Edda listened patiently to the man describe his home. It was an honest effort, that much was obvious, but as he finished and sighed, the irritation upon his face was telling. He looked as tired as she felt after hearing his description, and the woman wondered off-hand if she should teach him other words for ‘cold.’ It would explain his apparent comfort in the current weather, and though it was not quite what she had been hoping to hear of, it would do for now. She had no way of knowing exactly where he came from based on his description alone, but if he was not from Eorzea, then he must have come from Othard, if not further.
Turning away from the man, Edda rummaged through her satchel to bring out her rain coat. It was not heavy, but enough to protect from the elements. It seemed wasted on the Xaela, who appeared enviably unaffected by the drop in temperature brought about by nightfall. Instead, she stood and draped it over Gullinbursti, who had curled up between the side of her tent and a boulder. His plumage was thick, but for some reason she felt the need to take extra care, as if what little control she had here would slip away from her as she slept. Edda collected the unused vial of warming potion by Khadai and pocketed it, before lifting the lantern, still burning, and placing it closer to the Au Ra.
“If you would like to put it out, you may do so,†she said to him, motioning to the lantern. She hesitated for a moment and bit her lip. There was a desire to voice her uncertainty for his comfort, but she felt silly doing so now. He was resourceful, to have made it this far – a little cold would not kill him now. Or so she hoped. She cared little for him on a personal level, having only just encountered him in a rather unpleasant manner, but it was clear he was not a bad person. Far from the heartless murderer she had first taken him for, but that was neither here nor there.
“I am going to rest for the night. We have a full sun’s worth of travel tomorrow, so I suggest you do the same. If we make good time, we should reach Dragonhead by nightfall. You may query me as much as you like tomorrow.†She hesitated, before uncorking the green bottle she still held, and drinking all of it. It had a murky, bitter taste, but she was becoming quite used to it, and crawled into her tent thereafter. Edda curled up beneath the heavy blanket. She shivered, still touched by the frigid air, before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Turning away from the man, Edda rummaged through her satchel to bring out her rain coat. It was not heavy, but enough to protect from the elements. It seemed wasted on the Xaela, who appeared enviably unaffected by the drop in temperature brought about by nightfall. Instead, she stood and draped it over Gullinbursti, who had curled up between the side of her tent and a boulder. His plumage was thick, but for some reason she felt the need to take extra care, as if what little control she had here would slip away from her as she slept. Edda collected the unused vial of warming potion by Khadai and pocketed it, before lifting the lantern, still burning, and placing it closer to the Au Ra.
“If you would like to put it out, you may do so,†she said to him, motioning to the lantern. She hesitated for a moment and bit her lip. There was a desire to voice her uncertainty for his comfort, but she felt silly doing so now. He was resourceful, to have made it this far – a little cold would not kill him now. Or so she hoped. She cared little for him on a personal level, having only just encountered him in a rather unpleasant manner, but it was clear he was not a bad person. Far from the heartless murderer she had first taken him for, but that was neither here nor there.
“I am going to rest for the night. We have a full sun’s worth of travel tomorrow, so I suggest you do the same. If we make good time, we should reach Dragonhead by nightfall. You may query me as much as you like tomorrow.†She hesitated, before uncorking the green bottle she still held, and drinking all of it. It had a murky, bitter taste, but she was becoming quite used to it, and crawled into her tent thereafter. Edda curled up beneath the heavy blanket. She shivered, still touched by the frigid air, before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.
