[img]https://images2.imgbox.com/41/9c/2janJKsw_o.png[/img]
[center][b]Yume[/b][/center]

Reinforcements had arrived!

Or... [i]reinforcement[/i]. One girl. Definitely fae - she practically screamed 'magical' - but the most peculiar thing was her badge. An honorary snowflake badge given only to those who'd had some success in fighting the icewalkers. Those who received one were typically known by name, especially so with outsiders. Had she stolen it? Found it on a dead body? Yet her stride was so confident, like she knew exactly where she was going, and what she was doing.

A few thought perhaps it was a good idea to ID her. The idea subtly melted away the moment they locked eyes. No, no, this was a hero. Look at her badge! Insisting on ID was absurd. Wholly unnecessary. A thought that persisted until she passed by, at which point the regret started to settle in, followed shortly by [i]"Wait, what was I worried about?"[/i]

[b]"Hello again, T-Rex,"[/b] Yume waved in passing, the two moving opposite ways. There was no explanation given. She just kept walking.

Finally, she reached the guild: the place everyone's focus seemed to be on. The room where it all happened. It was a colorful group, typical of adventuring guilds. Aspiring heroes, freaks, and main characters galore. Delightfully, her timing was perfect. [i]Free food![/i]

[b]"Zombie problems still? I'd hoped someone would have fixed that by now,"[/b] she declared, a strange mix of mockery toward the guild, and genuine empathy for the victimized people of Nan Gau. [b]"My condolences. Now let's see... I have a Nan Gau tradition I'd like to uphold..."[/b]

Yume's golden eyes swept the crowd, fixating on the beastkin in particular. In the end, her gaze settled on Youko like a predator having found prey. [b]"That'll do nicely."[/b]

Calmly, Yume closed the distance, raised a hand, and began petting her ears in the most overt, obvious, theatrical swipes imaginable. Gone was the Yume of before: the one who apologized and sought to make things right. Instead, she seemed to lap up the outrage like a cat with a bowl of milk. Justice for those who forgot. [b]"Nice kitty,"[/b] she added with a smirk. [b]"Not quite as soft as Sori, but much more [i]fun[/i]."[/b]

As the two locked eyes, a creeping sensation of comfort wormed its way into Youko's mind, not naturally, but as an invader [Telepathy E]. The strength of it felt calculated and intentional. Held back such that she could [i]just barely[/i] resist, but strong enough that the slightest hesitation would collapse the resolve. [i]'This is Yume. Kind, sweet, familiar. This feels so nyice, purr for the kind enchantress~'[/i] An invitation to [i]enjoy[/i] the obscene, insulting gesture.

Yume continued speaking as she pet Youko, [b]"Have any of you seen a woman who looks like me? Long silver hair, gold eyes, smells like cedar wood?"[/b] She shrugged, [b]"Or perhaps one with rainbow hair, blue eyes, smells like a killjoy?"[/b]