Emmett
*Melody would suddenly go quiet as the noises of something moving about met her ears.*"Who's there-?"*She'd ask, readying her weapon as if she half expected to be attacked out here. While she hadn't had the worst encounters in traveling, the wildlife wasn't typically in favor of her as forewarned by her parents some time ago. They had always worried so much of some wild animal or hunter mistaking her for a deer with her centaur-half that at this point she was starting to partially believe it. At least if they could properly respond, it would be evident enough to confirm that it was just another person. Melody wasn't hoping to fight nature today anymore than she'd have to. 

After a short while, she'd decide to relax her grip on her weapon slightly. Perhaps to make sure she wasn't coming off as too threatening if this was just another passerby.*"You can come out."*She'd then say, replacing what was once harsh words with a much calmer tone.*"I don't want to hurt you or anything-."*She didn't mean that enough to completely lower her weapon, but she at least hoped letting her guard down would be enough for whoever it was. Being this close to the border, it was always hard to tell with new encounters, though Melody supposed she had been too fortunate so far for her luck to suddenly run out now.*
Gerald
*At first, Bella was very clearly stressed out by the situation. She had already been ambushed by a pack of goblins and narrowly escaped thanks to the aid of a friend. Now she was alone again, but this time there was nobody close to save her. But she knew all too well at this point that relying on others to fight was not what she wanted to do. It wasn't why she set out in the first place. But it was at that moment that she heard the voice of the centaur call out, a little reassuring to think that perhaps the person wasn't as hostile as she had initially expected.*

*She let out a groan as she lifted herself off from the grassy terrain, brushing off twigs and grass from her skirt before she followed her ears towards the source of the voice to find the noble beast itself, weapons still in her hands.*

"Oh, uhm, hello." *Miss Gladstone said softly as she two came face to face. Of course, due to inexperience - Bella was clearly not used to meeting up with another in the middle of the forest - especially when they were armed. The last thing she wanted, however, was a fight.*
Emmett
"Oh-."*Melody would say as Bella would finally come into view, her shoulders growing more lax.*"Just another Macen-."*There would be a slight sound of relief in her tone and in figuring there wasn't much to worry of now, she'd soon put the dual scythes away.*"Apologies miss, I figured you for a bandit or another wild animal out here. It seems nature must have done a number on you out here."*The Centaur would mention, noticing the bits of grass and twigs falling from the woman as she'd get back up. 

She'd offer a hand out towards Bella for her to shake, deciding to introduce herself as she'd repeat what she was telling herself earlier in her head.*"Melody Vander. Not so local Guildmember nowadays. What may I call you miss?"*There seemed to have been a slight shift in posture as the Centaur would stand up straighter in comparison to how she looked before when she was ready for a fight.*
Gerald
*As she had locked eyes with the noble Centaur who stood before her, Bella couldn't help but to feel a little out-of-place. Melody was right - nature without a doubt had already devastated the poor merchant a bit, and this wasn't even the first time that it had occured. Bella's home was in the comfort of a nice fireplace with something to read, not out in the wild yonder soaking up what nature had to offer.*

"It wouldn't be the first time I felt rather afraid about what was going to happen... It's not often that I set out, and especially not for ingredient hunting... But I would like to maintain my own stock somehow."

*She took a deep breath, relaxing herself before she gladly extended her hand out towards Melody, shaking it in response.* "Bella Gladstone, merchant, chemist and proprietor of the Gladstone Apothecary, my family business back home in Kadho." *She said formally, before she made a cute curtsey with her skirt.* "A pleasure to meet you, it's not often that I meet someone of your dignified race!"
Emmett
"Pleasure to meet you as well Bella."*She'd say, moving her hand away afterwards.*"Seems a lot of people find it rare to find a centaur. If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was the only one around here, but surely that can't be true."*Even until this day, she found it odd how other people have so rarely seen centaurs before to the point where other places couldn't accommodate their size. It was fine though, Melody didn't mind changing that. At least this woman had some respect towards her race which was more than what could be said about a few people she had met since coming to Salvainia. It seemed like Bella was out hunting for ingredients which Melody could only assume was to help with her chemist practice. Looked like she had quite a few skills under her belt, but it was a wonder of why she'd come this far from any civilization.*

"Pretty far out for restocking."*She'd point out.*"The border can be pretty dangerous nowadays. You must have heard of the Mentian War going on, right? Seems like it's only getting worse by the minute. I wouldn't recommend straying this close to it with everything going on."*Melody knew she didn't have much authority out here to tell someone what was best for them when they were doing their own thing, though she couldn't help but advise against going into a country of war as much as it made her a hypocrite. Bella didn't look like much of a fighter in Melody's eyes. It would be a shame for someone like her to get caught in the middle of a warzone without ability to protect herself if it ever came down to it.*
Gerald
*The mentioning of the Mentian war only made Bella's heart sink. If anything, it only made her take a step backwards as she uneasily placed a hand on her wrist, rubbing it gently.* "If anything... It's because of the war is why I'm here. I can understand if you believe that it's foolhardy for just a common woman to venture out towards the conflict rather than away, especially when she has a store to take care of, however I have my reasons..."

