Jahi

Things were quiet here, much more so than he had expected. In the years since his departure, the lands had changed wildly and unforeseen. While he wasn't adverse to change, he couldn't say he agreed with this trail, to say the least. The once somewhat balanced and segregated lands had become a warzone in his balance, in family slain in the process and the lands he had once called home seized by their continental neighbors. Likewise had those of the vampiric blood arisen to power, humans cast aside from what was once their own country. The Red Queen, as she was now known, had barely made her way to the throne when he had been shipped off over seas on a fevered chase for his lord. Vufrien had been hale and whole.

Perhaps the unease of their situation was what caused him to find the almost peaceful surroundings so off-putting. His nerves, his paranoia didn't afford him to rest so easily as some of those who made their lives here now. Maybe it was the knowing, or the not knowing that ate away at him as he poised against the building in the shade it cast. The space between thumb and index rested under his jaw while the calloused pad of his thumb rubbed slowly against his chin in musing. He'd taken up the mantle of a guard for now, a temporary regalia that he'd assumed since their mad traverse from the docks of Kaisermont. From the impression he'd gleaned of Sanctuary, it was to be a purely human settlement. Tucked far within the mountains, away from prying eyes of the blood crazed overlord's and offering independence to those who didn't seek the protection of lycans. Eventually, the price of that temporary safety would come with the flames of war.

But this was simply a massacre waiting to happen in its current state.

"-so much, Mr. Reade." The vocals dripped across his senses and drew his attention, light hair slipping over his gaze as he turned it towards the pair. Thumb stilled in its movement as he watched their waltz, sharp in its observations. "O-Only because you're a great teacher." She loved to dance, a striking thing he had noted right away from their very first encounter. That's why he kept his silence, and his distance despite the vague glower he had unknowingly and bitterly affixed. He shook his head slightly, arm slipping away from its idle pose as instead he turned.

For now, he'd survey the perimeter of the settlement, a decision made as he hefted the heavy scabbard of his great sword over his shoulder, along with his usual rucksack of supplies. If he was lucky, he'd find no real disturbances or threats and he would return with a bounty of meats and furs. While other hunters were certainly abound in the area, he had a certain advantage over them. These were the inclinations he turned to instead. He had no love or eye for the more delicate of arts, and he certainly didn't want to think of Mr. Reade. A dangerous past time, really. 

Jahi

He was dimly aware of footfalls behind him, though he paid them little mind until the pinch at his hip. A scowl fixed itself to his features as he turned sharply to look at the aggressor, finding no other than the lithe dancer hastily retreating from his side, the blind one at that. A cheap, dirty trick. "Leaving your wife again, hm?" Her words chastised lightly, and he tilted his head slightly, arms crossing over the breadth of his chest as he peered down at her mischievous expression. He still wasn't certain if she had become familiar with the term, or merely jesting as he never used it over her. "Tsk tsk. She might get lonely without you, you know."

His stare shifted beyond her, back towards the square she had been instructing in. Where her last student still hovered in what seemed uncertainty. "Seems as though someone would be glad to keep you company." He made the observation lightly. He didn't know why the fellow seemed to follow him with his deeply furrowed brow and astute observation as if he were a blight upon his garden. As far as he was aware, he'd given none here reason to suspect him for anything, though perhaps his distance was what made them suspicious in the end. Many had grown relaxed with his company. He'd heard them note him as different and strange, but they no longer seemed to watch him over their shoulder to ensure he departed a room. The aid of his skills had added value to that claim of trustworthiness as well, but this one...

He allowed a sigh to leave him as he shook his head slightly. He had his doubts the man held recognition for him, but maybe he was wrong. If he did recall him at all, well. That may be a problem for him staying here. "The settlement seems to be getting along well." He shifted the topic after a moment, uncertainty lingering upon his tongue. She often pressed him for conversation, not uncomfortably so, but in the same breath far more than what he had ever been accustomed to giving. "Anything in particular people seem to need?" She was here much more than he, and far more involved in the affairs of the town folk. She enjoyed their company, from what he had seen. New faces, fresh and in need of her jovial, warm spirit. While she had seemed to favor the sea before, he hoped that she could be just as at home here, eventually. While the waves rocked the shores of Kaisermont, so too did the impended knocking of Crue's iron fist. The land she had come from had become far too hazardous for her liking, and upon escape his own homeland, once stable and as formidable as their mountainous surroundings had crumbled in his absence. Though he supposed that even the stone that built Vufrien was as susceptible to weathering and erosion as any other.

