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    A figure smiled as he held a parchment he had been given which spoke of a creature roaming the area as he walked and looked around "I wonder where it is? Oh im so excited! Maybe we can help it if it is hurt or lost!" He thought aloud as he looked all around for any signs of an out of place creature. For the first few days he didnt seem to find anything. He glanced back to his compatriot. "think we will find it today?" he asked, his tail swaying a bit more in his excitement as his ears perked listening for sound.

    Before much longer he paused seeing brief movement and gazed in the direction looking for any indication of familiarity, his eyes widening seeing what it was "A wooful..." He muttered amazed as he bowed his head in respect towards the creature. This had to be what he was meant to find. He glanced to the other with him and smiled excitedly

It was a surprise to be approached by Mikael and asked to accompany him on a search for one of his... creatures. More so when he thought back on the way he felt compelled to do so, to assist this... person he had met and knew and was... present in his life now.

He had told himself it was because of duty. For members of the Moonglade guard, it was not unusual for a few to offer their services to or have them requested by the general populace. To see a few of their number traveling with caravans along trade roots or bolstering the defense of nobles traveling out of the bounds of the continent wasn't strange... but it was strange for Sable to go to his captain and request the time off, to wave his pay and the fee that might be expected of Mikael enlisting his aid.

Not that he mentioned it to the other man, of course. Just as he didn't mention that journeying with him brought him outside of Moonglade for the first time in... since he was a child, he believed. He didn't want to think about himself, and talking about it would be worse. Even as he was certain Mikael wouldn't press if he showed any discomfort. He was... kind like that. Understanding.

Whatever unease twisted within him sharply as the passed on beyond the boundaries of what he knew to lands he was unfamiliar with, Mikael helped to distract him from it. A softer expression always gracing Sable's features, a whisper of what could be a smile teasing at his lips every so often as his... companion spoke excitedly, it was endearing, this liveliness—this vibrancy that was very much a part of them.

"Perhaps," he had answered honestly, pointing out various tracks, new and old, as they went about their search. He may have left the life of a hunter—the way of his family behind, but certain instincts and certain skills could not be left behind, and in this case, they served them well.

Sable froze as they happened upon the creature, his guard up even as it—the woolful was docile in nature. He would not risk Mikael by not remaining aware of their surroundings, but as they watched it for a moment, something struck the former hunter as odd.

"...it is strange," he said, keeping his voice low. "These creatures travel in herds, but this one is alone." He glanced at Mikael, noting the excitement and tempering it with his stoicism. "...was it separated from its herd?"

“It must have been.. poor thing it shouldn’t be alone..” he remarked as he slowly stood moving a bit closer to the creature who looked over and took an offensive stance growling towards him. “It’s alright I won’t hurt you friend..” he remarked softly as he moved onto a knee and held out his hand with a bowed head waiting to see if the animal would calm and accept. It however kept it stance lowering its front half ready to attack if needed before barking looking for any sense of movement or tricks in such circumstances. Mikael merely stated as he was glancing back towards sable holding out his hand for the other to join him hoping that would be enough to calm the creature “maybe he will be more comfortable if we are both like this. Then he knows we don’t want to hurt him and aren’t predators ya know?”

Sable's gaze didn't remain on the woolful for very long. It remained in his peripheral vision, his awareness of it constant, but it wasn't where he directed most of his focus. Instead, he kept himself aware of the surrounding area. If the animal was injured, if its herd had been attacked, or if it had been driven off by some sort of threat, he would make sure that they weren't caught by surprise. The last thing they needed was a larger predator descending upon them unawares, attracted to the easy meal Mikael had brought them to.

A hunter once, a hunter always, as his mother had told him, and as he turned to watch Mikael attempt to earn the beast's trust. He couldn't help but wonder what tone she would adopt now if she were to watch this unfold, if it would be condescending or wielded as an insult to correct this... behavior.

He could practically feel the searing heat of her sneering down at him from wherever she was as he met Mikael's ethereal eyes and eased forward a few steps to be at the other man's side, kneeling as he did to look less intimidating. In doing so, though, he had an idea, remembering the necklace he wore, the one that had belonged to Tallas, that he had used to speak with Celeste.

His voice gentle, calm much like the frozen surface of a lake within the dead of winter, Sable spoke to the woolful, invoking the magic intertwined with the leather and silver threaded about his throat. "Be at peace, friend. We mean you know harm. There are no predators here."^[1]

"He can help you," he added after a beat, motioning to Mikael. "He is kind and gentle. His heart is true."

