[h3][color=lightblue]TEAM RUTABAGA[/color][/h3]

Fiammetta laughed quietly. "So you are saying if not for me you'd deem it lesser? That's so like an artist to say something like that. Always the quickest to judge yourself, and always the slowest to accept a compliment. You should have more pride in your work, Telio. Even ripped apart and soiled by that ruffian's cruel joke, I can tell..."

She connected as many of the pieces together as she could, and held them up to the sun. 

"It was beautiful once. And it will be again."

The pencil lines stretched out in every direction as the colors ran, dripping into new and unforeseen patterns and colors. Slowly but surely, like modern art, chaos was making it into something new with every passing moment. Before the beholder's very eyes, it evolved with each new emergent detail adding a new layer to the painting. Would it really be beautiful again once it dried like she said? And what she said earlier, when she said it... was she referring to the painting or Telio?

She carefully pocketed the pieces. 

"But if you do not want it until then, I shall hold on to it and take care of it for you. Consider it an honor."

The Traveller spoke up, interrupting them and giving them their first assignment. 

"Felidrakes? I've never heard of creatures such as these," she said, confused. "If they can teleport, then how are we supposed to catch them? Won't they escape their cages? A noble of the house Anzivino always accepts a challenge when it's given to them, but this sounds like a fool's errand! Do you mean to mock us, Traveller?"