Toney
*Björn remained in one spot all the time Ves slept. His eyes on the moon and stars. He would not forsake his post, he was a good warrior and now he will be a good Guardian. As she slept, he thought about being free. By now he would have been lashed and beaten and thrown into the ring against an opponent with some magical advantages. But he never had to be a slave again.

He hesitated to sleep but when Ves pestered and insisted for him to do so, be layed down on the bed of hay. It was scratchy, uncomfortable, warm. Eventually, Björn decided it was high time he sleep how he usually does and layed on the cold floor of the stable. He could feel the grooves of the flooring and smell the dryness of the wood around him. Somehow, he found himself falling asleep.

In his dreams, he had vivid experiences... A young boy who was always sick, crying when his family was took away. A red bird flying through frozen trees. His brand lit aflame with the fires of vengeance. Stolen glances at a girl. Ves fighting in the arena... His death at the hands of another as he defended Ves. His dreams were brutal and real, in truth... It scared him.

As Ves looked back at him, he was layed on the floor curled up in a ball. He had been muttering and shivering for a little bit of the Night but now he was less violent. He almost seemed... Peaceful. His face, usually scrunched up in a permanent scowl, was relaxed. His brows were not close to his eyes like she once believed, they were tall and stoic. His scraggly, dirty beard hid a pair of lips that never once smiled in his adult life, now layed neutral. He slept with kne hand tightly clasped in the other, as if he was holding on to something or someone.

As the sun fully rose on the horizon, Björn slowly begin to wake up. He didn't speak a word. He simply got up, walked to an open area and began doing pushups, a soft growl eminating from him as he worked out, seemingly stuck in a loop.*

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Gary
Ves did not fuss when Björn chose the floor over the pile of straw. She only wished she could provide her friend with better accommodations. A tavern bed would have been welcomed. Even she had yet to sleep in a proper bed since her escape. She had been too scared on her own to even approach an inn. Maybe with Björn's help she could finally do so. People might turn away a small helpless Kobold, but a Goliath? Perhaps he would have more sway.

Occasionally Ves would glance back at Björn as he slept. What did he dream about, she wondered. Fighting? Freedom? Blood? Flowers? Puppies? Ves was curious, but she hesitated to ask. It seemed far too personal of a question and she didn't like to make people uncomfortable.

Her long ears twitched at the sound of stirring and the sunrise reflected gold in her eyes as she turned back to look. Björn had risen quietly and immediately started to do push ups. It was an odd thing to do in Ves' mind, but everybody had their morning routines. Perhaps this was simply his. He might find comfort in the familiar now that everything was new to him. So who was she to judge?

After a few minutes, however, she spoke up, her voice soft from the door frame where she leaned. "Good morning Björn. I have some biscuits and jerky left. You should eat." 

She hadn't exactly been idle during the night. She had found a piece of wood that was slightly shorter than she was and had begun to work on making herself a crude crutch. It would serve as a way to keep the weight off her leg without forcing Björn to carry her everywhere. She showed off her new crutch now as she limped away from the doorway and into the barn. It wasn't exactly comfortable, but it would do. 

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Toney
*Björn looked up from his exercises and seemingly realised what he was doing, raising himself to a handstand before lowering back down again to stand semi-straight. He looked at her and gave a twitch of his dirty mouth - not a smile but it'll do.*

"Good morning... Ves. Did you sleep good?" *His throat was less hoarse today, a full day without battle was probably what made him this way. He looked at where he was doing his exercises. He had to excuse himself from that. While it was true that he needed to do it to remain fit, therefore a better protector of Ves... He needed the routine of his exercises. Every day for the past however many years he acted in such a way. Come to think of it, he didn't even know how old he was, or how many years had been or even his own birthday!

Björn took some of the biscuits and jerky that was offered and sandwiched them together, it really made it taste better, much better than his hot gruel. Björn savoured the flavor, as he didn't know when his next meal would be.

He watched Ves show off her ingenuity with her crutch and made a huffing noise, he would have patted her shoulder if she wasn't so small. Instead, with his long arms, he patted her head instead. It wasn't ideal but it was all he could manage.*

"Today we will be brave. Today we will get what we need." *He spoke to her with a sense of absolution - he knew that today was the day he had to venture into the unknown. Thankfully, years of being paraded around in loincloth and beaten while being bare naked left him with little consciousness issues about venturing into a town in the little clothing he had. He particularly found the wind to be soothing on his chest.*

"When that crutch is too much, you tell me. I will carry you longer distances." *It was not a request, it was a statement of a man who had already made up his mind.* "Today, we need clothes, food, water, better protection for you. I need an axe." *The latter of his sentence was said with a hint of enthusiasm - he felt

It important to specifically get one... At least he had personal preference on his side.*

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Gary
"I slept better than I have in ages," She replied with a smile. It was true. She never had anyone keep watch for her before. And she felt so safe with him. It had provided her with a good sleep despite her troubling dreams. 

