Wait It Out [X.open]

[Trinket the Crow]

Flying over the tree tops the crow searched for the familiar clearing where she had left her things. It was not the best day to have been flying, as on her return trip one of those strange summer rain storms rolled in and she found herself getting pelted with large drops of water. The evening sky was hidden by large dark clouds that filled the expanse of the heavens.

She had been told by her master to deliver a letter to a man in the next city over. Eagerly agreeing she'd jumped at the opportunity to spread her wings. She'd taken the small note that was rolled up and tied with a black ribbon and made the tread into the forest and away from the public eye.

In the thick of the forest Trinket searched for the familiar clearing. It could be could her birth place, she thought, because her human self was born here. Her actual birthplace was some random nest in some unknown forest. She liked this birth place much better.

Born from as a crow and after a little magic she had awoken to find herself with arms instead of wings and a flat face. It had been so unreal for her to be a crow one moment and then a human the next. For a little while she had been stuck as a human, something that she had not complained about but had been slightly irritated with. Everything was so different, so strange she thought she might have gone insane.

Her sanity was saved though when she discovered her ability to change back. Pleased with herself she found solstice in the moments of crow time she got.

Slipping back to reality her black bird eye found the clearing she was looking for. The rain poured down making flying difficult. Angling her wings she sailed down to land under the cover of some trees.

A fluid change from crow to human her body growing, feather giving way to pale skin and long thin limbs a girl stood where there once was a black bird. Naked Trinket pushed her long wet black locks out of her eyes. Her hair clung to her face and back feeling strange on her skin as she walked to the cove where he clothing was. The rain appeared to have soaked into the hiding place, drenching her clothing.

Sighing she slipped on the large dark blue tunic, that rested just above her knees and the long black clock on over her body. She left the leggings and the boots, finding them to restricting to wear when they were wet.

The raid pelted down on the forest slipping through the trees and falling in buckets on anyone within it. Easily disoriented Trinket stopped under the cover of a tree and looked around trying to find which way to go to return to Camelot. Crouching down she slid into the space at the roots of the tree, finding it mostly dry. With her legs pulled up to her chest The crow-human started calling out into the forest hoping that someone passing by might be able to give her directions or lead her to her destination. "Hello? Is anyone out there? I seem to be a little lost! HELLO?" Her cried echoed out into the forest over the pounding of the rain. Maybe, she thought, I could just wait out the rain storm? The greater part reminded her that she would still be lost if she did so and she settled for calling out into the forest.

♦ NUMBERS ♦ Five hundred thirty nine
♦ PEOPLE INVOLVED ♦ Open
♦ JUST GOT TO SAY ♦ Such a bad starting post
♦ THANK YOU ♦ Branowen OF Legends Of Pendragon!

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

Hyacinthe...?

The name filled his mind and settled deep within him. His entire dream world had begun to shudder and shift around him from that one word. Yet, it was the same dream he always had of a cottage made of brick, mortar and wood, and filled with the love and affection that his daughter gave him unconditionally. It was filled with utter warmth that was a sharp contrast to the chill that weather had taken on. The days were always of summer with the sun falling beyond the horizon and the moon making herself known.

It was always the same...

Hyacinthe.

The name was more firm and he felt something wet on his cheek.

Hyacinthe! I hear someone! You need to wake up now!

Cillian had been attempting to be mindful with Hyacinthe but sometimes the wolf had to be more forceful. He had stomped his way through Hyacinthe's mind and throttled the man out of his dream. He woke gasping and gaping like a fish out of water. All around him the world seemed to roar and his eyes had to adjust to the evening. It was becoming darker with every passing moment and colder too. The rain continuously fell but the outcropping of rock above him shielded him from the downpour. That, and the flat rock that he had been laying on was high enough to keep him and his things from getting wet.

Hyacinthe was fortunate that the trees were the ones being buffeted by the winds. Otherwise the rain would have been whipped at him and snuffed out the small fire he had struck earlier. He rolled onto his knees and leaned back on his haunches as he looked from the fire to the wolf and then to the Bastard that hunched underneath the outcropping. The horse sidled close to the sheet of rock and rolled his eyes at Hyacinthe.

Why did wake me...?

There's someone out there.

It was at that moment Hyacinthe heard the call. He lolled his head toward the sound. It was definitely someone...a woman. He looked back to the wolf who eyed him. It was a surprise that the wolf would care about any other human. Truth be told, Cillian tended to be stubborn and hated many others for obvious reasons; after all, one easily loses their trust in mankind when they treat everyone else so badly. Yet, Cillian had done differently now.

Hyacinthe lifted himself onto his feet and stepped toward the edge of the rock platform and stared into the downpour of rain. He cupped hands at the sides of his mouth and lifted his voice.

"Is there anyone out there?!" He called out.

He needed to make certain that there was someoneout there. Yet, Cillian told him there was. That there was no doubt to that. He could smell her even through the rain and overwhelming scent of wet earth. Although there was a part of Hyacinthe that longed to stay in the safety of the outcropping, there was also another part of him that didn't wish to live with knowing that someone was hurt because he didn't wish to help them. So, Hyacinthe looked back to Cillian who continued to stare out there as Hyacinthe scowled.

"I've only just gotten dry," he groaned without using his mind.

You don't like the smell of damp fur. Cillian told him with mild amusement.

That was true. Hyacinthe sighed heavily and looked to the small pile of firewood. There was only so very little of it left and Hyacinthe hoped he could manage to dry himself properly afterward. That, and even the other person. "Fine," he breathed out and looked out into the rain. "I'll be back. Just keep your mind open for me, Cillian. I don't want to find myself lost out here." He told the wolf who acknowledged him. Then Hyacinthe clambered down from the platform without bothering to take the narrow, scree covered path that he led the Bastard up before. He slid down the steep sheet of rock and caught himself on the ground before calling once more.

"Where are you?!" He lifted his voice; that distinct timbre shooting through the roar of rain. He continued to move and walk mindfully. He kept close to the trees in hope that they would shield him from the strong winds and rain. All the while he pushed on and listened, and he listened and pushed on until...

He found her.

He stood there drenched and approached her with one hand reaching out. "Take my hand!" He told her without a hitch.

[Trinket the Crow]

Honestly, Trinket's tries had been getting slightly more hysterical as the seconds went by. For all her animal intelligence she was still a hyper child, and she easily got herself worked up. Used to being wither close to her master or a crow with the full option of flying it was a scary situation when she had neither. The rain was falling to hard for her to fly, and everything was so different from the ground she could not get her bearings. Could not think of where she was and how to get to where she wanted to go.

The Crow – Girl huddled further into the niche of the tree, disregarding the less than modest clothing she was wearing as she pulled her cloak tighter around her petite body, happy for once that she had chosen to wear clothing.

As a crow she had never worn clothing and feather, in her opinion, were about as good as hair so she more or less lived a clothing optional life style when in privacy with her master. It was needless to say that her master found this slightly uncomfortable but never complained. She understood that the transition from bird to human was difficult for her pet crow.

