Beist's wagon parked on the side of the road as the sun beginning to set. Now seemed like a good time to stop for the night and rest. Dora was tired after a long day of travel. Beist stepped down from the front seat of the wagon and walked up to the big griffon, petting her as he took the harness off of her to let her relax. She let out a short screech and stretched her wings.

Shortly after stopping for the night, Beist prepared a meal for him and all of his pets from the fruits and vegetables he conjured up and some preserved meat he'd bought in a town he'd passed through. A delicious smell wafted out of the pot that hung over the fire as Beist mixed it, humming cheerily. The only pet that wasn't eagerly awaiting the meal was the tiny vampire bat that had latched onto Beist's tail and was drinking his fill without the beast man noticing at all.

Beist's pets weren't the only creatures attracted by the smell of the stew, though. A yellow pair of eyes peeked out from behind some large rocks nearby, taking in the sight of the camp. It hid behind the rocks anytime Beist or one of his pets looked its way.

---

Bringing Pets
Griffon (Sleigh Bell)
Woolful (My Best Friend)
Snow Owl
Raccoon Dog

Create Food

Making her way along the path these past few days, Del had her hair and face as best obscured as she could. She truly loved the Ash Lands, though it didn't overly welcome her when she had last visited... in fact, she had been driven out. But she kept coming back, pulled inexorably by the cultures and the landscape and the air itself. It felt like something hung here, a slight pressure that was either the altitude or the weight of that which had come before. The art here; that was what seemed to swell her heart. The techniques of carving and whittling and woodwork were beautiful, so tied to a history so few others seemed willing-- or able-- to speak on.

But, Del had more immediate concerns, namely where she might sleep tonight. The sun was nearly set, and there was no visible shelter along the sides of the road, so she would have to make a camp herself, probably a little ways off. That idea was not terribly enticing on the best of circumstances, let alone when she was trying to avoid being seen. Grimacing, she started looking for a likely place to bed down for the night, continuing up the path slowly.

As she crested the hill, the mouth-watering scent of cooking food hit her square, along with the welcoming light of a fire, just a little ways up. Del stayed within the shadows for a long moment, tense and watching. It only seemed to be one person... and their animals, perhaps? There seemed to be other four legged movement. But there seemed... Del lifted one hand to cover one eye and then the other, frowning at herself-- either she was more tired than she thought and her sense of perspective was off kilter, or that individual was quite large.

Del weighed her options as her stomach gnawed at her hesitation; there was safety in numbers, and it would be smart to approach. However, doing so was risky. This person could be unfriendly, or try to rob and kill her, or, worst of all, recognize her. It takes her a minute of listening to the peaceful humming carried on the wind before her better sense wins out; it would be smart to at least try and make contact, if for no other reason than mutual benefit. Though she would be lying if she said the idea of company wasn't driving her on as much as her tired body was.

She stepped a little closer to the rather large person and their wagon, eyeing the griffin with a mix of wonder and wariness, and ensured she made her footsteps known, so as to not surprise the camping person. They were a sight to behold, with fur and long claws and horns on their crown. Still, they didn't seem tense or jittery in a way that might make Del nervous. "Evening," She spoke in a soft voice, just loud enought to make sure it carried, all while standing a respectful distance back. Carefully, she lifted her hand to pull her scarf down a little, revealing her face and a slightly sheepish smile. On the off chance she was going to get pursued again by showing her face, it might as well be before she was totally exhausted, or worse yet, sleeping. "I don't suppose there's any extra room at your fire this evening? I might have a few more strips of meat to add to your pot, if you like." Del starts with that offer, waiting on their reaction before divulging any other pertinent information, like her name. Still, her approach was friendly. At least, she hoped so.

Beist looked up, a tad surprised by the unexpected greeting of another person in these parts. He should have expected someone else might come by since they had only pulled to the side of the path, but he had been too focused on making the stew that the idea of someone else appearing hadn't even occurred to him. He wasn't upset at all though, he actually quite enjoyed the company of others and meeting new people that didn't see him as a monster and run away.

"Good evening! Please, there's plenty of room." Beist greeted friendlily and held his hand out in greeting. "The stew is just about finished already, but if you'd like to share, I'm sure Dora would enjoy those strips of meat." He added, looking to the huge griffon which was staring at the unexpected guest while lying on the ground. With the stew finished, Beist looked around at the creatures around him and nodded. "Time to eat!"

