Scarny Lee Pretige's Story

Scarny sat in the shop. She was hesitantly placing things in one spot then another. It was her first day actualy running the shop again since her father died. She fianly had the courage to open it again a year later. She provided a lot of things. Most of them being foods. She also sold some cloths she could wear or didnt want and other things she couls sew or make from wood. She was really good at making things from wood. Her father taught her at an early age to widdle.

She fianly sat down and just on time came her faithful companion Scar. Shhe could still remember the day she gave him that name. It was the day after she got him. She was showing her father and she noticed the large scar on his side. So her and her companion both found it sutibal. He gently nuzzled her head. She couldnt help but giggle at the smlimy wet nose he had. She then sighed with a smile qt the memories they had together. Thats when she stood up and by the leading of her companion opened the doors and windows to the medium sized corner shop.

It didnt take long for a customer to come get a few things then leave obvously rready to spread the gossip about the things in the store. It was proubly because a lot of things had changes in the store since her father died. Her father never sold cloths but now most of his where hanging reqding to be sold. He didnt genraly sell a lot of wood carving either. That was because she refused to give any of her up and he didnt feel his where good enough. With a sigh she begain arranging and rearaning her things waiting for closing when she could take Scar to the pond.

As the girl and her Creature took a step closer, Birdie did so as well, placing one paw in between the pair and Jay. Both Jay and Birdie's heads shot up as a rumble came from the ceiling. Must be a storm comin',' Jay thought to herself and then looked back at the shop owner. She picked up the carving carefully with one hand and then looked over at Birdie. She placed the statuette back down on the shelf and rustled for a moment under the fake feather of Birdie's wing where he always kept her coins. She had made the fake feather just last year out of red leather. It matched his actual feathers just enough that most wouldn't take a second glance at it, but was a slightly different shade so that Jay could always find that one special feather.

Jay produced a few golden pieces from the makeshift feather and counted them. She was about ready to steal the small statue. She knew that she would be able to get away with it before the girl realized, but then the girl told her that the carving was in fact Birdie and her brother's Creature. That was why she had been so drawn to the statuette. Jay shook the thought of theft out of her mind and went back to actually buying the thing with her own money. "It's 'mazingly carved. Looked exactly like my Birdie here and my brother's Creature. You're very talented at this," Jay said as she extended the hand that held the coins. "I got five gold here. I know it ain't enough for this sorta craftsmanship, but I could pay ya at least five more tomorrow if you could maybe jus' hold this little carvin' for me 'til then."

Scarny thought for a moment. She reached up grabbed the carving and the dress she thought good for her. She went in the back of the store. She grabbed a few things from the back like cheese and milk for her cow. Her father always told her that the cow had the sweetest milk all over the lands. She put in some feathers that Scar had shed. They where good writing feathers. She also added an outfit that her mother had gotten after saving a gypsy. She never wore it and thought the girl would have it. She still didn't think it was enough for the coins. So she placed a few more carvings within the folds of the dress. They where tries before to make the creature stand alone but it didn't look good enough to her. She hoped the girl liked them. She wrapped them up so that you couldn't tell what was inside. She handed them to the girl. "Hope its enough. Oh and sorry about Scar growling at you. He is very timid and protective." She held out her had for the coins. Any other store would have asked for more for just the carving but all the things put together she knew wasn't worth that much so she wasn't going to rob people of there good earned money just as her father taught her. "Come back anytime you need something" She smiled at the girl and her creature. But was still embarrassed about the growl.

Tess hurried her way to her room, entering only quickly enough to snatch up a hooded cloak and her purse of coins before making her way out of the keep. The two guards at the keep entryway nodded to her as she passed them. She could only see red as fury consumed her thoughts and quickened her pace. It wasn't like she didn't like the prince; the few times she had met him she thought he was very charming indeed. It was the idea of others controlling her life. She had followed the rules, she had learned the etiquette. For what? Sitting inside a cold keep, waiting to be auctioned off to the first male found desirable? She was nothing more than livestock to be bargained with.

The young woman found herself at the fountain where she had seen the woman dancing earlier. Glancing around, Tess didn't see her and felt a little disappointed. She would have liked to give her some money for cheering her up and giving her something to practice her lute to. Tess also would have liked to ask where she was working; one could not fully support themselves by dancing on street corners, could they?

" 'Ello, sweetheart," a voice loomed behind her and she felt a large shadow block the sun. Whirling around, she had to lift her chin to see into the man's eyes and she saw a snake-like Creature wrapped around his shoulders. Jewel let loose a hiss and growled as she swiped at it. Tess herself felt uneasy and disliked the proximity the man was standing. However, when she took a step back he followed, stepping forward.

"Excuse me, I don't believe we know each other," Tess said uneasily while taking another futile step back. The man grinned, showing yellow teeth. "No, but I'd like ta get ta know ya much betta'," he chuckled, causing Tess to wince at the stench of his breath. Her eyes darted around frantically, looking for someone to help but there was hardly anyone in sight that did not seem engrossed in one task or another. Chuckling again, the man reached out and grabbed a hold of Tessla's wrist. "Yer comin' with me, girly," he huffed. Jewel hissed again, weaving her way down Tessla's arm and sinking her fangs into the man's hand. He gave out a yelp and Tess turned and ran toward the nearest open shop, glancing behind her in fear to see the man hurrying after her. "Help!" She cried out to the two girls she saw silhouetted in the shop doorway.

((I know that I kind of rushed this. If you guys want to change anything, please let me know.))

Jay handed the girl her coins and was about to thank her tremendously when she heard a cry of, "Help!" from outside. Jay whirled around, set her goods down on the table, and made her way outside quickly. The man with his serpent-like Creature from before was chasing after the girl who had tried to play a song to Jay's dancing. Jay gave a shrill whistle and Birdie took one graceful bound over her head, making his way toward the man. Jay motioned for the shop owner to help the girl as Jay also made her way over to the man.

