The Caravan (Open)

[TheWhiteBull]

Kiran sat down by the fire alongside his coworkers and relatively new friends, thankful once more for the end of a long day of travel. It had been almost two weeks now since he had joined on with the caravan transporting goods across the countryside. Starting shortly before sunrise and ending as late as possible before it set, the long hours were taking their toll on his poor feet.

Kiran had signed on to help hunt, scout, guard and generally do whatever needed to be done as a ticket out of his small hometown. He was a half-elf. Not too uncommon in this region, bordering the Elven woodlands as they did but he had been told repeatedly and by multiple colleagues that his pointy ears would be considered “exotic” and “intriguing” the farther away and closer to civilization they got. His sun tanned skin, walnut brown hair and emerald eyes apparently wouldn’t hurt either. Neither would his lean but solidly muscular build.

Nearing forty he looked more like a human a decade younger, but he had spent too many decades pointlessly working in the fields and forests of his homeland. With no new places to see or hearts to break, he set out into the wider world. Hoping for some new experiences and stories…

—- —- —-

If you’ve ever read the webcomic “Alfie” that’s kind of what I’m hoping for here. With maybe a little bit of “Oglaf” thrown in as well. Please PM me for consideration.

 

[siobhancan99]

Tabitha made her way from her wagon to the fire, placing a small pot full of mushrooms, water, herbs, and various root vegetables in the fire to cook. She had joined the caravan to offer her services as a healer though so far she'd done little more than dig a few splinters out of hands or treat some blistered feet. Still, as she was young and newly raised to master out of her apprenticeship, it was the best she could hope for without marrying into a business and settling down.

The siren call of travel had stirred early in her breast, and this was just another opportunity for her to heed that call. She didn't particularly care where the caravan was headed, as long as it was headed somewhere. The caravan master hadn't cared that she wasn't battle-tested, because she was cheap at twice her price. It was an arrangement that suited them both.

She drew her knees up under her chin, wrapping her toned body in on itself. Her gray eyes stared into the fire, letting the dance of the flames lull her for now. Her thick dark hair hung down her back in a long braid, the easier to keep out of the way when dealing with a patient. For now, though, dealing with dinner was the priority.

 

[TheWhiteBull]

As Kiran stumbled into the ring around the fire he set down and savored the smells coming from the stew that their healer was cooking. He had just returned from setting out traps he would get up and check early in the morning. Vegetables were all good and well but the thought of a nice lean rabbit tomorrow set his mouth to watering even more than it already was.

He suddenly became aware that his gaze, although directed at the cauldron, could possibly be taken as looking at the bent over body of the lovely woman cooking in it. Averting it, he tried to appear as nonchalant as possible. Kiran was by no means a prude, but he wasn’t sure yet how good of an idea it would be to get too familiar with his coworkers. Growing up in a small town had taught him that casual relationships were difficult to keep casual within a tiny community.

 

[siobhancan99]

Tabitha noted the half-elf sitting across the fire, but not his scrutiny. She offered a little nod. So far she hadn't had to really tend to the scouts and hunters, as they seemed to be at least basically competent. She stretched her long legs, trying to get comfortable, then shifted a bit, resting her back against a fallen log. Her blue eyes darted around the campfire, catching sight of a few folk she didn't know.

She got up and stirred the pot of stew, mostly for something to do, catching another look at the man across the fire. He seemed well built, though it was hard to place his age. His elven heritage obscured that much. She was about to ask him something when a cute girl approached and asked if she was the healer. She nodded and the pair whispered a bit and the girl looked around at a man. Tabitha shook her head and disappeared for a moment, pressing some tea into the girl's hand.

After the exchange, she moved around to the elf "Any chance I might buy some meat off you, not for today but for tomorrow's stew. Mushroom only goes so far."

 

[TheWhiteBull]

"No need for purchase." he told the comely young cook. "I'll happily pitch in. Only meat I've got right now is dried, but I've set out traps. Might have something good to give you on the morrow." As he spoke, Kiran decided that maybe it still wasn't a good idea to let her looks go to his head too much. But that didn't mean they couldn't still have a good time together.

"Would you want to come check 'em with me in the morning? You'd have to get up awfully early, but I could let you keep whichever ones you find and sometimes it's nice to get a quiet minute or two away from all this mess." The scout nodded off towards the other side of the flames where a few of the other hands were starting to get rowdy over some flasks of something hard and a game of dice.

 

[siobhancan99]

Tabitha nodded "Yeah, I get up early to forage for herbs for potions and poultices as it is." She offered a little smile, showing the hint of even white teeth "Tabitha, some people call me Tabby but I hate that so please don't" She laughed brightly, then offered her hand "nice to meet you Mr...." trailing off, letting the man introduce himself properly as she had no idea of what his name was.


As he nodded she looked over at the men getting a little rowdy around the fire, glad she had her own closed-off wagon to retreat to, and didnt have to sleep outside like some of the domestics in the caravan.