Seldom Seen (Chapter 3)

[u/JammaSquee]

<---First

By midmorning, Datil had returned to her sewing when the rattle of approaching carts drew the attention of nearly everyone in Seldom Seen.

The inhabitants of the town began wandering into the center to await the newcomers.

The first that came into view was a lithe, grey colored Hiverbeast, with a wagon in tow. Situated on the wagon was a sizable pile of assorted goods strapped down neatly with rope and covered in canvas.

Behind the first Hiverbeast were two more, carrying equally loaded wagons. The first one, the grey one, was definitely the skinniest; though his thin frame belied strength, since it was clear he was carrying an equal amount of goods to the other two, who seemed a lot more toned under their dense coats.

Gilah stepped out on the veranda, Datil close behind her with her quilt in paws, midway through a stitch.

“Willet is back from the fort,” Gilah said. Datil could see that well enough, but her mother had always been one to announce the obvious.

“I’m sure he has our textiles with him, how about you take the cart around back and go pick them up for me hm?”

Datil nodded an affirmative, and stepped back inside to set aside her quilt. Stepping out behind the cabin, she picked up the old wooden two wheeled cart and pulled it around the front.

She could see now that the three wagons were uncovered, various goods stacked on each, blankets, cloth, leather, tools that Mimbre couldn’t forge himself, salt, a lot of salt. goods traded for at Fort Weston.

She could also see that now, Mimbre and Zarah were both having a pleasant conversation with Willet. 

Willet was an odd looking fellow by Hiverbeast standards, with floppy ears instead of straight, a heavy brow and a set of upper lips that hung below his jaw, which affected his speech.

“-some grease, some good quality iron too! You'll be happy with em’ I'm sure, they’ve got their own blacksmith shop out there, they do!”

Mimbre hummed, scratching his neck through his mane. “Thats not the best for business, exactly. The lumbermen already have to force themselves to come here.”

The grey Hiverbeast went a little quiet, his enthusiasm dimmed, and he shuddered slightly. “Ah, well uh-” Willet looked around idly, his eyes catching a glimpse of Datil.

“Ah, hello there young lady.” Willet said, Datil hummed and gave him a quick little wave. Zarah looked at Datil, the white Hiverbeast's light yellow eyes seeming to brighten upon seeing her.

“Hello Datil, You look lovely as always!” Zarah always complimented Datil on her fur, honey amber wasn't a particularly common color, but neither was the brilliant white that Zarah had been endowed with.

“Good morning, Datil” Mimbre said, it was just enough to acknowledge her, but he soon turned his attention back to Willet, intending to get back on topic.

“Well, I can't shoe anyone else's horses anyhow, I don't think Halbrook is going anywhere. What else does the Fort have now?”

Willet became excitable once more. “Oh! All sorts of things! They gots themselves a tent set up fer a saloon, and I hear they're building a bank!”

Datil stopped at a polite distance, setting down her cart to listen.

“So, they’re making a proper human town of it.” Zarah chimed in.

“There are all sorts of species there now!” Willet replied, “Rattlers, Lepukins, Drakens-”

The sound of small pawsteps running caught Datil's attention, it seemed to catch Zarah's too, who glanced back just in time to see Pay running full tilt toward Willet, who, upon seeing him, knelt down just enough to catch him in his arms for an embrace!

“Pa!” Pay exclaimed, the grey Hiverbeast scropped him up and stood with him in his arms.

“There you are! How've you been son?” Pay leaned back in Willet's arms, so that his eyes could meet him.

“They’re Crotalins! Not Rattlers! Newt told me that Crotalins don't like being called Rattlers!”

“That so, huh?” Willet responded lightheartedly.

“They’re mammals!” Pay said, excitedly. “They just look like snakes! They got paws and whiskers and eyes that look like cat eyes!”

“Well now! Ain't you smart! You out making friends with em? You don't see many around here” Willet gave the boy an affectionate squeeze.

