A Fang Too Far

[Talisman]

"It is often the need and requirement of Forestarms and Needlers to play nature's sleuth and investigate a problem directly at its source," Elis began to explain with a gently didactic voice to Garvin as they emerged from Outentown's outermost outskirts with the ranger Aleira. Even as she spoke, Elis did not seem entirely focused in this particularl lesson; it was not an advanced one, that she expected beyond Garvin's own knowing, and the road dominated much of her gaze. There were long pauses in Elis' speech that belied her divergent thoughts. Perhaps she was merely speaking to add some sound to their trek, or to organize her own thoughts.

"Out here, without the policing and law of the cities, it is up us Walkers of the Forest Way to protect the wilderness and its inhabitants. Such a task often means not only do we investigate, but must execute an appropriate decision." Their heading was towards the southern Laviguer road. It was here that Aleira had reported the oddly behaving and vicious pack of wolves which the trio had now set off to investigate. Together, the hope was to alleviate the problem. "Perhaps city-dwellers would think it absurd that we play, in effect, all of their roles of their persons of laws. We do not have much for oversight beyond the Gods themselves, and that is why we must respect the consequences we can inflict on the Balance should we come to a poor conclusion; wisdom and patience are our dearest tools. As Aleira says, we cannot walk into this with a solution already in mind."

She continued to walk forward through the snow and frost, along the depression that marked the hidden trail beneath her feet. By her pace, Elis was in no hurry. "Tell me, do either of you know the language of the wolves..?"