Log:Achin' for Bacon

Achin' for Bacon
So, what are we racing off to this time?
Participants Max, Omari, Saulot	21 May, 2017 Two Custodians go looking for a nest, and find an extra large slab of bacon.
Location The Hedge
It's early in the evening, and Max got a text from Omari. Aside from mention of him being in a hurry for something he said he'd be near a different gate this go around. One much further out of town, and in the wilderness. Upside? It's not in the deep hedge, and likely won't be as dangerous. Relatively, won't be as dangerous. He can be found out there, sitting on a rock with Romulus at his side. Jeans, boots, and a t-shirt that shows off a bit of the fur on his arms. He's bobbing his head to something blaring on his head phones for the time being while the hedge beasts rests at his feet. It doesn't take Max very long to arrive at the destination she's been given. She manages to find a ride most of the way up, then walks the rest of it. After all, she doesn't want to accidentally lead some random mortal up to a hedgegate. When she arrives, she's prepared. Or at least as prepared as she can be for a trek into the Hedge. She's wearing a leather jacket with a shirt underneath, denim jeans, and boots, her hair pulled back into a bun, and a backpack hanging from her shoulders. A grin touches her lips as she spots the pack and she lifts a hand to wave to them. "Hey! So, what are we racing off to this time?" she woners curiously as she approaches. Omari rises to his feet when he spots Max, and lifts his arms to stretch up as high as he can. When his arms drop down he offers an upnod in return for her greeting. "I wanted to find my way to something, and I'd rather not get chewed out for going solo again. Something about not needing to literally risk an arm and a leg." He shrugs at the thought, uncaring of whatever dangers may be present. His companion follows after him, tail wagging as he looks up to Max. "Mortal," the hedge beast simply greets. "It's mainly this nest of something I'm after. Nothing as dangerous as that cat-thing or any kind of fighting." Beat. "I think so, anyway." "Well. I hear the Hedge is a dangerous place to go alone, even if you're like, an expert... Hedge wanderer. Or whatever one might call themselves," Max replies with a faint chuckle. For the beasts, she grins. "I have something for you guys!" Their canine senses probably could have smelled some sort of food coming from her bag as she arrived. Reaching into her backpack, she pulls out two big bags of beef jerky. Each are opened, wide enough for their snouts to fit through, then offered out to them. Then her attention returns to Omari. "If it's not as dangerous as the cat-thing, this should be a piece of cake," she teases. Omari takes the bag offered, and without a second thought takes out a strip of jerky to start gnawing on. With his other hand he knocks at a rock that splits to reveal their entry into the Hedge. With his other hand he yanks out his earbuds, and hangs them in the neck of his shirt. "See? First thing is that you don't ever say something's a piece of cake. It's bad juju. That's how you end up with a pack of briars running after you, and they don't ever shut up," says the now talkative Summer. "Let's go, though. I wanna get back before the sun rises." With that said he disappears through the gate, and to the world of green on the other side. Following him through to the other side, Max makes sure that Omari doesn't get too far ahead of her. "Well. Maybe I can distract the briarwolves long enough with some more beef jerky," she replies with a faint smirk. "Okay, so, how far away is this nest? Have any information on it yet or figure we can learn more about it once we get there?" she questions with raised brows, her expression a curious one. Omari doesn't answer right away. He's still eating on his jerky along the way. He then wipes at his mouth with the back of his hand, and points off towards the north. However, the path they're on turns east in a few meters. "The most I know the creature by is a Barrel Pig. Supposed to be big, armored, and not too nice. They're also supposed to be dead except for a scant few, and if that rumor isn't wrong the nest'll be empty. The distance I can't completely tell. This is the Hedge and all, and shit away from the trods just don't stick like how they should." Figuring that Omari at least somewhat knows where they're going, Max continues following him even as their path turns east. If the hedgebeasts are following as well, she occasionally glances their way. Most of her attention, though, is divided between the Summer