Sally
She didn't know what was creepier: the fact that the sea monster was a man, that he spoke Archidanese, albeit broken, or that he felt the necessity to come towards her. It was true that Kateri had a tendency to meet others in strange locations—*Like that cute boy, Gabriel.* However, this was altogether too weird. That being said, her kindness outweighed most any apprehension she felt, including this. *Come on, girlie, get a grip! You aren't some blathering idiot.*
-
Encouraging her voice to sound stronger than she felt, she latched her hands together to keep from fidgeting. "I make friends from all sorts, really." This wasn't a lie, technically. The Trenton had simply caught her at her worst. "It's more the water itself. We don't get along." That was the understatement of the year. The water terrified her. Not only could she not swim, but the fire in her rebelled against it. Every fiber of her being raged against being wet; it was as if her life force would sputter out and die. A sad death and one that she would avoid tempting whenever possible.
-
She nodded to his appraisal of the situation. "Yes, I was hunting fish, although, we call it fishing. The word hunting is for land animals." It was a minor correction, but she considered herself part of the rising intelligentsia that has sprung to life in the empire's capital and instinctively propped up the proper academics whenever possible—language among them.
-

Raising her eyebrows, she was now getting to the truth of his identity. Glancing at the Sepdu, she exclaimed, "You come from the sea? You live there?" *How awful,* She thought briefly. For the 'man', it was his home, and he probably appreciated it. Loved it even. "I am Macen. My name is Kateri." She had responded in kind to help him understand her words, hoping the matching syntax would aid him. Pointing at his cart, she tried to be hospitable herself. "Is there something wrong with your cart?" Perhaps her mother would accept her helping someone else as a justification for not having any fish. Mother had always encouraged compassion as the primary virtue.
Senaida
If Torren understood social cues better, he might notice Kateri's apprehension of him. But instead, he remains blissfully unaware. The young Treton very much loved the company. It makes him feel a lot less lonely being away from him home and family. Having only his tribe to talk to for his entire life had given him his overly trusting and friendly mindset. They didn't interact with other tribes often, usually only passing each other during migrations, so he treats everyone as if they are from his own tribe.
-
He listens to Kateri's explanation. He slowly repeats some parts to himself, trying to understand her. "Friend no like water, and hunt fish is... Fishing?" He ponders and nods excitedly. "Mmhmm! Okay, thank you!" He bounces on his heels, smiling. He's still learning and he appreciates any help he can get to understand the land and its people better. And who better to learn from than from a person opposite himself? She hates the water, while he thrives in and relishes the water. There's always the possibility that they would clash and burn each other out, as all opposites do, but Torren is an optimist.
-
He nods in affirmation to her questions, "Yes, yes! Come from sea! M'lysta home is sea!" Of course, the sea he so dearly loves. The same sea he's leaving behind, temporarily of course, to explore what land had to offer. Some day he will return to the sea. Back to his tribe and family. Hopefully with some spoils of the land to share with them, too! "Kateri? Nice meet you, Kateri!"
-

Upon closer inspection, there would seem to be a slight problem with the Treton's cart. Perhaps one of the reasons he decided to stop and go for a soak in this very spot. The cart was sitting in a ditch. One of its wheels appear to be very badly splintered with a piece broken apart. The other wheels are not as bad, but would still require some sort of repairs or a change altogether. It seems some merchant preyed on Torren's naivety and sold him subpar condition wheels. Torren looked to the cart, then back to Kateri. He looks embarrassed. "Umm... Cart wheel broken. Cart... Fell and broke. I no looking at ground."
Sally
"Exactly," She agreed, glad that he could at least understand her. It was difficult to not like the fish-man from the way his mannerisms worked. There was a simplicity about him that she found pure, despite her earlier fear. Either Kateri was similarly kind or perhaps verging on naivety, it was hard to say. Though, truth be told, she was too trusting at times—she might be a city girl, but her heart was that of a farming girl.
-
Torren couldn't be wholly human if he lived in the sea. *That confirms some things.* The realization gave her minor pause. "How are you on land, then?" She turned her head to the side, the action mirroring some of her confusion. "More importantly, how can you breathe in there?" *M'lysta?* The name didn't sound familiar to her, but as proven, Kateri *Did* Stay away from water as much as possible. Something her Air Macen mother didn't fully understand. If Father had known what she was up to today, then he would have had a fit.
-
"Oh no," She lamented. A surge of empathy rose from her heart as she almost reached out to touch his arm but thought better of it at the last moment. "Is it the wheel? Or maybe you have a hole in the carriage?" She didn't know if the man understood what she was saying, but Kateri had already started moving towards the problem. If he had been here to rob her of her own belongings located on her horse, then he would be sorely out of luck. She hadn't brought anything of value outside of her pedestrian quality saddle—unless he thought buckets to be some sort of strange valuable.
-

