Strangers in the woods ( Nidae, Seliarus )

[Nehsmay]

"Thank you for telling me. I do not know what can frighten him so, but I'll keep my guard up." She gazed at him and noticed his slit pupils... perhaps that was the reason he was mistrusted. She didn't know whether he was a Kelvic with an unusual form or perhaps another race she hadn't heard about. "I'm sorry, but why shouldn't I talk to you." She asked sincerely hoping he wouldn't consider her a naive little child that didn't even know the world she lived in. Next to her Shade slowly grew restless again, but knew enough by now to learn not to run away again. He had hurt his mistress the first time... he didn't want to do so again."

[Nidassasyae]

Nidassasyae listened to the exchange between the two. It seemed her part was done, the complexities of this conversation proved more than a little confusing for the young leopard. It seemed though, that it would be best to remain in human form, in case they required her to speak. Nidae walked over to Shade, unbuckling her pack from the saddlebags. She quickly pulled on her clothes and boots, pulling her spear down as well. If the man said there was something amiss in the woods, then it would be better to be prepared. The young girl didn't understand how this man could possibly be content with exchanging words with strangers. Once she had felt the same way, but it seemed that the man was more accustomed to hostility than friendly folk. The leopardess listened closely to the conversation, wondering if the man would tell them why.

[Seliarus]

Seliarus would stay silent after the question was given. He understood that this girl had no true contact to everything that is happening around. But, what should he say? That he is a part of a man eating sadistic race who find joy in torturing people. Not exactly the best way to start a conversation.

"My people...Aren't the usssual kin. Sssome of usss, act differently. And many fear usss for that." He said, trying to avoid any blunt answers. "We aren't trusssted. And we aren't liked. it'sss how it wasss, and will be." He stated, opening his eyes once again, and looking directly at the Vantha. "Ssso, it would be probably for the bessst that you act like you never met me."

He closed his eyes again, and a breeze of win hit his face, messing up his hair once again. This time, however, he didn't mind it. "Many of my kin, called the Dhani, like to inflict pain to othersss, and pleassse our goddessss. It's why many people avoid usss." He explained. And he knew, it wont be long until the due will think the same. He sighed, and a low, hissing sound could be heard.

[Nidassasyae]

Nidassasyae listened to the man try and avoid the question. Even to her uncivilized mind, she could tell that he didn't want to answer. However, the kelvic spoke up at his comment to 'act like the never met him'. "If you don't want us to tell of where you live, then you have my word," she vowed, thinking that perhaps he had quite a lot of enemies. The Dhani. Nidassasyae had heard tales of them, once a traveler had sat at their fire and told of the strange and frightening race. She didn't understand why they thought them evil. After all, is it not a snake's way to capture prey? Should they not make use of the poisons gifted naturally to them? She shook her head in disbelief. Fear, people allowed it to get in their way far too often. She guessed that it affected their outlook so much so that they would persecute a race. This man had not eaten, nor tortured them, though he was probably a good target for someone who feared him. Someone who would kill that which they fear. "It seems to me, that you think we would harm you, based on your race?" asked Nidassasyae. She knew what a snake was, knew to fear it's bite. But it was a respect, from one animal to another. Both she and snakes used fangs, they both caught prey that was alive. If she were to hate the Dhani, would she not also be hating all predators? Hating herself? "You've given us no reason to hate you, so of course I won't," said Nidae, trying to show the Dhani man that they could be trusted. She stepped forwards once again, holding her hand out to shake, as she had been taught by a friendly merchant when in Avanthal. "I'm Nidassasyae, or Nidae. I swear on my life that I will never judge you for someone's actions," she said solemnly, waiting to see if he would shake her hand.

[Seliarus]

Seliarus opened his eyes again. It was unusual that anyone would be acting so friendly towards him. Almost like a trap. But something told him, he should relax. Maybe it was the constant running from one place to the other, or maybe, because the two are not just acting this up.

