Blackburn's Crossing Chapter 4: Snake Eater

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Arissa walked through the house still somewhat dazed, looking around for her companions while also gazing down at the tether between herself and the blade she still held in her hand. Finding no one in the main hall, she poked her head outside and smiled a bit as she saw Léone sitting on the ground. “Ah. There you are, Léone, I’ve been looking for you.“

Arissa frowned at the wet ground and twirled her hand over it, drying the grass somewhat before she sat down next to Léone. She stared again at the shimmering bond between her and her blade for a long moment before speaking. “She says she can do it, and I am inclined to believe her. Her cost is a mere errand to assist her in reclaiming a ’runaway’ from this place... Am I a fool? It seems to be geen hersenkraker... Am I missing something?” Arissa turns to Léone, looking somewhat lost and waiting to hear her friend’s advice.
 
Léone waves over at Arissa, noticing a slightly drunk and distant stare as she sits down next to her. She chuckles, giving her some space. "Hey there, I was just sharing a status update with the town. Seems James hasn't burned the place down yet, at least. How was it?" Seeing the frown her smile slowly fades to match her serious demeanor.

As Arissa begins to explain, she notices how her friend's stare seems to go to nothing in particular... between her sword and herself. "What is she looking at... did the witch show her something?" She mulls it over for a few seconds before speaking. "Hmm... just catching a runaway? Why, what did she mean by that? Did she explain how she was going to fix it?" If what Phoebe was saying was true, it would be a much better scenario than having Jonathan die... but at what cost? She wanted to believe it too, but she had to be sure. "... How long would it take? Would we have to take her back to town to treat Jonathan or take him here?"

After thinking out loud she finally sighs and turns back to Arissa. While worried for her possibly drunken state, she notices the hint of determination in her eyes and slowly nods. "Well... I think you should ask for more clarification if possible, but in the end we'll never know what's going to happen until it happens. But I know you want to save Jonathan so maybe it's worth a shot. Whatever you do, I'll support you in your decision."

She frowns slightly, putting a hand on Arissa's shoulder. "Just... make sure that Jonathan isn't coming back just to watch you suffer in his place again. I think that'd be too much for even him to handle."
 
Bernard rounded the corner of the house from where he had been fishing with a fishing rod in one hand and two fish slung over his shoulder with the other, Kallisto following close behind with the third. He noticed Leone and Arissa speaking and grinned as he entered the house, headed toward the kitchen. "Giles, here's your fishing rod back. Thanks for letting me borrow it." He leaned the rod up against the wall in the entry way and headed into the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen Bernard took a moment to unstrap and pack away his armor, he decided he had no need for it at the moment and it got awfully hot when he was trying to cook. As he packed it away in his bag he asked Kallisto, "Would you mind helping me prep and watching my bag?" before he pulled out his small pouch of spices pilfered from home. She answered in the affirmative while Bernard called out, "Giles, I'm not familiar with the kitchen, I'll need a large frying pan, some lard or butter, lemons and garlic. It would be nice to serve it with some asparagus as well. It'll be simple but delicious, I hope everyone enjoys." There's a smile on his face and a joy in his voice. He looked at the stove top and realized there was no way to light it. "Kallisto, in the pocket on the right side of my pack is a tinderbox, would you mind bringing it over?" After Kallisto retrieved his tinderbox and used it to light the small stove he handed it back to her to put away with a simple "Thank you." As the frying pan and ingredients floated in from around the room, Bernard grinned, it was nice to cook with assistance, he hoped that one day he and Arissa could share the experience.

Bernard peeled the garlic and began to hear the butter as Kallisto sliced lemon and fish fillets. Bernard added some rosemary from Merris' garden into the butter with the garlic before taking the fillets from Kallisto and placing them skin down in the butter and herbs. Wonderful smells began to fill the kitchen as Kallisto helped Bernard add the slices of lemon to the fish before he took the frying pan and placed it inside the stove. Next he collected a second frying pan and heated more butter, then cooked the asparagus, off of which Kallisto had broken the fibrous ends. He finished it with some chopped garlic so it would not burn and squeezed the excess lemon slices over the vegetables for the juice.

