On the edge of the forest.

[Lan]

Lan pulled up on his horse to a clearing at the edge of the forest.
It was a perfect place to build a cottage. He had noted a small stream bubbling about twenty yards away, and there were natural herbs and berries growing abundantly in patches near the clearing. He rained in his horse, whom he had paid the last of his money for, to a halt at the edge of the forest, tethering it to a tree and letting it munch on some berries. The horse, whos name was blackjack, was a very fast and reliable horse, and was quite a bit intellegent than most men Lan had met. They had bonded over the road, and trusted each other. Blackjack was small for a horse, but could outrun and outlast the big battlehorses any day.
lan started plotting the plans for his new home.

[Lan]

Lan had hired some help from the nearby town, in exchange for food he caught with his bow.
By the end of two weeks, the cottage was done. It wasn't much, but it had a bed, a water barrel, a window, and a rack for his bow and arrows. He also had a stand for Arissa's firebird arrows, it was his prized possesion, and he displayed it proudly. Satisfied at last, he picked up his bow and arrow and headed off into the woods.

[Lan]

He only had four arows left, the others had been broken when pried loose from the animals he had hunted the past week. It was time to get new ones. He went back to his cottage, bolting the door tightly, and hopped on Blackjack, He figured he'd have to go to the nearest town with a decent smithy, Skingrad. So he and Blackjack trodded down the road, the morning dew was still on the grass, and birds flitted overhead. lan sighed contently and adjusted the cloth around his eyes. life was good.