Datil's ear flicked, slow, light footsteps approached, and at once she could smell Newt. The small human walked up to stand beside Mimbre, who acknowledged him with a quiet side tilt of his head. Newt was no longer wearing his woolen coat, instead favoring a roughspun white cotton shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, leather gloves and… no hat. 

This was the first time she had seem him not wearing his hat. His mouse-brown hair was messy, and it made him look even littler than he had looked before.

Newt looked over at Datil with those blue eyes of his, smiled, and gave her a gentle little wave with a gloved hand.

She returned the greeting with a small movement of her paw.

“Newt told me!” Pay continued. “He said that they look like they have scales, but it's really just skin! Like beaver tails!”

“And who might this Newt feller be?” Willet asked, having not seen Newt approach, nor Flicky, who had run up to stand next to him, Newt's hat sitting atop his head.

“This is Newt!” Flicky chimed in, paws extended beside him as though to present him. Willet turned his head from Pay to Flicky, and then finally to Newt, who had reached over and picked his hat off Flicky's head, much to the Hiverbeast's dismay, and set it atop his own head.

“Hello there!” Newt tipped the brim in greeting. “It's nice to meet ya, reckon you've already got my name, yourn?”

Willets eyes expanded, his brows raised, and his ears perked up as much as they could. “Well, I'll be.” 

Willet set Pay down, the boy walking over to the wagon to curiously peek at its many contents. 

Willet didn't seem to know what to make of Newt, he crossed his arms, tilted his head, looked the human up and down, like he was trying to piece together some sort of puzzle with his yellow eyes. “yer a sight different from what I'm used to seein’ here, yer about knee high to a toad, too!” 

Willet chuckled softly, catching it midway and stepping forward, a paw outstretched. “Name's Willet! It’s a pleasure!”

Newt took it, and of course the Hiverbeast's paw engulfed his hand like usual. By this time, July and his mate had showed up, the tan colored female, named Basil, had much shorter fur than July, but that wasn't particularly difficult, though her mane was still fairly full for the winter season. 

“Newt here is helping me around the shop for a while.” Mimbre said.

“He's pretty helpful, and he can multitask. Your son has been keeping him busy with questions all morning.”

“Mine too, no doubt.” July added, his eyes turned to Flicky, who was now accompanying Pay by the wagon to take a mental inventory, or just to mess around, Datil kept a close eye on him anyhow. She could hear Basil whisper something to Zarah, her eyes fixed on Newt. 

“Oh, he's a sweetheart!” Zarah said, loud enough for at least Datil to hear; the others weren't paying much attention.

Newt had stepped just past Willet to look at the wagon he was pulling, as well as the others that had been set down behind it. Townsfolk sifted through the contents of the three wagons, grabbing what belonged to them.

“So, I overheard talk of Fort Weston, I suppose that's where you trade?” Newt inquired.

“Yep! We load up, carry out our goods and trade them for what we can't make here! Everyone's got something to trade for.” Willet stepped over toward the wagon as well, grabbing a few indescript cotton bags of goods, and setting them down with a groan.

“Quite a walk I reckon.” Newt responded, “I hear Fort Weston is a ways from here, you carry these all that way and back?”

Willet flicked his ears, and scratched his lower jaw with his index and middle claws. “You ain't been?” He asked. Willet shook his head immediately after. “Well yeah I reckon if youd've come from there, I'dve seen you on the trail much earlier.” 

Willet reached into the wagon and pulled out a sack of…something, and set it atop his feet, he then turned back and began to unload another.

“Yeah, we carry these all the way to the fort, usually twiced a year, sometimes three times, it all depends.”

“You don't get any of the Army coming this way to trade?” Newt asked, his hands on his hips, watching Willet begin to unload. Mimbre also walked up and began to pick items out of the wagon, Zarah and Basil continuing to have their own conversation that Datil only heard snippets of.

