Billy
Eira ventured into the forest near the Southern Mountains, her white hair contrasted against the dark green of the trees. The chill of the mountain air embraced her, invigorating her senses and sharpening her focus. Her multi-pupiled eyes scanned the surroundings, noticing every detail with curiosity.

There was a rustle of leaves and distant echoes of howling winds in the forest. Eira listened intently, her sensitive ears picking up the subtle movements of unseen creatures and the faint whispers of the natural world. She moved with caution, mindful of the hidden dangers in these unfamiliar lands.

With her senses fine-tuned, she heard the faint sound of cracking branches in the distance. Curiosity sparked within her, and she decided to investigate the noise source. Her large, snowflake-like eyes scanned the area, easily piercing through the forest's dim light.

As she ventured forward, her footprints were left behind, etching a path in the untouched snow. Despite her towering height, Eira moved with surprising grace, her elongated limbs effortlessly navigating uneven terrain. Her keen sense of smell heightened, picking up prey scent. Following the scent trail, she moved through the forest with caution and excitement. The hunt was instinctual to her, a primal connection to her Loðinn nature.

With each step, her sharp fingers dug into the snow, providing traction and stability. The forest hushed in anticipation as she neared her target. Eira's multiple pupils dilated, allowing her to see clearly in the dim light and discern her prey's movement.

Suddenly, she burst into a clearing, where a small group of deer grazed peacefully. Her eyes gleamed with focused intensity as she crouched low, her elongated muscles coiling, ready to spring into action. As the first snowflake gently fell from the sky, Eira launched herself forward with a powerful leap, her four arms propelling her through the air. The element of surprise was on her side, and she aimed to make the most of it.

In that frozen moment, Eira's instincts took over, her snow-flea heritage fuelling her agility and precision. With a primal roar, she closed the distance between herself and the unsuspecting deer, her mind focused solely on the imminent clash between predator and prey.
Lisa
*Leave!*

The last words of the elder of the tribal stronghold told him without a shred of restraint, heard across his leather tipi and out into the yard of multiple other orcs and their halves. Most of them had grown to respect the strength and growth of the young man, but it was painfully, and obviously aware that their senile and close-minded patriarch was not accepting of their most recent 'guest'. A year was spent, all for nothing as he was escorted out by two of who he considered were decent friends of his, with the custom of spears gently prodding into his thick skin on his back.

A woman of green complexion came up after the gate in a hurry, tears welled in her eyes, timidly shuffled her hands into his as he turned back towards her. Gifted with the imparting remembrance of his first friends in his life, she awkwardly steps back into the wooden-clad premises of the improvised fort, the log gate soon closing before him on his face. He stood there for a couple of seconds, eyeing the painstakingly detailed beads of names along a necklace thinly fitted for his broad neck. It didn't take him long to understand that he needed to go before he only fueled more wrath to the elder.

Step by step, he made his way down from the mountain ranges in a span of hours without much issue. Resistant to the cold with good hide clothing from neck-to-toe, he aimlessly wanders through the beginning territory of nature's pine trees. There was no struggle for him either to have conjured a hammock from his backpack and a fire to sleep on in a secluded area ... Where only his memories of recent, joyous affairs replay in his head before his banishment. His eyes set dimly to a close soon after his heart did.

*Flapping of wings!* He hears the many birds and crows erupt from afar, their cacophony of jeering cries awoke him from what was a deep slumber to an open-sky morning. It seems there was a rather abrupt movement nearby, and so he sought to look for it. While not brandishing a makeshift weapon from rock and stone as to not damage or brittle his war axe or other weaponry, he still proceeds in taking a far more wary, encircling path as he watched for movement in the treeline. It was this small journey that brought him to the sight of Eira's cutthroat, and precise strike upon the prey that caught his attention. 

It wasn't anything too surprising at first, until he noticed the rather ... *Unusual* Physiological definitions the woman bore. That's when his eyes widen when he saw the full height of the creature ahead of him, far taller than even a hobgoblin. Unfortunately, he wasn't much stealthy either, but he was closer to a semicrouch while rested against a tree. He intended to leave the woman be, but that was when the sight of a *Large* Shadow lurking through the woods utterly horrified the Half-Orc. There was no time to spare, *Both* Of them needed to leave, he knows the legend of the Southern Mountain too well.

*"Hey!"* He stood up abruptly, roaring to take her attention. *"You!"* Waving his arms across to her, hoping to have caught her attention with the rather wide display. It's clear as well that he was the only one out here with his big, strapped bag on his back and multiple iron icehooks and tools laid around his hips for winter survival.

*"You must go!"* A warning ...? No, his tone is not at all wavering with threat. It's fear. But not because of her.
Billy
Eira's attention was abruptly pulled away from her successful hunt as the loud voice echoed through the forest. She turned her gaze toward the source, her four arms swaying with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. A wide, innocent smile spread across her face, and she raised one of her elongated arms in a wave, excitedly acknowledging the Half-Orc's presence.

Unaware of the danger that lurked nearby, Eira bounded towards the Half-Orc with a certain clumsiness, her large frame leaving deep imprints in the snow-covered ground. As she reached him, her eyes sparkled with a childlike innocence as she proudly presented a torn deer leg in one of her hands, holding it out towards him as if it were a gift. Eira's towering presence loomed over the half-orc but, despite her size, there was no hint of malice in her demeanour.

"Deer!" She exclaimed with a strong accent, her voice filled with genuine delight, oblivious to the urgency of the situation. Her words were accompanied by a thick, melodic intonation, reflecting her tribal origins. She seemed to expect the Half-Orc to share in her excitement and partake in the meal she had so generously provided. Meanwhile, the shadowy presence in the woods continued to linger, a threat that Eira remained blissfully ignorant of. Her attention was solely focused on the Half-Orc, her simple-minded nature preventing her from fully comprehending the gravity of the situation.
Lisa
Usually, he would've had to prepare to explain himself to any other person he was crossing that he was neither a bandit or a tribesman. This makes one of his few firsts to having break that rule while out in the wilderness, as he was the one perplexed by the view of the snow flea coming up and offer the leg with excitement. It took him only a few seconds to realize the situation that's occurring and use it to slowly redirect her away from the danger.

*"I ... Uh."* Clearing of the throat.
*"Yes, you did well with your hunt. We should ... Cook it for a better meal?"* Suggesting a way to simultaneously both appease her childlike wonder and inquiry, while subverting her from the danger that she was not yet aware of. Though in truth, he was genuinely stunned by her hunting capacity to have considered her a level of sportsmanship far exceeding the average. He had to stiffen his posture and relax himself with a slow breath to veil his once visible worry.

He soon waves her, not yet taking the deer leg as he turns away, retracing his steps back to his original settling location, somewhat far from the looming threat nearby. *"It is best we head off to a small camp. This land is not well equipped for rest."* Excusing it as a land-based issue.
Billy
Eira watched the Half-Orc's hesitant reaction with an innocent curiosity, her large snowflake-like eyes widening with anticipation. She tilted her head to the side, her four arms swaying gently as she listened to his words. His suggestion to cook the deer for a better meal sparked a childlike excitement within her, and she nodded eagerly, unaware of the danger that still lurked nearby.

"Cook! Yes, good idea!" She exclaimed, her strong accent adding a melodic tone to her words. Without further ado, she followed the Half-Orc's lead, her tall frame towering above him as they retraced their steps toward his camp. Her simple-minded nature prevented her from fully grasping the underlying tension, but she trusted the Half-Orc's guidance.

"Cooking?" She murmured to herself, her voice filled with a hint of confusion. The concept of cooking was unfamiliar to her, a foreign notion in her tribe where meals were often consumed raw or with minimal preparation. Her tail wagged gently behind her, reflecting her excitement and curiosity about this cooking he was speaking of. Her towering height, combined with her childlike wonder and the deer leg still clutched tightly in her hand, created an endearing presence.
Lisa
Having calmly walked away from along the hillside he perched upon with a new leading companion who he thought would be temporarily persuaded to be by his side for the moment, he focuses back on his trailing footsteps from across tree to tree planted in the snow. He uses this as the reference to generally understand which direction he came from, and continued on the way over to a smoked, stony circle with snow felled ashes and unfinished logs.

*"Here. I'll make another fire, you place your catch down in the cold."* His voice no longer stresses with tension, letting the restful and deep voice come fluidly out, though he remains of little words. He never really talked throughout their walk back to his encampment, moreso appearing as if brooding over some thoughts irrelevant to the threat further away the entire time.

