RP:A meeting amid the fog
Den of Lycans
A few may remember the dilapidated, ramshackle hut that once stood ashamedly upon the hill, or perhaps the pleasant-looking cabin occupied by the general's rangers. The structure that remains is something very different, just as the inhabitants who occupy it are. Oaken doors rest open off their hinges, that gaping entrance a void of darkness at that point, but risking a step beyond the threshold will give eyes the opportunity to adjust to the scene. The hardwood floors have been torn by claws, but they have since been swept clean, the majority of which is covered in a thick, sheepskin rug. Those few chairs lining the edges of the room remain whole, but there are otherwise several oversized and buttoned cushions of neutral, earthen colors spread out around that territory. The banners and plaques that once decorated the room have all been removed, and the only decoration to be found is a large dream-catcher, constructed of leather, bone, and feathers speckled in brown and gray. This totemic symbol hangs upon the wall just behind the rise of a small platform that seems to be a sort of predominant podium for ruling beasts. Resting upon this is a large, white wolf pelt and a nurtured, potted wormwood plant. A rain catch route provides a naturally filtered water source to those welcomed and weary, while beside it, an iron door stands agape and leads to a lair rich with the scent of wolf fur and radiating warmth.
Iverfin couldn't find a great hunt in Kelay or the more barren regions, and so decided to go to where the prey was often a stronger predator. The elf did love a challenge~! But as all hunters and mortals alike know, resting isn't something that can be prevented. And so, Iverfin had stopped off at the seemingly abandoned hut to rest - oblivious to who the previous owners and potential inhabitants could be.
Jett did not enjoy crossing deep water. He had loudly questioned his decision to journey to Rynvale for the entire duration of the ferry ride it took to get there - when he was not busy hanging over the side of the boat retching, at least. Once back on dry land where the ground was not rolling constantly underfoot, he'd made the decision to escape the city and travel up into the surrounding hillside instead, where the fog curled thick and cloying, in an attempt to get some fresh air and ease his nausea. Trotting warily through the spaces between great trees, he eventually came across the dilapidated building that still smelled faintly of wolves; Jett's hand went for his glaive, strapped across his back, and slowly drew it free. Just in case. He approached the building slowly and as quietly as possible, ascending the hill to peer through the wide-open doors with a frown, before turning to stare out over the forest, watchful.
Ranok walks among the trees. Unlike the others, he wasn't drawn to the hut by chance. Instead, Maruil, the elven ranger that he was traveling with, was doing the pulling in that direction. The grizzled vet had more tracking experience then most people were alive, and he'd wanted to check out the hoofprints left by Jett. Found by the ranger when the pair were seeking out good places to settle some of the refugees from the Sage, the ranger wished to explore matters further. The city as a whole was still wary of attacks from the Timelord, as was Ranok. The hoofprints were deep and spread, indicating someone leaving the area at great speed, likely on horseback to the guessing elf. People didn't usually head into the wilderness at enormous speed without reason. That was how they came upon the hut. Smith, ranger, and the still growing mist dragonette, brought into its native habitate for a little exercise. The trio had more or less materialized from the mist, Ranok relying on the magic of his armor and clothing, Maruil his experience, and the dragonette by instinct and birth abilities.
Dyzz wandered out towards the same hut everyone else was approaching, from the opposite direction, probably. The little trollish goblin had come here on a dare, or at least, into the forest... the rest was trying to find her way out by womanly intuition. She had recently become a woman, as the big man had 'loved' her, and given her great prestige in the town of kelay. That meant, of course, that she was now a woman, with womanly intuition and mad juju. She waddled on up to the dilapidated hut, seeing strange designs all about it, ears so full of forest sounds that she didn't notice much of anything about her. She oo'd and aww'd over some of the paraphernalia here, and sneaks in under a not so well sealed well, squeezing her way in, and looking at the room she was in. She waddled over, and tore a small leaf off the wormwood plant, and chewed it. It was tasty, good for potions. She laid eyes on the large dream catcher, and stopped what she was doing to stare at it in awe. Hopefully, none would happen upon her while she stared at the dreamcatcher... a dream-god to her.