"Are you ready?" Bernard's face lit up as he opened the stove and a wonderful smelling steam rolled out filling the kitchen and leaving a light dew on Kallisto and Bernard's face. He reached a gloved hand in and produced a pan of well cooked fish. "Giles, I'm not sure how Phoebe prefers food to be served, but if you can set the table I can make up the plates or if you have serving dishes?" Bernard was surprised as the frying pan was pulled from his grasp and floated over with the asparagus to sit on pads on the table. He then watched as 8 place settings were set on the table. Turning to Kallisto, Bernard beams, "Well, that about does it. Would it be rude to ask Phoebe if she has a nice white wine?... Nevermind" Bernard shrugs thinking better of imposing on their host before finishing, "That's everything Giles, please cover the fish and vegetables and ring the dinner bell, we should serve it hot, but with a cover we can wait for everyone to arrive." He nods his approval, before asking Kallisto, "So, what do you think?"
 
Arissa smiled slightly at hearing that the town was safe. “It is good to hear that the catastrophes tend to only happen when we are around to help.” At the questioning of the runaway, Arissa simply shrugged. “There is a man in town who according to Phoebe does not belong there. If she is to be understood, my task is only to bury something beneath an empty house. Niets meer, niets minder. The only thing I fear is... it is so vain of me to take pause solely because of the toll this may take on my appearance, ja? Jonathan is worth more than my schoonheid.“

Arissa pauses for a moment and then turns to Léone. “I suppose I should explain the proposed process, ja?” Arissa hefts her sword and raises it up, stretching the tether before running a hand along it’s form. “The blade is the source of my power, but it needs something to bridge the gap over to me. That something is a ketting being constructed out of Jonathan’s very life force... his soul, so to speak. Phoebe’s solution was to present the blade with a different soul to forge the bond, which would unravel the weavings of his own and hopefully return his strength to him. It all sounds too good to be true... but perhaps we have earned a little good amidst the suffering?”

Arissa stops and thinks for a moment before turning and smiling to Léone. “I do appreciate your earlier concern. I am so glad to have so many people now with which I can share my foolish plans. I should probably warn Bernard before doing this as well, ja?”
 
Léone nods as she listens to Arissa's explanation, not seeing the bridge she seemed to be gesturing towards but figuring it was something specific to her bond with the sword. "I... see. I'm not going to pretend to understand what this all means, but it seems plausible? I wonder why she would need that done, though... I'd definitely tell Bernard before you make a final decision either way." She smirks a bit. "I guess we're all foolish for going along with it, but that's just what we signed up for."

She stands up and offers a hand to Arissa, gesturing towards the entrance to the house. "Anyway, I saw them head in with some fresh fish from the lake. How about you think about this over dinner and then we'll see where to go from there?"
 
As the pair worked, Kallisto followed Bernard's instructions for each task -- not used to such layered meals. She'd had fish many times, when Marcus was in a good mood and had bought some from fishermen at the docks, but rarely did they cook it to this level.

Watching some of the things float around the kitchen seemingly on their own she found herself trying to be smaller to avoid hitting anything by accident, a few plates and glassware skimming just past her at times.

As they finished, Kallisto nodded as well, "It definitely smells good, hopefully it will taste good as well."
 
Arissa waves a hand through the tether one last time before looking up at Léone as she offered out a hand. She smiled warmly to Léone and took it as she stood. “Thank you, Léone. I’m beginning to think I will need a new name for you. I am afraid that the title of witch may now be taken by another.”

Arissa led Léone back into the house, sheathing her blade and magically cleaning her boots as she entered, and followed the delicious scent of cooking seafood. She entered the dining room and smiled as she saw the meal Bernard and Kallisto had prepared. “This meal looks absolutely goddelijk! I cannot wait to enjoy it.” Her eyes fell on Kallisto, and she spotted a large shape looming behind her. Her eyes widen briefly before she realizes that it was an effect of the wine from before. Curious... perhaps that is the source of her great strength? Her eyes fall on a hawk perched on her shoulder and she thinks back to Kallisto’s suddenly superhuman vision. Perhaps I am not the only one with my secrets after all. She then grinned around the room. “Well. Anyone have any words before we are we to begin?”
 
