It felt violent, it felt dark, it felt horrifying. The darkness surrounded, the noise went muted, the emptiness returned. Nothing but himself, sitting on a surface, slowly feeling the water rose, bit by bit. Suddenly already too high, could not see, could not, was it up, was it down, where were everybody? Where is...
Dran suddenly woke up, but glad to not move himself as he reliezed everyone made him the bed. The usual early bird himself could not get up and would simply fall back asleep. He breathed out a strong breeze, Shawon heard, got blown at so he slowly crawled closer to Dran's head and lightly patted:
-You woke up, my dear?
Dran lifted his big arm and held Shawon, very light and soft. Wrapped on his back, Shawon just lied down on the chest and Dran just held him under his arm slept.
___
Started the day as per usual, packing up and started going. Something in the Dran felt really empty, as if something was missing. His mind was bugged about it the whole day, it simply could not get off. Was he miss someone? Or wishing to do something but couldn't speak about it? Was it his past? Was it about his other half of the life that he could never remember? What was he trying to do?...
Such clumpsiness from the step while being swarmed by thoughts, Dran slipped and fell over on his chest. It was a loud thud and everyone pushed off the heavy bag on his back:
-You alright?
-I'm good, just the mud is somewhat slippery.
Everyone held Dran up right, but Dran just could not stand. Immidiately sat him down carefully and began inspecting:
-My dear, are you tired?
-I'm not very tired, though my legs just couldn't hold myself up. I don't feel hurt or anything but I feel like it's somewhat weak.
-Maybe lets take off your leggings and we will see...
Slowly unwrapped his boots and leggings, his legs and feet seemed fine.
-It feels so light without my leggings on. Was it the leggings the whole time dragging me down?
-Without any pain or tiring you said, that somewhat strange for such happening.
Shawon just came closer and massaged his legs. Just rubbing up and down, lightly squeezing bit my bit of the musclar yet wobbly fat on the legs.
-You feeling better now, Dran?
-I think I'm good, but maybe lets get on moving before the sunset.
And again, everyone packed up as Dran put his leggings back on and everything. Only then he started to feel the pain and the fatique on his legs. Even then he kept walking with everyone. It suddenly got cloudy and toward sunset, the snow started to come down. It was a blessing to see a small house nearby and they quickly made there. It was lit up, bright and alive. Approaching the door and knocking it, someone came out:
-Oh welcome adventurers! Looks like it's snowing soon so come inside!
A very jolly reptile guy with a small hint of goatee, relatively small sized wearing warm clothes already.
-Thanks so much for letting us in!
Everyone slowly came through the door and sat down on the floor, the inside was floored with wood but not a lot of furnitures inside. A doorway into a bedroom it seemed, and outside was just a fireplace in the middle of the room.
-We expect a lot of adventurers coming by here. It's also the time snow came in and probably not the best time to sleep outside under the snow and I would see myself living here.
-Though how frequent people came by here?
-Not exactly a lot but just sometimes we see some, just like you people!
He quickly grabbed cups and handed everyone:
-Have some warm drink, I plant these leaves here to make these tasty drink. This will greatly help keeping yourself warm from the inside that so warm you never need a blanket during the night time!
Then he rememebered:
-Oh I think I should introduce myself. Loka, that my name. There is a town nearby this house that I often come in for some food and selling these leaves I plant myself, which is the reason I came all the way here living on myself to plant these. Although the town there aren't exactly very hospitable.
-So do we just avoid it or just make a quick pass? -Ravirk asked.
-They often get into fights a lot, even worse to really hurt each other out of their own anger when someone comes near and it could lead to some serious injuries if they aren't very sane that day.
-But you just said to sell the leaves, and some food?
-It's tough to get there, so I chose to come out at midnight to go shopping and we had lots of the generous people would be selling us such. Just softly knock on the closed stall and they would open to sell. And that reminds me I should go get some food soon for you visitors!
-May I follow you tonight? -Dran asked.
-Yeah, but I could not assure everyone safety so I suggest only one can follow.
Dran was eagered to come along but the moment he tried standing up with his arm, he slipped and fell down on his back. His legs started to ache a lot.
-Uhhhh, I don't think I can come along...
Ravirk held Dran up and slowly got him back to the sitting:
-Are your legs still hurt?
-Yeah, a lot.
-Maybe you can lie down on the floor a bit and rest it out. It's pretty warm here so no worry.
Slowly put Dran flat on the floor on his back, with no time passed he already fell aslept.
