[Past] Off the Beaten Path

[Avorianna]

Located off the beaten path yet still located within an hour or so walking distance to town Silkie had just got done opening the orb and a shimmering portal appeared above it. They had decided to set up shop within the forest behind a large tree. A large magical energy can be felt coming from the portal. It was getting to become dark and Ria was dragging a decent sized buck behind her grunting a bit from the weight. "I should have cut this thing up outside! I hate having to cut it up in the inn." Silkie laughed "Hehehe, It is getting late, you should have gone with smaller animal!" Ria began pulling the deer into the portal her voice disappearing from the outside world as she entered midsentence. "I could not help it! The buck was just RIGHT THERE and it was a perfect shot to the head! He passed quickly, and we will be able to make some good food from him. Ria looked down at the buck to see a arrow sticking out between its eyes. She felt bad, "Sorry buddy.. I will be sure to bury the parts I do not use, you will go back into the earth.... You will make a wonderful stew though.. or roasted meat.. or..... I should just stop talking to this dead animal now..." Silkie giggled again and Ria dragged the deer over to the side near a stone wall to gut it. Silkie opened the door to the inn and grabbed some buckets and baskets and pots for the edibles.

[Hayze]

Hayze had been walking for hours. He had left Tiburon out of frustration and just kept walking. He was frustrated with himself mostly. How could he have been so careless on that bounty? Surely the authorities were looking for him back in town. It was the right move to leave. At least for a time. He hoped his father wouldn’t find out how poorly he was performing.

He knew he was drawing close to a town. At least, he hoped he was. He needed some food. It was late evening although Hayze had only been awake for a few hours.

He glanced down at his shadow who was sort of leading the way. It wasn’t following a straight path but would veer off and hang out in the shadows of trees occasionally. It hadn’t said a word since he woke.

“What is it?” The shadow asked, suddenly stopping and coming near him.

Hayze had been distracted but apparently his shadow was able to feel the sense that he now noticed in his head. Something was near. He felt it pulling him. Or more accurately, telling him which direction to go. His shadow obliged quicker than he and zoomed away. Hayze followed at a slower pace. He couldn’t remember the feeling of childish curiosity that he had banished to his shadow.

He found where his shadow had stopped. It was in front of a... something. A translucent shimmering oval. He had never seen anything like it.

“Wow, this thing is cool! Touch it!” His shadow said excitedly.

Hayze sighed, but for the sake of experience, he approached the oval. He reached out and lightly touched the surface. Nothing seemed to happen. Suddenly, against his will, he took a step forward through the shimmering surface and his surroundings changed.

“Damn it, you idiot!” He yelled at his shadow for making him take that step. His first thought was that he was now in the fey realm. He didn’t know much about it but he knew he didn’t want to be there. He quickly looked behind him to see the forest through the oval. But he realized there was someone else here.

He looked again at his surroundings, then at the woman... butchering a deer.

“Where am I?” He asked, not know what else to say but fearing the answer. His shadow had, out of reflex, moved directly beneath him, out of sight.

[Avorianna]

Ria turned around the buck half butchered by the time he entered. She was a bit surprised to see someone in her realm... not that it was odd, just unexpected. Ria was wearing an apron with her hair pulled back and blood all over her arms and hands. "Oh hello! You are in my inn! Well technically.. my realm.. with an inn in it!" She gestured happily to her inn. The surrounding area looked homely with the inn standing in front, the time of day seemed to be different, rather than night time it looked more the afternoon, with a slight breeze in the air. The air smelled fresh and clean and slightly like Lavender, minus the smell of fresh killed deer nearby. She put down the knife and walked over to Hayze wiping the blood off her hands with the apron. "My name is Ria, please don't mind the mess, I am preparing for dinner. You hungry?" Ria smiles happily at Hayze, her skin seeming to shimmer slightly.

Unknowingly to Hayze, Silkie was watching them near the deer curiously.

[Hayze]

So not the Fey realm it seemed. He breathed out a sigh of relief. Although the woman’s appearance did not completely convince him that all of this wasn’t somehow Fey related. She seemed to shimmer.

”Hayze.” He replied, still looking around at the Inn.

”Ugh. I hate when you use that name. She seems nice. Just tell her your full name.” His shadow piped in from under his feet.

Hayze ignored it and nodded to the woman’s question. ”You have a place to sit?”