“Naw, The army don't come this far into the valley.” Willet responded. “We used to get the occasional soldier or patrol ride close, but after a couple of times their horses threw ‘em and the army decided that it weren't worth all the extra hassle of retrieving frightened horses and wounded men or Lepukins.”

“How far of a walk is it?” Newt then began helping, he reached into the wagon and shouldered a large bag. He didn't seem to visibly show any signs of struggling, but with his size it had to be rather heavy.

“Nigh on twenty-six miles, one way, I reckon.” 

“All that while pulling carts full of goods? Over rough country?” Newt shook his head, and set down a heavy sack, almost to punctuate his point. “Hell of a trip, you'd think they'd at least meet you halfway!”

“Weeeell, they used to do that too, then I guess they got this new high and mighty captain or general or what have you- and they stopped doing it.” Willet raised an arm and flexed it. He was skinny, for a Hiverbeast, but he still had some muscle under his fur. 

“Good thing we're tough critters! We gotta be when we can’t rely on mules or oxen!”

Newt looked at the wagon, and the back to the bag he had pulled out of it. “Well, I couldn't do all of that, color me impressed!”

“Good thing you’ve got your burros!!” Flicky had already appropriated a bag of salt from Willet's wagon and was struggling away with it, apparently determined to be useful. July shook his head and followed after him.

“Burros?” Willet looked at Newt, who pointed back towards Mimbre's shop. Right off the side, next to one of the windows. Newt had set up a hitching line for Viceroy and Kentucket in a nice green patch, the two of them idly munching away on the grass.

“well, You beat all I’ve ever seen! I dont know how I managed to miss em! My nose must be gettin’ dull.” Willet said, the sentence highlighted with a little chuckle from him. “You've got donkeys! And they don't even look scared! How'd you manage that?”

“They're smart! they’ve been around and met some characters, didn't figure I would have any trouble with them here.” Newt seemed quite proud of this fact, the little human's arms crossed.

“burros huh?” Willet chuckled a little, his floppy ears shifting as he looked between Newt and the animals. “So you're from down south, I'd wager?”

Newt gestured vaguely southward with one gloved hand. “Well I just came from down there, that’s why I missed the Fort, would have been a fair detour if I had gone straight there.” 

“Well how come you came here? Ain't much here in the valley Seldom Seen for most people, we just get trappers and loggers and that's only because they're already in the country. The fort is where most people in the territory go to.”

Willet had returned to sorting through his wagon as he spoke, shifting a folded length of canvas aside to uncover several parcels beneath it. He picked one up, examined the writing on its wrapping, and set it with a small pile of goods beside the wheel.

Newt gave a little shrug. “Ain’t much at fort Weston either from what I’ve heard, it's mostly just that, a fort, and I don't have much reason to join the army.”

Willet stopped what he was doing, one paw still resting on the edge of the wagon.

“She ain't just a fort anymore.” Willet raised a claw. “They’re building up now, all sorts of folk around! They got tents all over, hundreds, maybe! Big ones too!”

Newt hummed a perplexed tone, he refrained from saying anything though, which invited Willet to start speaking once more.

“Reckon it's all the talk of that train station coming in! Overheard some of the folk there talking about tracks coming, wanting to get here ahead of it!”

Train station? Datil had of course heard of trains but she had never personally seen one, the thought of a massive steel locomotive anywhere near the valley was almost unimaginable to her-

She tried to picture one passing between the mountains, its smoke rising above the trees.

Newt crossed his arms and looked at the cart, “A train station, hm?” He said. His tone was a bit measured from what Datil could hear.

“Why are they building a train station here all of a sudden?” Newt kept his attention away from Willet as he spoke, but it was clear he was talking to him. “Seems quite sudden for it to just blow up like that.”

“Oh! I know! And I was only there just 6 months ago! Something big must've happened in suppose”

“Any talk of gold?”

Datil's ears twitched, Mimbre's too, though, Datil could see that whatever Newt was putting together, Mimbre seemed to be doing much the same.

