HOME | DD

Description
previously: .:: I Know You're There ::.
next : .:: Escape The Embarrassment ::.
_________________________________________

horse: X4138 Skjaak
Word count: 1388

To Skjåk’s disbelief, the tailed stranger had outran him through the marsh. He flattened his airs, flaring his nostrils in anger and frustration. He could see how the male Troll had casually walked up to his resting girl and curiously inspected her, smelling on her blonde hair and stroking her cheeks. With a loud snort and a slide-stop did Skjåk manage to startle the troll enough for him to leap away from April. The ruckus woke her up and she looked no less than shocked at the tailed creature in front of her, while Skjåk, burning with hatred, stepped between them. April slowly got up, throwing a quick glance at her backpack.

‘’don’t worry, I haven’t stolen anything!” The troll said, grinning wryly.
He stepped forward with his hands disarmingly in the air. The movement made Skjåk flatten his ears and lashed out, his teeth clapping together, merely inches away from the troll. The stranger instantly jumped back and snickered.
‘’Fierce guardian you have there” he uttered, his voice cracking nervously when the stallion stared him down.
‘’I… I suppose so’’ April laid a hand on her stallions shoulder, looking skeptical at the troll.
‘’is that... a tail? ‘’ she asked in disbelief.
‘’And so what if it is? Have you never seen a troll before? You must be pretty clueless for being a Norwegian’’ The troll puffed his chest and smirked.
April looked dumbfound at him.
‘’Who are you anyways?’’ She narrowed her eyes, stepping closer to Skjåk for mental support.
‘’Im Faun. Nice to meet you.’’ He bowed elegantly. ‘’Sadly cannot say the same about your guardian’’.
April smiled a bit. ‘’My name is April and this is Skjåk. Uhm… can I help you with anything?’’ She allowed herself to have a closer look at him. His body was covered in soft fur, his hair and tail was messy and he had dark, mischievous-looking eyes. His face had a soft, almost boyish appearance, he could almost pass for being ‘cute’. April instantly got vary, usually these kind of people… or in this case troll, knew about their charm. She expected him to reveal more arrogance than this.
‘’You’re pretty, you looked tired and you know, us trolls are curious by nature’’ He winked confidently and April felt her cheeks flush.

Somewhere in the distance, the wind started to roar and pick up speed. With it came the smell of another rainfall, and April knew they had to find a better shelter than this. It would get cold and wet really soon, if she didn’t take care, she could get seriously sick. As if the troll read her mind he smiled invitingly.
‘’Why don’t you come with me. I know about a barn not too far from here. Your horse could get some proper rest in a comfortable stall and we could get to know each other more’’ Faun suggested, with a rather suggestive spark in his eye.
April debated with herself. On one hand, she couldn’t stand the thought of following a stranger, less even a troll who she knew by folklore was rarely ever up to anything good. On the other hand, she knew Skjåk was getting tired and needed some rest. They couldn’t risk getting sick out in the weather either. She looked at Skjåk, who was still caught up in his frustration as to why he couldn’t bite the head off the guy in front of him. In Skjåk’s mind, the troll were a text book example of stranger-danger.
‘’Fine. We’ll come along. But I know trolls always want something in return, so what is it?’’ April held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t ask for something ridiculous.
‘’Just spend the night talking with me. I have a bottle of homebrewed we can share.’’ Faun started walking and looked over his shoulder with a silly grin. ‘’Coming?’’
‘’Uh… yeah’’ April hesitated, looking at Skjåk who didn’t at all seem convinced to join. Yet they slowly followed the troll, who soon after started whistling happily.

After just an hour of walking they came across the barn that looked both empty and abandoned. It seemed like one of the many small farms where farmers stayed all summer to watch over their herds, but as summer was over and autumn just begun, the farmers had long since brought their stock down the valley. Faun fiddled with the lock on the barn door and opened it up for them to pass through.
‘’Isn’t this considered trespassing?’’ April stopped and narrowed her eyes, looking at Faun suspiciously.
‘’I know the people living here all summer. They offer gifts to ‘the nature spirits’ aka me, and in return I keep their animals and crops safe. I think it’s only fair I’m allowed to sleep in here when they are not using the place, right? Come on, hurry up, it has started to rain already!” Faun made a hand gesture to hurry them inside.
April bit her lip, not really supporting his reasons, but it wasn’t like she had not taken advantage of places like this herself. When she felt the first rain drop plop on her head, she stepped inside and let Skjåk choose his stable. Skjåk quickly found his spot, while April took advantage of the moment to look around the barn. It seemed like it was well-kept and surprisingly clean.
‘’Why don’t we make a skål [cheers] for getting here before the rain? –And to our new friendship!” The bottle made a popping sound as the cork came out, fillinf the barn with a lingering scent of sweet booze.
‘’What even is that?’’ April looked at the bottle with narrowed eyes.
‘’This? Just weak troll ale. Nothing to be worried about! Besides, I did my part and brought you here, can’t you just have a sip and spit it out if it’s bad? Its rude not to taste you know” Faun made a convincing smile and April nodded vaguely, receiving the bottle in her hands.
With lightly shaking hands she lifted the bottle to her lips and had a small sip of the liquid. It tasted sweet, slightly of pine and wet dirt, but not awful. It was like drinking the nature.
‘’Now, what do you think?’’ Faun tilted his head, grinning broadly.
‘’Tastes like the forest ground. I sorta like it?’’ She took another sip and felt immediately the booze was warming her up from the inside, but without making her light headed. So it really had to be weak, right? She wasn’t exactly a heavy-weight drinker so she told herself to keep the drinking at a minimum.

