Maris watched as a thick plume of smoke climbed the sky from the chimney of the stone house. She had finally made it. The house sat at the foot of a rather large tree, the tree bending over it and it's leaves draped over the roof of the house. There was an outhouse a ways from it but otherwise the area had no sign of anybody else inhabiting it.
She walked towards the house carefully while surveying the surrounding area with a scrutinizing stare. In a way she was surprised she found the place. It was extremely difficult to find considering there wasn't any landmarks to speak of to help her find her way there. As she reached the door she let out her breath realizing she had been holding it. She stared at it for a moment before moving to knock on the door but was surprised when it opened itself up. She stared dumbfounded at the man that stood before her. His grizzly beard, his rough and leathery skin, and the leather cowboy hat that sat on his head. He gave her a look of surprise before giving her a large grin.
"Maris!" He said as he gave her a large hug.
"Gus." She said, tiredly pushing him off of her.
He let go without resistance.
"Ya' look like you were chewed up by an ogre an' spit out." He said with an amused chuckle.
"Just let me in." She said exasperatedly as she pushed past him into the house.
Gus looked out into the forest, his expression becoming dark before he closed the door and followed after Maris.
"An' why might you be here." He asked as he sat down at the table across from her.
Maris took an apple from the plate that sat in the middle of the table and chewed it viciously.
"Do you have any food?" She asked.
Gus gave her an exasperated look before getting up. He came back with some bread and salt cured jerky. She finished these off within moments of laying her hands on them.
"So... why might you be here." He asked again.
Maris returned her attention to Gus after finishing off the last of her bread to find him staring at her with an intense look in his eyes.
"I need your help." She said simply.
Gus nodded as if this made sense.
"The sanctuary has been purged by... an old friend of mine. I do not know if he is still alive, but I thought you might know where he resides so that I may learn of his current state. I am still being pursued. They've turned their back on me and I need to ask for his assistance even if he turns me down." She said gravely.
"Why not ask me for help?" Gus asked.
Maris gave a mirthless chuckle.
"I know better then that," She replied. "I'm asking for help now and even now I know I'm treading on thin ice."
Gus gave her another of his grins and said nothing. He made his way to a shabby shelf and shifted a few books aside before coming back and tossing a parchment onto the table next to Maris.
"It's a map," He said before taking a piece of charcoal and circling two areas. "This is where we are an' this is where ya' need to go."
Maris took the map and folded it, placing it in her pocket.
"Thank you." She said.
"You're welcome." Gus replied.
She looked at him for a moment before leaving his house and going on her way. Gus watched her leave from his door way, his expression growing dark once again. He watched her disappear into the forest.
"Watch your back, kid."