On the Hunt {Open}

[Lesu]

Time Reference: QD20, directly after Beached...

---

Lesu walked with his arms around his narrow chest as he strode cautiously through the hold proper. No sign of either the man or the woman who'd attempted to capture him. Fortunately, the only dragon he saw had been a green one who flew over several minutes prior while he was still on the beach. Quick glances flickered this way and that, his paranoia on high alert because he didn't want to run into anyone untoward or who had a fancy for little boys and had an inkling to take him away. No one paid heed to the disheveled boy, and at this point he looks worlds away from the nine-year-old who frolicked in Kajano Hold's kitchens and stole the occasional muffin or sweet. But it was those skills that he now had to put to use in order to stay alive. It's either that or learn how to fish...

He gaze drifted toward the ships docked along the coast, their sturdy masts a small, swaying forest growing from the water near the wharf. Again he wondered whether or not he could sneak aboard to get passage somewhere else. Lesu considered the idea of working his way across somehow but dismissed it, the idea of scrubbing the decks or fetching water (or worse emptying chamber pots!) held zero appeal to him. It wasn't the hard work that dissuade him, it was cleaning up after other people's dirt and grim. He'd rather risk being captured than restoring to hiring himself out as a drudge. At least if he was captured, they might believe the truth of the matter and send him home! Turning himself into the local authorities with the idea of being sent home didn't sound appealing either but it beat being a servant.

Coming to a corner, Lesu paused and edged into a small side alley as he considered the situation. Few passerbys noticed or gave a second thought to the dirty, thin boy - one of many homeless orphans left over from the Dark Times. Several vendors had their wares on display. Two of them had non-perishable goods - clothing for one and pottery for the other. Though Lesu needed a shirt, a stolen shirt was easier to spot than stolen food. His attention drifted toward the other stalls - a fruit vendor, a fishmonger, several varieties of baked goods and such. The question now remained which one to try for and how to go about it. A distraction always helped. Perhaps if a convenient paying customer happened by Lesu could "persuade" the other person to purchase something for him? Or use that person as a distraction to take the foodstuff...

[Lesu]

After several tense moments of waiting in the alley, Lesu spotted two elderly women walking, hand-in-hand. They whispered and occasionally giggled to each other. One of them held a large basket and the other had a satchel over one shoulder that rested on the opposite hip. He watched them stop at several vendors. They only released their hands long enough to purchase their chosen wares, primarily foodstuff.

As soon as they neared him, he moved out from the alleyway and clasping one hand on top of the other, he gave them as much of a pitiful look as he could muster. He made sure to open his eyes wider than usual because it made him look even younger as he said, "Alms?"

"Oh you poor dear," said the first.

"Oh yes, what a poor dear." Echoed her companion as the second woman looked at the first one then back to Lesu. "I'm sure we have something to spare, don't we dear?"

"Oh yes, we have something to spare." She began to sort through her basket and soon produced two sweet rolls. "These were meant for breakfast tomorrow, but I'm sure they'll do to feed a hungry lad like you."

"Oh yes," agreed the second. "I'm sure they'll do."

The first woman placed both buns into Lesu's waiting hands. "Thank you, miss," he said in a humble tone and bowed his head to further show his respect.

"You're most welcome, poor dear. I wish we could do more."

"Thank you both, really." Added Lesu as he stuffed one of the sweet rolls into his mouth. It was too big so it hung out some but it freed up one of his hands. He wiped that hand on his trousers. The sweet rolls did have a certain stickiness to them because of the honey within.

"Oh yes, I wish we could." The second woman looked at her companion and the two women nodded together as though they'd shared some telepathic communication. Sometimes being together for so long mimicked the ability. But they didn't offer to take him home or give him any more food or coin. Instead, the second woman ruffled Lesu's hair and then the two women departed.

Lesu waited until they'd passed him and counted to three. As soon as their backs were fully to him, and their attention on each other or the other vendors, Lesu pivoted in place toward them. He jogged the handful of steps necessary to catch up to them so that he might jog past them. And as he passed the nice couple, Lesu in a swift motion, dipped his hand into the first woman's basket whereupon he grabbed the first thing that his fingers touched. His hand still in motion, he slid the item into a pocket. The bulk and hardness of it suggested a piece of fruit or a vegetable. Which was good because he certainly didn't want to shove a fish into his pocket.

He made a sharp turn and veered through two vendors to get out of sight. Still jogging, he ducked into a different alleyway. Here, he crouched down to eat his sweetroll. He'd check on his pilfered prize at a different time. First, breakfast. Between being such a skilled pickpocket from his Hold days, and still having relatively small hands, the move didn't jostle her at all. She didn't even notice. As far as he could tell, no one noticed...

[Lesu]

A while later...

---

Lesu sat on a crate at the entrance of an alleyway, watching the crowd pass. Sometimes, when he sat here, people felt sorry for him and tossed him marks. Today was no exception, and he'd collected three already, which he pocketed quickly both to prevent them from being stolen from him and to encourage more to come. The less he had, the more often people stopped. Was three marks enough for a shirt? He had no experience purchasing items.

He kept hearing rumors about Thread coming in a few days. As he watched the passing people, he considered how to deal with the situation. There was no way his tree shelter could protect him from Threadfall. Lesu didn't know how to fight on the groundcrew. Not only was he too young, but he had never been trained. That left finding a place to ride out Threadfall under the protection of a stone roof. As far as he could tell there were no caves within walking distance. Was three marks enough to purchase a room for a single day? He sighed as he wrapped his arms around his narrow chest again. Muttering softly to himself, he said aloud, "I suppose I can hide under the dock and dive under the water if it comes to it."