For so long, she'd been walking.
So long, in fact, that she'd lost track of how many months had gone by. But, as stories have it, that was a common thing for elves. When time didn't effect you, it seemed pointless to pay much attention to it. Truthfully, it was hard to even gauge how many years she'd lived. A century, at least. Perhaps less. But, then again, perhaps more. To be completely honest, Shalan was so tired, so mentally exhausted, so physically drained, that if a stranger had walked up to her and asked how many toes the elf had, she was positive she wouldn't be able to answer.

The world had changed around her. She'd left the barren wasteland that was her home, sent out by the Elders and her Queen, to walk in search of something unseen. Her, and a dozen others. She'd walked over desert, her body burning, and through blizzards until her feet felt they'd snap off like the icicles in the trees.
Now, it had changed again. Forest. Forest was pleasant. Cool and shaded, though not too cold that it was uncomfortable. The smell of the pines and the moist dirt danced beneath her nose. She could hear birds and foxes, the sound the leaves made when the wind blew, and the heartbeat of the trees.

So far, this was her favourite terrain. It was even welcoming to her, offering berries and plants she knew to be edible. With every creature that Shalan trapped and ate, she prayed to the forest, thanking it for it's help, and to the creature itself, apologizing for ending its life.
Two days, now, Shalan estimated, she'd been in the forest, with only one brief stop in the first day to start a fire and cook the meat of a rodent. Now, she knew she needed to stop once more. Her last sleep was days ago, and her mind was beginning to fog.
Ahead of her, she could smell water, mixed with the scent of fish and algae. Perhaps a rest there, then she could catch fish and be on again.

Shalan knelt beside the pool of water, calmly fed by a stream, and cupped a small amount in her hands to drink. Gods, it tasted like bliss. She had water in her skin, sure, but after resting against her hip for days, it grew warm and stale. Fresh water, cold water, always tasted better. Her fiery eyes went back and forth, taking in the little clearing. The pool sat in the center of it, a fallen log on the other side, covered in moss and sprouts of younger saplings. The ground was soft; the prints of animals that came to drink were left in the mud.

It was peaceful.

After drinking until her stomach felt tight, Shalan stood and crossed to the log, laying her belongings in the space between the trunk and the earth before she lay down before them, hiding them from view. If an animal should try to get into her packs, she'd wake and be able to shoo it off. All was hidden but her sword. Her prized possession. The blade given to her and the others by the Queen before they were sent away. The sword was so delicately crafted, so skillfully designed, that the metal itself changed colours, the image of a phoenix blazed from within the hard face. It was all she had from home. And it stood to remind her of her duty, her purpose, and her reason for being.

Shalan clutched the sword in her hand, tucking most of the sheathed weapon under her body. It had been entirely uncomfortable sleeping on such a hard object for the first few weeks, but she'd grown used to it, now. It protected to weapon from thieves, and allowed Shalan remove it quickly from its scabbard should she need it. Covering hersellf loosely with her cloak, the elf lay her head on her arm. With luck, she'd be able to sleep until fully rested then move on. After days on her feet, she dozed off quickly, curled against the shade of the tree.

They were everywhere. Winged like eagles, with faces like men and four legs, he front ones like those of an eagle as well, with the hind legs like a lion's, powering them through the air and the ground at equally terrifying speed. And she was the only one that could stop them. She ducked under a sweeping claw that would have crushed her skull, and she quickly nocked an arrow to her bow and letting loose in a single, smooth motion. The barbed shaft whistled through the air, taking a second creature through the eye, before taking off at a sprint again. Her legs worked furiously, moving easily under the leather clothes that Pappa had made for her, sliding underneath a fallen log, rolling and coming up again, bow pointed at her assailants. Another arrow flew, this time downing the creature as it punctured the neck. It tumbled in midair, falling on the log that she had just come out from under, snapping it in two.