But he wouldn't see her in chains. She'd been the first aside from his father's contact to treat him like a real person. The first he knew had been in genuine and not some forced tradition for whatever reason. While there was a fondness for the bejeweled noble, he was... eccentric in some ways. Especially his love of glimmering gold and the finer things in life. he wasn't sure how she personally felt towards riches, though she seemed far more content in the dancing hall and in the tiny cottage tucked away in the woods than in the lavish of her father's mansion. She had felt like a prisoner to the dainty grandeur. Regardless, hers was a kindness he wouldn't see wasted or become cold and empty. "Do you need anything? Want anything?" He settled alas, knowing well that she was included in whatever 'others' may need, but wanting to ensure she knew such a thing. After all, he wasn't the best with words.

Jahi

Her expression of twisted delight faded almost quickly as he had made reference to her last dance partner, the one that had lingered behind to cast him an undiscernible stare. He tilted his head, vaguely, pondering if he'd done something wrong, or if there was something beyond those words. He tensed slightly at the notion, a tight feeling coiling within his chest as he shifted his weight slightly, arms remaining crossed as he watched the figure turn and begin to retreat. He had told her to do as she pleased, he reminded himself, though she still called herself his wife. A bewildering notion kept to himself considering the absence of her ring.

"Who, Mr. Reade?" she paused, her girlish features drawn in a thoughtful pout before loosening with a bubble of laughter. "He's a little too... old for my taste.  I do have standards y'know."  A thoughtful hum left him, followed by a moment of silence. Too old? How on in years was the man? He'd paid little heed to him before this day, but even as he witnessed the retreat, he oft caught the fellow sneaking glances at them over his shoulder only to hurriedly turn away when he found the wolf returning his attention. "Mm, so that's his name?" He posed after a time, allowing his arms to slip away from their closing position and his stare to turn back to her.

She seemed lost in thought, finger tapping at her jaw as she mulled over his askance. "Dailry's husband got attacked by some beast.  He ain't been the same since - all mangled and bedridden.  I think they could use more food until he gets back on his feet." A deep frown carved itself into his features. "A beast?" Though he didn't doubt the claim, it was still unnerving to think that such a thing could happen so close to the borders he strove to upkeep. Unless the man had wandered out into the wilds, another inclination bringing a light grimace to his features. "How far away was he attacked? Do you know?" The wilds of Vufrien were far from safe. Wildlife, predator and prey alike had sought refuge from the night stalkers within the forests and savagery of the mountains. Not only the... tamer fauna, but it was no surprise to find feral lycans lurking the passes as well, and if he was bitten by one... He would have to find the perpetrator in question, as well as assess the condition of the man himself.

"As for me...  what I want..." Her vocals drew him back from the methodical plan he was beginning to etch out, there was something... off about her demeanor however. Her eyes fell from him, peering steadfastly at the earth beneath her feet. This was far from the bright and impish girl content to torment him mere moments before. "I want you to come home safely." Her answer was soft, quiet and unexpected. His eye would widen slightly, his cheeks tinged with soft pink before it was now his turn to avert his gaze, though he couldn't help the ghost of a smile that turned his mouth in crooked expression. "Would you prefer if I stayed awhile, then?" The words were a soft rumble, hushed and tinged with vague uncertainty.

Jahi

She seemed taken aback by something, something he was sure had to do with the attack she spoke of. Her entire frame tensed, her arms locking around herself as off to comfort the growing unease she suffered under. Had she been there to witness the atrocity first hand? By her denial of knowledge over the location, he was sure she hadn’t, though it probably didn’t save her from witnessing the after math. Again, his hands curled under his chin in deliberate thought as she went into sparse new detail over the incident, thumb rubbing once more against the hard curvature of his jaw set into a distinguished frown.

Strong enough to tear a man’s arm off. A low grunt left him in thoughtful consideration. Of course he immediately knew of two candidates that would suit such a claim, though to narrow it down, he needed more. A feat he wasn’t quite willing to pressure her with considering her current state. The lapse of her own person as she seemed to fall into a dark space between the cracks of her normally blithe and cheerful self. He would settle and opt to ask others about it later, he supposed. Though he was also I’ll at ease to allow the problem to persist. If it were a case of lycanthropy, it was a willing shift in form, or simple brute force, marking it as an attack of malice rather than an instinctual sense of protection.

