Orion spun the staff in his hand with practiced ease, sweat trickling down into his caramel eyes while a light smile played across his slightly pouty lips. His opponents did not look nowhere nearly as amused as he, though like usual he did not care. They stood before him like so many others and the outcome was most certainly assured, it was just a matter of when he was going to stop toying with them and end it. The crowd was cheering though it had long since faded into silence for Orion as he watched the men charging toward him, their weapons gleaming in the light of the dying sun; it was all moving so slow to him. Like a perfectly orchestrated dance, and unfortunately for them he was the conductor.<br/><br/>The staff stopped in his hand and Orion shifted the weight in his foot ever so slightly, the crowd were on their feet, thinking that the stranger with hair of flame would finally meet his end. Too bad for them they did not know who he wasâ€¦<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Later</span></span><br/><br/>Orion stood before the tavern keeper; the gold coins from his victories were being counted out and placed on the counter before him.<br/><br/>â€œYou sure I canâ€™t talk you into staying? I mean we could make a fortune together, you and Iâ€¦â€ tink, tink, the sounds of the coins being counted. â€œGold, fame and more than enough women to satisfy even a stud like youâ€ the portly man said while giving a friendly wink and a nod to his daughter who was busy whipping down the other end of the counter.<br/><br/>Orion only gave her an appreciative smile before turning back to her father, â€œI am afraid I still must decline, though I thank you for such a generous offer. For daughter is truly a beauty to beholdâ€ he spoke in the soft yet clear tone that he was known for, with nothing but the ring of honesty in it.<br/><br/>When the counting was done he scooped his earnings into a pouch which he tucked into an inner pocket of his shirt. Business done he gave a small bow then shook the offered hand of the man who had become somewhat of a friend to him ever since he had aided his daughter and him in unloading a wagon full of their ale shipment.<br/><br/>â€œTill we meet again Orionâ€ he smiled.<br/><br/>â€œTill then Jamesâ€ he returned the smile before picking up his backpack and his spear that was resting against the counter. He nodded once more to James then smiled and nodded to his daughter who blushed lightly but returned the smile along with a friendly wave.<br/><br/>Orion stepped out onto the street looking up at the full moon, his dreaded hair falling back about his face as he took a slow deep breath. With his mind clear and his heart somewhat heavy he started out down the trail leading to the woods. There was supposed to be a town about 4 days walks through the woods, just another one for him to go to while he tried to find what it was he was searching for. Even he did not know what that was exactly, just knew that he would eventually find it.  He missed his mother and sisters terribly though, he sent them a letter by way of carrier some time ago to let them know that he was alright and of his recent activities. If he knew his mother he would surely find a note one day lying on his pillow. She just had a way of doing such things that not even he could fully grasp with all his training. Part of his mystery that he always admired as well as feared; still he loved her no less for she was the only mother he ever knew.<br/><br/>The light of the moon became scattered as he entered the woods though that did little to slow his steps. And so he walked on his mind lost in thought thinking of home and wondering just when this need to wander would come to an end, not a smart thing to be doing given the fact it was night. But he could not help himself and it was this reason that he stumbled across a pack wolves as they were feeding. It was the warning snarl from the alpha male that roused him from his thoughts and stopped him dead in his tracks.<br/><br/>â€œEasyâ€¦â€ he spoke calmly as he held up his hand to the wolves that had turned from their kill and began closing in on him. â€œI mean you no harmâ€¦.I will gladly go in peace brothers and sistersâ€¦â€ his tone still even and calm as he checked his sides plotting an escape. The wolves seemed to not really care too much for his words, well perhaps a bit for the alpha did wag his tail a bit for a moment. Still he was near their young pups that had been brought to the kill so Orion was pretty much out of luck. Locking eyes with the alpha Orion read his intentions and was able to jump into action at the same moment that they lunged to attack him. Orion beat feet out of that spot as fast as he could not looking back at all, only focusing on the path ahead; the sound of rushing water growing louder as he ran.<br/><br/>When the ground suddenly dropped off before him he did not stop but instead launched himself off the edge and down into the rushing river below. The current was faster than he thought and so he was soon dragged under and swept downstream. Somewhere along the ride he must have struck his head for the next moment he finds himself on the bank of the river, his hand aching from where he had clutched onto his spear for dear life even in his unconscious state of mind. Coughing up water he pulled himself up to his knees as he looked around to try and get his bearings, it was then that he saw a rather large home estate that appeared to be tucked into rocky hill behind it.<br/><br/>A single light could be seen in one of the windows in the upper floors and in his current state Orion figured it would be worth chancing it to see if someone was home and willing to help him. Water logged, cold and exhausted he stumbled his way to what he assumed was the front door and used his staff to give a few good solid raps on the door.