It seemed the pot of stew was actually mostly for the beast man as all of the animals gathered around already had different meals in front of them that they had just been waiting for permission to begin eating. A large, fuzzy bee was sipping at some honey and nectar. A huge, green-wooled ram began eating some green grasses and leafy vegetables. A raccoon dog sat and began blowing on their portion of stew to cool it once it was served to them. What looked like a large, six-legged fluffy white cat with the wings of a moth licked at a bowl of flower nectar while Beist placed some chunks of meat in a little bowl next to it. Each unique creature's unique diet was carefully accounted for by Beist.

Finally, he filled a bowl and held it out for his guest before serving himself a bowl. "A pleasure to meet you! My name is Beistmild, but please call me Beist. And these are all my travelling companions." He motioned to all of the creatures around him that were enjoying their meals. "And you are?"

Del's expression cracks into a slight smile, as she inclines her head. The invitation was as warm as the fire, and she was grateful. She stepped forward to take the offered hand for a quick shake, her own rough, calloused hand so tiny in this large soul's taloned palm. And-- oh, he had an extra set of arms? That and the tail she had not caught at her observational distance. It bothered her none, and she knew better than to stare, but she had a knack, it seemed, for stumbling across the most fascinating people. "Thank you kindly, I will happily take you up on that. That stew smells delicious."

Moving to sit near the fire, Del removes her satchel and pulling the hood off her curly hair, the little gleam of salt-and-pepper showing at her temples. She sits with a grateful sigh, but first pulls out those strips of meat for... the griffin... oh, but there are so many creatures. Del offers the strips tentatively to the griffin, Dora, with a look of wonder. She wasn't a studied hand with animals by any means, but that did not stop her from loving them. The tired exterior cracks further as she looks on; the fuzzy bee, a ram with mossy wool, a raccoon dog-- a cat? A big cat with multiple limbs and wings? And of course, the griffin, splendid and refined. Some of these she had never seen before, save for one or two in an illustration she had come across.

Her host offering her a bowl brings her out of her reverie, accepting it gratefully with two hands. "Thank you again. It is a pleasure to meet you too, Beist, and all of your companions." Del allows herself another moment of unabashed delight, looking at the menagerie that was assembled around them. Her amber gaze looks back up again at Beist. "I am Delaela Asiliari, but you can call me Del." She takes a moment to blow on the stew to cool it down, thinking on her next words.

"Your group of companions is... well, I've certainly never seen such amazing animals before," she emits a light laugh, looking around again for a moment at said companions and back to her host. "What brings you all out this way, if I may ask?" She lifts a wooden spoonful to her mouth, and almost melts at the flavour, eyes closing for a second; on a cool night, after weeks of rations, something warm and hearty and blessedly salted, was a nearly spiritual experience. "This is so good."

"Oh, it's nothing special. It's just some soup. I did grow the vegetables myself though, so I hope you enjoy them." Beist waved away the compliment and tried to act cool, but he couldn't hide his tail wagging behind him showing his obvious happiness from receiving the praise. He just pretended not to notice it swaying side to side behind him.

Dora took the offered strips of meat delicately before tilting her head back and munching them down. She was very elegant, like a noble eagle which her front half resembled so much. With a gentle trill of appreciation, she went back to eating her prepared meal gracefully. Unlike her, many of the other creatures around weren't so refined. The bee wiggled happily as he ate and the raccoon dog ate messily, pausing to lick the broth off their face every now and then.

The compliment to himself, he played down. He was bad at receiving compliments even if they did make him happy. But the compliment to his pets, he couldn't be happier about! His tail swayed a bit faster as he chuckled and his smile grew bigger.

"They are quite amazing creatures, aren't they? They're all very precious to me!" He reached a hand out and pet the huge griffon next to him as she ate. "Aren't they adorable? Oh! You should meet the rest of my companions!" He said as he reached a hand up excitedly to the fluffy fur around his neck and extracted a little white snake with golden, feathery wings that had been hidden in his fur. "This is Pretzels!"

As Beist was excitedly introducing the hissing winged snake, another creature suddenly hopped up onto Del's shoulder from behind. A little fox with purple and yellow fur that leaned forward and started to eat out of her bowl of soup hungrily.

"It's easily the best soup I've had in months," she beams. And the vegetables were perfect. Not overboiled and still full of flavour. Her eyes move to watch the griffin again, admiring how graceful and sophisticated the creature was. She held herself like royalty, plumed in resplendence. Though she also found her eye drawn to the others, shoulders bobbing in a silent laugh at the clear juxtaposition of the griffin's sensibilities with the others... well, lack thereof.