Iverfin glanced around the hut, checking for life-signs; clues to who the inhabitants where. She couldn't find anything particularly conclusive, but there was a distinct smell. An animal sort of smell. The elf exhaled with irritation, turning to exit the hut quickly. Animal smells generally indicated it wasn't the best place to rest. Iverfin had only stepped outside and noticed the centaur. Her face could easily paint a picture of absolute surprise; sandy brow raised in confusion. Centaurs were spoke of, back home, seen as beings to be respected and feared equally - a hoof to the head would be pretty lethal~! So Iverfin stood there and simply stared, not quite sure how to act...
Jett was not aware that he was being tracked, too focused on the here and now to be glancing back in the direction he came from. He spent a moment longer surveying the surrounding forest, squinting into dark trees forever shrouded in thick fog and searching for movement among the boughs that was more substantial than ghost whispers and phantoms. Though he picked up nothing, this hill, and this hut had an atmosphere about them that did not sit at all well with the centaur, and he'd half a mind to simply turn on heel and head back to the city. The elf that emerged from within the building earned herself a wary glance from Jett, then a longer stare when he noted her apparent surprise. He huffed a misty breath, was opening his mouth to speak when there came a howl from the forest. Long and high, it was far too close for comfort and Jett shifted. His gaze swung back out to stare into the trees as he lifted his glaive some, while all around a chorus of eerie calls rose up to answer that initial howl. "Should've left before. You too, girlie," he grumbled under his breath, the last words meant for Iverfin nearby. The enthralled goblin still lingering in the building to his rear had not yet caught his attentions, and likely would not, as Jett fixed his attention on the forest...and waited. Remaining here, in a high position with a good vantage point, was a far smarter idea than streaking through the woods with a pack of wolves on his heels, after all.
Ranok seemed to be the only one not in awe or fear of some sort. Familiarity breeded contempt, one could suppose. The Fog Forest wasn't often traveled by him, but it was by Maruil. And the mist dragonette was too dopy to really catch a notice of anything. The old ranger was bending down, fingering a track, "New. Pretty recent. They might of stopped here for a crossover." Eyes go up, used to peering through the fogs and the mists, to the centaur and elf. "And there's our meeting." Ranok was looking up, too, his expression unreadable. The trio hadn't made themselves known yet, opting to stick to the underbrush where it was hard to spot them out. And the dragonette was chewing on something. Probably a too-slow rodent of one kind or another.
Dyzz wandered around the house, making a note to come back and get the dream-god later. It was really pretty. She wandered up a ladder, and onto the roof of the house, which wasn't too well roofed... she leaned out, over the centaur and the elf. Oh, there were others here! And they seemed tense... she hadn't heard anything dangerous like, but she was sure that she could have some fun here. The heavy, if tiny, trollish goblin hopped off the roof onto the centaurs back, whooping and shouting for joy. It was very possible she would miss entirely, and in that event, even land on her face... but if she did make it onto the horsey man, she would whoop and hollar some more, and drive her heels into his haunches, and ride him all over the place~ She wanted to go really fast, but couldn't because she was kinda shrimpy and at the same time... too much bone and muscle.
Iverfin was ready to introduce herself or maybe quit her staring, but had been interrupted by the wolves howling. It was well-known that the elf hated wolves. She drew her blade, looking to the centaur and giving him a nod - taking a small stance in preparation. But her level of concentration broke as the short thing landed on the centaur and presumably caused discontent and disharmony~!
Jett glanced between Iverfin and the forest every second or so, though his attention remained more on the mist and what lurked within it. Distracted enough by the threat of oncoming wolves, he paid little attention to what he thought was an empty building to his rear; and so Dyzz' mad attempt to land on his back actually succeeded, much to the centaur's surprise. Despite himself he let out a near-whinny of shock, jerking back and stumbling while simultaneously trying to adjust to the new weight, and swinging his glaive round to try and knock off what he presumed to be an enemy of some kind. He flailed about a bit, before whatever was on his back dug its heels into his sides and sent him stuttering forward a few steps. "What-- the hell?!" He bucked as though to throw the goblin off, growling out, "I'm not a damn -horse-!" All thought of the wolves had left his mind in these brief moments, causing him to raise his voice, but when he heard a second howl from somewhere near the bottom of the hill, Jett froze. There were eyes in the fog now, sharp glints and dark bodies shifting through the trees - Jett and the others atop the hill might not have noticed Ranok and company but the wolves did, and one of them lunged at the dragonette, apparently intent on snapping up a snack. Jett, meanwhile, had at least stopped trying to shake Dyzz off but looked less than pleased about the situation, turning to glower at the strange creature. "Get. Off. My back." Poking wolves full of holes was so much easier without extra baggage.
