Patting the horse, it huffed at me as it went to drink from the small stream.

As the horse gulped its fill, I glanced back to the nearby camp. It was a nice little area of grass, surrounded by thicker trees. I had made a larger fire, to make sure the human didn’t freeze to death during the cold night. It wasn’t winter yet of course, but we were rather high in elevation. It was cold enough I worried for her. She was a rather feeble thing as it was.

Renn was in the middle of cooking. She had set up some large flat rocks, and had heated them up enough to use them to cook slabs of meat. She was rather excited, standing in front of the sizzling meat with a happy grin. Her tail was twitching wildly, telling me that she was likely starving. She had a pair of metal tongs in her hand, which she kept on tapping loudly in anticipation.

Which was funny, since she had poured so much seasoning and salt on the rocks that I couldn’t believe her eyes weren’t watering from the smell.

Elisabell wasn’t far from Renn. The two had been happily talking as they prepared the food, paying no heed to the dark world around them.

I scanned the area around us, and although didn’t see anything too strange… I did smell them.

Even through the thick smell of burning seasoning, I could smell animals. Bears. Wolves. Elk and deer. Some were near; others had passed and left long ago. A few larger creatures had drawn near, when we had first started the fire and settled for the night, but once Renn and the human had started getting noisy and cooking they had mostly ran off. Either scared by the noise, or the smell.

The horse nudged me, its ears flicking as it did so. I patted it and coaxed it away from the river. There was little need to, the dang thing was trained. Smart. It had been one of the mercenary’s horses, though I couldn’t remember if it had been one that had been a part of the initial attack or had been at the camp.

Whosoever it had been… had trained it well. Or maybe it had simply been this smart from the beginning. It was hard to imagine a human teaching a horse to be so dutiful. This creature wasn’t just a pack mule, or a tool, but a companion. A brother in arms. It’d ride into death with me if I asked it to.

Such a thing was rare even amongst men, let alone animals.

It followed me back near the camp, dutifully putting itself next to the human’s younger mare. I went ahead and tied its reins to the small metal post I had put in the ground to keep them from running off in the middle of the night.

This horse wouldn’t do it, nor did I think Renn’s mare would either… but…

Glancing at the human’s horse, it huffed at me as if to tell me it thought as lowly of me as I did it.

Smiling at it, I reached out to pat it on the nose for a moment, and then stepped away and back to the fire.

“Vim, do you think Nasba’s feathers get in the way when she’s lying with a man?” Renn asked as I entered the little camp. Her tapping of the tongs went quiet, as she waited for my answer.

Coming to a stop, I frowned at the woman who had asked me such a question with a serious face.

Looking away from Renn’s happy grin, I narrowed my eyes at the human. She looked away, and blushed, as she suddenly found the fire much more interesting.

She was a bad influence, I swear.

But that was a pagan for you. Plus it was better than her being terrified of us, I guess…

“Does your tail?” I asked Renn as I stepped over to the flat rocks, to check the meat.

Renn’s tail jolted and she frowned in discomfort. She had hoped to tease me, not be teased in return.

“Yours is rather thin, and can be kept out of the way. Those feathers though had been huge, and fanned out past their feet,” Elisabell said as she turned to Renn.

“Well…” Renn mumbled as I knelt in front of the slabs of meat.

They looked fine. They were almost done, actually, even though covered in way too much seasoning. Hopefully Renn knew what she was about to bite into. The human would be fine, since it was likely she had rarely ate seasoning enough to know if too much was a good thing or bad thing, but Renn was a different story. She not only ate such delicacies often, but had rather adept taste buds. She knew quality food, having eaten so much of it, and would thusly know when food was improperly seasoned and cooked.

“They probably do. But not as badly as you’re likely thinking. Can’t have been that bad with as many kids they all keep popping out,” I said.

“Ah… true,” Elisabell nodded quickly, getting what I meant.

“Still…” Renn mumbled some more, and I couldn’t help but smile up at her.

