Lanithelias

Dizzy, aching, and with a lump on his head the size of a small hobbit, The wretched, muddy figure awoke to the pressure of something substantial standing on his back, and the unmistakable feel of a wet nose in his ear. Once he began to stir, the unitentified creature stepped off his back, much to his relief.

"Ooh, my head! Wha-?" he was stopped short by a reassuring lick on the face as he sat up. The creature, apparently a large canine of some kind, had decided he must have needed comforting. Which was just as well, for it took his mind off the fact that there was, quite literally, nothing on his mind.

"Hello, there, friend," he said, as the canine, that further inspection revealed to be a wolf, sat on its haunches, looking at him expectantly. "Where did you come from?... For that matter, where did I come from, and where are we now?"

If it was possible for a wolf to look amused, this one did. Her head cocked slightly to the side and her toungue lolled out, as if to wonder at the odd questions, while still smiling reassuringly. Her tail swept easily to one side and then the other, displaying her continuing interest.

"I don't suppose you could answer any of those, could you, friend?" He remarked drily as he started to his feet.

Oh, you were expecting an answer. My apologies, I thought you may have been speaking to yourself. I came from the hills called the Barrowdowns, you came from somewhere east of there, I believe, or rather I became aware of you entering the eastern border of my territory, travelling west. We are presently in a pile of uprooted weeds in a place called Shire by it's two-footed dwellers. The wolf stated all this very easily and without preamble, as she apparently stated all things, but it halted his rising abruptly, and he landed heavily on his backside, eyes wide open in suprise. His companion's ears came forward, and she nuzzled him momentarily in concern.

"Granted, my memory isn't what it used to be, but I seem to recall that...that doesn't happen." He puzzled to no one in particular.

Your memory..? I guess that fall you took was worse than I thought. Are you alright, Lanith? She thought at him. Do you remember me? The fur between her ears furrowed, almost like a brow, in concern.

Lanith jumped, startled at the sudden recollection of his own name once he heard it. It was almost scary that he didn't notice that he'd forgotten it. He searched what little memory he had left, and came up with a vague impression, almost as if from long ago and far away, that this wolf was indeed his friend, and he had called her... "Sister. yes, I do remember you now. I don't remember much, but I do remember you now."

Her ears came down and back, and she bared her teeth. Good. Then I want you to know that I had the devil's time trying to track you down last night, I was worried half to death, and if you value your life you will NEVER scare me like that again. Her expression lightened, and her nose wrinkled in disgust. Now get yourself into that inn around the other side of this stable and clean yourself up. You stink horribly.

He scratched her head affectionately behind the ears as her rose. "I think I will, at that, and see about a healer, as well."

That would be wise. I will be about the grounds, a bringer of death has been about, and no good will come of it. And with that, she walked off, her gray coat seeming almost to vanish as she padded silently into the brush.

Thinking Sister's behavior odd, but assuming that was the way she had always behaved (for he could not remember otherwise) he walked around the stable and into the Green Dragon Inn. He recieved, or maybe only thought he recieved strange looks from the other scattered patrons in regard to his very shabby appearance and mild state of filth. Lanith approached the counter and asked if there was room for the night, preferrably one with a bath. As he was shown to it by a polite hobbit-lass, who behaved for all the world as if the elf behind him was the typical fare for this establishment, and for this Lanith was grateful. He certainly didn't need it pointed out that he was as threadbare as an elf is likely to look in the Shire. After a much needed bath, he set about washing his travelling clothes in his bathwater, which wasn't as dirty as was anticipated.

Rumaging through the pack he had been wearing revealed a cloak and a few changes of clothes, as well as light provision and some herbs he could no longer identify, and some weapons he could, if only by inference. After all, it's not hard to figure out what to do with a knife or two if you have need of them. As he dressed in some of his spare clothes the blues and greys became familiar to him, seemed to call to him very faintly. Donning a set of bracers and belt, it wasn't hard to figure out where the knives and sword went, especially if he just let his body do what came naturally. Apparently, two knives went on each arm, one on the upper and one on the lower sections, a few small ones went on the belt, and the light, curved sword went on the left hip. As luck would have it, or hopefully he had thought ahead before losing his memory, there was a pouch with several coins, judging by the feel of it, enough to pay his room at least, though he wasn't too sure how valuable each denomination was.

Thus newly cleaned, clothed, and outfitted, Lanith set out to the common room to quench his burning throat and silence his loud stomach.

[ February 20, 2003: Message edited by: Lanithelias ]

[ February 21, 2003: Message edited by: Lanithelias ]