They were here!

Smiling happily as I watched the boat slowly approach, I shifted a little and glanced behind me up the river bank. Vim was still not back yet.

He had been about to piss into the river, and I had yelled at him. Usually it'd not bother me too much, but what if… like right now… they arrived while he was doing so? It was rude! So I had told him to go to the nearby patch of trees instead.

No matter. Most of the Society, even the ones I've never met before, knew full well who I was by now. Once I confirmed they were our members I'll just take off my hat to prove who I was, and it'd be fine. If Vim didn't make it back before they docked before me, that is.

The boat they had was large enough to hold all three people upon it, and two large bags, with plenty of room to spare. It looked older, and parts of the top of the boat's walls were worn and wobbly, from likely long years of rope burn and use. It didn't have a sail, even though it was actually big enough for a small one, but it did have two long oar rudders. One at each end of the boat. The man operating one of them looked older, with a thin beard full of gray and silver.

Another man, one much younger, was standing at the other end of the boat and studying me as they drew closer. In-between them, unmistakably, was a young woman. Likely this Sivra we would soon be escorting to her new family.

She was dressed like most people in this region, with dark leathers and cloth. She had a hood, but it wasn't put up over her head at the moment, and as such her mid-length brown hair was fully revealed. She had a small braid tied in the back, and looked…

Oh boy.

I sighed softly at the sight of a woman who looked tired and unhappy. Not excited at all.

Raising an arm, I waved gently as they got closer. "Hey there!" I greeted them.

The three glanced at me, then at each other. Before I could reach up to take my hat off, and greet them properly, the three visibly relaxed a little. I turned to watch Vim walk down the embankment of the river to my side.

They didn't say a word as the boatman guided the boat up to the side of the bank. Vim stepped forward, stepping into ankle high water, as to grab the boat. He pulled it a little closer, and once situated he went to helping the woman off the boat. He made sure she didn't get wet, and once she stepped onto solid ground she gently stepped aside as to climb to the top of the riverbank.

I'd been about to greet her again, but she ignored me for a moment as she glanced around, looking… a little lost. I was used to it though, since I knew there was a chance this might be one of the first times she's ever ventured out so far from home before. Plus…

She was about to embark on a life changing event. Anyone would be a little emotional over it.

"That's all Vim," an older man's voice said, as I turned to look back to the boat. The two bags were now resting on the ground nearby. They weren't as big as I had thought originally, they must have been sitting on benches or chairs within the boat to have made them look bigger.

"Anything else you need from us, Vim?" the younger man asked as he glanced at me. I stood up a little more, wondering if he was doubting me or something. Was that a glare? It almost looked like one.

Vim glanced at me, and then looked over to the young woman. She was looking down at us from the top of the embankment.

"You've said your farewells already?" Vim asked.

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"Aye. Goodbye then, protector. May the rivers you cross always be plentiful," the older man said as he went to push the boat out farther into the river with one of the long oars.

A little bothered by the unceremonious departure, I watched as the two got the boat back out into the current, and then the younger man began working the opposite oar. As to get the boat to start floating back up the river. It surprisingly began to float rather quickly, even though going against the current.

Either it was simply a well made boat, or they were stronger than they looked.

While they floated away Vim went to gather up the bags. Instead of helping him I stepped up the small mound as to join the woman at the top. She studied me as I approached, and smiled at her once near enough to extend my hand in greeting.

"My name is Renn. I'm Vim's wife," I said to her.

The young woman shifted a little and then nodded as she took my hand. "I am Sivra. It's nice to meet you Renn," she said.

I noted the gentle tone of the woman. She didn't sound as depressed as she looked, at least. In fact she seemed… a little older than she first appeared. Her voice made her sound older than she looked. A common thing for us non-humans. Vim was right, I couldn't see any obvious non-human traits upon her, but there was a levity to her eyes. The kind of look that only those much older than they appeared to be could have. I was starting to recognize our own just by such looks in their eyes lately.

She was pretty at least. I liked the way her eyebrows and her bangs were. Plus she had a nice and pleasant smell, she smelled like a spring river during a rainstorm. It was refreshing. Maybe she was some kind of river creature?

While we shook hands Vim stepped over to us. He had one of the bags on his back already and the other firmly under his arm. "Sivra. I remember you being smaller than a shoe, yet here you are full grown and ready to be married," Vim said in greeting.

Our hands separated as Sivra shifted and gave Vim a strange smile. "Surely I hadn't been that small, protector," she said.

"It was a big shoe," he said simply.

Smiling at the two, I watched as Sivra glanced past us to the river below. I turned a little, and wondered why none of them had said proper farewells. "Your father?" I asked gently.

"No. An uncle and cousin," Sivra said softly.

Oh…? Maybe her parents were dead then.

"Also… I did not know you were married, Vim. Have you always been?" Sivra then asked as she looked at me.

I smiled happily. "We got married a few years ago," I said.

Sivra blinked a few times and then frowned at Vim, who nodded gently at her. "I was sold to the lowest bidder," Vim teased.

"He was pretty cheap," I happily returned.

Sivra's frown turned into a wry smile… and I saw her left eye suddenly well with tears.

A little worried as she giggled and reached up to wipe a few tears that had leaked, I felt suddenly very self-conscious.

So I hadn't misread her. That had indeed been depression and worry… stress and more.

"Sivra…?" I asked gently as she sniffed while finishing up with her tears.

"Hm… I'm sorry. I'm just… well…" she gave me a sad smile as she glanced at Vim… and then looked again to the river. The boat and her extended family members upon it were now far enough to not just be out of earshot, but would soon be rounding a bend and leaving our sight.

"Is all well, Sivra?" Vim asked gently.

She stared out at the boat for a moment… and then took a deep breath and stood up straighter. The young woman looked up at Vim, her watery eyes firming themselves as she steeled herself.

Uh oh.

"I have a request, protector," she said sternly.

"Hm…?" Vim nodded as I felt my tail squirm beneath my clothes.

I had an inkling where this was going, and I really didn't like it.

"I want you to take me elsewhere. Away. From everyone. Everything," Sivra said quickly as she clenched her fists, her voice cracking as she spoke.

My jaw clenched as I bit back a groan. I knew it!

"Please. I want to run away. From it all! Forever!" Sivra begged.

And without even knowing the reason, or the why or how… Vim simply nodded.

"Then run we shall," he accepted without hesitation.

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