Trinket continued to yell, it was not until she heard a reply back that she paused her cries. A gleeful smile started yelling louder to get the person's attention and make sure they knew she was there.

She shifted a little, adjusting herself so that she could stick her head out to look around. Hearing the person call again she looked around before calling back. "Um… Somewhere! I am very, very lost!" The rain roared and it pelted down on her head, causing her hair to stick even more to her skin and raindrops to slid down her cheeks and nose. Dark eyes shifted over the landscape trying to spot someone, or something really she was not going to be picky, that would get her out of here.

A figure started to form through the wind and rain, eyes trained on the figure she had to wait until he was standing in front of her niche before she could fully inspect him. By now she was shivering from the combination of water and wind. Her clothing was virtually soaked and her black cloak hadn't provided much protection from the rain. Her tunic was wet as well, clinging to her sides and legs as she crawled forward a little to get close to the figure.

A hand was extended toward her; she didn't bother taking it and instead shot forward to wrap her arms around him. She was not sure she did it because she had seen many humans do it in greeting or because she was just that cold but either way she clung to him. Her entire body trembled with the cold. Her lips were slightly bluish and she skin paler than it usually was. Again, she disregarded her entirely immodest clothing and her disregard for the clothing she'd left in the niche.

She couldn't remember ever being so cold in her entire four years of life. Most of her crow life had been spent in the safety of houses or the cover of trees. It had never rained so hard either, at least that she could remember.

Clinging to the man Trinket buried her face in his chest, trying to get as much warmth as she could from the stranger. Tears prickled at the corner of her eyes and she started crying. "I was so lost! I never should have delivered that letter! I knew it was raining but I insisted that I could fly back! I am so stupid!" The tears that fell from her eyes were masked by the rain but that did not stop the trembling in her voice and the shaking of her shoulders. Her breath came in ragged gasp both from the cold and her tears.

Trinket tightened her grip on the man. "I could have been lost forever! You saved me!" It was a bit over dramatic but she could not help it. It was probably a shock to the man, a scantily clad teenager lost in the woods bursting out of the tree roots to hug a stranger spurting nonsense about flying.

It would be a wonder to see how the man handled it.

♦ NUMBERS ♦ seven hundred twenty eight
♦ PEOPLE INVOLVED ♦ Hyacinthe mab Necthana
♦ JUST GOT TO SAY ♦ Nope, I don't mind.
♦ THANK YOU ♦ Branowen OF Legends Of Pendragon!

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

He had only seen a blur of movement through the rain when he had extended his hand. Truth be told, Hyacinthe didn't know what to exactly expect. Although that didn't matter much. He had meant to save whoever was out here no matter whether they were youthful or elderly or a man or woman. They were all one and the same in his mind. At least until the moment he felt something lunge from the niche and through the rain only to thump firmly against his form. It had nearly taken the wind out of him as she embraced and clung to him. His arms were left wide and open to accept her until his hands fell to her back.

She was small and slight but Hyacinthe could feel her undoubtedly womanly curves underneath her damp clothing. She trembled with the cold and the wind certainly did help with that. He needed to get her out of the rain and close to a fire. That, and a change of clothing which he didn't exactly have, but mayhap he could huddle her underneath his bedroll and that would do. Nonetheless, Hyacinthe's mind was on track as he embraced her firmly and attempted to will warmth into her as he ran his hands along the line of her back and uttered soft notes as he would have to a skittish mare.

"Shh," Hyacinthe started as she buried her face against his chest. Her quest for warmth would have found very little. Yes, his heart thrummed with life and his skin was somewhat warm, but under the whip of the rain, Hyacinthe wasn't about to have much left to share. He lolled his head and tucked his chin and mouth against her hair. He breathed her deeply as he looked down onto her face. His heart tightened in his chest. She was so young and comely, and undoubtedly had a family. What would have happened if he had left her...?

She'd have been found blue lipped and bloated.

She would have been found dead.

Fortunately, Hyacinthe found her alive.

"Shh, you're fine," he said despite the fact that she sounded rather mad. What was all this talk about flight?! It didn't make much sense, but he'd agree with one thing though, and that was that she was stupid to be out here alone and caught in the rain. Why even risk being out here when she had no experience with weathering such storms?

She tightened her grip suddenly and her exclamation made him smile tight. It was rather over dramatic and unnecessary but Hyacinthe said nothing of the sort. Instead, Hyacinthe's mind fell back to camp as Cillian brushed his mind against Hyacthine's in the vain hope that he could find his way back well enough.

"You're well now and I'm going to take care of you. I...could you walk?" He asked but wasn't certain why. It didn't much matter the moment his arms swept underneath her and lifted her body only to curl her against his chest. She was scantily clad and his arms felt bare flesh here and there and even felt the curves of her flesh against his chest but Hyacinthe kept his mind on track as he held her firmly. His head tucked over hers to shield her face from the heavy rain as he followed Cillian's thrum of life.

"We'll be there soon. I have a fire going and there's food, and we can get you taken care of and warm," Hyacinthe said as he carried her along as he methodically picked his way. He hoped to...well, give her hope. Whether or not it worked though was a different story but that didn't matter. It wasn't long until they were approaching the scree covered passage which he had led his horse up before. Then before long they underneath the outcropping with that beacon of light. The embers were lower and the fire dying as he shivered. Hyacinthe sauntered over to the fire and lowered her onto the floor near his bedroll.

It wouldn't do to wet the material.

"Just wait there," he told her and moved from her to a pile of wood. He gathered bits and set them onto the fire set by a ring of stones. Unfortunately, the fire didn't catch. He groaned as he caught the hem of his shirt and lifted the wet fabric from his body. He discarded it onto the floor to bare the flesh of his body. Every motion made his muscles ripple beneath his flesh. That same skin that was riddled with faint traces of scars that ran down the length of his sides and hard abdomen and the lash marks on his back.

Hyacinthe sought his panniers and had drawn them close to the fire as he sought his flint and striker. It wasn't long until Hyacinthe had struck a fire and he had blown on it to breathe new life on the flames. All the while there was other member of their group besides that mostly white horse. There was a wolf that had been laying on his belly and blending into the rock and watching the young woman. He had been inching closer and crawling toward her on his belly before his nose was touching her foot.

She smells like bird.

That's too bad for you. We only have dried meat.

Hyacinthe sent the thought back to Cillian who looked unamused and nearly offended. The wolf lolled his head to eye the woman easily. Hyacinthe looked to her as well and his breath caught. It was easier to see her now under the light of the fire. She was rather comely and easy to look at to say the very least. She was wet though and Hyacinthe knew that she needed help. He turned away and when he had come up with a thick clothed rock meant for toweling oneself. He dabbed his face and hair for a moment before drawing close to her and offering it. "Here, dry yourself." He said. "Then huddle up under that bedroll near the fire." He added.

"Are you hungry?" He asked her thereafter.

"Are you hurt?" He asked another question.

All the while Hyacinthe leaned back on his haunches as he knelt there. His hand lifted to brush his ebon locks behind his ear to bare the gleaming of a silver stud and blue gem.

