FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Confronted Again

Getting back proves to be a little more challenging than I had originally expected. I haven't ever really had the need to learn how to navigate through a town before, let alone along the rooftops. And of course being unable to read in this language doesn't help. If only I had paid attention to where I was going rather than try to find a good spot to search. Nor can it be done with magic. I didn't think to mark my stuff with magic so that I could simply find it again easily before I left, being too intent on getting out of that area. And there are simply too many people here to try and single out Hashal from the rest.

And finally whatever these rooftops are made of is really terrible at retaining scents so I can't really track my own scent backwards all that well. But I'm able to get by and eventually find the building again. I do this by the fact that though I don't know the exact way back I do know the general direction that I had come from and using this I am able to follow in that direction and then check each side of the building to get a sense of which area smells the most familiar and go that way. It does work since after a little while of doing this I come across Hashal's scent. Taking the risk of running into someone that would make my blood burn without being able to tell who as well as have to deal with those kids again I find a nice safe spot and drop down to the ground before following Hashal's scent the rest of the way to that musty old building. He's still in there, of course; still seeming to be playing around with those papers and seemingly completely fine with the reek of this place.

"Can we go yet? I'm hungry," I complain at him, knowing that I don't have any currency for this place and not really feeling like stealing. Money isn't a big thing where I grew up, but I was taught well and know the ways of money since it helps to be prepared when off to face your own death.

"Did you find any of the ones you were looking for?"

"No, and you're dodging the question. Can we go now?"

"I'm almost done. Just be patient. It won't kill you to wait a few more minutes."

I don't really respond but instead simply scowl at him a moment for his poor choice in words, especially since he knows I'm trying to stop my own death.

"Oh, don't give me that look. You said it yourself, it means within the year you'll die. If you haven't been able to find a single one then it's very unlikely that your death will be anywhere in this town. So waiting an extra ten minutes in this town isn't as big a deal. And you bugging me isn't going to make me work any faster. So if you need to just wait outside for a few more minutes and I'll be out shortly, okay?"

I grumble a complaint but obey, deciding to grab my stuff and take it out of here so that I don't have to deal with the stench of this place again. And unfortunately when I step out again to get some fresh air I find myself greeted by Rophan.

"So you are here. I had asked a few people and they had told me that you had been in this area. Why did you attack me earlier?" He demands.

"Because I believe you are going to try and kill me," I confess, putting my pack back down so that I can move more unrestricted.

"But I would never hurt you. To even think of hurting a fae is sacrilege."

"But I'm not a fae. I've told you that already. The only reason you're following me is that your team told you to, right?"

"It was more than a dream. It was a vision powered by taking advantage of the magic of the Draaknei's blood to counter my own lack it."

"But unless you haven't told me everything, your dream only told you that your destiny would be found by following the person you saw in that clearing, correct?" I ask, trying to herd him away from the building as best I can.

"Well, yeah. That's more or less it."

"Just because your destiny is to be found by following me. Beyond that there is nothing to say how that'll affect your destiny. It is as likely to be that your destiny is to try and kill me as it is to help me. I can't be certain which of these your little dream will want you to do but my instincts say that you are dangerous to me and that you will try to kill me in the end. So please, take the hint and leave me alone. I don't want to have to spend the rest of my life afraid that you will show up with a dagger in hand aimed at my heart."

The notion that I might be concerned that he may wish me harm apparently comes as a shock to him as his arms raise and his mouth opens as if to respond but no sound comes forth.

"Take this as the hint it's intended to be and leave me alone. Go find your destiny somewhere else. Anaelin."

I don't hit him hard with my scythe as I don't need him knocked out. I just want to get the point across. I then bind him with a spell, again choosing a weaker one since I don't need him to be completely incapacitated; just out of the way long enough that by the time he's gotten out of it we'll be on the other side of town, if not gone already. I then go through the courtesy of moving him out of the way so that he won't be trampled on. I then make sure to put my Anaelin away as I can hear Hashal coming and don't want to alarm him.

"Ready to go?" he asks as he steps out.

"Yes, please," I reply, trying to sound as impatient as possible as I put my pack back on.