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[dadication]

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[dadication]

It was true that there was plenty of reasons that Gabriel would have been a prize worth a King's ransom. He was big and muscular and also terrifying, and he knew that if he didn't have the actual benefit of being blind, he would have long ago turned to stone. What a way to defeat one's enemies. All the same, Gabriel was impressive and should be allowed to go free and continue to live his life. That's what Jack believed anyway.

"I'm not the one who was assaulted, drugged, tortured, starved and denied water," he pointed out as he took a few slices of dried fruit to chew on as he worked the fire to a good size. That would last for when he needed to go out anyway. "You're a bit of a mother hen, you know that?"

He really wasn't used to people asking after him and pressing about forcing him to consider his own well-being. He was rising and moving over to check Gabriel's bandages to occupy himself. "I'm first going to check if there is food to cook by fire and then I'll be going to town. If I leave in an hour or so, I can make it for sundown." He glanced at Gabriel's face. "How are you feeling?"

[gr1m]

Didn't doubt that whatever bounty there was on him would be raised- or that there would simply be an entirely new one made nearly worth a king's ransom or more. They knew what he looked like, could describe and get an artistic likeness for it and everything- at least in his current form. Would be able to still sneak amongst people when in his other one, but even then there would be the same caution as before.

His nose wrinkled a little at that list of things he'd gone through put in such a way. "I'm not used to anyone wanting to help me with anything, and you've done so in at least two of our encounters," one of which Jack had literally hunted for him to save him out of worry he'd been the gorgon captured. "You're the first."

Shifted enough that Jack could check over the bandaging without trouble, some of them having bleed out a bit through the night but had also stopped within the same frame of time. "I'm tired and ache," truthfully. "Take more than overnight to heal up from what happened."

[dadication]

It was strange to think that he was the only one to bother caring in such a way for the gorgon. He wasn't that type of person after all, keeping to himself, doing his job, and otherwise, making his way through life with as little regard for other people as possible. He didn't train others, didn't engage much in conversation, and yet he also knew that he was deeply lonely for it.

Honestly, it had been in that day of recovery with the gorgon that he actually considered how he treated and was treated. While he didn't question Guild practices of forcing them out barely healed, he took more time to get to his jobs rather than just hurrying in as always. It had almost felt for a few hours that someone might actually care and miss him if he died. Such a strange feeling, and yet when Gabriel pointed it out in relation to him, he could relate immediately.

"I know. Neither am I," he said softly as he ate a little cheese. "People don't care about me, just about what I can do. You were the first to question why I lived as I did, and you... took care of me." He had been mended of course, but it didn't feel the same. It was strange to have someone to level with on such a subject.

He removed the bandages in order to replace them with fresh ones, intending to soak and boil the ones he just removed. He washed those wounds again, stroking his fingers over scaling. "It will. Aside from basking at the cave entrance, I'd like for you to stay here."

[gr1m]

"Should care because of the service you provide," and it was a service, he didn't have to do any of it in his mind. Jack chose the jobs he took and where he went, and while he didn't like hunters he still understood that there were creatures out there that needed to be put down. Sometimes it was a kindness to them. Then there were the times when it was senseless killing, those out there for glory and money, or driven purely by fear for what they didn't understand and branded as-

"I'm a monster because I am not human, none would do anything other than try to kill me the moment they find out." He understood the world of humans better than some may think, and other times it just didn't make any sort of sense. "Because I look different even disguised, people are wary of me and I'm only good for what gold and coin I may carry, or what I might be able to do if one dares speak to me. Mistaking me for a hunter or mercenary." None cared otherwise.

His head tipped a little. "You could have turned and walked away, but you did not," on top of not rushing in to kill him instantly, "I... wanted to." Wanted to take care of him, rather than leave him to rot somewhere after showing some bit of kindness.

He let out a little huff. "I'll not argue that," Gabriel didn't feel like he could leave and things go well for him.

[dadication]

Jack didn't hunt for sport; that was never his thing. When he was much younger, he would take any job and kill any monster no matter what, but over the years, he had began to pity some of the monsters on the Guild's list. For one reason or another, they had lost themselves and needed some kind of mercy. The odd job he would take because a creature was way out of line, hunting and killing just because and that he wouldn't stand for. "Even if I die, there will be other hunters to take my place. In the Guild, I'm only as good as the jobs I fulfill."

