From the moment he first saw the mice in the throes of abnormal ecstasy, Kojot knew he was onto something powerful, a substance of which, in his travels and experimentation, he had never seen the like. The way the little creatures twitched, their eyes glazing, focusing on distances that seemed between worlds, not merely distant, the way they squeaked in horror and desperately tried to escape invisible foes, the way they would seem to slow, to twist as if watching something beyond the ken of his own senses...
But the mice couldn't talk, and Kojot thirsted for more, so he gathered the substance, an oily secretion from a lonely rock in the middle of the desert. He carefully diluted it in a phial of wine, taking expert care that the cloying sweetness masked the acrid tang of the strange fluid, and he set off in search of a subject upon whom to test his strange new ware...
Although the land of rogues was said to be a desolate place, there was sometimes a band of merchants to be hand upon. There, anyone could trade for certain goods.
The marketplace was crowded, scents and colors warred as merchants shouted the virtues of their spices and cloth, a cacophony of shrill voices trying to overrun each other. Kojot knows what to look for, innocence and cheer, an obliviousness to cunning that could be masked as courtesy on his part...
It was by chance that the lioness ended up there. She wasn't seeking any relics or strange new material to enjoy. No, only the necklace she wore around her neck had suitably deep significance to her. A silent reminder of the deeds she had done in the past. However, she did enjoy the sights and uniqueness of it all.
This was her first time in the marketplace. She knew she stood out, not merely because of her odd starry pelt, but also her body language. Every bump she made she apologized for, standing to stare at items for far too long, then awkwardly attempting to escape when a merchant came to haggle with her.
And it kept happening, not matter how high her walls were, they always fell short of the claws the merchants had. Each having a separate approach to hustling their wares. As anxiety grew within her, so did her pace... That was, until she caught sight of the potions.
It seemed even the noisy crowd grew softer as the vendors spoke. Each offering promises in aiding or ailing another. This... interested her and before she knew it, she was stopping short of a avian and its master, three vendors down from a lion that seemed rather interested in her.
"Over here, m'lady..." Kojot played upon his deference, using a quiet air of respect to set himself apart from the other merchants. "I can see you have interest in potions. Tell me, have you traveled far?" The lion's patience and cool tone was at total odds to his appearance, black fur striped brilliant blue and red, a skull's-tooth pattern across his muzzle that made his smile appear a little too wide...
Averting her eyes from the merchant who was now scowling down at the potion master, Hesper inwardly cringed. The pelt of this fellow was unlike anything she had ever seen before, and that smile of his...Hesitating, she weighed her options. Did she really want to be in the company of this strange lion?
Now blankly staring at him, Hesper snapped out of her daze and excused herself from the grey pelted figure next to her. Was it in bad taste to leave in such a fashion? She wasn't sure, however, to not at least pay the masked pelt a visit would surely be worse.
"Yes?" Her tone was confused, but she wasn't sure what else to say. Giving out too much information could get her killed she was sure, and this character although kind, still gave her the chills.
Kojot smiled kindly with his muzzle and wickedly with his soul. Here was a mark, an ideal subject! By her body language he assured himself of her foreign character, and anyone who would come to the market as such without a local guide was either a blithering idiot or truly had nobody to search for them.
He sidled up next to the lioness, giving a soothing purr. "Best stick nearby, m'lady. Some of the knaves around here would steal your very bones, and sell them back to you for fifty golden pebbles a piece before you realized you were missing them!"
Frowning a bit from the closeness of the lion, Hesper's eyes darted around at the other vendors and patrons. If what he said was true, then she had wandered into the nest of many like herself. Perhaps ever the more clever.
Eyeing her company suspiciously she made a small nod, acknowledging his words. "And how do I know that you are not such a character?" Her voice was pointed, accusing him of the behavior as her eyes traveled over him and then to his wares.
Kojot grinned again, knowing full well how fearsome it made him look. "Indeed, I am a character. But it's your place to figure out what kind, m'lady. If you would prefer I hadn't warned you, though..." He looked around nonchalantly, flicking his tail. The breeze wafted his scent to her, definitely predatory but also mysterious. "Well, I suppose I could merely wish you well and take my leave, but no doubt my honor would be tarnished by leaving a poor foreigner to fend for herself in this den of ruffians..." His tone was hurt, and he turned to leave.
Eyes widened at his performance. She hadn't meant to hurt or upset him with her words. It was merely an attempt to find out what he was like. Even though she was new to this sort of setting, Hesper had been roaming about the rogue lands for a bit now. "No no! I apologize. Please, show me you wares and teach me about this... this market. Is there a better... quieter setting?"
Cyan colored eyes bobbed from figure to figure, wondering just what brought them to the market. From there, she thought of just where some of the items they were sell came from. Did they steal, did they cheat...? What sort of place did she accidentally stumble upon?
Kojot turned, his voice still injured. "Well, if you trust me enough there's a saloon tent on the outskirts of the market. The sunward side is usually safer. Most pickpockets seek the extra protection the shadow of a tent provides." He led her to a small, gaily decorated tent. Inside, hushed conversation was decorously concealed by some musicians in a corner playing a variety of exotic instruments. The music was hypnotic and soothing. Kojot selected a spot out of the way and faced Hesper, watching her eyes. "So, m'lady, I shall speak truth if you wish to ask of me anything..."
Still astounded by the strange new area she had been brought to, Hesper just opened her mouth and stared. How could something like this exist? This was something she hadn't ever seen before in her life. Nor heard of. Was she dreaming...?
"I want to know more... about this area." Her voice was all but a hushed whisper as she studied her company. An intense need to know more settling into her heart.
"What you request is a long tale, m'lady... But one I shall gladly tell."
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