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SOMEWHERE - LATE MORNING
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Cavro tramps along through the underbrush, making noise quite intentionally in an effort to spook anything that may take interest in their scents as the pair of wayward wanderers continue on the path North-ish. In fact, their path has wavered quite a bit, a snaking zigzag, though North-ish is still a generally good descriptor. The badger is starting to show signs of wear from four nights among the leaves, with bags under his eyes, mats in his fur and a staining of dried mud up his left leg to his hip where he had missed a jump across a shallow, but deep cut stream.
Erika is making her way ahead of Cavro, being the unspoken designated 'trailblazer' by virtue of having most of the sense of direction between the two. She sighs quietly as she stops to make sure her partner is still coming after, hunger and constant exertion having gnawed at her usually good mood a great deal as well. "...coming?"
Cavro pushes aside a branch as he tries to cut a straighter path toward the okapi, nodding toward her with a strained smile. He doesn't answer immediately as he lets the branch swing back behind him. "Uh-huh, I I I am right here."
Erika nods quietly, then turns to push forward, grunting at a branch as she pushes it. "Should've found something already...", she mutters under her breath, trying to keep the annoyance and desperation away from her voice but it feels like it's getting harder by the day. The badger behind her is slow...
Cavro looks down as he steps around a tree, dragging his paw along the bark. "Something? To to to eat I'd hope... Maybe we we we should have followed that stream." He follows it by muttering; "Or not... What do do do I know?"
Erika gives Cavro a sharp glance over her shoulder before she can stop herself: "Follow it which way?" She then turns to continue forward, forcing herself to not say the things she's nearly said several times about her companion's ability to be out here.
Cavro looks to Erika, ears flattening a bit as he gives her a hurt look. "I I I don't know... Least we'd have water all the time..." He slows, trotting a bit to the right and pulling a branch from a berry bush, his walk slowing as he examines the ripe, deep purple fruits.
Erika glances at Cavro: "Don't eat those. Don't wanna have you all stomach-crampy." She pauses to look around and frowns, clearly lost but just as clearly not wanting to admit it. "Hmm..."
Cavro hums, looking at Erika as his stomach protests against her order. "Mhm." As soon as she's looking the other way, he pops a few of the berries into his mouth before tossing the rest of the branch aside, careful to only chew when she's not looking. The berry juice that starts to stain his lips is a bit of a giveaway. They really are very juicy and tasty, if a bit tart.
Erika picks a direction after a moment of frowning at the forest around them, continuing forward: "This way." The okapi is definitely agitated and not just because she's been on constant lookout for predators and edible plants for four days. "The forest should give away to... something clearer, soon." The forest, however, seems to not have gotten this note of hers.
Cavro swallows his light, unsatisfying snack as he looks about them. "It looks the same as as as it did when we woke up... Are you sure we we we aren't walking in circles?"
Erika snorts: "Yes." She swallows another retort, not liking the thoughts that have started to surface in her mind during this journey at all.
Cavro nods, following behind her, turning his eyes back to the ground to keep from stumbling over anything. He huffs, shaking his head. "If we're not in in in some kind of nightmare, that is..." He draws his hands up to rub his arms as a stiff breeze shakes the canopy above them.
Erika shudders, covering her chest in a sudden shiver: "Don't say that. Makes it too real."
Cavro lets out a dry chuckle, though more out of nerves than anything else. "You said it yourself... How big could a a a forest be, with no clearings? So few streams, and and and it hasn't even rained once!" He's tempting fate a bit with that line, the sky has been full of brooding clouds since before they woke that morning.
Erika lets out a dry, somewhat bitter laugh as she continues onward: "Big... enough. Apparently. Not like you-" She frowns, but says what's on her mind anyway: "Not like you'd find any better directions."
Cavro hesitates, giving her a bit of a look. "That's why you you you are leading, with all that experience you have wandering around out out outside the walls..." His voice drops a bit, stepping over a fallen trunk; "Wish you'd learned how how how to start a fire in that time..."
Erika frowns: "Never needed one before. Always found my way." She gives Cavro a sharp glance: "If you have ideas, I'm all ears."
Cavro looks up at her after hopping on one foot, stumbling a bit as he gets over the log. "Dry tinder and and and some flint! I said before! That's all I I I ever learned..." He continues pushing through some bushes, biting a few of the same purple berries from them under cover of getting through.