[Trinket the Crow]

The stranger embraced Trinket running his hands along her back and muttering soothing noises. It was oddly comforting to the crow. If she had not been freezing and her muscles working hard to keep the little warmth in her body alive she could have completely relaxed. Instead she buried herself further into his embrace. Despite the stranger being unable to provide her the warmth that she had been seeking, he could and did provide some salvation from the wind and the rain.

You're fine… His words offered her some comfort; they were the same words her master had said to her when she had woken up with her human body.

Her master…

What was the woman going to say when Trinket explained to her what happened? They the crow had been over zealous and tried to fly ahead of the fast approaching storm only to get caught in it? They she had been caught in the storm and, were not for the man currently holding her, she might have been found dead?

Trinket realized it was her own stupidity that had gotten her into this predicament. More often then not Trinket was more intelligent then that, but her judgment had been clouded by the thought of a night away from her master. What if her master needed her? It was more her own need for the woman who gave her everything then the mage actually needing the crow.

Well it did not matter now because she would be spending the night away from the woman anyway.

After the overdramatic exclamation Trinket quieted, her teeth were chattering too much for her to be able to get many words out any how.

Walking? Trinket couldn't even feel her toes, could been the mud that covered her feet or the hard ground beneath her her. Shaking her head against his chest she closed her eyes. Her legs felt like ice, immovable, heavy and yet fragile enough that she feared if something hit her they would shatter under her.

The man swept his arm under her to lift her up and her breath hitched, were her legs going to break? Eyes snapping her found her legs very much intact, if not a stiff. She curled herself against his chest with much effort as her body did not want to comply with her command. Her tense fingers latched onto his tunic holding it as if it were a life line.

Fire and warmth were the only things that held real promise fore Trinket. Food could come later for all she cared as long as there was heat she would be happy. Hope sparked in her chest; she focused on the idea of warmth as Hyacinthe picked his way back to his camp. She made he mind focus on all the warm things she could think about from fire to the hot soup her master always made. She didn't notice any mart of the journey back to her savour's camp, instead images danced on the back of Trinket's eye lids that kept the spark of hope in her chest going.

Eyes snapping open when she felt herself being lowered Trinket reluctantly let go of the man's tunic. She pulled her legs up close to her and wrapped her arms around them. Water dripped from her hair and down her pale skin.

Dark orbs watched the man move away from her before wondering around her surroundings. There were remnants of a fire that the man was tending to and trying to revive, a bed roll lay near her, a horse stood by a sheet of rock, and tall trees protected the clearing from rain, the ground beneath them completely dry.

The crow's eyes flashed to the man as he removed his wet clothes. Her eyes wondered the markings and scars on his body as she curiously tilted her head to the side wondering where they had come from. Where ever it was they looked like at the time they had been very painful and she wondered if they were the kind of things that still ached even after the fact. Trinket watched him for a little while longer until something else caught her eyes.

There was movement. Something that she had thought was a rock was suddenly much close then she though it was. A nose touched her foot. She squeaked and quickly pulled her feet even closer.

Wide dark eyes stayed trained on the wolf at her feet. Her attention focused her waited with baited breath for the wolf to do something. She had seen wolves eat birds, even some of her own. Her worry was a legitimate one despite her being in the shape of a human. What if it smelled bird and got hungry? There were a few moment where the wolf and the girl eyed each other.

The man spoke again catching her attention. Taking the item from his hand and stared at it for a moment. Her teeth had stopped chattering, a good sign on all accounts that she wasn't as cold as she had been in the rain. It also meant that answering his questions would be easier.

"I am a little hungry and I am not at all picky on what it is." Crows were scavenging animals, and after spending most of her life as a crow she'd taken most behavioural aspects into her human life. Though everything had a different taste to her, Trinket was not picky about what she ate and would take anything she was given. Though she did have to say apples were her favourite thing to eat.

The second question she pondered for a moment, she did not think that she was hurt. She was not in pain, and the feeling was very slowly coming back to her legs. After a moment she replied, "I do not think that I hurt…" Though it wasn't a very encouraging answer, as she did not sound very sure of her answer, more like she was wondering if she was injured and just didn't know it.

Starting to dry herself she got her body as dry as possible before pulling the wet tunic off her body. There was a moment when she was naked, completely unashamed of the matter she crawled across the ground and pulled the bed roll close to the fire where she proceeded to wrap herself tightly in the blanket. All the while she was cautious of the wolf, making sure to keep space between them.

Situated near the burning fire and not quite content with the warmth that warmed her tot eh core Trinket posed a question to her man. "Why do you have a wolf? Do you not fear for your life? Or the life of your horse? Wolves are scary animals. I've been them eat many birds! Not that I mind when hawks get eaten…" The last part was mumbled though there was a laughter in her eyes at her own little though. "Though you silly-humans are doing thing to put yourselves in danger." Her gaze flickered to the animals before looking back to the man, waiting for his reply.

Her manners were not quite up to that of humans. Which explained why it was an after though that she introduce herself. It took her a moment before it dawned on her that she should. A little voice in the back of her mind that sounded a lot like her master reminded her that it was good to introduce yourself when you meet someone new. "Oh! Master said it was good to tell people who you are! My name is Trinket, my master named me!" She spoke the name with such pride. A large smile overcoming her face despite the shivers that still occasionally ran though her body.

Taking a moment she leaned toward her savior giving him a quick kiss before sitting back by the fire, tightening the blanket around her and inching toward the flame with absolutely no regard for what she had just done. She tugged her hands out from the blanket cocoon she had made and held them toward the fire.

Most of her actions came from things she'd seen, not things she'd learned. Her master, while teaching her things like how to hold cutlery and put clothes on had neglected to show her how to interact normally with society. That she'd picked up by herself and often led to many awkward situations for other people while the crow – girl remained completely oblivious. One could not be sure how many people she had greeted is such a fashion.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

The woman was a rather...well, strange one. Truth be told, Hyacinthe didn't exactly understand her. There was something about her that stood out from others. Then again, mayhap she lived out here much like the other woman that Hyacinthe had met. The barefooted wildling that lived in Balor and had a connection with Cillian from the get go. Yet, Hyacinthe didn't feel like she had the ability that she and Hyacinthe had. Instead, there was somewhat else about her that Hyacinthe couldn't exactly set his finger on.

It bothered him somewhat.

"I've some apples, bread and cheese, and there's dried meat," he said. Fortunately, the woman would undoubtedly eat anything; especially with being so far from any form of civilization. "I have water too." He added. He had enough to say the very least and hopefully will have enough for two for the next few days. That, and Hyacinthe hoped the storm would let up on the morrow. After all, Hyacinthe didn't have to supplies to weather out an extend storm.

"Good, I am glad. Although," Hyacinthe trailed as he shifted to come to his feet. "If you do end up with a fever, I may be able to tend you. Although that's depending on the rain. If this keeps up...well, that's not good for any of us," he admitted, and as he was stepping away, Hyacinthe heard her shift. The least thing he had expected was to be able to spot her bare body, and truth be told, she looked wonderful. Her flesh pale and slick from the rain, and faint shivers made her flesh quiver. He wanted to reach out and touch her. He wanted to will warmth into her.

