Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The Thief and the Fox (1x1 Closed RP)

Ophelia got up and gathered her things. The cave was empty as if no one else but her had stayed for the night and she sighed, throwing on her clothes and getting ready for yet another day of wandering the lands alone. As she stepped out into the light, she was greeted by a familiar face: Kitsu's. And Kitsu was shaking her. Why was she shaking her?

"Hmm...?" she sighed and mumbled incoherencies at the girl as she slowly awoke. "Where'd you go?" she said before rolling on her back to stare up at her. "Oh. Dreaming. For a second there I thought you ran off with Fallon already," she said with a yawn. She sat up and stretched. Fallon was awake too. She figured he'll be tagging along for the rest of the trip meaning she'd have to look good to Fallon. For Kitsu's sake. Or at least tone down stealing until he was gone.

"We're cutting through the swamps, if you don't mind. Have someone to meet there. Plus it's more of a direct route to the college rather than following the main path up and down the coast line.

Fallon was putting on his coat by then, buttoning it up. He would give a shrug to Ophelia, and say, "Doesn't matter to me. I'm not really in any hurry to get back." Kitsu would smile at him, and then back her way to her's and Ophelia's things and begin putting away anything that had fallen out.

Once she had, she would bring Ophelia any clothing that she was missing, much like a loyal dog would. She smiled at Ophelia, feeling quite happy after last night.

Once Ophelia was ready, Fallon would take down his wall of ice, letting the cold air in. The temperature difference was noticeable immediately. And, just outside of the entrance, was a set of huge footprints. Mostly likely from the beast outside, trying to get in.

"Well I'm glad," Ophelia said to Fallon with a smile. "Not too many people like going through the swamp. There are leeches and mosquitoes and all kinds of gross things there. Not to mention... the swamp monster." She can't help it. It's a habit. Kitsu was so gullible sometimes that she couldn't help but tease her that way... Though her recent made up stories were coming true. That was odd considering she only used the tiara around the time the first encounter with the ghost happened.

When Kitsu handed her her coat, she smiled at her and threw it on and tied it securely around her before wrapping what was left of their supplies into the bed roll which consisted of a day's worth of food enough to feed one person. She checked her satchel and saw the small glint of the tiara before tucking it under her coat. As soon as she stepped outside however, she suddenly wanted to go back in. It was cold. The fog hadn't moved. Of course it wouldn't The place was shaped like a bowl, leaving little chance for the clouds inside to escape. "Let's hope the monster doesn't smell the food. Come on. The sooner we get out of here, the better.

Fallon nodded his head and moved out. Kitsu, on the other hand, had already returned to clinging to someone because of the threat of a monster ahead. Another monster. A swamp monster. What if they ran into that one too?

But, she had clung to Fallon this time, instead of Ophelia. "D-do you really think there is a swamp monster?" she asked him, clinging on his arm. He gave an amused smile and looked at her, his words muffled by his coat.

"I doubt it, but you never know. Don't worry, you have a mage with you, to keep you safe." He continued on, climbing up out of the basin on the mountain, and then down the other side, which was just as treacherous.

She had actually expected Kitsu to be on her arm for the third time and even looked over only to see the girl hanging on to Fallon. Her jaw fell open slightly and she felt that same sensation again. The twinge of in her chest that caused her to look away. She was supposed to tell her about the swamp monster and how it hunted. She wanted to reassure Kitsu that the girl was fine so long as she was around.

Ophelia cleared her throat loudly, tightening the wrappings around her as she went ahead of the two. "Come on, you two lovebirds," she said in a friendly tone, "We'll see if Fallon can keep his word."

As they descended down the steep road, Ophelia encountered some good news. Her horse from yesterday was grazing nearby, surprisingly unharmed from yesterdays attack. She quickly stroed over, startling the horse for a moment when she approached before she threw her things over its back and hopped on. She paused a moment, looking at both Fallon and Kitsu. "You two want a ride? I got room for one more. Both actually. I can walk."

Fallon looked to the horse, and then to Ophelia. "No, no," he said, holding up his hands. "I try to be a gentleman, so I'll let the ladies ride."

