Kyla flushed a bit with the prospect of new baby things. "Yes, anything baby can be used by someone."

When they reached the smokehouse,and entered, Kyla breathed in deeply. This was a smell she always loved. She remembered tagging after the men whenever they smoked meat in her old clan. This was a bigger building where they prepared meat as well as smoked it. "When the Farrells do something, they do it in a big way, don't they?" she asked Maeryn and Erbin.

Sliding quietly from the great hall, Travis made his way around until he found an area of scorched, barren earth.  The grass and greenery had been beaten into submission by countless hours of being driven over.  It was somewhat reminiscent of a demolition derby stadium complete with stocked garage and track.  Once he felt that everything was secure and in place, he quietly returned to the compound just before Ciniod began to make his way down.  Passing Travis by, he made no acknowledgement of him and continued on his way.  Seeing this as a sign, Travis calmly walked off in the other direction.

"We're not a terribly big clan, as you know, but we like to do things right.  Celebrations are always enjoyable, 'cept for the angry drunks."  Maeryn grinned.  "Usually a fist-fight or two for good measure."

She cocked her head at the woman.  "Different than what you grew up in, hmm?  Big change when you married in?"

"Oh, y-yes, big change. Donahue is a very small clan . There are stories about us...them...being much bigger in the Old Country." Her father had a dream to build up Donahue's numbers but that meant making lots of babies, mostly sons.

"Innis made it not so scary. Now, I'm scared." Kyla ran a hand over her belly, being as it was the main cause of her being scared these days.

"No need to be scared.  You're carrying a Shay baby and every Shay and Farrell in our clan would kill to keep you both safe."  She picked up a few thin slabs of venison jerky and wrapped it in cloth for the trip.  "More than likely, you'll catch the eye of another man before too long.  You're still young and pretty and capable of having babies."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:05, Wed 21 June 2017.

Kyla blushed a deep shade of pink that clashed with the red highlights in her hair. "Oh, well...I don't think I...not really pretty..."

Maeryn's words confused and flustered the young widow. Innis had made her feel pretty when she'd always known she was just plain. The way he'd looked at her, the things he'd said when he held her close... Kyla's eyes welled up and she dashed her hand across them. She knew she'd have to marry again and bear children for the life of the clan. She knew...but...her heart still belonged to a blue-eyed Shay.

Maeryn snorted.  "It's always the pretty ones that don't know they're pretty."  She threw the other girl a sidelong glance, lips twitching with amusement.  She cut off a slab of cured meat and wrapped it up.  "Just ignore me.  I'm too blunt.  Everyone says.  Probably why I never snagged me a Shay.  Too wild.  Wild ones aren't for marrying."

Now it was Kyla's turn to look askance at the other woman. She tilted her head and examined Maeryn. "No, you just have to find someone as wild as you are. Or maybe someone to ground you. That's what Papa says my mama did for him."She piled the wrapped selections in her carrying basket. "Besides you're pretty. And interesting."

Maeryn snorted and absently rubbed her tattooed chin.  "Pa tried that with my Ma and things didn't turn out so well.  She left just after I was born.  Too wild to keep tied.  Don't know how she stayed in-clan as long as she did.  Pa jokes that she was a woodland spirit that had misplaced her animal skin.  I guess she found it and is out there running free."

She stuffed her own gatherings, the ones that didn't require cooking, into her satchel.  "You thought about names for the little one yet?  Did the old wives tell you it was a girl or a boy?  I think they're only right half the time, but it doesn't stop them from guessing."

Kyla grinned. "No, Innis wanted it to be a surprise and after he...died...I stayed with that. For him, you know." She rubbed her hands over her big belly affectionately. "I'll be happy with either one. Though the way I look, it could be both!"Twins didn't run in her family but she knew the gods could do whatever they pleased.

Maeryn laughed.  "Twins?  That would be something, hmm?  Double the mouths to feed, but double the blessing, too.  No names, though?  Could pick one for boys and girls, just in case."

Kyla sighed and nodded as they packed up the chosen food and left the fancy smokehouse. "I prolly should. The birth's been so far away all these months. And they's been such hard months, y'know? Now it's here and I don't think I'm ready." She patted her belly again and tried not to let her shoulders bow from the weight of all her troubles. Missing Innis, knowing he wouldn't be present for the birth, having to raise her baby all alone, do everything alone. Sometimes it was just too much.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:11, Fri 07 July 2017.

"You'll be ready," Maeryn assured her.  "I think mothering just happens when the baby is born.  You just know what to do."  She slung her back over her shoulder.  "Could always ask your Ma to come and stay for a bit until the baby is born.  Innis family been much help?"

The young widow perked up. "Oh! I guess I could! Mama would be right tickled to see her grandbaby born!" On the topic of Innis' family, though, she was more subdued. "His Ma never did like me none. There's been some things said about me being bad luck. His Ma even told me once that she'd take the baby to raise and I could go back to Clan Donahue." It was obvious that those words had hurt her.

"Piss and vinegar, that's all that is," Maeryn insisted.  "Bad luck?  Pffffft.  Ain't never seen such a thing as bad luck, nor good luck.  Things happen as they happen.  Luck ain't got naught to do with it.  What happened to Innis ain't no fault of yourn.  It'd probably have happened just the same, whether you were married to him or not, and then there wouldn't even be a baby to carry on his memory.  She should be thankful you were 'round at all."

"Babies need their Ma.  Proper Ma.  Pa told me that mine weren't never the proper sort.  S'why I grew up all crazy like."  She threw Kyla a mad grin.  "He was all I had, and I love 'em even though he was a hard man to love.  Still, I'd have liked to have had a Ma that loved me enough to stick around."

