[IC] Botanist And Bards

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

Charlotte hardly listened to what the rabbit was saying. She heard some vague talk of being thanked for...something. Whatever it was? She had barely even introduced herself. The rabbit and Cait started talking about the land or something. She couldn't make sense of it in her current state. The smoke was still messing with her head too much for completely rational thought aside from dredging up some thoughts she would have rather stayed buried for now. Oh, and the fact that over the course of the years she had probably killed, experimented upon, and probably did some not so nice things to animals.

As Cait started speaking again though, she managed to pull herself from such thoughts and turned her head towards the other woman. Once again, she was commenting on her facial expression. With a grunt, Charlotte rested her right arm on her right knee, still holding onto the Canteen.

"Well, this is what it looks like when someones had their basic understanding of the world shattered." Charlotte replied grumpily, shaking her head. "Friends, eh?" She had a dilemma here she didn't know how she could possibly solve, except for carrying on like nothing had changed. But she didn't want to do that. Not at all. That wouldn't make her any better than those fools at the tower. She frowned, sighing and standing back up as she brushed some dirt off of her pants.

"...I need to take a walk." She said. Mostly, she just needed a bit of time to think of a solution to this problem. At the moment though, she didn't think she could entirely do it with this smoke clouding her judgement. "I need to think a bit and this smoke isn't helping." She turned and started to leave. "I'll be gone for a bit, but I am going to the mountain near the coast. I'll be back in a few hours."

Her voice was still serious, but it carried a lot less of its usual seeming hostility. If anything, it seemed more thoughtful. Or perhaps just tired.

[Roleplayer001]

Caitriona listened to Charlotte, frowning slightly. But on the other hand, she felt a little relieved despite the black haired girl's obvious distress. If the other woman had no knowledge of this situation and didn't think something of her 'friends' at all, the orange haired girl would have immediately gone to contact the great mothers for advice despite the current situation back with the group. Aislinn could be an annoyance, but even the frustrations she caused were minor in comparison to someone without remorse.

However letting the other woman go walking out in the middle of the night while she was experiencing the effects of the Sensation for the first time without knowing the workings of the land was a horrible, terrible idea. And besides, being in the Sensation alone was a sad and sometimes horrifying experience. The company of another named one was important and more joyful anyways.

Watching Charlotte begin to walk away, Caitriona rushed back into the cave and gathered a few things together before jogging after the other woman ... and remaining ten feet away after a little deliberation. Close enough to help or have a conversation if the other woman wanted it, but not so much as to crowd out her own thoughts if she needed to think for herself. Unless the other woman brought something up, the silence would last for about twenty minutes until a small voice broke the silence.

"Charlotte ... does the land where you live not shift with the seasons? Is that why a map works?" It was a random thought, but Caitriona finally understood what the other woman had been meaning to get at earlier.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

Charlotte had barely been paying attention when Cait followed her. She was vaguely aware of her presence, but mostly left herself alone with her thoughts. Occasionally, she'd crane her neck upwards through the trees of the forest, trying to catch a glimpse of the sky. It was clear enough, with a few clouds, but otherwise it'd have a good view if the foliage wasn't in the way. Stars were stars, even in this strange land and even if they were unfamiliar. Far away, unknown, even to the scholars of Astril, despite their attempts. She always liked the luminescent dots of light.

After some walking though, it became increasingly clear that she was thoroughly lost. Just a bit. At least, she had lost the location of the mountain. Unthinkable, considering she had memorized the path from her cave to the place quite easily, but something was different. She could tell simply from the way the landscape looked. Thankfully, Cait's voice quickly explained it, though she was asking a question. Land shifting with the seasons? She wasn't even going to question it after the talking animals. It was clear something here was fundamentally different than her usual laws of science and reason. Her normal vein of logic wouldn't work here. That both terrified, and excited her.

Right, she should answer instead of remaining silent probably.

