Daniel
"Will you be providing food to this man, madam?" Eotum asked the old lady, to which she nodded.

"Alright. Good. When you do provide food to him, please give him something warming but easy to swallow. Porridge or soup would do." Eotum continued to advise. "The ointment works best when the patient's body temperature is warmer as the warmth helps with the circulation of blood, which will deliver the ointment's effects all over the body."

"Asides from that... You know what, here. You can have this, madam." Said the scholar, handing her the small tin case which held the ointment. "I think I've told you the ingredients already, but if you'd like I can write them down along with the steps on how to prepare it should you want to make another batch for yourself."

"But that aside, please apply the ointment once more to his body when he wakes up again." He said lastly. "And maybe you could give the ointment to him or keep it to yourself. Your choice."

"I'll be going back to the tanner now. If there is anything else you need while I'm around, don't hesitate. If that's all, take care, madam. I'll come back later with the recipe for the ointment." 

And with that, he walked out the door, leaving Rekkan with the old lady.
David
Skip to Hogcock day and the sudden disappearance of the shifter girl, Rekkan was all but worried about her and the way she made her subtle evasion of the festivities. He was divided in thought. One part of him wanted to give her some space. They traveled all the way to the village and even spent the entire time in the town after meeting together. Maybe she just wanted some long lost privacy. But another part wanted to be with her and ask her if she was alright. Basically, give her a shoulder to lean to.

He did the latter, roaming the small village in search of Marsila. What he found was not a sad and melancholic girl, but a woman just who had just finished beating five thugs all by herself. That was impressive, mainly because he couldn't see her abilities in the warehouse apart from transforming into a large feline of black fur. Closing in on the girl, Rekkan couldn't help but clap of approval. "I'll be damned! I can only wonder what happened here!" He walked to her side and laid his left hand on her right shoulder, a smirk creeping about his face. "Are they bounty hunters?" He looked down at the bruised men and shook his head. They were unconscious, or lacking senses. Either way, domesticated enough to chain up and then wait for their awakening. "We could use this opportunity to know more about who is hunting us. Gather it's a good idea?" He asked her, hand always on her shoulder until the last question.
Leon
Marsila hadn't caught onto his scent, too preoccupied by the men who laid passed out along the ground. It was his voice that tore her focus from the thugs to Rekkan, instantly observing his appearance to find his wounds mostly healed. She was pleased he could walk around without seeming in pain though it didn't prevent her worry, he had been lying unconscious and roasted in the past few hours. "They're definitely Bounty hunters, they tried to use me to bait you."

Turning her head towards her right shoulder, she looked of into the distance as she listened to his opinion on what they could do. It was a smart idea to question them, gather as much knowledge as they could from their prisoners but it was a risk. She doubted he would provide them with any assistance that would lead the to the bounty source, they could whisper fase information in hopes to lead them astray for all she knew. Kneeling down by the closest thug who laid unconscious, Marsila rolled him onto his chest so she was able to press his arms together behind his back. She noticed the rope used to hold his pants up and used it to her advantage, pulling it from his pants and tied it around his wrists so he would be unable to escape. She seemed the least bit fazed on the fact she could have been kidnapped and possibly killed. "We will only know if we try."
David
To use Marsila as bait meant that they were being followed for a while now. They knew who Rekkan was accompanied by and would not stop at any morality to get their way. Sickening fools. The guy's mind was already flooding with dark thoughts that disregarded the words coming out of Marsila until she said that they could try. "I know just the way to make them talk. Don't worry."

Rekkan followed Marsila's idea and tied all of the remaining men with their own makeshift belts. Eager to know how far he had recovered, the guy hauled one on his shoulder and smirked at how his body reacted positively. This mean they could carry them faster. But they wouldn't carry them back to the house. Instead, Rekkan signaled the shifter to follow him and disappear in the treeline. He bundled the thugs up in a circle around a large rock and went back to fetch the remaining two. When all five were there, he turned to Marsila. "Get me a bucket full of water."

The guy walked around the large rock, as if keeping watch on the unconscious thugs. He was waiting for the slightest hint of movement to dictate the beginning of a very special game. Rekkan used this opportunity to show Marsila just how far he was willing to go to not only get answers but to send a message to any that touched someone that he liked.
Daniel
But whatever plan they had prepared was dashed when a particular scholar walked into view. Walking stick in hand, Eotum was about to leave the small village on the path leading to the Iron Gate. In his peripheral vision, he saw the 5 five men tied around a rock as well as the man he had just healed, only looking up when Rekkan did.

