Chapter 11

The two half-elves woke first the next morning. Without bothering to put his shirt back on, Faelar went out and knocked on the others' door. "Oi, you blokes up yet?" The door opened a few moments later, revealing a tired and disheveled Ky'itae, clad only in her reddish-brown tunic. The red-eyed elf held her forehead and groaned.

Ugh... not so loud... my head's throbbing."

"Serves you right for drinking too much again." Serosa'ruth, fully clothed scolded from behind her.

With Faelar out of the room, Saeola took this chance to dress. She then slipped out, chuckling to herself as she passed Ky'itae. "I heard if you drink a raw egg, it helps," She said before disappearing down the stairs.

- - - - -

The ranger stepped outside, taking a deep breath of the chilly morning air. It made her smile and then she blinked, noticing a familiar four-legged creature sniffing around.

"Irek?" The wolf's ears twitched and his head perked up, ears twisting forward. The white wolf yipped happily and, with his tail wagging, trotted over to her. Saeola knelt down to greet her friend with a smile, scratching him behind his ear. "Jeez, what are you doing here anyway...?" She muttered more to herself.

"'Ello, who's dis 'ere li'l fella?" Faelar, still clad only in his trousers, appeared next to Saeola, crouching down to look closer at Irek. "Dis dat wolf friend o' yours ya mentioned last night, dove?"

Saeola blinked in surprised. When had he...? She shook her head slightly before she nodded, smiling slightly. "Yeah. This is Irek." The white wolf's ears perked up at his name and he titled his head to one side slightly, liquid golden eyes on the stranger now.

"Well, 'ello dere, Irek. Whot a 'andsome wolf ya are, ey? Guess ya could say I gots a wolf friend 'o me own," he pointed to his tattoo with a chuckle, then scratched Irek behind the ear, "Not a bad choice fer a companion."

Irek stared at him curiously, always careful of strangers. However, his scent mingled with Saeola's which meant she was around him a lot, thus he concluded it was safe and that this man was a friend. His tail wagged happily as his ear was scratched.

Saeola chuckled. "Not at all. Although I have no idea why he's here. Crazy animal."

"Well, actually dove, da 'companion' comment was ta Irek." Faelar grinned, "but 'e's an awesome bloke, too. Ain'tcha, boy?" Faelar gently ruffled Irek's fur and scratched under the wolf's chin.

Saeola blushed lightly at his comment and Irek barked happily, tail wagging furiously. His golden eyes then turned to her and he yipped. Saeola glared at him in response. "Shut it!" Irek made a noise and one could swear he was laughing.

Knowing quite well rangers and druids could communicate with animals, Faelar grinned and queried, "Whot's yer furry friend 'ave ta say, dove?"

Saeola grumbled. "Oh, nothing..." Irek snorted in disagreement and sat down.

"I could tell you, if Irek is willing to repeat himself." Serosa'ruth approached the three, a stumbling and cursing Ky'itae leaning against him for balance.

Saeola glanced at Serosa'ruth sharply, then gave a very evil glare to her wolf friend. "Don't you even--" Irek began to yip only for it to turn into a yelp as Saeola waved her hands at him in annoyance. "It's none of their business, you mutt! And it's none of yours either!" Irek dodged and danced around her, causing her to stumble when he got close to her feet. He barked as if he was laughing.

Serosa'ruth chuckled and crouched down, Ky'itae nearly falling over from his change in stance. He whistled lowly, calling the wolf to him. His eyes showed his smile that accompanied his next chortle. "Well, you're a lively and talkative one, aren't you?"

But of course! Irek replied happily, tail wagging as he wandered over to the druid I have a lot to say!

"Yeah, but it's all useless stuff and you know it," Saeola grumbled. Irek merely snorted.

Serosa'ruth laughed and rubbed the area between the wolf's ears affectionately, Don't mind her, though I doubt I need to tell you that. What have you to say, my lupine friend?

Her face changes colors when she's around that other half-elf. It's rather funny.

Saeola's eye twitched. "Yer askin' for it..."

Oh really? I think I've noticed it too. It gets redder, doesn't it? Serosa'ruth winked.

"SEROSA'RUTH!"

He grinned at Saeola's distress, then lowered his tone so only the wolf could hear and understand, Tell me, Irek, does her scent change at all as well? the elven druid snickered.

Hm? I didn't notice...

The druid lowered his tone even more, Well, take note around 'em, eh? Tell me next time we chat if you notice anything, all right? Serosa'ruth gave the wolf another pat before easily dodging a rock flung at him by Saeola. Irek seemed to snicker.

"So you show up to bother me. Wonderful. A furry version of Faelar."

"Whot more coulda ya ask for then, dove?" The rogue grinned.

"Shut up..."

"Well, anyway, now that we've met Saeola's furry companion," Serosa'ruth turned serious, "we should probably get some breakfast... and Miss Keg here," the druid nudged Ky'itae, who grumbled, "can get some raw eggs to drink and some food in her stomach to help with the hangover."

"Can't you just cast a damn healing spell or something?" The elven maid growled in a very wolflike tone. Serosa'ruth snorted.

"If I do, you won't learn anything."

Saeola chuckled at Ky'itae and patted her sympathetically on the back. "Are you sure that headache isn't from when you tried to fly?" She asked with a chuckle.

"Hey, the floor looked farther away when I tried it!" Ky'itae huffed. "I didn't have time to prepare!" Serosa'ruth snorted again, but withheld a comment.

...She isn't serious, is she? Saeola coughed and patted Irek's head before heading inside. Irek's eyes dropped in disappoint, but he sat and waited regardless.

Ky'itae, being a lythari and understanding wolves perfectly well, stuck her tongue out at Irek before tripping over her own feet and tumbling to the ground. "Gods dammit!"

