Swimming In Udori
Ash 35th, 120th Year, A.o.S.
Life as a fisherman had never been easy for Rickter, but there were sometimes moments when fellow fishermen did lend a hand. Much like the rest of Kalzasi did with their fellow locals, for the community has always been close-knit for as long as the wolf could remember. Walking down the port of the city he and Telion looked out among the many ships berthed in town, as loaders continually worked to move cargo both off and on vessels throughout the docks. Rickter had worn his usual lighter wear, even if the cool air felt a tad bit chilly to his skin in turn.
Telion wore her simple dress, the color of robin's egg blue, and her black-dyed coat which covered mainly her upper torso. "So this is where you grew up, right?" The bard inquired curiously as they strolled along, the wolf looking among those shuffling along the docks. Though noon had yet to hit it was usually the warmer part of the day by now, so the fact the morning chill still lingered within the air, told Rickter that winter made plans on reaching Kalzasi at some point in the near future. He'd already endured the cold up within the Astralar a couple of nights ago, which was certainly a lot colder than how he felt now, but admittedly the wolf began to miss the summer temperatures once more.
"Aye." Rickter answered her in turn with a plain expression on his face, a brief glance spared down to Telion as they continued walking along the port. "Wasn't easy but it put food on the table." He remarked in turn as he thought of lunch just then, admittedly a bit hungry now that it had crossed his mind.
"Imagining you as a fisherman is a little odd." Telion admitted in turn, garnering a slight raise of his eyebrow. "For as long as I've known you, now, I've always thought of you as a mercenary. You did call yourself a freelancer after all!"
Rickter then contorted his lips into a thoughtful frown for a moment, admittedly nodding in agreement with the statement when he did so. "Aye I did. That was after..." He stopped in his tracks then as he realized what had driven him to become one. Rennei. Already the pain of loss began to manifest within his heart, which the wolf quietly put to rest, content to accept the loss and leave it in his past but slightly bothered by something residual.
"After?" Telion's head tilted curiously as she looked up at him, noticing how glum he suddenly started to appear in turn. For a moment Rickter felt his companions reach out to him, offering him the familiar sense of comfort if he felt it necessary. The wolf allowed his thoughts of appreciation to well within, hopeful that both Talon and Aoren received them in turn.
Thank you, I am fine though. There was underlying confidence in that thought, because truthfully he was okay as he was. Deep down he just didn't realize how much he missed Rennei, until the conversation finally seemed to come up between them just now. "After I'd lost my second mother." Telion's eyes widened at him then as she turned to face him completely, the pair stopped by one of the docks where numerous fishermen flocked to and from their own ships. Throughout this part of the port, all the smaller boats and vessels were found, often with groups of fishermen working together to haul in impressive loads.
"Oh! I'm sorry Ricky!" Telion apologized quickly which in turn led Rickter to softly shake his head at her. "I didn't know."
"You couldn't have," The wolf remarked to her with a plain expression, "it's honestly the reason why I stepped away that night you and the others surprised me."
"I see..." Telion's voice faded out momentarily as she still appeared apologetic, giving the wolf cause to groan a sound of amusement before gently nudging her on the shoulder a couple of times. The gesture worked up a faint smile from the bard, with the both of them exchanging glances at one another before she began to speak once more. And yet...
"HELP-" The sound of a chaotic splash was made within one of the piers of the docks, as bubbles quickly rose to the surface of the area where it had been made. Quickly those who were near the pier took to rush towards its end, eager to try and provide aid for whoever had fallen within the waters of Lake Udori. However... Unlike those who reached in to try and grab him, Rickter's own body reacted much like it would in any other instance, guiding him to run straight for the water before diving head-first into the murky depths below.
"Ricky!" He'd heard Telion call out just before he'd plummeted beneath the surface, using his arms to pull him further in as he propelled himself deeper. The wolf kicked and pedaled with his feet while using his hands to stroke, allowing him to tread the depths at a decent pace, yet struggle to keep himself submerged as his figure gradually rose to the surface. Rickter's eyes opened so that he could gaze within the depths of the lake, his body in a slant as he pushed himself forward to swim closer to the person who'd fallen. Near the bottom of the lake where the pegs of the dock could be seen, an older man who looked practically bald looked to be reaching out and flailing slowly, the trail of bubbles protruding from his nostrils thick as they came in short spurts.
