Fate - First Reply The Old Song

[Bula]

Months had passed since Bula's encounters with the ice trolls that separated her from her tribe. There was a pang in her chest for the familiar, but tonight Bula could not spare the time to mourn her own losses. Instead, she had a belly to fill that growled angrily at her. It'd been weeks since she'd had anything truly considered sustainable and tonight, the orc was out hunting. Through the shadows, Bula crept. Her eyes remained peeled for any sign of fauna that could be prepared.

She tried to ignore the chill that bit at the night air, just as she tried to pretend her body wasn't in starvation mode. There were a few traps in the region that she intended to check, hoping for rabbits or squirrels with which to make a meat stew. What she didn't expect was the haunting echo of a chant she'd not heard in some time. A shiver ran down Bula's spine as she stopped in her tracks, pointed ears twitching as her tusked mouth fell agape. Was that... a war chant?

It wouldn't be the first time that Bula heard the spirits of her ancestors where she least expected it, and the idea that she'd found a trace of her clan that likely wasn't living sent a pang through her chest that she disliked greatly. It came from south of her, the steady, familiar rhythm of her people's own warsongs. Her heart pounded and her hands fell to the dual hatchets at her side as she finally embarked on a mission to get closer to the chant's source.

After about ten to fifteen minutes of following the song toward its source, Bula finally smelled smoke in the air. Using that to guide her too, the orc eventually found her way to a smouldering fire--and a figure ahead. Whoever, or whatever, it was... they breathed a familiarity that the prodigal daughter of Mabess yearned for. She approached, her presence made known with the audible, intentional, snapping of a branch underfoot. She wanted the figure to see her and react before she greeted them.

 

[Voe]

Voe's head moved and the shape next to him followed, lifting it's large head, Otho the Drake-hound licked its lips and began to rise, halted only by Voe's hand on its collar.

"Easy now."
Lazily Voe looked over towards the new arrival at his small camp between the rocks.

"Hi."
Yellow eyes pierced the darkness, saw blood on them and a bit, maybe more than a bit, of a stagger in their step.

"Oh..."
Standing, back to the fire, Voe looked again.
"You're pretty banged up. Come closer, he doesn't bite. There's food, it's just bread, cheese and a bit of sausage but there's hot tea as well if you're up to it."

As a ranger Voe knew better than to approach someone hurt with too much haste. Once or twice he nearly lost his head rushing too close to fast to help someone too hurt and scared to see him as anything but a threat.

If Cass has not been close at hand Voe may have met his end in such times so with Cass not around he employed more caution than he might have otherwise.

"Can you tell me your name and maybe what happened to you?"

Bula

 

[Bula]

The last thing Bula expected was to be greeted and then coaxed out of her shadows. She was hesitant at first to emerge from the tree line and into Voe's small campfire's area, but food... Food was a tempting and damn good reason to do just that. Her fiery gaze slid over to the drake-hound warily. He doesn't bite... she echoed in her mind before, with a soft huff of displeasure, the shaman finally broke into the light of the fire.

Bula was indeed bleeding and covered in her share of cuts and bruises, but nothing seemed to be too extreme or disabling. That was probably for the best; open wounds led to infections and infections festered and led to the loss of limbs... or worse: death. A faint coppery smell clung to her, much of it dried blood that clung to her armor.

"Bula," she answered as she lowered herself near the fire. She extended rough hands toward the small flame for warmth and even her fingers were cut up--no doubt from being forced to move through thorned shrubs at times. And perhaps a few scraps with some fish fins. She hadn't seen much in the way of battle since the ice trolls; she'd simply been wandering and starving in search of her clan.

"My friend and I were separated from my clan some months ago, and ice trolls freed themselves from the walls of the pass and assaulted us. We... were separated... and I have had no luck finding my companion or family since," the orc said quietly. It was strangely open of her to relay so much information, but she was not as wary of others as some of her clan were: she was, after all, the one that often took off without word and returned just as quietly. The prodigal daughter, always returning... always leaving.

"Who are you?"

Voe

 

[Voe]

Wow, that sounded rough.
"I'm Voe and this is Otho."
Patting the drake-hound on its wide flank to address the beast he kept a hand on its collar knowing Otho's habit for trying to bother strangers who had food.

"We sorta live out here."
Now he sounded homeless.

"I mean I'm a ranger."
Changing his tone Voe hoped to sound more serious.

"You say you got separated from your folk. hmm."
Again he patted Otho on the side and got a slurp of satisfaction in return.

"I'm sorry to hear that Bula. I really am and with the nights getting colder it will only get tougher to find anyone out here."
The Spine was a vast range of mountains and dangerous even in good weather but he did not see the need to tell Bula that. She had seen it first hand. Ice trolls rarely left much trace behind, let alone survivors.

"Please, help yourself to something to eat."
Hoping food would better the mood he smiled as much as he dared.

"So, what Clan do you come from?"

Bula

 

[Bula]

The shaman looked to the food for a long moment, not ready quite yet to partake. She needed time to mull the offer over, to learn whether or not she could trust Voe and his drake-hound. Something akin to a smile briefly moved her lips before they settled into the frown that often creased her face.

"A ranger? That explains... Ortho, and the ease with which you make small camp," Bula surmised. Voe's next statement was met with a lift of her chin.

"I was, yes. I am one of the Ashlander orcs," the shaman answered and then finally turned her gaze back to the food. Hesitating, she finally reached for a small chunk of bread, an equally sized bit of cheese, and some sausage. Stacking the ingredients, she brought it to her nose and inhaled the scent deeply. There was still steam coming from the sausage and her mouth watered at the thought. Jaw opening, she paused again to look at the tiefling.