No one moved. No one spoke. All that accompanied them was the sounds of the wind brushing through the trees and the grass, the coldness of the surrounding air, and their breaths. 

In this quick moment, Eotum was able to deduce the fact that the men and at least Rekkan were somehow related. Not by blood, by rather by an event. Rekkan had been cured of his burn marks, but some of the men bore reddened and blackened skin, some having them on their arms, their heads and even their faces. 

If Rekkan opened his mouth to speak, Eotum was faster. He raised a hand to silence him.

"The fact that you were separated from these men, as well as the way you are treating them, signify that you are running away from them." Said Eotum. "The burn marks they bare look similar to the ones you had. This means you and these men are somehow related."

"I do not wish to take sides. However, I would very much like to know what happened. And please, tell the truth."
Leon
From her peripheral vision, she could easily notice the Wanderer throw one of the men over her shoulder, annoying her to an extent. He had only recently recovered yet he was throwing one of the men over his shoulder, not a care in the world for his healing injuries. This was exactly what lead many to further injuries, hopefully Rekkan wouldn't experience such. 

As she followed the wanderer, Marsila studied the man carefully whilst taking in any signs of weaknesses, surprised to have found none. Every minute she spent with him, the further she was convinced that he was anything but human. Marsila threw man from her shoulder so he would land next to his 'friend', not caring about the bruises that would form as a result. She turned towards Rekkan in time for him to ask for a bucket of water, curious as to why he seemed angered by the event that had unfolded though was sure to keep the question unanswered. Perhaps he was upset they had been close to capturing him. She was about to argue about the water until she caught the scent of a particular Scholar who had helped them, causing her to pause in her movements. They had to be cautious towards how this played out, she refused to harm anyone who was innocent in their mess. 

Stepping away from the bound thugs, Marsila brought herself a couple step towards the stranger, who continued to speak his thoughts to the two of them. When questioned, the shifter knew they had no reason to answer. In her eyes, it could lead to nothing but more trouble.
David
Instead of keeping to the silence that Marsila was holding on to, Rekkan spoke. He had nothing to hide. In fact, he was an open book by this point, to the man and the thugs laying in that circle. "Marsila. The bucket of water." He stated more boldly, not exactly a requestby then as he did not want her to hesitate further. She would understand very soon.

"First of all, -" Rekkan said, with a cold and distant tone, lacking emotion and brimming with logic. "I know I have you to thank for the balm. Thank you." He nodded once, his eyes on the scholar at all times. "Second, there's no need for obvious observations. Plain and simple, they have been tracking me ever since I left town. I hurt a lot of people's business, dark business, and now they are after me." His stoic face slowly shifts into a cracked smirk of malice. "Actually... Your presence here will do just fine. You can vouch, as much as they will, how serious I am. You see, they touched a dear friend of mine. They touched the girl. She's pretty strong and reliable, taking care of me after finding me injured." He does not lie about the girl, he simply omits her further presence in his endeavors.

With the chance of Marsila not being there to listen to the following words. "She might just mean the world to me right now. Anyone that goes as far as she did is a true and good willed being. Don't get clouded judgment with love or what not. Just know she is my friend and I hate those that would even think of harming my friends. Now, take a seat, quite far from rock. When she returns, we will begin. "
Daniel
"Actually. I can help." Said Eotum as he drew a knife. "Alright. I'm telling you now. I'm going to draw a knife. Alright? And I'm sure you'd be able to dodge it if I threw it at you, so I won't."

Without waiting for any approval, the scholar then indeed drew a knife from a scabbard that hung at his side. 

"Now. My reputation can help you a little bit." Continued Eotum. "As a man with 'disassociative tendencies', I can come off as a little... Mentally unhinged, let's say. With a 'madman' like me, they'll want to cooperate if they don't want to lose their lives. And frankly, even if they told others about it, it wouldn't make much of a difference because other know I'm 'insane'."

"And I have a theory that you're going to use this bucket of water to wake one or two of them up. And with the chilly air... I suppose it would be a slow and painful death of hypothermia awaiting them. But really, a knife to the throat - especially one being held by a 'madman' who does not have much to lose - would get them talking much faster."

