Barbara
*She caught up to him relatively quickly, her jog slowing into a walk as she matched his pace. She crossed her arms behind her back, no purple umbrella in sight. She was exhausted the night previous given her episode, she didn't have the chance to look up at the night sky until now. Truth be told, she felt almost like a prisoner with the Pig and Wolf sometimes. If she had just left her room without saying something, they'd probably hunt her down. At least that's what The Wolf said before.* 

"You're probably right, but I've always been nocturnal. I counted 5 moons, including this one since I've met you in the forest. Not nearly enough time for me to switch over." 

*Tilting her head back as walked with Terrel, her sights set on observing the crescent moon high above their heads. Sometimes, if the moonlight hit her eyes just right, the normal brown hue came off as bright red, another tell of her vampirism though less likely to be spotted. She wanted to promise that she wouldn't start any problems while she snuck out with him but she slowly began to realize she just couldn't hang onto that idea.* 
"I was going to ask what you were doing but.." *She turned her focus from the moon down to the wolves in front of her, a smile forming on her lips.* 
"Even I can tell they're hyper without needing to ask."
Elizabeth
*Terrel would turn around to continue walking as she came to move in pace with him. His gaze was mostly fixated on the wolves running off ahead of them. Occasionally, one would take a moment to sniff around a building or roll around in the dirt, only to rejoin the group and continue exploring as more of a pack.*

"Even wolves need to be taken out to handle their business."*He would say in response to Manon's notice of what he came outside for. Even with it dark out, Floof was easy to spot among the two other wolves, his pure white fur gently brushing against Blur's more silvery Grey one as she kept closer to him for company. Ansel walked on close by, the Wolf's bulkiness becoming more apparent the more he grew. He was hardly much smaller than Floof now and, at this rate, it seemed like he'd questionably be able to outgrow him.

Terrel himself wasn't completely sure why Manon found need to follow him out here unless it was for something. After the events yesterday in having to deal with both a lost vampire and run away horse, it had been advised to just say nothing to them. At this point, that seemed like it was going to be the whole journey, though just as he had forced Manon into speaking, she now forced him.*"I don't believe staying up all day and night helps with that."*He'd eventually say in turn about her not being able to shift away from staying up late. The Elf doubted she wanted his two cents, but in his eyes, it seemed like an obvious solution, one he couldn't bother to solve with all Manon's other issues piled on top of it. She was already counting 'Moons' which was either what someone did when they're awaiting an event coming up or when they were trapped with nothing better to do.*
Barbara
*There wasn't much she could say about his advice. He was correct that staying up all night wasn't the answer but it wasn't like she was doing a great job forcing herself to sleep. It was nice walking around at night though, she couldn't see the city very well when she tagged along with Okami. The sunlight always felt unusually bright when it came to her, windows of shops usually reflected the light back into her face during her morning walk with The Wolf. Now things were fully visible for her, She never really found herself to be a city girl but Esvoduko was beautiful to behold. She would even contemplate living here if it weren't for her vampirism.* 

"Have you ever thought of settling down somewhere? Maybe in a city much like this one?"

 *She found herself asking The Pig, her mind still fixed on what the city life would be like for someone like her. Maybe she'd even be the doctor she dreamed of since she was little. Fixing up wounds from the hunters much like the wounds Okami had before they took off for travel. Giving the children Echinacea root during the winters to help with their colds. The elderly.. There was never an easy way to go about the elders. When it was time, it was time. At least that what she picked up on when she visited other doctors when delivering herbs to them.*

"I think about it all the time." *She said softly, not really giving him a chance to answer.* "The what if's, I suppose."
Elizabeth
*Terrel would walk in silence as she asked him the question, pondering over it a bit as they'd make their way out to the edge of town where the more mountainous terrain seemed less distant. Was he thinking about settling down? Well maybe for a little while, but he had a lot more training and adventuring to do before that point. At the very least Elves lived long lives, so he had plenty of time before he fully committed to putting away his sword for a while. After all, it had only been a few years since setting out. Surely he wasn't much closer to stopping than he was before. If he did settle down, however-?

It would be a lie to say he hadn't thought of it at least once, maybe just getting a house at some point so he had a place for his wolves to roam. In the city though, the Elf couldn't imagine that. He preferred seclusion at times in the company of his wolves when people became too much to bear. Before he could respond, Manon would soon answer her own question, leaving him to continue on in silence for a while.