There wasn't much time before he'd be out of the air, and the same issue would apply with Rickter here shortly. He had to make this quick, as it looked like something kept the drowning man from rising back to the surface. The wolf approached him in turn, bubbles filtering out his nostrils as he did, his blue eyes upon the wrinkled face of the old man before they traveled down. Below him was a net that looked to be bundled and knotted, the network fixed into a tangle that had caught the ankle of the poor fisher in turn. Above at the surface, there were people calling out to them, the volume of their voices severely muffled by the sound of water as Rickter moved to submerge himself lower.
Damn, it was cold down here, by now Rickter could feel his fingers going numb. In inspecting the net he saw the knot itself looked too twisted and bundled to simply undo, especially down where it was darker within the depths of the lake. Yet if he could just... His hands searched for different angles that would allow the man's boot to slip through, his jaw clenched hard as he started to feel his mind grow frantic for a means of setting him free. Then it dawned on him. The boot! He realized as he started to grasp at the boot itself, using his other hand to direct the old man in pulling his own leg up from beneath the knee. Yet he didn't budge, initially, as the leg had to be slipped out of the boot for him to be freed. In just a few moments of trying, the man's shin started to move up, as the drowning man was freed from the binding trap beneath him.
Quickly did the wolf pedal his feet as he turned to rise for the surface, using his arms to then help pull the poor guy along with him when he ascended. Air was becoming an important demand now, his lungs begged and begged for air, and the surface was only several feet above them now. The fisher in his arms started to flail a little more as well, desperate as the wolf to renew his oxygen before he breathed in. It turned into a painful moment that lasted for what felt like an eternity, before Rickter and the fisher actually broke the surface of the water moments after they worked together with kicking. Gasping and puffing out the water in his mouth, Rickter made sure his charge had risen with him, quickly turning to make sure he was able to breathe when that fisher coughed nastily.
Above them were the other fishers and laborers that were reaching in earlier, their arms quickly extending down to grasp for them both, so that the wolf could make sure they helped the old fisher out before him. Not long after both men were hauled to the pier, with Rickter having to use a combination of climbing and being hoisted by three men, both were flat on the wooden planks as the nearly drowned man continued hacking up what traces of water he did inhale. People came around all checking in to make sure that the fisher and Rickter were both okay, leaving the wolf feeling utterly anxious as he was surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces. And yet... "Ricky!"
Telion weaved her way through the gathered crowd to kneel down on her knees, hovering over Rickter as he in turn rose to sit before her. He was utterly cold now and because of that, his skin paled, leaving his lips with almost a bluish tint to them as someone wrapped a blanket around his shoulders. "Are you okay?!" She called out to him above the bustle of the crowd, as everyone still scrambled to make sure the fisher was also alright in turn. The wolf nodded to her quickly then, realizing that he'd just sprung right into the cold water without even thinking. The bard's face went from severe concern to utter relief, and in a sense, Rickter too felt a little at ease now that his companion was near. "You big oaf!" The bard lightly punched his shoulder then, almost teary-eyed after experiencing the relief in knowing he was fine.
"You... saved... me!..." The old fisher muttered in between his ragged pants, the fear in his eyes still present as he gazed toward his savior. "I can't... thank you... enough!..." As he talked the people gathered around covered him in a blanket also, the bulk of the crowd being shepherded back as a couple of Sky Guard soldiers reached the pier. After all, when everyone had finished examining them, and the crowd later dispersed, the fisher came to have a conversation with the wolf in turn. He offered payment to which the wolf initially refused, simply deeming his timely intervention as luck at best. However, unable to accept no for an answer the fisher then offered something else, a necklace made from a sole strand of leather tied around the tooth of a shark.
While he didn't necessarily want to accept any such reward from the man, it then dawned on Rickter that having something as proof of his deed would help his cause, since he was pandering about the city in hopes of performing kind acts in turn. Thus after his consideration, Rickter accepted the necklace in turn, helping out yet another fisher of the community just as others had done for him.
