The Alchemist and Ja'ren were enjoying a freshly cooked meal, one the tall elezen had prepared himself from the fish and various herbs Ja' had brought in with him. The two ate in relative silence, with Big Red munching on some acorn cookies by the window. Ja' had been asking various questions: How had Big Red learned to communicate like that? Why did the other animals defer to him? How did the Alchemist know the little squirrel?
The Alchemist had merely chuckled and launched into a long winded explanation on how he had found the little squirrel as a babe, and raised him as best he could. The little guy was a runt, and had seemingly either fallen from the nest or been abandoned entirely. As Big Red grew, he watched the elezen more and more, until he began to mimic everything the man did. Overtime the Alchemist had realized this and started teaching the squirrel more complex hand motions so it could communicate better. As for the other animals in the forest, the elezen was something of a caretaker for the various creatures within the forest, having helped many an injured animal. And since Big Red was essentially his 'son' - the other animals automatically deferred to Big Red because they alread held the Alchemist in such high regard.
"Ah', know it sounds far fetched boy, but ye' saw how the animals acted around Big Red. Ye' know its the truth. A strange truth, but truth nonetheless. An' it's not been all bad, little Red 'as been able to use the other squirrels in the forest like an information network. Helping me locate plants an' herbs, an get to injured animals before it's too late."
Ja'ren gazed at his food for awhile, Big Red and he had something in common, it seemed. Both had been, possibly, left for dead by their parents. He let this thought roll around in his head for a bit, his expression making him look much older than he was - eyes looking weary, head bowed low, shoulders slumped. The elezen looked down at the boy over his glasses, realizing he may have drudged up old memories. "Ah'm sorry if I hit a nerve, lad."
Ja' looked up, roused from his sudden flashback, "Eh, s'not your fault. So now what? Am -I- supposed to take orders from Big Red too or what?"Â
The Alchemist chuckled, "That's up to you, lad. Though I will say Big Red could be -very- helpful, considering you are aiding me anyway, he could make your work much faster."
Ja'ren narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the red squirrel. He didn't like the idea of taking orders from a pipsqueak, but then again, he -could- if they weren't pulling his leg, the squirrel just *might* be useful. "Alright, but I am -not- giving up squirrel hunting. That gunna be a problem?"
Big Red stopped munching his cookie to gaze up at the boy with large, sad eyes. Ja' raised an eyebrow in response, but remained firm in his decision. "I gotta eat too, ya know. Unless you can magically provide a constant supply of food, I dunno how we're compromising on this one." Big Red stared at his cookie, long and hard, thinking, trying to figure out a way to stop the boy from murdering all the squirrels in the forest, but came up short. Not able to think of anything, he gazed up at the Alchemist, his face saying, "Heeelllppp!"
"Ah' can probably help with that, but you'll have to do even more work for me, lad." The elezen motioned to his workstation, "Majority of my work goes into the city for the Twin Adder or the local guilds to use with their new recruits. While ye' deliver what I've made, ye can buy supplies for us with the money you receive in return. An' we'll share meals together. How's that?"
Ja'ren looked a tad surprised, the old curmudgeon was gunna -allow- him to eat meals with him everyday?! He couldn't believe his luck, he nodded eagerly, quickly finishing off his meal and rushing to clean his plate at the sink. "That sounds fantastic. Not something I expected from you though."
The elezen chuckled, "Ye'ave done good work for me, boy. An' I see no reason to say nay. Plus, maybe you'll become better friends with Big Red. I 'ave a feeling you two will be helpful to one another later on in your lives."
The Alchemist had merely chuckled and launched into a long winded explanation on how he had found the little squirrel as a babe, and raised him as best he could. The little guy was a runt, and had seemingly either fallen from the nest or been abandoned entirely. As Big Red grew, he watched the elezen more and more, until he began to mimic everything the man did. Overtime the Alchemist had realized this and started teaching the squirrel more complex hand motions so it could communicate better. As for the other animals in the forest, the elezen was something of a caretaker for the various creatures within the forest, having helped many an injured animal. And since Big Red was essentially his 'son' - the other animals automatically deferred to Big Red because they alread held the Alchemist in such high regard.
"Ah', know it sounds far fetched boy, but ye' saw how the animals acted around Big Red. Ye' know its the truth. A strange truth, but truth nonetheless. An' it's not been all bad, little Red 'as been able to use the other squirrels in the forest like an information network. Helping me locate plants an' herbs, an get to injured animals before it's too late."
Ja'ren gazed at his food for awhile, Big Red and he had something in common, it seemed. Both had been, possibly, left for dead by their parents. He let this thought roll around in his head for a bit, his expression making him look much older than he was - eyes looking weary, head bowed low, shoulders slumped. The elezen looked down at the boy over his glasses, realizing he may have drudged up old memories. "Ah'm sorry if I hit a nerve, lad."
Ja' looked up, roused from his sudden flashback, "Eh, s'not your fault. So now what? Am -I- supposed to take orders from Big Red too or what?"Â
The Alchemist chuckled, "That's up to you, lad. Though I will say Big Red could be -very- helpful, considering you are aiding me anyway, he could make your work much faster."
Ja'ren narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the red squirrel. He didn't like the idea of taking orders from a pipsqueak, but then again, he -could- if they weren't pulling his leg, the squirrel just *might* be useful. "Alright, but I am -not- giving up squirrel hunting. That gunna be a problem?"
Big Red stopped munching his cookie to gaze up at the boy with large, sad eyes. Ja' raised an eyebrow in response, but remained firm in his decision. "I gotta eat too, ya know. Unless you can magically provide a constant supply of food, I dunno how we're compromising on this one." Big Red stared at his cookie, long and hard, thinking, trying to figure out a way to stop the boy from murdering all the squirrels in the forest, but came up short. Not able to think of anything, he gazed up at the Alchemist, his face saying, "Heeelllppp!"
"Ah' can probably help with that, but you'll have to do even more work for me, lad." The elezen motioned to his workstation, "Majority of my work goes into the city for the Twin Adder or the local guilds to use with their new recruits. While ye' deliver what I've made, ye can buy supplies for us with the money you receive in return. An' we'll share meals together. How's that?"
Ja'ren looked a tad surprised, the old curmudgeon was gunna -allow- him to eat meals with him everyday?! He couldn't believe his luck, he nodded eagerly, quickly finishing off his meal and rushing to clean his plate at the sink. "That sounds fantastic. Not something I expected from you though."
The elezen chuckled, "Ye'ave done good work for me, boy. An' I see no reason to say nay. Plus, maybe you'll become better friends with Big Red. I 'ave a feeling you two will be helpful to one another later on in your lives."