What Goes Around

[Varus Wren]

Krowsnest - Afternoon​

Varus had been away for some time, he had done battle against the Sith, and had been on several other missions for his people but now he was finally home. He stood outside his home. It was snowing, like it often did here.

He was busy cutting more wood for the fire, a task that had been overlooked due to his time away. He didn't mind the work, the physical exertion was relaxing. Ciri was nearby, laying in the snow, not a care in the world. She had been following him around everywhere since he had returned.

He picked up a few of the split logs and stacked them. He would probably take some to his mother's later. He had no doubt the clan had taken care of her while he was gone, just like he would have done for them.

Picking up the ax again, he went back to splitting wood. He looked up, noticing that the snow was picking up. It would be too much of a hassle to continue with it snowing at this rate. He sighed, turning back to his hut.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

The snow came down in thick blankets, covering the forest floor and weighing down the branches of the barren trees that towered over her. It was heavy, wet and covered the tracks that she had been following for quite some time. Her boots were soaked and fingers numb from the biting wind, her cheeks red and wind burnt. Carried over her shoulder were a few hares, hung by their hind legs and ready to be skinned and eaten.

Ravyn had hoped for a bigger catch, but with the snow coming down heavily and the temperatures dropping, it seemed this would have to do for the evening. To avoid frost bite, she would need to return home to warm herself by the fire. It would be a long walk back to the village, but Ravyn moved at a steady pace to keep warm.

Soon, the settlement came into view and she wandered down the streets towards the small hut where she lived alone. Of course, there were a few more things to collect from the market before she'd be able to put together a meal deserving of the work she'd put in hunting that morning and Varus' own home wasn't far out of her way. She imagined he'd kept himself busy and decided to check in on him before returning home. He had been gone for quite some time and they hadn't had an opportunity for another adventure since their disaster in the mountains for which she still had the scars.

Ravyn found him outside, surrounded by cut firewood that still needed to be stacked before the snow had an opportunity to cover them. Had he left them out, it'd be near impossible to burn them and even more so to start a fire. "You're going to ruin your firewood, Varus." She called out to him, dropping her things to help him collect the pile.

 

[Varus Wren]

He stacked a handful of the logs before turning back to see Ravyn approaching. She always brought a smile to her face. "I figured I'd just come steal from you." he said approaching her.

She knelt down and collected some of the pile that was quickly being covered by snow. Varus retrieved the rest of the logs before following. These would have to dry out for a while, but it was just a matter of life around the small village.

He spotted the collection of rabbits laying in the snow. "Big dinner planned?" he asked as he stacked the rest of the wood out of the snow. Varus, like many who lived in his village, preferred hunting for their own food. He had not hunted since he had been back, relying on the modern ration packs he used while away. They were terrible but kept you from starving. He didn't know how much longer he could stand eating them, deciding he would have to do some hunting of his own tomorrow.

"So what brings you out here?" he asked as the last log was stacked. Ciri ran over, the large wolf nuzzling against Ravyn. "She has been pretty clingy since I have gotten back." he said looking back up. He shook the snow from his hair and beard.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

Placing the logs in a neat pile near the entrance to Varus' hut, Ravyn knelt to greet the wolf who nuzzled against her. She pressed her forehead against Ciri's and closed her eyes, letting out a deep and comforted breath. Had it not been for the unbreakable bond the wolf shared with Varus, Ravyn would have taken her in without a second thought. Her fingers tangled in Ciri's fur, she rubbed her sides and, after a moment, stood to face Varus again, feeling Ciri sit at her feet.

"No, it's nothing special. I'm sure you can agree that it always tastes better when you've hunted it yourself. Better than anything I've found in marketplace and if I have to eat another ration pack you may as well put me out of my misery now." She laughed, resting a hand on top of the wolfs head as she nuzzled her thigh. "She's missed you, Varus. You've been gone away from her for too long. You're a part of her pack and a wolf needs her pack." A smile spread across her lips, looking down to Ciri who panted happily.

