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Post by desna on May 9, 2008 19:41:39 GMT -5
Desna watched his work and she would be lying if she said she wasn't impressed, there was no way she'd be able to copy that like she planned, she'd just have to remember him in case it ever came undone though she doubted it would. It seemed tight enough to squeeze an iceberg. Save another icicle to the wood that thing would last for a long while.
Noting his tone she glanced back at his face, away from his hands. She smiled playfully and nodded. Honestly she doubted he needed her with this repair but it seemed like he was being nice, why de-rail him, it was more fun to play along anyway.
" My finger is at your service." She flexed her fingers as if warming up for a strenuous activity.Then she laced her fingers together pulling her arms straight and twisting her arms to finish up her warm ups. Then she placed her finger in position for the next round of knot tying. Near the stairs Pikatti rolled his eyes and let out a low huff, they were too chummy for his tastes.
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Post by aden on May 9, 2008 20:57:59 GMT -5
Aden got a slight chuckle out of the girl's exaggerated stretching for such a simple task, but he humored her enough to say, "Excellent finger placement, soldier." He swiftly looped the straps into a square knot and then fed them back under and around to his side once more. Tying one more knot and then looping the excess straps over on themselves to stay out of the way, Aden sat back on his haunches and then knocked on the plank with his knuckles. It felt pretty solid, and he risked tugging on the plank to try and displodge it. Much to his pleasure, it didn't budge an inch.
"Looks good to me," he said, "One more to go." Aden grabbed for the other plank and flipped it over once in his hands. After observing it for just a moment, he laid it across the support planks of the sled and lined it up parallel with the other one. He didn't bother asking for the other two straps immediately and instead asked, "So, how far away do you live?"
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Post by desna on May 9, 2008 21:18:19 GMT -5
Desna smiled pleasantly, she often enjoyed making people laugh, and for someone who seemed a little stony she imagined it was a rather big accomplishment. She blew some bangs out of her face and looking over the knot work again, if she could do that she'd be making a pretty penny with it. Still the fact remained she got her fair coin with her herbs, some of the plants didn't yeild all too much but it just drove the costs up. After all, supply and demand. Dried herbs could be imported from the earth kingdom but he wares were rare, hard to ship over the seas. She owned the market, it was her Nana's gift to her, sure she'd enjoyably live her life as an old spinster but the income made it a lot easier.
" Oh not too far." She answered idly, she could tell him anything really, that she was a princess or from the moon. Honestly she wondered if he'd believe her, perhaps he would, most likely he wouldn't. Her common sense told her that it didn't matter if she told him or not, even if he knew where she lived not like he could find her house. " Just a couple dozen miles out on the shelf" Desna didn't bother to look up this time, she just watched his hands trying to absorb the knotwork and commit it to memory.
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Post by aden on May 9, 2008 22:23:29 GMT -5
His hands began the now familiar task of preparing the leather straps for use. Aden had just folded the strap in half and was lining up its midpoint with the center of the plank when he heard her mention the distance to her home. His eyes widened slightly and he looked up at her, almost certain she was exaggerating. Two dozen miles in either direction would be more than a full day of travel on foot unless she had a team of sled dogs or a fast ship.
"That's quite the commute," he said, looking back down at his handiwork as he realized she wasnt going to be returning eye contact. The fact that she avoided his gaze made him think she was trying to keep a straight face, and he decided he would just play along unless she felt the need to share that information. "I hope your dog has had a good meal while he's been here if he's going to carry you the way..."
Aden slipped the straps of leather under the support plank and pulled them up lightly. Moving his leg forward, he used one foot to press down on the opposite end of the plank to hold it in place. He pulled up hard on the straps and crossed them, gesturing slightly with his head to invite Desna to place her finger over the site of the future knot.
"Or do you take turns pulling the sled while he takes a rest on in the driver's seat?" Aden asked, clearly in jest though he kept his face calm and devoid of a tell-tale smirk.
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Post by desna on May 10, 2008 7:05:37 GMT -5
Desna giggled a bit, she was exaggerating but seeing the boy run with that was rather funny, with a pleased smile she looked up at the boy. It was impressive that he could work and carry a conversation, she'd generally seen people become wrapped up in their work and just tapper of in thought. This boy was weird, and different, a bit like her in his own way, very few of her friends could she relate to anymore. Of course being a social butterfly meant she rarely found herself alone in Shai unless she didn't want a companion.
