The Recluse

He rose up and followed the hound, gazing back with wonderment at her kindness. He didn’t put any thinking into it; all he was able to think about was getting some sleep. Alright, Khali, show me the way, he said, bending his knees and smiling warmly into the hound's eyes. He arose and followed the guide wherever it took him. The entire environment was unfamiliar to him, but he was unconcerned about it.

So, if you could live anywhere, where would it be? He questioned the hound, hoping to strike up a discussion while they were on their way, right... Moving slowly away from the main room. He unhooks a book from his right hip and begins reading it with genuine attention. He then started writing in it, capturing new memories before they faded from his mind. The mind is a feeble thing, and days go by so fast that it's normal for one to forget, is normal to need help remembering, he mumbled, but no one actually asked him about it.

[font=Arial, serif]Leaf’s eyes followed his back as he followed after Khali. After a deep sigh and a moment of collection she finally rose, approaching the bar and flagging down the landlord behind it. [color=#0074d9][font=Arial, serif]“Here, another nights board and another room. I’ll be out of your hair at first light and I’ll take him with m[/font][/color][color=#0074d9][font=Arial, serif]e."[/font][/color] Payment made, she slipped back into the empty booth to polish off her pint. One more night wasn’t going to hurt and likely, once the kid slept a full undisturbed night, he’d be better for it and less… jumbled. [/font]

[font=Arial, serif]Khali, meanwhile, eyed her new charge with some amusement. She was a sizable beast, broad shouldered with the usual mabari muscle, she could easily take down a creature double or even two thirds her size. She certainly deterred most when Leaf was forced to travel the main routes alone. His question though, had the hound huff in uncertainty, eventually whining back down into the tavern where her mistress remained. No other beast was more loyal. [/font]

[font=Arial, serif]Watching the mage, Khali eventually tried to nudge the quill in his hand. Huffing through her muzzle Khali whined, as if encouraging the lad to sleep. Another warble of a growl rumbled out of her chest before she took up her station of laying on guard in front of the door.[/font]