“That’s yer problem. Giving yourself people to protect. It’s a liability. They all fuck you over in the end.” She spoke from past experiences, from what she had learned from her master and what she had to listen to when it came to others problems. “It’s easier to look out for yerself.”

Scarlet nestled her head further into the sack of potatoes, lazily staring up at the sky. “Give a fuck what people think. Everyone has their own version of good or bad...right and wrong...it’s all a matter of perspective. It’s why I hate fuckin’ hero of justice types.”

“Some will fuck you over. Some will drive a knife into your back the first time someone flashes a few shiny Souls in their face. Some will kick you off a ledge. Others - others will sacrifice themselves for you, giving up immortality in order to protect you. Some will suffer for hundreds of years, to ease yours. Just as everyone has their one view of right and wrong - there are others who know, who truly believe, in companionship, in friendship. I've seen a company of men, locked in eternal battle with themselves, because they saw they were falling to what they saw as evil. So rather than fall, they trapped themselves, so that their evil stayed locked away, wearing itself out.” He rolled his shoulder.

“Living for eternity just means it’d take longer for people to fuck you over.” Scarlet muttered. She wasn’t buying into this whole ‘companionship’ thing that Erik was spewing. Like she needed it. Hah. She didn’t even want it. Ever since she cut her ties with everyone, she had been better. Much better. She was able to concentrate on her own duties, her own desires and motives.Nothing got in her way.

“Let’s move away from this….wishy-washy talk.” She muttered, grimacing at the feeling of a particular potato wedged in the back of her neck. It wasn’t comfortable but it sure beat riding on horseback with a creature trying to buck you off.

“Very well. Any other questions you wish to ask?” The man paused and glanced towards the horizon, and frowned. “And it seems a storm is brewing.” There were no clouds in sight. Scarlet grimaced as she sat up and massaged her neck. “The fuck you talking about? Skys clear, sure we hit snow near Salvar but that’s another day away at best.”

He rolled his shoulders, still staring in the same direction, even as the road curved. His dark brown hair swayed as he shook his head. “No. There's a storm coming. The air is getting heavier.” He frowned. “It will be a powerful lightning storm. Being caught in it - painful. Neither of us will stay dead, but it will slow us down - is there anywhere we can take shelter?” His voice did take on a bit of an urgent tone.

Scarlet sighed as she stretched, arching her back. She clearly didn’t have the same concern as he did. She surveyed their surroundings. The road had cleared to dirt hours ago, but it was packed down flat. Tiny posts dotted the side of the road, markers. “If I’m not mistaken there should be an inn, about 30-40 minutes away at this current pace.” She shifted to sit on the edge of the cart, it was uncomfortable but at least she could see ahead better. “Is it really that urgent? Just a storm.” His concern said otherwise. Scarlet wasn’t as attuned to nature as he was apparently. She didn’t really feel much of anything, other than annoyance.

He looked to her, then back in the direction he'd been staring. “We should have that much time.” Despite saying that, he tapped his heels against the horse, making it speedy up. “how many truly powerful storms have you seen?”

Scarlet scoffed. “I live in the Northen Salvar wastes, I LIVE in a land cursed by eternal storms and inhospital weather.” She snorted. Why was Erik so hung up on things? He was immortal - so why would a storm have him so rattled? If he was this rattled perhaps she should give him the benefit of the doubt. Then in the distance was a loud, long roll of thunder. He shifted and frowned. His gaze shot to the bag he had dropped into the carriage, where his unstrung bow was resting.

“So. A powerful, unnatural storm, and you aren't concerned? Tell me. What kind of Beasts does this land have that might cause such a storm?” There was now an almost anticipatory note in his voice.

“Fucked if I know. Maybe Thayne Am’alah is just pissy at something for all I know.” Erik paused in the motion, and his head slowly tracked back to look to her. A hungry smile spread across his lips.

“A Thayne? A Thayne, or a beast… Oh, either way that will be fun.” He shook his head then. “But no, I suppose not. My time now is not my own.” But even as he said that, the storm clouds were building, racing towards them.

Scarlet pursed her lips. “Your time? Dude - I don’t give a fuck. I haven’t technically given you any orders yet have I? If you want to go chasing after some beast do it.” She swung her legs idly back and forth, her leather boots hit against the wood in small thunks. “Hell, it’s better than forcing idle chit chat.” She gave him a smirk. “Just try not ta destroy the carriage. Unless you wanna be a pack mule.” Erik raised an eyebrow at her, then let out a booming laugh. He rolled off of the horse and patted the animal. He moved swiftly,grabbing the seven foot staff from the carriage, and his sword and shield, and his quiver of overly large arrows. He grinned and saluted her.

“Let's hope I don't die - getting back from Stonevale will take a while.” Then the apparent madman started striding toward the onrushing storm, drawing a heavy coil of a string of some sort from one of his pouches and wrapping it stringing the staff, bowing it, showing that it was a massive great bow.

Scarlet sighed heavily. “Fuckin…. No one better steal my damn potatoes.” She followed several metres behind Erik. It’d be interesting to see him fight. He was most definitely excited about it. If he was wanting to so badly, why not just do so? Why wait for her approval. They weren’t lovers, they weren’t partners, hell, they were barely even associates. They had a deal - and this didn’t even fall under it.

Loud rumbling thunder shook the skies above, and there was most definitely ...a sort of electricity to the air. She hadn’t felt nor noticed it before but Erik was right. It did feel thicker. She pursed her lips. Thankful he wasn’t around. She didn’t need him throwing it in her face, that yes, this thing was an unnatural storm.

Further up ahead she caught sight of his back. His shoulders were rolled back, tensed. His feet planted firmly apart in the ground. Shoulder length. He held his oversized bow back. The string taut.

It…

It reminded her of Jake. For the briefest of moments the tall man before her was replaced with a light, small and sprightly half elf. Jake had tried teaching her to use a bow and arrow once...Now he was probably dead in a ditch somewhere. Scarlet couldn’t remember if the half elf survived her attack on him. Ah well.

“So…” Scarlet said as she approached him from behind, “What do your elf eyes see - Erik?”