and their environment. "Alright. So we're checking the nest to ensure that it's empty and see if there's anything interesting within?" She smiles curiously over at him. "I'll keep my eye open for any pig-like tracks along the trail." "Interest and if it's leavings were left around." Omari's phrasing causes even Romulus to bark, "Wait! What?" The Summer then lifts a hand and shakes his head. "Not like that. They shed their skin kinda. Sorta. Stuff should make for some good armor, or at least fetch something decent at the market. Beyond even that it's something to log, and verify. The last one was hunted about half a decade ago: so before my time here in Brunsett." He then stops, gaze cast briefly towards the trail that goes along the trod. With a glance back to Max he notes, "If things do get hairy we're gonna have to hope Remus isn't eating right about now. I got my guns, but I'd rather not have to shoot shit today." Max can't help but smirk at Romulus's reaction. Some more jerky is pulled from her bag and tossed his way with a smile. Then the enchanted mortal returns her attention to Omari, listening and nodding in understanding. "Well, I've got my notebook with me to make notes and whatnot. Maybe even sketch out anything of particular interest," she tells him, smiling helpfully at the Summer. She continues wandering at his side, though not too close to accidentally brush against him. "If things do get hairy, you can loan me one of your guns again," she suggests. "I may not be the best shot, but, better than nothing, right?" she points out, grinning. "So, these guys shed their skin? Like snakes?" Unlike the hobs and oddities of the rainbow market the only life here is likely hostile or at least fearful of the group as they venture from the trod. The growing night that follows behind dusk offers much in the way of obfuscation, although they can always hear something. A chirp here, a howl heard off in the distance, or the sound of a snapping twig that's far too close. They're not alone, nor are they greeted by anything save the wondrous cacophony of the Hedge that only grows louder the further they move from the trod. "More like cicadas. Hate those fuckers, by the way. They make way too much noise, and do that skin thing they leave behind. It's supposed to be like that for the barrel pigs, too." There isn't much of an issue with Max moving quietly through the shadows as darkness falls upon the small group. Other than her occasional talking, she barely makes a noise as she moves, and she walks fluidly enough to not easily draw attention to her amongst the shadows. Even when she does talk, it's only loud enough for Omari to hear. An audible whisper not meant to stray further than between the two of them. And Romulus, of course. "I've only heard their sounds on like, YouTube videos and recordings. But yeah, they're definitely annoying," she agrees with a soft chuckle. Whenever there's a sound, that howl or the nearby snapping twig, her head quickly moves in that direction. She's quite alert and remains on her toes. Omari nods silently, although a glance in the Beast's direction reveals his obvious disgust of the insects. "Anywho, the thing's supposed to be about as big as a car. Most I got was a drawing of it, but it's about what you'd expect. Big, pig-ish, and- Oh. Forgot something else." He hums briefly, tapping at his chin while he brings his other arm across his chest. "Oh yeah. They used to have these weird spikes on their backs. No idea why, but I'm gonna guess they used to deal with things bigger 'an them looking at 'em like snacks." "Weird spike things? Well, I suppose that makes a bit of sense. It's probably a defense mechanism type thing," Max agrees with his own theory, nodding a few times. "The spikes aren't like, poisonous or anything, are they?" she wonders, her brows raising curiously. The further they continue to travel, the less she looks at Omari. Just enough that he stays within her sight, but her attention is elsewhere. She looks to the ground for any signs of pig-like tracks, the scenery around them for any signs that something as big as a car has recently moved through it, anything that could provide information about the beast they were tracking down. The darkness doesn't much annoy the Beast. With the night now taken over he begins looking around himself while talking. He appears rather at ease, although she can occasionaly see him flexing his fingers as if waiting to draw at the drop of a hat. "Not from what Kenneth said, no. Granted, I didn't technically asked if they were anything beyond big and spiky. The biggest one's on their