Wandering

Xander paused in his wanderings as he managed to walk his way into a dense patch of fog. It was closer to the mountains here and farther north towards Nagwen so it was cooler and he could feel the warmth from his horses breath as it stood on teather behind him. His cloak was swaying around him and his red hair was in his eyes again. He really needed to get it cut.

Glancing about he looked at the waist high grass for a possible trail through the area but it seemed he had lost it when he'd entered the fog. Varn was pulling on his teather now. Glancing back Xander stared at the tall black horse and sighed. He was aging, no longer in his prime but starting to show traces of age in light silver streaks around his eyes and nose. Varn was the only connection Xander had kept with his old life. If he passed then Xander would probably never return to it.

Turning his attention back to his perdicament he gave a soft tug on Varn's teather and urged him to follow him into the grass. However as he took a step forward he gave a startled curse and he fell waste deep in water. Turning he saw Varn standing near the waters edge watching him with the comical expression he always seemed to have plastered on his face anymore. Scowling Xander pulled the large walking stick from its place on his back and felt forward for the waters edge. It was a few feet way. He then stuck it down in the water to see if it got deeper. Only slightly nothing serious.

Holding the stick out in front of him he tugged on Varns teather again and ventured further along through the water. He flet a small wave and heard a soft splash as Varn slipt into the water behind him. Glancing back he saw that the horses head was well above water so he ventured forward. When he came to the other side he trudged out of the now ankle deep water scowling. The mud on this side had a fowl reek to it and he was now pleasantly covered in the goo.

Sighing he trugged along through the weeds hoping to find a clearing in both the fog and the grass so he could have a chance to rest and get clean.

Riley too had found herself lost in the fog, wandering aimless thougfh seemed to make it not as bad as it might be. Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail and waved gently in the breeze. She toyed thoughtfully with her panpipes and blew in gently to arouse a soft set of notes.

The notes seemed to dance on the fog, happy notes that they were. She set about playing a lively walking tune to make her way with. As she walked she barely noticed her surroundings till it became apparent that she was nearing a rather foul smell. It was more than that, it was horrible. She stopped playing to look into the dense fog.

She was rewarded with the outline of what could be two figures thought what they were she did not know. Frowning she called out in her friendly toned voice.

"Ello out there? Any of the living?"

As he had contuined walking through the high grass Xander had managed to whipe away most of the muck though Varn was still pleasntly covered in the goo. Sudenly he paused however and sqwinted into the fog as a sudden play of notes reached his ear. He could just barely make out what seemed ot be a lone figure in the fog. Then they called out. Most definatly female. Alive? Well he assumed they probably did smeel rather like the walking dead but still.

"'Allo, over this way and perfectly alive! What of yourself?" the question at the end was slightly amussment and slightly out of percation. Never knew what you could find in the fog. Shortly after his words Varn descided to give a loud snort, obviously hoping for some sort of treat. Spoil horse.

Riley smiled briefly and walked slowly in the others direction, taking care when she left the well guided path to walk in the grass. "Last time I checked I was.." She said with a tone opf amusement. Her eyes tried to reach through the fog to find the other who had spoke, but only came up with blobs still.

"Come on then the roads this way. " She held her nose at the oncoming stench. "Wha you been rolling in?"

Xander started moving towards the shadowy figure and stil couldnt tell much about who it was. It sounded like they'd only resently entered the grass so he had some hope that they still had the trail in sight. He smiled slightly over her remark however about his stench. He'd been walking in the smelly haze long enough to have gotten used to it but he supposed he still smelt as rank as when he'd first pulled himself out of the hidden pool.

"Well you see I was walking along and fell in this lovely little swmap like pond and decided to role around in it a bit before I got out," Xander called as he carefully trugged though the grass making sure not to fall in any more offending pounds.

Riley bit back a snort and chuckled softly. "Well, you must'a been rolling a while." She moved a bit closer getting only a hazy look of the muddy figure. Glancing back quickly to check that the road was still in sight she moved closer slowly. Her steps were light and very careful for fear of treacherous ponds.

Xander could tell he was getting closer to the figure so he stopped swinging the stick as far out to avoid hitting them. Still smiling he replied, "Oh no it really was only a short wallow, however my horse thought he need to get covered in it as well so I fear we are equally rank smelling."

He was close enough now to just make them out. It looked like a young woman, slighty tall but that was all he could decipher through the fog. He really hoped she hadnt lost the trail. Still he guessed he must be close anyway even if they did lose it.

(( ugh I know very short ))

((Yes, my last was very short I fear. Please excuse it for I'm at school during the day and use their computers.))

As Riley's eyes adjusted a bit better to the fog she looked closer at the figure moving towards her. She could make out the man's outline, but his features were masked by the rank muck he and his steed were covered in. Noticing for the first time really she eyed the beautiful steed with approval. A nice specimen of the speices even if it was currenty stinking of rank sewer bile.

