BAWAAARRR!

Micheal shot to wakefulness at the same moment with Vivian at the strange sound, but she reacted much better. He sat up and looked about, but Vivian had her spear in hand and looked about their little camp with it raised.

BAAAAAWAAARRRR! BAROOOF! ROOOF!

“Bear Dog.” Vivian said. “Get your boots on, and grab the packs. It hasn't found us yet, but its not far off.”

Micheal quickly pawed on his boots over his stocks and got his gear together while Vivian kept watch. Once he was done she threw him her spear and did the same once he was up taking what felt like half the time he did to do so even with her thigh high boots to pull on.

BAROOF! ROOF!

“Jeez that thing sounds big.” Micheal said, looking south back toward the way they had come from the road. There was a thicket not three hundred yards off that way and he could almost see the thing moving in there.

“It might be a lot bigger.” Vivian said getting up and taking her spear from him to hand him his quarterstaff. “Be quiet and let's move. Throw those bass down. Maybe it will take its mind of following us.” She said motioning toward the location of the hidden bowl in the rockpile.

He retrieved the stringer and did as she said, throwing the fish down into the rocks. They flopped and kicked, but would be unlikely to make it to the water before the bear found them.

“Come. Stay low if you can. We move into the grass and toward the road.” She directed and he went.

He followed after her, and the two of them made it onto the side of the road and followed along it for a time while keeping low in the grass still as the bear called out behind them. Vivian peaked out onto the road after a time and waved him over.

He kept low still and put his head out from the cover of the grass with Vivian beside him. Down the road something black and the size of a small black bear was making its way off the road and into the grass toward their very recently abandoned camp. He didn't see its head, but those back claws looked about as long as his fingers, and it had an almost cute little tuft of a tail atop its butt.

She moved him onto the road with a motion of her hand as the bear disappeared into the grass toward their vacated camp and they moved while staying low for a painfully long time no longer hearing the Bear Dog call. They made it to a clearing and Vivian motioned for him to stand with her after she took a moment to scout behind them.

“Why didn't the candle work on that thing?” He asked.

She looked up at him and gave a soft laugh.

“The candle is the only reason it didn't find us faster or silently. Bear Dogs don't get pushed away like lesser monsters, they can power through it if they're hungry.” She said with a smile. “And that was a pretty little one. A male I think too. They can be really dangerous and are the ones most often to encounter travelers. They're a bit more assertive than the females, but that meal we left it should satisfy him for a time.”

“So if they follow through after food why did we bring the walleye with us and not leave that too?” He asked with a worried glance backward as Vivian started forward on the road.

She glanced back at him, sighing and rolling her eyes at the fish in his hand. They shared a small awkward moment as Micheal realized she had meant all the fish and not just the bass. He smiled sheepishly at her. Sometimes when he just woke up he took things a little bit literally.

“I thought you had the fishing skill. Or are the fish different here than what you know?” She asked, amending the last with a little more sincerity than the friendly mockery the first comment had.

“I mean I hope the fish is just as good as they are back home, but won't it leave a scent trail?” He asked her, waving the still weakly flopping fish in front of himself.

She shrugged. “Probably, but it's worth it if we can cook it later.”

They both gave a soft chuckle, and then picked up the pace a little however as the Bear Dog barked again in the close distance.

It was worth it. Some hours later and not a sight or sound of the Bear Dog they were both sitting down beside a small fire next to the road making their midday meal. There was water a good ways off the road here, but too far for them considering the possibility of monsters about adding to the threat of the Bear Dog maybe catching up with them. The wind was picking up and getting their fire going even in the tiny vale they had found to rest in had been a pain.

The flaky meat of the walleye was like heaven and lightning in his mouth. They each only got one filet each but it was well worth it. Vivian shared a little white cheese with him from a tiny wax sealed wheel of it she had in her bag, but that was the whole of their midday meal. They buried the ashes of their fire with the fish bones and headed on with the clouds beginning to look a little dark and heavy as the day went on. The wind whipped at them a little too cloudy and sudden for how clear it had been the days before. There had been a chill last night, but all that had brought was a little wind. Now it looked like a later summer storm was coming in.

Vivian picked up the pace soon after they noticed the storm on its way and not long after they were at a light jog headed as quickly as they could manage for shelter. They came to the first fork in the road, the sign read Mayonn one way, but Rodust to the other. Vivian paused for only a moment before taking them toward Rodust, but she explained while they picked up from a light jog to a run at her prompting.

