Walking slowly in the woods, Nyla sighed, the only way she felt safe during the day was when she was moving. The brown cloth around her eyes looked worn out and ragged, and frankly so did she, walking non-stop for two days made one look a little travel worn. ”Why is the ground getting sticky?” She mumbled to herself tilting her head, unproductively down to her feet, unable to think of a reason she kept walking. Soon she was working hard to walk, not being able to see the mud that was building up on her boots, nor how muddy her cloak was getting; all that extra weight was pulling her down. Her feet finally stuck fast, and she couldn’t move, panicking she pulled her legs as hard as she could, and then began to tremble. I’m stuck…in what though? She thought frightened, and began to cry, and struggle. ”Help…” She croaked sadly, and quietly, pulling at her legs again, this time falling over putting her hands out to break her fall, she slid into the mud, and remained stuck fast.

Slowly trudging through the marshlands, Kalius felt torn. This place did not feel like home in the way other woodlands did, not nearly as comforting. Although it did not feel overly welcoming, the druid did still feel a spiritual connection to the area. Over the last few hours walking through the gloomy marsh, past looming trees and struggling plant life, Kalius felt hurt. As if just being in these parts allowed the druid to share in the earths pain.

Even as the hard ground gave away to deep mud, the young man was to involved in thought to truly notice. He felt the pain of the land too deeply to notice the little changes in scenary, until a frantic sound caught his attention. Quickly focusing on the task at hand, Kalius followed the muffled noises, splash of water and the suck of mud. coming around a small bend enough to see the source, the druid heard a call for help.

Rushing to the pool of mud which the cry came from, Kalius came up beside a dead tree which was barely standing on its own accord.
"Please, can you hear me? I...I will help somehow." Kalius called to the fallen girl.

With a running start the druid collided with the newly made log and went with it as it fell across the fair sized bog. With the tree slowly sinking, and barely a few feet from the girl, Kalius extended his hand and hoped she could reach. If not he would gladly jump in after her.
" If you can hear me, reach for my arm..."

Nyla heard the call of someone willing to help, and took the opportunity throwing her arm into the air. Catching hold of something she pulled herself up and out of the mud, gasping at the air she coughed, and sputtered, shaking mud out of her hair, and trembling as she pulled herself onto a log. ”Thank…you…thank you so…much….” She managed to spit out as she ran her hand over her ears to get the sticky muck out of them, mud caked her blindfold and she was struggling to get it all off of her. Noticing the sinking of the log she began to crawl to solid ground, and laid on her back panting and sputtering still, her lungs heaving the air into her body.

Kalius was relieved to say the least when the girl was able to find his arm and pull herself to safety. Sliding himself to the very edge of the fallen tree, and more than a little into the mud, the druid helped guide her as she crawled the rest of the way to solid ground. After inching himself off the sinking log and regaining his breathe, he kneeled before the young girl wondering if she was okay.

In the few seconds between kneeling down and organizing the proper words to say, Kalius noticed how unique the girl was. Long brown hair danced down the sides of her face encircling the strap across her eyes while elegantly covered her ears, her cat like ears. Even being caked in mud, Kalius thought she was rather pretty. It seems traveling through these painful woods was worth it since it meant possibly saving a life.

" Are you alright? Are you hurt at all?" Kalius asked sincerely worried. Being trained as a druid, he of course knew a basic heal spell and only hoped if she ws hurt it would suffice.

Nyla laughed a little, and sputtered as she pulled mud from her body. "No, I'm not hurt, but I suppose thats what I get for not paying attention to things...That was a life lesson that I don't want to repeat, and thankfully you were there, or I wouldn't have a life to apply the lesson to." She said, sencerity laced its way through her words, as she took off her backpack as she felt it squirming, pulling out the little sloth bear, it glared at her.

"Hush Coal, go back to sleep." She said scratching his ear, the only way she had found to put him back to sleep when he was mildly annoied, when he was mad, there was no way to get him to calm down until he personally took care of whatever woke him up. Feeling her way around the ground she placed the little bear in her pack, as he nodded off to sleep again.

"You'll have to forgive me, my name is Nyla, and I truely am thankful to you, is there anything that I may help you with as thanks?" She asked smiling, in the direction of the man, still a little unnerved with sitting still for so long, it was still day after all and she was blind as a bat, and still nearly immboalized by the mud. Thinking back to earlier that day she tried to remeber where the nearest lake or stream was, but it was hard to know where she was, it was so easy to get turned around, and double back without noticing.