Ash 35th, 120th Year, A.o.S.
Life as a fisherman had never been easy for Rickter, but there were sometimes moments when fellow fishermen did lend a hand. Much like the rest of Kalzasi did with their fellow locals, for the community has always been close-knit for as long as the wolf could remember. Walking down the port of the city he and Telion looked out among the many ships berthed in town, as loaders continually worked to move cargo both off and on vessels throughout the docks. Rickter had worn his usual lighter wear, even if the cool air felt a tad bit chilly to his skin in turn.
Telion wore her simple dress, the color of robin's egg blue, and her black-dyed coat which covered mainly her upper torso. "So this is where you grew up, right?" The bard inquired curiously as they strolled along, the wolf looking among those shuffling along the docks. Though noon had yet to hit it was usually the warmer part of the day by now, so the fact the morning chill still lingered within the air, told Rickter that winter made plans on reaching Kalzasi at some point in the near future. He'd already endured the cold up within the Astralar a couple of nights ago, which was certainly a lot colder than how he felt now, but admittedly the wolf began to miss the summer temperatures once more.
"Aye." Rickter answered her in turn with a plain expression on his face, a brief glance spared down to Telion as they continued walking along the port. "Wasn't easy but it put food on the table." He remarked in turn as he thought of lunch just then, admittedly a bit hungry now that it had crossed his mind.
"Imagining you as a fisherman is a little odd." Telion admitted in turn, garnering a slight raise of his eyebrow. "For as long as I've known you, now, I've always thought of you as a mercenary. You did call yourself a freelancer after all!"
Rickter then contorted his lips into a thoughtful frown for a moment, admittedly nodding in agreement with the statement when he did so. "Aye I did. That was after..." He stopped in his tracks then as he realized what had driven him to become one. Rennei. Already the pain of loss began to manifest within his heart, which the wolf quietly put to rest, content to accept the loss and leave it in his past but slightly bothered by something residual.
"After?" Telion's head tilted curiously as she looked up at him, noticing how glum he suddenly started to appear in turn. For a moment Rickter felt his companions reach out to him, offering him the familiar sense of comfort if he felt it necessary. The wolf allowed his thoughts of appreciation to well within, hopeful that both Talon and Aoren received them in turn.
Thank you, I am fine though. There was underlying confidence in that thought, because truthfully he was okay as he was. Deep down he just didn't realize how much he missed Rennei, until the conversation finally seemed to come up between them just now. "After I'd lost my second mother." Telion's eyes widened at him then as she turned to face him completely, the pair stopped by one of the docks where numerous fishermen flocked to and from their own ships. Throughout this part of the port, all the smaller boats and vessels were found, often with groups of fishermen working together to haul in impressive loads.
"Oh! I'm sorry Ricky!" Telion apologized quickly which in turn led Rickter to softly shake his head at her. "I didn't know."
"You couldn't have," The wolf remarked to her with a plain expression, "it's honestly the reason why I stepped away that night you and the others surprised me."
"I see..." Telion's voice faded out momentarily as she still appeared apologetic, giving the wolf cause to groan a sound of amusement before gently nudging her on the shoulder a couple of times. The gesture worked up a faint smile from the bard, with the both of them exchanging glances at one another before she began to speak once more. And yet...
"HELP-" The sound of a chaotic splash was made within one of the piers of the docks, as bubbles quickly rose to the surface of the area where it had been made. Quickly those who were near the pier took to rush towards its end, eager to try and provide aid for whoever had fallen within the waters of Lake Udori. However... Unlike those who reached in to try and grab him, Rickter's own body reacted much like it would in any other instance, guiding him to run straight for the water before diving head-first into the murky depths below.
"Ricky!" He'd heard Telion call out just before he'd plummeted beneath the surface, using his arms to pull him further in as he propelled himself deeper. The wolf kicked and pedaled with his feet while using his hands to stroke, allowing him to tread the depths at a decent pace, yet struggle to keep himself submerged as his figure gradually rose to the surface. Rickter's eyes opened so that he could gaze within the depths of the lake, his body in a slant as he pushed himself forward to swim closer to the person who'd fallen. Near the bottom of the lake where the pegs of the dock could be seen, an older man who looked practically bald looked to be reaching out and flailing slowly, the trail of bubbles protruding from his nostrils thick as they came in short spurts.