The Moundshroud Residence:

Violette sits down at the table with that rest of you as you all go about enjoying the food. Phoebe checks on you for a moment but declines as there was still much chores to be done before sundown, and she is on a strict diet to keep her figure. She goes about her business, and not long after Violette having not really touched her food heads upstairs without another word having only played with her food a bit. The meal tastes good and refreshes everyone a bit more than most of the meals you've had on the road thus far. Most of you look forward to actually having a roof over you're head for the first time in a few days.
 
"Typically the host might say a few words, but as she is absent, I might as well." He looks down at the serving trays removing the lids. "Dinner tonight is lemon garlic cod with roast asparagus. I think we're all greatful for Phoebe allowing us into this house for the night, we appreciate that Hala has not struck us down in abject horror that an Ezran Anchorite crossed the threshold of this house, and I pray that Ezra watches over us tomorrow when we hunt - far away from here to keep this beautiful home free from destruction." Bernard gave a wry smile, he'd never taken grace to seriously. Ezra is not the only deity and there is no where in scripture that she provides meals. No, her place is healer of the sick and protector of the people, and this food was put on this table by the sweat of their own brow. Erza would do her part tomorrow when they encountered the Great Serpent.

Bernard sat through dinner eating quietly. Taking Phoebe's extra piece of fish - as Ferrin had taught him never to let an animal killed go to waste - split the fillet and shared it among those who were still hungry. When he had finished eating, he shared some small talk with the others, discussion of inconsequential things like some of the flora and fauna they'd see as they traveled through the swamp and critiques on the meal. He didn't feel like bringing up any of the more serious topics over a lovely meal.
 
After speaking with Bernard and resolving herself, Arissa left the room he was staying, having set down her belongings there as well. She briefly scanned the halls for Phoebe, and upon seeing the strange spirit she had spotted earlier, she hesitantly approached him. “Giles, ja? Could you take me to the lady of the house, please? Phoebe and I have business to conduct.”
 
The Moundshroud Residence:

Giles nodded leading you down a hallway towards the door on the end where Violette was just finishing imbibing a faint glowing blue liquid. She looks a bit surprised for a moment before you turn the corner before walking up. She hands a potion bottle to Arissa. "I bought a few healing potions from the Witch. Figured it might come in handy," said Violette explaining why she was here. "I've two more that I plan to give out in the morning when we plan the snake hunt some more."

Giles patiently waited at the door behind Violette for you're conversation to finish. Violette started to move past Arissa down the hallway towards the rooms.
 
Arissa smiles warmly to Violette and accepts the potion. “Thank you so much for the concern. I am afraid that I am not exactly built of the same stuff as Bernard and Kallisto... I would not be surprised if I found myself in need tomorrow.” Arissa paused for a moment, considering something before turning to Violette with an apologetic smile. “I am afraid I had initially misjudged you, Violette, and for that I must apologize. I am very grateful for all of the aid you have given us. I would suggest getting some rest... I fear we will be needing your blade rather sooner than I had expected.”

After finishing her talk with Violette, Arissa approached the door at the end of the hallway and knocked twice before waiting patiently, absentmindedly cleaning herself magically as she smiled expectantly at the door.
 
The Moundshroud Residence:

Violette laughs at Arissa's admission. "Don't worry I'm used to sticking out, and that usually gets you judges pretty quickly. I've learned a long time ago that most people are more than skin deep. Many hide things inside that they don't wish to advertise to others," says Violette waving cheerfully before slipping around the corner. After Arissa knocks the door swings open by itself and she is greeted by the sight of arcane symbols drawn along the walls artistically to fit into the general decoration of the room. A fireplace burned with a large golden cage holding what looked to be a large raven-like humanoid who's orangish-yellow eyes looked over to Arissa but says nothing.

Phoebe is examining a glowing stone underneath some sort of hands free magnification device, turning it over in her hands. She is on the far end of the room separated by a large pentagram drawn on the ground and surrounded by white candles the glow faintly from their wicks. A circle encloses the symbol at the points of the star. There is silence for a few moments before she turns to Arissa and smiles. "I guess it is a good thing I prepared just in case," says Phoebe setting the glowing stone down and walking around the drawn pentagram. "I assume you have made your decision?"
 
