'What the hell am I suppose to do now?' Argo mused when noticing Dravina staring at him after he spoke.
He shook his head, answering. ''Some men are stupid and can't see a good woman in front of them. I know you Varna take relationships seriously. I'm sure you'll find someone who appriecates you Dravina.''
The young woman's smile grew wide as she continued gazing at him, replying. ''Okay then, I hope I've already met him.''
Following that, the two sat in silence as the silver-haired beauty kept stealing glances at him, causing Athena to comment. 'She's interested in you, Arg.'
'It means nothing to think about it,' Argo revealed, internally frowning. 'I'm Forsaken, banished from the Varna and a woman like her wouldn't want to lose her place to be with me.'
'You never know,' she countered.
Argo turned to the Grey Owl who hooted and flew away, going to hunt to leave them alone as Dravina spoke up. ''Do you get lonely? Even with your beasts?''
''I do,'' he answered honestly while pointing at the three beasts circling the campsite. ''It's not like I'm completely alone with those three but it's different to have someone else to speak to.''
The young woman looked fascinated and continued talking. ''What do you plan to do once we reach Winterbrook?''
''Going to hunt the Death in the Dark before harvesting some stuff to sell to your villages trader.''
''So just traveling around Varna Valley?''
Argo nodded. ''Yes I believe so. I do want to head through the Northern Pass,'' he added.
''Why not travel with the Kravati? I know they'd love to have a warrior like you joining their caravans?''
He looked at the silver-haired beauty and agreed. ''Maybe I will, what about you? Still training with the Shaman?''
''Unfortunely,'' Dravina responded, letting out a tired sigh. ''I still have another two years of training thanks to being granted the use of Essence when I turned twenty four.''
Argo's eyes widened as he looked at the young woman. ''You don't look it, I thought you was twenty.''
She giggled at his words then asked. ''How old are you?''
''Fifteen.''
When Dravina heard this her eyes widened in surprise. ''Bless Erda! I can't believe a warrior like you is still so young, three years until your Coming of Age Ceremony.''
''The Varna don't hold them for the Forsaken,'' Argo chuckled, more out of frustration but he quickly got over it. ''I'll be up North during those times, I don't want to stay in the valley for much longer.''
''How comes?''
''I want to explore the outside world, tame more beasts and live free without the strict Varna rules you all live by,'' he said, a charming smile appearing on his face.
Dravina was taken aback by it and couldn't help but comment. ''You have a lovely smile, despite the situation you find yourself in.''
Argo laughed at this but Artemis let out a growl from nearby, making the young woman jump as the leopard sat down next to him, shocking her for a moment. Dravina went wide eyed as she asked in a low voice. ''How did you get such a beast? She looked like she can tear through those dirty Urvaks.''
''She can,'' he answered, running his hand through Artemis's soft dark brown fur that was dotted with blue spots, catching his attention. ''They've helped me take down a Great Horned One. That's what I was doing before you lot appeared on Exile Cliff.''
The silver-haired Spiritblade beamed. ''That's impressive, it takes at least three Winterbrook hunters to take down such a beast.''
They continued talking for another hour or two. Only to stop when Hodor appeared, a knowing expression crossing his face and watched the two as he suggested. ''Come to bed, daughter. We all need rest for the journey home.''
''Okay, father.''
Once the older man returned to the family tent, Dravina turned to him with a warm smie. ''Get some sleep, Beast Master. Winterbrooke is a days journey from here.''
''I will,'' Argo replied.
After bidding farewell, Dravina departed to rejoin her family just as Aslan materialized beside him. The American lion stared, prompting Argo to curiously ask. ''What's wrong with you?''
The beast offered no reply and simply slumped to the ground. Artemis dragged a blanket from his pack and nudged it toward him. Argo smiled, accepting the offering and draping it over his shoulders before crawling into the lean-to. He settled in, using Aslan as a pillow, which drew chuckles from the others as the leopard curled up on his opposite side.
Athena perched atop the lean-to, wings folded tight, eyes wide and unblinking. She could still sleep and track every rustle in the dark; sentry and sleeper in one feathered body. Argo woke with the first pale blade of dawn sliding between the branches. He felt rinsed, as though the night had wrung the weariness from his bones.
The others was still sleeping, Aslan a low furnace, Artemis curled into a ball. He eased out from under the blanket, bare feet silent on the cool earth, and stretched until his spine popped. A jaw-cracking yawn escaped him as she stretched his body, feeling bones pop thanks to being stiff.
He fished the stone pot from his pack, its surface etched with tiny running deer, making his way down the slope to the river. The water was clean, carrying the scent of pine and distant snow. He knelt, scooping up water, and watched the surface quiver into perfect circles that spread.
Once that was done, Argo sat down and began making some tea after dropping Southern Tea Leaves into the pot, causing the water to change color. While doing this, Athena landed beside him, holding a Giant Field Mouse, causing her to comment. 'Need breakfast, I'll be on the rock over there. I'm sure you don't want to watch me eat.'
The Grey Owl launched into the air with a soft rustle of wings, vanishing into the grey-green canopy to hunt. Argo fed a handful of twigs to the embers, coaxing the fire awake until the water in the stone pot trembled and steamed. He crumbled dried leaves into the boil, then fished a strip of smoked rabbit from his pouch.
The meat was tough as old leather; he tore it apart while the scent of resin and smoke curled around him. When the brew darkened to river-stone brown, he tipped it carefully into the little cup he'd carved as a little boy. Steam kissed his face; the first sip tasted of childhood mornings, making him smile.
Following that, Argo began eating and drinking as he waited for the family to wake up. By the time they did, he was ready to finish the journey back to Winterbrook, the thought of visiting a village excited him. 'I want to see if I can get any new gear from the traders,' he mused.
Just then, Hodor approached him with a warm smile. ''Thank you for watching over us, Argo. But by sunset, we'll be home.''
''That's right,'' he responded, standing up and brushing crumbs off his clothes. ''Let's get going then.''
Argo took point, leading the family north through pine and granite. Aslan padded left, a wall of muscle; Artemis rushed through the nearby underbrush to the right, shoulders. Between them, nothing small dared linger foxes melted into the brush, wolves turned tail at a single glare from Aslan.
After an hour of trekking, he crested the final ridge and halted, breath snagging in his throat. Winterbrooke sprawled across the valley floor like a living fortress: a palisade wall of blackened pine trunks, each the height of three men, ringed the entire settlement, its top bristling with spikes to keep beasts out.
Watchtowers rose at every corner and along the midpoint of each wall, platforms patrolled by warriors. Inside, dirt roads radiated from a central square like spokes on a wheel. Huts lined the lanes, their roofs thatched thick with straw; smoke coiled from every chimney, carrying the smells of bread, roast meat, and hot iron from the forges.
Children darted between cart wheels. The wooden gates stood wide open, flanked by guards who raised spears in casual salute as traders streamed through. Aslan's ears flicked; Artemis pressed close to his leg while Athena circled overhead. Winterbrooke thrummed with life, a heartbeat of timber, and human will.
Argo exhaled, shock easing into awe as this was the first village he laid eyes on since seeing Summermarsh during the battle. That's when he looked at this tames, decidng to save them the drama of chaos when people spotted them. To keep the peace, he sent the trio back to the Beast Realm before the guards mistook them for threats and sparked a fight.
When the family saw this they were shocked. Dravina appraoched. ''Where did they go and will they be okay?'' she asked.
''Somewhere where they'll be safe,'' he responded. ''I don't want them to get hurt by the Varna Warriors, you know beasts scare them. Plus I need to meet your grandfather and other family.''