[Seth Lavryl]

“Paca huh? Never heard o’ it,” Seth confessed with a disappointed shrug of his shoulders. Maybe he could look it up later. Yes… he was rather certain one of the libraries in Trysvale or Archadoon would have something like that in it. He’d have to remember to check when he got back to the mainland, which would be a trial in and of itself, but he was certain he could find something about the place on it. Who knew, maybe he could go visit it too, lend a hand or something, if Daw-ta was right about the town not doing so well.

“So I need to look out for cougars, headhunters, and Ursidae,” he spoke, leaning forward again and hunching his shoulders once more as he inspected the crudely drawn map he had been given. “Think ya could mark where all three of those are, so I know where to avoid ‘em?” he asked. Or find them, he thought. Although the Ursidae sounded like dangerous, mightily powerful beasts, he couldn’t help but picture felling such a thing as the highlight of his trip to Arios. Oh yes. He would kill one, have it properly skinned and the hide preserved into a rug of sorts, and maybe mount its head on a wall or something back at his home on the continent. He’d make a necklace of its claws and give it to the Chieftain. Things would go over nicely.

“Oh, one more thing before I head out,” Seth spoke, leaning up off the counter and walking around to where all his supplies had been arranged, beginning to stuff a few of them orderly into the backpack. “Do ya happen to know anyone who’d pay for some of those hides, if I brought ‘em back? Can always use the money, and I’d hate for anythin’ I brin’ down to go ta waste,” he asked sincerely, before latching the silver ring of the backpack through the leather loop and securing it tightly with a few fastening pulls.

Throwing it over his right shoulder, opposite of the bow on his left, Seth was the epitome of an adventurer now. He hung by the edge of the counter, waiting for any last parting words or tips from Daw-ta, before walking outside and squinting through the bright sunlight. He’d brave the wilderness once more.

Calling in through the doorway just as the door swung close, Seth chortled cordially, “If I ain’t back in four or five brightenin’s, send someone out to find m-”

The door swung shut, and he was well on his way.