*She took a deep breath, before she made the attempt to relax herself once more.* "There are people out there who would be grateful for my help. Not everybody has access to the common alchemical goods and potions that some may rely on, and I wish to venture out and make more of myself. Rushing headfirst into the battle is the absolute last thing I wish to do, but somebody has to go out there and provide aid to those who may require it."

*Bella then placed her hands back onto her lap calmly, as her motives continued to shine through.* "It's why I am here gathering ingredients. I don't quite know why you're here but... I mean you absolutely no harm or disdain."
Emmett
"Oh- No I didn't mean it like that-."*She'd quickly say in hearing Bella's explanation for why she was here. Part of her felt bad for assuming her to just be wandering around the area without fully knowing the danger, but it looked like she was trying to help out as well. Melody would tilt her head to the side a bit. This was probably the first she's heard someone mention helping out in the war without directly fighting in it.*"I've never met someone looking to help in the war this way before. Most just... Talk about picking a side to fight on depending on which stood the most chance."*Her facial expression would seem a bit irritable, but she'd try to quickly shake it off and not think too deeply about the words of what someone had once told her about her dying country.*"It's always a wonder to me. But most only care about taking advantage of the monetary gains from helping a side get the upper hand..."

*She couldn't even act surprised of it. What more would non-mentians do than assist the armies in a war as if it were a game of monetary gain. It was simply in nature of most. She'd refocus her gaze back on Bella after a short moment of being lost in thoughts, her emerald green eyes meeting Bella's more magenta colored ones. Centaurs weren't known for the ability of reading faces like Silnaris were, but she had picked up a thing or two from being one herself at some point.*"Believe it or not I'm actually out here because of the war as well."
Gerald
"When it comes to money, I'm perfectly fine. I run a business back home in Kadho and it has moderate success... But I've always felt that it's important to provide something, even at times like this. I am just a mere merchant however... There isn't too much I **Can** Do."

*Bella gave a sigh as she understood her past failures. It was just how reality was in her eyes. No matter how much she tried to break out of it, in the end she understood that she was just a run-of-the-mill Mentian woman, one with delusions of something greater. Her sister did great things. But she wasn't her sister. She wasn't the talented chemist and mercenary that her older sibling was. She was about to fall to that swarm of goblins if she didn't get aid.*

"But enough about myself. You said that you are here because of the war... I don't wish to pry, but why is that?"
Emmett
*Melody would let out a quiet sigh at her question, mainly since she knew the response that followed wouldn't put her in the best of moods.*"I'm trying to get to my family before the war does."*She'd answer.*"They're not really well equipped with fighting, especially not my younger siblings. Just a group of merchants I guess you can say."*Melody would offer a smile to her, seeing some relation in the career path most of her family followed with Bella doing the same.*"I wanted a different life than them and decided to come here some time ago, but since then I've only been hearing that the war in Mentia has been getting worse by the moment."

*It was tiring to imagine how far she'd come this way to start her new life only to have to quickly return to her old one to help her family travel to a much safer place. She wouldn't want to leave her family in such a harsh state, but even she had hoped things would have gotten at least a little bit better.*"I've been told North Mentia won't stand much of a chance, so I've been hoping to get there and avoid most conflict to help my family out before it's too late."
Gerald
"They're merchants too..." *Bella repeated, the common link between occupation and family that the Mentian and the Centaur shared obviously being more than enough to convince her within a positive fashion.* "I... I'm sorry. It seems like family is a big motivation for the two of us. My sister, you see... Prior to the war, she was a merchant and chemist much like myself. Unlike me, however, she used her alchemical abilities to land herself a well-respected job as a mercenary, all while I remained at the Apothecary, making nothing of myself."

"It's... It's also why I'm out here to help others. I want to make something of myself like she did..."
Emmett
*Melody would give a look of puzzlement as Bella seemingly tried to compare herself to her sister in hopes to accomplishing as much.*"Well if anything, I think you're on the right track to become a well versed healer."*She'd say in a tone of encouragement.*"I'm sure there's a lot of people out in the war that would appreciate the help of one. I know I would anyways if things end up not going so well."*She'd smile slightly.*"Don't worry so much about living up to your sister's image. Whatever you choose to do, I'm sure you can work up to being something great."