William
*Lucrum would've returned with his hood down, white bandages wrapped tightly around his forehead, and his hair reaching his shoulders. His spectacles were clearly in view, A look of terror sat on his face as he darted out from behind the bushes to reveal that he had brought the company of three little avian companions, waddling hastily behind him*

**"IS SHE OKAY—SHE ISNT—?!"**
*Lucrum would pause as he realized his Equine was fine. The squire would suck his teeth loudly*

"Haha, very funny. . . I'll get you back for that—"
*Lucrum would stare dumbfounded at the pig man's mask and vaguely similar attire; to an old acquaintance he once glory promised to. . . He would freeze up, tempted to question him. But would divert his attention to the bigger picture, as squawking and quacking of baby ducks drown his senses.*

"—Well, on my trip to find a tree. I felt the sensation of being watch. For a moment, I was creeped out believe it was you, but I was sorely mistaken. These ducks I believe are newborn and they seemed to have—"

*He sighed, as he approached the waters edge, sitting down and having the trio of ducklings follow. Him close behind. The chirp and squawked, dance and finally sat on his lap, a sense of dread creeping to his face.*

"They imprinted on me... Now, I didn't think I was going to have to father 3 children but if that's what nature calls for? I guess this is what I shall do."

*He would look over to Terrel, his visage serious as ever as he spoke.*

**"Ya want a baby duck?"**
*The squire seemed to not take his own comment seriously, he was joking—or in shock he had three more mouths to feed.*

"Didn't thank I'd wake today having this as my new responsibility... But I get when life get you duck— I guess? You raise them as you own?"

*The mare would be just as receptive to Carl as he was to her, now standing she'd rest her's on his. It seemed the mare was comfortable with the unit, as she stamped her hooves excitedly*
Katherine
*Terrel would watch as the man would run out in panic of his horse, only to soon realize that she was doing just fine. The Elf would grin, using it to suppress breaking out in full laughter.*"I doubt it."*He'd say back in response to Lucrum getting him back.

His gaze would travel down to the ducks that followed him. Seeing it in its entirety, it was a ridiculous sight to him as he found himself listening to the whole story of how Lucrum managed to become a father in the few minutes he was gone for.*

"Mother Nature can be so cruel..."*He'd say in reference to the ducks having to be fathered by the Macen. Terrel supposed the other option was death, but they seem to be doing just fine.

Terrel would walk over to the Macen, sitting down a short distance from him as he looked at the trio. Eventually being offered a duck, the Elf would say:*"I don't think my wolves will be very happy with that or they may be just fine with it, but I doubt those ducks will last in my care."

*He rested his arms behind him as he'd lean back and gaze out towards the river.*"You can always let them take their chances in the river."*He'd say, laughing a bit at his own dark humor before finally looking back to the Macen.

He had to admit, there was something oddly familiar with him and with the horses seemingly comfortable with one another, surely there was a time they'd met before. Terrel had met so many people with horses, however, not many of which that lasted so long.

He supposed there was this one man with several horses, but to pick one specifically out of them was a harder task than needed. The Elf's gaze would travel over to the spectacles. There was only one person he had ever seen with them and that was paired with a crown and a broken compass.*

*Terrel would narrow his hidden eyes at the man, drawing back faint memories of traveling with a certain duo after getting a pair of mysterious letters promising reward. Surely this wasn't the exact same person, though Terrel found himself deciding to jab at the thought.*

"Besides... Not like I can take them with me on the job. Mercenary work is always dangerous."*He'd begin, holding up his hand as he would start to count off each thing."*Long traveling, fighting bandits, outrunning self-created forest fires, getting shot at by goblins, not to mention all on horse back..."*Gradually the intense battle became coming back to him in small figments before he'd eventually turn his head to stare back at the Macen.*

"And all for what? Some gold? Fortune beyond what one could imagine?"*He'd jab before tilting his head back more thoughtfully.*"A lot to bear for a pig."*The Elf would finish, his hand slowly lowering the his sword's sheathe. As far as the Elf knew, the ambush was planned with the Macen having ran off to who knows where without any pay for what they went through. Ironic to be found here once again, but now, running wouldn't be an option.*
Pauline
*Lucrum would sigh and wave him off once again, returning his view to his sons—? Or daughters as he petted each one of them. Each duckling my seemed relatively active and stood out more than he one before; 

The first, was poofy with a lot of head fur much similar to Lucrum's own hair style he dipped and dashed, up and down. Peeping loudly on Lucrum's thigh as if he was angsty, The second, was brown and gold with a spotted beak it stared Terrel in his eyes and squawked, and the last one had a Diamond shape birthmark on its back. . . It remained relatively close to Lucrum. Seemed petrified.

