Surprisingly enough, Miss Lady doesn't grill me too hard for information immediately, starting by general questions about how my recovery, that along with the tea shes generously provided (god bless this woman, the smell of it reminds me of Earl Grey funnily enough) and it's surprisingly comfortable here. She asks me how I'm currently feeling, whether or not theres discomfort in the previously, and currently, bandaged areas.
"I thank you for your hospitality, Miss Lady, especially for taking care of me during my, uh, small incident. I feel fine myself, other than feeling a bit off and less than clean, I've healed up nicely thanks to you, I truly do thank you immensely for caring for my condition." I take another sip of the tea, my throat still feeling a tad raw and speaking like such really does grind against it, ought to not do that much. Placing it down and rubbing the back of my neck, in truth I'm hoping she just doesn't ask more personal questions, like what I was actually doing there cause I don't have an answer please no. She sips gently sips at her tea before placing it down upon her tea plate, clattering lightly against it. I don't have one of my own, funnily enough, perhaps she only has one?
"You needn't worry, Basitin, not one thing at all." She smiles politely before taking another sip, well that doesn't seem ominous or strange at all. I tilt my head, my ears flopping against my head like a dog (I wonder if I can control that?). Before I could ask her what she meant, though, she followed up herself "You things are much hardier than my normal 'visitors', you weren't even bed ridden long given what the same wounds have done to a human, only three days, some soothing spells and food is nothing compared to others." She says this with a smile on her face, taking a final gulp from her cup.
"Still, Miss Lady, I do owe some debt to you, I expected some more vigorous grilling bout who I am over concerns over my health. Only really makes me feel worse about taking up your time and resources." I frown at her, and i frown on the inside too, cause while I do feel guilty bout her being (I assume) compelled to save me, I'm kind of digging a hole for myself by basically offering her 'hey you should ask me questions bout anything which I can't answer!'. I, too, gulp down the rest of my dear (it'd be rude to keep her waiting with my own cup after all) as she scoffs.
"Stop calling me Miss Lady, makes me feel old, my name's Anna, though you may call me Miss Anna if you feel so inclined to add 'miss' onto everything" She giggles, it sounds odd coming from someone who looks as old as she does. My tail flickers (I gotta remember that I have that tail) as I roll my eyes, resting my chin on my hand and sticking out my tongue. Childish but appropriate, probably. "Though I do wonder, what is your name, mystery Basitin?"
Uh oh, now that's something I don't know, do I have a name here? Or rather, whoever I'm being have one? Do I have some sort of backstory too? Why can't I remember anything about it? Why cant I remember anything at all? My chest tightens as well as my spare hand, of which has latched onto the table, I close my eyes and count, why was any semblance of emotional control just upheaved then? One, two, three, four.
"Apologies Miss La- Anna, I'm sorry for that, I've just had to recollect some memories is all. Zeke's my name, I do wish we could've met under better circumstances." Wew, I certainly pulled that one out of my ass, though Zeke does at least seem familiar, shouldn't be too hard to remember that at least. She makes a small gesture towards my cup, which I pass to her, the smell of it already faded from the table sadly. Anna hums as she turns and twirls away, merely placing the cups onto a bench before turning towards me and re-seating herself, the claws upon my paws tapping against the wooden floor.
"This again? I never knew a Basitin so apologetic, normally you things are too damned proud to admit to wanting help. Then again, I don't imagine much of anyone around here sees a Basitin, you folk normally keeps to that island of yours, what are you doing around here?" She doesn't say any of this mockingly, but she seems exasperated over it, and I don't think she'd appreciate me saying sorry about being sorry. Basitins' live on an island in solitude for the most part, and they're stubborn, at least I'm learning something about them without seeming like a nutjob. I hum and think, trying to make some sort of believable story up, I can't pretend to be an complete amnesiac, what could I spin together? It feel's awful to lie to her, but its better than the truth.