[Avorianna]

Ria smiles, "Nice to meet you Hayze! Ria saw him looking around the outside of the inn. She giggles, "I forget that this is an odd sight to people. Come follow, I'll lead you inside. Are you looking for a place to rest as well?" She walks towards the front door and opens it, she then walks into the kitchen where there is seating for two people. "There is a chair here, there is also a living space, and the main inn area, both have seating. This was originally just a house, so I have built an Inn extension to it... hence the... unique look of the inn. I find it charming though."

[Hayze]

Hayze followed Ria inside. He looked at the two chairs in the kitchen. He wasn't thrilled about the idea of sitting there while she prepared his food in the same room. Why did people talk so much? He almost turned right around. He took her suggestion of other seating areas as an invitation and continued through the kitchen to the rest of the Inn. He soon found a small room in the corner of the building with a few comfortable chairs and a crackling fireplace.

"This room will do." He said talking a seat. "Just a meal. And drink if you have it. Whatever's strongest." He replied, leaning over and resting his face in his hands.

"You know, if you really don't want people talking to you, you shouldn't do things like that." His shadow commented, speaking of his current position. "You're basically begging her to ask you what's on your mind.

"I wouldn't do things like this if it weren't for you. If you just shut up for once, maybe my head wouldn't hurt all the time." He replied in his mind.

[Nathaniel]

Nathaniel, having been traveling for weeks, walks through the forest half awake. He hasn't slept properly in a while, his bedroll having been ruined shortly after his departure from his village. Apparently, Nathan shifts while he's asleep. So he woke up in a heap of shredded fabric.

Nathan unconsciously shifts into his Anthro and Monolith form, because it feels more comfortable for him, and he begins to feel a pull coming from the forest. In his unconcerned drowsiness, he walks towards it. Barely even noticing the portal, he walks right through it.

[Avorianna]

Ria smiled and nodded noting his head being placed into his hands, " Silkie please get our guest a drink and add another log on the fire and then meet me in the kitchen with the meat. Please do not mind the floating objects, that is only Silkie the wind sylph." She directed that last comment towards Hayze and through the music player in the room you heard giggling and a female voice say "Will do!" Ria pauses feeling another presence in the realm, "It looks like we have another guest, I will be back with everything shortly then. I hope Venison stew settles with you well. I shall also bring some tea for your... "headache" ' Ria gives a smile that lets Hayze know she wont pry.... for now probably. She walks away.
A log floats into the room and puts its self into the fire, a large tankard of some strong beer and 2 shots of rum on a tray soon follow. Silkie places the tray in front of him on the coffee table using her wind powers, Hayze can feel a small breeze of wind. " I am Silkie! Please let me know if you need more! Or if you prefer mixed drinks! Just say my name first." Silkie floats away to get the ingredients for dinner.
Ria walks out front to see VERY large bear like man that seems to be half asleep. She pauses for a moment at his size.. he is SO TALL! She seemed to not as much be phased by the fact he was half bear though. "Hello sir, can I help you? My name is Ria, are you in need of a place to rest and eat? I have some fresh meat and a bed open. She smiles kindly at him.

[Hayze]

He supposed he wasn’t overly surprised by the presence of an invisible fairy. He knew this stunk of fey. He peaked through his hands to see his shadow bouncing about at his feet. It seemed be looking around frantically to find the sylph.

Hayze gave another nod at Ria’s words and looked up as she left. He watched as a log floated in followed by a tray with his drinks. His shadow left his feet and followed the floating objects. As soon as it arrived he took one of the shots, dropped it in a tankard of beer and chugged it. He wiped off his mouth with his sleeve and let out a sigh, settling back in his chair.

His shadow moved quickly over to the music player when it started speaking again. ”I can’t see her! Where is she? Can she see me?” It said.

It was acting almost hysterical. His shadow very rarely sought out attention. But then again, it had never met a sylph before. Hayze thought perhaps they might actually have something in common. ”I don’t know.” He replied, starting on his next beer.

[Nathaniel]

Nathan jumps slightly at her unexpected appearance. He gains enough lucidity to realize that he wasn't in the forest anymore.
"Huh? Where am I? I was just walking through the forest a minute ago. How'd I end up here?" Confusion shown on his face as clear as crystal, with a hint of concern. 'Did I actually fall asleep while walking? That would be bad' He thought