29th of Saun, 718.
Saun's heat had never scorched like this before, surely. Not even a cloud to temper the burn; even in the wake of last season's disaster, Faldrun's wrath still blanketed Rharne, Nir'wei thought grimly as he quickened his pace, then cursed loudly as one of his toes brushed the boiling cobblestones. Just one touch, and it felt like he'd stuck it with a fiery poker! As he sought immediate shade under the striped silk canopy of a nearby vendor to soothe the smouldering toe, he felt smug laughter ringing in his skull. "Don't worry, at least where you're going, someone will be able to bandage that." Even while mentally cursing the crude jibe, a broad smile cracked his sun-dried face. It wasn't his fault! He couldn't help it!
Ever since Greyhide's sudden announcement that he could smell wolves in the city, Nir had been excited. To hear they had a very distinct and young scent to them had confused him for a while... until the wolf had explained a little more. It wasn't just an odd scent, it was an oddly familiar one. Faith was back. Faith was back!
He just wished he'd come back sooner. His growing entourage meant he could no longer sleep in the city's inns, even those that claimed to be animal-friendly or offered him the use of their stables. His unique relationships didn't extend to the cattle of others, and his wolves had only grown more protective with time. Not to mention with the amount of mouths to feed, he had to donate a healthy portion of his time finding a suitable place with plenty of access to food and water, even if they could be trusted to take care of the rest... and even then, he could only count on most of them doing that right too. That was only part of why he'd left them all behind, save Greyhide, while he went on this special visit.
"Come on, it's just up the alley and then around the bend." He already knew where they were heading and it didn't surprise him in the least. The Order of the Adunih Outpost. One of the reasons he'd returned to Rharne in the first place. Honestly, he'd still not joined properly, as he'd intended to countless seasons ago when he'd worried about his nearing death. Now he had Isonomia to focus on instead... and even that, admittedly, he'd neglected. The land back in Rynmere, still unused. Maybe he could find somewhere in Rharne to adopt as his own? Or had she already bought a place here and beaten him to the punch? He wouldn't put it past her. Damnit, he needed to stop jumping to conclusions before he jumped straight off a cliff!
Finally stumbling through the door and catching the doorframe to pant for breath, he realised at some point he'd broken into a run without thinking about it. "Where is she?" he asked between gulps of air, flagging down the nearest blue cloak he could find with a concentrated burst of uncoordinated flailing. "I need to see--"
"She's through there, turn left, up the stairs." Of course. Everyone worth their salt knew of her now, it seemed... and, well, having spent a good few seasons of his time locked away in one of their "cozy" little treatment rooms with an now-cured incurable disease, he wasn't exactly surprised to know a choice few still knew of him too. A quick flail of thanks and he pushed onwards, quickly smoothing his dirt and sweat-stained shirt on the way before practically bursting through the nearest door and throwing a little prayer together in the hopes this was the right one. Maybe it was the heat. Dehydration? Sure, that sounded like a good excuse. "FAITH!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "FAITH, I MISSED YOU SO MU--!" He didn't even want to think why someone would want to put their hand in there, if it was a medical procedure or they just really liked each-other, but he really wasn't about to start asking questions. "Wrong room, sorry, sorry," he muttered as he backed out and slammed the door shut.
Saun's heat had never scorched like this before, surely. Not even a cloud to temper the burn; even in the wake of last season's disaster, Faldrun's wrath still blanketed Rharne, Nir'wei thought grimly as he quickened his pace, then cursed loudly as one of his toes brushed the boiling cobblestones. Just one touch, and it felt like he'd stuck it with a fiery poker! As he sought immediate shade under the striped silk canopy of a nearby vendor to soothe the smouldering toe, he felt smug laughter ringing in his skull. "Don't worry, at least where you're going, someone will be able to bandage that." Even while mentally cursing the crude jibe, a broad smile cracked his sun-dried face. It wasn't his fault! He couldn't help it!
Ever since Greyhide's sudden announcement that he could smell wolves in the city, Nir had been excited. To hear they had a very distinct and young scent to them had confused him for a while... until the wolf had explained a little more. It wasn't just an odd scent, it was an oddly familiar one. Faith was back. Faith was back!
He just wished he'd come back sooner. His growing entourage meant he could no longer sleep in the city's inns, even those that claimed to be animal-friendly or offered him the use of their stables. His unique relationships didn't extend to the cattle of others, and his wolves had only grown more protective with time. Not to mention with the amount of mouths to feed, he had to donate a healthy portion of his time finding a suitable place with plenty of access to food and water, even if they could be trusted to take care of the rest... and even then, he could only count on most of them doing that right too. That was only part of why he'd left them all behind, save Greyhide, while he went on this special visit.
"Come on, it's just up the alley and then around the bend." He already knew where they were heading and it didn't surprise him in the least. The Order of the Adunih Outpost. One of the reasons he'd returned to Rharne in the first place. Honestly, he'd still not joined properly, as he'd intended to countless seasons ago when he'd worried about his nearing death. Now he had Isonomia to focus on instead... and even that, admittedly, he'd neglected. The land back in Rynmere, still unused. Maybe he could find somewhere in Rharne to adopt as his own? Or had she already bought a place here and beaten him to the punch? He wouldn't put it past her. Damnit, he needed to stop jumping to conclusions before he jumped straight off a cliff!
Finally stumbling through the door and catching the doorframe to pant for breath, he realised at some point he'd broken into a run without thinking about it. "Where is she?" he asked between gulps of air, flagging down the nearest blue cloak he could find with a concentrated burst of uncoordinated flailing. "I need to see--"
"She's through there, turn left, up the stairs." Of course. Everyone worth their salt knew of her now, it seemed... and, well, having spent a good few seasons of his time locked away in one of their "cozy" little treatment rooms with an now-cured incurable disease, he wasn't exactly surprised to know a choice few still knew of him too. A quick flail of thanks and he pushed onwards, quickly smoothing his dirt and sweat-stained shirt on the way before practically bursting through the nearest door and throwing a little prayer together in the hopes this was the right one. Maybe it was the heat. Dehydration? Sure, that sounded like a good excuse. "FAITH!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. "FAITH, I MISSED YOU SO MU--!" He didn't even want to think why someone would want to put their hand in there, if it was a medical procedure or they just really liked each-other, but he really wasn't about to start asking questions. "Wrong room, sorry, sorry," he muttered as he backed out and slammed the door shut.