Bassas

[Kirsui]

"I don't even know where to start."

Tearia laughed lightly as she walked towards the counter and the shop keeper.
"Just walk around and look at them. There's no rush."

She watched Vukasin expectantly. He looked so much like she had when her father had brought her here for the first time. And she had a vague idea that maybe right now she herself wore a similar, patient expression as her father had when she had taken her time with the instruments.

[blaqknoise]

"Just walk around and look at them. There's no rush."

Vukasin looked around and wanted to try all of them, but as he continued to look one particular instrument caught his eye.

It had a big base and a short neck, both made out of wood. It also had 15 strings on it. Vukasin walked towards it and pulled at some of the strings to hear the sounds they made.

"What's this one called? I like it."

[Kirsui]

Tearia had fallen into a light discussion about flute making with the shop keeper when she heard Vukasin try out one of the instruments.

"What's this one called? I like it."

"That's a lute", Tearia replied with a smile.
"It's one of the instruments I can play, so I can teach you if the lute is your choice."

[blaqknoise]

"That's a lute. It's one of the instruments I can play, so I can teach you if the lute is your choice."

"Yes, I choose the lute. It sounds nice."

Vukasin picked it up and held it as if he were going to play it. He definitely thought this would be the best choice.

He remembered that he had no money though, so if he were to have it Tearia would have to buy it for him. He felt ashamed, but told himself he would get the money to pay her back.

[Kirsui]

"Yes, I choose the lute. It sounds nice."

"That settles it then", Tearia said with a smile as she turned to the shop keeper.
"How much is the lute?"

She paid the price the shop keeper stated, thankful that she hadn't spent so much of the money she had gotten from her past performances. Then she bid farewell and led Vukasin outside.

"Lets head to where we had our lunch", she said as she began to walk through the town. "It's a nice and quiet place, and people are less likely to interrupt us there."

[blaqknoise]

"Lets head to where we had our lunch. It's a nice and quiet place, and people are less likely to interrupt us there."

"Alright." Vukasin replied as he headed toward where they last were.

"I'll pay you back for this when I can."

[Kirsui]

"I'll pay you back for this when I can."

Tearia chuckled lightly.
"There's no rush", she told Vukasin. "We'll have time to worry about paying back later."

She stopped when they arrived back at where they had had their lunch.

"Well then", she said, turning to face Vukasin.
"If you'll give me the lute for a moment, I'll show you how to hold it."

[blaqknoise]

"Well then, If you'll give me the lute for a moment, I'll show you how to hold it."

"Alright." Vukasin replied as he handed the lute over.

He was excited that he was going to try something new now, something that hadn't been part of his everyday routine, but he would still need more than just this.

He was eager to get started on saving the others from the mines. That would be something very different, but for now he had to concentrate on what Tearia was teaching him.

[Kirsui]

Tearia took the lute from Vukasin and sat down. She tried to play a few simple sounds to get the hang of the instrument once again.

"All right then", she said, turning to look at Vukasin.
"You hold it like this."

She then proceeded to show how to play a few simple tunes, making sure not to go too fast. She then handed the lute over to Vukasin and waited for him to try it out.

[blaqknoise]

"All right then. You hold it like this."

Vukasin watched carefully as Tearia played a few notes, and then he was given the lute. He took it from her and tried to copy what she had just done, though without much success. After several attempts and many mistakes, he was finally beginning to get the hang of it. After a bunch of tries, he was finally able to play the simple tune that Tearia had played, though had had to go a bit slower.

"How's that?"

[dakota]

Brielle had been walking for a while and her feet were beginning to get sore, and her tummy gave a small growl from hunger. She hadn't bothered to gather any supplies, as she had to leave the last place in a hurry and now she was paying the price.

Looking around she had found a perfect spot to rest till darkness fell, then she could venture into town and permanantly borrow what she needed. Quickly climbing up the tree balancing herself perfectly, she then lowered herself down onto the forked branches and curled up while the leaves around her gently moved back and covered her, where as anyone walking past or even pausing underneath, would never detect her presence. Yawning Brielle let her eyelids drop and close, her long eyelashes fanning out on her upper cheeks and she fell alseep, her feet thanking her for the respite.