She noticed my smile, and although she shifted and narrowed her eyes at me… she smiled back all the same.

Looking away from her, I reached over to flip one of the larger slabs of steak.

“Hey!” Renn stepped over to me, and knelt down. She quickly grabbed the slice of meat with her little tongs and flipped it before I could touch it.

“I’m not dirty,” I argued. I had even made sure not to touch the horses with this hand, in anticipation of me helping out.

“Huh? It’s not that. We’re cooking, not you,” she argued back.

Oh. So it wasn’t that I was going to touch the meat, but the simple fact I was trying to intrude.

I nodded, and stood. She clapped the tongs at me as I stepped over to sit on the large boulder nearby. It was the reason why I had them set up camp here, mostly. It was a good place for me to sit.

“My brother hated cooking,” Elisabell said.

“Hm, Vim likes to… but he sometimes makes weird food, so I’ve been trying to keep him from doing it lately,” Renn told her.

“Oh?” Elisabell found that neat, and stepped forward to kneel down next to Renn. The two went to flipping the many slices of meats as Renn told her all about my strange dishes.

“Don’t tell him, but I actually enjoy the food he cooks. That’s the worst part. I can’t really yell or argue with him, because it’s not like the stuff he cooks isn’t tasty. It just normally looks weird, or smells funny,” Renn told her.

“Smells again,” Elisabell noticed, and smiled at Renn as she nodded… as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Watching Renn and the girl, I enjoyed listening to them happily yap away. The darkness was growing deeper, and a tiny wind had arrived. Not enough to ruin the moment, or the night, but I knew it was a sign of things to come. There was likely a storm heading our way. I’ll need to be careful… Renn was one thing, but Elisabell was another.

As much as I’d like to be relieved of the burden, losing the girl in such a way after sparing her would only make things worse. For me. Since Renn would then weep.

Studying one of the nearby trees, and the way its limbs shifted and swayed in the wind… I decided to re-arrange some of the luggage before we returned to our journey. The Weaver had sent some winter clothes with us. I’ll make sure they’re easily accessible, just in case.

“Vim.”

Nodding as I glanced at Renn, I found her smirking at me. “Yes?”

“Have you ever been to… what was it?” Renn asked the girl.

“Capital of Erklo,” she told me.

“Yes. It’s North-East of here. It’s become a larger city… about half the size of Lumen, last time I was there,” I told them.

“Huh…” Elisabell frowned and I glanced at Renn, to maybe find out why they had asked.

Renn though went back to ignoring me, and gestured at me. “Depending on how long ago he was there it might be bigger now,” she said to the girl.

Elisabell nodded. “Maybe…! It had been so overwhelming and…” the two went back to talking, and I realized I’d been forgotten.

Although the two were lost in conversation, they didn’t neglect the food. I enjoyed watching them. Seeing Renn having fun made me feel strangely happy.

Renn and the girl enjoyed cooking together. I felt a little neglected as dinner was served, and came and went without being addressed much.

Their meals done, Renn and Elisabell went to chatting about the town Elisabell had grown up in. One to the east. It had been smaller than the one near the Weaver’s Hut, and had pretty much been wiped out by the plague by the way she spoke of it.

Renn felt for the girl, but it was a story I’ve heard countless times over my life. Such tragedy was regretfully common… and likely always would be.

While they told each other stories, I watched the horses lay down to sleep. The one I’d been riding slept on the outer perimeter, protecting the two others… and I realized I was relating to a horse of all things.

Pack mule. Guard. Neglected to a point.

Yes, many similarities.

There was a poem about such a thing, I think. Father had said it once and…

“Vim,” Renn got my attention again. I nodded, although I kept on trying to remember the poem. “Have you ever met people who’ve never met others before?” Renn asked.

I blinked as I forgot the first part of the poem I had just been struggling to remember, and frowned at her. “What?” I asked.

