The Great Wandering:

Western Continent: South-East of Nibelheim. The passage through the mountains just north of Lucrecia's cave.

Leaving behind the sounds of gurgled water over rock and the rustle of leaves. Chotar took his first steps out onto the thin dry grass of the plain. Up until this point he had simply been following the river that flowed south from North Corel down out of the mountains.

A large brown sack bulging at the seams was carefully tied around his neck and was large enough to partially overlap with the great bow at his waist. As always the land provided everything that Chotar required to survive and even be comfortable. Still his wanderings inevitably led to the cities... For where else was he to possibly find a proper companion? Certainly not out in the woods just waiting to jump in and sign up for extra-dimensional travel...

As Chotar's black scaled form stepped out in the invigorating heat of the noon high sun it started to quicken his blood in a most pleasant fashion. He could tell that the sun had already begun it's descent but he had plenty of light left to cover some distance. If possible it would be best to show up near dusk; the humans were almost always more accommodating to travelers such as himself around that time. With some luck his destination lay somewhat to the north and west; the small town of Nibelheim. Chotar walked towards the comforting heat source and keeping it somewhat more on the left hand side of his body.

Contemplating lunch and thoroughly lost in thought; a piercing howl interrupted his comfortable musing. Chotar's nostrils flared impressively; startled and suddenly filled with nervous energy. The scents of human and animal blood; fear, sweat, and hunger whirling through his senses off the heated plains some distance ahead. Finally becoming aware that something was happening Chotar's ears picked up the faint sounds of a heated battle some hundred feet away. The muffled thump of a wooden object against thin fur and dense bone echoed with particular authority in his sensitive ears.

Chotar approached cautiously at first; curious as much as anything. As he closed Chotar noticed an odd treble line occasionally piercing through the flow of battle... The sound was vaguely familiar; it was something he hadn't heard in some years. Some twenty odd feet away he remembered the sound. It was the sound of a human too young to even toddle; bawling it's lungs out in terror. It was their normal reaction to his presence; as such he was relatively familiar with it. However it had been nearly six years since Chotar had been around humans willing to have a child within shouting distance.

The smell of sweat and blood from earlier wafted in with more clarity now that he was closer to it's source. A small man or perhaps an older boy; dressed in... Linen? There was the smell of leather as well but it creaked when the male human swung. Leather breeches? The larger human was injured and the child had obviously soiled itself long ago. The stench in the mid-afternoon heat was already becoming rather rank.

Chotar slowly untied his carry sack from his neck and tried to get a better feel for the situation; he was running out of time however. A despairing groan came from the human's lips; which all too suddenly turned into a reflexive scream. The sound of bone striking bone as the wolf bit down on the young adults shoulder and the sound of both bodies hitting the dirt was enough for Chotar.

Blood pounding in his ears; Chotar let out a wordless challenging roar and charged down. Putting all of his considerable weight behind the kick he punted the furry beast off of the young human with a crack of thunder. The tearing of teeth exiting the wound, the thumping impact, and the satisfying whimper of the partially electrified wolf were more than enough to confirm that it was out of the fight for a short while.

Digging a small flask out of his belt pouch Chotar pulled the stopper with his teeth and spat it in the general direction the wolf had flown. Pouring about half of the potions contents out across the humans shoulder and then setting the bottle on the ground next to the young man; Chotar rumbled in a thick accented bass.

“Drink the remainder human and keep a close eye on your charge.”

Chotar Loomed over the seated human and side stepped slowly in an expanding circle around the human. He tested his footing carefully and listened to the sound of approaching paws. The howl from earlier had summoned more of the cowardly creatures pack. Unlike dogs these mangy mammals were all too stealthy in their approach; he hadn't detected them until they were practically within 'sight'. Satisfied with his footing Chotar wind milled his arms slowly about himself and stood with his feet astride the gasping humans torso.

The largest of the Nibel wolves barred it's fangs a harsh snarling challenge ripped from it's throat. Chotar turned every so slowly to face the beast and opened his flesh tearing jaws to release a threatening growl of his own.

The child's high pitched treble finally fell off into silence; the young man must have done something. The sounds of padded feet rapidly replacing the child's squalling with a high paced drumbeat with nearly a dozen unique patterns thundering a-round and a-round in Chotar's mind. Two clawed feet kicked off from the dust to his left hand side. Chotar stepped across the prone human form at a sharp angle and still turning dropped a whip like overhand chop into the wolfs spine that left Chotar kneeling on his left leg with his right leg extended.

