As Erik gulped in concern, what followed was him trying to explain himself to the best of his ability.
"I-I believe I can explain!" he exclaimed. "It was not my intent to trespass! I was simply crossing the border into Esteri, when I was attacked by bandits. They were about to raid the caravan I was joined by! They knocked me out, and next thing I knew, I was woken up by this filly here, strapped to her back."
"H-Hey now!" Sidnya replied. "Do not call me a filly, human! I take offense to that!"
Brrrrrrrppphhh!
Sidnya's outburst was followed by another outburst, to which she blushed once again. Erik simple tried to hold his breath.
Silence fell over all who surrounded Erik, including the elder himself, who seemed to give him a quizzical look.
"The border, you say?" he ask. He stepped closer and knelt down to get a closer look at Erik. "Look me in the eye, boy... is that true?"
Erik looked straight in the elder's eyes and replied, "W-With all due respect, I know I'm a stranger to you, but... what reason would I have to lie?" The scent of Sidnya's fart started getting to him and he began coughing. "*koff, koff* I swear to you, *koff* There would be a trace of the caravan where she found me. I can take you back there and prove it--!"
"We will not be wasting a trip to the border," Elder Frook interrupted as he stood back up on his horse legs. "There is no need to waste such time to find fault in this scenario..."
Ugh, why doesn't he believe me?! Erik shouted in his head.
Elder Frook then turned his gaze to Sidnya. "Sidnya," he said. "Where did you find him?"
"Our hunting grounds, Elder," she confidently assured. "Nowhere near the border. He lies through his teeth! It's likely he was just trying to flee Esteri."
Wait, what? Erik realized. "H-Hold on, I wasn't at the border?"
Elder Frook raised his hand toward Erik, signalling him to be quiet. He then asked Sidnya, "Was he alone?"
Sidnya nodded. "Alone and... and on the ground, Elder."
"On the ground?" he asked. "Knocked out, I presume?"
"Y-Yes?" Sidnya said, somewhat surprised.
"Now tell me... how did he smell?" The Elder asked.
Sidnya fell silent for a brief moment. "He, he, well... he smelled foul, Elder."
"Foul how?"
"Foul like a fart," she replied. "My guess is that he is must be among those Bumm bandits that have been cropping up recently."
Bumm bandits? Erik said to himself. THAT'S what they call themselves?
"And since you picked him up and brought him here, has he once broke any wind?" The Elder asked.
Sidnya was about to answer, but stopped herself, as she looked down at Erik. Erik looked back up at her, curious as to whether or not she would be truthful.
"N-No, actually," she confirmed. "He hasn't so much as let out a toot, come to think of it."
"And yet, there was, in the middle of our hunting grounds, knocked out and smelling of gas?" The Elder pressed.
Sidnya lowered her head in s sort of shame. "Y-Yes, Elder..."
The Elder then put his hand on the top of Sidnya's head, and rubbed it slowly. "Sidnya, do not fret. I do not mean to assume you a liar. I am simply asking you of your thought process - for what reason would he smell such a way if he himself is not flatulent?"
"I-Is there a way to confirm that?" Sidnya asked. "After all, it's not too far-fetched to assume he can control it, perhaps?"
"Perhaps," Elder Frook agreed. "But then why would he be knocked out, alone?"
Sidnya could not answer.
"You have his belongings, I assume?"
Sidnya nodded, and grabbed Erik's bag of supplies from her side, the one opposite to where Erik himself was facing.
Elder Frook then took the bag and examined the contents himself - he took out each of Erik's things out one by one. First Erik's blade, then his buckler shield, shortly followed by whatever food and drink he had stashed away. He handed each of the items to other nearby centaurs and had them further examine them. Erik wanted to vocalize his opinions on the matter, but decided to simply let things play out.
"Unstrap him from your back, Sidnya," he said, "but keep his hands bound just in case. I wish to speak with this human in my quarters alone."
