Rocks and Fable

[Jessie]

Eupeereeth. A place of many names, to fit this undesirable taste that feeds few, and the sights of a continuous end of black and grays that tend to blind those of heart. The harsh temperatures that border that of the region of Yigel, neighboring afar near the Riena Lake. It is these murky waters in which our tale takes place.

A vile stench of everlasting death eroded the sides of the swampy territory as weathered, leather boots fought to travel against the muck. The terrifying images, mirroring off that of the waters' reflections were like a mirror you would find somewhere haunted, distorting the images of the truth, into even more horrifying creatures of the wasteland.

Clinging tight to the maroon-tainted cloak, the fragile girl was in search of something. Something so valuable, that she was either brave or stupid to risk her life for. Appearance trapped within the manipulating ruffles of the over-sized cotton that clung to her body, it was safe to say that she was not a tainted blood, or in fact if she had been, she was one of few that lacked the worse of the curse's effects.

Skyline orbs peered out of the shadow of her face, darting like an eagle on watch as she searched the waters of the Lake, her steps getting deeper and deeper until the mud was hovering above her kneecaps. The starving plant life and essence-less trees that had polluted the lake were majestic in their own way - as if to welcome like the voice of a Siren, to any victim that stepped into the Lake, only to walk effortlessly to their own demise.

However, for this individual, that was not the case. She was looking for something more than Death, her eyes staring hard as if to peer past that of the haunted images, and down to that of soil. Was she looking for some sort of plant life that grew in the Reina waters? Did such thing even exist? If not, then just what was her objective?

The question remained a mystery as the form struggled to search onward, both hands clutched tightly at her chest to keep the icy winds of Yigel as less as she possibly could from her body heat. The last thing she was wanting, was to freeze to death, especially in this place.

[Artemis]

Nothing would ever change in this region. The mud would always be thick, the smell would always be tainted with decay, and the wind would always be able to freeze a person through their thick clothes. Tala shivered, wishing this criminal had not ventured into this godforsaken place. What did this man have to gain, hiding in a place like this? It was not even a decent hiding place. At least in Namos, there is nearly endless jungle to hide in. Eupeereeth was nothing but a practically dead swamp.

Despite this discomfort Tala felt, she narrowed her eyes, a figure in the distance. She could feel her instincts raging, itching to shift. Instead, Tala calmed herself. Not quite yet, she informed the beast within. Though she could not imagine another soul out in this wasteland, she was not going to discount the possibility that this may not be her quarry. The excitement, however, of also possibly coming across her prey made her mouth water in anticipation. She could not wait to sink her metaphoric claws into this criminal's flesh and drag them back to Kabal City to collect the modest sum for his arrest.

As Tala approached the moving being, she easily discovered that it was not the criminal she was looking for, but a girl. Disappointment seeped into her mind, but Tala accepted it. Normally, Tala would have left the girl alone, but she was close enough to see the petite girl gather her cloak to keep in what body heat she had. While Tala was not one to indulge in charity, she sighed and drew closer.

Clearing her throat to make herself known to this girl, Tala removed a warmer cloak from the pack on her back. "Here," she said. "You look like you need this more than I do."

[Jessie]

Her attention so full into the murky waters of the Lake, the voice had startled Nayi, the smaller figure twisting her attention quickly in the direction of the Dissimulative. She bared her fist deep within her own cloak, cautious of this stranger's kind gesture. If it had been one thing she learned from her father, is that everything came with a price. It was a rare moon when this was in exception to those that actually took the time to consider others, and while the Porter did believe that if the figure was going to harm her at this rate, it would have done so by now.

"...Thank you. But isn't it best to consider your own safety first? This snow is rather harsh," she inquired, skyline hues staring deep from the waist-wrapped waters.

The Porter was one to talk, being that she stood in a Lake of all places, where ice was surely along the horizon awaiting to surround its' next victim. The cold was trembling, and her bones were rather numb, but she would not stop until she had found what she had come here for.

