Rick
She followed the urging, skin hot beneath the damp fabric of her shirt. Her lips moved as she spoke to herself without any breath to make actual words aside from quiet, uneven hisses. She frowned, muttering softly, "They're not going to kill us," To no one in particular as she watches the road grow smaller behind them, eyes locked on Mox.

She was quite aware of the odd shift in behaviors between the two, but seemed to take it and let it go as they moved, being led like a child until they stopped. Still gripping her bow she shifted uncomfortably, then reached up with shaking hands to tug her shirt up and off without ceremony. 

Luckily for all involved, her chest was bound in bandages and wrapping to make it easier for her to draw back the bowstring; Nothing was exposed aside from her pale and sweat-sick dampened skin. On the back of her shoulder there was a lump, maybe the size of a melon with deep grooves in it. Three smaller lumps nested inside, a thin membranous sheen over them, and they shift slightly against the covering. 

The Oni's head drops a bit, murmuring, "It feels a bit warm."
Mona
*Mox was not the most veteran of his craft but if there was one thing he remembered from boar hunting as a kid it was how to make himself a target.*

*Circling around on the road till the current wind was at his back he relaxes his posture. Looking as one who was bored waiting for someone to catch up to those without sharp eyes. To those of experience they could see how the canifor's ears twitched and moved at the first sound. His eyes never resting. Humming a tune aloud as his scent was carried on the wind and hopefully obscured the other two.*
Clayton
*Ishikawa watched her carefully as they went, and also as they stopped. It wasn't because he had any perverted intention, if one might think that, but to make sure that she didn't try and attack him, given her erratic behavior. The Kitsune's tail began to glow, giving a soft blue light for him to use to look at her wound more clearly. He gently raised his hand, taking off a glove.* 

"Is it alright if I touch it?" 

*He murmured quietly to her as he continued to observe, the Oriates naturally curious nature showing,* 

"Now, you've been referring to yourself as 'we' for a bit now, is whatever it is... Sentient? Is it some sort of parasite?"
Rick
She still gripped the bow in her hand but seemed rather docile at the moment; Just tired, too warm and uncomfortable. At the request to touch it she nods a bit, shifting her eyes back towards the road and inhaling again. If she was concerned about the kitsune's curiosity it didn't register in her eyes or on her face; Or perhaps she didn't mind others being the same sort of curious she was. 

"I think it's fine?" She said quietly, chewing on her finger again. "He talks. He's quite different now."

Clear as mud really. She didn't flee being touched though if he did, the skin felt hot like a wound or infection did. She shifted, unsettled, and frowned. The lump shifted as well as if to escape touching or prodding, one of the three nested bumps slowly sliding open and watching; One of the earlier eyes that had taken to the sky now resting inside the Oni's back like a baby bird.
Clayton
*Ishikawa nodded as he listened to her, slowly moving his good hand towards the lumps. He wasn't sure if it would hurt her as he touched it, so he would move with caution over speed, for now.* 
"Different? In what way? Has 'his' personality changed?" 

*He seemed concerned at the feeling of warmth, now being quite sure the thing he was dealing with was a parasite. He feared it had to much control over her body for him to attempt to remove it without violence, but he would continue. Ishikawa stared back at the eyeball, having... An idea of sorts. As the eye looked at her, his Hawk would fly off, joining his horse not too far away. Ishikawa would directly address the things inside of her,* 

"Do you know what you are?"
Rick
She didn't move, just stood there chewing aggressively now on her finger as the hand probed. The flesh was soft as one might expect in others, then firm elsewhere as if the thing is developing muscles. One wrong prod causes a deep groove to open and a mouth with a developed tongue to open and yawn. 

"He's outside now." Psyche said, looking at a knot on a tree as a second lump opens into an eye with a feather stuck to it's surface; Ill formed but still usable. "He used to just be inside." Her tone had lost its fear and was regaining it's slow, unfocused tone. As the hawk flies off the third lump opens into an eye and begins to dislodge itself and, well, flies off after tumbling forth. That does cause a small sound of discomfort.

