OOC: I started a reply a few days ago, and it sucked and wasn't going anywhere, so I gave up. Hopefully this one is better.


Jarad watched the woman--called Krystal--approach. "Can't say I've heard of you, but then, I only pass through Tannoch on occasion." He stayed stiff and slightly tense as she worked on his wound. He was wary of having a stranger care for him--after all, you never knew when someone was going to take advantage of you. Or try to, at any rate. Having already decided that she was alone and not a fighter, he wasn't as edgy as he might otherwise have been, though.

She was careful as she worked at his wounds. Jarad took note of it as another sign that she wasn't going to try to drug him or steal his newly acquired funds. Having gone through quite a bit to get the merchant's purse, he was feeling a bit overprotective. He was relaxed enough to feel chatty.

"So you live here in the city? Been here a while?" He paused, then added, "I lived here once, but it was a long time ago."

There was a scrabbling behind them and Jarad spun, hand automatically reaching for his sword, only to see a mangy looking tomcat come ambling down the alleyway. The orange and yellow tabby rubbed against the wall, and then sat down and proceeded to groom itself. Jarad winced as he turned back towards Krystal. The sudden spin had caused the cut in his side to begin bleeding seriously again.

"I'm not bleeding to death..." Jarad glared at the cat, who completely ignored him. It was rather ugly, it's fur matted in places and past battle scars leaving furless patches. Half of one ear was missing.

He turned back to Krystal, straightening his body, so she could work on his side. Jarad tightened his jaw, keeping himself from grimacing at her touch. Not only did he not want her to see how much he was hurting, he also didn't want to bother her work. If he held still, she'd be done faster...and then less time for him to be hurting. Theoretically.

"Aren't you done yet?" Jarad complained. He tried not to twitch away from her as she finished wrapping his side.

Some of what she'd said earlier finally soaked into his brain. "Little show?" Jarad grinned, pleased. "Yeah, I guess it was that. Sure had the fat man screaming." Of course, if he'd been just a bit faster, the man wouldn't have noticed his pocket being picked at all...Ah, well. He'd gotten a pretty good fight out of it, and best of all, he'd gotten away clean.

His hand dropped to where he'd hidden the pouch in his tunic. He could feel the coins inside, though he had no idea just how much was in there. Still, even if there were just a few pieces of silver, he'd have hit the jackpot.

Jarad's eyes glinted briefly as he thought of the number of games of cards he could play with this much money...His attention returned to the cat, who was staring at him with unblinking golden eyes. He hissed at it, before turning back to Krystal. The cat was unperturbed.

"Uh...Thanks. Here." He pulled out the bag, and opened it, looking to see what was inside. A slim silver piece met his fingers and he eyed it, a slight smile twitching his lips, though his eyes stayed cold. Aye, the bag was well filled...

He passed the coin to Krystal, as much to thank her for not giving him away as for healing him.

OOC: No worries. I haven't exactly been very available this whole summer, either. At least we're getting the site fairly active again.