Robert
*Melody carefully stepped out across the icy terrain, her movements slowed by how frigid the weather was getting. Winter wasn't treating her the best in having to travel so far only to get turned around along the way. She had suffered the consequences of getting lost out here. It was a constant reminder each time one of her legs refused to hold her entire weight without sending a shock of pain through her. She tried to stay resilient, but as the temperature dropped, the space between each town seemed to grow. Melody was trained for not being able to work in the most ideal conditions, but with how prolonged it was, that training began to grow less useful by the day. She sucked in a breath of cold air as she felt herself sliding slightly, trying to retain her balance so as not to plummet awkwardly into the snow again. The road seemed to have been long since covered and now she could only remind herself to continue heading in one direction, hoping she didn't get lost again along the way.*

"Just to the next town..."*She breathed in constant reminder to herself. It was the only thing keeping her going between each stop. That and the idea of getting ever so closer to her family. Of course, the positivity didn't come without the reminder of having to trek through this again all the way back to Salvainia. The thought made her shoulders sag in mild defeat. At least she wouldn't be alone coming back, hopefully. Melody shook her head to and fro, having to retain focus on what was ahead. Her deer half made her vulnerable enough out in the wilderness not to mention the war still going on. Oh how she wished it could have been at any other time that she heard the news of its progression. Maybe she could have avoided this season entirely and remained in the warm guild she had worked to join.*
Bernard
Leon trudged on through the thick snow and icy terrain taking care not to slip, it wasn't his first winter and it probably wouldn't be his last. He'd been traveling for several days now having just finished visiting a small village a few kilometers back. The roads were cold and rough, but the pace at which he kept himself to spurred him onwards and kept him somewhat warm. It'd get colder still though, especially as he took notice of the sun starting to set. Walking in the dark, especially in these conditions was nothing short of a death sentence to all but the most experienced of rangers, something Leon was decidedly not. Heaving a sigh he broke off the road slightly making sure it was still visible and unslung his pack.

"***Damned cold, suppose there's nothing for it***" He cursed as he realized he'd have to spend the better part of the next hour setting up his shelter for the night. Sighing more he pulled the framing and other materials out of his pack and began setting up a rather large and rounded tent that was constructed of heavy furs and fabrics. This was something that would take quite a bit of his time and that wasn't even taking into the account he had to get a fire going after this and get started on a meal. All in all he wasn't exactly looking forward to all of this work, but it had to be done. He didn't exactly have a strong desire to freeze to death in the snow or worse get eaten by wolves.
Robert
*Melody squinted her eyes against the white environment, hoping to find any checkpoint that could help her get to the next place. Or at the very least, find anything other than snow out here. Her gaze had eventually fallen upon something in the distance, perhaps a place where she could at least rest at with how late it was getting. She trudged onwards, the small shadow in the distance growing to appear to be some kind of tent of sorts. Surely that must mean someone else was around, though Melody wasn't quite sure if that was a good thing or not after having the occasional run in with people taking advantage of the chaos brought up by the war. She let out a quiet sigh, deciding to take her chances with this one.*"Hello?"*She called out, gradually approaching the area rather slowly, both from lack of knowing who was around and having to endure the pain with every time she managed to limp forward through the growing mass of snow at her bare deer legs.*"Anyone here?"
Bernard
Leon had finished setting up the tent about twenty minutes ago, at this point he'd been foraging for wood and managed to amass a sizable bundle. The winter hadn't been kind to anyone it seemed, not even the trees. There had been no shortage of deadwood and fallen logs to scavenge and he was grateful for this. He silently counted his luck and had been making his way out of the treeline with his bundle of wood. He heard a soft voice echoing out towards his tent. Normally he'd be on edge and ready to rush in with his zweihander, but something about the mild-mannered tone of the voice he heard calling out gave him pause. 