His burly hands rummage back through a large, square leather backpack to find some small sacks of salt and edible mushrooms that he collected. With those placed out, he unhooked a copper pot from the side of his bag and detached three iron rods makeshift to a tripod for cooking over flame. He didn't pay much attention to the snow flea as he resettled the area surrounding his old campfire; scooping the ash for preservation of his products later on into a shared bag. Afterwards, he carefully plants the tripod around the stones and settled a small link chain on the pot, proceeding to immediately begin adjusting for fire; the use of a firesteel and flint spark. Sparks aflew and poof, a small start of flame arising with a bundle collected.

*"Now, we wait."* He sat down in front of the gathering, small bundle of blaze. It seems he's been living out in the wilderness comfortably and for a while to have done this all casually without issue. Stereotypes of orc idiocy was not going to be found with Aternel.
Billy
Eira's attention wavered as the half-orc spoke, her gaze wandering off to the surrounding trees and the snow-covered ground. The half-orc's words barely registered in her mind as she was distracted by the intricate patterns the snowflakes created as they gently fell from the sky. Her curiosity got the best of her as she shifted her focus to the Half-Orc's hands rummaging through his bag. She watched with wide, multi-pupiled eyes as he retrieved small sacks of salt and edible mushrooms, placing them out with care.

As the half-orc continued to work, rearranging the campfire area and scooping ash into a bag, Eira's attention shifted to the movements of his hands, the glint of metal and the sound of the link chain on the pot. Her mind raced with curiosity, questioning the purpose of each item. The sparks and sudden flame burst captivated her, drawing her attention like a moth to a flame.

A low growl escaped her throat, followed by a hiss as she instinctively tried to ward off the flames. "NO! Fire bad!" She exclaimed with concern and urgency, her strong accent punctuating her words. Without a second thought, she lunged forward, her four arms reaching out to shove the Half-Orc away from the fire. Her ice aura flared to life, a cold energy emanating from her body as she attempted to extinguish the flames with her elemental powers. The temperature dropped rapidly and frost formed on nearby surfaces as her efforts to eliminate the threat intensified.

The campfire, once dancing with life, now lay dormant under frost. The frigid air lingered momentarily before gradually dissipating, leaving behind a chilled silence. Unaware of the extent of her actions, Eira stood there surprised and confused. She blinked, her four arms hanging limply at her sides as she surveyed the now lifeless fire. The realization slowly dawned on her that she had unintentionally used her ice aura to extinguish the flames. Her childlike curiosity stirred, and she tilted her head, trying to make sense of what had just transpired.

"Fire gone?" She murmured. Her voice was tinged with wonder. She tentatively approached the frost-covered logs, her eyes wide with fascination as she observed the aftermath of her impulsive action. Her attention then turned to the Half-Orc, her innocent eyes seeking confirmation and approval. "Fire gone good?" She asked. Her voice was filled with genuine curiosity.
Lisa
There was a quick second of cognitive awareness to her snarl and growl, but when attentive to her yelled words did he realize it was just the interest of preservation for herself. Had he not thought of this prior before being leapt upon, he definitely would have provided a better explanation. Yet unfortunately, he was tackled away, becoming witness to her unique and otherworldly frost control and manipulation. To be entirely truthful, he was not at all shocked at her grapple onto him as he was more about the mysticism of her unique powers.

Adjusting to the weight of the snow flea atop of him, granted, also giving him another shock as he felt how much exactly she weighed, he cleared his throat as a bent elbow for his hand reached to tap the side of her forearm, suggesting release. That's when he decided to feed slightly into her defensive mannerism while also wanting to inform her the purpose of the fire. He can't be angry with someone who's lived in a climate like this with powers like hers.

*"Yes, you did good. But that fire was important to cooking. Do you ... Know why fire is important, like the snow?"* He asks her rather than scold her for her actions. It would be better to treat a wildling with the careful attention as he did when leading her away from a potential threat prior. Still, he lays in the snow until released; in that case having sat in the planted shape of snow upright.
Billy
Perched atop the Half-Orc, Eira's grip tightened as she growled and hissed, instinctively protecting herself from the perceived threat of fire. The weight of her actions registered as she felt the tap on her forearm, a signal for release. Curiosity replaced her defensive stance as she carefully loosened her hold, allowing the Half-Orc to sit up in the snow.

"Fire important like snow?" She repeated. Her eyes darted nervously between the extinguished fire and the Half-Orc, her mind filled with fear. Fire was always a source of fear for her, a force that brought destruction and danger. She learned from her tribe to stay away from it, as it could cause serious harm. The Half-Orc's question about fire's importance and its similarities to snow left her puzzled. She had never considered fire's positive aspects. In her limited experience, fire only meant destruction and pain.

"F-fire... Bad," She stammered, her voice trembling with fear. Her tail was tucked between her legs, a visible sign of discomfort. "Fire burn, hurt... Never good." Eira struggled to comprehend fire's beneficial uses. Her knowledge was limited, and her fear overshadowed any potential understanding.
Lisa
Letting a sigh escape him as he sat up, his eyes first lock onto her movement and general mood, as well as how she expressed herself with the fear of fire. It clicks to him, it made sense; fear is something he knows too well and one of which he had to personally conquer. He also understands based on the stammer of her words how much worry and harm she may have had with it on related circumstances. Now the struggle for him is to having to explain it, as he's never been one for having taught others properly.

Arms cross over onto his legs as he leans forward, ignoring the heightened bites of frost in the lingering air without warmth as he spoke. *"I will tell you, then."* Eyes coming to lock onto hers, wanting to establish a trust in his words and having the same words be met to her ears with attentive listening.

*"Fire and frost is everywhere. People, like me, change to it."* Pointing to himself momentarily as he spoke slower, trying to catch up to some of the words in his head. *"Fire is used by bad people, you know this. But it is also used by good people. The cold can be used by bad people, too."* Now scooping some snow into his hide gloved hand.

*"But fire and ice and can be used differently."* Tossing away the snow.
*"For me, I use the flame to warm myself, and to make meals that would not hurt my stomach. I cannot live without fire, as you cannot live without the snow. However, the cold can be used to cool me, as well, when the flame is too much. It can also help keep your food for much longer."* Educating on the importance of both body temperature control and food preservation.

*"But yes, I have been burnt by fire before. I have also been hurt by the cold, you see."* Beginning now to lift up a side of his hide tunic to reveal a *Nasty* Burn scar across the side of his green hip, streaking up to the mid-half of his leftmost backside. He promptly lowers it and tucks it back along his pant lining for comfort. *"Do you see now?"*
Billy
Eira's eyes widened as the Half-Orc lifted his tunic to reveal the burn scar etched upon his skin. A deep sadness welled up within her, and her features softened with empathy. The sight of the scar stirred sorrow and understanding within her. She reached out a trembling hand, hesitating for a moment before gently brushing her fingertips over the scar. Her touch was light as if she feared causing him further pain. Her expression conveyed profound sadness for his suffering..

"Eira is sorry," She whispered, her voice filled with genuine remorse. "Sorry for the pain, hurt." She paused, watching him cover his scar. "Yes, Eira sees," She responded softly, her voice tinged with newfound understanding. "Fire good and bad. Like snow. Eira will learn." Her innocence and compassion shone through as she recognized the lasting impact of the burn on his body. At that moment, a sense of trust built within her, a desire to protect.

With a playful twinkle in her eyes, Eira jumped up on her feet. She tilted her head to the side, observing the Half-Orc with a mischievous expression. The gears of her mind were turning, and she was determined to mimic what he had done before. This was even if her fire understanding was limited. "Watch, watch!" She exclaimed, her voice filled with giddy anticipation. Eira knelt down near the fire remnants, her large frame dwarfing the small bundle of frozen logs. Mimicking the Half-Orc's earlier actions, she attempted to start the fire, but her movements were clumsy and uncoordinated. Sparks flew in every direction as Eira fumbled with steel and flint, her attempts to recreate the flame resulting in a chaotic display. She giggled as her efforts proved fruitless, yet her enthusiasm remained unwavering.