Arissa looks around the room, surveying the strange setup before her eyes fall on the strange creature in the cage. She then turns hesitantly to Phoebe. “What is that... thing?” She then thought for a moment before looking back at Phoebe intently. “If I am to agree to this, I would ask for your word that the task I am to aid you in will not bring further suffering to the Crossing. There has been enough death and destruction as of late, and I could not permit myself to be party to more of it.”
 
The Moundshroud Residence:

"You've never seen a Lycanthrope before? That is curious," Phoebe asks seemingly a bit amused. "Dorin would you mind not intimidating our guest?"

The large raven-like man continued to stare for a moment unmoving before, the sound of twisting and popping causes his form to shudder forward his arm resting on one of the golden bars. The bear falls off as a blackened human face emerges from the feathers, and they begin to fall off and out of his skin as he slowly transforms into a tan muscular man with medium curly black hair, an open vest and loose pants. He wears a white teethed grin. Phoebe shakes her head at the sight. "If I find another feather in my bed I swear I'll just throw you out."

The man's grin widens a bit looking from Arissa to Phoebe. "Now don't be that way love, you'll ruin the atmosphere you've works so hard on conveying," said Dorin clearly amused at her comment. "It is a pleasure Arissa, I would kiss you're hand were I not caged inside this cruel contraption made to insult my pride."

Phoebe scoffed. "And here I thought you said you liked my gift, Don't listen to this devil we've more important things to talk about than him," says Phoebe as she picks up small pointed dagger offering it out to Arissa. "You'll need this. As for harm to the Crossing, it is rather too distant to be of my concern. The favor you do for me will remove a small pest from the Crossing, and maybe someone will finally move into that 'haunted house' who knows?"
 
Arissa watches the transformation in grim fascination, hearing the familiar sound of bones cracking as he shifted into a human form. She gives Dorin a somewhat forced smile. “It is quite alright, I am used to formalities not being observed in this land. It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Dorin.” She then turns to Phoebe apprehensively. “I am afraid that I have had an encounter with lycanthropy before... however I believe that in that incident it was a wolf, not a bird.” After a moment longer of consideration, Arissa took the blade from Phoebe and held it in her hand for a moment. “And this will restore my friend back to the way he was?”
 
The Moundshroud Residence:

Phoebe raises an eyebrow at that but says nothing to her comment instead pressing forward for the real reason they were here. "Only if you do exactly as I say," says Phoebe moving back to the desk with the glowing stone and then brought it back to Arissa placing it in her hand and curling it into her fist. "Now are you good on your questions? I will need to concentrate, an interruption could prove... unfortunate."

Dorin watched the exchange from afar leaning back off the golden bars and crossed his arms. His interest seemingly perked up for a moment. "Just what do you plan to do exactly Phoebe, and should I be worried about my safety?" asked Dorin with a bit of edge to his voice. Phoebe briefly turns his direction. "You should always be worried about your safety Dorin. Magic is hardly gentle."

For a moment he nodded before commenting with a wry grin. "Trust me Evie, I know," says Dorin as he steps back from the bars and sits down cross legged seemingly not content to watch. Phoebe stares at him for a prolonged moment before turning back to Arissa.

"Alright if you are ready step into the middle of the circle and sit down. You'll be there for awhile so standing probably wouldn't be as comfortable. When I tell you, cut a small cut where the bond is made. Make sure you don't cut too deep. I don't need you bleeding out on the floor of my room," instructs Phoebe as she gathers a few more things around the room. "I assume the wine hasn't worn off yet so you should still be able to see where it connects. If you don't want to ruin your cloths with the cut I suggest taking them off. Dorin! Turn around and face the wall."

Some grumbling is heard from the side of the room, as Phoebe places a book on a stand with some sort of herb in her hand and glass of dark liquid in the other. "One more thing, remain absolutely silent during this. What we are doing will attract spirits, some may attempt to scare you, or tempt you speak. Do not give them power by interacting with them. Am I understood? Now if you are sure, step in when you are ready."
 
