ωε cαη яι∂ε ∂яαgσηs || PAFP || (B or F needed)

Mia caught her breath and held on for dear life. Desmonda really was an otherworldly beauty, but she tried to keep her mind on the ride. The saddle swayed beneath her, making her grip harder with her knees. She felt her cheeks go red in the chill Autumn air. Even with the sun shining brightly on them, the weather was cold as ice. Even with the body heat of her partner pressed against her, pinpricks of cold danced like needles across her skin. She could see the frost on the grass shading the landscape in blue and white hues. It was amazing, yet Mia still wished it could be Summer again. She couldn't wait to feel warm again.

Mia smiled and chuckled. The ride had just gotten a lot more exciting. They were racing past trees and leaping over logs, dodging left and right. Racing like this warmed her and she grew a little more used to the temperature. "I think I'll be fine like this," she shouted over the wind wooshing past them. Without even realizing it, she began to relax and pressed her head against Desmonda's back. She couldn't stop smiling now. For her first day as an adventurer it was rather exciting. She'd already gotten a partner, and such an interesting and thoughtful one at that. She couldn't have asked for anything better, to be honest. She just felt lucky.

The warm inn was such a refreshing feeling that Mia sighed happily. Walking into Desmonda's room, the sudden odor of dried blood hit her like a left-hook. It took her a second till she could hear her partner's words. "No, it's your room," she said. She moved to a corner of the room and slung her longsword off her back.

"Why is there blood on your armor?" she asked. Then she felt stupid. Desmonda was an adventurer. Things like this were normal. "Nevermind. Since I can't pay you for the room, maybe I can wash your armor," she said. It sounded only fair to her considering all that Desmonda was doing for her.

Mia nodded and made her way to the bed. She wouldn't argue with the roof owner. She'd already learned the hard way about that.

"By the way, I know it's a little late for this, but I promise I am not a suspicious person," Mia stated quite seriously. It was only an after thought, but it was something she probably should have said a long time ago.

Mia sat awkwardly for a second. Reconciling that Desmonda was another girl and would mind, she began to unstrap her own armor and take it off. She glanced up at her partner for confirmation.

Ooc: I have to go to bed. Good night.

Ooc: Good morning.

Ic:

Mia felt a little stung for some reason, but she continued undressing. Once the heavy armor pieces were gone, she started to take off the tanned leathers closer to her skin. Then she continued pulling off the jerkins till only a thin linen cloth wrapping her delicate frame remained. After all, what did an ancient elf care for her? She would be nothing more than a child to Desmonda, no matter what she did. The linen cloth was loose on her body, but she crawled across the bed and curled up with a rough sheep's wool pillow. After being homeless for a while, this room that smelled of blood and belonged to a stranger was far more comfortable than it might otherwise of been. She smiled warmly as she closed her eyes. "Thank you, Des," she chimed from behind the massive pillow.

Mia smiled brightly as Spitz lay down next to her. Tentatively she reached a few fingers towards the toy dragon and stroked his scaly side with barely a touch. The surface was hard and bumpy, like the bark of a tree. Still, he radiated a warmth that made sleep irresistable. She fe!t her eyes closing.

Mia fell asleep faster than she ever had before. With Spitz's warmth and the exhaustion of the ride pressing her eyelids closed, within a few seconds she was conked out. Her dreams that night were full of horses and snowy plains.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

She awoke to the bitter cold biting through her linen wraps. Her eyes flew open only to see a sheep's wool pillow suffocating her in the night. She rolled onto her hands and knees on the bed and watched wearily around the room. Where was she?

Seeing Desmonda meditating on her blanket snapped Mia back into the moment. In a rush, she jumped to her feet and picked up the pieces of her leather jerkins to tie on. She tried to make as little noise as possible, but she wasn't all too successful on that front. Her wild red hair was a beautiful mess of tangles on her head, and a curly puff of wool had stuck itself to her bedhead. "Come on, Mia," she whispered to herself.

"Right!" yelped Mia. She finished with the leather and strapped on the last of the metal plates. Her last step was throwing her precious longsword across her back again. It slipped and rested unevenly on her shoulder blades. Just looking at the scabbard one could say the blade was larger than a woman of Mia's stature should really be handling. From tip to handle it spanned the length of her back and only ended at the pits of her knees. It tugged dangerously at its leather strap, and even as any onlooker watched they could see the stitching fray indicating the metal's weight. Mia only shrugged and turned to Des smiling brightly. "Shall we get going then?"