A stroll into the woods (Aeos/Gar/Rhea)

[Gar]

Gar watched the bear-lady pick up the slain beast and carry it with ease. He turned to Aeos. "There's no way I'm going to be eating that thing. Haha maybe if I don't eat it, it's friends wont try to eat me. I'm just glad it's bite isn't poisonous; I'm not pushing my luck." He turned his attention once again to his damaged forearm. Rhea was still right, he had to make sure it didn't get infected. Gar laughed lightly. Well if I have to cut it off then I can get a hook. Gar flexed his fingers gingerly.

"...tell me; what are a sailor and an oft sorts traveler? Are those like us Taguel?"

Gar took some time to figure out how to answer Rhea’s question in terms she would understand. Gar would take care of explaining the life of a sailor and let Aeos describe that of a traveler. “Well uhh we use boats to cross the ocean. You know that big wet blue thing on the coast.” Gar realized he may have come off as condescending, but that wasn’t his goal. I hope she doesn’t think I’m a jerk. But I should also make sure I don’t confuse her. Gar looked over Rhea to see if the information was getting through. He was confident she understood and continued. "We move from port to port gathering supplies and whatever else the crew thinks is valuable."

The second part of the question was more difficult to answer.Gar didn't have any experience with Taguel prior to a few minutes ago, so it was difficult to draw comparisons between them and pirates. " I guess like all things we just do what we need to for survival."

[Aeos]

Aeos gave a light laugh at Gar's comment about not eating the doog meat. He smiled softly. And continued on his way back to Aurion.

"Well Gar if your not going to eat your share oft the meat. Then I shall claim it for myself. I wonder.. how it tastes if it be dried as jerky. Hmm.. Maybe some smoke from a some apple wood.." His mind started to think of all the wonderful ways to cook the fresh meat. Then he realized something.

"Hang on.. Lady Rhea? Thou said you have been inside our city walls? Inside? I mean.. this be the first we heard oft it. It would have been nice if someone had said SOMETHING about taguel trading with humans. I mean.. where we are from.. we do not have taguel. Our.. shape shifters.. er.. well.. if one was to believe the history of our lands.. our shapeshifters are extinct. Lost.. a thousand years ago in a cruel and bloody war. Tis why I thought.. the humans of our wooden village would act hostile towards thee. But if thou has already met.. and traded with us outsiders then I guess I have nothing to worry about." He shook his head. Well.. not all of us shape shifters are lost. He kept walking.

"Uhm.. well.. Im a traveler. Our land.. where we are from is rather large. Much larger then this island. I travel across that land in search of things. Adventure... Friendship... stories.. The 'oft sorts' part." He paused for a moment in order to think of the right words.

"In order to.. help with my travel expenses.. I work. I do a little bit of everything to help move me along my way. I suppose that is also a sort of survival." He jumped over a small log and continued on through the forest. But something in the back of his head was nagging at him. Something in the pit of his gut told him that this wasn't going to end well.

[Rhea]

The juicy smell of the hunt began to waft its way into the woman's nose. The urge to sit down in the middle of the forest was being ratified by just about every corner of her brain. She could always return with a more impressive kill that wasn't as banged up...Hmmmm...

Rhea snapped back to the end of the dark-skinned one's question. "WHAT? CITY WALLS. YES. I have been inside your city. It is unimpressive. No sense for decoration at all." She turned away, more focused on the meat than the man, but the grizzly could feel the pair looking at her like she was from a different planet instead of landmass. "Hrmh?" Was that not the right thing to say? It was nothing compared to the natural splendor of HER home. "OH, you mean my brothers and sisters have been inside as well. Right." She was silent for a moment after, skirting around a tree's branch so rudely in her way. "I have been inside; there are many traders and warriors and blacksmiths. At first my siblings wore coats and fabric to keep ourselves from being identified. But now, most do not inquire who or what we are, so long as we do not cause trouble. And I share the same sentiment with them."

"What of you? Are all cities like that where you are from? Eh.. Eli..... Ereb? Ereb." Rhea had no love for the written word, something she had to remind herself of whenever the Taguel found herself stumbling over her tongue. There were many words that had long since left her Tribe's mouth - it was likely that many of her fellow beastmen felt the same.

