Joseph
_Marietzk was steadily making her way down the barren roads by foot, her hands obscured by the excessively long sleeves of her dress. Despite the slight chill in the air, she seemed barely fazed by the temperature. It was an overwise comfortable temperature 
 and an equally as peaceful day. The few clouds that did roll across the sky were fluffy and unimposing, and the song of birds in nearby trees and the beat of their wings filled the emptiness. She seemed to be absently chewing on something and her head constantly flicked to the side, her fractured eyes scanning the surroundings as though she was constantly on edge for predators. Satisfied by her safety, she continued down the path. A series of small pouches jangled at her waist. They're filled with odds and ends to help gather flora and to transport any wildlife she deemed appealing or valuable._

"Very good... No big nasty predators to eat me. Perhaps I should make sure that I dress brightly coloured." _She looked over her shoulder, and rested her eyes on the Oni shadowing her._ "In the wilds, poisonous animals are brightly coloured to ward off predators. It is a good technique to keep prey safe. Although... If I were to be brightly coloured, it may give my position away and leave me vulnerable." _Her voice, as expected of a girl of her stature, was mellow and calm. Though as she spoke, a strange chittering sound encroached on a few of her words._ "If you are getting tired, let me know. I know that you larger creatures are not always built for stamina."
Stephine
*Sol'gir silently tailed the miniature spider maid, content to just watch her back and protect her from the occasional wild beast or two they encountered. They hadn't done much talking yet, which the red oni considered to be highly unfortunate. Marietzk had stopped from time to time to explain her reasoning for doing certain tasks or to ask for Sol'gir's opinion on something. Just how she was doing now.* "I knew that. There are many interesting books to read in my tribe, most of them come from abandoned human settlements we scavenged. There was one in particular depicting the meaning of colors in the wild. That was a fun read." 

*Having brought up the topic of books all by her lonesome, Sol'gir immediately went into an educative spree, sharing a very tiny bit of her favorite pastime with the spider girl. Only stoping after realizing that wasn't what was being discussed.* "Ah... You want to dress with more colors? Sure, I think red would fit you quite well. It *Is* A very nice color if I do say so myself. Not too bright nor too dark, the perfect combination to scare away predators and weak critters alike." *While saying so, the tall Oni gestured to her whole body in real form, well-toned and slim without a single spot missing a shade of red.*
Joseph
_Marietzk only half-listened to the speech. She could read perfectly fine. However, having been born the daughter of humble silk weavers and spending most of her youth and early adulthood in the service of another, the luxury of enjoying literature had passed her by. She tutted, keeping her eyes glued to the road ahead._ "You can learn much more about nature and how best to survive in it by being exposed to it. Take _that_ for instance," _She pointed towards a bird resting in a tree, then to the subtle movements at the base._ "Something is waiting to eat that bird and its eggs. Very interesting, would you not agree?"

_She quickly moved on, leaving the bird to its fate. As Sol'gir mentioned her own colouration, a half-smile was brought to Marie's lips. She was already dressed in a deep burgundy._ "I suppose. However, red may make things too obvious. It is important to be hidden as well as threatening." _She cocked her head to the side and looked over her shoulder. Although she didn't seem to blink, there was definitely a sense of amusement in them._ "Besides... You are very loud. Very good at alerting people. You have to be red and intimidating to keep predators away after they spot you."
Stephine
"You can't learn everything about it by yourself.." *Sol'gir glanced at the nest and trunk of the tree almost at the same instance Marietzk mentioned them.* "I do think it's interesting... Shouldn't we help the bird and her children out though? They are too cute to be left to die like this, aren't they?" *The big oni had a hesitant look on her face as she asked for her companion's opinion, not sure if she would get mad at her for trying to interfere with nature's course.* "The poor little thing is just oblivious..." 

*The woman decided to ignore Marie's unneeded comments on her loudness, not wanting to argue with a maid that could barely speak as it was.* "Besides that, however, you could add some more purple to your attire. I think it is supposedly one of the more dangerous colors to see in the wild? Or was that the rainbow one?" *She let out a long, thoughtful hum while nearing the large tree housing the endangered birds.* "I can't remember... But I still think it was purple or violet. One of those two."
Joseph
"Helping it means others will not learn. They will become dependent on larger creatures to protect them." _She shooks her head, her expression lacking any sense of remorse for the potential danger, despite being acutely aware of what was most likely going to transpire._ "No, no... That just will not do. Involving ourselves like this is pointless."

_Marie levelled a finger at the entrance to the forest. It didn't seem particularly interesting or special, but the wiry lips of the scavenger twisted into a gleeful smile, an expression that often came to her when only she knew what the joke or object of excitement was._ "Ah... You see that, yes? You can see all of the smaller creatures skittering over the bark and through the grass?" _She raised a hand to the goggles perched atop her head and adjusted them by a small tug down so that they sat closer to her forehead the top of her head. Despite her preparations to enter the forest, they were still a considerable distance away. For whatever reason, she had managed to severely misjudge the distance - or perhaps it was intentional._

_She looked towards the tree, head to the side and lips twisted, once again, into an amused glimmer._ "Perhaps if the bird is eaten, we will be able to take its eggs. Fresh eggs are very nice for cooking. Very nice indeed. I could make something delicious with them. Or we could sell the fresh eggs in town. Fresh bird eggs are always in demand." _It wasn't that didn't hear or ignore the comment about wearing purple. Quite the opposite in fact; she'd heard the Oni, but didn't have a response. As such, she chose not to reply._
Stephine
"You want to steal the eggs from her?" *Sol'gir had a pretty sad expression on her face, she was used to the cruelty shown in the outside and animal world but that didn't mean she was happy to see it happen in front of her.* "I guess it won't really matter whether she dies right now or later under the same circumstances..." *The tall woman sighed and walked away from the tree, now back onto the main track by Marietzk's side. She watched as the innocent bird's predator climbed up the tree trunk bit by bit, getting closer to its goal.*

"H-How much are fresh bird eggs worth right now, anyway? I don't believe they are very expensive at all in big towns or cities..." *She turned her gaze back to Marie, not really wanting to watch what was about to happen to the much smaller creature.* "Last time I checked, they were kinda cheap and not really sought for." *While trying to find some way to distract herself from what was happening, Sol'gir was largely unsuccessful, still paying some degree of attention to the tree subconsciously.*