Even with her being so careful about dealing with the metal ring to harm the tigerkin, her body still sat there frozen, eyes shut and her tail fluffed up in nerves. While she could feel her be gentle with handling the metal band, each slight movement on it rang the few chain links that remained around her neck. Oh, how much she wish she could rip them off like she did the others within that chain, removing their ring that reminded her of that moment before her final march. Alas, every time she tried, she could not get enough grip to yank them off by force, most of the time pulling the back against her neck before damaging the chains any further.

When the chains stopped ringing, tension left her body as the fur on her tail laid back to rest… just to quickly raise again when the other's hand found itself on Eden's shoulder. Opening her eyes, she was looking at the other woman who stated a sound before pointing at herself, saying another. She kept on going with the motions, repeating the sounds she made with her touches and points.She listened to her voice and watched her lips, as she tried to associate them together. Enough so that she started to mimic Rizka's lip movements with them.

"E-ack" she tried, only to feel a raspy sound escape her lips, as if it had been dried out in the sand for a decade. Then again, the only real use her voice had were screams: battle cries..v victory… pain. She was never really allowed to try to use those sounds to do what Rizka was doing now, and thus found herself trying to cover it up by taking a large chomp into the apple's flesh.

Rizka moved back and away to give Eden room, unsure if she had just tried to speak her own name, or if she had simply just coughed. Either way, she seemed to be contentedly munching on the apple that Rizka had shared with her. Rizka looked at her shabby and torn clothing and her apparent lack of travel gear. They had a little room in their vardo still, since Holly was in Sularia at them time, and she was pretty sure that Justice would not mind having another individual sharing their humble traveling home, especially one who appeared as destitute as Eden did. That way, Rizka could at least either patch her clothing, or even donate something of her own that she didn't wear to her, in order to replace the tattered remains of her current outfit, and make sure she had a decent meal in her stomach for some time. 

She wondered if she would be able to persuade Eden to come with her. It wasn't safe to travel alone in the world. Especially for an escaped slave, which is what Rizka had the feeling Eden was. 

"Eden?" Rizka asked. "Would you come with me? I have a safe place where you can stay," she said looking at the tigerkin. She was sure that the woman wouldn't understand her, so Rizka did her best to pantomime her meaning to her, motioning to Eden and then to herself, making motions to leave to a safe place. 
"There will be more food, and a warm place to sleep," she added, still mimicking her words with hand motions. Then she reached a hand to Eden, offering it to her in order to take her hand and lead her to their vardo. 

Eden watched as the other who marked herself under the voice of Rizka speak with her some more, this time full of much more energy as she also spoke using her body. It was a nice touch, letting her link words with movements as most of that she had been used to was her previous owner making orcish noices, and most of what was direct were threats he wanted her to know to heel her down. However, she was no longer under his ownership anymore. She was a free woman now.

Not only that, but the motion of eating and rest definitely  sounded like a comfort she never had. From eating leftover scraps as a victory meal and sleeping on the cold floor to now hunting for meals and sleeping on the dusty floor… if any considering her alert state. Still, it seemed this Rizka is willing to aid her in that regard.

Taking a final large chomp through the apple's flesh, she flung it out into the woods before holding out a single finger, a sign she had seen multiple times as if to ask for something, before bringing it up to the steel collar on her neck and motioning it across the etches. It may have her name carved in it, but it also showed who she belonged to. Since the steel was too thick to rip off, she would need the next best thing: removing the marks on her collar. However, she did pause for a moment, as if in thought. She used those marks to give her name…

Taking her hand away from her collar, she moved over to the hilt of the metal log of a sword, picking up the heavy blade before drawing it out in front of her and drawing her finger along the separation. If she needed to have an item hat had her name, it would best be her weapon.

Rizka actually looked surprised as Eden lifted her finger. It took her a moment to realize that this was basically the universal sign for 'under one condition' or to ask for a favor. Rizka nodded slowly as Eden pointed to the etchings on the collar and a scrubbing motion before she hesitated and then seemed to get an idea before she pointed at the etchings on her collar again, and then pulled out her blade and moved her her finger along the blade fuller, as though writing. Rizka mimicked her motions to try and connect the dots before it hit her and she smiled. 

"You want Eden," she said, pointing at the name etched on the collar, "on your sword?" she asked, pointing and acted like she was writing on the blade fuller. "Eden," she said pointing at the collar, and then at the blade again before she repeated the name.  When it became apparent that she understood correctly, Rizka nodded. "All right. I think we can do this," she said nodding her head yes with a smile. 