" Nah, it's only a three hour walk if you stroll, Pikatti doesn't like me pulling the sled, he things it's too heavy." She turned her head to send a half smirk to Pikatti who in turn just huffed. " Isn't that right boy." Honestly she never took the time to measure the distance between her house and the city. It never came up as an important detail so she didn't track it. Plus she didn't have enough string to figure that out, it would be a tedious task to measure it anyway, did it look like she had nothing better to do?
Getting home was a lot quicker than getting to Shai, the trail went downhill instead of up hill then, less resistance, a much easier trek for her, a lot less work for Pikatti as well, he was strong but she was often worried he'd get tired, she had to think of him just like he looked out for her. That was only fair, that was how relationships were, give and take.
Desna placed her finger in position at the right time once more watching his quick knot work. Thankfully it was still early enough, this looked like it would be done soon, it was a releif.
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Post by aden on May 10, 2008 12:04:41 GMT -5
Aden made swift work of completing the ties on that side of the plank. "Still not exactly spitting distance," he remarked, smiling ever so slightly. He took the last strap of leather and began looping it over the last end of the plank. This little partnership was nearing its end, and Aden suddenly remembered that he still had the girl's gold in his pocket. He stopped working for a moment and looked off into space, putting on a pensieve expression as he was trying to recall something.
In truth he was just buying a moment of time to think of something to distract the girl while setting up the premise that something was amiss.
"Damn," he said after a moment, looking around them hastily. "Could you do me a favor?" he said, turning to look at the girl. "I think I dropped my coin pouch over at the tanner's stall. Could you see if they found it while I finish tying this?" Aden truly hated to lie. In fact, it was something he avoided whenever possible. However, despite the sour taste it left in his mouth, he was an extremely convincing liar when he wanted to be. He looked directly at the girl, his expression going from frustration as 'losing' his money to a slight pleading look as he asked for her help.
The moment she turned, though, he was ready to slip the gold into a pouch that was fastened to the inside of the sled. Once the deed was done he could simply call her back and pretend he'd just misplaced the pouch somewhere else and that all was fine. No harm, no foul.
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Post by desna on May 10, 2008 17:54:03 GMT -5
The boy seemed distracted, and as she watched him he just looked away, it made her tilt her head to the side slightly as if the new angle would let her hear his thoughts, it didn't do much more than shift her hair on her shoulder and cast some of her bangs in her eyes. Then he mentioned loosing his money, she was a little taken back.
Desna blinked looking at him, did he have his gold out at the tanners stall? No, she paid for things, but maybe he was counting it or something. How did he notice it was missing, was he not feeling it's weight in his pocket? He didn't look like he checked for it, she would have before saying she lost it. Perhaps he'd just left it at home, he didn't have a reason to spend anything anywhere else after his shopping was finished.
Where was it for her to ask him if he did or didn't loose his money anyway, it was still serious business. If he lost it he lost it that was simple enough. Swiftly she got to her feet beckoning to Pikatti who'd gotten up as she did ready to go if she needed to. "Defiantly! I'll be right back." Her hand twitched toward her bag put thought better of it, that would only slow her down, she'd leave it, the boy wouldn't just take her things after her having helped him. Then again... perhaps it would be best to er on the side of caution. She began to sprint off at a good pace shouting back to Pikatti. "Stay!" Desna was never the type to do things half heartedly, before much else could be said she'd skidded around a corner out of sight.
The polar bear dog screeched to a halt having only gotten one stride in. He sat looking in the direction his master went off to with a forlorn look. Still she said stay, he would stay. That done his head swiveled around to look at Aden with a small baring of fangs and a low growl. If he made one move towards what he considered his masters he'd be ready.
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Post by aden on May 10, 2008 22:51:49 GMT -5
Aden nodded a 'thank you' to Desna as she started away, but made no move to place the coins into her bag until she was out of sight. However, the fact that her dog was now glaring daggers at him did put a bit of a hesitation in his novements. He only had a few garunteed seconds until she returnedm though, and so he decided he would just have to risk Pikatti's wrath.
