[Carrûn]

Rangers

Awyrgan limped towards the center of the settlement, thoughts swirling. In the distance he could see the lights of the fires and hear the sounds of the chatter from the feast. Judging by the level of noise the Ranger teams had returned and were holding their own. Sulenar would be there, Awyrgan knew. While he could keep up with most of the other Rangers with the ale he left Sulenar well enough enough alone, the man was a legend.

Searching through the unfinished streets he approached the healer Thoronmir had directed him to. The older ranger had already visited the man earlier in the evening while Awyrgan had put it off as long as possible, choosing instead to check the edges of the camp again. He had identified several key areas for possible defenses on the outskirts of the town as well as a few escape routes. Marking them on the map he had left it with Tane on his way to the healer's.

The man Collothion was sitting at a small desk pouring over a book, scribbling notes along the edges. He looked up as the Ranger came in. "Can I help you?" Awyrgan nodded. Sitting down he removed his tunic, revealing the gash the deer's antlers had left. "I think this might be getting infected. Also I don't think my foot was set properly." He mentioned it as an afterthought, but the limb throbbed. The healer nodded. "Let me see the foot first." Running his hands over it he murmured softly to himself, then looked up at Awyrgan. "I should reset this..." He offered a small flask to the Ranger, who should his head. "This might hurt." Awyrgan gritted his teeth as the healer gave a quick tug on his foot. For a brief moment, he saw the stars in all their glory. He didn't think he had made any noise but he couldn't be sure.

Wrapping the foot tightly Collothion passed him a small container of salve. "This should keep the shoulder clean." Thanking him Awyrgan passed him a few coins, apologizing that they were all he had. He didn't know if his status as a Ranger granted him any leway but he wouldn't have accepted it if it had. Leaving the healer's he moved towards the feast. He found the main group of Rangers in a corner and slid in next to Roharan who grinned, slapped him on the back, and passed him a drink. Thoronmir inquired about his foot and Awyrgan grunted. The Rangers were arguing in good spirit over their fortunes of the hunt and Awyrgan sat back and listened, letting the talk run over him as he did his best to relax.

Looking across at the adjoining table he caught the gaze of one of the settlers. She had fiery red hair, and blue eyes that stirred memories out of the Ranger's repressed unconsciousness. She smiled. Awyrgan choked, and setting his drink down hurriedly left the table, not meeting the quizzical glance Alearindu gave him as he did so. He passed Tane on his way out the door, briefly responding to the Ranger leader's question as to where the other Rangers were with a short gesture. He quickened his pace, striding out of the settlement until he was well into the wood line.

Stopping, he traced the scar on his face, tasting once again the bitter memories. Lighting his pipe he sat down, fists clenched with his head bowed. It was some time before he moved at all. A rabbit scurried across in front of him, then dashed off into the nearby bushes. When he raised his head there was a smoldering red fire in his eyes, as if Hell itself had been woken within him. Standing up he strode off, stalking the edges of the camp, eyes and ears alert for any sounds or sights of hillmen or others that might be planning a move.