I was in a tree in a small forest somewhere near the main road but it wasn't visible from here. I was crouched on a low hanging branch over looking a small clearing in the bushes. I was shirtless other than for the blood stained spots on my bandages, and I had my knife and gun out.
My jacket and pack is leaning near a tree somewhere nearby.
When I was traveling I ran out of food shortly after Weyville so I've been having to hunt and right now my prey or target is whatever the hell comes under my tree. After a few moments I noticed a bush rustling below me, I held my knife harder and I aimed my gun at the bush. A white rabbit slowly hopped into the clearing investigating flowers and other natural delicacies. I kept my sights on the rabbit at all times and when it stopped to start nibbling on a violet flower I decided to strike.
I dropped down on top of the rabbit to try and sink my knife into it but the rabbit moved to fast and I missed. The rabbit ran for a little more till I fired my gun and it tripped and couldn't get up. I walked over to the rabbit with my paws feeling sore along with my leg and side aching even more. It was breathing fast and it was on its side showing me a blood stained part of its fur. I crouched and put my claw near its breathing chest to feel its lightning fast heartbeat. I retracted my claw and as it stared at me with either pleading or innocent eyes, I plunged the single edges blade into its throat to silence it and give it a un agonizing death.
I thought "I could have done better a shot through the lungs or spine, hell the heart would have been best but my aim had to be off".I grabbed the rabbit carcass and walked back over to my stuff to skin the rabbit and eat it since I have nothing else. When I got back to my gear I dropped the rabbit and began making the fire. I didn't light the fire immediately I just set it up since I'm not going to need it until I get the rabbits fur cut off. I looked at the rabbit with my knife and slowly from the bottom to head start skinning it.
I started noticing masts shortly after I began traveling this morning and now I actually see the town. It looked like most other port town with multiple ships of different sizes and roles. Nothing really distinguished it other than that the town was the busiest town that I've come across in this world. That is if all the moving figures of different sizes are people then it is no questions asked. the town also seemed to be mostly port since a lot of ground near the coast seemed to be made out of wood.
I entered town after a few minutes feeling my wounds even after a few days still ached as I continued in. It was odd going into this town I felt off even though most might think I love these towns since it often has sailors with no language control and alcoholics that drink when they hit land. But honestly I don't like the lack of self control these people have but that kind of adds charm to places like these.
I walked through the town not noticing anyone as I walked to the ships. When I hit the docks I looked up to see a boat in front of me. The boat had hatches on the side but there wasn't anything sticking out like cannons or oars.
"Like what you see". I visibly jumped away from the voice and looked to see a under shell similar to turtles. I then looked up to see a face similar to a snapping turtle but green and blue with spikes at the back of it's head. It waved at me with its eyes closed, head nodding to the left.
"Did I just hear a turtle talk and am I seeing one right now walking on two legs and waving at me".I had my arms in front of my chest in a frightened manner as I leaned away. It opened it's eyes to see me and was somewhat concerned I think.
"You ever seen a Khamega before you um... landlubber I guess". I dropped my arms from my chest and began staring for an unknown amount of time. I was lost in my thoughts as I tried fathoming the fact that I'm talking to a giant turtle and I met a turtle back at Weyville that couldn't do what this... Khamega was doing at all. I noticed during my staring that it decided to put on a blue cap that looked like a captains hat.
The turtle was talking I think, and it waved it's hand in front of me slowly, I followed it with no issues. The Khamega then decided to pat my side with the gash that made me visibly cringe in pain and pull my out of my stupor or shock. It said" Well you seem to be ok now but why were you like that, first time seeing a Khamega before".
I responded to him slowly" Um yeah I've never seen a giant walking, talking turtle before and you kind of surprised me a little bit hope you don't take that badly". It laughed a little bit and patted me softly on the shoulder. I backed away slightly from the close contact.
"Huh it's fine I've met a few people who had a similar reaction now what brings you here". I thought about why I was here and found that I didn't have a great reason but that I could talk about that later with myself. Right now I wanted to know if it was a guy.
"I wanted to ask you something first are you a guy and what distinguishes your gender since I've met quite a few species and I have no books to avoid this question". I hated asking this awkward as hell question but I couldn't tell it's gender even though it kind of sounds like a guy. He looked at me for a second but luckily enlightened me.
"If you never seen or heard of us which I'm guessing so since your asking this I will tell you. I'm a guy and my name is Samuel and to answer your other question you can mainly tell by the fact that if we have or don't have spikes, females don't have spikes". He turned around to show me his mainly brown shell that had white spikes poking out of it and a anchor painted on with bright yellow paint. He turned back around and asked me" Now why are you staring at my ship".
