MysidiaDrakkenbane

"Is that Blackburrow?", Mysidia asked as they came over top a hill. There was a rather dilapidated wooden entrance in the shape of a crude bestial mouth. The doors were held together by crossed over wooden pieces, which looked like scraps. It didn't seem like the door was very sturdy, which would explain the groups of gnolls that milled around on the outside.

"Yes.", Aust said quietly as he studied each gnoll carefully. The gnolls hadn't seen them yet so they both pressed on closer to the group. Gnolls relied on their sense of smell more than their eyesight. And since both Mysidia's and Aust's scent hadn't caught up on the breeze, the gnolls didn't even bother to look up from what they were doing.

"I can't believe after all these years, it still stands.", Mysidia said in a low murmur. She began to read Aust's movements and kept her voice barely above a whisper. In the years that she had been with Machene, she taught herself to read the body language of whomever she was hunting with. She could tell that she had to be on her guard now, coming this close to them.

Aust dismounted his horse and quickly retrieved his bow and arrows from his horse's pack. "You have the ability to meld into hide yourself in the shadows, yes?", Aust asked looking up at her.

She sighed frustrated, "I've been practicing. It's not currently done the way I remember.", she said and dismounted.

Aust went into his bag and took out a small carved statue. She looked at it for a moment and her eyebrows furled with great curiosity as she saw whips of colored light swirl over it, causing parts of it to blend into the colors around it. He turned around and handed it to her.

"Here. This totem I bought will help keep you hidden amongst them.", he said as his image slowly started to shimmer into nothingness.

Mysidia looked down at the totem confused. She shrugged and closed her eyes, trying to activate the magic she felt in it. She used her older methods that she remembered, to activate it. When she opened her eyes, nothing.

She sighed, frustrated, and tried again. This time she decided to go at it the same way she summoned the bolts of ice that killed some of the gnolls. When she opened her eyes, nothing. She could still see herself. She cursed under her breath. Aust was impressed with her colorful use of the Common Language. He surmised she could probably put many drunken barbarians to shame. More than likely, that's where she got it from.

She wiggled her entire body and pushed her lips tight, full of determination. She closed her eyes and focused on the magic of the item itself, instead of trying to manipulate the magic within it. She felt her skin get increasingly cold, almost to the point of pain. When she opened up her eyes, she didn't see anything. The image of her former self was gone. It worked.

"HA! HA!", she said and skipped around happily. She figured something out herself without having to ask a barrage of questions. She watched as the grass beneath her feet bent but nothing betrayed what bent the grass. She skipped happily around, not paying attention to where she was going or what she was doing. She also didn't see the rock in front of her and she tripped and fell square on her derriere.

Aust laughed outright. "So graceful, are the Rydian's.", he chided.

"Cut it, fur ball, or I'll smite you hip and thigh.", Mysidia said getting up completely embarrassed. She thanked the gods that the invisibility she placed on herself hid the 30 shades of red she had become from the embarrassment.

She lifted her chin and walked straight over towards the front door of Blackburrow. Aust shook his head as he followed his overly confident companion. They both made it in without incident, although a few times he had to make a small noise or two to remind Mysidia that now was not the time to attack or be brave.

Once inside, Aust shimmered into sight again and Mysidia waved her hand to release the spell on her. Aust turned to arm his bow and arrow and shook his head.

"Are you always this brash?", he asked slightly annoyed.

"Are you always this conservative? What… do you want to live forever?", Mysidia asked and winked.

Aust was about to answer when the simplicity of the question stopped him. She couldn't understand. She didn't have children to raise. Although living for the moment always appealed to him. And a little bravery never really hurt anyone…did it? Even if it hurt him, he had her. She could easily heal any wound inflicted by sheer bravery. Perhaps he should ..live a little.

He began to pluck out his arrows and the gnolls began to drop like flies. Each one he took aim on, Mysidia would concentrate to cast, but every time she'd get close to releasing the spell, the gnoll would fall over dead. Mysidia's jaw dropped. This ranger was single handedly taking out the entire gnoll camp.

"Where were you 500 years ago…?", Mysidia asked stunned. "Tunare's teeth, you could have won the war for us."

Aust gave a small chuckle and continued to take out a few more gnolls. When he saw the coast was clear, he continued to make his way in.

"What exactly are we doing here?", Mysidia asked.

"Some of the Qeynosians enjoy gnoll pelts.", Aust said getting down to skin one. He looked up at the confused woman. "Hey, I don't make the market, I just sell in it."

Mysidia began to kick at the ground looking for something to do. She could have at least had SOME entertainment helping to kill the gnolls, but Aust quickly disposed of them and Mysidia was left to her own devices.

"Don't wander too far. Gnolls don't exactly like you.", Aust said putting a hide in his bag.

"Gnolls don't like anyone.", Mysidia said and picked up a rock. She took aim and threw it at a large boulder. It bounced off and rolled down a carved corridor. Mysidia picked up another rock and did it again. She winced when she heard a rather loud crash the second time. She looked over at Aust who was still busy skinning away. Good, he didn't hear.

"Ouch! Would you MIND? It's strange, I know, but some people don't LIKE having a lumpy skull.", a small velvety voice said and echoed in the corridor. The voice held a small purr, but it wasn't a cat's purr. It was an animalistic reverberation, though. Mysidia immediately got her sword and shield ready, obviously taken off guard that anyone else was around.

Out of the darkness, a small figure began to make its way towards Mysidia. The figure wasn't any taller than your average dwarf but much thinner. Mysidia turned her head from side to side to get a better look.

"Oh put those down. I'm not going to attack you.", the voice said and came into the light. The figure that followed the small voice shocked Mysidia indeed. A small rat looking figure, dressed in a robe walked up to Mysidia. The rat had a pair of tinted glasses on and the look on his furry face wasn't exactly happy.

"What in the nine hells, are you?", Mysidia asked completely stunned and confused.

"Do you live under a rock or something, lady? You've never seen a Ratonga before?", the rat humanoid asked her.

She was about to answer when Aust came up beside her. "Ah, James! Well met.", Aust said and shook the little rat's hand.

Mysidia stood back and looked up at the large cat man and then at the small rat man. She shook her head and began to walk away. "I can't take much more of this. The insanity of nature is driving ME mad."

"What's eaten her?", James asked watching Mysidia walk away.

Aust took in a deep breath and sighed. "Nothing, yet. With her attitude, though, give her time."

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