Curiosity did what, now?

[lurkingkobold]

The kobold's research cave is coming along nicely, after her previous adventure - the floor carefully flattened (by teleporting stone out) and softened (by teleporting sand in); the permanent portals to Deva and the cavern's exit, currently closed to anyone who doesn't know the passwords, but marked off, with spaces set aside for several more portals; her experimenting supplies tucked away behind further portals in her workspace; a small cache set up for her new translation necklace and any other magical items she might happen to find in her travels.

And, now, another portal, leading to another new world. She double-checks that she has her traveling gear - translation necklace, teleporting ring, twine - completes the spell, and peers through.

Comments

[last_one_out]

He grins back.

[lurkingkobold]

She rides along silently, tired and a little distracted, and - not worried, exactly, but a bit guarded.

After a little while, shortly before they get into sight of the village, she makes a quiet, thoughtful noise, and stops.

"...say? about tigerfolk?"

[last_one_out]

Elarron stops too.

"...What about tigerfolk?"

[lurkingkobold]

"...is, thing... don't know if...." sigh.




"What do you think... about... the tigerfolk, being trapped?"

[last_one_out]

He makes a wry face, accompanied by an ear-flick and a sideways twitch of the tip of his tail that probably express a similar meaning if you're an Aluvai.

"I don't actually know what happens to trapped tigerfolk, but I don't get the impression it's anything good. It all seems a bit pointless to me, but the other people here seem to feel strongly about it."

[lurkingkobold]

"Not good," she nods, with a frown, and then takes a moment to think.

Her conclusion appears to be 'time to head back, then', but she pauses to see if he has anything else to say on the topic first.

[last_one_out]

Elarron shrugs slightly. Apparently he does not.

[lurkingkobold]

Well, back to the village, then. The poofy yellow flowers are still closed in the early morning light, and the guards let them pass without comment.

Dusk leads the way to River's house, rather than going to stable her lynx first.

[last_one_out]

Elarron follows along in a thoughtful silence.

[lurkingkobold]

And here is River's house.

"River?"

After a few seconds, River pokes her head out the door and looks at Dusk and her lynx: "headache, huh? Go on, I'll take care of him," and Dusk nods and heads off toward her house.

"How was your night? ...come on in, I'm just making breakfast."

[last_one_out]

"Dusk was right, the forest is nice at night. I enjoyed the chance to get to know the place."

[lurkingkobold]

"Good, I'm glad." She checks on her breakfast: "Do you take your oatmeal any particular way?"

[last_one_out]

He shrugs. "Not really."

[lurkingkobold]

"All right."

And a minute later, she presents him with a bowl of oatmeal, with smaller bowls of honey and sunflower seeds on the side. "I have some strawberries left over from last night, too, if you'd like."

[last_one_out]

"Sure, if it's no trouble. Those were good strawberries."

[lurkingkobold]

This gets a grin, and she sets a bowl of strawberries next to the sunflower seeds when she returns with her own breakfast.

"So, is there anything you'd like to do today?"

[last_one_out]

He stifles a yawn.

"Not sure. Well, I want to eat and sleep, and then - I guess see if there's any way I can make myself useful while I'm here?"

[lurkingkobold]

She nods. "The council will be glad to hear that - they'll probably want to talk to you this afternoon, by the way. And I can ask around about who needs help - what kinds of work did you do before?"

[last_one_out]

"I'm not sure, really," he says, smiling wryly. "I have two older brothers and for any given task at least one of them is better than me at it, so I've always just been... the one who does whatever's left over."

[lurkingkobold]

"Hm." She considers. "Is there anything you'd like to try? Or I can just look for something easy to pick up, if you'd rather."

[last_one_out]

He shrugs. "Easy to pick up sounds fine by me."

Nom nom delicious oatmeal.

[lurkingkobold]

"All right."

Oatmeal indeed. And then dishes, and then River can feed some of the animals on the way to drop Elarron off at his hut.

"I'll be with Berry most of the morning, if you need anything, but I should be back before you wake up anyway - we should have the rest of your clothes ready by then, too."

[last_one_out]

"Thanks," he says, smiling at her. "I'll see you later, then."

[lurkingkobold]

She smiles back, "have a good night."

And then Elarron is left alone.

[last_one_out]

He goes into his hut and finds that the light levels aren't too bad and settles into a light but restful sleep.