But Gabriel hadn't made him feel that way. Sure he had been shown kindness, but hunters were often just one step away from being monsters themselves. "I wouldn't," he murmured softly. "The moment I met you, I knew I wouldn't kill you unless you forced me to." It had taken him time to figure out Gabriel was a gorgon, and then he had been curious and intrigued by this rare creature who had shown him a kindness when no one else would. "People fear what they don't understand. For better or worse, the Guild and leadership had built the narrative monsters are thoughtless beasts. So far from the truth that is."

He was rewrapping Gabriel's wounds again, and then stroking a hand as an indicator that he had done his work. He moved with the soiled bandages to set them aside for cleaning later. "Have you... wanted to take care of someone else before?" It seemed an odd conversation to have, yet here they were.

Well, the sun would do Gabriel some good he figured. The ward will still be up even if you're in the entrance. You'll be safe there."

[gr1m]

"You're not seen as a person, just your job." That was a strange bit of understanding.

Even when he was young, Gabriel hadn't gone out of his way to kill hunters, but only killed those that left him no choice. At first it had been brutal because he was young, only had venom and whatever else natural ability there was when he couldn't hide. "I do not kill unless I am forced to," the warning he'd given had been clear sign of that, and Jack could guess why the three he knew of had died just from that. The narrative was far from the truth.

"I... don't know?" He settled again, coils rearranging so he could comfortably sit amongst them again. "I know I've... wanted to feel cared for and return the favor, but I'm not sure if that's along the lines of what you mean." Something normal in his life, that had been missing since his family was ended.

He finished off the bit of food he'd taken, other than a few pieces of dried fruit he was going to let himself savor a bit. It was still sweet. "I'll be able to get out of sight if anything does somehow wander in to view all the same."

[dadication]

Jack paused in his work, reaching up with one hand to touch the scars on his face. It was only for a second before he abandoned the contact and went back to what he was doing. "If my situation hadn't been one where a hunter had come and if I didn't have magic in my blood, I would be nothing more than a blind beggar in the streets. Or probably dead at this point." Circumstances had been strangely in line for his survival. "People don't like looking at my scars, as I've said before."

He nodded his head, fully believing that Gabriel wouldn't kill unless pushed to do so. There was survival through hunting and survival through warning, and he had seen enough of both to know the difference. From what he could tell of Gabriel's living situation, the gorgon removed himself from conflict as much as possible. "No wonder the bounty is just left in the wind on you. I hope it will stay that way," he remarked, even if he knew it wouldn't. A gorgon on the loose? People would be terrified and hunters would be chomping at the bit for the opportunity.

He was adding some wood to the fire before standing to retrieve what he had left in the entrance so that they could start to stockpile deeper inside. "I know a little of what that's like, but I never thought it would happen. I guess... we have each other for that for the time being?" An offer? Probably.

"The garter snake is basking, so you should be safe there." The cave did have a hidden entrance.

[gr1m]

The tip of his tail brushed just against Jack's side, "And you already know my thoughts on your scars and appearance." He'd said it back in his shelter within the cave system of that long abandoned mind. Still stood by them.

"It might, more so if no one connects whatever they believed to be living in those mines with... what was captured by a hot springs." His appearance was very different in those encounters after all, and it was so far away from the mines most wouldn't believe they could be the same creature- "At most there may be an entirely separate bounty made." Who knows if humans even knew a gorgon had two different forms they could take, for all he knew they could think it depended on if it were a half or full blooded one.

He let himself sort of sink in amongst his coils, watching Jack move- "For the time being, yes." There was no possibility in his min it would last longer than needed, even if any part of him could want different.

"I'll make myself comfortable to bask after you leave, for now this is good for speaking with you."

[dadication]

He turned his head at the feel of the tail tip against his side, though for some reason, he wasn't surprised or shy from it. Instead, his hand dropped to stroke along the tip, fingers caressing over scales and just feeling them a little. "I do. You've just the first to sound truthful when you talk about how little they bother you."

He nodded his head, and that was definitely the track he expected this bounty system to go with, since he had actually read the one on the previous gorgon. If he could push the narrative that Gabriel in the caves was different from Gabriel in the cage then he could hide the gorgon and sneak him back into the safest areas. "I will check in with a Guild outpost as soon as I can, but for now, my priority is your health. Before letting you go on your own again, I'll check in on the bounties and see where yours is."

He had significantly lightened his pack with offloading his food and supplies, and he had built up the supply of wood that Gabriel could use while he was gone. "Well... we have a week or three before we go back to ourselves again," he said with a nonchalance he didn't feel. A part of him didn't want this to end.

