Nivik pads out from around the mountain, his tail flicking as he walks. He's got the bow on his back, along with a new addition, a pair of wooden javelins. One's in his paw, as well, used as a walking staff. He's also got a satchel on, and that coat. Silly squirrel.

Sitting down almost in the shallows is the young mouse who was wandering around the night before. She has something in her lap, and she's clearly working on it, head bent and paws moving constantly. Her walking staff lies in the sand beside her, and oddly enough, she carries no other possessions.

Nivik blinks somewhat, and starts to head over in that direction...albiet slowly, due to his lack of expertise in traversing over sand.

As he gets closer, since he's a bowyer, he might recognize the shortbow in her paws. The size is way off, about the size a harvest mouse might use, not a mousemaid of average size. She's oiling the wood with something from a pouch, warming it and bending it, testing how well she can pull it. She unrolls a string from a beltpouch, and tests the bow without an arrow. Unaware she's being watched, she winces, dropping the bow and gripping her upper arm.

Nivik blinks a little as he gets closer...and finally takes a seat next to her, tilting his head, "'Cha workin' on, there, mm?"

Marie poorly attempts to hide her failure to draw the tiny bow. "S'bout as big a bow s'I cin draw now," she admits finally. "Bow's fine, s'me s'the problem." She straightens her arm, gently bending it, then straightening it again. She doesn't stop until she's stopped wincing each time.

Nivik tilts his head, and his tail sways back and forth, leaning in to examine her arm, "Why's that...if I may ask?"

Marie tugs the long sleeve of her shirt farther down. "You may ask, but that doesn' mean I'll answer." She seems to think this is a little harsh, and amends, "S'a long story, an' I'm not so fond of it."

Nivik blinks, and mehs, pulling his nose back, "Eh, fair enough...'s a decent bow, regardless. Send a light arrer a ways, fer sure."

Marie nods, though she makes a face. "M'outta practice. Sling s'a different moshin." She turns to examine his profile unabashedly. "Have I seen you before?"

Nivik thinks, and hmmmns..."Yer voice is familiar...but I connect it with m' time up north'ards." He points to make his point.

This time it's not a wince, it's an all-out blanch. "Oh." Some of her muscles have frozen, leaving her leanign away from him unconsciously for several seconds. "Could be..." she mutters, bending her head to return her attention to the bow... and hide her pale face.

Nivik blinks, noticing her reaction, his tailtip curling, "Hmm? Somethin' wrong?"

"Not at all." She slowly returns to her previous activity, then holds the bow up in front of her eyes. "I think I'm done. Would... would you do me a favor and test it? I... can't." She offers the bow to Nivik, and then pulls a thin quiver with four arrows from the side of her belt.

Nivik looks over the arrows, and the bow, and mmms, "Low on ammunition. Y' wan' me to make y' some?" He looks about, "Er, what should I shoot at?"

Nivik mmms, and flicks his tail about, looking around for something to plink at, "Eh...archery's all I know, actually...'ve done it since I was a wee thing." He twitches his whiskers and snuffles at the air lightly, before lifting the bow and taking a shot at a peice of driftwood. He's good laterally, but falls far short.

Marie watches the arrow fly. "Close enough. Gives me an idea of the range, at least." She picks up her staff/walking stick and uses it to hoist herself off the sand, and upright. "I'm done out here then. Would you care to join me for some food? My tent is hidden back in the dunes..."

Nivik nods, handing the bow back with a chuckle, "Surely. Brought a couple of bottles of ale, in case I wandered too far...I use it ta purify the water. S'm water has some tricky spirits in it that make ye awfully ill when they get in ya." Nivik grins, "And spirits run off spirits."

Marie grins as well. "Prefer wine, myself, but it sounds good to me." She points inland, then sighs. "I move slowly. Sorry." Her staff is no longer a weapon, and entirely a walking stick for use on the shifting sands.

Nivik chuckles, and shakes his head, "No worries." His javelin butt is digging into the sand as his own walking stick, "'M really bad in sand, too."

"M'really bad 'nywhere..." she mutters angrily.

Nivik gives her shoulder a pat, smiling, "Eh, it can't be so bad. Wounded, I take?"

Nivik nods with approval at the setup, but tsks slightly, "Y' seem bitter...'s the trouble? Or is that one of those don't-get-into-et-things?"

