Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ethelfleade had been doing whatever she could do around the camp. It was hard to keep her mind off of the horrors on the battle field. She had nightmares almost every night about those beasts they faced. Sure she had been brave in the face of danger, but now it followed her everywhere. That, along with the Jahuaran heat meant she got next to no sleep at all. It also meant she ended up doing random jobs for everyone. At night she may collect some healing components for a healer, by day she may pass out supplies or help move things or assist with whatever she could. But no matter what she did, the heat and nightmares followed her everywhere.

It was one time that she hadn't been able to find anything to do so it left her standing somewhat awkwardly in the middle of things. That was when she heard a voice. At first, she didn't think they were talking to her. But as the words sunk in and she had caught sight of the one that spoke, a fellow Ice woman, Fleade relaxed immediately. "Just a few hops, skips and jumps I'd say. How do these people live here in this heat? It's been plaguing me since i arrived." She offered a friendly smile to the other. "I'm Ethelfleade."

Fleade smiled back at Zuri and then laughed when the other spoke about how long it took her to get used to the heat. It was the one thing she had dreaded when she came here, was the heat. Even though she had been here for a little bit, it was still like that first day. "I've only been here for a little bit and I can already understand why shifters dress the way they do! To be honest, I haven't really planned to stay very long. Just to come and help the war efforts. But now...I might not get to go back home as soon as I thought...which means more time in this heat!" She smiled again and let out a little chuckle. "It's nice to meet you Zuri! It's nice to see a little bit of home in this hot place."

"At least you found and made a family here, even though its so hot!" Ethelfleade had a smirk on her face. A lot of the shifters she had seen had been quite attractive, perhaps one of them had been Zuri's husband. The other's forwardness on asking why she was staying didn't bother her in the slightest, it was kind of endearing actually, especially from a fellow ice tribe member. "I had just wanted to help with the battle. And after participating in it, Tendaji needs all the help it can get. I don't think I would be able to go home knowing all the horrors that were happening here. I wouldn't want to think about some youngling that could be hurt because I wasn't here to fight and perhaps protect them." Only now did Fleade have a small frown but she quickly shrugged it away. "It seems that only in times of great trouble or happiness do people reunite. Most often for unfortunate circumstances, but I think we should take it as a blessing either way." Her smile returned again, already enjoying her conversation with Zuri.

Zuri's laugh made Fleade want to laugh along with her, she seemed like a very nice person. "That sounds wonderful. Oh, you're a mother! Well congratulations! I'm sure motherhood is a wonderful thing, I'm not quite sure I'd be able to manage it though." Smiling slightly at the compliment, Ethelfleade scratched the back of her neck before continuing.

"I have chosen my path. I've always been drawn towards swords and someday, I'd like to be an assassin! It's a long ways off and I have a lot of work to do. But just knowing that bigger conflicts could be prevented because of my work drives me forward even more. I see you've chosen a path with a spear? They're pretty cool I just don't think I could wield something so large! You must be very strong to be able to use it well!"