Arissa pauses for a moment, glancing over at Dorin to make certain he had turned the other way before loosening the straps to the chest piece of her leather armor and slipping it over her head, folding it carefully and setting it down outside the pentagram. She covered herself instinctively with one arm before she stepped into the middle of the pentagram, took the knife, and grit her teeth as she made a small incision where the tether met her skin, right in the center of her chest. Arissa took a seat and looked to Phoebe, unsure of whether she was supposed to remain silent yet or not, and nodded.
 
The Moundshroud Residence:

Phoebe conducts her ritual beginning with a large swig of the dark liquid and setting it aside. She traces shapes in the air with the herb after setting it aflame filling the room with an acrid scent. Soon the herb is consumed, and she motions for Arissa to do the cut. The small bit of blood that flows off seems to have an affect on the weave like link between Arissa and the sword. Phoebe instructs her to smear it on the glowing rock, and her sword. Arissa can see the seam connecting her to the sword beginning to pull away, and the candles start to flicker as spirits seem to show up all around the circle. Some plainly dead, others seemingly mostly in tact, other's just a horrible mass of body. Phoebe finally begins to speak words flowing from her tongue in a stream as if someone else were piloting her mouth.

A sharp paint pierced through Arissa and Yorgi as the connecting between them was temporarily sundered. The glowing stone Phoebe gave to Arissa began to glow brightly slowly floating up from her hand into a long thing piece of cord, which began to rethread the smallest seams in a process that seemed to take forever, as the previous material began to drift away. Far away in a bed many miles off Jonathan rocked at the sudden pain waking up from a dead sleep. The pain was blinding so much so that he couldn't even manage a scream but more of a labored groan. He reached for his desk trying to pull himself with great effort and push himself to his feet but instead he stumbled his arms giving away as he fell to the floor strength leaving him almost the moment he tried to push it.

For hours this process continues, the tearing and restitching of the bond, the constant curses of Yorgi filling Arissa's mind, and the sound of Phoebe's chanting filling the air of the room. The ghosts that came began to crowd the room so much that it was almost a wall of bodies, and faces observing the ritual. Some moaned and others screamed. The room began to feel thick almost as if one was under water, the air became hard to breathe, and sweat began to pour down both Phoebe's and Arissa's body as the heat of the room intensified. It was more of a shock once her reciting stopped. The light outside was beginning to rise.

Phoebe quietly entered into the circle putting her hands to the side of Arissa's face and looks over it gently altering the angle at which she looks at her face and eyes. The eyes that stare back uncertain as to Phoebe's intention. "Well you aren't possessed, so I'll count that as a good thing." Phoebe stands back up and nearly swoons seemingly looking very tired, and wipes some of the beads of sweat off her forehead. Walking over to a small box she produces a small little bag with a symbol drawn on the front. "Take this and bury it beneath the floor board as I instructed. Then you're side of the bargain will be complete."

Phoebe's hand is unsteady as she reaches out to give the bag to Arissa. As it is taken she seems to faulter once more. On the side of the room a fluttering is heard as a small raven exits the golden cage and then rapidly changes shape back to his human form to catch Phoebe before she falls. He looks to you for a moment smiling gently before he carries Phoebe off to her bed revealing his lack of cloths as he does. He calls over his shoulder in a whisper. "You should attempt to get some rest, I am sure it was just as draining for you."
 
Arissa nodded, worn from the experience and her head aching from the constant barrage from Yorgi. She looked up at Dorin’s face and smiled before speaking in a labored voice. “Please... be sure to thank her for me when she regains her strength. I will be sure to do this task for her upon my return.” Arissa glanced at the pouch she had taken and set it down before looking hesitantly at her reflection in the blade of Yorgi. Relief flooded through her and she allowed herself to fall backwards onto the ground and breath for a few minutes, a slight smile on her face. Gods, I pray that it worked...

Arissa eventually willed herself to sit up, and stood shakily to recollect her armor. She pulled the chest piece back over her head and strapped it on before picking up the strange pouch and staggering out the door, tired and her legs aching from sitting for so long. She found her way to Bernard’s room and knocked on it with her head hung, speaking quietly through the door in celestial. “Bernard... it is Arissa. It is done. I am okay.”
 
