[ Of course, he says that, but he literally just gave her his coat. So maybe this denial isn't quite as effective as he means it to be.
He shoulders his pack again, sliding his bow through the space between his back and the bag (though without the string, it mostly just looks like a slightly curved stick).
He hesitates. He knows he should get out before he ends up more involved in this shit than he already is. Clearly the cage was meant for more than just capturing wayward forest creatures; whoever set it up had a target in mind, considering all the magic involved.
But he huffs out a sharp breath, frustrated with himself. (That's your problem, Yondu always told him. Sentiment. Makes you weak, boy.) And that frustration makes his delivery a little rougher than he means it to be: ]
[ She repeats it under her breath with a disgruntled little huff, looking away from him as she bristles. She's used to humans with one of two reactions to her, if they know what she is: desire, for her worth or her appearance, or distaste, for conceptions and biases they happen to have about her race.
She's not surprised by it, at this point.
Shifting, trying not to strain her ankle, she keeps the jacket closed around her as she moves onto her knees. ]
Yes— [ Stubbornness forces her to try pushing herself up, and she tries to grab onto the bush for support—
But attempting to pull herself up on one foot without much to hold her weight leaves her to collapse back onto her knees with a bitten-off cry. ]
[ She doesn't flinch when he touches her shoulder, but it's close. She looks up to his face, then down to the hand he offers her—
Gods, he's right. Staying here isn't an option, and shifting back into her fox form might be faster, but only just. And with that tracking rune...?
She has no idea how to get out of this mess, but it seems like accepting the help of a stranger, reluctant as it may be, is her only option. Finally, she nods, reaching for his hand. Her fingers curl around his, and she leans her weight into him as she hauls herself up onto her good foot. She wavers slightly, but she holds onto his hand, her other keeping his coat closed around her. ]
[ The honest answer, at least, as he pauses for a second to make sure she's steady.
He glances down again, tongue running over his teeth as he considers the rune practically tattooed on her skin. He doesn't have the means to dispel the magic – it's a trick he's been trying to learn, but it's a little too advanced for him right now. ]
But I figure away is as good a direction as any. Do you know who might want to track you?
[ She sounds sincere, but Peter still has his doubts. He's paranoid as hell, when he has to be, and considering he's dealing with a creature that, from what he recalls, is renowned for being duplicitous, he thinks now's as good a time as any to be wary.
He glances up, though, using the position of the sun to make his best guess about which direction is north, and consequently, which direction Neverwinter lies.
Yondu would've come up with a way to get them turned around to head toward the city, turn her in and claim whatever bounty might be on her head. He was clever and a giant prick like that.
The option briefly crosses Peter's mind.
He makes the conscious decision to turn them bodily away from the city, letting her lean on him. ]
They're gonna come looking for you soon. Trap like that, I'm sure it triggered something to let them know it's been tripped.
If you're lucky, they'll figure the trap was good enough to keep you locked up, and they'll take their time.
[ There's no need for him to mention what might happen if she's unlucky. ]
[ That's the thing about magical creatures: a lot of them have a special sense of direction, when they're connected to the earth. Yan knows which way takes them back to Neverwinter, and she pays close attention, but—
Peter turns the other way.
Yan leans into him as they walk, using him as a makeshift crutch to keep her weight off of her foot. ]
I know.
[ Her voice is grim, anxiety buried under gravity. ]
I don't think they will be in a rush to find me, but... I can't give them the opportunity to catch up to me.
[ He sighs it out, in that sort of way that expresses he’s not surprised, but that he’s still at least a little disappointed – though why he should be disappointed is anyone’s guess. It’s not like it’s really his problem, after all.
Even if he is still guiding her toward the next little village – the one where the alchemist who had contracted him resides – and letting her lean her weight against him.
It’s because she has his coat, he tells himself, and he’s always had a bad habit of being overprotective of his belongings. Once they get to a place where he can get his coat back, he’ll wash his hands of the situation. ]
[ A touch defensively. He feels annoyed enough that he forgot what she was called, which was a bad move. Yondu would’ve had his ass for forgetting the names and abilities of an otherworldly being that could potentially kill him.
At her thanks, he falls quiet. He’s not used to gratitude, unless it came in the form of a monetary exchange. “Thanks for killing that thing/finding that thing/destroying that thing. Here’s 50 gold.” In answer, he just sort of shrugs. ]
I think we both know that is more than most would do.
[ A little quieter, her tone harder. Sometimes, it feels like there isn't much kindness in the world – a lot of selfishness, greed, and cruelty. Freeing a trapped animal is significant, and even now, he's still helping her along, keeping her upright, letting him wear his coat.
[ He grumbles it a little, apparently still bothered to have gotten involved at all.
(He shouldn't have, and he can practically hear Yondu screeching at him about how weak and stupid he is for letting his sentiment get in the way of good sense.)