"Speaking of which, I hadn't seen you returned so I thought I should check to see that you are still breathing. One can't be too careful when looking after you. You're a glutton for trouble, Varus Wren." Ravyn raised a brow and gave him a rather stern look, though it was clear by her tone that the comment was lighthearted. She wasn't sure what it was about Varus, but his company was always welcomed and she hated that they had spent so much time apart after growing so close during their childhood. A hunt was always quiet without him by her side, but it was necessary to leave without him or she'd starve before opening another pack of rations.

"It's getting cold. Have you checked in with your mother to make sure she doesn't need any of this wood for her fire? I can help you bring some over there before I leave for home, if you'd like."

 

[Varus Wren]

Varus straightened the pile one last time while Ravyn knelt down next to Ciri. "I think your cooking skills play into just a bit as well." he said turning around and chuckling. Varus brushed his hands off before taking a step back. Even in the cold weather, he had worked up a sweat.

He walked over to the wolf. "Yeah I guess I missed this knucklehead as well." he said playfully tugging at her ears. "Missed you too.." he said looking up towards Ravyn, nudging the side of her leg. Ciri, not happy that she was losing the attention of the humans, let out a whining growl before pawing at Varus. He patted Ciri's side a couple more times before saying "Oya'karir!" as he slapped her on her back leg. Ciri bolted towards the woods, once given the command to hunt she would stay out until she fed herself and would return. "You ready for more Wampa hunts?" he asked laughing again. The last one had been rough, the subsequent fight had been even worse. They had both walked away from it, but they were pretty beat up.

"Oh!" he said standing "That reminds me! Just a sec." he said running inside. He came back out with a fur blanket made from the creature's skin. Varus had gone back and found the creature in pretty decent condition. "Here." he said handing it to her. "...For your birthday. I know I missed it while I was gone." While the head of the Wampa was pretty scary looking, its fur was actually pretty soft fur. He was pretty proud of the work he had done on it.

"I was about to leave now. Not sure I need the help, but I would love the company....if you're aren't in a rush" he said but turning back towards her "...Did she put you up to this" he asked, raising an eyebrow. The old Mandalorian woman had an opinion about everything and was more stubborn the Mandalore herself. She had no issue sticking herself into other people's business and using them for her own.

He took out the cart that already had wood loaded onto it before setting off for his mothers home.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

It was a kind gesture, one that she wouldn't have expected given the amount of time Varus had spent stationed away from Krownest. It would have taken him weeks to prepare, given the size of the creature and the wet climate, but it was so carefully completed. The fur was soft and the skin underneath, it was heavy and it was warm, much warmer than anything had owned already. To make it even better, Varus had taken the time to make it for her and, no matter how awful this particular adventure had been, it reminded her of the night that had brought them together again. He was important to her, perhaps the most important person she had in her life, because of the friendship that they shared.

"Thank you, Varus." Ravyn felt her face grow warm, but it was hidden by the rosiness already in her cheeks from the cold. "Your mother is an intrusive woman, but I care for her. I can't say she feels the same, but her blunt comments make it hard to tell, really." She laughed inwardly, collecting her things from the snow and placing them inside for now. "And no, she didn't put me up to it this time. I was crossing through and figured I'd lend you a hand, that's what friends do. Don't they?"

Ravyn nudged his side, walking beside him as they walked the familiar path to his mothers. She was sure to be standing outside waiting for him, wrapped in blankets and ready to make a fuss about the dropping temperatures. Varus' mother was the busiest woman Ravyn had ever met, but Varus' loved her and Ravyn had grown to appreciate her over the years as well. There were many times as a child that she had given her the motherly guidance she'd missed from her own mother and for that she would always be grateful to the woman.

"I'll bet you ten credits she says something about you taking too long and that it's too cold." A smile spread across her lips as they approached the small hut.

 

[Varus Wren]

Ravyn was right, his mother was a bit heavy-handed. It was normal to him though, Clan Wren had always been a matriarchal society. They were different than the vast majority of the rest of the Galaxy. Even so, his mother, who had once been a great warrior in her own right could be a bit much at times.

