47th of Spring, 515AV
5th Bell, Morning
Southwest Kabrin Road, Sea of Grass
5th Bell, Morning
Southwest Kabrin Road, Sea of Grass
The sun had yet to rise when Mayra's eyes opened. She was growing used to this, early rising and late evenings. It was hardly an issue for her, since most days she could spare time for a nap, finding a crevice in the cargo wagons to wedge herself into and get a few hours of shut-eye. Unlike the entertainment that accompanied her on The Mischief, she was not so entertained for the travel across the Sea of Grass, as the region of Cyphrus was nicknamed.
The half-breed yawned and stretched. Her hands could only stretch so far above her before the canvas of her single person tent blocked her movement. It was pitch black outside, and the inside of her temporary dwelling was no different. Her eyes adjusted rather quickly though, thanks to her Zith heritage. Her night vision was not the best, but when it came down to it, she preferred complete darkness to a torch. The introduction of light messed with her vision, so that it decreased to the intensity of what a human could see, which was very weak in her opinion.
"Morning." Speaking of humans. One of the men that she had grown used to on her journey greeted her as she crawled from her tent. She only nodded to the trader, who was stoking what was left of last night's fire. There were not much embers, but he was working on it. She saw no point. Within the bell, the entire camp would be awake with the sun and ready to move on. They were supposed to reach some river today. She couldn't remember the initial plans, since the past eighteen days had been nothign but following the droll Kabrin road. The most excitement that the caravan had seen was passing a slave caravan heading towards Kenash. The traders that she accompanied had little issue with this, and so while the two caravans stopped for a brief moment to compare maps and secure some small trades and information, both were in a hurry to continue their journey. Three wagons and a series of pack horses were not exactly the fasts mode of transporation. The journey that should have taken them fifteen to twenty days was taking an estimated thirty three. At least they had passed the half-way point a while back.
Mayra sighed as she thought about how much longer this journey would take. Hands probed her tent to gather her bedroll and blankets. Most of her supplied were carefully packed, which she had stacked to the side of her tent. The caravan allowed her to rent a mule to carry her things as she accompanied them. She was not a novice with handling animals, but the horses and mules were new to her and she often asked for help with caring for hers. She learned quickly that this particular pack animal was far sturdier than she had thought. He did not tire easily, and filled his stomach by grazing when they slowed or at night. She was instructed to give him grain in the mornings and evenings to supplement his diet though. One of the traders had said that while these animals could survive off of grazing alone, their travel did not allow them enough time to fill their stomachs. Black eyes flitted to her right, where her mule stood. His head was bent down, and she was never truly certain whether the animal was sleeping or simply standing there...
"Mayra." The man called her attention again, as she finished rolling the last ofher bedding, placing it ontop of an empty sack. Once she collected her tent all of it would go into the sack and loaded onto the mule. She turned to the human now, her mind slightly groggy and weighed down with the droll thoughts of travel. "In just a few bells, we should near the river. You must prepare."
"What was the river's name again?" She questioned, rising to her feet and turning to walk around her tent. She stopped at each corner, kicking the wooden pegs up from the grass as she passed. With each corner dislodged, the tent sunk further and further down into itself. By now the trader, Gerar, was used to her ignoring him, yet listening at the same time, so he was a little taken off by her question.
"Moresta, why do you ask?"
"No reason. How should I prepare." The question was more of a demand. Her usually velvety voice was rough now, since her throat was dry.She mostly interacted with this human because he had traveled this route so many times, he was her information provider. Too bad he often mistook this for friendship. It shouldn't matter, you will never see him again. She reminded herself, crouching at one corner of her tent. As she waited for the man to talk, she pulled the bamboo from the seems of the tent. She had traded her heavy Alvadian tent for a Kenashian one once she had reached the city, finding their tents much smaller and lighter for travel. Not only that, they were much simple to assemble and pack up.
"When we reach the river, we will no longer be travelling across the Kabrin road. There are many predators and animals that dare venture there more often. Although we may not encounter many, because it is still near Endrykas boundaries, it is best to be prepared. Keep your weapons handy and prepare to defend yourself." She listened as she listed ways to prepare. She didn't realize how different travel would be from following a road to following a river, but she did not doubt this trader's knowledge. As she listened, she collected the spine of her tent, piling the bamboo together. She took the canvas of the tent then, spreading it out so it was flat. After placing the bamboo parallel on one end, she began to roll the thing, using the strings of the entrance to tie the bundle together once it was done. Afterwards, her tent and bedding were stuffed neatly into the sack to be mounted on her mule.
"Gerar, are you going to prepare your own horse?" She tried to dismiss the man, who only seemed eager to talk to her. Most of the camp was waking now, many packing their temporary sleeping conditions and others turning towards breakfast. Warm smells of dried food being prepared filled the camp, and Gerar seemed to notice it as well.
