[Poggio]

Because his sister was heavy with child, it was up to him to dawn the Red cloak and make deliveries. It was just was well since he could only burn tasteless breads and sweets. This time his basket was full of goodies for his grandmother that lived across the forest. Tightening his grasp on the basket he walked into the woods. He was brave enough to not need a hunter, after he had done it before. So long as he followed the path he was fine. About midway through his journey he paused to nourish himself, it was then he saw an apple tree. AS long as he could still see the path. He followed the trail of fruits picking from various trees till he came to a river and feasted there.

He was minding his own business picking mushrooms when an opportunity arose and his ear picked up on the sound of some one munching on apples by the path. Standing from the patch he slunk through the trees to see if the one eating fruit was a hunter or prey.

He added a bit of his grans food to his stomach, uncorking the wine and gingerly taking sips to wash down the food. The apples left a lasting sweet taste in his mouth. Soon he started to indulge becoming lethargic to his duties, enjoying the sun and the sounds of nature.

The crunching ceased before he arrived though no sound of leaving feet met his ears. Once he was within smelling range his nose found the sweetness of wine, bread and soap, he grinned. This was no hunter and though it did not smell like a child there was no hint either of gunpowder or old blood to call it a hunter. Slinking from the bushes he found himself in front of a sleeping man with the face of a near child only just coming off. As the eyes opened he tilted his head and remained still as the man-boy blustered and asked if he were a man or beast, he bowed. "You may call me the marvelous meticulous, fantastical Miiiister growl. I was just picking mushrooms for my dinner when I heard the a sound and came to see what it was."

The utter ridiculousness of the name made him laugh, though he kept the bread pointed at the man beast. Unsure he took a cue from the ragged man and curtsied. “Good day to you sir... You may call me Red.” Watching it seemed harmless simply staring , until he scratched his oddly pointed ear. “Mr. Growl...” He inched closer breaking off a piece of the bread. He reached out and offered it to him.

Daintily reaching forward he nipped off a bit of the bread. It tasted nasty but he swallowed it all the same and gracefully moving one leg forward, folded himself down into a sitting postition. This one was not very bright or else poorly educated and those sorts both lent well to his giving the impression of being something tame. "Hello Boy-red, scritch me behind the ears and I will give you a bit of good advice."

Impressed with the mans flexibility he clapped at the little show. The request was an odd feeling both foolish and curious he walked forward to oblige. At first he thought his eyes were deceiving him. When he reached to stroke the side of the mans head he found nothing. Trailing up along the side of his scalp to the area where the mans fingers once scratched, he felt the brush of feathery fur. .Flinching, his fingers continued to curiously trail up the edge of the cartilage. Doing as he would with a dog he stroked both the ear and the base while gently adding his nail.

The man boy, or more boy since the voice matched the face more than the body, still seemed nervous and so he rolled his shoulder and carefully tipped his head to bring the hand under his chin, "Thank you boy-red, If you go just a bit further from the path you will come across sweet berry bushes."

He bit his bottom lip as he scratched. He had already come so far. Checking the shadow of the trees against the moss he saw that he still had daylight yet to travel. Sweet berries would have made a great pie, and his grandmother made the best pie. The man beast before him seemed to know the woods well. "Mr Growl... will you take me back to the path if I go to get the berries?"

As the scratching ceased he pulled free of the hand and nodded. “Yes, I can do that for you.” Standing he bowed once more, “I live to serve.”

The rise was sudden and he found himself falling backwards to make way for the man. Another bow made him grin once more and this time he offered his hand to his guide. “Thank you Mr. Growl, please lead the way.”