![](https://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/mybb18/images/reksio/flecha.png)
Having arrived at the hut, Ja'ren lightly knocked on the wooden door frame, ignoring the large sign that read, "Busy. Leave me alone." A grunt was all he received in reply, so he knocked again, louder this time.
"Cannae ye' read, idjit?! Sign says ta' leave me alone!"
Ja'ren smiled, the Alchemist was an old curmudgeon who enjoyed his privacy, but the elezen would probably be intrigued by the squirrel in Ja's arm. He knocked once more, this time tapping out a tune on the wood, hitting the door in just the right spots so it sounded like a quick drum beat. A long, breathy sigh escaped from inside the house, before the door swung wide, "Ye' flea bitten vermin! I outta skin yer tail and make a scarf outta' it!"
"If you did that, who'd bring you more plants and ingredients while you 'slave away' in your little workshop, old man?"
The elezen huffed, raising an eyebrow at the boy, "Ah'm sure one of the animals here could do a better job than ye' iff'n it came down to it." In response, Ja'ren did his best to look wounded, which was actually quite convincing, so much so the elezen started to reach for the boy to see if he was alright. "I'm hurt you would even THINK of equating my outstanding work to such a low standard. I'm hurt. Really." The boy grinned up at the Alchemist, who straightened and scoffed - waving for the kid to take a seat.
"So what brings ye' here so late, lad? Yer normally off frolickin' through the woods at this hour, are ya' not?"
Ja'ren nodded to the, still dazed, squirrel in his arm, and the broken bow in the other. "I need more twine. This fellow's been trying to stop me from killing squirrels. Thought you might have a bit extra, and maybe some insight onto what this idiot is doing messing with my things." The elezen looked a bit baffled as he glances from the bow to the squirrel, but suddenly a flash of recognition appears on his face. "Tha's Big Red!" Â
"Big Red? BIG Red? This guy is hardly big."
"It ain't referring to 'is size, ye numbskull, it's referring to his status within the forest."
"Pardon?"
The elezen rubbed a hand down his face and took the squirrel out of the crook of Ja'ren's arm. He popped open a small vial from his desk, and placed a single drop of the clear liquid upon the animal's tongue. It took a moment, but suddenly 'Big Red' coughed and sputtered, coming back to life as the potion revived him from his stupor.Â
"He's the boss of a large mob of squirrels, lad. E' been tryin' ta' stop ya from killin squirrels, ain't he?"
"How did you.."
"Ye' ain't the first nor last he's done this to, lad."
Ja'ren slowly blinked at the man, boss of a large squirrel group? Had the Alchemist inhaled too many noxious fumes and finally gone insane? Did the man even understand what he just said? Ja' wasn't sure, and started fidgeting a tad. "The boss..of a squirrel group.. You're telling me this pipsqueak is the mob boss of the forest? You have GOT to be kidding me. You expect me to believe that?!"
The man merely gave Ja'ren a look that said, 'You're one to talk' and pointed at the boy's red eye, "An ye' expect people to believe ye' about what ya' see? I see little difference between how believable either story is. I only describe what I have seen Big Red here doing. Why don' ya follow 'im and see for yerself? Here's some twine, fix yer bow and leave me in peace for awhile. I'll send the usual note tomorrow with what I require."
Ja'ren looked skeptical but accepted the twine offered to him, quickly fixing his bow and rising to his feet. The squirrel looked up at the elezen with horror, like it was saying, "You want me to let the squirrel killer FOLLOW ME AROUND?!" Noticing the look, the Alchemist laughs, and grins wildly at the animal. "Do ye want the lad to stop killin yer brethren or not?"
Big Red paused in mid chitter, suddenly looking torn, before nodding slowly and waving his paws in the air. At this, the elezen looked up at Ja', "E' wants ye to promise not to kill anyone while yer followin' 'im." Ja'ren mockingly placed a hand over his heart, "I do solemnly swear not to brutally murder any of the 'Forest Boss's' friends while I am stalking his every move. Now let's go, it's late, I'm tired, and I'd like to sleep without nutty here waking me up again."Â
"Cannae ye' read, idjit?! Sign says ta' leave me alone!"
