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[dadication]

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[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."

[gr1m]

His nose wrinkled, and there was a soft but clearly displeased hissing issued from the snakes amongst his hair. "Definitely one way to make a takeover go easier. Have beasts that no one would want to face kept like pets- or at most a zoo of mistreated creatures." Likely starved to be more vicious as some would do with 'guard' or 'attack' animals.

Ugh.

He'd even had the meat wrapped in something to at least help keep it from drying out. Couldn't help the flavor, but it was at least easy to eat and filling. "Well, while I'm with you I don't mind cooking over the fire for the both of us." A very open offer, the end of his tail curling near Jack's hip as Gabriel settled in closer.

Leaned then to peer in to the box, tongue flicking out to catch the sweet scent with a low sound in his throat, even his snakes peering jut as curiously. The smell led him to pick up the chocolate one, examining it a bit. "I don't think I've really had cake before." Breads? Yes, but he didn't venture long or deep enough amongst humans to get in to further baked goods that seemed more like a treat than necessity.

[dadication]

"It would, which is of concern to me. That kind of hostile take over will have more backlash on creatures simply living their lives as it is," he remarked and with a shake of his head. He was a hunter these days for reasons that had nothing to do with war or any kind of royalty. Those weren't the jobs he took. "We'll get you out of here and safe." Now it was a matter of making it available for Gabriel to also live his life again.

Once Gabriel had picked out a cake, Jack set the box back down and returned to finishing off his meat. It was still delicious, especially for the fact that he didn't make it. Somehow that always tasted better. He licked grease from his fingers and watched Gabriel next to him.

"You can cross that off the list now then," he said softly. "It comes from a bakery, and I can get breads there too. This was end of the day stock, so there wasn't much flavour selection," he said with a low hum. His rabbit finished, he set aside the bones, uncertain if Gabriel would want them buried or made for a broth.

"What do you think of it?"

[gr1m]

"It could be far worse than when the mass killing of my kind was sparked." It may not be thought of often, but even creatures had their place in the balance of things. So, so easy for it to be any inhuman, including those that were so very harmless and deeply tied to nature. Something like this was just- well. A bad time in store for humanity that no one would think of until the damage was done.

The cake was still slowly turned in his fingers, looking back up at Jack when he spoke again. "While we're here that will be good for the both of us," a steady enough supply of baked goods when needed. He did carefully take a bite then, eyes lighting up a little when the flavor hit him.

"It's delicious." Taking pieces of it to eat, not letting a single crumb escape him.

[dadication]

"We can't allow ourselves to fall back into that reactive state," he said, but that was something they would have to work on together, if that challenge was to be taken on at all. For now, he considered his priority to be to keep Gabriel out of trouble and healing up. The rest could be worried about depending on how the situation shaped up around them.

He leaned a bit more heavily against Gabriel's coils, relaxing now that it seemed they were safe together. He was far more interested in finding out what Gabriel thought of the cake, since it would be a first time experience apparently. Hopefully it wouldn't be too sweet.

The corner of his lips twitched at the reaction. "It is, yes." Sounded like it was worth the effort to bring them here. "It will bring your energy up. Hopefully you won't get hyper from the sugar."

[gr1m]

Gabriel hummed, somewhere low in his throat, because Jack was right. That and they already had enough on their plate for the time being and, well. whatever time it was they would have during this meeting and his rescue from being sold in to a form of being owned as little more than an attack dog.

The tip of his tail curled over Jack's hip as he ate that chocolate cake, licking the remnants of it from his fingers. There wasn't a single trace left of it save for bits of it in his beard, which a few of his snakes pointed out an that tongue of his slipped out to gather them easily enough.

"I don't normally consume sweet things, so we'll just have to wait and see." Settling in again after with a content sort of sound.

[dadication]

So far it was a good reaction from what he could tell. It didn't seem that even a single crumb would be left over once Gabriel had finished. That the snakes seemed to point out any bits left in that facial hair was strangely endearing. He had come to wonder how much the snakes were an extension of Gabriel's personality or if they had autonomy of their own. They did seem helpful.

After all, who else could sleep and still be awake and on watch at the same time? There was a cost he was certain, since nothing was ever for free.

"Hopefully you'll be able to sleep tonight. You need your rest after all. You have plenty of healing to do," he murmured, allowing his magical sight to drop. His world went dark vision wise, but he had a greater sense of Gabriel's tail against his hip, the crackle of the fire and shift of the snakes in Gabriel's hair.

"We should consider sleeping soon."

[gr1m]

It was an odd mix of both in a way, whenever he was unconscious or just asleep and there was nothing that affected them the snakes of is hair acted all on their own. There was still influence of his own personality like they were extensions of himself, but they could act on their own fully for a time. Caused something of a disconnect, slowed his own reaction time if he was asleep and they couldn't wake him up quickly enough.

Still, came in very useful most of the time.

Gabriel settled to where he was closer to Jack in his own coils, "Going to be a cold night." Winter was still approaching, no matter how far he had gotten, the capture and being moved west put him very far away from where he wintered.