He didn't have much to say about the Vampiress thinking about settling down. Frankly, if she had wanted to leave and go back now, he wouldn't have will to stop her. The Elf was too used to people coming and going after all. That was the way with traveling, especially with those who tend to not get along. At first, he didn't say anything, just letting Manon talk to herself in her own thoughts of what could be. As the wolves would trail away once more, he'd eventually say:*"I've never been much of a city Elf..."*His words would come low and relatively strange off the tongue in him referring to himself as an Elf rather than a Pig.*"The extra crowds is not always what it's cracked up to be."
Barbara
*Manon tapped a finger against her lips as she though. Was she even afraid of people naturally or because of what they do to vampires? It probably started off because of her bloodcurse but now.. Isolation has grown to be apart of her now, even if she became cured. The city always had more people living inside them, more people who could benefit from her healing and knowledge of medicinal plants. A memory came back to Manon, when she was younger she wanted to be the one to cure all the plagues in her home city, Ulnoor. She had forgotten about that dream of hers, she used to run home after school and brag every time she scored top of her class in faith magic. "I'm going to save everyone!" Manon often told her parents.*

*Her smile slowly subsided, curling into a frown as it seemed like an impossible feat for her now. Nearly 10 years later, 6 of those being a vampire, and she spent her time digging in the dirt for pocket change. Granted she hardly accepted the coin as the gratitude was enough on it's own. Tilting her head to the side as she glanced at Terrel, absorbing the sight of his mask all the way down to his weapon of choice. Sheesh, what a crew they were.* 

"Maybe when we're both old... Or when you're old-" *Forgetting that Vampires never look their true age, cursed with immortality or something close to it.* "We could visit each other, share adventures stories. I think I'd like that a lot."
Elizabeth
*Terrel would glance over at Manon, unsure of what he found more confusing, the fact that she'd actually want to visit after everything that's happened or the fact that she'd think he'd get old. The latter he found more amusing of course as at some point, he was sure he'd forget just how old he was. Well if didn't get killed in that time, but he had already made a promise to someone that that would never happen. Cockiness? Maybe. The Elf had that much confidence in himself at least.

He'd open his mouth to say something, soon closing it once more as he fell into silence. That would never happen. Besides, the moment she paid back her debt, she'd be gone again anyways and, with it, the chances of them seeing each other again seemed slim. The Pig Elf was always roaming and if he did settle down, he doubted getting many visitors in a secluded place.*

"I don't think two cranky old Elves meeting would be the best idea."*He'd joke at the thought, knowing full well how they 'got along' already. In saying it, however, there was some realization in his own youth.*"I'm sure Okami would like it though."*He'd say in a lower tone, deciding not to completely scratch away at the High Elf's dreams. If she really wanted to visit somebody, she'd find a way to, just as Terrel would to the allies he had met.*
Barbara
"Maybe you'll get less cranky as you grow old, maybe I'll find a way to not be hungry all the time. This is the longest I've gone without feeding though, it hurts knowing blood from a person is much better."

 *She neglected to talk about how they tasted much better as well. Feeding from animals always scratched the surface of her urge. When she consumed Okami's blood, it removed her urge entirely. She was happy that he had survived, not entirely sure how though. The who situation was a blank spot in her mind. Idly Manon extended her hand by her side, her palm facing the ground. The grass stood up on end as she walked past just for the blades of greenery to fall limp once she passed. Almost like a wave of water but with thin pieces of grass. Nature always had certain feel to it for Manon, this felt very similar to brushing the fur of an animal. The feeling of soft tingles brushing through her finger tips. Nature magic always felt soothing to wield.* 

"I don't know if I would visit Okami. He's been very nice to me but..." *Her voice lowered into a whisper, almost as if Okami was there in spirit.* "He seems a little too optimistic using blood in his meals for me. I've never heard of a salad with blood.."
Elizabeth
*Terrel would continue walking on as the dry dirt would transform completely into pure rock, retracing his steps towards the forest they were in earlier to allow the wolves to roam somewhere more natural to them.*"Maybe you will too."*He'd jab back more humorously soon falling silent once more to allow Manon to say what she needed to. Soon enough it drifted to her speaking of her problem with blood, which oddly enough he had almost forgotten about with a whole day of it not being brought up.