"In truth I'm just a wanderer, I grew up in a village.. somewhere, I didn't exactly look for directions when I started to walk, but I grew up with humans, so I don't really know how most Basitins are like, it doesn't help that I don't recall the day you found me. What happened when you found me?" A suitable enough lie, I hope she doesn't call it out, I think I covered most of my bases. She raises an eyebrow at me and rests her jaw on her hand, mimicking myself.
"A Basitin raised by humans, hm? Can't say I've heard of that one before, then again, who knows what people get up to in other villages? It's surprising that your mind's as muddled as it is, but I don't know exactly how you work, it's interesting that you don't remember where you came from, but you can keep to your own. You were travelling with a caravan of other humans, none of which I'd have recognised and were attacked by Keidran, most likely wolves given the distance in borders, though they've been particularly aggressive with this raid, fire might've been caused by a mage in their midst's." She says all this in a informative tone, as if shes practised this before, or maybe shes used to it, her fingers drumming against her cheek as she does so. The hell's a Keidran? Another question I'd have to wing till I find an answer to. Shame that she kinda saw through me there, but at least shes understanding enough not to pry. I nod as she finishes her sentence though, kicking my legs out from under the table in an attempt to stretch them, without touching her of course.
"Aye, I wasn't very well liked there, so I had no reason stay there. Did I have anything when you found me? Clothes or bags? It's a little stiffing to be covered in bandages after all, what are Basitins like if you don't mind me asking?" I'm asking a lot of questions, I really do hope she doesn't mind. She chuckles, her hands coming together and fingers interlocking, resting her chin on them. Well this certainly doesn't feel off at all, what's she planning?
"Awh, already planning on clothing? A shame, really~" She gives me a wink, my cheeks flare up and I recoil slightly, not so subtly moving away from her as I feel my face contort. I'm being flirted with by a possible old lady how the fuck do I real with this? She giggles before laughing her old ass off, quickly subduing herself "Relax, Zeke, I'm a doctor, I've had to see everyone bare at least once, especially a warrior. Your clothes and bags are in your temporary room, by the Templars your reaction was priceless"
I huff, my cheeks still burning slightly, at least shes gotten a laugh out of it, I cough away the awkwardness. Templars though? They exist in this world, huh? I wonder if they're similar from back home.
"May I go check them, Miss Anna? I still want to know about other Basitins, and repay my debt in some way that's hopefully not unsafe for a public environment." I ask her, though it's not exactly needed as I stand up. Thankfully she gestures towards the room with a teasing smile on her face, shes at least kinda cute in an olden lady type of way. I'm normally not so prudish, though i hurry to the room nonetheless, maybe its a Basitin thing? I softly close the door, though I'm hasty, I don't want to slam anything.
I let out a small sigh of relief, thankfully she's left the bag near the bed. Speaking of that bed, it's not exactly a straw bed upon examining it closer, not too different from some beds back home, just a lot more archaic, maybe it's straw stuffing? Nonetheless, I do find the bag and hoist it up onto the bed, opening the strap and letting its contents all onto it. There's honestly not too much, seems I was travelling light before the attack. Some covered rations of fruit and meat (not spoiled, surprisingly enough, they seemed cooked at least), simple clothing of a slightly torn shirt, a darker brown compared to my fur (such boring colours, honestly). Its thin but not torn up enough to be unusable, I wonder if its made of something I'd recognise from home? Its not quite leather, but it isn't exactly fragile either. I go to slip it on, but I just remembered, I have bandages on my chest, is it safe to remove it? I tug at it lightly, nothing seems to be hurting, so it should be fine, hopefully anyways.
Another tug and it just kind of falls apart, drifting down my sides and around my legs, I actually get a good look at my chest and I'm actually buff, not the flabby mess of my old body! I touch over my chest and stomach, nice and toned, this feels so cool and oh no I actually have to take care of my body now, I can't be a lazy slob like normal. With that aside, though, I pull the shirt over and onto my body, its not exactly comfortable but oddly enough it feels comforting, maybe its something I had from a while ago, or maybe its because im clothed at long last. Oh yeah, more clothing, there's equally simple leggings, akin to shorts honestly, thankfully they're not torn up, I slip them on of course, gotta cover my butt, there's nothing else to cover it, which means that Anna, uh, saw everything. That's not awkward in the slightest, not at all.