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[1] Item in Effect: Necklace of Animal Speech - Common (denoted by gold)

Mikael smiled a little as the other trusted him enough to join him and tilted his head ever so slightly hearing him talk to the creature wondering what he was saying to it though stayed quiet with his hand out. The Wooful looked unsure though took a few steps closer with a limp having been badly injured along its'side under the wool and to its' back leg. It sniffed a bit at the two cautiously moving a bit closer with its' guard still up and aware of what was around it doing its' best to look strong and intimidating. It soon got close to where it could touch mikaels hand, looking him over and Sable next to him before slowly moving to sit as best as it could. After a careful glance around and at the pair it sniffed his hand again and soon gave it a lick, sticking its' muzzle onto his hand showing it trusted them for now at least and knowing it needed help

Mikael looked up slowly and smiled with warmth and relief as he looked at the creature "Let's get you cleaned up alright?" he asked softly before looking to sable His cheeks were still bright red from the compliments and words of the other "thank you for w-what you said sable"

Although he was familiar with the magic bound to the necklace, Sable had never used it before. His words could be conveyed to Celeste in the language they shared, the one that followed his cursed blood and was like liquid fire upon his tongue, and until this moment... he had never thought to use it. There had never been a reason to, in his mind.

He hardly conversed with people as it was, but as he watched the woolful approach, as he saw its burden of worry ease some as it grew accustomed to their presence and... trust in it as much as a creature could, he wondered if maybe he should try. It was not as if they could respond, and whether they understood completely or not, it was better than going each day questioning whether or not he had said anything at all. Or feel guilty when he knew with certainty what the answer was.

...and as he saw Mikael smile warmly, as he saw the relief in his expression with the woolful docile and trusting with him, Sable considered it more than worth it to try. If only to help the other man from time to time, icy eyes noting the blush but focused on their illuminated gaze.

"I spoke only the truth, Mikael," Sable said gently, sharp features gentled a little, "and I am glad that I was able to... help."

Taking care to not make his movements sudden and shatter the peace that had fallen between creature and person, Sable backed off and slowly stood. "...I shall keep watch in case the scent of blood draws anything here," he added quietly. "Call out to me if you need my help, but I am... not overly experienced with healing of any kind."

Bowing his head, Sable began to walk towards the outer edge of the clearing. With near silent steps, he began to keep to the edge of the canopy's shadows, eyes and ears perked for any danger.

Mikael's blush grew a bit at that and he gave the other a smile "Still, thank you and I'm thankful for your help as well. It means a lot to me" He explained and nodded as they other continued "Of course I'll let you know" He nodded and looked to the creature getting out his first aid kit moving some of the wool to se the claw marks "Everything will be okay friend. Sable is good at protecting and is kind so nothing will bother us" He said quietly and began to clean the wounds gently before wrapping them "If they re-open we will have to stitch them but for now you should rest friend" he smiled and reached into his bag pulling out a small scroll "You only have to be in here till we can get you somewhere safer and comfier and then I promise you can be out to rest" he continued.

The creature shifted a bit here and there as it tried to stay calm and trust in the others, relaxing when the wounds were fixed up a bit, nuzzling the boys legs a bit as it laid there, looking at the scroll then laying his head on the others lap seeming to agree to the situation for now. With a small smile he pet the wooful and then spoke the words on the scroll, as the wooful disappeared into light and into the scroll. He then stood "Alright he's safe and sound and should be able to rest for now"

His eyes flicked to Mikael as they spoke to the woolful for just a moment, their words carrying in the quiet that settled over the area. He needed to refrain from keeping his attention fixated on something or someone for too long to keep proper watch, but when he heard the other man mention him by name and compliment him in a way he didn't quite deserve, he couldn't help but be distracted... if only a moment.

Ever a man of discipline and focus, however, Sable was soon returning to his task at hand. Wintered gaze sharp, it drifted much like a gentle breeze might from shadow to shadow, from one flicker of movement to the next, from the lowest points that were the forest floor to the branches that stretched upwards towards the sun's radiant rays. No detail too small, no sound too minor, he watched and perceived with a hunter's skill, the instinct never forgotten and having yet to fail him.

What the lessons of his past had not prepared him for, however, was a sudden burst of light that had him turning to watch as the woolful vanished, the threads of its... essence transferring into a scroll that Mikael held. And with wide eyes, Sable looked from the parchment to the other man, confusion, alarm, but not fear, apparent in the way he regarded them and what had just happened.

"...what... what did you just do?" he asked carefully, clearing all emotion from his voice. The world of magic was vast and varied, and he knew only a little and understood only enough to be aware of the dangers somewhat over the uses that it could have, being unable to cast it himself.

