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Hejira: Crystalline Hall

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 03: On The Road To Ravenswood

The four walk down the path, noticing the lack of any real interesting scenery. The trees all look the same, as does the grass. They have only seen humans, and only spoken to one. None of them talk as they hike down the path at a steady pace. They are all deep in thought, though some more than others. The trees creep ever closer to them as they move further down the path. Soon, they are underneath a dense canopy of leaves. They rustle and shift as the wind blows gently overhead. The sound is rather comforting to Faye and Gareth, though Kelly and Naomi seem less effected.

They walk for several hours before taking their first break. Unsure of how far Ravenswood is, they don't want to take the chance of being caught out in the wilderness at night. They sit for fifteen minutes, snacking on the dried food in the satchel, which consists of dried cherries, apple slices and strips of jerky that has a decidedly gamey taste. Gareth takes a drink from his canteen and stares towards the path.

“Is something on your mind?" Naomi asks him.

Gareth turns back to her and slowly shakes his head 'no' before looking back to the road. He stands up, resting his hand on Vetra's grip. He brings his wrist up to his chest and looks at his watch. The time is clearly wrong in this location, but at this point he is only using it to measure their breaks and keep track of their hikes. The others get up and put away their supplies, adjusting their packs and preparing for another long walk.

The walk down the trail as it begins to curve, winding through the forest in sharp and confusing turns. After over an hour of navigating the trail, they hear a sound in the distance. It sounds like faint voices. They move with considerable vigor, the hope of encounter more friendly people boosting their energy. They rush towards the voices as they begin to make out what they are saying to each other.

“You already have the pack. Just let me go." A feminine voice pleads.

“I think we might need more than that pack." A gruff male voice replies.

Gareth draws Vetra from her holster and takes a strong two-handed grip on the pistol. Kelly takes out his own pistol from his holster as the two move around another sharp bend in the trail. Barely ten meters away stands three men in what appears to be armor made of plates of hard brown leather. Two of them hold bows at a figure that stands between them; they are unable to see who the intended victim is. Hearing the noise, one of the bowmen and the leader, armed with only a small bronze dagger, turn and face the two men.

“Drop the… Bow!" Gareth says to the thief, pointing Vetra at him.

The bowmen haven't drawn their arrows, but Gareth places his finger over the trigger regardless. Kelly flips off the safety on his 1911, having chambered a round earlier and leaving the hammer pulled back; he prefers to carry his sidearm in Condition One. The robbers don't seem to realize that their two adversaries are holding weapons.

“Oh good! More victims. Hand over whatever those are and any supplies you are carrying." The leader demands confidently.

Kelly and Gareth look to each other, and can't help but chuckle. Gareth looks back to the men and shakes his head 'no'. The bowman to his left begins to draw and Gareth impulsively pulls the trigger. The gunshot echoes, startling everyone, including Gareth who had never fired without ear plugs before. A round flies out of Vetra's muzzle, striking the bowman in the right shoulder. He falls back and cries out in pain as he drops the bow. Their ears ring for a split second and Gareth's hand trembles.

“Oh shit…" Gareth mutters.

The leader takes up the bow from the ground as Gareth suddenly aims at him as well. Kelly places his finger on the trigger of his pistol as the ne'er-do-wells suddenly turn and run to the right side of the trail, heading for the woods. Gareth suddenly experiences a massive boost in his confidence, and can't help but taunt the feeling thugs, despite his trembling hands.

“Where you going?! Don't you ignore me! This is a perfectly good moment to throw your life away!" Gareth shouts at them.

“Did you just reference The Boondocks?" Kelly asks.

“Yeah… I never had to shoot anyone before…" Gareth says, visibly shaken and trembling. “I've never even aimed a person…"

“Well, good job." Faye says.

He lowers Vetra to his side and clenches his fists tightly. His knuckles turn white as he squeezes Vetra's grip. He takes a deep breath and turns to the woman being robbed. To everyone's amazement, she is Sahvorai, exactly as described by Casius. Gareth looks at her as she stares back at him. He snaps himself out of his daze and takes a step towards her. Faye reaches out to stop him, but he pulls away.

“Hey there... It's alright. I'm not going to hurt you." Gareth says to the girl.

He reaches down to a primitive looking backpack that seems to be made out of animal hide, complete with fur on the exterior, and shoulder straps of thick, dark brown leather. It's roughly the same size as his and Faye's musette bags. He lifts the pack and takes another step closer as the girl backs away. He sets the pack down in front of him and backs away from it.

“This is yours, right?" Gareth asks her.

