"Hm."

The axe thudded against the stump embedding within the grain, chopped wood being lifted up easily against the chilled air, puffs of breath escaping as the man made his way through some early snow towards the building. He had finished up some firewood, the smokeshack was working away, sides of venison and some wild boar working away. Good. Few more days and the stores would last him till ... eh. It'd last and whatever he didn't keep he would sell in town.

Various hides were hung, stretched out, some over smokey pits to cure, some being scrapped clean of the flesh and excess. All of them were from all creatures in the woods, even the mountains from a few ram hides.

Their coats were good for winter clothing.

Meat worked well enough not filling but bah, it made a meal.'

The cabin's door opened as he stopped inside, dropping the wood off to the side and moving in tossing some logs onto the fire to stir it up, embers crackling into the air.

Elias didn't mind the quiet, it suited him just fine. His home was simply that, a home, not filthy but not what one would consider the perfect example of cleanliness. Various plants were growing though even as winter was beginning in pots scattered about as he picked up a hunk of bread taking a bite before taking a drink of the tankerd. It was cider, and the last of it.

Which meant a trip to town.

He... had some hides to sell. Setting the empty container down he turned to pull on the patched and worn hide coat, going out the door and picking up a pack to hold over his shoulder beginning the long hike to town.

Sell these... get some staples... go home and sleep.

Yep.

Perfect plan.

Probably stop at the Rose for a pint or two.

Miraci ran her fingers along the roan's flank, a sigh slipping out as she did so. Both she and Truth were on the tired side from moving through the night. A brief respite then, a pause at one of the many clearing along the worn road that connected pockets of civilization to each other. Reaching to one of the saddlebags, Miraci fished a moment before producing a hoof hook. Spinning it once between her fingers, she tossed the chestnut braid over her shoulder and bent, heedless of her riding dress, and tapped Truth lightly. Obediently, the horse brought up his right back foot.

Catching between her legs, Miraci went to work with the hook to scrape out the dirt and debris from several days travel. Flying would've been easier, but safety aside, Truth seemed to understand her, and often served as a companion. His penchant for biting and kicking those that seemed of ill-repute whispered of a training the seller had not known. He had a personality, and Miraci found herself comforted by his presence.

Yet that also meant she was responsible for his care. She'd never forgive herself if he came to harm because of her negligence. So it was that after a furious ride over two days that left a Slayer and his two budding apprentices dead, Miraci needed time to see to Truth.

Letting the leg down easily, Miraci shifted to the forefront, slowly making her way around with the hook. "If I didn't know better," she said at one point while bent to task, "I'd think you were a mountain cat in horseflesh, what with the way you went after that one man."

Truth whickered and shook out his mane, completely content to chew on bit for the moment. "I know, I know... but I am out of sugar and fruit. You will have to wait. I promise, not much longer and we will settle again," she said, stretching up with a fist to her back after the last hoof was scraped clean.

A new home, brief it might be. There was something stirring in the air, and she was uncertain of the source. It was like all of nature held its breath, and one didn't have to be a Green to feel the sense of anticipation.

Snow.

Now, normally he didn't mind snow, guess it came from being raised in mountains where it came natural during the winters but, Elias grumbled as he stepped through sludge, when it began to change to the slush of the warmer valley he loathed it. One, his boots kept out snow and cold. NOT liquid and mud. Therefore his feet were freezing. That set his mood even lower then the normal surly nature. But it served no purpose so he just mumbled a curse or two, shifting the pack of skins on his shoulder and kept moving.

He looked tattered and raugged to be honest, his clothing was what he made and not stylish or neat like what most people wore. But he had no reason to wear otherwise so he just trudged along the path in the trees.

Well it was not a true path mind you but he knew the way to the village and it was pretty much home to a point so he headed there. What he didn't like was that odd uneasy feel to the air. No, didn't like it at all. And it wasn't because of what rumors were rushing among the trees on the air either.