"I try, like you!" She declared, laughing. As Eira focused intently on her fire creations, her tail wagged vigorously behind her. With each clumsy strike of the flint against the steel, her tail wagged faster, expressing her excitement and joy. It swayed back and forth, leaving a trail of swirling imprints in the snow as if it had a mind of its own.
Lisa
The touch, the sensation of reliving some horrid memory in a split of a second just by physical contact alone made his skin run with a chill colder than the snow itself. Goosebumps aside, he allowed her the extended period of time to touch it without even as much as a flinch coming from him. His eyes subconsciously return to a visible state of darkness as he felt the memory once again replay in his mind, a darkness that's haunted him for a huge amount of his life encapsulated in two gold orbs and a jaded, deadpan stare to the side.

Brought back to reality by her words, he returns to shifting his clothing back down by the pant lining and murmurs the words, *"It is fine."* The few seconds after sped up to him as he observed her carefully mimicking his earlier attempt at recreating the flames. The eagerness from her and the willingness to actually listen to him actually cracked a faint smile from him, observing the snow flea joyously create sparks onto the reigniting dry sticks. Perhaps she's going to be different, if he allowed her a little closer into his life. But who knows what fate would ever have in store for a stunning and innocent being like her and ... *Something* Like him. He knows too well that tragedy befalls him on a daily basis; he being a living witness to the purest evils in the world.

But there's no time to wonder back into those thoughts. For now, he should just enjoy what is before him before he inevitably returns to being alone on the road. Sadness and crippling anxieties abscond from his eyes as he returns to a state of forced attentiveness, leaning forward to observe her recreate flame into the stone firepit. His eyes widen when she actually caused a large spark to ignite the remaining mass of crushed leaves and sticks before him, prompting him a single *"... Well done ..."* From him in yet another murmur.

*"Alright, I will show you how I cook now that you see what fire can do. Are you willing to have a taste when I'm done?"* Now asking before he gets started. His eyes lift up to hers, perfectly withdrawn from the hauntingly depressing sight of what he was earlier to a state of pure neutrality.
Billy
Despite Eira's simplicity and straightforward nature, there were hints of a dark past that she carried with her. However, her simple-mindedness and lack of complexity shielded her from the burden that such experiences could bring. She had a certain innocence that allowed her to navigate through life with a sense of positivity and resilience, unaware of the complexities and problems that could arise from her past.

Eira was oblivious to subtle shifts in the half-orc's hidden emotions. Her focus was solely on the task at hand, and she didn't notice the lingering traces of sorrow. Eira's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she successfully ignited the fire, her accomplishment fuelling her eagerness to learn more. She nodded enthusiastically at his question, her eyes shining with a mixture of curiosity and trust.

She exclaimed, "Yes, yes! Eira want taste!" With excitement in her voice. She shifted her large body, sat on her knees and fixed her gaze on the half-orc with a wide, beaming grin spread across her face. As she eagerly awaited the taste of the meal the half-orc was preparing, her simple-mindedness became a source of pure delight and unfiltered enthusiasm. She had a way of embodying the present moment, unburdened by the complexities that could weigh others down.
Lisa
*"Than focus. Words do not honor action."* A strong sentiment he follows by, seeing as he does not talk much, himself. With that, he began to prepare a full assortment of foraged items about the pan before he got himself ready for one of his more favorite traveling meals. There was also a unique curing salts for boiling water which had a very rich mineral candy red to them in a small sack.

He began by taking the remaining water he had in a leather pitch just below his backpack; shaped like an onion and pouring it into the hanging pot. After the water was settled, he took the curing salts and began to douse it into the water, causing a spectacular hiss to rise up as the salts made contact with slightly heated water. Taking up a small wooden ladle, he began to scoop up the viscera of collected dirt chunks and other impurities found rising up with the red salts, scooping it and tossing it out onto the snow. This unique heatsalt was not exactly well known to the majority of Eluaria, unless they came from the Qoth or Ceratoa regions. Either way, it dispersed a lot of the dirt and eliminated the need to purify the cooking water.

He lets the water boil more, coming over to collect the leg from Eira's hunt, quickly withdrawing a hunting knife and cutting off a good chunk of the slab of meat from it's hind. After chunking out a good portion of meat, he began to splice it on the spot into small chunks before heading back over to the pot. Afterwards, he brought up an assortment of red beans, a *Good* Big pack of rice he's collected and cleaned, and let it boil into the water. It was practically a basic recipe for a **Very hearty** Soup that's way less water and full-on assorted flavors of cubic chunk meat and beans (and sometimes corn if he's lucky).

Sitting back down with his arms rested over his knees after having processed his actions through and thoroughly, he looks over and spoke up after the silent few minutes of movement alone. *"It's simple. But I like it than what humans give me."*
Billy
Eira watched attentively as the half-orc went about preparing their meal. Her eyes followed his every movement, trying to absorb as much as she could from the process. She marvelled at the hissing sound that the curing salts created when they met the heated water, and her curiosity grew even more. She tilted her head, her gaze fixed on the pot as impurities were scooped out and discarded onto the snow. This was all new to her, but she was eager to learn.

Her attention then shifted to the leg of the hunt she had caught earlier. With a mix of anticipation and wonder, she observed as the half-orc skilfully cut off a portion of the meat, slicing it into smaller chunks. The scent of the boiling soup began to fill the air, and Eira's stomach rumbled with hunger.

As he added the red beans and rice to the pot, Eira couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. It was a simple meal, but there was a certain comfort in its hearty nature. She nodded in agreement when he mentioned preferring this over what humans gave him. In her own simple way, Eira understood the value of a meal made with care and appreciation for the ingredients.

As she sat on her knees, her large frame slightly hunched over, her grin remained plastered on her face.. She lacked the complexity of understanding the weight of her past, but it didn't hinder her from finding happiness in the present. In this moment, the half-orc's cooking became a symbol of warmth and nourishment and as Eira's eyes flickered with a childlike innocence, she couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for this unexpected connection, cherishing the simplicity of the present and the promise of a shared meal.
Lisa
After the given movements and added finish to the simple recipe, he planted himself back down into the snow and felt the sense of dread from the back of his mind wash away when upon feeling the distinct and familiar contact in his backpack; a book's edges. His eyes led the turn of his head over his shoulder to quickly pull away his bag while he waited for the soup to effectively finish in the few minutes remaining, withdrawing a hard leather cover journal of sorts with a crude, charcoal pencil on the side. He flips open the pages and was returning to the sketched graphic of a map, particularly a portion of it with an *X* Stricken across a section of land.

He reminded himself why he came out this way to begin with. It's for that *Dungeon*, that ruin across the magical Lilac Forest. There was something he was told to retrieve there before he was banished from his community, something vastly important to him as said from ... *The witch* In that fortress. Cleaning his thoughts and placing the book aside, he knelt back up and observed the condition of the pot and it's contents. It seems ready enough either way with the red salt method.

*"It is done."*
Quickly stated before turning over and fetching up some cubic wood bowls; particularly a bigger one for her size. Taking up the ladle that hung from the iron bar, he poured the hearty survival soup into both bowls and quickly leaned over to her in passing. It was a chunky rice and bean primary soup with little water content in it; but the boil of blended herbs and meat from their hunt added to an overall protein-heavy flavor. He sat back down with his face lifting in relief of the smell of his lunch. Though there was an unsettling feeling creeping on him which quickly daunts his momentary reprieve, furrowing his brows in frustration. He knew what he was going to find in that dungeon would haunt him for a good period of time, as was forewarned by the *Witch*.

But he won't let the thought of the future taint the moment of company and sanity that he has now. At least for the time being until he makes his move, though he is entertaining the thought of keeping this snow flea with him.
Billy
Eira's eyes widened with delight as she watched the final touches being made to the soup. The smell coming from the pot was wonderful, and she felt her excitement growing. Her tail wagged faster, causing little snowflakes to flutter around her. When the half-orc announced the soup was ready, Eira's smile grew wider. She couldn't wait to taste it. As the soup was poured into wooden bowls, she eagerly grabbed her own bowl. The warmth of the bowl against her palms provided a comforting contrast to the cold surroundings.

With her bowl in hand, Eira brought it closer to her face, inhaling the delicious aroma and without wasting any time, she dipped her spoon into the bowl and brought a spoonful of the hearty soup to her mouth. But as the hot liquid touched her lips, a reflexive instinct took over, and she squinted her eyes, fearing the heat. Her powers stirred within her and urged her to freeze the soup and cool it down instantly. The air around her started to chill, and a thin layer of frost formed on the surface of the soup. But as she saw the icy touch encroaching on the warm meal, a realization dawned on her. She had experienced the consequences of her impulsive actions earlier with the fire, and she understood the importance of restraint.

