Aethel and Tata made their rounds early during the trip. As the cool breeze of a desert night rose, travelers settled down for the night, setting up mats and small tents for rest. A fire blazed softly, carts and caravans surrounding the flames loosely, forming a circle of security for the night.
According to the quiet gossip Aethel considered herself lucky enough to hear, a dream trader accompanied them on this magical journey. They have not yet offered their name to the other travelers, or anything but their trade, for that matter. Perhaps that was a day two escapade.
Electing for an easier task, Aethel moved to a small child and her protector. It was a marvel to see her walk, an old blind woman waddling with purpose to exactly where she needed to be. Tata curled grumpily around her frail shoulders, thin and long in form, as to not weaken his Aethel.
It was then a small child leaped out from behind her tall protector. Scio and Vella. Vella, the young one, spoke fast and with wonderment. Aethel, on the other hand, spoke slow and with wonderment. The two quickly hit it off, Tata moping all the while.
It was only when Aethel reached in one of her pouches that she took pause. Slowly, she pulled out a two small candies, gripping them tightly in her hands.
“Scio, was it?” she questioned with genuine eyes. They did not respond in any way Aethel could comprehend. Perhaps they did not respond at all. Nevertheless, she held her hand out to them, offering the candies.
“One for her,” she paused, “And one for you of course.” With Aethel’s arm outstretched, Tata slithered down the limb, getting a slow, long look at the four-armed being. With a huff, they begrudgingly accepted the being’s existence, traveling back up the arm to rest. Perhaps the late hours made Tata more kind. Aethel doubted it, now even more curious about the tall Scio.
She felt a hand take the candies, but does not know whether Vella got a taste, diving deep into a story of Aethel and Tata exploring a far off jungle. The night was, in Aethel’s mind, a success.