Ariana puttered around the small copse of trees. It would be the perfect shelter lest it rained that night. Gathering dry sticks and other such flammable items, she envisioned the meal she'd create. She knew it wouldn't be much considering she was virtually in the middle of nowhere. Rummaging through her knapsack, she let out a small groan. Somehow along the way from the last place she'd stopped at and this one she had lost her flint. Frowning, she scanned the site for something that would look like it.

It had only been a few days since she had left Dutaim. She knew that her mum and grandmother would worry after her, but she planned to send regular letters, or at the very least semi-regular letters. She was excited for the possibilities that were, according to her, endless. Rather naive in a lot of respects, she honestly had no idea as to the political situation in Anaxas.

Giving up for the moment on finding some flint, she went to her knapsack and took out some of the greens she had collected while walking that day. At least they were nutritious and she wouldn't' starve. Laughing a little, she felt that her last thought was a bit overly dramatic. Perfectly oblivious to her surroundings, she began her meal of fruits and greens.

(Thanks Annie. I forgot about that very important detail )

Ariana was leaning against the trunk of a tree eating her meager dinner. Reflecting on the day, she mentally ticked off the miles that she had covered. She was pleased with her progress. She was making good time to Vienda. She jumped when she heard twigs crack and break behind her. Warily glancing around, she sighed with relief when she noticed that it was just a kenser. Laughing at herself, she got up and approached it. "My, what a fine animal you are. Your master must be proud of you. Eh boy?"

Holding out a hand, she offered some of her food to the kenser. It was nice to have a little company, even if it couldn't talk back to her; he did look friendly enough after all.

The girl spoke in a friendly voice. Vroo moved closer to sniff the greens, then gently tugged them from her hand with his teeth. He took another step nearer as he chewed, hoping for affection from the friendly girl.


"Vrooooo!" Echo's voice was still a good ways off. Damn kenser. He'd just gone to take a leak and the beast was already gone before he came back. The next town they hit, Echo was just going to have to break down and buy a good chain and clasp. See if his magical beast could figure that one out. "Vrooo!"

Ariana smiled. Reaching up, she rubbed the Kenser between the ears. He seemed rather gentle. Giving him the rest of the greens in her hand, she went to look for some sort of identification to ascertain his owner. Such a fine animal would be missed. All that Ariana could notice was the tail that was dyed gold.

Not finding anything else, Ariana left the kenser to his own devices and went to the copse of trees to prepare herself a bed roll out of the rest of her clothes. She knew that if she left any of her chores untended, and if her mother and grandmother knew, she'd get a stern lecture. Laziness had never been tolerated, and even though they were there to chide her now, she knew what they would think.

Vroo heard his boy's voice and let out a louder call, then followed the girl through the trees. He could still smell food. The kenser lowered his head and gently nudged her as she knelt down, hoping for more food or attention.

Vroo's call barely carried back to Echo. He was sure this was one of the kenser's tricks. Echo would follow the sound, then find that his pet had already walked off. Still unwilling to give up, Echo broke into a run, slowing down when he was fairly certain to be close. At least, close to where Vroo had called from. Of course, his kenser was still no where in sight. "Vroooo!" he called again, this time just outside the copse of trees where his beast was hiding, though he didn't realize it.

Ariana could here indistinct shouts coming from somewhere. She figured that they were from the owner of the kenser. Pleased that the poor beast wouldn't be left alone she mentally prepared herself for whomever it was. He or she could easily accuse her of stealing the animal, even though she knew she hadn't. Ariana was definitely not looking forward to the confrontation, but she knew it couldn't be avoided. Twas best to get it done and over with now instead of putting it off any longer.

Vroo raised his head to return his boy's call once more, then lowered it to nudge the girl for more attention.

This time Echo was close enough to catch up. Tired and flustered from chasing down his kenser...again, Echo didn't even notice the small camp or the girl who's view Vroo was blocking. "There ya are. The next time you run off, we're headin' straight t'the glue factory in Vienda. I mean it this time, Vroo. Ya can' jus..." Echo stopped to look around when he noticed a pack sitting out. "Hello...?"

Hearing a harsh voice, Ariana frowned.



Known for being impetuous, Ariana let her frustration get the better of her. "What do you think you are? It's not the animal's fault that you can't keep a better eye on him. Glue factory? Maybe you should be sent there."

Blushing slightly Ariana stroked the kener's neck in order to calm down. She knew that she may have just alienated herself, but she couldn't stand cruelty of any sort. Even if it was just implied.

Echo stared at the angry looking witch for a few moments, then laughed. Even if Vroo could understand his scolding, the kenser would know he didn't mean the silly threat by now. "No one could keep a proper eye on Vroo, chip." He'd never heard of a more cunning mule. "An he knows I don' mean it. You'll never find a more spoiled kenser."

Vroo nuzzled the girl as she pet him, then turned to butt his head into his boy, until he received even more affection.

Ariana's blush deepened. She should have known. But being sheltered at Dutaim hadn't allowed her the opportunity to read people's emotions. She'd have to improve or she'd never make it in the world.

"I guess I didn't really think before I spoke. Anyway, you'd be left to pull your cart yourself without a kenser. So it wouldn't be the best suggestion anyway."

The kenser nuzzled into the girl, and she scratched and petted under his neck. He really was a pretty beast.

"Ne, I don' have a cart yet," he answered snottily back, as if proving some nonexistent point. The young witch's blush was cute, even if she kept the rest of her appearance a bit plain.