He didn't.

Hyacinthe felt a flush reach his cheeks as he forced himself to look away and he cleared his throat. As Hyacinthe sought his panniers, he had begun to sift through them as he considered her questions. Truth be told, the woman's query was a valid one. Most men and women didn't understand why he had a wolf with him, and when they had the answer, they thought him to be one coupled with a dirty magic.

"He's a different sort of wolf," Hyacinthe said. "His name's Cillian, and I promise that he won't hurt you. That, and my horse...well, the Bastard doesn't very much mind Cillian. Just sometimes," he said and smiled. The Bastard. It was a peculiar name for a horse but the tale that had earned the animal the moniker was a long one. That, and private too. Yet, the moment she had said silly humans had made Hyacinthe nearly question her.

Hyacinthe didn't speak as he removed firmly stored stores of apples, dried meat, a hunk of bread and wheel of cheese, and a skin of water. Hyacinthe held the armload to his chest as he sauntered over to her and lowered himself beside her near the fire. He set them down as she introduced herself. Hyacinthe smiled at her enthusiastic introduction and wondered at her peculiar name. Then again, Hyacinthe had a strange name too. Yet, she mentioned a master too, and idly Hyacinthe wondered whether or not there was someone else stuck out in the storm.

He hardly had a moment to react and reply before she kissed him. It was quick and fleeting at most, but the touch was enough to make any man's pulse quicken. He ran his tongue along his lower lip and eyed her as she inched toward the flame further. He watched her hands as they extended to the fire and wanted to touch them. He wanted to know whether or not she was real, but then again, he had carried her and she had weight, and he had seen her naked and her breasts and the curve of her buttocks, and what was between her thighs...well, yes, she was real.

He found his tongue suddenly.

"Well, Trinket, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Hyacinthe," he said and had begun to unwrap the food for her so she may have her choice. "I must ask, though, you have made mention of a master...?" He asked and looked thoughtful. "Where does your master live and why are you out here all alone? Is he out there stranded as you were?" Hyacinthe questioned as he leaned back on his haunches once more. He trembled faintly the entire time and wondered whether or not he had any other fabric to cover himself with. Unfortunately, the only bedroll he had was now covering the bare and naked body of Trinket and he wasn't about to impose. So, Hyacinthe dealt with the faint ripples of a chill every now and then that coursed through him.

You could always use me. Cillian playfully offered.

Mayhap, but then I do not like damp fur. Hyacinthe pointed out.

You wound me. Cillian whined but was not truly hurt.

The wolf, once having scented her foot, kept his distance from her and yawned silently. He eyed both of the humans...well, the one human and the peculiar creature both. It was then that Hyacinthe felt Cillian's curiosity about the woman, and truth be told, Hyacinthe felt the same after the woman; after all, who was she and why was she out here alone...? She had a master and the way she spoke was strange and rather peculiar. There were a lot of questions.

"Where do you belong, Trinket?" He asked lastly.


[I'm liking this thread a lot. Also, writing for Balian now!]

[Trinket the Crow]

The word apples immediately caught Trinket's attention. Her head whipped around to look at the man with large sparkling eyes. "You have apples?! Can I have an apple? I really, really, really, really, really love apples! Please, please, please, please, please!" Apples had been the crow's favourite thing to eat for as long as she could remember. When she was traveling with the gypsies they had often treated her to slices of apples. Trinket had many fond memories of those times. The mention of water made her cringe though. That was about the last thing she wanted at the moment, after the most traumatic experience of having almost died in the ferocious rain storm.

"The Bastard?" Even Trinket thought that that was a strange name for an animal. Dark eyes flickered the horse. She wondered how he had ended up with that name. The only time she had ever heard it used was when humans were doing scary things with raised voices. "Do you not like him? Is that not what people call each other when they are angered or dislike each other?" Her voice was inquisitive as her dark eyes wondered to the man studying him.

Her gaze continued to trail to the wolf as she warmed her self by the fire. Just because he was a different type of wolf did not mean that she was going to think any differently of the creature. Because for a bird to look at a wolf as anything but a bad thing…

…but then again wolves had body heat and Cillian, as he was now known, seemed content enough. He did not at all look like he was about to attack and eat anything, namely of the avian origin. A curious expression over came her face as her dark eyes watched the wolf before she edged toward him. "Would he bite me if I used him as further warmth?" Her question was directed to the man though her eyes never left the wolf. He, the wolf, was starting to look like a very nice option for a further heat source.

Hyacinthe returned with his arms full of an assortment of food. Trinket's eyes immediately found the apples. Her mouth watered at the sight and greedily reached out, snatching one of the juicy red fruits.

The crow – girl did not comment on the man's name, because really to her all human names sounded strange, even her own. "My master is currently staying in the large place with lots of people," her way of saying a city or town. "I was here because master asked me to deliver some scribbles to master's friend who lives a ways away. I came into the woods and changed, and then I flew and delivered the scribbles!" There was evident priced in her voice when she spoke, though when she continued it broke into a more sorrowful tone. "But I was stupid… Master's friend told me to stay until the morrow but I though I could out fly the storm. It is difficult to fly in heavy rain." Shrugging the crow – girl pushed her feet closer to the flame. Sticking her toes out of the fabric and resting them on the stones that made up the circle.

Where do I belong? It was an odd question and she looked a the man very confused. Not understanding what he was asking at all. "Belong? I do not under stand what you are asking." Trinket's curious stare grew as she wondered what the strange man was asking. "Are you asking me where my Master and I live? We live in the house with the fat man, and the strange people, and the noisy people below. We are staying in one of the rooms, but people come and go from the other rooms all the time, and they are all very odd." She could not think of all the people what came and when from the other rooms, they never seemed to stay for long and most of them arrived late in the after noon and disappeared down the stairs at night, only to return with reddened cheeks and tripping over themselves.

His question deeply confused her and she looked at him before asking it back. "Where do you belong, Hyacinthe?"

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

"Well, no. I love him," Hyacinthe said. "It's a long story, Trinket. Mayhap one I could tell you while we warm by the fire." He looked thoughtful but decided to at least offer a semblance of an explanation. "He's named after a friend. Someone I knew and who was much like myself." He said. The man had been anathema, much like Hyacinthe, but the boy hadn't known his father as Hyacinthe had. The boy of mixed blood, who had eventually become a magnificent horse breeder, had gifted the Bastard unto Hyacinthe. Unfortunately, he had died thereafter due to an illness.

Hyacinthe never knew his name. Hyacinthe doubted he had one.

What Hyacinthe had found strange though was when the woman, who had seemed previously afraid of the wolf, had asked whether or not she could use him for warmth. That, and whether or not he would bite her. Hyacinthe looked beyond her and to the wolf who seemed amused by that, and yet, continued to watch her.

You will be envious that I will feel her bare skin first!

Nonsense. Do not bite her.

You wish that to be your first?

