Hey, That is a Cow, Not a Feather

"So, what do you have for us, Sari?" Vynn yawned and stretched in the bed.

Vallum had just returned to the room after going out earlier that morning to get some food for the group.

"Ooh!" Sari said as she plucked a juicy fruit from Vallum's hand, "They aren't normally this juicy." She said with a mouthful.

"Ask," Vallum pleaded, "Just ask. I would have given it to you."

As he spoke, Vynn was rummaging through the bag he brought while it was still slung over his shoulder.

"You too?" He cried.

"I've heard that a someone from a farm outside of the city is being recruited," Sari started, in between bites.

"Can we not talk about you stealing the food that I bought for you?" Vallum tried.

Vynn took a bite from a small bread loaf, "Sounds like we should start there."

"Is anyone even listening to-"

Sari looked at Vallum, "Look big guy, leave the thinking to us. You punch people that need to be punched and," The girl blushed, "Keep making big sis happy."

"Can't she just make fun of someone else?" Vallum clutched at what straws he could find.

"Not anyone that is as fun as making fun of you, darling." Vynn put her hand on Vallum's shoulder.

"Don't call me that," Vallum scowled. He jerked away from Vynn's touch and went out the door, "We should get going to that farm."

Behind his back, Vynn looked at Sari, made an innocent face, and shrugged her shoulders, causing Sari to burst out in laughter. The two of them caught up with Vallum on the street.

"How did you know the farm was this way?" Sari asked.

"Farms call to him, so he always knows where the nearest one is." Vynn filled the younger girl in.

Vallum looked back at Vynn in annoyance, "I just paid attention when we were coming into the city."

"But how did you know it was the right farm?"

That question gave Vallum a moment of pause, "I... just figured that it looked like it was the right one."

"Don't tell me that you thought it was the only farm around the city," Sari laughed.

Vallum turned his head to look straight in front of him and he trudged on toward the farm. He trudged straight past the city limits and continued trudging even when he heard someone yell at him.

"Hey! You! Can you help me?" A girl was standing in a field holding a cattle whip and looking at a group of cows.

'Not falling for anything anymore." Vallum thought to himself, tired of being repeatedly tricked or guided out of bad situations by Vynn. He ignored the voice and kept on toward the farm house in the distance. He would have kept on going until he reached the house, but Vynn placed both hands on his chest and pushed firmly, which brought him to a stop.

"That girl actually needs help, farmer boy. It looks right up your alley too."

Vallum threw up his hands in exasperation, "Fine." He jogged over to the girl who looked to be a little older than Sari.

"Thank you, sir, for coming to help. I accidentally left the gate open and Pa's cows got out." She held the whip up toward Vallum, "Pa hasn't taught me how to use this yet. Could you help me?"

He took the whip and looked around, "Where is the gate?"

After getting pointed in the right direction he started cracking the whip behind the cows to get them moving toward the gate. The herd started moving altogether, but one ornery bull decided that Vallum wasn't going to tell it what to do. The bull turned toward him and lowered its head.

"Watch out!" The farmer girl shouted as the bull charged.

Vallum jumped to the side of the bull's charge and yanked on one of the creature's horns, throwing it off balance and causing it to fall to the ground. The rest of the herd paid no attention to the spectacle and continued toward the open gate. He tossed the whip to Vynn.

"What are you giving this to me for?" She looked mystified.

Vallum grunted, picking up the bull. "Unless you would rather take this guy, I recommend you figure it out."

When she saw him lift up the bull, the girl they were helping yelped.

"He's a farmer boy," Sari told the girl as if that explained the amazing feat. The girl only nodded and watched Vallum, slack jawed.

Vallum carried the bull while Vynn organized the girls into a formation behind the cows in favor of trying to master the whip. They went until they made it just to the gate. Vallum set the ballistic bull down on its back, while it was screaming in outrage, and took the whip back from Vynn to corral the herd through the fence. By the time the rest of the herd made it through the gate, the bull had regained its feet and was in a frenzy. Before it could build up a charge Vallum stepped in close and grabbed its horns. The bull tried to throw it's head around, but Vallum held it steady. After it realized that its former method wasn't working, the bull started pushing against Vallum. Using the bull's initiative, Vallum positioned himself in between the bull and the gate and let the bull walk himself slowly into the gate. As soon as they were in, the gate slammed shut and Vallum released the bull's horns. Vallum went and hopped over the gate, leaving the bull to bellow at him.

"That's that." He dusted off his hands, and looked extremely pleased to actually have helped someone for once since he left his village.

Vynn looked at him with a hint of admiration, "You really are a farmer boy."

"Say," Vallum looked to the girl he had helped, "You don't happen to live in that big farm house over there, do you?"

"Yeah! I'm Ellie. Thank you so much for your help. If I tell Pa what happened, then he will probably give you something for it."

"I am just glad to actually help someone for once," Vallum said, garnering an odd look from the girl, "But we are actually looking for someone. Have you seen anyone wearing a dark cloak around here?"

"Oh!" Ellie's face lit up in recognition, "Do you mean the man in black that started following Sarah around a couple days ago?"

"That sounds promising," Vynn looked at Vallum.

"Yes, will you please tell us where we could find this man in black?" He asked the girl.

"He is probably with Sarah right now. I'll take you! Just follow me."

They followed her all the way to the farm house.

"Ah! He is right there!" Ellie pointed.

Vallum jumped as he saw a cloaked figure, nearly a foot taller than him following a woman that looked to be in her mid-twenties.

"I'll stand behind you, big bro." Sari scooted behind Vallum to hide from the giant figure.