"No, bad Eira," She murmured to herself, her voice barely audible over the crackling fire. She withdrew her spoon and gently placed it back into the bowl, taking a control of her magic. It was a conscious effort to control her powers, to resist the temptation of freezing everything.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at the half-orc. A small smile formed on her lips. She felt proud of her self-restraint and a realization that not everything needed to be frozen. Bringing the spoon to her lips, she blew on the soup to cool it down before taking another sip. The warmth enveloped her mouth and body, comforting her. Unlike the half-orc, she had no worries on her mind. She was living in the moment and she was enjoying the flavours dancing on her tongue. The outside world faded into the background as she immersed herself in the blissful simplicity of the present.
Lisa
Gazing back up to Eira and watching her devour away at the soup fulfilled the Half-Orc with a unique comfort of company. There was something about having just one person with you compared to a party that he enjoyed, though he couldn't exactly say that a party wouldn't be enjoyable either.

He entertains the idea of possibly inviting her on the quest to the *Dungeons*, but believes she might not be ready for that sort of initiation yet. Plus he doesn't know her given strengths and mental resolve in multiple combat situations, and ... Well, he feels like he shouldn't incline her into a dangerous situation after having obtained her trust. There's no need to possibly throw away lives for a situation that doesn't require it. He shook his head subtly and looks away into the distant view of endless snow crawling up a mountainside from afar.

Silence between the two for a couple of seconds, save for the howling winds and the sounds of rustling pine and leaves. His mind was yet again found in that strange place after shoving away some current thoughts; replaced by the old. Quickly escaping the cognitive dissonance entrancing him from reality, he focuses on the snow flea and soon began small talk.

*"How long have you been out here?"* Starting with a simple question, something he can learn in a basic sense with her. His hands place the hot wooden bowl down onto the snow, having not yet take a bite from his cooking as he was more intrigued about her existence. He's never seen anything like her before in his life, and he's lived in the mountains and other usually apocalyptic looking regions for years.
Billy
Eira paused for a moment, looking up from her soup with a mouthful of rice and beans. Swallowing her food, she thought about the half-orc's question, her brow furrowing slightly. Time wasn't something she kept track of in the same way others did. Her life was filled with simple moments, without the need for calendars or schedules.

"How long?" She repeated, squinting her eyes and tilting her head. She didn't think he was asking her about the time. "You mean... How tall Eira?" She quickly got up on her feet and glanced down at her body, feeling a sense of pride. She stood taller than the half-orc, her stature towering over him.

"Eira tall!" She proclaimed, her enthusiasm radiating as she continued eating her soup which didn't take her all that long. Settling back down on the ground, she shifter herself closer to the half-orc, extending her lower hands that held the empty bowl towards him. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation, tail wagging behind her. She didn't need to say anything, the plea for more soup was clear on her face, resembling that of a puppy looking for a treat.
Lisa
You know what? He can't be angry with that answer, in fact he finds it rather adorable that she mistook his question for a topic of height. Cracking a toothy grin from the Half-Orc as she stood over him with the bowl in hand. No, he couldn't even keep a straight face at all as he let out a small chuckle, scooping up another good chunk of the soup into her bowl, knowing full well she's going to eat the entire pot.

Good for her though, he didn't need to eat that much. After he served her, he looks back up to her with his smile still rested on his lips, *"Yes, you are tall indeed. Perhaps bigger than most stronger men I know."*

After that, he takes a spoonful of the hearty content and chewed, deciding to not focus on such a dreadful thought. Maybe he can try to keep her out of trouble if she wanted to stay with him, but it'll be hard when she's naturally a curious creature as she is now. *'Is it worth it though?'* He pondered. The quick answer came to be ... '*Yes.'* He's earned enough of his trust and comfort to want to extend an offer to journey with him. He'll ask after their time of lunch is over.
Billy
Eira's mind, while simple, was filled with joy and contentment as she relished the warmth and flavours of the soup. Her appreciation for the half-orc's kindness grew, and she regarded him with curiosity and admiration. As the last spoonful of soup disappeared, a satisfied sigh escaped her lips, signalling her fullness.

Lowering her large body onto the ground, Eira settled into a comfortable position, her limbs sprawling out in relaxation. The snow beneath her yielded to her weight, offering a soft cushion. With her eyes closed, she embraced the serenity of the moment, free from the world's complexities.

The cool touch of the snow against her skin and the gentle caress of the wind brought calmness. Eira let go of any worries, allowing herself to be fully present in the stillness of the wilderness. Her tail wagged lazily, a reflection of her inner peace and contentment. In this tranquil state, Eira revelled in companionship and nourishment. Her trust in the half-orc deepened, and she found comfort in his presence. For now, the future held no weight on her mind as she embraced the simplicity and beauty of the present moment.
Lisa
His eyes drift down to the snow in uneven quantity across the small gap of open land within the trees they camped upon, studying it half-heartedly while his mind wandered other ponders. The small drifts of wind no longer come to pass; it's violent counterpart soon swallowed the area in the couple of minutes that the pairing sat together in contemplative peace of mind. Eventually, it picks up into a boreal tide of unstable snow plowing out into the air with the sight of the skies and sunlight coming to a cease. The unending blue has returned with ferocious might in a swift and unpredictable timing, the feeling of dread soon lingering back in the air.

In that passing hour, the Half-Orc and their cold native knew wiser and were eventually finding themselves traversing through the start of the blizzard tearing through small branches and leaves of the pine forest they encamped. Their site changed progressively from a complete lack of civilization to full untouched nature after passing by a water stream and meeting wildberries bushes which slightly reduce the oncoming entourage of snowflakes and snow particles. Eventually finding himself first into the mouth of a stalactite-fanged cave, his metal equipment jingled against the refined leather surface of his bag, echoing off slightly into the throat of the cavern they sat upon.

Unexpected it really all was; in a single hour of comfort alone, the two already had journeyed a small distance to a new, seemingly undiscovered cavernous landmark. He actually found no fault or needing to handhold the clearly frost-strengthened Eira throughout the entire time, and found that she was often the one leading the aimless search for safety between the two in that time they had spent moving from the unsteady wind. Either way, he enjoyed the talent she had and slightly grew a greater respect for her independency in the winter landscape.

`[Scene change: Dogtooth Cave | Hours passed on automated journey: 1hr 37m]`

His hand steadily slid along the strap of his backpack, packing it down against a sloped stone wall and sitting himself down against it, quick to observe the violent passing of the pulling winds at the entrance. However, a bigger concern for him was the size of the entrance they passed into and are currently residing in; a bigger threat than frostbite lays possibly ahead if they were careless. He looks over to his new partner, soon giving asking her in a surprisingly steady and cautious tone,

*"Are you a capable fighter? We must explore this cave if we know it is safe to rest here for the night."* Another question of her tenacity. He already knew that she was a proficient hunter, but considering they are long-headed into possibly a direct threat is a different approach of method acting entirely. He just needs to know what she is capable of ... In her own, innocent way of words, relatively speaking.
Billy
Eira, her body still sprawled comfortably on the ground, felt a shift in the air as the blizzard intensified. Instinctively, she got up and followed the half-orc through the unforgiving landscape, navigating through the thickening forest.

Eira strived in the cold environment, her huge body allowing her to move easily through the deep snow. She was literally built for this kind of weather. Her energetic nature returned now that she felt rested after eating a hearty meal. As they walked through the snow, she would every so often leap forward a couple of feet and dive into the snow, leaving behind a trail of her body in the snow.

While Eira didn't have a strong sense of direction, her familiarity with the cold environment allowed her to instinctively navigate through the snow-covered terrain, leading them to stumble upon the entrance of the cave eventually. As they entered the cave, Eira sat her body down on the cold ground near the entrance. She looked at the half orc, her head tilting to the side as she thought about his question.

The concept of being a capable fighter wasn't something she had ever really thought about. She was more accustomed to using her strength and size for hunting and survival in the wild. But a fight? That was something new.

Her response came in the form of a playful growl and a mischievous glint in her eyes. She lunged forward, playfully nipping at the air in front of the half orc as if demonstrating her prowess. She clearly had a natural instinct for combat, even if it was fuelled more by excitement than any real understanding of fighting techniques.