He huffs out a sharp breath through his nose, shaking his head a little. ]
[ As grateful as Yan is, she would absolutely agree that Peter made a bad call; he shouldn't have gotten involved. He should have left her in that cage and gone about his business, or even abandoned her as soon as he realized what she is. Good sense would have turned him in that direction. Good sense would have driven him to walk away.
All of that logical reasoning is what makes Yan suspicious. What is he getting out of this? What does he want for it? What is he going to expect from her? She may be accepting his help right now, but she isn't trusting him (she's not that foolish). ]
He knows a couple people who specialize in that sort of shit – dispelling tracking runes to make the movement of "acquired" goods a little easier – but they mostly lie in larger cities, where shit like that can go unseen and unnoticed, or at least where the proper authorities can be convinced with a few coins to look the other way.
But he hasn't spoken to any of them for a very long time, mostly because he's trying to turn a new leaf, here, and interacting with any of those assholes increases the likelihood of him running into his old gang.
[ The town has an alchemist, which leads Peter to assume that there's probably a healer, too – maybe not a miracle worker, but at least one that knows a few of the basics.
He hesitates again, then, ]
Listen, if I bring you to this town...
[ He trails off, trying to think of how best to phrase this. Then, ]
... it's not gonna be Neverwinter all over again, is it?
[ She leans away from him – without letting go – as indignance flares in her chest.
She's used to this – but that doesn't mean it stings much less. ]
I don't go around murdering for fun.
[ He was the first person she's actively killed. She's lashed out at humans before, had to defend herself so she could escape, but she's never killed for the hell of it. ]
[ He doesn't look entirely convinced, but he makes an effort to cast his words a little more mildly. ]
I don't know you at all, but I do know that there are certain rumors that get around. Mysterious deaths and not-so mysterious deaths, with fox spirits that may or not be involved.
[ A pause, and he adds, ]
Maybe the rumors aren't true. I mean, obviously you haven't tried to kill me. I just want to make sure that if I leave you somewhere, I don't have to wonder whether or not I've just lit the fuse on a stick of dynamite.
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[ Of course, he says that, but he literally just gave her his coat. So maybe this denial isn't quite as effective as he means it to be.
He shoulders his pack again, sliding his bow through the space between his back and the bag (though without the string, it mostly just looks like a slightly curved stick).
He hesitates. He knows he should get out before he ends up more involved in this shit than he already is. Clearly the cage was meant for more than just capturing wayward forest creatures; whoever set it up had a target in mind, considering all the magic involved.
But he huffs out a sharp breath, frustrated with himself. (That's your problem, Yondu always told him. Sentiment. Makes you weak, boy.) And that frustration makes his delivery a little rougher than he means it to be: ]
Can you stand?
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[ She repeats it under her breath with a disgruntled little huff, looking away from him as she bristles. She's used to humans with one of two reactions to her, if they know what she is: desire, for her worth or her appearance, or distaste, for conceptions and biases they happen to have about her race.
She's not surprised by it, at this point.
Shifting, trying not to strain her ankle, she keeps the jacket closed around her as she moves onto her knees. ]
Yes— [ Stubbornness forces her to try pushing herself up, and she tries to grab onto the bush for support—
But attempting to pull herself up on one foot without much to hold her weight leaves her to collapse back onto her knees with a bitten-off cry. ]
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Easy.
[ He lacks the gentleness from before, but there's still sympathy in his voice.
He glances down at her foot, swollen and a bright, angry red – an obvious signal of a break. He hesitates again before offering her a hand. ]
C'mon. I doubt you wanna stay here.
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Gods, he's right. Staying here isn't an option, and shifting back into her fox form might be faster, but only just. And with that tracking rune...?
She has no idea how to get out of this mess, but it seems like accepting the help of a stranger, reluctant as it may be, is her only option. Finally, she nods, reaching for his hand. Her fingers curl around his, and she leans her weight into him as she hauls herself up onto her good foot. She wavers slightly, but she holds onto his hand, her other keeping his coat closed around her. ]
Where are we going?
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[ The honest answer, at least, as he pauses for a second to make sure she's steady.
He glances down again, tongue running over his teeth as he considers the rune practically tattooed on her skin. He doesn't have the means to dispel the magic – it's a trick he's been trying to learn, but it's a little too advanced for him right now. ]
But I figure away is as good a direction as any. Do you know who might want to track you?
[ Other than... a lot of people... ]
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I think they're from Neverwinter – or hired by the guard. They think I killed a knight in cold blood, when I was only defending myself.
[ She shifts her weight on her foot, glaring at the forest floor. ]
I was just trying to tell him to leave me alone.
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He glances up, though, using the position of the sun to make his best guess about which direction is north, and consequently, which direction Neverwinter lies.
Yondu would've come up with a way to get them turned around to head toward the city, turn her in and claim whatever bounty might be on her head. He was clever and a giant prick like that.