After Arissa left the room Bernard unfurled his bedroll and propped his bag against the wall. Placing Arissa's bag next to his own, he leaned against them watching the door. As he watched his thoughts wandered until he slowly drifted off to sleep.

In his sleep his dreams began pleasant, Merris cooking dinner and humming along to Arissa playing her flute in the living room while Peri danced around. Bernard smiled as he opened the front door of Marsh House, stepping into the kitchen he tasted Merris' stew, adding some spices as she turned to chop onions. He followed the music into the living room where Peri grabbed him by the hands and they danced in circles until she fell over dizzy and Arissa stopped playing to laugh at the sight. He embraced Arissa pulling her close with a smile before he gave her a kiss. Music began to play as he spun her out into the middle of the living room and she took his hand, they both wore wedding bands. Then, as the spinning slowed the music grew sad and dramatic and Arissa's hair began to lose its luster, the color faded from the sliver tips slowly up to her roots. Her skin began to dry and crack and as he clung to her she crumbled to dust in his arms. Bernard began to sob silently, looking for Peri who had been in the room moments before, he saw movement outside the window Yelcan and Peri skipping off into a blood red sunset, not looking back. Desperately Bernard ran to kitchen, but Merris was no where to be found, a weathered and beaten Grimm's Fairy Tales with a hole in the middle laid on the kitchen floor next to the stove the edges of the book scorched by fire. Falling to his knees Bernard held his eyes closed and begged for it to stop.

Opening them again, he found himself kneeling in front of an over grown Marsh House. Airehtu stood in the yard, scorched and split down the middle as though it had been struck by lightning. Bernard pushed through the over growth to reach the door which he had to force open. As the door opened, he was overwhelmed by the smell of death and decay. He stepped inside, the inside was in a horrible state of disrepair. Walls were missing and the damp had gotten in. Turning to the living room he saw a pile of dust, a glint of silver caught his eye and reaching he grasped a small chain. It bore his childhood symbol of Ezra, a small wooden token, and the Hathoway signet ring. Placing it around his neck it fit tight, but he pressed on. Opening the door to Merris' room it fell off one of the hinges. Propped against one wall was his fathers staff and on the nightstand laid a tiny human skeleton curled up in a leaf. On the other side laid Isaiah's black dagger. Pulling back the sheets on the bed Bernard found two more skeletons. The smell of death overpowering, he threw the covers back over them and said a prayer before moving into the kitchen. The binding of the book laid on the table, the pages scattered around the space. The stew was still on the stove...

A knock at the bedroom door woke Bernard from his slumber. He rubbed his nose between his thumb and forefinger as he rose, trying to massage the smell of grave dirt and decay out of it. He rubbed his eyes as a voice came through the door. Standing, he crossed the room, opening the door. "I am glad you are alright, I hope Jonathan is as well." He smiled giving her a hug and helping her into the room, closing the door behind her. Even as he closed the door, the scent of death lingered in his nostrils and hung about Arissa. Shaking his head to find his focus, he took a deep breath in and pushed at the boundaries of his senses. He was pleased to find that underneath the musk of corpses, Arissa still smelled like the sweetest of Merris' flowers. As his senses returned to normal, the stench of death was gone. He looked deep into her eyes with a smile, "Your eyes are just as beautiful as ever."
 
Arissa smiled to Bernard exhaustedly and looked him in the eyes. “Enjoy them now... they are desperately in need of some rest. It was an... interesting night to say the least. I only pray that my efforts were not fruitless... but if I am to be honest, I am glad that I tried.” Arissa released Bernard and flopped into the bed in a rather un-noble fashion before smiling to him teasingly. “You are aware that you are allowed to use beds when I am not around, ja?”
 
Bernard yawned, still waking up. "And what about when you are?" He smirked, "Honestly I was waiting for you to return. I did not mean to fall asleep, and to be honest I kind of wish I hadn't. I had the worst nightmare last night. But I am glad you are alright." Bernard moved over to his pack and pulling out the pelt before covering Arissa in it and sitting on the edge of the bed. "Get some rest, Love."
 