A life leason, the druid admired the girls attitude, seemingly accepting of the situation as soon as it is dealt to her. Kalius himself did not know if he would be able to show a cheery smile so soon after being encased in mud. Then again, he has been known to be over joyful in odd circumstances. His wide smile that had started across his face since learning the girl was okay only intensified as she pulled out her travel companion.

A bear! or at least a member of the same family. Small, furry and ultimately adorable, Kalius watched as the girl stroked his ear, encouraging him back to sleep. Never before seeing such an animal, perhaps at another time he would prefer a introduction to the critter.

Nyla, a name perfectly fitting her, in the druids opinion. Being so intranced by her obvious beauty, it took Kalius a while to finally comprehend the reason she covered her eyes. Blind perhaps? Or maybe sensitive to the sun? Either way, it did not matter. He was sure if such a disability existed it did little to detract from the person who lay before him.

" Nyla, it is a great relief to hear you are unharmed. I take it as an honor that i was able to help." Kalius did have a few minor tasks he wished completed in the marshlands, mostly reagent collection, but they could be pushed back until Nyla was comfortable and safe.

" My name is Kalius Aldura... would you care to wash off? I found a rather refreshing stream farther up the path." Extending his hand to Nyla to help her stand, the druid hoped she would accept his invitation. These marshlands were not particularly dangerous but being attuned mentally to them, he did not feel right about leaving her alone. " and perhaps, if you accept my offer, on the way you could tell me why one as pretty as yourself is traveling in lands so desperately lacking beauty?"

Blushing at the compliment, Nyla reached up and grabbed his hand, and nodded. "That would be wonderful, this mud isn't one bit comfortable!" She said continuing to smile at him, as she gave his words thought, was she pretty, she had never seen herself before, except when she looked down at herself, after all to see a reflextion there must be light, and she cringed at the thought of light. Pushing her hair behind her ear she straightened out her clothes as best she could. I'm a complete mess.... She thought glumly, And as much as I hate to admit it, that was quite frightening... Her thoughts continued, as she smiled, and listened to Kalius' introduction.

"It's a plearsure to meet you, even though its under these cercumstances." Listening still she wondered what he looked like, pondering the possibilities based on his voice and the grip of his hand. "I would love to tell you a harrowing tale of resques and dragons, but truely the only reason I am traveling here is simply because I feel at ease when I travel, always moving I'd like to consider myself a harder target to find when I can't see." She said her words starting high and laughingly and falling off at the mention of her sight, but her smile returned quickly and she put her backpack over her shoulders. "But I suppose company would make for a change of pace." She said waiting for him to take the lead to the supposed spring.

After helping nyla to her feet, it dawned on Kalius to make sure he did not get seperated from any of his belongings in the mud rescue. By feel alone, he could tell his two-bladed sword and cloak, while quite muddy, were still snuggly strapped to his back. Brushing his hands across his belt he breathed a slight sigh of relief, for still attached upon it lay his Twin-daggers, Two thick shelled vials (one filled with a dark red substance, the other sparkling green dust ) and his small, feather covered horn.

Upon finishing his item inspection, Nyla had finished speaking. Again the druid could not help but admire her attitude, after mentioning her apparent blindness she was so quick to focus on the positive once again.
" I thank you for accepting my offer, a road seems less threatening when you have one to share it with." After taking a quick glance about the area, to make sure they did not forget anything, Kalius moved barely a few steps ahead of Nyla to lead. " I may not remember exactly how far it is we have to travel, but it should not take long. Shall we get started?"

Not exactly sure how good nyla would be at following him through a rocky slope, he did not go extremely fast. Of course, he thought after a moment that she was probably quite capable, she did after all make it here by herself. Silently scolding himself for underestimating her, he turned to talk to her.

"So you travel often, Nyla? where is it you are coming from, Is there a village nearby that is lucky enough to have you be a member? Making sure to keep only a few steps before her, Kalius continued up the trail.

Nyla's sensitive ears picked up the sound of his feet, he was walking slowly ahead of her, and she could judge the distance quite well, and she made her way easily behind him. "I don't belong to a village, and it doesn't matter how long we travel, acctually the longer the better." She said with a smile, it was true the last time that she belonged to a village was when she lived with her parents confined in a small room during the daylight hours, forgotten and alone, she shuddered at those thoughts. "How long until sunset?" She asked, climbing the rocky terrain with ease to walk beside him, kicking a rock in front of herself, and using its sounds to determine where to step next, avoiding large rocks and roots all the while. She slid a little on a patch of moss, but quickly recovered her footing.