When she got within her last few feet she felt her foot sink slowly. "Oh no.." She groaned and pulled her foot out missing her boot. "Watch yourself, there's a mud bog who likes shoes here." Backing u a step she bent to retrieve her shoe. It was firmly in the grasp of the mud and she had to tug rather hard to pull it out. It too was now covered in the vile mess.

"Lovely."

Warning came a little to late. Just as she said it he stepped in fowl stuff. He had thought the oder was growing stronger and evidnetly it had. Yanking on his foot he managed to get his foot out muddy boot and all though in the process he managed to get his other foot in the mess. Lovely day, no?

"To late, already stepped in it. Can you tell how far it goes?" Xander said as he worked to pull his other foot from the mess. Varn was going to be a handful getting him around this mess. He could at lest sort of see who he was talking to now, which was a bonus. The woman seemed to have her hair pulled back and she seemed fine featured but other than that Xander couldnt tell. The fog and his mudd laden red hair in his eyes made it hard to see much.

Looking around she frowned and wiped muck off her boot with a leaf. Eyes wandering around the mud bog she frowned. "I'd say about an arms width across and two in either direction from you. It's not to big, but it's just deep enough to try and steal my shoe away.." She added the last bit as an annoyed growl. She removed the muck in an annoyed fashion and watched th other for a moment noting his messy figure, probably due to the mess he had fallen into.

Nodding Xander glanced about and decided following the grass along the edge would probably lead him and varn safely ot the other side. Giving a tug on his newly stuck boot he managed to pull from the muck and land both of his feet on solid ground. THen he started to follow the grass along the edge while he swung his walking stick in front of him hoping to miss anymore goo or water. Still his cation did him no good.

Slipping he fell into yet anther pound though this time it seemed to lack the foul smelling mud. Cursing he called, "Damned! Theres another pound over this way so watch yourself." Tugging on Varns tether he felt the horse stay firmly on soild ground. Glancing over his shoulder he glared at the beast and gave a firm tug on the theather again. Nope, Varn was not willingly walking through another potentailly muddy pound, and the horse was too big ot argue with at the moment. So grumbling Xander felt his way along for the edge next to the horse and climed out next to him. At least most of hte pervious mud was slightly washed off by now though. Swinging his stick again he followed the edge of the pool over towards the woman.

Riley frowned and followed him down the edge feeling along with her foot. Not the safest, but it was working so far. As she made it to the edge of what she assumed was the second pond she wrinkled her nose. "Well, at least you got a bath out of it.." She said in a tone that was half joking.

She on the other hand wasn't so lucky. Bending over she ducked her boot into te water and wiped the remaining mud off. A sigh escaped her and she grinned at the man. "You gonna make it?"

((I will wait for your post. Hopefully it'll come soon...))

Xander chuckled at her words. Yes he was smelly, wet and rather disgruntled but not anywhere near dead as far he new. That was when he noticed her features, most elven. Now being native to Nagwen there were some issues for Xander here. The girl was nice, had shown no threating moods towards him. Then again every childhood lesson of his had always said to never trust the elves. Conflicting, no?

Desiding to carry on as he had before, if not with a tad more caution, he said, "Yes I believe I will most certainly make it. I am Xander by the way." He didnt bother to hold out his hand. It was covered in the smelly goo of mudd, hopefulyl she didnt take it as an insult.

((blah, sorry it took so long. I've been bussy and runing around in circles for the last two weeks.))

She winked and nodded. "Riley.." Smiling brightly despite the smell and fog she glanced over her shoulder towards the path. "Lucky for us the path is right where I left it..Or I hope it is.." She smiled and moved to allow him more room to go around. She pointed back behind her. "That way I do believe you may find firm dry ground to stand upon." She looked down at her feet which were rather soggy she though and the ends of her dress were splattered with foul mud.

"Lovely place.." She muttered.

Xander chuckled and then gave a tug on Varn's tether as he ade to walk around her. The big horse snorted and followed swishing its tail from side to side as he navigated through the brush. Then Xander sighed as he made it quiet suddenly ot dry ground. Glancng back he noted that Rileys figure was again blurred behind him through the fog.

Waving his hand he called, "Aye the path has stayed put, over this way!" As though to echo the statement Varn gave a lound snort and stamped his heavy shodded foot. That wa swhen Xander wondered whioch way she was traveling. He had been heading norht, to Nagwen, but a traveling companion was not always bad. But there was still that nagging predjuice that had ground into his mind. Could he trust her? Deciding to put off the decsion he awaited a call fro mteh now blurry figure.

Riley chuckled softly, "I was beginning to wonder if it might have wondered off to leave me in this lovely little spot. Slowly she picked ehr way pver tp him and smiled as her feet touched firm earth again.

"Ahh, to step firmly and not sink," She said through a chuckle. Her eyes danced playfuly as she took i the whole of his figure close up. Brushing of some mud on her dress she looed back a him. "so where might you have been headed?"

