With a hardy laugh, the otter ruffled Carien’s ears gently and gave her a warm, whiskery smile, dark eyes glittering with excitement. “Don’t worry ‘bout causin’ me any hardships, little friend. What hardships we’ll face, we’ll face ‘em together, an’ that’ll make all the difference.” Riune nodded decisively. She was sure this was what she wanted, and contrary to feeling apprehensive about leaving her long-time home or nervous about the road ahead, she was simply glad to have the opportunity to do something new and impactful.

“With that in mind,” Riune continued with a wave of her paw, “I can still introduce ye to Tiny, an’ we can see about settin’ things up here for as long as ye want to stay. I can help ye fetch things from the woodlands to the west o’ the city, too. Spend a lot o’ time there, so I know me way about.” She wasn’t sure how long Carien planned to stay, and she didn’t mind either way. More time would give her an opportunity to say goodbye to those who’d helped her along, or whom she’d helped at some point. Less time just meant she’d had fewer loose ends to worry about tying up, and that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Either way, Riune knew how to make herself useful, and she could continue some of her own work and help Carien out at the same time, since the woodlands between the cove and the city of Chendri had an abundance of herbs and things that Riune could collect at any point. She’d have to learn more about which plants were helpful, what they looked like, how to dig them up. Riune figured she’d pick it up quick. She had a good memory for little things like that.

Janielove
Word Count: 302

Nodding, Riune gave the aye-aye a smile. A few weeks would allow her time to get things situated, and to see what she could save up as far as travel money went. Might have to invest in a new sack. Something a little more durable than the one she’d used for the past, what, five years?

“Sounds good t’me, Carien,” Riune said. She wasn’t sure what she thought about the idea of traveling and seeing new things. It had been a long time since she’d moved anywhere, and before she’d moved here from Shen Cove, she’d never stepped foot away from the shores of her home. While a part of her was a bit nervous at the idea of traveling away from the sea, another part of her felt a bit relieved at the idea. This was her chance to truly put her past behind her. To try to be something else than the lone fisher tied forever to the sea.

At Carien’s question, Riune said, “Aye, I can help ye wit’ that. I know a bloke, Reza, he’s pretty good at makin’ things per request. Ain’t too pricey, neither.” Truth be told, most of Riune’s clothes were attempts Reza had made at custom jobs that, for whatever reason, the original purchasers hadn’t wanted. He sold those for extra cheap. Which, to a poor fisher, was just the right price. That was partly why the otter’s clothes almost never fit, though. Might be nice to learn how to sew a little better. Riune could scrape by patching up things but making clothes from scratch? Not really her particular talent.

“Jus’ let me know what to look fer, or I can show ye around if’n ye need to look fer yerself.” The otter shrugged. She had been through those woods plenty of times, and probably knew most of the plants pretty well, too. Had stared at them enough and collected a few for Tiny, without really knowing what they did, per se.

Janielove
OOC: Sorry for the wait. It's been a bit crazy with work work work and my birthday this weekend =v=
Word Count: 337

With a jovial sort of smile, Riune nodded and patted Carien’s head gently. “We’ll get ye some fine, sturdy clothes, t’be sure. Reza’s the best, an’ he’ll give ye a good price, seein’ as yer a friend o’ mine.” The otter chuckled at the thought. Reza was not the kindest of creatures, and he took some getting used to, but he was loyal to his friends, and had always treated Riune fairly when it came to business.

When it came to work, Riune was sure that Tiny would give Carien plenty to do. The ape was always busy with his work, stitching up folks and fighters from the arena. He paid his assistants pretty well, too, as far as she knew. Leastways, he was a kind sort, kinder than his huge appearance and ugly face made him seem.

“I’ll introduce ye to Tiny, as well, an’ get ye some work. He’s always lookin’ fer skilled folks, so I can’t imagine he’ll pass ye up on an offer.” Riune shrugged. She’d never asked Tiny for a job before, but he’d certainly talked her ears off plenty of times gabbing on about his work. He tended to do that while stitching up his patients, and she’d been a frequent patient of his since she’d arrived in Chendri years back.

“The woods’re west o’ here, an’ I know ‘em well. I can take ye there someday an’ we can gather some plants. Won’t take more’n a few hours to get there an’ back, I reckon, dependin’ on how much ye expect a burly otter like meself to carry.” Riune laughed good-naturedly at the thought. She was used to carrying quite heavy loads, so she was mostly joking. She couldn’t imagine plants would weigh more than a few sacks of fish. If they did, she imagined she’d be able to carry them all the same.

