[hr][center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5084281][img]https://i.imgur.com/EFcm3Eo.png?1[/img][/url]
[hr][b][color=a78386]Location:[/color][/b] Forgotten Ruins.[hr][/center]

The foreign girl spent most of her morning meandering around the cluster of tents and micro shops that had steadily grown since the night prior. Despite her year traveling these lands she still felt an air of uncertainty of what dangers lie before her at the start of any venture. Up to now she had been able to defend herself against most monsters. Either by combat or tactical retreat. But this crumbling mass of a stone seemed a bit more domineering than open fields where most of her opponents had been found. 

She heard of this quest the day before while spending time within the nearby town. She had absolutely no luck finding adventurers to aid her quest to reclaim her land in this past year. But this reward could possibly sway the odds in her favor. To have a bounty of coin in her purse large enough to buy her aid. 

As she walked she considered making a request to join others parties to ascend the tower of ruin to claim its prize. But over the years her luck with strangers would be considered anything but fortuitous. So her doubts often halted her approached before beginning her search once again through the encampment. 

As she walked a loud chortling caught her attention; her soft brown gaze being pulled to look towards the direction of the sound. Instantly Mae's figure became stiff and rigid, like a small statue. Her eyes wide as they stared directly at the small, furry creature seemingly being belittled by the small group of adventurers. Her mind was on red alert, alarm bells blaring to keep calm.

[i][color=a78386]'oh fu... it's so cute and fluffy... we need to calm down mae.. we can't pet strangers...'[/color][/i] She gulped nervously as she talked herself down within her own thoughts.

Realizing she hadn't taken a breath in quite some time she shakily pulled a breath into her lungs, luckily helping her calm down. She took a few more breaths as she became less rigid and regained some semblance of composure. She awkwardly cleared her throat as she brushed her exotic dress with her hands; an odd attempt to secretly relaxed the anxiety and eagerness that had risen within her. Finally given some mental freedom she processed what had happened as she noticed the small mouse creature sitting sadly on a stump of crumbled stone. Apparently the party had mocked the poor creature and abandoned it, or something of the sort. 

Noticing as the small creature hopped to its feet and begin to trek towards the entrance of the ruins her feet took flight before her mind had any say in the action. Before she knew it Mae was jogging up to the creature from behind. Before she knew it she found herself matching stride at the creatures side. Looking down, but only barely as their height differences weren't that great, at the creature and giving a kind, calm smile. 

[b][color=a78386]"Hey there. Do you need an adventure companion?"[/color][/b] Mae asked calmly, her voice soft and faintly touched with a foreign accent.

All the while her mind and heart pounded in a mix of excitement and anxiety. 

[i][color=a78386]'don't pet strangers. don't pet strangers. don't pet strangers. don't pet strangers....~'[/color][/i]  the words echoed on repeat inside her mind the entire time.