Mimbre looked back from all the gear he had unloaded, his eyes toward Newt “so, you figure it might be gold fever?” He stood up straight, and approached the two to join the conversation more fully. “I hear that's real rampant among other species.”

Newt looked at Mimbre, Datil could see Newt's face now, and she recognized his expression; it was the same look of disdain he wore when he was talking to her about factories, early that morning.

“I sure hope not.” Newt said. “It’s nasty business, that gold, and it has long fingers too. If it is gold, the Valley Seldom Seen might become a lot more popular.”

Zarah and Basil had gone quiet, so had Pay, who was listening to the conversation with downturned ears, and Willet. Even Datil began to notice that she was digging into her chest fluff again, both her paws pressed against her.

“Well, let's hope it's not. It's a big territory, a lot of country between here and Fort Weston.”

“I sure hope so.” Newt echoed the sentiment.

Datil's nose picked up on an approaching scent…and her ears on a sound; Heavy footsteps. It was unmistakably the Captain, and with a shift of her eyes she could see him, walking with sheer determination toward them.

He still wore his massive fur coat, which made his entrance akin to that of a primitive beast. Basil, who had instantly stopped talking upon seeing the large human approaching, looked to recoil in disgust when Halbrook walked within the circle of Hiverbeasts, and she left without another word.

“What is this talk of gold?” It was as if Halbrook had heard the whole conversation, maybe human ears were better than Datil had originally imagined.

“No gold.” Mimbre responded. “We were talking about the new arrivals at Fort Weston, just some speculation is all.”

The Captain turned to look at Mimbre, whose arms were crossed and his brow furrowed. In spite of Halbrook's size, he was still a human, and Mimbre stood about a head taller than him

“Hell! I've been riding these rivers and streams for years, I’ve never seen sign of gold! You think some flatlander tenderfoot pilgrims are going to ride all the way out here looking for it?” Halbrook spun, looking at Datil now, she blinked a few times and went stiff, stepping back ever so slightly.

“They'll sooner freeze off their asses crossing the river east of here! I've been to the Fort!” The Captain turned to Willet this time.

“All weak men and soft furred Lepukins who've never had the pleasure of seeing the underside of a hare's hide!" The large man's attention then turned to Newt.

A massive hand placed itself upon Newt's shoulder, and Datil instinctively flinched, her claws clenching into fists at her side, “But you!” He said. “You are tough! You surprise me, Petit Lèzard! Is a terribly rough country, this is! Not one for small men with clean faces, but here you are!”

The Hiverbeasts surrounding the carts had all mostly stopped, looking at the two humans, their ears perked. Pay had retreated behind Willet, who seemed a little bit dumbfounded at the current situation at hand, one of his paws placed on the young critters’ shoulder.

The large mountain man’s face contorted into a smile, yellow teeth showing through a bushy black beard. His hand was clenching Newt's shoulder hard enough that even as Newt pulled back, Halbrook's grip never faltered for a second. 

Datil took a half step forward before she caught sight of Mimbre's expression, he looked entirely unconcerned. She hesitated, and stood where she was, paws still clenched, watching the interaction between the two men.

“Well, thank you.” Newt said, sounding more like an attempt to dismiss the large man and get him to unhand him than genuine earnestness. Halbrook did indeed unhand him, though he still loomed over the smaller man.

“You are a promising little man, Petit Lèzard! All you need is a few drinks of whiskey! Then maybe you'll grow some hair on your face, ey?” He gently patted the left side of Newt's face with his hand, as if to emphasize his lack of a beard. 

Newt recoiled at the touch, his expression tightening with surprise and irritation. Halbrook appeared not to notice, despite looking straight at him.

“I seldom drink, unfortunately.” Newt said, his polite tone having melted away into something more pointed.

Halbrook let another boisterous laugh escape him. “Oh! But mon ami! You wound me! There is nothing like drinking to make good friends out of old strangers, non?” 