"Alright. I will check the snares first, and if we have game, I'll leave it at the entrance, okay? You can eat or cook it as you want. I should head to town so I can make it back before too long," he murmured, though he was slightly hesitant to go. It wasn't because he thought Gabriel would be captured or just leave but more... he just found comfort in the gorgon's company and presence.

[gr1m]

Where there were not scars or missing scales, there was a smooth sort of warmth, could even feel how the scales themselves flexed to move with him. Soft and tough all in one, humming just a little in reply rather than speaking for a moment. Gabriel saw no reason to lie about such a thing after all.

The gorgon nodded a bit. "It might take a bit for the information to spread enough for anything to change," so letting him heal before going out to gather up any news was likely the better way to go about it. Made sense to him.

"Make what we will of the time."

Gabriel let himself move a bit closer so he was more settled beside Jack that still tucked off behind him on that blanket. "Alright. I'll handle any meat you may leave there and do with it what I will." Jack may return to something or a surprise, but that time would tell as well.

[dadication]

"It will. There was plenty of damage to the caravan and the creatures were doing serious damage to the corpses. It will take time to piece any narrative together, but we know it will involve fear and the Western King increasing his gold pay outs." He had to be careful about anything he might say, and he had to make it clear he was not involved despite being in the area.

After all, he didn't think anyone in the Guild knew that he had helped a gorgon fight a chimera and sold the parts to keep that gorgon better off for the winter. His long years of showing a general disinterest in others was going to come in handy here that was for certain.

Yet, when Gabriel moved to settle closer to him, he turned his head but more importantly, he lifted a hand to touch the gorgon. Just to physically know his presence, since the gorgon had gone to the trouble to move closer. He allowed himself more free reign to be a bit more tactile with Gabriel, who had not previously refused his touch.

"Don't be afraid to eat it all if you're hungry. I'll be bringing back supplies with me. The more you eat and are warm, the better off your healing will be," he murmured. "And if anything happens, I suppose you can send your snakes, right?"

[gr1m]

His nose wrinkled a bit, "For the greed of gold and glory, those foolish and young will risk anything. More so if stupid enough to feel it's no risk at all." All the more bold and ready to try and rise to be heroes to fight and because of fear.

Still, he couldn't help but not want to get the hunter dragged in through some trouble that could make life in the long run that much more difficult. Gabriel only had an idea of what could happen if he was outed as helping any sort of monster no matter the reason.

Didn't stop him from relaxing a little under that touch, or how he partly leaned in to it either. To allow that bit of contact without a word, and remained close for it as well, even as he settled in amongst coils again.

He licked over his lips, them just a bit dried due to recovering from dehydration. "Right. You'll certainly not miss any sort of alarm sent if even a single snake makes itself known."

[dadication]

"And they will bear the consequences and the scars of that stupidity," he remarked softly. He had seen a few new hunters like that, graduating out from under their mentor and getting themselves maimed or killed on the first few missions. It was common, and yet another reason Jack didn't attach himself to anyone. Not caring meant no need to be hurt by the losses.

He knew how to dodge Guild scrutiny. He had done it before, and he would do so again. And really, for one as rare as Gabriel, he had already convinced himself it was worth the risk. This was a creature with whom he wanted to be able to have contact with, even fleeting here and there.

His fingers slowly stroked along Gabriel's arm and shoulder, letting himself lean a little in return towards the gorgon. Those coils of body prevented him from getting real close and personal, but this was enough. This was more than either of them clearly were used to.

"Well... considering how many snakes come and visit me these days, I expect I know what to look for," he said with a faint smile. "Any special requests for supplies from town?"

[gr1m]

A low hum, unfortunate but true, and some were the type to not learn from things like that if they survived. Either taught it was a weakness they needed to overcome out of some failure solely on them or... well.

Far more than what Gabriel was used to, because usually anyone this close it was aiming to hurt. Jack was the first person in so many years to be repeatedly allowed close enough to touch because he hadn't. No shying from that hand, coils shifted enough to allow the hunter to be as close as he was comfortable with for the moment. Easy for the both of them.

"Only way I can let you know I've gotten whatever you've sent through them since you cannot understand their language." A little nudge of his tail tip against Jack's shoulder. "Vegetables? I can name a few herbs to look for as well, I can create a mix you might find useful for the both of us."

[dadication]

Gabriel was the first person that he had touched that didn't involve violence or indifference. The gorgon was the first face he had studied in a long time weeks ago, and now he was comfortable enough to have that physical grounding between them. It was clearly a first time experience for either of them in a very long time, so he supposed he was going to 'abuse' the trust given to him. Just a little bit.

