rawr XD nuzzles | travelling merchants

[Reed]

Unlike last time, Elysium was first to see the merchants. They had only been there a few days before needing to head out last time, so they'd bumped the snowy clan a bit up the list. It was probably a good thing that they'd decided to head there first, as Reed wanted time to reconnect with his sister and Goatus.. well, she just liked the snow.

The duo had spent a fair while replenishing their stock, the clans had all but drained it and they'd really only been left with traded for items and whatever other little things they'd managed to pick up. Knowing that there wasn't as much potential for trade within such a short period of time, they'd marked off a spot on their map and headed down to the unclaimed lands to see who or what needed their services. There were always small groups or newly formed bands or prides, collections of people that needed stuff brought to them, or letters delivered to family, threats delivered to enemies. Reed was a bit cautious taking on those ones but Goatus certainly enjoyed them. He didn't need to quote 'don't shoot the messenger' with her there.

It was early morning when they breached the border, the sun still sleeping under the blanket of the horizon. It wasn't exactly warm but they were more prepared than before, both having grown a fair amount since their initial visit. Goatus was larger, stronger, and Reed had found more capable of navigating rocky and cold terrains. They didn't struggle with getting over the hill like last time, their wagon having a few more suitable modifications as well. You see, wheels certainly detached and it wasn't quite that difficult to add custom-made slats in their places. Bam, they had a sled. The snow wasn't as compacted as it was when the year was new but it still worked nonetheless.

It was easy riding, Reed perched upon the back of his beautiful companion as they moved through the territory and towards the main camp. Rin had told him about the merchants shops that were open to use down in their sea area and he was super excited to take advantage of them. He was an actual member of the clan this time, so he had gone away with any hesitance or delay when they'd reached the territory marker. They were allowed to just walk in now.

A fair time later, the fiery ball of light finally woke, rising from her bed and creeping across the sky with a slow reluctance. The clan began to wake up and leave their dens, the air filled with a cacophony of yawns, calls, popping joints. It was nice to be set up in the shop before they knew he was there, door propped open and windows pulled out. The wares were displayed pretty well inside, if he did say so himself, and Goatus stood outside to usher people in. this would be lit.

[Warringkingdoms]

  [font=trebuchet ms]Sore joints are an important rite of passage for the middle-aged.

  Rin internally repeated this, continuously, as she lay flat on her back atop her bed. The fact that cats could live up to thirty years under certain conditions (not conditions any of them had ever lived in, but still), and she hadn't even lived five yet, was lost on her. So was the fact that this particular combination of symptoms wasn't that common among middle-aged animals. She was just the uncommon one, and compared to her compatriots she most certainly was old.

  She had to move. She had to do something, rather than remaining in bed all day. It wouldn't do any good for the Elysites to have a useless Magna; they were struggling enough under a not-completely-useless one as it was.

  No, that train of thought was never productive. She had to take a different track, one that didn't go in circles. Unfortunately, she didn't have a map of her mind's railways handy, and the metaphor had already derailed itself far beyond recognition. Heaving a long sigh, she rolled onto her side, then onto her front- then onto her other side, and so on until she reached the edge of the bed.

  You'll be glad you got out of bed, her brain supplied helpfully.

  With a small nod, she rolled again in preparation to climb down- only to slip right off the edge and fall onto the ground, landing roughly on her front. Staring at the ground, she reflected that she very much wasn't glad she had gotten out of bed.

  "Forget it," she mumbled, standing up and trudging over to the door. Maybe she could grab something to eat. Elysium needed their medic to be well-fed if she was going to be treating them. Pushing out into the open air, she took a deep breath- and blinked. That smell... it was unmistakably Goatus. Was Reed back?

  Following the smell and seeing one of the shops open, with Goatus standing outside, Rin felt a small half-smile slip onto her face. At least, in the midst of all this chaos, Reed was alright. Walking over to the shop and entering through the door- with a small nod of respect to Goatus- she looked around at the assorted goods with a modicum of interest. Nothing particularly stood out to her at the moment, but she was sure someone would want to buy something, and maybe she'd find something that would be nice to have.

  "Hey, Reed," she said after a few moments, turning her attention to Reed. "How have things been?" She wished she could muster up the energy for a better conversation starter, but she would manage for his sake. It was... nice, if strange, to have her brother around, and she wasn't going to waste it.