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[dadication]

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[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.

[dadication]

Jack was certain that if they stayed together that such answers would come to him, and he could observe Gabriel through this healing process. For now, he considered it a long day, and even if he had slept well and more hours than he usually did, he was comfortable and warm and knew that he could stay just like that. He could probably even sleep easily with the coil of Gabriel's body pressed so close.

Touch starved? It seemed they had that in common as well.

As he leaned, he brought their torsos together, letting them rub shoulders as he stared into the flames of the fire. He nodded, able to feel the cold at their backs, chased away by the fire and the radiant heat of their bodies. It was a good that he had bought blankets.

"I brought a couple of blankets we can use. Should keep us warm as the winter deepens."

[gr1m]

"When I heal more, I'll be able to change safely and can wear actual clothing to help conserve warmth a little better, too." Now? At most he could wear coats, but there was that length of the rest of his body that little else could be worn other than draping fabric on it if that. The reason he was remaining like this was because of the damage, unsure if the wounds would pose a greater danger or not.

Gabriel nodded, snakes moving closer and even under his hair to keep warm that way. "Do you want to cover up in one and sleep against me?" His coils and all, be comfortable and warm together that way.

[dadication]

"I did grab some extra clothing, and we are about the same size from what I remember about burrowing your clothing." So when the change happened, he was prepared for them to share clothing again. For now, he figured the blankets would do more than enough for the both of them. And if not, he was used to sleeping in his leathers. "It will take a week or more for those injuries to heal the rest of the way on their own. I only healed the worst of damage."

He could certainly heal more, but he should probably wait a day or two to recover his energy just in case they were caught together and had to fight their way out.

He moved from his position leaning on Gabriel to leaning over to grab the two blankets, both of them thick and woolen. He shook the bigger one out and helpfully arranged it over Gabriel's tail as much as he could. "I slept better than I should have resting against you." Second blanket was shook out and thrown over both of their shoulders and it was more than enough to have a strong blanket overlap.

[gr1m]

There was some twitch at the corner of his mouth, since it seemed that little bit of good will was going to be repaid as well. Funny how things happened sometimes. "I don't mind waiting, I'm as comfortable like this as I would be- it just makes travel difficult if we need to move before then." A tone suggested he meant more along the lines of ease when not traveling alone. He knew his size after all.

Gabriel was in no rush to push things, even if he was concerned more over Jack's safety than his own.

"I suppose there is no safer place to sleep than on a predator you know will not harm you." He did settle under those blankets with a soft sound, snakes hissing a little in such a way that could have sounded content. The blankets were extremely welcomed it seemed.

[dadication]

He nodded his head, unable to see the twitch of lips as he had let his magical sight slip, but that was fine. He was repaying a favour in kind, and honestly, he would have done it anyway. "There isn't any hurry. We are in a good position to remain out of sight and out of mind, so you should take the time that you need. If you heal, the faster we can eventually travel."

Jack had his own ways of dealing with things, and honestly he'd never had a reason to not take jobs and just travel his way through his life. The fact that he found himself willing to remain here was strange to him, and he knew he would need time to think about what it meant and why he was doing this.

"I could say the same to you," he replied. He was a predator in his own right, so it seemed fitting that they would apparently try a second night of sleeping near each other. "I can heal you a bit more tonight if you want?" Still tired, but he'd be willing.

[gr1m]

"A part of me does want to risk traveling back to where I was found," and captured, but that went without saying. "I had items with me I'd rather recover than simply leave there." Once healed up and they are going... wherever. It was towards warmer areas, the trip he had always taken, but now this had thrown him so off schedule he wasn't sure he'd be able to get anything back in to place again easily.

After healing, of course. "If you want to travel that way with me once I have healed up enough to do so, at least."

His head tipped, part of it rested near Jack's own, and snakes moving accordingly so as not to get trapped between them. "No, just rest. I'm in no hurry if you are willing to help me deal with the cold."

[dadication]

Jack considered for a long moment. They could risk travel, but it would have to be under the cover of darkness, and there were plenty of things out that lurked in the night they might have to contend with. "We could try, but it would have to be at night when you're like this. Also, guards, mercenaries and the Guild will be on high alert, which also will make travel tedious." However, he was willing to try if it was that important to Gabriel.

Fall was upon them after all, summer closing out and the cold starting to bite when it came to night. If Gabriel was cold now, travel would be more difficult in that sense as well. "I'll see you back where you came from, I figure. That way one of us can be on watch always." That wasn't the only reason.

He actually shifted so he could pillow his arms carefully against Gabriel's thick coiled tail, and that brought their foreheads together. Surprised by the accidental contact, he jerked slightly. "Sorry..." he murmured softly. He didn't know the gorgon's comfort level with him on such a level yet, and he wasn't exactly comfortable so up close and personal with his scars. "Alright, we can just rest then. Are you warm enough now?"

[gr1m]

His nose wrinkled as he thought it over. "I think we can afford to wait a few weeks still, try and give some time to pass, even if I doubt the alert will have lessened by then, but I would rather be in better health." Tedious travel was fine, but he was also very much willing to remain here for a while as well. He just... wanted to get what he'd had with him, a few of the items if they were still where he'd hidden them for his shedding soak.

There was a soft hum of agreement with that at least, even if he was welcoming the company of the hunter for a different reason.

"It's alright." Gabriel just tilted his head so it was a bit further away, coils shifting a bit to make the both of them a little more comfortable. Kept his coils under the blankets as well. "I am warm enough right now, yes. Thank you."