((sorry I took so long to reply and my last post had a lot of spelling errors but I beleive I am back now for the most part.))

"North, though to which city I'm not quite sure yet." He said as he tugged on one of the many packs starped to Varns saddle. He was looking for his spare cloak, though he wasnt quiet certain wear he tucked it. Hopefully not into one of the low hanging sacks that had had the excitment of being dragged through the muddy water.

Giving another tug on the packs tie he finally managed to get the flap open and he rmanaged through it in search of something dry. There was a change of pants, a tunic some leggingis, where had he put the damned cloak? Taking a moment to move onto the next bag he asked, "And where is it that you are heading to?"

Yes firm ground was most nice, but it would be nicer if her could find his dry cloak.

((blah that wasnt very good))

She shrugged and watched him as he ransacked his packs, in search of what she did not know. Running a hand through her hair and placing on on her hip she chuckled softly. "I don't really know.." Her voice was rather a melodic chuckle now. Her eyes shined brightly and she put her other hand on her hip. There was a challenge in that stance, but she abandoned it momentarily.

"I'm after work, so wherever there are taverns and people willing to give money or board for a bard." She said it thoughtfully and nodded to give it confidence. In truth she had hoped this man might know where to find work. She had dropped that the instant she realised how lost he himself seemed.

Rumiging through his pack he thought for a moment. South was probably a better bet then north right at the moment for the work she was looking for, definately more taverns for starters. Giving a disgruntled noise he walked around Varn and began to rumage through another bag as he began to speak, "I'd head south if your looking for that type of work. I'd put money on either Taras or Bavart both have a handful of well known pubs."

Now Xander may appear to be lost and confused most of the time but he actually knew both countries quiet well. He was just not so organised and got lost easily in the fog. Getting frustrated he tugged open the last dry pack and began to rumange. Spare food, which he probably needed to check, another blanket, wait there it was! Giving a triumphant cry he yanked out the cloak from the bottom of the pack and held it up for inspection. Yes, it was dry.

Glancing back to her he contiuned to speak, "You could always try the city of the gods as well but they're a bit... formal I guess you could call them at times. If anything the summer temple would probably be the most welcoming." Tugging off the wet cloak he slung it over Varns saddle and fastened on the dry and realtively clean smelling one.

She laughed at his show of finding his cloak and threw a hand over her mouth in an attempt to quiet the rising giggles. Taking a deep breath she nodded and smiled.

"Hmm, well I had hoped to try my luck in the Northern lands seeing as I've never visited there before, but if you think otherwise I'll try the City of Gods. I've been meaning to go there for some time anyway." Then she smiled again and pushed back a loose strand of hair. Annoying bit, why she didn't bother to just retie her hair who knew.

Xander contiuned about as though he'd never seen her giggling fit and was quickly beginning to rumange through his wet packs to see what had been lost. Nothing important mostly just more blankets and some food that probably wasnt good anymore anyways.

Not bothering to turn his head as he contiuned, "Good chioce it'll be warmer in the City of the Gods right now then north. Just try to stay way from the serious folk, they might get a bit annoyned with you espically the older mages. Again the Summer Temples probably going to be the safest." He repideted himself alot ometimes but it seemed to get the message across quiet clearly so he didnt bother to try to fix the habit.

Glancing up at her he quickly decieded that this elf was not evil liek hte others he'd heard about, if he ever saw her again he'd know she was safe ground. Now that didnt mean he suddenly trusted the entire elven/half breed race, just this particular girl.

She smiled and moved to stand next to him, watching him as he continued rummaging through his packs.

"I like the warm well enough, so sick of chilly nights on the ground. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy adventure as much as the next lass, but a warm bed should never be turned away." She nodded as if to add more resolve to her words which were confident as usual. Her smile slipped though as she looked away.

Finally she had found someone to speak with and it seemed they would be parting ways sooner than she had hoped. Her smile was replaced with the smallest of pouting frowns. She pulled her hair back and tied it with a few quick twists of a leather thong from her waist.

Xander glanced at her as she moved closer and listned as she spoke. Yes indoors was much better then outdoors this time of year. Fiddiling with yet another of the saddlebag straps he pondered for a moment. He could talk to the girl quiet easily it seemed, even if she was an elf, and a traveling companion was not always a bad thing. But he said he was heading north and he didnt like to contradict himself.

"Perhaps I should stop in the City of the Gods before heading all the way north, they usually have something to do for work much warmer too, but it is a bit out of the way." If you are wondering he's not really talking to anyone in particular just rambling about his thoughts. Yep, he did that quiet a bit.

((sorry this is kinda short))

Her smile brightened slightly and she gave a gentle tilt to her head.

"I don't suppose you would mind terribly if I asked you to join me on my way to the City of the Gods?" Her voice was soft and sweet, her smile playing about on her lips. There was an eagerness in her eyes, just to have someone to talk to. Finally. After a moment though she frowned, hoping to have not sounded to needy for company.