There was a soft chuckle at the other’s words, the woman having decided that staying a distance was what was best for herself, personally. But she shrugged, those sharp emeralds watching the other. “Well I have seen… a lot of strange things in my time of living here. I figure what’s one more?” She didn’t want to cause more distress despite there being some curiosity at a thing or two concerning the woman before her.. but she would find out eventually. “The best way to learn about a person it to talk with them and get to know them. Plus, you’ve already stated that you’re kinda leakin’ some dangerous fluids. May be best to consider myself safer standing back and speaking to you rather than the hands-on approach.”
There was another laugh at mention of the tattoos, smile remaining on her face when she shook her head. “It’s not actually a Ferelden practice, I hear it’s actually much more common in Rivaine. Both of which are places here in Thedas.” There was a small shrug, too. “My brother once got a mabari tattoo.. some, unlike mine, have other meanings. In Ferelden, Mabari mean strength.” She only knew about this tattoo because she actually had dared him to get it. He had to be sneaky about it, but he did it. Much to their mother’s surprise, and disapproval, but he did it. She remembered that letter, their mother had been so upset. They had only been in the service of the King for a couple weeks when that had happened. Hawke herself had a high dragon over her right shoulder, not that it would be seen unless she wore something that showed her biceps.
Though her expression sobered up from any previous humor the second the other responded to her mention of slavers. “You may do what you wish with them, if you encounter any. Personally, my favorite thing is allowing them to meet my blade, whether they’re ready for it or not.” The woman put her friends safety first, they were all dangerous in their own rites and she knew they could handle themselves if they needed to. But she would not sit idly by when there were beings that she had heard of. Today was a single day that she would leave by herself so that she might allow them a day to rest. She would fight for them, she would defend them.. she would live for them, and she would inevitably die for them.. if that was the call for the time. Though she could protect them better if she was alive.
“Though there is law, there have been ways I have found around it. I worked as a mercenary before I became the Champion of Kirkwall. I learned all the ins and outs of the job.” Which meant part of it was finding out where the bodies were to go and how they were going to dispose of them.. then the lie they would tell to get around it.. unless they were attacked first.. which had been the most likely case in multitudes of encounters. before that, she was a member of the King’s guard. A more noble way to live, but she hadn’t saved much coin in the event having to move here was necessary. They had been in a bit of a tight situation when Loghain had decided to betray their king and leave them to the Hoarde of Darkspawn to fend for themselves. Hawke had barely dragged her brother to his feet and demanded him to run with her when the hoarde was getting closer to them. Though she was pulled from her mindset when she had brought up the cute little being on her shoulder again.
“Sounds like I could leave one in Anders’ clinic and let them remove as much as they can there.. maybe keep a bucket of water in my room somewhere.” It sounded like the best plan, honestly. Anders had sick and wounded parties staying with him at all times.. though as a mage, he did his best to keep his clinic clean, there was only so much one could do. Especially in Darktown. Though she smiled all the more when the other seemed elated to even hear about her ownership of a dog. “He’s a very good dog. His name is Killian. Out of my three siblings, he took best to me.” Mabari chose their masters. It was much to her brother’s disappointment that he chose her and not him Bethany had told her that Carver had been jealous of that little detail.
“Yes, I refer to magic users. I have a few in my family.” The Hero of Ferelden was included, though she was unsure if someone she met only once before the fall of the original Ferelden Grey Wardens could be counted among her kinsmen. “But I will keep it in mind in the future.” The Warrior’s arms crossed over her chest as she watched the little creature work, head tilted in slight curiosity all the while. “You both sound like quite the pair.” She murmured, taking her eyes from the creature to check her blade, hand moving to pick it up and sheath it back on her back where it could stay in her possession and still be out of her way. Unlike one of her friends, she preferred the two-handed weapon that would deal the most damage.
