Snippet #1937757

"Mm? Nel?" With her weight having been reduced so significantly, Darin had almost completely forgotten her existence. Now, though, he remembered that there was an air Magispirit perched on his shoulders, which was a rather difficult place to hide someone. "Well, I don't have another spare hat and tunic..." He scratched his chin, his fingers absently finding their way to the scar on his face. A few moments passed in silence as the low breeze blew across the field.

"Oh, I've got it." Darin grinned at his own creativity. He quickly removed his backpack and cloak and laid them on the ground, then promptly lifted Nel off of the ground and plopped her on the cloak for a second. He shifted some of the stuff in his backpack and then unceremoniously gathered the air Magispirit's clothes about her and stuffed her into the backpack, leaving her head and neck poking out of the opening while her torso and legs, stuck in the fetal position, were hidden inside. He lifted the lighter pack to his back and promptly shouldered it, then fastened his cloak about his shoulders, still smiling at his thought process.

"This is about the most brilliant thing I've ever done in my life; thank the gods my pack is fairly spacious," Darik intoned. He lowered his voice and cast his eyes at Marielle briefly before looking back to Lily. "That and this arrangement will keep the small ones quiet -"

Footsteps on the path. Darik's ear perked up. Low voices. "Let's get this over with..." one of them said, or something like that. Darik removed his pack and left it next to Lily, giving her a serious look.

"Stay here. Keep an eye on the others. Everyone else, come on." With that said, Darik lifted his sword to his shoulder and made his way back onto the path, heading for the source of the voices. He eventually wandered across them - a man and a girl, an elf. Darik grimaced inwardly. He hated fighting elves; they were so goddamn quick. Outwardly, he looked like he was just another traveler.

"Hail, gentleman, lady. Stopping to rest for a spell?" Darik's voice held no incredulity, but his eyes were sharp, and he was looking for a threat. He was really, really hoping he didn't find one.