Brielle was lost in a dream, she was warm and sitting before a fire happily eating her way through roasted pork, when an earth shattering screech filled her ears, waking her up in a start. About to emit a few swear words, she bit down on her lower lip, holding back any sound and carefully her hands pulled back leaves and she peered down to see what acutally was dying.

Surprise made her eyes widen, nothing was being killed but a female and male were sitting on the ground below her, fidgeting with a lute. Again she heard the noise the male was making , gritted her teeth and automatically stuck her fingers in her ears.

[Kirsui]

Tearia cringed when Vukasin played the first tunes. She was glad that he didn't seem to have noticed as his attention was on the lute. And good that he hadn't, for after a moment of concentration and other attempts, the melody began to take form. His pace was slower than hers had been, but it was a melody and not just some random noise.

"How's that?"

"It got better towards the end", she said with an approving nod.
"You caught on it rather quickly too. If we just keep up the practice you'll..."

She narrowed her eyes slightly. Something was off.

"... play that better than me in no time."

She straightened her back slightly and stretched her arms, giving her the excuse to quickly check their surroundings unnoticed. When she returned to the position she she had been sitting in before, she gave Vukasin a warning glance.

"We're not alone", she hissed quietly through her teeth, making sure it was just quiet enough for Vukasin to hear.

[blaqknoise]

"It got better towards the end"

Vukasin gave a proud smile. He knew he wasn't great, but he would get better with lots of practice

"You caught on it rather quickly too. If we just keep up the practice you'll..."

"I'll what?" Vukasin asked

"... play that better than me in no time."

He could tell something was off because of the way Tearia paused in the middle of what she was saying. Vukasin had been concentrating on his playing and didn't notice anything, but Tearia did.

"We're not alone"

"What is it? Did you see something?"

[dakota]

As Brielle's stuck her fingers in her ears quickly, the small branch she had been holding wacked back against her left cheek, stinging the skin sharply. Clamping her lips together to stop the hiss coming forth, one hand moved to rub her cheek slowly whilst at the same time music floated up to her.

Surprised, Brielle bought both hands back down and parted the leaves once again and stared at the two beneath her.Her eyes narrowed as she looked over the female who was for some reason stretching leaning slightly towards the male who had now stopped playing , she didn't have any weapons in her hands, and then Brielle switched her gaze to the other one.

At first she took in his hands still holding the musical instrument, she expected them to look 'soft' ,as she presumed he was one of those that escorted women around, amusing them and their little follies, but on a second glance she realised that he had a hardness surrounding him, maybe he would be good to have on ones side in a fight afterall.

Looking away she slowly let the leaves fall back into place, and got herself comfortable once more, she was going to stay where she was and just watch and listen to those two, learn about perhaps where they were going and for what reason sitting out here alone on the edge of the forest.

[Kirsui]

"What is it? Did you see something?"

"No...", Tearia replied, barely moving her lips as she whispered quietly.
"I have... a feeling..."

She narrowed her eyes slightly. Had she just heard a sharp slap from one of the trees behind them...?

She slowly stood up and motioned Vukasin to keep playing. Perhaps the music would distract who ever it was listening to them just long enough for her to sneak up on them.

She tilted her head slightly as she turned to face the trees, scanning them with her gaze. She nodded to herself as she decided which one she would try, then quickly sprang up on air. Right before she landed, she pulled one of her swords out of its scabbard on her back. She landed on the branch and put placed the tip of her sword gently under the chin of the creature in front of her.

She was slightly surprised at what she saw though. She hadn't seen an elf for a long time, not to mention one that looked this young.

"Do tell", Tearia asked calmly, "what's the purpose of spying us from this tree?"

[dakota]

As Brielle lay there, the somewhat better noise floated up to where she lay, and at the same time her ears picked up the gentle scuffing of shoes on the tree that she was in.
' so the female has come to look has she, I'll just let her think she's taken me unawares'
Quickly the elf palmed her dagger and pushed her hand up one of her sleeves of her tunic, and just waited.

