Helping others [DragonSong]

[Storm]

Malki trudged through the cold with he cloak wrapped tightly around him. He hated the cold. Just of the many things to add to the long list of things to dislike. Hunching his shoulder he fought the bitter wind. How his friend managed to like this weather he would never know, or the Fell. He just HAD to ask one supply to be dropped off in their exchange spot in that wretched place. Now he felt disgusting. It is a place of darkness and Malki hated it. Add that to the list as well.

Shaking his head he grumbled onward, gratitude flowing through him as he reached the village. This was always a place to stop and grab a hot meal and rest before he made his way out of the cold north. Blessing his lucky stars he made way to the local in. He wasn't a regular customer but he was a known traveler through the area coming and going every few years. Looking around he didn't spot much that changed. One or two new faces and that was about it.

Scarfing his meal down quickly he handed the barmaid his money for meal and room. Nodding she exchanged his key. With a quick pocket of the device Malki stood up and walked back into the cold, away from the comforting fire. Even here he had to make sure he was safe. It was more ritual than anything now. Goes into a new village, does a walk through and a perimeter scan before going to the inn for rest. The one time he did not he got dragged from his sleep and almost died.

So with the dark thought in his mind he made his way to the outskirts of town.

[DragonSong]

It had been quite a while since he'd left the comfort of his cabin--and honestly even he couldn't say why he did it now. Curiosity, perhaps. But curiosity for what, well...he wasn't entirely sure. There was something out here, just beyond the range of his admittedly now limited senses. Something...odd.

The village wasn't that far of a walk from his home, and Joseph found himself enjoying the exercise, the chance to breathe in the change to the air as he approached the human settlement. It had been quite a few weeks since he'd come into the town--perhaps one of the local residents would inform him if anything strange had occurred recently that might explain what it was he was sensing.

As he neared the outer edges of the village his steps suddenly slowed. He cocked his head to the side, as though listening, and his eyes flickered back and forth, over the snow and the rough path that cut through the center of the village. That was...odd. Very, very odd.

Fascinating.

[Storm]

Malki yawned a bit as he skirted the backs  of the houses, nothing had really changed since his last visit, at least the infrastructure. Only a few shady people that he recognized the faces of but nothing to keep him up at night that's for sure. He was just glad not many people were outside. The sun was still in a decent enough position for him to loiter around before he had to head it from the cold.

Making his way back towards the center of town he saw a new face. This tipped him off a bit, there was a new feeling in the air, it wasn't threatening yet but it made his stomach flop with unease. Instead of making his way back to the inn, he slipped into the herbal shop he needed new supplies anyway, and by the time he was done he hopped the new presence would have left.

[DragonSong]

Watching the humans was always intriguing. Somehow, despite his rather eye-catching appearance, Joseph always managed to sort of...blend into the background. He didn't mind; in fact he preferred it, it allowed him to typically just stand back and allow the world to spin on around him while he watched.

So it was interesting that the presence he'd been trying to follow, as inconspicuously as he could manage, seemed to be...avoiding him. He frowned a bit, leaning up against the wall of a smallish alley between two shops. Typically, people didn't notice him unless he wanted them to. Oh sure, they might glance his direction, note that he seemed...off, but then they'd be on their merry way. So if someone--or something--was actively trying to avoid him...

Hm.

Perhaps he'd better stick around a while longer. Just until he understood what was happening.

[Storm]

Malki took a deep breath of the herb shop and rubbed his face. He was way too paranoid to stick around long. The odds were staked against him, coming out of the fell who knows what he made mad enough to follow him.  Focusing on the task in front of him he gathered the few essentials that he needed to hit the next large town tot he south. There he would get fresh grown herbs and bandages that he needed before picking up any jobs.

Paying for his items he patted his sword as a comforting confirmation that he indeed still had it on him. Ignoring any sort of presence he felt he walked back out into the town with a shiver. With a frown he pulled his clothing a bit closer to him before he started to make his way back to the inn. He looked out of the corner of his eyes down alleyways and alcoves in the town watching the more shady townsfolk in their dealings. He slowed he pace a bit as he caught eye of a rather plain looking face in an ally. Well plain considering the normal people who hung out in the alleys. With a frown he turned his head to stare at the individual as he passed. There was something that pulled his attention into the stranger but he quickly shook it off and broke off his staring. It was rude. Even if he focused back on getting back to the inn, his pace had lingered into a slow meandering walk, hanging back not really wanting to leave the streets. Walking over to the next empty alley he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He really was paranoid now.

[DragonSong]

"...Hello?"

Joseph sort of hovered at the mouth of the alley. He couldn't entirely pinpoint his reason for being there himself, but...there was definitely something. If the compulsion had been a little less "other" he might have ignored it, but as it was...

"Are you quite alright, young man?" It was perhaps a little odd to hear someone as--apparently--young as Joseph refer to anyone else as "young man", but it was a habit he'd gotten into decades ago and never really dropped.

[Storm]

Malki raised an eyebrow as he stared at the man blocking his escape route. "I am quite alright. although maybe it is I who should be asking you that question" he said pushing himself off the wall with a hand resting on his sword just in case.

"Why are you following me?" Malki asked in presumption. "Not to be rude but I don't peg you as one of the traditional alley gangs round here"

[DragonSong]

"Oh, I'm not following you," Joseph replied with an easy smile. And it was true. The presence he'd been following wasn't from the young man, but rather from the weapon he carried.

Of course, saying that might seem...odd.

He cocked his head to the side, considering what he should say. "...It isn't always safe to be out alone," he settled on eventually. "Are you headed somewhere nearby?"

[Storm]

"I am headed back to my room at the Inn." Malki said eyeing the other. Keeping his hand on his sword he quickly brushed past him and inclined his head to follow. "If you are not following me then we better get inside. " he mumbled.

He had a spark of hope that this man would be able to help him understand his sword, whatever it may be holding onto.

[Hope]

Acadia looked up as two rather unusual seeming men walked back into the tavern. How strange that two strangers would meet in this place, in the middle of the cold and quiet. She decided to keep an eye on them in the upcoming days. It had been lonely travels these past few months and she wouldn't mind some excitement in her life. Besides, there was something brewing in the atmosphere. She could sense it in the air around her, and it made the marks on her face tingle.


((ack sorry if this isn't open, I completely forgot to check. if not just ignore, my bad!))