[sylvanSpider]

Kastivi always liked the forests they'd traveled through, despite the dangers they presented. The southern nations had trees, if you could call them that, but never like this, never with trees ancient enough to have been able to bear witness to the wars of eld. To her, each tree represented a miracle, something ancient and living and persevering. She'd be like the trees herself. She'd last through anything if it meant even sheltering her friends from the winds. Casting a glance to Christoval, she bit back the faintest of smiles. Yes, I will fight my hardest for them...

Arabella fumbled in her breast pocket for a moment and brought out the list. She wasn't sure why she still had it, honestly, but here she could show the barbarian, “Here it is. Again, I'm glad you're here despite some dunderhead at the guild hall.” Ara knew in her heart of hearts that with Deadwaltz there the party had an even higher chance of survival. Of them all, she probably had the most kills under her belt, but then, diplomacy didn't seem to be one of her strong suits. “Let's call for a brief break,” Ara answered the knight, “It's my turn for the weights, and it'll give Kastivi a well-earned break.” The girl grinned and sighed with relief as they came to a standstill and she crouched down to unfasten the weights, promptly handing them over to Arabella who put them in her pack.

“Well, you seem to be well on your way to becoming the most excellent of knights,” Kastivi said with a slight blush, keeping her eyes on the ground. “Yeah I'll say. Weight day is never easy on the legs.”

“It's not meant to be,” Ara chimed in, grinning.

“My soul is already gone, given to all the greedy adventurers over the years, kid. But fine, I'll save it for camp if you're that set on seeing me miserable,” Percival grumbled situating his flask back at his hip and pulling out his canteen. He took off the lid and held it out for Christoval to smell if he so chose, “It's water, see?”

“Actually, not our goddess. She encourages interdisciplinary learning. It's the only reason I know the two healing spells I know. Admittedly, I pursued fire-dancing more fervently than any other discipline, so I know less than I should,” Ara answered bluntly, acknowledging the attempt and promptly brushing it off as she watched the squirrel skitter back into the underbrush, “I actually greatly encourage it for my apprentice, so long as she doesn't get hurt.”