It wasn't as straight of an answer as Rhea would've liked, but it was an answer nonetheless. "Fine then," she huffed in a matter-of-fact way. "I, Rhea, of all people would know about the ocean, but sailor is not an term I've heard in many years. As for the rest... I suppose some do have things they wish to hide. I know the shapeshifters of this land well. They would not simply bow down and die, so it is likely your land's tribes wouldn't have vanished either."

The furless men(okay, one had a beard, but that doesn't count okay) were tricksy in the way that they refused to disclose certain info, that was for sure. The beard seemed to be more direct than the long haired one, and Rhea appreciated honesty, but there was something... off about his mannerisms. Reptilian, almost. Ooh, maybe he was one of the lizard taguel she'd heard about in her days as a cub? Or a snake, even? Snakes were tricksy creatures, after all. Maybe if the woman fought them, she'd know for sure. Yes, that was a great idea!

Before all was said and done, they would have to fight. No ifs or ands, just butts. That were kicked.

But first, the Taguel had to dump the meat on the first willing trader she saw, before she either consumed it whole or attacked Aeos of of sheer curiosity. The bear redoubled her pace and the wolf's carcass jiggled up and down on her shoulder as if in protest. "We must move faster! Nature's blessings won't keep this meat fresh forever!"

[Gar]

Gar nodded at Aeos’ request to take his share of the meat. “Aye, you two can split my share however you see fit. Make jerky or sell it, doesn’t matter to me.” Gar was also curious about how the Taguel managed to get so close to the humans without conflict. His worries were put to rest as Rhea answered Aeos’ question. Apparently the Taguel didn’t want any trouble so as far as Gar could tell, intermingling didn’t pose any serious threat. One thing did cross his mind however. “Hmm. You may want to keep your coats and disguises up for a little longer. There are bound to be people in the city who aren’t as level headed and my friend and I.” Gar claimed with a wary tone. He shook his head. “I know a few people personally who would jump at the opportunity to capture a shapeshifter. Don’t worry too much though, from what I’ve seen you are ten times stronger than any of those scumbags. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

Gar continued on hoping he hadn’t made humans look bad to the new bear woman. Rhea then asked of other cities in Elibe and how they compared to the new settlement in Vinland. “Cities on the mainland, Elibe, are much more… developed. Tall buildings and plenty of those decorations you said you liked. I prefer coastal towns but maybe I could convince you to come see one sometime.” Gar laughed lightly and smiled at Rhea who decided to suddenly pick up the pace. It wasn't any skin off of Gar's nose if the meat went bad as he wasn't partaking in consuming any. Nonetheless, Gar followed suit and put some more effort into his movements, at least he could get his arm healed quicker this way. 

[Aeos]

Aeos stood there and blinked. He wasn't quite sure what to make of all this. The taguel were allowed into Aurion to trade and do business. Gods above If I walked around half shifted I'd probably freak out a bunch of folks. If.. they are so comfortable walking around humans.. does that mean they did not have a war like the scouring? Hmm.. might be why this island.. feels so nice. Gar raised a good point though.

"Yes. It would be wise to tell thy kin to keep up the disguises. Human greed is a powerful thing. All it takes is for one needless death or one capture to ruin everything for everyone." He sighed softly and glanced at the Doog on Rhea's shoulder. The scent of the meal was starting to affect the dragon in disguise especially since he could feel a light rumbling in his stomach. There was a light blush to his cheeks at the noise. Rhea decided she had done enough talking for one day and ran off with the carcass, presumably to trade it, or to eat it.

"And.. she's off." Aeos was fighting every urge to just chase after Rhea and leave Gar in the dust. But he kept his composure and shuffled behind Gar for the moment. He remembered the sailor was still wounded to an extent so he took the lead between the two to clear out some of the more pesky hanging plants.

"How be thy wound?" He turned a bit in order to see Gar. Aeos kept a healthy track on Rhea due to his heightened senses. So he could take his time in following the bear. It took them some time but eventually the pair of them would catch up to Rhea.