Ranok kicks the idiotic wolf away from his pet. All the rest would be avoiding the mist dragonette, period. The Mist Dragon was THE top predator of the Fog Forest. There were no greater. Attacking its young would earn retaliation on such a scale that the very forest would shake. In an animal's mind, where there was no rational thoughts in the way that humans understood it, a simple connection: mist dragon = bad. The rest of the pack was granting Ranok and Maruil a wide berth. The wolves didn't know that the mist dragon was lacking a mother proper. All they knew was that Ranok stank of mist dragon, there was an infant, and every other time they went near either thing bad things happened. The stray that thought it was a good idea paid for it with swift retribution via armored boot to face. Maruil dryly comments, "Always one that tries their luck, huh?" Ranok was none too pleased. Not like a simple wolf could have hurt the mist dragonette anyways, as semi corporeal as the thing was. He looks up at the house, "Dose idiots hain' gonna be so lucky. Vho valks into de Fog vithout silver?"
Dyzz whoops and cheers, until the centaur gives her a stern look, and a threatening command. But she doesn't hold his anger against him, he was afraid of the wolfies coming, and didn't yet know that she was some mad juju. "Get me close enough to jump on em!" She said, waving her wooden mallet by her side, on her long, muscular arms. "I'll give them wolfies what for! We'll has us some wolf haunch tonight, yum yum!" She was smiling gleefully, with an air of perfect bravado. Of course, the centaur could still slap or shake her off easily enough, now she wouldn't be expecting it, since she asked. A light shove would unseat her, but she was prepared to go forward. Her special cloak of protection, along with all the other magical goodies she had gotten, would protect her, and keep lots of them away! In reality, what she wore was a cursed cloak, and it had a nasty habit of attracting aggression from hostile creatures... she would become, quite possibly, the main focus of the entire pack. Good thing she was such a tough little thing.
Iverfin felt like tearing the little thing off of the centaur herself, but instead felt that the wolves were a much greater threat at the moment. At least, for now. Blade kept at the ready, she held her ground near the doorway of the house - knowing nothing could actually come from behind her, unless there was some kind of hidden entrance into the hut. She was happy to wait for a wolf to come to her, feeling that it'd be quite foolish to charge at one immediately and be thrust out into the pack. One came to her flank, jaws snapping in an attempt to get a pound of flesh for a meal. Iverfin turned, blade swinging through the air as if it were an extension of her arm to slice through the wolf and leave it slain on the ground below.
Jett rolled his eyes, steadying himself and snorting in exasperation, though he resisted another bucking attempt. The goblin was already being labelled as 'utterly mad' in his mind but he seemed to heed her request, allowing her to remain astride his back at least for the time being. "Hold on then, you crazy bitch." He grumbled that just before setting off, tearing away from the relative safety of the building to streak down the hill, powerful legs leading him full-tilt into a gallop for the wolves that had begun to melt out of the trees. Coming into range, he swung his glaive first to dissuade them from lunging, before with a snort he swung about with enough force to likely dislodge Dyzz and send her flying straight for the growling beasts. Whether she fell or not was not Jett's problem as he made his way back up the hill, wolves snapping at his heels. He kicked one in the muzzle, broke its jaw perhaps, then swung the glaive for another with the deadly accuracy of a trained warrior - the centaur's glaive, tipped with silver that glinted in the half-light of the forest, was soon stained with blood as Jett backed up against the open doors of the old hut, lashing out at any wolves who dared come close. One managed to duck under the arch of the glaive and leapt for his back, sinking its claws into his flank and tearing, sending him stumbling with a cry into the doorway where the wolf ended up half-crushed between the centaur's body and unforgiving stone.