Renn smiled and nodded. “Like… have you ever met people that have never met other people before? Say like a town that’s never met an outsider?” she asked.

“Oh… Kind of. Yes. It’s more hassle than it’s worth usually, but they’re typically not too violent. No matter how different we look, people are still people after all. The ones that are problematic are the ones that don’t look human at all. To them we’re just monsters or beasts, and are treated as such,” I said as I remembered the few un-contacted civilizations I’d met over the years.

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“Monsters,” Elisabell said stiffly.

I shrugged, not caring for her human viewpoint of it. Or rather, her pagan inspired one.

“You speak lots of languages right?” Renn asked.

I nodded.

“Does that mean you learn languages really fast? Have you ever met anyone you couldn’t understand no matter how hard you tried?” Renn asked further.

Amused by her, I smiled and nodded. “Of course I have. A…” I hesitated, and glanced to the one sitting next to Renn. The human. The pagan. I shifted on my stone, and changed my wording a bit. “There used to be several creatures that spoke a language that not only I didn’t understand, but couldn’t no matter how hard I tried,” I told them.

“Oh…? You mean those like us or…?” Renn like always was too perceptive for her own good.

“Kind of. And I do learn languages fast. A gift from my father. He made it a point that I was able to bridge the gaps when needed,” I said.

“Bridge?” Elisabell asked, and Renn crossed her arms at me.

I noted the way she studied me, and I knew it was because she was pondering my words. I was scared of Renn reaching certain conclusions, yet at the same time… it felt good to speak so openly for once.

I’ve never been this open with anyone before. Other than Beak. And even she I had omitted certain things.

Would those lines I had drawn for Beak end up being the same ones I made for Renn? Or would she step over them?

I clenched my right hand, scraping a nail across the spot that had shaken me to my core earlier.

Yes. A line in the sand. Here was one. One of the first…

“Brother had tried to teach me how big the world was… but it’s hard to imagine,” Elisabell said.

“You’re telling me. I saw a map once, in Telmik, that supposedly was the whole world… but it’s hard to believe it,” Renn said.

Map…? Oh. Right. Hands. She had seen the globe, or one of them.

Interesting. I wonder if she could…

I blinked as I realized Renn had other uses. Ones I’d not thought of before.

I could use her. To draw maps. To write things.

Crossing my arms, I went into thought as Renn and Elisabell changed conversations. Going from the world, and the places they’ve been, to some weird animal that Elisabell had seen in the river a few months ago.

Renn was indeed useful wasn’t she? She had a flawless memory. And not only was she a good painter, and able to read and write, she has been picking up skills along our journey. She’s learned from Nebl, learned the whole process of dyes from Riz, and now had spent over a month learning from one of the best weavers to have ever existed. Even if she herself hadn't mastered the arts, she had learned their processes. Their histories, and usefulness.

There weren't many as knowledgeable as Renn anymore. Brandy maybe, but she lacked Renn's memory. The few others as old, such as Merit, had their own issues... but mostly the issues with them was something different. It wasn't their lack of capability, or knowledge, but instead their desire and drive.

Merit didn't care anymore. Brandy only cared for her desire to amass wealth. Lawrence in all his wisdom only did the bare minimum, not willing to take risks anymore.

They could be trusted to a point, and were good at their jobs... but they didn't much desire to step out of their comfort zones.

Renn not only enjoyed working, and helping, she would go out of her way to do so if she could. To the point it annoyed me sometimes... and if I added her perfect memory to her desire to help...

It’d not be long until Renn was a walking repository of knowledge and skill. Able to go anywhere, and help in any shape or form they needed. From complex tasks, to the simple things.

How funny… she wanted to be like me, and that was literally what she was doing.

I had decided to let her start taking over the responsibility of letters, and their deliveries, at least the ones I was tasked with… but maybe it was time I gave her more than such simple responsibilities.

She wanted such burdens, after all. It was rude to not give them to her.

