Jeff
*Of all the picturesque landscapes of the elvish lands, the verdant expanse of Corol Ambo is less known. Tucked away from the few grand cities, it's beauty is rarely seen by outsiders. Nomadic beasts and tribes roam the landscapes far more commonly than elves, the rare caretaker surveying their charge from the safety of watchtowers. 

From one of these tribes, albeit a static one, a harpy wanders the hills. Kynia had been following the path set out by the traders that visited her home once in a while - a trail of vague landmarks, some changing with the seasons. 

Walking was always easier to notice these markers, but she yearned to fly without tiring, if only to make the journey faster. Her light coat whipped in the wind, her wing feathers bristling as she unfurled them.*
"No towns for a while..."
*She cooed to herself quietly, wistful eyes skyward.*
Abigail
*Shouldering several canvas satchels, a cloaked figure walked along a path that crossed with the one Kynia traveled. From afar, they could very well be seen by the keen eyes of a harpy, easily discernable as one of the humanoid races judging by height and gait. They were apace to intersect with one another if the two continued, but the traveler seemed not to notice. Their head was down, hood drawn forth, and gaze seemingly fixed upon the ground in thought.*
Jeff
*Assuming this person was one of the few caretakers of these hills, Kynia chirped loudly and trotted towards Eleanor, raising a wing in greeting. She found it odd that they were cloaked - the elves of these glades wore simple clothes - but ignored the worry for now.*
Abigail
*The head of the figure lifted at the chirp and their stride slowed, coming to a pause entirely to see the individual who approached them. Standing still, they could be identified further as female, judging by the narrowness of the shoulders and how the cloak draped over what could be assumed was their bosom. One leather-gloved hand appeared from beneath the cloak and reached up to slightly pull back the hood, revealing a face that could have been carved from marble, so simultaneously hard and soft were its features. A mouth like rose petals formed a soft frown, and eyes as blue as the sky on a clear summer day pierced the harpy's gaze. This was no elf caretaker.*

"...I had not expected to meet anyone on this path," *The woman said plainly, glancing the little creature up and down. She stood easily a foot taller than the harpy, with wavy brown hair that fell forth from the hemline of her hood.* "Are you lost?"
Jeff
*The harpy's bright yet muted expression faded at the revelation, her head cocking slightly as birds wont to do. A small, curious trill left her lips, shifting her weight from left to right foot.*
"I am not yet lost, no. Who are you? You are not elven."
*Her voice was small and sharp, the lack of emotion in her words belied her shifting expressions - from curiosity to suspicion and back again.*
Abigail
*The ranger was not familiar with the species that Kynia represented, and she curiously observed the birdlike woman's mannerisms and physique as the other spoke. The almost accusatory words turned the cloaked woman's mouth into a faint smirk, and her head tilted in the same direction as the harpy's as if to mirror her.*

"Rather rude to be asking such questions of someone without offering your own name first." *This was a game that she had grown accustomed to playing with the fae, if ever she ran into one of their kind. Expectantly she awaited a response, adjusting the weight of the satchels she carried over her shoulder.
Jeff
"True enough. I am Kynia Cael, of the Faeplume. Who are you?"

*Kynia picked up on this eventually, narrowing her eyes at the stranger as her head cocked the other direction, slowly shrouding herself with her wings - the frosty brown feathers interspersed with glittering silvers and gold. If Eleanor knew anything about harpies, this would be a clear indication of her status as chieftain - to which Kynia herself was oblivious of, they're just pretty feathers.*
Abigail
*The fact that the harpy offered a full name indicated that she was not, in fact, one of those tricksy little fairies, and Eleanor's shoulders relaxed slightly along with her stance. One hip eased to the side, her leg supporting the weight of her cargo and her posture both.*

"Greetings then, Kynia Cael of the Faeplume," *She said with a bow of her head.* "I am Eleanor Kirkvale. Most simply call me El," *Came the returned introduction. Scanning over those feathers, an idea ran through the fletcher's mind, but she thought better of suggesting it just after meeting the little creature.* "First I've ever met one of your kind. Pretty wings, those."
Jeff
*Returning the bow with her entire - very small - body, Kynia chirped in recognition. Her wings bristled noticeably as she raised them to her sides, revealing the silver lance concealed under her right flank.*

"I think so too. Our kind do not leave Corol Ambo, it is ours to tend. Other harpies are different, some dangerous."