Ranok glances with the man he was with. The wolf that had been kicked was whimpering from broken ribs, but both smith and ranger were ignoring it. "Chance meeting, you think? The horse looks like a centaur, but someone is riding him..." Ranok replies to the ranger, a hand scratching his beard, "Vell...maybe...Hy didn' know dat kentaurs let pipple ride dem...but maybe it's for de deal? Zumtink. Hy tink ve need to catch de horse." The ranger nods and reaches onto his back for his longbow, stringing the thing with the liquid precision that years untold granted the hands. They didn't discuss tactics. Maruil knew the forest, knew the creatures. The wolves were encountering too heavy resistance. Pain, death, broken bones from what would have been prey. Not worth it. If they were any measure of animal at all, they would be fleeing into the evening, yipping and howling. No meal was worth dying like...well, animals. Of course, if they were the more-common-then-you-think 'mindless horde' variety, they would keep attacking no matter what, almost like a persistent plot device. Time would tell which was going to happen, but Ranok and Maruil weren't concerned with the wolf pack, given the wide berth they were granted thanks to there heretofore unnamed mist dragonette. Objective: Jett, to capture to question, dire meetings and dark intents on their minds. Paranoia didn't always have its perks.
Iverfin was relatively safe from her spot; seeing as the wolves favoured the larger quarry of the centaur. She stepped back into the hut, to avoid the centaur and wolf from crushing her into the doorway as well. Her blade swiftly sheathed, she moved to attempt to help pull the wolf off of the centaur - given that such a strike against the door would probably allow her to do so~! If Iverfin had known what Ranok and the ranger were intending, she'd sure as hell kick up a fuss.
Jett did not know where the little goblin had gone - when he happened to glance down the hill while reared up on his back legs, forelegs snapping out in warning to the remaining wolves, he saw no sign of her amidst the fog. Not knowing whether she had been carried off by the rest of the pack, but not truly caring enough to go running off in search of the stranger, he focused on driving away the last of the pack instead; they looked reluctant to continue the fight now, and already many of them had gone or were leaving, bolting away into the forest until they were mere ghosts once more. Another powerful kick sent the last wolf sprawling off down the hill to limp whining into the trees after its fellows. Though it had been half-crushed between himself and the doorway, the wolf clinging to Jett's side was still alive, if only barely - and when Iverfin reached to help him pull the beast off, it snapped at her in a final defiant gesture, all frothing at the mouth and baring yellowed fangs stained red with blood, before its life ebbed and it slipped easily to the floor. Jett turned away from the forest then and anything still lurking within it, his attentions falling back upon Iverfin as he squinted at her. "You okay?"
Ranok approaches the hut with Maruil, two wraiths emerging from the mists. Only wraiths weren't usually armed with a longbow wielded with elven accuracy or a repeating crossbow that can punch holes into monstrosities. And a mist dragon gamboling around, utterly ruining the seriousness of the matter. But, the need for being quiet was done and over with. An apparent threat to be addressed, the hut. Ranok rumbles out, "Halt. Hends in de air." He was really hoping that the unidentified (for him) pair had sense. Who struck out at men who had you dead to rights? The answer was: a surprising number of people. People who, unfortunately, had to cope shortly thereafter with new holes in their bodies. "Ve'd much prefer to do dis de easy vay, gents, put de veapons down und hends vere dey kan be seen. Ve chust vant to ask zum qvestions." And they did. The weapons were formality, a careful one. Ranok's finger was off the crossbow trigger and Maruil hadn't his bow drawn back to full, but each *could* faster then anything remotely human could draw.
Iverfin had believed the wolf to be dead, hence why she was actually pulling the wolf from the centaur. The snapping of the teeth was unexpected, the exposed flesh of her arm nipped; flesh broken by a small and what would be an insignificant bite. A short hiss of pain as she threw the corpse down, pulling her sleeve down and giving a nod, "Aye," she wheezed out. But then that familiar voice called and Iverfin was quickly out the door, "Gent 'n' lady, y'mean," was what she offered, offering Ranok a nod of her head.