She stood up and motioned for Eden to follow her, and even offered her hand if the woman wanted to take it. It was more meant as a kind friendly gesture, but she would understand if she didn't want to take it. Rizka guided Eden through the underbrush to a small glen that was just off the main road through the tropical forest where the vardo she shared with her brother was waiting, their horse grazing just a short distance away. Justice seemed to still be away scavenging for trade goods. Rizka smiled and pointed at the vardo. "Home," she said with a smile before waiving Eden forward. She walked up the short steps to the Vardo door and unlocked it before she pulled the door open and walked inside. 

"Come on, Eden!" she urged as she opened the windows to air out the mobile house. 

A small nod came from her as Rizka confirmed her desire, though moved her finger along the etchings once more to confirm she wanted those carvings to be removed at the very least. She did not want anything to lead her back to that man…or at least to his corpse. The collar told of her status, though, along with the filthy rags she wore. She would need to find a way to make the items not make her look like a runaway, but at the very least, Rizka was not going to turn her over. At least, that was the impression she got.

While the bard offered her a hand up, after she stood to her feet, signalling they would be on the move, Eden ignored the motion, instead slamming the flat top of the blade into the earth before using that as an anchor to hoist herself to her feet, dusting off the dirt on her legs before heaving the weapon into the air and onto her shoulder, handling the heavy weapon with ease. Letting Rizka take the lead, Eden followed up, making sure to watch the back in case any natural threat, whether it be beast for carnivorous plantfolk, tried to assault them.

What she called "home" was a small little mobile hut with a horse, resting in the middle of no where. Resting her weapon on the ground, as if not to startle the horse, the tigerkin followed inside, though only through the doorway with her tail still sticking out into the open, looking around at the small inside.

The inside of the Vardo was cozy and comfortable, but clearly not meant for more than two or three people to be inside at a time. There was a small wood burning stove tucked in the corner to the left side of the door, a small table built into the wall and two small stools for sitting crammed next to a set of drawers that doubled as a counter space. Alone the back wall was a high bed covered with blankets and pillows, and a trundle bed tucked snuggly beneath it that could be pulled out at night to provide a second sleeping place. The right side of the wall was crammed with cupboards stuffed with food and supplies, and in the right hand corner was half of a barrel used for bathing, washing clothes and storing larger items. It was cramped, but comfortable and homey, the wood painted with bright colors, trinkets and drapes hung about the ceiling to add flare. 

Rizka crossed the small threshold and pushed open the three windows to allow natural light into the living space, and to air the vardo out, which smelled heavily of lavender, and cinnamon. Then she went to one of the drawers and pulled out a package wrapped in brown paper and string and quickly unwrapped it before she motioned to Eden to come in all the way. 

She shook out the contents of the package, which turned out to be a deep maroon and navy kimono. It has belonged to one of her sisters and was much too big for her. But seeing as Eden was built taller and stronger than Rizka was, she was pretty sure that with a tiny bit of alteration, the kimono would fit her nicely. She motioned again for Eden to come closer and she held up the garment to the tigerkin to see if her estimation had been correct. She was not disappointed. She bundled up the kimono and tapped the fabric with her fingers. 

"This is for you. You can keep this," she said, tapping the fabric and then pointing at Eden. "Your clothes are barely staying together," she said, looking at the rags. "You wear this," she insisted, handing the bundle to Eden. She turned so that Eden could get changed, and pulled a hairbrush out from a smaller drawer, as well as a balm bottle that smelled of lavender and set it on the small counter space. 

Eden's eyes glazed about the small innards of the mobile cavern. It was a confided space she had grown used to, although her living spaced had never been this… colorful… or fragrant. The smell was actually really strong in her nose, causing her to stifle a sneeze from the strong scent of cinnamon in the air, rubbing her nose afterwards before her eyes caught back onto Rizka, motioning her over closer. With a bit of a confused blink, Eden walked in deeper into the vardo before being quickly handed some new garments. She did not need any explanation for this, as this was a common ting for when growing and outfits stopped fitting. Not only that, but the arena did at least have the respect to force fighters to do combat completely nude, though more often the outfits were to tell the audience who belonged to who.