"Eira strong. Eira protect." While her answer was simple, it held a genuine determination. With a satisfied look on her face and her large tail wagging behind her, she pounced back towards the entrance of the cave and sat back down, allowing the snow to fall onto her, enjoying the cold.
Lisa
The encapsulating feeling of dread was all too familiar when returning to a familiar, damp and dark environment with every surrounding enclosing your possible escapes. He's grown up in these terrible caves all his life before his eventual escape, yet it felt nostalgically surreal to always return to one in any given condition or reason to do so. The regular search for enemies and other possible, organic or unliving threats were a maintenance expectation that he's grown too used to while living in the wilds alone.

It's no surprise to him that he was the first to, after acknowledging Eira's words with a firm nod and turning, to observe the sight of a decrepit piece of rusted metal shavings in the form of chipping on a hooked rock formation. He walked over and knelt himself down to it, plucking up the pieces of crude iron from the floor and inspecting it's form, quickly noting it's dimensions belonging to that of a sword of sorts. This is nothing much to go on, but what caught his attention was the clear fresh scratch mark on the surface of stone that hasn't subsided, meaning something was here to pluck this ruined blade from this spot, and recently.

Standing back up, his eyes squint and sharpen, tilting his head down by the jaw first with a steady hand coming to reach over to his barbaric axe dangling off the side of his furred belt lining. He strips it into his nondominant hand and reached with the other hand behind his hip to withdraw a wooden stick with oiled, but cold, tattered rags wrapped by the end. Quickly taking some animal fat and stuffing it into the rags, he lit it with flint across the same hooked stone to light it, providing a steady flame to enlighten the area.

His opposite hand, holding the war axe waved over to Eira and quickly gestured a halt if she was proceeding to extinguish his flame. Better no accident than one made by former mistakes learned previously. After this, he spoke up an added his thought on the matter of surveying the area.

*"There is danger here. They use weapons like I do. I fear, however, they are not like us. Be on your guard."* Quick to enlighten her on his educated guess on what threat may lie ahead of them. From his experience, a lightless and unmarked cavern with brittled equipment in use suggests this to be a lair for weaker necrotic influence, as learned in his multiple travels across the Southern Mountain. His bigger concern is if their conjurer or master is still lingering around, which would provide a challenge for both himself and even the large snow huntress; magic is no joke.
Billy
Eira perked up when the half orc gestured for her attention. She turned her head towards him, her eyes reflecting the flickering light of the flame he had ignited. Her antennae fell on top of her head. Though fire had always made her uneasy, she had learned that, under control, it could be a useful tool. She trusted her new friend to handle it safely.

Her playful demeanour quickly shifted to a more serious one as she listened to him. The mention of danger caught her attention. While she may not fully understand the implications of necrotic influence or the potential threat they faced, Eira understood the need to be prepared. Her large frame shifted, and she rose to her feet, the snow falling off of her body like a cascade of white. She approached the half orc with a sense of determination in her eyes. Though she may not possess the same knowledge or experience as him, she had her own instincts and a strong desire to protect.

"Eira watch. Eira protect," She declared, her voice firm and resolute. Despite her lack of knowledge and experience, she understood her role in the face of potential danger. Her tail wagged slightly, betraying her excitement and readiness for the challenge.
Lisa
*"Than we move."* A simple and quick deduction of their readiness on the situation at hand. Lifting now a lit torch, illuminating the surrounding area brightly with the fat burning in the soaked cloth reveals a demented twist of multiple claw marks running down the sides of coarse stone on the walls, a sight unrecognized by the Half-Orc initially until provided better sight.

A hum of discomfort escapes him as he lifted up the axe now, proceeding forth into the deeper recesses of stone cavern with his brows furrowing. He's very thankful he had thin iron plates on the base of his hide gloves for protection, as he knows most skeletons would bear arm to discarded, rusty blades and spiked maces, capable of causing even the slightest scratches on the finger and palm to fully infect through disease and exposure. Despite being well equipped for such an expedition on short notice, he still yet fears the harm not only for himself, but mostly for the unequipped bestial woman beside him.

He made his way forward, and a scene unfolds ...
Ursula
Eventually as they descend down the unsteady but rigid slope of stone and cobble, the sight of a *Doorway* Made of poor masonry bricks, weathered to time comes to light. The faint blue rays of light behind them diagonally across from the entrance barely illuminates the open stone archway. The sound of clicking footsteps did come forward; beholding the sight of a *Large*, seven foot statue of a humanoid skeleton with a heavy, wooden shield of iron (Kite Shield) and a stone warhammer in their other hand, equipped with a small horned bucket helm and some crude iron breastplate! A stunning display of heavy armaments, but could prove to be easy to dispatch if the hunter and barbarian are well aware of which obvious sore spots to attack on the foe.

It seems the skeleton has been made aware of the two coming forward and was quick to hold their shield ahead of themselves. They make no attempt to attack yet, and it's giant form is quite rigid! It seems the two are given the initiative to make a preemptive attack against it. Would it be possible for the flea to be given the chance to overwhelm it with their superior strength ...?

**[Technical Detail]**

Kite Shield, Warhammer, Iron Breastplate, Horned Iron Helm
Action: held forward defense in front of archway
Billy
Eira's large eyes widened as she followed the half-orc into the deeper parts of the cave, her senses alert and her heart pounding. The sight of the skeleton ahead, its shield held up in a defensive stance, sent a shiver down her spine. She had encountered dangerous creatures before in the wild, but this was unlike anything she had faced.

Her antennae twitched nervously, and her tail slowed its wagging as she assessed the situation. The half-orc seemed to be ready for the encounter, and she trusted his judgment. Despite her simple mind, she knew she had to act quickly and decisively to protect herself and her companion.

With a fierce determination, she charged forward with surprising speed for her size. Her massive form lunged at the skeleton, using her weight and strength to attempt to overwhelm it. Her instincts took over as she swiped at the creature with her sharp claws, aiming to break through its defences.

Though she lacked the battle skills and tactics of the half-orc, her raw power and ferocity were unmatched. She fought with the primal instinct of a creature defending its territory, and it showed in her movements.
Sandra
**Decisive & overwhelming!**

The large skeletal foe had been toppled over with ease as Eira had pounced upon the necrotic body of theirs, their shield shoved into their nasal region causing multiple fracture formations to occur against the eye sockets and brow region of it's skull. Despite cranial trauma, it is not shocked by the motion. It's shield pressed against main body, it tucked it's skull further against the iron frame and withstood the multiple clawing strikes of her hands against it's shoulder and head. This mitigated a lot of the damage against Eira!

There was nothing the skeleton could do unfortunately. It's right arm was pinned under it's own shield as well, due to the mass of Eira having basically toppled onto them. It struggled to shove her away, wiggling the shield and continuing to press/tilt her aside to scramble her off. This has a great chance of failure, however, due to the weight and strength discrepency between the two.

**(Technical Detail)**

Effect: Damage to cranium: frontal, rear // Damage to helmet & shield: Eira grappled & tackled // Unable to perform another action against them
Lisa
He took his chance when upon glancing at Eira tackle the necrotic to quickly dash forward and rear his axehead up by the angle of which he can penetrate through the crude iron helmet. Hacking down forth upon the struggling necrotic quickly dispels it as there was not much it could do asides struggle against their might. The helmet has been torn asunder with a twisted hole left in the leather where it's head was. To add to the brutality of his attack, he quickly dug it further; just in the case of it not becoming deceased from cranial trauma alone and wrenched the whole head off from the spinal cord with a quick *Pop!*

The skull flew off and smacked multiple times across the floor into the deeper stone hall of the tomb they were within. As it popped a few times, adjacent torches mounted on stone collumns in-built to the walls began to light aflame in reaction to the presence of movement, revealing the crypt in it's fullness to the two trespassers. It was a laid structure with multiple hallways spreading outwards in rows horizontal to the two ...

There were many skeletons laying in five to six foot pockets of dug-out stone holes in the walls, with cobwebs, decrepit urns and pots laid about in their honor. Some of these did hold possessions, which does not violate Eversor's morals, as he believed that the dead are but objects if they are without life and soul.