Jett made a point of stomping on the wolf, just to make sure it was actually dead. It was, now. He stumbled, though, a wound suffered to the shoulder on the same side the wolf had clung to having weakened one of his forelegs some. A snort of irritation left him as he took note of the injury, but he returned Iverfin's nod, steadying himself carefully before there came a voice from the doorway and the centaur turned to find himself facing two armed men. He paused, quirked a brow, and huffed, "Why do humans always want to ask goddamn questions." It seemed the remark was meant mostly to himself, and Jett did not appear to want to listen to Ranok's orders. His glaive was spun idly about so that the point struck the floor hard, and the centaur leaned on it to support his clearly weakened side. "Get on with it, then. Ask your questions." He had questions of his own, really - such as why two strange men were stalking people through the woods, but Jett kept that to himself.
Ranok tips his head graciously, lowering the crossbow to indicate that he was willing to give some allowances. No one like answering questions with something pointy directly in their face. "Dis gentleman und Hy vould simply like to know vy hyu are here. In de middle uf Fog Forest. In such a hurry." He doesn't give Iver much in the way of extra politeness. He didn't trust her. Maruil mutters, "The small one got away." That being Dyzz. Ranok's expression grows darker. That didn't make him happy.
Iverfin had clearly lost a friend in the blacksmith, for reasons not all too clear to her. Iverfin shrugged her shoulder, deciding that the centaur could handle himself. Seemed like a tough and capable guy anyway~! She stepped down the road a little, before offering a farewell nod to Jett and aiming to walk away from the situation. Her business was her own; nobody needed to truly know. Besides, it's not as if she had done anything criminal. Had she~?
Jett 's brows furrowed as he watched Ranok, though such a reaction was more in response to the questions themselves rather than the man asking them. For a moment he almost appeared incredulous, before he snorted, amused, his laugh rumbling up from the depths of his throat. "Wow, just-- wow, okay. Are you guys law enforcement on this island or just wannabe sheriffs or something?" A glance was cast down at the dragonette prancing about nearby, unable to fully mask his smirk. He managed to shake it off. "I felt sick, after the ferry ride, so I came up here to get fresh air. Out of the city, the air's cleaner, you know? I wasn't getting up to any shenanigans." Another snort followed, before Jett's gaze snapped to Maruil and his muttering. "I don't know who she was, by the by. She just jumped out of nowhere onto my back. Rude bitch. I'm not a horse."
Ranok says, "Ve represent de sole schtundink form uf government in Port Rynvale dese days. Ve do not operate in ufficial kapacity, but ve're very much kapable uf enforcink NON ufficially." The crossbow was hefted, slightly, to demonstrate just was sort of non official. Maruil was testy in response to Jett, as he didn't really tolerate younger whippersnappers, deciding to take it out on Iver, "And where'd you think you're going, missy? Kindly remain behind so we can get this story straightened out." Ranok doesn't say anything to Maruil to rein him in. The ranger wasn't brash, and wouldn't feather Iver unless she tried to *run*. At which point Ranok himself would probably be lining up a shot. Who ran from simple questions? Behind the armed pair, the dragonette was spitting up something shiny and colorful. The deadly hunter to be claims the life of another bug.
Iverfin stopped at the term 'missy'. She turned swiftly, giving him a look that simply read: 'did you really just use that term?' She stood tall, looking to Ranok and then the ranger, "I'm no' stayin' for questions. Don't 'ave t'time for this piss. Other business t'do." That said, she fixed them a look that said 'I am definitely leaving'. With that, she turned and simply walked off - slowly, though. She was in no rush, but she had somewhere to be.
Ranok || An arrow buries itself right where Iver's next step would be. Maruil was very good. "Iver, Hy'm askink hyu to schtay here so ve kan settle dis. Valkink avay iz a bad idea."
Iverfin exhaled softly, standing still for a moment. She could respond violently or she could respond logically, and Iverfin really didn't want to stay any longer. "Wha' is there t'settle~? Y'sayin' I can't b'in t'lands 'n' wander freely, hm~? I don't see where t'problem is. Yer questioning us for wha', walkin' around~? Ta for remindin' m'to ne'er visit this forsaken island." With that, she gave a shake of her head and raised her hands up to Ranok, as if to say she were innocent; had done no wrong. With that, she turned and left.
