Linda
"Manon."*He'd say, grabbing her arm she would walk past as he'd look over at all the blood staining her face.*"At least go wash all that off before leading every predator in the forest back to the camp. It's bad enough when Okami drags an entire pig around for the forest to see."*The Vampiress seemed so insistent in keeping her vampirism hidden from people, though only ever ended up making a bigger mess of it. It was rather odd, considering most vampires typically didn't care what they showed of the curse.*
Nelson
*Manon didn't say anything to the Elf. She guessed she needed to find her way back to the creek from before to wash her face off. She waited until Terrel was done speaking before silently heading the opposite direction from the camp. 'Why was he even out here? Probably because he didn't trust her of course.' She thought to herself. Figuring it was better that she didn't look into things. The walk to the creek was a lot longer than she expected, maybe she went too far in a direction. Eventually she came across the small body of water. Cupping her hands together and splashing the freezing water across her face while using the back of her hand to scrape at the blood that had dried. She couldn't really tell if she had gotten all the stains off but she went back to camp anyways.*
Linda
*With Manon heading off towards the creek, Terrel would turn away to head back to camp. As he'd eventually return, he'd head over towards Carl and reach into one of the saddlebags to grab one of two books M'ra had sold to him. Forges. As he'd sit down to read the book, Ansel would walk up to him, a stick firmly clamped in his jaws as he'd shake it to and fro. Terrel would half attentively grab the other end of it, playing tug o war with the young pup while he'd flip back to where he left off in the book in the time that Manon was gone.*
Nelson
*Manon walked to the horses, reaching down to grab a handful of dried grass and hold it up to his mouth. Another hand reached for the top of his head and began petting at him. Admiring the furs on his head and it's beady eyes as well. After a few minutes she looked around for Floof, the compassionate one of the group it seemed. She found him next to Terrel as always, walking over to him before kneeling in front of the pup.* "Is there anything I can do for you, young one? I don't have much to do right now." *It was more her way of saying thanks for caring. She would've done it for the other Pups but they weren't exactly warmed up to her yet.*
Linda
*Carl would hesitantly eat at the dried grass from Manon's hand, lowering his head away so that he can enjoy it for himself. Terrel would cast a side glance over at Manon as she neared, soon returning his gaze back down to the book while Ansel continued to tug at the stick with more effort than Terrel needed to put into it.*
Thomas
*Floof would find himself laying on the ground while he sat pressed up against Terrel's leg as he stared up at her.*"Can I... Have a belly rub...?"*He'd ask quietly, laying on his side slightly to expose his stomach.*
Nelson
"Of course you may." *She reached down and pressed her hand against his belly, stroking the fur on his underside. She wondered if she smelled like the animal she ate from before. Maybe she should always find mint leaves, something to hide her breath after she was finished feeding. "Are you happy, Little Floof? You don't seem to play with your brother and sister, but you're a sweetheart." *She looked up at the back of Terrel's head, wondering if Tzu was still resting underneath the pink hair. "I wish Alpha was nice like you." *She found herself saying to the pup, feeling the need to express her thoughts to something.*
Thomas
"Yeah I'm okay..."*Floof would close his eyes slightly.*"Oh they aren't my real littermates..."*He'd say in response to her question.*"I like them, but sometimes it's hard being followed around by pups everywhere I go..."*Floof would eventually roll over completely, his tail giving a light wag. As she said she wished Alpha would be as nice as him, he'd say:*"Alpha can be nice... Sometimes he's just... Busy being Alpha..."*Floof would kick out his foot slightly.*"He likes to separate work and play so we can notice the shift sometimes."
Nelson
*Busy being a jerk more like. Reaching down with her other hand to double the stomach rubs. She wouldn't know anything about work to be done. He seemed content to tell her nothing of what is going on. The people were nice, the animals were too. But Terrel just made her feel like an unwanted visitor all the time. It didn't really explain why he followed her into the forest, despite all the things he has done to her.* "Thank you for your time." *She said to Floof before sitting near Terrel, though a gap was definitely noticeable.*
Linda
*Floof would give her a light nuzzle of reassurance, soon laying his head back down to rest in between them with the gap they created. Terrel would lean against his horse as Carl had eventually laid down to rest for a while.*"Have you ever had an animal of your own?"*He'd ask out of the blue as he'd lower the book and decided to focus more on Ansel as he'd begin to tear at the stick, becoming to into chewing it up than actually pulling it away.*
Nelson
"No, I'm afraid that I'll kill it." *She said, little to no emotion in her voice. She wanted to have an animal companion but the hunger drove her to madness sometimes. She no longer thought about friends or foe after a certain level of starvation. Often she tried to find out just how long she can go without hurting. Without killing. She wanted to know how long she could go without giving into that frenzied state. The last time it had happened was during the summer, It took forever to clean herself and her clothes from the bloodbath she woke up in. The way she fed off those deer. They were mutilated to say the least.* "The animals of the forest are company enough most of the time."