She looked up just in time as claws flared for her face. She ducked again, pulling a skinning knife from her pocket and slashing easily through the taloned fingers. The blow was countered by a pain-filled shriek and she complemented it by shoving the knife up into the creature's belly, cutting roughly upwards, disemboweling the creature. The air filled with the stink of it's innards and she backed away, spinning to run again but catching her right foot in a root. She tumbled down the hill, coming up a few yards from the pool that she swam in sometimes. Her bow had fallen a bit to her left and she stood, picking it up and brushing the dead leaves and twigs that had been caught in her long brown hair. She liked imagining that she was fighting monsters. Those in particular had been ones that Pappa had told her about the night previous, how the Great Hero Helram and his troop of archers had stood against the invading Harpy Army, taking many losses, but eventually killing the queen and forcing the beasts back to their mountain caves, where they were never seen or heard from again. She liked it when Pappe told stories. When she was young she just enjoyed hearing his strong, deep voice sounding comforting to the young child's ears. As she began to understand the stories themselves, she took an interest in his tales of monsters and dragons, great lords and princes fighting for the honor of beautiful damsels. She just didn't like the damsels. If she was ever princess, she would make sure that that dragon would be fighting two people and not just one.

She smiled at the thought, spinning around and drawing her empty bow. Pappa told her that she shouldn't be pulling it without need, and that when she wasn't using it she should unstring it. He had bought it for her a couple months ago for her birthday, making the arrows and heads himself, along with the skinning knife.

She let out a soft squeal as she saw someone there, near her little pool. There weren't many strangers up here, and apart from the odd hunter, trapper or trader that had business with Pappa, fewer still even bothered coming up this high in the forested mountains. She reached into her quiver and pulled out an arrow. These were bodkin arrows, thin and smooth, used to hunt deer without having to tear flesh as you pulled the arrow out. Pappa had the barbed arrows, but he never let her use them.

She pulled the bow back like she had been taught, and called out," You there.... who be you, and what you in my forest?" Her voice was thin and she wasn't exactly intimidating. Barely three feet tall now, her long brown hair was mussled up and had the odd leaf sticking out of it, her skin ruddy and there were freckles on her nose. But she was strong, not an ounce of fat in her, and had been trained well, along with being able to his an apple at 30 paces. She lacked not for confidence.

Somewhere in the depths of her dream, Shalan heard screeching. After being on the move for so long, traveling even found its way inside of her mind as she slept, and in her dream, she was walking. Only she was walking in the desert she had first crossed after leaving her family. Shalan was irked to find herself back at the beginning of her journey. It had taken her so long to reach the pleasant forest, and now she had to start all over again. Grumbling, she looked down at her feet. At least they didn't hurt so badly.
But still, she was irked beyond reason that she had to start over again.

It was then that she heard the screech of some unknown creature and, in her dreamworld, she looked up toward the blinding sky, half expecting to see a strange bird. There had long ago been stories about dragons, but she'd never heard one. Was that the sound a dragon made?
The skies were empty, though, so, frowning, Shalan looked before her again and stopped dead in her tracks as she spotted a young child. She wasn't human. She had brownish skin and green hair, twigs and leaves tangled in her muddy locks. A forest sprite. Intrigued, Shalan stared as the childling held a bow up with her strong arms, the arrow aimed at Shalan.
"You there.... who be you, and what you in my forest?"

Her fiery eyes narrowed. Forest? She wasn't in the forest anymore.
Shalan's eyes snapped open, wrenching her from the desert wasteland and back into the cool forest. Before her, some ways away, stood not a forest sprite but a young child, her bow held firm. Slowly, Shalan looked her over. There was no doubt this small human would be able to harm Shalan if given the chance. And a sword versus a bow was little help.

The elf remained laying down, worried that she'd be fired upon if she sat up. "I'm sorry, child," She offered. "I didn't realize I was trespassing. I was merely resting." She fell silent again, looking the girl up and down. Her eyes still burned, and, judging by the shadows the sun made, she'd hardly been asleep more than a couple of hours. "If I sit up, will you fire at me?"

