He lets out a low and slow sigh, his breath leaving his lungs and escaping out of his mouth and nostrils. He inhaled the cold air around once more before he scoots over and sits near the fire he made outside. The warmth it provided as well as the sound of the wood crackling calmed the fellow orc. Late at night and away from his home at the moment, Boris took this time for himself to finally relax and calm his nerves a bit, with only to him and his surroundings.
It seemed like his village really wanted a lot from him today. Be it he did get some help with some tasks, the orc had ended up with an aching back and arms and a minor headache to go with it by the end of the day. Letting out another sigh, Boris tried to ease his mind. He vaguely considers maybe making some tea, seeing as he brought himself a tin pot, a small cup, and some herbs.
It seemed like his village really wanted a lot from him today. Be it he did get some help with some tasks, the orc had ended up with an aching back and arms and a minor headache to go with it by the end of the day. Letting out another sigh, Boris tried to ease his mind. He vaguely considers maybe making some tea, seeing as he brought himself a tin pot, a small cup, and some herbs.
Wolves and wildcats did not always move with the cautious stealth they were often praised for. Such creatures were generally confident in their own territories, sure of their way and their rule, and moved smoothly, without fear. Something moving slowly, with caution and care of the leaves and shrubs, might easier be an intruder to the woods. And sure enough, the figure too silent, too careful, did not belong.
A boy with curly brown hair which fell about to his jaw moved slowly, dark eyes warily glancing up to trace the slight smoke. He was moving to investigate the fire beneath it. It was growing cold enough that he would try to get a closer look. His hopes were not high -- and creeping up behind a boulder, the human was given what he perceived as cause for alarm. He had barely seen orcs before -- usually only from a distance, and had heard mostly tales of their brutality. The boy's eyes, wide, gleamed slightly before he shifted into shadows to observe how dangerous the orc looked, considering his options. As quietly as he could, however, he would draw the knife from his belt.
A boy with curly brown hair which fell about to his jaw moved slowly, dark eyes warily glancing up to trace the slight smoke. He was moving to investigate the fire beneath it. It was growing cold enough that he would try to get a closer look. His hopes were not high -- and creeping up behind a boulder, the human was given what he perceived as cause for alarm. He had barely seen orcs before -- usually only from a distance, and had heard mostly tales of their brutality. The boy's eyes, wide, gleamed slightly before he shifted into shadows to observe how dangerous the orc looked, considering his options. As quietly as he could, however, he would draw the knife from his belt.
The orc, shrugging, reaches for his tin pot and satchel of water. Suppose for him, he might as well just make himself something hot to drink. And considering how the usual shakes and shivers from the cold, it's probably a good idea to warm himself up as well.
The large fellow was unaware of the boy's presence. Being much too preoccupied with wanting to make himself tea, Boris didn't bat an eyelash at the very low and muffled sounds nearby, that were more closer then he knows; He assumes they're from one of the harmless nocturnal animals. However, he keeps his hatchet nearby him at all times, just in case.
The large fellow was unaware of the boy's presence. Being much too preoccupied with wanting to make himself tea, Boris didn't bat an eyelash at the very low and muffled sounds nearby, that were more closer then he knows; He assumes they're from one of the harmless nocturnal animals. However, he keeps his hatchet nearby him at all times, just in case.
The options presented themselves: Sneak right back away. Attempt to greet the fearsome creature, perhaps offer something in trade for sharing the fire -- though Bialis was aware that the things he had to offer were fairly limited. Continue observing, remain cautious, though it seemed nothing too damning was going on... The cold made his decision for him. The boy would ordinarily not approach someone with his weapon drawn, but this situation made a definite exception. What little he knew about orcs made that level of caution seem entirely necessary. He doubted he'd even be perceived as a threat, small as he was in comparison. More as someone willing to cause problems if ... well, attacked.
The human rose, the knife held loosely at his side, his face nervous, dark eyes darting quickly between close points. "Hello," he greeted the orc, voice cautious.
The human rose, the knife held loosely at his side, his face nervous, dark eyes darting quickly between close points. "Hello," he greeted the orc, voice cautious.
The orc lets an abrupt gasp, but he quickly regains composure. The sudden voice cut him off guard. And the orc raises am eyebrow to the stranger.