“Rodust is a tiny village, but it's much closer than Mayonn we can shelter from this storm there. A little rain wouldn't be bad, but I have a feeling this one is going to be a little rough and bring out the bigger monsters!” She said that to him at a shout through whipping winds that tossed the trees and grass alike about in a sudden gust. She braced herself shielding her eyes and held her cloak close. Sporadic fat wet drops of rain started to come down with it that quickly turned to summer hail after a time, but by then the two of them were at a full run, or at least Micheal was. He was no match for Vivian's speed and she kept up easily with his best pace.

“It's only a little more. You'll see it around the bend. Quickly now. Easy breathing, deep breaths!” She shouted encouragingly to his heavy panting and increasingly sluggish stride.

A man holding a lantern in a heavy, oiled, and sleeved cloak that went down to his knees waved them into the village pointing the way toward a large building near the center of the tiny town. He had a sword strapped over the heavy cloak, and a kind look to his sodden face, but the two of them spared no time to talk as hail and rain beat down with the heavy winds. The poor guardsman's cloak looked like it would turn away all but the worst weather which this unfortunately was. There was something to be said about that man's dedication to his watch.

They came into the Potted Pickle, Rodust's only Inn, near to a dead run. It took the both of them to push the heavy door shut behind them and a little jiggering by Vivian to get the latch to fall into place even then as the rain and wind beat against it. The roar of the wind and rain died away to a much gentler banging on the shutters of the building. Micheal put his head against the door and panted against it. He had a lump above his eye where a piece of hail the size of golf ball had found a way around the hood of his cloak. Other little spots across his body ached too. Golf ball sized hail in that kind of wind was no fun at all.

Vivian was laughing softly and patting his arm.

“We'll call that your practice for today okay?” She said to him through a wide smile he could actually hear in the sound of her voice. She leaned in, thumbed back his hood and wiped blood from the apparent split above his eye. “We can take care of that once we're up in our rooms.” She said before he turned and then frowned.

He turned and saw the common room was full of quiet village people. Some sipped at ale and watched, others eyed Vivian, especially the women, and some others took a double take at him and the door. He had had to duck slightly to get inside much like in the village town he had been taken to after the raid. He couldn't seem to remember the name of the place now, but he put that in his notes in his head of things to ask Vivian later. Rose something? There were nice people there, and he would like to visit them again, or maybe take requests they posted if he could manage them with Vivian.

“Welcome to Rodust Travelers.” A man sitting at the bar said before taking another sip of ale.

The men around him at the bar and at nearby tables laughed. That was when a stout woman hurried her way out from the kitchens with a large platter in one hand, a few plates on that arm, and a fist full of foam topped mugs. She blinked and swayed easily with the load she carried and eyed the two of them with no mind for what the men had just said.

“More travelers?” She asked, seeming surprised. “I thought that storm was clear enough to keep everyone off the roads today, but I can see by the way you're fogging up my windows that you've run yourselves into town last minute.”

Vivian pulled off her cloak and gave the woman a small dip of a curtsy. She pulled it off well even in breeches.

“We came from RoseBridge Mistress.” She informed the woman. “We're on our way to Mayonn and need lodging for the night.”

“You can call me Mrs. Alree. Mr. Alree is in the back making food I think you'll be glad to have. You're both adventurers, I take it?” She asked as she started handing out food and drink from what she carried to the men and women all around the bar.

“Yes Mrs. Alree.” Vivian answered without changing the diplomatic nature of her tone. “Both of us are, and we'll be leaving for Mayonn as soon as the storm ends.”

“Assuming you didn't bring it with you.” The man who had previously welcomed them said with a gesture of his mug.

Mrs. Alree shot him a glare that should have knocked him flat off his stool with the sudden intensity of it, but he ignored it handily.

“We've only got one room open after the last group took up the others. It's a got one big bed, but I'm going to assume that's not a problem?” Mrs. Alree asked with an eyebrow raised, and almost immediately Micheal could feel the sparks of woman on woman conflict in the air. Oh it sounded pleasant enough, but both women's eyes were suddenly daggers, and some of the men at the tables chuckled, but a few of them were set straight by what Micheal could only assume were their wives among the village women with them.

