Daphne smiled when she remembered Katherine from the hospital bay, she had turned up and took her being silly easily and just handed her water and helped care for the squire. Her comment about the helmet yeah but all that was kinda fuzzy like she was drunk and parts of it were not remembered. Her memory did not fully stabilise for a couple of days, Daphne had really hit her head in the attack that was for sure.

The fact she even had worked out how to make a skull mug was kinda weird? She spent her time working out how to make Katherine a skull mug? This was a weird thing, she definitely cared for Katherine in a way that was kinda comforting but also confusing how to work it out.

It was after Daphne got out when they had a mission out into the wolds and to the blight lands. Technically Daphne volunteered but after finding out her Lord, Girlfriend and other Lunarians had Volunteered. Much as she really did not want to ever go to that area, she joined on.

Honestly for a Lunarian the trip was not the worst, she had definitely been on colder ones ans the land was fairly easy going for a start with no major delays.

Lord Coswain rode along the side kicking his mount to jump as the older soldier took his turn on the flank of the convoy, he was an experienced rider and the Lord Castelian had plenty of time in the saddle on missions. They had a number of experienced guards, champions and so on with them. He did worry for Dawn Haven with how much their capacity in guards, sages and more they had drawn onto this one venture.

This had the elite of several groups present and left their home, or what had become home where his partner and everyone else's friends etc still lived.

He had to smile even to himself, Daphne bags ended up in Katherine's tent more than they did not… he decided to leave it be, no one else seemed to worry they held hands or could be found quietly talking by the fire on evenings rather close sharing blankets.

Now leaving Persephone had been difficult and they shared a rather tender but private departure, after so long apart they had got used to the idea of a little stability and it was uprooted by this venture. He had measured her multiple times he would be utterly careful, Daphne he trusted with his life and the Lunarian guards were young but steady. The sun shaggers might be reliable but he would trust his fellow lunarians first.

He scanned the distance as he paused his patrol, letting his thoughts turn back to the job. He saw no threats bar some movement in the far distance that headed away from them, they already had killed some blight animals but others had been unwilling to go near the light of fires and noise of people too. Fire was a strong protector out here, bright tall flames drive light and heat, a Athema to the cursed reborn blight kin and life.

The uneventful trip was fine by Lord Coswain, they had made good time. They were on track.

…

Daphne dropped her bag into Katherine's tent on her rounds, was it a little forward…yeah, did Daphne just like having someone to cuddle at night in this dead wasteland. Yes. 100% yes. Daphne joined Katherine and snuggled up spooning her at night and seemed like it could be a thing. That fuzzy, strange feeling this generated was… weird but Daphne did not want it to end.

Daphne did not apologise for her relationship but did not have to tell people, what the hell. The land was under an endless night? She would cuddle a blonde priestess.

…

Lord Coswain was tending to his mount, shaggy with a thick insulating coat and the large wide feet of a Launarian breed that had long adapted to a life of winter, snow, ice with a rugged and while less sneak built to ensure harsh conditions. “Easy, easy… Come on” He said as he carefully checked his mounts, feet and legs for any injury under the canvas and leather wraps that he had added to protect against harm from rocks or sharp ruins etc. It might not stop everything but some protection was better than none.

Giving the large Beasts head a scratch in thanks as he went round caring for his mount. It was simply put. His life. He could live or die by this horse so he took the kindest of care for it.

In this situation his horse came before his meal and comfort. It was better to be hungry than dead.

He wound his way back eventually to the fire after doing his tasks, dropping as he reminded Daphne in passing to not forget her helmet again. Daphne had been … suggested to wear one by Katherine and it seemed to have stuck. The rest seemed to be handling the trip well so far but as he said, this was not even hard going by Lunarian standards, this was not even too cold yet. It would get far far worse if the snows turned on them.

Still be prepared. Careful. It caught you when you stopped looking and respecting it.

“Good Morning” He said looking at the endless night wondering the difference, it seemed to be more a … thing of perspective, the only person who seemed to be utterly certain was that snake tailed innkeeper and he was sure she saw the world in a rather different frame.

“Lady Hightower, I fixed it the best I could with what we have, keep checking it.” He handed her a somewhat crude, but repaired wrap to protect her horse's leg from the cold and some of the harsh and sharp dead plants that littered the land. “No need to rush this, this is a campaign not a single skirmish. Be careful, and listen, just listen first. Youl hear anything before you ever see it.” He said looking at the ruined town in the distance, it was the broken ruin of a town, a dark place where he just had a …bad feeling about. He hoped not to offend but he also wanted to see her come out of this intact and unharmed.

He meant well, he knew they wanted to rush, get answers and leave but this place had any number of dangers. He essentially not sure how much experience or training most had in this environment.

…

Daphne yawned from her end of patrol and hung her helmet off and stretched out, reaching to check her braid and make sure everything was where it was meant to be. “Nothing major, any animals keeping distance, few to the west, seem to leave us alone.” She gestured to the horizon where saw the movement and left to head to fire, dropping next to Katherine and kissed her cheek, not worried about showing her affection. “Hey kat, please tell me you have something hot, i know you are but I'd love some tea.” She said with a hopeful look and reached over to place a hand over hers. Daphne had a Helmet… it however hung off her waist next to her twin swords, a short warhammer and other gear she carried now. Better prepared than her normal Dawn Haven routine carry.

They had cross bows on the horses, bolts, blades and various things they had not carried for excess weight about the walled town.

Daphne looked up and waved to the others who were starting their day, Lords, Ladies, sages, guards and more. Maybe it was the purpose, the company or just having some kind of mission. Daphne felt oddly comfortable right now. "Call me insane, but im happy out here." Daphne mused as she sat warming her other hand and arm from the fires heat.

Anyone in earshot might think Launarians where abit crazy. Probbly yes.

@The Muse@SpicyMeatball