He wasn't angry about her sass, and held out a friendly hand to prove it, revealing the golden tattoo etched up his forearm and hand. "I'm Echo....and this is Vroo," he added, gesturing his head toward his kenser. His beast let out a soft call, clearly recognizing his own name.

Scrutinizing him, he seemed honest enough. At least he didn't seem all that dangerous. Twas a curiosity that he had no cart. Whenever she had gone to Vienda the two had seemed synonymous. But then, she hadn't seen much after all. She reminded herself that she had a lot to learn. That the world was a big place and Dutaim was in no way representative of it.

Ariana wasn't necessarily used to his slang, but it wasn't difficult to understand. "Hello Echo. My name's Ariana. Where are you headed if you have no cart?"

Echo dropped his hand when Ariana didn't shake it. He wondered if she was trying to rub it in that he didn't have a cart yet, but didn't ask. "Vienna, for now. I've got a few packages to unload. Me an Vroo are couriers. Righ Vroo?"

Vroo called softly back, then stuck his nose back to one of the girl's bags, sure he could smell food inside.

"Vroo. Ne, ye know better." Echo gently pulled his kenser away by the rope, still dangling at Vroo's side. "Sorry, he never stop eatin'."

"Vienda? That's cool. I'm headed there also." Laughing a little she realized that at the moment it was the only possible destination. "How silly of me, where else could the either of us be headed?"

Ariana figured that this Echo had better things to do. He seemed rather huffy. Though he seemed harmless he seemed a mite proud. Shrugging mentally she returned to her chores.

Echo began to answer, then stopped as Ariana turned her back to him, supposing it was a rhetorical question. She was an odd one. Echo wondered if he should just let himself back out of camp.

"Righ...well, we'd better get back an' start supper. We're camped jus' down the road if ya wanna join us." Vroo's company was fine, but having someone who could talk back was good, too.

Ariana caught his words as he turned away. "Oh really? Well, if you don't mind? It does get a mite lonely being by yourself." She hadn't realized that she had been rude, but upon refelction she supposed she had been. Her mum would laugh. Ariana was good at getting herself into such scrapes because she spoke and acted without thinking through the whole situation.

"Oes. Vroo is good company, but folks start givin' odd looks when ya get too used ta talkin' with yer kenser," he answered with a grin. "I don' mind. Still have food an' drink left over from the wedding festival."

Still holding onto Vroo's rope, Echo started back towards his own camp, which wasn't yet set up since Vroo had wandered off half way through. Perhaps his kenser was smart enough to avoid chores now.

"Real food? I lost my flint somewhere in my travels between yesterday and today. So I couldn't start a fire. Twas lame and sad. Lead on. I will gladly follow." The mention of real food brightened her countenance. She had reconciled herself to a meal of edible plants, but it wasn't exactly the best meal she had ever eaten. Collecting her meagre belongings, she followed after Echo.

"Tha's no good. If I had some I'd spare it." Echo didn't need flint. Sparks was one of the few spells he'd managed to learn before leaving home. His mother wouldn't agree to let him leave on any courier jobs until he'd learned it.

He moved rather slowly through the dark woods, not wanting to trip and wishing he knew a few more helpful spells to get them back. "So, what're ya headed for Vienda for? ...if you don' mind my askin'."

"Well, thanks for the thought." She smiled. He didn't seem half as proud as she thought. But then that's what one gets for jumping to a conclusion before waiting long enough to see what a person was like.



"This and that. I don't really know at the moment. It's just good to see more of Anaxas I suppose." She wasn't about to let him know that she was really going anywhere in order to learn more about herself as a wick and to one day. If she was smart, to one day set up a trade network. Even if he did seem harmless, she didn't know him well enough.

That didn't sound like a terribly good reason to be wandering the countryside without flint, but Echo supposed an answer starting with 'this and that' wasn't meant to divulge everything. He didn't press for more. Echo was only trying for polite conversation, anyway.

"There's a lot t'see. I've traveled a lot workin' as a courier." Echo led them through another heavy patch of trees that opened into a small clearing. He stopped to tie Vroo up, then quickly checked on the kenser's saddle and his own bag.

He'd made a hasty exit when Vroo wandered off, only bothering to cover everything with the small tarp that his kenser usually wore beneath his saddle. There seemed to be no harm done, though. The food was packed away well enough not to attract any animals so quickly.

Once he was sure everything was fine, he turned back to Ariana. "Jus' let me get a fire goin', an we'll eat soon."

(Note: I appologize for woefully ignoring this. I had an essay to write over the weekend >_<)



"Oh really? You would know about the different races then. Where I grew up I never knew all that much. My mother didn't seem to care much about it."

Ariana saw Echo working about the camp setting up for the night and for food and she asked him if there was anything she could do to help. Afterall, he was being hospitable when he really didn't have to be. She was very much looking forward to eating though.

((No worries. I get distracted by school work, too.))

"Oes, a bit." The idea of growing up around only wicks without exposure to other races was odd to Echo, but he held his tongue about it.

Echo tied Vroo back up and started a small fire where he'd dumped a small pile of dry wood collected before his kenser's getaway. He thought over what Ariana might be able to help with as he grabbed the left over spiced meats, boiled eggs and bread his daoa packed him before leaving the festivities last night. It was best to use the food that would spoil the fastest and save some of the fresh fruits and vegetables for later. "D'ya mind feedin' Vroo some carrots?" he asked, pulling out just a few and quickly wrapping up the rest of the vegetables to keep his kenser out of their supplies.