Verissa lightly kicked at Erdren's sides spurring him forward. She pretended to ignore the Thunderfang patrols that were riding around her far in the distance, just at the edge of sight. She knew Shenzi sent them to see her to Gold Ridge safely. Meddlesome old woman was more of a mother than her own had ever been. She quickly stifled that nostalgia away though, not wanting to think of her father. She hadn't seen him in nearly a decade. He had no way of know if she were even alive. That he almost had a grandchild. 

She shook it off, eyes focusing on the village on the cliffs, settled in the shade of the mountains, cast by the midday sun. The buildings all sat perched, spread all over the cliffs, connected by lifts, perilous steps, ladders, and various other means of vertical travel. It was strange. For seven years she'd been away from civilization, among her people that totally swore off the thought of settling down. Her stomach was full of butterflies at the thought. 

Remus and Remilia were jogging out in front of her, constantly watching for dangers, always alert. They'd grown big, dominating the many mixed breed dogs in her tribe. The hound master helped her train them to improve their guard and watch instincts, as well as how to properly survive on these plains. 

As they neared the cliffs, she found herself clutching her bo staff, the first gift that Asher had given her. It was her only, and most trusted weapon. Her eyes could see the many, many layers of shields she'd woven over the wood. Thankfully he'd trained her well before disappearing into the Abyss. She sent the horse up a sloped ramp, the entrance for caravans and horses. She looked back and waved at the sentries that had joined her. 

Turning forward, she pressed on, until the ramp turned and she saw the entrance to the city. There were several mercenaries standing guard, some drunk, some sleeping, all in hodgepodges of armor, clothing, and weapons. Her dogs came in close to her, and she hopped down off her steed. One of the mercs approached her, sword lazily held in hand, rubbing his forehead. She saw the grimace on his face, and his avoidance of the sunlight. Unlike his friends, he was hungover.
[color=ed1c24][i][b]
"What in the hell does some Screamer gal want with Gold Ridge? We ain't in y'all's territory, so if its a raid, you'll find yourselves sorely outmatched."[/b][/i][/color] 

She grimaced, keeping her eyes locked on his, having to look up to do so, [color=bc8dbf][i][b]"I'm no longer with my people. I have something more important to do. Let me through."[/b][/i][/color] 

He smirked a bit, enjoying her less than passive attitude, [color=f7976a][u][b]"And what's in it for me?"[/b][/u][/color] He reached out for her hip. Two snarling maws were snapping at him, one where his hand had been a moment before, the other a hair's breadth from his loins. This caused the other mercs to pay more attention, mostly to laugh at their friend. 
[color=bc8dbf][i][b]
"Of course, I have a toll just in mind for you."[/b][/i][/color] 

She turned to her pack on her horse, and got into her herb kit, and mixed a series of herb into a wine skin. She handed it to the man, [color=bc8dbf][i][b]"Drink some of that and that headache will disappear in no time. A specialty of mine."[/b][/i][/color] 

He cocked an eyebrow at her, [color=ed1c24][i][b]"And if it's poison?"[/b][/i][/color]
[color=bc8dbf][i][b]
"Then have someone else drink it, and take their stuff. Either way, you profit."[/b][/i][/color]

He chuckled at this and stepped aside to let her through. She walked her horse into the town, her dogs growling at the man, daring him to make another pass at Verissa. She made her way to the center of the bustling town, wondering where to go from here. She needed to find accomodations, then she needed to find people to join her in getting into the city. She hopped up on her horse to get a better view, and that's exactly what she got. 

From her perch, she saw her home that she'd just left. The rolling grassy plains, spreading seemingly endlessly, made her homesick already. But the sight of Hr'kret stabbed into her home made her nearly retch. It was so foul, so foreign, so wrong. Talking to her pups, [color=bc8dbf][i][b]"Even if we can't find him, let's burn that hell to the ground." [/b][/i][/color] And with that, she simply rested there for a bit on her steed, steeling herself for what was to come.