The girl looked a mite confused. This wasn't how Pappa described his encounters with bandits at all. There were ruffians without souls, he said, men that would kill, rape and steal and go home the next day thinking that they were honest men making a living, and there were those smart enough to know how horrid they were, and reveled in it. Maybe she was one of the latter, and was using her honeyed words to convince Kora that she wasn't a threat? The young girl wasn't sure what rape was, but she did know what killing and stealing were, and those were not good, so she assumed that rape wasn't pleasant either.

She stiffened. Pappa had also told her not to be unfair, and while the Elf wasn't doing anything harmful... well, she wasn't a threat," Alright, you can sit up... but any... funny business," The way that she said the words told that she had just learned them," And I'll put and arrow through your eye. Pappa's the fastest man in the whole world, and he's been teaching me to be fast too," She lowered her bow but her small body was tense with resolve. She would take the Elf to Pappa. He would know if she was bad or good. He always did.

The elf watched the girl struggle internally over how to deal with Shalan. It was clear to the elf not to underestimate this child. Small she might be, but she was strong and capable, and clearly distrusting. Though, when she said something about funny business, Shalan tilted her head. Funny business? This phrase was lost on her. There were many phrases the humans used that was confusing to the elf. More often the misunderstood what was described to her as sarcasm. Was this sarcasm?
She sat up slowly, letting her cloak fall from round her shoulders. "I only wanted to rest." She told the girl. "If I am trespassing, I apologize. I will gladly move. As soon as I have slept my fill, I will leave again, and I will no longer be your burden."

When the human child lowered her bow, Shalan stared, intrigued. So young, yet so fierce. "How old are you, child?"

The little girl's eyes twisted in a confused way when the elf said that she wanted to sleep her fill. That didn't look like a very comfortable place to sleep. Then again, maybe it was like the old man in the village said that elves could just close their eyes anywhere, even standing up to sleep, but Kora couldn't believe that this elf would prefer to sleep on the ground instead of a soft bed of hay, or something similar. It was unlikely that Pappa would allow her to sleep in the house with them, but there was a small room build into the barn that he had allowed strangers to night over in. They were the only ones for miles and being kind to their neighbors always paid off.

And even then, Pappa would want to know if there was an Elf in these lands. Even one as young as Kora knew that if elves were so far from their homeland, something was not right.

Her back straightened, trying to make herself appear taller," I'm seven," She declared proudly, even though she was a little short for her age," Old enough to hunt, Pappa says. And that ground isn't comfortable for sleeping. Come with me, I'll take you to Pappa, and he'll find you a nicer place to sleep. We have a guest room with a small fireplace. It'll be better, as it's getting cold out at nights nowadays..."

Despite her exhaustion and the burn in her eyes, Shalan caught the puff of the small child's chest as she proudly declared her age. Seven. The elf tried not to smile. So young! Yet she is so wise, especially for the daughter of men. She must have been taught by someone wise.
Her smile fell a fraction when the girl invited her along, back to their home. Nothing but trouble had ever followed when she was invited into a house.
Always the lure of a soft bed, a fireplace, a warm meal. Even if there was a child involved in this home, in this bargain, Shalan feared what would be asked of her in return.

"I have no gold, child. Nothing to offer in return for any bed by any fire" The elf admitted, sitting still, her body language unchanging. "I have been traveling a long time, with few offers as tempting as yours. Now I am used to sleeping on the ground. When you're tired enough, anything is a bed." The woman's lips turned politely, deciding to take the topic away from the girl's offer. "What does your Pappa call you? Are you not afraid of elves?"

The little girl smiled when the elf mentioned gold in payment for her stay. She had wondered precisely the same thing the year before, and had asked Pappa why he had let the man with the fearsome battle-ax and armor to stay the night, eat their food and leave the next morning with some supplies. She had asked why Pappa hadn't demanded gold from the man for the food, supplies and shelter. He had turned his powerful gaze to her with a rare smile, ruffling her hair, which had been short at the time over a bout with lice," Gold has little use in the wild, my heart."