The Moundshroud Residence:

It was quiet into the afternoon before Phoebe exited her room and went down to the main room of the house where she sat for a moment collecting herself ordering Giles to get her a glass of water. A cup floated outside, scooped up the swamp water of the lake and brought it back to her. She drank deeply in one go before finishing and then wiping her lips gently. Setting the glass cup down gently onto a nearby table Phoebe stretched. "Much better."
 
During dinner the night prior, Kallisto made sure to use the utensils properly like Marcus had taught her, though she still had to try and make sure her claws didn't catch on any of the food. As she ate she noticed Arissa kept looking behind Kallisto, or seemed focused on a spot just above her shoulder ... occasionally she glanced behind herself, curious what might have caught Arissa's attention, but couldn't manage to figure it out. After idle chatter at the dinner table, Kallisto made her way towards one of the rooms, checking to make sure no one else was in there, and set her weapons down. She looked over the crossbow to make sure it was still in decent condition before pushing her greataxe under the bed ... she was too worn out to bother attempting to speak to it tonight.

Falling backwards onto the bed, she was surprised at how soft it felt ... laying on the ground had left her aching, still sore from her various injuries over the past few days. She glanced around the room, it was decently furnished, the canopy curtains on the bed posts ... the vanity and small mirror, even a window. For a moment she felt an ache in her chest, but not from her injury ... she wished she was back in her room. She wished the vanity was instead her desk with a project in progress, the art and designs on the walls her various pelts ... the ornate bed instead her simple one. Kallisto scratched idly at the scar on her chest ... hopefully the journey was soon to be over.

Eventually her eyes began to close as she made her usual nest of blankets and sheets, sleeping in the center of the bed. Dreams flickered through her mind ... dreams of the serpent, of Ialay and her new form, of the terrifying tug she felt as she lay bleeding in the mud ... eventually her dreams returned to what the axe offered and whispered over the day: slaughter, destruction, a mindless rage.

Finally she woke in the morning, though she didn't hear much movement from anyone else or any chatter through the walls. Laying in the blankets she reached for her pouch, pulling out the small book she'd gotten from her fall into the crevasse. Before, it had been blank and empty ... now it had a delicate cursive scrawl across its pages. Her eyes moved across the page trying to figure out what had been written until she realized ... it was describing her dreams. Skimming across the words she reached the end, finding the next page blank until on the page after it began describing the dreams she had just woken from. Reading it was strange -- the words were as if someone had been listening to Kallisto's thoughts, her own internal reactions to the dreams. Some of it described the dreams, what she saw, but for the most part it was a long stream of thoughts, broken and half finished as the subject of the dream changed.

With a sigh she closed the journal, placing an arm across her face as she lay in the bed for a few more moments, listening to the noises of the swamp outside. Eventually she rose, after putting the bed back together, and made her way downstairs only to find out Phoebe appeared to be resting still. Though some of the group seemed interested in leaving, she still wished to speak to the Witch, and felt it'd be rude to leave without saying farewell.

Moving outside to the front of the house she sat on the grass, watching across the lake and into the swamps, listening to various birds and bugs, frogs and splashes of water as a few fish broke the surface of the lake. At one point a duck landed on the water, making ripples on the surface, only for one of the sharks to come from below and eat the bird. Kallisto's heart pounded for a few moments, her hand on the greataxe, as slowly the normal sounds of the area began to filter in again. For awhile she sat merely listening, her mind blank ... this was something she needed. A chance to just sit and not worry about anything.

Eventually a cup came floating by, dipping itself into the lake before returning inside, followed by Kallisto, curious where it was going. Seeing Phoebe sitting with the cup, Kallisto bowed her head towards the woman. "Hello again, Phoebe. I'm grateful you allowed us to stay the night ... if I may ask, I wondered if you knew anything of the naga's name, or about the 'children' it has created of sorts. One of them ... I used to know, but I'm unsure if it's still her or not. In thinking of the coming journey we still have, and your mention of potions, I also wondered what you might offer in that regard."
 
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