Ascending Legends

[BookWyrm]

Dayn would have liked to have been lazy and sleep for an hour more, yet he couldn't put the strange feeling from the previous night out of his mind. <I've got an idea. I thought about it back in Rorich but I knew we couldn't do it there. I brought along some materials to make a netting that we could lash around me to carry the gear. I'm more than big enough and strong enough to carry it like this, and since we are out in the wild who would think twice about an elven trained ranger and her wolf?>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn thought for a moment, then smiled before ruffling his ears. There was little risk considering that they could take care of anyone who decided to mess with them. "Let's do it."

 

[BookWyrm]

About an hours worth of tinkering and size adjustments finally gave way to Dayn, still very much wolfed, being loaded with their gear in the netting harness. Thankfully the plan worked and the harness was quite comfortable, and despite the weight Dayn knew he would still be good for traveling. <Alright, I am set. Let's get on the road again.>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn gave him a hug and then they set out. She still wore her sword on her hip, her enchanted crossbows on her thighs, and her shield on her back. That would help her look the part in case they ran into anybody.

 

[BookWyrm]

They had been traveling all morning and stopped beside a creek to rest. As Dayn drank from the water he caught a scent blowing by and growled. <Someones coming.>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn patted his head. "It'll be okay. Just act the part, mo chroi." Arryn had refilled her canteen and was taking a drink. She glanced nonchalantly at the traveller that approached. He was a grizzled, older man, armed with an old sword and a longbow. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of Arryn and Dayn. Arryn met his gaze, then returned her attention to filling her canteen. The man seemed to be trying to understand what was happening and if it was a trap. He made a signal to someone behind him, and Arryn immediately turned her whole attention to him. Who was he signalling? Arryn rested her hand on Dayn's head, making it look like he would listen to any order she gave. Arryn decided that she should be the one to speak. "Dia duit. Cá bhfuil tú ag dul?" After a moment of hesitation it was clear that the man didn't speak Northern. Something else became clear too. A small boy poked his head out from behind the man, and Arryn immediately relaxed, even taking her hand off of Dayn's head. In a heavily accented Common, she asked, "Where do you travel?" The man replied, "North. Getting away from history."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn had stood beside Arryn, his ears laying back as he held his tail out straight, signs that anyone familiar with dogs or wolves would recognize as protective, wary. When the older man came into view Dayn shifted and took a step in front of Arryn, raising his hackles and snarling just enough to show his teeth. Yet when the boy appeared behind the man Dayn calmed himself, understanding now why the man had been wary. <Hard road for two travelers, especially a father and son.>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn patted Dayn's head to let him know that she had heard him, then looked back to the duo before them. "Tis a hard road and a hard land. The magicked beasts o' legend still reside there. I'd know. Now is the season to go, but why?" The father shifted a bit uneasily and looked down at the boy. "Well... gambling debts. Not mine... his mother's. We are soon to be free of them, though. They won't pursue us North." The man looked at Dayn nervously. "Are there any more of you... rangers...?" Arryn smiled slightly and shook her head. "To my knowledge, no." The boy looked at Dayn intently, both scared and in awe.

 

[BookWyrm]

Being able to sense emotion was something that took Dayn some time to get used to, and moments like this made him wonder how he had lived without for so long. <Interesting story.> Dayn looked over at the boy, raising his head as he sniffed the air. His posture had relaxed and his hackles had lowered, but he knew he still held a very intimidating presence. Though wolves, especially dire wolves, were known to be intelligent, Dayn wasn't going to make any moves unless told to.

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn snapped her fingers to pretend that it was a command releasing Dayn. "How much is the debt?" "Fourty gold. But rumor has spread. It is best to just leave." Arryn looked down to Dayn for a second, silenetly asking what he thought. Should we help them?

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn sat down and shifted to lean against Arryn. Forty gold pieces was a steep debt by any means, but when one had the money things sometimes opened up. But, would it be right to pay off someone's debt while offering them the possibility of going back into debt again? <Rangers aren't expected to make much money. Offering to pay could possibly lead them on to question the disguise. I can't help but wonder how much good we could do if they turn around and get into debt again.> Dayn looked from the boy to his father and then up at Arryn. He whined a bit, trying to appear like he was wanting attention. <But, they look like they could use the money. Your call hon, I support you either way.>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn glanced down at Dayn, then back to the man. "Where is your wife?" The man shifted his feet a bit. "I don't know. I know I'm never dealing with her again, though." Arryn slowly petted Dayn's head and ruffled his ears a bit. Afyter a few moments, she reached into her purse and pulled out fourty gold to hand to the man. "The North is a harsh land for those who have lived there. If you needn't move there, then I suggest you don't. Only take this if you can promise you'll never gamble or drink, and you'll never deal with your wife again." The man hesitated, then nodded and took the offered gold. The boy kept his eye on Dayn.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn nuzzled against Arryn's leg and purred quietly. <Good call.> The boy, though, seemed quite taken by Dayn, and he couldn't blame him. Here was a pure black wolf with ice blue eyes that stood at half his dad's height on all fours. Slowly Dayn stood up and eased forward, keeping his head low and a wary eye on the man, stopping just short of four steps away from them both as he waited to see what their response would be.

 

[Dragongal]

The boy looked up at Arryn, who nodded. The father put his hand on the boy's shoulder to hold him back. "Dayn's perfectly affable, now that he knows you're not a danger." The boy looked up to his father and took another step forward.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn eased forward and leaned out to barely sniff the boys hand, keeping his eyes on the father the whole time. After a moment of hesitation Dayn licked the boy's hand, though he kept his head lowered and posture relaxed to try and appear less threatening.

 

[Dragongal]

The boy smiled and reached out to pet Dayn's head. The father looked up to Arryn, who simply smiled and shrugged. "Not everyone can claim they've pet a direwolf. Your son can."

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn let the boy pet him for a few moments before giving a short huff and walking back to Arryn. <No need to draw things out. We should leave soon.>

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn chuckled and patted Dayn's head. She looked back to the man. "I would suggest laying low for a bit to make sure the missus can't find you, before returning. A day's walk from here is the village of Rorich. There's a small inn where you can stay. make no mention of me, though." The man smiled and nodded before thanking them and walking away with the boy's hand in his. Arryn ruffled Dayn's ears again once they were gone.

 

[BookWyrm]

Another four, maybe five hours later and they had settled in for the night once more. This time Dayn had managed to find another ranger shelter like before. Once he was unharnessed Dayn shifted back, pulled on some pants, and started the fire for supper. "For awhile there I thought that old man was going to be a problem."

 

[Dragongal]

"He was just being protective." Arryn moved behind Dayn, sat down behind him and wrapped her arms around him.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn smiled before leaning back against Arryn. "Despite how much I love having your arms around me, I think we ought to wait, otherwise I might burn supper."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled and kissed his neck a bit before letting go. She coyly asked, "Wait for what?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn gave a short gasp and shivered before turning back to the food. "Hmm, well, anything that might possibly happen after supper."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn leaned in to kissed his cheek. "I can't imagine what that would be."

 

[BookWyrm]

"You can be such a coy temptress at times."