Ravyn had that same firey stubbornness that his mother had carried. It was a common characteristic of women from Clan Wren. He didn't mention it though, only smiled. "Aye." he said with another smile. "Ten Credits?" he scoffed "We might as well make it interesting" he continued "Loser makes dinner?" he countered, a hint a playfulness in his voice.

They approached the hut, and sure enough, the elderly Mandalorian woman was outside. "Ohh!" she said throwing her hands up in the air "He finally returns! The mighty warrior himself, too busy for his own mother!" she spoke. "Su cuy'gar buir" he said in greeting for leaning over to hug the woman. She pulled him down, kissing his forehead. "You spend too much time away." she chastised him but did so warmly.

She turned to Ravyn. "Ravyn, my dear, I am sure you were the one to make him come. Someone needs to keep him straight." she said kissing the younger woman's cheek. The elderly woman looked Ravyn over and clicked her tongue "Too skinny! You come by anytime and I'll get some proper meals in you" she said with a shake of her head but still held a smile.

"Come in...come in...its too cold to be standing around in the snow like a bunch of idiots." she said. There was no real question or invitation in her tone, just a command. Varus shot Ravyn a smile before following her inside. He began unloading the wood in a place where she could easily access it on her own. He then stopped in front of the mantle, a Mandalorian helmet rest there. Varus leaned his head against it, uttering a prayer for his father.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

Ravyn smiled warmly as the woman pulled her close, kissing her cheek. It was refreshing to feel cared for, even if the opportunities were rare given her own time away from home. She considered the Mandalorian woman a mother in most respects, despite the fact that they were not bound by blood. Varus' mother might have been bold and stubborn, but if there ever came a time that he were unable to care for her, Ravyn would make sure she had wood for her fire and was not starved for company. It was the very least that she could do considering all that had been done for her over the years, some of which she would never be able to repay her for.

"Gar cuyir ner buir." She whispered as the two of them were ushered in out of the cold.

Leaving her boots at the door, she moved inside to help Varus unload the firewood. They had brought enough to last her a few days as the temperatures were expected to continue to drop. However, she didn't mind the cold as much as she had growing up - Krownest was much more comfortable than any of the cities she had found herself in over the years. It was nice to be home and even nicer to have the chance to spend time with Varus before they were separated again.

[color="990033"]"Do you need anything from the market while we are over this way? I don't mind making a run."[/color] Ravyn looked over to her, finding a seat closest to the fire to warm her hands which were numb from the cold. "The snow isn't supposed to let up and I imagine it will make hunting a bit difficult."

 

[Varus Wren]

Varus finished stacking the wood before stoking the fire and taking a step back. He had been outside for the majority of the day, the warmth was nice.

"Hrm?" the woman said as she settled down into a chair. "Oh no, child, I am fine. Thank you," he said at the offer. She was closer to the market, and it was the one thing she had always refused to let anyone do for herself. "Sit. Sit," she said gesturing to the padded bench seat that faced the fire.

"Have I ever told you time about me and Varus' fathers first hunt together?" she said turning towards Ravyn, a twinkle in her eye. She like had told the story to her a multitude of times, and his mother knew it. She liked telling and once she started, you were staying until the end. Varus moved and poured them tea that had been sitting in the kitchen, obviously prepared just before they arrived.

He set one down beside his mother and then handed on to Ravyn before sitting down next to her. The story began with them lost in a horrible snow storm, miles away from home. "Now look what you did.." he said whispering to Ravyn, letting out a silent chuckle.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

Varus' mother had told this particular story so many times that Ravyn could recite it verbatim, but she didn't mind. It may not have been the most interesting of stories, but the love the two of them had shared with each other was unlike any she had ever known. She could listen to it over and over again and never tire, living vicariously through the words and hoping that she may one day come to know the same love, but she hadn't held her breath. Her father had made it known that she was far too wild for any man to love, an idea that she had grown to accept as the years had passed and one that comforted her as she spent so many years away from home. No one really waited for her here, except Varus who was often gone as well and had never really expressed much of an interest in her beyond their bonded friendship.

