Michael
*Ling would end up draining nearly half of the waterskin. It seems like she was far thirstier than she would have liked to admit.*

"I haven't tried cacti before..."

*She would take a piece of the salted meat, and a pleasantly surprised expression took over her face.*

"Maybe it would. I personally prefer carrying everything on my own."

*She would crawl inside the tent, setting down her armor bundle and unclipping her two swords, setting them down neatly*

"So, Machi. What's your story?"
Robert
*She nodded, listening. She took a piece of the salted mat she offered, and ate it. She took a moment, before entering the tent, and remove her armor. Now free of their metallic prison her ears and twin-tails twitched to become comfortable again.* 

"Well... I was born in Utopla, about... Uh..."

*She took a moment, to think. She was having memories, coming back from the past.*

"About a hundred and twenty years ago, to two loving and caring parents. My mother was a farmer, and my father was a mercenary. I wasn't too interested in farming, but my mother taught me anyways."

*She smiled, for a moment.*

"But, obviously you can tell which parent I took after more. Whenever my father was lacking work, I begged him to teach me. For twenty years, I lived like that. Helping mother with the harvest, and my father taught me to fight..."

*She sighed, and looked at her blade. She unsheathed it, and guiltily, she looked at the blade that has long-since seen better days.*

"When I was eighteen my father was killed, on a job. And I... Well, I fled my home and grieving mother. I regret not telling her good-bye, for in my travels back home, I never did find her again... And he hadn't taught me how to properly take care of his blade."
Michael
*As Machi took off her helmet, her ears would pop out, and like with a dog, Ling had a strange urge to stroke them. She wasn't sure exactly why though.*

"120??!! You're that old?"

*Ling remembered her own parents. Machi was lucky to have someone to support her. Her own parents had discouraged her from taking after any of the swordsmen.*

"Man's work only, as they say."

*As Machi began to talk about her being separated from her family, her hand would reach out and try to stroke the girl's hair, as one would pet a dog or wolf to try and comfort her. Ling never felt the pain of losing a loved one. She didn't even feel connected to her parents.*

"I'm sorry for what happened."
Robert
*The Okamimi smiled, and let off a little laugh, when Ling commented on her age. She nodded faintly, at her next words.*

"Indeed, I'm a 120 years young. My mother always told me she would've rather I spent my life a farmer, and eventually raised my own pups but... While I *Like* To farm, I like adventuring. And thank you."

*She let Ling pet her, moving into the Macen's touch, and closed her eyes. Her tails began to wag too.*

"What about you, what's your family story, Ling?"

*Machi asked, curiously.*
Michael
*Machi seemed to enjoy being stroked, so Ling would continue, particularly behind the ears.*

"Mine... Well, sort of similar. I'm Irunian. I was an only child, a daughter of peasants. They didn't want me to do any outside work. They wanted me to become a housemaid."

"As if that would ever happened. During my free time, I spied on the local swordsmen training. Eventually, the teacher, a good friend of my father's, found me out. Instead of reporting me to him though, he agreed to train me."

"As it turns out, I was meant for the blade. I got so good that eventually I was able to wield these."

*She would show Machi the twin katanas, swords that were normally meant to be used with two hands.*

"But my parents still wanted me to serve. They brought me to a noble's house, saying that I would work there. I couldn't accept that. So I ran, along with this."

*Ling would take out a scroll from her sleeve. It was ornate, and inside were writings and pictures of what appeared to be a mystical swordsmanship.*

"This is the Wind Blade style. It's what I seek to master."
Robert
*The Oriate's legs began to shake when Ling stroked behind her ears. Her tails began to wag a little faster.*

"Well... Perhaps they sought the safest career for you."

*She listened to Ling's story, quite interested.*

"That is quite fascinating. A little more interesting than my own story, admittedly. And those are quite beautiful blades."

*She looked at the scroll, quite curiously.*

"I wish you luck in mastering it. It seems quite complex, and if you need a sparring partner, I wouldn't mind helping you train. I could use the practice too."

*She'd smile, relaxed.*
Michael
"Do all oriates like being stroked behind the ears?"

*Ling would set down the two swords. As beautiful as they were, they were swords. Only an extension of the body.*

"A sword is a sword. An extension of the body. What matters though, is not the sword, but the user. It's the same with the body. It doesn't matter if you have the strongest body in the world, if you don't know how to fight with it. Of course, a stronger weapon enhances it. But we should all strive to master our technique, not search for the best weapon. That comes after."

"Practice? I hope you can keep up."

*Ling would flash back a confident smile as Machi seemed to enjoy being stroked.*
Robert
*Machi blushed a little in embarrassment upon being asked if Oriates liked being stroked behind the ears.*

"W-well uh, I *Do* Like it. But uh... Aside from family, I didn't really know any Oriates well enough to ask about it.."

*She listened, and nodded. She agreed with Ling's belief, on weapons.*

"That's... A very good point, I didn't think of it like that, but that is very true. A weapon is an extension of the body. Did you learn that from your teacher, or?"

*She asked, quite interested in learning more.*

"I hope I can. I imagine you're rather quick with those blades of yours."

*She said, with a small laugh, trying to pretend she hadn't blushed moments before.*