Only when she mentioned Okami talking about preparing meals with blood in them, would find himself having to hold back laughter at the ridiculousness of it. It seemed the Kemonomimi had reduced down to putting blood in his foods to get either one of them to eat his meals. Terrel wasn't sure whether to find it funny or just sad thinking about it.*"That was his solution to it?"*He'd question almost hysterically. Terrel did suppose he'd suggested for them to figure out a way to fix the issue rather than using Kibaru as a walking food source. This was not what he had in mind, and now, he suddenly wasn't sure what either of them were thinking at this point.*
Barbara
"Well he certainly proposed ideas about it like; Maybe we should make you a salad with blood dressing. Maybe we should try cooking the blood. I've only had blood a handful of ways. I've tried feeding off animals that were hunted by other predators. It made me sick to my stomach, I hardly made it two steps. It tasted horrible as it was like stale and cold. Trust me, I've tried escaping the cycle. It has to be fresh. The other two ways you know about, from animal and from a person. The only suggestion that I sort of like that Okami made was having me feed off the animals he intended to cook for himself. Even then, I don't like the idea of killing animals. If he's going to execute them regardless, I might as well, right?" 

*She looked at Terrel almost for his approval of the situation. It wasn't much different than when they were looking for a butcher. The animal was already dead, it's time deceased would be questionable from a vendor. From Okami, it would be pretty fresh for her to drink. As she approached the forest, the forest compensated for her travels. Splitting plants in her vicinity to allow easier travel. She noticed that Terrel didn't have it as easy as she did, thinking back on their other encounters and how he always had to fight his way through. This time she consciously tapped into her magic and did her best to ease his travels as well. Surprisingly this wasn't easy for her to do, putting conscious thought into something she always did subconsciously.* 

"I don't think his ideas would work, It'd look a little suspicious if he intentionally bled all over my food. Could you imagine what others would think? A shirtless male with a wolf mask leaning over a table to bleed over some girl's meal? Not even to mention the girl eating it shortly after?" 
*Now that she said it out loud, she convinced herself to never try Kiba's ideas on 'bloody food.'*
Elizabeth
*Terrel would come to a sudden stop as Manon rambled on and on about Kibaru's ideas, each one sounding worse than the last to the point where he'd simply put his hand on her shoulder and stare down at her with a purely neutral look.*"Want my advice? If the man says he's going to go jump off a cliff, just let him do it and don't follow."*What that had to do with Manon's issues with Okami trying to come up with different foods, it was anyone's guess. Okami was always bringing up random sayings. Terrel clearly shouldn't bring up any sayings.

He'd move his hand away, resuming his walk as the wolf pups would begin to spread out further into the forest and out of his view. Terrel didn't seem too concerned about them getting lost. After all, he had his whistle still. Finally he'd stop walking for a while, allowing himself a short break while he waited for the wolves to return. 

Terrel would let out a tired exhale in exasperation, finally looking back at Manon as he'd rub a hand at the back of his neck.*"I'm assuming you don't want to try it then?"*He'd eventually ask her in all seriousness. The Elf wasn't sure if it was the blood that concerned her more or the image of her taking it from Kibaru anytime they tried to eat. It was a ludicrous thought in his mind, but sooner or later, she was going to have to figure out some solution with her issues or just return to the forest and forever feed off animals.*
Barbara
*She stopped as she felt Terrel grab onto her shoulder, her head turning to face him as he spoke. It was clear that she had no idea where that came from or what it had to do with anything. Even after Terrel had became walking, Manon just stood there as she parsed the information. She had no idea Okami wanted to jump off a cliff, or why he wanted to.*

*It was enough to make her forget about the food conversation as she slowly caught up to Terrel, a grim look upon her face. Thankfully her expression changed when Terrel asked his next question, brining her back to the original conversation. She'd have to speak to Okami about it tomorrow.* 

"Hmm, Oh right! I don't know. He wants to fill a cup with his blood so I can drink from it but that sounds awkward to me too. I've always just.. Bit? It's not like I want to bite him either, that wouldn't be very nice." *Trying to clear her name of any potential misconceptions.* 
"I'll give some of his recommendations a try."
 *Now that they had stopped she checked her surroundings, maybe there was something here that was interest to Terrel.* 
"Cozy little area." *She said softly.*
Elizabeth
*Terrel would look over to her, muttering to himself:*"Tell him not to do something and he does it anyways."*The Elf supposed he wouldn't expect anything different from the reckless Kemonomimi. Instead he would simply let out a quiet sigh and decide to find a place near a tree where he could sit by.*"Whatever you think will work."*He'd finally say to her, coming to sit down against the tree and lean back on it. So long as it wasn't his issue to deal with, they could experiment all they want. It was only for the trips anyways.