Mind your tongue, wolf.

"He won't. He'd love to have your company I'm sure. Isn't that so, Cillian?" He asked of the wolf who shifted on cue to approach her. The beast had come to his fours, and when he had drawn near to her, he extended his head on his great neck to press a cold and wet nose upon her cheek. He snuffed her appreciatively before he sought to squirm underneath the bedroll and cloth to press himself against her. When allowed, Cillian laid his head against her breasts and practically crawled onto his lap. There was very little of her untouched by then...well, there was her back, buttocks and the back of her legs. That, and even her face, but Cillian covered her front and settled.

Hyacinthe felt her too through Cillian's mind.

"He likes to be scratched behind the ears," Hyacinthe said.

Oh, thank you. She looks to have nimble fingers!

Hyacinthe smiled to himself at that as he watched Cillian brush his nose upon the underside of her chin. He even ran his tongue along her chin appreciatively before his ears twitched forth and head lowered. It looked laughable to see the wolf huddled underneath the sheet with Trinket but Hyacinthe said nothing.

"You may have your fill of apples," he said suddenly. "Just be mindful for the morrow. It's a few days to Camelot from here. If the land hasn't changed much from the rains. Sometimes storms can alter trails," Hyacinthe said and explained. He simultaneously lowered himself near her and settled onto his haunches as he took up an apple himself. He polished red flesh on his pant leg before he bit into it. All the while she spoke and he listened but Hyacinthe couldn't help but wonder about her.

She had no name for where her master lived which undoubtedly meant that she didn't have much knowledge. Yet, her master trusted her enough to be free of her holdings and venture out into the forest of Balor. Yet, her description painted a crude image for Hyacinthe to work from and he deduced that she lived in Camelot. At least that was the closest city to them and it made more sense than not. Then she made mention of flying once more and Hyacinthe wondered whether or not she had hit her head.

"Well, I wouldn't say you're stupid, Trinket. You made a mistake and everyone does so. You're safe now with me," he said and offered a smile. He bit into his apple once more as he looked to the fire and inched toward it. He shifted and stretched his legs out with a groan before he kicked off his boots. He set his bare feet, like she had, on the warm stones that ringed the fire; mud caked boots discarded by the wayside.

Hyacinthe gnawed on his lower lip for a moment.

"It sounds like you live in Camelot to me, Trinket. If not...well, I'm certain we can head there and have a note sent to your master." It's what he suggested before lifting a hand to his chin. Then her query. Hyacinthe looked surprised before he looked onto her.

"I belong with the gem of my life." He said to her and smiled. "In Camelot...Home and with my daughter." He said and shook his head. "She's with my father now. Always while I'm out here." Here. Hyacinthe gestured all around him to indicate that here was the forest of Balor. It was his domain. It was where he marked out prospects for raw materials and thensome. It was where he was sent for days on end...weeks on end...months on end. It's where anything could happen.

"You live with your master. You belong with your master." He said and looked thoughtful. "On the morrow, if the rain lets up, I'll take you to Camelot, alright?" He asked of her and smiled. "Mayhap we could figure things out there. I'll take good care of you." He assured her and bit into his apple once more, and Hyacinthe smiled a wide, toothy smile.

Cillian, though, filled his mind with amusement.

...or you could keep her for warmth. He suggested.

Hyacinthe shivered...

...whether it was the chill of the rain or the notion of her, he did not know.

[Trinket the Crow]

Trinket was still confused by the horses name, and how severely confused on what the meaning of the word bastard was. Someone had named their child that? Just finding the whole ordeal not at all understandable she asked one question that she hoped would clear up the matter entirely. "What does bastard mean?" At this she tilted her head to the side and stared at the man with honest and curious black eyes.

The matter with the wolf was something entirely different. Though she had been scared of the wolf at the start of their encounter it had dawned on her that if this human felt comfortable with him then she, in human for at least, should be comfortable with him. In her mind she argued that if he did not eat one human, then he would not eat another. It was a flimsy reasoning but most of her thoughts at the moment were driven by wanting to get warmer.

Watching as the wolf approached the crow wondered what the wolf was thinking of her. He most likely smelled that she was a crow, or at least remnants of crow on her. Giggling and shivering at the same time when Cillian pressed his cold nose against her cheek she spread the blanket a little to let the creature under it as well. As the wolf came to rest covering most of her front she wrapped an arm around him, burying her face in his fur for a few moments. This was the closest she had ever been to a wolf without entirely fearing for her life. Her heart was beating a little faster then normal, but that was only because a small part of her brain, the avian part, was telling her that she should be flying away.

Hyacinthe spoke up, commenting on how the wolf liked to have his ears scratched. Trinket was happy to oblige and reaching up she scratched behind the wolfs ears.

Another laugh left her lips as she wolf liked her and brushed his nose under her chin. She was discovering that she was ticklish, something she was not when in her usual bird form.

Apples caught the crow's attention and when she was told she could have her fill she reached and took as many as she could, ignoring the other things offered. As Hyacinthe pondered where she lived Trinket started on the first apple. She took moderate size bites but she coveted the apple holding it tightly in her hands careful to make sure no one was going to take it from her.

His words offered her comfort; she only hoped her master did not think any less of her because of this mistake. She promised herself that she had learnt her lesson and would not do anything like that again.

Camelot… that sounded familiar. She was sure that that had been where her master had said they were heading, shortly after her human birth. Though her memories of the days immediately after her change were a little hazy so she could not be sure. "I think that's where master said we were heading after my human birth… but I was not paying much attention. There are so many interesting things you can feel and do with human fingers! It is all so different from wings and birds legs!" As if to add emphasis she wiggled her fingers before reaching for a new apple. The only thing remaining of the old one was an apple core placed beside her.

Hearing about his daughter she was curious. "You mean you have a hatchling? But should you not be at home guarding your nest? What if a predator comes?" Again she tilted her head to the side wondering what Hyacinthe was doing so far away from his nest to be in the forest. "Are you hunting to feet your mate and hatchling?"

Trinket gave a sceptical look at the sky when he spoke next. It did not look like the rain was going to relent anytime soon. The thought of her master on the other hand brightened her back up again. This man said he was going to make sure that she got back to her master and she was happy with that.

A shiver ran though Trinket and she wrapped her other arm around the wolf after discarding her second apple. Where she put the food no one would know. She was so small yet she ate so much. She found the parts of her that the wolf was not cutting getting very cold. The water was cooling on her skin and her long hair was not helping. It stuck to her back and face cooling her already freezing skin. Tightening the blanket around her she held the wolf closer and continued to scratch and pet him with her free hand.

[Woot, three posts in one day. I am on a roll! Sorry its so short.]

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

Hyacinthe found Trinket to be very...well, strange. There were a number of things that she didn't seem to genuinely understand. Idly Hyacinthe wondered whether or not the reason was because she was uneducated or not, but then Hyacinthe found that there was simply something about her that he couldn't explain. There was somewhat about her that made her somehow...different.