Erika pushes forward, her desire to wait for Cavro lessening by the moment: "Let's just keep going."
Cavro frowns at the tone in her voice, swallowing the berries quickly as he pushes to catch up to her. "Yeah... Just keep going. I'm sorry, I I I know I'm annoying you... I I I just wish it felt like we we we are getting somewhere."
Erika glances at Cavro sharper than before: "You'd have that feeling if you ever left Respite."
Cavro gives her that hurt look again, though his eyes narrow a bit. "Why would I I I leave Respite? Everything I care about is there."
Erika pauses in her walking to look at Cavro: "Everything? Nothing outside worth exploring?" Her voice is definitely hurt as well, but it's obvious these thoughts have lingered for longer than just this impromptu trip.
Cavro huffs, "Everything! The the the forge, mother, and and and you and Smitty... Well, except when you go out..." He looks down, shaking his head. "Anything outside for me, there is is is nothing." He looks back up at her, than around them. "What do I I I want with this? It's cold! And there's nothing to to to eat! And it's lonely!"
Erika looks at Cavro coldly, regarding her childhood friend as though in a new light: "...it can be lonelier if you want."
Cavro frowns at the look she's giving him, considering her for a moment. His voice catches a bit in his throat as he speaks. "I... No..." He nearly whimpers as he takes a step toward her. "I'll die... You you you wouldn't..."
Erika looks stern for a moment, then sighs as she starts to tear up: "N-no. I wouldn't." She shies her hand away from Cavro's touch: "D-don't. Sorry."
Cavro steps back away from her when she shies away, the heartbreak almost audible. "I... I'm sorry... You you you would have a a a better chance making it back if I I I weren't so useless... I I I don't belong out here... But it it it's probably my fault we're lost..."
Erika frowns, wanting nothing more than to deny Cavro's words but can't. "...l-let's g-get you home." She forces herself to turn away from Cavro, both wanting to hug him better and hating his home-loving guts right now.
Cavro stares blankly after her, falling into following a few meters behind her in silence, not trusting himself to say any more to the only chance he has of surviving this insanity.
Erika continues forward with renewed fervor... or increased attempt at hiding her tears from one she isn't supposed to hide them from.
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EVENING
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Xochi sits near the fireplace, coiled up and resting as the cold of the fall evening creeps in on her. She holds a cup of hot cocoa close to her, humming to herself quietly.
Vix enters the bar and gravitates toward the fireplace as well, rubbing her arms as she chases away the cold of the autumn evening. "Brrr...Heya, Xochi..."
Rhask yawns a little as she enters the Minnow, having spent most of her day at the marketplace just looking at all of the unusual and interesting things the merchants had on display, as well as buying herself the occasional snack with bits of whatever money she'd brought along from home. For now, however, she intends to spend the evening indoors with a nice, hot meal.
Xochi opens her eyes, then smiles at the cat, "Ah, Vix. It has been some time. I hope you are well."
Vix grins. "Doin' good. Found a cute boy to smooch."
Xochi blinks, then chuckles, "That's good, I imagine. I am happy for you!"
Rhask looks over her shoulder for a short moment as she takes a seat at the bar, the voices of two of the other patrons drifting over to her. With the tiniest of shrugs, she redirects her attention to the barkeep and places her order.
Vix purrs happily. "So what have you been up to?"
Xochi sips her cocoa, smiling, "I have been gardening, mostly. Enjoying my freedom. Making new friends. I have kept myself busy."
Vix: Ah, lovely~. I've been picking up cooking a bit. Makin' some new stuff to sell in the mornings~
Rhask perks up quite readily as her meal arrives, nice and hot, along with a refreshing drink. After a quick word of thanks to the barkeep, she starts to dig into her food, her long tail swishing happily behind her.
Xochi nods, "I shall have to stop by your booth once again and see for myself! Cooking is a skill I have not attempted. You enjoy it?"
Vix nods. "It's pretty fun! My cute boyfriend helps me out every now and then, between smooches~"
Xochi giggles, a throaty, raspy sound. "Your cute boyfriend must enjoy this. Also he must enjoy the cooking."