Something else.

Something working beneath even the hidden.

Strange.

But as long as it kept it's bloody nose out of his land, he could give a rats ass.

The sound of a horse made him pause looking up, features concealed by the hood and scarf, the only flesh to be seen was some of his upper face and eyes. And they narrowed faintly. No. Not one of the villager's animals, too 'delicate'. The scent was all wrong as well. Great.

Another traveller...

Shaking his head he just kept moving as the other scent joined the horse. Dragon.

Oh just freaking wonderful.

Maybe they'd just go away.

Lovaly wishful thinking but doubtful.

Truth whickered again and purposefully shoved his foot down hard to the ground, followed by the shaking jingle of his bit. There was a scent on the air that was not Miraci, and the roan was letting her know. Not that she needed it once the trace scent curled back upon the wind towards her. She paused in repacking the saddlebag, considering her options.

It was dark times indeed when the scent of another dragon was enough to make one pause, she decided. Trust was a priceless gem and not freely given, especially not by her. Not that she suspected the other of foul play in the planning, but one never knew who was watching in the trees. Her scales were favored by more than one lot because of their properties, and she fully intended on living a long life with every one of them accounted for.

So in that time that Miraci was appearing to adjust straps and bags, a decision was made. She said nothing, but the keen eye would notice that in her checking of Truth's girth, the staff was loosened. The keen ear would note that her conversations with the roan had ceased.

She was aware... but she was playing at being unaware for safety's sake.

Over the ridge he could see the shape of said animal and owner, human shaped now but other then that nothing of interest. Female, male, dragon, mage or human, they all annoyed him and there was little in his respect for them. Unless you earned it of course. But it didn't matter right now.

He just looked over for a moment, eyes never changing from the dull green before just half turning and continuing to walk. Sure it meant getting close but they were on the best path to town. Maybe he could turn her around. She was no trader, what good could come of another in the town...

He still worried about the scarred girl. She had gone to the human capital then the storm. Nothing. He rather hoped for her parents she was alright but who knew, he didn't.

He was good at minds but not that good, and he wasn't going to try to change that at all.

Ice crunched under his feet as he kept walking, staff strapped to his back and not held in hand. Step by step. She was nervous. Well it made sense though a little sad that when unity was needed.... it did not exsist strongly enough to survive.

Instead he just went past the female and horse, no word, no echo of power, nothing. To some that was what more frightening then blatent expressions of strength.

It just didn't matter to him. He had an errand to do, why bother with her?

He kept walking.

Not even a word.

This was an oddity for perhaps even there would be a nod given between each, a hint of knowing. Yet here he said nothing. So he was anti-social, she decided, and honestly couldn't blame him. Miraci felt no need to lecture the other on manners or to ask about the weather. She knew the weather was slushy and cold.

With a sigh, Miraci pulled herself up into the saddle and clicked her tongue softly. Truth began to walk, just a few paces in the grand scheme of things behind the other dragon incognito.Save for the sucking, slushy sound and the occasional noise from truth, there was silence between them. Yes, they shared the path, but that seemed about all.

Miraci decided that the other was of the bitter lot, and seemed to prefer exile to socialization. A portion of her, perhaps a portion of her mother's influence, felt pity.

And then it began to rain. That cold, wet rain that would soak a soul. Truth snorted his disappointment with the weather as Miraci brought the hood of her travel cloak up. "Is it much farther?" she suddenly asked. No need to define 'it' as she suspected he knew exactly what she was talking about.

"Is it much farther?"

He glanced back at her, mainly out of amusement since she seemed to find the weather uncomfortable perhaps it was for some but outside of his boots his own clothing was surprisingly resilient to the cold and rain. Honestly he was warm minus his feet which would be fine eventually he reasoned.

"Why are you here?"

No act of manners nor outward rudeness, just blunt truth. He wanted to know what she was up to and why she would be here in his home. He wanted to know because if she was here to cause any harm... she would be leaving. And quickly.

