Night, thanks for dinner

JP between Wim and Gonyaul:

Wim smiled as he ate. Goynaul’s thought was… Idealistic. The world was a place of give and take where people look out for their best interest.

“Ants die when you build a big enough fire on the nest,” Wim said.
He was hoping he was not going to be the match that sets fire to Ostairium, If his history had taught him anything, the gods would make him the match for the fire. They were always out there trying to manipulate and playing games with humans.

Fatalism was not Wim’s friend.. He was normally optimistic, very selfishly optimistic. So Wim changed his thinking and laughed again.

“The key is for the ants not to be like termites and cause that much trouble till they learn where to bite,” he said.

Gonyaul nodded. It took him a second to figure out what Wim was laughing about because he didn’t understand the word termites. He laughed too, “termites”. He actually didn’t get it but didn’t want to spoil Wim’s shift to a better mood.

While this conversation was most agreeable, he realized that the day was continuing to pass them by. He was concerned of the trek Wim was going to have to make to get home would take some time. In addition, he hadn’t planned on this distraction so he would now have to go back to his campsite to get the farm tools he borrowed before heading back to the settlement.

He began to rise gracefully and with ease to a standing position without any support from his hands. “Day is long and travel is far good Wim”. He gestures to where the sun was in the sky; hints of it could be seen through the trees.

As the sun starts to set Wim fills the pull of the vials again. Something calls out to him and eyes gaze is drawn to the tree where the strange rune is carved.

Gonyaul noticed Wim’s attention was suddenly drawn away into the distance. It was obvious because up until that point Wim had exhibited exceptional people skills and good eye contact. He half turned, as if dodging Wim’s line of site and followed it to the marking on the tree.

Gonyaul immediately relaxed when he saw it was just the carving on the tree. He had seen it multiple times before and it had lost its novelty; he was already well aware of its existence.

He returned back to preparing to leave and was going to initiate one last check in with Wim to make sure the gentleman was going to be ok getting back before he planned to head in the direction of his campsite.

Wim looked at Gonyaul and asked, "Have you seen that mark other places?"

Gonyaul looked up from securing the meat in the deerskin for Wim. He nodded, “yes”. He then pointed to several other trees in the vicinity. “ it also in that tree, and that one, and that one.” He knew this because he was the one who had carved those extra trees when he was experimenting. He shrugged, “but sap only come out of that one.” He pointed back to the original tree that caught Wim’s gaze.

“If I camp here tonight, will you come check on me tomorrow?” Wim asked.
The pull of the vial and his curiosity was drawing him to stay.

“Yes, on way back to Osti..rum”. He looked around and felt confident he had helped straighten things up enough. “You know how to shelter make?” Gonyaul was concerned how Wim was going to settle in for night. The winter nights were cold.

Wim pulled a tarp to make a wind break tent and his winter cloak.
"If I keep the fire going I should be warm enough," He said.
"Getting back tomorrow might be a challenge," he said while thinking about chasing the deer through hell and back.

“Good” he started walking away from the fire. “No that way, better way.” He pointed in the direction he would recommend. He then formally bowed “thank you for deer, talk and time.” And upon his farewell, he moved off into the forest to head back to his campsite. In just ten yards from their spot he had vanished from Wim’s sight.

When Gonyaul arrived at his campsite he was pleased with how difficult it was to recognize his debris shelter’s existence in the dark. He crawled inside, latched the door behind him and laid down. It had been an interesting and entertaining day; very unexpected. His belly was full, he was warm, and he had new memories to be fond of.

He let his mind drift into meditation. While there he just let whatever thoughts that wanted to be heard have their say. He wondered if he should continue to stay in Ostiarium. He was there to help with the farming, but he had completed setting all of that up and showed the other farmhands how to manage it. Even though he did it most of the time, it wasn’t because they couldn’t, it was just they preferred not to.

Gonyaul had no attachments to the settlement or anyone in it. He had no attachments to this new land or anyone in it either. Perhaps it was time to just wander and see where that took him. He thought of home, he missed them all. If he had been there the last six plus years he would have definitely been married and had started a family. Instead here he was far from home, maybe never to return, because it seemed nature had other plans. Regardless, this was a huge decision and he knew it best to make it after a good nights sleep.