Ignoring that though, finally clothed, though my feet still seem to be bandaged, there's nothing exactly to cover them with other than that, it seems just right. Among the rations and other miscellaneous items (which consisted of pans and cutlery, and other camping items) was a book, a singular page poking out of the top. My ears and interest piqued, a journal maybe? Surely it'd give some information on my past! I flip it open, scrawling and diagrams littered the pages, I gaze and take in the writings and scribbling. I look, and look, and look
And understand literally nothing, this isn't English, I cant read this. I sigh and groan, squeezing my eyes shut and rubbing at my temples with my hands. Of course it'd be in not English, so I did originally come from a Basitin upbringing, can't exactly ask Anna bout it then, I don't think she'd know and itd blow a hole in my story. I check the spare page, still jutting out of the book, and open it up, it seems to be a drawing of a continent, I assume its the landmass I'm currently on. I must be near a village near the Forest Wolf Territory border then, judging from what Anna said, the island near the bottom of the map catches my eye, 'eastern' and 'western' Basitin islands, eh? Maybe its a cultural separation thing. I stuff the map back into the book, jutting the page out as before, then stuffing the bag with my belongings, well, probably mine now anyways, book in a side pocket (god bless whoever made this bag) and the food in the bottom.
I, don't exactly have a plan honestly, maybe I should stay with Anna for a bit and help her out? I do have a debt to her after all, and she could teach me things, better than meaningless wandering honestly. I leave the bag atop the bed and waltz out of the room, stretching my arms and legs as I do so. Honestly these clothes are kinda nice when you get used to it. Outside the room, Anna's cleaning the tea cups we used, though she swirls her head back and smiles slightly.
"Good to get some clothes on you, hm? Basitins don't particularly like being unclothed, even for needed things." She doesn't yell this, but she does say it a little bit louder than normal as she turns back to the dishes. Basitins don't like the nude, huh, maybe they are a little prudish then, explains the natural (mentally forced) reaction to the flirting. I return her smile though and wave my hand.
"Hey, just a little awkward being in the nude, even if its in front of a doctor. I do wanna ask though, do you mind telling me a bit more bout Basitins? I just wanna learn a tad more bout em." I take a preemptive seat on the table, as does she, and she fills in what little information she actually knows.
Basitins are a race similar to Keidrans, though they're different enough physically, they're sometimes mistaken for each other. They're split up into two different parts, East and West, for cultural reasons (explains the map). Details about Basitins are scarce, especially the Western ones, but Easterners tend to be very militaristic and disciplined, they almost entirely keep to themselves and rarely interact with the world outside of their island. One thing does catch my attention though
"They're all pretty short, huh," I look towards myself, tugging gently at the tip of my ears and immediately flinching because holy they're sensitive. Seeing as I'm almost a full head above Anna, and humans are meant to be taller than them on average... "I'd stick out quite a lot there, and quite a lot anywhere honestly." Anna nods, a yawn escaping her lips at the same time.
"Mhm, Basitins are very short, so you're quite the interest, Zeke" The way she says this while looking at me makes me pretty bloody uncomfortable, to be frank. I shrug in faux disinterest though.
"Speaking of interest, Miss Anna, what is it that you do here? You said you're a doctor after all." I counter-ask her, I hope that gets the 'interest' off of me. She smiles wide and hops up, oh god whats she excited about?
"Never thought you'd ask, dear Zeke!" Shes way too joyous about this, doing her little twirl and dance as she reaches down and opens a chest, grabbing a handle from in there, she pulls it out, the contents being crystals and herbs and, a bunch of other things, the hells this?
