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In the middle of a field, near the outskirts of Sezaria, a door-like portal suddenly materialized, hanging in the air almost like window to a shady, wooded mountainside. At first, nothing happened, then a darkly colored creature, vaguely resembling the union of a cat, crow, and human, stepped through, leading behind it a young goat on a rope. With mild trepidation, the creature looked back to watch the door close and return space to the way it was meant to be.
Turning then, he looked around, at first alarmed by the incredible amount of open space he'd just walked into, but then pleased by the remoteness of the meadow. Although the land and growth were very different, it was clear to him this was farm country - not quite what he'd been looking for, but not terrible. Nearby, he noticed, was a sparse wood line, at which he 'smiled,' his beak parting slightly to reveal rows of needle-like teeth.
~~~
Several meters into the wood line, Tryan had set up 'camp' with his goat tethered nearby. It wasn't much to speak of - some deadfall and brush roughly arranged into a nest-like structure, for lack of a better description. He spent most of the rest of the evening braiding lengths of thread into delicate, colorful cords and laying them out carefully in rows before him. When it got too dark to see, he set them aside, and brought the goat closer to keep it safe. He didn't bother looking for food, just made a few small adjustments to his pile and curled up in it to sleep.

Giving himself one more shake, Tryan climbed out of the ditch to retrieve his goat and return to the woods. The only problem was, when he got to the top, it wasn't there. Growling in frustration, he turned to look for it and saw, not far away, a shepherd. Instantly, he became still and quiet, staring back at the young man that was gaping in disbelief at him. After several tense moments, he turned his gaze on the flock of sheep around him, and there, among them, was his goat. Huffing at the man, he stalked up to the goat, shouldering his way past the sheep that didn’t skitter away bleating pitifully at his presence. Not once did he let his gaze leave the human, nor did the human let him get too close. Grasping the rope and giving it a firm tug, the lead the goat away from the sheep with a suspicious glare for the herder. Stunned, it wasn’t until Tryan was nearly at the place he’d left the riverbank that the man managed to move to make a sign with his hand, presumably to ward off evil. It made Tryan want to hiss or spit at him, but he settled for a snarl and turned to retreat into the woods. Every so often, he would cast a backward glance, and as he traveled the wood line, he continually sought out the flock to keep a wary eye on it. When it seemed nothing would come of the encounter, he relaxed, marginally and set back to work braiding and weaving. When he grew tired of that he spent some time gathering sweet smelling plants and leaves and either braided them into garlands or incorporated them into his braided threads. Throughout the day, he sent up prayers as he worked, and at designated times, estimated by the position of the sun, he stopped to pray at length.

When the sun began to set, he returned to the stream to repeat the ordeal from that morning. By then the human was long gone, and he had no fear of interference or threat. Hurrying back to his ‘camp,’ he secured his goat and began the first of what would be several long nights of prayer and worship. The next day would be long, but he would do what he needed to stay awake if it meant relocating to the stream and standing in it all day and night. This was his routine for the time he spent in the Sezarian meadow.
~~~
On the third day of prayer he encountered the shepherd again, on the way to his morning ritual, though it was with less surprise this time, and lacking the energy to pay him much attention. Something about him must have showed, as the young man soon relaxed and sat himself on a tall, rocky outcropping nearby, seemingly to watch this strange new creature as much as his sheep. When he was finished, he climbed out of the water with little regard for the man, who stood with some unease at the nearness of him. Tryan paused then, to look up at the human and, after several moments, gave himself a shake to fluff his feathers and fur before turning to march his goat back to their place in the woods. Later, he stopped for his mid-day prayer a bit early and, toting his goat behind him as usual, headed back toward the stream and the shepherd, who was still nearby. He went through his usual routine, watching the human out of the corner of his eye as the man watched him openly. In addition to the goat, he had brought with him a length of garland he had weaved and, once finished with the water, approached the human with it.

At first, the man had backed away, extending his staff threateningly. Tryan hesitated a moment, causing the man to relax a fraction, but then he stepped forward, and gestured at the him with the greenery. The shepherd said something to him, a warning by the sound of it, but he didn’t understand and didn’t really care. When he stepped closer, the human barked at him and raised the staff again, but neither advanced nor retreated. Tryan waited several moments to watch for the man’s reaction before putting down the offering and pointing at the flask on the man’s hip. After much time spent gesturing and threatening and struggling to communicate, Tryan discovered the flask was full of some sort of wine, and managed to trade for it. Exhausted from the effort, on top of his lack of sleep, he simply slung it around his neck and brought it with his goat back to his place to finish with his growing collection. He returned to the stream twice more, once at sunset, and once when he guessed the night was half gone in order to wash himself and the goat again.

A small blue homunculus appears not too far from Tryan a few moments after the bauble was destroyed. "Please forgive Master Ontaros, he's currently tied up in other matters outside of the castle so he asked that I, Byron, come in his stead to help you back." a few soft gestures with his hands and a doorway appears, the little imp moves over and opens the door before flying through and holding it for Tryan.

The breeze gently tickles Sere's fur as she watched the livestock on the plain. She could smell the woods behind her and pleasant memories of her younger days came back to her. Lost in thought she relaxed, her swords removed and at her side. How long had it been since she arrived? She could not exactly remember; however, she knew she didn't feel as much at peace prior to meeting Ontaros...

Sere felt Ontaros' presence as he strolled past. Telling he didn't notice her due to being lost in thought she didn't take it personally or disturb him. He was really the only person she knew since she arrived and he was soo different than anyone she had met before. He possessed so much power and yet was so innocent. She could not start to understand this. She laid back looking up at the sky in the direction he was and half grinned, murmering under her breath..."maybe i'll be that carefree someday...."

She raises an eyebrow as she watches him out the corner of her eye, then fully grins trying not to snicker at his innocence. what a character....Sere watches wondering how many clouds will pass before he firgures it out.

His voice startles her and she tilts her head farther back to see him, ears alert and eyes wide for a second. Sighing she resumes her position and crosses her arms beind her head for cusion, then closes her eyes. "I may have murmured something...." she half grins with one fang showing "How are you Ontaros?"