He gently put the scroll in his bag and picked up his first aid kit “oh it’s a spell I learned. It puts them in a safe space until I call them out. I figured it would be easier to get him somewhere safe this way. I don’t like keeping creatures in their scrolls a lot so it’s just till we find a safe spot for him to heal and rest.” He explained walking to the other “sorry should I have said something before doing it? I didn’t think about how it could look or anything” he remarked a bit worried he had put the other off with his actions which he would never mean to do. He was a bit worried as he awaited a reply “I promise he’s safe and sound though I wouldn’t do it if it harmed them or anything”

Sable frowned as if he were deep in thought as Mikael spoke, puzzling over this new information. He had never heard of a spell that could... do such a thing as that, a great many questions coming to mind about it, though, for the moment, he decided against voicing them as while there was no danger, it would be safer for them to leave the small clearing that was likely saturated with the scent of the woolful's blood.

It was enough to know that it was safe, and Sable trusted Mikael. He cared too much about his work and the creatures that he helped care for to do anything that would harm them, and it was as he said: it would be easier to get the woolful somewhere safe without having to try to coax or herd it through the woods.

"...I see," he finally said after a bit of silence stretched on longer than he intended. "And it is... alright," he added to reassure. "My... experiences with magic are limited and most of what I know are about spells that could be... used against me," as it was wielded just as often as any weapon against members of the guard.

"I just... wasn't expecting it," he continued, "but it is... nothing you need to apologize for, and I... I know you wouldn't do anything harmful to them," or me, he wished he could say, though his wounds were still too raw, even if their physical forms had healed.

Breathing deeply, what he said next came with a bowed head. "I apologize, though. I did not mean to sound... accusatory or cold. I simply... did not understand."

"Ah i-its okay. Next time I'll tell you before doing anything magic related okay?" he asked not wanting to startle the other with spells and such before he held out his hand to the other "ready to return home?" he asked with a small smile thankful the other wasn't mad or anything of that nature. He didnt know why he worried and fretted so much over the other and what he thought but he did and it was important that he didnt upset him "oh- I just remembered you aren't big on physical contact sorry" he lowered his hand awkwardly glancing around a bit embarassed by his forgetfulness "so um...ready to go then?" he asked scratching his cheek lightly as they had turned a bright red hoping he didnt make things awkward as his tail swayed a bit anxiously behind him, his ears a little drooped than they trpically were

Not for the first time, Sable cursed his upbringing, cursed his way of thinking. He didn't want to make Mikael warn him of his use of magic, just as he didn't want him to think he needed to refrain from using it as naturally as one might breathe should it come to him as easily. It would be cruel, not unlike clipping the wings off of a bird because not everyone had the ability to fly.

"You... you don't need to do that, Mikael," he said softly, frowning a little. "It is... not your fault that I am unfamiliar, and I do not want you to... limit yourself because of me." His gaze had dropped from the other man for a moment, but in the next second, Sable found himself looking into those radiant blue eyes that were captivating in a way. "I will grow used to it, and I do not mind it. I promise."

Releasing a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding once he said his piece, he had looked up to gauge the weather. For a while now, he had smelled water on the air and felt a telling heaviness upon the breeze that spoke to rain, but the clouds he saw were too thin to carry it for the time being, and with luck, the wind would sweep whatever storms might come this day above them.

His attention returning to Mikael, he had begun to nod that, yes, he was ready to return when he noticed that the other man was holding his hand out to him. An innocent gesture, one that was out of kindness and in the spirit of this budding... friendship, he supposed it was, between them, but that didn't stop him from freezing a little, a pang of guilt lancing through him sharply that he would... have to refuse.

As Mikael apologized for forgetting, that guilt only grew within him, and an aborted sound left Sable in a rush as he tried to stop him but couldn't find the words quickly enough. Instead, he winced, shaking his head as he did so before he finally forced his tongue to work.

"...it is alright," he managed. "I know you..." his heart sank a little to see the anxious twitch of the tiefling's tail, to see the embarrassment that was clear as day upon his expression as their demeanor shifted a little. "It is alright," he repeated, "...and I am ready to go, if you are."

Swallowing down his aversion, Sable approached Mikael then, and with a great deal of hesitation—a great deal of inner turmoil that waged war within him, he reached out and rested his hand on their shoulder. For one heartbeat. Two. By the third, he felt his resolve slipping, and by the fourth, he had to remove it.

All the while, though, as he looked down at the other man, Sable's expression had been soft. It had been peaceful and thoughtful in equal measure, and as he pulled away, his voice had been a tender sort of melody, a hum without music.

"Come," he had said. "I remember the way."

"Are you sure? I dont wanna freak you out and I dont mind explaining it if it helps" he remarked looking at the other and at his piercing blue gaze. "I guess if you ever have questions about what a spell is or something at least feel free to ask okay?" he asked wanting the other to be comfortable

"R-right let's go then" he gave a small smile still a bit awkward feeling after his little mistake he had made and tried to pull himself back together before his eyes widened surprised, tail stopping mid swing at the touch looking to the other amazed and in awe. The touch was warm and kind and his smile grew more genuine and true as he looked at the other "thank you..."he remarked before nodding "Lead the way"