[Artemis]

At the sight of the girl's hesitation, Tala was less than surprised. It was rare to see a stranger give without expectations, and Tala of all people knew this to be true. In fact, she had shocked herself by offering this girl the cloak. However, it was not as though Tala was short on cloaks, nor on money to buy a warm cloak if she did not have more.

As rare as it was for her to do so, especially at another intelligent being, Tala allowed herself to genuinely smile at the girl. "As I said, you need it more. I shall be perfectly alright without it." Tala need not mention that her other form, should she dare to shift, could weather the snow better than this form. While it was not uncommon for a drake to be found, Tala never advertised the fact. She did not trust others, not even this small girl, to mind their own business. Besides, it was best for her prey never to know that they could be cornered by a young, white dragon.

Tala noticed that the girl was shaking terribly. Concern for this stranger crept into her consciousness. Biting her lip, as she was not accustomed to helping people with no monetary motive, Tala wrapped the cloak around the girl with a gentle hand, much like her adoptive mother had done so many years ago. "There," she murmured. The girl was the same height as she was, looking around the same age in appearance, though Tala assumed that she was a little older due to her heritage.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" The question slipped out before Tala had a chance to think whether she cared or not. Every moment she spent with this girl was one less of catching that criminal and getting the reward.

[Jessie]

As the woman approached to her side, Nayi soon found that it was wasting strength to be overly weary of the stranger. Tensions lessened throughout her body, replaced with the weight of the extra cloth, a dire sense of warmth beginning to creep slowly into her skin. Perhaps there was luck for her brittle bones, yet.

Shifting feet against the quicksand-like terrain, she then took her glance away from Tala, staring off further into deeper elevation of the swamp. What was she looking for, indeed. The young alchemist had heard rumors of a plant life that grew in Death, the very Lake of Riena. It was colored in rose red, with poisonous thorns that were coated in what at first glance, to be of coal. However, it was quite the antibiotic when fighting off the harmful poisons of Namos, in which her stash was lacking. Not to mention the lack of knowledge or experience with the herb itself, it excited Nayi.

In a way, she could possibly be a tinker. Always wanting to find new recipes that served a purpose, or just simply test the effects of something of the unknown, perhaps even one day find the cure for well...any harmful disease. The Lake of Mirrors in the region of Sven has held mystical stories about the water at the far edge of the White Forest, where the Sprites birthed. But other than that, against the distance and the foreign land that not many desecrate, an alternative route would be nothing less of beneficial.

"I am looking for a herb that grows here, or as the story goes. Not many apothecaries have heard of it, but the few that have, refuse to come here due to the weather... Mind you, they are older folk. I figured to come out while my days are still young," the Porter replied faintly, looking over her shoulder that had thickened, meeting the small smile of the opposite woman. "My name is Nayi. I am grateful for your aid."

[Artemis]

At the girl's explanation, Tala blinked in surprise, but nodded. She had great respect for apothecaries, having deemed it necessary to do business with them on more than one occasion. However, she had never met one so ambitious in their field as this Nayi. Of course, as she had said, most of them were older and could not actually go on adventures if they wanted to, but still...there was such a thing as an apprentice. In any case, it did not matter.

Realizing that the girl had introduced herself, she replied, "Intala, but most know me as Tala." Or they would if I bothered to interact with people on a regular basis, she added to herself, but Nayi didn't need to know that.

"I've traveled through Eupeereeth many times," Tala supplied. "Perhaps if you describe this plant, I could put you in the right direction." However, Tala doubted it. She never remembered seeing any sort of living herbs in Eupeereeth. If this girl was chasing a legend, Tala wouldn't know it, as myths and legends were useless to a bounty hunter such as herself.

[Jessie]

"A pleasure, Tala," Nayi nodded in the exchange of names, as she heeded the offer.

"So you're an often visitor of this place? A brave one," she praised with a faint smile. Either that, or that this person was beyond that of stupidity, and there was a broad line between that point, and being bold and noble. It was safe to assume the first remark that had already spoken in vocals.

