Rosa
*Splash!* 
*Ehakli looked down to the water in disbelief that her streak had broken after being asked if she may have gotten lost. She gave a shake of her head in denial.* "I know my way around these lands well enough, thank you." *She said in little more than a salve for her own pride the tholian somehow thought wounded. Straightening her stance, she started the form routine from the beginning again.*

*Her leg movements caused the water about her to splash again on the centaur's inquiring of practice. With an impatient sigh, she straightened herself again and gestured to the inuisitive deer with her blade.* "Yes, I am practicing my old martial form to help keep safe when I am approached by strangers in the night." *Her tone was clearly annoyed at something.* "Are you always this forward in encounters this far from the earshot of guards? I could be a dangerous criminal, you know."
Rufus
*Melody would watch her suddenly lose focus on her task, seemingly growing more frustrated in having to start again. She'd give a dip of her head.*"Sorry for asking."*The Centaur would say, not meaning to disturb her. Melody would turn away a bit as if to not watch her while she continued to soak, instead listening to her ask about if she was always this forward.*

"I have no reason to think of you as a criminal outside of irrational conclusions."*She'd say back to her.*"I like to treat everyone I meet in a friendly way. No reason to act standoffish to someone because of what they could be. If we went by that assumption with everyone we meet, we'd just be sitting alone all the time. What's so great about that?"*She'd glance back at the woman, figuring her for someone more trained in combat or something similar in the profession. She may have dealt with criminals as well, which did leave Melody a bit curious of her if she was one.*"I think myself capable of being able to defend myself if it does come to it though, but I'd rather not make an enemy of someone just going about their day if it's not hurting anyone."
Rosa
*The tholian scoffed at the notion of irrational conclusions, but listened to the centaur's reasoning. Still swept in her frustration, however her tongue was still a bit barbed.* "An attractive philosophy, pretty fawn, one I think adopted mostly by the wee fae folk, which is perhaps why there are less and less of them to be *Found* As time marches on."

*At that, Ehakli moved back into her practiced position, but before she started the sword motions, she paused, sighed, and turned again to the centaur.* "I- My apologies. You are being kind and I am lashing at your benevolent candor to no fault of your own. It is too beautiful a night for me to sully its charm with my ill-directed venom." *Tucking the blade in her right arm, she moved her other hand to her side as if to pinch for a curtsey, but so off her game she seemed to forget she was still in her skivvies, and bowed instead.* "I beg of your forgiveness, kind traveler."
Rufus
*Melody would do her own thing as Ehakli spoke her harsh words about their nativity being the reason why there weren't so many of her kind around nowadays. A quiet sigh would escape her. It seemed this woman didn't want to be bothered which the Centuar would have accepted as she'd think to get out of the water and let the annoyed Elf be. However in hearing Ehakli apologize, Melody would tilt her head up to her.*"I'm guessing you must not be having the best time out here?"*She'd ask, coming to the conclusion that something prior must have happened that reflected off having a friendly attitude ending in the loss of others.*

"Can't say I appreciate the sour tongue, but I suppose I did interrupt your practice so we can call it even."*She'd say, dipping her head back in response to the woman's curtesy with her centaur half still being submerged underwater.*"I wouldn't be so quick to conclude that being the reason you don't see any other fae's."*She'd comment, looking to the woman with a face full of amusement as she'd slowly stand up from the water. Where there was once the half of a deer, was now replaced by more human-like legs. A dripping wet skirt sat wrapped around her waist where her deer half should have been. Her hand would draw back her reddish hair, revealing the pointed ears of a Silnari.*"Sometimes we're just hiding in plain sight."*She'd walk back over to the edge of the water, sitting down on drier land as she'd give herself a moment to dry off.*
Rosa
*Ehakli straightened, listening a bit more politely now. Her brow raised as the stranger was building up to something, then rolled into a dumbfounded look when four legs had become two, and her face was struck with shame when this whole situation was turned around to reveal the foolishness of her short temper, and the ignorance it breathed. It seemed all she could do was look aside, chuffing in the absurd humor of it, shaking her head.* "A bargain well struck... I shall remember this lesson for centuries to come." 

*She moved to the water's edge, and placed her blade upon the grass.* "I usually do not allow my less 'best of times' rule over my manners, I suppose I should chalk observing such an unexpected weakness as part of training." The tholian then moved back to the water, easing herself into a sit where the water would come up to her belly.* "What are you called, faelike? Even or no, I like to know who I've scorned."
Rufus
*Melody would grab at the longer strands of her hair, wringing out the dampened areas from where the water had managed to reach it from her splashing about. She'd silently watch the Tholian move out from the water and place the sword down before returning back to the water where she could sit more lax in. Melody would let out her own quiet laugh, more so from the suppressed tension in Ehakli finally setting aside her own frustrations.*"My name is Melody Vander."*Melody would say to answer the woman.

Eventually she'd lower her hands away from her hair and would bring them to rest on her lap for the time being.*"Currently a Bounty Hunter though I used to work for law enforcement back in Northern Mentia."*Looking back towards Ehakli, she'd offer a more encouraging smile in the knowledge that she would hold the lesson with her.*"What may I call you miss?"*She'd ask.*
Rosa
*From her position in the water, Ehakli made eye contact with Melody from across her right shoulder, which she did as words exchanged, only occasionally letting her eyes drift to look at the moonlight upon the water. Even the falls just down the way sounded tranquil in such a night. In one such instance, her focus was quickly returned to Melody.* "A bounty hunter? Well now, this is precisely why it's good to remember those scorned, Melody Vander." *A wry smile crept on her face, and made an obvious look back over her shoulder to where the placed her blade, eyes darting back to the faetaur, the wryness not having left.* "Did I disarm myself too soon?"

*A small laugh as she looked back to the water, if anything to signify that it was only said in jest, despite what gears might have been turning inside her head of anyone who might place a bounty on her. It has been quite a number of years since she's taken a life, but some memories live long lives as well.* "I suppose not, if you are asking for my name. I am Ehakli, of Lymian's House Aibaer." *She twisted her lips a bit when she considered the usual following of the pleasure of meeting, but it might have come off as something hollow considering the circumstances.* "I don't know many who go from constabulary roles to more adventurous hunting of those on the wrong side of one's opinion of order. Does this sing of a tale of a criminal escaping beyond the confines of those laws you've enforced?"
Rufus
"Only if you're a convicted felon."*She'd tease back to answer the Silnari's question. Outside of her practicing for combat out in the middle of the woods and her clear disliking of company, Melody had no reason to believe she was on the run from anything. Perhaps simply someone looking to get away from the city for a while or someone who valued their alone time. She didn't make a move to the weapon, simply watching the woman look between it and her as if debating on whether or not to grab it again. Melody would grow more lax, part of her curious of the Dark Elf as she'd introduce herself.*

"It's nice to meet you Ehakli."*She'd say with a dip of her head. Melody would listen as she'd asked her question about her transfer between jobs, soon causing her to shake her head.*"Oh, no ma'am. It's nothing like that. I simply wanted to work on law enforcement in other countries. Sure Mentia has its troubles, but I felt my work could be better used in Salvania. Since I'm not registered as a law enforcement there, I've just been helping where I can while I've been traveling, so I just decided to take on the profession of a bounty hunter for the time being until I can work my way back up."*She'd reach for her armor piece, tugging it back over to her to put back on later.*"If it makes you feel any better though, I keep my bounty hunting focused on the more troublesome criminals."