The extended palm crackling as the monks lightning element was channeled down through it; the wolf's legs twitched in a spasmodic manner mindlessly digging into the dirt. Chotar's immense strength held it pinned and helpless. Three of the other lesser wolves taking advantage of the situation darted in from Chotars rear and sides. He had been forced to leave the child and human exposed in order to pin the wolf.

Forced to release his captive; Chotar spun low using his right leg as a pivot and launched himself back across the center of the fighting circle he had paced out earlier. His flying left knee smashed into the first wolves jaw and knocked it back several feet; electricity arching around the Nibel wolf's agile form. The second wolf had aimed for the child; Chotar was falling behind.

Luckily the young human lad had recovered somewhat and jabbed his quarterstaff at the wolfs exposed throat. The wolf bounded aside snapping it's jaws at the tip of the staff but foiled for the moment. The third wolf was approaching somewhat slower with a stealthy creep. It's lunge snapping dangerously close to the baby's body; however it's jaws encountered nothing but a thin layer of metal. Chotar's right arm bracer along with the attached arm buried up to the wrist in it's throat. Clawed fingers grasping the wolf's tongue even as the wolf tried to crush his arm in it's jaws; Chotar slammed his left elbow down hard into the wolfs skull.

Lightning element frizzing the wolfs coat the scent of burning hair intensified. As he spun to block another attacker Chotar found himself losing track of the battle. A mad melee of rasping metal, howling voices of man and beast, snapped bones, and grinding teeth. Primal instinct combined with countless hours of exhausting training acting as his guide.

Fifteen minutes later...

Chotar's cloth leggings were ripped in half a dozen places and his black scales oozed blood slowly from slashes and puncture wounds. The ground was torn up all around the two humans and Chotar glared menacingly at the Alpha's body. The neck was twisted at an unnatural angle with Chotar's heels still pressed heavily against the sides of it's head.

Satisfied that it was finally dead; Chotar meandered rather woozily back to his pack and dug out some loose bandages. He would hold off on the potions in his pack for the moment. Like most things magical Chotar was rather skeptical about potions; despite the fact he had been reassured many times by the locals... The potions seemed to act far too quickly for the work of science to account for. There had to be hidden side effects...

The human's breathing was somewhat ragged and it had broken it's staff during the fight. The human's steps were a bit off; almost lunging... A limp? Chotar didn't bother to speak on the way back; his presence a stern message to any other local monsters.

An hour later... A small families farm; a mile outside of Nibelheim.

Chotar collapsed into the grateful families hayloft. His crude field medicine combined with a an almost toxic tasting remedy the grateful families matron had forced down his throat... Had more or less been sufficient to heal his woulds; no doubt he would have to take it easy for a few days. Time enough to sell his gathered bits of the local beasties, load up on supplies, query the neighborhood about resident magi, and see whether the town had any jobs posted.

He was somewhat curious about the topic of discussion during supper. The monsters in the area had become both more plentiful and more active of late... Still it was nothing so important as to disturb his well earned rest... Chotar slept; a new day unlike any before it would arrive all too soon.

After a hearty breakfast smothered in wild honey, three quick hours of morning exercises, a quick dip in the river, and a long walk that involved some refreshing morning pummeling of the local monster population. Needless to say Chotar was feeling downright productive and healthy. He had even managed to get the young man to fence the goods that had accumulated from monster hunting at the local shops. For some reason the humans of Midgar always seemed to give their own better deals.

Justice as always; was lacking. It was an imperfect world. Chotar contemplated the many woes of this world as he belted several pouches around his waist. A fire striker, his savings account card, two remedies and a potion. There was also two green gem like objects that he'd never found the use for but kept on him at all times because his grandfather had told him they would be useful.

Chotar withdrew a heavy white robe from his now much depleted ruck sack. It was a gift from his mother and one that had served Chotar well over the last six years. He dropped the long full hood into place shading most of his features. Roasting comfortably swathed from head to claw in the heavy material; Chotar belted a second string of pouches around the outside waist of the robe.

A few of them even had some bits of loose gil for basic purchases. Chotar slipped his wrists into their opposing sleeves and left the farm house. He walked with a carefully measured tread down the rude dirt track but in the end his disguise depended much on the humans assumptions. He could wrap himself head to foot in bandages but it would have much the same result as the humans simply seeing his scales.

Chotar left his bow with the farming family as it was always best not to go about visibly armed. Things would be tense without the additional aggravation and he was hardly defenseless even without the massive bow. Chotar turned his snout to the air and took a long deep breath. The scent of the farm house and the all too familiar human stench of it's occupants still strong on the breeze.