forehead, and they all go down its spine. Kinda like a mohawk." It's now his turn to grow curious as he muses aloud. "Spikehawk? Mospike?" They're far enough away from the trod that it's no longer visible, and only more treacherous due to night's claim of the skies. It's now that Omari keeps his eyes near the canopy of the woods they encroach upon. There's something he sees up there in the darkness, and he stops dead in his tracks. After a few seconds of staring something up there chirps, rustles the branches, and takes off deeper into the woods. "Spikehawk sounds cooler," Max replies with a light grin. Of course, when he falls silent and stops, so does she and she likewise stares out in the darkness to try and catch a glimpse of what had caught his attention. A brow raises at the unseen thing makes a noise and disappears ahead of them, then she slowly returns her blue-eyed gaze to Omari. She doesn't speak but there's a questioning expression on her face. Obviously she wants to know what the hell was that. Too small and chirpy to be the thing they were hunting. "Well, if it were cooler it'd be made of ice or colder." Far too literal, it seems. Omari shrugs at his own thoughts, but then shoots Max an askance glance. "Speaking of naming shit, what'd you call that cat-thing? I ain't one to really go about naming anything, and I know you took some notes on it, too." Max says, "I called it a Sphinxbeast. Not very creative, I know. But, it seemed fitting enough," Max answers, faintly chuckling. "With the whole riddle thing, the appearance of it... Maybe someone else can think of a better name." The enchanted mortal shrugs gently. "I wonder if there are others like it elsewhere in the Hedge. Are there such things here that are one of a kind?" she wonders, giving him a curious look as they continue to wander along." Max gets a curious stare from Omari after the name, and then he just slaps his forehead with his hand. "Sphinxbeast!" he shouts in surprise. The sudden outburst in noise sends many of the creatures around them skittering and flying, altough the Beast doesn't seem to care overmuch. "That's fuckin' perfect too. As for one of a kind. Some times there, some times there aren't. I've also heard and seen a few things that should've been, well, extinct, just show up. Shit's weird, ya know?" "What, like dinosaurs or something? What if this pig thing is some sort of stegasaurus. Those were the ones with the spikes on them, right?" Max can't help but grin at the idea of seeing a dinosaur in the Hedge, even if the pig-beast isn't that. Just that hope that maybe /someday/ she might see something like those that used to rule the earth. "If the Hedge and Arcadia have both been around as long as the earth has, it'd make sense that there'd be creatures of old still wandering about here as well," she points out. "That's way outta my wheelhouse and above my paygrade. That's too esoteric for me," says the man-cum-faire. "You might find some shit that looks like a dino, but I never really paid attention to dinos like that. I was more of an astronaut kid, and focused on the stars." Omari can't contain the snicker that follows the mention of his childhood, however long ago it may be. "Most I've seen was this t-rex looking thing, but it spit lightning and had these weird metal things all on the top of its body. It also had-" He stops, lifting a hand in request for her to stop. Max's attention is mostly focused on Omari while they walk and talk, enjoying the conversation to be had with the Beast. There's a smile on her lips, her spirits are high, her mood is good. However, as soon as he stops, she does as well. She quickly falls silent and turns her attention away from him. The enchanted mortal takes a quick glance around them before attempting to follow his line of sight to see what he sees. The chirping returns again, and grows in intensity in a few seconds. The origin is a small bird cast in a shade of violet, and damned difficult to make out this late out night. It rests on Omari's now raised forearm as it continues its chirping. This leaves Omari to simply slap his forehead, and lets out a groan of frustration. "Fuck," he grumbles. He doesn't look away from the bird, but calls to Max with a click of his tongue. "You wouldn't happen to know how to speak bird, would ya?" As that bird nears the group something else stirs, just out of sight. It moves low in the bushes, although whatever it is makes a slight sound as it passes through the forest. It sounds like wood grinding against sandpaper. Omari doesn't pay much mind to anything else except the bird as it keeps