Linda
"So you'll take to killing your company instead..."*He'd respond back, eventually letting go of the stick as Ansel would carry it off and bite at it on his own. It didn't matter what she did, at some point she was going to have to eat the animals she spoke to unless she'd prefer eating whatever poor travelers found themselves caught in her rampage which, at this point he'd be sure she'd prefer. However, if she wasn't getting a pet just for that, he could assume that she saw reason to fear her own curse rather than put it to use.*"I'm guessing you've never tried the alternative methods."*He'd say, glancing back over at her and lowering his palm down towards Floof's head so that he could idly pat him while he spoke.*
Nelson
*She didn't say anything. She didn't know what he wanted to her from her anyways. There wasn't a choice involved in the process. Killing was forced into her survival needs, or at least hurting other living creatures. If she didn't she would die, if she died. She couldn't save other living creatures. She always thought about the harm she was creating vs the harm she was healing. So far, if feeding off on animal every day or every other day meant treating 10 wounded. It was worth it. If she lost sight of her call as a healer. She shook her head, not wanting to think about what she would become them* "What alternative methods?" *She never heard of another option but that the same time, she half expected him to give unhelpful advice.*
Linda
"Artificial blood..."*He'd say simply as he'd lift his hand away from Floof. Terrel could recall visiting the shop once to see the vials of blood on display for those who needed it. However, only now does he really get its purpose.*"Some stores sell it if you're fortunate to find one... There's enough vampires running about as it is for everyone to know about it. Wouldn't hurt to stock up and save yourself the trouble of having to kill something every time you get an itch for it."*'Especially since you seemingly cry over it every time.' He'd think the final part to himself. Never before has he seen someone act so depressed over a dead rabbit they've probably never met before.*
Nelson
*She never heard of Artificial Blood before. She couldn't imagine it would taste very well.* "I could try some, I'm sure they become costly over time though." *She would like to not kill as much as possible.* "Why are you helping me?" *She found herself asking before she could really stop herself. His actions were different than his words more often than not. Not once did she get the impression that he cared for her anyways. Why she was not sent off by now? Could've just taken her coin and drove her away easily with his pups*
Linda
"Most food typically does."*He'd say.*"Though if you continuously find and sell plants I'm sure it won't be that hard to keep up with."*It was probably a steady living, find stuff to sell, use said earnings to afford food. He wouldn't say it was the best way to go by, but such was the way things tended to be, especially for those that travel a lot. Being asked why he was helping her, he'd give her a lopsided look with the curvature of his mouth before giving a light shrug in response. Why was he helping her? He supposed it was something he typically did when in need of allies as most did during travels and as, annoying as she was, he's had worse, not that he'd care to admit it. Times like these, it was better to make allies than enemies out of people, but for Terrel, it was hard to tell with people sometimes. Even Okami could have suggested that.*"Just am."*He'd say simply, leaning back in his horse with his arms resting behind his head.*
Nelson
*She often gave her plants for free. Only keeping what she needed for emergencies. It wasn't hard to find things to eat in the forest, so needing to pay for food wasn't an issue for her. Besides doctors needed the money to continue treating other people or to resupply their stocks. She could keep a little more for herself. If it means she devours less rabbits in the future.* "Okay" *Manon didn't care for his answer as to why he was helping her, but she didn't like the majority of things that came from his lips anyways. She felt a little stupid asking him that question, basically set herself up for that response.*
Linda
*Terrel would glance down at his book, deciding to get comfortable for the time being as he allowed the silence to ensue between them. Maybe the rest of their travels would be like this, leaving him to eventually forget that the Vampiress was even there before they left.*"Why do you always come back?"*He'd ask back to her in his own rebutted question. Maybe the fact that she stays out in the forest anyways was the answer or simply wanting to talk more with the animals. Though looking past that, he could see she's been nothing but frustrated all morning.*
Nelson
*Without hesitation she answered his question.* "If I left because I'm upset and something happened to you all, I wouldn't be able to live with myself." *Looking around the camp at the people and animals alike. At least with her there, they could survive a lot easier if something were to happen. She could also sense disturbances nearby if they grew close. Maybe she wouldn't know exactly what it was, but it was something at least. Though creature sensing took more concentration than plant finding. If she was distracted with something, she probably would feel it anyways.*
Linda
*Terrel would narrow his eyes slightly within his mask, almost daring to question why she'd care so much before he'd answer his own question. She was a healer. It was just how they were. They cared, a little too much about a bunch of strangers if anyone asked him. This one more so about every animal she came across despite feeding off of them soon after.*"We're a bunch of travelers camping in a predator infested forest."*He'd say, a grin forming on his face as he'd look up at the sky from where he laid against his horse.*"I'd say we would be asking for something to happen at this point."