Ja'ren smiled, the Alchemist was an old curmudgeon who enjoyed his privacy, but the elezen would probably be intrigued by the squirrel in Ja's arm. He knocked once more, this time tapping out a tune on the wood, hitting the door in just the right spots so it sounded like a quick drum beat. A long, breathy sigh escaped from inside the house, before the door swung wide, "Ye' flea bitten vermin! I outta skin yer tail and make a scarf outta' it!"
"If you did that, who'd bring you more plants and ingredients while you 'slave away' in your little workshop, old man?"
The elezen huffed, raising an eyebrow at the boy, "Ah'm sure one of the animals here could do a better job than ye' iff'n it came down to it." In response, Ja'ren did his best to look wounded, which was actually quite convincing, so much so the elezen started to reach for the boy to see if he was alright. "I'm hurt you would even THINK of equating my outstanding work to such a low standard. I'm hurt. Really." The boy grinned up at the Alchemist, who straightened and scoffed - waving for the kid to take a seat.
"So what brings ye' here so late, lad? Yer normally off frolickin' through the woods at this hour, are ya' not?"
Ja'ren nodded to the, still dazed, squirrel in his arm, and the broken bow in the other. "I need more twine. This fellow's been trying to stop me from killing squirrels. Thought you might have a bit extra, and maybe some insight onto what this idiot is doing messing with my things." The elezen looked a bit baffled as he glances from the bow to the squirrel, but suddenly a flash of recognition appears on his face. "Tha's Big Red!" Â
"Big Red? BIG Red? This guy is hardly big."
"It ain't referring to 'is size, ye numbskull, it's referring to his status within the forest."
"Pardon?"
The elezen rubbed a hand down his face and took the squirrel out of the crook of Ja'ren's arm. He popped open a small vial from his desk, and placed a single drop of the clear liquid upon the animal's tongue. It took a moment, but suddenly 'Big Red' coughed and sputtered, coming back to life as the potion revived him from his stupor.Â
"He's the boss of a large mob of squirrels, lad. E' been tryin' ta' stop ya from killin squirrels, ain't he?"
"How did you.."
"Ye' ain't the first nor last he's done this to, lad."
Ja'ren slowly blinked at the man, boss of a large squirrel group? Had the Alchemist inhaled too many noxious fumes and finally gone insane? Did the man even understand what he just said? Ja' wasn't sure, and started fidgeting a tad. "The boss..of a squirrel group.. You're telling me this pipsqueak is the mob boss of the forest? You have GOT to be kidding me. You expect me to believe that?!"
The man merely gave Ja'ren a look that said, 'You're one to talk' and pointed at the boy's red eye, "An ye' expect people to believe ye' about what ya' see? I see little difference between how believable either story is. I only describe what I have seen Big Red here doing. Why don' ya follow 'im and see for yerself? Here's some twine, fix yer bow and leave me in peace for awhile. I'll send the usual note tomorrow with what I require."
Ja'ren looked skeptical but accepted the twine offered to him, quickly fixing his bow and rising to his feet. The squirrel looked up at the elezen with horror, like it was saying, "You want me to let the squirrel killer FOLLOW ME AROUND?!" Noticing the look, the Alchemist laughs, and grins wildly at the animal. "Do ye want the lad to stop killin yer brethren or not?"
Big Red paused in mid chitter, suddenly looking torn, before nodding slowly and waving his paws in the air. At this, the elezen looked up at Ja', "E' wants ye to promise not to kill anyone while yer followin' 'im." Ja'ren mockingly placed a hand over his heart, "I do solemnly swear not to brutally murder any of the 'Forest Boss's' friends while I am stalking his every move. Now let's go, it's late, I'm tired, and I'd like to sleep without nutty here waking me up again."Â