chittering on. "I do not speak bird, no," Max answers with a small shake of her head. She watches the bird momentarily but it's the movement nearby that pulls her attention away. A brow raises, a thought crosses her mind. She tries to listen to see if the whatever-it-is is moving further away or getting closer. "But, you know how sometimes in nature, some animals work together? Like, the birds that pick bugs out of alligators teeth and the gators don't try to eat them?" she questions, keeping her attention on the thing brushing through the forest nearby. The bird keeps chirping on, and now it's hopping back and forth on its Changeling perch. Now it's lifting it's wings up and dancing around, and the only response Omari has for the bird is a sigh. His eyes start glazing over as he eventually gives up, but doesn't brush the bird away. "It's a lulloon. They eat eyes. Mostly. Luckily, we're neither dead nor sleeping out here." While he sounds all smiles it doesn't seem the slightest bit happy about this situation. "Check ahead for me if you can, I'm gonna see if I can find another bird that'll understand." With the fact that he can smell her, Max is put a little at ease. Then she can't help but wonder for a moment what she smells like to him. Hopefully not bad. As she comes across her findings, she pulls her notebook and a pen from her backpack, starting to write down notes of what she sees. Very carefully she steps forward, closer to the rocks, studying them over briefly. Then she turns her focus onto the rather large eggs, blinking a few times in surprise at their size. A quick sketch of their shape, along with those crescents around on the ground, are made in the book. She knows that animals get protective of their young, so she doesn't waste much time. With her notes made, she quickly turns back the way she came to find Omari and report her findings! When Max returns she finds Omari now has two other birds. Were it not for Romulus watching his flanks the Changeling would be easy prey for the creatures wandering the Hedge. The purple lulloon is standing upon his shoulder, still chirping the night away. The second is a raptor about the size of Omari's wolf, but doesn't say anything. It just stares at the lulloon. The last is an owl-looking thing covered in leaves for feathers. It's at least explaining things to Omari, but keeps going off into tangents before getting to a point. Max blinks in surprise that more birds have joined Omari. Quietly she approaches, not wanting to interrupt the owl speaking. Waiting until there's a natural pause in the conversation, she jumps in with her discovery. "I found some eggs over there," she tells Omari, gesturing in the direction she had come from. "Pretty big ones, too. Some weird shapes, too. Maybe footprints of whatever layed the eggs?" she guesses. Then she offers her notebook to him to check out. Glancing to the birds, she smiles curiously. "Hello there," she greets them politely. There's an aroma of something burning, but nary a flame in sight. Heat begins to roil off of the Changeling's form until he shouts, "Enough! Go the fuck away!" Without a word, chirp, or more staring, all of the birds take off and scatter to the winds. He then lifts a hand, and clears his throat in the process. He doesn't do much to hide his rather obvious rage, but it isn't pointed at the mortal for now. "Not you," he says through clenched teeth. "You got some drawings of it, or sommit? Maybe an egg, too?" Max continues to hold the notebook out for him to look through. "Did you want one of the eggs? I figured it probably wouldn't be a good idea to disturb the eggs. I mean, the eggs were as big as my torso. I can only imagine how huge and deadly the mother of those things are," Max tells him with a chuckle. "But, I can lead you back to where I found them," she offers. "What would you use the eggs for anyways?" she wonders, tilting her head slightly to the side. Omari isn't much for lying, and in turn spills the beans as well as he can. "If there's eggs I can't say. My first thought is to eat one," he is a Beast after all. "Allow one to hatch, and see what comes of it. Barrel pigs are supposed to be quick growers, but don't know why. If I knew some kinda beastmaster I'd just drop the lot of 'em there, but I don't know anybody like that." Beat. "At least around this town." "You could become your own beastmaster with all these beasts that we keep tracking down," Max points out, smirking lightly at him. If he's done looking at the notebook, she'll take it back. Then she'll turn and start to lead him back to where she had foudn the eggs and