She stands there silent, staring cautiously at the four strangers. She slowly nods in response. She has the appearance of a humanoid feline, standing about five feet and four inches tall on digitigrade feet with four toes tipped with round and pointy claws. Her long tail hangs a few inches above the ground and sways slowly. She has a slender but athletic build, and from a glance, Gareth would guess her weight at about one-hundred and ten, or fifteen pounds.

“It's yours." Gareth says as he steps away from her pack.

He watches her as she carefully approaches the pack on the ground, quickly snatching it up and backing away again. Her body is covered in short, tan and white fur with a two-tone tuxedo pattern. Her large feline ears have white borders but are primarily tan, and her short snout has white fur, with a tan face. She has a pink nose, but no whiskers on her snout. Her feet and hands have white fur just past the wrists and ankles, and she has white fur on the tip of her tail, and on her exposed midriff.

She wears a dark brown leather top that can only be described as a breast plate. It begins at the base of her neck, where it seems to tie together with cordage just behind her. The top has a distinct triangular shape, widening as it covers her breasts, and tucks underneath them, with cordage tying it together at her mid-back. He can't help but notice her smaller B-cup bust and attractive hourglass figure, with a slender waist, and wider hips.

She shifts as she steps back and puts on her pack. She wears a medium length brown leather skirt, and Gareth can see that it ties both above and below her tail as she turns her body. Her wheat gold hair is kept in a high ponytail and she stares back at him with beautiful golden eyes. Long bangs seem to fall before her eyes, vaguely shrouding them. The wind blows and rustles the leaves as she quickly turns her head, shaking her bangs from her face.

“It's okay. We're not going to hurt you." Gareth repeats in a soft voice as he steps closer. “My name is Gareth."

The girl's eyes rush down to Vetra, still planted firmly in his left hand. Gareth looks down at his prized sidearm and thinks for a moment. Lifting up his hand he shifts the pistol, holding Vetra by her side. He presents the pistol to the girl, as though offering it as a gift. The others look on in shock, as does the girl. Her mouth drops open at the offer. Her teeth gleam a pearl white, and seem omnivorous, much like a human's. Her canines, however, are considerably larger and pronounced, like the fangs of a cat.

She looks at the pistol, but doesn't take it, or even move from her place. After a short pause, Gareth holsters his pistol, and they stand there, staring at each other.

“Kahlera…" The girl suddenly says.

“Kah-Le-Ra…" Gareth repeats slowly. “That's a nice name. This is my brother Kelly, and my sisters Faye and Naomi." Gareth introduces his party.

“Thank you… For helping me." Kahlera says, lowering her head in a respectful bow.

“Anytime." Gareth smiles.

Kahlera is surprised by how friendly Gareth is. She isn't used to positive encounters with humans. This is the first that she can remember.

“Well, I have to go." Kahlera suddenly says.

She turns and dashes swiftly into the woods to the left of the trail, running in the opposite direction as her attackers. Gareth and the others barely have time to react. Gareth watches the bushes shake behind her as Kahlera disappears, and sighs.

“Damn…" Gareth mutters.

“It's okay Gary." Faye steps up beside him.

“Huh?" He looks back at her.

“Yeah, I bet there's plenty more cat girls in the forest." Kelly smirks.

“Shut up." Gareth mutters.

Gareth reaches down and collects his spent shell casing, slipping it into a large pocket on the upper leg of his pants. The group resumes walking as Kelly and Faye both share a laugh, and tease him about Kahlera for the next few minutes. Gareth walks in silence as they rip on him.

“Is she going to be the girl that got away?" Faye taunts.

“I can draw you a nice 'lost pet' poster to stick on some trees." Kelly teases.

“I don't think I have any catnip on me…" Faye adds.

“We can always go back and follow her. Maybe we'll find her up a tree somewhere." Kelly snickers.

“Yeah… She was cute as hell." Gareth admits with a grin.

After walking for several more hours and following the winding trail, the forest becomes less dense. Soon, they exit and see a long, straight path the leads for several miles. In the distance, they can see walls, and what look like a few multi-story buildings behind them. They eagerly hike the trail as they close the distance. The settlement's walls appear to stretch to the forest on either side, appearing like a dam of civilization, centered in a valley of dense forest.

The trial moves over several hills which regularly reveal and then obstruct the view of the wall. The trail curves and leads to a large opening. There, sitting down by a rock is Kahlera, staring into the shadow and looking at the city gates. The group approaches as Kahlera notices them from the corner of her eye. She turns and stands, as though prepared to run, but seems to relax as she sees the four humans from earlier.

“Oh… It is you…" Kahlera says in a dry monotone.

