Twilight was in its infancy, the sunlight shifting into vibrant reds and oranges that streaked across the sky, the trees whispering in the winds. Or, for a moment, Maribelle thought they whispered, and then she realized how stupid that would have been. The trees and tall grass did not murmur magic, and the birds and insects did not sing for anything other than simple-minded communication amongst themselves. Simply, they were as they were, and she didn't care to think much else about it.
Not that it made the journey any less interesting. Admittedly, she found such simplicity -- which wasn't really simple at all -- more beautiful than any ham-fisted and lazy attempt at explaining such everyday phenomenon away with frivolities.
Did J feel the same? Part of Maribelle hoped so. She expected that sort of realism -- that sort of appreciation -- from the older woman. It was to be a disconnect from all of that misfortune, all of that...
"There is a species that contains some venom around here." Maribelle rambled as she led the way. The river was close by. One could hear the water rushing in the near distance. "I mean, that's all spiders, though. The orb weavers look dangerous, but they aren't so. The widows and recluses you will need to keep an eye out for. I don't know if it's true that they like them, but I usually find them by raspberry leaves, if not the dusty stones of home. Maybe they like raspberry leaf tea. I don't..."
"I found it." said the girl, turning to face J, "This is the one I've been looking for."
Underneath the hill by the riverbank was not an insect, or a spider, or anything of real excitement. No fireflies, no herbs for tea. It was an animal trap. A thin halszkaraptor thrashed in the shallows, blood draining into the water from where a snare was wrapped tight and digging into its leg. Briskly, Maribelle approached the raptor, brushing past the swaying reeds.
"It's not a duck. I would have liked duck to eat better than one of these, but meat is meat."
Maribelle hovered by the bird for a few moments, examining the trap. She could make quick work of it. "Do you remember where we set up?" she asked J, "I can bring it back on my own. Just take care not to draw anymore attention than need be. There's people out here, and even a pack of this thing's cousins. I'm sure of it." She cut herself off as the raptor shrieked. Then, her lip curled. "Start peeling and cutting up the vegetables, and set up a fire, too. I'll be there, and then after maybe we can dig for insects. But..."
But first, a more burning question.
"Can you... necromance, or whatever... what has been consumed? That would be useful. A lot of the time. But then you'd probably have to... raise, um... people's... shit. Right?"
maribelle depression follow-up
Maribelle led the way at a steady pace. She knew Valnier was older than she was, but granted he was only a year or so younger than her mentor, and her mentor was still plenty strong in spite of his age. So, she kept onwards, determined to reach the top of the hill where she knew the expanse of woodland showed itself most handsomely.
"It isn't that far of a walk, thankfully." She responded to his first question, but then the claws of uncertainly took her. He... wasn't like how he usually was. Or was she just making things up? ..She thought he actually saw her, and now, she was prone to a sort of disappointment she had endured time and time again. However, it was particularly discouraging this time. She thought... no, she was making things up, right? She always did that. Maybe he never gave a shit about how she thought about his insects, or maybe their first meeting was just all fancies and formalities, and...
Well, it was enough thought for her to keep her face turned away from him for most of the journey, as to hide the sadness in her dark eyes. She should have known that he was a liar, just like everybody else! No one really liked her, did they? Not anymore. Was that her fault? Was she just annoying him with all of those questions?
The hurt in her chest lingered and burned. Her lip tightened. She buried her sigh under a hefty breath as she hoisted herself up a steep ridge.
When they came to the top of the hill, that uneasiness did not fade. It was a hole in her stomach and it made her want to throw up. Did her mentor make him tag along with her? ..What did he want from her? Why did he come with her? Why couldn't she think of anything else to say? Why was...
She hated that she was like this.
"It's just pretty." She stated sorely, numbly. She couldn't even take in the masterpiece of land like she did when she first found it, and instead spoke in a voice that was nearly inaudible, though forced out, devoid of all emotion. "You can go now. I can find my own way home."