"Uhm, hello." The orc said warily and nods. Normally, the boy's presence would have been welcomed in more humble manner. However, being the dead of night and alone out here, the orc can't feel but be a little concerned by this. And seeing that he had his hand near his weapon only added more to that. "Who are you?" Boris asks out of impulse.
"Uhm, hello." The orc said warily and nods. Normally, the boy's presence would have been welcomed in more humble manner. However, being the dead of night and alone out here, the orc can't feel but be a little concerned by this. And seeing that he had his hand near his weapon only added more to that. "Who are you?" Boris asks out of impulse.
Bialis was slightly calmed by the fact that the Orc had not gone straight for a weapon. Well, that was a good sign anyway. He stepped forward just slightly. "My name is Bialis -- I'm passing through these woods, and I saw your fire... Any chance I could warm up here?" His slightly scratchy voice was decidedly awkward, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on the orc much as one would look at a bear. Except he was going to try to approach the bear. This was insane.
There was a moment of silence. Would he let this stranger sit near him? It would be the easiest way to get killed off guard. However, seeing him cold and without any visible source of heat to keep him warm, could he be as cruel as to deny this boy such simple help?
The orc examines him quietly, looking up and down. Beyond the dirt on his face, the boy seems fairly young. Pondering a bit, Boris wonders. What would this young man gain from killing him? Free tea and fire to keep him alive for the night? The large fellow could keep thinking, but seeing the other waiting for an answer, the orc couldn't just keep him standing there all night.
"..Perhaps." He finally utters out. He makes gesture at his hatchet, making it clear for the other to see. "I put away mine if you put away yours, Bialis." Boris looks over at the boy's weapon.
The orc examines him quietly, looking up and down. Beyond the dirt on his face, the boy seems fairly young. Pondering a bit, Boris wonders. What would this young man gain from killing him? Free tea and fire to keep him alive for the night? The large fellow could keep thinking, but seeing the other waiting for an answer, the orc couldn't just keep him standing there all night.
"..Perhaps." He finally utters out. He makes gesture at his hatchet, making it clear for the other to see. "I put away mine if you put away yours, Bialis." Boris looks over at the boy's weapon.
The boy was somewhat relieved; from what he knew or had heard of orcs, he wasn't sure if it would be even possible to avoid a hostile response. But the creature seemed fairly intelligent and -- decent, anyway. There was a moment's hesitancy before he sheathed his knife, lips drawing into a thin line, the line of his shoulders and back going tense as if preparing to flee if necessary, not sure if it was a trick. He was too paranoid in general to recognize the signs that the orc clearly wasn't looking for a fight -- too wary of highly unlikely treachery.
Boris tossed his hatchet aside. Not too far from him but enough that it was out of arms reach. An idiotic move on his part. Blindly throwing his own means of defense. However, he was large and built. If the boy attacked, he's sure he can handle with bare fists. However, the boy might be quick and nimble. Who knows how fast he might be?
It goes without saying Boris was somewhat tense as well. He glances over Bialis, furrowing and inadvertently giving a worried look. He tries to shake off his current expression, wiggling his nose then snorting a bit. After a long and unease silence, Boris opens his mouth and speaks. "Why are you going through the woods, youngling?" He rubs his hands together a bit, trying to warm them up.
It goes without saying Boris was somewhat tense as well. He glances over Bialis, furrowing and inadvertently giving a worried look. He tries to shake off his current expression, wiggling his nose then snorting a bit. After a long and unease silence, Boris opens his mouth and speaks. "Why are you going through the woods, youngling?" He rubs his hands together a bit, trying to warm them up.
A fair question; the boy was for the time distracted by the fire itself, silent, hands out before it. "Travelling," he answered dully, though that much was obvious. "Thought I would take the more direct way and not risk highwaymen." Clearly he was ill-prepared for the woods; the explanation was a little dubious. He kept glancing to the orc, uncertain. "What about you, then?"
"Huh?--" The orc pauses for a second. "Oh, I'm simply out here to relieve myself. Today was rather stressful." He reaches for his side again and takes out the pot again. The orc almost forgot about it. "I'm planning to make some tea. Care for some, youngling?" He offers. Hopefully offering something to drink for the boy and himself might ease the tension between them.
