@redwhistle
Lyza crouched high in the thick leaves of a tree, waiting quietly as she watched from the darkness. Months since her return. Weeks since she had begun searching. Following tracks, patrolling obvious routes, searching everywhere from Idofront to the Great Fault. But finally, she’d found her.
In a safe clearing of the Goblet of Giants, hardly a stones throw away from her, three small travelers made their camp. A familiar boy, cloaked and shrouded. Clad in hands of wire and metal. An unusual furred creature- walking and talking like a human, but warped by the abyss. Not a monster... but a Hollow? And a young girl, not even a teen. Hardly old enough for the red whistle upon her neck, bright and eager and full of smiles.
Riko. Lyza’s long deserted daughter.
She was exactly like everyone had said. Exactly like Lyza expected her to be. She would have recognized her anywhere. Her father’s eyes and soft cheeks. Her own blond hair and fair skin. Lyza spent quite a deal of time just watching her from afar, until Riko waved off her companions, taking their waterskins and pot and heading off to a nearby stream.
Lyza was still hesitant about all of this, but now was the best chance she had to approach them without the robot or the narehate detecting her. She leaped and skipped through the trees, bouncing from one to another with barely a sound as she closed the distance, until she was only a few meters behind and above her in the branches, sitting casually on a low branch.
She spoke low and sternly at first, announcing her presence calmly before Riko had noticed her. “Don’t be alarmed, but I would appreciate if you did not call for your friends.”
“It’s been a long time, Riko.”
