"More soup?"

The norn offered a wooden bowl of what must pass for soup up here. Darrof cringed as the smells of several kinds of meat blended into a pungent stench. It was disgusting, but it was warm. He drank it down as quickly as he could, feeling oddly comforted, even as it burned his throat.

"I'm impressed you were able to last out there." Rolf said. "You're pretty hardy for an asura, aren't you, little Gronda?"

"Darrof" the asura corrected. Rolf seemed to ignore this.

"It really is remarkable." Rolf continued, "In fact, I bet my boy, Fen, could learn a thing or two from you. He's out on a hunting trip right now, but I'm sure you two would get along."

Now it was Darrof's turn to ignore Rolf.

"So anyway," Rolf said with a smile, "time to tell me what exactly a baby asura is doing out in the middle of the Wayfarer Foothills."

"I'm not an infant." Darrof mumbled as he stretched his tiny arms trying to reach the pot of soup simmering over the fire.

"Of course not, sorry." Rolf said as he took the ladle from the pot and fed the child, "But you didn't answer my question."

"I don't see why it matters." Darrof replied, wiping soup off his mouth. "Do you always ask your prey where it came from?"

"Prey?"

"Yes. Prey. As in a creature hunted by a predator and consumed for nourishment. I would think the concept would be self explanatory, even to the primitive mental faculties of a norn."

Rolf stared for a second, then burst out laughing even harder than before. "You thought I was going to EAT you!?"

"I would appreciate it if you stopped laughing." Darrof tried to put on a stern face, but could not hide his ears pulling back in embarrassment.

"Sorry. Sorry." Rolf wiped a tear from his eye as he covered the last of his chuckling in a fake cough. Darrof glared at Rolf, who was still grinning, and sighed.

"Well, I appreciate your hospitality, but I should really be going. My parents will be here to pick me up any minute now."

"Ah, so they know where to find you, then?"

"Yes. I assure you, I will have no further need of your services."

"Do they know their way around the area? I live up here, and even I can tell you that all these mountains look the same."

"Of course. They pass through here all the time on their way to Hoelbrak."

"Well, you'll still need something to keep you warm while you're out there. That dolyak hide you had was thin and tattered. I've got some much better furs I can lend you. You'll also need a signal, so they can see you in the snow. I can help you set up a bonfire, and show you how to make smoke signals."

"No."

"At least wait until the blizzard passes."

"No! How many times do I have to say it? I don't need help from anyone. Especially not a big stupid norn like you!" Darrof stood up and stormed out of the cabin in a huff. He slammed the door behind him, then opened it again.

"And I'm taking the furs with me!" He grabbed the best one he could find, then slammed the door again.