*"... You did well, Eira. Perhaps we will make an efficient team, after all."* Commenting brightly on her quick thinking and frontal attack. He genuinely believes her skills in a fight are definitely worth while while they remain a pair.
Sandra
**Enemy has been defeated via. Beheading!**

The skeleton had no resistance and no way to respond to the threat.
They have the contents of an iron cuirass, a tower shield of crude iron, a broken helmet and a square-head warhammer.
Billy
Eira's eyes widened as she heard Aternel's words and observed the aftermath of their battle. She felt a mix of emotions — pride in her own strength and abilities, but also a touch of sadness at the sight of the defeated foe. She didn't fully understand the concept of life and death, but she knew that the skeleton was no longer moving, and that made her feel a sense of finality.

Eira's eyes scanned over the discarted pieces of armor and weaponry, the sadness quickly being replaced by her curiosity. The items were of no importance to her but she sensed that they might be important to her companion. Her large frame shifted as she stood, towering over the fallen foe. She glanced back at the half-orc, her expression a mixture of pride and eagerness.

"Eira strong." She said with a wide grin on her face. She understood that she had played a part in defeating the skeleton, and she was proud of her contribution. With a wag of her tail and a nod of her head, she indicated her readiness to continue.
Lisa
Approved for continuation, he turns back around and relaxes the back of his axe onto his shoulder as he continued on. His caution for the surrounding premises was high, and his state of alertness was profound, for he's never been in such a place before. A graveyard in the middle of nowhere, near the mountains and beaten from any path, this place must be ancient from what he could gather.

*"Let me know if you see anything odd, or if anything moves, okay Eira?"* Turning his head over his shoulder to place his comment in her direction while his eyes remain locked forward. While continuing through these tunnels, they stumble across an archway in the middle which leads to a spiral stairwell going deeper into the crypt. Though while skeptical of going further deeper into the crypt, he looks back behind himself one more time and gave her a questioning glance. Would she be okay with going further into this —

His thoughts are interrupted by the sight of light in the corner of his eyes. Purple runic texts appear on the wall, revealing the presence of that of a necromancer in the area. This is not good, especially not for the two who may or may not have trespassed in their claimed territory. Quickly thinking on his feet without word, he grasped Eira's hand and suddenly pulls away into a darker, unlit corridor off to the sideline, awaiting for the dark magician to appear in the halls.
Billy
Eira felt a surge of excitement and tension as they continued deeper into the crypt. The atmosphere grew heavier with each step they took, and she kept her senses alert, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Her antennae twitched in acknowledgment of Aternel's words. As they approached the archway leading to the spiral stairwell, Eira hesitated for a moment, feeling a mix of curiosity and caution. But she trusted Aternel's judgment and followed him without hesitation.

Suddenly, he grasped her hand and pulled her into a darker corridor, away from the main path. Eira's heart raced, and her grip tightened on his hand. She knew something was amiss, and she relied on Aternel's instincts to guide them.

Her eyes darted around the dimly lit corridor, trying to spot any signs of the danger. She stayed close to the half orc, her tail wagging anxiously. Her large frame was slightly crouched, with her four arms slightly spread out, ready to react to any sudden movement. Her tail was raised and swayed back and forth, like a cat preparing to pounce. Her antennae were raised, twitching and turning to catch any faint signals in the air.

Despite the tension in the air, her expression remained steady. Her mouth was set in a firm line, and her brows were slightly furrowed with concentration. Eira's trust in the half orc was unwavering, and she was ready to face whatever threat may come their way, as long as they were together. With a soft growl, she signalled her readiness for whatever was to come.
Lisa
Even with the sudden pull and tug, he felt similar to Eira in the regard of wariness and trust. He had glanced back over to her while pressing his back against the stone wall and lifted a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence so he could survey the sight that was about to unfold between the two. His orange-yellow glowing eyes pierce through the darkness they were in just slightly based off nearby light reflection, but even then, they express his stoic and calm demeanor with the semi-lidded state and lack of fear within them. Turning himself back around, he observes who would be arriving from the depths of the spiral stairwell ...

What he hadn't expected however before any movement was made was the feeling of a small bone on the right of his leg from the dig-in sarcophagus they were near. Turning his head once more, yet peering downward along his thigh did his eyes widen in horror, for he has witnessed the touching sight of a child's skull with it's arm and hand outstretched weakly against the back of his calf. It was alive, and it was suffering. His once collected and emotionless statue quickly brittles away into a state of somber wariness. He knew what he had to do, but first, he needed to perceive his enemy.

His attention focuses back onto the archway, allowing the infant necrotic to keep pressing on his leg without restriction. There was little noise generated from this and the distraction would be minimal, as he blocks the sight of the dig-in anyway.
Sandra
Entering the hallway was a large-chested woman in a thin black robe, adorned with *Beautiful* Lapis-colored streaks of fire along the edges of her clothing. She had jet black raven hair streaking down to her shoulders and she had black lipstick. If there was ever a *Modern goth* Stereotype in the fantasy world, this would be her. She walked on her bare feet across the small crypt and let out a sigh of mild irritation, proceeding along the hallway to her right immediately, her eyes ravenously scouring through multiple bodies, as if surveying them for quality.

Meagerly following behind her with a humanoid necrotic skeleton with a green fickle flame bouncing along it's ribcage, white balding hair and an uneven eye socket, one larger than the other. This lopside-eyed fiend continued over whilst rubbing his hands together, speaking in a comically high pitch voice.

*"My dearest, please! There is no need to k-k-k-keep looking through the bodies! There is no more intellectuals that I've recalled being buried in this shanty graveyard!"* He pleads with her, revealing some light of intention on what the woman was searching for during her entrance into the main hall.

*"Silence, filth. There **Is** Someone here, and he will unlock his secrets to me. I did not come all this way and spent my week here to slumber along the smelly, pitiful dead! The architect is here, I know it."* Persistent on her search, she waved her hand upward and conjured a dusty logbook. Slapping her hands through the pages with mild agitation building a sour expression on her face, she continued along, scouring through the lines of text before soon, and abruptly dropping the book.

*"Ugh! No no no no ... No! It said **He** Was buried here!"* Quickly she storms back off down the stone spiral stairwell, her skeletal companion jolting in fear before quickly running along with her; thus allowing this scene to fully play out without interruption. Unless of course, the two interject sometime throughout
Billy
Unlike Aternel, Eira wasn't attuned with the spirits so when she saw a little skeleton holding on his leg, she freaked out, her large eyes widening in fear. She let out a startled yelp and rapidly shifted her weight to adjust her position, but in her haste, she accidentally bumped against a loose stone on the ground. The stone skittered and rolled away with a loud clatter, echoing through the crypt.

Realizing that her clumsiness might have compromised their stealth, she looked apologetically at Aternel and opened her mouth to say sorry, but before she could utter a word, another voice resonated through the crypt.

Eira's curiosity mingled with unease as she watched a woman followed by a skeleton enter the hallway. She knew skeletons were bad from her previous encounter with one and so she thought that the woman was in danger. Her tail fluffed up in alarm and a deep growl escaped from her throat as she lowered herself closer to the ground.

Eira had never encountered a necromancer before so she did the one thing she was good at. She leaped towards the skeleton with a burst of determination. Her large body propelled forward, claws extended, aiming to tackle the potential threat and protect the woman from harm. In her simple mind, there was no question - she had to shield those in danger.
Lisa
He watched her completely flail for a couple of seconds and cause a dust cloud to have formed midway through the hallway from the bouncing stone, he only but shook his head in mild disappointment before turning. Surprisingly, this actually amazed him as the pairing went up as intended and were about to converse, mainly in the part where the skeleton was stumbling through his words to the clearly aggravated necromancer in her search.

His arms were crossed the entire time while he remained locked in position and focused, until he witnessed Eira completely cannon ball the summon off on the sidelines of the hallway, observing their master at the work. He, without even a thought, realized he's going to need to talk his way out of this one probably. Or kill.
Sandra
By astronomical luck, it seems the pairing had not noticed the echoing bounce of the rock as they were coming up the spiral stairwell. This was partly due to how the crumbling and decaying crypt was usually leaving falling pebbles and the like, as well as the countless spirits haunting the place about so casually, so this leaves them untroubled. However, as the necromancer continued progressing through her book did she glance back over her shoulder, and as she did, became witness to something that will utterly terrify her.

*"OH WHAT THE F..."* Flattened out by Eira immediately, it's bones crumbling and shattering under the immense weight of the large woman. It was dispelled on the spot, shattering and dislodging from it's sockets, smacking against the wall and floor behind it. This immediately caught the attention of the necromancer who stared in shock and awe, seized in fear of the moment before she leaned back against the wall. This was totally unexpected and she got herself frozen mentally at the sight of her summon being flattened in seconds.