When addressed the eyes focus on the kitsune, pupils visibly focusing and mouth opening, closing, working itself slowly before there's a barely whisper with immatured vocal chords, "*What am I?*" Psyche flinches, her own mouth moving slightly. "*No. Yes. Psyche?*" As it cycles through unformed ideas before continuing on. "*What are you?*" Maybe it simply has no brain of it's own, repeating back the ideas in a jumble of words.
Clayton
*Ishikawa quickly moved his hand away from the mouth, not wanting to risk a finger. He wasn't sure if it had teeth, but he wasn't going to try and find out. Ishikawa gave her look as she spoke more about it, becoming more concerned as he continued to examine her. He wasn't even sure what he could do to help, besides kill her. And he didn't want to do that. Death was always a last resort.* 

*If the eye got too close to it, the Hawk would likely fly up and attempt to dive bomb the flying eye. The bird wouldn't try to kill it yet, but certainly drive it away.* 

*Ishikawa momentarily looked back at his bird, worried, but then turned back to Psyche. He kept his voice as gentle as he could, not wanting to alarm her. He was afraid that she wouldn't let him continue if he wasn't careful.* 

"Do you remember when these... Do you remember when they started to appear?" 

*The Kitsune frowned as it spoke, softly murmuring back to the creature.* 

"My name is Ishikawa... I'm.." 

*He paused. He still wasn't sure who he was in the grand scheme of things.* 

"I'm figuring that part out."
Rick
The oni shifted slightly from side to side in a vague rocking motion, closing her eyes. Any sense of fear seemed to have faded out of her as the eye in the air dipped and dodged away from the hawk. It kept a distance but watched both the hawk and Mox. It was oddly agile, though shaped wrong, and just as curious as the... Growth.

"Mm?" Psyche shook her head, as if trying to wake up, then said, "A... Long time ago? I had to help someone find their son." She frowned, rubbing her eyes as she tried to regain some coherence, but she was quite tired and visibly so. "I found him and brought him home. Then we left."

The thing in her back watches, pupils dilating as Ishikawa answers as if now excited or pleased. It even makes an odd, high pitched croon. The muscles stretch and flex, causing the unnatural movement previously seen when the Oni had worn her shirt. "*Ishi.. Kawa... Figuring that out?*" It repeats before seeming to consider the answer. It finally settles on, "*The same. Figuring that out.*"

A small shiver runs through Psyche, cold settling into her skin slowly.
Clayton
*Ishikawa noted that the departure of the eye seemed to calm her, and he would keep his ears out, making sure it didn't try anything with his beloved companion. The hawk had been with him since he was a child, and he would be deeply upset if anything were to happen to him. Tilting his head again, he thought for a moment,* 

"You helped someone find their son? Were these with him too, or did they only appear in the process?" 

*The man didn't like the fact that it appeared to hurt her when it spoke, but he wanted to gather more information. If this was some sort of new parasite as he thought, he decided it would be his duty to make sure it didn't harm anyone else.* 

"When it speaks, can you hear its thoughts? Are they your words?"
Rick
Any quick glance at her face would show her pupils had ceased responding. With the eye out of her back, they seemed to have gone blind. She tilts her head upwards, blind eyes shifting to the left, then the right.

"A farmer. Others were with the son. I don't know... If they had others. I brought him home. Then we left."

"*To learn.*" The small face yawns, expressing the same exhaustion the Oni is before Ishikawa speaks again. "*We share.*"

Psyche tilts her head down, shivering again, "My words? I don't know. We talked before without using words. Then it itched and hurt, and now we can do either. So we can understand everything better."

It seemed it made sense to her, in some aspect, but it also had frightened her in her more rational moment.
Clayton
*Ishikawa visibly seemed concerned at this point, but he hoped that the eye departing made it so whatever was infecting her couldn't see his expression. He didn't want to have to fight her, if the things determined that he was a threat.* 

"What you're saying is they came from him, but now... They're with you." 

*He glanced at the small face, wanting to try something. He debated internally whether or not he should try it now. So far she was complacent, but who knows as they continued. Ishikawa put his glove back on, not wanting to continue contacting her skin directly, knowing that these things were contagious, in some form.* 

"Psyche... Do you remember who you were before? Before 'us'. What was 'I'?" 

