(Cold: Get not even a mention from other writers XD)<br/><br/>Crow hadnt given much thought to what he was going to do for the remainder of the morning or day: His immediate goal to find food and a place to sleep had been casually brushed off as he walked aimlessly, and yet when he neared the metal-crafter's forge, something crossed his mind. -If the apprentice had left the shop unattended, and his father, the owner wasnt yet there, who would have extinguished the blaze of the furnace- Everyone in town knew that the blacksmith's son was a complete dolt; being a muscle atop muscle, with yet more muscle behind his eyes. He had driven a carriege into a shop once, literally walked into oncoming carts while in a stupor, and one time he had tried to pickup a red-hot piece of metal with his bare hands. Even for him, that seemed to stick in the thick skull and leave a lasting impression, as he never tried it again. With such an imbecile for a child and an apprentice, many of the villagers knew the smith to not leave his shop for long. Only in the early hours of morning, and after the fires had been quenched late into the night.<br/><br/>Such was the case as Crow rounded the corner and witnessed the pale smoke rising above the shingled roofs on the street. At first it looked to be no more than a mere campfire, or perhaps a chimney being fed by an early morning breakfast, but as the smoke began to turn black and rise higher against the light breeze, the blaze became apparent. The shop: Starting at the furnace and a piece of molten slag that had yet to be cooled, was a swirling mass of growing golden flames. Licking at the thatched ceiling and dancing into the sky overhead with puffs of gilded smoke and blowing ash. Luckily the smith's shop was separated from many of the others nearby: A fearful suspicion that stemmed from one too many fires in town, and it was the only location slowly twisting into soot. The smith would be furious: First at his idiot of a son, and then at whoever had drug the bastard away. Crow did not want to be around to catch the blame as he oft did in times of trouble. After all, he wasnt well known, but he wasnt favored either.<br/><br/>Turning on his heels with an increased sense of urgency, the lithe rogue returned from down the street he had approached from, and made his way back to the apprentice located at the carriage. There was no saving the shop, but perhaps he could save some unlucky soul the beating to end all beatings, if he could get the son to return before the father caught wind of the destruction. With a pace quickened by thoughts and a gnawing hunger driving him to arrive back at the inn, Crow darted towards the last spot he had seen the lumbering oaf, and was pleased to see him still there when he arrived. Though he had finished his repairs on the wheel: Judging by the state of it at first glance. He was quite obviously pleased with himself as he shook the hand of the 'vagabond' and stood staring idly at the tavern.<br/><br/>Crow would ignore the traveler for the time being. Choosing to step between the two with a silent clearing of his throat before speaking.<br/><br/>"Smith... Shop... Fire...Run... Father MAD" Crow was sure to speak slow, and enunciate each word with a pointing of an outstretched finger. Back towards town, and the now faintly visible plume of rising smoke. "Go" His voice was carefully reserved of anger and aggression, but held the tone of authority he knew would catch the apprentice by surprise. Whether the brute would fully grasp the situation at hand or not was uncertain, but without skipping a beat, the gargantuan of a man turned tale and began dead-sprinting back towards the shops. Obviously he knew at least enough, to know he was in a world of trouble, and soon a world of pain.<br/><br/>Following the giant of a man's departure, Crow nodded a faint and slight hello and goodbye to the shirtless man nearby, before he once more made his way to the door of the tavern. He would slip inside, order his meal, take his rest in a room available, and from there he would decide what the next eve would take... Or so he thought, as he cleared the doorway and was immediately greeted by the woman from the night before. Although now she was truly unbecoming of the establishment and quite an oddity among the early morning patrons. From her hair, to the smell that rose from her, to the very air about her. It all screamed of riches and authority. Of wealth and power beyond the tavern's lot had known. The thought of her wealth rose first to the would-be thief's mind, but soon came other thoughts on the same subject.<br/><br/>As he took note of her sitting down and beginning to dine on the finest meal he had ever seen in the place, he felt the all too familiar leers and eyes of others with dark intentions. Like a soldier who knows another by glance, Crow could tell that nearby there was at least one more thief. One more pickpocket or perhaps worse. Who intented to rob her of her possessions, and possibly more. Crow just couldnt catch a break... He wasnt in the mood to deal with others of his guild, but if he didnt act, wherever the lady's destination was, she surely would not arrive unscathed. Gritting his teeth against the thoughts and the suspicion that he was being a complete fool, the young rogue took a seat opposite the woman and called for the innkeeper with a raised hand and a whistle. Between the fingers of his outstretched middle and pointer, nestled safely between knuckles, shone a single brilliant cold coin. Held aloft for but a moment, Crow simplistically signaled for his usual meal, and looked upon the lady opposite him with as sincere and as polite a smile as he could muster...