"So how about it?" Asked Eotum. "Besides, I'd like to hear what they say that you're probably not telling me. If you choose to go along with this, I will be known to you as an associate."

"And if you're wondering what I'll get out of it, well... I'm a scholar. It is my job to seek the truth." He finished.
Leon
When he mentioned the bucket of water the second time, Marsila pursed her lips into a thin line. She wasn't sure whether she felt comfortable leaving Rekkan alone with the scholar who she did not trust and the five thugs, even though they were unconscious and bound. Nonetheless, the shifter forced herself away from the men and travelled back to the village centre. 

Once she reached the well, marsila gripped her fingers around the rotating handle that lowered the attached bucket down the dark hole. As she spun the wooden pole, Marsila observed the village that surrounded her. It was early now early in the morning, many of the villagers have fallen to a slumber, unaware of the events happening within their town. Light snow floated from the sky, decorating the village in a blanket of white as the wind blew it gently through the air, allowing Marsila to find a sense of calmness regardless of the fight she had to endure earlier that evening. 

Raising the bucket from the well, the shifter used her free hand to grip the rope that attached itself to the bucket before tearing it from the metal handle. Marsila assumed they wouldn't find any difficulties in finding another bucket as a replacement, so without another thought, she left to return to Rekkan and the rest of the men. 

Marsila managed to arrive in time to catch Eotum's comment. Even though he may claim to want nothing but to seek the truth, the shifter couldn't help the doubtfulness that crossed her features. She strode to Rekkan's side and passed him the bucket, assuming he was going to use it so he could wake the men up for questioning before she turned her gaze towards the Scholar. "I guess you will be learning quite a bit considering we have told you little about ourselves *And* Our situation."
David
The theory was only half right. Rekkan was going to rouse one of the thugs out of his sleep, but not to cause hypothermia or anything of the sort. No, the spectacle was much worse than the scholar was envisioning in his mind. First, Rekkan let Marsila arrive and stride next to him. She passed the bucket to him and he did nothing more but accept the handle in his left hand. Still in silence, he shuffled his feet to the man bearing scars of fire and poured the cold water over his head. The reaction was instant. He woke up in a fit of confusion and pain, looking everywhere before a foot teased against the side of his head and squeezed his skull on the rock. "Don't mind my manners, scholar. By the time I'm through, your title will lack the substance others claim." Noticing the thug was properly awake and grunting, Rekkan turned his attention to him. "Good morning. Did you rest well?"

"Ugh... What...?! Y-You... You're the guy from... The warehouse... Where is your kitty, bastard?!" The wanderer chuckled. There was mischievous tone about the sound that came out of his lips. He lowered his foot and smashed the man's chest with his left hand, though not literally so. "Th-that all you got...?" The thug spat onto Rekkan. The wanderer shrugged it off and laughed. "This is fine. You all look tough, but..." The warrior stoodand walked around the rock to the thug bound on the far right, away from the eyes of their leader. He took his right hand between the lips of the unconscious man and rubbed his index and thumb together. A small orange crystal formed from the sinews of his fiery core and through the rugged skin of his digits. It was force fed into the mouth and down the throat of the individual. Rekkan also made sure that Marsila would be on the other side of the rock. That did not stop her from listening to what was going to happen next.

Rekkan appeared from behind the rock as the man with the ember inside of him began to cough. He tried to speak, but black smoke kept pouring out of his throat through his dry and chapped lips. The wanderer turned to the ringleader and pat his shoulder. "Can you smell it? Do you remember it? The same smell of the warehouse, the same smell on your skin." Crossed stares brought along fixation and a return to that place. The thug remembered how he earned the burns on his body. It was early in the battle, just as the wanderer roamed up the first level. He was cut down, only to have a beam fall on top of him later. How he survived through it was a book for Rekkan to read, but a dark one as the figure remained hidden. He needed a better answer, to extract it from the thug. 

By this point, the man that swallowed the ember was shaking and sweating profusely. He was trying to scream,only to choke as his lungs were scorched and his chest swallowed by the flames burning his body from the inside out. His flesh melted, eyes bulged and the other thugs woke up to witness the screams. The one next to him saw the horror and screamed, pleaded to be let go as he cried and broke the morale of the others.