Marcella
Alcuin chuckled, but it was mirthless, **"Well, I got lost there, so I'm clearly a poor traveler."** His gaze followed the direction Tolius was pointing. **"I was looking for a rare herb to cure my mother's chronic illness, and I just..."** He ran a hand through his hair, not noticing the leaves and other forest debris he was spreading in it from his hand, **"I was so determined to find it, I lost all track of time and place. By the time I realized the sun was about to set, I looked around, and I realized I'd somehow gone far, far too deep into the mountains... Possibly even past them. I honestly don't know quite how I got there..."**

As he listened to the old man droning on, he couldn't help feeling such pointed questions weren't as lazily thrown out as they sounded. He felt his heart pounding, hoping he was opening to up the right sort of person. He'd been accused of being too trusting so many times, but he struggled to be too skeptical. He really believed everyone had at least *Some* Good in them. He thought about all he'd been experiencing internally, as of late, and was trying to parse out what he should say and what he shouldn't, when he looked at the spot where he knew the hagsfinger should've been.

Alcuin's eyes widened, his breath hitched, and his whole body froze. He said a little tonelessly, **"Well, for the visions... I know I saw that hagsfinger over there, just a moment ago."** He swallowed, **"But now... All I see is a small white rabbit, belly torn open, it's entrails are spread out like a fan across the ground."** He shook his head vigorously, squeezing his eyes shut, rambling the rest off quickly, **"I hear incoherent whispers every morning and night. For the last several days, they even come up in the middle of the day. The urges... Usually are just to hurt people, sometimes more like... Seduction? Things I'd never do."**

Opening his eyes again, he looked to the shady spot under the tree, and of course nothing was there but plants. He woodenly walked over, crouching down to pluck the herb. **"Like I said, I should've died. I ran into several things that tried to kill me."** His laugh this time was genuine, **"But I guess I've run enough from bears and the like in the forests that I as able to get enough distance between me and... Whatever it was."** Feeling suddenly bold, determined to rid himself of this broken mind, he took the hagsfinger and went to stand in from of Tolius, offering to him once more. **"I don't entirely know what saved me... I thought it was Lunara, maybe. I looked up after stopping to rest for a short time, and I saw the moon. Giant, bigger than I'd ever seen it, and so bright... It felt like it was beckoning me that direction, it felt like it was moving to guide me. And so I followed it. Before I knew it, the sun was coming up and I found myself at the edge of familiar forests once more."** He shrugged, **"But now... I'm seriously doubting it was the intervention of anything so kind and good."**
Cynthia
Tolius watched the young man run a hand through his hair, shaking his head slightly when he saw how many leaves and debris Alcuin was leaving in it. If there were ever an incarnation of the word druid, Tolius was sure that he had found it. "That is a very interesting affliction that you have, Alcuin." Tolius said slowly, stroking his beard in thought.

From what Tolius knew, there were many things that could cause the man to start having visions and voices. In truth, it could even be as simple as the young man losing his mind from getting lost in his travels, and the subsequent creatures that tried to kill him. Perhaps it was something that possessed him, something that was fighting for dominance in his mind. Or it could even be a curse - he could have stumbled upon anything that some creature would have been angry about. There were way too many possibilities, and all were varying difficulties to dispel, if it were even possible. 

"That is a very interesting tale," Tolius continued, reminding himself to look at Alcuin as he spoke, "And you say that for the last several days they have come up in the middle of the day. Do you think that darkness effects your condition? Or perhaps the moon?" He questioned, figuring that would not be a bad place to look. The man took the hagsfinger as Alcuin handed it over, stuffing it into his pouch on his side. "And do you have the impression that it is getting worse? Or do you think it just happens that for the last few days it has been worse?"
Marcella
Alcuin wasn't feeling encouraged by thoughtful expression on the wizened man's face. That sort of look on an elder generally meant they didn't have answers, or at least not the ones you wanted to hear. He absently started chewing his bottom lip as his mind wandered. If someone of this man's caliber, seemingly skilled, couldn't help him, was there any use in seeking answers elsewhere? He felt despair clawing at the edges of his mind and tried to refocus on anything he could in the present moment. He spotted some acorns, edible weeds, and began gathering somewhat mechanically. Surely *Someone* Could figure out what was wrong with him...

When their eyes met for a brief moment, Alcuin felt a little more comforted. Tolius seemed to have genuine interest and care in him, but he was reluctant to trust such feelings even with people he knew rather well. Regardless, there was much to be gleaned from this encounter, even if he didn't get solid answers or make a new friend or acquaintance. He tucked his finds back into his pouch and stood, continuing to walk slowly.

**"It's certainly been worsening this last week. It started at all about a few months ago, with only the whispers, quiet in my mind each morning and night. Then a few weeks later, the visions and urges began. And this last week, it's all worsening in both frequency and intensity."** Brows furrowed thoughtfully for a moment, he continued. **"All of those things have generally been worse while the moon is up, but this week it hasn't seemed to matter as much. And I'm already someone who gets lost in thought, loses track... It's so much worse, trying to find a handle on my mind at all... So I haven't eaten well. Some of the visions certainly make me nauseous, and the near constant anxiety doesn't help either. Oh, and especially of this last week, I sleep terribly. Soon, it will take it's toll."** He spoke with solemn resignation.