"But everyone in the village likes it. It buys things there," She had said, observant little creature that she was.

"We don't live there, Kora," He had said with a chuckle," We live here, where the things we need are food, warmth and shelter from the elements. And we can't eat gold. You will find that I profited quite a bit from the man's stay. I hope you learn this one day, child."

She still didn't understand what he meant, but Pappa would want to learn of an elf in the woods. Maybe he would extend her the same courtesy as the warrior," Pappa doesn't need gold. And if he's in a nice mood, he might give you some supplies to be on your way. Either way, you don't want to be asleep out here when night falls. It gets cold, and there are wolves. You will sleep better with us,' She started moving back towards her and Pappa's cabin," My name's Kora. Pappa told me not to be afraid of anyone that doesn't want to harm me or mine. Come!"

Shalan inhaled in slight surprise when the child dismissed her own dismissal. Though, why she had smiled when Shalan said she didn't have gold alarmed the elf more. Was this a rouse? Lure the trespasser with the child, then jump him or her? Her fiery eyes blinked, quickly trying to decide a way out of this.
But it was too late. Already, the child-warrior was heading away, beckinging Shalan after her. It was either follow her, or be left behind, and seem rude. Quietly, Shalan wondered how long it would go unnoticed if she gathered her things and walked in the opposite direction.

Deciding that she was too curious about this child and the man she called 'pappa', Shalan quickly threw her cloak on, covering her head, before gathering her packs and sword to follow after Kora. A pretty name.
Nervous and tired, the elf followed Kora, glancing around nervously, her right hand gripping the hilt of her sword. "Wise words to remember, child." Shalan remarked to the girl. "Trust is a hard thing to come by in this world." Something that got remarkably more difficult to find the further you ventured.

There was an odd grace in the way that he chopped the logs. It was a difficult thing to bring that to the simple and mundane task of splitting logs, but he managed to do it. His movements were fluid and continuous, striking each log perfectly with practiced precision, never biting deeper than he intended to, never having to yank the silver ax-head from the stump that he used as a support for the logs. He was a tall man, standing just over the average, but not by much. He was currently shirtless, despite the chill of the oncoming evening, having worked up a sweat chopping the logs, showing the lean, hard muscle underneath a skin marred by scars and tattoos. He had one on his chest of a black panther, teeth barred, signifying his accomplishment of defeating over 10 opponents in official single combat. One of a black spider over the back of his right hand showed that he was once a general in the Southern Kingdoms, a snake wrapped around his left arm, indicating his status as the Queen's champion. The Eagle on his back, with wings flared and talons flashing, showed that he had taken over 20 lives in single combat. These were complemented by the scars that covered his body, arms, legs, torso, to one across his right cheek.

He was overall a handsome man, with steely grey eyes, complemented by the sharp contrast of his jet-black hair, long enough to be tied back rigidly at the nape of his neck. The one discipline that he maintained from his past was the shaving of the sides of his head, proudly showing his status as a bladesman. He was clean shaven, and he had a strong jaw, firm, set with a small cleft over his chin. He took a break from his work, grabbing a towel that had been on the branch of a nearby tree to wipe the sweat from his face. His skin was oddly pale, not a sickly hue, more like marble, hard and strong. At the sound of a call, he spun around, ax still held loosely in his hands.

He smiled when he saw Kora, toting her bow and trudging up the path to their home. She was a natural with the weapon, aiming and distance judging a second nature to her. Keiro himself had never taken to it, although he had put a lot of effort into training with the bow for the sake of hunting. He was a decent shot, but not much good outside of 20 yards. In a couple months of training, the little tyke would be better than him, and she would do the hunting and tracking while he took care of the traps and their small plantation behind the house, along with the general upkeep of the place, woodcutting and other items.