"Yes, Elder Frook," Sidnya nodded, before she turned to face Erik and untied his restraints. This allowed Erik to stand up from laying stomach-first on Sidnya's back, and he took a couple seconds to get his bearings. Hands still tied behind him, he looked to Elder Frook and replied, "T-Thank you."
Elder Frook said nothing, but instead extended his hand towards the single large tent towards the back of the village.
"We will be back, Sidnya," Elder Frook said to her. "Be assured, you are not in any trouble. I simply believe this must be some sort of misunderstanding."
Sidnya nodded silently as Elder Frook began walking towards his tent, beckoning Erik to follow alongside him.
"...So, should I talk now, or...?" Erik cautiously asked.
"If you wish," Elder Frook answered.
"OK, good," said Erik. "So, like I said, me and the caravan were just crossing the border when we were ambushed by bandits--"
"The Bumms?" Elder Frook asked.
"I-I guess, is that what they're called?"
"Indeed - I take it you're an outsider to Esteri?"
"Yes, I am... b-but, anyway, the bandits attack and... OK, I know how this is gonna sound, but--"
"They knocked you out with their flatulence, yes?"
Erik paused in surprise. "Y-Yeah... how did you know that?"
Frook replied, "I realize that this may sound strange to an outsider such as yourself, human... but occurrences like that are actually rather common in these lands."
"They are? How gassy are the people here?!"
"Significantly so," Frook answered. "Regardless, continue."
"Well... that's the thing," Erik admitted. "After they knocked me out, I don't know what happened. I woke up strapped to that girl's back, and she took me here."
Elder Frook just nodded. As the two arrived at the tent, Elder Frook allowed Erik to enter first, with him following shortly after. The inside of the tent was slightly lit with glass lanterns that were placed along the inner perimeter, with a small desk in the center. Elder Frook made his way to the opposite end of the table and sat down, motioning for Erik to sit at the end in front of the tent's entrance.
Wehn Erik sat down, Elder Frook said, "For the time being, human... I am going to trust you, but on one simple fact: Sidnya found you at our hunting grounds. Our hunting grounds are in the valleys of Esteri ten miles southeast of the border. If what you say is true, and the last place you remember being at is the border, there's no way you made it that far on your own."
"T-Then, how would I have gotten there?" Erik asked.
"My guess," Elder Frook replied, "would be that the bandits took one of the horses for themselves, and simply took you somewhere wide open and isolated from civilization. The further away you would be from the border and the caravan, the less likely you would be to know where you were."
"So, fart on me, then leave me for dead, huh?" Erik said in a sarcastic tone. "Real great guys..."
"You're lucky we found you," Elder Frook assured. "I understand that Sidnya assumed the worst of you, but she has reason to be."
"Right, she thought I was one of them, or something?"
"It wouldn't be the first time the Bumms attempted to assault us on our land," said Elder Frook. "We prefer to err on the side of caution."
"So then, why trust me?" Erik asked.
"For the time being," Elder Frook reiterated. "I simply choose not to send my villagers out to where you claim to have been in the off-chance that this is some elaborate trap."
"Then what about the caravan?"
"None of our concern."
Erik couldn't help but glare at Elder Frook in frustrated silence.
"So... what now?" Erik asked.
"I will allow you to take shelter here," Frook answered, "but only for a few days. Should you do anything while you are hear that threatens us, we will swiftly take care of you. You are outnumbered here."
"Sounds like a threat, not a welcome..." Erik said.
"Not a threat... a warning." Frook answered.
Erik rolled his eyes. "So, you intent to keep my arms tied behind my back the whole time?"
"We will untie you shortly, and take you to one of our homes for you to recollect yourself. After a few days, Sidnya will take you to a nearby human town."
Erik sat still and said nothing for a few moments, before deciding it was best not to argue or say anything further. So he nodded and said, "Thank you, Elder."
Frook nodded and replied, "Now, stand up and turn to face me - I will untie you myself."
Erik stood up from his end of desk, then turned his back to Elder Frook. As Elder Frook untied Erik's hands--
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