Not that they needed it; she found them all the more adorable, so wonderfully unburdened by decorum and wholly their own creatures, unbeholden to societal convention. There was a purity in that she could not help find endearing. And Beist was also endearing in that way, so proud of his many little friends, clearly excited to show them off with the back-and-forth swish of his tail. It was just as wholesome as the soup in her hands. Any caution Del typically held onto out of habit was completely out the window at this point.

As he introduced Del to the winged snake she had not seen before, her eyes widen. "Their name is Pretzels?!" Del whisper-gasps, holding her soup bowl close with one hand and extending the other out slowly for the winged snake with a broad grin of absolute delight, giving Pretzel the opportunity to smell her, if they liked. "They're gorgeous-- what manner of creature are they? I've never seen the like!"

There's a sudden weight on her shoulder and Del holds still, tensing at the sudden pressure. Her eyes flick to the side as a fox just dove face first into her bowl of soup. A surprised laugh jumps from her lips, and she remains still, no intention whatsoever to stop the little creature. She knew it was best to be still and slow around animals, especially when you were unfamiliar to them. "Oh! And who's this one?" She asks Beist, assuming that this was yet another one of Beist's retinue. "I think this case and point for evidence of how good your soup is."

"Stop calling me Pretzels! I am Quetzalcoatl! I will not suffer this indignity of being named after some salty bread snack!" Pretzels' voice cried out in Beist's head as he hissed. Beist lowered him in his hand where he stayed still, well behaved in stark contrast to his angry ranting and hissing demeanor. Beist payed no mind to the ranting in his head from his familiar, used to it by now. This little fellow was always like that.

"He's a feathered serpent, also known as a quetzalcoatl. Isn't he just adorable?" Beist chuckled as he stroked Pretzels back.

"I am not adorable! I am powerful and majestic! All cowered before me! I ruled the mountain top and the skies above it, the animals bowed to- oh, this pleases me..." Pretzel's hissing was cut off as Beist began to tickle under his chin and the serpent leaned back to allow easier access.

Beist heard Del ask about another one of his companions and looked from the serpent to her, expecting maybe Awd or Sorbet to have jumped onto her, but was surprised to see the little fox lapping at the broth and munching on the chunks of meat and vegetables, its face messy and dripping from the soup.

"Ah, um, that is... not one of my companions..." Beist stammered, staring at the fox.

With that, the fox gave a wry smile and jumped off of Del's shoulder! Fast and agile, like a little streak of purple lightning, the fox began to scramble around the camp site! It ran by the catmoth's bowl of meat chunks and snatched a mouthful as it went by. Sorbet, the big catmoth, reeled her head back and let out a little cry. Ned took flight and buzzed over to land on Dora's head. Awd chittered and ran over to Beist and started climbing up his leg. Dora kept her eyes on the fox that was running amok, her expression wary. Bull the tiny vampire bat didn't seem to care at all about the situation, watching it all with a disinterested expression.

Pretzels the Quetzalcoatl was indeed adorable, right down to their indignant rage, hissing angerily. Of course, Del could not hear their words, but she understood body language well enough to get the gist of deep dispelasure exuding from the little winged reptile. She laughs as Beist tickles under his chin, the attitude in the little serpent shifting instantly, still casually not at all focused on the fox, thinking that they must belong to this man's menagerie. But.... seeing the reaction of surprise cross Beist's face, she started to get the idea that maybe this was something else.

Del blinked at the little fox covered in her dinner. "Oh."

Her hand flies out to try and scoop the little creature out of the air, a reaction as it leaps from her shoulder, but misses entirely. The camp erupted into chaos, the fluffy catmoth was yelling, clearly devastated by the loss of their precious meat cube from the soup, and most of the other animals were trying to get out of the path of the fox creature as quickly as possible. "Well. This is new. Do we... catch it?" Del asks, pushing herself up onto her feet in a low crouch. "I'm not sure what manner of creature it is, but it moves so fast. I have some ability to move quickly, so I could try to head it off?"

Easily slipping into strategy mode, Del watches the little fox tear their path through the small camp, watching the big griffin eye the situation warily, the bee resting atop her head, trying to see how she could help, or... chase it back to the woods? Catching animals wasn't per precise forte, but she could help, if help was needed.

