The moon was high in the night sky and its reflection shown down filling the dark woods with dappled moonlight. Most nights Masin left the two women to talk with their friends in the old farmhouse or rest if they were alone. He could not stand to sit still inside for too long. Instead he would patrol the edge of his lands with his hounds making sure to check for unknown tracks or signs of unwanted visitors.
Many thoughts flooded his mind as he walked the edge of the woods. Why were these people after such a sweet woman, did this have something to do with her past or was this just an unfortunate encounter with this Strongboar character? And what of her past, and this man she is sworn to who does nothing to keep her safe? The thoughts caused him to shake his head like he was trying to clear them from his mind as he walked on.
One of the hounds made and soundless point and Masin looked to see what had caught the dog’s attention. He saw one of the elves off in the distance arriving to the farmhouse to visit Addie and Neth, it was Xanderian. He signaled for the dog to release and a slight smile came to his dry lips. He pushed his long hair back and wrapped it in a tie as he carried on with his patrol. He had not seen her for a while and was glad she was back to give council to his friends.
His thoughts flowed on as he walked. Breetown was nothing like he thought it would be. He expected simple people, and a simple life, instead he found complicated people and more than just humans. Dwarves and elves were now a part of his everyday life. Life was far from simple here and he knew part of him sought that life out. He could have settled down with the Greenwood's and had nothing more to worry about than a few Blackwolds that were easy enough to scare off. He could have had another readymade family with a young woman and her daughter. He knew she fancied him, and she was kind, and pretty to look at, and the child sweet and longing a father figure. Again, that was just not something he could do.
His thoughts flowed to Miss Addie and his smile grew. Everything about her drew him in. Her pleasant demeanor, the way she knows everyone and instantly made him feel as if he was her friend for life. Her desire to help people, much like his own, and something about her not giving into the pain she must be feeling, made him think about how strong she was and what she could endure. Her reworking his invention so she could work it herself impressed him above all else. Her ingenuity and desire to get what she wanted could not be stopped and he liked that about her too.
His head shook again as his thoughts reminded him, she was promised to someone else, his role is just to protect a friend. He reminded himself of this over and over as he walked on and tried to focus on the task at hand. His dogs ran along with him, not seen, yet still nearby and Masin's eyes darted over the moonlit woods. Once he made his rounds, he could see the warm glow of the little farmhouse through the many trees surrounding it. He heard serval voices talking inside as he approached and Masin decided it was best to keep guard outside for tonight.
He built a small fire to stay warm, then sat down to treat his wounds. He removed his amour and shirt and pulled the old bandages off. He had taken out a few supplies from his pack and he reached for his water flask to flush clean his wounds. His flesh was healing and soon he would be back to full strength. He rubbed an ointment on the cuts then wrapped them with fresh bandages. He pulled his shirt on and his amour over top. He thought to himself as he took care of redressing his wounds. Living his life with no plan other than to help others has led him down interesting roads that he could never have planned to go down. The thought made him chuckle and one of the hounds came up to him and nuzzled under his hand. Masin's fingers ran through the dog's fur and he let it lay down next to him by the fire. His eyes shut and he drifted off to sleep as his two dogs kept guard. One by his side and the other on patrol in the woods.