His eyes traveled back to the one calling herself Nidae. So, this is the name of the feral girl. He took a moment to examine her fully, from head to toe, still quite not ready to believe what is happening around him. Yet, he forced himself to shove his paranoia away, and remove his right hand from the fang around the neck, which his fingers were holding. He extended his hand as well, but slowly, and with caution, and trying to perform what most human called a generic act of greeting, even though it felt weird. He seen people do it, so he tried to copy their moves. "I go, by the name of Ssseliarusss." He said, not exactly wanting to share his full name just yet. He looked up in the deep blue eyes from Nidae, and for a moment, he didn't say a thing. "I will hold on to your promissse then. When the time comesss." He finally said.

[Nidassasyae]

"Well met, Seliarus," smiled Nidassasyae, happy to have learned his name. The angry growling leopard child had disappeared, replaced by a smiling and happy girl. She didn't know what it was about this Dhani, though he seemed to distrust everything, and had some sort of inward struggle, but she was beginning to trust him. She shook his hand firmly, gazing back into his exotic green eyes. She nodded at his last comment. "I would be disappointed if you didn't," she said, "After all, those of us who have animal blood should stick up for one another, no?"

[Seliarus]

Seliarus released her hand, and placed it back on his lap. It was a weird feeling actually trusting someone who wont run a knife trough your back when you turn around. But, all in all, he supposed not every inch of the world could be so bad. He simply nodded at the animal comment. Yet he knew very well, that not everyone who have a piece of an animal inside is not a friend with everyone else. He shrugged it off.

His eyes traveled across Nidae, and to the other girl he still hadn't known a name. He tried to avoid the utter silence that was starting to appear around them. Only the ambient of sounds still continued their usual way, not minding the interruptions that happened in the forest. "Judging by the looksss of it, you two are...Traveling? Exploring?" His attempts to break the silence weren't exactly flawless, but the least he could do is to is to try.

He didn't know himself of why was it he was even doing that. But, the two shown no racial hate towards him, and so it just...Felt right.

[Nidassasyae]

"Just passing through," nodded Nidassasyae, "We're making our way towards Syliras." She grinned at Seliarus' attempt at conversation, but she couldn't very well blame him. It seemed as though he lived here by himself, so there couldn't be much opportunity for conversation. "This is my first time out of the North. It's so warm here, is it always like this, with no snow? And there's lots weird trees," Nidae said, observing the perfectly normal forest around her. "I'm not too sure I like it, but it certainly is interesting." The leopardess nodded as she spoke, looking back towards Seliarus.

[Seliarus]

"Sssylirass, hmm." The Dhani thought out loud, not even noting that. He usually avoided towns, then he wasn't welcome there. Food for him was either gathered, or stolen by sleeping merchants that passed by. He didn't knew exactly where that town is located, so he decided he wont dig any deeper.

And luckily he didn't need to, as the topic got changed quite fast. North. What he knew about the North was that it was cold there, and he should avoid it. Cold for a Dhani wasn't exactly the best mixture. He listened closely, and when she started with the weird trees, he looked around himself as well. Nothing weird was on them. The usual pattern of brown, red, and yellow colored the surroundings.

"May I asssk, what isss your bussssinesss in Sssylirasss?" He paused for a moment. "About what isss happening around you...You'll get usssed on ssseing new things, if you come from the North. Probably...Lessss white." Then if she was asking about snow, one could logically assume she's used on it, in a place where it's cold, that wouldn't be much of a surprise.

[Nehsmay]

Nehsmay watched quietly the exchange that went between her friend and the stranger. Dhani... she recalled hushed tales told long ago about a race that could turn into snakes, but her memories were hazy at most. She had been little at the time, merely four or five and had sneaked out of bed to spy on the conversations of the ground ups. "My name is Nehsmay Frostfawn." Nehsmay took a step forward. "It is a pleasure to meet you Seliarus." She too extended her hand. "I second what my friend promised." She said truthfully. Nehsmay listened to the forest, it sounds echoing everywhere around them. They had been delayed... by her calculations they should have reached Syliras by noon, but that was clearly not the case. Nehsmay turned her attention the the exchange between the two. She heard Nidae tell Seliarus about Syliras and the north and giggled a bit resonating with the snow leopard's thoughts. She too was overwhelmed by the lack of snow and the novelty of everything. "We're traveling around Mzahar." Nehsmay chose to join in "Syliras is the first place we're stopping. Next we will be heading to Zeltiva and Ravok. I have two years to see as much of Mizahar as I can." she said not wanting to disclose Nidae's reasons which were her own.