Vivian's smile should have frosted the windows, but she agreed to the room and handed over the money that was asked of her. They were also informed that dinner was ready whenever they were cleaned up and ready for it.

Micheal followed after Vivian listening to her mumble and grumble as she strode ahead. He didn't catch a lot of it, but caught a little of 'show her' and 'might as well do something to make her just as uncomfortable' before they were in the room and had their things down inside.

Micheal set their weapons down beside the large bed. It was a nice bed too. He took off his soaked shirt and pants, and hung them on the neat little brass swing out hangers near the fireplace. There were even little rods that slipped out from beside their mountings to hang more clothes on. He got the fire going as Vivian stripped beside him and hung her things too before giving him a very serious look.

He raised his eyebrows to her and stopped fiddling with one of the extra brass hanging poles. She was very pretty normally, but damp, her great length of hair a little lank and out of order she looked a bit like a wild woman especially with her well toned and lightly scared body. Her thick eyebrows were down almost to touching, making a face he hadn't really seen her make. She stared at the fire, scrunching her brows together and wrinkling her nose before she looked up at him with a mischievous smile on her face.

“I think we're not far from above the door.” If it hadn't been raining cats and dogs and golf ball sized ice cubes he could have checked out the window to be sure, but he went along with what she was saying and nodded a little bit curious and worried about what she was thinking.

“Think they would hear us if we got this bed to move?” She asked, her mischievous grin growing wider.

It took him a minute of looking her up and down as she stared into the fire before he got it. My oh my, he must have been winded for that to not have been his first thought. That or that ball of ice knocked some of the more crooked gears in his head back into line.

He looked back at the heavy wood framed bed over his shoulder. It looked to be made of maybe half a dozen pieces including whatever held up the mattresses in the frame, but each part was definitely solid heavy wood. The bed might take four men to move with the mattresses already out unless it was taken apart first. He thought about it then put an arm around Vivian.

She let out a surprised little yelp and immediately went red and her ears twitched wildly. He kissed the top of her head as he pulled her close.

She looked up at him, suddenly looking shy and a little vulnerable again like the night before, but he pulled her in to face him and went literally nose to nose with her. She smiled. He could feel the heat of her cheeks, the coolness of her damp skin on her nose, and the firmness of her body besides. He closed his eyes and gave her a few gentle Eskimo kisses, touching his nose to hers, that she returned after a small hesitation. Then pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes.

She stared back for a little while, color occasionally filling her cheeks and then fading away, but she didn't pull away or break his gaze. She blinked slowly and brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, but otherwise rested her hands against his chest.

“What they think doesn't matter. I won't care unless they say something directly, and just because she assumed we're together doesn't mean anything. Especially because we are.” He kissed her and ran his fingers across her cheek. He touched the scar there and that made her ears twitch a little, but he gave her a light kiss out of impulse as anything else.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

She nodded still looking up at him after she returned the kiss, but then looked down at his chest. Her fingers ran over his solar plexus and smiled as she mouthed the words 'not a hair' before leaning in close and putting her arms around his middle.

“Besides, this storm could hold for a day or two.” He said with his head down against her damp hair. “They'll figure out what we're doing and how well we get along before bed sooner or later.”

She laughed softly against him before letting go and going to her pack to pull out spare clothes.

They were both halfway dressed, Vivian was pulling a heavy linen dress from somewhere deep in her pack over her head as a knock came to the door. Of the two of them Vivian was nearest their weapons and the most dressed so it caused a moment of hesitation as they looked to one another, but then Vivian shook her head and tossed his quarterstaff onto the bed. It landed soundlessly on the thick quilted comforter and looked like it could have really been tossed there as they came into the room, but it would be readily in his reach or that of Vivian whatever this turned out to be.

The knock came again and a very pleasant girlish voice with musical qualities said; “Sorry to bother you, but I'm wondering if you're my friend Vivian Talhalen? Oh and Mrs. Alree says she can bring dinner to you if you prefer it in your room.”