The option briefly crosses Peter's mind.
He makes the conscious decision to turn them bodily away from the city, letting her lean on him. ]
They're gonna come looking for you soon. Trap like that, I'm sure it triggered something to let them know it's been tripped.
If you're lucky, they'll figure the trap was good enough to keep you locked up, and they'll take their time.
[ There's no need for him to mention what might happen if she's unlucky. ]
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Peter turns the other way.
Yan leans into him as they walk, using him as a makeshift crutch to keep her weight off of her foot. ]
I know.
[ Her voice is grim, anxiety buried under gravity. ]
I don't think they will be in a rush to find me, but... I can't give them the opportunity to catch up to me.
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[ Just in case either of them forgot. ]
As long as you’ve still got it on you, it doesn’t really matter how much distance you’ve got on them. Assuming they care enough to pursue you, anyway.
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I know. But I don't have the skill to dispel it on my own.
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[ He sighs it out, in that sort of way that expresses he’s not surprised, but that he’s still at least a little disappointed – though why he should be disappointed is anyone’s guess. It’s not like it’s really his problem, after all.
Even if he is still guiding her toward the next little village – the one where the alchemist who had contracted him resides – and letting her lean her weight against him.
It’s because she has his coat, he tells himself, and he’s always had a bad habit of being overprotective of his belongings. Once they get to a place where he can get his coat back, he’ll wash his hands of the situation. ]
No healing spells either, I’m guessing.
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[ So that would be a "no." ]
I owe you for saving my life.
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[ A touch defensively. He feels annoyed enough that he forgot what she was called, which was a bad move. Yondu would’ve had his ass for forgetting the names and abilities of an otherworldly being that could potentially kill him.
At her thanks, he falls quiet. He’s not used to gratitude, unless it came in the form of a monetary exchange. “Thanks for killing that thing/finding that thing/destroying that thing. Here’s 50 gold.” In answer, he just sort of shrugs. ]
I just unlocked a cage.
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[ A little quieter, her tone harder. Sometimes, it feels like there isn't much kindness in the world – a lot of selfishness, greed, and cruelty. Freeing a trapped animal is significant, and even now, he's still helping her along, keeping her upright, letting him wear his coat.
It's... kind. ]
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Now I'm caught up in this. Whatever this is.
[ He grumbles it a little, apparently still bothered to have gotten involved at all.
(He shouldn't have, and he can practically hear Yondu screeching at him about how weak and stupid he is for letting his sentiment get in the way of good sense.)
He huffs out a sharp breath through his nose, shaking his head a little. ]
Don't worry about it.
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All of that logical reasoning is what makes Yan suspicious. What is he getting out of this? What does he want for it? What is he going to expect from her? She may be accepting his help right now, but she isn't trusting him (she's not that foolish). ]
What's this way? Your camp?
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[ Though the silver in the mines ran out ages ago, from what Peter understands. ]
Was headed that way anyway to tell a guy his job is impossible.
[ Bitter? Peter? Never. ]
I'll drop you off there, you give me back my stuff, and I'll be on my way.
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Do you know anyone there who could dispel the rune?
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He knows a couple people who specialize in that sort of shit – dispelling tracking runes to make the movement of "acquired" goods a little easier – but they mostly lie in larger cities, where shit like that can go unseen and unnoticed, or at least where the proper authorities can be convinced with a few coins to look the other way.
But he hasn't spoken to any of them for a very long time, mostly because he's trying to turn a new leaf, here, and interacting with any of those assholes increases the likelihood of him running into his old gang.
So— ]
Not really.
Not anymore, anyway.
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Gods, that's unhelpful. ]
Healers, then?
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[ The town has an alchemist, which leads Peter to assume that there's probably a healer, too – maybe not a miracle worker, but at least one that knows a few of the basics.
He hesitates again, then, ]
Listen, if I bring you to this town...
[ He trails off, trying to think of how best to phrase this. Then, ]
... it's not gonna be Neverwinter all over again, is it?
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This is going to be fun.
She stiffens a little, stopping short in her half-hopping. ]
What is that supposed to mean?
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[ A beat, as he tries to consider if he should do this diplomatically.
—apparently not, because what he decides to say is, ]
If someone winds up dead there? That'll be on me.
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She's used to this – but that doesn't mean it stings much less. ]
I don't go around murdering for fun.
[ He was the first person she's actively killed. She's lashed out at humans before, had to defend herself so she could escape, but she's never killed for the hell of it. ]
I hunt chickens, not men.
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I don't know you at all, but I do know that there are certain rumors that get around. Mysterious deaths and not-so mysterious deaths, with fox spirits that may or not be involved.
[ A pause, and he adds, ]
Maybe the rumors aren't true. I mean, obviously you haven't tried to kill me. I just want to make sure that if I leave you somewhere, I don't have to wonder whether or not I've just lit the fuse on a stick of dynamite.
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