"...no." She replied quietly, shaking her head. She had ended up walking far into the forest, the small cave that passed for her home at least a good distance away by now. Well, she had nothing better to do than talk right now. If Cait was curious, she might as well speak, at least a little. "The land is unchanging as stone. At least, any changes happen over great periods of time. Centuries, even. I assume that isn't the case here from that comment." When all other answers were exhausted, the remaining must be true no matter how improbable, after all. She sighed, shaking her head and turning to Cait. "We don't even have 'seasons', really. Everything is always blanketed in a thick layer of snow and ice sometimes deep enough for a man to fall into and never be seen again. If not, then it's one of the rocky mountains that seem to scrape the skies to the western edge of the land or one of the many pine forests. A few small grassy plains with small shrubs and bushes exist, but for the most part it is simply snow and ice. Not that I mind - Our people have grown quite accustomed to it over the centuries since we settled in the Tower. We can easily move around in a light cloak and clothing without too much trouble, as long as we do not plan to stay outdoors for long. If anything, the heat here is almost suffocating sometimes."

She looked towards the ground.

"Likewise, I am assuming you have guessed animals do not speak where I come from. Or at least, such a method of communication is unheard of among my people, though I doubt they would ever find it useful to any extent. The hunter rarely has need to communicate with its prey." She had to wonder if it even was a thing in some dusty tome in one of the libraries? It was quite possible. There were some books in there that hadn't been touched in ages because they had been deemed useless information or pursuits.

[Roleplayer001]

The native listened as the other woman discussed the moving terrain and comparing it to her land back home, only listening attentively aside from a slight nod to confirm the other woman's suspicions. A land of ice and snow sounded harsh, considering that the island itself never was required to encounter such climates on it's own. But Charlotte seemed to gloss over the 'tower' again, which seemed to be her real home in that land. Cait thought about asking a question about it for clarification, but the other woman started talking about her friends which the native decided was more important to handle at the moment. It was rather clear the other woman was bothered by it and before mentioning anything on the subject Caitriona moved closer.

"I assumed that was true based on how you screamed 'a-animals do not talk' in a voice that sounded like a pack of hungry wolves appeared before you." The native let out a slightly teasing smirk before sighing and giving the other woman a more serious look. Cait was still high and would have preferred to have this conversation at another point in time but it was clear the black haired woman needed the emotional attention now. The other woman would feel a comforting hand on her shoulder before the native said anything else. "Charlotte ... you have clearly been deep in the world that is your mind since you found that out."

The orange haired woman had come to her own conclusions about the other woman's hunting patterns on her own when she had left previously, although based on the distressed look the other girl had painted on her face it was likely she needed some guidance. "So your people consider the friends to be prey not to spoken with ... but you have spoken to the friends Charlotte. What did you think of it?"

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

"...difficult question, Cait." Charlotte replied. "On one hand, if they do indeed hold intelligence the same as humans, then why should we treat them any differently than a human?" That was the logical conclusion, at least. After all, just because someone looked different didn't mean they weren't inherently worse or different than you were. Granted, she always had problem with her attitude, but that was reserved for pretty much everyone since well, she objectively disliked most people. There was, however, a slight problem. Her craft, alchemy, inherently called for the parts of animals. Hearts, eyes, tongues...they even had to be relatively fresh or the effects of the potions could suffer.

"On the other hand," Charlotte frowned, turning her head to the side as she started talking. "My craft, alchemy, can not be done without the hunting of them. Essentially, it is the art of taking something from one thing, and turning it into something else. To put simply, breaking things down into their base essence and making something else from it. At least, that is the form of it I am most familiar with." She had read tales of other forms of it, though, and that was one of the reasons she was out here.

"I hunted that rabbit earlier for two reasons. Food, and for reagents. Certainly, I am more skilled with turning plants into useful potions and a good number of potions can be made with simply those, but an even wider number calls for items from both flora and fauna. If I were to suddenly stop, then I wouldn't be able to make a number of healing salves, things to enhance a humans natural abilities, items to defend myself with...things such as those." She looked back up at Cait. "And that is not something I can do. I have things I want...need to do, and I can't just stop using it." Should she explain? The chances of Cait understanding if she tried to explain were almost zero. Or at least, it'd require a length explanation she didn't entirely want to go through.

