The Trade Route|Beastlands

[Kender Bard]

Raina tucks her herbs into her satchel and goes to join in eating. Meoran sniffs his food and then walks off.
"Picky!" Fauna calls after him, eating both her share and his.

[adris]

Adris sits and takes his plate himself and begins to slowly eat... he was amazed how well that this always turns out because one would think it would be disasterous with the ingrediants he uses. He looks over to Raina who had come to eat and smiled, hoping that she enjoyed what he had made.

"I hope you like it... it is one of the best things that I can make. Did you find anything interesting as you were looking around the field?"

He wanted to make things comfortable, he didn't know why besides that fact that he was so taken with this girl. But he found himself watching her movements, even when she was doing something as normal as eating. He knew it was rude and may make her uncomfortable... but he didn't care and there was not even a thought going through his mind telling him to stop during times like this.

[Kender Bard]

Raina speaks between mouthfuls, "Oh yes. It seems that there are some plants growing here that are quite hard to find on Humontis. My only guess is what doesn't grow naturally there had been transplanted from other places, like here. Most of it isn't that useful, but very pretty."

"Any catnip?" Fauna asks hopefully. Raina giggles and shakes her head. "Drat, I can never find any good catnip..."

Raina says to Adris, "How much farther do we have to go?"

[adris]

Adris gives a slight chuckle to Fauna's catnip plight before turning to Raina and answering her question.

"Well, as far as distance we have some long streaches of plains and some tributaries we will have to use some land bridges to cross. If you are wondering how long it will be before we get there, that depends one the backs of myself and our horse here."

He looks her right in the eyes before continuing.

"It depends on how hard you wish to push, we can have you to the outskirts of the city in one push due to the easy travel of the plains, but our horses back may give out and be no good for the return trip."

[Kender Bard]

Raina shook her head adamantly at that statement. "Oh no, I have no desire to hurt either you or the horses."

"You've only got one horse," Fauna pointed out. Raina sighed and nodded.

"The bear type beast elemental slew one," she admitted sadly. Fauna cocked her head and looked thoughtful.

"What if I could get you another? Well it might not be a horse, persay, but a beast of burden?" she inquired slyly.

[adris]

Adris looked towards Raina at the request, and almost did a take back to Fauna. He sat for a second thinking, then began to speak.

"Well, it would all be up to the lady of course whether or not to offer your kindness. I for one do not wish to ask for more then we deserve. I will gladly pull in place of the horse as far as my back would give."

He then nodded to Raina, telling her that the call is hers entirely and that he would do whatever it is that she wished, whether it be accept the offer all the way to pulling until he collapsed.

[Kender Bard]

"Strong as you may be, I don't want to risk you injuring yourself doing the work that a horse should be doing," Raina admits. "Fauna, what would we have to do or pay in return?"

"Well, don't worry about the cost really," Fauna remarks. "I'll handle that part. But in return, you've gotta let me go with you. I admit I wanted to come back home, but traveling in a group is considerably safer, and this way I at least know I'll get a warm bed and meal daily."

[adris]

Adris pondered for a second before replying to Fauna. He did not want to take the authority away from Raina who was the lead of this little expadition of theirs. He could think of no reason why not... except the fact that Raina may not be comfortable with Fauna around.

"Like with the beast of burden this decision is also not mine to make. I personally enjoyed the relief I got on the watch last night though. As far as warm bed... until we get to Ilyamen I can promise no more then my sleeping mats... the lady gets the cart and cushion."

He sat still, having said his piece. If Raina let her come all would be well... but he felt he could handle it if she turned down Fauna's offer as well.

[Kender Bard]

Raina studied Fauna closely, and Fauna watched Raina right back.

"I've never dealt with beast types before," she admits rather embarassed. "I don't know what to say."

Fauna grinned, letting one of her pointy fangs show. "Well, treat me like any other person. Just because I have claws, doesn't mean I'm going to scratch."

Raina considers the words a moment, then nods. "Very well."

"Good! You folks sit tight, I'll be right back!" Fauna laughed, and got up, running off before either Adris or Raina could say anything. Meoran followed hot on her heels.

[adris]

Adris looked to Raina, he smiled and nodded, trying to assure her that he supports her decision... and of course he reassured himself that he would keep her safe no matter the cost to either life or limb.

"I believe we will be well with Fauna, she is full of energy... but otherwise she is agreeable enough. And as far as sleeping in town, I have traveled through Ilyamen countless times... and there seems to have been an inn that many of the people who employed me enjoyed going to. As long as it is still standing... I know the proprietor well enough to get us in cheap, and I brought the money to pay for two rooms."

He smiled and tried to make it so she relaxed, if Fauna's help was even close to what he had hoped it would be they would be in Ilyamen shortly.

[Kender Bard]

Raina nodded absently, waiting for Fauna's return.

Soon the energetic cat-beast returned, tugging on a rope and urging a sturdy ox to follow along. "Stubborn things," she said once she was within earshot. "They smell just awful, phew, but at least they're strong."

[adris]

Adris leaned first to Raina and whispered to her.

"Are you still tired, you seem to lack energy... is there anything I can do for you my lady. I hope I havn't offended you in any way, maybe I am just worrying too much."

He gave a deep sigh before looking towards Fauna and her oxen, he definately knew that things would be easier with a beast like that at the helm.

"I am not going to ask how you got that... seeing as you said you were away from home. But in any case I am glad you did, it will make it easier for me to attend to Raina's needs."

[Kender Bard]

"Nyar," Fauna mewled, a strange sound that mingled cat and human voice. "Just so long as you remember the deal." Giggling, she crawled into the wagon and curled up in a corner, pulling some spare blankets over her head. Meoran looked at Adris and Raina with pure cat-like contempt before following his mistress to their bed.

Raina giggled softly and walked over to the ox, which was already starting to graze, and pat it gently. "I hope you know how to handle this creature, Adris, for I've no experience with oxen."

[adris]

Adris chuckled upon hearing the two of them giggling. It seemed for once everything was working out on this journey. As far as utilizing oxen... that is a monster within itself.

"I am afraid that while I have traveled with oxen I am not trained in their usage. Hopefully they work just like big horses, if not we will have to rouse our sleeper in there."

He walks over to the cart and offers Raina a hand for climbing aboard. After she is on he is to go to the ox and try to mimic as closely as possible Fauna's motions. He had hoped that it wasn't just cooperating because she is a beast type.

[Kender Bard]

The ox seemed considerably more pliable in Adris's hands. The already hitched horse leaned over and got a good look at its new partner, and must have approved for it made no fuss. The ox, once hitched, seemed to know what was expected of it and started to walk forward. The horse followed at the same pace, though it was much slower than what it was used to.

"This is slower going," Raina admitted once Adris was back in the wagon with her. "But at the same time, I bet we'll be able to go farther. There's no reason why they should both tire out anytime soon. Do you think we can reach Ilyamen in, say, two days?"