"No, I cannot," he agreed. He had thought they might speak, but no, it was just snakes being snakes. They came and went as they pleased, and he had instructed or spoken with them, but he never actually had an answer back. "If I see a snake, I'll know to come back to you and make certain everything is alright."

He nodded his head and shifted his pack on his shoulders then reached out again to have a hand on Gabriel. "I will grab what I can vegetable wise. There's a pretty good herb vendor that I know, so I'll grab some for cooking and for poultices."

[gr1m]

Snakes were snakes, and it would draw far more attention if they could speak any other language. Even if it was more or less a one way system here, it still had done something; they were connected and if Jack hadn't figured out what it meant he knew now. "More so if it's one that is seeking you out and not just slithering by, very easy to notice."

"Appreciate it." He lifted a hand to rest on top of the hunter's, offering a little squeeze as well, still letting it be easy to pull his hand back. "Be aware, and keep safe, Jack."

More or less a 'take care' for the bit of journey that he was about to take, including his just going to check snares for game to drop off by the cave entrance before going to the nearby town.

[dadication]

He nodded his head, not yet willing to admit that since he had seen the gorgon and parted ways with him, he had had more than his fair share of snakes that had come to find him, usually staring. The problem was that he couldn't be certain that the gorgon had sent them all, and it seemed a little silly to admit to bedding down - in some cases literally - with snakes. "Yes, I'll keep my... well, I'll be aware of them." Blind and all.

His hand flexed underneath Gabriel's one, nodding his head. "I will. I know my business well. You keep yourself safe while I'm gone." No heroics, just resting.

He lingered there close to Gabriel, hands practically together before he convinced himself he had to go, that time was against them. When he returned, maybe they could have another moment of such companionship. He was, after all, experiencing a sort of hunger for it the longer they were together like this.

"I'll go then. I'll bring back water for drinking and washing when I come back," he said and finally moved to get to his feet. He decided to leave his full waterskin behind. "That should hold you until I get back." He stepped out of the thickness of Gabriel's coils and headed to the cave entrance, surveying and listening for a minute. Then he stepped out into the world, strengthened his wards and headed for his snares.

Two rabbits and fox caught. He made certain their lives were ended and then took them back to the cave entrance for Gabriel. Then he was off to town.

[gr1m]

He knew no messages could be sent back, so all he had spoken in turn was... well, wanting to be sure the hunter was safe and at least find a way to let him know he had been heard. That the gorgon had gotten what was spoken to the snakes and wasn't ignoring him, or it not working. Language barrier was a hell of a thing, but the snakes had clearly been doing their best.

"I'll keep low profile and hidden."

Was hard to let go, touch starved as Gabriel was, but he settled amongst his own coils, arms folded, and allowing Jack to rise. He did need to go if he hoped to be back by sundown, even if there was little difference for the hunter traveling in the dark. He would still feel better having the man back sooner.

He nodded slowly. "I'll be mindful of what's in it all the same," to make sure it did last him, no matter how dehydrated he still was; would do him unwell to just keep drinking without pause.

The rabbits were taken care of, actually skinned and de-boned while the hunter was gone. Taking care of the meat and actually letting it cook up on the fire on a rock that served well enough to do so. The fox was more devoured whole- even if he did manage to save the fur from that. Did make time to bask while the sun was in the right spot, careful of his healing wounds and moving back in to the cave to keep warm by the fire. Eating a little of the cooked rabbit when it became more of a waiting game than not.

[dadication]

Jack headed out once he had dropped off food and water, trekking his way to the nearest town. He kept off the roads and was mindful that there were creatures on the loose that would use an opportunity even as they traveled back to where they came from. He didn't encounter anything aside from a small herd of deer making their way deeper into the forest for the night.

It took him a few hours of walking to arrive, and he slipped in just as evening was starting to fall. First, he grabbed all the supplies that he needed, filling up his pack with herds, spices and food that would keep for them both. He grabbed two blankets, a bucket, medical supplies and even drank a pint at a local pub to listen to the gossip. News of the attack had reached the town and many were discussing how dragging monsters about was dangerous and here was the proof.

After that, he headed to the Guild outpost. He claimed to have just arrived after hearing about the issue with the captured creatures. He caught up on the gossip, checked the jobs in the area and bounties on certain creatures. So far, Gabriel's bounty was not at the forefront. Likely evidence gathering.