"Rejorhaa'ir ni tug'yc." Ravyn whispered with a smile, nudging Varus' side. She stood and retrieved the covering he had presented her with, fingers entwined in the brilliant white fur as she wrapped it around herself. The warmth from the flickering fire warmed her cheeks and, though it was almost too large for her, she didn't mind the heaviness and added heat that it provided. Leaning back where she sat, her eyes rested on the old woman, ready to listen again to the familiar story.

On the mantle sat the helmet of Varus' father, flames dancing in the metal plating as it watched over them. Ravyn knew that Varus missed his father, but she wasn't so certain that he understood how proud he would have been of the man that he had become and by how well he had looked after his mother. Their family was stronger now, even in his fathers absence, than her family had ever been and she was contented to have been allowed to become even a small part of it. These idle moments were the ones she lived for when she was home and the ones she dreamed about when she was away.

"You let your mother tell her stories," She raised a threatening eye to Varus, sat close to her and then a soft smile. "One day you'll miss these moments, I promise."

 

[Varus Wren]

He only smiled at Ravyn's warning. He wouldn't trade this time with both of them for anything. So he settled back and relaxed as his mother went into the long story, which branched off several times. He tried to guess which branching stories she would tell and when it was like a game for him. He occasionally would look over to Ravyn and smile. She could have left at any time, this was his responsibility but he was glad she had stayed.

As the story ended, his mother's speech slowed down, her yawning becoming more frequent. This also wasn't unusual. She almost always fell asleep towards the end, sometimes she made it all the way through but this story was long enough she simply just dozed off.

"Guess we will never know how it ended..." he said quietly, not that anything would wake the snoring old woman. He let out a breath, taking a drink from the mug of tea. Mandalorians usually preferred harder drinks, and Varus was no lightweight when it came to drinking, but this was nice.

He stood and kissed his mother on the forehead again, tossing a blanket over her and threw another piece of wood on the fire before returning to the bench and sitting on the edge. He looked a Ravyn, still bundled up in the blanket he had made for her and smiled at her before turning back towards the fire. "How long are you around for?" he asked. There was no telling when he, himself would be leaving again. They had an unnatural skill of just missing each other, which made the night special in its own way.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

Her eyes were heavy, but she forced them open as Varus stood to tend to his mother and to the fire. The both of them would be needing to head back soon as it had grown dark and darkness brought on sub-zero temperatures. It was too cold for anyone to survive outside for more than an hour or so and she was sure her own fire had been reduced to no more than burning embers. Still, she didn't want to move - the blanket wrapped around her was comfortable and the heat from the fire made her tired, but they couldn't stay here. Varus had Ciri to worry about and Ravyn still needed to skin the hares that she had caught that afternoon if there was any chance of feeding her empty stomach.

Sitting up she rubbed her eyes and yawned, pulling the blanket tighter around her. "Could be days or it could be weeks." She responded with a slight frown, not wanting to think about where she'd be sent next or what dangers she'd face there. "It never fails, as soon as I am settled in again, I'm being asked away. You know how it is, Varus."

Ravyn stood, reluctantly removing the blanket from around her to find that the small hut wasn't as warm as she'd believed. Her boots, sat by the entrance, had been in the path of the slight breeze that drifted in from outside and were even more frozen than they had been previously. It was going to be a long walk home, one she was glad would be accompanied by Varus who still owed her dinner, though she wouldn't hold him to it.

"Are you ready to go? We should let her sleep. I imagine Ciri is waiting for you at home and I still need to collect my things." She sat at the edge of the bench, lacing her boots tight to avoid the knee deep snow that had accumulated outside. It was still coming down in blankets and she knew, even with a fire, it would be a cold night on Krownest. Of course, she was familiar with them but sometimes missed the heat of other worlds.