“Luna!?” Vivian said, suddenly brightening visibly and even standing on her toes as she leaped for the door. She flung it open to reveal a girl with a small gold and silver harp at her belt in an ornate blue dress that looked awful Victorian with her ruffled blouse peeking out from the cut of the neckline, and the lace stitched neatly to near to every other inch of it. Lace even fell from her sleeves to partially cover her hands. The girl was pretty cute with a round face, plump cheeks, and an upturned nose, but she seemed to have a weak chin and perhaps a hint of overbite. She also wore an odd headband with bunny ears on it. The ears even twitched and laid flat as Vivian took the girl in a hug and lifted her from the ground. Odd that there would be hair growing over and around the head band, but as Vivian twirled the girl around Micheal had the chance to spot her tail stuck out from the fabric of the dress. It certainly didn't look pinned there like he would have expected. He thought he even saw some of the girl's pale skin through the gap that let it through, and that was when it started to dawn on him very suddenly that there was no reason for such cosmetic accessories to exist here. In fact…

The girl Luna made delighted sounds at first, laughing and telling Vivian to put her down, but went dead quiet when she spotted him. He could almost imagine that little nose of hers sniffing the air as he and the girl both raised their hands and exclaimed at each other at the same moment.

“She's a real life bunny girl!” Micheal exclaimed, more surprised by her appearance for the fact that he hadn’t included such a race of bunny people in his original writings. Perhaps what he had written really was greatly changed.

“The man is staying with you!?” The girl exclaimed right back, her voice a squeak of aghast surprise as her eyes darted to take in Micheal’s height.

Vivian laughed and put the girl Luna down.

She fussed with her dress and the little bun at the back of her head of silky dark hair.

Vivian put her hands on her hips and swayed them back a little with one of her bare feet up on one heel giving her a jaunty sort of appearance wearing the dress. “Of course he is. Didn't Mistress Alree tell you we're sharing a room? She made sure the common room knew when we came in.”

Luna winced and gave Vivian a wry smile, but kept shooting glances at Micheal.

He was only wearing the spare pair of pants he had gotten from Rosebridge. What a name for that town by the way. Not a single bridge anywhere. There might have been roses somewhere, but he doubted it a little bit with the only smell he remembered being that of the latrine.

Luna took in the clothes on the rack and what the two of them had on and her face grew a little wan.

“You can stay with me and sleep in my bed Vivian. I'm sure your friend is nice, but there's no need to...” She looked up at Vivian as she shook her head and trailed off from what she had been about to say.

“I'm staying with him, Luna.” There was color in her cheeks, but her eyes were filled with sincerity. “I would have asked for a room like this anyway, what Mistress Alree said was just insensitive even if it was true.” Vivian struggled with herself a little, but managed an open smile for her friend. “He and I are lovers after all.” She explained only just skimming the edge of sounding sheepish.

The girl Luna looked up at the much taller Vivian and nodded as if in disbelief or seeing something she never expected, but nevertheless accepting her friend's words. She looked to him and seemed for the first time to take in his height, and took a step back behind Vivian. She peeked out from behind her dress like a nervous teen girl behind her mother.

Micheal was just completely baffled and transfixed by her ears. Every little expression the girl made caused them to move. They wiggled and twitched as she spoke, and then turned toward the door, and toward the windows to sounds that came from below or outside. He had an overwhelming urge to touch them; they looked softer than the softest fluff than any cat or fluffy eared dog had, but made a strong effort to master himself and pressed the urge down. She was just a teen girl after all and she might be sensitive about her ears just like Vivian was. He tried to manage something like a social grace and overcome the urge to touch the fluffy ears.

Luna made a bit of a whining sound and tried to cover her ears with her hands when she noticed him staring anyway. Luna stood about level with Vivian's breasts, not unlike a lot of the shorter humans he had seen around the villages actually, but her ears came up to near Vivian's eyebrows. They practically gave her an extra foot or more of height.

“-just staring at them--” Luna whined under her breath.

He shook himself and pulled a linen shirt from his bag and threw it on over his head. After that he came forward with a confident look at Vivian who watched with a growing smile on her face, seeming to be trying to anticipate what he was about to do.

He kneeled down and offered a hand to her. She flinched away, but he made his best smile and went on anyway.

“Hi Luna. My name's Micheal. You've got a startlingly cute pair of ears there, and I'm sorry I stared at them. I'm not very used to all the interesting people here since I used to live somewhere with only humans. Will you forgive me?” He did the most with what he could of that E level charisma, and it failed almost off the bat even as he continued on.