"Easy, puppy..." he said, slowly and deliberately pulling the threre gold coins out of his pocket. "Just giving your human her money back... No need to bite me." Aden casually stepped closer and pushed the coins through the small opening in the top of the bag, and tugged the top of it up to make the coins fall down to the bottom.
He could only hope such an unobtrusive gesture wasn't enough to set the dog off on him. If Pikatti actually went so far as to attack him, he wasn't sure he could just take the assault without fighting back. There would be some serious explanations needed in that case...
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Post by desna on May 11, 2008 11:17:36 GMT -5
Pikatti snarled as Aden's hand came toward Desna's bag, he snapped at the boy but didn't bite him, it was a warning but as the boy pulled away Pikatti simply placed himself between him and his masters things. Desna had said something along the lines of being nice to him, not hurting him seemed to be along the lines of not biting him. It unnerved Pikatti that he was touching Desna's things. The hair on the hackles of his back was standing up on end, there would be no touching of Desna's things again.
Meanwhile Desna had reached the tanners booth. She was poking around until the shop keeper flagged her down and asked what she was looking for. A small interchange later Desna was off retracing the steps of the pair, starting at the woodworkers and working backwards. Nothing was turning up. Still she was determined. Desna walked down the street looking back and forth to see if she could spot anyone who'd found a money pouch when she spied a man walking toward her. Moppy hair pulled back into a wolfs tail with braids hanging from the sides of his head.
With a small amount of panic Desna darted into a vendors booth keeping herself occupied with looking over the wares, luckily the man didn't spot her, she looked over her shoulder watching until he was out of sight. She relaxed and set down the cloth. It didn't fail to pass her that he was headed towards the wood workery, she'd worry about it later, she had a coin pouch to find.
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Post by aden on May 11, 2008 13:25:50 GMT -5
Aden drew back reflexively as the dog snapped at him, but otherwise it seemed that Pikatti was content to leave it at that. With the coins safely back in the girl's bag, he returned to the sled itself and resumed tying off the last bit of leather to hold the plank in place. His new acquaintence hadn't returned yet, but he assumed she was just being thorough in asking the tanner about he supposedly dropped coin pouch. Aden felt bad about misleaing her, but at the same time it warmed his heart a little to think that this stranger would bother so much to try and help him out... assuming that was the reason for the delay in retuning at least.
With a little ingenuity and dexterity on his part, Aden completed tying the last plank down and still the girl hadn't returned. The young warrior stood up, brushing off his knees and looked around closely. If she was still looking for it, he could just convince her that he must have left it at home. Aden started walking away, making sure to keep a safe distance from Pikatti as he did so. "Keep and eye on the sled, too," he said to the dog, "Stay... I'll be right back."
Aden stepped out of the shadow of the staircase and glanced down the walkway of the market. He didn't see her immefdiately has he focused on the area of the tabber's stall and so he began walking that way to try and find the girl.
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Post by desna on May 11, 2008 13:40:33 GMT -5
Pikatti was pleasant enough sitting on the ground watching Aden as he finished the sled, the boy didn't make another move towards the bag, there was no reason to attempt to bite him again so he didn't make another move towards the boy. His head merely lifted his head as the boy got up and began to walk away, he didn't even make a move to follow him, the sled and the bag were here, Desna told him to stay so he didn't move, not like he cared all too much what some random boy said, he was not the polar bear dogs master after all.
Desna moved through the streets towards the grocery stand which was the first place they'd visited. She talked to the woman but it seemed she hadn't seen his bag either. Dejected she left to simply search the streets until it showed up. Having run from place to place her hair was a bit more disheveled than usual and a small bit of pink seeped into her cheeks from the effort. It was harder running in town then on the shelf, there you didn't have to duck and dodge people.
As she walked back to the tanners to check again she spied the boy and trotted up to him with a tired smile, " No luck, I've checked everywhere but I'll find it don't worry." She turned her weaker smile into a grin and pulled her hands into fists bringing them down in front of her body in an act of enthusiasm. " No worries!"
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Post by aden on May 11, 2008 14:14:03 GMT -5
After looking around the strreet for about a minute with no luck, the girl seemed to materialize out of the crowd and approach him. Her enthusiasm was impressive, but fact that she was on a wild goose chase made it almost amusing in a twisted sort of way.