"If they don't make you welcome, and you don't want to stay with 'em, you could always move in with me.  Got no family to worry over -- just the clan.  Would be nice to have a bit of company now and again."

Kyla brightened to know she had an option. The tiny shack she and Innis had lived in was, well, tiny. And it was drafty and had a few other problems. Innis had been going to fix it up and add on rooms as they needed. While they were together, she hadn't minded the problems because it had been part of the adventure. Something she could tell their children and grandbabies. A "when we were young and starting out..." story.

But things were different when you were alone and cold because there was a crack in the wall next to the bed and you were too round and unskilled to fix it.

"That's right nice of you, Maeryn! And even if I don't get to move in with you, you can come over and visit me anytime. After the baby's visit ready, I'll bring him over to see you." Yes, things seemed much brighter at the prospect of having someone to exchange visits with.

Two weeks. It should not have taken two weeks. Kyla cursed inwardly as she tried to shift the weight of her burden to her other shoulder. She led Storm, a mule she had barrowed when she left, back to the stall in the shop’s yard. As she walked she noticed eyes cast down and barley a murmur was heard. The people about here seemed haunted by an unseen shadow. Shaking it off, Kyla unloaded her burden in the building she had turned into her work shop and living quarters. After three more trips, the mule was unburdened and eating. Deciding to leave the packs inside, Kyla ventured back into the heart of town to see who might offer some insight and possibly find a warm meal. Eventually she would seek out one of the men who owned the mule. She hated the idea of returning the creature- having become attached to him over their journey. Despite being able to barrow him any time he wished- Kyla would have preferred to own him herself. The two week venture had not provided her the funds she needed to buy the creature.

The thought of the new Bren’Lin crossed her mind as she walked toward the one building that would provide answers without her even having to ask. Ferrell wine would surely be flowing and lips would be loose if the celebration was still continuing. If luck were on her side Fletcher would be there. At the thought of seeing him- she put away the gloom that hung in the air.

The great hall was by far the easiest structure to find.  Most any time of day or night there were folks coming and going in various states of inebriation.  The party, however, seemed to most certainly have died.  There was a palpable air of nervousness and unease that seemed to permeate everything.  Eyes no longer cast a loving embrace but a scared sort of hollowness. Even the friendly smiles and calls of "Cousin!" you'd become used to seemed to fade into the background.

Kyla looked about the great hall and was shocked by the somber air. An unspoken tension seemed to be hanging above each person she passed and the more she looked for cheer the more darkness she found. She tried hard to rack her brain for some logic to the looming dread. The last time she had seen this much tension she had been but a child. None of it felt right.

Shaking aside the feeling she looked around in hopes of spotting the man nicknamed Fletcher. She was sure he was a Shay- but he never said. Only call ever having called the man by Fletcher she relied on his work. The man owed her arrows and a hot meal if luck was on her side. She had wasted too many chasing the pelts she needed to fill the orders that awaited her.

Kyla continued to scan the room looking for him. Maybe he would even give her a clue as to why the mountain was darkened by an unseen cloud. For not even the whispers that did pass her ears gave an inkling off worthy gossip. She felt blind to the threat- and that scared her.

I have no problem with throwing in an NPC for you, just need a little info on what you had in mind for him.

In one of the back corners, your eyes finally catch sight of the man you were looking for.  Looking rather haggard (or full to the gills with wine) he seemed engaged in a conversation with several others.

A smile curled on Kyla’s lips as she spotted the man. Wasting no time, she approached his company. Had she ever seen him without someone by his side. He seemed to attract people and had no enemies. He was likely the one person who could cheer up the morgue that the town had become. Yet even if he was in a serious mood, people still stopped to hear what he had to say. She never had figured how a man not much older than her had the wisdom of the elders. She had no doubt he would one day sit among their ranks.  Kyla grabbed a cup from off the table and poured herself whatever concoction out of the bottle from in front of Fletcher. She pushed a stray hair back and smiled at him. “Fletcher,” she nodded as she sat down near him to listen in on what might be said.

The man smiles warmly upon seeing you and cheerfully introduces you to the rest of the table.  He was indeed quite sauced but as he returned to the conversation at hand, it would seem he was also rather agitated.  While no one mentioned any names directly, it would seem there was some sort of incident that took place early involving several lostys from the town...and it did not sound good.

Kyla listened to the tale hiding her fear deep inside. The last Towny she had seen had been years ago and she preferred to act as if they were worlds away. She avoided raids and all talk of them. Her business had nothing to do with the townies or any of their modern conveniences. Oil for her lamps and equipment was the only thing she ever found herself in need of. Even that she bought from a local who never told her how he obtained it. She understood the new sense of fear despite the joy the village should have been feeling. The elders would know what to do- they had always been good at mending the problems of others. Fletcher was kind in not mentioning names of those involved- though Kyla was certain he knew who had been in the center of this trial. It’s better not knowing. She told herself as she listened and watched the people around. The only thing she was certain of was this was only the beginning.

The small group gathered at the table seemed rather engrossed in their current conversation.  There were a few light hearted moments where the occasional jest or barb was thrown around, but everything seemed to revolve around the most recent events.  Listening further, you come to find that a murder had taken place, carried out by none other than the newly crowned Bren'in!  Without questioning further, the details were discussed but no one at the table seemed pleased with the occurrence.  The talk often steered towards concepts of war and revenge from the town below, and a few older, salter gentlemen made vague references to a previous engagement of the same caliber, with ominous and dreadful results.