This wasn’t going as expected. Avi blinked up at the stranger and sighed, running a hand through the tangled tail of his hair. More fool he for expecting the treed mage to want help. She was clearly far from defenseless, especially with that big brute of a dog around. He thought about whistling for Kay – and quickly decided against it. If the lady was in a foul mood now, the wolf would only make things worse.
“Avishan of Serault. And I only intended to spare you a fall.” He dropped his gaze, all the way to the ground. Moving very slowly as not to alarm the dog, he took a semi-circle path around the tree, kicking up fallen leaves. Apples kept reasonably well, if he could find any the birds and the bugs hadn’t made too much of a mess of yet. “But if you’d prefer to take your chances …” He trailed off speculatively, though there was little actual spite in it. If he returned to camp with this tale on his lips, little Liru would send him right back.
And rightfully so. Just as he couldn’t risk a dog bite – the stranger likely couldn’t risk a wrenched knee or turned ankle. Not this far from help. Unless she was a healer like Ru? Hard to imagine getting into this situation from his sister’s perspective, though. Ru would simply ask the tree to put her down.
“I’ve not threatened you.” Avi looked up sharply and frowned, insulted. He glanced back to the dog, wondering if some magery allowed the pair to communicate in secret. He settled on a useless maybe and went back to looking for apples. A few passed muster and went into his knapsack. The second-best he ate now, digging in with enthusiasm and spitting the seeds into the grass before crunching the core between his teeth.
Unfortunately, the best ones would still be on the tree. Where she was.
“I don’t think you’re in any position to smell me, ma’am.”
@Isla Ros
“Avishan of Serault. And I only intended to spare you a fall.” He dropped his gaze, all the way to the ground. Moving very slowly as not to alarm the dog, he took a semi-circle path around the tree, kicking up fallen leaves. Apples kept reasonably well, if he could find any the birds and the bugs hadn’t made too much of a mess of yet. “But if you’d prefer to take your chances …” He trailed off speculatively, though there was little actual spite in it. If he returned to camp with this tale on his lips, little Liru would send him right back.
And rightfully so. Just as he couldn’t risk a dog bite – the stranger likely couldn’t risk a wrenched knee or turned ankle. Not this far from help. Unless she was a healer like Ru? Hard to imagine getting into this situation from his sister’s perspective, though. Ru would simply ask the tree to put her down.
“I’ve not threatened you.” Avi looked up sharply and frowned, insulted. He glanced back to the dog, wondering if some magery allowed the pair to communicate in secret. He settled on a useless maybe and went back to looking for apples. A few passed muster and went into his knapsack. The second-best he ate now, digging in with enthusiasm and spitting the seeds into the grass before crunching the core between his teeth.
Unfortunately, the best ones would still be on the tree. Where she was.
“I don’t think you’re in any position to smell me, ma’am.”
@Isla Ros
02-06-2025, 03:02 PM
