>>6346312>>6346378Thank you for the concern, my friends. Dad is now back home after he had some surgery to remove some gallstones. Wew! To be quite honest, drawing and writing a post only takes me up to 10-20 minutes usually. I have two more classes to worry about when it comes to school. I really do appreciate your thoughts!
Anywho, let's get back into the action!
>>6343624>>6343661>>6343710>>6344043Looks like we're walking everybody into town!
- - -
You feel a tangle of nerves in your belly as you truly consider walking into town. You've never done such a thing before. At most, you've watched human encampments in the wilderness from afar, and never in your base form, always transformed as either a giant bird, or another creature. You allow the young humans to lead the way for now.
Sabina sighs a breath of relief. "I can't wait to see mother again!"
Arne laughs. "Once she's better, we can make Mister No-Egg and Miss Mandevilla dinner!" The two grab hands and merrily march along the forest paths until you all reach a high wall with a single passageway, guarded by people in what appear to be metal shells. How curious...
Sabina reaches into her pocket, "Don't worry, I have what we need to get through." She produces an iron symbol attached to a cord, in the shape of the holy teardrop of Akvon.
You all approach the passway, and the metal-shelled humans call out before you're even twenty paces away. "Halt!" The man's voice reverberates through his carapace. "What brings you to Tarnestead, the domain of Lord Tarne the sixth?" You notice that both of the passkeepers dutifully grip a pointy iron spear.
The rest of the group is silent, and Sabina speaks, presenting the holy symbol. "Please kind sir, my brother and I have ventured to the old sacred well for our mother's sake. These two others we met in the forest, and they have aided us and kept us from harm."
The passkeeper draws near to inspect the symbol, flipping up the visor of his helmet. "Hrm. And who is this mother of yours, girl?"
"Her name is Martha. Before she fell ill, she was a tavern maid." Sabina shifts her feet, likely feeling some pressure.
"Ah. You and and the boy may enter. Leave the outsiders here, with me." He grips his spear with a sour look on his face.
Sabina protests, snatching back her symbol. "No! Please, let them come with us, sir!"
He pushes the wooden end of his spear against the girl's leg, shoving her back. "Silence. You know the law. Outsiders must be accounted for by a suitable advocate. You are merely children. Be glad I'm allowing you to return." The metal-shelled man steps towards You, and you can feel the malicious intent wafting off of him.
Another voice cuts through the air, "Cease this." A fellow in a wide-brimmed hat appears in front of the passkeeper. You rub your eyes in shock. Surely, this person was not here a moment ago. "I shall advocate for them. Please, shall we go?"
(1/2)