"I'm just an old lady who loves to experiment with magic and nature, I just so happen to help people around here, mostly humans, almost entirely humans, don't tell the Templars." She looks worried for a second, her eyes closing to a narrow point as if focusing on something before returning to a smile. Thats not worrying at all
"Er, so, you used me as an experiment for things?"
"Of course! You are the first Basitin I've seen around here and had the chance to help, you being unconscious just made it easier to get to working on you." She stops for a moment and smiles softly to me, again with those soft eyes like the night she found me. "I also used to be a healer for the Templars, so while I've wanted to experiment, I've always wanted to help others, do you get what I mean?"
I really do get what she means, she seems a little out there mentally, but she means well. Of course, I nod to her, reaching over and ruffling her hair, something I normally do a lot with friends. Do I consider her a friend?
"O' course Miss Anna, granted, I think you're a little off, but hey everyone has their quirks. What's with magic, though?" She seems confused at that question, is magic really that common here?
"Magics an energy from the earth, something that most races that are non-Basitin can use. Templars are able to draw it from the magic of the earth to cast spells, mostly combat ones, but I've taken to casting soothing spells on you when you were recovering to ease the pain. Non Templars and Keidrans have to use mana crystals to do so, although you Basitins don't react well to using magic, I've never seen one do it, and they've never wanted to do it." She explains this in her informative tone of voice, shes had to use that with me a fair bit, and I nod along with her. Magic huh? I could've been more surprised, shame I cant use it, I don't think I have the smarts to remember the words honestly.
"You've mentioned Templars a few times, who're they?" That's been something I've been wondering for a while. Shes silent for a moment, before speaking up with a solemn tone.
"During times of conflict, especially against Keidrans, they were mages suited for battle, although they had other uses besides combat. They were needed against Keidran mages." She speaks tersely, rather tight lipped about the subject. I shrug but nod in thanks regardless, if she doesn't wanna talk about it then I cant exactly pry without being a hypocrite after all
"Right! Thank you for all of this, though I have to ask, is there anything I can do for you Anna? You've been a hospitable host after all, I'd like to return the favour" She seems genuinely thoughtful for a second, a chance to repay a debt? I'll jump on that.
"Actually, I do. I'm much too old and fragile for it, even if I have magic to do so, its nice to stay warm in the winter, wont you stay a while and cut some wood up for me, dear Zeke?" She asks me, her eyes fluttering oh my GOD WHY AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH. My hands wave in the air as I look away from her, and at literally anywhere else really.
"Okay okay! Just please stop that." She has the bloody audacity to laugh at me, holding her stomach and bowing over laughter too. God this woman's gonna kill me. I do agree with her demands though, she later explains that she wants me to stay for around a few days to chop wood up for her for winter, even though i'tll be a long while since it comes, best to be prepared I suppose. She leads me out the back of her house, the house itself being situated at the end of a dirt road, i was right to think of the place as a cottage. There's already logs of wood in something similar to a shed made of wood, apparently a gift from the Templars for her service, though shes grown too old to cut the wood according to herself. Anna's a weird woman, motherly yet teasing and slightly insane, might have something to do with her solitude?
Otherwise, she does show me the ropes of actually using an axe to cut open logs, having it rest on a tree trunk and slicing it down the middle. Fun fact, this being the first time to actually use an axe, and in an entirely new body nonetheless, I actually missed the middle log bit entirely, but ended up slicing it clean through anyways, whoops. Anna wasn't very happy about that
So yeah, this is probably gonna be my purpose for the new while. I can't stay here forever though, fulfil my debt, and then roam around going, somewhere, maybe the Basitin island? Could always go to the next town over and ask directions. Till then I guess I'm gonna be chopping wood, at least its exercise.
Authors note: I do apologise for the lack of actual action, I just require time to pass as well as some character build up, hopefully none are too bothered by it. I do want to ask though, I often cut off paragraphs after a multitude of lines due to me imagining it that it looks really blocky on phone fanfiction, however looking at it on the website itself, its actually very small, and I want to know if its an issue with whoever reading this. Until next time