The trip across the rolling plains had taken the majority of the day. Much to Thailyn’s word, the sun had begun setting. When they had gotten close to their destination Oscar had long since stopped taking a sense of wonder from his surroundings. 

Now his feet just hurt.

Thankfully the rising of structures from behind a larger hill had marked an end to his throbbing feet. At first he had seen the tops of buildings, wooden in structure with some thatch roofs. As he crossed the hill’s threshold he saw that there was a wall surrounding the place. It seemed somewhat hastily constructed, though solid otherwise. Tall standing logs surrounding what appeared to be a smaller collection of houses and shops. Mounds of dirt with the first hints of new growth sat at the base of the structure and a handful of humanoid figures walked around the top of the wall.

From the way they stepped they seemed exhausted.

When Thailyn and Oscar had started approaching and getting within earshot of the individuals patrolling there was a loud shout.

“Halt!” Came a voice. It was older, not so much gruff as worn down.

Oscar looked up with tired eyes to a human of all things. He was older, definitely, his beard was gray and frayed. His face was gaunt and even from this distance Oscar could see the wearing of time on his thin features.

“Hannen, do we really have time for this?” Thailyn called out from her spot. Despite the way she carried herself, her voice had a few cracks in it. Seemed she was just as tired as the rest of them.

“Thailyn?!” The old man known as Hannen exclaimed. Oscar saw him bend over the ledge of the wall to peer down at them.

“I could’ve sworn you were dead! When you didn’t get back…”

“Aye, I almost was!” Thailyn replied. She planted her hands on her hips.

Oscar glanced towards her face and saw that she wore a look that said she wouldn’t have much patience being stuck on the outside for much longer.

“And who is that with you?” The old man’s face scrunched in suspicion at Oscar.

He wasn’t entirely sure, but he might’ve seen Hannen waving the slightest tip of a spear at them.

“A friend. He’s the one who helped break me out!” The dwarf replied curtly. “Now are you going to leave me and my savior stuck on the other side of the wall, alone? With no means to face the forces of darkness?”

Her tone was jovial, if only slightly, but it was quickly shifting to impatience and frustration.

“Right, of course!” Hannen coughed in reply.

Oscar saw him slip away, behind the confines of the log wall that had been erected. A few minutes passed and then the sounds of heavy dragging and creaking could be heard. Then a section of wall that only roughly took the shape of a gate began to split apart. When Oscar looked behind the opening his eyes widened.

An assortment of creatures, all different shapes and sizes, were helping to pull the gate open. Ranging from humans, to similarly sized individuals like Thailyn, though many with almost unnaturally thick beards. There were a few individuals that looked like humans stuck atop the back of a horse, tall and fair people with long thin ears and almost pearl white skin, even what looked to be a bull that had started walking upon two legs.

The arrangement of people that had been there was definitely a lot to take in. So much so that Oscar didn’t notice Thailyn walking in until she grabbed at his hand and pulled with surprising force.

“C’mon, Oscar.” Thailyn stated firmly. “With how this lot’s been for the last few weeks we don’t want to keep them waiting.”

Oscar noted that her hands were calloused and rough. Definitely hands suited to wielding that axe that she had been carrying on her back. Wordlessly, Oscar followed. His eyes darted between the individuals who were now staring at him with suspicion. He had to note that their clothing was different from the jogging shorts and white hoodie, that had now been coated in a layer of mud, that he was wearing. Namely rough looking articles that were simply made. They had old stains and discoloration from time spent working. Some were leather, real leather not the fake stuff he’d seen in department stores. Old shoes, for those that were wearing them, and almost no color to be seen between the lot of them.

Then of course there were the individuals wearing actual chainmail and wielding spears and old swords. They took an especially suspicious glare towards Oscar’s general direction.

“They don’t seem to like me that much.” The boxer whispered to his guide.

The brilliant red hair on Thailyn’s head shifted as she glanced over her shoulder to him. Only barely, of course, but enough to know that she had acknowledged his statement.

“They’ve gone through a lot recently.” She whispered back. “It’ll take a bit for them to get used to you. That’ll be tomorrow’s issue though.”

Oscar felt her efforts to tug him away redouble. Seemed she was in a hurry to get in before the crowd descended upon them with questions.

“Not one of you step up to this man!” Her voice barked with an air of authority that Oscar had not expected from her. Especially given how tired she was.

“He brought me back safe and sound and has earned a night with us at the very least! Now before you all jump to ask how I am or who he is or how any of this went down I am going to get some food. Then get some sleep.”

Oscar couldn’t see it but for mere flashes as her head shifted to each side. A glare, a magnificent glare that declared her as one not to be trifled with.

“Does that sit well with you lot for now?”

The crowd, that seemed to have given her a wide walking space, continued to stand abated. It didn’t seem that any of them wanted to meet her wrath if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. Which was a blessing, Oscar hoped. He was too tired to even attempt a brawl, even if it was to preserve his own life.

Confidently, Thailyn strode forwards. If she were tired it was not apparent in her step. She had a fierce silhouette, powerful shoulders built of pure muscle that moved with an air of strength and endurance that reminded Oscar of the cliff sides of a mountain.

He caught himself staring for a moment too long and found that the myriad of creatures and people were eyeing him up and down with suspicion painted upon their faces.

“C’mon! You lazy boned fool!” Thailyn’s voice barked. Oscar straightened his back up and rushed to move before the people viewing him could start making commentary.