Jett honestly looked nonplussed. "Port Rynvale's law enforcement, official or not, needs work if you lot are out chasing a traveller like this," he pointed out, "rather than focusing on actual threats." He seemingly brushed off both the smith and Maruil's weaponry with a sort of cocky grin; something that would likely only irk Ranok's companion all the more. He noted the exchange between the two and Iverfin, watching the woman curiously as she left, and glancing once or twice to the wound she'd received from the wolf just moments ago. Making a face, he turned back to Ranok. "I've already told you why I'm here. Would be rude to keep you here chatting when you've got so much to do though, right? Besides, I've an injury I need patching up before it attracts more goddamn wolves."
Ranok sounds annoyed, "De Timelord's minions schtaged a breakout uf Rynvale's prison. Poisoned de Broken Barrel's schtocks. Nearly killed its owner via mind kontrol. Schortly tried to raze de kity by gun trough *dis* very forest. Hy do not take chances, Iver. Hyu kan be uffended hall hyu vant, gurl, but Hy take de lives uf de pipple Hy proteck seriously. Friendships mean noddink in de face uf greater goot, und hyu're provink youself to be chust like de man hyu follow." Given all the risks. An all powerful Timelord that routinely screwed over the land, the fact that he'd merely withdrawn, the fact that the city teetered on lawlessness...these things few understood. And that was forgetting the all powerful people that stalked the lands, apparently turning any ordinary folk into mere sheep to be slaughtered... "Let her go, Mar." The elven ranger gives a shrug. The smith gives Jett a nod of the head, "Tenk hyu for you kooperation. Ve didn' chase hyu, in kase hyu vere kvuncerned. Ve vere merely in de area. As hyu onderstund, a man movink rapidly trough de forest from de kity via vat ve tought vas on horseback vas kause for kvuncern. Up north lies only...enemies, vun kould say, regardless uf klaims to de kontrary. If hyu need medical assistance, de Rynvale klinic vill treat hyu for free." Maruil had stalked over to the dead wolf, withdrawing a silver dagger. He presses it to the exposed flesh of the gums. The werewolf test. Feral lycans weren't exactly uncommon in the Fog Forest. There'd be a reaction if the thing really was a lycan.
Ranok adds in, with a thumb at the Mist Dragonette, "Volves von' bother us as long as she iz around. Vy do hyu tink Hy took her in de first place?"
Jett might have perked up a bit at mention of the Timelord, whether or not the words were directed to him - it was followed shortly by a barking, incredulous laughter that had the centaur stumbling from the force of it escaping his lungs. "You thought I was one of -his-? Maybe I can understand your paranoia now but I assure you, I don't run with that parasite." He spat the term out as if it were poison. Steadying himself again and leaning heavily on his glaive, Jett shook his head and bit back another laugh, nodding to Ranok, "I understand, it's just...hah. My tracks have been mistaken for a man on horseback before, funnily enough. Noting the weight distribution in the print is a wise idea." Maruil's antics had the centaur shifting away from the wolf's body, as he'd been standing half-over it still, and he peered curiously down at the dead beast while the ranger pressed that silver blade against its gums. There was a hiss at the contact, flesh reddening in the form of a burn - a reaction indeed, and one that had Jett lifting his head to stare out into the forest again, his expression tinted with what might have been concern. "Oh," he said, before offering Ranok another brief nod and Maruil a glance. "Clinic, right. Sounds like a good idea."
Ranok || Maruil scowls enormously. He was about to bitingly reply that, in weight, a centaur had the weight of a light man on top of the horse. But Ranok cuts him off with a hand gesture. "Maruil is good, but he iz not magic. A few pounds iz very herd to tell." Ranok was being diplomatic now. The hissing wasn't good. "Vell. Seems like ve schould get hyu to dat klinic, huh. Hyu've been bitten." He wasn't sure that centraurs could be turned, but was it worth the risk?