*The fact that she was still self aware in some way was what made the man feel the worst. That somewhere deep inside of her, she heard his voice clearly, and couldn't do anything about it.*
Rick
She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, then paused and frowned. Eyes continuing to shift lightly from side to side she said, "I don't remember. Before I was alone. Now I'm not. We left and started learning more to understand."

The face watches Ishikawa pull on his gloves and without looking at him Psyche shifts as if to pull on her shirt again, then pauses as the question. The face frowns, matching her expression of contemplation.

"*I am Psyche.*" It said though the Oni answers, "Farmer's daughter. My parents farmed too." As if confused as to who he's addressing, wiping her face on the shirt. "It's cold."

The lump yawns, mouth toothless though it seems to possess something like a tongue mostly unformed, "*Should rest.*"
Clayton
*Realizing that there was no way he could speak to her directly without alarming the thing, he resolved that he would stay with her until he could get her to a healer. In her current state, it was dangerous to leave her by herself. She could even infect someone else, if left unwatched. Given he had been absent from his group for quite some time, him taking further time by himself should be fine. He doubted they still thought he was alive, anyways. It wouldn't take to long by horseback to get to Narshapi...* 

"Rest... Hm. What if I took you to Narshapi? To the healer? It wouldn't be long by horse..."
Rick
Pulling on her shirt she adjusts the fabric to cover herself, closing her eyes again. The eye returns upon dismissing the actions of Mox and the hawk, wriggling beneath the fabric again. It smooths out once the eye seemingly finds its nesting spot. 

Psyche straightens, eyes focusing again and exhales slowly before looking at Ishikawa. "...That would be fine, but I would like to sleep." She says after a moment or so of thinking. Then she begins to move back towards the road, rubbing her eyes again. "It's been a while since I last slept."
Clayton
*Ishikawa turned away from her, his ears still perked. He watched the eye fly back, relieved it didn't try anything with the hawk. He glanced back, nodding. He took a few steps forwards to queue in Mox, before pausing. Murmuring,*

"Likewise... But I shall last another night." 

*He continued, looking for the Canifor.*
Mona
*Mox was not hard to find. Standing near the center of the road itself so that anyone approaching from either side would see him first and foremost. Ears perking up when he hears them coming back out from the treeline.* "Take it the aid's done then?" *He asks of Ishikawa. Relaxing the halberd against his shoulder once more.*
Clayton
*Ishikawa looked somewhat disturbed as he came out the woods, looking at the Canifor. His ears were craned back, the Kitsune nervous that she would attempt to escape while he was absent. He seemed reluctant to speak. What he did say was hushed.*

"I don't think there's anything I can do... There's..."

*He fell silent for a moment, dark look crossing his face.*

"She's resting now. I'm going to make an attempt to take her to Narshapi in the morning... She- she isn't *Well*. Whatever it is, it's far worse than mange."
Mona
*Mox remains silent for a moment. His own ears folding back as it only confirmed his suspicions that this was just not something simple. Once more he sighs heavily. Moving to pick back up his cloak.* "She's asleep now or just hunkering down in the dirt? Trembles weren't just for the cold. You'll want to build a warm fire and see if she's eaten anything of recent."

*Clasping his cloak around his shoulders again Mox stares intently down the road. This wasn't his business. Tightening the grip on his halberd before turning back to Ishikawa.* "Said I'd help ya, you want to take her to a healer in the morn I'll stay till then at the least. Two blades are better then one when taking care of the sick."
Clayton
*Ishikawa half looked back towards the woods, frowning.* 
"I'm not sure. I believe she's awake. Physically, at least." 

*He murmured the last part. Ishikawas ear flicked with slight annoyance at the suggestion he wasn't aware that one needed to build a fire, but his expression didn't change. Right now was not the time. He'd eye Mox, wondering if he was going to leave. He seemed relieved when he offered to help.* 
"Thank you. It's.. Much appreciated. I can fight if needed, though my arm isn't as steady as it used to be." 