She admired his strength. She was so small and frail. She wasn't exactly unfit though. Working in the mines had made her strong - at least compared to other Kobold. Compared to any other race she was a pipsqueak. Easily bullied and easily beaten. She used her strength not to fight though - that was laughable. Instead she used it for stealth. That was something she could do and she did it well.

She blinked as he patted her head approvingly, the scales across her nose turning red again. Apparently he was impressed by her crutch. She hadn't thought much of it. It was a simple thing and she had done it so not to inconvenience him. It would also be easier to talk to merchants if she wasn't hobbling about and falling over.

"Right," She agreed with a nod. "And we also need baths. We smell like rot and we look even worse. We'll draw attention to ourselves if we stink too much. So I think our first stop should be the bathhouse. We can clean up there and then go find some new clothes to change into. Does that sound good to you?" She wasn't used to making decisions for anyone but herself. It was odd, discussing plans with someone. She rather liked it.

"I will change my bandage after bathing also. It should have stopped bleeding by now, so I'll be able to clean it and apply the salve. We might look for a healer as well, though they can be pretty expensive." Ves thought about the gems she had. She should have plenty for basic supplies, clothing, and a bath. But she wasn't sure she had enough for a healer. She needed to be careful with her spending. Her money wouldn't last forever and they still needed to get beyond the border. 

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Toney
*He nodded his head to her rested mind. He was glad she was ready to face the day, they would need her skills. He also found having backup made sleeping easy. *

It woudk also make their next venture into the free world easy too due to her great stealth skills. He knew that when it comes to strength, it'd be he and he alone so why not have someone like her around too?*

*He watched her scales turn red with a fascination. He knew that she was right... Getting a bath would help clean and reduce illness and prevent infection, but he was even more pleasant at the prospect of bathing for leather. "If we can afford healing, it will help you. If not, we have nature and hot water." *They wound be the keys to their survival. He would let Ves handle the planning and finances, he would handle her safety.*

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Gary
She finished her piece of jerky and got to work repacking the satchel with all her supplies. She folded the blanket and stuffed it carefully inside. Then Ves took a moment to count the amount of gems and coins she had left, nodding to herself. They probably didn't have enough for a healer, but that was alright. Björn was right. She would survive so long as she took care of the injury.

She carefully tossed her satchel over her back. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's go," She said with a nod of her head as she slipped the bag of money into her pocket. "I think it'll be easiest to get around the city with me riding piggyback and giving you directions - that is, if you don't mind."

Assuming he was willing, Ves handed her crutch to Björn and climbed carefully onto his back. She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. Then she began to give him directions just like the day before, avoiding the major streets and sticking to the alleyways. They once again got a few strange looks, but most people minded their own business.

"We're here," She said after some twisting and turning through the alleys. The medium sized building was unassuming and likely served as the bathhouse for the poorer side of the city. It meant they would draw less attention to themselves, or so Ves hoped. She carefully slid off of her companion's back and took the crutch back.

Limping through the door, Ves looked around briefly. There was a man behind a counter and two doors that likely led to two separate baths. The proprietor glanced up as the door opened and immediately noticed the towering Goliath. He didn't seem to notice the tiny Kobold at all. He took in Björn's appearance and grunted. **"It's two silver pieces,"** He said gruffly. 

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Toney
*He finished his stretches while she packed up and counted her money. Björn would be lying to himself if he wasn't absolutely excited to be heading off on his first adventure with Ves. He didn't know how to show it on his face however, as adrenaline had always leaned a fight. Because of this, Ursa had a very stern look on his face and was a bit jittery to the creaking of the stable.*

*He nodded his head to the Kobold's statement, following it up with a upfront:* "Of course." *Björn took the crutch from her, it looking more like a club or truncheon in his hand as he lowered down, allowing her to climb easier his body was once again cold as a rock.*

*Walking through the city in close to the nude with a cloaked Kobold on his back made for some interesting sights. Ves made excellent work to avoid any trouble they might find along the way and the most they got was a few laughs or a single Orcish insult. Björn shook his head at such a term, not liking what he heard.*

*He let her down gently as he looked at the building. This is where they stored the wash tubs? It looked more like a manor to him. He gave her the crutch back. Walking through the door, he managed to stand a little taller as he approached. It was his first real stranger since being free. What did he say, did he slam his fist against his arm? Did he bark or bite? Did he kneel?! Upon hearing his demand for the silver, he found himself silently nodding, he held his hand out to Ves without looking too inconspicuous for the money.*

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