Nelanna had inched her way to LeSilve until she stood at his side, her worry filled gaze locked on the area where she heard the noise. And when he said it knew they were there, she glanced at him, wondering just how much he knew. Did he know what it was? Did he know what it wanted? But instead of asking, she proceeded to follow him, staying far closer to him this time and keeping her eyes on their surroundings.

“Alright then,” she replied a little absentmindedly. Nelanna wasn’t sure about the game now, but her companion didn’t seem too worried. Perhaps she could allow herself to relax, just  a little. But, refusing to look away from the depths of the forest for any signs of danger, she began with her first question: “Do you know what’s out there?” Right now she figured that was a better question than who he really was and such. Right now, he wasn’t the biggest threat.

"Nope!" He punctuated the reply with a shrug and a bark of laughter, and seemed for all the world unaffected. "It appears to be rather quick, however, and it may just be my imagination but it seems to be getting more aggressive the further in we travel. Perhaps it is protecting something?" Another head tilt, another shrug. "I don't really care so long as it doesn't get in my way. Maybe it will have decided its greeting back there, fleeting though it was, will have posed enough of a warning."

Nonetheless, he kept at the ready, filaments of energy dancing at the fingertips he kept hidden within his robes' long sleeves. Come what may, he wouldn't go down without a fight. His magic was prepped, and so he felt a bit better about his odds. Still, he'd feel even better knowing his company could hopefully hold her own.

"My turn, then? Hmm… Let's see, then: are you equipped for combat, should it come to that?" Can you fight?

   Nelanna felt disappointment wash over her by his reply. She had hoped he at least knew what dangers lied before them. But, perhaps she wasn’t specific enough. When her turn to answer a question came she glanced up at him, a confident smile beaming as she placed a hand on her hip, just as she had done before. “Of course,” she replied rather proudly. “It isn’t easy being a traveling woman. Men come after you because you’re alone, and because you don’t have a man around you need to take care of yourself. As a matter of fact, I am a sorceress. Though, I excell in healing magic.” 

With his question answered, she looked away once more and started thinking about her next question. What else did she want to know about him? Perhaps she could ask him the same thing he had asked her. Feeling satisfied with that, she decided to go along with it. “What about you? You seem rather comfortable out here. I assume you must be pretty capable yourself if you aren’t even worried about what’s out there?” It was more of a question on how strong he was, which, was also just for pleasure. A girl always wanted to know how strong a man was. Physically, and with magic.

At the mention of magic, Frey visibly perked up. "A sorceress! Fancy that." And a healer, to boot. At the least, he was comforted by the knowledge she could handle herself, and that hey! If worse came to worst, and that beast got the better of him and somehow not her also, she might take pity on him and be able to patch him up.

Of course, better that it never come to that.

Scanning the forest ahead for any signs of either monster or saffron, he gave a quiet chuckle at the half expected return of his own question. "Please. Trust that I am capable enough. Hardly invincible, but I'd hope after so many years abroad I could handle myself. I'm a mage myself, though I'm afraid I, for my part, make a piss poor healer." And that, he knew, he could thank his heritage for. Only one aerkai in all of their known history had been able to heal. The rest either had never tried - because why bother? most aerkae vastly preferred carnage to healing - and those few who had tried, had learned the hard way exactly why it was that they were not meant for the cleric's path. Frey shuddered at the painful memory. No - he'd leave healing to those who could more effectively wield it.

Besides, it wasn't all bad. They couldn't heal others, but they in exchange boasted a rather robust immune system that included a resistance to most poisons.

Ah. But here he was, getting carried away with his thoughts.

"My main affinity is for ice, but I suppose I've been called a 'jack of all trades' before when it comes to magic. Most elements come easily. Rest assured, I'm no stranger to combat." Between tournaments past and a great deal of treasure hunting, he'd seen his fair share.

