[Training] Acceptable Targets (Open)

A man spoke up behind Loren causing the former librarian to pause in latest assault against his arboreal opponents. Glancing over his shoulder, Loren saw that he had company. Sighing, he lowered his staff and turned to face the stranger; the summoner was still remembering how he was supposed to interact with people in a normal, non-hostile way. Granted, the other man’s voice had contained a tone that was less than friendly, but Loren was saved from responding in kind by the fact that he was panting slightly from his earlier exertions. It took a few deep breaths for his heart to settle and his mind to calm. Once he’d caught his breath—and strangled down the urge to say something he’d regret—Loren considered how best to actually reply. Finally he decided the truth was probably the best option. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been attacked by them, so yes.” It came out in a wry tone, but the former librarian was transported back to that fateful day in the jungle outside Northaven: it had been a terrifying mishmash of evil branches, burning wood, and far too many injured companions. But they’d come through in the end, in large part due to Loren’s efforts. Turned out tree creatures burned just the same as regular trees when he threw a phoenix at them. Regarding the stranger (who Loren was pretty sure he’d never met before) the summoner noted that he was much taller than the other man. Of course, even small as he was, the other man was probably in better shape than Loren: the summoner was still recuperating from his year as a scavenger, as evidenced by the guantness of his formerly thin frame and how sharply his cheekbones stood out. Beyond that, the stranger’s features were...odd. They weren’t unpleasant, or wrong, they just didn’t quite fit together in a cohesive hole. Last time Loren had encountered a stranger in the woods—different woods, and a much different circumstance, thankfully—it hadn’t exactly gone well. So the former librarian was striving to do a better job this time. Of course, a lot of that would depend on if the other man continued to be snippy with the summoner; if he did, Loren might just sic a monster on him to teach him some manners. “I’m Loren,” he said as neutrally as he could mange. “What brings you out here?” Hopefully the other man was just passing through, and the former librarian could get on with his training. Already his fingers itched to go back to whacking things. LOREN Brought back by satisfaction more times than the cat