<div class="floatleft">(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/HlySd/e74b6b77-008b-49a2-8c78-ce6bab7f6126_zps50f84067.jpg)</div><strong>Character name</strong>: Naegge' yaas Naat<br/><strong>Who:</strong>Nilteni<br/><strong>Where:</strong>Human Borders & Trade Road<br/><strong>When: </strong>Mid-Afternoon<br/><hr/><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;">The hunting house was dark but for the orangish-red glow of the coals that popped every once in awhile. Bathed in their dying light, the Tikaan sat cross-legged, his eyes veiled by a strip of deer cloth and bare shoulders draped in bear fur. He sat within the weakening warmth of the fire, listening to Nilteni’s resting breaths as he slept, to the snow that tumbled from the branches outside, the hooting of the Great Horn owl, and the play of squirrels as they chased each other through the trees. The Tikaan relished in the peace; a thin, reedy pipe between his lips and within its small bowl, wide enough to hold an acorn, a shriveled grass burned, filling his mouth and leaving his nostrils on grey wisps that curled about his cheeks. The smell was as fragrant as lemongrass and had similar calming effects. After taking a long enough drag, he delicately clutched the bowl within his fingers and expelled the smoke from his lungs on a gentle breath.<br/><br/>Naegge' yaas Naat, Eyes that Halo the Moon, or simply Nae (<em>Nah-yeh</em>) was his name. He was the village blind man, a title none had given him for they were too kind—a mannerism he wasn’t used to. And here he was out in the frozen wood, escaping the kind wolves’ noise for his sensitive ears hadn’t taken a liking to it. Because he couldn’t see, his other senses had become sharper to the point that he was there with Nilteni acting as his tracker. Nae was mostly known for another occupation. He was an artisan, and his crafts littered the village of his new home. His hands had become near harder than the stone he shaped, having been cut and splintered from countless mistakes, which happened every once in awhile. The Tikaan would then trade his crafts with the Atallans for rare goods that he would share with the pack and distribute to those that needed them most: rare medicine, cloth, spices, wine, cheese, et al like his reed pipe and the herbs he smoked. It was his passion to create and by the end of the month, he often had a surplus of dishware and pottery—his every creation unique with its own shape and personality.<br/><br/>Nilteni stirred, stretching out his limbs as sleep fled from his muscles. The Beta warrior seemed to have expected him to be awake. The wolves never could figure out if Nae actually slept for when they woke, he was awake or perhaps he slept differently from them. None knew for certain.<br/><br/><strong>I think heading to the southern point first and then to the east would be good as that way we can cover all we need to and loop back around to head home. What do you think?</strong><br/><br/>Removing the tip of his pipe from his lips, the Tikaan answered on grey words, “I am not a compass. The right way is the right way and the wrong way is the wrong way. I only move in one direction. Forward.”<br/><br/>Poor Nilteni. It must have been habit for him to forget that he was blind. As he returned to his pipe, he listened to the Tikaan as he rose and headed for the door, throwing it open as a freezing draft caressed his bare chest. Nae clenched his teeth as every hair on his body stood on end and a chill shot down his spine. Goosebumps flared across his forearms and from the strength of his jaws the pipe snapped in two. <em>Sigh.</em> There went another one. They were as frail as dead grass. His next project was to make his own pipe, certain that he could make one better and sturdier than the Atallans. Growling softly in irritation, Nae spat the pipe from his mouth and shouldered free his cloak.<br/><br/>“I will,” Nae agreed.<br/><br/>He folded and packed his cloak away and stripped from the rest of his clothing. He grasped the band from his eyes and removed it from about it his head, it being the last thing he removed. Strong legs raised the Tikaan to his feet and strong arms hefted the pack over his shoulders. He pulled the straps tight and faced the gaping door, the white light of winter shining against his skin as the hairs on his body thickened and his legs inverted, lowering him closer to the ground until his hands dropped upon the earth in large, silver paws. The wolf’s fur was thick and grey like a blade. His eyes were wide, ivory rings forever open and unblinking, gazing stilly into the white landscape; into the familiar darkness. His black nose wiggled softly, shining with a healthy moisture as he filtered the smells of the forest through his nostrils. The wolf started out of the house, pausing in the doorway as his pointy ears swiveled forward briefly before twisting to and fro.<br/><br/>Nae’s tongue lolled as he panted, feeling the frigid air in his mouth, which always had felt so refreshing. Once he had his fur on, he tended to get a little warm. Dropping upon his side in the snow, the wolf squirmed, kicked, and wiggled. He appeared to be making wolf angels, but was passing grains of ice throughout his layers. Rolling onto his belly, he stood, leg muscles twitching to shake off any excess frost. Without any further delay, the wolf began the trek with a vigor in his step much like a bloodhound, always cautious and curious of the world that surrounded him. It was nice having a pair of eyes following him always warning him when a log or tree was in his path. He often smelt bark, moss or mold and could maneuver around the barrier, but he never knew how thick. Just previously, he had attempted to leap a log only to realize it had been an immense fallen tree instead. With hind legs kicking and his forepaws clinging to the bark, trying to pull himself over the obstacle, the Nilteni had been kind enough to give him a push, but with much mirth. Nae rarely felt embarrassment, but he did then. He must have looked so silly.<br/><br/>They would need to fuel up on some breakfast. The forest had a pleasant presence, one that would seduce many creatures to come out of hiding. They may just have some luck.</span>