Crunch...!
Hunfrid stopped in his tracks and stepped back. A miniature airship with a cracked hull and broken propellers lay pathetically a few yards from a nearby trash pile. He wasnt surprised to see such a toy in the richer part of town, but the wonder of such a toy was soon overcome with the urge to try and repair it.
It obviously needed a whole new set of propellers, and a new hull. Hunfrid picked it up and opened the hatch to see the wind up motor. That was in excellent condition for what Hunfrid could tell. With the screwdriver that he used to repair training dummies at the Gladiator's Guild, he removed the motor. Perhaps with scraps from the guild, Hunfrid could make a custom model. There were plenty of books to be found that can help, too.

While Hunfrid labored over a bench at the guild, static came through over the Lighthouse's linkshell. Since joining the small Free Company, Hunfrid wondered if he would ever be called to serve, even if he could not fight or cast any spells. He had since discovered his intuition in repairing almost anything, from basic training dummies to miniature windup toys.
But at least the airship hull was taking shape, with the help of a book from another local guild. With a few extra compartments, Hunfrid could store nuts and bolts in it while he made repairs. What he could use as propellers, he did not know just yet.

"Hunfrid," Mylla interrupted his work, yelling from the other room, "we got more work to do!" Hunfrid knew, when the guildmaster called, you responded quick. Else, her fiery temper would teach you well. With a sigh, Hunfrid set the unfinished toy on his cot and left the cramped room.
"You're going to a small town near Limsa," Mylla explained. "Gods know why they couldnt wait for a more local guild to respond, but since they're paying enough, I wont complain."

"What will I be doing?" Hunfrid inquired, perplexed.
"You'll be doing what you're good at. Repairing broken dummies and fitting them for their local guard and military training. Apparently, the Limsa guilds are quite pre-occupied helping bolster the Maelstrom's forces with recent beastmen activity."

Hunfrid was glad to be getting out of Ul'dah for a while. The few days of travel time would give him plenty of time to finish the toy. One other guildmate joined him, a Sea Wolf that went by the name Howling Sword. He boasted about all the women he had bed with, though Hunfrid had learned that though Howl was good with a sword, he was a lot of talk and little else.
Howl went on about a fine elezen he had met long ago while Hunfrid carved and whittled wood into miniature masts and propeller blades. When Howl slapped him on the shoulder in a jovial gesture, Hunfrid's knife slipped and cut his thumb. Howl apologized as Hunfrid wrapped a kerchief around the wound and just shrugged.

The boat ride to Limsa was less eventful other than Hunfrid finishing the second mast of the windup toy. The city was just as much the 'shining jewel' as Hunfrid had heard. Though he wished to have stayed for a few hours, the two were hurried to the caravan that would take them on their last stretch to the town near Summerford Farms.
It was a quiet town, though more outpost than anything. Training dummies littered the inside of the wall as it stretched and curved up a gentle hill. Most were in disrepair and covered in grime. Hunfrid sighed, knowing he had a long day of work ahead.

The mid-afternoon sun pleasantly warmed Hunfrid's bare arms and chest as he finished the second to last dummy. The mini-airship started to labor as it hovered next to him, a few bolts left on the deck. Hunfrid wiped his brow, grasped the almost wound-out airship and took a step back to admire the fixed dummy.
A curious young Sea Wolf woman paused nearby. She tilted her head, observing the stranger, speculative. "What are you doing?"

Hunfrid looked over his shoulder and smiled, "Just fixing up the training dummies." He stepped back to the dummy and turned the arm on the joint, "Good as new. Almost."
The woman approached, rubbing her chin as she watched. "That is good, I suppose."

"I wont mind the company if you wish to stay. I only have one left to fix up." Hunfrid smiled and pointed his thumb at the last dummy behind him. She didnt immediately reply, but when she didnt leave, Hunfrid thanked Menphina. At last he finally had someone to talk to, other than a passing greeting.
When the woman stepped closer to watch him work, Hunfrid introduced himself. She introduced herself, "I'm Red Hawk, though I also respond to Red." She looked like she never missed a meal, but by no means was she fat. "Why are you fixing these old things?"

Hunfrid wiped his brow again, "No need to waste an old dummie if it can be made good as new." He removed a rusted bolt, traded it for a new one from the airship, and tightened it in the socket. The arm moved more fluidly and with far fewer squeaks. "See?" Hunfrid winked at Red.
Red eyed the dummie, "It still looks like junk." She looked back to Hunfrid, admiring the mini ship in his hand, "But that looks like new."