Kitsu smiled to him, and then reached up for Ophelia's hand, letting her pull her up. She would straddle behind the thief and wrapped her arms around her waist. "Let's go! I'm excited to get to the mage school." Maybe, by the time they got there, Fallon would ask her to stay with him.

This is better, Ophelia thought when she felt Kitsu wrap her arms around her waist and she had the sudden urge to stick her tongue out at Fallon. Still, he was very kind. She gave him that. Kitsu definitely knew how to pick out the courteous ones. She kicked at the horses sides and it decended.

"You seem awfully happy this morning," she whispered to the girl, "Did anything good happen while I had my back turned? Give me all the details."

"Oh," Kitsu started, thinking back to the previous night. "Nothing really happened. We just talked, and then we slept on the same blanket. I think, during the night, a moved up against his back. But, that was nice. I felt safe." She blushed a bit, and unknowingly tightened her hold around Ophelia.

"Now, this is what I don't like... Girls whispering to each other. Makes me feel self conscious," Fallon said, giving a little laugh and looking at them.

"Ah, sorry," Kitsu said, laughing as well. "It is nothing bad, I promise."

"Well, that is good," he replied.

"Nothing bad at all~" Ophelia reassured before whispering back to Kitsu, "Your squeezing a bit ttoo tight, Kitsu. But it's alright. It's cute. And if I could guess right now, I bet you're blushing. Don't worry, you're actually making really good progress with him. I'll be helping you all the way so you'll have him in the bag in no time."

They continued down and the weather grew warmer. Thankfully no monster was after them the entire time and it wasn't long before they reached the humid swamplands. The roads had grown wider but that didn't necessarily mean more walking friendly. There were numerous puddles and random areas where the horse's hooves would sink in. That and the tall grass made it hard to see where they were walking.

The sudden change of temperature was welcomed, but at the same time made it uncomfortable. Fallon easily shed his coat, and placed it in his bag. But, for Kitsu, it wasn't that simple. Her extra clothing was underneath her normal wear. So, she would just have to endure until they stopped somewhere she could change.

Her eyes glanced around them, as if looking for a beast to suddenly pop out and try to attack them, but nothing seemed out of the normal here.

"Who is it you have to meet, Ophelia?" Fallon would ask, avoiding a puddle for the ump-teenth time.

The same went for Ophelia as the weather grew warmer, she took more and more layers off until she was wearing a simple linen shirt and shorts. "Hmm? Oh my friend?" Ophelia asked as she heard movement and saw the water ripple out towards the roadside. Something was beyond the grass. Something big. And she hoped it wasn't an alligator. Suddenly there came a yell from just over the wall of grass and a large being, its body lined with spiky hair, appeared on the road. It used its forearms like a gorilla and came charging at the three. The horse reared back, threatening to knock the riders off, again, but Ophelia was ready this time. "Hold your ground!" she said as it charged in. Ophelia reached back behind Kitsu, drawing out the bag of food and she threw it on the ground before them, causing the being to slow to a halt. It's yell dying out into a rough squeak. It looked at the food, then up at Ophelia, its eyes hidden in the thick hairs.

"Take it, you dumb lout. I brought it all the way here for you," Ophelia said.

"O-Ophelia?" the being said, sounding more human than his body let on. Suddenly the monster tore off its hair, revealing the face of an aged man with receding grey hair. He didn't look too happy to see her. "What are you doing here? Who are these people with you?"

"I brought you some food. I already said that. These are my friends. Kitsu and her boyfriend Fallon. Guys, this is Herbie, the hermit inventor."

Kitsu nearly had a heart attack when the creature came out of the swamp. Even Fallon himself looked like he was completely caught off guard. He had almost been ready to attack before Ophelia threw down some food on the ground in front of it. It stopped and looked at it, and both Kitsu and Fallon were surprised to see a man.

Kitsu, nearly on the verge of passing out, let out a huge sigh of relief. She listened as Ophelia spoke to the hermit, and she said, "Who is this?" She had been told he was Hermie, the hermit inventor, but, who was he? What relation did he have to Ophelia.

