Welcome to Gaia! ::

Callista was assaulted by too much wind to bother being angry or frustrated at Ray's silence, and dismissed it quickly. Before she knew it, she was in a forest and she too could smell the smoke. People! Perfect. Just please, don't be the Dead Men! she thought to herself. They came into a campsite with a roaring fire and about twelve men gathered around it, laughing and drinking merrily. Callista bit her lip and gripped Ray a little tighter, but not climbing off of him.

One of the men rose from his spot behind the fire and smiled at them. "We are not of the Dead Men tribe," he said in a gruff voice. His shaggy beard covered his mouth and it seemed like he hadn't of moved his mouth.
Callista let out a sigh of relief and let go of Raykine, although she didn't really want to. She remained behind him when the man spoke again. "You were being followed? Hmm...interesting. Douse the fire, draw your weapons. You two can come with us, we'll take you to a safe place." Callista smiled at the offer and poked Ray lightly in the back.

Callista stood directly beside Raykine and followed the men. The one with the beard that had spoken to them, led the deeper into the forest and away from the horses that had been approaching them until they came into another clearing. "We're safe here," he said. "What brings you to here?"
Callista glanced at Raykine and pulled his shoulder softly as she sat on the ground. The others followed suit. "Um...battle missions," Callista replied simply.

Callista took a drink and passed it on.
"Well, we were heading to Ala'dorma actually. We're travelling mercenaries from Droab down south," the bearded one said. He was the only one who spoke, it seemed.
Callista looked at him curiously. "Droab? Isn't that like...really dangerous?"
He shrugged his large shoulders. "Depends on who you are. Speaking of that, who are you? Especially you man."

The man smiled widely, seeing Raykine's hand move towards his sword, but said nothing. "I am Carolos, from Droab," he said and smiled, his brown beard hiding his smile again. He winked at Callista, who blushed.
"I'm Callista," she said and inched closer to Raykine involuntarily.
"Now, we have formalities aside."
"So why were you in Droab? Last I heard, it was abandoned," Callista asked and looked at Ray out of the corner of her eyes', hoping he catch on to her interrogation.

"Well, it's abandoned of any 'human' life that is true. Those are probably the rumors you have heard woman. We were there to speak to the others," Carolos said.
"Others?" she asked skeptically.
"That is what I said," he replied rudely. "The beings who are not human but who are not demon. They did us no harm whatsoever so there's no need to worry yourself there."
"Maybe we should go there sometime," Callista said absently, implying herself and Raykine.
"No...I mean...well..." he said and stumbled on his words. He looked at Ray for a moment, then back at Callista.

"Well, we're mercenaries but not of the relegious people," he stumbled out quickly. "We were sent to murder the people that were there for a large price and the guards that are there now work for our ex-boss. That's it. Two souls like you shouldn't see that place." He looked at Raykine and then Callista, hoping to whatever God was listening that Ray wouldn't slice him there.
Callista was shocked into silence for a moment. She stood and touched Raykine's arm slightly. "I think our welcome here has been worn out."