Exodus: What would be the harm...?

[opius]

After a productive day of moving brewing and briefing, the caravan broke camp and the party found themselves free to rest and pursue their own desires. A rest before the test to come. Vanya capitalized on this freedom as Rorr's fantastic floating vehicle docked for the night, taking with her a companion so she could enjoy the warm jungle night air, an incredibly bright waxing crescent moon, and of course the safety and company said companion offered.

Verdi knew the area near the soshenstar fairly well. It was the Ranger corps who were responsible for wildlife and undead census data, the ones the Black Dragon built their heat maps with. Naturally, Verdi could recall a number of safe places where the trees were thin. A watering hole came to mind, one fed by a thin offshoot of the soshenstar.

To that end Natasha was dispatched to seek out signs of this small stream. Begrudgingly the panther obliged, with promises from Verdi to compensate her with extra treats.

No, Mbanje's Jaggi and Sister and It were not treats. Nor were the kobolds. Nor was Bullgup.

The duo found themselves breaking from the edge of camp and entering into a thin thicket of healthy new growth. Patches of tall grass and questionable berry bushes dotted the walkable terrain. Trees too young for moss posed little problem for a spry and agile party of two.

Especially considering Vanya was well equipped with traveling gear now.

The sky was dark and clear and full of bright stars. The moon was almost bright enough to light the way for common folk. Rather than seeing the world in shades of gray, to the two blessed with Dark Vision the world was a deeper green under the dim blue nights haze, with a peppering of colorful flowers, curling and twisting ferns, and the glint of tiny eyes from tiny creatures hiding away from the travelers. The air was warm and wet, sweet with the scent of plant growth and damp soil, and the sounds of birds and bugs and croaking frogs created a delightful cacophony to the ears.

[CautionCat]

Verdi walked along side Vanya as they took a stroll to find... Flowers was it? He knew there was some good flora in the area, and a nice quiet place to sit if need be.

The light of the moon was nice, it felt... Romantic. His tail swayed as he walked, keeping an eye out for Natasha ahead to make sure things were clear. He kept quiet for a bit, just enjoying the night life of insects chirping.

[opius]

Verdi could tell the panther wasn't far. Though her night vision was poor, her other senses more than made up for it in the dim moonlight. The occasional crack of a branch or distant chuff and grumble let him know the beast was near.

[Ancelas]

Vanya did not want too much of a fuss on their walk, so she told her skeletal companions to stay with the camp for now. Petal, likewise, was encouraged to stay behind as well, and essentially given free reign to prowl and explore and cause trouble as they desired. Stratus was asked to accompany them, but encouraged to prowl about as he willed, just in case.

In the spirit of caution, Vanya had also left a lock of her hair with Edith, in case she needed to call for help.

Vanya traveled light, but had her herbalist's pack with her. She knew of some flowers that only bloomed at night, and these were ostensibly what she and Verdi were looking for.

"The weather has held up well," she observed as they walked. "Not too hot or humid today. You mentioned we would be crossing through a desert before we reach New Haven, yes?"

[CautionCat]

"Correct. Though, I don't know overgrown it might be since Karn did what he did... Not sure how fast that might spread." Verdi rubbed his chin, thinking.

"It is pretty dry around there. The heat isn't too bad, but we'll want plenty of water with us when we cross."

[opius]

It was ... Peculiar. Vanya had told her familiar to meander close by, yet everywhere she looked she caught some sign of him. A glimmer of the buckle on his wide brimmed hat peeked from the brush ahead of her. The lambent glow of reflective yellow eyes met hers by chance as she glanced to her left, off deep in the underbrush. She spoke to Verdi and spotted Stratus lounging languidly on a distant branch. He stood, stretched, and leapt down into dark bushes ahead of them.

It was... Somewhat like one of the tales from the old country. Only less menacing.

At one point the familiar's antics must have startled Natasha, as a distant snarl from the big cat was met with a smaller hiss from Stratus. It didn't seem to escalate from there.

[Ancelas]

Vanya arched a brow at Stratus at one point before turning her attention back to Verdi. "It will be good to be prepared. The mushroom caves were lovely, if... busy. Do you know of any other such sites on the way south?"

[CautionCat]

"Oh, umn... Well, there are a lot of caves in the badlands. There were slimes in the one we went into, where Bulgup's home is. Slimes and fungi like mostly the same sort of habitat... so the myconids could thrive in places like that. Maybe they're all connected..." Verdi pursed his lips some, thinking about that for a bit.

"Anything else between there and here? Not quite."

[Ancelas]

"Ah well. I suppose we'll have to find other entertaining pitstops along the way." She looked to Verdi, then behind him.

"Your tail is wagging," she observed with a smile. "You have been in a good mood lately? All things considered."

[CautionCat]

Verdi paused, tail freezing up as she pointed that out. "Ah... yes." He relaxed some, tail swaying once more.

"I'm... really excited about showing you New Haven. That you're... adventuring. Before, we only really did little gathering things for Edith. I would be the one going out deeper, for things she needed, or new to the island folks needing a guide."

He looked to her, smiling. "Ever since this group got together, things... have been happening. Wonderful things, scary things. The danger is there, but... gosh the group I am with seems to defy it. We work so well together... I wish you came down with us into the sunken temple... I know you didn't want to get wet, but it was fascinating. The puzzles, the slimes... The undead... Then the plane of Negativity being swapped from Lia, and falling into it. I never thought I would... have a grand adventure with every thing we come across."

[Ancelas]

Vanya smiled and bumped her shoulder against Verdi's. "I'm glad to see you so excited. And I do regret not participating, but... well, the caves were a considerable amount of excitement for me. And the demon. That monster was certainly... something."

Vanya laughed. "It may have been difficult circumstances that led to my departure from the city, but... I certainly owe my interest in adventure to you."

[CautionCat]

"It... is." He smiled, with some sadness in his eyes. "I... I really don't want to think that being driven away from the city was the main reason you wanted to go. You... were already interested in it. Things just... happened." He frowned some, and rubbed the back of his neck.

[Ancelas]

Vanya nodded and raised a hand to set on his closest shoulder. "It... is what it is, I suppose. We will rebuild, one day. And we will be better off for it, I think."

She gave his shoulder a little squeeze. "In the meantime, there is so much out there for you to show me. And for me to learn."

[CautionCat]

Oh. She was getting touchy. He tensed up at her hand on his shoulder, and then relaxed. No, it was okay, Vanya could enter his personal space, and he was... much more comfortable with it than he used to be.

"Yes, there is." He nodded, and tucked his hands behind his back. "The caves, where Karn got those crystals from, my drawings don't capture the beauty there was. So many colors... and the little rock creatures, they had crystal clusters within the large hole on their front. Seemed almost the same crystals... I would very much enjoy bringing you there. The heart of the world..."

[Ancelas]

"The heart of the world? That sounds amazing... Romantic, even." Vanya moved her hand away from his shoulder, but continued to walk close to him.