His smile disappeared and his light eyes narrowed as it was apparent that the child wasn't alone. He rested the ax on the ground, the head resting in his powerful hands, his eyes watching the other person's movements carefully. It was a woman, an elf woman, no less. His jaw clenched imperceptibly and his hands gripped the ax a bit tighter. Elves weren't usually seen around these parts, and the last time he had had contact with any was during the war, where he had been fighting with and against them. His Queen had ordered him to take a legion of his finest fighters to reinforce their allies among the elven clans.

"Kora," Keiro said softly," Get our guest a drink from the well, she must be thirsty," He smiled. The girl smiled back.

"Yes Pappa," She chirped and rushed over to their well, where she began letting a wooden bucket down. Keiro stepped forward, the ax still resting loosely in his hands.

"It's been a while since we have had Elves in these lands. Almost too long," He smiled, placing the ax on a nearby surface and offered his hand to her," My name is Keiro, and that would be my daughter Kora. You are welcome to share our meal and fire, and we have a spare bed should you need it. We don't get many visitors out here, being so far out of the way," He smiled, as Kora approached with a cup of cool water.

"Where are you from?" The child asked.

Shalan followed the girl, happy to submit to silence as they made their way. As she was perfectly capable in defending herself, the elf felt foolish for feeling so anxious about what lay ahead. The girl was well raised. Well mannered. And knew how to handle herself while playing along in the woods. Nothing about that suggested that something foul waited.
Despite all that, the elf held the hilt of her sword tight. Perhaps it was just her exhaustion. Finally allowing oneself to sleep and being woken after only a couple of hours does things to the mind.

Her ears caught the sound of wood being chopped long before the two of them came into view of the house. Shalan's eyes fell on the man grasping the ax, scanning him quickly.
As the child ran off, Shalan stayed put, not yet willing to allow herself to accept their invitation. She could still run. As the man stepped toward her, Shalan only inhaled calmly, watching his movements like a hawk, looking for any sign that he was about to swing at her. Really, woman. Relax a little. Exhaling, Shalan straightened her spine a bit and took the man's hand. Keiro. "Thank you." She replied to his offer.

Taking the cup of water, she sniffed it cautiously before taking a sip. Ignoring the girl's question for now, she kept her gaze on Keiro. "I have told your child, I have nothing in the sorts of money or goods to exchange for your ... offer. I am in the understanding that humans rarely, if at all, extend help to others without wanting something in return. Please, then, Keiro, tell me what it is you'd like." Her fiery eyes went to the girl, unwilling to say the next part before such small ears. But she did not want to wake up to this man crawling into the bed he rented her, demanding flesh as payment. "All I have to off willingly are tales of other places, or moderate skill in sewing and fletching." Her steady gaze to Keiro's eyes seemed to firmly state that that was all she would offer.

Keiro's eyes were narrowed. His body was relaxed, leaning lightly against the ax, with the head planted into the ground, his hands covering the other calmly as he studied the visitor. He had encountered Elves before, and he had long given up on trying to understand the thoughts that went through their heads. They didn't think like humans did. He took a deep breath, but his eyes flickered down to where her hand was gripping the elegantly made blade that she carried. He had fought with and against elves before, and he knew that there was honor and peace among them. But despite that, there was little that he wouldn't do to protect Kora. If that blade cleared the sheath, she would die and he would bury her body in the woods, and never think about it again.

But Kora seemed not to notice the tension as taut as a lute's string and she laughed a little," Don't be silly," She said softly," Pappa is teaching me how to fletch, and I am already better than him at sewing. He was never much good at it anyways."

Keiro's eye flickered down to the girl and his lips peeled back as he smiled a bit, the hard look in his eyes softening. But he turned back to the elf, and his eyes hardened once more," We have everything we need here for the moment. We never get any visitors out here, and news is a hard commodity to come by. So if you will join us for the evening meal, tell us about what is going on in the outlying kingdoms, and you can take the bed outside the barn. It has a small fireplace that already has some wood. Tomorrow morning we will fit you with some provisions, and you can be on your way," He tilted his head," Your supplies are sadly lacking, and you look like you could use a good meal and a good night's sleep."