"...Someone asked me to become the best alchemist in the world for them." Charlotte said rather quietly. "And they are not someone I intend to disappoint or let down." She shook her head. Would she still want her to, even after she found out about this whole talking to animal business? Charlotte had no clue. She would probably spend entire days talking to the animals if she was here. "I am simply conflicted. If I stop, then I can't complete that goal. If I do, then what does that make me? A murderer? I suppose I could just ask for their recently deceased. Though the reagents need to be fresh. As in, preferably within half an hour of dying or else the reagents may not work as strongly or as well as they were intended too."

[Roleplayer001]

Caitriona listened patiently as the other woman rummaged through her thoughts, describing her internal debate regarding the killing of friends. Of course she had internally hoped that Charlotte would change her ways, but Caitriona was satisfied with there at least being some conflict. Although the other woman ended with the conclusion that she had to follow through with her promises, she clearly seemed to still feel some guilt regarding the entire issue. "Named ones have their own urges, and you lacked this knowledge. So do not feel guilty for what you did out of ignorance."

The native put a comforting hand on the other woman's shoulder, squeezing slightly and speaking in a soft and comforting tone. "If you did not feel any remorse though, that would make you a monster. But some of your teeth are like those of hunting beasts, and perhaps that is what you are meant to do. If you must kill friends to live like a wolf, then do so. I do not hate them for it either." Caitriona could only sympathize with that statement as she said it - this season would be a confusing mess for her if one of her own kind stumbled along.

However, the orange haired woman's eyes became serious as she looked at the other woman and spoke with a strong voice. "There are some things I ask of you though. I ask that you make sure their ends are quick and painless, and to place what is not needed out into the world so it may make life anew. Do not hold them captive from where they belong or take what is unneeded and become a scourge on the landscape. A land with too many wolves will bring about their own end." Life had cycles, and the predators would eventually surpass the prey in population. Soon they would begin to starve themselves.

"And make an effort to converse with them at times with me. It may be disturbing, but there is a hefty price to not hearing the world sing." The girl's hair continued to glow in the night as she looked at Charlotte, giving her a slight smile as she waited for a response.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

Charlotte was a bit relieved. She thought Cait might indeed, decide to leave after hearing her answer to that question. Not that she would have minded in the end - she did enjoy her solitude after all, but it was always nice to at least have someone around to talk too occasionally. Not that she'd ever admit that to anyone. Besides, she had just learned another interesting fact about Cait. Apparently her people didn't have canines. Hum, that would explain the whole meat problem. It wasn't a cultural thing, it was likely her people were simply completely herbivorous on some level. Curious. A few erm, experiments came to mind that she'd like to do, but she shoved them out of her head.

Why did her mind have to wonder so sometimes? She blamed the hair-smoke.

"Obviously." She crossed her arms, huffing in slight annoyance, though she didn't seem to mind Cait's touch too much as previously. "I don't just go around killing everything for giggles." Though, at times she did have a habit of taking more than she needed simply for...insurance and experimental purposes. the last bit about talking with them though made her frown a bit. That wasn't something she was too keen on doing, as reasonable of a request it was. She shouldn't let her own personal...hesitations get in the way of something after all. She doubted anything would happen in her somewhat muddled state.

"I suppose I could, though...I would prefer keeping a healthy distance if you don't mind." Charlotte replied. "It would be...difficult if I were to start making friends with all of them. Just..." Charlotte looked to the ground in hesitation for a few seconds before managing to continue, as if struggling with an unpleasant memory or two. "Mind-altering substances and I have a rather unpleasant history. I would prefer to keep such things to a minimum." Now that that was out of a way, Charlotte hummed quietly. She still had a question, or at least, something she wanted to do tonight even if a little.