 

[Varus Wren]

It was the way of their people to move around, these homes were moved at least once a year. Migrating was in their blood, but Ravyn seemed to have it more than most. She chose work that kept her away from her people for long periods of time. He knew she wouldn't be around long, though he didn't have much room to talk as of late. He gave a half smile “I do. That doesn't mean I have to like it.” He said a hint of a joke in his voice.

Ravyn stood and started to gather her things. He lingered for a second, not wanting to brave the cold evening air just yet. “I suppose we should. We both know how she gets if she gets woken up.” He said quietly.

He looked back in on his sleeping mother one last time before he pulled the door closed. It had gotten colder since they had entered, and would get colder still. “Sooo” he said “I think i definitely won our bet…” he said, knowing good and well he had lost and owed her food. All in all, he had lost worst bets.

They started make the walk back towards her home, wind in their face. Snow stuck to his beard, as they had to walk through the increasingly deep snow. In the distance there was a howl that echoed through the air. Varus could tell it was Ciri and not one of the other wolves that roamed this area.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

The sun had fallen behind the trees, leaving it dark and the temperatures dropping. The wind bit at her cheeks and her gloves did little to keep her hands warm so she hid them beneath the blanket that Varus had gifted her in hopes that she wouldn't freeze before she made it home. The village was silent, everyone having retired to their homes to keep warm by the fire, waiting for the morning sun to bring warmth enough for hunting so that they could restock the Markets and keep families fed. Ravyn hoped to do the same, but the deep snow made their walk long and her boots did little to keep her feet warm as the snow was up to her knees and shifted into the cuffs of her boots. She followed close behind Varus, using his tracks to try and make a quick path through the snow.

"I'm positive you lost." Ravyn teased, her breath visible on the night air. Her eyes lifted to the forests that sat behind them as Ciri howled in the distance, probably to signal that she was done hunting and would return to Varus soon. "Sounds to me like Ciri agrees. How quick are you at skinning frozen Hares, I wonder. We've been gone a while and I doubt that they've held their warmth." A smile crossed her lips, which stung from the cold bite of the wind.

Ravyn picked up her pace to keep close to Varus, her long brown curls coated in the thick snow that fell around them. She hoped that her fire had not died out or been reduced to embers in her absence or it would take all night to stave off the bitter cold that had fallen over them. This winter was harsh, more so than winters past but she couldn't help it to feel proud to call this is her home. Ravyn would admit that she didn't spend enough time here, but there wasn't anything for her to come home to and there was too much to gain from fighting and hunting.

"Lets go inside before the snow buries us alive. I need to warm up before I make it the rest of the way home and I believe someone owes me dinner." She nudged Varus playfully as they approached his home, her Hares and hunting supplies waiting frozen just outside of the door, almost buried by the snow. Of course, she had no intention of forcing him to cook for her.

 

[Varus Wren]

The winter night was cold but it didn't bother the Mandalorian that much. This was his home, was apart of him. He moved through the snow "I am a better cook than you anyways so perhaps we both won there." he said looked back and the Mandalorian woman as she caught up to him. She was a hell of a warrior, which made the sight of her struggling through the increasingly deep snow endlessly amusing to him.

The approached his own home where Ravyn had left her things earlier. "I highly doubt Ciri would betray me like that..." he said joking. "...Unless you have been sneaking her food again, which we both know you have...you truly have no honor, woman." he commented as she caught up to him.

The arrived at his home, Ravyn making her way to the door. She passed him, nudging him as she did. He gave a playful shove towards the door as he leaned over and picked up the partially frozen hares before walking through the door.

It was warm in the small home. He shook the snow from his beard and took off the coat he had been wearing, throwing it over the back of the chair. The only light source was the fire in one corner. They could use electric lights, and electric heat for that matter, but Varus had been raised to appreciate the traditions of his people, and fire had been a crucial part of their clan's history. It made him feel closer to his ancestors. The firelight danced across the room, the two lightsaber hilts he had claimed from Sith he had defeated reflected the light from the shelve where they lay.