At the mention of the area being cozy, he'd say back:*"Don't get too comfortable unless you plan on staying out here."*Maybe it was a threat, maybe it was a suggestion, maybe it was him simply talking. However she'd take it, Terrel would allow himself the time to relax for now anyways before they'd have to make their way back to town and start a whole other day of traveling. He wouldn't say he didn't enjoy it, but it did get exhausting at times just riding horseback and walking. At least now with the new steed, it should speed things up a bit so that he could get what he needed to get done in Salvania.*
Barbara
"I'd rather be back in the magical Ombu forests, I'd probably get hunted out here." 
*She always worried about something happening that caused aggression towards her. There had been plenty of times where someone died and had bite marks on their neck. The local doctors always threw Manon under the bus, even if they knew she was being helpful. Nobody gave the benefit of the doubt when it came to her. It happened a handful of times before she reached the expansive forests and from then on she simply remained. Occasionally entering Tunuar or Suimer for supplies such as clothing, or to deposit medicine.* 

*She held her hand over the stone underneath her, palm facing towards the rock. Most people would have found their third affinity for magic. Manon found her first two rather quickly, both expressed themselves in a similar way. When she was little she pressed her palm against a scrape she obtained from falling while playing. She cried and cried until an adult came but when she moved her hand there wasn't any wound to be seen. At first they scolded her, said "You're crying wolf" Until they learned it was Faith magic. Oh how her parents celebrated that night, a healer in the family. Nature started off the same way, holding her hand over a wilting flower and watched it return back to it's former beauty. The stone beneath her remained as unyielding as ever, not even a pebble moved.* 

"Your wolves are having the time of their lives." *She said without lifting her head, maybe if she kept trying to move rock something would happen. She was keeping tabs on the three using her nature magic. So far there were only five signs of movement. The imprint she left on the world, Terrel, and 12 paws.*
Elizabeth
"Nothing stopping you."*Terrel would say casually as she mentioned preferring to head back to Ombu. He'd allow himself to lower a bit more onto the ground, until he had found himself laying flat on his back, staring up at the sky. His hair sat messily beneath him, spread out as if they were a bright pink blanket. It was times like this where his pointed ears were able to be seen more clearly, no longer obscured from view with the mess of his hair.

Hearing Manon mention his wolves having a good time, he'd respond back:*"I figured they'd enjoy themselves out here."*It didn't seem like he questioned her ability to read the wolves when they weren't even here, having grown used to her tales of being able to hear animals. At this point, added range didn't sound as crazy anymore.*

"You know Manon..."*He would begin, keeping his gaze focused on the sky.*"Thinking back to all the travelers and healers I've met on the road. You... Are by far the worst of them."*The Elf would suddenly break off into a light chuckle. Thinking back to his old friends he's met while traveling, there were never so bad in his eyes. Sure they were strange in ways, but that was just them. Terrel supposed he was strange to some as well.*"You stick around a lot more than them too though."*He'd add more thoughtfully as if thinking aloud.*"No matter how upset you get with us..."*The Elf would trail off.*
Barbara
*Manon didn't say anything for a long time, she could feel her eyes water at his hurtful words. It's not like the group had sustained any injuries that required healing outside of the two. Both of which she healed with ease as well. She had been called a horrible healer before, those were by people she never met before. They had all assumed that she wasn't very good at it because she was a Vampire, always giving into her temptations or other rumors that had no base of truth. Hearing it come from someone she spent days with. She felt her chest hurt, a sinking feeling in her chest. She didn't know if she wanted to sob, to yell. She didn't know if she wanted to run or fight, she more alone with him than the forest she followed him to. She decided that she would uphold her end of the deal, to repay him for his work in the Ombu Forest. After... She didn't know.* 

*All the grass around Manon began to turn brown, not so much withered but dead and dry. The type of grass you would see in a forest fire more than poor weather conditions. They even gave off the scent of burning grass though the fire itself was absent. Her head looked around, more confused than anything at where the smell of a campfire was coming from. She hadn't sensed anyone in a fair distance around them, they should be alone.*
Elizabeth
*Terrel's nose would twitch a bit, at first catching a whiff of the odd smell in the air. At first he'd shrug it off, figuring it was just like any other smell they came across in the woods. However, as it began to grow stronger, soon shifting to the smell of burning grass. He'd lift his head up, half expecting to see a forest fire, though upon not seeing anything from the position he was in, he would soon sit back up. At first his mind would drift to the wolf pups, glancing around a bit in knowing that they could have trailed further off. The scent could probably keep them at bay for a while if it was something bad, though he preferred them in view.