This seemed to calm the lot, though. After hearing Thailyn’s shout they started to turn away, disinterested in the boxer. He was relieved. He had been in a few places that eyed him with suspicion, more than a few places he vowed never to visit again. This was the first time where he felt truly out of his depth though. He followed Thailyn closely. The further they got into the village the less looks he got. More disinterested grunts and turning of heads. 

After a bit of walking, and with the sun finally setting to allow darkness to begin taking hold, they arrived at a stonework building. It was tall, taller than most of the smaller thatch-roof houses that loosely lined the streets. More solidly built as well, the architecture had been more deliberate. It was a round looking place made of gray brick and a single window with the shutters closed. Near the back end of the building was a large chimney that seemed twice as large as the standard ones in the rest of this place. 

“Finally here…” Thailyn muttered under her breath. Oscar tilted his head.

The usual energy that she had on the way here seemed to be fading quickly. Deflating, like a balloon. She seemed more an image of Oscar in that moment than a mountain. Though she quickly righted herself to keep walking forwards, her heavy footsteps slapping against the dirt road leading to the building.

She stomped up to a large wooden door, it stood a good three heads above even Oscar. Who was not a short man by his standards. There were three handles on the dark wooden surface. One that had been the appropriate size for Thailyn to grip, one for Oscar, and the third one that he would have had to reach up slightly to grasp. The red haired woman reached for the handle meant for her and twisted it. With a loud clack and nary a squeak the door swung open to a dark building.

“C’mon then, ah…Oscar.” Thailyn stated. She seemed to have a hard time with the name.

“We’d best get to lighting a fire so you’re not stumbling around in the dark.”

Oscar didn’t need to be told a second time. If this was shelter, and a place to sleep, he’d take it. In the last fading bits of daylight Oscar saw that the place was cozy. Basic, but comfortable all the same. The only things held in the way of decorations were…

He paused.

There had been a number of weapons and shields lining the back wall. All were arranged in neat fashion and shone like stars when caught in just the right fashion. To the side there were a pair of chairs and a table with some sort of board game laid down. A rug lay across the wooden floor, fur by the looks of it, and a long table blocked immediate passage to the selection of metal worked goods.

Oscar turned his head to see Thailyn kneeling down next to a fireplace, definitely one smaller than the massive chimney he had seen a few moments ago. She was striking at what appeared to be a pile of dead tree-material, leaves and twigs and the like, with a pair of stones. One was dark and worn with usage.

“Well don’t just stand there gawking.” She commented dryly as she glanced up. “The sooner you get us some wood, the sooner we can put on a pot of stew.”

As if in response, Oscar’s stomach howled in indignation. He had gone a whole day without eating. While the boxer was able to ignore it on the road, now that he had a moment of uncertain peace he was…

Well, the best way to put it is that he was fucking starving. Though he had no idea where the wood was. He glanced around the room in an uncertain fashion and the shorter woman sighed and nodded.

“Right, right first day.” She nodded towards a door that stood next to a staircase leading up into the darkness.

“You’ll find logs out back by the forge. If someone hasn’t stolen them, that is.”

Her tone had grown quite a deals softer as she turned back to the work at hand. Oscar gave a wordless nod and went to where he was directed. When he opened the door his eyes fell upon the reason for the large chimney. Large stone dome filled with ash and half-spent wood sat at the edge of what appeared to be a big balcony with one open side. The rest of the place was walled off either by the establishment itself or a stone wall meant, likely, to keep the wind out. 

Carefully Oscar stepped around the tools and anvil, not wanting to trip along in the dark. There was an assortment of hammers, tongs, thick aprons, a water basin, and all sorts of molds hanging from the walls and sitting loosely in chests. He would have focused longer but his stomach growled in protest again and he gritted his teeth.

Food would be coming soon…hopefully. Or at least a fire to help him relax.

He stepped next to the large stone dome and found a pile of rough cut logs sitting in a pile. Quickly he took two pieces. He almost dropped them as his knees quivered with hunger, but grim determination set him forwards. When he stepped back into what he figured was the ‘shop’ area he saw that Thailyn had managed to get a small flame started with the dry materials she had on hand.

“Ah, good. Good.” She commented as she reached out for the wood. “Glad to see your eyes are working at least.”

The blacksmith offered a wide and toothy grin. Oscar offered a smaller one back. He was more than glad to be relieved of the burden.

Within the hour a fire had been blazing and Oscar was drinking greedily from a bag made of leather that had been filled with water. He had been offered tea, but that had never been his favorite at home. 

“Right then…” Thailyn grunted as she finally set a large pot filled with meat and vegetables over the fire. She trudged over to one of the chairs and let out a long and pleased sigh as she hit the seat.

Oscar, having finally satisfied himself, took a seat as well. He let out a similar groan at the same time as she did.

There was a moment of quiet as the fire crackled quietly in the dimly lit building. There had been an occasional knocking at the door but Thailyn sent anyone away with a few choice barks of her deep voice. 

Usually with a solid “Come back tomorrow!”

Eventually the knocks and bemoaned calls stalled.

When things were finally still, for more than a few minutes, Thailyn popped open one of her eyes and stared at Oscar.

“Why haven’t you swarmed me with questions yet?”

There was a pause for Oscar. Not just the stillness of the night, but like time ceased in that moment. He had been too tired to think, but as Thailyn spoke it all came crashing back in an instant. 

He was away from home. In a place with monsters. No modern technology to speak of. Where trees walked around and listened to people. He was alone, save for one person who helped him. He had no idea how to get out of this place, or even if it was possible at all. Oscar did the only thing he felt he reasonably should at that moment as his eyes locked with Thailyn’s.

He began to scream.