Eupeereeth was a terrible place, and Yigel was even worse. Rather people actually lived out in the small outposts throughout the wasteland, or became a resident of the small town out in the ice, it had to have been a dreadful life. There was no possibility of actually enjoying this region or its' brothern unless you were a Dragon with the toleration against the threatening temperatures. And even so, to choose to live here was an odd choice, and may simply lead to suspicion. At least, these were all what the Tales told her as she grew up in the Dissimulative Capital. Who knows what the smaller townsfolk in Yigel say about the outside company.

"It resembles that of a Orchid, the petals are red and it consist of poisonous thorns along the stem... I'd advise you to not pick it up, if you do come across it," Nayi explained, her tone a gesture of kind warning. The last thing she would want to do is poison someone who was kind enough to even knowledge her existence.

[Artemis]

Thinking back to all her times running through this region after her bounty, it was difficult to imagine Eupeereeth to actually hold life. This "orchid" seemed to be yet another defense mechanism of the region. Imagine, a plant living in this cold, harsh place. The thought was a bit ludicrous, but stranger things had happened, so she supposed it was possible.

Tala could not help but laugh. "It appears the plant is like the one who searches for it: daring the elements and quite a bit of trouble," she teased.

The plant did seem familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. "I think I know what you're talking about, but I don't remember where I've seen something like that." Tala frowned in thought. Then it hit her. "Wait a minute! That's probably the plant that killed my..." She caught herself before she revealed her occupation. "There was a man about a year ago. He picked up something a long way away from me, but I never realized what it was. The next thing I knew, he was dead," she said with a shrug, though the memory of losing the hunt brought back the anger she felt back then. "I don't remember where it was though. Sorry I can't be of more help."

[Jessie]

Puzzled at first, Nayi tilted her head at Tala, the tease taking a few seconds to hit the young Porter. And even as it settled against the thickness of her skull, a part of her was still puzzled on rather to laugh or to seem somewhat taken by the remark. No matter, the stranger could taunt her all she liked, as long as she held some information of what she was looking for.

"Mm? You've seen it?"

A noticeable change in tone took control of the teen as her eyes filled with a cup of glee, clasping her hands together towards Tala. "But you've seen it, yeah? Its' in this region- I'm not crazy?" Well that may have taken it a bit far. Sure, Nayi would swear up and down that she was sane. But when she had told the city folk of Kabal that she was leaving to look for such a specific harvest, they called her many names and told her many things - all in the long line of her lack of sanity.

[Artemis]

At the relish in the young woman's voice, Tala had to laugh. For once she didn't mind the company of another being. In fact, she really liked this girl. However, she couldn't stay too much longer or she would lose track of the criminal she was after.

Clearing her throat, Tala calmed herself. "No, you're not crazy. It's just been a long time since I've seen it. I couldn't tell you how to look for it or anything, so I wish you luck on that."

She was just about to turn to leave when she realized this girl could be helpful. "Hey, have you see anyone else besides me around here? He's short with long blonde hair and brown eyes. He would look really out of place here."

[Jessie]

While the returning smile and brief fit of joy was relinquishing to the young alchemist, the dismay that promptly equipped to her features showed that she was fairly disappointed that Tala couldn't help in directing her to the flower. But at least she knew she was looking in the right place (hopefully). While the blistering cold was taking its toll, Nayi was out for good reasons, and her hope was lifted, thus encouraging her to stay a bit longer before heading to the Inn in Yigel. It may not affect her now, but she knew the sickness to come in being in these temperatures for long periods of time. Plus- she had an extra cloak, thanks to the weary traveler.

"Anyone alive looks out of place here," Nayi shook her head, "But, no. I have not come across anyone else other than you since yesterday, but even then, that was back in Namos. I do wish you the best of luck though, finding this person." Nayi wish she could have done more, and the offer was open to simply follow the woman on her journey. But between finding the orchid, and that of the chance of being gently rejected in company, all in all, her place was here, for now. "I thank you again for your assistance. I'll have to return the favor over a cup of tea or something of the likes next time we cross paths," the Porter bowed, a warmth smile perched across her lips as she bid farewell to the Dissimulative.