Jett utterly ignored Maruil's scowl, as though he was blind to the expression. The glint in his eye showed a hint of amusement, even as he said calmly to Ranok, "Perhaps." He raised a brow slightly. "A man sits differently on a horse, is all. This part of me is far further forward than where you put those saddles." He patted his chest with his free hand, before limping forward a few careful steps to test his injured leg out. It hurt, of course it did, but he could put some weight on it still - he'd undoubtedly be forced to walk the entire way back to the city. "You should be more worried about her," Jett snorted when the smith mentioned his own bite wound, brushing this off as well as most things, "I'll be fine. In terms of diseases." He stepped out over the threshold of the dilapidated building, flipping his glaive over before sliding it back into its holster.
Ranok doesn't bother to correct Jett. If he thought that it was possible to determine the positioning of a man riding in a saddle from *footprints*, it was his business. Ranok was being diplomatic after all. His head tilts, "Vait. Her? Iver, de elf, vas bitten? Hy deed not see dat. Dat iz...vorryink. Very bed." Maruil shakes his head. If Iverfin was bitten, she didn't have the luxury of being able to shake it off. Ranok rubs his face, "Vell...hyu should get dat looked at hennyvays. Regardless uf infection."
Ranok said to Maruil, "Find her." The ranger sighs and gives a reluctant nod, moving off into the fog like liquid.
Jett was about to start off down the hill when Ranok spoke again. It gave him cause to pause and turn, nodding huffily as he asked about Iverfin being bitten as well. "She tried to help pull it off me. Didn't need to, I was fine, the stupid..." He trailed off, looking more frustrated at himself than anything else - frustrating for having allowed it to happen in the first place. Shaking his head, the centaur maybe pawed at the ground before attempting the descent down the hill, regardless of whether or not Ranok was planning to follow or accompany him back to Rynvale. He was muttering something to himself as he went.
Ranok whistles at his dragon pet, who promptly ignores the smith. He takes the more physical approach, grabbing a hold of the collar the thing was wearing instead, "Kome along, hyu."Hall pipple make sacrifices now und again. Lycanism hain't de end uf de vorld, merely de schtart uf...zumddink different. Assumink she's infected at hall. Ve'll see. Maruil kan find her if it's possible to. Easy." He didn't sound at all worried. Not like Lycanism was *deadly*, not by itself. Having nothing to do with the hut, he was following Jett, if only to provide a wolf-free escort via Mist Dragon hatchling. For now at least.
Jett rolled his eyes, though Ranok would not see that. He swished his tail instead, shaking his head once again. "That's beside the point," he responded, "Lycanthropy is a -curse-, and often painful from what I've been told. I hope it wasn't enough to infect the girl." Of course he would blame herself were Iverfin not so lucky. He'd pick his way carefully back down the hill, his injured leg making the going slow until he reached the level ground at the foot of the incline and started off into the trees. "What did you call her? Iver?" he asked as an absent-minded afterthought of a sort, glancing back at Ranok as he walked.
Ranok locks arms behind his back, easily keeping up with the centaur. He was, after all, seven feet tall and Jett was injured. "It's not a kurse, it's a disease, vith hall de implications dat implies. Vampirism iz a kurse, but lycanism hain't. It iz vat hyu make uf it. Iver vill simply hef to liff vith it. Dere hain'tink else to be done." He shrugs broadly. "Un, yah. Her name iz Iverfin."
Jett 's injury slowed him down a lot, but he managed to retain his dignity by remaining upright, though limping; never once tripping or tumbling to the ground. He could collapse later, when Ranok was gone. "It's a curse to me," he muttered to the smith, slanting him a sidelong glance as he walked, "That's what I make of it." There was a nod when Iverfin's actual name was given, for Jett had not had the time to ask it of her himself, what with wolf attacks and questioning men arriving moments later. He remained quiet for the remainder of the journey, following the old track back down through the hills and headed in the direction of the old wharf, and the bustle of the city beyond it.
Ranok only offers, "Vell, ve vill see vat iz to be made uf it by her, den. In de mind uf de beholder und dat." Further conversation was unnecessary, but getting back into the city would be a cinch with Ranok on had. He had the ID, the clout, and knew the guards on duty by chance, so they'd get right in despite the gates closing for the night.