With her turning about, Eden tilted her head… Wasn't she naked in front of her not too long ago? Well, it seemed in this case she was busy searching for something, so it was no real point in arguing. Discarding the old cloth off her body once more, letting them rest in a small pile in the middle of the floor, With the old rags discarded, Eden decided to go through and see that was offered to her. It seemed like a type of robe with another wrap-like cloth of a much thinner, and less expressive, cloth. With a bit of fiddling, Eden wrapped herself in the undercloth, using the buttons to seal it closed… though the top itself felt very restrictive… Tight enough to have her rip the sleeves off unceremoniously before adding them in with the other rags.

The next was the Kimono top, though while she did put it on, she did not really tighten it up for the same reason as the undershirt, but it did not feel right to do so to something so expressive…

Now if only things were not so breezy underneath…

Quickly adjusting her hair out of her clothes, she tapped the shoulder of Rizka, as if to tell her she is done getting dressed.

Rizka felt the tap and she turned again, and smiled at how Eden had had no qualms about making the outfit her own. She had heard her tearing the garments, but she reminded herself that they were Eden's now and she could fix them however she wanted. When it appeared she had merely torn off the sleeves of the undershirt, Rizka was less concerned. 

"There then. Those suit you quite nicely," she smiled. "Will you let me brush out your hair?" Rizka asked, motioning to the brush and the bottle of lavender hair oil. 

She waited for Eden to sit down and get situated before she slowly and as gently as possible began pulling the brush through her thick hair, careful to avoid the tigerkin's ears. It was slow going, but Rizka was determined to make the best of it. For the most part it was merely trying to removed debris and matted sections. While it was still wet from the waterfall, Rizka was aware how water seemed to make the tangles worse. But that was what the oil was for and the had no problem using it on the woman before her. The lavender oil would also help get rid of any sort of bugs that might have made a home in Eden's hair, which was completely possible considering she had been wandering in the wilds for what Rizka had to guess was some time now. 

Eden was a bit confused on why Rizka wanted her over where she was in the first place. Why did it matter? Maybe it had to do with the objects she was pointing towards? Well, she was given the new outfit, so she may as well compromise, thus giving her a small nod before following along. Tailing behind her for the few steps, she took to the bench that was offered before her (though confused on why she insisted that Eden had to sit a certain way) before she went to work on straightening out her hair…

At the start, it was clear that Eden emanated a radiance of regret.

She felt the brush teeth pull upon her air, a, "Aaaah, aaah, ah," escaping her as her fists clenched tightly. It was as if her scalp was being pulled off by her hair, and her body was reacting more than her mind did, seeing as her nails had already taken form of claws. Still, she held her fists closed and arms shook as she tried to keep control of them, like they were being possessed by another being. She knew what she was doing. She knew this was for her sake…. she… just… had… to… deal… with these pulls… That's all.

However, it was as if things went easier the longer she did this. The tugs on her hair became less often before vanishing entirely while the feeling of the teeth vanished as it passed through her hair. It was then things became more subtle did her claws retract and her arms loosened once more before she gained control of her arms again. She is not a threat… Never was… But the pulling was horrible.

It took Rizka some time to get through the tangled mess. And she was thorough. She had tried to be gentle, but unfortunately she could tell that she was hurting Eden. She saw the same signs of discomfort that she had felt herself many times in years past when her sisters would do this same thing for her. She would take breaks in between the tugging to try and give Eden some respite before she resumed the brushing by rubbing the lavender oil in her hands and then onto Eden's scalp. When all was said in done, there was a sizeable pile of debris that Rizka had removed and the hairbrush had been cleaned at least 3 times to get rid of all the dead hair, and the brush could move through Eden's hair with ease. It was smooth and sleek thanks to the oil, and smelled nice, and would repel all manner of bugs. Rizka set the brush aside and much more gently, she wove the thick dark locks of the tigerkin into a long tight braid and secured it with a piece of ribbon. 

"There," she announced when she released Eden at last. "I'm sorry it took so long," she said apologetically. "But it will stay cleaner for a while now, and that oil will help it stay soft," she said. "Also it might help throw off anyone who is using their sense of smell to track you. Lavender is pretty potent that way," she said with a small smile. She held up a small hand mirror to Eden. "There you go, what do you think?" she asked offering the looking glass. "You hardly look like the same person. I doubt anyone would recognize you, if it wasn't for that collar of yours…" she said musing. "I wonder if maybe Justice would have any suggestions for that…"