Strange Places

[Deleted]

Auboran quickly notices that she is on a platform that is decently high off the ground. She hugs Stark closely and looks around. "I don't think we are in Evaria anymore, Stark," she says sadly.



"Woof," he agrees in his high pitch puppy bark.



Auboran kisses Stark on the head and gives him a quick scratch behind the ears. She then takes a look around to assess her situation. She notices that there are stairs surrounding the platform that she landed on, each with exactly 24 steps. At the bottom, a pool of water surrounding the bottom of the high-rise. Above her, a stone, shining brightly and lighting up the whole room. Directly in front of the stairs that she is standing at the top of, is a big wooden door. A small, glass window at the top of the door lets a glimpse of light in the room.



Auboran begins her descent down the stairs, cautiously. "Is anyone in here," she asks, her voice weak and low. She doesn't remember the last time she has eaten. "Can anyone hear me?"



She walks over to the door and sets Stark on the ground. He starts to run around and bark. "Stark! Stay close and be quiet!" He obediently quiets down and sits next to her feet. Auboran cups her hands around the glass and isn't able to see much except for a large field. Feeling thirsty, she walks over to the pool of water, Stark following her. She brings some water to her mouth and allows Stark to take a few sips as well. Auboran then sits on the ground and motions for Stark to sit in her lap. He does, and she hugs him tightly. She decides to sit and wait for a little while to see if someone finds her.

[Deleted]

The echo of a k9's bark drew Adkir's attention. He had been mopping around the last hour or so because some inn keeper basically told him to shove off because he wasn't good enough to be there. He didn't remember the exact wording but he was pretty sure she called him ugly somewhere along the line. Using his walking axe for support, he pulled himself up off of the ground and onto his feet. He rubbed the top of one of his feet against the fur wrapped around his shin briefly before setting off towards the source of the barking. It sounded as if it came from the Alter, his first appearance in this world as well as many others.

It took him a short bit to get there, and when he did his first reaction was to notice the creature. He had to resist his urge to call out to it. It would be improper, despite the fact that he walked barefoot and practically looked like the dwarven embodiment of nature. Grubby, dirty bare feet, furs wrapped around his forearms and shins, a bear pelt as a helmet and cloak, the lower end of the cloak dirty and green tinted, and even had a few budding leaves that appeared to be emerging from his hairs.

"Oi, lass!" He called out, lifting a dusty hand up to wave to her before he took a few strides towards her. He wasn't quite sure what to expect from this new arrival, but she had a dog and appeared to have some appreciation of nature. He was sure that'd get along fine. That's not to say that he wasn't expecting a fight, however. Strange new person in a strange new world. They sometimes get defensive.

[Deleted]

Auboran's stomach started to growl as she was reminded again of how long ago she last ate. She could feel Stark start to shake in her lap. He whimpered and let out a few high pitch barks. "Stark, it's going to be okay," Auboran did her best to comfort him, "no matter what, I won't let anything happen to you." Even though Stark's job was to protect and guide her, he was still only a pup and on some occasions, did act like one.

Tired of waiting, Auboran was about to take her chances and walk out the door into the unknown, when all of a sudden, she hears someone calling out to her. That's when what appeared to be a bear cub started walking towards her. As he approached her, she could make out the features of what seemed to be a very short man.

Immediately, Stark jumped up and started to growl and bare his teeth. He had shaken off all of his puppy-like behaviors and went full on protective mode. Scared, Auboran ran and hid on the other side of the platform, not that she had much of a variety of places to hide in the very empty room.

"Stark, come!"

Stark held his stance for a moment and then ran behind the platform to join Auboran. "Please, please don't hurt me mister," she pleaded.

[Deleted]

Adkir stopped where he stood when the doggo jumped up to defend the woman. He supposed that seeing a filthy bearded man covered in furs with a large axe being the first person you see could be pretty unsettling. Last time he was present for someone's first few minutes, the woman was passed out and he was patching her up.

"Yer ok, lass. Las' ting i wanna do is hurt ye." He stated, kneeling to place his axe on the ground gently. "Believe me when I say dis, I know whatcur feelin' now. Yer nay in yer own world. Faras I ken tell, No way back 'iver."