After all, it wasn’t as if I didn’t trust her. Now amongst any in the Society, especially now… I didn’t doubt Renn at all. Between her gentle soul, and her loyalty to me, there was little I needed to worry or fear about. I could trust her not only with my own secrets, but those of others. I could send her anywhere, and not need to worry that she'd hurt or scare someone. I didn't need to hide certain people from her, or her them.

Though... how much responsibility should I give her? And how much would she actually want?

I’ll need to ponder it.

A tiny cough drew me from my thoughts, and I looked up at Renn.

Smiling at her, she smiled back… and I felt strangely at peace. Why did her eyes make me feel so calm?

Wait… why was she standing in front of me? I glanced away from her beautiful eyes for a tiny moment. To make sure the human was okay.

She was. She was still sitting over near the log where they’d been at this whole time. She was staring at us with weird eyes, though. I must have missed something.

Renn then held her hand out, and I frowned at her. She had no food to offer. Nor had she asked for anything, not that I had anything to give… so…

Reaching out, I took her hand and smiled at her. Did she want to sit with me or something? Was she cold, maybe?

Renn blinked at me, and then smiled and sighed at me. She flipped my hand around, and went to forcing it open. To look at my palm.

Oh.

I allowed her to stare at my open hand, and enjoyed the feeling of her fingers and thumbs rubbing and brushing the spot where I had been hurt. Her hands felt warm, likely thanks to the last few hours of her standing in front of the fire. She usually had colder hands.

“Well?” I asked her, as I studied the way she studied my palm.

She really was adorable. It was too bad her little human friend was staring at us with wide eyes.

And even more so, it was too bad that Renn was a little too prideful. She’d never allow me to do anything that would make her feel too embarrassed, like putting on a show.

“I don’t see any wound… was it really the same spot you stabbed yourself before? It hadn’t even bled that much when you did it then,” she asked worriedly. I gulped my earlier thoughts away, since she had sounded… and now looked… so concerned and serious. Somehow it humbled me, even if it was even more adorable of her.

“It might have been. It healed as I was staring at it Renn, so…” I told her. It was the truth, after rubbing most the blood off my hand on the box the little hole had closed up. It had itched a little, but it hadn’t hurt or anything.

“Has… have your wounds re-opened like that? Before? I’ve never noticed,” Renn asked.

She was still holding my hand, but was now focused on me. On my eyes. I closed my hand a little, to grab the few fingers I could. “It has happened before, yes,” I told her.

Renn blinked a few times, and I noticed her ears and tail actually relax. “Really?” she asked, relieved.

I nodded. “It happens very rarely, but yes. I’ll admit it’s usually the more… bad ones. But it does happen sometimes,” I told her.

She sighed and nodded… then gave me a wonderful smile. We both squeezed each other’s hands for a moment, and then she turned and went back to sitting next to Elisabell.

Watching her go and the happy bounce in her steps as she did, I felt horrible.

I had just outright lied to her.

Taking a deep breath, I did my best to not notice the tiny layer of sweat on the hand she had just been holding.

Wiping my hand on my pants, I thanked my parents for making me in a way that didn’t allow my heart to defy me. If I had been a normal man, it’d have been thumping like mad just now. And she would have heard and noticed it and all it meant.

It was a good thing I had spent the last few hours coming to terms with what had happened… and how to handle it when she asked about it. I hadn’t expected her to ask so quickly, since the human was here, but it seemed her concern for me was more important than keeping any kind of secrets.

Terrifying.

Absolutely terrifying. Almost scarier than the fact an old wound had just re-opened.

As I calmed down, while Renn sat back down with Elisabell, I looked away from my woman’s tail which had been happily swaying. I looked above, and past the two women. A little past the trees.

To the shadow moving just beyond.

Kicking off the rock, I rushed towards the two. I ran through the fire itself, since it had been in the way. Leaping over it, I landed a mere hairsbreadth from Renn’s tail as she and Elisabell shouted in surprise.