Hm. His turn again. "So. We are both fellow travelers, and both practitioners in the art of magic… What else is there to know?" He hummed aloud to himself a moment, pretending at being deep in thought. For a moment, he'd contemplated asking about where she came from but, truth be told, that there was one question he did not care to have turned back around at him. "Future aspirations, then, if it is not too early to ask after such a thing. Where do you see yourself in five years from now, Miss Fox? Any exciting plans, I wonder?"

He was so chipper, so casual, it was almost like there was no creature stalking them, no increasingly dark, eerie forest surrounding them.

    Nelanna giggled at his response, but was caught off guard by his question. “In five years?” She repeated, as if she was making sure she’d heard him right. Nelanna looked up ahead as she began to think. She was already over one thousand years of age, had been all over the place, met countless people and had seen countless places. What more was there to do either than settle down for a while?

She turned her gaze downcast, as if she were embarrassed with her answer, “Well, after traveling for so long, I like to think that I’ll finally settle down somewhere. Perhaps have a husband and some children to raise.” She shrugged lightly and looked around again, as if to avoid his gaze. Though, she wouldn’t be able to see his reaction due to that blasted mask of his. “I suppose that might be a little silly. I’m over one thousand years of age now and haven’t managed to find the right man. It surely won’t happen within five years.” Her own words pained her heart. For the longest time she had wished for a family. But, she feared that she may be doomed to be alone forever.

For so long?

A quirked brow and a none too subtle double take met her words, but all was soon made clear. He could have guessed at her appearance belying her years, especially given those pointy ears (and the fact that so much of what walked this land was not as it seemed), but… a thousand years. He suppressed an appreciative whistle in light of the less than enthused tone she had ended on, but found himself impressed nonetheless. "A whole millennium, huh…" He shook his head in wonder, blinking back his renewed curiosity.

"I apologize if I stirred any discomfort by asking. However, know that I don't find the idea silly at all." Certainly, it was not for him - he still had things to do, places to see, and the idea of a family was bloody well terrifying. But it was a fine dream nonetheless, a respectable one. "Who's to say it won't happen in the next five years? It may not seem like a lot of time compared to what's come before it, but…" He fell quiet a moment, frowning in thought. He sighed, raking a hand through his dark brown hair.

"Truly, you never do know what's in store. Me, I ascribe to the idea that 'que sera, sera' - what will be, will be. Perhaps it wasn't meant to happen until now? Chin up, Miss Fox. I'm sure you will find what you're after if you keep at it." Sunny optimism was hardly Frey's forte, but here he had managed. After all, who was he to dash another's hopes? He had dreams of his own. "In the meantime, though, I do believe it is your tur-"

-CRACK. Before he could finish, their third wheel had deigned join the party, vaulting through the trees and landing in a mess of splinters and dust and torn moss. In the nick of time, Frey had throw his left arm upward in a diagonal slash, raising a protective wall of earth against which the creature had crashed. But given the protective layer of stone about the creature's forehead and back, it was not daunted for long. It looked somewhat feline in nature… if one squinted really hard, maybe. Regardless, it was large, and clearly angry judging by the way its lithe tail lashed back and forth as it stalked towards them.

Standing his ground, Frey grinned and lowered himself, skeletal arm tingling with a fresh burst of magic. A runic circle glowed and hummed and spun at the tip of his fingers, preparing a new spell. "Think I'll take a rain check on our game," he offered with a huff, attention focused mostly on the creature… though he did spare Nelanna a quick glance, just to make sure she was all right.

    Nelanna couldn’t help but to smile at his words. Though it was difficult to imagine, his words were true. Just because she hasn’t a husband and family yet, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen. She silently prayed that his words would come true. And this was when she realized how comfortable she had become in his presence. Here she was, stuck in a dangerous forest with a strange man whom won’t even show her his face, and she was comfortable with his company. If she didn’t know better she would’ve said she was beginning to trust this man. But that was impossible with how little she knew. But, despite all of that, she could tell he was a good person. His words and voice were kind and, frankly, inspiring. 