Beist picked up Awd and pet him, trying to comfort him as the madness unfolded around them. He stood up quickly, Pretzels fluttering back onto his shoulder. He hardly heard Del speak as he looked around, trying to track the fox's mad dash.

"Oh, yes! Catch him!" He replied, glancing at her for a moment before going back to following the fox. "Ah, Dora, Leon! Help me and Del herd the little guy, would you please?"

The woolful and the griffon stood up, ready to assist with wrangling the rampaging rapscallion. Beist placed the raccoon dog on the seat of his wagon and he climbed inside through the window. The catmoth and the bat also went into the wagon, and Ned quickly followed suit, buzzing over from atop Dora's head and through the window. With all of the smaller pets safely away, Beist, Dora, and Leon each got into position to contain the fox along with Del.

"Don't hurt him, alright?" Beist said to them, concern in his voice. Even this trouble-making fox, he had a soft spot for. He just couldn't help but love the mischievous creature already.

The fox continued dashing around the camp site, but its space slowly shrunk as it was surrounded. It growled as it looked around, retreating toward the center of the ring.

She gives the big man a small smile nodding once in an assurance. Beist truly did care for creatures, she could see it in his face. "I'll be gentle," Del promises, pushing herself up into a crouch and setting her absolutely decimated bowl of soup aside. A little smile pulls up on her face, amused by the little fox but also determined to catch them. She shifts her weight as she watches Beist, Dora and Leon move, and shifts around them to the side that hasn't yet been taken, trying to gently box the little fox into the center.

She felt a pang of sympathy for the growling, hackle-raised little creature. It just wanted to eat and get out of there, but had no way of knowing that these bigger creatures converging on it were safe, and trying hard not to hurt it. She understood that feeling of being hunted, trapped, all too well.

Beist was very kind toward it, a gentleness that belied his sheer size and appearance. Del knew that appearances mattered exactly not at all, but even so, the juxtaposition was clear; Beist was like a rain shower on a sunny day-- refreshing, welcome and warm. All the creatures around him certainly thought so. Maybe this little fox could learn that, maybe.

"Come on, little one, I don't wanna spook you," Del mutters to herself, taking a careful step forward. Seeing her coming, the fox tries to dart past her, and Del moves with a liquid sort of speed, blocking the fox from getting out of the circle. Grimacing, she watches the Fox double back again to the center, looking for a way out. It looked so stressed. What would help here? Looking around the camp, her eyes land on the pot of soup by the fire.

Now there was an idea. She reaches into her pocket for the remainder of her road rations, the dried meat strips. "We know it's food motivated, right?" Del calls out. She tosses the bag underhand to Beist, who was closer to the creature, and facing it almost directly. "Think it's worth a shot?"

Beist caught the bag of meat strips and nodded to Del. Of course, the best way to gain the trust of an animal was often through its stomach, and this little fellow was most definitely carnivorous, like any fox was.

Beist slowly lowered himself onto his knees and held out a piece of jerky in his hand, low to the ground for the fox to be able to see and come take. "It's alright. We're not going to hurt you. If you want some food, I'd be happy to share with you." he spoke calmly and gently, looking at the fox with genuine care and concern.

The fox could understand his words, like any animal could thanks to his connection to the earth and nature. Still, it looked to the woolful and the griffon that eyed it warily. Beist glanced at them both as well and realixed what the fox was worried about without either of them saying anything. He reached up and tapped the charms hanging from his horns.

"Dora, Leon, return to me. I believe I can handle this."

The griffon and woolful looked at Beist and understood. They both disappeared suddenly, the little gem at the center of a feather-shaped charm going from white to yellow and the gem on the curling ram horn shaped charm turning green. With them both gone, the fox could easily escape in either direction that was no longer being closed in, but it didn't move.

Beist continued to offer the strips of meat, staying as still as possible to not spook the fox. If it ran away, he would have accepted it and not chased after it, but it walked slowly up to him and took the meat from his hand and scarfed it down. It sat in front of him and looked at the remaining strips in another hand.

With a slight chuckle, he continued feeding it, hoping Del wouldn't mind him giving away all of her jerky. He'd be sure to offer her some replacement rations. He just hoped she liked fruits and vegetables.

When all of the meat was gone, Beist showed that all his hands were empty and lowered himself further to sit cross-legged on the ground. "I'm sorry, I've run out of meat. I have none left to give you." he apologized and expected the fox to dash away, back into the night, but suddenly felt something in his lap. He looked down to see the fox lying down there. He slowly started to pet it, and it rolled over to let him pet its belly. "Would you like to stay with me? You'll have to get along with the others, but I'd be happy to have you."

