Ready (open)

[Zahirah Rose Raegan]

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[Elle Blanc]

"This is like looking for a needle in a freaking needle stack." Her familiar only whined in reply. He didn't like to think that his mistress was looking for something that could hurt her. He expressed his throughts through his eyes, his stormy grey eyes looked at her in a looked he has masterd: the puppy dog look, even though he was not a puppy anymore. If he was a puppy at all. She wasn't sure if familiars were young once. She only got him in his full-grown form, and he hasn't grown in the eight years she has been with him, except for the moments when he becomes the size of a horse. But he always goes back to his normal size. At least that's what she assumes since he's always in that form.

She gave a sigh when she saw the look on his furry face. She understood what he meant to say with his whine, even without the face. But they both knew that he could get the message across faster if he whined and made the face. Realizing that, it took all of her self-control not to stick out her tongue at the black wolf at her heels. Instead, she corrected herself for his sake. "I'm sorry, Ralph. I didn't mean it that way. I meant it was like looking for a hay in a haystack. Better?

Ralph yipped in agreement, his expression immediately changed from being solemn and sad to being happy, looking much like a pup when it sees its mother. Instead of resisting the urge, she gave into it and stuck her tongue out at the wolf. He gave a happy bark, then stuck his tongue out at the side of his mouth. She couldn't help but smile at the foolishness of her familiar. But then her smile turned upside down, remembering why they were at the Shiku Grasslands. "But I think looking for a grass in the grasslands fits this better.

One of her customers, those in need more than just food and drink, is terribly ill with a rare disease. Being the proud owner of Heart Petal, she never lets anyone die without receiving the best care she and her staff can give. She herself went to see how she could help the demon who was very sick. By chance, she was able to recognize the illness: it was a punishment to demons given to them by their superiors in moments when they fail to do their task. It had no name, but she knew it due to her past. Where I also had to learn some of the most useless things in life. She shook her head, not willing to let herself delve too deep into memories not completely buried yet. The only way to cure it was to feed him a certain type of grass, a tiger's tail, which of course could only be found in the Shiku Grasslands. Hence why she was there, on her hands and knees, making her look like a dog, to find that certain plant, with the help of Ralph of course.

As she continued to dirty her brown slacks, which she specifically wore for her trip as she knew that they would be colored with mud, and her white long-sleeved shirt, which had its sleeves rolled up to her elbows since it was hot and she didn't want to dirty them like her slacks, she heard a ring of a sword being drawn from its scabbard not too far away. She was sort of glad that her sleeves were rolled up, so that she could easily access her throwing daggers, still in their holsters on her lower arms, with a flick of her wrist. She got up slowly; Ralph was also aware that someone drew his weapon nearby. Both of them, with Ralph at her heels, slowly walked to their right, where the source of the sound came from.

"Hello?" She was surprised to see a girl, wearing a dark blue dress that reached all the way down to the ground, holding a sword in a threatening manner. Elle wasn't the type to look for fights, but if one starts, she ends to finish it.

[Zahirah Rose Raegan]

Zahirah sighed, wondering where the sounds were coming from. She was still weak from her last battle with demons. It had taken a lot of energy for her. Of course, she was never afraid anymore. Not afraid of anything really. She had seen and been through far too much to let anything stop her now. She would risk her life for the cause. Just as she had for her sister many years ago.

Zahirah looked at the girl and the dog warily as they came into view. She breathed in the girl and then tried to read her emotions. They didn't read anything threatening. "Sorry.... " She said as she put down her sword. "I thought you were... looking for trouble," She added, folding her arms. "May I ask your name?" She asked curiously. "And what race you are?"

[Elle Blanc]

"It's alright. No need to apologize." Elle calmed down considerably as she saw the lady in front of her lowered her sword. But Elle still eyed the sword warily. The way she stood and held the sword meant that she was well versed in using the sword. Even though it was down, it didn't mean the woman in front of her was any less dangerous. Besides, she had an odd aura. Elle couldn't place it but it definitely wasn't earthly. She met several people like her, with the same aura. But Elle never asked so they never said who they were.

She let one of her hands limp on her sides. Ralph knew that sign; he immediately went to his mistress's side where the arm hung. His moved up so that his head would touch the tips of her fingers. She glanced down at him then back to the woman. He understood and he remained quiet yet alert. They both knew that she wasn't good in close combat. That's why Ralph was ready to either fight or flee so she bring out her guns. Her fingers rubbed his fur, telling him that he was doing a good job.

"Yes, you may. It's Elle." She answered her question in the same soft voice she used earlier. But even though she was soft-spoken, it was loud enough for her to hear. She didn't bother asking for her name. It was out of habit since she never asked anything about her more needy customers in the restaurant. She only asked for their injuries, nothing more nothing less. If they wanted to tell more, they did so without any initiative from her.

Her body went frigid when she heard the second question. She tensed up, and Ralph felt it so he nudged his head on her fingers, to reassure her. It helped, but only a little. Race? She's a dhampir. They're very rare since the usual product of a human and a vampire would be a pure vampire or a pure human. She's probably the only dhampir in Divinous. In telling her Elle's race, it was like telling her who Elle really is: the Blanc heir. And Elle isn't going to let anyone know that. Especially a stranger she just met.