Strange she kept her mind half open, how to describe it, though he did not stray from the surface. Curiousity though was tempting. Half breed. Not of his bloodlines of course but then it was obvious. Ice and a branch broke under his foot, a shifting of the earth from their steps, everything in his mind, in his body echos.

He turned to face her, no threat in his stance nor defense.

"This place isn't much for the outside lands."

He made sure of that.

As he paused to turn and face her, Truth came to a halt as well. As the rain came down, Miraci studied the other from beneath the dripping shadow of her hood. Why was she here? It was a legitimate question, though asked any other way and she might’ve snapped back a reply. At the faint whisper of movement at the surface of her understanding, Miraci made no move to put up mental barriers. So, she thought, you are a bronze.

“Because I must be here,” she replied in the same cryptic manner by which the question was asked. Just the slight squeeze of her knees prompted Truth to walk forward and around the other, the horse stiff-legged in his demeanor around the dragon that was not Miraci.

Only when past the other did she respond further. “And yet, the outside lands are constantly being pressed upon by… all this,” she said with the wave of a gloved hand. “I see it from the Slayers that I have left dead some mile back, to the ships that press further and further down the coastline. Soon, there will be no line between, and I intend to make certain that that line does not harm the innocent.”

She twisted slight to look back from behind the small rivers of water that ran off of her hood as Truth pressed on to look at the mountain man. “You may hide in the forest and mountains, shunning us all, but I find that an escapist mentality,” she said with the trace of a hard edge to her tone before turning back around.

Solitary existence… I pity you, she thought, fairly certain he’d know exactly what she was thinking.

“I see it from the Slayers that I have left dead some mile back, to the ships that press further and further down the coastline. Soon, there will be no line between, and I intend to make certain that that line does not harm the innocent.”

"Hm." High and mighty one wasn't she? Protect the innocent? There were innocents on any side but did anyone realize this and say so? No. They focused on 'their kind' on 'their people' rather then as a whole and that annoyed him to no end. But he was not about to have some self defensive fight about her words given the fact that she had more to learn then she realized.

All of them did.

He really wanted her to get the hell out of there.

Stubborn female.

“You may hide in the forest and mountains, shunning us all, but I find that an escapist mentality,”

"That be your opinion then." He just shrugged as she had moved ahead drawing back with from that mind. Would have to be a lot more subtle with this one, he had felt that awareness. It was a simple enough thing, a turn here and a path there and she would miss the village for miles and wind up at some other one less into the heart of the forest. And no matter the tracker, when the exact location, even memory of being there does not exsist, she would not find her way back again.

Just as well. She was not needed. He had enough of other Dragons arrived and creating a mess he always wound up having to clean up and it was a bit annoying.

There.

Done.

Not a whisper or a shimmer in her mind, aside from another bronze she would not know what he had done, which was just as well.

The village had secrets.

He had secrets.

And he would rather them all remain secrets thank you very much.

Least till the time was right.

In silence, Miraci pulled out her pack of herbs, and balanced the mortar and pestle upon her lap. She had no idea what he had done, however if she had, there was a good bet she'd show him the error of his ways. So in silence, she began to crush the dried bits of this and that while using her body to shield from the water.

Truth whickered, and Miraci spoke to the horse. "Yes, I know, hurry hurry. The child was turning scarlet the last time I received word. The fever is spreading, Truth, and time must be slowed." Her mind surged with the thought of the child she had been called for, sick in the throat that the fever had become Scarlet. If she did not get there soon, the boy would surely die.

In silence, she cried within at the inability to merely shift and breathe upon the boy. The current state of the world would have it otherwise. Damn the world.

"Faster then, Truth," she said, urging the horse with her knees to a quick trot, "Faster." And so she went, following the path painted by the bronze while the child with Scarlet Fever lay in another direction, never once suspecting that one of her own kind could be so cruel.

He watched her go off.