*Probably not a bandit..*
This was the first thought that crossed his mind as he stepped into view. It didn't take him long to discover who the voice belonged to. It was a centaur and she was shivering with every breath she took. The deer-girl although a strange sight was definitely not a bandit. "***You're lucky you caught me, I just finished gathering wood, you're welcome to stay and warm up. I'm going to try and get a fire going.***" Leon wasted little breath on formalities or introductions, he offered a place beside the fire, but he was more focused on getting the fire going so he didn't freeze to death and could start on dinner. His singlemindedness could be mistaken for coldness, but he was really just preoccupied. He set the bundle of logs down and crouched in front of the tent and removed his gloves so he didn't get them wet. He cupped his hands together and began scooping out a hole in the snow, he dug down a few inches his hands and fingers quickly growing numb from the cold. Satisfied with the depth of his firepit he moved over to the road and gathered up a handful of stones moving back to the hole in the snow and set them around to enclose the fire. With all the prepwork out of the way he tossed the logs into the firepit and started fiddling with a flint and steel he pulled from his pack that sat by the tent.
Robert
*Melody didn't say another at first, simply relieved at having some place to rest at for the time being. She walked over to the small camping area, coming to lower herself to the ground with her legs splayed out, one in particular needing her attention. Melody figured from his tone that he may not care much for conversation, but she felt the need to express the slightest bit of gratitude while she tried to wrap up her leg from what supplies she still had in her bag.*"Thank you."*She said to him in simple response.*"And... Apologies for invading your camping space. I suppose I wasn't the most prepared coming out of here."*Melody added a bit of formality to her words. It was something she had been trying to hold onto whenever speaking with people, especially the ones out here that didn't seem to think twice before attacking at times. It was best to state her intentions first hand it seemed.*
Bernard
"***Really can't overstate how lucky you are that you ran into me out here, you'd probably be dead in a few hours otherwise. Next town is about a half a days travel from here.***" Leons response was brutally honest as he finally managed to light the timber he'd gathered working quickly to ensure that the few embers quickly blossomed into a roaring fire. It took a few moments but soon the fire was blazing and radiating heat. He got back up to his feet and warmed his hands by the fire for a few moments before he moved back over to his pack. He dug around for a few moments before producing a segmented tripod. He snapped the sections together and set it above the fire heaving a satisfied sigh as he watched the hook dangle above the fire. "***Going to get started on dinner, you're welcome to it...***" He offered as he retreated into the tent and came out lugging a heavy cast iron cauldron that he quickly hooked onto the tripod over the fire. 

He rummaged through his pack again and produced a slab of cured meat wrapped in butchers paper as well as a large onion, some carrots and a few potatoes. He reached for his dagger at his belt and sat down upon a log as he got to work peeling the potatoes and very roughly dicing the onion and carrots. He glanced back up to the centaur and made an earnest attempt at conversation having relaxed more now that the two most immediate concerns were out of the way. "***Names Leonhard, Leon to those that know me. How long've you been on the roads? Aren't exactly the safest right now, specially not this time of year.***"
Robert
*She gave a dip of her head to the offer. Finally some food that wasn't the small bit of snacks she brought with her for the road.*"Yes, thank you..."*Melody said to him. To think that it would be another half a day before she'd be able to reach the next town. Even then, money was growing so low from all the traveling that even her rations were diminishing with each purchase. Melody pushed the concern to the back of her mind. She simply had to reach home which was now just a country away. How bad could it be?*"I'm Melody. I... Would give a longer title than that, but... I think all this traveling has made me a bit too tired. I've been... Traveling for weeks... Erm... Months now maybe...? Sorry, I'm usually much better at keeping track of time."*She said, rubbing at her head idly in trying to think.*"It wasn't my plan for me to come out here at this time, but I'm afraid an emergency had come about and... Well the trip had taken me much longer than I originally thought it would..."*Her body grew more lax with conversation, figuring she was safe to get some rest here for now. All the pushing through this weather and now all she could wish for was a warm bed for once. Ironically enough.*"You seem rather prepared for it. Been traveling long?"
Bernard
"***Only most of my life.***" He half joked as finished peeling and dicing the vegetables and setting them to the side. "***It's refreshing to see someone that isn't trying to rob me on the road...***" He continued the idle chatter as best he could as he drug his dagger along the cured meat slicing it into large chunks. When all was said and done in terms of prepwork he tossed everything into the cauldron satisfied as he heard the ingredients for that nights dinner sizzle loudly. He stood beside the cauldron stirring things every so often as he turned back towards Melody. "***Probably not the best of signs that you've lost so much track of time. You should move closer to the fire, warm up... You're shivering.***" He pointed out as he moved back over to his pack and pulled a large jug of mead from it. He took a few sips and then dumped the rest into the cauldron listening to it hiss and steam as the honey-tinged liquid glugged out into the pot. Feeling better about the state of things now he took a seat oncemore upon the log warming his hands by the fire.
Robert
"Really? I haven't noticed-."*She tried to say nonchalantly at the idea of her being cold. Melody could hardly feel anything at this point. Even the simple action of moving ever so slightly closer to the fire felt like enough of an effort. She wrapped her arms around her, half conscious of it.*"If I may ask, why are you out here exactly?"*She asked him.*"I'd assume even most travelers wouldn't be so inclined to come out in this weather even if prepared for it."*At least, she wouldn't assume Macens would of all people. Beastkins, it at least seemed a bit more understandable the closer she strayed to their border.*
Bernard
"***On my way to Kadrush, have some work waiting for me there.***" He got back up and moved over to the cauldron giving the stew a few stirs before he sat back down. "***You're going to freeze to death, so we might as well share the tent... Big enough to fit four comfortably, I think I have an extra bedroll somewhere if you want it.***" He shrugged, it was an awkward situation to say the least. He didn't really know Melody, but the two would be sharing a tent together due to the circumstances. "***What is it that brought you out here... You said some sort of emergency right? Forgive me if I'm prying too much***" He asked wanting to at least break some of the silence between them. It was hard to find something to talk about to the stranger that was forced to share his camp with him, after all he'd expected to be alone for the majority if not all of his journey to Kadrush. So the fact someone else had stumbled upon his camp let alone a seemingly friendly face was a bit shocking to him.
Robert
"Family. Mainly."*She answered, trying to force herself to stand up and test out the leg until she could comfortably place it down.*"I'm sure you've been made aware of this long war with all your travels. Recently, I was notified of there be an advance into my home country... I...Have to make sure my family is okay."*She trotted away a bit, becoming antsy in trying to get some feeling back in her legs. If only it hadn't gotten so cold this quickly. She depended a lot on her mobility, but the longer she was out here, the more it began draw the strength out of her.*"It's okay. I won't take up much space."*She told him, despite her size.*"The only reason I stay in this form now is because I'm afraid I'd fine myself reduced to only having one working leg rather than three."*She let out a lighthearted laugh at the thought, coming to circle back around to the fire and settling down once more to try to warm up her hands against it.*"I suppose I won't need it much whenever I get some rest though."
Bernard
"***You're certainly welcome to travel with me if we're going the same way, damned if this road doesn't get lonely.***" He voiced aloud as he got back to his feet and moved over to the cauldron. He gave it a few more stirs and then moved back over to his pack pulling out some cutlery and a pair of bowls that appeared to be carved from some sort of animal horn. They clacked together in a noisy manner as he moved back to the cauldron. He dipped one bowl in filling it with stew and then handed it to Melody along with a wooden spoon. "***Here, it isn't much but it should fill your belly and keep you warm. Water in my pack if you're thirsty***" He then moved back to the cauldron and filled his own bowl before taking a seat back on the log. 

