At the top of the stairs was a short landing and a door, with little else for distraction. On the other side of the door was a wide room lined with bunk beds, clean and freshly made -- save for the two tomcats that lazed in the windowsill, and the one bedspread at the farthest lower bunk that had been shredded and disheveled to kingdom come. Oil lamps sat on small tables, ready for lighting. The window had a great view overlooking the fireflies and blinking yellow eyes of the fairyspiders, and the shimmer of moonlight reflecting in the puddles, and the forest beyond them.

[hr]

Lila was not used to having a lot of other people around and might have stayed outside. However Kettle's words weighed on her mind so she resigned to stay indoors. The stairs leading up were a little narrow for her to go up like most would but the strong claws on her legs allowed her to move up the and manage the space sideways. Having entered the room she found it quite simple. The beds meant nothing to Lila and moving to an empty corner she busied herself making a bed from her own webs. She was quite fast with the operation and made a loose hammock of sorts in which to sleep in. 

Turning around the spider woman faced the others that had entered as well. "[color=steelblue]I hope none of you are frightened of my appearance. I know that not all of us parted under the best of circumstances.[/color]" Moatly she was referring to the encounter with Sarant, having scared the poor thing half to death.

Nel wasn't quite sure if she had wanted to stay outside and just watch the mushroom pixies dance. Despite her interaction with the spooky turned rather agreeable Clavic, the peacful cameldragon whose name she had gleamed was Grom, or the intense and oddly familiar Spider Woman, Nel was still... aprehensive? Perhaps she was being... doubful? Maybe just a little...

[i]Scared.[/i]

Yes. She had to admit that to herself. That was the reason she overacted so greatly when she first arrived. That was the reason she listened through the creaked doorway during Kettle's speech, and subdued her excitement at potential discovery with hyperrealism. That was the reason she stayed outside, trying to think of even one reason to avoid an encounter with Kettle, and just start walking to the nearest town. Nel was scared.

Of... not being accepted?

Still. Something had driven her to ignore that fear and finally walk through the front door. Something had driven her to shyly wave to the straglers still in the main room. [i]Yes, I got Kettle's letter too. No, I didn't just get here. Yes, that was me hiding out on the porch. Ha ha.[/i] Something had driven her up those stairs, and in to that room. Something wanted her to stay-- and to do that, she'd need to... deal... with... [i]all of this.[/i]

Wide eyed, Nel opened the door to the room to find herself greeted with the sight of a giant Spider Woman in a web hammock... Wait! She did know her from somewhere-- "[color=palegoldenrod]Frightened? Aren't you famous? The Arachnocentaur?[/color]"

Glancing up from her work Lila turned toward Nel. More praise for the spider woman? This was becoming more and more an unusual day. Perhaps her efforts were paying off. Still Nel's words were more than expected. "[color=steelblue]Famous? No I do not believe so. But if I were mistaken I would be quite pleased to learn so.[/color]" Fixing a strand of web she moved away from the corner over to Nel. "[color=steelblue]I do not recall if I properly introduced myself to you or not. My name is Lila. I do hope what you said about me is true. My kind does not have the greatest of reputations in the land.[/color]' Her words were a might more somber toward the end, but just for a moment.

Smiling the Arachnocentaur, as Nel called her, lowered her body so the human girl didn't have to stare up at her. "[color=steelblue]What makes you think that I am famous though? Far as I know there are still not many people that do not know of me. Did I perhaps visit a nearby village?[/color]" She really was curious. It wasn't often that someone she hadn't met would seem to know of her.

"[color=palegoldenrod]Oh! Well, my name's Nel, missus Lila ma'am,[/color]" She gave a small bow to Lila, "[color=palegoldenrod]A-and where I'm from you're a celebrity![/color]" Nel brought up a finger to her mouth as she thought, "[color=palegoldenrod]Well... Not quite everyone is as big a fan as I. But they've all heard of you! Of the scary Spider Woman helping people and exploring so fearlessly... I'm actually sorry I didn't recognize you as soon as I saw you, I was so preoccupied with...[/color]" Nel shook her head, "[color=palegoldenrod]Nothing! I just don't think we've any reason to be friehtened of one who's done so much to make the world safer...[/color]"

Lila was heart struck by Nel's words. Had she really made such an impact? For a moment she looked as if she might dry. But eventually she smiled brightly. "[color=steelblue]You do not know how happy your words make me. I haven't retred my path very often, so I rarely get to see of hear if my efforts have made a difference. Tell me, where are you from? Who spoke of me. I should like to thank them myself one day.[/color]" She had come quite close to Nel, eagar to hear more.