Fool.

Simple as that.

He trudged on, having no horse to send him barreling through his surroundings, knowing the path well and ignoring the one she had gone racing off too. Children died every day in this world, Dragon, Human or Mage, it was the way of things. The village could care for it's own not that the humans realized it at times. Old Non knew that and the pouch on his hip attested to that. He was able to keep many valuable herbs and the like alive even in the harshest of winters after all, and they served well.

Cold surrounded him but he paid it no mind, knowing how close he was to the place and the other would be long gone.

Drop the medicanes off at the old one's home then sell the hides.

Get a drink.

Who knows, maybe get a meal, bit o' that berry strudel did sound inviting.

Call him evil.

Call him unfeeling.

Call him a monster.

He didn't pay titles a mind.

It didn't take long, for the blood in her screamed as Truth kept trying to alter their course. All that was really needed was for Miraci to give the roan his lead, and the horse did as his name suggested. In fact, Miraci sat limp on the roan, her mind closed as she worked at the bronze halfling's attempt at what she suspected, but could not confirm.

Truth would always find a way, and the double entandre there would be confirmed, for as much as the mind might be tampered with, one could not stop traders from the trail. So it was that Miraci realized just how off course she had gotten when she came upon the merchant wagon.

Truth discovered, a seething anger painted a furious portrait on her face. Coin given to merchant to pay for his apprentice's service, the pair raced through the rainy woods, the youth guiding Truth while Miraci sat behind him.

So it would that Truth brust into the village, rearing much like a warhorse as the apprentice pulled up the reins short. "Well done, young man. For haste," she said, giving a few bits extra to the lad as they both slid from the roan's back.

Gripping the halter, Miraci walked to the small stable of the village. "Derek, the boy with the fever... which is his house?" she asked while her anger was in check, for the moment. With directions given, she paid for boarding and ran with the snap of fabric, much like her teeth might've done to the other dragon because of his treachery.

Vanishing inside, breath and life would work itself as time seemed to drag on for no apparent reason... other than that perhaps slowed time offered a chance for her to move faster to save the human boy to which she had been called.

She came back.

You know you think someone could take a hint. Non just nodded as she was handed the herbs, saying a travelling healer had rushed into town like a whirlwind going to one of the families homes that had a sick child. One of the reasons he had actually came to town.

Now she would probably work herself into a fury and all that foolish nonsense...

He just left it as it was, going to the main traders and began to talk with Jones over the price of the hides and furs, back and forth making joking jabs at the other about being 'greedy' and so on. He did not mind so much, in small amounts and this was one of those days. Once the price was reached and new supplies bought for his own stores, Elias turned to head towards the inn.

A pint and chat with the locals then back home.

Same old same old.

Non was certainly put out though.

Eh he'd calm her down soon enough.

"Do so again at your own peril," she said softly, stepping in his path to the inn. The boy was sleeping, peacefully, and it was time to make an effort ot secure lodgings. The silver burned as molten flecks in her eyes as she stood there. "You walk a dangerous line of treachery," she said as the natural human hue of her eyes resumed. "When you act without regard for others, all others, believing to be superior in such a decision, you behave as a coward."

The stormy weather pulled back at her hood, snapping hair loose from the braid. "That you would deny me to what I was called for is the action of a child attempting to be petulant to an adult. You do not govern these people and their choices. And do not expect me to believe that you truly do not care, for you would not have gone to the lengths you did to attempt to prevent it," she said in that low, nearly whispered tone.

"Bar me from doing as I must to save one or one thousand, and I will call you out to your elders for the traitorous act," she snapped, her voice indicating what a tightly closed mind held... utter contempt for the creature she looked at.

"I pity you," she said, then turned and walked inside, letting the door slam in his face, to inquire for room and board for the next few days. The boy would live, she believed, but Miraci would not leave until she was certain.

"I pity you,"

Very mature.

