready for you by morning. Stop by before we move, but try to take better care of it next time, please."

Chal'ac shrugged. "Not much I could have done. It was either throw the spear or get charged. How was I to know his shoulder was thin enough the spear would blunt itself on the bone? I didn't get a good look until he was down."

The typically curt female was at least not antagonistic this time. Maybe she was finally mellowing a bit. Not that it really mattered to the craft master. He didn't have a problem with people who were short on words. At least they didn't take up much of his attention.

Speaking of distractions, one walked up with a grin on his face, causing the huntress' face to turn sour. "Heya, buddy! Got a couple of arrows that need looking at if you have the time."

Seeing the other hunter, Lon'thul's grin widened. "Small world, as Jack likes to say. You getting some repairs too?"

Chal'ac rolled her eyes and sighed. "Why else would I be here. Unlike you, I don't like bothering someone just for the sake of bothering them!"

With that, the female hunter left, leaving Lon'thul scratching his head in confusion. Tel'ron decided he'd be able to get back to work if he just spoke with Lon'thul rather than trying to ignore him. "I take it you still haven't figured out how to make friends with that one?"

Lon'thul's grin returned as he turned back to his friend. "Nope! Honestly, I've mostly given up aside from basic pleasantries, but even those seem to set her off now and again."

Tel'ron raised an eye ridge. "And what do you consider 'basic pleasantries?'"

The hunter shrugged. "You know, saying hello in the morning, asking how her hunt went when she gets back, checking to make sure her meal was good, asking her why she's spending so much time with To'brel... You know, basic stuff."

The craft master shook his head again. Even Lon'thul wasn't this dense, was he? "Have you considered just sticking to the first two? Those others seem more like something she might consider intrusive..."

Lon'thul blinked a few times before answering. "You think so?"

Tel'ron let his silence be the answer. At least he did until he saw the arrows the hunter was holding. The shafts looked like they'd exploded again, which meant he'd need to get the woodworkers to make some more. Then there were the arrowheads themselves, which looked like they might have to be recast altogether. At least they weren't the ones Lady Angela had given him. Still, this wasn't as simple as banging out a few dents and sharpening the edge. He looked up at the hunter disapprovingly. "What did you use these for, mining? These are even worse than the ones you brought back from the fight in the valley!"

The hunter's grin turned a little sheepish. "Yeah, sorry bout that. I missed a shot and hit a large rock."

Tel'ron frowned. "And the other two?"

Lon'thul laughed. "That's just the weaker arrowheads you gave me. I know you can't do anything about it, but they really do wear out more quickly!"

The craft master sighed. That's because they had to melt and cast the iron rather than forging proper steel. They didn't have the time or equipment to do a proper job of it while on the move. He was looking forward to having appropriate facilities again...whenever that happened. Finally, he decided to let it go. "Alright, I'll get working on it. Give me three days, and I'll try and have them ready for you then."

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Lon'thul's usual grin returned. "Great! In return, I'll make sure you get a really nice fresh cut from my next hunt!"

Tel'ron only shook his head as Lon'thul walked away. The only good thing about being on the move like this was pretty much all the meat they were eating was fresh. After the better part of a month in the valley, it was a nice change of pace. Still, at least the hunter was making a show of appreciating the labor Tel'ron would have to do. It was nice to be appreciated, and at the very least, getting offered a prime cut by the master hunter ensured it would be the best of the lot.

-

Fea'en walked into her tent and sighed. It was far too quiet in here these days. If she'd been back in the village, maybe she'd have taken an empty bed in the workers' hut to stave off the feelings of loneliness. But, even now, she could hear Ger'ron's wisecrack retort to the idea. "Any apprentice who survived the initial shock of you bedding down in their hut would soon pass from the sheer exhaustion brought on by never again sleeping out to the terror brought on by your presence! Just invite some young buck foolish enough to think his youthful vigor will let him keep up with your demands to your tent. I'm not so insecure as to be afraid I'll be forgotten anytime soon!"

But Fea'en just felt tired at the idea of finding another partner. She'd never wanted for company before Ger'ron, but those had all left as soon as they'd come. Some had simply lusted after a female in as good shape as herself. Others probably enjoyed the challenge her stern nature seemed to imply. She suspected a few were even drawn out of a desire for the prestige her title offered. However, none had been up to the challenge of a long-term partnership, and at the time, that suited her just fine.

Then there was Ger'ron... That injured grumpy old guard was the first who didn't wilt in the face of her naturally pragmatic nature, and he'd always been happy to join her in a battle of wits. More than anyone in the camp, she knew what a facade his claim of being lazy truly was. Ger'ron had been among the very few driven by a demand for personal perfection equal to Fea'en's.

They'd had barely one year together, but out of the hundreds of years Fea'en had lived through, it had been the happiest she'd known. The idea of some whelp coming in and trying to fill the void he'd left was laughable at best, so instead, she prepared to settle in for another quiet night.

That was when someone clapped outside her tent flap, asking permission to enter. Fea'en blinked a few times, trying to think of who it could be, but came up blank. Finally, realizing whoever was out there might be wondering if she'd fallen asleep, she decided to answer. "Come in."

The pale hand that pulled back the flap was all the answer she needed, and soon Jack hobbled in, holding something in the hand not using his customary walking cane. Jack grinned and held up his own chessboard. "Hey, S'haar's tied up adjudicating a backlog of disputes that have built up the last few days, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in a match or two?"

Fea'en raised an eye ridge. "And you're not by her side? Aren't you afraid some young male will come along and steal your female?"

Jack snorted. "Not in the least! I'm pretty certain anyone stupid enough to try would be lucky to get away with all their anatomy intact!"

Fea'en smiled sadly, realizing his relationship with S'haar matched her own with Ger'ron. It wasn't fair that hers had been cut so short. Not that it was Jack's fault. In fact, remembering a conversation she'd had a little over a year ago, she realized their relationship would also end far too early. The craft master wondered if the extra years they'd have together would make his loss even harder for S'haar...

That was when Fea'en realized she'd been lost in thought long enough that Jack must be wondering what was happening, yet the human simply stood there, patiently waiting for a response. She shook her head to clear the morose thoughts. There'd be time enough to dwell on those later. "Well, if you think you're up for a loss. Though you'd better offer at least a little challenge! I don't want to waste my time teaching you the basics of the game!"

Jack laughed in answer as he started setting up the board. "Hey, who do you think introduced this game to you all? I taught S'haar everything she knows about the game!"

The old craft master smiled wanly. "The same S'haar who's never been able to beat me starting with our second game on? I hope you didn't teach her everything you know, or this will be far too short of a match!"

Jack grinned in return. "Oh, I might not have taught her everything. Not that I was withholding anything, but you gotta learn the basics before you're ready for the tricky stuff!"

Fea'en smiled. This wasn't exactly the kind of company she'd contemplated not long ago. After all, for all his wit and wisdom, Fae'en could not see how S'haar could be physically attracted to such a frail, sickly-looking male. But maybe this was the kind of company she needed. A friend instead of a distraction. After all, Ger'ron would keep her company in her dreams later in the night.