"...You say the landscape changes around here. It might seem like a silly question, but is there a place that is relatively high enough to have a good view of the stars?"

[Roleplayer001]

Caitriona once again listened to the other woman talk, nodding as she continued to speak. "I understand it can be scary - some of the Great Mothers powers even unnerve me - but while I do not ask it of you daily it would be a good thing for you on occasion. It wouldn't be bad for me to learn of your abilities as well - the power to change one thing into another is no small feat." Cait finally released her grip as she thought about the other woman's final statement.

The strange foot cloths would be tossed to the ground as the native smiled. "Trees can be high enough to see the sky, and I brought a hammock as well." Reaching into her bag, the native found a nice looking oak and scurried up the tree with surprising speed, tying the large piece of cloth to two sturdy branches and after testing it hopping in. The sturdy things hardly moved an inch as they adjusted to the additional weight. The glowing hair poked out from the hammock as she looked down at the foreigner and yelled down with a degree of excitement and cheerfulness not present in their previous conversation. "Come on slow tall one, there's a nice breeze up here as well!"

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

She wanted her to do what now?

As Charlotte watched Cait quickly make an impromptu hammock, she merely stared. She expected her...to share...a hammock with her? Sleeping somewhat close together? Sure why not. Practically sleeping on top of the other girl? Not in a million years. She wanted to look at the stars, not have some other womans chest pressing into her in a - No, she was going to stop that thought before it even happened. With a deadpan expression, Charlotte looked up with a raised eyebrow and a small frown.

"Not in a million years." Charlotte replied with a grunt. "I'll come up there, but I'm not gonna sleep or something." Aside from not entirely being her idea of comfort, she was already feeling a bit warm and sleeping next to someone wasn't going to help that, even if there was a cool breeze blowing. With a small sigh, Charlotte easily made her way up to the top of the trees to where Cait's hammock was.

Well, she was right about the breeze, but this still wasn't exactly all that comfortable for her. She liked laying on flat ground with space enough between her and the next guy.

Meh.

Well, she could at least tolerate this somewhat for Cait. With a sigh, she shook her head and said nothing for now, merely gazing up wards towards the stars.

[Roleplayer001]

Cait was a little surprised the other woman even climbed the tree, or that she was even capable of climbing the large natural structure while she still was a little high. She'd apparently got quite a bit of practice in over the past week- certainly a change from that first day on the beach when she needed a little encouragement.

Of course, the other woman was probably unaware that one of the effects of feeling the sensation was sudden bouts of tiredness as it wore off, but the native felt at this point it would be better to be quiet about that if she planned on having any company up by the branches. Like Charlotte, the stars had always fascinated her and after a few minutes of silence with her glowing hair shifting slightly in the breeze the girl spoke with a quiet tone as if she wanted to not disturb the celestial bodies they were observing.

"Charlotte ... what do your people say about the stars?" Almost every culture had their own legends regarding the heavenly bodies or the roof of the night sky. Different names for the same thing across every land, and no matter where you were they would appear to be the same.

"The Great Mothers say that every star is like the sun, and that every one has their own planets surrounding them just like ours." That was the most believable part about the tales she heard as a kid. For the next part the orange haired girl sounded a bit more speculative, as if she was focusing on the metaphorical meaning of such an occurrence rather than what was actually happening. "Our greatest ones across many generations have said that most of those worlds are barren, many covered in ice or lava or simply made entirely of dust. But a few of them apparently have life, with people living just like us. Well, not just like. Some of them have powerful wizards with pets that look mostly like people, or wars involving weapons we cannot comprehend in a world without magic despite dreaming of it. Some of them even supposedly have the power to travel between these worlds in ships of melted stone. But apparently all of them are filled mostly with people just trying to live and love, despite the complications life can bring them."