Taking the cup from the girl, Shalan let a whisper of a smile cross her lips before she looked to the girl's father again. He was reading her. Estimating her strength and gauging her abilities. His eyes on her blade made her nervous, but she refrained from grasping the hilt in caution. It may be taken as a sign of hostility.
Her wariness faded slightly when he smiled at his child. Shalan felt grateful for the girl's presence. She seemed to relax the air quite well. Without her, Shalan and Keiro may have simply stood and stared all day.

"I'm grateful for the offer." She said slowly when he looked to her again. "A bed is something I have missed for a while. And a meal," Shalan tiled her head slightly, glancing at her pack. Inside was a few pieces of salted meat from a raccoon she'd managed to snare a few nights back. "A meal sounds nearly as amazing."
While not entirely warmed up to the man just yet, Shalan offered a more antural, relaxed smile. "My name is Shalan." She raised the cup and drank, feeling the cool water fill her empty stomach.

"Thank you for your kindness. It is rare to come across. And, pardon if I am a bit rude, but may I sleep?" Shalan gave Korra a soft look. "Your brave girl woke me, and I haven't had a good rest in days."

He nodded when she seemed to relax and he did so as well, picking the ax up and moving back over to the log that he had been chopping, sinking the blade into the wood to make sure that it kept it's edge until he would be using it again. He had a feeling it wouldn't be long," Kindness is a rare trait to find in the world, but you will find it most among the people of this land. I came here destitute, hunted and lacking in just about everything needed for survival in the wilderness. They took me in, taught me everything I needed to know, even helped me build this house," Shit, he thought. He shouldn't have mentioned that hunted bit," This place is a hard place to live in, and we mortals need to band together to survive," He was growing long winded, a habit and some could call it a talent from his past life. He chuckled and shook his head," I'm sorry, I talk too much when we have people around. It is the price that you will pay for staying with us, hearing me go on and on," He turned to the girl," Kora, please escort our guest to her room. Help her with anything that she might need. I have a few things I need to finish before I get started on dinner," He turned to the elf," Tell Kora here if you would like to be woken for the evening meal."

With that, he picked up some of the wood and began stacking it against the house. Moving quickly, he carried a few logs into the house and he started on preparing the evening meal. Potatoes, carrots and some roots that he had found in the woods gave it consistency, and with some diced and salted venison to add the flavor along with some spices, he mixed it into the pot and placed it over the fire. His mind was elsewhere, and he was working in a mechanical silence. The elf was no fool, he could tell, sensing danger in him as he had in her. She was a warrior elf, not that scarce but that blade was far too elegant work for her to be just any other warrior. Besides, no regular warrior ventured this far from her tribe anyways.

Truthfully, he didn't know why she was here, and that scared him. She knew that he was well spoken, and could probably place his origins from his accent. His tattoos had been clearly visible as well, so if she had been a spy for the queen, she would have something to report. Not many men shared his features.

If she tried to send a message to the Queen, he would kill her, he thought coldly as he felt the broth begin to boil.

Shalan nodded slowly in acceptance before turned to give Korra a small smile, following the child to the barn. When she sat the wooden bed with the sun bleached blankets, she could have wept in joy. It looks like a bed fit for royalty after her months curled under coves in roves or in the hollows of trees. Once, she'd even slept under a rotting wagon that had lost its wheel, abandoned in the muddy earth beside a road. Sure, there had been inns along the way, but even with her cover wrapped over her ears, it was easy to spot that she wasn't human, and more often than not, the harassment was not worth the bed.
But this! A rather clean looking bed, away from interruption, warm and dry, and with the promise of dinner! Gods, Shalan could really weep.

