[center][b][h1]Benedict Kaspin[/h1][/b][/center]
[hr]

Ben's eyes shifted downwards towards the young woman.

She was... taller than most humans. At least, taller than most of the female gender of those that were once her captors.

But she still so... [i]Small[/i].

She was speaking now. Asking him about himself. He rumbled some and smoke puffed out of his nostrils angrily. He shook his head and puffed against.

[b]"Used to be an inventor for a tribe. Volunteered to be sold into slavery to preserve our way of life. Taken from home and worked for years. Saved money over time. Bought my own freedom. Tried sailing home."[/b] Ben said, giving the short version of his life. There were good things about his experience, especially from the place he once called home and even from his time as a slave. But he still didn't like talking about it. Well, he didn't like talking much at all. Theresa probably wouldn't want to know his whole life story start to finish anyways.

[b]"I... dont like talking about it. Just... not a fun tale to tell."[/b] he said, giving her the best reassuring smile he could give her. He wanted to make sure she knew it wasn't her that was putting him off as much as it was just him. The smile vanished almost as quickly as it appeared though. Something about his own pride got in the way of him holding it out any longer. This woman had asked about him, and she was the first person to do that since... well, for a very long time. But he still couldn't bring himself to really open up to her. He shook his head again and blinked. He didn't like retelling his tale of weakness. Yeah, that was it. At least, that's what Ben told himself.

He looked down at her again. He couldn't get over the color of her hair. Red, like his fire and wild like the forests of his home. Ben breathed in the air around him and was instantly taken by the smells of the forest around him. The water and trees and the animals living amongst them. But he could also smell the sea. In fact, he could [i]really[/i] smell the sea. His followed his nose some and found that it was pointing him downwards.

[b]"You smell like the sea."[/b] Benedict stated. He had been surrounded by salt water enough for the past several days to know exactly how that smelt. He doubted he'd ever forget it now. [b]"...Where are you from, Theresa?"[/b]