"I've been looking for you," Aden said, offering a sheepish grin while he rubbed the back of his head. "After you left I think I remembered I may have just left it back at home... Sorry about that." He took one step back, turning his body away slightly as he waved a hand to invite her to follow. "But while you were gone I finished up the sled repairs. It should be ready to go now, but I want to make sure it holds up before you head out on it... There's a lot of bumps over a few dozen miles." A slight smirk crept onto his face as he referenced her earlier exaggeration.
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Post by desna on May 11, 2008 14:29:12 GMT -5
Densa nodded a bit, she'd gotten a small bundle of things while she was searching the city, there wasn't much left to get, but looking at the sky she doubted there would be time for it today. The rest of the shopping could wait until tomorrow since she knew she'd be able to come back. Her eyes darted up to the boy, worried that he might not be able to find his money pouch but he seemed rather certain. She shouldn't press it.
" You can walk me to the steps of the wall then, " Desna commented as she made her way back to Pikatti and her sled, it took only a few moments to shove the things in her bag and carefully set the bag on the sled securing it in place. Pikatti got up nuzzling Desna's side happily, his stub of a tail wagging happily. He shot a look back at Aden before continuing to express his excitement at his masters return. The girl keeled down harnessing the polar bear dog up for the trip. Pikatti didn't budge, used to the feeling of her hands placing the leather straps about his body. As she looked up at the boy she smiled brightly. " The sled looks great by the way."
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Post by aden on May 11, 2008 21:28:14 GMT -5
Aden was glad to see the girl scoop up the bag without hesitation and he breathed an internal sigh of relief. That put an end to that awkward circumstance. But even as he stood back and allowed her to inspect the finished product of his repairs, her suggestion of escorting her to the wall made him falter. After all, he had really only meant a quick test run around the block or something to make sure the planks weren't coming loose.
Escorting her all the way up to the wall would take a good 10 minutes, maybe more if they were carrying on a conversation. And all this involvement in her affairs made Aden feel like he was seeming too nosy. "Well, actually..." he started to say, intending to explain that a quick dash would be enough to determine the sled's readiness.
And yet, before he could spit out the rest of the sentence, he suddenly changed his mind and corrected him, "Yeah, that would be fine. I'll see you out of the city." Aden put on a smile, but inwardly berated himself for his inability to say 'No.' He'd already helped this girl enough, there was no need to go the extra mile... literally.
But why not? That was the counter-argument springing up from somewhere in his mind. What harm could come from making sure the sled held together for her trip across the shelf? It's what a true gentleman would do. And if nothing else, did this latest siege and reconstruction effort not remind the whole tribe that their strength sprung from the bonds between its members?
In that quick internal debate, Aden's compassionate instincts won out and he cast aside all thoughts of heading home. "Come," he said, "It's getting dark. And if it turns out there is some work left to be done than it'd be best to find out now."
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Post by desna on May 12, 2008 5:20:06 GMT -5
Desna looked up at the sky again, she was going to be late, there was hardly enough time for her to get home at this rate. She looked between the boy and the wall quickly, she'd have to run half the way to make it after factoring that she needed to carry her things up the steps. As much as she'd enjoy a bit more back and forth there just wasn't any spare time for it. She knew herself. she'd get side tracked and forget all about getting home on time.
Ruffling Pikatti's head she silently told him they were going to have to pick up the pace, he knew well enough, he'd seen this sort of situation before. After all, his scatter brained master often lost track of time, this was nothing new. He only hoped she wouldn't hurt herself by pushing too far. Without being able to voice his concerns he nuzzled his head against Desna's side.
The girl smiled at Pikatti before turning an apologetic smile to the boy. " I'm going to have to take a rain check, I need to get going now." She put a little emphasis on the now. After all, time didn't wait for a pair of teens. She didn't feel all that close to the boy she just met, she was greatful of course but he was sure that he didn't exactly feel indebted to her either.
" Thanks for all the help." Rather gracefully she got up close to the boy and pushed onto her tip toes playfully planting a kiss on his cheek before starting off with Pikatti, hardly ever did she think her actions through, the kiss was already gone from her mind replaced by curiosity if the lift would be repaired soon. At a good pace Pikatti and herself made off down the street, Desna knew which ways to go, most people in the city did, she couldn't get lost here if she tried.
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