Hehehehe... watch that first step.

Shut-up! To Faelar, only canine growls emitted from the young elf's mouth, though he could surmise her meaning well enough.

Irek gave her innocent puppy dog eyes.

Ky'itae sighed, rubbing her forehead and patting the wolf with the other hand, Don't mind me, brother. Hangovers make me cranky.

Irek's tail wagged happily, ears perking up. No worries.

Well, I'm pretty sure the tavern doesn't allow animals inside, so... want me to bring out something for you? ...After I take something for this headache, that is. She scrunched her face at the pounding in her head.

Irek's tail wagged harder. Oooo, yes please! Good for nothing -- also known as "Saeola" -- didn't even bother to ask. Hmph.

Inside, Saeola sneezed. She scratched her nose and made a face.

Ky'itae laughed, giving Irek one more pat on the head. You're all right, brother. I'll be back in a few. Slowly rising herself, the elven woman trudged indoors, keeping her eyes half-concentrated on her feet, to avoid stumbling over them again.

Miri was now awake at this point and she blinked when she saw Ky'itae before she chuckled lightly. "Heh... all that booze caught up with you, huh?"

"Meh." The elf fighter grumbled, using the bar counter as support while she walked. Plopping into a seat next to Serosa'ruth at a table, Ky'itae folded her arms and dropped her head into them, pausing a moment before she remembered that a barmaid awaited her order. Still burying her face, Ky'itae raised one hand up, "Raw eggs in a glass. Ugh."

Miri made a face at the terrible drink the elf was now forced to take and shook her head lightly. "Have we learned a lesson yet?"

"Na linn, bhen! Amin shasti i' leshere." Ky'itae grumbled, Faelar bristling at her comment.

"'Ey now, Itae, it ain't me fault just coz ya couldn't hold yer booze."

"Llie verye amin, llie thar." Ky'itae retorted.

Miri chuckled and edged out of the conversation, clearly not understanding Elven. She gathered her things as Saeola came downstairs, her own things in hand. "Are we leavin' or what?" She demanded.

"You really should eat something first, you know." Serosa'ruth suggested, though no one had seen the druid himself eat yet that day.

"Mankoi desha eilaie? Irek pelekt ei sia tys arinyan?" Ky'itae looked up, smirking at the half-elf ranger.

Saeola glared at the elf woman dangerously. "Neh. Ent uum n' llie shan eller vee' eithel."

"Mankoi? Ta naa tyalie nae aisorari llie." Ky'itae grinned.

Saeola snarled. "So I've been told..."

"All right, that's enough you two." Serosa'ruth sighed, pulling Saeola into a chair and shoving over his food to her while pushing Ky'itae's raw egg drink over to the elven woman. "Eat and drink up, now." He sent them both a rather dangerous look. Saeola grumbled something inaudible but complied, falling silent as she began to eat while Ky'itae did the same.

"So Boss," Faelar snatched a piece of bread from Saeola's plate, still not dressed, "Where we 'eadin' next?"

"Further south, probably by the Small Teeth Mountains." Serosa'ruth replied, sitting between Saeola and Ky'itae.

Saeola shot the other half-elf an evil glare while Miri gave Serosa'ruth a curious look. "What's there?" She asked.

Serosa'ruth shrugged, "Well, there's not much going on here, and I've heard of orc problems further south. Orcs tend to live in mountain ranges, so the Small Teeth are probably a good place to start. If there's one thing Ky'itae can do, even when drunk--"

"--It's cleaving through damn orcs!" The moon elf pounded her fist on the table, then regretted it as her head began throbbing again. "Aguh!"

Saeola snickered as Miri patted Ky'itae on the shoulder. "Yeah, but I don't think the hangovers are worth it," Saeola said.

"Meh." Ky'itae rose from her seat, grabbing a small piece of ham or somesuch to take out to Irek.

"Well, let's get our stuff and go." Serosa'ruth rose from his seat, tossing a few coins on the table for the barmaid.

"'Ey, dontcha need food too, Boss?" Faelar inquired, chewing on his nicked bread.

"I already ate." The druid disappeared up the stairs.

"...'Ow does 'e do dat? I've yet ta see 'is full face or eating or... well, most anythin' normal." The rogue pondered aloud.

Miri followed without a word. Saeola scratched the back of her head, sporting the same confused look on her face as Faelar. "Dunno," She replied. "But I'd sure like to know."

"Only if he wants you to find out." Ky'itae chuckled, returning from feeding Irek, patting Saeola on the back. "C'mon, let's go. I need to get my armor on, and I might need your help. I'm still seeing double on occasion." The moon elf frowned.

Saeola chuckled at her comment and nodded, following the elf back to the room. She frowned slightly at her back. Yes, but... don't you get curious too?

"Methinks our elven friend already knows more about da Boss dan just 'is face," As if reading her mind, Faelar commented and came up behind Saeola. "I mean... 'Ow long did dey travel before dey met you? A year? Plenty 'o time fer stuff ta 'appen."

Saeola glanced at him with her eyes, but did not turn her head. "That's true... Still, I've been traveling with them for awhile myself… Five months now, or close to it. Plus it seems like such a big secret that even a year wouldn't be enough."

"I dunno dove, I've traveled with 'em fer a while now, too, but eva notice dem around each other? They're like da best o' buds. I wouldn't put it past Itae findin' out whot da Boss is... though I'm sure she ain't gonna tell us." The thief shrugged, walking up the stairs. "In any case, I'm gonna put da rest 'o me gear on. See ya, dove."

Saeola waved him off half-heartedly, too absorbed in her thoughts as she disappeared into the room to help Ky'itae. Maybe... But why can't he trust us...?