Nibelheim lay some distance away to the north east; Chotar paced himself and arrived shortly after noon. He had a few rather uncomfortable memories of the first few times he attempted mingling in human cities. Through trial and error Chotar had discovered that this was the time most shops were open and the locals least likely to object to his presence. So long as he kept his scale covered digits out of sight. The robe was the only concession to the inevitable he was willing to make. He'd tried simply walking into cities undisguised... The results had generally been unpleasant.

Nibelheim

A gentle breeze ruffled the hood of his robe and in the distance Chotar could hear the sounds of life. Human speech, clattering footfalls, and the rhythmatic squeak of a wooden windmill. The feel of the ground changing from packed dirt to rude stone cobbles; Chotar stopped and leaned his back against a large wooden tower of some sort. The sound of water lolling about and funneling all around. Chotar's scaly nostrils flared as he took in the scents that swarmed about this peaceful town. He wasn't likely to find a partner here... However he might find directions to his next destination. Almost dozing Chotar's breathing slowed as he relaxed; the sun bearing heavily down on his hunched form.

The scent of cooking meat rousing him; Chotar shuffled back towards the entrance and the inn. He could smell oil, polish, and herbs. However they were further away and he needed to have a better feel for where he was going before he made any purchases.

Sitting down in a dark corner under the steps to a rather wonderful lunch of soup, day old bread, and the kind of strange chicken that came in cans. Chotar waited patiently for the banter he had interrupted to resume. Locals and travelers alike filled the inn to bursting with the noon time rush. It didn't take too long; obviously the locals were disturbed. With nearly half a dozen different conversations going on at once; Chotar listened impartially catching bits and piece here and there. His attention was grabbed by one small group in particular however as the word 'magic' kept getting tossed around. A group of the local elderly that waitress kept coming around to. Two scratchy baritones and a low tenor.

Matron:

“The price of Soft has tripled in the last week alone. I hear Bernard is having trouble keeping it in stock. Hoarder's apparently.”

The low tenor's voice was full of disdain.

Gray beard 1:
“Damn fool of a researcher; toying with things nature intended us to leave alone.”

Gray beard 2
“You know Tom isn't that bad. He really helped out with the clean up when the reactor was malfunctioning... You know... That one time...”

Trailing off in confusion as the oldest baritone obviously couldn't remember exactly when that time had been.

Chotar snorted and continued to spoon soup; human memories were like that. Still who was this Tom? Further Soft cured petrification; the ailment wasn't all that common. So why was it going out of stock?

Matron

“The man's insane I swear! Cockatrices, Basilisks, and other horrors... He limped in here two weeks ago with his leg turned to stone and didn't even so much as warn us.”

Gray beard 1

“Probably let the things escape on purpose just so he had more test 'subjects' for that new accessory he's developing. The mountains are crawling with monsters the likes of which we've never seen around these parts before...'

Gray beard 2

“Now; I'm sure he didn't intentionally intend to loose his materials on the locals. He placed his lab up in the mountains intentionally to protect us if anything went wrong. Shinra will send help and get this fixed up in no time I'm sure. They can't let the monsters interfere with their reactor after all.”

As the elderly trio wandered off to a different subject; Chotar stood and a clawed hand reaching inside one of his outer belt of pouches left a twenty gil tip for the waitress along with the pay for his meal. The smell of alcohol was thick about her singing the senses but beneath it he could smell the young woman's garden. Besides the food had been good.

Chotar's voice was grainy and subdued as he turned down the innkeepers offer of lodgings and launched his own query.

The innkeep reluctantly informed the white robed figure that Tom wasn't in at the moment; however he would likely be in later.

Requesting a piece of paper so that he might leave a message; Chotar lifted back his hood and settled it around his shoulders. Carefully pushing up the leather head piece to clear his eyes; Chotar squinted and painstakingly wrote a quick note.

The innkeep's heart raced and Chotar could smell the male human's fear as Chotar's black scaled claw tipped paw held the pen and scrawled. Attempting to be reassuring; Chotar looked at the human's blurry fat form with his pale blue eyes and smiled. Carnivorous teeth spread in an impressive white wave in his black scaled face.

“I have heard of the researcher's problem and I think I may be able to resolve it to this communities satisfaction. Please give him this note when he comes in. Or don't. I'm sure he will hear of this regardless.”

Chotar replaced his hood amidst the human's shrieks and wandered back out of the inn into the sun. He had much to do. Chotar managed to wheedle a single Soft out of the item vendor 'Bernard' by giving him the evil eye; after all many of the Softs currently in the vendors collection had recently been sold to Bernard by Chotar's factor. Though the human new it not; as soon as Chotar left town he began to run. Gathering all of his things; Chotar made his way up into the mountains. It would be a long night... The sun slowly setting behind him; Chotar's teeth gleamed in the near darkness.