A Trip Home
It was a little late in the afternoon when Bexly finally showed up at The Prancing Pony. The table she seemed to frequent was full of familiar friends and a few news faces. Nathan saw her and scolded her in his joking tone for being late as he called her Runner, his nickname for her. One of the new faces looked over and said, “Ah so this is Runner?” Bexly smiled at the nickname, it was rather fitting, and removed her hat and bowed in one big sweeping motion as she said, "Bex, Bexly Bell of Trestlebridge, well met."
A moment later Davnos had appeared behind Bexly and Nathan was introducing him as Carp. Nathan gave the names of the two new faces. Vixen and Jester seemed to be their given nicknames and Bex just grinned as she looked at the table. Fox, Kelpie, Banshee Lungs, Carp, Vixen, Jester and The Runner. What a crew! She was proud of herself that in a mere week or so she made so many friends that were willing to help her gather supplies and risk taking them to the people of Trestlebridge.
The Vixen and The Jester were just joining Nathan, Kelpie and Thorbeck (Banshee Lungs) for a drink as they waited for Bexly to arrive. Once she was there, they began to gather their things and headed out for the supplies, bidding farewell to the two new friends. Thorbeck had a cart, and a rather large mountain goat to pull it, while Nathan and Kelpie had worked with the local people to get food and other supplies, even a healer had pitched in some medical supplies. The group loaded up the cart and in a flash, they were ready to start the trip.
Trestlebridge was only a few hours ride by horse but with a cart of supplies on a road that is known to be raided by bandits the trip can be much slower. The group decided they should take respite halfway and stop at The Inn of The Huntsman and The Stag. The first part of the trip went as smoothly as a cobblestone path can. Bexly lead the group and Thorbeck lead his cart and goat, it was slow going, but the group was in good spirits as they talked about an upcoming fishing trip they were planning. Bexly was curious to get to know Nathan’s friend Faye a little more, she was going to be joining them fishing. Their late start meant that the sun was fading fast, but it left them just enough time to find the path to inn. Bexly smiled as she made the turn and asked, "Who is ready for a drink!" Everyone chimed in and looked up to the sky as they saw the smoke coming from the chimney of the inn.
Just as Bex was ready to walk a little faster Nathan stopped and looked at some markings on a few nearby trees. Bears! The spring awakens the great beasts and mating season was well on the way. The group was concerned but it seemed there was only one path the cart would fit on, so they continued. A few more twists and turns of the path and they were getting closer to the inn and that drink they all longed for. They made the last turn and Kelpie spotted a dark cave and suggested they look for a way around it. The group tried to find one, but there was no time, before they could a large bear was in the opening of the cave growling wildly at them. His red eyes glowed from the darkness before he set out to charge the cart full of food and supplies.
Davnos saw the bear getting ready to charge and had his sword drawn, he rushed forward past the cart, Thorbeck, and Bex to meet the oncoming bear. Davnos swung his sword in a wide arching strike. The bear was charging the cart full speed and looked like a crazed wild animal, it was so focused on the cart he did not see Davnos and was hit by his sword. He turned and growled at the man, but the hit was so hard the bear fell to the ground with a thud, not dead but wounded.
Kelpie was not sure what to do, but he gave what seems to be a growl and made himself larger as if that might scare the bear off. Thorbeck drew his sword, and the Goat began to stamp its feet as it spotted the bear. It snorted and kicked the cobblestones hard, as it lowed its head and arched its back to attack. Thor smacked the goats rear "(K) Time and place!" he spoke in the dwarfish language and tried to push the goat along. Nate helped to steer the cart and secure the supplies away as Thorbeck ran to where the bear was readying to fight it.
The bear was still on the ground not able to get up from the hard hit it took. It looked at Kelpie like it was trying to understand his yell but did not seem to. Bexly had pulled her bow from her back and had cocked an arrow ready to fly but she also held back for the moment. The goat paid attention well to Thorbeck and did just as he asked. The situation started to look as if maybe they could just go on past the hurt bear, but as the goat and Nathan started to move the cart past, another bear charged out of the cave and towards the cart.
Davnos judged the bear on the ground was no longer a threat. He was though, caught by surprise as the second bear started to charge out of the cave and he swung his sword wildly at it. Kelpie, at the same time, muttered a curse under his breath and growled at the bear that was charging at them. The bear avoided Davnos swing as it stopped in its tracks and looked at Kelpie like it could understand his mutters this time. Bexly and Thorbeck watched on ready to strike but they both waited as Kelpie seemed to somehow calm the bear. The confused bear growled loudly at Kelpie and moved over to lick the wounds of her mate instead of charging at them.
Kelpie quickly said to the group, 'We need to go, just keep walking to the inn and leave them alone." Thorbeck looked to Kelpie and said, "Northman indeed." and he lowered his sword. Bexly lowered her bow, also very confused, but happy to move on and not kill the little bear family or be killed by them. Kelpie looked somewhat awkward and gave a short nod towards Thorbeck. Davnos saw the others lowering their weapons and he followed suit but walked backwards to keep his eyes on the bears. As he turned backward, he saw a horse approached and under his breath he said, "Ah shit!" Kelpie perked his ears and turned to look at the woman on the horse and said softly. "Just keep moving." The female bear growled at the horse and rider but still hovered over her mate and licked his wounds.
The rider, Reidun, slowed her horse alongside her brother, and flicked him atop his head, hard. "Dav, what in-..." She then noticed the bears and nearly toppled off the horse as she said, "Uh..." Thorbeck looked to Kelpie as he said, "Ye go last, we go around it." Kelpie agreed. Davnos looked up at his sister and said, "Get off the horse sis and walk it." Reidun frowns but listened this time. "What are you doing here?" She asked quietly. "And what is...those...?" She gestured to the bears, surprised they haven't mauled them all.
Kelpie looked towards the two bears with relaxed body language, his shoulders were slumped, and he gave the two a small bow of his head. Still, they seemed to ignore him and the group as the female bear continued to clean the wound of her mate. Thorbeck moved slowly and stepped around the bears, Nathan was on top of the cart the whole time ready to protect the valuable supplies he jumped down and worked with Thorbeck to move the cart slowly past the bears. Bexly looked back to Davnos and the woman and motioned for them to be quiet as they tried to pass with no more conflict.
To be contuined....
