"Ah, thank you very much!" Akitsugu took the compass Adrila offered with yet another bow. "I will return it as soon as possible. I don't plan to go too deep into the forest if it can be helped." He listened as she explained what kind of wood to get, but inwardly he thought that was pretty obvious. It wasn't like he'd left home yesterday---he knew at least a little bit about roughing it. "Yes, my plan was to try and find fallen deadwood first. If I cut branches or trees, it will only be small ones, to use once the fire has gotten much hotter." When she asked about tools for shaping lumber, Akitsugu shook his head and retrieved his
worn copper hatchet from a loop on his pack. "I could perhaps split the round sides off a log to make a plank, but it'd be much harder to plane it with this and I doubt I could make them in a uniform manner."
The dwarf offered to come along, and to help with looking out for food as well. However, he expressed doubt about their ability to cut down a tree.
"It takes a while, but I've done it before." Akitsugu said, turning his hatchet to examine its edge. It was still quite sharp, the only part of the tool that had any shine to it. "I don't really fell large woods with it though. Anything thicker than my leg would be too heavy to carry, even if we could cut it."
Another of the elven women seemed to be working on the bits and pieces of the old well---from a glance, it was easy to see it would need a new bucket, and Akitsugu presumed a rope to go with it. He also wondered if anyone here knew how to filter water. While the well had a roof to cover it, no doubt silt and soil and other things had probably crept in over the years. Water that didn't move would become stagnant, and stagnant water would become foul. The elf offhandedly mentioned to one of the others (Myrr, she called them) that they needed seeds. For planting? Or for something else? The woman seemed more like a technician of some kind than a farmer. But, even if they did have a farmer, seeds couldn't grow
over night, could they? Maybe... if there was magic involved? The red-head hummed to himself.
However, it seemed the mention of seeds finally ignited a spark in the quiet Yingmei. She spoke up about finding fertile land to the south of the village, but seemed nervous about going by herself.
"It shouldn't be a problem to head that way and then take a long curve around to the forest." Akitsugu agreed with the girl clad in green. "Whether you wish to continue with us or not, I'll gladly see you safely to the fields---"
Just then, the foppish man Akitsugu assumed to be the little girl's brother jumped off the cart with aplomb, and began a musical performance. The strings of his instrument danced, as did he, and the man's voice carried the notes high aloft the soft breeze. Akitsugu winced.
"
Too shrill..." he muttered under his breath, before shaking his head. Thankfully, the bard's volume softened as he leaned in to speak to the young woman clutching her book. Akitsugu's wince turned slightly more frownish, but he closed his eyes for a moment and turned away--just in time to see the dwarf, Brom, tactfully insert himself into the situation. He couldn't help but nod in approval. Just then, another member of the group stepped up to him, offering her help not only on the firewood expedition, but to gather edible herbs and berries and the like.
"Ah, it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss...Myrr." He bowed again. "
By the way, everyone," he spoke up a little louder. "
I am called Akitsugu. An apprentice blacksmith by trade." Back to Myrr, "We would certainly appreciate your presence. We will need vines to gather the wood as well, after all---I don't intend to make too many trips if we can avoid it."
As he turned to replace his hatchet in its loop, there was a soft clink on the other side of his hip. He paused, and his lips worked from side to side as he closed his eyes. Then with a sigh, he looked back at the dwarf, Myrr, and at Yingmei---because, given how timid she'd been when they met, he didn't want to startle her further.
"We should be prepared for the possibility of running into monsters, as well. If need be, I have... some measure of skill with a sword."
Carefully, he drew the hem of his coat back to reveal Miyusahime's hilt and scabbard. The pattern on the sheathe rippled as it reflected the sunlight, and her pommel cast a golden glimmer on the old, weather beaten cobblestones at their feet. "Does anyone else here have weapons, if need be?"