Talking After The Festivities

JP with Bandorchu and Cindy

With all the questions running through her mind, Islana had become completely distracted, losing all track of time. Things that were completely unlike her. Usually, the young woman was far more vigilant but this evening and the frustration of not being able to communicate with the old woman had left her more than a little perplexed.

She hadn't noticed the comings and goings from her own camp, as she continued to lay on the skin. Her eyes were clearly opened. If anything Islana might look like she was stargazing. That would be until someone attempted to get her attention.

Alexis had -finally!- managed to pry herself away from Da‘aar to excuse herself for the night.
That had been… something.
Diplomacy hadn’t really been a necessary part of her skill set before, there had been more suave people in her band to deal with clients and the like, but it was, for sure, a skill Alexis had to put to use more and more frequently since leaving Helias.
She hoped she had managed adequately tonight. Definitely had been taxing, for more than one reason.

She headed to camp. Islana and Gonyaul ought to be already there, maybe Boyce as well, and Nicolaus would join before too long. They hadn’t really discussed guard schedule for tonight, but Alexis would just take first watch and then see who could take over.

Arriving at their camp she found Gonyaul already passed out, unsurprising with all the flitting about he had done during the evening. Islana however seemed to have a harder time falling asleep, staring at the sky.

“Islana?”

The word Erewhon played over and over in her mind as if she would forget it, like that was possible.

Islana didn't even notice Alexis standing there or her name being called.

Alexis furrowed her brow. Islana was usually more alert than this. Something was clearly on her mind.
She considered to let her work it out on her own but in the end felt compelled to see if the young woman was alright.

The mercenary kneeled next to her and gently touched her shoulder.

“Hey. Are you alright?”

She asked quietly to avoid rousing anyone else.

Islana half noticed Alexis kneeling beside her so the hand on her shoulder wasn't a complete surprise.

Islana took a breath and sat up, upon hearing the question posed by Alexis.

"I really have no idea."

The young woman paused trying to find the right words.

"Something happened tonight that was very unusual and confusing."

“Hm.”

Alexis settled next to the huntress, looking at her attentively.

“Want to talk about it?”

"I don't know if you noticed the old woman I was attempting to talk to."

Knowing the mercenary had been rather busy all evening, it wouldn't have been surprising if she hadn't.

"Well, apparently, she has the same ability as I do - with the animals. I never thought I was the only one but I, also, never expected to meet anyone else like me. What's stranger is she just knew I had that gift."

Alexis had, indeed, somewhat kept track on where her friends were during festivities. For more than that however the chieftain had been taking up too much of her attention.

“We just don’t know enough about all this, do we?”

Alexis sighed.

“Back in Helias, magik and things supernatural are pretty much dead. Or maybe not. Maybe just our knowledge about it is. For all we know, recognising one another might be the most normal thing in the world.”

"That could be true. All she really did was point at my necklace and then show me her own, which was a set of luger teeth, before I got the feeling I should ask her. Unfortunately, after I managed to get that confirmed, I couldn't communicate well enough with her to get any more information. So, now I have far more questions than answers."

Islana sighed, clearly this was frustrating for her.

"There was one thing that the old woman said repeatedly that stood out. Erewhon. She repeated it several times."

“Erewhon. Never heard that before. Must be of great significance, then.”

Alexis looked back to the great bonfire of the tribe with a regretful expression.

“If only the Duke would not insist on taking this land by force rather than by talk. With friendly relations to the tribes, we could just learn over time.”

She shook her head.

“Still. More questions than answers you might have, but… it seems the answers can be found, as well, though it will be so much harder with what is going on.”

"I was wondering about possibly asking Boyce if he knows what that word means. I think I could ask him without giving anything away."

He was the only person the redhead could think to ask.

"It would be nice if the Duke could be far more for working with the tribes than against them. It's sad to think people like the Ash Hooves might not survive."

Islana felt a great deal of empathy for the tribe that had been so hospitable to them but also for all the tribes of the area.

"I suppose that's true. I wish I knew how to get those answers."

Islana realized that Alexis didn't have the answers, but talking to the older woman had helped. Islana was feeling a little drained by all of it and decided to change the subject.

"So, how was your night?"

The mercenary smiled wryly.

“Interesting, to say the least. Narrowly avoided getting married.”

That caused a smile to form on the younger woman's lips and she breathed a laugh.

"What? Did one of the men of the tribe propose or something?"

Alexis didn’t mind a bit of a laugh at her expense, especially if it served to lift her young friend’s spirit a little.

“Yep. Apparently I’m good for five horses and five deers.”

"Well, you would be a catch. And you gave all that up to stay with us?"

Islana was joking but it wasn't in any kind of a mean way.

The mercenary grinned at the jest.

“Yeah, it was a tough call. But…”

The smirk softened to gentle smile.

“For you guys I would. Every time.”

Islana smiled at that response. Then felt suddenly tired.

"I think I need to attempt to get some sleep. Have someone wake me up for third watch."

She couldn't take fourth because she had to hunt. Second would give her, practically, no sleep. It had to be third.

She stood up.

"Thanks for the talk and not getting engaged."

She smiled.

"Goodnight."

With that the young woman wandered off to her tent to get some sleep.

Alexis let her go with a fond smile, and settled in to take her watch.