However, such thoughts pressed themselves aside as her jubilant expression returned to the forefront at his offer. Had he not been as reserved as he was, perhaps he would have even teased her. Reade was too old, but he wasn’t? Such jabs, however, were wasted on him. Instead, he merely gave her a slight nod, the heavy weight of his hand selling atop her crown of auburn curls in a light ghosting touch before drawing away. ” Of course.” The word left him easily, softly. ”You’ve just never asked me to before.” The words were more an observation, a soft hint of concern. Was it fear? Was she afraid that whatever monstrosity this beast  was would find the town and attack them here? With her tentative hopefulness, she did seem more at ease, her arms dripping from cradling her vulnerability to relaxing once again at her sides. A good sign, one that kept the edges of his mouth upturned slightly in the resonance of a smile to match her own far more exuberant one.

He shrugged his shoulders, rolling the pack and sword against his back idly as he shifted his weight. ”Is there anything you need to do?” came the inquiry, a bit at odds as to what he would spend such time of leisure doing. In recent days especially, he was accustomed to busying himself endlessly. There was always work to be done around Sanctuary. There was such precious little time to be idle and share in the complacency of the human kin that dwelled there. Maybe it was just something in his blood that made him so restless, a poison of ill feeling that latched into his bones and refused to let go. One that was only fueled further by the news that there had in fact been an attack. That a man may die from it. Before he knew it, he had opened his mouth, to say what, he was unsure. A low sigh of borderline frustration left instead, a slight shake off his head. ”I’ll need to speak with Dailry as well I suppose. I’ll have to do something about that beast.” Because left unchecked, the hunter would grow bolder, and that wasn’t a thing he was willing to chance. ” You don’t have to come, if you don’t want.” he added, reminded of her earlier display.

Jahi

"Cause you're your own man, wolf. Bein' so, I like lettin' you do as you please." Her answer was somewhat unexpected, though in their time together, he had learned that she was quite the exuberant supporter of freedom. Another thing he had feared to rob her of, to change her setting, the one she had known for the majority - if not all - of her life. It was jarring, uprooting. Though in the end, the hope of safety had won out and she had chosen to accompany him across the sea after all. Only for them to meet equally oppressed features upon the landing of the coast of Kaiser. No matter which they had chosen, chaos and strife were ever looming upon the horizon. An ill omen.

However, with the news of the settlement of Sanctuary, he had dared to hope that she could at least be spared some of the maladies the land around them faced. He hoped that she could gain her bearings again, that they would accept her as easily as the people he'd known once had. he himself was... behind on recent happenings. How long had it been now since he'd been sent away? Since he'd departed the creaking, rocking wharfs of the seaside city? A thoughtful hum accompanied his consideration of her sentiment. "Well, it would seem I'll have more of a chance to do that now." Had he been better inclined, perhaps his voice would have cracked or some sense of emotion would bleed into his words, but as it was, the words were easily brushed aside as passive. Not saying that his home was no longer his home. In truth, he had taken great liberty to do as he pleased since his return. Which was...

He cast a slight glance at her. While he was not always at her side, he had quietly remained close, an unspoken hope that she would still have the freedom that she craved but he could be near enough to keep an eye on her, the wilds that surrounded them being far more savage and dangerous than the market stalls of her dance house. Such as this beast, for precisely the point he had needed to convince himself. "Hmm." She hummed, and from the corner of his stare, he watched her tap her soft countenance. "Nothin' terribly excitin', I'm afraid. Though..." A quelled simper lifted the edges of his mouth once more. Did she think the tasks needed to be exhilarating? If he was to be honest, simply strolling down the paths of the main town would be... welcome. A reprieve. "Maybe if'n you're up to it... maybe you could teach me how to use a sword sometime." Brows would lift slightly at her request. "Teach you?" Despite his normally dull tone, there was a creeping edge of anxiousness that lingered beneath the repetition. There was only one way he knew how to learn such an art: the way he was taught. A burden he wouldn't place upon her. "I... don't want to hurt you." He added cautiously.

Thankfully, she humored his inquiry. "As fate would have it, I did promise Dailry that I'd swing by with some sweets for the little ones. Just a little somethin' to lighten their spirits." He gave a vague nod, agreeing with the sentiment. The man had been one of the few that could aid in providing stability for the others. Such a loss would be a heavy blow to the community. Perhaps he could enlist the aid of Aariak. Though.... despite his friendship with the undead, he was uncertain as to bringing him to the safe city of humanity. "Would you like to go pick some up for them?" He offered. "I can bring them back meat, but do they need other things?" He hesitated briefly, his cheeks reddening softly. "Do you want anything? A new dress? Shoes?"