Thanking Korra, she set her pack on the far side of the bed, as she always slept while half laying on her possessions, in case of thievery. Her sword she tucked beside the pack, and she sat on the bed and sighed, running her hands over it. "I am grateful for the kindness of you and your father." The elf said to the girl. "If I may request to be woken for your father's meal? I miss home-cooked dinners. It has been too long." She offered a soft smile. "But, as well, may I ask that I not be woken until at least a few hours have passed?"
With another sigh, Shalan lay herself on the bed, scooting until she felt the hard handle of her blade under her ribs, dragging the little pillow under her head. Gods, it even felt amazing,

If Korra said anything after her head hit the pillow, Shalan wasn't sure, because nearly immediately she was asleep once more,

The girl did know how to talk, and had just opened her mouth to respond when she turned and saw that the elf was already asleep. Pappa always got a little irritable when she woke him from his sleep, so she knew to leave the elf alone, quietly closing the door behind her. then she skipped over to the house. She was in a bright mood, as they didn't always get company and it always excited her. she liked stories more than just about anything, and the more varied and interesting they were, the better. She couldn't help an ear-to-ear grin as she slipped into the house, watching as Pappa made the dinner. He was almost done slicing most of everything, and he would forget about the salt, like he always did. She slipped over to a small barrel beside the counter, dragging it over to where she needed it and, climbing atop it, she reached the jaw where he kept the salt cubes.

She took it over to where Keiro was seated, stirring the stew slowly. It wasn't much. It would last for a while, maybe a couple days. As she popped the cube into the pot, her smile faded. Pappa had a distracted look on his face, one hand holding the ladle that was stirring the stew, his other hand gripping his large, wickedly curved hunting knife that he never used for hunting. His fingers flickered and he twirled the knife at a blinding speed, flicking it around his fingers, the sharp of the knife never touching his skin. He would then arc his wrist and send it spinning into the air, only to catch it again and repeat the process. He only did that when he was worried. And he didn't know that it scared Korra a little.

"What's the matter, Pappa?" She asked, concerned.

He looked up, as if snapped out of a trance and he turned to her, but didn't smile," Pack your things, love. Only what you need. And bring your bow too."

"Why?"

"I don't trust that elf."

"You don't trust anyone, Pappa, but we stay here when other people come by."

He nodded, slightly irritated that she was arguing with him, more so that she had a point," It's that sword. She isn't just any other travelling wanderer. She will be trouble in her wake, I know it, and we will be caught in the crossfire."

Korra shook her head," She's nice. She hasn't made a move to harm us."

"She was tired. Outmatched. If she is here to harm us she will wait."

He turned to look at her, his face more than annoyed now, but at the staunch look on her face, he couldn't help but grin back. His hand flickered quick as lightning to cuff her ear, but she was faster, flitting out of his reach," Go get the bread, you little devil. Bring three more logs in while I finish the soup, and call the elf in for dinner."

The girl nodded, grinning now as well as she dashed into the pantry.

Shalan slept deeply, her body and mind exhausted. The comfortable bed was only making the sleep more consuming. Even though she'd grown accustomed to sleeping on the edge of consciousness to allow her to wake instantly upon any sign of movement, Shalan wasn't aware of Korra's return until she felt the child tap her hand.
The elf's head rose from the pillow quickly, her body tensing, until her blurry eyes focused on the child and she sighed, letting her head fall again. For a moment, she wanted to warn the child about sneaking up on sleeping elves, but was sure the girl hadn't actually been sneaking, and decided to keep her mouth shut.

Slowly, she sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Thank you for waking me, Korra." She smiled sleepily. "Am I right to guess that dinner is ready?"

Still half asleep, Shalan pulled her sword back onto her hip, leaving her pack buried in her blankets. With luck, she wouldn't need it, but on the chance Keiro wan't to be trusted, she wanted protection. As well, she didn't want her sword taken from the bed while she ate. It was all she had.
Following Korra into the house, she gave a single nod to Keiro when she saw him, moving quietly to sit where bidden. "Thank you for allowing me to sleep," She said, trying to stifle a yawn. "I needed it, but I fear I'll need more after I eat, and won't be much for company, just yet."