Nelson
*Manon nodded in agreement, they were asking for something to happen. Something probably would happen as well. She wasn't afraid of the forest because of her magic mainly. Sure she had to blind and daze a few predators but it was a simple spell that everyone knew.* "I agree" *Manon couldn't help but wonder if she had paired up with bandits. She wouldn't really know what to do in this situation. She didn't want to hurt other people but she didn't want them to get hurt either. It would explain why his face is covered though. Manon pulled her knees up to her chest, her arms wrapping around her shins. Her chin found it's spot on her knees as she just started thinking about the people she so willing surrounded herself with.*
Linda
*Terrel would give a quiet sigh, returning back down to his book in the silence they had. Floof would look between the two eventually curling up as he could finally draw some comfort with some of the tension gone. Blur would slowly make her way over to them, pawing at Floof before she'd eventually lay down next to him and decide to rest as well. As Ansel would finally snap the stick in half, his eyes would flash triumphantly down at it, soon turning to look at the others only to see them having missed it. He'd give a disappointed huff of air, soon walking over to join the two as he'd sit down in front of them, almost as if he were trying to stand guard to Floof's amusement.*
Nelson
*Manon would hold her hand out beside her, allowing vines to wrap around and tie themselves into a ball. Looking over at where Ansel stood, she decided to throw the ball over his head. She wanted to see what he would do without the warning. If he ran for the ball she would use her magic to throw it back to herself before Ansel could grab it. A game of keep-away of sorts. She was going to allow him to keep the ball anyways, it should last a few days before completely drying out and dying.*
Linda
*Ansel would watch the ball fly over his head, his ears standing up in alertness as he stared at it. For a moment, he looked like he was at a debate, choosing between either continuing to sit and keep watch or chase after the ball. Eventually he'd simply let out a low growl at it, keeping himself lowered defensively from where he remained as his tail lashed to and fro in fighting the temptation. Terrel would glance down at the young Wolf, raising an eyebrow in slight curiosity.*
Nelson
*The vine popped the ball into the air and she caught it with her hand. She then held the ball out and shook it for Ansel to see. Once she felt like he had a good understanding of what it was, she threw it once more into the field. She felt like having another conversation with Floof but this time she turned her attention to Blur. "How are you, Miss Blur? If you had one thing to say to Alpha, what would it be?" *For some reason she felt like assisting Terrel in understanding his animals a little more. Possible a little better, seeing how there was a communication barrier between him and the three.*
Linda
*Ansel would follow the ball, his head turning back to watch her wave it around before she would throw it once more. Still he didn't get up, looking like he was about to lunge before holding himself back again. Terrel would give a light incline of his head towards the pup and, finally deciding to give into temptation, the wolf pup would chase after it, lunging himself into the ball. Blur would look up at Manon as she mentioned her name, soon finding herself shrinking away from Elf as she buried herself further into Floof's fur.*"N... Nothing..."*She'd say keeping her ears flat against her head.*
Nelson
*She decided to leave Blur alone. She hasn't warmed up to Manon quite yet and that was okay. Seeing how they weren't going to do anything for a while she figured now would be a good time to find fruit like she always does. Locating her basket and placing it in her arms before walking towards the edge of the forest, the ends of leaves or staring into the ground. Almost as if she had X-ray vision to tell which root was growing underneath without needing to pull it out. She tried to imagine what the camp would need, she had no clue on their medical supplies for when she left. Manon hated the idea of them being low on medical supplies and had no way to heal simple injuries.*
Linda
*He'd watch as Manon would walk off from camp, turning his gaze to Ansel as he'd wrestle with the ball. A grin formed on the Elf's face as he'd soon enough place the book down to move over towards Ansel and give him a pat on his head.*"Good Ansel... Good..."*The Wolf's tail would wag to and fro, taking it as a sign to keep attacking the strange ball of vines. Blur would look over at her brother, eyeing him from the safety of Floof as he rolled around on the ground while the Elf would play with him. Floof's tail would wag to and fro, soon finding himself getting up and jumping up on Terrel to join in fray. Blur would keep where she was, coming to sit down as she watched the group from a distance.*