"Its quite a change to meet a gentleman for once, its much better than bandits who think they can get away with robbing you blind." She laughed at her little pun, as she did she realized that quite quickly he, like the moss on the rock, was growing on her. Caught in her thoughts and laughing she forgot to pay attention to where she was going, and stepped on another piece of moss, and slid into a tree root, while simultaniously flailing her arms around, until she finally stopped falling back and landing on her rear quite hard. She placed her hands over her mouth, and stifled the natural response to yell, that would really make Coal mad with her, and she didn't want that. Standing quickly she swore under her breath and limped back up to where Kalius was, and laughed as best she could.

As Nyla fell over backwards, Kalius had to immediately stifle his first instinct of rushing to her side. In fact the druid did back-track towards the fallen girl a few steps, but reconsidered and decided to keep his position. After Nyla regained her footing and started towards him once more, he nodded his approval of his choice to not rush frantically to her side. Kalius understood the importance of self-dependancy, and he realised if he tryed to help her before she had a chance to help herself, it would feel a little condescending.

Still, although he believed he chose right, he found it hard to see her hit the ground with out him lending a hand. Kalius was quickly finding himself liking Nyla more as time went on. Still smiling as Nyla rejoined him on the path, he placed his hand on her shoulder briefly then continued on along the trail.

"I thank you for your kind words, I do pride myself in keeping my actions apart from that of a common theif." Chuckling as he readjusted his muddy cloak, he added " Although i have only met a few who partake of that lifestyle, it has left a bitter taste in my mouth after each conversation." In truth, Kalius' interaction with theifs so far has been minimal.

Even so, the breif occasions in which he did meet such a man the druid found himself always wary, always alert and always suspicious. Trust is something he valued, so naturally anytime in which he was left with none left a ill memory.
A slight shudder danced down his back as he glanced at the cloudy sky, what was left of the fading sun quickly retreating behind the hills. It would seem nightfall would be upon them quicker than he ecpected.

"Sunset is not far off, i would not be surprised if it has already fallen past the cliffs. Quite hard to tell through the quickly building clouds." As the last of his words rolled from his tongue, he realised they were aproaching the stream as quickly as night was falling upon them.
Coming around a few small saplings, with the stream well within distance to hear, a small obstacle introduced itself. Mud. Deep dangerous mud, covering the whole of the path including a fair part of the adjoining wooded area lay ahead. Build up of debris and excess river water caused a minor flood, would be the mans best guess as to the cause.

Bringing his hand up to brush Nyla's shoulder once more, this time to halt her progress, Kalius explained the situation. " It would seem one more dirty hole impedes our progress, mud has overtaken the path for some twenty or thirty feet." To his relief he picked out a suitable route through the muck atop fallen trees and large stones " If we take care it is possible to pass over top with out slowing our pace, I can lead you if you wish." Sunset fully covering the land as he spoke, the druid hardly noticed, " I would hate to see more grime mar such a fair face."

((OOC- Once again i feel i must apologize for my post, it was unacceptable how long i made you wait for a reply))

((ooc- bah, its fine u've replied and thats all that matters!))

Nyla felt his hand against her shoulder as she caught up, and heard what he had said about sunset, lifting the blindfold she found her vision blurry, it was almost night, and she was quite releaved with that. However she was worried about the sticky feeling beneath her feet, it was reminicent of the mud that she had only just escaped, and she pulled out her ice-spear. "There's no reason to fear falling in if it isn't necissary." She said and spoke a few words under her breath, as she did so long tendrils of ice reached out to touch and effectivly freeze the mud. It created a safer, and more solid path through the sticky goo.

"As I said, a life lesson to be learned from." She smiled and took the lead, guessing where the sun may be, the wretched ball of light, she reached back and untied the fabric from her eyes. Blinking she could almost see clearly, which was fine for now, her purple eyes wandered her surroudings, and then turned back to Kalius.

"Blue...no green...." She mumbled as she took in his oddly coloured eyes, then thought of her own, she had often been told they were odd. He looked differant then she thought he would, he was slightly taller, and his dirty blond hair was pulled back, she smiled and turned back towards the path. "Sorry, its just I didn't know what to expect when the sun set." She said still smiling.

Kalius in no means felt as if Nyla could not take care of herself, But still that could not help him but feel a little surprised as she efficiently handled the task ahead. His eyes fully on the fast forming ice bridge, first admiring the work then studying the weapon from which it came, Kalius did not even notice Nyla remove the strap from her eyes. Evening was fully upon them now, the path before them falling in ever increasing darkness and the sun well beyond the far trees.

Smiling as he took in the slight new smells that accompanied nightfall, he was a little glad the stream was with in eye sight. Himself being a full child on the wild, He logically could lay where he stood and basically enjoy a good nights sleep upon the rocky floors. Chuckling away that notion he refocused on the task at hand. Building a fire and making sure Nyla was comfortable was first on his mind.