Reaching the man's cart, she bent down to one knee and examined the back left wheel, or rather, what was left of it. It was missing spokes and the integrity of it had cracked. Frankly, she was befuddled as to how he hadn't noticed it before now, but if memory served, he had been in the water just a moment ago. Plus, she had no idea the full capabilities of Torren or what he even was. "Yup, broken. There's no fixing this, here, unless you've got some mending magic about you." She eyed him if he decided to venture towards her. Unfortunately, the only ability that had sprung from her yet had been a bit of basic fire magic. Sure she was blessed to have magic at all, but her power was still very much in its infancy. *Maybe I should look into some of the books and scrolls that Father wishes to show me.* It was an idle thought and one that wouldn't be much help in the here and now—not for Torren and his cart. "We are going to have to get you a new one in town." Being something of a shopper—well, a *Window* Shopper—Kateri knew all the best places to go, but she wasn't rich in her own right. "You do have money, don't you?" It seemed like the normal thing to ask, but immediately she felt rude for asking it. *Oh gods! Lend me wisdom in this matter. Guide my actions to do right.*
Senaida
It is quite bold of Kateri to assume Torren understood how his M'lysta body works. All he knew is that he could do things, it doesn't hurt, and it's apparently some sort of magic that everyone of his kind has. "I has... Macen body and M'lysta body! M'lysta, sea folk, like fish! Swim really fast and breathe water." He tried to explain the best he could. He would transform to illustrate, but being in his fish form on dry land is much worse. His body becomes so very heavy and even more ground-bound. Not an experience he enjoys. 
-
Instead of submitting himself to the agony of flopping around in the mud, he tries to spin around. Him still being somewhat clumsy on land causes him to tumble a little, but he manages to catch himself. "This is Macen, land folk body! But, still have some scales!" He lifts his shirt a little to show her his waist in an innocent, childlike manner. He wanted to show her some of the tiny blue tuna-like scales that covers it. "My tribe scales like tuna fish! Different tribe has different scale. Some are like eel too!"
-
As she moves to his cart, he plods along behind her. He looks sadly at the very broken wheels. The Treton has no idea how these things worked or how much they would usually cost, they didn't have wheels and carriages back in the ocean. His tribe travels carrying only their bodies, their children, and their arms. 'Anything else, the ocean will provide' the elders would often say. Travelling light with only the essentials is a lesson Torren takes to heart. A side effect of this ideal is that he barely has a clue about an item's worth. His cart is devoid of valuables and luxury items, carrying only some armor and tools for hunting. There were crossbow bolts, a mace, and a cleaver inside, but no crossbow in sight.
-

Though Torren just left *A* Town a while ago, he wasn't entirely against the idea of returning to one to get what he needs. He hadn't seen her before while he was staying in that last town, so maybe she'll bring him somewhere new! He nods, "Okay town. Money, I has!" He pulled out his coin pouch to show her. And boy, he's not lacking in funds at least. At a glance, the pouch itself might contain about a dozen gold. It's a little hard to count, but it would definitely be enough for at least two other carts *And* Their horses. Granted, it's not a whole lot considering this entire pouch is essentially Torren's life savings. It was mostly a parting gift from his tribe. They had given him every scrap, every bit they could spare for him to trade with the land folk. The rest came from him taking up some menial work while he learns the language of the people.