There wasn't much time before he'd be out of the air, and the same issue would apply with Rickter here shortly. He had to make this quick, as it looked like something kept the drowning man from rising back to the surface. The wolf approached him in turn, bubbles filtering out his nostrils as he did, his blue eyes upon the wrinkled face of the old man before they traveled down. Below him was a net that looked to be bundled and knotted, the network fixed into a tangle that had caught the ankle of the poor fisher in turn. Above at the surface, there were people calling out to them, the volume of their voices severely muffled by the sound of water as Rickter moved to submerge himself lower.
Damn, it was cold down here, by now Rickter could feel his fingers going numb. In inspecting the net he saw the knot itself looked too twisted and bundled to simply undo, especially down where it was darker within the depths of the lake. Yet if he could just... His hands searched for different angles that would allow the man's boot to slip through, his jaw clenched hard as he started to feel his mind grow frantic for a means of setting him free. Then it dawned on him. The boot! He realized as he started to grasp at the boot itself, using his other hand to direct the old man in pulling his own leg up from beneath the knee. Yet he didn't budge, initially, as the leg had to be slipped out of the boot for him to be freed. In just a few moments of trying, the man's shin started to move up, as the drowning man was freed from the binding trap beneath him.
Quickly did the wolf pedal his feet as he turned to rise for the surface, using his arms to then help pull the poor guy along with him when he ascended. Air was becoming an important demand now, his lungs begged and begged for air, and the surface was only several feet above them now. The fisher in his arms started to flail a little more as well, desperate as the wolf to renew his oxygen before he breathed in. It turned into a painful moment that lasted for what felt like an eternity, before Rickter and the fisher actually broke the surface of the water moments after they worked together with kicking. Gasping and puffing out the water in his mouth, Rickter made sure his charge had risen with him, quickly turning to make sure he was able to breathe when that fisher coughed nastily.
Above them were the other fishers and laborers that were reaching in earlier, their arms quickly extending down to grasp for them both, so that the wolf could make sure they helped the old fisher out before him. Not long after both men were hauled to the pier, with Rickter having to use a combination of climbing and being hoisted by three men, both were flat on the wooden planks as the nearly drowned man continued hacking up what traces of water he did inhale. People came around all checking in to make sure that the fisher and Rickter were both okay, leaving the wolf feeling utterly anxious as he was surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces. And yet... "Ricky!"
Telion weaved her way through the gathered crowd to kneel down on her knees, hovering over Rickter as he in turn rose to sit before her. He was utterly cold now and because of that, his skin paled, leaving his lips with almost a bluish tint to them as someone wrapped a blanket around his shoulders. "Are you okay?!" She called out to him above the bustle of the crowd, as everyone still scrambled to make sure the fisher was also alright in turn. The wolf nodded to her quickly then, realizing that he'd just sprung right into the cold water without even thinking. The bard's face went from severe concern to utter relief, and in a sense, Rickter too felt a little at ease now that his companion was near. "You big oaf!" The bard lightly punched his shoulder then, almost teary-eyed after experiencing the relief in knowing he was fine.
"You... saved... me!..." The old fisher muttered in between his ragged pants, the fear in his eyes still present as he gazed toward his savior. "I can't... thank you... enough!..." As he talked the people gathered around covered him in a blanket also, the bulk of the crowd being shepherded back as a couple of Sky Guard soldiers reached the pier. After all, when everyone had finished examining them, and the crowd later dispersed, the fisher came to have a conversation with the wolf in turn. He offered payment to which the wolf initially refused, simply deeming his timely intervention as luck at best. However, unable to accept no for an answer the fisher then offered something else, a necklace made from a sole strand of leather tied around the tooth of a shark.
While he didn't necessarily want to accept any such reward from the man, it then dawned on Rickter that having something as proof of his deed would help his cause, since he was pandering about the city in hopes of performing kind acts in turn. Thus after his consideration, Rickter accepted the necklace in turn, helping out yet another fisher of the community just as others had done for him.
