((I know what you mean about the short posts. I hate making them too. I feel bad how short some of my replies are, but then again, they seem long because Iâm doing 2 or 3 storylines at a time, lol. Oh, and in answer to naiads having it easier. 1 word: dams)<br/><br/>The roughly paved road stretching out before Nall seemed to last forever. The massive trees of The Great Green gave the illusion of being incredibly close, yet there was quite a ways left. Ahead of Nall, a woman sat on the side of the road next to a small backpack. She looked up as he walked past, quickly jumping to her feet and matching step alongside him. He body was mostly hidden behind a heavy black woollen cloak. What could be made out was that she had some very feminine curves: most notably a fairly large bust. The hood of her cloak was down, revealing light olive skin, strong facial features, deep blue eyes, and a long black braid all the way down her back. In her right hand she carried her backpack. In her left she held a long wooden staff with a crook at the end. Near the crook was fixed a long narrow axe blade with a tapered head. She rested the polearm on her shoulder as she walked. She smiled at Nall as she spoke.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#804080">âA mage huh? Kassan or Magewood? Iâm a student of The Spire myself. So why you headed to The Green?â</span><br/><br/>-------------------<br/><br/>The hunter looked at the dryad, then to the plant, then back at her.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00bf00">âSeems like an ordinary tree to me. Strange thing to carry around in a bagâ¦ I bet it would look good in the garden back home. And, if it is a rare tree, it will be safe there.â</span>He slung the bag over his shoulder and picked up the staff and dagger. He put the latter back in his boot before walking over to the dryad and holding the staff out to her.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00bf00">âHere, you can have your stick back.â</span>He smiled as he looked her over again.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#00bf00">âDo you have a name? Iâm Sean.â</span><br/><br/>-------------------<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">âWell, having a baby hurts, but the process involved with making one doesnât. At least if itâs done right. Itâs really not something to be afraid of.â</span>Cal paused as the men approached and held out the bags of gold, each of them looking at his âslaveâ with hungry eyes. Cal took the bags and thought about the offer. For a long time he examined the bags, even opening one or two to count the contents. Every now and then he would look over as Masako. His expression was flat as he carefully weighed the offer before him. Buying the woman had cost him most of his savings, and there was enough gold in the bags to buy almost a whole new outfit with enough left over for a decent meal.<br/><br/>Two of the men had already started to advance towards Masako while Cal thought over the proposition. A moment later, he turned to look at them.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">âWhere do you two think youâre going? I havenât said yes yet.â</span>He turned back to the men still standing in front of him. There were four or them in total. With a heavy sigh he held out the money bags to them.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">âHere, keep it. I donât need your money.â</span>The men were outraged.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">âMen like you would just devalue her. Now be on your way.â</span>One of the men who had been approaching Masako suddenly drew a dagger and charged Calâs back. In a heartbeat, the man fell dead. His head and his body were two separate, detached parts. Cal had drawn one long sword with his right hand and whirled around before the disgruntled attacker was even close enough to scratch his leather armour. The blood barely left a mark on the polished blade. Cal glared down at the remaining three.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">âDraw your weapons if you dare, coward; although, you may want to get a few more friends to make it a fair fight.â</span>He dropped the bags of gold and drew the second sword.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">Either way, you are going to have to hurry. I wonât stick around here long enough to be caught by any of the guards. </span>. The three remaining men were terrified by a combination of their friendâs swift death, the thought of being caught by the guards, and the gargantuan fighter looming over them with swords ready and a gleam of malice in his eyes. They stood, terrified. Cal roared like a bear and brought the swords down, just missing the two men standing nearest him. The three responded by running away in three separate directions, screaming the whole time.<br/><br/>Cal laughed so hard his sides almost started to hurt as he sheathed the blades and picked up the discarded bags of gold. He then turned to Masako with a grin as he tossed a coin in the air and caught it.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ffff00">âWell now, looks like I might just be able to get us a decent meal today before we leave the city.â</span>