But then that was how it was with such, letting herself be overtaken by emotions when she only thought of such a thing as healing which he did not care. But still he was annoyed. More so then he normally let people get to him.

Calling him a child but he was not going to get into a snarling and shouting match.

After the door slammed he merely opened it, stepping into the inn pulling down his scarf and the hood as people laughed, greeting him, most unaware of the sudden anamosity the stranger had for the local 'hermit' of sorts, but then people when they first met him never got along. Rough around the edges was an understaement.

Still he laughed, his voice echoing in her mind.

"Traitor to what I ask, you miss such small details. There is more here then you know and I keep it safe. Contrary to what you think, you cannot save everyone."

He was talking with Rodgers about his harvest, joking about the rabbits making a better meal of it at times then they did before he got his drink.

"And some perfer their privacy over dealing with hotheaded would be heros."

Miraci was shaking out her cloak and dropping to sit at the clearly worn and loved table when his voice cantered in her mind. Her eyes narrowed at the invasion and she forced her mind to sharpen it's arrow back. So he wanted in her mind, did he? One could almost feel the stinging retort on the very air... until he hit her with the second statement.

Miraci's face seemed to go ashy, and the twist of pain came surging forward, uncontrolled as those that had died wailed in her memory. She didn't realize she was probably conveying it upon the senses all that loudly, but the wound was fresh, as it would forever be.

That's just it, I'm not a hero, nor do I want to be...

Her head dropped into her hands, fatigue and emotion surging through her. For countless reasons she began to cry behind the shadow of her palms, the silent sort of emotion that seemed tapped into the very soul of being.

By the Prophecy, she wanted to save them all. She wanted to keep them all safe. But she was failing... and now...

Miraci remained that way, not truly hearing the conversations around her. Had her own kind become so cruel and hopeless that they would actually undermine a bit of good in the world?

That's just it, I'm not a hero, nor do I want to be...

Pathetic.

Thats what it was.

That she let the failure of the past, no matter how close to the present, color and shade her mind and actions it was utterly sad to be honest. Call him heartless but he did not hold much respect for those who were avidly convinced that they could save the world but if someone tried to point it out oh no! Monster!

Bah.

Her mind was reasonably strong and as much as he wanted to pester the female he left her be, seeming to just ignore her for now while he chatted with a few of the villagers, though when one of the younger boys came running in shouting something about showing him something cool, he shrugged. Might as well.

He left that inn, feeling that heavy sense still in the air and trees. Wonder what it was.

The child led him on, chattering away as they went.

Non was muttering to herself in her small home.

The boy was healing.

Magic could not solve everything... why did no one realize this... oh well.

The sooner she got the hell out of his home, the better.

"It'll be ready in an hour," the voice said, breaking Miraci's silent repose. She blinked and lifted her head off the table. Had she actually fallen asleep? However brief, so it seemed. "Your room, about an hour to tidy it up, miss," the innkeeper said once more. "In the meantime, think about getting a hot meal. You look a right bit of a mess, if I be saying so."

The innkeeper walked off, leaving Miraci to consider her options. The tincture she showed to Derek's mother was easy enough, but a relapse would surely kill the child. And boys were notorious for leaving the sickbed too soon, Human or Kin.

So she would stay a few days, perhaps a week, and then leave. The exchange with the other halfbreed left her contemptuous and irritated. It was clear he felt he was lord of the manor here, and if he wished to be a royal arse, she'd kindly plant her foot into it.

And she'd do it in slowed time just to savor the feeling of it. He deliberately manipulated her mind, an act she found akin to willfull violation of her body, and that was unacceptable.

Her anger rekindled itself and Miraci gripped her hands together in a forced interlacing patter to keep from bolting and grabbing her staff to brain the other dragon.

"Very interestin' there Franklin." Elias nodded with a faint grin as he was shown what he was informed was a fort though it looked more like a pile of wood, rope and an old bed sheet he doubted the child's mother would be pleased to find strung about like this. The child grinned before jumping a bit to hang off a branch easily. "It's my fort so I can protect everyone cause my brother's goin' off to be a soldier and while he's gone I gotta protect the family so my fort is the best defense!"