"[color=palegoldenrod]W-well I...[/color]"

Out of an old habit for sneaking and eavesdropping -- she wouldn't know half the things she knew if she didn't [i]listen[/i] when she wasn't supposed to -- Kettle ascended the stairs on tiptoe, keeping to the edge of each step to avoid the telltale creak, and listened for the voices of the women in the bunk room above. She wouldn't go so far as to press her ear against the closed door (she wouldn't stoop to spying on her friends, of course) but if she happened to hear someone speaking, it couldn't very well be helped. Indeed, as she placed her hand on the door handle she perceived Lila's voice lilting with curiosity, and Kettle grinned as she knocked and slipped inside.

[color=#B2AEBC]"I've heard those tales as well,"[/color] Kettle spoke up, and the door clicked behind her. [color=#B2AEBC]"Your goodwill precedes you, Lila, so much that what might have been fear has shifted to a keen curiosity in any who hear of it. I'm honored to know you."[/color] Her eyes shifted to Nel and narrowed with a grin. [color=#B2AEBC]"I don't believe we've officially met. You're a relative of Len? You have his distinct eyes."[/color] She extended a hand to Nel.

"[color=palegoldenrod]Y-yes ma'am,[/color]" Nel looked down as she met Kettle's hand with a limp handshake of her own, "[color=palegoldenrod]He and my Mom couldn't make it, so they sent me... I'm Nel, Len's daughter... I think we actually met when I was younger![/color]" Nel gave a dry chuckle, maintaining strict eye contact with anything and everything that wasn't Kettle's eyes, "[color=palegoldenrod]I [i]was[/i] practically a different person back then, though.[/color]

Kettle's face -- as she squeezed Nel's hand in a firm shake -- brightened with the confirmation that she had been correct, then squinched slightly in confusion, then widened with understanding. [color=#B2AEBC]"[i]Oh![/i] Yes, of course! I never forget a face, but you've grown so much! I remember how much you loved stories -- you were actually my inspiration to continue telling them, wherever I went. My goodness, you're a full-fledged adventurer now. I am [i]so[/i] proud to meet you again, Nel, and honored that you've come all this way on your own."[/color] Her words were all very much sincere; this was truly a second meeting between them, but with all the love of a long-lost friend. She leaned to try and catch Nel's aversive eyes, smiling.

A sudden blush painted Nel's cheeks red. She had been the inspiration for Kettle to continue telling stories! To think she'd had any influence on the famed explorer at all... Nel found herself surrounded by heroes and legends-- She herself was nothing more than a homebody, yet Kettle considered her an adventuerer! Nel found herself blushing for many reasons, feeling inadequate in her company was deffinetely one... but a bigger reason was perhaps an astonishment at how quickly Kettle had accepted her. With eyes still downcast, despite herself Nel matched Kettle's grin with a small smile of her own.

"[color=palegoldenrod]I'm very pleased to meet you again, too, Miss Kettle... Although I'd hardly consider myself an adventuerer...[/color]" Nel's eyes went wide, "[color=palegoldenrod]Don't get me wrong! I'm very excited to be here, I'm just not like... my parents, or someone like... Miss Lila![/color]"

[color=#B2AEBC]"Lila and I were not always renowned adventurers,"[/color] Kettle reminded her with a little smirk. She found a bunk that seemed not to have been claimed and sat down to yank off her boots. [color=#B2AEBC]"I was a goatherd until I was about your age, and it was a woefully long time before I even saw my first proper city. Lila, when you and I met, you had yet to venture far from your familiar ."[/color] She leaned on an upturned knee, sent a smile to Lila, and set Nel with a serious narrowed stare. 
[color=#B2AEBC]"I'm saying that the only thing that matters is courage. Just by coming here you've proven yourself capable -- but you're also true to yourself, which is a rare strength. We will need that strength in the days ahead."[/color]

"[color=steelblue]I wasn't much taller than you were then.[/color]" She said to Kettle. Considering she could tower over most of them now said a bit about the amount of time that had passed. "[color=steelblue]Hard to believe that was only four years ago. Admitedly Jorogumo grow much faster than humans do. Living on one's own is very common. I'm not sure what possesed me to venture out into the worlds but I am glad I did. It is wonderful hearing that my efforts are making an impact.[/color]"

[color=#B2AEBC]"I wish you the very best in your future travels, Lila,"[/color] Kettle said with a grin. [color=#B2AEBC]"You've done so much good in four years, it won't be long before you'll have changed the [i]world[/i] for the better. Maybe this journey will be a new beginning for all of us."[/color]

They spoke among themselves for awhile longer, until sleep claimed them; it had been a long day for everyone, after all. Without her robes -- in the simple garb of a commoner -- Kettle was much smaller than she at first might have appeared, though browned and weathered from her long travels. She waited until the rest had settled in for the night, then put out the lamps and laid down -- but she barely slept, and had slipped out again before dawn.