He didn't take a job, just grabbed some extra clothing that would fit for him and then headed out again, claiming he would investigate the state of the area.

After that, he grabbed some small sweet cakes, a loaf of bread and some fresh butter from a bakery that was closing up for the night and left the town, making his way back to the cave where he had left Gabriel. Night had fallen by the time he trekked his way back up there, and he slipped inside to the warm heat of the fire. "Your bounty remains the same for now, but once evidence is collected, we'll see how that might change."

[gr1m]

He dozed a little after a while, remaining by that fire and making sure what meat he didn't eat was wrapped up safely in something. Uneventful, but the rest was well needed. Only awoke when the cold pulled at him from the fire lowering.

When the hunter returned the fire was back up and the cave heated well enough, the snakes of Gabriel's hair settling in to place after he established that it was indeed Jack- "That will no doubt take some time. How was your trip other than finding there's no change just yet?"

[dadication]

Gabriel was awake, which was good. He couldn't see exactly how the gorgon looked injury wise, but there wasn't a scent or sound of illness, and he took the way Gabriel spoke as a good sign. He moved deeper into the cave and set down his heavily ladened pack, pulling out blankets and bucket and supplies that would get them through with a bit more easy living.

"It was relatively uneventful," he murmured. "People are on edge because there are creatures on the loose, but so far, no one blames the creatures themselves. They blame the King's Caravan, and I didn't encounter any in my travels. I figure most creatures are in hiding and moving at night."

It was what they would normally do anyway. He seated himself near Gabriel and continued to unpack some basic tools. "How was your afternoon and evening? I see the fox is gone. Full enough?"

[gr1m]

"People are going to be very on edge for a while." And he couldn't blame them, not with how desperate some of those creatures would likely be for food on top of disoriented due to how all of them had been moved. "Also a good thing for us to bunker down for a bit, let them all move on before we start to set out as well."

He maneuvered on his coils so that he was laying on them closer to where Jack sat, watching what he was taking out. "It was quiet. I skinned the fox, can do something with that later, and there is still some cooked rabbit meat if you want it with something." Wrapped and tucked by the fire to keep warm.

"I ate enough to be able to rest easily."

[dadication]

"They will, yes. Many of them have farms or they forage in the forest." Both of them knew that the creatures that were being carted off for the King's war were considered dangerous. He didn't want them destroyed, just have an opportunity to go back to where they previously lived. "That's what I figured as well. I can make another trip to town for more supplies and news before we leave here."

Because he was going with Gabriel to ensure his safety back to where he was from. "Quiet is good after all the excitement you've had," he pointed out. He leaned over to pick up one of the packages of rabbit meat and began to eat it, nodding his head in appreciation. "You certainly know how to cook meat," he said as a way of a compliment.

Then he was shifting to he could lean carefully on Gabriel's coils, chewing meat from bones and generally taking a moment for them. "Well, I brought you something," he pointed out, glancing over. "You could eat a little more?"

[gr1m]

"It makes me wonder if anyone questioned what he plans to do with any of those creatures he does collect after his war." Likely not, or assumed that they'd all perish during it, or simply thought more of the gold offered and what a great army a pack of monsters under some control could make.

Chances were the man was going to keep every single one of them that survived his war, and the Western King would have a zoo of creatures still at his command.

Still, he settled in closer against Jack. "My father taught me when I was young, would sit and watch him prepare meals of what my mother had brought back from a hunt with what he could get from villages." So he learned and, well... kept going based off of that. He did peer a little curiously at Jack as he ate when he asked- "I could, yes."

[dadication]

"Oh, he makes it very clear what he plans on doing with them," he remarked, shaking his head a little. "My concern is what he plans on doing with the enslaved survivors once his war is won." He hadn't seen anything promising about releasing them from service, and it wasn't a place he thought any creature deserved to go or be locked into. A horrible torturous life. "He could start expansion with them."

He nodded his head, enjoying the meat. It was fresh and well cooked, and yeah it could use some spices, but it wasn't as if they had any when the rabbits had been cooked. It was warm and filled his belly pleasantly. "Seems like you know your stuff. I cook over open flame as often as possible, but... well, I have to be careful."

He put down the bones and the rest of the meat so he could dig through to pull out a box. He opened it carefully to reveal the last of the days sweet cakes. There were three: one vanilla, one chocolate and one that was a lemon flavour. Icing decorated them all with a drizzle of chocolate. He offered the choice to Gabriel. "It's cake. If you like those lumps of sugar, you'll like these. They don't keep long, so we'll have to eat them within a day or so."