nest. "I don't know how heavy these things are, but, I'll help you carry one if you plan on taking it." The point earns her a brief chuckle, although he shakes his head to the negative. "Nah, that's just something I can do. Like make the air around me cold or sniff out most shit from far like Romulus." Fingers are lifted to his lips to let out a sharp, high-pitched whistle that summons that overlarge, stampeding wolf of his. "Remus can carry one, maybe, but it'll mean he'll get to eating." With that said he starts marching off where Max went with a wave for her to follow. "Well, we should at least keep one to study. That would be helpful for the Custodians and the Freehold, right? Although, if that thing hatches, you can have full responsibility in taking care of it," Max tells him with a light grin. As she hadn't needed to stray too far last time, it doesn't take too long for them to arrive where the eggs were. Figuring there's some sort of mother nearby, the mortal "What?" Remus asks with as much kindness as a brick to the head. "Hello to you, too," the fae mount adds with a simple nod in Max's direction. Omari, at least for now, is still angry with the birds. In that circle are just five eggs. There's no stirring and movement as the group approach, although there is movement not too far away. "Remus, I'm gonna need you to hold something for me, and /don't/ bite." This elicits a grunt from the icy wolf as he takes hold of an egg with his massive mouth, as careful as can be. "C'mon, Max. You and I can get one, too. Just gotta be quick about this." Max nods at the plan that is quickly being formulated. Picking up one of the eggs with both of her arms, she holds carefully onto it. "Leaving a few behind will hopefully make the mother not want to chase us," she says with a grin. "Are we going to ride Remus out of here or go back on foot?" she questions, raising a brow slightly. The fae mount is smiled at. "Flying on your back was one of the coolest things ever, by the way." "We'll be hitching a ride, yeah, but we'll be dropping these off at Stoneheart. Easier and shorter than trying to find our way back to the gate." Omari then takes his time to grab an egg, and when doing so seems to be far too careful with its handling. "After that it won't be too hard to hold one for the Custodians, and then move the others where I need 'em." Once it's confirmed that they'll be riding on Remus, Max takes a moment to concentrate on curbing her luck-stealing ability. Then, very carefully, she climbs up onto the fae mounts back while balancing the large egg in her arms too. As she gets settled onto the beast's back, she steadies their prize in her arms once more. "I'm guessing the Custodians have a place to keep this thing? Even after it's hatched? I can't imagine Ashe wants this in her loft," she says with a chuckle. "I don't know. We'll burn that bridge when we cross it..." His voice slows, and the egg unceremoniously dropped on the ground. As before, he summons his pistols from the ether. He starts heading further into the woods, and exclaims back to the others, "What you're gonna do is get on Remus, and then you, he, and Romulus are gonna go to Stoneheart. Comprende?" "Wait, where are you going?" Max questions with a raise of her brow as Omari starts to head off. "He's not going to try and play hero or something, is he?" she questions Remus, keeping herself steady on his back for now. "You can fly, we should follow him from above, make sure he doesn't get into any serious trouble. Like, no man left behind, right?" Then her blue eyes shift back in the direction that the canine-man had taken off in, her lips pursing a bit. "I can hear well, too!" he shouts when disappearing from sight. It takes a few seconds for Remus a few to set down the egg he once held in his mouth. "He's the one that feeds me, and he isn't dead yet. He says we go, we go." Romulus leaps upon the bigger wolf's back just as Remus picks up the egg again. "Look at it like this, lady. If he dies, you're gonna take care of us." "Yeah, but if he /does/ die, then I'm going to get blamed and I don't feel like having someone's death on my conscience. And, you know, isn't it the rules of the Freehold to help each other out?" Max points out. "I don't want anything happening to him when we all could have done something about it. He is way more important than this eggs." "It was a joke," remarks the dry wolf. "Worst case, he loses something. Best case? He wasted his time, and he'll have to run on all fours to catch up with us." Romulus then lies down to rest upon the larger wolf, head tilted as it looks down to