“Don't look so excited." Gareth jokes.

Standing near her, they turn and look toward the gates of wood, reinforced with iron strips. It appears medieval. A sign is posted above the gates. The strange letters quickly morph into English, which reads 'Ravenswood'.

“You aren't going inside?" Gareth asks.

“I cannot. This settlement does not allow Sahvorai. They already turned me away." Kahlera replies.

“Seriously?!" Gareth seems genuinely offended.

Kahlera seems confused by his frustration. She doesn't understand why he would even care.

“So what brought you here, anyway?" Faye asks Kahlera.

“Looking for something…" Kahlera answers sharply.

Faye raises up her hands defensively, and turns away from Kahlera. Faye and Kelly approach the gate as Naomi stands near Gareth.

“Well it was nice to see you again." Gareth says to her in a gentle voice.

“Too bad I cannot say the same…" Kahlera grumbles.

“Ouch… Rejected." Kelly murmurs to Faye.

Gareth lowers his head and gently shakes it, chuckling as he does. Kahlera is confused and looks closer at Gareth. Her mistrust is not without cause; She has never met a good human before. He looks back up to her and she leans back away.

“What do I have to do to prove to you that I'm friendly?" Gareth bluntly asks her.

Kahlera pauses to think, tapping the short claw of her right index finger against her bottom lip.

“Hmm… There is one thing." She begins.

“What's that?" Gareth asks.

“There is a medicinal herb that my tribe needs. It only grows in the southern region. I came down here from the north to collect it, among others, but I haven't been able to find it on my own. If you can find some inside this village, I will begin to trust you." Kahlera explains.

“And how will I find you once I have it. Are you just going to wait here?" Gareth asks.

“No. I'll move around and to the north end of the village. You can exit the other side and present them to me." She answers him.

“Alright. It's a deal." Gareth replies.

Kahlera briefly described the herb's size, shape and color. She purposefully describes one of the most rare herbs. Gareth turns and walks away with Naomi, entering the gate that was only recently opened by the gatekeeper.

“Idiot…" Kahlera thinks to herself. “That should be the last I see of him."

They step through the opening as the gatekeeper closes and latches it behind them. Kahlera quickly turns and darts alongside the wall, disappearing into the forest. Once inside Ravenswood, Gareth promptly abandons the others.

“What's with him?" Faye comments as she looks back to Kelly and Naomi.

“I suppose he is trying to find the herb that Kahlera asked for." Naomi answers.

“What?" Kelly raises an eyebrow.

“He asked Kahlera if there was anything he could do to earn her trust. She asked for a medicinal herb." Naomi explains.

“Are you fucking serious?!" Faye growls angrily.

“Let's just leave him alone for now. We can do what we need to do and he can go pick flowers for that pussy… Cat…" Kelly says, looking back to Naomi.

“Fine. Whatever." Faye comments.

“What do we need to do here?" Naomi asks.

“Good question…" Kelly shrugs.

The remaining three ferret around for details about the rumored Crystallin Hall, effectively wandering from stranger to stranger and questioning them about it. They stop into a tavern and hear a young male bard singing. They approach the barkeep, an older looking woman with salt and pepper hair pulled into a bun.

“You're newcomers, aren't ya'?" She asks.

“How could you tell?" Faye asks sarcastically.

The barkeep chuckles and strikes up a conversation with them. The bard finishes his song and overhears the strangers talking to the barkeep about the fabled Crystalline Hall. The bard quickly approaches them and claims to know roughly where it is, from an old folk song that he often sings. To their surprise, he immediately tells the others the location, without singing or asking for payment.

“You don't want anything for this information?" Faye asks in surprise.

“No." The bard answers with a pleasant smile.

“That does not benefit you." Naomi points out.

“Actually, it does. Newcomers always stir the pot when they get here. It's really annoying. Most people who rush off to find the Crystalline Hall never come back. You're doing me a favor." He answers honestly before walking away from the three.

“What a nice man…" Kelly says facetiously.

Meanwhile, Gareth finds a shop with a familiar icon on the sign. He opens the door and steps under the sign of a mortar and pestle carved into a large chunk of wood. He looks around the shop, amazed by the variety of flowers, herbs, and spices that line the walls. Glass jars of dried flora, and living plants in small pots are everywhere. His sinuses quickly begin to burn from the intense aroma within the building.

“May I help you find something?" The middle-aged male apothecary asks him.

“I hope so. I'm looking for a particular herb." Gareth replies, walking up to the counter.

“I'm certain I can." The apothecary says confidently.

