[sylvanSpider]

Arabella could see the confusion growing on Deadwatltz's face at her lack of noticing the insult. The truth was, she did know that it was an insult, it was just a matter of disregarding it. “Well, Deadwaltz, I was pleased seeing you here too, and I'm glad that despite your not being on the list that you decided to join us on our humble expedition. Unfortunately, there are more than a few of these bad omens about, though I do not yet know where they point.” The halfling's happy spirit didn't seem to diminish as the party made their way deeper into the forest. On the contrary, she seemed to not mind any of the others in the party, including the dark mage who she had exchanged unpleasant words with the night before. She was determined to make this quest a success, and if the dark mage was willing to teach her apprentice a thing or two, she would be all the better for it. Not all magic was light, and the same went for fire magics. When used wrong, it could become as dark as the black magic. Kastivi needed to see. The last thing she needed was protection.

Kastivi shifted her pack on her shoulders. It was a heavy pack, but she knew that as the journey wore on it would get lighter. Food rations, after all, were finite and her load would lessen as they were consumed. Her spirits, unlike her master, were low, and it took all of her concentration to make sure that she kept lifting her weight laden ankles high enough that each step wouldn't drag. Feet dragging soon became an impossibility as the trail grew narrower, less maintained. She wondered idly who it was that created this path, and what business they had in the forest, or if it would eventually dwindle down to nothing. Merchants would obviously have a tough time getting through here, and she expected that one the other side (if indeed there was one) there would be a completely different culture. She'd seen that before, once, when crossing the mountains. Two very different peoples separated by some geologic divider would have two completely different mindsets despite a close proximity. She smiled up at the knight, “I won't get stronger if I am handheld through it all, now will I? I feel like that is something you know well by now.”

Percival clamped his mouth shut. Deadwaltz was right, of course, despite how crude she was. But then, the truest of words are often spoken by the least educated of minds and her lack of eloquence made her no less intelligent. He'd seen her action before, and there was no denying her talent. “Alright, alright. I was merely proposing a cease fire, was all.” Even as he said this, his hand was going back to his flask so he could take one last swig before placing the precious liquid back in its place on his hip. “Then, I eagerly await your conclusion, sir knight-in-training.”

“I cannot give her anymore than she has herself. I can watch the confrontation and come to her aid if things get dire, if that is suggested, but this is a field I know little about,” Arabella answered, somewhat baffled at her animosity towards squirrels. Ara saw them as harmless, and occasionally, fun to watch. The creature had to be given some credit for living this long in a forest infested with monsters.