For a few seconds, she let the moral message of the last sentence sink in as she thought about it. Then she giggled slightly as her voice sounded more teasing. "But every star also supposedly is a gigantic ball of fire consuming air rapidly by combining it into explosions. And each one could hold a millions of our world. And this explosion lasts for over a billion years. I'm a storyteller myself but even when I was a child I knew they were just trying to overwhelm me - but this world is large enough already, seems a little silly for them to add that as well, don't you think?" Cait looked over to Charlotte with a grin on her face, clearly disbelieving what the Great Mothers had told her.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

The...stars? Her people had a rather...odd relationship with the stars. They revered the bodies, and that inky blackness in general, and at the same time didn't think much of them. They didn't question their existence, and didn't try and explain them. To do so, would be folly according to ancient texts. Her people weren't very religious nor did they believe in many supernatural things, even if they accepted some things couldn't always be explained with logic and reason. When it came to stars though, they were oddly reverent.

Cait's explanation was completely and utterly foolish, though.

"I can't say how big our world is, since there's clearly things I have still yet to understand about it, but that is ridiculous." Charlotte replied, speaking of the whole talking animal thing. She didn't share Cait's grin however, merely looking at the other woman with a somewhat blank stare. Could she say her peoples beliefs were any better, though? She couldn't, honestly.

"My people...well truthfully, we have a rather...complicated relationship with them." She tried to think of a good way to put it in a way Cait might understand. "Most revere the stars as Guides, as well as beacons of safety and bringers of knowledge. There's an entire level in the tower that has an accurate depiction of the stars in the region, made out of bright gemstones embedded into the ceiling for study. It's called the Planetarium." She doubted Cait would have a word for that, but it was important regardless. "The tower is quite high up as well, and offers quite the pleasant views from its many balconies, and the observatory on the upper floors is one of the places I miss quite a bit..." Realizing she was getting a bit off topic, Charlotte cleared her throat.

"Erm, a bit off topic. Anyways. At the same time, my people think the stars are messages or messengers from some sort of powerful beings. Beings too powerful and alien for the human mind to really comprehend. They say that the cosmos, the night sky, and the stars, are domains of creatures far beyond humans current understanding and that is why the first Deacon Astril built the tower. He wanted to get closer to the sky and commune with these beings." She scoffed at the idea, though. "Of course, he never succeeded." Charlotte shook her head. "I don't believe them, but I'm not going to say I know what they are. They are what they are to me. Points of light in the sky useful for navigation and a pleasant distraction." After a small moment of silence, Charlotte hummed.

"Which gives me an idea. The sky is as unchanging as my homeland." She said, glancing over to Cait. "Would your people have ever mapped the stars? A Star Chart?"

[Roleplayer001]

The native listened to Charlotte speak, smirking initially as her ideas were called ridiculous but adopting a more intense and serious expression as eventually Charlotte started discussing the seriousness of the matter. The room sounded interesting for sure like most of the tower, but couldn't one simply look at the sky to admire them? Still though, it seemed Charlotte was a little homesick in spite of herself and the orange haired girl put a single comforting hand on top of Charlotte's, giving it a small squeeze before letting go and becoming lost in thought.

A star chart though, for navigation? All of the young girls were of course taught about the North Star before their hair was potent enough, but most of them favored speaking to friends if they were lost since it provided pleasant company anyways. "Perhaps the Great Mothers have one or maybe someone has painted one, but if I am understanding our purpose is accomplished differently. Since our terrain shifts, it is far more useful to speak to the friends for their guidance. Besides, they can warn of other dangers such as storms even by watching them. You don't have to hear them speak to be able to tell what they are saying most of the time." It probably wasn't a good idea to drift back to that subject though.

"Perhaps I could visit your tower one day. I feel it would help me understand you. Maybe I could show them about the friends even?" Caitriona already knew the other woman would reject that offer, or warn her against it. But despite that understanding, the smile of idealism crossed the orange haired girl's face. "Although, such grand structures aren't necessary to understand the world. Many peoples seem to seek raising them above the world ... but they all collapse in time. Not even the continents last forever."

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

Cait? Visit the Tower?