*There was a pause, an exceedingly grave look gripping her face momentarily, quickly dissipating as she raised her gaze to meet Eleanor's once more.*
"Who is your kind, Eleanor? Your face is like mine, but you are not an elf. Elves have magic, too much magic.
Abigail
*The ranger made note of the emotive expressions that passed over Kynia's face, but said nothing in regards to them—yet. Obviously there was more meaning behind what the little bird-woman had indicated, but this was neither the time nor place for it. Adjusting her cargo once more, the hooded woman glanced sidelong at the road behind her for safety measures, then back at Kynia.*

"I am my own kind. I do not share kinship with another," *She explained further.* "You can simply consider me an El, nothing more, and nothing less. Now, a query for a query," *She continued, narrowing her eyes curiously at the harpy.* "If your kind do not leave Corol Ambo... Then what are you doing traipsing down its roadways as if on a mission? Especially alone, armed as you are." *The woman nodded toward the lance, built for a harpy to wield yet fairly small for one her own size.*
Jeff
*The answer confused Kynia greatly, and wished to press the subject further, but the question following distracted her. A moment of confliction flashed across her visage, her arms drawing inwards as small talons fingered her necklace idly.*
"...I am on a mission, yes. Why are you here, Eleanor? Few enter Corol Ambo without a purpose."
Abigail
*The cloaked woman took a step down the path, languidly following with another as she meant to continue her pace with leisure. Taking her eyes off the harpy, she scanned their surroundings again, checking the weather and the position of the sun.*

"I mean to sell my haul. The fair folk look kindly upon those who offer them trinkets, and the animal parts I bring make for useful charms and wards besides," *She explained, shouldering her canvas satchels once more to draw attention to the bags. They looked handmade, and clinked slightly with the sounds of something hard, yet delicate bumping together inside.* "The nearest village will serve as my first stopping point. If I cannot trade all of my wares there, I will continue on to the next." *The woman paused, and looked back at Kynia.* "...You can come along, if you like."
Jeff
"If I can, yes please!"
*Her expression quickly brightened, almost hopping on the spot at the offer. She quickly caught herself, it seemed, pursing her lips as an internal chastising ensued. A small clearing of her throat followed, her countenance once again reserved.*
"...I must petition the civilised peoples, a village would suffice for now."
Abigail
*The reaction of the harpy drew a soft chuckle in the throat of the traveler, who nodded in the direction of the path to beckon her diminutive companion to catch up as she started to walk at a more brisk clip.* "What good a village will do for one such as you, I cannot say," *The brunette said quietly, wondering to herself if the townspeople would rather pluck the harpy and string her up like a duck than listen to whatever 'petition' it was she meant to pose.* "The term 'civilized' is a bit broad in application."
Jeff
"Hm... I suppose directions will have to do. I have only heard stories of the civilised races from elvish visitors. They speak poorly of all but their own."
*The harpy explained, tempering her expectations - to little success, as she'd never seen a village outside her own. She took to the air for a few moments, gliding a metre or so ahead of Eleanor to give herself some time to pace herself. Examining her new acquaintance, Kynia found herself perplexed. There was a beauty to this woman that was different to the ethereal frames of the elves. Something grounding... She couldn't place it, though, and shook the thought away.*
"What is it you sell? We traded in furs and meat, for silks and paints and others."
Abigail
*The brunette looked up at the harpy as the little one took flight, momentarily amazed but remembering herself almost immediately and lowering her gaze to the earth again. The girl had wings; why would she be surprised that she could use them? Perhaps it was a twinge of envy that darkened her brow. How nice it must be to take to the sky whenever one felt the urge.*

"Much the same, along with the bones, and other such parts. I have no use for silk or paint... But linens, metals, spices, and other such niceties serve me well enough." *Her attention turned again to the harpy, whom she caught up to rather easily with her long strides.* "As a hunter, it is how I make my living."
Jeff
"A hunter without a people... I've seen none of this sort. For whom do you toil?"
*Her curiosity was only bolstered by these responses, Kynia having spent nary a day truly alone. She watched her intently, trotting backwards as she spoke - cocking her head once more at her furrowed brow.*
Abigail
*Eleanor was accustomed to people shying away from her, seeing the near-permanent scowl on her face as a warning sign to stay away. But this little creature... She fired off question after question, with all the curiosity in the world. Perhaps she caught El on the right day, but the hunter was endeared to the sheer naivety of the little woman, nevermind how little she herself knew of the outside world. A slight smirk curled her lip, and she lowered her head.*