Gareth describes the plant almost verbatim, and the apothecary immediately walks around the counter towards a small section in the back corner of the building.

“This is the only plant that would match that description. It is exceptionally rare." He tells Gareth.

“Wow. It looks just like Nirnroot." Gareth chuckles.

“What-root?" The apothecary seems confused.

“Nothing. What are you asking for it?" Gareth replies.

The apothecary takes a single pot with several plants inside of it, pulling it away from the others on the shelf. He walks back to his counter and asks Gareth what he has to trade. Gareth, already forgetting about the coins that Casius gave them, begins listing off his supplies, carefully omitting the gear that is too valuable or necessary to part with.

The apothecary takes an interest in Gareth's small collection of knives. Gareth shows him his three knives that he is willing to part with, keeping his large recurved knife and Kukri for himself. The other three knifes, a small skinner with bone grips, a fileting knife that looks like a miniature bowie with wooden grips, and a larger skinner with wooden grips. All of the knives are carbon steel, with the exception of the final knife, which is stainless steel.

The apothecary seems very interested in the fileting knife, admiring its small size, comfortable handle and usefulness. He is even more amazed that it is genuine steel.

“Is steel good?" Gareth asks in surprise.

“Steel is very rare here. Pure iron ore is exceptionally difficult to come across, and most tools, weapons, and armor are made from bronze, and occasionally iron." The apothecary explains.

Gareth barters with him for Kahlera's herb. The apothecary takes the knife, but surprises Gareth with his honesty. He provides a small pouch with several dozen seeds for the same plant.

“This knife is worth more than just those plants alone. Trust me." The apothecary replies.

With a handshake, they make the deal and Gareth lovingly packs away Kahlera's supplies. The seed pouch he places into a pocket, while he carefully wraps the herbs in a cloth and gently slips it into his pack. He heads outside and looks for his friends, only to see them standing in front of a shop. Without seeing him, they head inside. Gareth wonders if they are looking for him. He quickly follows behind them, entering the shop. It is a clothier.

He looks around for his friends, but the aisles are tall and packed with assorted clothes. A woman suddenly steps out of nowhere, startling Gareth.

“You must be a newcomer!" She exclaims. “Oh, but these clothes will never do! Unnatural materials will fall apart quickly here." She says.

The somewhat heavy-set woman, who looks to be in her mid-thirties, grabs him by the strap of his pack and drags him down the aisle. She looks through a collection of leather boots as Gareth looks around, exceptionally confused.

“Somebody. I'm being assaulted by a saleswoman." Gareth says as he looks around.

“Just tell her no means no, sometimes." Kelly answers as he steps around a corner, holding a pair of boots.

The woman sizes Gareth's feet at a glance and sets some boots aside.

“Yes sir. Must protect your feet!" She says as she gathers the groups clothes. Gareth is suddenly drawn to an article that hangs on the wall. He approaches the dark brown leather vest and admires it. It has a considerable number of pockets of varying sizes that all have flap covers and close with stitched buttons that fit through small slits on the flaps. He touches the vest and notes how soft and pliable the leather is. The back is adjustable with a stitched leather strap that has a brass buckle.

“I need this…" Gareth says quietly to himself.

Taking the vest from the wall, he approaches the counter where the other three are standing. Kelly and Naomi immediately trade their hiking shoes and dress boots respectively, opting to wear the newer leather boots from the shop. Faye and Gareth both decide to hold onto the new boots, and keep using their hiking boots. When asked for payment, the others look to Gareth.

“What?" Gareth asks.

“The coins…" Kelly says after a short pause.

“Oh! Right!" Gareth replies. “Damn… I probably could've kept that knife." He mutters as he takes out the coins from his pocket.

“Casius was always so generous." The clothier says as she takes the proper payment, leaving the rest of the coins in Gareth's hand.

“I better hold onto those…" Kelly says, taking the remaining coins.

“Whatever." Gareth replies, picking up the boots and carefully squeezing them into his pack, next to the herbs.

The group walks back outside and looks up at the sky, noting the height of the sun as it moves to the east.

“Do you think we should keep walking?" Kelly asks.

“Might as well make tracks while we have daylight. We can set up camp before it gets dark." Faye replies.

“Or we can rent a room here." Naomi offers.

“I like that plan. Let's do that." Kelly says.

“We probably should keep moving." Gareth comments.

“Hundreds of miles aren't going to walk themselves." Faye smirks.

She brushes past Kelly as she takes the lead, heading for the north gate of the city. Naomi, Kelly and Gareth follow close behind. The gatekeeper unlatches the gate and slowly pulls the large door open, presenting the northern path to the four.