"***Did you hurt your leg? Notice you've been limping. I can take a look at it come morning if you'd like. Seen my share of wounds and dressed them.***" The mercenaries voice was gruff and he alluded to his experience dressing his own battlewounds as he tucked into dinner.
Robert
"That would probably be... Much easier..."*She admitted, lowering her head as she did in mild defeat. Between getting turned around, passing through countries at war, and making sure she survived day to day, maybe it would be easier to at least have one person that knew what they were doing. While it did seem to take some burden off of her, part of her wondered if she could even make a good captain in the future if she could hardly manage herself out here. No, she simply got unlucky was all. She was sure she'll figure her way out once she was on the way back home with her family in tow. Melody was broken away from her thoughts as he offered her the food, soon being made aware of just how hungry she was after sipping from it. Hunger seemed to take over for a while, shifting her focus away from the man to eat away at the bowl of stew as quickly as her stomach allowed. Only when he brought up her leg, did she find lift her head up to take a breath. 

She glanced back at it, trying to tuck it underneath her only for it to cause mild discomfort.*"Yeah..."*She admitted.*"Turns out being half deer tends to bring unwanted attention out in the wilderness. Which I should have probably seen coming... If I could even see those wolves to begin with... They got me pretty good there, but... I think I can manage."*She glanced back over towards him at the mention of being able to dress them, eyeing him curiously.*"Have you ever tended to a Centaur's wounds before?"*She half teased in figuring it was all the same to them.*
Bernard
Leon told her the truth "***Yeah, actually I have. Had an archer in the company I was a part of. He'd taken an arrow to the leg and I was the only one around at the time, wasn't too much different to dressing my own wounds. I'll at the least disinfect it after I eat, for now you should probably finish your dinner***" Leons response was a little surprising, Melody's joke seemingly went over his head. He took a few more bites scooping the contents of the bowl into his mouth slurping the contents up. It seemed tablemanners were not something in demand out in the wilderness. He set his now empty bowl onto the log next to him and moved over towards his pack removing a bundle of clean bandages and a bottle stoppered with a cork that appeared to be filled with a clear liquid that looked like water. 

"***Alright, let me see it.***" He asked as he crouched down next to the centaur. As he waited for her response he bit into the cork and uncorked the bottle a strong smell of alcohol immediately filling the area. He took a swig and then coughed hard. "***Pah... Strong stuff***"
Robert
*Melody drew silent at the answer, not expecting him to actually have one. At least not one as detailed. A perplexed expression seemed to cross her face for the moment. Most moments up to now, the Melody would have hardly believed other people ever interacting with centaurs after her stay in Mentia. Perhaps there was actually a decent number that did and she rarely came across them. She lowered her bowl away as he grabbed the supplies to treat her. Melody's hind leg gradually moved out from under her, causing her to wince slightly before she laid it out for him.*"I should warn you that I am a bit of a fighter."*She said. It mostly had two perceivable meanings, more so forewarning him of the reaction of whatever pain he may inflict on her leg while treating it. The other meaning of course being its more literal form.*