‘’See? I told you. It’s unfortunate you know. Everyone thinks us trolls are all about mischief and naughty business, heck, some even think we are evil’’ He took a large sip of the bottle and dried his lips with his arm.
‘’But we aren’t all the same, there are many kinds of us. Some are more aggressive than others, while most of trolls are just curious and makes sure nothing bad happens to the farms and those that live there.’’ He sighed and dropped his shoulders.
April stretched her hand for the bottle and had another small taste.
‘’What group do you belong to then?’’ she asked daringly and licked her lips with her eyes fixed at the bottle.
‘’Me?’’ Faun rested his eyes on her for a while without answering.
‘’I’m a guardian. Just like your horse. I protect those who offer me gifts.’’ He grinned and stepped slowly closer.
April suddenly found herself leaning on her stallion for support, being already slightly off-balance. She looked at the bottle, already more than half-empty. Had she drunk all that? When she looked up again she almost bumped noses with Faun. When had he gotten so close? Faun laid his hand on her arm, trailing it down to the bottle she still held between her fingers. He gently took the bottle away from her and put it on the floor without stepping back. April felt the world spin as they locked eyes and he leaned forward. His fingers brushed through her hair and brought the ends up to his face as he silently smelled it.
‘’I think that’s enough drinking for you. How else are we going to get to know each other if you pass out on me already?’’

_______________________

(c) cyprussian 2017, -no reusage

Description
previously: .:: I Know You're There ::.
next : .:: Escape The Embarrassment ::.
_________________________________________

horse: X4138 Skjaak
Word count: 1388

To Skjåk’s disbelief, the tailed stranger had outran him through the marsh. He flattened his airs, flaring his nostrils in anger and frustration. He could see how the male Troll had casually walked up to his resting girl and curiously inspected her, smelling on her blonde hair and stroking her cheeks. With a loud snort and a slide-stop did Skjåk manage to startle the troll enough for him to leap away from April. The ruckus woke her up and she looked no less than shocked at the tailed creature in front of her, while Skjåk, burning with hatred, stepped between them. April slowly got up, throwing a quick glance at her backpack.

‘’don’t worry, I haven’t stolen anything!” The troll said, grinning wryly.
He stepped forward with his hands disarmingly in the air. The movement made Skjåk flatten his ears and lashed out, his teeth clapping together, merely inches away from the troll. The stranger instantly jumped back and snickered.
‘’Fierce guardian you have there” he uttered, his voice cracking nervously when the stallion stared him down.
‘’I… I suppose so’’ April laid a hand on her stallions shoulder, looking skeptical at the troll.
‘’is that... a tail? ‘’ she asked in disbelief.
‘’And so what if it is? Have you never seen a troll before? You must be pretty clueless for being a Norwegian’’ The troll puffed his chest and smirked.
April looked dumbfound at him.
‘’Who are you anyways?’’ She narrowed her eyes, stepping closer to Skjåk for mental support.
‘’Im Faun. Nice to meet you.’’ He bowed elegantly. ‘’Sadly cannot say the same about your guardian’’.
April smiled a bit. ‘’My name is April and this is Skjåk. Uhm… can I help you with anything?’’ She allowed herself to have a closer look at him. His body was covered in soft fur, his hair and tail was messy and he had dark, mischievous-looking eyes. His face had a soft, almost boyish appearance, he could almost pass for being ‘cute’. April instantly got vary, usually these kind of people… or in this case troll, knew about their charm. She expected him to reveal more arrogance than this.
‘’You’re pretty, you looked tired and you know, us trolls are curious by nature’’ He winked confidently and April felt her cheeks flush.