Despite his daughter's words, Keiro couldn't resist the feeling that the elf gave him. Imminent danger. She couldn't be trusted. Was it something about her eyes? Elves always had an odd way of looking at humans, but that was natural. All species had different ways of looking at each other, reflecting how they held said species in their own esteems. No. It was something else.

It was instinct, he realized as he cut the loaf of bread into as many slices as half the load could stand and smeared the sliced bread with butter, bought from a farmer in town. He rarely used it, but he had promised Korra that they would use the butter tonight as a special treat. Before, of course, she had traipsed home with a guest.

He pulled out three wooden bowls and ladled soup into them in an efficient fashion, placing them on the table, not spilling a drop along with a fork and a spoon, both made of steel. Just as he was finished, Korra stepped inside followed by the elf, still half asleep, by all counts. He smiled when she spoke," We aren't 'allowing' you to do anything," He grunted," You are your own woman, and certainly not at my beck and call," Stop talking, you windbag, he thought," Soup's warm and the butter is tasty with the bread. Eat, and if you still feel tired, we shall bid you goodnight," He followed his own advice, taking a seat and closing his eyes and making the sign of the Sacred Claw over his chest in silent prayer before beginning to eat. Korra imitated him.

Shalan set her eyes on Keiro as she stepped in behind Korra. At the same time the aroma of his meal filled her nostrils and soaked her tongue with the force of a horse, leaving her nearly dazed. It had been so long since she'd last smelled home cooking. Even knowing that Keiro was cooking, Shalan was completely unprepared for what it really meant.

When he spoke, her amber eyes shifted to him, still hazed with sleep, and she sat, politely pulling the bowl closer to her so the steam rose and teased her senses. "It smells absolutely delicious." She offered, picking up her spoon to taste it, her eyes slowly closing as she swallowed. Gods, it was even better once tasted. The scent of it didn't do justice.
Half asleep, she leaned over her bowl and ate, her eyes on the broth before her. In a matter of minutes, she'd nearly finished the bowl, and blinking, making herself straighten. "Apologies," She muttered quietly. "I'm not yet awake enough to be considered decent company." She set her spoon down and picked up a slice of bread, eyeing the butter. She'd never had butter before, but, observing Keiro, it was something you spread over bread. Timidly, she knifed a small portion onto the corner of her bread and bit into it, making a face before chewing quickly.

Keeping the remainder of her bread dry, she looked to Keiro and Korra. "You two really live so isolated? I imagine you are capable of defending yourselves should trouble arise, but do you get lonely?" Shalan didn't want to voice her assumption that humans needed social interaction. Korra only had her father, and Keiro only had a young child. A brilliant one, granted. But didn't they need more? "How often do you get visitors?"

Keiro smiled. Despite his less than trusting feelings towards the elf, compliments on his cooking, which were generally sparse when coming from Korra's mouth, always warmed his heart a little," Thank you. Please, dig..." He paused as she carried on with what he had suggested before he had even suggested it. Korra giggled annoyingly and he shot her an annoyed glance before beginning to eat himself. A couple spoonfuls of soup were followed by a bite out of the buttered bread, his eyes rising to see that the elf's distast for the butter. Or the bread. He shrugged, taking another few spoonfuls of his food hungrily.

He looked up when the elf spoke again," I... well, I don't feel the constant need to be surrounded by other people, although Korra does have several friends in the nearby village. When we need company we head over there. It's only a few hours hike to the south," He shrugged, taking another spoonful of soup before answering her second question," Well... not a terrible lot. The occasional trapper. Mercenaries come along here as well. Hunters, travelers. Pilgrims come around as we are near the straightest road to the Temple of the Fates in Algram," He shrugged," Everyone has good stories to tell about where they are from, so we offer them a place to stay and some food in exchange. Korra loves stories, as do I," He smiled.

"Speaking of," He had finished the soup, and was mopping up the dregs with his bread," That it quite the blade you carry. Where did you come across it?"