Marie sighs. "Let's just say I had too much fun somewhere I shouldn't have been, and got in too much trouble for it." She shrugs, ducking under the tent and seating herself next to a large bag. Opening it, she offers Nivik a sticky pastry. "S'dry, but still good. 'Nything from de Abbey'll stay good forever."

Marie adds, "I'm not bitter. I deserved it. But I'm rather limited now..."

Nivik ducks in with a slow, smooth motion, looking about with a twitch of his tail. He blinks, and chuckles, lifting a paw, "Naw...I don't need your provisions...I'm bunking at the mountain an' all that sort of thing." He dusts himself off outside before actually coming in to sit down. "Permanent or temporary wound?"

Marie blinks, taking a bite of the pastry while she thinks. "Permanent. S'been gettin' better, but s'permanent." She glances in the direction of the mountain even though that is through the dune. "Never been inside the loverly fire mountain."

Nivik shakes his head with a sigh, "Then 's a shame...nobeast aughta be done up permanent for anythin'." He looks over as well, and smiles a little, "'S interestin'. Not sure if'n I like hares much, though...they 'ave their moments an' then they don't."

Marie laughs. "Know that feeling. Love hares, myself, though. Wunnerful creatures." She reaches up to rub at the arm she hurt earlier, not thinking. "Last one I knew died seasons ago, unfortunately. S'the first time I've been out this direction in awhile."

Nivik chuckles, and nods, lying back and relaxing, "Hmmn...'m pretty well pleased with any beast that doesn't mind me, y'know?"

Marie nods, lying back in the sand after he gives her the idea. It's almost visible relaxation when she doens't have to hold up her own weight any longer. "S'the badger lord still around? I haven' heard much from the mountain of late."

Nivik makes a shrugging motion, "Mmm, I havn't seen hide nor hair of 'im, if 'e is. Badgers intimidate me, though. I may be a l'il bigger than a mouse, but badgers'd still step on me an' prolly kill me fer the trouble."

Marie nods, sighing. "Badgers're honorable beasts, tho. None of 'em gonna step on none of us." Her eyes widen considerably, and she asks suddenly, "Have you ever seen a badger gone mad with the 'wrath? It's a truly frightening sight."

Nivik blinks, and shakes his head, "Naw...I wouldn't wanna see anything of the like. Gaw forbid I'm ever in a battle big enough to warrant a badger bein' present."

Marie shivers, wincing at the motion. "Certainly don' wanna be on the side agin' de badger, I'm tellin' you. The hares are bad 'nough." She rolls her head around in circles, making loud cracking noises, but she sighs in relief when she's through.

Nivik winces, and looks over at the cracking, "Owch...sounded a bit unpleasent. But yeh, I know what you're sayin'. About every other day I flip flop from deciding ta settle down, to deciding to seek out another group o' military beasts to join up with."

Marie makes a face. "Not one fer de military life, never was. Now I certainly ain't. But settlin' down? Not essactly for me either. I've been all over. Know too many beasts who ain't gonna 'memeber me by the time I walk my way back again."

Nivik laughs, and nods, "Yeah...settlin' down is a relative term. I mean' not fightin' so much, enjoyin' the other bits of life."

Marie laughs lightly. "The other bits've been chasin' me 'round for awhile. I'm... not so wonderfully fit for travellin' no more, but s'kept me sane. I think I'm here for awhile, tho."

Nivik ehs, and nods in agreement, his tailtip flicking slightly, "True that...after autumn sets in, I don't travel, not on this side of the wastelands. Way too cold."

Marie grins. "Southsward's not as nice as it once was, 'nfortinatly. I used ta spend my winters there, ever since I was... three or so."

Nivik chuckles and nods, "Born there, raised there...an' it's still pretty nice. Nicer'n than most of these northards lands."

Marie shrugs. "Born in Mapleleaf as far as I know. Or at least my father lives there. Not that I'm crazy about him or the rest of the place..."

Nivik mms, and shakes his head, "I don' like it so much. It's...all..." He pulls a face, "Like the abbey. Except spread out." Nivik flicks his tail, mmphing softly, "Well...maybe not. The abbey is...alright. Just boring. And maybe a little uppity."

