Camping in the forest

[Lirael]

Kaidreni
Staring at the sky was one of Kai's favourite passtimes, almost as good as watching water. It meant she could slip into a kind of trance, she would listen to the natural noises around her, and then gradually shut everything else out. Sometimes she would pick up an instrument and just play and play untill she broke out of her trance and wanted to sing so loudly that the birds would jump off their purches and fly far into the forest. She could often carry a tune well, and could make up things, but never slip into the same trance. Running through a song in her head, she picked up her mandolin, and played while singing.

What would happen if the sky turned grey,
and the songs that I play left me for a day
What will happen when the music stops,,
and the dance slowed down, so the sky turned blue once more?

Dream with me, see those multi-colored rainbows,
sing with me, let your heart and soul dance the rythm of
Why will you, not live the life of shadows?
Come with me, you don't have to live all you life
at home.

Why don't you love the land we have?
it'll be gone tomorrow
Why would you leave the land I dream?
for something ordinary

Kai was not sure if it actually made sense, but deciding that was enough for today, she put away her small mandolin and dipped her feet in the cold stream running through the clearing. She would camp here tonight. She took out a small tinter-box out of her pocket, and collected some logs together, and tried to light a small fire. When it was crackling merrily, she slung her bags over a tree, along with the tack for her horse, that was graising a few metres away. She set out her bedroll and dug the latrine carfully, making sure she took the turf off, so that the next morning she could put it on again, and try to leave without a trace.
She cooked slowly, and at the end of it, she had a bowl of noodles, which she gobled up greedily. Kai washed it up in the stream, and then jumped into her bedroll.

[Saraneth]

Saraneth walked her mare, Starfire, along through the thick brush, holding her by her lead rein. At times like this she wished she had Briar, but his big bulk wouldn't be able to fit through these small trails. Behind Starfire, on a lead, was a packhorse by the name of Xylara. Saraneth's gear was packed onto the horse, although she had been sure to pack light.

A light ahead of them signaled the end of the thicket, meaning Saraneth could mount again. They came out next to a stream, whose clear blue water was sparkling brightly in the afternoon sunlight. Saraneth checked her map before remounting Starfire. She kicked her gently into a trot. As they were trotting along, a musical voice floated up to her on the wind.

What would happen if the sky turned grey,
and the songs that I play left me for a day
What will happen when the music stops,,
and the dance slowed down, so the sky turned blue once more?

Dream with me, see those multi-colored rainbows,
sing with me, let your heart and soul dance the rythm of
Why will you, not live the life of shadows?
Come with me, you don't have to live all you life
at home.

Why don't you love the land we have?
it'll be gone tomorrow
Why would you leave the land I dream?
for something ordinary

Somebody else was here! Who was it? Saraneth's curiosity had been aroused, so she turned Starfire towardst the voice.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" she called out.

[Lirael]

Hearing hooves a short distance away she clambered out of her bedroll, and slung her cloak around her, making ready to pack up quickly and vanish, it could be raiders. Folding up her bedroll she noticed that light from the moon shone on something, she focused on it and saw a woman with two horses, a pack horse and a nimble looking horse. Maybe if she hid, the woman wouldn't notice her... but surely she had seen the saddlebags and packs in the clearing, not to mention her own horse, Dienne. It would be foolish to hide. So she waited. In the middle of the clearing she watched the woman come nearer.

She tried to signal that she meant peace, but she was not sure the message had got across. Thinking of something to occupy her hands, she found small bits of kindling on the floor and fed the fire. Waiting. Waiting.

[Saraneth]

Saraneth rode closer to the woman, and soon Starfire was standing next to the other womans horse, grazing contentedly. She took Xylara off of the lead rein and picketed her out away from the other horses, since she could be somewhat tempermental with horses she didn't know.

Saraneth watched as the woman made the sign of 'peace' with her hands. Did she think that Saraneth meant her harm. Then again, she was wearing a sword, and she had some knives hidden on her person. She grinned sheepishly to herself.

I guess if you're camping alone out in the woods it's a good idea to be protected. she thought.

"Hello." she greeted the girl. "I'm Saraneth Charter. Are you here alone?" she asked curiously.

