After slaying the werewolf, Finn made his way down the mountain to the old shepherd's house, where he found a bed and slept until late in the morning. Upon awakening, Finn helped himself to some bread and butter in the house, and stuff his pack with some broccoli and other foods stuffs. The owner was not going to return after all. Additionally, he found a small pouch with a handful of triangular silver coins. Finn took the pouch and tied it to his belt. It was the promised reward for slaying the wolf after all. And since it was not a wolf, but a werewolf, Finn figured the bed and breakfast was enough compensation the the additional danger. He did feel bad for the old man though. He had been so distraught at the loss of his flock, not knowing it was from his own hands, or actually by his own claws that is. Being bit in his left forearm by a werewolf, Finn knew he had to seek out a cure to prevent from turning into a werewolf himself. He set off down the road, hoping to find town with a healer capable of removing the werewolf's curse.

Finn walked down the forest road for several hours, covering quite a few miles, even stopping once to drink from a cool stream before continuing. Eventually, Finn heard yelling up ahead on the road. He picked up his pace to check it out. As he got closer, he heard the sounds of metal hitting metal through the shouting. Finn nocked an arrow on his bowstring as he rounded the bend of the road. Once around, he was amazed at what he saw.

Three rough looking men, two with bladed weapons and one with a bow, were fighting a man in plated armor. Only the knightly man in armor was fighting laying down with a dead horse on the man's legs, pinning him to the ground. Despite the clear disadvantage, the knight was defending himself pretty well from the attacker's slashes, stabs, and even arrows. The was even a forth ruffian that lay slain near the knight. Even though he was immobilized by the body of the large beast, he had managed to defeat one of his attackers. However the fight was clearly not going his way. While the knight was fending off blows from the ruffians, the third man with a bow prepared to loose and arrow at the helpless knight. Just a the bandit began pulling the arrow back, an arrow appeared stuck in his chest and he collapsed in a heap. Finn loosed a second arrow, taking out a second highway bandit. The third man stopped in a panic at the sudden loss of his comrades. This was the opportunity the knight needed to plunge his longsword into his last attacker. Sensing the fight was over and the danger gone, Finn approached the pinned knight.

"Hello there friend," the knight said. "I am grateful for your assistance. These bandits nearly got me, but for your timely marksmanship."

"Hello. My name is Finn. What happened here?"

"Finn, nice to meet you. My name is Sir Kasen. Well, actually it's just Kasen now. I was traveling along on my steed when these bandits ambushed me. Unfortunately their arrows missed me and hit my horse. As you can see." the knight gestured to the one-thousand pound animal corpse on his legs. "They launched their charge to finish me off, but I stopped the first one and, well, you know the rest."

The knight pushed with both of his hands on the dead horse to free himself. It shifted slightly, but he couldn't get free.

"You think you could give me a hand?" Kasen asked.

"Sure," Finn replied and stowed his bow on his back.

Together, they used their might to push the large animal. With great effort, they raised the body of the horse enough for Kasen to slide out from under it. Kasen stood up and grabbed his pack from the horse and hung on his back.

"Thank you Finn. These roads are pretty dangerous. Were are you headed?"

"I don't know really," Finn admitted. "Anywhere that may have a healer I guess. i was hoping there would be a town further down the road."

"There is a town further ahead. More of a small village from what i have heard," Kasen said.

"Maybe we should go together. We would be safer that way. Want to team up?" Finn asked.

"I was just going to ask you the same. You did just save my life after all," Kasen replied.

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The knight and the hunter traveled down the road, keeping an eye out for ambushes. Before they left though, As the walked they shared basic stories of their lives. Finn told Kasen how he was raised by his father deep in a forest, trained to be an expert archery. He also shared the story of the werewolf and shepherd and how he needed to be cured. Kasen shared how he was a member of the local king's guard at he castle city of Welspring. However, he had been stripped of his knightly title as he failed a quest the king had sent him on. He was to slay a dragon. As Kasen tells the story, it was a baby dragon with golden scales. The creature was too innocent, and he was unable to bring himself to slay it. For his lack of action he was ridiculed the the other members of the king's guard and dismissed by the king, no longer holding any authority or power as a member of the elite order. It soon became evening and the sun began it's decent into night. The pair decided to go off the road into the forest and set up a camp in a small clearing.

"We should take turns. Only one of use should sleep at a time so the other can be on the look out for more bandits," Finn suggested.

"I agree. I'll take the first watch. You get some sleep after you eat," Kasen said.

And he did. After several hours of sleep, Kasen woke Finn for his watch. Kasen then went to sleep. Finn sat ready by the flickering fire. he was comfortable in a forest. He was familiar with the shadows and noises of nighttime in the forest. However, he was not familiar with werewolves, bandits, and the other dangers of this new world he found himself in. He knew the fire would keep most animals away, but it would also be a beacon for anyone that see. Finn remained alert.

Hours had passed since Kasen had gone to sleep and nothing eventful had happened. Finn's rumbling belly had decided it was time for a snack. Opening his pack, he removed a large head of broccoli he acquired from the shepherd's humble home. Suddenly, a nearby bush started to rustle. Finn dropped the green vegetable and picked up his bow. The nearby bushes began to shake more violently. Finn quickly nocked and arrow and shot it into the bush, not willing to take the chance. The arrow sailed into the bush and thudded into a distant tree. Not waiting to see if he hit the threat Finn readied another arrow. The bush shook only very little, then stopped. Finn kept his bow pointed at the shrubbery. A little nose appeared from the bush. the nose was attached to a little pointed face that had two little beady eyes surrounded by black fur, as if it were wore a mask. It was a little ferret.

"Why hello there," Finn said to the tiny creature.

The ferret's nose twitched as it smelled the air. Slowly, the furry animal walked towards Finn. Towards the broccoli. Finn broke off a small piece of broccoli and held it out towards the little weasel-like creature.

"You want some? Here."

The ferret slowly walked towards the outstretched hand. it grabbed the food and started munching it.

"Hey buddy, you really like broccoli don't you?" Finn asked.

Finn offered another piece and the ferret gladly accepted it, quickly warming up to Finn.

"Careful don't eat to much. I heard it makes you fart a lot."

For the next couple of hours, Finn and the ferret shared food and played. The creature was quite playful and would run up Finn's sleeves, popping out of his collar. It had even ran up the leg of his trousers at one point. The two had quickly become friends.

"Would you like to come with me and my new friend Kasen? I will keep you safe, you can hide in our packs with things get dangerous," Finn asked the ferret.

While the ferret could not speak of course, it almost seemed to understand what Finn had asked. The ferret climbed into Finn pack, peaked out, and then curled up in a ball for a nap.

"I'll name you Ferrety. It's a good thing I don't like broccoli, but I think I'm going to need to buy some more just for you."

Finn kept watch until the sun rose and Kasen with it. It was a new day and Finn had began it with two things he had never had before. Friends.