How long were they alone? Where was their mother— Oh god, he was truly going to become a father of ducks.*

"Mother Nature has always been cruel. Didn't you know? Seems quite obvious that whatever happened to their mother was..."
*Lucrum took his statement literally, unaware of the sarcastic undertone of his response. He took the well-being of the ducks to heart. As he knew leaving them to fend for themselves would mean certain death. Death, although being very much so apart of his life. He couldn't bare to leave the innocence in cold winter of Mentia. He was more thankful that he'd found them now towards the end of the season. There were warmer days to come. The Macen would sputter as the Pigman deny his offer. Rationalizing the situation.*

"Yeah... Baby ducks and canines aren't the best duo, only when they're raised together from young. I can see that but... —No, that is a terrible idea."

**Lucrum would frown, disappointed in the Terrel's Dark humor. He respond in a surprised tone**

"Yikes, They're babies I can't do that. Gotta at least give them a chance at live before I set them free. That's like— sending a toddler to fight a crazy man with a funky looking hat."

**Lucrum memory would click; A-pawn further listening and putting. One-and-two together. He'd feel a long lost guilt rush into his chest. Lucrum had already knew from the pig mask, So almost mockingly he retort**

||*He'd gently push the ducklings aside, and go to stand up and walk a distance away to give Terrel space*

"I can prove to to you that you need not to worry of me being a weak link no more. . .As a __friend__, I ask that you take up arms against me. So I can prove my strength to you."

*He'd place his hand on the hilt of his Estoc, and flipped his hair out of his face. . . The reflection of his crimson glasses would hide his iris but he smiled.*

**"To first blood."**||
Katherine
*It was clear the Macen didn't get the sarcasm, but the Elf figured he shouldn't expect much more of him with his demeanor. Terrel would eye the ducks as one of the squawked at him, his humor slowly fading with the Macen's sudden remembrance of who he was. The Elf sat there silently, listening to the Macen as he would get up, stating to take up arms against him. 

The Elf's gloved fingers would individually wrap themselves around the hilt of his sword, a moment of tension in the way he held it while Lucrum finished his statement about taking arms against him as friends. Terrel's eyes would narrow at the comment. Friends? Did he really think they were friends after the stunt he had pulled?

The Macen had lead the duo into a literal death trap and for what, to simply run away in splitting up? Terrel didn't know what happened on his end of the fight, merely knowing the self combustion of the forest by the Macen's own hands with them ending up separated with nothing in return for it. 

The Elf would slowly stand up, not caring much for the space the Macen have him. Ranged or up close, he would bare arms against the him. The Elf would draw his blade out from its sheathe, a darkened shade of red staining it from its use. He'd rotate his head a bit as if to pop his neck before refocusing his gaze on Lucrum.

He wanted to prove his strength eh? Time to see just how long he'd last then. No words would leave the Elf. Lucrum spoke enough for the both of them anyways. Without hesitation, he'd suddenly dash forward in clearing the little space created between the two, his sword making a horizontal arc across the Macen's torso, tracing the same attack he had once did on the assassin bugs before completely cratering the its carcass in itself.*

*Funny how memories could replay itself in moments like these. It seemed like they could both help and hurt one in such a situation. His blade would tilt around in his hand, the hilt facing the Macen as he would side swipe him in an attempt to bash his head with the hilt of the sword. 

His horse's head would snap up, tail whisking nervously at the sudden fight breaking out between the two. If it wasn't such a common occurrence, he probably would have ran. However, the horse merely found himself shying away from the flashing of weaponry, whinnying quietly.*