The Magpie and the Waterlily (Nira'lia)

[Ray]

Fall 3rd Summer was doing its best to preserve its stance, ignoring the fact that despite its efforts it was steadily slipping away to make way for fall. Though a warm breeze was still common enough, the tender coolness could not be defeated, not as the very tips of the green leaves began to turn yellow. The camp was tense as the travelers set it up. The argument that had taken place days earlier still hung in the air, and even though no one spoke of it they were all thinking it. Would the segregation really stop the spread of the plague? Would their quest fall to ruins and kill them? Just what did the plague do, anyway? Those that hadn’t been present had spent the day before coming to their resident healer to have themselves diagnosed as sick or healthy. Some were sent to the plague camp and others were allowed to breathe a sigh of relief, but the fear remained as an undercurrent. No one was willing to admit its existence, but it was there. A solitary form flitted through the camp, ignoring and being ignored by others. No one knew his name or found themselves particularly interested in finding out. He had spoken to no one since this journey began, and his garb and bearing generally warded others away or earned distrustful looks. Black leather generally did not make its wearer seem particularly trustworthy. Rayes didn’t like not knowing his environment. He was a city boy, born and bred, and all this forest was just too thick to be comfortable in. He couldn’t see anything or hear anything beyond the foliage and crickets and birds, and with the awareness he had depended on for so long cut off he had become quite jumpy. He had been away from camp when the argument had sprung up, but the nervousness had been tangible when he returned. Now, the nervousness was making itself quite comfortable in his gut. He had been too nervous to approach the healer the day before, and even now the impulse to turn away and not get checked was almost overpowering. What if he was infected? Would he have to go to the plague camp? He had found himself with a thorough dislike for Imass, the knight, and he didn’t know if he could survive living in close quarters with sick obnoxious altruism. He came to a halt at Nira’lia’s setup, stomach aflutter with anxiousness. He could leave. Yes, he should leave. He should leave now, before someone noticed him. He needed to turn, move his feet, and walk away. “Anyone home?” he said loudly, remaining rooted to the spot.

[Nira'lia]

With a yawn, the Konti rubbed her eyes sleepily. Her tent had just been set up, and even though the night was still fairly young, she couldn’t wait to go to rest. The Konti stretched and looked around the small confines of her tent. It didn’t take her too long to set it up today—she was finally getting the hang of being out in the wilds. After years of living in a city and nowhere else, she was starting to appreciate nature as it was. She was getting used to the days without bathing, a lot of time wasted on swatting away insects, and the never-ending walking. ‘Fine, maybe I don’t appreciate it all that much…’ Nira’lia blinked and turned her head when she heard somebody call her. It wasn’t a voice she recognized. Confused, she made her way outside her tent and was faced with a man whose name she didn’t know. All around them, she could see that everyone was still setting up camp. There were a couple of people who were setting up a fire, and idle chit chat from various people around them could be heard in the background. She looked at Rayes, trying to remember if they had met before. The travelling group was vast, and it was easy enough to forget a few names. However, she didn’t want to seem rude. Or perhaps he was one of those who needed a healer? The Konti was one of the few healers travelling with this group, and it wouldn’t be uncommon to be called by a stranger. In the end, after racking her brain and getting no sensible recollection from it, the Konti grinned widely at the man. “Hello! Is there something you need?”

[Ray]

He had been hoping that she was not home, or perhaps just didn’t hear him. But luck did not seem to be with him, and she both her and answered his call. A woman the color of clouds stuck her head into the open air. Though Rayes had caught glimpses of her—konti did stick out a bit—he had never seen her from such close proximity. She was younger than he had thought, seeming to be more of an adolescent than an adult. Yet her eyes held more than their fair share of the world. She looked him up and down, and he stood modestly under her scrutiny. He hadn’t connected to others in the group very well; while Zeltivans quested for money and knowledge next to the Knights question for honor and justice and such rot, he was coming along for the hell of it. He had no ulterior motives or stick up his ass, and that set him far apart from the tense, stern faces that seemed permanently plastered onto each and every traveler. She seemed to give up on trying to recognize him and inquired to his presence. He ran his hand through his hair and his cocky smile returned, shrouding his anxiety. “I suppose there it. That spat that sprung up a couple days ago, with the plague an’ all? I wasn’t there. So I guess I need to get checked.”

[Nira'lia]

‘He wants to get checked? Three days have passed… and he only thought of it now?’ the Konti forced herself to stop being so skeptical, because she wasn’t in the position to judge. No matter how odd the situation was, he probably had his own reasons. “Oh, yes…” she said weakly. Talking about the plague made her uncomfortable and wary. She had said that she was going to try her best to figure out the cure, but so far, she had nothing. Oddly, some people seemed to be getting better, as if the root of the cause had just left—but the mystery was far from solved. The look of discontent was clearly displayed on her face, but she shook her head and brushed it off. The Konti replaced it with an awkward smile as she fully regarded Rayes. “Yes, of course. I understand how you would be concerned, Mister… uhm… what should I call you?” asked the Konti. As she said that, she seemed unfocused as she looked around them. There were people around, and she wasn’t sure if he wanted privacy. Those who she had inspected nights ago didn’t mind, but she didn’t want to assume anything about this person. Placing her attention back to the man, she gestured to nowhere in particular. “Do you want to go somewhere else or is out here alright with you?” But before she asked him to strip down (which was always awkward, even for a medic like her), she decided to go with the more basic questions. If the man didn’t have the initial symptoms, then he was most likely fine. “How do you feel? Any fevers, cold, cough? Are you experiencing any swelling?”

[Ray]

Doubts arose on her face at his request. Yes, he would admit that he had come a bit late, but late was better than never, right? The topic itself seemed to be an uncomfortable subject for the konti. Odd, he thought, considering that she was a healer. Or reputed to be one, anyway. He wasn’t quite sure on the details; his contact with others was minimal these days. “No need for ‘mister,’” he said with a lopsided smile, “Just ‘Ray’ does fine for me.” She looked around them uncertainly, and he followed her gaze. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Go somewhere else? That sounded sinister or seductive, and Ray had to restrain himself from reflexive flirting. “Go somewhere else to do what, exactly?” he asked, half suspicious and half intrigued. Symptoms? “Uh, none that I can think of. Hit my head yesterday, if that counts.”