Marie nods. "They can be. I enjoy the Abbey, though. And..." she blushes. "I'm not so fond of my 'hometown'. I feel awful saying it..."

Nivik chuckles, and shrugs, "The only real plus of Mapleleaf is that the gals'll actually lookit me some. Abbey, they're very anti-fighting. Doesn't really balance the negatives, though."

Marie finds this extremely funny, laughing until she grips her stomach and forces herself to breathe. "No, it doesn't. But I will say this: Abbey food is SOOOOO much better than Mapleleaf food." She lifts a second pastry, and grins as the creamy filling gushes over her face.

Nivik laughs, reaching over to get a bit of it and lick it off his finger. "Mmm, def'nately..." He flickers his tail to and fro, "Mmm, ain' /that/ funny, mouse-butt. Impressing females is a life's pursuit all in itself." A grin.

Marie snorts, almost choking on pastry. "I'm well aware of that..." she finally gets out. "But not for me. So I can take my own sweet time laughing at you." Her tongue swipes up to lick creamy goo off her nose. "Mmm."

Nivik laughs, shaking his head as he watches you, "Eh, normally I wouldn' be so mindful of it. Dunno what's inta me lately. Prolly too much ale." He pulls a face, "But I don' trust the water about here quite yet."

Marie extends a paw towards him, beckoning with the fingers. "Hand it over."

Nivik blinks, looking about, "Hand...oh!" He gets into this satchel, handing over two milky-glass bottles filled with amber liquid, "'Owzat?"

Marie grins, popping the stopper out of one and tasting. Her face goes all happy, and she wriggles lying in the sand. "Mmmm... Perfect. I've missed ale. I drank all the Oktober ale from the abbey within two days."

Nivik chuckles, shaking his head with a grin, "Yer welcome to it. I've already got a mug in m' belly...er, well, half a mug. The other half water. I do it that way 'cause I have a slight history." Ears turn slightly pink.

Marie shrugs, nodding knowingly. "I'm surprised I can drink this much... it certainly doens't run in the family. But, I've always been able to, and... why not take advantage of it!!" She guzzles half the bottle, then hugs it to her chest. "Mmmm," she repeats.

Nivik laughs, uncorking his other bottle and taking a few sips, "Mm...my problem was with too much apple an' cherry brandy and that sorta thing. Liquors. So ale isn' in much danger of puttin' me off the wagon."

She laughs. "Thinkin' like that'll get you in trouble. But I know the Black Gull has some delicious brandies and cordials if you do decide to head back in that direction..." Ever so helpful, of course.

The squirrel rolls his eyes, and shakes his head with a chuckle, "Naw...it really wasn' a good deal. I'd be completely unable ta operate at times. Big fuzzy spots where I dunno what I did. I was bad."

Marie winces, though not from her physical condition this time. "Sounds it. Can be a mistake, but sometimes it's wonderfully liberating." She sighs, as if at some remembered memory. "Oh!" her paw comes up to smack her cheek, spraying him with a bit of creamy pastry-filling. "I'm Marie. I totally forgot."

He acks! and wrinkles his nose, licking his nose gently, "Mmm...ah! I'm Nivik." He grins a little, "You, hon, are a 'orrible sticky mess. My mum woulda tongue-assaulted me."

Marie blinks, the first thought popping into her head being NOT appropriate, and then she realizes. "Heh. There are benefits of not meeting your parents until you're grown. Raising yourself is so much less restrictive."

He laughs, and shrugs, "I'm a tribesquirrel...so my life growin' up were prolly slightly different from the norm 'ereabouts. We're...eh...more basic, really. It's different."

She looks interested. "If you don't mind, tell me? I didn't really have a normal life as a kit, so I'm always interested in how otherbeasts grew up." She takes a fingerful of creamy filling off her nose, and splats it on his. "There, that's payment."

Niv blinks, crossing his eyes...his tongue flicking out to clean off his nosepad. "Mmph! Murr. Ah, yeah...well, lesse...I were born grey-furred, unlike m' family. They were golden. M' sister, Rama, 's similar ta me in color...family in a tribe is a l'il less important compared to the community than it is here. The whole community is well-knit an' united...among the adults. Y' learn ta fight when yer l'il, though, by usual means." He grins, "Scuffles an' the like. Later it's knives, every good squirrel learns a knife while 'e's learnin' his tribe-defendin' stuff. I chose my other weapon as a bowbeast. M' actual name isn' Nivik...the closest translation of m' public name is Greyfeather. Birthname is more...private."