"Not really sure it just kind of caught my eye". I began walking away from Samuel and his boat seeing as we probably don't need to talk more and I need to get my supplies so I can begin traveling whenever I can. I walked around the town looking at shops, homes, and anything else that might be important like posters and signs. People would just give me occasional glances as I walked the streets but eventually I found a trade shop.
I entered the trade shop noticing a distinct lack of souls around. I looked over to the counter that was to my left and noticed there wasn't anyone manning it. Shrugging I began walking around the shop collecting items I need like matches, food, and bandages. I also found a book called "Creatures of Medius" that I picked up since it was cheap and I lacked the knowledge of what was bad and what was death. I walked back over to the counter and placed all my items on the counter and rang the bell that was on it.
After a minute of waiting I began ringing it again until I was stopped by a shout" Hold your horses I'm coming". Then I saw a Khamega that looked greyer and seemingly older due to the wrinkles I'm seeing.
"Is this all"? He asked and I simply nodded in reply. He began counting everything and while he was doing that I started asking him a few questions.
"Hey is there a Inn or something nearby"? He looked at me a second but continued adding up. Eventually he finished and gave me an answer.
"There is one but it is currently filled and the total is five silver and three copper". I looked at him somewhat defeated and I paid the turtle then began collecting my items to begin storing in my pack. He looked at me as I put away all my items but stopped me when I began exiting.
"Hey your new in town right"? I looked back at him.
I replied" Its that obvious". He nodded and I sighed.
"Yeah it is and I don't remember a bird man living in town but yeah the Inn is closed due to everyone on the ships coming from the Dragon Archipelago and it is unlikely for any room to be open until about a week from now". I looked at him and nodded but decided to ask more questions.
"Where's the dragon archipelago um...sir"? He took notice at my pause but didn't think much of it.
"It is the main destination for most ships here in town so its easy to find and it is on every map". I looked through my pack to collect my map and noticed it didn't show anything like islands.
"My map doesn't have them". I showed it to the turtle and he looked at it for a moment before responding.
"Your map is about ten years old and it is a land map if you want a replacement it's free since if you have a out of date map you won't like the mountains if you go there".
"Yeah could I get one before I leave". He looked under the desk to pull out a map that showed a map of Medius in much greater detail. I picked it up and waved the Khamega good bye while I was examining the map. Which apparently had a place called Hill la Hill, I can only imagine the people started running out of names. I stopped in the middle of the street watching the sunset over the ocean.
"I wonder where I'm staying tonight since the inns full".I looked around town for a place that might seem comfortable but I didn't find anything that stood out. So I decided to take my search toward the docks to see if there might be someplace remotely comfortable that wasn't in the cargo hold of a ship. Eventually I found a wooden bench that was looking toward the ocean, unfortunately it was two feet away from the edge which didn't have a rail, But it was the only thing that could remotely keep me dry if it rained.
So reluctantly I put my items on the bench and sat down while taking my coat off. I looked at my shirt and saw that it had a big tear where I got shot at with the arrow and it was also stained with blood at that area. The blood stains were shaped like my claws and the gash area looked like a puddle.
"That won't be coming out anytime soon and I don't have anything to sew up the tear. Huh I guess I need to get a sewing kit next but I need to start making money again I haven't made a sale for two or is it three weeks. I don't have a clue after all every day just feels the same".I drooped my head and sat there for several minutes waiting for the moons to come out and shine.
My stomach growled shortly after the moons started appearing and I began settling there for tonight. I took awhile for me to fall asleep under the bench, but I eventually did fall asleep and I regretted the dream I got.
I was in a snow covered alley. I was in my jacket that I have still to this day though less worn and patchy, I was covering myself with it as much as possible since I was freezing to the bone out here. It was my first winter alone and my first as an adult you could say since I just turned twenty one but no celebration was made that night.
I was sitting there in the freezing cold trying to deal with it as much as I could until one of the doors in the alley opened to reveal a griffon lady wearing a equally as thick coat. She started beckoning me inside but I sat there pretending to not notice her as the wind began picking up. Eventually she came outside and yelled at me.
"What the hell are you doing out here do you want to die"! I didn't say anything I just made the shoo motion but she continued to hold her ground .
"I'm offering you shelter just take it for crying out loud"! I just sat there and waited for her to eventually leave but she didn't at all.
I finally responded to her" Just go back to your home I don't need it". I was quiet but she clearly heard me since she continued to argue with me.
"Don't need it look at yourself your shaking like crazy and I checked the temperature its like ten degrees out and it's just getting worse". She stopped talking and she was probably expecting an answer but none came. She eventually got fed up and tried to drag me to shelter but I didn't budge. I began started getting annoyed so I got up and began walking away from the alley and the women no matter how loud she shouted.
That winter was a very cold and lonely one.