Really, she was simply trying to get through her day. The intermittent fog and the heavy pattering rain didn't bother her in the least, if anything it'd help her in the hunt she needed to do. It usually took a good deal to start grating at her, but what really was starting to get under Groa's hide this morning was the young freeborn who had taken to trailing after her, apparently one who fancied himself a bard in the making. He had hung back when she had visited the healer to discuss some things but had once more closed the distance between them. Outright ignoring him wasn't deterring him in the least. The dark lioness pinned her ears back against her skull as she walked, willing with all her might that the would-be songbird would wander off to bother someone else. It wasn't like she was the only one out and about. There were flashier folks around, lions of actual rank and renown. She had things to do! Groa had to be back before too, too long and never mind the pointlessness of trying to actually catch something with an ill-practiced minstrel on her tail. Finally slowing her pace to a stop, Groa sighed and half turned to face the lad, barely having fully come into his mane from the look of him. Too young as far as she was concerned and being soaked to the bone wasn't doing him any favors. It made him look younger still. "What's your name?" Her tone was as much a statement as it was an inquiry. She wasn't actually remotely interested, but it'd get him to stop his chirping for her to try to suss out what he could possibly want.
"Ah, Hjalti is my name! Glad my words finally..."
Before he got any further, the lioness interjected. "Hjalti, may I ask...How long have you been," She paused to chew on the question for a brief moment. "Do you have a mentor, someone you're practicing under?"
"No, not really. I've heard plenty of tales and songs, and now I want to tell the sagas and sing the songs too. I've been told I'm pretty good."
The 'by whom' that was so desperately wanting to roll of her tongue was bitten back. "I'm sure. Now, Hjalti, is there something you actually need? I can't have you following me around."
"Aw, come now! Surely some pleasant company on such a miserable, rainy morning would be just the thing for-"
Ugh, she was already starting to feel a lowkey nagging fatigue from dealing with the persistent wanna be bard. She'd need to disengage and go on her way soon or the rest of her day may be at risk of falling behind or some things potentially not getting done. Groa did not want that to happen. Her expression remained neutral but the low lash of her tail spoke of her simmering mood. "The morning is fine and I rather like the weather. Please don't assume to know what I'm doing or what I need. I'm going to need quiet and to move quickly. An extra noisy extra body is going to prevent me from accomplishing what I need to today. Hjalti, respectfully, please go find someone else to serenade. If you aren't enjoying yourself out here, I'm certain there's someone who would be delighted to invite you into their den for you to practice your trade."
The younger male was quiet for a long moment, his expression shifting from the, if she had to guess, attempted charming expression, to confusion, before settling into aggravated. He started winding up into trying to argue his case, asking why she doesn't want some stories in her day, and so on.
She was waiting for him to run out of steam, but it seemed perhaps those pursuing becoming a bard just had so very much hot air. The dark lioness waited for Hjalti to take a breath before rounding back at him, loudly. "I don't belong to you! My time isn't yours to make demands of!"
XxXPandamoniumXxX