[Lirael]

Kaidreni waited still, Dienne did not make any move. THe woman grinned. She wondered if that meant that she would not attack? The woman's nimble looking horse stood next to Dienne, maybe that was a sign of friendliness?
"Hello. I'm Saraneth Charter. Are you here alone?"

The woman's tone was friendly enough. And she spoke in a language Kai could understand.
''Hello. Yes I am alone. I'm Kaidreni of Hollyrose. You can camp here if you like.''
She replied, feeling extrememly relieved that Saraneth meant no harm. She wondered where the woman came from. But she rolled out her bedroll again, and fed the fire some more.

[Saraneth]

Saraneth smiled gratefully.

"Thank you. I'm dead tired." she said. "We've been riding all day, trying to reach our destination. But you've picked a beautiful spot here." she said, glancing around in admiration. The sparkling stream flowed gracefully by.

"I should go grab Xylara from over there and picket her closer to camp. She has all my stuff still on her anyways. I'll be right back." she said, jogging over to her other horse, only to come back with her and picket her closer to Starfire, but away from Dienne. She unpacked her bedroll and clothes, and got some food from out of the saddlebags. She took feedbags out and attached them to Xy's and Starfire's halters. The horses munched contentdly on oats while Saraneth carefully groomed them until their coats shined and gleamed in the setting sun.

"So, are you here traveling or just for fun?" she asked Kaidreni casually.

[Lirael]

smiling for the first time she sat on the ground, and fed the fire a little more, watching as Saraneth led her horse back to the camp, unpacked and fed both her horses. Kai yawned slightly and tilted her head back into the sun.
''Just to get away from the parents really.''
She replied. She didn't really know why she had set out on that mysty morning, she had just decided what she needed was to go somewhere. But why? Maybe it was to have some time alone- but she had plenty of that at home. Not having that many friends to spend time with, she didn't really have any need to be with people. She supposed if she was at the balls and the formal dinners she might have Lady friends, who just sat around embroidering all day. No, she did not need that type of friend.

[Saraneth]

Saraneth kept a frown off of her face, though her emerald eyes sparkled thoughtfully. Was this woman hiding something from her? She looked like a noblewoman, though she certainly didn't act it. Saraneth grinned ruefully to herself. What was she thinking? She knew all sorts of noblewomen who didn't act as their stations required, like Jazz, Rose, Nicolet...they were all Lady Knights! Maybe this woman was the same...just confused about her path.

"So...you're from Hollyrose? I've never heard of that fief before...where's it located?" she asked, even though she had a wonderful knowledge of geography thanks to Claw.

[Lirael]

((sorry, I'm gonna have to make it up because I have NOOO idea.))
Studying Saraneth carefully for any emotion that she could read, she waited for her to speak again. She wasn't really the kind of girl that started a conversation first, she was too lost in her own thoughts to notice people around her usually. This did not make her selfish, or reserved. It was just in her nature to dream.

''It's southeast of corus, about twenty leagues from the Tusaine border. In the hill country. Not far from Tirragen.''
She said, trying to detail her reply with as much information as she could. She sensed thought on the other woman's face, she doubted it was about her fief. Probably about why she was there...

[Saraneth]

Saraneth subtly smoothed her face so that no trace of thought remained.

Don't be stupid Saraneth! she scolded herself softly. You don't know this girl well, for all you know she could very well be some renegade. Best to be cautious.

"Wow. Whats the landscaping like?" she asked casually, as she loosened Starfire's rope with magic so that she could wander over to her. The horse came to Saraneth and nuzzled her pockets, searching for some treats.

[Lirael]

Kaidreni felt a little surprised, after all these where very strange questions. She wondered why the woman asked them, her only possible explanation was that Saraneth was trying to make conversation. It felt like Saraneth was quizzing her, like she expected Kaidreni not to be able to answer, though Kai knew that she did not exactly act like all nobles, most people thought she was slightly mad from the way she could just stare into space.
"It's mostly hilly, with forest surrounding it and the manor in the middle." She answered, trying not to let her countinance show how random she thought the questions where.