Varus tossed the collection of rabbits onto a solid wood countertop as he pulled out a skinning knife. As he set about preparing the rabbits, Rayvn's comm device would blink indicating a message. Varus didn't notice, content humming one the ancient songs of his people.

The message was from an info broker that Ravyn had worked with often when she was bounty hunting more actively. The message was short. "Bo," it started, using the shorted version of her call sign bowhunter "I know you have been out of the game for a bit, but I just got some info on a target I thought you would be interested in. The Butcher resurfaced a few days ago, this is legit. You know where to find me if you're interested...usual price." it read. The Butcher had been a target that had been extremely elusive, killing his prey almost without a trace, the bounty on his or her head was huge because of this.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

Brushing the snow from her hair, Ravyn turned to face the fire that dimly lit the small hut and to feel the warmth wash over her frozen cheeks. Hesitating a moment in the doorway, she watched as Varus collected and prepared the hares to be skinned. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since before she had left that morning to hunt, having woken even before the sun had lit up the skies in hope that she would be home before dinner. Those hopes been tossed to the wind by the heavy snow, but her hunger was worth every moment that she was able to spend with Varus and Ciri as their time together had been limited by their own separate responsibilities.

Ravyn sighed in content, removing her boots and coat to leave by the front entrance and wrapping the blanket Varus had made her back over her shoulders to keep warm. The fur was thick and felt like satin, but she liked it most because it came from Varus and reminded her of the first moments they had spent together since she had returned home. Years had separated her from Krownest and she still wasn't quite sure what had compelled her to return other than an impending war.

The comm device on her side blinked twice, indicating that she had received correspondence. It wasn't uncommon for her to receive updates from those she had worked close with about open bounties not necessarily assigned to her, but open to anyone wanting to make some extra credits. However, any message this late at night could only one thing and the thought forced a slight frown to pull at her lips. Ravyn had only been home a few days and had anticipated that her stay would last longer, but it seemed she'd been leaving again in the morning.

Her eyes scanned the message, out of view of Varus so as not to immediately alarm him. It had sounded earlier as though her leaving so frequently upset him to some degree and she didn't want to ruin his evening. Still, it wouldn't have been fair for her to disappear without telling him where she was going or saying goodbye.

"Varus," She moved into the other room, sitting beside him. Her eyes focused on the hares, not wanting to look up at him for fear he'd convince her to stay. The Butcher was a dangerous target, one not many would be willing to face even for the amount credits offered on his head. He was elusive, no one knew what he looked like because those unfortunate enough to cross him didn't often live to tell anyone about it. Ravyn sighed, pulling the blanket further around her. "How difficult do you think it would be to track down an individual without an idea as to what they looked like?"

Outside the snow crunched beneath Ciri's paws as she forced her way through the deep snow to Varus' home. Pushing open the front door, she too made her way to sit beside Varus, curling up on the floor near the fire, exhausted from her hunt.

 

[Varus Wren]

He really didn't think anything of it when Ravyn went into the other room. As far as he was concerned, his home had always been her home. He continued his work on the rabbits, quickly finishing the removal of the skins and guts before placing them on sticks and over the fire. A stew would be better, especially on a night like tonight, but that would take a lot longer.

He sat down by the fire waiting for the rabbits to cook through. A few minutes passed before Ravyn came back in the room, sitting down next to him. Varus turned the rabbits over the fire but looked over at her when she called out. She seemed distant like something had happened. A look of concern crossed his face before he responded "Ravyn..?" she then asked a pretty random question. Varus was an expert game hunter, but he had never picked up the art of hunting people. He had always been more of a soldier in those regards. "I guess that depends." he said turning back to fire and tending to the rabbits. "I guess it just adds another step as long as you have another starting point." he said pausing for a second. "Why?"

