Ayaka kneeled down to pluck more of the natural growing herb. Just a little more. She had to keep telling herself that. She had a lot already, but the ash was a telltale sign of danger. She wanted to stockpile. Fuck. Needed it. Business would be booming. The adept Alchemist had been testing various concoctions. Originally she was going to use the ash as a mild respiratory poison. Instead, she managed to find a cure to the wheezing pain in the lungs it caused.

Go figure.

Antidotes were profitable too.

Deft fingers clasped the group of windleweed and pulled it clear from the ground. She shook off clumps of obstinate dirt before wrapping twine around the bunch and placing it in the satchel at her side.

Ayaka stood and wiped her brow. She glanced up to the sky to see… Wh-What? What in the ever loving fuck? Two people tumbling, falling...down, down, down they went before disappearing into the treeline. Birds flew from the scene as she heard a loud, resounding ‘thwak’

They would be dead.

Guess they wouldn't miss their coin and valuables then would they? cha-ching, Bitches! She made her way toward where she assumed they fell. Through the pushes toward the path home. Hey, they fell in a pretty practical place at least. Convenient. Ayaka wouldn’t even have to go out of her way to loot the - Ugh...

Then the scent of blood hit her. Hard. Ayaka staggered as she pulled her hand to cover her face. Shit. Should have expected that. The way they had fallen, it was only natural it’d be a big, splattery mess.She slowed her pace as she came up onto it. A splattered mess of flesh and feathers. A quick glance deduced that he had nothing of value. Well. Almost nothing.

Ayaka bit her tongue, held her breath, and kneeled down to start picking feathers out of the blood and sinue. Whatever this was. It wasn't something she was familiar with. Perhaps the ash foretold more than just disaster. New creatures? Hooo boy that meant new potions, new concoctions. Ayaka grinned, new poisons

Placing the feathers safely away she then pulled out a vial. Nevin may be a useless fuck of a… What was he now that he was betrothed to my sister? Ah. Fuck it. He was still a fuck. BUT and she didn't use this sentiment lightly. He was a damn good alchemist and he may be able to deduce some shit with the blood.

‘crack’

The sound was small, unordinary. And most wouldn't even pick it. But most weren't Ayaka. And Ayaka had damn good hearing. Her caramel brown ears swiveled back and behind her. Focusing on the sound. She continued her movements as though nothing was wrong.

Sibilant hissing, a soft murmur - and a long blade far too close.

Ah….an assassin.

“Put it away dipshit. You're deep in my territory one scream and the entire town will be after your sorry, fuckin, hissing ass.” Ayaka stood, batting the blade away as she turned and- was lifted off the ground by hard, long fingers curling around her throat.

Well fuck me sideways, it’d be a great time if you could come help now, Oh Thayne Breaker. Breaker? Yeh… thought so, silent fuck

Vivid orange eyes bored into hers, thin, narrow pupils scanning her body up and down as he held her in the air. Around her neck she could feel - and on his body she could see, that he was covered in small, glittering scales. He was tall, too, even accounting for her height - she had to be hanging at least three feet off the ground, if not more, as he held her at his eye level.

Spots danced in front of her eyes as she struggled to breathe, and to figure out just what the fuck was going on and what the fuck was he? One hand was trying to pull his away from her throat, the other, still bloody from his supposed fallen comrade fell to her side to pull a concealed blade from her side. She wasn’t going to let this fucker best her.

Ayaka grabbed hold of its hilt and stabbed it straight into his side. “Hope you enjoy being paralyzed you shit.” The fingers tightened inexorably around her throat, cutting off what little air she had been getting.

OOps….

There goes her consciousness, at least the cocksucker wouldn’t be able to move for a few hours….