"I..." Hyacinthe trailed. "It means...well, that you do not know your father...the one that planted you in your mother." He explained. Fortunately for Hyacinthe, his father had wanted him and had loved his mother. Things had been different for his companion. That was a long time ago though and the gypsy people were now starting to become more warm and welcome toward those of mixed blood. It was a fortunate thing for his daughter and himself.

She smells of bird...

Cillian commented for the second time and attempted to press the scent, which Cillian associated with avian life, onto Hyacinthe's mind. He humored the wolf for the moment, and to his surprise, found that the scent did match. Then again, that could be mean anything. It would be more than likely that Trinket had simply been in the forest for too long.

He looked over to her and Cillian. Despite the wolf's comments on her scent, he seemed to enjoy her flesh and the touch of her fingers on his ears, at least until the moment she sought the apples. She ate and Cillian watched her the whole while. Hyacinthe kept his eyes on her too; noting the way she ate and the way she claimed her food. She was...strange to say the very least. Yet, Hyacinthe made no comment on that...at least not until she spoke once more.

The way she spoke of herself...well, Hyacinthe couldn't help but to wonder about her. Mayhap she wasn't human or simply had a peculiar way of talking. Then she made mention of wings and birds legs, and Hyacinthe looked thoughtful as he had begun to piece things together. After all, would this be the strangest thing he has ever come across...? The answer: no.

He had seen strange things before. He had seen magic, and although he had none of his own, he knew that such things were real. So, what about her...? She could be more than what she seemed to actually be. She could be a creature; an animal. After all, she moved like a filly; a horse just becoming accustomed to her own long limbs. That and even more so with the way she moved her fingers.

Perhaps there is somewhat about her, Cillian.

She's a peculiar one. Cillian agreed.

Hyacinthe opened his mouth to speak but then she cut him off. The way she spoke of his child...well, there was no doubt that she was using a lot of terms that a bird would use; after all, Hyacinthe had once spoken to a bird...once, twice...a number of times. He had the ability to press his mind onto other animals, influence them and speak with them. Humans too...somewhat. Nonetheless, Hyacinthe looked to the fire and shook his head.

"She's safe...my hatchling." He used her own term for his daughter. "She's protected by my father. The one that planted me...as for a mate," Hyacinthe started, smiled and...shook his head. His smile faded into a deep frown and his brows furrowed. "I have no mate...a predator claimed her a long time ago." Hyacinthe said simply and shook his head. He cleared his throat and started once more, and effectively changed the subject completely.

"What are you, Trinket...? The way you speak of yourself...It doesn't sound like you're any normal human." He admitted and sought her mind. He groped for it with his own. The touch was strange, and even though Hyacinthe had grown accustomed to such, Hyacinthe still understood that some animals -- if Trinket was one -- would feel the heavy presence of another. He was subtle though, at least he attempted to be. He looked to her and frowned when he made note of her damp hair and wet face. His mind withdrew from her own.

He shifted and sought the cloth he had used before to dab at his face. He drew closer beside her and drew up on his knees to dry her face. "Do you mind?" He asked as his fingers tangled in her hair. He sought to wringe it out gently.

"We can't have you getting sick," he said.

[Trinket the Crow]

Trinket had only been human for a few weeks, hardly enough time to learn the definitions to everything or have a great understanding of many words. Part of her word problem was her own fault for not asking her master what any confusing words meant. Trinket wondered why she had often seen people yelling the word bastard at each other. "Why do people yell it at each other? And so often? Why do so many people not know their fathers?" She really was confused by this, and many other things.

As she greedily ate her fill of the apples she didn't notice the silence in her companions and had no notion of the thought running though her companions mind. Trinket continue to stroke Cillian as he lay on her, running her hands through his fur, petting his head. This was the closest she had ever been to a wolf and she was sure this was the closest she was ever going to get to another wild animal. Though she was thankful the creature had not bit her yet and

The talk of Hyacinthe's hatchling was easily understood for Trinket. In crow families it was normal for a couple of generations to band together during nesting seasons. It was sad to hear that his mate had died and Trinket gave the man a sympathetic look.

Then came the hanging question, what was she. There was a pause before she answered and during the silence Trinket felt a presence in her mind. It was heavy and it grasped at her mind causing a soft pounding in her temple. It was something new for Trinket, but it was gone as soon as it had arrived leaving her wondering what the strange feeling was. Reaching up she scratched her head and then rubbed her temple with the side of her hand.

"I am a crow." Her voice was distracted when she spoke, as she was still mulling over what just happened with her mind before shaking it off. It was gone now so she was not going to dwell on it. Her next words were spoken with much pride. "I was changed by my master a few weeks ago! She was nice and has taken care of me! She says I have magic of my own because I can change back and forth from human to crow when ever I want now." A large smile made its way on to Trinkets lips as she spoke of herself and her master. Her master was the only person who Trinket really had. Her crow family was out there some where, but she had lost track of them. The gypsy people she had lived with probably would not recognize her and she did not really think that she would be able to recognize them either. It all seemed like a life time ago with the events of the past month.

Trinket started talking about the woman she called master. That was the only mane she ever knew her by, she did not know the woman's name or anything about her. She did not ask to many questions but was perfectly happy just to tag along with the mage. "Master takes good care of me, she gives me clothes and occasionally buys me the shiny things! I have a collection with baubles and opening things and things on strings and …." Trinket started listing off all the objects her master had gotten her. Many she didn’t have proper names for so she just came up with ways of describing them. She often did this, like when she told him about the place they were staying. No clear name for it but a vague explanation.

Her ranting was cut short when Hyacinthe moved forward to dry her face. Stopping mid-sentence she looked up at him, pulling the blanket tighter around her before nodding. She liked the feeling of his fingers in her hair. Closing her eyes she lulled her head back and made an approving noise at the back of her throat, continuing to pet Cillian with her free hands.

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

Hyacinthe had an answer for Trinket, but he doubted that she would believe it, or even understand it. The truth was, was that love was, and always will be, a fickle thing and when there wasn't love, there was always lust. Such things led to acts of coupling; the physical act between a man and woman. Unfortunately, such things led to children, and most of the time they were unwanted. Fortunately, Hyacinthe had a mother and father who had wanted him, and they had even genuinely loved one another, although there were many, like his friend, who went without knowing his father.

Hyacinthe had also known men who were to blame for such things; fellow soldiers who bedded other women, impregnated them with their seed, and didn't look back. Hyacinthe had never done such a thing though. When he had gotten his native beloved heavy with child, Hyacinthe had taken the knowledge in stride and without a hitch. Unfortunately, she didn't love long enough thereafter for anything more to grow between them and for him to claim her properly as a wife and move her to Camelot as his father had with his mother.

"There are simply those who are unfortunate, Trinket, then there are those who are fortunate," he said to her simply enough. Yet, that seemed to fall by the wayside when she spoke of herself and the fact that she was, indeed, not a human, but a crow. He looked at her as if she was strange, and truth be told, he didn't exactly believe her. Then again, Hyacinthe had seen strange things before and such a thing wouldn't exactly be...well, uncommon. There was magic everywhere and even coursing through his own blood.