"Myself, of course. If I travel alone, there is none to sustain me aside from me. So, I must make my own way," *She explained, looking at the odd footprints that the harpy left behind. Those were markings she would need to become familiar with, El thought...*
Jeff
"...I shall need to learn this. My needs have always been met by my kin, this will be the first time I journey."
*Her excitement gradually faded as she settled into a comfortable stride, letting our small chirps and twitters as her attention was caught by all manner of mundane things.*

"Maybe we would avoid this Calamity if we were to toil for ourselves. Our ancestors speak little of details."
*Most likely from her growing sense of security, Kynia soon let spill some of the details of her journey - a small, quiet coo following suit.*
Abigail
*Eleanor's head tilted at the mention of a Calamity. There was a topic that she felt the need to broach, at least in small measure. The other intricacies of Kynia's culture would reveal themselves over time.*

"I was unaware of a pending Calamity. How soon should we expect the sky to fall upon us?" *She asked, perhaps with a little levity in the dry delivery of her question. It wouldn't be the first time she had heard doomsayers foretell the coming of the end times, but usually it was a result of some fanatical religion or crazed hermitage. Perhaps the bird had a more interesting explanation.*
Jeff
"I know not if the sky should fall. This Calamity only concerns the beastfolk, not the civilised ones. You will be safe, Eleanor."
*Rarely encountering sarcasm would become a recurring problem for the harpy, Kynia taking this question seriously. She beamed softly, content with the fact that the larger folk would not be in peril if she were to fail... Though failure was a disturbing thought.*
"I must speak to the other chieftains, some are better trained in attunement with our ancestors. Do you speak to your ancestors, Eleanor?"
*Again her expression turned curious, picking up readily on her 'query for a query' suggestion.*
Abigail
*The harpy's speech patterns drew El's curiosity, pondering about them for a brief interlude between her chirping responses. The taller woman looked down at the feathered one, blue eyes slowly blinking as a moment of silence answered the question she asked. Ancestors...? Now there was a concept that hadn't crossed the hunter's mind in quite some time.*

"...Why would I speak to those who cannot speak back? It would be a waste of breath," *She said after taking a half-minute to think of her response, lifting her gaze to peer at the path ahead of them.* "There is nothing they could do for me. They're all dead."
Jeff
*Again the harpy cocked her head in confusion, realising she had never asked about how the larger folks interacted with the spirits of the dead. Her wings bristled as she thought on this, keeping pace more casually now.*
"If you have no peoples, then who speaks to those who have passed for wisdom? I've known no tribe that hasn't a person attuned to the spirit realm..."
Abigail
*El sighed softly, realizing that she had not gotten her point across as succinctly as she had hoped.*

"It is as I said. I travel alone. There is no one but me whom I am concerned about. I don't bother looking to the past, or the future. Only the here and now matters to me."

*Her gaze turned again to the little harpy, hopeful that she made sense to the birdbrain.* 

"Anything any ancestors of mine would have to say is of no interest or value to me."
Jeff
"...I see. Are most civilised people like you?"
*Her final question for a little while was asked with a sharper tone, sensing a graveness in Eleanor's voice that she recognised from the stories of the greater world; told by jaded elders and bitter veterans. Her bright expression faded, an apprehension replacing it as the spirit of these stories slowly proved true.*
Abigail
*That tone was picked up by equally sharp ears, and Eleanor turned her cold blue eyes with her head to gaze down at Kynia another moment. It was true... The ranger was jaded, and bitter. Nearly fifty years she had spent on this godforsaken world, and she had seen no greater event than the sunrise to bolster her spirits. This "Civilization" That Kynia seemed so hopeful about would surely disappoint the feathered woman, and Eleanor decided that she would let **Them** Do the proving, rather than try to convince her to turn around and go back home.*

"...No," *She answered simply, looking back up at the path ahead of them.* "Most of them are more like you. Always asking questions." *A faint curl turned up one corner of her mouth, and she reached out to lightly place her palm atop the harpy's head to give her hair a ruffle. Just as soon as it happened, her hand slipped away again.* 

"We should reach the first village by nightfall if we keep our pace. If you still mean to petition their aid," *She informed her companion.*
Jeff
*A small, involuntarily chirping was returned, and very little else. Kynia screwed her eyes shut at the tousling of her hair, unsure of what to make of her reply. It should have given her hope, that those she would meet would share her disposition - mayhaps share her concern. But something in Eleanor's disposition warned her otherwise... Pensive, the harpy nodded, keeping up with her new companion, albeit at a closer gait than before.*

"I shall. It is all I can do, for now."
*Her voice was sullen; how complicated this would be... If her brother was here, he would know what to do - which explains why she was sent alone. Muddling through this was her first test, whether she was ready for the challenge or not.*