"You have no idea how bad of an idea that is." Charlotte replied with a yawn. It could only end badly, really. "The tower has lasted for at least passing of five hundred years." Urgh, she was tired. Probably the side effects of that smoke or whatever. Normally she didn't really get tired at all. Years of experimenting and other things made her used to late nights, and sleeping only as much as needed. Not to mention the various things she made to help with such things. "The ice does well to preserve things, and the upper parts of the tower have a thin layer of ice coating it. In time it will likely become entirely encased unless we decide to clean it, but I doubt they will." She yawned, unintentionally resting her head on Cait's shoulder. The ice was a great way to make sure something lasted, if it was cold enough. They even found ruins of other lost things, the Old World, as the scholars called it up there.

"...this smoke makes someone tired, doesn't it?" Truthfully, Charlotte disliked sleeping. Always better things one could do with their time than waste it doing some silly thing like sleeping. Besides, she had never slept well...especially recently. "I would prefer to wake within an hour or so and head back to the cave..."

[Roleplayer001]

Cait nodded as Charlotte said it was a bad idea, largely expecting that of the other woman. It was rather obvious that the sensation was having an effect on her, the alchemist yawning and resting her head against the native's arm. The orange haired girl smiled as the other girl questioned if it made people tired. Caitriona giggled slightly as she let out a small response. "It does have a strong calming effect, and the young ones tend to fall asleep around it." However the native had no intention of going back to the cave unless they woke up naturally, so instead she instinctually leaned towards the other woman as well and closed her own eyes.

Then she sung a soft lullaby. It would likely be too stylized for Charlotte to understand each individual word as they were drawn out or shortened to suit the music it would normally be played to, but it was about an eagle's journey through life as it went from a hatchling to learning to fly to leaving the nest and going out into the world to make one of it's own. The song was sweet and soft and meant to be sung to small children who were filled with worry.

By the end of the music, hopefully Charlotte would be asleep. Cait herself felt tired, and if the other woman had finally passed out she would snuggle up a bit closer and do the same.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

sleep came swiftly for Charlotte.

Unfortunately, it was not a peaceful sleep like Charlotte wanted, nor like what Cait likely hoped....

---

The cold floor of the prison numbed her skin...

"...lotte!"

Someone was speaking, but she couldn't place the voice. Her mind was hazy, like a cold blizzard was numbing her thoughts...

"Char....tte!"

The voice was familiar, but she couldn't place it. Then dull pain as something slammed into the side of her face.

"Charlotte!"

Like a switch her mind sifted through the blizzard, barely able to recall the name of whoever was speaking to her.

"Laur...ence?" She managed to groan out a reply. Everything on her body hurt, and she was freezing. Where was she, exactly? Memories were hazy, but nonexistent. A fight...Flora being taken...Flora...why was that name?..."Did you just...hit me?"

"Well you weren't waking up! The antidote was taking way to long."

"Antidote?"

"Jeez, you don't remember at all do you?"

"Where's Flora?" She groaned. "Where is she?"

---

To Cait, Charlotte would be rolling over in her sleep, seemingly unable to either get comfortable and muttering quietly. A few things stood out. The names 'Flora' and 'Laurence', as well as Charlotte shivering slightly and breaking out into a cold sweat. Several times, she came very close to rolling out of the hammock. If Cait didn't try to wake her up soon, she might either fall or wake up on her own, though either likely wouldn't do Charlotte much good.

[Roleplayer001]

Cait found herself wake up as the world seemed to shift beneath her, rubbing her eyes for a moment or two. She wasn't exactly sure when the two had ended up with their arms around each other, but any thought about how this would be fun to tease the black haired girl with disappeared after a brief look at Charlotte's face. The woman was obviously having a nightmare, muttering what sounded possibly like names and shivering with cold sweat running down her pale face.

The native sprung into action as soon as she came to her senses, shaking the other woman by the shoulder. "Charlotte! Charlotte! Wake up!" If that wasn't enough to wake her up, the orange haired girl would force herself to shake the other woman harder and scream louder until the black haired woman responded.

