SNEAK PEEK - ARLUIN THE CENTAUR - CHAPTER THREE (Patreon)

You follow him inside of the old building, getting a better look at the repair work he's been attempting. As you get a good look around it becomes obvious what this used to be. There are paddocks set up, broken down now, that used to hold horses. There is old tack, rugged and worn leather along the walls, saddles sitting on old wooden horses, and moldy hay strewn about in the corner. You turn your nose up at it and try to avoid everything until you duck under the tarp with the centaur. "So uh...nice place you got here."

He huffs, stirring the cauldron again. "It'll do. Needs some repairs."

Clearly. But surely the madam didn't just put him out here like this! His attitude doesn't exactly invite questioning, but you're too nervous to go quiet for long. "So where are you staying in the meantime?"

"What do you mean? Does it look like I have anywhere else to go?" He gestures to the tarp, a few crates that make up his belongings, an old blanket and some burlap bags of oats, grains and fruits. 

"Repairing an old carriage house like this is gonna take a really long time. You can't just expect to stick it out under this tarp for months."

"Had worse. Had nothing before this. It'll do just fine. What's it matter to you anyhow?" He gives you a long eye, waiting for you to make some other comment about his 'home'. 

"Nothing! I guess. Just making conversation." You sit back on the blanket, trying to resist the urge to wrap yourself up in it. There is a vague, horsey scent that's much more obvious now that you two are in close quarters together. It's not unpleasant, but earthy and rich. Despite his sour attitude, it's causing a few things to stir up inside of you. 

"Humph. Not much for conversation." He admits and sniffs at the pot again. He reaches over, taking a handful of apple slices and adds them to the pot before covering it again.