Paul and Kin Knox were lounging under the shade of the massive trees. It had been a long day of learning for the outsider. He had mastered the bare basics, that is to say, he knew how to ask for something like food or water. More complicated expressions would come later, anyways, for someone just learning he was doing quite well. It had only been two weeks since they began their primitive little game of point and name.
There was something about the act of relaxation in nature that brought a profound calmness to Paul. Every night so far he had violent visions of the bus and its inhabitants, it was nice to just be alive.
"Where we are?" Paul asked, his elvish still very clumsy.
Knox raised an eyebrow, "You're getting better at this! We are in the southern forest. Just above Anderland."
Paul didn't seem to catch everything he said, though Knox thought that he must have taken some meaning from his words.
After a moment Paul continued, "Need go back. People mine."
Knox shook his head. Of course he wanted to go back. He probably lost something back there, and it's not easy to leave behind people you knew. But it was too dangerous.
"I'm sorry Paul, but we can't go that deep into the forest again. The bodies would be gone anyways, and I imagine the beast's carcass has become home to… well, let's just say it's now most likely a home to some unkind creatures."
Paul scrunched his eyebrows together at this. Once more, it seemed he understood the idea behind the words. Even if not all of them were understood. The outsider was a sharp one that was for certain.
Paul took a moment to form the words, "Why? What creature?"
Knox was impressed, his pronunciation was getting much better. Even if he structured his sentences a bit poorly.
"Er, well, for one the many legged ones are very prominent that deep in the forest. They don't care for the sun. Another would most likely be the winged screamers, they're a bit less of a danger to someone your size…"
This time Paul looked far more confused. It took a few times of repeating himself, and making signs to get the idea across that the beasts of the inner forest were not something you would want to meet face to face.
* * *
Before long it was time for Kin Knox to go about his daily chores. One such chore was fetching water from a well that resided a little ways from the monastery. Since Paul didn't know anyone as most the others kept their distance, and Kin Radford seemed not to be fond of him, he decided he would accompany Knox. Anyways, what else would he do with his time?
The well itself was no great thing, just a simple well, lined with heavy stones and housing a rope that had a bucket attached to the end. Kin Knox would take a wooden bucket and draw out water to put into a larger container. He did this for some time and once the container was filled, he would heft the thing up onto his shoulder, and begin the journey back.
Paul noticed how strained the old elf looked as he carried the water. The water laden container seemed to be heavy to the elf, and he walked very slowly. More than once he had to stop and take a few deep breaths before standing back up and continuing on.
The monk tripped over a stone that he hadn't seen, and fell forward, emptying the bucket onto the ground.
"Oh damn it all!" shouted Knox, "Wonderful! Now I'll have to go back and…"
Paul had stepped forward to grab the container, it was lighter than he expected it to be. He put it on his shoulder and said.
"I take."
To which Knox replied, "Are you sure? You're still -ah, fine, go ahead."
Paul didn't quite catch what the old timer had said. He was already off towards the well.
* * *
It took about five trips to and from the well to fill up the barrels the monks had for water. The entire time that Paul went to and from the barrels there were monks who would pause, and watch the tall outsider carry the water with little struggle, and then turn around and walk right back out to the well. To this, this was something of a feat. The monks who have had to do this same chore would usually take a moment right after coming back, rest for a few minutes, take a drink and then return. Seeing the outsider do none of these things quickly brought the attention of a few monks. By the time the final barrel was filled, there was something of a crowd formed, just watching as Paul worked tirelessly.
"By Naka, this boy doesn't even look tired, what is he? Ah, is he a he right Kin Knox?" one of them said.
"I… I believe so yes…" came Knox's reply.
Paul, now very satisfied with himself, turned to the onlookers with a grin.
"Are you done now Paul?" Asked Kin Knox
To which Paul replied with a cocked head. Kin Knox had remembered that the outsider was still not great with the tongue, but nonetheless, he was a remarkable specimen. Kin Radford would need to be informed right away.
* * *
Meal time in the monastery was somewhat synonymous with prayer time. As in, the monks would take their food, usually bread and a sort of porridge, and sit in a tall chamber with small windows near the top. At one end there was a series of stone statues. One was of a large woman, with five arms and two heads. According to Knox, she was named Naka. Next to her was a large cat-like creature with the face of a man and seven thick tails, each sporting barbed ends. This one was named Hannat. There was one more next to Hannat, but this was much smaller in stature, and looked much more like a human then the other two, well, except they had a third eye. Other than the exxess eyes Paul thought it almost looked like the type of statue you would find in a museum whenever you would get around to the section that talks about ancient greece. In front of each of these statues there was a large metal bowel which held fire. Each monk would stop in front of each statue and throw a small portion of their food into the fires.
This wasn't the first time that Paul had been to the chamber. When he was given his food he went to go to the line of people who were doing the odd ritual, the first time he had been here he caused a fuss with the monks by not giving up some of his food. It seemed to Paul that this was an important part of their religion, and he would hate to offend them and their hospitality. It was then that he learned the names of the statues, whatever else Knox had said about them was lost, but he knew enough to understand when a name was said.
Paul didn't know any of the prayers, but it didn't seem like the monks cared much so long as you gave up some food. Anyways, he wasn't the religious sort to begin with.
The monks would all spread out and sit apart from each other as they ate. They expected the same from Paul, which he didn't mind much. It gave him time to sit and think. Think about how he got there, think about how he would get home. Think about where he was exactly, and why these people were so strange. All of them had strange ears, and all of them were at least a head shorter than him. It also gave him time to think about how the food was remarkably bland.
All together Paul was very busy thinking, of course that was when he had a rather great idea. He quickly scarfed down the bland food and left the chamber. He needed to find either tools, or something round, he was going to make fetching water much easier on the monks here. If anything he at least owed it to them since they had taken him in. Plus, it was something to do and something to take his mind off the constant musings of his mind.