Luna's expression went flat and she glanced up at Vivian who was clearly struggling to keep a straight face. Her eyes went hard and glanced over his left hand where she picked out the adventurer's mark and she looked him over once more and then again. She glared daggers at Vivian who was practically spitting in an attempt to keep her apparent laughter inside, and then brought out a somewhat shaky hand to meet his.

She gulped looking him up and down, but then spoke evenly.

“I'm not a child Micheal. And I can hardly believe you've never met a Bunnary considering where you are now.” She gained a little confidence as she spoke and even as she shook his hand she found the strength to raise her chin in a dignified manner. “But I suppose for my friend I will--”

“Fffffttttt..” Vivian clamped a hand over her mouth and tried to pull away from Luna, but the bunny girl held tight to where she held the other woman's dress.

Luna's face went bright red and she closed her eyes for a moment. Her hand was starting to feel a little clammy in his palm, but he was too busy keeping Vivian's laughter from infecting him. Luna had such cute little puffy cheeks and the more she tried to look dignified the cuter she got by bounds further than the sternness she managed. Also he swore he could hear her tail going wild in a soft little padded buzz just out of his sight.

Vivian began to burst into fits of giggling as Luna pulled at her to stay put as she was trying to turn away, and Micheal had no clue how the horribly awkward moment was going to end without putting himself solidly into the girls...err young woman's bad graces until there was a thump at the door.

He looked up to see a man standing there. He wore cut off loose leather chaps of some kind over woolen trousers that hung down to his ankles over laced up steel capped boots. The chaps rode well up over half his mid-drift and was held securely by a wide belt, and leather suspenders over his shoulders besides. The garment tucked in within it looks to be a simple under shirt of some kind, the buttons loose at the neck. He wore his long rough and curly hair back in a simple ponytail leaving some of his bangs free to hang near his eyes. He had one foot up on the door frame and his thumbs tucked into the loops of his belt. He might have been handsome to some women, but standing there in the doorway with his arm up on the frame he looked to be posing in some way though his face was completely serious. He was also the first seriously dark person Micheal had seen so far.

“So you're the one Vivian stayed behind with after that raid huh?” He said his voice was cool, melodic, and confident. He flicked a few loose curls of his hair from his bangs and stepped forward. Micheal felt like he was secretly in one of the dramatic scenes from a TV show where the first villain who's not really a villain shows up.

Micheal stood up and managed to get most of the smile off his face before he was fully erect. Vivian seemed to know the man and let him past her. He gave her a cool look up and down, with a raised eyebrow that might have been for the dress. He strode right over to Micheal without offering a hand. He just put his thumbs back in his belt loops and let one shoulder dip slightly and tilted his head. He ran a careful eye over Micheal, seeming for all the world completely serious, but it was like being approached by a dark skinned Clooney impressionist.

“You don't look like much.” He said, seeming to summon all the arrogance he could manage.

“Sorry one moment.” He said to the man. Micheal didn't look straight at him, but he noticed the man stiffening after having his dramatic approach dismissed. “Luna, I'm sorry I misjudged you. Truly I'm not very familiar with your people, and I didn't mean to insult you. Let's try that first meeting one more time. I'm Micheal Morrison and I'm happy to meet you Luna.” He stuck out a hand for her to shake.

She had gathered herself with the other man's appearance, but met his eyes for a moment before taking his hand. Her eyes were stern and serious in her cute face, and both her tall ears faced toward him. She shook his hand without once taking her eyes off him.

“Hello Micheal, it is nice to meet you as well. I'm Luna of the Unbroken Guard. Formerly of the Clan Wildroot. Vivian has been a long time friend and tutor to me.” Her ears twitched whenever he looked at them, but she looked to be trying to remain stern.

“Sorry, is looking at your ears something rude? It seems to be bothering you.”

Her cheeks went a little red and she let go of his hand. Then both of her hands went to her ears as she blushed.

“Not for every Bunnary, but Luna gets teased in the guild a lot for how sensitive she is about hers.” Vivian answered from behind the younger woman. She ran her fingers gently down the backs of Luna's ears and the action sent a shiver through the small woman. Vivian's fingers went on to dig gently into the fur between them and Luna's tension left her expression, but she was still a little red faced and batted softly at Vivian's wrists in weak protest. The gentle way Vivian scratched at the spot had the girl relaxing even as she weakly fought off the other woman's affections.