"Thank you, Voe," she said, though muffled behind the handful of food it might have sounded more like 'foe'. Then she took a bite and chewed it thoroughly and thoughtfully. "Have you crossed paths with any of my clan?"

Voe

 

[Voe]

Ashlanders.
Voe had heard of their migrations, seen the evidence of their passing in the earth and wood but had no solid dealings with them before, the odd passing only, as now. If his memory was right there were five clans in total.

"I am sorry Bula of the Ashlanders but I have seen no sign of any of the clans in almost a year."
Again his hand patted Otho on the beasts flank and rubbed it to date him with sensation for what the Drake-hound's slobbering jaws were denied. Voe's other hand holding the collar firm.

He let her finished the meal before speaking again.
"You say you were travelling, where were you heading?"
Yellow eyes gazed from beyond the fire. Perhaps, if they headed that way Bula might find a trail to follow.

Bula

 

[Bula]

Bula's appetite soured after another bite, Voe's words a truth she didn't want confirmed. She too had searched high and low, but strangely enough she hadn't seen a single orc other than herself since the ice trolls. Though a shaman, Bula hated stirring the spirits of her ancestors from their rest without due need and thus she had not yet sought their wisdom or guidance. A poor choice, perhaps. She frowned and lowered her food from her face to regard Voe.

"I haven't decided. I lost direction some time ago. Have you any recommendations?" the orc asked thoughtfully. Her voice seemed crestfallen. Surely there were more orcs. "Perhaps toward one of the cities? Mayhaps some of my kin have found reason to resettle there."

Bula didn't sound so sure of her words. They were more of a hopeful lilt than anything with conviction or true belief. A forced bite of her food this time, if only for nourishment, followed.

Voe

 

[Voe]

Voe thought, rubbing Otho's head and neck.
"Belgrath is the largest by far. It's got people, supplies and near enough anything else you could want. If I was a betting man I'd say that would be where they'd be heading but it's a good long hike to get there. Crobhear is closer but it's a fort, not a city. Still the hunters there might have heard something of your people."

Now that the drake-hound was settled Voe eased his grip and reached for his water cup and took a drink.
"If nothing else, it would be somewhere to get yourself together before deciding what to do."

Before Bula could give an answer Voe decided he should probably take her whichever way she wanted to go.

Bula

 

[Bula]

"Crobhear," the shaman decided with sudden certainty after Voe finished speaking. Another bite was taken of the food she'd been offered and she savored it this time. It did taste good compared to what she'd been living off of as of late. Finishing, she turned towards Voe more fully. Orange eyes studied the tiefling for a long moment, as if taking stock of him. When her curiosity was satisfied, she looked past him and through the trees back in the direction of a better carved path.

"The hunters likely have a wider berth of what they might encounter, giving their profession. If there's been orc clans spotted nearby. Surely they would have some knowledge of it" The query was rhetorical as her attention turned upward to the night sky. Her lips pressed into a thin line. It was past time to make camp and she was tired. She jutted upward with her thumb to the sky. "Although perhaps camp is a good idea, first."

Voe

 

[Voe]

"I couldn't agree more."
Voe stood and began to prepare for the night, he set fresh wood to keep the fire going a bit longer and laid out his sleeping blanket on the ground then lay down and began to get comfortable.

"Otho will keep watch. He's got sharper ears and nose than either of us. We'll know if anyone comes near."

With his eyes closed he began to try and relax while Otho patrolled the fire, trying to not be too obvious about his curiosity in Bula and specifically if Bula had left any scraps of food.

Bula

 

[Bula]

Bula nodded and as Voe got comfortable, her gaze swept the tiny clearing for a sturdy tree. Unlike the tiefling, the shaman did not have a bedroll of any sort. Once he stoked the fire, she leaned toward it a little, savoring the warmth. A moment later, she stood to her feet.

"I'll trust you on that one," she said gruffly before turning toward the tree she'd settled on. A few heavy steps brought her to it and she placed her back against the trunk. Lowering herself slowly, she shifted a time or two before crossing her arms and yawning.

"Goodnight."

And the night passed quickly, with the first rays of daylight that broke through the canopy stirring Bula from her slumber. She yawned again, loudly this time, before pushing herself to her feet. Her arms lifted and she stretched, bending backward as far as she could to snap a few vertebrae loose. Her back popped with satisfying cracking before she followed it up with the rotation of her jaw to work out a few more. Orange eyes settled on Voe to see if he was awake yet.

Voe

 

[Voe]

Voe woke early, often did but decided to lay in.
It was indulging a stereotype, he admitted that much to himself even as Otho nuzzled into his arm and tried to coax him up, but he thought that Bula might hurry herself to rise before she was rested.

It was a while before she stirred, the heavens brightened with dawn light then darkened with cloud and brightened again. Dawn came slowly in the mountains.

"Good morning."
Standing with a groan he shook out his legs and arms then crouched to finish up and stand again.

Otho went to Bula, checking her out with scent and sound. Bringing his large nose to her feet and legs. Blood and faint smells of other creatures were the most telling to him but Bula lay under it all and that was satisfactory.

"He's okay. Otho is just saying hello properly."
Voe added as he reached into his pack for wrapped boiled eggs, still in the shell, tossing two towards Bula.
"Here, it's not much but it'll keep us for now."

Sitting down again by the almost spent fire he began to peel his own eggs.

Otho found new interest in his master and silent went to beg which Voe deliberately made a show of ignoring.

Bula