Koleyn wrapped an arm protectively around Oriel, watching the people across the street warily. The fisher from the group that had found them was nice enough, but the hunters were another matter entirely. The only reason they were in the village was that the fisher had threatened not to bring the hunters home. Staying near the dockside, they had met the fishing families of the riverside village while having the hunters pointed out.

It privately amused the elf that the hunters were the ones he would have chosen to speak with on his own and were now the ones he couldn't trust. They were like the bandits and thought that Oriel was some kind of freak. Only the fishers knew him as a water creature.

And as they made their living off the river, they knew to take care of the blue creature. Despite wariness of the elf with it - they knew elves as enemies - they had opened their homes to the pair. He couldn't fault their hospitality, only the hunters' presense dampening the enthusiastic welcome they'd received.

The enthusiasm made Koleyn suspicious. It was one thing to accept an enemy because of alliances with friends, but there had been no mention of his species at all, and that was uncalled for in a human settlement. Humans, all humans, were as civilized as the bandits.

He didn't know if it was his own suspicion or past experience creating nervousness, but Oriel refused to leave his side for a moment. It made relieving himself a mild issue, as Oriel's new found grace had doubled since the afternoon's game and it felt like it could see him. But the real distress on the blue one's face if Koleyn tried to leave it for even a moment always prevailed.

The afternoon had passed with conferences and polite small talk, Oriel barely speaking. The only time it relaxed was when there were children around. A matron came with dinner, and Oriel politely refused, claiming not to eat. Taking a cue from the false statement, Koleyn also refused the food. The matron left and he saw her speaking with a man a short distance a way, resulting in the man coming over to them.

"It would honour us greatly if you would eat our food, Bahari," he said to Oriel.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot eat, especially family," Oriel said from within the comfort of Koleyn's arms.

"Then you?" the man asked the elf.

"Elves do not eat they don't prepare ritualistically. I'm afraid the means aren't available to me here."

"So you won't eat?"

Koleyn shook his head. "I'm afraid we both must refuse this hospitality. Give our portions to those in need."

The man left. The pair was left alone until dark fell. They were shown to a room they could share. As soon as the people left, Oriel fell asleep, still in Koleyn's arms, but the elf didn't sleep. Once it grew quiet, he woke the sea ceature.

"It's time to leave," he said, trying to keep his voice normal and quiet at the same time.

Oriel brightened, moving immediately to the window. It waited expectantly while Koleyn gathered their things and made the bed look full.

He lifted Oriel out the window and followed quickly. Taking a quick look back into the room as he left, he saw a figure open the door and saw moonlight wink off the metal he carried.

Pulling Oriel by the hands, he ran toward the river. "Swim," he hissed, dumping his bag in a boat and casting off.

The river was larger now, allowing Oriel easy swimming room while Koleyn rowed. He heard the sound of an outcry as he rounded a bend in the river.

"We'll have to leave the river," he said when Oriel surfaced near him. "They know the river better than I do."

"They have hunters," Oriel countered. "Who know the shore better. I am faster than they are in water."

"But I'm not!"

The sea creature reached out and touched his hand. "I will protect you, gentle one," it said with a smile.