She dropped against the wall outright as she realized what had entered the premises of her crypt. Her eyes locked as well onto the large, green figure who's figure was slightly highlighted by the bare light on his face and chest. Carefully dragging herself up, she yelled out,

*"Who the hell are you!? Why are you in my abode, my territory!"* She violently questioned the two while she reached to the side of her hip on a loose black leather belt, unstrapping a tome book. She was equipping herself as she dragged herself fearfully back along the floor into the singular dead-end hallway.
Lisa
*"Easy, miss. We're not here to hurt you."* Quickly stepping out to explain himself and his companion's appearance in the crypt. *"We thought this place was an active but abandoned lair, there was no way we could've deduced it was still active until you appeared."* Calmly lowering his vocal tone and proceeding by the side of the wall, lifting a hand over Eira as he did so she couldn't progress further onto the woman's position.

His other hand meanwhile lowers the axe he had and hitched it along the side of his belt line, leaving it there so he reduces the likelihood of being attacked. This was standard procedure for him anyway, and for too many tales and reasons why in experience. Either way, he needed to understand what exactly was going on in this cave, and why there was a woman in it pursuing an architect.
Billy
Eira stood still, her large eyes reflecting her inner turmoil. She had acted to protect the woman, to defend her from what she saw as a thread. Yet, instead of gratitude, the woman was angry. It was difficult concept for Eira to understand, the complexity of human emotions and intentions confusing her. Her tail wagged hesitantly, torn between her instincts to protect and the woman's apparent anger. 

As Aternel stepped forward and attempted to defuse the situation, Eira shifted her weight uneasily, her body tense and ready for whatever might come next. Her antennae quivered slightly atop her head, her way of processing the complex interaction unfolding before her. Her gaze shifted between him and the woman. She was unable to fully comprehend their conversation but she trusted Aternel's judgment.
Sandra
Eira stood still, her large eyes reflecting her inner turmoil. She had acted to protect the woman, to defend her from what she s...

The woman quickly placed herself upright after being approached by the Half-Orc, quickly situating herself and dusting her black cloth of dust, noting the rescinded bipedal creature behind the man. There was a little hesitation coming from her, but she stood her ground carefully where she shakily stood. The shock was still present on her, even if her mind has done it's best to give clarity to the situation that has occurred.

*"How could I know that? Your little pet destroyed my ... Useless companion."* Having a momentary pause to figure out however she could describe the snow flea, she pointed vaguely in Eira's direction with a face displaying sheer disgust. Clearly she didn't have a bright opinion on such an "Unintelligent" Specimen.

*"In fact, does your little dog even speak? What is it's name? What does it ... Even do?"* Despite having been through a terrifying scenario, her curiosity was more piqued by the sight of the assumably feral female beast. Though directing her questions towards the half being, her eyes and general direction of body were still primarily focused on Eira. She didn't expect much to be said from the orc.
Billy
Eira's eyes followed the woman's movements, her head tilting to the side as she processed the unfamiliar words. The woman's disdainful gesture and tone were clear to Eira and her instincts told her that the woman held some sort of hostility towards her. She couldn't understand why the woman would react with such anger, especially after Eira had just saved her from a potential threat.

"Skeleton... Bad." Eira's voice rumbled, the frustration evident in her tone. Her antennae bristled slightly on her head, and her tail flicked with annoyance. The contradictory nature of the situation – having acted to protect the woman, only to be met with anger – was clearly getting under her skin. Her loyalty to Aternel and her instinct to defend were now mixed with a simmering anger at the woman's ungrateful response.

Confusion, frustration, and a sense of injustice grew within Eira, a mix of emotions that she wasn't too familiar with. She let out a low growl, a mixture of anger and distress, unable to find the words to express her emotions. In that moment, her gaze shifted from the woman to Aternel, almost as if she was seeking guidance or reassurance in this confusing encounter.
Lisa
A quick hand waves up in the direction of Eira as he intercepts any thought of continued aggression. Though from the faint view on the side of his head which lightly turns in her direction, she can discern a visible aggravated view on him. Clearly having been frustrated that an acquaintance of his was degraded by a defiler of souls, he had refrained from making any comment towards the woman and continues speaking.

*"Be wary of your words, defiler. This is my friend."* Deciding on speaking more earnestly about his relationship with Eira. *"Now unless you wish her to enlighten you on what she does, it is best you focus on yourself and the predicament we're in."* Reminding the woman harshly on the situation that has unfolded. This is no time to discuss specimen, he wants to fully ascertain what the woman was doing here. 

His hand waves, gesturing Eira by his side while they kept the woman locked distance-wise in the enclosed end of the hallway within the crypt. He also made it more obvious not to attack by lowering his weapon down to his hip than to keep it readily upright against his shoulder as he previously stanced himself to do. While he was being merciful to the woman for not attacking her on the spot, he does not know her affiliations and desires, so to keep friendly with such a conspicuous potential foe is a bad idea. He remains alert.
Sandra
The necromancer half-lids her eyes with contempt after being rebuked by the half-orc. Yes she was wrong for dismissively fixing on the situation of Eira before her own, but that was to distract herself and buy time to mentally come up with a plan. Studiously observing the hallway she was enclosed on, she did not act on anything for now.

With her lips, glossed in black aesthetically curling into a frown, she returns to speaking in Aternel's direction. *"Than focus I shall."* Sarcastic hint in tone. She lightly treads verbally on some information. *"I'm looking for a man buried here. He has some info I'd like to take from him, since no secrets can stay even in death."* Wittily remarking on her talent in the dark arts, suggesting she has a greater power in the environment they are in subtly. However realizing soon after her comment that it doesn't sound too good tonally, she quickly spoke up afterwards and hurriedly placed her book back onto her belt.

*"I-I mean, of course, now with my companion trampled and you interfering with my studies, I'm not sure what I could do here."* She looks way less of a threat now to deal with, and her heart was racing incredibly. The shock was still applying to her, even after seconds of acknowledging the predicament she was in. *"Perhaps we could ... You know, take it easy here?"*
Billy
Eira's gaze softened as she observed the necromancer's changing demeanour. It was enough for Eira to not feel threatened anymore. As the woman stumbled over her words and nervously placed her book back onto her belt, Eira's growl softened. Her anger seemed to ebb away, replaced with a sense of empathy. Eira's tail gradually relaxed, her posture shifting from a defensive stance to a more neutral one.

As Aternel gestured for her to stand by his side, Eira complied. She stepped closer to him, her trust in him evident in her obedience. Her antennae remained alert but no longer twitched with unease. Instead, they subtly shifted in response to the changing emotions in the room. Eira's instincts had guided her to react with caution and protectiveness, but now a new feeling emerged - a desire to understand and communicate with this woman.

Eira's voice rumbled gently once more, her words spoken slowly, "Eira help... You." Her outstretched hand, palm upturned, was a gesture of both truce and assistance. It was an invitation for cooperation. Her large, expressive eyes held a glimmer of hope and curiosity as she waited for the necromancer's response.
Sandra
There is nothing quite like an enormity of a woman who she assumed was primal capably talking to her and offering assistance. She thought of the canid-like beasthood of the creature unassuming and predictable, but hearing the words with the complexity of thought and reason behind the tone actually took her aback for a moment. She wasn't intimidated by the statue or proximity of Eira, but was more in a state of pleasant surprise. 

Clearing her throat and taking eyes off to the side however, she rubbed her hand awkwardly along her neck, loosely wrapping some jet black hair locks around the fingers as she spoke hesitently. *"Than we ... We are at a compromise. I'll tell you more about what I do, so long as you do not feed into disgust of my practice. I'll have you know that I am a capable student of the arts, especially with my superior's training."* Stating with minor pride hinted.

Quickly placing herself along the side of Eira and walking back around slowly to the middle of the hall, cautious to the adjustment of the duo, the woman brushes her long hair back over her shoulders. Ridding the minor dishevel of her appearance with some dusting by the hands and legs, she turns to face the two with a neutral expression, well masking her initial fear of the two.