Marie nods. "I've heard something like that before. I'm too open with everything to keep anything secret, and someone once told me I was the stronger for it. I'm not sure if I agree. But when I asked an elder down in Southsward, she said that by telling the world my true name, I made it something that can't be used against me."

The squirrel gnaws on his cheek, "It's not that...it's just...y'know. Long. And it represents a close personal connection." He tries to think of a comparison, "Ah, like goin' unclothed in front of another. You know everyone has a birthname, but to actually know what it is is a little personal."

Marie nods. "Makes sense to me. Sorry to pry, but this is fascinating to me." She takes another drink from the bottle of ale, then raises it up to pout at the very small amount remaining.

Niv chuckles, taking another swig before offering it to her, fluffing his tail out, "Mmm...here. Yeh, beasts like ta hear about differn' cultures, seems..." A grin.

Marie grins, blowing a mocking kiss at him before grabbing the bottle. "Forgive my thirst," she mutters in between sips.

He laughs, and winks, "I don' mind a tad, m' mouse. Yer a cute'n, and I never begrudge a charmin' girl a drop of my ale."

Marie winks at him, batting her eyelashes as if surprised at the compliment. "Me, good sir? Surely you must be mistaken."

Niv smirks, and shakes his head, "A good archer's eye don' make many mistakes, an' I surely havn't had enough ta mess up my sight yet. An' y' havn't run me off, in fact, yer amazingly hospitable. So I'll go ahead and label ye as charmin' and cute, if'n ye don't mind it!"

Marie laughs. "Mind it? Not in the least. I have a habit of hospitality... when a traveller actually has anything to offer, you'll find it rather easy to get whatever it is from them.

He laughs, and nods, tail swishing, "Mmm, that'd do it, a blown kiss, a wink, a bit of cute, and they'll give ya anything!"

Marie laughs. "I meant me, but I'm certainly glad you're enjoying yourself. I might have to hang around this area for awhile..." she grins. "Normally I'd be leaving within the next couple days."

Niv chuckles, and gestures, "There's supposed ta be a l'il village about, with a tavern an' everything. 'S where I'll be most winter, I think...unless I scoot outta Sala dang quick. Once snow falls, I plant roots unless there's an emergency."

Marie makes a face. "No villages for me. Though a tavern sounds wonderful at the moment... maybe I'll find a campin' spot closer to this village." She pauses. "Oh, you mean Halyard? I'm not awake..." she shakes her head as if dizzy.

He laughs, and nods, reaching over to tap your nose with a fingertip, winking, "It's all that ale in your l'il mousy self. Those are hare's servings!"

She puts her nose in the air. "I'll have you know that I'm not in the least drunk. So there." She looks back at her bag of food, then at him. "If I'm moving towards Halyard, would you care to help? I can manage on my own, but it's always easier with help."

The squirrel laughs, and nods, "If you're stickin' around part 'cause of my fuzzy brush, it'd be rude ta not, wouldn't it?"

Marie shakes her head. "Don't worry about it. It's a place to go. I was beginning to wonder where I'd drag myself off to next. I can manage just fine."

He snickers, "I wasn't worried. Just saying that I'd go ahead and help." He grins, "Nothing to worry about until weapons or drawn, is my philosophy. I c'n live off the land just fine, so no worries about ever starvin'."

Marie smiles. "Well, if you feel like helping... help me pack up and hide the lot? I need find a place before I start lugging all this there."

The squirrel grins, and nods, "Hiding I'm good at."

She laughs, then ties off her food sack and kicks it down the dunehill a ways, out of the way of the tent.

Niv looks down, and laughs, "That's something you wanna carry with ya, I take."

Marie grins. "Unless of course you think it'll be a short walk. If that's the case then I'll only need my coin purse." She taps a tied pouch at her belt, making a small clinking sound.

Niv laughs, and shakes his head, "Naw...prolly be a bit of a hike." He looks up, "Considerin' at how I hate walkin' over sand, prolly take some time."

Marie nods. "We can head the long way around, through the woods. It's longer, but there's less sand."