Vivian laughed softly and knelt down to hug her friend from behind putting both arms around Luna's slight middle. Luna seemed to welcome the embrace and leaned back into the High Elf, seeming still a little embarrassed, but also content as she set her hands on top of Vivian's arms. The two of them were watching the two men then after perhaps wondering if sparks were going to leap between them.

Micheal finally turned and faced the new man. Who's dark face was now slightly darker with annoyance or anger before he mastered his cool visage once more.

“There we are. Things like that are best done without hesitation.” He said casually then went on in a more friendly tone. “Hey there. My name's Micheal Morrison.” He said, extending a hand to the man and feeling oddly diplomatic about the whole situation.

The man took a breath and looked him up and down seeming to evaluate Micheal once more. This man was maybe about five foot ten inches tall compared to Micheal's six foot five, but if the man found their difference in height a problem he didn't show it. He was freshly shaved and certainly handsome at a second glance. He had that bold jawline that some men had that blended well with his dark skin. His coarse wavy hair was neat and recently washed just like his clothes, but unlike Luna who was certainly clean and washed in her pretty dress that carried a floral scent there was no slight smell of soap on this man.

“Dexter Farren.” The man said, taking Micheal's hand in an iron grip.

Micheal smiled and matched it for strength. The man squeezed even harder while keeping his eyes locked onto Micheal's. For Micheal's part he matched the man's strength not over topping it for even a moment, but he did raise an eyebrow at the man before he let go. Micheal noticed Vivian shaking her head and mouthing something from the corner of his eye, but didn't look straight at her.

“Your time in that camp must have been rough, but I see you kept your edge somehow. How long were you under the whip so to speak?” Dexter asked as if he were asking what Micheal preferred for breakfast. “I assume at least that you're that Micheal at least.”

Micheal let his eyes fall away from the man and examined his hands, and the mark on the back of his left. He let the smile go and let his face soften to a contemplative expression. Dexter certainly noted the mark's location, but it's not like Micheal could hide it without wearing gloves all the time.

“It was hard to keep track of time, and it's harder for me to remember it in detail after that blow to the head I took during the raid. My best guess is maybe six months, but it might have only been three that the experience made long. Everyday just kind of seemed like a hell that would never end.” He answered.

Micheal watched the man react from the edges of his vision. It was only a small jerk of the spine as the man stood a little straighter, but his eyes might have gone a little wide. It was hard to say if that was for Micheal's openness to his trauma or the time spent with the orcs. And with saying that his good mood and diplomatic feeling was gone. Mentioning the camp always did that to him it seemed. His hands started to shake just slightly at just the mention of the camp and he was holding them tight to his sides now to keep them still.

Luna stepped forward and reached up slightly to put a hand on his own. Her face was painted with concern and complete sincerity. Her small hands squeezed his fingers gently as she spoke.

“We won't let that happen to you again Micheal. I know Vivian's been getting you back on your feet, that's what she does, but I'll stick with you for a while too. When something happens to someone like that they need friends.” She said with a smile. It was clear enough she had a kind and empathic spirit; her eyes seemed to share in his pain while being filled with a light of confidence in what she promised him. It made what Dexter had said about the camp hurt less and drew him away from the painful fragmented memories.

He felt his smile come back and touched Luna's hand with both of his to show how much he appreciated that.

“Thank you Luna. I'll be sure to count you first among the many I hope to make here.” He replied to the short bunny woman. Her cute little face broke into a wide smile showing front teeth that were only just a little wider and thicker than his or Vivian's. It was hard not to smile with an actual bunny girl smiling up at him. It was another surprise in the changes made to his setting, but a welcome one at least for now. Luna seemed to be a kind and honest sort of person.

“You speak Ruldian well enough, but I can't place your accent. It's like those to the north, but not nearly as bad.” Dexter said. The hard edge he tried to present was a little lessened now, but he was still clearly trying to get a fix on Micheal.

The show of physical strength and complete lack of effect of his intimidation attempts didn't mix well with the openness Micheal showed telling him of weakness under the hands of the orcs. Micheal had never been great at the macho tough guy act, but because of his height had seen others do it like Dexter was now. It was best just to let them stew in it by reacting with patience and diplomacy.

