When Sebastian had first offered him a chance to earn his keep, it had not occurred to Caw that he wouldn't be alone in his duty. The realization that he would be accompanied by a handful of strangers from all walks of life had made him anxious - but also filled to the brim with curiosity. There was a kobold and a dragonborn, both beings he had only seen on the pages of dusty books. Then there was Rhayela with her curious glow, bearing blood whose origins Caw could only guess at.
And though he had encountered dwarves before, Magdar was no less impressive a sight. The cleric was only a few inches taller than him, yet Caw felt just as small next to him as he did with the rest of the ensemble. Even the kobold, half his size as he was, commanded respect with the way he carried himself. Next to such a lot, what was Caw but a lowly scoundrel?
On the first few days, Caw had stuck as close to Sebastian as he'd dared. Stern as the man was, the young kenku had come to view him as somewhat of a benefactor, and had not missed the small acts of kindness the man had offered him. Even so, throughout the journey so far, Caw had hardly spoken.
He had listened, though; to Sebastian's stern warnings not to steal from his companions, to the crackle of a comforting camp fire come eve, to the sizzling of a meal well-cooked, to the rhythmic clack of hooves and the stable clink of armour. He'd listened, observed, memorized detail after detail of their journey so far. Some things he'd scribbled down onto his worn notebook, yet others he'd only stored within the confines of his mind, where he was sure none would be able to see them. A cautionary move from a cautionary bird.
But today, he felt a little more at ease. Perhaps it was the slower pace, or Sebastian's song, or the way Cassandra no longer stole glances at the trail behind them. Regardless, Caw soon caught himself taking in his surroundings with more vigor than usual. Having lived most of his life in the shadows of a distant port and the lonesome tower of an even more distant castle, even the most mundane scenery was a sight to behold to the kenku.
It was then that he caught a familiar sight in his peripheral vision. Rhayela drew closer, her eyes aglow with excitement. The first time she'd approached him, Caw had been startled, unable to offer her much else than a few shaky nods in response. The time after that, he'd been taken aback that she had not given up on him. And from then on, he'd looked forward to her approach, doing the best he could to muster up words in response. A few words more, each time.
He peered at the map she held up to him, following her finger to a small flower symbol. An orchard, she said?
"Lovely," Caw concurred in her own voice and tone, matching her enthusiasm in sound and sentiment. Just as fast, though, he added a far more uncertain: "... I think." It was a gruff voice, perhaps of someone much older.
An orchard and flower fields... try as he might, Caw could not conjure up a mental image of either. He lacked the imagination to do so; the art of creation drained from the blood of his kin long, long ago. It stung, just a little, but without some form of a description, even the most beautiful place remained but a word to him.
"Have... seen many?" Caw turned his beaded gaze from the map to the girl, head tilting strongly from one side to the other; a clear sign of curiosity. He admired her dedication to travel, and could easily believe she had seen everything the world had to offer. Certainly a lot of orchards. Perhaps with her aid, he could imagine one. His voice was pleasant and soft as he continued, the overheard inquiry of a noble lady: "What are they like?"
He gave a wary glance in the direction of the human twins, then lowered his voice. This time, most of the words he spoke must've been borrowed from a child, as they carried with them the childish mischief of a boy wanting to sneak out from under his parents' watchful eye. It was not Caw's intent; he meant after their duty was over, or perhaps if their path crossed close enough. "Think we able to go?"
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