Birdie had pinned the man under one giant paw and carefully picked the girl's small Creature up in his mouth and set the Creature on the ground as Jay finally made it over to the man who was still pinned. She placed a hand on Birdie's large neck and shook her head sarcastically at the man. "Now, I thought my Birdie here made it clear that you ain't welcome 'round here." Jay had all but forgotten about the man's Creature when it suddenly made a leap for Jay. She turned just in time to put her arm out in front of her as the snake's fangs bit into her. Birdie growled and snapped at the snake-like Creature's tail, taking off a good portion of it. As Birdie spit out the part from his mouth, the man got loose, the serpent leaped back, and they both took off down the street.

Birdie was about to follow when he noticed the two small holes in Jay's arm. He flattened his ears and was ready to lick the wound when Jay held up a hand. "That thing might've been poisonous, Bird. We don't want ya to get it too, do we?" Birdie's ears flattened even farther back and he whimpered lowly, looking over at the two other girls as if to ask for help on what he should do for the girl he loved.

Scar not even hesitated jumped towards Jay. He rubbed his feather mane on the wound before she could object. When nothing happened he nodded towards the wolf creature to lick the wound. He knew it was safe. He looked towards Scarny to enplane.

Scarny dropping the cons at the yell left them in the shop. She ran out seeing what Scar was doing. She walked towards Jay. "Don't worry there's been a spell put on them by a wizard. If it where to turn red they would have been poisonous but since it did nothing. You are good." She was embarrassed speaking of the spell placed on her creature. Her father had it done when her mother died from a snake bite.

Tessla stood and had watched the whole ordeal in shock. Never had she seen anyone act so crudely, nor had anyone acted so brave on her behalf. Now the girl was standing there, holding onto her bitten arm while Tessla scooped up Jewel from the ground. Her Creature didn't look any worse for wear other than her bristling fur. The wolf-like Creature (Birdie, did she call him?) whined in her direction and she felt hopeless. She didn't know any first aid and had no idea where the nearest apothecary was; they had always come to the keep if needed.

She jumped, almost dropping Jewel in the process when a large lionish Creature came forth and began rubbing its mane on the wound. How strange, she thought, hoisting Jewel back up onto her shoulders. A shopkeeper came out and began explaining her Creature's actions. Relief washed over the noble as she heard the bite was not poisoned. How horrible would that have been? Taking a deep breath, she joined the circle where the others stood.

"Thank you, for helping me," she spoke first to the wolf Creature then to the dancer woman. "I...I didn't even see him come up from behind! I've never..." Tess realised she was starting to loose her composure so she stopped, cleared her throat, and lifted her chin while her eyes suddenly became serious. It would do her no good for these commoners to see her all excited. "Anyways, I thank you. I have some money..." Tess reached into her purse and grabbed a handful of gold, pulling it out and offering the small pile to the bitten girl. "Please, take it. If anything it will pay for a doctor." Or a bath, Tess thought, wrinkling up her nose. Jewel crawled down the fabric of the cloak and strained her neck to sniff at the other two strange Creatures.

((Just as a reminder, this RP is in past tense.))

Jay was a bit surprised as the lion-like Creature rubbed it's mane along Jay's arm. However, the shopkeeper explained the spell that was on them and Jay smiled up at the her and then over to the lion Creature. Birdie slowly began to lick the bite mark as Jay held a hand up and ran it slowly through the feathered mane of the lion. Evening was approaching and the black feathers seemed to catch the glint of the sunset. "Thank you," she whispered to the Creature and then looked over at the noble girl who had joined them. She offered Jay a few coins which Jay normally would have snatched up in a second. Instead, Jay shook her head with and chuckled softly. "It's fine, darlin', I didn't do it f'r money." Birdie stopped his persistent licking and looked up at her with a questioning look on his face. Jay payed him no mind though and furrowed her brow as she cautiously looked the noble girl up and down. "Where're ya from, doll? I haven't seen ya 'round here." Jay took a quick glance over at Birdie who had slowly bent down to sniff at the noble's Creature with curiosity.

Tess had to strain to understand the dancer girl's strange accent. She hadn't heard the like within the keep and the way she spoke left the noble struggling to comprehend. Plus she felt uncomfortable being addressed as "darling" and "doll" by a stranger. She wondered if all commoners were like this and had to fight conflicting thoughts about if she liked this girl or not. One could be appreciative without being friends, could they? Forcing a smile, Tess smoothed down her dress and re-arranged her cloak after it had been knocked askew from running. "I am from the keep," she pointed off to the looming building that sat up on the hill. "I...I wanted to come down and watch you dance," she lied. "It is very charming, nothing like I am used to." Jewel was busy sniffing Birdie's nose before she let loose a playful squeak. In a flash, the Creature was running up and down Tess, around her legs and underneath the cloak, finally popping up next to Tessla's neck with a high-pitched trill. Tess frowned down at her Creature, disapproving of her behavior in front of these strangers. There went all hopes of seeming reserved.

She turned and saw the shopkeeper running to them and began to worry that the big man had returned. All she did was hand a package to the dancer. "Here you left this at the shop and you gave me one to many coins. Its in the bag. Well I have to go i promised to take Scar swimming." She smiled handing the stuff over. Tess snooped a little and tried to judge what was in the package but it was wrapped. What kind of items did people usually buy in the market? The merchants usually all came to the keep when they knew they would have something to sell, like silken fabrics. Then the tailors and seamstresses would come by the keep to make the clothes there. The nobles made sure that there was no reason to go outside of the keep and Tessla was suddenly aware that this was her first trip outside without her father. No wonder she had gotten into trouble.