“Honestly, humans are the most dangerous for me to be around. Not because they’re a threat to me but rather because they’re a threat to themselves with me as the catalyst for the harm done. They don’t take it seriously when I tell them to back off because they think I’m just bluffing or something and then-- well they’re lucky I’m on their side otherwise I’d let them suffer from my venom to learn a lesson purely out of spite.” The squish certainly was a spiteful little thing. She didn’t take kindly to being mishandled or handled in general like she was some kind of pet project to examine. She hums with thought and stretches her limbs a little, as best as she can given her condition. “Its refreshing to not be concerned about accidentally killing someone. You can ask away, cute avian. I’ll answer whatever you like.”
Already she was associating the woman with the bird of her name. It was easier to be kinder when she thought of animals after all-- otherwise she’d probably be far more stand offish and attempting to keep the woman at arm’s length. It was interesting conversing with her, better to be inviting than to be crude now that her injuries were properly wrapped and there was no concern to be had. “I see, it sounds like an interesting practice. It seems like Thedas is a mixing pot of culture and that’s always fascinating.” Cnidari didn’t openly invite people to their world but once and it ended poorly, but that wouldn’t stop Hiraeth from being openly curious nonetheless. Yuva was gone but she still remained to carry it on and get her blood for what happened. “Oh, so they can mean different things? How wonderful~ Perhaps its similar to the tattoos the humans I associate with get.”
Language wise, somewhat, she supposed. “They get various things etched on their skin but they have meanings of varying kinds from what I understand.” It seemed to her, humans were creative in all forms. Be they the humans she was familiar with or the humans elsewhere. They always seemed to have something similar to each other and always creative. Such a curious species. Though there’s no smile on her features to be found on the topic of the slavers and the small creature flexed her claws out of tension. “Sounds positively delightful. Perhaps during my stay here we should go head hunting?” Even if these weren’t her humans or allies, her motto still stood. She would ensure they got back alive. Be it from the worst outcome or the best, she would never allow such things to transpire with her in the vicinity.
“Truly I don’t see the problem with taking out the trash but if there’s laws against it, I guess its a good thing I’m not bound or obligated to obey them either way. Plus, I can just eat them and they’ll never be found again.” A simple shrug, Hiraeth didn’t regard the human system of rank or law. They weren’t her laws, weren’t anything she had to obey and no one could honestly make her either. She was too archaic and too brash to be subjugated into obedience. Her frame coils up a bit and she tilts her head in thought,”A clinic? They’re perfect for that, honestly. Think less “What they can” and more “Oh fuck everything is sparkling? How the hell?” Because that’s precisely what a Pyotite can do in an hour if left unattended. A single pyotite can spread themselves over surface areas and clean everything in one go.”
Her little Pyo was honestly her pride and joy. As much a part of her as her own teeth and horns. Though the mention of her canine companion certainly had the Cnidari already glowing with delight again and she listens intently with her sharp ears twitching enthusiastically. What a lovely sounding creature! “Absolutely precious! I’d love to meet him! Its fascinating, most humans disregard the choice of the animal where their pets are concerned, to know he favoured you of your siblings is adorable.” She hummed, absolutely enthralled with it all. Truly, animals were the fastest way to her heart and she’d quite literally throw herself into any kind of danger for them. She holds her claws out for Pyo when he’s finished and lets the little one hop right on into her palm to replace himself as her clothing again.
Mindful of her injuries, her little companion carefully shapes and forms to cover what’s comfortable before she turns her attention to the woman again with a smile. “Mages then, I’ll remember that. We are quite literally a pair. I don’t think there’s any way to separate us, even though Pyo is actually the hundredth Pyotite or so. Every time he replicates I know he’s gotten very old. Its a sad thing that they don’t have lives as long as us, but their offspring consume them and continue on for the rest of a Cnidari’s life.” Ah, the tears she’s shed over her Pyo going on without her were enough to fill the ocean for how long she’s lived, but it was a natural cycle, just the way things were. Though her attention immediately separates from that thought when she’s able to actually take note of the weapon. Before she wasn’t able to really see straight nor appreciate such craftsmanship, but she was quick on the draw this time.
“What a beautiful sword, two handed-- is it a Greatsword or a Longsword?”
