[center][h2]Falkran[/h2][/center]

[center][@PaulHaynek][/center]

After they'd passed through Sinjid, Vanessa's playful antics towards Iskah seemed to bcome less and less frequent, until they eventually stopped. Perhaps the dark mage had grown bored of it, or perhaps she'd picked up on Iskah's distress and discomfort? Regardless, the lizardman was at least free from pokes to the ribs, blowing in the ear and tickling of the sides - which was probably a welcome change of pace.

With the setting sun  on the horizon and the town of [s]racists[/s] humans behind them, the hour grew late and daylight grew dim. Of course, being that they were both monsters, a lack of sunlight was hardly an issue for either of the girls. In fact, both of teem more than likely saw just as well, if not better, at night anyway. Still, it wasn't good to stay up too late - the skin tended to be the one who had to pay for such poor habits, so perhaps it was time to find a nice place to plunk down for the night?

But, that's when they saw it. Ort well, Iskah saw it at least - Vanessa's view was kinda obstructed by the lizardwoman's head. A small campsite by the side of the road. As they approached ontop their  trusty steed, a voice rang out and greeted them.

Coming to a stop, the dark mage looked at the unfamiliar girl before them. Some kind of... Weasel-girl...? Was it a ratatoskr? No, her tail and ears were all... [i]Wrong[/i]... Truth be told, Vanessa had never been to Zipangu, notr was she overly familiar with any of the various monster-species form there. She had read some about foreign monsters back at the academy in her human days, but those were more related to the [b][i]big names[/i][/b], like Youki or Ryuu or Ushi-Oni... This... Raccoon-person did not seem to click or trigger any sort of recollection though. Oh well, she seemed friendly enough. Feeling the effects of having been on horseback for [i]several hours[/i] without any real break, Vanessa gingerly slid off the mount's back and onto solid ground with a quiet thud.

Stretching and arching her back... Backwards! She let out a content 'Nnnnnnnnnhh!'-noise, then looked around the area. A fire, a tent, a cart and a small girl with a bushy and big tail. Yeah, sure, this could work. She listened to the exchange between Iskah and this stranger, and was pleased when the latter offered them a place to rest. Honestly, if she hadn't offered, vanessa might've just brazenly requested to share the raccoon-girl's camp anyway.

The comment about husbands and keeping warm made the dark mage snicker.

[color=lightblue]"Aren't you the forward one. I'm Vanessa, a stray wandering mage, helping this love-struck maiden get her prince so she won't have to be lonely or cold at night anymore."[/color] She introduced, and esplained her purpose, to the tanuki. [color=lightblue]"As for your offer, I think we should accept. Its not good for beautiful ladies to stau up too late, after all."[/color] She added, looking over at Iskah and smiling.

Of course, in reality, Iskah didn't have much of a choice, unless the lizardman intended to [i]walk[/i]. Since, at that point, Vanessa snapped her fingers and, with a soft ghostly neigh, the steed that they'd been riding on began to... Fade? It was like he was losing opacity at a dangerously quuick rate, becoming more and more see-through until he at last vanished, just like water vapors. At that point, the saddle and reins which Iskah ad put onto their mount sort of just... Felll onto the ground... With a soft leathery thud and metallic jingling-clinking noise. Oh, and iskah also fell off, if she was still sitting on the horse... 'Cuz Vanessa was considerate like that.

With her horsey gone and her magic now slowly beginning to regenerate again, the dark mage turned to their hospitable host.

[color=lightblue]"I don't think I've ever run into one of your kind. You were called a ... [i]Goober Danyucky[/i]? What's someone like you doing so very far away from the far east? Oh, mind if I sit here? Thanks."[/color] Vanessa sked a few simple questions, and then plomped her plump butt down next to the pleasant fire, taking off her hat and beginning to fix her long, glossy black hair. She rested her staff ontop of her lap as she did.