Janielove
OOC: No problem. We've all got life to contend with! Haha.
Word Count: 317

Though Riune laughed good-naturedly at Carien’s joke, her expression turned somber at the aye-aye’s second comment. “Aye, plenty o’ work indeed. Sailors, fishers scraped up on the reefs, brawlers, an’ the fighters from the arena. Plenty o’ beasts need stitchin’ up, an’ not all can afford to pay much fer it. That’s where Tiny comes in. ‘E could charge ‘em twice as much as ‘e does, but the healer’s got a soft spot fer those hurtin’. I imagine ye’ll get along wit’ him well.” Riune nodded. She knew she could be taking Carien to meet other healers, those with the wealthier clientele, but she didn’t imagine that was what Carien would want. Plus, if the otter was going to be honest, she didn’t have as great a relationship with those healers as she did with Tiny.

Riune shook her head and smiled. “Don’t know any wagon-makers, unfortunately. Haven’t really had a need to buy a wagon. But I can look into it while we’re ‘ere. Or ye can just count on me t’ carry things. An’ possibly the wounded, though I ain’t sure I’d be much help with most beasts bigger’n me,” the otter chuckled. She knew of a few carpenters in the area, mostly by reputation, but she’d see if any of them had well priced wagons that would be a good size for an otter to pull. Most likely she’d have to save up a bit of capital first, but between her earnings and Carien’s they might be able to afford something.

“I’ll see what I can dig up,” she said finally, her whiskers twitching as she smiled down at her newfound friend. While she had very little means in this life, Riune was good with business, and she was sure she could come up with something workable by the time they had to leave.

Janielove
Word Count: 313

“I’ll find somethin’, I’m sure. I have a nose fer a good deal.” The otter chuckled softly. She certainly had managed to live here on her own for a long time, making a living, which wasn’t always easy. One had to be canny to survive in this city, and Riune had learned to do business well over the years. She had no doubt she’d be able to get them a wagon, hopefully one that would hold a good amount of weight, but would still be lightweight enough for her to pull without too much trouble. Riune had some ideas for where to start, so she figured she’d get on that as soon as she had a spare minute.

The fisher stopped beside a shack leaning up against the outer wall of the arena. The sounds of sparring inside set her teeth on edge, but the otter ignored her unease and knocked on the door to the ramshackle building. She could hear scuffling inside, and then the door opened to reveal an absolutely enormous ape with a series of pink scars running from nose to jawline. Squinting down at the otter and aye-aye, the ape gave them a once over and said, “You better not be here for treatment. I told you to take care of yourself for at least a week this time, and it’s only been four days,” the ape said gruffly.

“No, Tiny, this time I’ve brought you help rather than more work,” Riune said with a wave of her paw in Carien’s direction. “This is Carien. She’s a right good healer, an’ I know ye could use a nimble set o’ paws ‘round ‘ere.”

Tiny stooped through the doorway slightly to get a closer look at Carien, his heavy brow wrinkling. “You’re a healer, are you? Do you have much experience with a needle?” he asked skeptically. The ape glanced sideways at Riune, who smiled back at him in an easygoing way. This made the ape’s frown deepen as he glowered back at the otter.

Janielove
Word Count: 348

“Hrm,” was Tiny’s response to Carien’s words. He crossed his arms and squinted through his small, dark eyes at the aye-aye. “I suppose you’ll have to do. I’ve got more scratches needing stitches than I have hands to sew up. Won’t be easy work, but I’ll give you fair pay if you prove useful. Come on inside and we’ll talk.” The ape gestured with one large hand for Carien to follow. When Riune moved towards the shack as well, he gave her a dry, though not unfriendly, look.

“I thank you for finding me the help, Rivi, but I doubt us two talking shop will interest you much.”

Riune blinked and glanced at Carien. She knew she wouldn’t be of much use in terms of arguing the worth of Carien’s skills—the aye-aye could likely handle her own affairs where business was concerned—but she wanted to make sure Carien was set and comfortable with the whole situation before she wandered off to deal with her own affairs. The first of which, she supposed, would be speaking to Reza, then finding someone with a decent cart, or the skills to make one at a decent price. The sooner she could get Carien’s clothes and the cart matter settled, the better.

That being said, Riune didn’t want to leave until Carien thought it best, so she gave the aye-aye a look that said, Let me know if you want me to come in there, and waited on the healer to give her instruction on that score.

Janielove
Word Count: 261