Vix hums, thinking about Nesseth. "He's the nicest lizard ever~. You might have seen him, he's one of the town guards"
Xochi tilts her head, "Lizard town guard? I know of Nesseth, yes? He is most kind. We had initial differences, but have come to become friends as well."
Rhask blinks and glances over at the two ladies near the fireplace again upon hearing talk about another lizard. She watches curiously for a few moments, then decides to finish up her food, first.
Vix chuckles. "Ah, that's good. You're pretty nice too~"
Xochi bows her head abashedly, "Ah, thank you, Vix. I certainly try to be... I have much I wish to atone for."
Vix tilts her head. "Hm? You don't really give off that kind of feeling..."
Xochi chuckles, "No? Well, it is not my own sins I atone for, I suppose. I have ancestors whose sins weigh upon me. The spirits ask much of me, to repent for what has been done in the past."
Rhask clinks her fork against her plate as she finishes up her meal, then takes a sip of the accompanying drink. She glances over at Xochi and Vix again, curiosity slowly rising.
Vix blinks. "Ah, I don't really think much of my own parents. It's been a while since I last saw 'em."
Xochi 's smile fades, "I never met my parents. Only stories." She sighs, then glances up, spotting Rhask, her frown deepens. "Ah... I am sorry. If my presence upsets you, I can leave for the night."
Rhask hums thoughtfully, then shakes her head once she locks eyes with Xochi. "Hm? Oh, no, no, I'm not bothered at all! What... what makes you think that?"
Xochi tilts her head, "I am a snake... most lizards..." She shakes her head, "No, please, I made a poor assumption. Please, join us, if you wish. I am Xochi."
Vix tilts her head even more curiously.
Rhask smiles warmly and slides off of her seat and makes her way over to the fireplace. She takes a seat and nods at both of the others. "Sorry if I caused any worry there. My name's Rhask."
Vix meows in greeting. "Evenin' Rhask, I'm Vix~"
Xochi smiles back at the lizard. "It is a pleasure, Rhask. We were simply speaking of Vix's good fortunes of late."
Rhask tilts her head towards Vix, curiosity evident in her eyes. "Oh? You've been lucky lately? How nice!"
Vix grins. "Just last night I struck a nice deal with a rich, fluffy cat, in fact~"
Xochi chuckles, "Vix is a cat of business! She has her own stall in the market, and it seems it shall be expanding."
Rhask perks up a bit more at Xochi's mention of Vix being a business cat. "Ooh, the marketplace is such a nice spot! Which stall do you have, Vix? I might have seen it earlier today."
Vix: "It's the sundries stall, with the snacks and trinkets." She takes a longer look at Rhask, unintentionally lingering on her ample chest. "Er, I think I've seen you around, actually!"
Rhask shifts a little uncertainly as Vix's eyes linger on her chest for a moment. "Uh... m-maybe! I didn't see anyone else really wearing clothing like mine, so..." She manages a smile, "I don't think I had a chance to stop at your stall, though, but I'll have to take a look tomorrow!"
Vix smiles, averting her eyes from Rhask's chest. "Hope to see you there!"
Xochi: "I met Vix when I first came to Respite. It is her who introduced me to many of this towns best qualities, such as the hot spring, and this very bar."
Rhask chuckles. "Really? Maybe you two could show me around one day soon, then. I've only just arrived a week or two ago, I think, so I don't really know much about the town."
Xochi perks up slightly, "Oh? I would be happy to do such a thing! I am new to the town myself yet, but I can offer what little insights I have to a newcomer."
Vix: Oh, I'd be glad to give a tour! That would make for a fun afternoon...
Rhask smiles happily, revealing a set of sharp teeth, much like any typical lizard. "That could be fun to do, yes, if it's not too much of a bother for you two."
Xochi chuckles, waving a hand dismissively, "I am an old snake, Rhask. I am, in a way, retired. There is little to ask in this that would be a bother to me."
Vix grins. "That sounds more like you're generally adventurous, actually~"
Rhask tilts her head at Xochi. "Really? You don't seem that old at all. But... I'd like to get shown around a bit, yes. It'll make the town a bit easier to wander through, I imagine."
Xochi glances back at her coils, "A snakes age shows more in our length. I assure you, I am quite old, yes. I am not quite so adventurous, as much as I wished it were so." She laughs at the latter comment, just a little.
