Valla was startled at first to see a figure appear, but then she smiled, with relief she realized. In her imagination, despite the visitor's melodic voice, her fear had conjured an image of an invisible creature with a toothy maw surrounded by writhing, thorny tentacles. The reality put her much more at ease.<br/><br/>"Drael," Valla said, liking the name. She realized that the visitor might be as afraid of her as Valla was of it ... or her. She decided it would be a good idea to try and put her at ease.<br/><br/>"That's a nice name," Valla said. "Me and my people came here by accident. We were on a ship ... um, out in the ocean. There was a storm and some of us died. Some of us survived, though, and found ourselves here."<br/><br/>Valla wanted to ask questions but she restrained herself. She didn't want to seem too pushy, perhaps Drael and her people could help. "We could be friends," Valla ventured, trying not too sound too eager. "Your people and mine. Maybe we can help each other."