He took a few steps away from his axe, then sat down with his legs crossed and his hands resting on his knees.
"pleaz," He started, gesturing to a spot in front of him, "Sit. We ken talk. I wager ye got questions."

[Deleted]

Auboran did not know whether to trust the man when he said that he wouldn't hurt her. Then again, she didn't really have much of a choice considering she had no idea where she was or how she got there. Auboran picked Stark up and slowly came out of hiding. She noticed that the man had set down his weapons and sat on the ground. He no longer looked threatening and she relaxed a little.

As soon as he invited her to sit on the ground, she joined him. She still felt weak from hunger. When the man asked her if she had questions the words came out of her mouth faster than her brain could process them, "Where am I? How did I get here? Who are you? Where can I get food?" She stared at him with wide scared eyes.

[Deleted]

Adkir leaned back a bit and blinked at the sudden onslaught of questions. He held his hands up and moved them back and forth slowly. "Woah woah, slow down a'bit lil one." Ignoring the fact he was shorter. "One ata time." He lowered his hands and got back into a more relaxed position, took a deep breath, and began to explain.

"Yer ina place known as Teair Nover. Erm, Nov-uh." He struggled with his accent some, "Onea da gods 'ere decided ta pluck ye from yer world and bring ya 'ere. Dun't ask me why, i coodn't tell ye iffin i wanted. Me name iz Adkir. Adkir Frostbeard. Use ta beuh Shaymen for lil' village known as Clearwater. Since I've been plucked, I made home in da Forever Forest. Dangerus stuff. I'll sumtimes bring herbs or meats to Nova, da main city here, to trade. Iffin yer hungry, whish I wus when I got 'ere, come wiff me. I'll getcha somethin." Before he stood up, Adkir turned his attention to the little dog.

"'oze he bite?" He asked as he held his hand out and made some kissy sounds. "Betcha we gonna geta know eachov'er. Ye look likea type ta live inna woods. I'm probbably da best one ta meet fer dat"

[Deleted]

Auboran's head started to spin as she realized that she would never get to see her home again. Even though she didn't socialize with other Evarians, she wasn't lonely. She had made friends with all the creatures in the forest. She loved her home and she was really going to miss it. She looked into Adkir's eyes for any sign that he was joking around with her and found none. Her brain stirred with confusion.

Auboran was thrown off guard when Adkir asked about Stark. Unsure whether she should let her defenses down, she decided to play it safe. "Um, he does bite. He is trained to protect me," no sooner than the words left her mouth, Stark walked over and licked the man in the face. She looked at Stark and mumbles "traitor" under her breath. "Well, he apparently likes you. He is still a puppy and will eventually grow very large in size. As far as the whole living in the woods, that was my home back in my world. The creatures were my friends. I am not really a people person. I never really fit in with my village."

Auboran stands up and wipes the dust off of her pants. She swoops Stark up off the ground. "Can you take me to where there is food? I don't know how long I was out and I am very hungry."

[Deleted]

Adkir scrunched his bearded face up as the little pupper licked him. "Dun't feel weird. I spent yer lifetime a few times o'er in da wild." He said between licks, one hand scritching behind the puppy's ears. After a short bit, Adkir gently pushed him away before he got scooped up. He rolled onto his side to reach his Axe and used it to help himself up to his feet. Once on his feet, Adkir jerked his head towards the doorway, standing with one shoulder pointed in it's direction.

"Ye've nay a worry. Beleaf me, I din't quite....fit wiff my own. En my world, we dwarves live deep underground. In da hearts o' da mountains." He shook his head briefly, "I did it awhile, 'ventually left fer nature. Lived few miles oway from Clearwater, 'spite bein da best healer dey had." Adkir, at this point, was walking with the woman beside him, pointing with his hand or axe as they came upon corners as he spoke.

Once they got to the tavern, Adkir let her pick a table and sat in a seat across from her, resting his axe against the table, with the blade against the ground. Less damage if it were to be knocked over. "Order whatcha want. I'll pay."