His gaze would shift over to Manon, soon gazing down towards the grass as it would start dying around her. It took him a moment to consider it. Was that where the burning smell was coming from? He'd slowly look up towards the Elf, seeing her just as confused.*"Manon?"*He'd question somewhat cautiously, shifting his gaze between her and the dying grass. Magic was such a finicky thing it seemed with her and soon enough Terrel would soon find himself standing back up in the even that the dying grass continued to spread.*
Barbara
*She looked towards Terrel when he said her name. She expected more cruel words to flow from his mouth, maybe he thought she was just a freak like everyone to him as well. A pair of glowing red eyes looked down at Terrel, it was mostly a play of the moonlight and the fact that she was standing and he was not. It seemed to be enough to snap her out of current emotional turmoil though. Not only did the dried out half burning grass stop it's crawl outwards. It even began returning to it's natural state. This wouldn't be possible with nature magic alone but in combination with her faith magic she gave it life anew. It wasn't a very quick process, the spread of destruction was much faster than the slow rebirth. Granted with her mind pre-occupied with the conversation at hand she didn't pay attention to her feet, just on Terrel and the smell of burning grass.* 

"I thought you were finished there, Do you have more hurtful words for me?" *She said, not so much in a cold voice, but with a wounded one. The sound of stifled tears could be heard in her wavered voice.* "Just tell me if you want me to leave, I get it." *Thought she didn't move, she wanted to stay with them for a while more. It was the most alone and the least alone she had felt in the six years of being a vampire.*
Elizabeth
*Terrel would look at her in confusion, not really sure on what was said to suddenly get her like this, especially with jumping to random statements. 'He tells me not to do something and I do it anyways...' Terrel would think to himself, recalling Okami suggesting that he simply stopped talking to her. Now he was just a hypocrite with what he uttered about Okami earlier.

Seeing the grass slowly returning to its normal state, Terrel figured whatever had caused her to initially react must have faded despite her words saying otherwise. She was so back and forth that even the grass seemed to show it.*

"Manon, you're going to have to catch me up here."*He'd say in his usual low tone.*"Between whatever it was I said and the grass suddenly dying, I have no idea what's wrong."*Terrel considered telling her to calm down. Then again, that had never worked before, in fact seemingly made things worse. He wondered if it was too late to take Okami's advice now, every word seemingly a minefield around the Vampiress.*
Barbara
*She looked down at her feet to see the grass being perfectly fine. She even went as far as to give Terrel a confused look at as well. What would she know about burning grass, she was looking for the source of it as well. She took a few steps away so she could better see the moon before speaking. Almost as if just looking at it was soothing in a way for her.* 

"You and Okami both brought up how horrible of a healer I am. I feel like I'm just kidding myself at this point. Healing is the only thing that keeps me going, The only part of me I'm proud of anymore. What's the point if nobody else can see it though?" 
*She pulled herself away from the moon to rejoin Terrel, this time she took a spot on the ground as well as she laid on her back. Her short black hair did not pool much like his.* 
"As for burning grass, I don't see anything or know what you're talking about. Someone must have a campfire much further in, the wind probably blew it our direction."
Elizabeth
*Terrel would look at her dubiously, knowing full well the story of a campfire was far from true. Was she simply playing naive or did she actually not notice it? He wasn't too sure. His gaze would follow her as she'd walk over to him and lay back down, the Elf not feeling much in the mood to go back to relaxing after that. She mentioned the two of them calling her a bad healer which part of him found surprise in it. Was that really what she got so upset about?*

"Manon."*He'd begin, sounding exasperated before he'd catch himself and would begin speaking more in his normal monotone voice.*"I don't know what Okami said about you, but what I said was a *Joke*."*The Elf looked down at her, the outline of his pig mask resting in the center of the moon as a darkened shadow against it.*"If a healer knows how to heal then they've done their job right and whatever else there may be to them, that's none of my business."
Barbara
"I'm sure you both laugh about it. A healer who does more harm than good." 
*She quoted Okami. She didn't believe the Pig's words, There had to have been some truth for him to make the comment in the first place. If he didn't find what he said somewhat true, he wouldn't have said it.* 

"What is a healer's job then? To wander around a forest endlessly, bashing the skulls of animals? To slide their fingers around their necks and twist until they twitch within your hands? Are healers supposed to syphon the blood daily from totally healthy things?" 

*She could keep going with what she has to do in order to survive. She wasn't a healer, she was a monster. She was a terrible healer, her hands could do extraordinary things. But they've only been used to claim life instead. With that realization in mind she fought back her tears. Talk of being a doctor in a big city was just only that, talk.* "I promised to repay my debt, Once I'm able to do that I'll go plague some other forest. Nothing is stopping me, remember." *Maybe it was cruel to twist his words around but she found herself lacking in compassion.*