The Travels - More Problems
Characters: Alais, Philio
Location: Mossflower Woods
The summer night is heavily perfumed with pollen and the fresh yet grassy scent of the waterways. Alais has darted into the reeds, rustling as she goes... Fireflies swarm in her wake.
And here comes another otter! Philio, after bursting from the infirmary. Running into three or four beasts. Tripping and falling on a rock. Then seriously stubbing his toe on a barrel. He manages to keep up with the little dibbun, "Hey!" he calls after her, "Wait up will yah?!" He charges after her, paw on his bandage, so it doesn't just go dancing off. The otter now just realizing it has gotten dark. How long has he been in the infirm? No matter, as he rushes into the reeds after her, "Wait up!"
Alais zigzags, then skitters to a halt at a clearing in the reeds, her little paws making tiny splashes as she meets the water ahead. And promptly hops across. She's not hopping on water; there are stones she knows about just below where each jump takes her. Of course, she could just swim across, so apparently she's doing this to stay visible after all...
Philio catches up to the clearing in the reeds. Noticing that Alais pretty much hopped on water. This otter tries to do the same, "Okay Phil. you can do this..." he hops, managing to land on the first hidden rock. Why does it have to be so dark! The second. Okay... Third.... "Oh no... Oh no... Damn!" he loses his balances and falls into the water. Spiting out mud and water, as he just wades across now, "HEY!...patoo!... What part of wait up. Do you not understand!" he grumbles following her path once again.
Alais dashes into some more reeds, these though, grow out of the water. Again, fireflies part and then swirl behind her. And then something odd can be heard. There's a lute playing not far away. And, it sounds like the direction that Alais seemed to be going in. Shimmering moonlight on the water suggests another clearing not far ahead.
Philio shakes mud from his tail as he run after her. His bandage now starting to bother him, so he has change, to a brisk walk, "Hey..." parting the reeds and he catches the sounds of the lute. Much confusion. Continuing on, "Hold on Alais..." he grunts.
Alais seems to have vanished from view upon Philio parting the reeds. A rather impish, brightly-colored little newt is sat on a rock though. A newt with a lute. She's wearing chainmail- proper chainmail- and the tradition gear of a knight or warrior. The odd thing is, rather than stolen, it must have been made for her! It fits too well. "Hello." She greets the otter, without pausing in her playing.
Philio blinks as he wasn't expecting a newt. His mouth hangs open for a second before shaking his head vigorously and saying, "Hello?" in return. He gingerly walks forward. Taking note of what the newt is wearing but keeping his eyes peeled, "Hi" he says again, "My name is Philio... Ummm. Have you seen. A little otter around here, somewheres?"
"Her purpose is finished. I have... disposed? No, no. That is not right..." The newt pauses in her playing to gather the right words. "I have dismissed her. Ye-es. I believe that is the right term. Now. Please, do sit, Philio."
Philio's eyes go three hundred times bigger when he says that first part. You what?! But then she explains it and he sighs with relief, "Oh... But she is alright?" just to make sure. He walks in a deep circle around the newt before going to plop slowly down in front of him. Far. But in front, "Im sorry. Im just. Very confused. Who are you? And why... are you here?" he asks. Never seeing a newt before.
The newt seems amused as Philio walks around her before sitting. "The little pup is fine. Even her ankle is healed up. We met when she fell." The armored amphibian strokes her lute once more. "Ah. Well. As to why I am here; you ran into some birds, recently? I apologise for that, they are a rather rougher tool of my benefactor. And they are impatient and have stolen ahead and ruined things before I have even met you. Now, Philio... Please. I simply wish to hear what Miss Kassle and you plan to do in the near future? I am... prodded heavily to investigate certain lines of communication, you see."
Philio is still very confused. All this information! "Oh good. Im glad is alright" Blinks a bit as he forget her ankle was hurt. As she was running so well just a few minutes ago. The otter nods, "Yes. We came into some birds. Or rather. They came onto us. They nearly killed us..." he hrms, "Plan to do in the future? Ummm..." he asks, the torn note in his pocket starting to feel like its burning, "Ummm..." he thinks about it. Benefactor. So. The birds and him are somewhat on the same side? Blinkyblink, "Ummm... Err. Why. Why do you ask?" is all he can think of right now.
The newt flicks her tail. And holds up the rest of that torn note. "This. The birds were unable to retrieve the other pages." There's a very brief dark expression over her face. And she's not playing her lute at all. "This is why I ask. I would... advise... that travelling North in the forseeable future would be unwise, Philio. In such company as you intend, anyway. You may consider this a friendly warning. I was supposed to meet you before the birds. They are the 'unfriendly' warning."
Philio gulps lightly, placing a paw over his vest pocket, where the note is, "...What would. Um. Happen. If we choose to go anyway?" the birds first come to mind, "Whats wrong with the company i intend?" Do they have something against her. So many questions. Phil brain hurt.
Philio gulps lightly, placing a paw over his vest pocket, where the note is, "...What would. Um. Happen. If we choose to go anyway?" the birds first come to mind, "Whats wrong with the company i intend?" Do they have something against her. So many questions. Phil brain hurt.
The newt quickly folds up her piece of the note and puts it away. Inside her lute, actually. Which she slings over her armor. "If you pursue your trip north, then those birds will seem like a welcome sensation compared to what you will unleash upon yourselves." She puts two fingers to her mouth, blowing a sudden, sharp whistle. "She is not welcome. Is all you need know. Honestly, by warning you, I'm doing you both a service." The sound of wings can be heard over the night air, and gracefully, the shape of a heron descends with little noise, behind the newt.
Philio gulps a little more. He got really thirsty. Real quick. He just stares at the warning. What is going on? What is Kass keeping from him. He will have to talk to her. This is. Just to a bit crazy. Its the bird that gets his attention. He falls over backwards and shakes a bit at the sheer monstrosity of the bird.
The newt attaches herself to one of the legs, giving Philio a rather hard look. "Rani." She states, after a moment. "When you ask her about this, you say that word." Then she smiles. "Pleasant chat, Philio. Rather hope not to see you again though, eh?" She even gives a salute, before tapping the bird's leg, causing it to flap and rise into the air, apparently easily taking the weight of armored newt.
Philio scoots backward on the ground, trying to get as far away from them. He doesn't like birds! He waits until they disappear before very slowly getting up and looking around. Lost in his brain. So many swimming thoughts. So many questions. So many *sigh* so many. He rubs a paw against his eyes as he slowly makes his was back to camp. Going slowly. And not even greeting a single beast as he passes. He just stares at the ground. Slowly entering the infirm and goes to sit next to Kass again. And just stares. Like he has never seen her before.
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