The old man looked them over, his frown growing into more of a scowl as he went over each new face. Finally he gave an annoyed grunt and picked up the food before motioning them to follow him off the road and into a smaller beaten path behind thick grass. Ophelia looked at the others and steered the horse after him. "He's an old man," Ophelia began, "One of the very few I could consider my friend. You're included, Kitsu."

"Ha! Friend? More like a business partner. That or someone who can hide-" He cut off when he saw Ophelia signalling him to shut it as she secretly pointed at Fallon. "Er... Ah forget it. She's more of a mooch than anything else. Basically, she gives me stuff to work with. I give her a place to stay."

"He's also a mage. Dropped out of the college several years back. Or was it kicked out?" Ophelia said stifling a laugh. To which the old man merely grunted as they reached his home. It wasn't really much to look at from the outside. Basically it was a mound of dirt with a door that led inside. Laying about just outside the mound, however, was a small garden bearing vegetation enough to sustain one man. It was bordered by saw grass and weeping willows which did well in hiding everything from anyone looking at that area from the main road. "Not much to look at out here but he actually has some amazing stuff in his house."

"Yes, thanks for inviting them inside for me. I really enjoy forced company. But really. Why are you here?" Herbie said, tossing the head of hair, which apparently was just wiry grass, on a small wooden chair by the door.

Ophelia shrugged. "Just wanted to see you is all."

"Yeah. Right."

"No, really," Ophelia said sincerely, "was cutting through the swamp. Have some stories to tell you. We're going to stop by the swamp city nearby and thought you might want to come with us."

Herbie shook his head. "Bullshit. And what about these two? Who are they to you?"

Kitsu would just follow the two leading them, not really understanding why they were hear. Ophelia claimed this man was a friend, but he didn't really seem like one. So, she would just watch them as they interacted. Fallon, on the other hand, was very interested in the relationship between the two. Especially when he was told this old man had once been a student at the mage college. He wondered why he had left.

Kitsu would speak when the old man asked their relation to Ophelia. "Ah, I am just a friend. She was helping me find, Fallon," she motioned to him, "And he is escorting us to the mage college, where Ophelia needs to speak to someone about a Tiara." She offered a smile, hoping that this would clear up everything. She fanned herself for a moment, before looking to Ophelia.

"I'm going to take some of this off," she said quietly, pointing to her undercloth. She would stand silently for a moment, before wandering off, toward one of the weeping willows. Fallon would watch her, and then turn back to Ophelia and the old man.

Ophelia let Kitsu leave to get changed. It was hot anyways and her eyes followed her just as Fallon did. The old man cleared his throat which got the girl's attention again. "So you're going to the mage's college? I ain't goin back to that place. If there's one thing I can't stand more than people, it's people who think they're smarter than you. But, if you're heading to the nearby city, I guess I can go. Just need to gather some things first. I suppose you all are welcome to come in if you don't want to stand in this heat."

Ophelia hopped off the horse and tied it down. "Fallon, you should come in and check it out. Maybe you can learn a thing or two the mages college hasn't taught you." She said, offering him to go in as she went in herself, and descended the dirt stairs.

"He from the college? I doubt he'd find any of my inventions interesting. All mechanical and alchemy. More to do with practical every day use than to cater to some high class mage." Regardless of whether or not Fallon and Kitsu came down, Ophelia ran ahead of the old man into the main room which were filled with tools, large containment chambers, and strange, almost alien, contraptions. It divided into three other areas: one looked like an alchemy lab, another was a bedroom, and the other looked like a library. All this had furnishing made of dirt that was dug into the walls. Even the shelves that held the books were simple wooden planks pressed into the dirt. The main room that they were in had a large stone center with chains hanging down from the ceiling and served as a building platform. At the far end of the room rested completed projects which included a collection of pipes which looked like small cannons. There also was a huge tank of water that emptied on a tube that spiraled over a burner. The tube ended at a sprinkler which hung over a small drainage system that was blocked off by a smooth, foldable material. "So what's this about a tiara? What's her name? Caitlin. That girl said you had something?"

"Kitsu. I'll tell you a bit later," Ophelia said, disappearing into the alchemy room. "I just need to grab some supplies. Hope you don't mind. Thanks."

"So that's why she's here..." the old man mumbled. He would then turn to Fallon and asked if he liked what he saw.