Walking the World, ch. 2: The Traveler

Rhea insisted that Khiro come with her to the markets today, though it wasn't as if she needed to plead that much. The blue sky accessorized with puffy white clouds and the cheerful chatter of passerby surveying produce contrasted with the anxiety writhing in her chest. She kept close to her lover, periodically lacing her hand with his, and her gaze flicked from right to left as she scanned for a certain threat.

Khiro didn't even have time to distract her before she found it.

A Khotiesh woman with short, choppy blue hair and a fluffy tail of the same hue was staring blankly at a fruit stall, her catlike ears flattening as she feigned interest with less than minimum effort. Her outfit was a simple blood red chiton, but those in the know would be able to tell that pauldrons and other light armor were missing from the look. Orange irises met Rhea's blue ones, and the transformation from neutrality to sharp and devious grinning was alarmingly smooth and swift.

"Hi."

Rhea nearly choked on her own air at the precisely pointed syllable. Perhaps, at one time, she would have been ready to take on this suspicious individual, but now she shuddered at how she could overturn her new life. She hadn't even remembered to bring any weapons, and she was cursing herself for it.

The "cattish" woman approached, her gaze fixed on her target. She barely flinched when Khiro jumped in front of Rhea, ready to engage in hand-to-hand combat if needed, but instead she stopped a few paces away. "Why do you look like you're nearly scared to death? I'm not here on business."

"Then why are you here?!" Rhea blurted out despite her better judgment. "It can't be for anything good."

"Look, I had my fill of you when we last fought. Neither of us has a squeaky clean record, even if we're both trying to wipe it all clean." With a shrug, she added, "I know your name, Rhea, Forest Siren and murderer of entire Felsheim patrols. I know you, Khiro, the catboy who sold his body because he thought it'd get him somewhere- no judgment, by the way-"

"That's a gross oversimplification and you know it," Khiro spat.

"I know. Still no judgment." A beat passed. "I don't think either of you got my name though. Ciana. That's Shah-na. You might be hearing it more often. In fact, we might be neighbors."

Rhea pushed herself into speaking. "What was that about 'both' trying to wipe it all clean?"

Ciana shrugged again. "I got bored. Felsheim was good to me, but I was curious about the world you were going to see. So I thought I'd follow you and see what was out there. Like I said, I'm not here in any official capacity. Just exploring... or perhaps adventuring."

"That's it?" Rhea’s mouth hung open as she was utterly dumbfounded.

"That's it." Ciana crossed her arms and averted her gaze. "So... sorry for scaring you, I guess."

This time, no words came to Rhea's lips. She simply stared, unable to process the mix of relief, consternation, and confusion as to why Ciana made that whole display only to take it back.

The blue-haired Khotiesh woman spoke again. "I don't know. Maybe we'll talk some time. Maybe we won't. But we'll probably see each other again."

Rhea's awkward silence continued until she turned around, tugged on Khiro's hand, and pulled him away from the situation. She did not stop until they were back in front of the inn, and he did not resist.

All she said when they got there was, "I could really use some mac n' cheese right now."