He pulled the rabbits off of the fire and handed one of the sticks to Ravyn. Ciri came in, shaking snow all over the place a few feet in. He had to build the door so it closed on its own because of the wolf. She tended to come and go as she pleased but you could count on her being around if there was food to be had. She could hunt 10 rabbits, in the time it took her to beg food. It was a game Varus did not play and Ciri knew it, her sights were set on Ravyn. She lay down, let out a huff of air and then casually pawed at the woman's foot, looking up at her with light blue eyes.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

Ravyn looked over to Varus to be sure that he wasn't watching before she pulled a leg from the rabbit and handed it to Ciri. The wolf turned excitedly in a circle before taking her prize to eat beside the fire, a contented huff escaping her lips as she settled on the floor. It wasn't often she was allowed to eat things from the fire, but she was clever and knew all too well that Ravyn couldn't resist her begging. At this point, Varus should have known better as well - Ravyn had been sneaking her morsels since she was the tiniest pup and it hadn't stopped once she had learned to hunt. It was likely one of the reasons Ciri liked her as much as she did and allowed her so close to Varus whom she religiously protected.

"I heard from one of my contacts on Nar Shaddaa about a high value target," She leaned back, blanket wrapped around her and took a bite of her dinner, speaking in-between mouthfuls. "He's wanting me to find him, but no one know who he is or where he lurks. Only that he's dangerous in the sense that not many have encountered him and lived to talk about it." Ravyn took a deep breath, sure that Varus would try and convince her to stay home, but the credits offered made it almost worth the risk.

"He's named The Butcher, but other than that I haven't got much of a starting point." She kept her eyes down, focused on eating rather than Varus' reaction, not wanting him to persuade her to stay here instead. It wasn't even about the credits, as enticing as they were she had nowhere to spend them. It was hard to stay in one place; she had no family that wished to see her, no husband and no children to keep her settled on Krownest. If something were to happen to her, Varus would have been the only one to mourn and he had survived long enough without her that she was sure he'd survive again.

 

[Varus Wren]

His face soured a bit at the mention of Nar Shaddaa. He had been there for some time following the Mandalorian take over of the area. It was, in many ways, the exact opposite of Krownest. The air was dirty, the people were dirty. He wasn't sure why the Mandalore would even want control of such a place.

He looked over at the Mandalorian woman as she purposely stared at the fire. She had always gotten like that before leaving, the times she had said anything before leaving. He was quiet for a long time. Varus was never one of many words. The fire crackled quietly in front of them. Well, Nar Shaddaa is under Mandalorian protection. If such a killer is there, it is your duty. he finally said.

He knew it was more than just duty for her. There something else to drove her away. The symbol of Clan Wren was the starbird, and she was the embodiment of that. He had always got the feeling that she thought he disliked that about her, however, it had always been quite the opposite.

"When do you leave?" he asked as he looked over again.

 

[Ravyn Wren]

Ravyn took a few bites, stalling for time as she considered where she'd begin. It was an impossible task, one others might turn away from, but she wasn't dissuaded. It wasn't unlike her too confront a challenge, even one as dangerous as this one seemed to be. To hunt an unfamiliar killer wasn't new to her, but having a face or even a location made it much easier. Ravyn was one to hunt in the shadows, but this time she'd need to lure her target out into the open. The only way to do this, it would seem, would be to appear as an enticing victim; one this Butcher wouldn't be able to resist. She wondered if Varus would try and convince her to stay instead.

"Tomorrow," Ravyn replied, taking a deep breath and leaning back further into her chair. Taking another bite, she looked over to Varus and offered him the faintest of smiles. He knew her too well to assume that she'd waste any time in pursuing her target and would leave the minute the first rays of sun shined against the horizon. "I can't stay here if peoples lives are in danger. I wouldn't have been contacted if there were any other options. I haven't hunted anyone since I returned home nor heard anything from anyone."

Her attention away from Varus, sure he'd be disappointed in her for leaving again. Ciri stirred in the corner and Ravyn watched; she had finished the leg Ravyn had shared with her and looked up wanting more. It was impossible to resist her gaze - her brows furrowed like a pathetic animal who hadn't eaten in weeks, though Ravyn knew better. She ripped another leg from her hare and tossed it over to the wolf who happily pawed at it and began to pull the meat from the bones.