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Skirting around villages and towns, Heike was enjoying her time out in the wilderness. She always did, from as long as she could remember. Spending her days foraging or hunting made her feel like a productive person to her Sisters. Nowadays it also doubled to distract her mind from her thoughts, things she wasn't yet ready to deal with.

Pocketing a nut she had just collected into her backpack, the Elidae slipped it over her shoulders and rose to her feet. She had been still for a while on the ground, hidden behind a trunk, when she heard footsteps approaching. Instantly, she became wary, thinking it some roaming Earthling getting too close. Back to the tree, she peered around cautiously. Green eyes went wide. Not an Earthling. Someone else very far from home. Where was that tree, too? She couldn't remember, but she knew it wasn't on this large landmass.

Shoulders relaxing, Heike came out from behind the tree, making herself clearly visible. She didn't say anything, but tried on a smile and raised her hand, trying to show a bit of friendliness as best as her awkwardness could.

Blinking a few times at the odd affliction in the other Aishan's voice, Heike shrugged her bag further up her shoulder, shrugging it off. Some just spoke differently. She regarded the other woman curiously, wondering what would have taken her so far from home. Not that she would ask. That was far too forward, more something Doesina would have done. Along with smother everyone in her constant questions.

"Neither are you, am I right?" the Elidae answered, glancing swiftly at her green skin and hair, her own skin seeming so much paler by comparison.

Going in the opposite direction? Heike supposed it might look that way. In all honesty, she was just wandering around in a failed attempt to escape anything that reminded her of things she wanted to forget, which was difficult when those things were inside your own head. She actually had no interest in visiting Aisha. The Alkidike, yes. She wanted to talk to the ancestors of every Sister.

"I see. Seems a lot have been doing that." What answer could she give that didn't expose too much of her secrets? "I'm...Just going in a direction, I guess. I was visiting the Alkidike for a bit. Not as far as Chibale."

Once more, she was at a loss for words. Did anyone else have these sort of issues that she seemed to? Even with her own, she struggled to speak. Struggled to speak her mind. It was one of the few times she wished her cousin was here. Doesina could easily take all the attention off Heike and control the conversation single-handedly.

Thankfully, something happened to take the pressure off her. She hadn't noticed it at first, so focused on what to say was she. But eventually the presence became known and she turned her head from one side to the other, as if she expected it to jump out at her right than and there. Her own spear was out just before the Sailscales erupted into the air, point aimed at the ground as her fingers closed tightly over it.

"No. It had been quiet up until now."

Heike watched with slightly narrowed eyes as the beast made itself visible, the like of which she had never seen before. She had not spent much time in the area. Passing through quickly, intend on her real destination in a different type of forest. Spear held tightly in her grip, the Elidae circled slowly, keeping a safe distance from the creature while she judged its actions. Don't break eye contact? No problems with that. Home had its own dangers and she'd spent too much of her youth stalking things in the wilds to not have learned a thing or two about approaching a predator. Don't run and don't lose sight of it. Unfortunately, she didn't know how exactly to deal with this one. Those teeth looked sharp and she was sure it wouldn't hesitate to grab at her if she made a wrong move towards it too quickly.

Keeping the other woman in her sights, out of the corner of her eye, Heike kept moving so the creature was between the two of them, so it was forced to always keep its back to one of them. As soon as it looked over its shoulder at her companion, turning its body around, she charged forward, spear point aimed for a spot on its neck. An ear turned towards her and it swiped out at her, catching her spear in its claws. She jammed the butt end towards it, making it release her weapon so she could dodge backwards out of range of a pounce.

Just as quickly as it had begun, the fight was over. Heike wished there was more she could have contributed to the victory, but she clearly wasn't as familiar with the animals of this area as this other Aishan was. She had never seen a creature like this before and thus had no idea of its abilities or power. She edged closer to it, crouching down and using the butt end of her spear to push back the upper lip for a better look at those teeth. She wondered if bringing back the pelts of different animals from her time in Jauhar would help with her nervousness about returning back to her own Tree Sisters.

"I am fine," she answered absently, now studying the back of the feline. It was impressive how much variety the world had. She was just reaching out to touch one of those sharp points when she remembered she wasn't exactly alone, nor had delivered the killing blow. She looked to the Vandrea, giving a simple nod, never one to show a large amount of emotion over anything. "Are you? Looked like you took quite a hit."

The Elidae continued to crouch near to the body, examining the strange creature that it was. A formidable opponent it must have been, with those teeth and spikes on its body. Just proved to her she shouldn't be blindly wandering around in the wilderness. But than what else was she to do? Go into an Earthling settlement and buy a book about the local flora and fauna? Not a chance. She'd rather face an unknown predator than even speak to someone not a fellow Sister. She had confidence in her abilities to be able to handle herself. Though maybe that was more foolish pride than confidence most days. Had she been alone today, she might not have lived to tell the tale.

She glanced back over at the Vandrea, eyes slightly wide. "We're supposed to help each other, aren't we?" she answered matter-of-factly, standing up and stretching her arms above her head, leaning her spear against her body. "You still made quick work of it. Very impressive hunting. I am Heike." Now that all danger had been dealt with, Heike returned the spear to its holder on her backpack, on the opposite side to her bow. "So what should we do with the carcass? Split it up?"