Ackrland

[SunnyLore]

Idina wasn't listening. At the first shriek from the horrible kiphling she'd jumped into Fahim's chest and held tightly, squeezing her eyes shut and shivering. What she'd seen in the brief glimpse afforded by Fahim's flashlight had decidedly NOT been a firefly and instead quite possibly had been born from her nightmares.

She held tight to him and shook her head, quickly apologizing. "You didn't seem like you were in the mood to stop just so I could bandage my knee" she said, trying to regain some of her dignity by shoving off of him and bending to tend to her bloody wound.

"And I didn't HAVE a flashlight. We looked but I think one of the girls had taken all of them to use for shadow puppets in the daycare. You weren't very specific about things! You're not a very good teacher" she snapped, though the blush on her cheeks said she was more mad at herself.  

[SunnyLore]

Idina ooked confused and mildly angry. "Do you want me to follow the flames and then patch up or patch up now or try and patch whi-You know what I'm patching up now" she decided for herself when she realized the threat mosquitoes posed.

She hastily fixed up her scratch and tossed the bloody cleaning wipe she'd used at the herd of bloodsuckers to fight over and buy them some time. Without looking to see if Fahim was following she took off down the lane indicated by the flames.

Her first instinct was to shout questions at her guide, because she had A LOT of questions that he'd neglected to answer and she hadn't thought to ask. But then she remembered his dire warnings of cave-ins, traps, and creatures.

She just hoped he knew where the hell the flame path lead.  

[SunnyLore]

Idina's first thought was to berate him, but then she saw the enthusiasm on his face and her fury died. "I see" she purred, sitting down next to him and leaning on the wall. "It's not the things that you hunt for that make your blood thrum, it is the thrill of the hunt... You are a very strange man"

She laughed softly and tossed her lantern to the side since it had proven useless to her. "That was very thrilling, though I would've enjoyed being better prepared. Still... I thank you for bringing me"

Her eyes wandered to the small pile of treasures he'd filched and she cocked her head to the side. "Anything valuable?"  

[SunnyLore]

She looked at their mode of transportation with the same wariness as before and made sure to stick close to Fahim and not say a word or make a sound. When he climbed on in front of her she resumed her death grip around him, even though the phisket hadn't even begun to move. Her eyes were squeezed shut as well and she trembled slightly.  

[sidenar]

Alphonse regained a considerable amount of energy and perked up when Isra spoke of rare goods in town. It was a bonus to know they were legal, too. Suddenly, the whole trek alone seemed worth it. As he was set down, he thanked the men and Isra again for the food, following the woman's instructions. "That sounds great," he said with a laugh and grateful smile, downing the semi-warm water in one gulp.

 

[SunnyLore]

Idina managed to open one eye but that was the limit to how relaxed she was going to get. "Are you s-sure?" she asked hesitantly. "Because I don't want to take any chances"

She was suddenly aware of just how close her body was pressed to Fahim's and she blushed with mortification. "I'm not feeling you up, I'm just too scared to let go. Don't get any stupid ideas" she warned.  

[SunnyLore]

The increase in speed increased the tightness of her grip as her eyes squeezed shut yet again and she held in a frightened gasp. "I'd almost prefer those firefly things to riding on this phisket" she moaned.

The woman looked forward to when they got back to the city and she could be back safe and sound on the ground and in her club. She was enthusiastic about going over what treasures had been procured.

Idina only hoped that the girls she employed would stop trying to hint to her that she should settle down with a man. They'd all been too thrilled at the prospect of her going out with Fahim, even when she'd desperately attempted to explain there was nothing romantic to it.

Fahim was just a trusted friend to her. He was too frivolous about women and life in general. She wanted something solid and real instead of just a fling.  

[sidenar]

Alphonse laughed lightly at the conversation that took place while he ate, before suggesting something to the woman. "Why don't you come with me? You did say you'd show me things around here." He motioned to the desert around them with a grin. "It doesn't look like they'll let you work today."