Max. "And if it is deadly, I don't think your Free-thing counts it if you're both dead." There's a few moments of consideration before she lets out a long sigh. It's clear that she doesn't like the thought of leaving Omari behind in the Hedge by himself. "Okay, we can drop these eggs off then come back for him," she suggests as she sits up, readying herself for the ride. "Not for a lack of faith in his skills, but, I keep being told this place is dangerous to be alone in, you know?" When Max is in place Remus begins a slow stroll through the woods. He doesn't pick up pace until they near the treeline, but that's when they can hear it. Omari, screaming his lungs out. No. He's yelling something that isn't quite heard until he actually catches up with them. Sort of, at least. He's soon flying by, back facing them at first. He's being carried along for a ride by the massive beast he described earlier in the evening. Both hands are in the air, and he appears unharmed save the obvious danger of being picked and carried around by a massive hedge beast. However, the group doesn't get much of the show for long as Remus takes off with a massive leap that's heading away from Omari and the hedge beast. There's an audible gasp of concern when Max sees Omari being dragged around. When she realizes that Remus is heading /away/ from him, she lightly tugs on his fur to grab his attention. "Hey! Your buddy, pack, or whatever you want to call him, is being dragged around by a beast! Shouldn't we go back and help him?" she points out, frowning as she's carried away from the dangerous situation. Normally, she'd be fine with getting the hell out of dodge, but she doesn't like leaving a fellow adventurer behind. Romulus simply watches the spectacle. Remus continues loping along at full speed away from the spectacle, and leads them right on the trod. "Nope," the hedge beast flatly responds. "I've never pissed him off, and I wish to keep it like that. I'd rather not be shot at, or see what else he cooks up when he's in one of those moods." "Well, at least try to hurry then," Max replies with a sigh. She relaxes once more on the back on the fae mount. Glancing over her shoulder, she gives Romulus a curious look. "Does he usually get into this sort of trouble?" she wonders with a raised brow, her head nodding to where she last saw Omari being dragged around. "Depends on what you define as trouble," Romulus answers with a gruff laugh. "With your kinda people he isn't too bad, but out here he doesn't think too much. It's act first, and he may ask questions later." Beat. "It's usually later. When he's after something big it's-" He doesn't get it out as Remus takes a bit of a bump against a tree. Romulus has to dig his claws into that icy fur, but after things even out he lets out a bark to the other wolf. "You don't have to worry, though. He knows what he's doing. Usually." "I'll take your word for it." There's one last glance in the direction where she had seen Omari, then she refocuses her gaze ahead of her. She keeps the egg steady in her arms, even ensuring that it doesn't fall when the big wolf bumps against a tree. She chuckles gently as she says with a lightly teasing tone, "Did it jump out in front of you?" Romulus gives no answer to Max's teasing save a grunt as he settles back into place. The rest of their journey towards the massive expanse of stone nearer the top of the mountain that is Stoneheart. Upon reaching the earthen hall of the Freehold both Romulus and Remus opt to stay outside while the larger wolf leaves the egg for Max to take within. For the time being there's only a few faces to be found within, each Changeling as strange as the next. If Max waits it out there'll be a few folks leaving and going, much of their attention paid to their destinations. The two wolves remain at the entrance, and eventually their howling signals something else outside. The cause for canine concern appears to be a white wolf dragging along the body of the beast that was once chasing Omari, now dead with a few dozen wounds across its hardened hide. Whatever transpired between the two, the beast gave as much as it took. The wolf's fur is marred with blossoms of red splayed here and there along with an obvious limp of its hind leg. If there are any faces that she recognizes as being a Custodian, Max will hand an egg over to them to help her out. If not, she'll head off to the library herself and carefully drop the egg off there before getting the other and doing the same. Since she has no way of getting out of the Hedge herself, she does opt to stick around until Omari returns. She