(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

 

Darnell: O-oh...m-me? N-not a master, Talim. Definitely not yours. A-and, ah, I-I...think...so? *w-will...tentatively move his free hand (the other's still caught - well "caught" - under the wolf's paw) to meet the other paw, even rest on it ever so lightly*

Wolf: *remains still, even snuffles at him softly. Ears forward, his head raises a bit again.*

Darnell: .........what...why are you- *cuts off with a soft gasp as something occurs to him* I-inriomai...?

Wolf: *perks, voice soft* Yes.

Darnell: *breath /catches/, eyes going wide* W-wow... I-I mean...sorry...for, ah, intruding on your...I guess den. We'll...we'll leave now.

Wolf: No, please, it's all right. I'm a sentry for a settlement near hear. I was heading back there in the morning. You would be safe there.

Darnell: *soft choke* Y-you know where that is? Is it ((NAME))?

Wolf: Yes. 

Darnell: *about MELTS with relief* Oh thank goodness! That's exactly where I'm trying to get back to. My name's Darnell. You might have heard of my companion, Hellboy? We came at Terris's request to help strengthen the village's defenses against tervai.

Wolf: I'm afraid I've been out for the last few days. I search the area for trouble and people in need of help.

Talim: *peeks around Darnell* Oh... *awe, he's never seen anything like this creature before*

Darnell: Oh...ah...well, anyway. I'm familiar with it. How far out are we? Oh! This is my friend, Talim. He'll need sanctuary there. And...I'm sorry, your name?

Wolf: Ilmari. And about half a day walking.*will get up and make space* Please. Come in, get some rest.

Comments

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Ilmari, pleased to meet you. Talim, he's from the settlement I've been telling you about. Believe it or not, some animals can speak. They're called inriomai. He's one of them. It's okay. We're safe now. *will readily crawl in, motioning Talim in with him* I'm sorry for my initial reaction, Ilmari. I hope I didn't offend you.

[socrowdedinhere]

Ilmari: Not at all, it’s a rather common reaction a d completely understandable.
Talim: Animals usually can’t speak? *he’s not familiar with...far too much. He does obedientlh crawl into the space to curl up by Darnell.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *looks at him - what kind of a question is that??* Um, no, not usually.

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: Oh. I’ve never really seen animals until I came out here.
Ilmari: You’ll see many now. Some who can speak and some who can’t.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *nods* ((VILLAGE)) is pretty impressive. Anyway, get some sleep. We're safe here. *will settle as well*

[socrowdedinhere]

Ilmari: Very safe here.

===

*Ilmari will let his new companions sleep as late as they can*
Talim: *has snuggled up close to Darnell.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *finally wakes, sees that Ilmari is awake, and will gently wake Talim*

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: *gasps, lets go and curls up in a ball. He’s awake, don’t hit him, please!* S-sorry!

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Whoa, whoa, easy! What's wrong? You're safe. Calm down.

[socrowdedinhere]

Ilmari: *snuffles in the boy’s hair.*
Talim: *surprised flinch then peeks at them.* Huh? Oh! S-sorry. I thought I was... sorry. *glances a sheepish little smile at them as he sits up.* Everything okay?

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *can guess well enough where he thought he was, even if only generally - nods* Yup. Sleep okay? Or at least well enough?

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: Yes sir. *rubs an eye as he looks around.*
Ilmari: Can either of you start a fire? If so I can hunt you something for breakfast, if not I can help you find some roots and fruit that can be eaten raw.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *small grin* No "sir," Talim. Just Darnell. *to Ilmari* No, I'm afraid not. Fruit would be great.

[socrowdedinhere]

Ilmari: *nods* Wait here. You shouldn’t need tk stay in hising, but remain in the area so I can easily find you. I’ll be back to lead you to breakfast when I find something.
Talim: *mild flinch at the correction, nodding, then gives Ilmari a smile.* Thank you.
Ilmari: *seems to smile* My pleasure.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Thanks, Ilmari. *will follow the wolf back out from under the bush, stand and STRETCH…a-and excuse himself to duck away a bit to find someplace to relieve himself*

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: *will do the same in another direction. Not that he’s shy so much as he doesn’t like that mess close by when he can help it, and out here he can. He’s back near the bush when Darnell returns, just gazing up at the treetops and the sky he can see through the branches.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Nice out here, isn't it?

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: Yeah. I never knew there was so much green in the world. I’d seen Master’s garden a few times, but not usually for very long...

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *figures he comes from a rocky area or something - nods* Yup. It's pretty verdant and lively in this region.

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: Verdant? *looks at Darnell.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Lots of green, lots of growing things all around, very healthy and full.

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: Oh. *looks around again.* I like it out here. I never want to be trapped inside again.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: …how do you mean? *not sure he wants to try to even speculate…*

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: *hugs himself, still looking up.* Master usually didn’t let me outside. He usually kept me in his special rooms or in the recovery room. *shudders and hugs himself tighter.* It’s so big out here. It scared me at first, but I think I really like it.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *a sick feeling starting to form in his stomach* Special rooms?

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: *a haunted look crosses bos face and he curls up a bit more.* I was Master’s toy. He would hurt me in his special rooms whenever he wanted, didn’t matter how good or bad I was. Sometimes he hurt others, but usually just me. *he shifts a sleeve up to look at the scars.* He said he wanted to leave my hands and face unmarked, he didn’t want me ugly when he had guests...

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *CHOKES* T-talim! Holy smokes, that's . . . I-I'm so sorry. H-how-? *speechless*

[socrowdedinhere]

Talim: *flinches* Wh-what? What is it? *what is Darnell reacting to?!*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: What do you mean what? /You/. *catches his wrist - gently! - and pushes his sleeve back up* This! You…you know this isn't normal, right? You mean your master actually /tortured/ you!?