Stepping up past them, onto the log the two were sitting on, I reached out and grabbed the throat of the mountain lion. Snatching it in the air, mid leap.

I didn’t stop moving. With the cat in my hand, I stepped up and over the log and continued forward. I held on tight to the cat’s throat, as all its momentum from its leap came to a screeching halt as I pushed it away with me.

It hissed and yelped something fierce, as I carried the cat half a dozen large steps away from Renn and her human friend. I spun the cat, and brought it down onto the ground.

Although I had swung it, I didn’t do it with my strength. I only used the momentum from its own leap, and the few steps I had taken to separate it and the camp. The cat landed on the grassy ground on its side, and its hiss turned into a yelp of pain.

Letting go of its throat, I swapped hands. I grabbed it by the back of its skull, and pushed its whole head down onto the ground. I pushed it into the earth with enough force to keep its head, and front paws beneath itself, plus it made its loud hissing turn into guttural growls since I had forced its mouth closed.

Although the cat righted itself, bringing its legs under itself, it didn’t try to fight back and free itself. It let loose a deep, angry and scared growl, and its tail swiped wildly like a whip. Smacking the tree I had placed it next to.

Keeping it there, I sighed as I glanced around. I hadn’t seen any other animals, but just to make sure…

“Jeez Vim!” Renn shouted at me as I looked around.

“You okay?” I asked her.

“No! Elisabell’s bleeding!”

I frowned, and turned. Bleeding? How? I had grabbed the cat in the air, before it had even reached them and…

Ah. Renn was helping Elisabell steady herself. She was holding her head, flinching, and I could see the blood dripping from a head wound. She had likely hit her head on the log, or a rock. She had fallen in surprise when I had startled the two of them.

She’d have a horrible headache, but she’d be fine by the looks of it. She was staring at me, and the cat I held to the ground, with huge eyes. She almost looked more shocked than she had when I had saved her life from that mercenary.

I checked Renn, and didn’t like the worried glare she had. She was really upset that Elisabell had hurt herself… and was likely blaming me entirely. What was I supposed to have done? Let the cat get the girl? It had leapt not at Renn, but the human…

Or well…

Glancing back to the cat, I stared into its large eyes. It was staring ahead, not even at me, but instead at the fire. Its hissing and growling had died down a little… becoming oddly calm.

It knew it was trapped, and wasn’t sure what to do about it. Typical animal.

Yes. I knew what Renn’s anger was really about. And I knew it was justified.

I should have noticed the animal before it had even drawn close enough to attack.

But it wasn’t my fault… not entirely… Renn had been captivating, and the topic of her adoration had been… well…

Sighing, I shifted a little, to prepare and let the thing go.

“You’re not going to kill it are you Vim?” Renn asked me.

“I hadn’t planned to,” I said.

“Good,” she stated.

Standing up straighter, I gave the cat’s head a very tiny squeeze. Its tail immediately stopped swaying, and it let out a tiny whine of a growl.

It knew.

“Don’t come back,” I warned it, and then let it go.

The cat stayed there on the ground, lowered, for a long moment… then it flicked an ear, and then spun around.

It darted off, running around the tree and off into the darkness.

Brushing my hands off, I took a small breath to sigh… and regretted it.

“Smells now,” I complained as I stepped back towards the camp. To check on the human. The damned cat had pissed itself in fright.

“Vim!” Renn suddenly yelled at me again, upset.

I flinched. “What…?” I asked, as I glanced at the girl. She was kneeling down… and… Was she covering her face? And not because of the wound, either. I could see it now, since she wasn't covering it. It was just a small scrape. It was just bleeding badly because it was a head wound.

“Jeez, it’s okay Elisabell. It’s okay, it happens and…” Renn started comforting the girl, and I at first had no idea what was wrong. Why was she suddenly crying? And why was I being yelled at?

Then I realized what was wrong, and why my previous comment had been interpreted wrongly.

The cat hadn’t been the only thing to piss itself in shock.

Great.