Kayle smiled calmly at the woman as she rose, hoping to disarm her fear. Â "No love, we're not bandits. Â Truth telling, there are worse things to fear out here though. Â We've been conscripted by the Sultanate in Ul'Dah to bring some stability and peace to the area, by order of the Immortal Flames. Come, sit a moment with us by the water. Â It's cooler in the shade, and your poor bird looks like it could use a drink." Â He made a clicking noise at Redwind, and patted his thigh as he led the young woman to Desmond's rucksack. Â The bird calmly sidled along side to his right, looking curiously at the Miqo'te's mount. Â
"It's young, I'd wager?" Kayle asked her, motioning to her chocobo. Â "Quite playful that one. Â Try spending some time with it; playing, walking. Â It's still not used to you scent or intentions. Â Here, give it some of these" he said as he reached into his belt and produced some pungent roughage, slightly wilted. Â "They're pickled and dried, but Redwind loves them just before I brush her down for the eve."
Her trepidation hung thick over the group as Kayle valiantly tried to assert their intentions to ease her mind.  "You know, love, there's something about the edge of the water that's always calmed me."  He led her to the edge of the oasis and removed some of his gear from it's place on Redwind.  He pulled a small bit of dried fish from his pack and offered it with a grin to the young woman.  He passed his gaze between the two men and held up what appeared to be the remainder of his food to them as well.
"I didn't grow up here, you know.  I used to live far, far North.  Farther North than I can remember, truth told.  My family and I, we started travelling when I was very young, and we never settled in one spot for too long.  One day, we came to a small harbor village on the Eastern coast.  There wasn't much to see there, but as it happens it's where the folk from the area migrated to.  There was laughter, trading of goods, and people knew what it meant to be happy despite the world around them."  Kayle's gaze traveled away from the group to the water, and beyond.  "You know, for the life of me, I can't remember the name of that place, but I remember the driftwood.  It gathered at the water's edge, much like the people, arriving from Twelve know where, gathering with others like it.  Waiting for a new life, to make use of themselves.  Withered and beaten, they huddled together and made a home." Â
Kayle looked up from his daydream to find the group blankly staring at him.  He felt the blood rush to his cheeks as he embarrassingly stood and tried desperately to divert attention elsewhere.  "Ah, you see!  There now."  He motioned to the young woman's bird as it padded over to her and playfully cooed before settling next to her and resting it's head across the woman's shoulder.  "Does it have a name?"
"It's young, I'd wager?" Kayle asked her, motioning to her chocobo. Â "Quite playful that one. Â Try spending some time with it; playing, walking. Â It's still not used to you scent or intentions. Â Here, give it some of these" he said as he reached into his belt and produced some pungent roughage, slightly wilted. Â "They're pickled and dried, but Redwind loves them just before I brush her down for the eve."
Her trepidation hung thick over the group as Kayle valiantly tried to assert their intentions to ease her mind.  "You know, love, there's something about the edge of the water that's always calmed me."  He led her to the edge of the oasis and removed some of his gear from it's place on Redwind.  He pulled a small bit of dried fish from his pack and offered it with a grin to the young woman.  He passed his gaze between the two men and held up what appeared to be the remainder of his food to them as well.
"I didn't grow up here, you know.  I used to live far, far North.  Farther North than I can remember, truth told.  My family and I, we started travelling when I was very young, and we never settled in one spot for too long.  One day, we came to a small harbor village on the Eastern coast.  There wasn't much to see there, but as it happens it's where the folk from the area migrated to.  There was laughter, trading of goods, and people knew what it meant to be happy despite the world around them."  Kayle's gaze traveled away from the group to the water, and beyond.  "You know, for the life of me, I can't remember the name of that place, but I remember the driftwood.  It gathered at the water's edge, much like the people, arriving from Twelve know where, gathering with others like it.  Waiting for a new life, to make use of themselves.  Withered and beaten, they huddled together and made a home." Â
Kayle looked up from his daydream to find the group blankly staring at him.  He felt the blood rush to his cheeks as he embarrassingly stood and tried desperately to divert attention elsewhere.  "Ah, you see!  There now."  He motioned to the young woman's bird as it padded over to her and playfully cooed before settling next to her and resting it's head across the woman's shoulder.  "Does it have a name?"
![[Image: Driftwood.png]](https://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/wiki/images/6/63/Driftwood.png)
