James
Marsila Vema 

Edge of the forest in Northwind near the Ibethiel Mountains. 

A couple weeks had passed since they had left the city of Valleen. By now, they had finally crossed the border between Northwind and Taemar, having taken longer than expected as they did their best to avoid public pathways and forest trails. With Arin's hands, although healed, Marsila didn't want to risk running into Bandits as they were already short on food and supplies. Her nightmares continued each passing night, increasing their intensity towards Marsila's mental health and if it hadn't been for the amulet that hung heavy around her neck, she would have surely lost control of her shifting. 

Those who were not used to traveling through the ancient forests, untouched by mankind, would find themselves lost within minutes upon entering what Marsila could simply describe as a never ending maze of greenery. Others preferred to stick to familiar paths to avoid losing themselves rather than venturing into the unknown. Meanwhile, the shifter found no difficulty in guiding herself through the sprawling nature and shrubbery. Every unique detail stood out to the woman; from the burrows created by different mammal and reptile kinds to the many dissimilar breeds of plants and trees. There was beauty in every direction they turned towards when they reached the border, however the further they traveled into Northwind, the scenery began to change drastically. The greenery of nature began to dampen into an oak brown, unappealing to the eye while the sound of critters whom once made the forest their home were silenced and overtaken by the sound of insects. 

"We should be crossing a trail soon. I'm pretty sure we've passed most of the paths used by Bandits so it should be as safe as long as we remain on the edge of the borders." She didn't want to risk finding civilisation by travelling deeper into Northwind, it was an unnecessary risk the shifter preferred to avoid.
Carol
Arin Cragton
Northwind

Arin's scarred hands were the only lasting reminder of the start of their journey. They had been traveling for weeks, and Arin's coin purse no longer had the weight that it once did. The little hunting they had been able to accomplish had fed them for a while, but now Arin fed himself on wild berries he had been able to find. 

"Heard there was a war going on here. Most of the bandits are probably lurking the battlefields, eager to loot the fallen." He said, before a sudden noise interrupted him. 

A small squirrel had jumped from a tree, and Arin slowed his heart rate as it scurried past. He had been on edge, for Marsila's worries were not just hers, but the threat of bandits had been weighing on his mind as well. 

"We've been traveling together for a while, but I still don't know much about you." Arin said, breaking the silence. He didn't do well with the quiet, but that's mostly what they travelled in. There were few conversations, mostly about food or where to sleep for the night, but little else. 

*This is the longest time you've ever been with a woman, and this is how you spend it?* A voice in Arin's head invaded his thoughts, and he clenched his jaw to think about something else.
James
Marsila Vema 
Edge of the forest in Northwind near the Ibethiel Mountains. 

There was a reason behind why she preferred the silence around Arin. It was rare for her to create, let alone enjoy a casual conversation due to her only ever having one friend she felt comfortable enough conversing with. Even then, he never found out about her true nature and self. When they parted ways, she felt a sense of relief knowing he was no longer placing himself in danger simply by being around him. 

Growing up since her first shift, Marsila kept herself isolated from both her parents and anyone she found to be a potential friend. Perhaps it was that reason alone why she struggled with any form of conversations that weren't brief and kept her missions to herself. Twisting her head slightly so she could gaze towards Arin, she lifted her shoulders slightly with a shrug that could have easily been missed by the movements of the horse she rode. 

"I could say the same about you." She had been relieved with Arin's silence as they rode, but unfortunately for her she could sense he wanted to change that. Inhaling deeply, Marsila released a heavy sigh and forced herself to find words that would allow the man she travelled with to learn more about herself. Drifting her eyes back towards their front, the shifter made sure to keep herself on alert for any issues they may have to face. "What would you like to know?"