Somewhere in the distance, the wind started to roar and pick up speed. With it came the smell of another rainfall, and April knew they had to find a better shelter than this. It would get cold and wet really soon, if she didn’t take care, she could get seriously sick. As if the troll read her mind he smiled invitingly.
‘’Why don’t you come with me. I know about a barn not too far from here. Your horse could get some proper rest in a comfortable stall and we could get to know each other more’’ Faun suggested, with a rather suggestive spark in his eye.
April debated with herself. On one hand, she couldn’t stand the thought of following a stranger, less even a troll who she knew by folklore was rarely ever up to anything good. On the other hand, she knew Skjåk was getting tired and needed some rest. They couldn’t risk getting sick out in the weather either. She looked at Skjåk, who was still caught up in his frustration as to why he couldn’t bite the head off the guy in front of him. In Skjåk’s mind, the troll were a text book example of stranger-danger.
‘’Fine. We’ll come along. But I know trolls always want something in return, so what is it?’’ April held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t ask for something ridiculous.
‘’Just spend the night talking with me. I have a bottle of homebrewed we can share.’’ Faun started walking and looked over his shoulder with a silly grin. ‘’Coming?’’
‘’Uh… yeah’’ April hesitated, looking at Skjåk who didn’t at all seem convinced to join. Yet they slowly followed the troll, who soon after started whistling happily.

After just an hour of walking they came across the barn that looked both empty and abandoned. It seemed like one of the many small farms where farmers stayed all summer to watch over their herds, but as summer was over and autumn just begun, the farmers had long since brought their stock down the valley. Faun fiddled with the lock on the barn door and opened it up for them to pass through.
‘’Isn’t this considered trespassing?’’ April stopped and narrowed her eyes, looking at Faun suspiciously.
‘’I know the people living here all summer. They offer gifts to ‘the nature spirits’ aka me, and in return I keep their animals and crops safe. I think it’s only fair I’m allowed to sleep in here when they are not using the place, right? Come on, hurry up, it has started to rain already!” Faun made a hand gesture to hurry them inside.
April bit her lip, not really supporting his reasons, but it wasn’t like she had not taken advantage of places like this herself. When she felt the first rain drop plop on her head, she stepped inside and let Skjåk choose his stable. Skjåk quickly found his spot, while April took advantage of the moment to look around the barn. It seemed like it was well-kept and surprisingly clean.
‘’Why don’t we make a skål [cheers] for getting here before the rain? –And to our new friendship!” The bottle made a popping sound as the cork came out, fillinf the barn with a lingering scent of sweet booze.
‘’What even is that?’’ April looked at the bottle with narrowed eyes.
‘’This? Just weak troll ale. Nothing to be worried about! Besides, I did my part and brought you here, can’t you just have a sip and spit it out if it’s bad? Its rude not to taste you know” Faun made a convincing smile and April nodded vaguely, receiving the bottle in her hands.
With lightly shaking hands she lifted the bottle to her lips and had a small sip of the liquid. It tasted sweet, slightly of pine and wet dirt, but not awful. It was like drinking the nature.
‘’Now, what do you think?’’ Faun tilted his head, grinning broadly.
‘’Tastes like the forest ground. I sorta like it?’’ She took another sip and felt immediately the booze was warming her up from the inside, but without making her light headed. So it really had to be weak, right? She wasn’t exactly a heavy-weight drinker so she told herself to keep the drinking at a minimum.

‘’See? I told you. It’s unfortunate you know. Everyone thinks us trolls are all about mischief and naughty business, heck, some even think we are evil’’ He took a large sip of the bottle and dried his lips with his arm.
‘’But we aren’t all the same, there are many kinds of us. Some are more aggressive than others, while most of trolls are just curious and makes sure nothing bad happens to the farms and those that live there.’’ He sighed and dropped his shoulders.
April stretched her hand for the bottle and had another small taste.
‘’What group do you belong to then?’’ she asked daringly and licked her lips with her eyes fixed at the bottle.
‘’Me?’’ Faun rested his eyes on her for a while without answering.
‘’I’m a guardian. Just like your horse. I protect those who offer me gifts.’’ He grinned and stepped slowly closer.
April suddenly found herself leaning on her stallion for support, being already slightly off-balance. She looked at the bottle, already more than half-empty. Had she drunk all that? When she looked up again she almost bumped noses with Faun. When had he gotten so close? Faun laid his hand on her arm, trailing it down to the bottle she still held between her fingers. He gently took the bottle away from her and put it on the floor without stepping back. April felt the world spin as they locked eyes and he leaned forward. His fingers brushed through her hair and brought the ends up to his face as he silently smelled it.
‘’I think that’s enough drinking for you. How else are we going to get to know each other if you pass out on me already?’’

_______________________

(c) cyprussian 2017, -no reusage