Hawk's Journey

[Closetmonster]

Garrum tilted his head, much like a cat would. For a brief moment, Martin would have sworn he saw those odd, golden eyes light from within. But it was no doubt a trick of the dying light outside lancing in.

"Some, Lady," Martin said slowly. She hadn't ever eaten meat before? How had she survived. "Mostly mutton, pork, and beef. Along with what we might catch in the forests, if we have the leave of the king to hunt in his woods."

"Winters get cold without something warm in the belly," Barral wiped the back of his hand across his broad nose, then wiped his hand against his pants. "Nought's as hearty as a stew of potatoes and rabbit."

"Barral," Martin warned, eyeing the young woman who seemed somewhat concerned about the topic. "The king cares for all under his rule, Lady Krista. He ensures no creature is so hunted that they cannot continue as a species. That would serve no one, least of all he and his subjects. But Barral is correct. Mankind does need to eat meat. It will keep us strong enough to go on."

"We'll leave in the morning, I think," Garrum hummed, settling atop a chair and watching them all. "Maggie says so."

Barral glowered at the golden man. "And she's told you this, has she? Before she's told me?"

"Don't be jealous, old friend," Garrum laughed, leaning in to clap the old man on the shoulder. "It's the way of it. I was always her favorite."

Martin frowned at the talk and kept a close eye on the lady. "When we finish, we will rest some," he said placatingly, worried that she might find the entire discussion distasteful. So far, she'd managed to not seem offended, having to remain with such ruffians, but he still did not want her to have to put up with them more than necessary.

[MidnaPhobia]

Krista sat there, a slightly open mouth as she nodded her head slowly. "Oh..." She eventually said to Martin, ignoring the squabbling of the others. "I see... back where I come from there were no animals, at least not many. Certainly not enough to consider killing one to eat. We used plant based foods grown in massive green houses under false light. We manger to get all the nutrients we really needed." She explained, seeing as they were probably just as confused by her not eating animals as she was by them.

"Though I suppose, from the books I studied animal produce would be exceptionally high in protein, which would easily explain your large build Sir Martin, and I say that in no way meaning to be disrespectful. Your physique is rather impressive is what I mean. It would also explain why my body is so weak, especially here. Not just from the lack of gravity but also lack of proteins. I expect a diet like this and some exercise would have me looking more healthy in your eyes in less than a week." Finishing off her soup she sat back slightly, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling it was leaving in her stomach.

"I think I may like to retire for the night." Krista eventually said to Martin as she reached out, pulling Evie into her lap and cuddling the small cat as it whistled softly to her. "I don't think this food is agreeing with me too much." She quietly admitted as she walked over to him, and still giving him a happy smile despite the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.

[Closetmonster]

The three of them stared at her as she spoke of proteins and gravity and plant-based foods. As she came to some conclusion, Garrum snickered softly, patted Barral on the back, and stated calmly, "In the morning, methinks!"

Martin, watching her with eyes of a man much born into superstition; completely unaware as to what he was to do with her, merely nodded his head and offered his arm. "If you are ill, Lady, I'll make you a tea of ginger and willow. Come, let me help you to your rest."

Once she was settled, tea at her side, the knight calmly lay down across the entrance to the cavern. With Garrum having his own home and Barral able to rest in his wagon, there was no need for either of them to enter into the cave and be too near to the lady.

Barral, at Maddie's side, patted the pony and stared up at the stars. "So many more things," the old man murmured to himself.

"..more things in heaven and earth, Horatio..." a whisper slid into the old man's ear. He batted at the small finger at his shoulder, slapping it away from himself. He turned to glare at the gleaming grin of white. "...Than are dreamt of in your philosophy," Garrum finished with a light laugh. "It's a quote, but then, you wouldn't know that. You've not lived long enough."

"I've not lived in the right world," Barral sniped.

"Aren't we all fancy," Garrum tottered back with his hands held in feminine angles from his body. "You'll be saying magic itself crosses worlds. Is she from another world then?"

"You'll get nothing from me, you thieving golem, you!" Barral turned and with a hand at his lower back, trudged up the short stoop and slammed the door of his wagon, leaving the golden man standing quietly in the long grass. With moonlight and the stillness of him, he might have been made of stone.

[MidnaPhobia]

Krista followed her knight to the cavern they had first entered upon arriving in this world. The girl looked about before settling herself and sipping at the tea Martin had given her. Now tea was something familiar to her, something she knew. She was all too happy to sip at it inside the cave, which wasn't all that cold considering. At least on to the standards she was used to on the moon, so she wasn't uncomfortable that night. Krista gave Evie a small cuddle and looked to Martin as he lay there. Nibbling at her lip slightly the girl eventually rose and walked over until she was closer to him and sat back down, shuffling forwards a little bit more.

She was now less than a metre from him and with that she lay down to rest. It didn't some easy, the strange environment and hard ground caused her to remain awake late into the night. However exhaustion eventually overcame her and she slid into a nervous slumber, as if she were waiting for something to come out of the dark and claim her. Once the morning sun began to rise Evie perked up and looked around, glancing at the sleeping girl before sauntering out of the cave, stepping over the still sleeping knight.

With the absence of her pet Krista found herself drawn from sleep too. However she merely sat up and rubbed her eyes tiredly. Martin still seemed to be sleeping. Somehow the girl wondered what the outside world was like, considering all she had seen of it so far was this little bubble of peace and the swamp that surrounded it. Out in the meadow she could see Maggie grazing and someone else near him. Whether it was Barral of Garrum she wasn't sure but it was enough to want to stay right where she was. She didn't like the idea of being alone with Garrum.

[Closetmonster]

Maggie's tail swished comfortably in the darkness. The moon was out and the stars had begun to peek through scudding clouds. The morning was more than likely to be the usual, bright and cheery one.

The pony shook herself and then quieted once more. From beyond the boundaries of the meadow a screeching cry died into a chitter. An answering call came from some distance away and the rest of the swamp went quiet before bursting into frog song and insect noise once more.

The figure remained still, not moving a muscle. A small light danced through the forest trees toward the barrier and bumped against it, like a moth to a window through which a flame could be seen. It was joined after a short time, with another and then another. The lights winked in and out, as if they were lightbugs, dousing themselves to only burn into life a heart's breath after. Soon, there was a small host of them, not enough yet to light the grass, but enough to delineate the boundary of the meadow nearest the silent, stone-still figure.

The rest of the meadow remained untouched, a soft breeze lifted grass heads then left them behind. A bat like creature swished through the air near her and then, with a high pitched squeak, was gone.