hangs out around the wolves, making idle conversation with them. When they start howling and the white wolf appears with the carcass, Max blinks in surprise. There's a moment of thought, one of her brows raising as she eyes the snow-colored wolf. "Omari, is that you?" she questions with concern. She's heard of Changelings having all sorts of abilities, why not the power to be able to shapeshift? Of the two canid hedge beasts Remus is the most talkative. He largely sticks to gossip involving a few of the hedge beasts he knows and talks about along with any rumors about this Changeling or that. When the howling starts it doesn't end until the third wolf joins in for a few moments. Within a breath the wolf does indeed shift up and out into Omari, with wounds mirroring those suffered in his lupine form. "Yeah," he says while grabbing at his shoulder. "Did y'all get the eggs up here, or do I gotta run back down?" "Nah, we got it taken care of. I set them up in the library for now because like, I have no idea what to do with baby pig-thing eggs," Max replies with a short chuckle. Then those bright blue eyes of hers roam over him with apparent concern, lingering on the more obvious wounds. "Are you okay? Do you need one of those Spring healer things?" she wonders. Max doesn't know anything about first-aid so she doesn't offer anything herself. "You look /really/ beat up." Omari waves off the worry, and hobbles over next to Romulus to take a seat on the ground. "Nah. Just gimme a few days, and I'll be right as rain. Most I'll need are a few beers and-" "What he means is that he wants the scars to set in." Remus' interruption gets a nudge from Omari's elbow, although it's a gentle shove at worst. "It ain't the worst of it out here, anyway, and I got something for the time being either way. Got the eggs up here, and can probably get those other ones later on." There's a smirk that touches her lips at the exchange between Omari and Remus. "Scars are cool on guys. I get it," she says with a light chuckle. Sliding her hands into her pockets, she offers a gentle smile toward the Summer. "Well, I'm glad you're alright. Taking that thing on all by yourself, that's pretty impressive. And it's cool that you can turn into a full on wolf. You think that's were people got legends on werewolves from?" A pause before she reconsiders. "Or maybe there really are werewolves out there. I mean, if you guys exist, it's likely that others things do too, right?" Omari shakes his head, and waves off that first notion. "Nah, not about it being cool. I can already do that myself, anyway. It's kinda like a tattoo, but for me. Like when I get too old to remember everything," if the reckless Lost even makes it that far, "I wanna be able to just point to something as proof to myself that I actually did those kinda things. I also don't concern myself much with other kinda things that do this or that in the world. I got me and mine to look after, and that's damn near a full-time job anyway. Like, I'm more about my family than I'm worrying about the Joneses or some such." Max's gaze remains focused on Omari as she listens to him. Then she chuckles gently and nods. "All very understandable. But, I'm sure we could have helped you out somehow. Who will look out for yours if there's no more you?" she points out. A hand reaches up to brush some of her hair from her face. "Interesting adventure, though. Well, things have yet to be /un/-interesting in your company so far," she says, laughing lightly again. "I'm learning how to use a bow and arrow, so, maybe next time I'll be able to better help with the hunting part," she tells him, gesturing toward the carcass nearby. There's an idle shrug from Omari, the gesture brining more pain than anything else. He leans against Remus without a care for the cold that emanates from the Fae Mount. "I'll keep it in mind, yeah. As for who'll look out for me and mine I know some folks around town. Not a late, anyway. Push come to shove I still got my base out in New York, and another out in New Hampshire. Nothing major, but it's there." A smile is offered to him and she nods once more. "Hopefully it doesn't come to shove, yeah?" Max takes a quick glance around. "Well, I think we got everything situated on this side. You going to the court meeting? I figure I can just linger around here until it starts. Then you or someone else can help me get back to the other side." There's a pause before she asks with a widening grin. "Do you guys have a bar on this side?" And whether or not there is such a thing, Max will hang around Omari and the wolves until court begins!