Kneeling down the hermit tested a hinge and his admiration for the boy went up a slot or two finding the ropes tight but sturdy. Now if a big threat did come (and he sure as hell would not allow that) it would fall but for now..

"I'm sure it'll send any army a'quaverin' in their boots seeing you come roaring out." Elias grinned as the child continued to ramble on, pointing out where he was going to put 'catapults' and the like. He boy had a good imagination, personally he rather hoped he chose a life that would use that, rather then becoming cannon fodder.

But he had spent enough time in town, that female wasn't leaving obviously as Non had grumbled about earlier. As much as he would have loved to just get her to leave... He had better things to be doing. So after saying goodbye to Franklin, other children and some of the locals he just turned heading back towards the path to home.

Let her stew in her own emotions for a while.

Might be good for her.

"Wait."

The voice wrapped around him the way sand might slow the tread of feet. A whisper of the tug of the silver slowing of time, steps against the natural flow of the current delayed."

"Wait.... please."

The molasses-like feel suddenly was withdrawn, and Miraci walked towards the man as he stood at the edge of the town. She kept her hood back as she walked towards him. Her manner was unassuming and any trace of the time-threaded power was gone.

"I can see you wish to protect them," she said quietly as she drew closer. "I have no wish to bring them harm. It is in my nature, as you must know, to help life, in all forms. I will not stay; it was never my intention to. There is..." her eyes drifted, as if searching for the unseen, "Somewhere else I must be."

Refocusing, Miraci sighed and regarded the other. "Please remove what you did, on your honor and word. To know that my mind was touched in a manner that I did not wish is akin to violation," she said, pain riding a fraction on her voice. The connotation of that very word held such sway, regardless of one's species.

"Please," she asked simply and tiredly.

"Please remove what you did, on your honor and word. To know that my mind was touched in a manner that I did not wish is akin to violation,"

He just watched her as she had spoke, in the back of his mind rather surprised at how fast she had done a turn-a-round, a bit suspecious of it to be honest. Normally others did not change, not that quickly. He did not like nor trust it. But it was not like he had much to compare to. So for now he was taking her word.

With a large mountain of salt.

"Please,"

"It was gone when you had returned. Don't go about as if I had completely stolen your mind." He stated which was the truth, she had returned and as much as he had wanted to simply send her packing without any memory of even why she had come, he did not. Because though to some he was cruel, there was more to the man... to the dragon that met the eye. And he did not care if it was understood or not.

Shifting his now lighter pack given now it only had a few dry goods and the like, most of the money he wound up just spending where ever he could simply because he really did not need it, and never thought other wise, Elias began to continue down the path towards his home.

Violation.

The female had a lot to learn with this coming storm...

Miraci stood in silence, watching the other half-breed walk out of the small village. There was a sadness forming within her at the thought of what the Kin had become, so different than what she knew in the South. Here there seemed to be mistrust and misdirection, when they should be trusting in one another above all else.

Miraci was not naive in the sense that 'bad seeds' were unbelievable in the Kin, but even those more taboo sorts in the South recognized the dangerous storm for what it was, and were willing to be open to making things work.

She sighed, and pulled the hood back up over her head to shelter it from the cold. She turned and walked back to the inn, where warmth and the solitude of sleep was waiting for her.

Pity had returned for the male, overwhelming the ire of earlier. But then, weren't they all just a little bit pitiful? All of the Kin? Forced to hide, forced to live in fear, forced to deceive the masses to the point where portions of the mind seemed to be shifting in thought to complete humanity over their natural state.

And what was more, slowly they were being exterminated. With the Prophecy always in the back of her head, Miraci wished for it to happen in speed, as one by one, the colors were fading from existence.

(might be a place to end?)