Sure enough, the female with the dark blue hair was standing over her, the tip of the sword was resting gently against the soft skin under her chin. Brie carefully looked her over, her eyes coming back to rest on the brightest blue eyes she had seen, while her fingers under the cotton sleeve gripped the handle of her knife and just waited.

"Do tell, what's the purpose of spying us from this tree?"

Lowering her voice a little Brie gave a little grin at the girl.
" Me spy...come now, anyone would think you are of some importance to have someone 'spy' on you. I was here first, just relaxing until you and the one who thinks he can play a lute showed up. These woods are for all to enjoy or should I be looking for a sign to say 'Keep away, private property ? ".

At the same time Brielle had eye contact with the girl and had her attention, she snaked her foot out a little so it was alongside the others ankle and gave a push, knocking her off balance. As she moved, the tip of the sword skittered along her skin, scratching but not enough to cut into her, and Brie threw her arm around the tree limb, swinging like a monkey and jumped landing behind the male still sitting, pulling out her dagger and tapped it gently on her other hand.

"you really need to give that thing rest, other wise you'll have all the animals from around here gathering, wanting to gnaw that out of your hands to get some peace."

[blaqknoise]

Tearia motioned Vukasin to keep playing, so he did. He was more focused on what Tearia was doing more than what he was playing though.

Tearia pulled out her sword and moved into the trees. Vukasin could no longer see her now, but he assumed that there was no trouble since there were no signs of a scuffle going on.

Before he knew it, something jumped out of the trees and landed behind him. He didn't get a good look at it though, so he couldn't tell what it was.

"you really need to give that thing rest, other wise you'll have all the animals from around here gathering, wanting to gnaw that out of your hands to get some peace."

"You mean the things that try to avoid contact with people? I somehow doubt that."

Vukasin put the lute down an slowly got up. He turned so that he could get a better look at whatever was behind him. It didn't seem like anything special though... just an elf who held a dagger.

"It would be in your best interests to put that dagger away."

[dakota]

Brielle stood there calmly, watching as the male moved slowly turning around. Bringing her shoulders forward a little giving her a slightly hunched appearance, she kept her dagger tapping gently on the palm of her hand.

"It would be in your best interests to put that dagger away."

"why ? does this little old thing scare you ? surely not."

As Brie was answering him her ears twitched a little, listening for any sounds of the female disembarking from her position up in the tree.

[Kirsui]

"I was here first, just relaxing until you and the one who thinks he can play a lute showed up. These woods are for all to enjoy or should I be looking for a sign to say 'Keep away, private property?"

Tearia lifted an eyebrow at the elf's words, and she had a feeling that the elf was going to do something soon. Realizing what was about to happen, Tearia pulled her sword slightly further away from the elf so that it wouldn't tear her throat open. That was all she had time for before the elf pushed her off balance.

Tearia didn't stop to wait and see what happened to the elf. She let go of her sword, knowing she had no time to put it back on its place on her back. Even before the sword hit the ground, Tearia had already changed her form. She glided down from the tree without flapping her wings, and landed next to her fallen sword. As her feet touched the ground she already transformed back to her usual self, picked up her sword and approached the elf, whose back was rather unwisely turned at her direction.

"It would be in your best interests to put that dagger away."
"why ? does this little old thing scare you ? surely not."

"It'd be wise to do as he says", Tearia remarked.
"That 'little old thing' isn't very intimidating."

[dakota]

Bree stood still calmly, even though she heard the female approaching her from behind, if she had of wanted to do her any injury, she would have tried when they were still up in the tree, so she doubted anything would happen , the male wasn't really in any danger now he'd stopped playing the lute.

Watching him as he stood in front before her, Brie gave him the once over as the words from the female behind her carried on the breeze.

"It'd be wise to do as he says, that little old thing isn't very intimidating."

Grinning now Brie casually tossed back to the two of them.
"Haven't you heard the saying, it's not the size, but what you do with it ?"