*"You will call me as I am, **Celestra Artheart**, or **Miss Heart** For short."* Now appropriately naming herself to the two, and soon confidently placing her hands on her hips. *"So long as you want to, you will journey with me back to my camp only half a day's worth of travel from here, since um, we're on the same page with keeping me around instead of barbarically murdering me and my research."*
Lisa
*(Short Response)*

He followed her movement with a turn and watched Eira's more progressive but flawed trust formation with the woman. There's not much he can do about it asides trying to educate her further, but there's limits to what he can teach within a given time with his acquaintance without them gaining experience firsthand. An experience most unneeded and unnecessary for it's painful and heart aching endeavour.

Understanding the woman by her name now, he finally holsters his crude weaponry by carefully placing them back onto his belt line. *"Understood then, Ms. Heart."* A prompt acknowledgement from the Half-Orc. He can observe that her fascination lies more with Eira based on her parting gazes to the snow flea and more. He allows Eira to move before he does, since she will most likely want to learn about her more intimately; personally more than he does.
Billy
Eira watched without blinking as the necromancer moved around the hall. She wasn't trying to be intimidating but there was something eerie about multiple pupils following your every move. "Miss Heart," Eira repeated the name slowly, carefully saying each syllable as if practicing a new word. Her tail wagged rather prominently now, it gave away a sign of her growing fondness and trust. 

Eira's loyalty to Aternel was firm, but she was also an open-hearted being, willing to forge connections with those who showed her kindness and respect. The necromancer's offer to journey together aligned with Eira's instincts - to protect and to be a part of a pack. With a friendly glint in her eyes, Eira took a cautious step closer to Celestra, lowering her large frame closer to the ground so she no longer was towering over the woman.

Remembering the stories shared by her elders about humans, Eira attempted to mimic the gesture she had heard of - a handshake. Her large clawed hand extended, palm upwards, towards Celestra. Her antennae quivered atop her head as she waited in anticipation, hoping that the woman would accept her hand.
Sandra
The woman looks down to stare at the hand for a couple of seconds before turning her head away, lifting a hand and shaking her hand with disinterest. Shake shake. She turns her eyes up to face Eira as she had distanced herself somewhat from herself, speaking up. *"Hm ... Right, well ... I'll try to get used to __this__ adjustment."*

Quick to maneuver around the tall framed figure, she quickly steps off into the main hall and looks over towards the archway of where the collapsed large skeleton lays; the exit. A small shake of her head as she observed the condition of her summon from afar, neglecting to view the previous one accompanying her not even a minute before. *"You are a destructive duo."* She mutters to herself.

With a promise of keeping things fairly even, however, she continues on and speaks loudly behind herself to alert the two. *"Alright, we'll be exiting this way! Let's keep a steady pace so we don't lose one-another. My camp, as I said, isn't too far."* With that, she marches on top of the remains of her summon and scales back up the uneven stone slope to the mouth of the cavern, intending to leave with or without the pair. She tried her best to not feel too awkward around the large girl, especially with the humiliating comments she made towards it.
Billy
As they shook their hands, Eira's large eyes remained fixed on Celestra's face, unblinking, as if she was studying the woman's expression. The warmth of a human's hand against her cold skin made her antennae quiver slightly. But it wasn't fear or discomfort that she felt, she was just so curious about this woman that stood in front of her.

As Celestra started walking away, Eira approached the collapsed skeleton, her tail slightly wagging with excitement. Without any hesitation, she reached out with her massive hand and grabbed one of the bones from the pile, a low growl of satisfaction escaping her throat. She saw the bones as some sort of prize, a trophy. She quickly glanced at Aternel and grinned. She was happy that he was here with her to celebrate this small victory.

Eira didn't seem to care about the way Celestra spoke so lowly towards her mostly because she couldn't completely understand what she meant. Quickly, she started to follow the woman, her large strides allowing her to catch up almost immediately with her pace. She positioned herself right beside Celestra, almost mirroring her movements.

"Miss Heart, where you from?" With a childlike curiosity and a desire to connect, Eira attempted to strike up a conversation. By now, she could feel the change in temperature as they neared the cave's exit, the cold air from the outside seeping in.
Lisa
He follows soon after, tailing right behind Eira as she inspected the skeleton and other areas of certain interest along the recently explored crypt. There's not much he can do asides make sure the two aren't going to engage in yet another fight. With that, he decides to focus more on prioritizing their safety first rather than engage in any meaningless conversation with the necromancer.
Sandra
The group proceeds on their way out of the cavern and into a now more calmly environment without the rush of the snowy mountain blowing away the trio. The pine trees sat restfully in the air and proudly, some of their acorns dropped along some additional snow. It seems now everything's at peace, even the ominous air from the mysterious creature witnessed earlier no longer seems to linger.

Celestra yawned on her way out of the mouth of the cave, waving a hand in front of her face as a gesture while the other arm stretched, revealing her extremely pale complexion under the sun. With her exit from the tunnel with two new acquaintances, she proceeds on marching on out into the plains with recognition over where she previously travelled through in the familiar area. It took her a process after that yawn to become aware that Eira was asking her a question. She was also oblivious to Eira mimicking her actions loosely.

Turning her head around as she mindlessly walked forward, she responded with a fair and no longer stressed tone of voice. *"I am from a pitiful land called Tidehaven, dear. An island far west of here, full of thugs and fools who wish nothing more but the pleasure of women and the plight of others."* She spoke with a hint of hatred towards Tidehaven. That's when she brought up a unique topic key.

*"But no worries, I was saved by my master, who took me along with other children to his library. I learned to live, and what life was truly meant for. I need not think of such a degenerate haven now, and neither should you."* Ending it on a light note, especially with a chipper tone referring to her *'master'* So eagerly.
Billy
Eira followed Celestra, her eyes wide as she took in the environment around her. The cool breeze ruffled her hair, and the scent of pine trees and earth reached her senses, comforting her now that she was finally out of the crypt. She preferred being outside, surrounded by the nature. 

As Celestra spoke, Eira tried to understand as best as she could. She was still learning about the complexities of human experiences and emotions, trying to piece together the meaning behind the woman's story. But then came Celestra's mention of the 'pleasure of women', a phase that sparked her curiosity. She couldn't understand its meaning.

"What... Pleasure of women?" She asked hesitantly, her voice soft yet genuinely interested. "Eira is woman." Her large eyes blinked in innocence as she looked at Celestra, her question revealing her naivety about certain aspects of human life.
Sandra
While she continued on aimlessly walking through the woods, she heard Eira's question and immediately seized in place. She was about to part her lips and proclaim some more senselessly mature topics but then realized the quick error of what would've occurred had she did. Having caught herself and choked on air momentarily, she clutched onto her throat and cleared it coarsely.

*"I ... Uh, eee ... Um ... You need not worry about that. You'll know one day when the time comes."* Awkwardly reeling away from the question, her face contorts to one of worry as she walked straight ahead. *"Let's focus on the road for now. We're gonna be heading back onto the path."*

Aternel, Eira, and Celestra were proceeding on their way out of the caverns and out of the pine forest into an open clearing next to a near-frozen river. By that point, they crossed across a wide stone path and onto the other side of a steep hillside, leading up to a dirt trail along the outskirts of a forest. By that point, they progressed further from their original point of convergence, and onto a new area ...
Billy
Without hesitation, Eira set about her task, her tail wagging slightly in agreement about stopping for the night. The fatigue from their journey had also started to settle into her, a weariness that she felt deep within her muscles. Her tired face lit up as she thought of the memories of her previous camp with Aternel. The thought of the tasty food he had cooked warmed her heart, and a faint grin appeared on her face.

"Eira get wood." She said, turning around from the two with the renewed enthusiasm. She marched towards the woods, her eyes seeking out the branches that looked like they would catch fire easily. She moved a little away from the campsite, still within sight of Celestra and Aternel, but far enough to explore the area for firewood.

As she walked, her heightened senses through her antennae picked up on something unusual. There was an absence of animals around her, and a strange smell lingered in the air that she couldn't quite identify. It put her on edge, her instincts telling her that something was amiss. She paused for a moment, her gaze scanning her surroundings, trying to pinpoint the source of the odd sensation.

And then, Eira's curiosity kicked in asshe tried to determine the source of the foul smell. She began moving in the direction where the scent seemed to be coming from. She moved slowly while trying to stay quiet even though her large frame didn't help her blending well with the natural surroundings. Her antennae quivered as the scent grew stronger, a mixture of something unfamiliar and slightly metallic... Rotten. She continued moving forward...