<div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/9/9b/Yulafractae.jpg)</div><br/><em>A cleric, a demon barbarian, a pyromaniac, a fox, and a cocktease all walk into the desert...</em>Even as the jokeworthy explanation repeated itself in her thoughts, bringing a glimmer of a smirk to the kitsune's face, she continued forth.  Her usual dress wasn't exactly desert-worthy, but she seemed oddly comfortable given the setting.  Her ears were mostly flattened against her head to protect the sensitive things from sand, but other than that, she seemed unfazed.  The odd group of adventurers traveled together, even if two of them were outsiders here.  Yula had caught wind of the mission, and one could say she "forced" her way in, but it only took some minor explanation to convince the questgiver that it would require more to solve this particular issue.  To that end, she'd secured her place for this mission, finding its premise to be something of interest to her. Besides Yula, there was the cleric Eisa, an individual the wily fox had met once before and protected from the elements.  She seemed far too innocent, too promising to let nature take her.  Behind Yula, Phelypsis stalked, keeping her gaze on Yula's backside and swishing tail.  Did she have to be so obvious about it, however?  She could practically feel the weight of the woman's gaze upon her behind, and for that reason, she stopped suddenly in her tracks and "accidentally" allowed Phelypsis to bump into her.  With a raised eyebrow and a playful, possible even cocky, smirk, she turned her head to meet the red-skinned demon's gaze.  "If you're so intent on watching my behind, do it after you've treated me to dinner, demon."  As she continued on her way, she rolled her eyes, irritated that she was being watched by this<em>demon</em>, of all things.  They should be the ones watching her, not the other way around!<br/><br/>Then there was Sydney, dressed in provocative clothing.  Was it a conscious choice?  Did she just like the attention, or was there something else to her?  She was a mystery, to say the least.  She'd humor the young woman, however.  After all, she seemed amicable enough, even if she was a bit demanding.  "Strawberries, of course.  I care little about the 'loot' I receive, and," She paused, resisting the urge to simply answer with 'demons traveling in an adventuring party'.  Instead, she replied with a stern "Enslavement.  That is the most indecent thing anyone could hope to impose upon another."  Growing even more irritable from the demon's gaze, she walked forward, trying to leave Phelypsis a spot behind Sydney.  "You are welcome to try, as well."<br/><br/>Finally, Nuria, the pyromaniac from the tavern.  She'd heard of her before, and met her twice already.  The first meeting was a drinking contest, and the second was a mock duel.  Obviously there was some manner of misunderstanding, because Yula simply refused to play into the request.  She made some effort to appear as though she cared enough to fight, but why would she?  What did she have to prove?  She threw the match and handed the win to Nuria, seeing no need to go all-out for such a thing.  She knew one thing, though, and that was that this one was strong and bold.  She trusted her for the most part, but if she lost control of her powers, there would be hell to pay, especially with Eisa coming along on this journey.<br/><br/>The citizens seemed to dislike outsiders, given their avoidance and the wide berth they were all given.  It wasn't like she could blame any of them for their caution, after all.  While it seemed as though the "fearless leader" was heading to a tavern of some sort, they paused when a rather regal individual passed by, guarded by two masked individuals.  Ah, the desert could certainly shape a woman's growth and looks, with the centerpiece of that traveling trio possessing smooth skin despite the harsh light of the desert.  Why then, out of all these individuals, were these three unphased by their arrivals?  Could this be the beginning of their journey, a lead in the form of a mysterious woman?