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Serana was roaming the streets with Iska, minding her own business. She wondered what to get for lunch. As she was debating in her own head, Iska grunted. "Well, of course you want carrots. I'm wondering what I should-" She was cut off by a stranger bumping into her. "Oh, sorry! It's not your fault, I wasn't looking where I was going." She laughed nervously as she patted Iska's head to calm him down and stop his growling.

She blinked at the stranger's question, not realizing at first that he was referring to her Janarim. "What, Iska?" She was almost defensive of her friend, standing in front of him. She was still on guard for people working with her parents. How do I know he isn't one of them? Her mind rushing, she gripped her spear, but made no sudden moves. "Why do you want to know?" Her gaze narrowed, as she gave the stranger a cold stare.

Suddenly, Serana's mood shifted from on guard to aloof. When the boy referred to Iska's species as a whole as his name, she laughed. Hard. She laughed so hard she cried. Iska cocked his head, obviously confused and groaned. He actually never saw her laugh that hard, and it worried him. He brushed her shoulder with his head and Serana came down from her laughter.

She wiped her eyes and sighed. "Ah, haha, I'm-I'm sorry. I just-" She inhaled, "I needed that laugh." She gathered her composure and bowed slightly to the stranger. "I'm sorry if I came off rude. I thought... You may have been someone else. As for him..." She gestured to Iska, "His name is Iska. His species is known as a 'Janarim'." She looked around forgetting where exactly she was in town, then gestured to a nearby food place. "If you'd like we can sit and eat together, and I can tell you all about Janarim, or at least, what I know from being a companion with this guy." She made sure to sound as polite as possible, as a way of sounding apologetic for her rudeness earlier.

"My, my," She said while doing a curtsy. "What a gentleman." She sat down in one of the seats as Iska sat down next to her, took a quick glance at the menu, and put it down. I mean I already know what I want... Serana looked around for the server and when she saw one, waved to the ice girl. She had seen her before at another food stall. "Ah, Ferrah, you work here too?"

"Yes, I must. Father is sick again, and I need the money for his medicine." The girl replied.

"Oh, do you need me to come over and take a look at him again? I don't mind..." Serana gestured to the boy sitting with him. "After, we finish talking of course."

The girl happily nodded, "Oh, thank you, Serana! Now, what can I get for you two?"

"I'll have a potato and meat stew with some carrots on the side."

"Alright, and for you, sir?" the girl asked the boy.

Serana blinked a few times. "Well, someone's in a bit of a rush." She chuckled. "Alright, alright." She put a finger on her lips, wondering where exactly she should start. Their temperament would be a good place to start I suppose... "Ah, well I should give you a fair warning about Janarim; They are not exactly a species to be handled with lightly..." Iska was intently listening, and puffed out his chest, knowing exactly what sentence was coming next. serana gestured towards Iska, "You see, Janarim are a very proud race, and they can even be a bit... harsh at times. They are not trusting of anyone at first, and are definitely difficult to tame."

At that moment, Iska grunted and huffed in agreement, making Serana chuckle. "Of course, once you get past their rough exterior, earn their trust, and bond with them, they can be as goofy and cute as a Perzi... Isn't that right, Iska?" She said as she pet his chin and rubbed her face on his as he groaned. Iska was pretty much saying Mom, stop, you're embarrassing me...

Serana cleared her throat and turned back to the ice boy. "Erm. Anyway, as I said before, they aren't easy to become friends with, but they are definitely a loyal species. I suppose they would be the type to be loyal until death, but I haven't exactly witnessed it..." She trailed off.

"Also, you may have to travel far to get one..." She said as their server came back with their food.

She thanked the server and gave her some coins as payment, and a few extra for her troubles. Serana sighed, remembering everything she went through with Iska. Twice he had been on the verge of death, and even though it only strengthened their relationship, she still hated the fact that he was even in that kind of danger in the first place. "Well, there are two obstacles you must overcome in order to get one, three if you count the whole bonding thing." She paused to eat a spoonful of stew and to give Iska one of the carrots.

She continued, "The first is travel. Janarim are native to Oba. That obstacle includes getting over the heat, and natural dangers of travelling. The other..." She shoved another spoonful of soup in her mouth and chewed on the meat chunk as Iska gnawed on the carrot he was given. Boy, did she love soups. Perhaps she would make the art of soup making one of her hobbies in the future...

"The other obstacle puts your companion in danger..." She looked rather sad when she said this, for she knew all too well the reason Iska almost died the first time. "Well, that is if you were to come back to Zena with it... If you don't, then it really isn't anything to think about. You see, Janarim are fierce warriors, but any warrior can fall victim to nature. They are used to the harsh hot climate of Oba. If you bring one here to Zena, well, it could very well die... The transition from hot to cold weather could make them sick, almost certainly, feverish, and without the proper care, they can easily pass on..."

Serana ate a few more spoonfuls before answering. She almost didn't want to answer. "Well, yes and no." She looked at Iska to make sure he was finished with one of his carrots before giving him another. "Sorry, Iska, but," She said to him before turning back to the boy, "I wasn't exactly looking for a familiar when I went to the market that day, but the merchant did have him at the time. After he brought the Janarim to Zena, he'd gotten sick almost immediately. There was no time for him to adjust, and he wasn't introduced to the cold climate slowly, but instead he was thrust into it." She paused for another spoonful, wishing that she wasn't almost running out.

"Anyway, I met the merchant in time to treat him with a few herbs, and Iska never left my side ever since." She put her spoon down and looked at the boy with pleading eyes. "Please, if you do end up getting a Janarim, be careful with him." She finished off her soup before continuing. "If you wish your familiar to be true and loyal with you, then you must be true and loyal to them too. They are more than animals, they are our friends." She pet Iska with that closing statement. Although, speaking of friends, that reminds me...

"You said you were with the brotherhood? Do you know Tryston by any chance? He was a friend of mine before his travelling days... I think he mentioned the brotherhood before."

"D-dead..?" The news hit her hard. Besides Iska, she really didn't have anyone close to her anymore. Her sadness brought tears to her eyes as she tried to not start sobbing. The news did not go over well with her, but it was something she figured she would have to deal with, just like her whole family situation.

"Is there no peace in this world?" She wiped her eyes, and held back more tears, her cheeks and ears showing a shade of purple. She sighed and leaned back in her chair. I suppose it would do no harm in asking how boldly he went. "How-" She hesitated. Was this really going to do her any good? Knowing wouldn't bring her friend back from the dead, but her curiosity was as loud as shouting in a library. "How did he die?"

She pursed her lips, waiting for an answer.