a tale of tales

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

[ WELP, Malik was lost. It was sort of embarrassing to think that he could become separated from a bunch of kids, but he at least had faith in their abilities to look after themselves. (Even if Asbel was... well, Asbel.)

These woods were totally unfamiliar, so there was nothing for it but to do his best to look for a sign of the others. ]

Comments

[brbwalking]

Well, now.

[ and from one of the trees, hark! It's a bird! It's an elf!

... Well, it might not be either, but it is a scantily-clad woman perched on a branch and looking down at this total stranger. ]

You don't look like the usual type of monster.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

[ His hand goes to the hilt of his blade immediately, but when he sees her it gives him pause. A woman in a tree. Huh. ]

I like to think I don't look like any type of monster.

[brbwalking]

You're a better conversationalist, at least.

[ and she drops down, landing effortlessly in a wide-legged crouch, before she straightens. ]

But that doesn't explain much else.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

[ well, that was an impressive display of legs skill ]

I'm lost in the woods. What else needs explaining?

[brbwalking]

[ don't mind the spear she's carrying, either. ]

Oh, I'd say who you are might be a good start. Getting in these woods deep enough to get lost is impressive on its own.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

I'm no monster, but I'm no pushover either. My name is Malik. And you are?

[brbwalking]

Judith.

[ an easy enough question to answer. ]

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

So, what are you doing in these woods?

[brbwalking]

A girl's got to have a little privacy... you know?

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

I'm fine with assuming you just live here, if that's the way you want to play it.

You haven't seen a group of kids wandering around, have you? Three girls and two boys.

[brbwalking]

Unless one of those girls has pink hair and an inclination to heal...

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

That sounds like Cheria, yes.

[brbwalking]

... [ and a chuckle. ] Estelle would probably like her. She ran through some time ago.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

A friend of yours, I'm assuming? [ he chuckles as well ] Which way did she go?

[brbwalking]

[ she points to the east, head tilted. ] I'd suggest a guide, though. These woods aren't the easiest to navigate.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

Is that a suggestion or an offer, I wonder?

[brbwalking]

That depends on whether you're the type to run off on your own, or if you take advice.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

I'm not foolish enough to disregard someone who knows their way around. [ unlike some people he could mention ]

[brbwalking]

Then I'll keep you company for awhile.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

I'd be honored to have you.

[brbwalking]

Complimenting me already? I wish all of my clients were as thoughtful.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

[ A chuckle ] Company is always preferable to wandering alone in the woods, don't you think?

You make it sound like you make a habit of guiding people around.

[brbwalking]

I have some experience with it, although walking isn't always involved. [ even though she's taking a sashaying lead now. ]

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

[ He'll catch up to her in a few quick strides ] Dare I ask what's usually involved, if not walking?

[brbwalking]

I don't know; do you dare?

[ because she's not usually the one to clarify without prompting. ]

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

[ He quirks a brow ]

All right. I dare.

[brbwalking]

Look up.

[ or you know, just listen to the very loud whale-like noise, followed by a gigantic shadow from overhead. ]

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

[ He very nearly goes for his weapon again, but since she seems rather calm, he throttles that urge down. (That doesn't mean he's not ready to throw an Arte or two at it, though.) ]

What the-?

[brbwalking]

I'll introduce you once we're through. What's important to know is that he isn't an enemy.

[ but you will be if you hurt him goes implied. ]

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

[ He gives her a long look, before finally nodding and motioning for her to lead on. ]

[brbwalking]

[ and lead on she does-- save for those occasional moments where monsters don't happen to like letting them pass through.

Like now. ]

You don't mind a bit of exercise, do you?

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

[ He's not foolish enough to assume she needs his protection, so instead he just makes a grab for his bladerang ]

Mind or not, they're not giving us much of a choice.

[brbwalking]

You could say we're being given the option of being eaten or fighting back.

[ and from the way she's reaching for her spear and strolling right for the monsters, her answer is clear. ]

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

That's rather harsh. Not untrue. Just harsh.

[ But it works for him. He lets his weapon fly, giving a monster a nasty gash in the face for its trouble. ]

[brbwalking]

I'm not very good at sugarcoating, you see. [ as she twirls her spear, bringing it down on the same monster and then tearing it free to proceed to another. ]

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

So I'm learning.

[ Another monster tries to get clever and moves to flank them. Malik ain't having that, and casts his Ice Spires Arte, running it through with shards of ice before it can get very far. ]

[brbwalking]

[ Judith's smile is a little brighter, before she abruptly-- disappears. Three seconds later, her spear comes plunging down from above, pinning another monster as she reappears back on the ground. ]

You strike me as a fast learner, Malik.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

And you strike me as a force to be reckoned with, Judith.

[ WELP if there's anything left standing, he'll just set it on fire. ]

[brbwalking]

And with that-- [ she straightens, casting her gaze over the charred monster. ]

I don't think there's much left to strike. That's a little disappointing...

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

If you're talking about monsters, I'm sure this forest is full of them. If you're talking about conclusions, we haven't had much by way of a conversation yet.

[brbwalking]

Then, shall we remedy that? We'll be walking for awhile.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

Sounds like a good idea to me. I'm surprised though, that they managed to get that far ahead of me. I must have really gotten turned around.

[brbwalking]

It's easy to get lost here, if you go by the trees.

I suppose that just means I'll get your company for a little while longer!

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

I'm hoping, when you say it like that, it means you at least enjoy my company.

[brbwalking]

Let's just say that if I didn't want to be here, we wouldn't still be talking.

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

Fair enough.

You're a pretty formidable fighter. Were you trained or self-taught?

[brbwalking]

I'm not sure how many secrets I want you knowing at the moment. [ with a trace of a smile. ] But the Kritya are mainly scholars, not fighters.

[ so it's an answer, of sorts. ]

[ocaptainwhycaptain]

All right, all right. I won't pry. [ but he does at least get her "answer". What an interesting woman. ]