It seemed he was about to say it was her turn to ask the next question, when his voice suddenly fell. She looked up in time to see him take up a battle ready stance and put up a wall of earth before them. She had briefly seen a flash of a creature of some kind before the wall was up and blocking the view, but what creature it was, she couldn’t tell. But this was all she needed to know that the creature that had been stalking them had shone itself, and they were in danger. 

But instead of drawing back with fear, she put on an expression of fearlessness as she found her inner strength. She was warrior at heart and spirit, and now it has shown itself. She may have seemed frightened before, but as she had mentioned earlier to the man, she wasn’t easily frightened. Especially when the threat was in her sight. She reached for the dagger that hid beneath her cloak and took it firmly in hand, pulling it out from the shadows and revealing its long, metallic blade. Her other hand was stretched out at her side, her fingers slowly twiddling as she prepared herself to cast a spell if needed. Then, she glanced at LeSilve, and waited for his next move.

She seemed unharmed, which was a relief. But looking away for even that split second turned out to be a mistake. Just as his eyes darted back toward their opponent, he glimpsed its long, whip like tail snaking toward him. He lunged into a sidelong roll in order to avoid it, but only narrowly managed - the tail had caught the very edge of his face and knocked to the ground his mask, revealing at last his face.

Briefly stunned, he gave a shake of his head and resigned himself. No time to fuss over it. He renewed his focus on the creature. It had skulked around his wall. It looked heavy, but though its back appeared protected, its underside was less so, comprised of softer looking fur. That wasn't all: the stone covering its back bore flora, which was comprised mostly of short grasses and moss, but also of…

"There! That's the blue saffron!" The flowers on its back shook gently as the creature sauntered toward them. Gritting his teeth, Frey growled and launched a first series of violet spheres of ice at the thing, mostly meant to test the waters. They shattered upon it to little fanfare, apparently more an annoyance than anything. He had been hoping to keep its focus on him, but instead it turned away, toward Nelanna. With a snarl, it lunged.

    Nelanna watched as the creature’s whip-like tail lashed at LeSilve. She almost called out to him, worried that he might’ve been hurt. Until she noticed his mask fall to the ground. For once she was able to lay eyes upon her mysterious companion, and the timing couldn’t have been any worse. Briefly, she looked over him to make sure that he wasn’t hurt, but then he called her attention towards the creator. Blue saffron? With a glimmer of hope springing to life within her, she gazed around for the flower, hoping she could quickly pick it then they’d be free to make a run for it. But her heart dropped once she saw it was not on the ground, but on the creature’s hide.

 She kept her distance as LeSilve began launching a series of attacks on the beast, trying her upmost best not to recklessly jump in to help. She wasn’t cowardly by any means. But she was the healer, their only source of survival. If she were hurt she wouldn’t be able to heal him. She gritted her teeth and clutched her hand into a tight fist in frustration. Then, an incantation started slipping from her lips.

Just as the beast launched at her, she raised her arm towards it, and a thread of red flame thrust towards the creature and scorched its face. Nelanna has to hold back so she wouldn’t risk burning the herbs, so she used just enough to hopefully stun it. 

The creature hissed and spat, cinders flying from the singed fur on its face. It thrashed wildly, as though trying to decide which target it was better off choosing to face, all the while kicking up more dirt and dust and clumps of grass. Soon enough, for whatever reason, it settled again on Nelanna. While Frey was glad to have come across his prize sooner than later, the location of the blue saffron posed new problems. Although eviscerating the creature had hardly been at the forefront of his mind to begin with, now it was not even an option. The mage observed it from the back and, with a curt nod to himself, decided on a change of tactics.

"Can you keep it distracted a moment more?" he called out, inching closer behind it as he did so. He had grabbed a hanging vine from a nearby tree and carefully approached the creature, diligently monitoring the sway of its tail. Another runic circle hummed and spun to life around the skeletal limb that held the vine, runes brightly glowing, new magic brought to life.

Just a bit closer, now…