[Open] Through the Valley and into the Mountains

[Dust]

Odessa’s ears flickered, catching the smallest of noises in such an enclosed area. She tried to ignore them as best she could. Mostly because she could care less about what the room was talking about, but also because she has been accused of listening into conversations more than once despite the former. She had found her seat at the bar, back to the rest of the room and unphased by the chorus of gasps, ooh’s, and ahh’s. She’s seen Crysiss’ ability to heal, she’s been a witness and a patient multiple times. The only thing that was more obnoxious than her insistence to help anyone they came across, was her generosity.

It, however, was her generosity that saved the strange creature that was Odessa. Or rather gave her direction and purpose. Instead of traveling around and stabbing at monsters when she crossed them, they now traveled as a group to aid the countryside. Odessa sure liked to complain, but Crysiss knew she secretly enjoyed it or otherwise the long eared worrier would not have stuck it out for this long. Maybe ‘enjoy’ was a bit of a strong adjective, but Odessa certainly did not hate it as much as she acted like she did.

After the ritual, the two outsiders were regarded with slight unimportance while two other NPC’s had a conversation with each other. Crysiss moved just a little closer to her companion without pulling from her ‘patient’s’ side completely. She held her hands together in the same innocent fashion she tended to while other people were making plans around her, Odessa wasn’t sure it was a habit or just a way to rest her wrist with those interesting accessories on them.

One human male talked to another human male, something about yet another human male who was apparently a guardian or at least important to the human female that laid on the table. Lyra - according to the glimpses of conversation - was better off now, less bleeding out and more breathing. Odessa half-heartedly wondered what the girl had been doing to get injured like that. Crysiss still struggled to listen in and follow what was happening.

Apparently, Jack and Gosh saved this girl, and now someone had to go find someone else. Odessa simply rolled her eyes and kneeled her head back down to stare at the amber colored liquid in her cup. It was whiskey. That’s all the Viera drank while in a bar. It wasn’t to forget, so much to keep her sedated while her memories flooded her mind without her consent. It was like when you have nothing left to do at the end of the day, so your brain brought up all the bad memories. If she didn’t make herself lazy enough she could be dangerous.

Crysiss asked her about her drinking once, after noticing she took a swig when something came up that she didn’t want to talk about. Odessa explained that it was discipline. What of that the Elven woman believed or could swallow has never come up in conversation, but it was technically true. The burning sensation across her tongue always kept it at bay when she had a lot more to say than a grunted ‘yeah’ or just a grunt.

Moments later, someone came running through the door with the look of pure horror on their face. He was paler than when he came back, and his eyes were wide and on the Inn keeper. He was speechless, unable to comprehend words through his fear. He stuttered in some attempt to display the urgency, but then it was the woman with the weapon at the bar that gathered his attention. He half dragged, half fell into Odessa grabbing her desperately and almost dragging her to the floor with him. Odessa pulled back, her scowl breaking the spell or terror had on him. “P-Please! The mines..” He grabbed her with more force, his hands trembling. He gave her a shake. “THE MINES!!” The woman could see past the cling, even with a drink in her, and saw the man’s needs.

Sucking her teeth she pushed him off with more force. The man is pushed into the stool next to her while Odessa stood, leaving her drink behind. “Let’s go.” She demanded of Crysiss who stiffened in her spot and looked back towards Lyra one last time before racing after her companion as best she could in flats. Worried about being left behind. She worried for nothing because as soon as she broke through the doors she smacked into the back of her friend.

Exiting the Inn it occurs to Crysiss that they may need help finding, but turning around she could see the billowing smoke rising. Without a word, Odessa leads the two person party towards their next objective. The blond haired woman watched before following just the same, praying that they could do something to help these people.