"Charlotte ... sorry ... you were having a nightmare." It was rather obvious that having such a thing in a hammock like this was bad for everyone involved, and Cait's face was wrought with worry for multiple reasons. "Are ... are you alright?"

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

"G-gah!" Charlotte sat up, almost slamming her face right into Caits as she was shook awake. Thankfully, it hadn't taken much to wake Charlotte up, but she didn't look like she was faring very well. After a few seconds of brief confusion and looking around, Charlotte focused back on Cait, taking a bit to process what she had asked. Right, it was just...a rather unpleasant dream. She looked at her hands, grasping at something invisible before shaking her head.

"I'm fine." She replied. "Nothing new...though that smoke of yours brought a rather unpleasant one." With a shake of her head and a frown Charlotte wordlessly made her way out of the hammock, no matter what protests Cait would have. She couldn't be slacking off like this. Not while she had something to do. "I'm going back. I have work to do." She bluntly replied. Tomorrow, she had something she'd ask Cait. Well, more like demand but at the moment it was fine for her to rest.

[Roleplayer001]

Cait frowned as it was clear Charlotte had done more than a little bit worried about what she had seen ... the native had never heard of the smoke being the cause of unpleasant dreams, though hadn't Charlotte mentioned something earlier about this entire situation? Either way, the orange haired girl nodded and packed up the hammock as the two scurried down the tree, heading back towards the little cave that the alchemist called home.

Unless the black haired woman had anything to speak about, the native would be largely content to be quiet. It was clear the other woman was bothered, but they were both tired and the native felt that it would be pointless to try and give advice while in this state. Instead, she would perfectly happy to lay down on the small bed they had made together and sleep once again there.

"Charlotte ... you should get some sleep, alright?"

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Charlotte LaChance~

---

"I'll sleep...later." She refrained from saying 'when she was dead'. Cait would probably find that statement very troubling, and she didn't want to put up with Cait's nonsense right now. "I have work I need to do. You should get some rest though...I'll be fine. Not my first all nighter and won't be the last." She couldn't sleep, not in the direction that last dream of hers was heading. She'd give it a few days before seriously sleeping again, and she'd be fine.

She shoved both the names and thoughts of other people from her head.

Unless Cait tried to do something else, Charlotte would work the rest of the night. The sound of bubbling liquids and the gentle scribbling of pen on paper would be the only thing she heard until well in the morning when Charlotte finally decided to rest. She left the cave, leaning on the outside of the cavern wall with her arms folded. She couldn't stay here any longer. She already had a basic understanding of the plants in the region. A few items were all she would need to make for a relatively safe trip and then she'd be ready to travel.

She just needed to know where she was going.

[Roleplayer001]

The native watched for a short time as the other woman continued to work, looking on with some concern. It was rather apparent the nightmares bothered the other woman, the sign of something being ill at peace in ones life according to the greatmothers. It was also rather obvious that bringing this up would likely only irritate the other woman and possibly make her more emotionally distant. Cait decided that she would have to satisfied with what she learned earlier in the night. Eventually she fell asleep to the sounds of the black haired woman working, and after a brief look around and a small bit of fruit in the morning walked outside the cave, giving Charlotte a serious look as she leaned back on the rock with her eyes closed.

Was ... was she alright? Had she fallen asleep standing up? "Did ... did you get any sleep Charlotte? Are you all right?" It was obvious the native's normal teasing and happy attitude had gradually drifted away the longer she spent around this somewhat deranged and mad woman. She had no concept of life or friends and was unable to sleep peacefully - obviously the way she lived took a toll on her psyche, but she continued to do so anyways.

Of course, acting so concerned would likely only annoy the woman. So instead the native put a smirk on her face and winked at the other woman before leaning in, wrapping a soft arm around Charlotte's back. Words whispered with a slightly musical tune followed, "I was a little lonely last night without you in there." It was slightly true, but for the most part the native was simply putting on a performance for the other woman to elicit some sort of response.