Garris reached out and took the offered vegetables but gave the knife back to the woman. ”You keep it. I’ve got my own.” he said and reached for pouch on his leg. The knife he withdrew was about the same length and width as his ring finger, unlike the larger one he’d used earlier that day to slice the deer’s throat. Rinsing his hands and the produce off with water from his skin, Garris searched around in his sack until he produced a clean cloth. Settling himself on the ground, he laid the cloth over his lap and began peeling away the outer skin of the potatoes revealing the light silky texture underneath. It was difficult to keep his mouth from watering at the prospect of food.
“Alright.” the ranger said when Kaylia announced she was going to go get more water for the soup. ”Just shout if you need anything.” Out of the corner of his eye he watched her melt into the shadows of the trees. He wasn’t too keen about her wandering off in the dark. His gut told him she wasn’t a fellow ranger and he could only guess how she’d ended up alone in the middle of the woods after sunset.
Finishing up the potatoes with a speedy accuracy, Garris fished out the carrots Kaylia mentioned earlier. ”So do you want one?” he said in the direction of his silent companion, setting the other carrot aside for Strom, ”They look tasty.” Violet eyes regarded him, seemingly void of any emotion. A few moments later the beast stretched and lay down. Resting her cheek one a giant paw, her eyes fluttered closed. It was a clear sign of disinterest. ”Suite yourself,” Garris said, and began to peel the bright orange vegetable, ”More carrot for the soup then.” He wasn’t sure why the Cainmere had treated the food with disinterest; she certainly hadn’t scoffed at vegetables or even the occasional acorn before.
Kaylia appeared in the ring of light again, her water skin now full. Garris watched her work out of the corner of his eye while he peeled and chopped the remaining onions. The woman seemed a little flustered but unhurt from her excursion. It wasn’t until the newly peeled vegetables were back in the sack and he began cleaning up his area that she broke the silence.
”So, Garris, why did you decide to become a ranger? And how did you come to find a partner in Cainmere?"
The ranger stood up and walked over to the fire, handing everything back to Kaylia except for the carrot he’d set aside for Storm. That, he delivered to the horse himself.
”Good question,” Garris replied, using his movement as an excuse to give himself time to think of an answer. ”I’d say it sort of found me. I’ve always been observant and curious. Plus I have a penchant for getting myself into trouble. You know, the kind of qualities you’d find in a person who is willing to brave the wilderness alone.” he paused meaningfully but before the woman had a chance to respond he continued on, ”Kandalia is a large town still surrounded by untamed wilderness. I got myself into trouble one to many times until my father finally gave up me ever being a blacksmith and handed me over the master ranger. As for Cainmere, well she was a parting gift. I’m sure you know there’s a kind of… sickness… going around. I was asked to investigate its effects on the surrounding countryside and then bring my findings to the king. Apparently she’s supposed to aid me in my endeavors… but most of the time all she does is that.” He pointed at the wolf, which for all intents and purposes seemed to have settled in for a nap. At the end of his talk, however, one eyelid opened and regarded him passively before shutting again. ”And what do you do, Kaylia Vandilla?” Garris continued, ”Surely you don’t always travel around in the woods alone, saving wayward travelers from their hunger?”
“Alright.” the ranger said when Kaylia announced she was going to go get more water for the soup. ”Just shout if you need anything.” Out of the corner of his eye he watched her melt into the shadows of the trees. He wasn’t too keen about her wandering off in the dark. His gut told him she wasn’t a fellow ranger and he could only guess how she’d ended up alone in the middle of the woods after sunset.
Finishing up the potatoes with a speedy accuracy, Garris fished out the carrots Kaylia mentioned earlier. ”So do you want one?” he said in the direction of his silent companion, setting the other carrot aside for Strom, ”They look tasty.” Violet eyes regarded him, seemingly void of any emotion. A few moments later the beast stretched and lay down. Resting her cheek one a giant paw, her eyes fluttered closed. It was a clear sign of disinterest. ”Suite yourself,” Garris said, and began to peel the bright orange vegetable, ”More carrot for the soup then.” He wasn’t sure why the Cainmere had treated the food with disinterest; she certainly hadn’t scoffed at vegetables or even the occasional acorn before.
Kaylia appeared in the ring of light again, her water skin now full. Garris watched her work out of the corner of his eye while he peeled and chopped the remaining onions. The woman seemed a little flustered but unhurt from her excursion. It wasn’t until the newly peeled vegetables were back in the sack and he began cleaning up his area that she broke the silence.
”So, Garris, why did you decide to become a ranger? And how did you come to find a partner in Cainmere?"
The ranger stood up and walked over to the fire, handing everything back to Kaylia except for the carrot he’d set aside for Storm. That, he delivered to the horse himself.
”Good question,” Garris replied, using his movement as an excuse to give himself time to think of an answer. ”I’d say it sort of found me. I’ve always been observant and curious. Plus I have a penchant for getting myself into trouble. You know, the kind of qualities you’d find in a person who is willing to brave the wilderness alone.” he paused meaningfully but before the woman had a chance to respond he continued on, ”Kandalia is a large town still surrounded by untamed wilderness. I got myself into trouble one to many times until my father finally gave up me ever being a blacksmith and handed me over the master ranger. As for Cainmere, well she was a parting gift. I’m sure you know there’s a kind of… sickness… going around. I was asked to investigate its effects on the surrounding countryside and then bring my findings to the king. Apparently she’s supposed to aid me in my endeavors… but most of the time all she does is that.” He pointed at the wolf, which for all intents and purposes seemed to have settled in for a nap. At the end of his talk, however, one eyelid opened and regarded him passively before shutting again. ”And what do you do, Kaylia Vandilla?” Garris continued, ”Surely you don’t always travel around in the woods alone, saving wayward travelers from their hunger?”