The human was initially uncertain, but after some pause nodded. The tense line which traveled across his shoulders and down his back relaxed somewhat. An orc making tea? Well, he couldn't be all bad, then. "To be honest," Bialis said in as humorous a tone as he could manage. "I'd thought Orcs would prefer... well, blood or something." A bit offensive, that! He was curious what Boris meant by seeking relief out in the woods. From what?
"Drinking blood?" The orc couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Now why would I drink something that's harder to swallow down and could be carrying any nasty diseases? Bleh!" Of course someone would presume that he's some sort of savage monster. It's a stereotype that many of his kind have to deal with it. Of course, that's not saying he can't drink blood. It's just something he rather not drink.
"Do I look like some sort of vampire to you, youngling?" He say, still amused. He places the pot on the fire and goes for his satchel.
"Do I look like some sort of vampire to you, youngling?" He say, still amused. He places the pot on the fire and goes for his satchel.
The boy looked a little embarrassed, hearing the orc's utter disbelief and amusement. "I don't know," he answered honestly, finding it maybe a tiny bit funny. "I guess I sort of figured..." Well now he felt a bit stupid. He of all people ought to know that stories didn't necessarily reflect reality! "I don't know. I've never seen a vampire. Hell, I've barely seen an Orc before now! Sorry." His cheeks were a bit red, from either embarrassment or the cold. "Just heard some pretty brutal stories."
The orc still laughed a little. Opening the satchel, he pours the water inside into the pot. Well, now Boris feels much less threatened by the other. Putting away his satchel, he goes and gives the other a friendly pat on the back. "Heheh, it's fine, youngling. I suppose I should be glad I'm the first one you met up close." He nods. "If it means anything, I've heard of some unpleasant stories about humans as well. I still haven't heard the story about the human drinking the blood of its enemies however." Another amused hum. He's still on that; sheesh.
Kara had been walking through the forest, looking for a nice and plump deer, or something better for dinner. It had been a while when she caught the sound of people talking to eachother, and stealthy came upon them. Due to her natural capability to stalk prey, she came upon them virtually unnoticeable. She heard them talking, one human boy and one male orc adult from the sounds of it, assuming that there wasn't any others that were being completely silent. They were talking about orcs and vampires or something along the lines, the boy stating that he had never seen a vampire before. She came up to the fire and stepped out of the shadows while at the same time saying, "hellow fellow travelers." All her weapons were nice and tucked away out of sight, and very few could actually distinguish her breed of vampires from humans at a glance.
Once again, the orc is startled by the sudden presence of another person being here. Though unlike the boy, he couldn't hear a single hint of her footsteps or anything along that line. Still, being amused by previous conversation he was having with the boy, the orc regain composure and chuckled it off. "Hello to you too." He gives a small smile at her. To think he came out here to be alone. Now he has two unexpected guest near his fire.
Bialis was increasingly embarrassed. Well, of course he'd heard unpleasant stories about humans -- humans could be terribly unpleasant! That didn't really mean humans were by nature skull-smashing bandits, as he'd heard Orcs to be. "Well, I'm sure, I... I don't think it's really a thing with humans." Well. There went all his natural charisma. He was startled, hand jumping for half a second to the knife at his belt though not unsheathing it, as a third presence came out of absolutely nowhere. Maybe it was the crackle of the fire, but Bialis had terribly good hearing and observational skills in general, and the woman had completely hidden, whether on purpose or accident, any sense of her approach!
"How -- Oh come on! Nobody's that quiet!" (Bialis might have been a touch jealous of a person who could step without so much as disturbing the leaves.)
"How -- Oh come on! Nobody's that quiet!" (Bialis might have been a touch jealous of a person who could step without so much as disturbing the leaves.)
"I'm naturally this quite, comes with being born a predator, and don't bother attempting to use the knife," she advised, even if he could throw it dodging or catching the knife was a fairly simple matter, if he attempted an assault on her, she likely would be able to disarm and or knock him out in the first move.
"He won't use the knife," He looks at Bialis for a few seconds before looking at Kara. "The youngling was simply startled by the sudden appearance of another traveler here. Nothing to worry about." He examines her a bit before continuing. "And I'm assuming you're not gonna use any of your weapons?" Of course, he doesn't see any visible tools for defense on her; Or at least any he's not aware of. But he's not taking any chances. Even if she denies she has any, he'll keep a close eye on her.
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