*He'd lead Mox into the woods, going to where his animals and the woman lay. He'd begin to set up a camp, tail still glowing with soft blue light. Now that his tails were made more clear by the light, it was clear that the Kitsune had 2.*
Mona
*Mox follows the Kitsune back to where they were to set up camp. Making note of the surrounding area as they do.* "May be a mercenary but that don't mean I've sold my soul for coin." *While Ishikawa set up the fire Mox dropped his pack on the ground. Taking a seat as he begins to rummage through for some of his provisions. Pulling dried meats and some hard trail bread.*

"Not how I expected to spend my night but ah well. Beats taking a knife to the gut any day really." *He speaks aloud, eyeing up Psyche as he makes sure to keep at least a few feet between him and her.*
Clayton
*The Kitsune quickly began to gather kindling and the like, making a shallow pit for a fire. Given the fact he had done this quite a few times, the fire started easily. Since Ishikawa didn't plan on sleeping, he wouldn't set up a tent, simply settling down next to his horse, gently leaning onto its side. The beast would tenderly nuzzle his shoulder, and he would in turn lovingly pat its muzzle.* 

"Aye. Life certainly has its moments..." 

*Because Mox was eyeing Psyche, Ishikawa would motion to him to look out for a flying object. It wasn't quite clear what he was trying to pantomime besides that, but Ishikawa was sure that Psyche couldn't see him. Hearing him was another thing...*
Mona
*Mox slowlyyyyy scoots a little further away from Psyche at those gestures. Fingering a knife on the belt across his chest as the fire begins crackling.* "That it does. Don't recall catching a name there." *He calls over as the knife he was fingering was taken out to slice off a bit of the dried meat for himself. Offering a bit of it to the Kitsune as well. Mox finally noticing the pair of tails that they had. Ear twitching as he tries to recall what that means.*
Clayton
*The only thing Ishikawa did to clarify was point at his eye. But a flying eye? Surely that wasn't it... Or was it?* 
"Saito, Ishikawa. You?" 

*It was likely that the adventurer may have heard some vague mentions of the Saito name, but whatever it may have been wouldn't be too impactful to remember. Ishikawa would graciously accept the meat. Traditionally, the more tails a Kitsune had, it would be the older they were... Or the number of significant deeds they had committed.*
Mona
"Mox. Mox Tamebolt." *The Canifor answers before popping the meat into his mouth and begins chewing. Falling silent in thought as he stares at the fire. The name was unfamiliar to him, being a wanderer and a foreigner he may not have heard of it. His own name would carry no weight, what deeds his ancestors did only really known to his tribe.*

*Pulling his cloak around him Mox sits in silence for a bit before finally piping up again.* "So why exactly where you out and about on this road tonight if you don't mind the proddin. Sounds like you are from around here."
Clayton
*Ishikawa slowly ate his food, as if it seemed distasteful to him in some way. Any sort of consumption seemed like a labor to him, though one couldn't be sure why. The Kitsune looked up at his companion, his ears perking slightly,* 

"Well, you see, I've been..." 
*He paused, a pained look on his face.* 
"*Away*, for quite some time, and I was going to visit some acquaintances, assure them that I wasn't dead..." 

*He murmured,* 
"I don't sleep much, so I wasn't planning on stopping to rest tonight."
Mona
"Right." *Mox answers. Studying his current companion as he leans back and relaxes by the fire.* "Well sleep doesn't always come to people easily. Just need to rest when you can an all that." *Mox dismissed the fact that the Kitsune was hiding something, it didn't matter much to him as they would be parting ways soon enough.* "Do have to say you have some knowledge on this stuff I guess. Never seen it before myself."
Clayton
*Ishikawa was telling the truth, whether or not Mox believed him. Ishikawa looked off into the dark woods, a far off expression painting his face.* 

"I prefer to keep moving, if possible... Idle hands and all that." 
*He eyed the Canifor from the side, not turning back to him.* 
"As far as anything medicine related goes, no, but I've certainly..." 

*He looked at Psyche momentarily, dropping his voice down,* 
"Dealt with parasites before."