Hunfrid leaned back on the chair in his inn room. He sighed, exhaling slowly as he thought over what he would write to his family back home. It had been a while since his last letter, though not much had happened. Ul'dah had hardly changed in the few years he had been there.
Should he include having met Red Hawk and their conversation that lasted for hours? Hunfrid couldnt help but grin, thinking back on their tease fest.
He had said some people were a few arrows short of a full quiver, and when Red thought he was talking about her, she got upset. How that turned into her poking fun at him, Hunfrid could not remember. The next thing he knew, Red was feigning upset over being called dumb and chubby. Poor Hunfrid was all in a knot until Red started laughing at the shocked and upset reaction she had caused.

After an expansive yawn, Hunfrid lay the pen next to the inkwell. He crawled into bed and fell asleep before he could draw the covers over himself.

Hunfrid woke early the next morning, feeling well rested. When he didnt feel hungry, he just assumed to take a few pieces of fruit to-go, and start for Limsa. Howling Sword would eventually follow suit.
He was just out of view of the gate when he stepped on a puk hatchling. It squealed loudly in protest, and as Hunfrid staggered backwards, it reared up with a flutter and sunk its teeth in Hunfrid's side. Hunfrid howled in agony, falling hard as the puk squeaked and hurried away.

He dared not look down for fear of dry heaving his guts out. Hunfrid never had the stomach to stand even an onze of blood. He blindly shoved one hand into his satchel, rummaging for the towel he had wrapped around the airship. With a tug, it unravelled and was hastily pressed against the wound.
Panting, Hunfrid heaved himself to his feet and looked around. A nearby boulder would offer a nice perch while he recovered his nerves. The few yalms to it felt much further as Hunfrid grimmaced and gritted his teeth. Finally, he half dragged himself to the top of the boulder, and relaxed somewhat.

With a relieved sigh, Hunfrid took a moment to admire his surroundings. The nearby patch of orange trees looked inviting as the distant Limsa offered a comforting sight for sore eyes.
"Hunfrid?" A familiar voice called from below. With a start, and almost losing his place on the boulder, Hunfrid looked down to see Red Hawk smiling up at him. She clamoured up to him and looked him over. With a gasp at the bloody towel, Red tugged away Hunfrid's hand to get a better look. "What did you do?"

Hunfrid looked away sheepishly, "I stepped on a puk, and it bit me."
Red 'tsk'ed and frowned, "Let me properly dress that for you." She sat on her knees and rummaged through her pack. "I almost ran by you. I'm glad I didnt miss you." She pulled out a vial, "This will keep out infection, but it will sting."

Hunfrid kept his gaze away from his wound, stomach threatening to start heaving. "Just be quick, please," he croaked, paling.
Red gave him an odd look, but obliged. She tapped a few drops on her hand and rubbed the liquid over the wound. Hunfrid sucked a breath through his teeth, resisting the urge to protest. It could not end soon enough.

"There," Red nodded. "Now to dress it. Can you take your shirt off?" Hunfrid gulped and tugged the tunic over his head. Red blushed lightly, "You have beautiful skin."
Hunfrid started to turn a questioning look to Red, but the sudden addition of a bandage over the wound made him clench his jaw and tightly shut his eyes. "Hold still," she insisted.

It was over quickly. With an inspecting look over the bandage, Hunfrid smiled at Red, "Thank you." But when Red folded her arms and scowled at him, Hunfrid gulped. "Wh-what?"
"First, your murderous airship toy, then a puk," she held out a hand. "Hand over the toy." Hunfrid gulped amd tugged the ship from his satchel. Red took it and examined the hull, "How do I open this thi- oh there it is." The hull opened, revealing the cogs, a few tiny rods and a pin. "How do I make this toy less murderous?"

Hunfrid sighed, "The pin. Without it, the crank to wind it up will be useless." Red fiddled with the ship and plucked out the pin.
Tucking it away in her garment, she smiled at Hunfrid, "There." Hunfrid took back his ship and stared at it in his lap with a frown. Red nudged his shoulder, "What? It wont poke anymore holes in you now."

Hunfrid shook his head, "It's nothing." He looked up, admiring the patches of trees nearby and nods, "But now that I dont have a lethal airship to worry about, I can enjoy the view."
Red followed his gaze, "The best oranges come from here." Hunfrid heartily agrees with a chuckled and Red continued, "Are you from Limsa?"

Hunfrid shook his head, braids wagging from the back of his head, "Ul'dah. Though, I do so miss Gridania, even if I had only seen so little of it during my brief visit. The forest is a beautiful place." He smiled faintly, gaze shifting over the horizon.
"Ah, and you are a toymaker there?"
"Huh?" Hunfrid looked at Red, "Oh, no. I work for the Gladiator's Guild, moving things and repairs. What would make you say I'm a toy- oh, my airship." He laughed softly, trying not to disturb his wound too much. Red added a heartier laugh and smiles at her new friend.