Kat blinked when the priest's words finally trickled in through her 'annoying shit I don't need to hear' filter.

"[i]However, it is being guarded by Drakas, Remnants from the continent of Shoba.[/i]"

She very nearly slammed the paper back onto the board then and there. [i]Remnants…[/i] After what happened last time, Kat'd done all she could to avoid them. Memories surfaced through a fog: a Remant's shriek, pain like fire igniting her blood, a snow leopard's yowl… she felt her breath catch in her throat at the idea of facing one again. She felt like a child, letting herself be paralyzed so, but she couldn't bring herself back from her reaction. Hel watched her with a heavy gaze, sensing her unrest.

A new voice cut through the air, jolting her out of her thoughts. It was the witch, Tahira, asking to come along on the quest Kat'd just claimed. She was half tempted to just shove the paper at the other woman and tell her to do it on her own, but she hesitated. Kat eyed her, and looked back at Hel. The great cat's tail swayed easily behind him, back and forth, measuring the seconds.

Kat remembered the silver coin the knight had given her, and how he'd reassured her she could live a fulfilling life in spite of her 'impairment.' She remembered how easily Hel had killed the boar they'd spent the night hunting, carrying it on his back all the way to the tavern, never slowing or tiring, or needing any help at all. She remembered the memories she'd long trained herself to not think on, and the feeling of helplessness that came with them. It was a feeling that had once been alien to her.

Kat's gaze focused then, and she turned back to Tahira.

"Come along if you want," she replied, her voice bored and uncaring as ever. "Guess you're a better pick than most of these other idiots." The witch was… unsettling, but she had yet to do anything to annoy Kat. Hel didn't trust her, but that didn't say much. Hel rarely trusted anyone. Besides, she was almost as big a mystery to Kat as Bernard was, and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't the least bit curious. That's what Kat thought, at least, when she asked herself why now of all times she accepted the idea of another companion on a job.