As she was trying to calm down, she noticed that the woman in front of her her was weary. It was visible in the way she stood and held the sword. Her motherly instincts overcame her fear of being discovered. "You're tired, aren't you? Why don't you rest for a while. Um, I've got something to lessen your fatigue." She took out a bottle from on of her many pockets and removed the top. Then she drank some of it without touching the rim. She always did this, to show that what she was offering wasn't poison. People have become untrusting, and to earn their trust so that they would drink or eat whatever she was offering them, she eat or drank some of them to earn it. "Here. Drink this. As you can see, it won't hurt you since I wouldn't place myself in danger."

[Zahirah Rose Raegan]

Zahirah folded her arms once she hid her sword away, and pursed her lips. Listening as the girl spoke. She wasn't exactly a people person, but she wasn't mean either. She was just observant. She could sense the closeness of the animal and the girl, Elle. It was protective, strong, and kind. She could also sense the girl's nervousness when she asked what she was. It didn't exactly matter to her personally. She figured the girl was no demon.

She sighed and continued to watch the girl silently. Her almost cold blue eyes taking in Elle's emotions and the way she carried herself. When Elle noticed the tiredness that Zahirah felt, she was a little taken aback. "Yes. Tired. I've had a rough couple of days, I suppose," She said as she sat back down where she was previously. She looked at the girl and then drank some of the drink she was given. "Thank you. Thats very kind of you."

[Elle Blanc]

Elle let out a sigh, showing how much she was relieved by the situation. So she's not aggressive. Thank goodness. Elle knew she would be in deep trouble if she was aggressive. Elle was simply pathetic, to say the least, in close hand combat. And by the way she held her sword, it seemed to be her specialty. All three of them would get heavily injured, most especially Ralph as he would try and protect his mistress while trying to attack and escape at the same time. And as a healer of sorts, she wouldn't want to start or even get into any fights. But if a fight does start, she always intends to end them.

But that is not the only reason she felt relieved. The woman in front didn't insist in finding out her race. People who ask often want answers, and tend to be quite insistent about it. But she wasn't, and Elle was more than grateful for that. The trouble that could if she was really insistent. Elle surpressed the shiver she felt. She really hated fights and trouble.

Ralph, as the loyal familiar that he is, stayed at Elle's heels, even as she tended the woman in front of them. When the woman sat, he moved closer to her, sitting down near the rock, as Elle moved closer to the woman who sat down. He may not consider her much as a threat, but he was still as attentive as ever. His back may be towards the woman, but his senses were aware of everything that would happen around him. And he knew that even though his back was turned to a potential enemy, he had his mistress who would watch his back as he is watching hers. Elle just smiled at Ralph as she patted his head and turned her attention to the woman.

"You're very welcome." Elle replied with her soft-spoken tone all the while, still with a small smile still playing on her face. "Do you have any wounds that are opened? Or how about those that need tending to?" Elle asked, going through the procedure of tending her customers. She always asked questions like this if she couldn't find any visible wounds on her patients.

[Zahirah Rose Raegan]

Zahirah could sense the relief from the girl, but didn't know why she felt relieved. She watched the animal closely and closed her eyes for a second, just feeling a sense of calmness and she could also sense its uneasiness. She smiled at the animal, and watched it closely. "He's protective of you. Thats good. Everyone needs someone to protect them," She nodded understandingly at the dog. "What is his name?"

"I'm very sorry if I startled the both of you. You can never be too careful anymore," She crossed her arms and rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit more upbeat and energized. She felt like she could kill a whole army of demons now. Zahirah smirked an evil and very mischievous smirk. "No...no wounds. Believe me, they are very much worse off," She said. She was quite pleased with herself. It was a good battle and she didn't give up until they were all dead.

[Elle Blanc]

Elle nodded back at the lady in front of her. And then she put on a smile as her fingers reached out to simply feel the silky black fur in the form of a wolf. Being the loving familiar that he is and sensing her need to touch him, he reached his head out to her. Her smile transformed into a toothy grin, showing her elongated canines. Elle was easily pleased by little things Ralph did.

She couldn't help but agree with the lady. Times were rough now more than ever and so it's good to have someone to lean on. Someone to care for you. Someone you can depend on. Someone who's just there. Someone like Ralph. Even though she knew that Ralph can't be a someone as someone only refers to people. So? "Yes, everyone needs someone. Especially in a time like this. And his name is Ralph."

She shook her head when she heard the lady speak again. "It's alright. You didn't mean to, and besides, we startled you too. She spoke in her soft-spoken voice laced with sincerity and concern. "Thank goodness there are no wounds. Her eyes shining with relief when she heard of her woundless state. Wounds made everything more complicated and dangerous. They could get infected or lose bodily fluids or cause death. Don't the two former also cause the latter? She held back a frown at her foolish thoughts.

Elle noticed that the lady was quite pleased when she said that others were far worse. To be worse than fatigue and woundless, they had to be... She pulled her hand back from Ralph as color drained from her already pale face. Um, if you don't mind my asking, who are they? Her soft-spoken voice spoke didn't reveal her true feelings, but the color of her face gave a hint to what they were.