"Oh, yes." He rose as well, turning to go. Before he had walked too far away, he turned back to her once more. Seeming to forget something. Mayra did not hold back the roll of her eyes as he called for her attention. She felt no guilt for being so annoyed by the human. She sort of enjoyed his companionship, but at other times he was simply nothing more than a nuisance to her peace and quiet. "Meet me at the tobacco wagon in half a bell. We are reviewing the trail, you can join us."
The half-breed yawned and stretched. Her hands could only stretch so far above her before the canvas of her single person tent blocked her movement. It was pitch black outside, and the inside of her temporary dwelling was no different. Her eyes adjusted rather quickly though, thanks to her Zith heritage. Her night vision was not the best, but when it came down to it, she preferred complete darkness to a torch. The introduction of light messed with her vision, so that it decreased to the intensity of what a human could see, which was very weak in her opinion.
"Morning." Speaking of humans. One of the men that she had grown used to on her journey greeted her as she crawled from her tent. She only nodded to the trader, who was stoking what was left of last night's fire. There were not much embers, but he was working on it. She saw no point. Within the bell, the entire camp would be awake with the sun and ready to move on. They were supposed to reach some river today. She couldn't remember the initial plans, since the past eighteen days had been nothign but following the droll Kabrin road. The most excitement that the caravan had seen was passing a slave caravan heading towards Kenash. The traders that she accompanied had little issue with this, and so while the two caravans stopped for a brief moment to compare maps and secure some small trades and information, both were in a hurry to continue their journey. Three wagons and a series of pack horses were not exactly the fasts mode of transporation. The journey that should have taken them fifteen to twenty days was taking an estimated thirty three. At least they had passed the half-way point a while back.
Mayra sighed as she thought about how much longer this journey would take. Hands probed her tent to gather her bedroll and blankets. Most of her supplied were carefully packed, which she had stacked to the side of her tent. The caravan allowed her to rent a mule to carry her things as she accompanied them. She was not a novice with handling animals, but the horses and mules were new to her and she often asked for help with caring for hers. She learned quickly that this particular pack animal was far sturdier than she had thought. He did not tire easily, and filled his stomach by grazing when they slowed or at night. She was instructed to give him grain in the mornings and evenings to supplement his diet though. One of the traders had said that while these animals could survive off of grazing alone, their travel did not allow them enough time to fill their stomachs. Black eyes flitted to her right, where her mule stood. His head was bent down, and she was never truly certain whether the animal was sleeping or simply standing there...
"Mayra." The man called her attention again, as she finished rolling the last ofher bedding, placing it ontop of an empty sack. Once she collected her tent all of it would go into the sack and loaded onto the mule. She turned to the human now, her mind slightly groggy and weighed down with the droll thoughts of travel. "In just a few bells, we should near the river. You must prepare."
"What was the river's name again?" She questioned, rising to her feet and turning to walk around her tent. She stopped at each corner, kicking the wooden pegs up from the grass as she passed. With each corner dislodged, the tent sunk further and further down into itself. By now the trader, Gerar, was used to her ignoring him, yet listening at the same time, so he was a little taken off by her question.
"Moresta, why do you ask?"
"No reason. How should I prepare." The question was more of a demand. Her usually velvety voice was rough now, since her throat was dry.She mostly interacted with this human because he had traveled this route so many times, he was her information provider. Too bad he often mistook this for friendship. It shouldn't matter, you will never see him again. She reminded herself, crouching at one corner of her tent. As she waited for the man to talk, she pulled the bamboo from the seems of the tent. She had traded her heavy Alvadian tent for a Kenashian one once she had reached the city, finding their tents much smaller and lighter for travel. Not only that, they were much simple to assemble and pack up.
"When we reach the river, we will no longer be travelling across the Kabrin road. There are many predators and animals that dare venture there more often. Although we may not encounter many, because it is still near Endrykas boundaries, it is best to be prepared. Keep your weapons handy and prepare to defend yourself." She listened as she listed ways to prepare. She didn't realize how different travel would be from following a road to following a river, but she did not doubt this trader's knowledge. As she listened, she collected the spine of her tent, piling the bamboo together. She took the canvas of the tent then, spreading it out so it was flat. After placing the bamboo parallel on one end, she began to roll the thing, using the strings of the entrance to tie the bundle together once it was done. Afterwards, her tent and bedding were stuffed neatly into the sack to be mounted on her mule.
"Gerar, are you going to prepare your own horse?" She tried to dismiss the man, who only seemed eager to talk to her. Most of the camp was waking now, many packing their temporary sleeping conditions and others turning towards breakfast. Warm smells of dried food being prepared filled the camp, and Gerar seemed to notice it as well.
"Oh, yes." He rose as well, turning to go. Before he had walked too far away, he turned back to her once more. Seeming to forget something. Mayra did not hold back the roll of her eyes as he called for her attention. She felt no guilt for being so annoyed by the human. She sort of enjoyed his companionship, but at other times he was simply nothing more than a nuisance to her peace and quiet. "Meet me at the tobacco wagon in half a bell. We are reviewing the trail, you can join us."
Common | Tawna | Thoughts | PC/NPC Talking