"Is that so?" He asked and looked thoughtful. "So, the storm is keeping you from flying then," he surmised. Idly Hyacinthe wondered of that. He would have liked to fly one time, but he couldn't. After all, Hyacinthe didn't exacly have wings of his own to spread and lift him into the sky. Nonetheless, he was content with his rather simplistic life. He couldn't help but smile when she did, hers was rather contagious.

Het let her talk and Hyacinthe was happy to listen; after all, animals had a lot to say.

He couldn't help but look at the content Cillian when he thought of that.

"Well then, I'm certain you'll be happy when you reunite with her, and that she will be happy to see that you're well off and not sickly." Hyacnithe pointed out. She somewhat reminded him of Adara, his daughter, but she had a body that belied her mind. While she acted with genuine interest, curiosity and thensome, her body...which he had seen bare for a span of a moment...could have made any man ache. In fact, Hyacinthe had and he had to dispel the image from his mind.

It didn't help that he was so close to her though.

Hyacinthe's fingers tangled in her hair, twisted mindfully, and had begun to squeeze the water free from her hair. He was met with note of pleasure from that touch, and Hyacinthe looked onto her face. She looked...well, content, and her head lolled back toward his hands. They were rough, though, and calloused and covered with scars. There was dirt under his nails too. Nonetheless, Hyacinthe's fingers loosened in her hair only to knead at her scalp. Fortunately, he had dried her face and neck with he cloth, and her hair was as free of water as much as he could have managed. As for whatever else...well, Hyacinthe gnawed on his lower lip.

"I'll take care of you, I promise, and I'll see you safely back to your master, alright? If anything, we can try Camelot, and I'm certain she'll come after you. I know that I wuold. I wouldn't give up something like you," Hyacinthe admitted. He didn't doubt that her master had had invested a lot of time in her to groom her, create her and take care of her. He smiled then down at her and continued to stroke her hair and touch her gently.

You should join us. Cillian teased.

Hyacinthe flushed at that and shook his head at the wolf.

"Why don't you tell me more about yourself, Trinket, or mayhap your master," he said and searched her face.

You really should. Cillian added with an amused note.

[Trinket the Crow]

The whole 'bastard' business still eluded Trinket. Though that could be expected from someone who spent most of her life as a bird. It would take more then a quick explanation for her to fully understand anything as it had with the few things she did know.

Hyacinthe stared at her strangely when she told him what she was. Truthfully he was the first person she had told that she was a crow. Her master obviously already knew but she had never spent much time in the company of others for it to matter that they knew. People just took her as a peculiar, uneducated and illiterate girl who grew up far, far away from civilization. For the most part they would be right. She watched his reaction with larger eyes, noting how he acted for future reference when she told people.

He seemed to take it in stride so she justified to herself that if she reviled herself to other humans they would act the same.

"Yes, I cannot fly with the weather like this. There is too much wind and the rain makes it hard to do anything." She did not like being unable to fly. It was an odd thing just sitting or standing without anything to do, anywhere to go. Flying opened a whole new world of possibilities to anyone. "Once it clears up though I could fly anywhere!"

Her eyes lit up at the thought, images flitting through her mind of all the places she had been, had flown over. The ocean, through the trees, over the mountains and around the fields, all the precious memories from her fully crow life. For the crow – girl it was a grange thing to feel so grounded. Everything looked so different as well and took much longer to get to places.

One might ask if she regretted being turned into a human, though it was not a permanent thing it did have a large effect on her. Trinket did not regret it; she did not think that she ever could regret it. It had changed her life, for the better she liked to think.

Getting back to her master would be nice and trinket nodded at his words. "Master will probably give you the shiny round things. Like she gives to the other humans! I like those shiny things but master never gives them to me. Something about me not understanding their value…"[/b] Money was obviously something the young crow did not understand despite all her intelligence. It had been the cause of many problems.

With his hands drying out her hair Trinket felt her whole body relax. She was saddened when he pulled away having already dried her face and neck along with running most of the water out of her long black tresses. She wondered if this was what Cillian felt like all the time when he was getting petted. Turning her gaze to the wolf she suddenly envied him. Trinket stared into Cillian's eyes and spoke. "You are lucky… I bet you get petted all the time." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke.

Hyacinthe's words brought comfort to Trinket, to know that he would make certain that she was returned to her master. Trinket didn't know everything that her master had done to make her and make her comfortable. From the days spent finding the spell to the money put out for all of Trinkets clothing and care, these were all things that the crow – girl did not understand any of this. Smiling at him she leaned into his touch and made another content noise.

Talk about her self? What was there to say?

"Um… I first met my master when I was living with the… what did master call them?" She tapped her finger on her chin, trying to remember the word. "Gypsies? Any way, I had been nesting with them for many seasons. They rescued me when I was attached by a hawk. I was injured and they saved me, cared for me! I did not know where to go from there so I stayed!" Such a simple decision, truthfully it had been influenced by the fact that they gave her food and made her a very nice nest.

Trinket continued in a cheerful tone. "I met my master there, she often visited. I liked to play games with her, like following her and such! After a few seasons I just followed her and haven't stopped!" A pause as she corrected herself. "Well, follow her when I am not off doing something else or searching for shiny things."

While thinking about it she didn’t know much about her master. "Master… is really nice, she is a magical person, and we wonder around from city to city all the time. That is all I really know about her…" Trinket pouted and looked away. Puffing her cheeks out she huffed, thinking about all the things she knew about the woman she called master and trying to recall anything else.

"What about you, Hyacinthe? Tell me about your hatchling, or about how you met Cillian, or about yourself!" Her large dark eyes stared up at Hyacinth expectantly waiting for his reply.


[Sorry it took me so long to reply, school has started and stolen my muse! My replies will get better as I get into the swing of school again.]

[Hyacinthe mab Necthana]

Trinket spoke of shiny things that were undoubtedly of some value. It must have been money, or so Hyacinthe thought. Truth was, was that Hyacinthe wasn't looking for a reward though, although that's not to say that he wouldn't accept one; after all, no one would turn down any amount of coin. Either way, it didn't matter to him, she had been lost and he had found her, and he couldn't have stood idly by while she withered in the storm.

So, Hyacinthe didn't make that the focus of their conversation.

Instead, Hyacinthe continued to watch and listen to her, occasionally looking to the fire. When she whispered to Cillian, he had to smile since Cillian relayed the words to Hyacinthe; you are lucky...I bet you get petted all the time. Cillian, though, looked pleasant as he practically preened and nestled closer to Trinket as if to say, on cue with her words, yes. Hyacinthe lifted his hand though and set his fingers in Trinket's hair so that she would not go on without affection for the night. He ran his fingers through her dark tresses.

Hyacinthe had often played the listener often; after all, it's a timeless trait to have when one's in the royal army, and especially if one didn't wish to speak of themself. That and it allowed one to look at things from an unbiased view. So, Hyacinthe listened to Trinket, and although he had many questions, he did not judge her. Yet, the moment she mentioned gypsies...well, Hyacinthe couldn't help the feel of his heart suddenly tightening.