Vix: Mmm...wouldn't mind goin' to the hot spring. The cold months are perfect for that~
Xochi nods, "Though Respite is still rather warm, the cold does creep up on a snake such as myself. The hot springs are very enjoyable."
Rhask grins happily. "The cold doesn't bother me at all. Where I'm from, the evenings are frigid and even the days are cool." She nods, "Though... the hot springs... that might be nice to soak in."
Xochi tilts her head at Rhask curiously. "Ah, I envy you that. I had thought most lizards were at least a bit cold-blooded like myself."
Vix shivers a bit. "Your hometown sounds rough, buddy."
Rhask shrugs her shoulders, guiding attention to the colorful shoulder wrap she's wearing on top of her outfit. "Well, we wear these thick clothes there to insulate us against the cold." She giggles again, "And it's really quite beautiful!"
Xochi nods, admiring the shawl, "It is beautiful, yes. I once had a great deal of beautiful clothing, but I left it behind when I came here." She waves down the length of her torso at the simple cloth tied around her waist and down over the top of her tail. "I admit, my tastes these days are rather simple."
Vix hums. "I don't really have a big variety of clothes. A new winter coat would be nice, though. Or maybe a wrap like yours, Rhask~"
Rhask hums curiously. "I might be able to make something like this, if this town has the proper materials for it... I spent a lot of time helping sew things back home." She looks down at her shoulder wrap, "Though the designs might be a bit harder to get right. I'm not great at dyeing things yet." She smiles over at Xochi, "But with a bit of effort, I could probably make something nice for both of you!"
Xochi bows her head, "That would be too kind, Rhask. I would not ask such a thing of you. I make do."
Vix purrs. "I'd at least have to trade something for it~"
Rhask chuckles a bit. "Well, I don't really have anything else to do, since I'm just a traveler, and... well, I know I'll run out of money sooner or later, so if I could make something to cushion things, that might make it easier for myself, while I make it easier for others."
Xochi smiles, "Sounds an admirable course of action. If you do make such a thing, I shall glady purchase one."
Vix grins. "Consider this a pre-order!"
Rhask blushes a little beneath her scales. "W-well, then I'll have to set out to the marketplace as soon as possible and see if I can find the right materials for these... You two make me feel really welcome here in town, thank you."
Xochi nods, "Respite has done much to welcome me, how can I not do the same for those who come after me?"
Vix chuckles. "Of course, you're welcome here anytime~"
Rhask smiles. "The world outside of Vamas is quite a sight to see. I didn't think it'd be quite so welcoming, honestly..."
Xochi: "Nor did I, outside of Orela. I had fear, but also hopes. It was good to see the hopes made real and the fears... more distant."
Vix side-hugs Xochi. "Well, glad to help both of you feel welcome~"
Xochi gives Vix a rather bashful look before giving a gentle hug back. "Thank you, Vix. And I will do my best to pass on such a feeling to you, Rhask."
Rhask lets out a little laugh. "I can say you're already doing it pretty well, Xochi, Vix."
Xochi sips her cocoa, "It is my pleasure. What brought you to Respite, if I might ask?"
Rhask pauses for a short moment before answering. "Just traveling, now that I'm old enough to head out on my own. The place I'm from is a bit isolated, but I've heard enough from the folks that do visit that I wanted to set out and see things myself."
Xochi nods with a small smile, "A great reason, to be certain. Would that I had been able to set out and see the world at your age..." She pauses, a brief frown crossing her face, but it passes shortly as she takes another sip.
Rhask nods. "It's nice, seeing things in person that I wouldn't have seen back home, but..." She shrugs again, "This is about as far as I can get with what I have, I think."
Xochi chuckles quietly, "There are worse places to take a break from your travels, I would wager."
Rhask nods. "Probably, yes. This place seems almost like home, just... hot instead of cold. I'm not sure how much I can tolerate the heat later on, but this season is pleasant."
Xochi grins, "You are lucky you did not come during the late summer, then." She laughs, "I rather enjoyed the heat, but even then..." She begins to tell Rhask about her general experiences and impressions of Respite from her life there over the past few months.
Vix quietly listens to Xochi's tales, purring over a hot drink all the while.