“I'm from somewhere without magic, orcs, or Bunnary.” Micheal answered. “All this is new to me and I think I really will need friends to help me make any sort of way here.” He met Dexter's eyes once more and the man almost took a step back as Micheal offered a hand to him again. “I take it you're a member of the Unbroken Guard as well Dexter? It would be good to have another friend in the guild if I'm going to join like Vivian wants me to.” Okay, so maybe the diplomatic streak was still there or maybe Luna had brought it back. Either way he meant his words.

Dexter took his hand and nodded with a wondering look on his face. This time the handshake was certainly more friendly. Clearly Dexter understood that Micheal wouldn't be shaken by typical male to male tactics like he had been trying.

“If Vivian wants you in the guild then you might have some promise assuming that's the case at least. Usually she helps new adventurer's find their way, but the Unbroken Guard are one of the elite guilds and some of our members are considered the best or were at one point. Our thing is handling dangerous jobs, jobs others won't do without hesitation, and need high class adventurer's to keep that reputation. I know she doesn't exactly look fierce, but the support spells Luna can weave make fierce fighters impossible for enemies to handle, and her songs can even echo the spells cast by her allies. I'm no slouch myself, but surely you at least saw some of us fight during the raid on that camp. That is what we do. We take the jobs that no other guild will handle and go places where we're needed most. The ones with the most danger and the least pay. The ones that need most to be done. Is that something you think you can handle?” He asked, sounding completely sincere and serious, and even proud.

“Let him see your mark Micheal.” Vivian said before he could answer the man.

He looked at her and she nodded confidently to him. Though something in Vivian's gaze was reserved it hadn't stopped her from confirming Dexter's words. Luna looked between him and Vivian, a look of curiosity renewed on her face. Maybe she just remembered that Vivian had revealed the two of them were together?

Micheal offered his left hand to the man. The runes and letters there still made no sense to Micheal at all.

“Hardly any skills...” Dexter mumbled turning Micheal's hand slightly, taking a few steps closer, and cocking his head to get it the right way round with the lettering. “But by the Gods his stats are good especially after coming out of that camp. Give you a year or two training under Vivian's hands and these E's will turn to C's soon enough and maybe that B in Spirit will become an A or better. Though that B does explain some things...” He said the last while giving Micheal's eyes a small glance. “How old are you Micheal?” He asked in a more casual tone.

“Twenty eight.” Micheal asked.

Both Luna and Dexter looked up at him sharply.

“Really?” Dexter said. “You've done nothing all your life before that camp?” He sounded almost incredulous. “Except fish?” He added looking down at the bronze mark.

Micheal frowned. When had that turned bronze?

“Dexter he's a bit of a strange case.” Vivian put in. “He didn't have that fishing skill when we recovered him from the camp, but showed me on our travels that he knew exactly where and how to fish. He knows things of where he came from, but if its some place like the Lowlands the magic might not have taken effect and recorded his skills until he got here and used them. Like the fishing at least. That's all I can think of.”

“He manifested Bronze fishing just like that?” Dexter asked.

Vivian tilted her head still holding onto Luna's middle. Her mouth worked, but she blinked and looked up at Micheal, surprised and with confusion showing in her face.

Micheal shrugged. “It wasn't bronze yesterday, but I did catch a few fish between then and now.”

“A few?” Dexter laughed uproariously. “Just a few huh?” And then Dexter dropped his hand.

“If you can just pull skills out of thin air I suggest you get to using them. You've hardly got a way to defend yourself even with your attributes averaging pretty solid. Unless Vivian is going to have you use a fishing rod to fight your battles.” He laughed.

Vivian frowned at him and had her eyebrows nearly put together in a look of annoyance fixated on the man.

“I've been teaching him polearms for the past few days Farren.” She said in an even tone. “He shows promise with them.”

“I would hope so. He'll need something or he'll just get eaten before we make our way back to Three Bridge. We've picked up a hunt for a Bear Dog that's been chasing travelers around near here. We were hoping to catch you or some of the others who stayed behind, but it looks like they went straight on home instead of coming to Mayonn and Rodust here. That or we missed them on the road. My plan was to trap it, but that will go much better with you and your spear here Vivian.” He gave Vivian a wide grin.

She scowled at him in return.

“Did you eavesdrop long enough before you came in to hear I've taken Micheal as a lover?” She asked him with a sudden innocent smile.