He saw his mother's face; dark eyes, olive flesh and darker hair.

He learned that she had stood with the gypsies and that they had taken care of her when anyone else would have watched in fascination. It was like them to do such a thing though; after all, the gypsies were unlike others. Hyacinthe had to own that they were more welcoming than most he had ever known, and even to him...well, eventually.

He had been anathema once...like the bastard.

He listened still, smiling at her words. He couldn't help but imagine her as some feathered being wandering at the heels of another, or flitting from branch to branch...ah! Was it true...? It had to be, and Hyacinthe hoped it was, honestly. Then he thought about her master, the woman, and considered what sort of woman she to be to have transformed Trinket from a crow to...well, a human being.

He hadn't realized he was so deep in thought until the moment she questioned him.

He looked up with raised brows, wide eyes and a gaping mouth.

"I...well," he looked thoughtful. "My hatchling...her name's Adara," he said suddenly. "She has...dark hair, somewhat like her mother's own, but the shade of mine own skin when I'm not covered in dirt," he said with a smile. "I daresay she's lighter than me though, and she has my eyes...she's a charming little thing. I...I had her a woman I met in a gypsy camp once. She was a friend," he said. "A close friend," he admitted.

It had been a lover of his, and the woman had been a soiled dove; spreading her thighs for coin. She had been a rare commodity in Camelot, but Hyacinthe...Hyacinthe was attracted to women who seemed to be damsels in distress, and she had been just that. He had saved her from that life, or so he thought, until the worst and unimaginable thing had happened to her.

There were cruel men in the world and there always will be.

"She had the babe, and...and she left her in my father's keeping...she was only a few months old, I..." He looked thoughtful. "Four, I think. Yes, four...she was so very little...still is!" He said and laughed. "I counted her fingers and toes every time I saw her...looked into her eyes and touched her growing hair..." He smiled to himself. "She's a smart girl, you know, and I think she'd like you...you'd like her too, I imagine." He said and looked amused.

Yet, there were tears there in his eyes...

He was separated from his daughter with the need to support her. His father was more a father to her than he had been or ever will truly be. It was unfortunate, but necessary, and he hoped she would not judge him harshly when she came of age. Fortunately, she hadn't yet, but then she was still a small child that was soothed with a toy, a gentle touch and tales of feats he's conquered.

He knuckled at his eyes with his freehand.

"As for Cillian...I found him when he was cub. He was in a caravan filled with exotic creatures being towed southward to Italy. I stopped it, overlooked it and saw him there...he....Cillian didn't want to be there. I daresay all of them didn't wish to be. They were hurt and most of them sick; deprieved of food and water. The merchant had wanted to pay me off, but I declined and placed him under my custody and took the caravan into Camelot. As for Cillian...well, I took him personally and tended him, and now look at him." Hyacinthe said, untangling his fingers from her hair and scratching Cillian behind the ears who rumbled with pleasure. Hyacinthe smiled. "Now he has an ego with the way he looks!"

He sighed, shook his head and bit his lower lip.

"I'm not much," he admitted suddenly. "Just a man getting through with life. I'm pleased so far...well, mayhap a bit lonely," he admitted. "Cillian's wonderful company, but nothing beats that of a woman," he said and laughed before clearing his throat almost awkwardly. He changed the subject quickly. "I'm a scout for the royal army. I don't do much fighting. They say I'd be useless in that sort of enviroment. I don't take well to superiors, but I can track and read the land better than anyone else," he said and looked proud of that, even filling his bare, muscled chest with a deep breath. He huffed it out.

"Now, though...well, I think I may end up becoming an instructor eventually. Teach others how to work as I do, although I really won't mind that. I'd like to stay in Camelot for a change...at least until Adara's old enough for me to teach her the way of the world," he sighed and fell silent as his and lifted back to Trinket's hair. He lolled his head to watch her.

"Is your master teaching you of the world...?" He dared to ask.

[Trinket the Crow]

The crow happily continued to pet the wolf, giggling when he nestled closer to her. The little voice in her head telling her to run from the large dog had subsided letting her just enjoy his company. Hyacinthe started running his finger though her dark locks drawing another content purr from Trinket's throat.

Continuing on with her short history Trinket noted the smile that formed on the man's when she talked about her time with the gypsies. Hyacinthe descended into thought that it seemed a shock to him when she interrupted his thinking with her question. He spoke of his daughter, his hatchling Adara and the crow listened with rapt attention to his words. His wife as well, though only a little. His hatchling sounded delightful and Trinket decided she would like to meet this mini-human some time. She wondered idly if he would want her see her again though. After all she was the strange little bird-woman who understood very little about being human or human things.

There were tears in his eyes when he finished speaking and even after he rubbed out the tears there was still some remaining wetness on his cheeks. Taking hold of a corner of the blanket Trinket reached out and dabbed it on his skin, effectively soaking up the remainder of his tears.

Tilting her head to the side she stared at him curiously. There were many human emotions that she had heard of but never seen. Her master had told her about sadness, about something called crying as well though Trinket had yet to experience it. It looked… painful, to be leaking from the eyes like he was.

"You are leaking? Is this crying? Are you hurting?" Her voice was curious as she tugged the blanket around her self again. Her eyes held her curiosity as they searched his face cataloguing his reaction and the look on his face for future reference.

Cillian's history was quite interesting, to think that this beast had once been a pup stuck in a caravan with a collection of other animals. The idea of him being deprived of food and water at any point in his life seemed almost improbable now. He was such a handsome creature. Laughing at Hyacinthe's last words Trinket kissed the wolf on his wet nose and then smoothed down some of the wolf's fur, brushing out a few pieces of earth that clung to him as well as some loose fur.

She did not understand his next words, why did the company of a female matter? She stared at him curiously trying to figure out what he meant by that. There was a silence that Hyacinth found almost awkward but Trinket just took it as him thinking of his next words.

His job sounded interesting, kind of like that of her own master. It didn't sound like an occupation that gave you enough time to settle down. Trinket and her master lived nomadically spending most of the time sleeping in the woods and in fields. She wondered if she could do something like that as well, scouting the lands as a bird would surely be easier than scouting as a human.

Her master might have something to say about that though and Trinket would not be a good employee. Her virtually non-existent attention span would cause many problems along with her pension for walking about in the nude.

Her master had most certainly been teaching her about the world. It was more a matter of whether in information stuck with the crow. "Master tries, but there are many things that I do not under stand. Why do you human's insist on wearing clothing? You have hair on your bodies so why do you need clothes? At the place that we are staying people are always nude in their rooms, and that lay together and made these strange noises. Master's cheeks redden when the people in the next room make those noises. Why?" It was just questions, questions, and more questions. Suddenly the flood gate had opened and all her questions came out.

"And the shiny things you exchange for things. What is their importance?" Her master had tried to explain all this to her, but she had little success and little time when they stayed in cities because she was almost always busy. It was mostly their time traveling that things could be explained. Though Trinket's innocent could also be contributed to her short amount of time as a human.