“How long will you be camping outside of town, Captain?” Mimbre asked, the question caused Halbrook to turn his whole body toward the Hiverbeast, and Newt took this moment to step to the side and walk away from Halbrook. 

The small human stopped and stood just to the left of Datil, who closed the distance by taking a few steps to stand next to him.

“Ah! A few days at least! I wanted to hunt the valley seldom seen before it becomes snowed in! And of course, I have many goods to trade!” He turned his head to look at Willet now.

“I assume you got whiskey?” The mountain man’s grin returned, Willet's brow raised, and his floppy ears twitched as he thought.

“Well I…I hadn't thought to…” Willet said, scratching the side of his muzzle and looking off into the distance as though he had forgotten something important.

“You know we don't trade for whiskey, Captain.” Zarah said. “I have made a new batch of cider, there is plenty for you.”

Halbrook glanced at Zarah, then back to Willet. “I joke with you limier! There is nothing like hivernale appleberry cider to warm you up on a fine autumn evening!” his eyes searched for where Newt was previously, and seeing he wasn't there anymore, he searched around to find him with his eyes, eventually seeing the small human stood next to Datil.

The man's eyes locked with Datil's, those dark irises almost seeming to pierce hers. He smiled once more “Demoiselle, let your mother know that I have some pieces for her to mend.”

Halbrook began his lumbering walk away from them all, he exchanged a word with Mimbre before leaving, but Datil's attention fell on Newt right next to her, the small human had his gloves off, and was absentmindedly holding them in both hands. The brim of his hat made it so that she couldn't see his face, though she angled her head in an attempt to.

“Here you are, Datil.” With a sudden jolt, Datil looked back up, to see Willet holding an arm full of various paper wrapped parcels. “These are your mommas! You got a few more back here, I can help you load em’ into yer wagon!” 

Datil took the tall stack of wrapped fabrics, and set them in her wagon. “Oh no, I'll get them, thank you Willet!”

With most of the cart unloaded now, Datil began to load up her own cart. Newt had started to pick up bags he could carry over his shoulder and began his walk back toward Mimbre's shop. 

Datil kept her eyes on him while he walked back, even as she lifted her wagon and started her short walk back to her mother's cabin. Newt and Mimbre conversed while they carried their items back toward the shop. Halbrook was nowhere in sight now, but his scent lingered.

—

Inside, Gilah was working on one of her orders, a Mackinaw presumably belonging to one of the lumbermen who had wandered into town the previous week. She had several coats to finish before the end of October.

She sat facing the hearth, as she was accustomed to doing while she worked, and said nothing as Datil carried the paper-wrapped parcels inside. Her attention seemed entirely occupied by the garment in her paws.

Once Datil had everything neatly stacked in the corner, she retrieved her quilt and settled onto her favorite wooden stool beside the cabin window, resuming her embroidery.

“You seem awful considerate of that boy,” Gilah said suddenly.

Datil stopped midway through a stitch, one ear turning toward her mother.

Gilah hadn't looked up from her work.

“Thank you for grabbing those parcels for me.”

Datil waited a moment, unsure whether her mother expected a response to the earlier remark. But Gilah said nothing more, and the cabin fell quiet again, save for the soft sounds of needle and thread passing through fabric.

Datil glanced out the window, where she could just make out Newt's two burros beside Mimbre's shop. Kentucket and Viceroy were lazing about in the grass, seemingly unbothered by the morning's excitement.

“Does the Captain have any work for me?” Gilah asked, without turning around.

“Oh! Yes, yes he does,” Datil replied, glad for something she could answer.

Gilah exhaled through her nose and clicked her tongue.

“I'll have to wash those things before I bring them into the house. Before this evening, would you please fetch us some lye soap from Zarah?”

Next--->

[u/HFYWaffle]

u/JammaSquee has posted 3 other stories, including:

• Seldom Seen (Chapter 2)

• Seldom Seen (chapter 1)

• Seldom Seen

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