[h2][u]Eloen and Colin[/u][/h2]

Eloen jumped when the other elf addressed her. She had been watching the group so intently from the back that she hadn't expected someone to come up on her side. Eloen instinctively took a step away from the stranger, closer to Colin. She kept her gaze locked on the ground, bowing her head as a way not to be seen by the other elf. She had been hoping to eventually make contact with the other elf, but now that it was happening Eloen wasn't quite sure she was ready for interaction.  

He said he had things to discuss with them. Her head started going a hundred miles a minute, thinking of every worse-case-scenario. Slavers after Eloen, or Assassins after Colin. Whatever it was it couldn't be good.

“I...I...uh...” She sputtered out, closing in on herself.  

She looked up to Colin for some form of guidance in the situation. At least the other elf wasn't asking to speak to Eloen alone or, worse, Colin alone. Eloen didn't think she would survive being left alone in the tent with so many strangers. 

Not really wanting to cause Eloen too much stress Colin relented in his desire to bring her to the front and instead simply decided to stand with her. It wasn’t long before an Elven lad that looked quite a bit younger than Colin approached and introduced himself, asking whether he could discuss some things with them. Colin looked down at Eloen who stuttered a few words before looking up at him. He took that as a hint that he should do the talking. 

“Alright, but two quick questions first. Firstly, how old are you? I figure you’re a few years younger than me, but it’s difficult to tell. You Elves always have such youthful glows to you, even with your often stressful lives. It’s inspiring really... Secondly, you’re not planning on turning me into a toad with that thing are you?” He grinned, nodding at the long pole looking thing. “I’m quite fond of my current form, and honestly it’d be mighty damaging to my budding independent mercenary career.”

Eloen relaxed a little at her friends joke, not changing her tense expression but allowing herself a quick and sudden exhale through her nose. A weak attempt at a laugh.