The fox looked up at him and let out a little yap. Beist smiled and continued petting the fox happily before looking at Del and realizing she must not have understood what he'd said. "Oh, he said yes." he said with a chuckle.

Del watched, the silent exchange beyond her. She could not talk to animals, and despite her wood elven roots, she had only felt a small connection to nature itself, but she could tell that what Beist had, his connection with his companions and the world around them, was special. As he recalled Dora and Leon to their... charms? On his horns? How did they change colour like that? She would ask about that when there was a moment, for now, she followed their lead, and took a step back to give the little fox some breathing room.

Her smile widens as the fox seems to calm, taking the food and the treats with gusto. She shook her head, not minding the sharing at all. It worked out beautifully; earning the trust of the little, mischevious fox, and watching it clamber into Beist's lap. "I think they like you," she comments, coming over to sit next to Beist and observe, careful to move slowly. "Can't say I blame them; You certainly have a way with animals. You... understand them?" She tilts her head, looking up at him. "Not just body language cues, but actually know what they're thinking? Is that... innate or did you have to learn it?"

Beist put one hand up to his chin and began combing his claws through his beard as he pondered Del's question.

"Hmm, I'm not quite sure myself. I don't believe it's innate, or if it is I only began to be able to use it later in life. I couldn't understand animals from birth, or anything like that. I'm inclined to believe it is an ability I gained over time through my fondness for, and, well, similarities to animals. I can understand what they say and they can understand me. Some listen a little less than others though!" Beist chuckled, looking to the front window of his wagon where the raccoon dog, catmoth, and big bee were all looking out side by side.

He looked down to the fox that was lying on its back in his lap, its front legs wrapped around his wrist and playfully biting his fingers, his back legs kicking in the air.

"Hmmmm.... I think I'll call you... Moe. He looks like a Moe, doesn't he?" Beist looked at Del with a smile.

"He does look like a Moe," Del laughs gently. The little guy sure was playful, and feisty. She found the fact that this ability to communicate didn't seem innate interesting-- she wasn't sure how one gained these abilities, or precisely how she had been able to attune wth her own abilities, but it fascinated her to see what unique ways people interacted with the world around them.

"I can imagine!" She laughs again... but Beist raised an interesting point, there. She settles back, wondering if she should get another bowl of that soup for a moment idly before returning her attention to Beist. "You mentioned your similarities to animals-- I didn't initially want to draw any attention to it, on the off chance my asking would be insensitive. I apologise if so-- I have a poor memory, to say the least, and I don't recall seeing anyone like you in the past... few decades, I believe. Were you born as you are?" She holds up her hands in an unnecessary gesture of peacibility; Beist had been nothing but pleasant and amiable so far, but she didn't want to cause any offense whatsoever. "You don't have to answer that if you don't want to, or if it is uncomfortable."

"Oh..." Beist's tail stopped waving behind him and his ears drooped a little more. His appearance wasn't a secret. He'd spoken to others about it before, but it was still a bit of a sore subject for him. His current appearance was a persistent reminder of his past failures. But, Del had been pleasant company and helpful so far. Maybe talking to her wouldn't hurt. "No, it's alright! I'm not surprised you haven't seen anyone like me. I was not born like this, no. My appearance is the result of a bit of an alchemical mishap... or two..." Beist answered sheepishly. "I was actually born a Werebear. I made- attempted to make a potion to allow me to control myself while transformed into my beastly side. Instead, I suppose my beastly side became my only side." Beist sighed.

"And then I tried to reverse it, and ended up just making it worse! Even taller, and more arms! I can't walk through a door without having to practically crawl! And these horns, oh, they get caught on everything! I can't wear a simple shirt, can't get it over my head without shredding it apart, it's awful!"

Beist found himself ranting about his body, all of the inconveniences and problems he'd encountered since his transformation. It felt good to get it off his chest. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding it in, but now he couldn't hold it back. When he was finished, he sat there, breathing heavily before realizing what he'd just done.

"Oh! Oh, dear me, my apologies! I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me! I didn't mean to complain so much, I don't usually- don't ever act like that! I just- I-" Beist stammered, embarrassed and not knowing what to say to explain himself any further. He looked down in shame and spotted the pot of soup on the fire.

"...More soup...?" he offered quietly.