"Blue...no green...." Glancing over at his companion, a curious grin replaced his always constant smile. She had removed her blindfold, bit of night light that managed to shine through the trees bounced of the newly created ice road and illuminated her unique eyes, purple eyes. Purple, a tell-tale sign of blindness of course, but if that was so, how did she concern the odd color of his own eyes?

Shrugging it off for the moment, he inched himself across the icey surface then paused for Nyla if she needed a hand.
"Believe me, you can trust all i say about myself, for all of it is true. I stay as honest during nightfall as i do during the day" He waited for her to come up beside him, so they could walk the last few seconds towards the river together.
Staring deep into her purple orbs, he could not help but ask

" Your eyes are the most beautiful i have ever seen, is there a reason you keep them hidden form the world to see?" Glancing at the recently removed leather strap. " And if you do not mind me asking, is the reason got something to do with why you can now see that the sun has set?"

Nyla laughed at the comment, and she looked him squarly in the face as she heard him compliment and inquire. "People tell me they're odd, and wierd, but never beautiful, but the opinions of those who make these comments aren't the reason I hide my eyes. It's the plane and simple truth that I can't see in the day or light, and to be quite frank the light causes great pain." She said softly and almost mustering a laugh as she explained.

"And I wasn't commenting on your character or your honosty, just the way you look, I didn't expect some one to have eyes as differant as mine." She said just as softly trying not to sound impolite, or stare as she studied his eyes intently taking in the differant colors.

As they approached the stream Nyla unclipped the now solid cloak with its brown crusty shell, and put her back pack on a near by rock, and stepped into the water. "This is wonderful, you may want to wash off the mud on yourself as well." She said clearly her back to him as she took a deep breath and dove into the cool water letting it wash the mud from her face and clothes. As she surfaced she looked back at him, the water now cloudy she still had dirt on her as she made her way to the shallow water again, and smiled. "The water's great!" Her hair was stuck to the sides of her face as she held out a hand to help him into the water.

Deep blue, clear and it even looked enticing. Watching the faint light of the evening shine atop the running water, Kalius was once again surprised at how beautiful nature could be, in even the most unhospitable locations. With only but a faint breeze disturbing the otherwise still Marsh, and the rythemic melody of the friendly sounding waters, it was surprisingly nice. Upon the young man's initial trudge past the stream earlier in the day, he did not sense from the water this much...Kindness. After feeling miserable for this particular patch of 'woodlands' throughout the day, it did lift his heart to find voices in the wild that did not speak of pain and horror, but sounded full of life and hope's for renewal.

As the pair came before the water line, all he could do was shrug, chuckle and run a nimble hand through his hair. He was spending too much time with his ears to the plants again. Although he cherished his level of intimacy with the spiritual voices, he still felt guilty for giving them more attention then his new friend and guest. Nyla stepped forth into the stream, seemingly not bothered by the cold temperature he was sure the waters held.

"This is wonderful, you may want to wash off the mud on yourself as well." she offered the young man before submerging herself. In the process of removing his weaponry, boots, cloak and shirt as Nyla reamerged and returned to the shallower water, Kalius took a moment or two to admire his curious friend. Still covered in a small amount of mud and her hair unorganized, The druid could not believe this pretty young girl seemed so surprised, almost unbelieving, when he complimented her looks earlier.

"The water's great!"

Taking her hand as he baby-stepped his way into the water, a slight chill ran up and down his spine. Memories of his childhood flooded his mind, particularly of his mother at his villages nearby lake. As a child he refused to take her advice and dive straight into the water, to get rid of the initial freeze, and always preferred to inch his way toward's her. He could still hear her words, full of love. ' Why you choose an evening of slow torment rather than one second of discomfort eludes me, my Son'

All those years in his village and not once did he shed his stubornsess and attempt her way. Realising was almost up to his mid-section in water and still holding Nyla's hand he blushed, feeling embarassed. After clearing his throat to break the silence he brought there joined hands to his mouth and kissed the top of her hand slightly.
" I thank you for your help, i was never one for the cold water. But you are right...the water is great." Thinking again of his childhood lessons, he laughed out loud. " Of course after you grow up you must face some things head on that as a child you once danced around." With that statement he dove forth into the middle of the stream. He wished there was a bit more light, at least enough for him to view the river bed. Always was he intrigued by the water's floor, after all, in a similar stream was wear he found his interesting little flute.

Coming up from his dive close to Nyla, he moved the hair from his eyes as efficiently as possible. " the water truly is refreshing, im glad the marsh decided to be as friendly tonight." lowering himself up to his neck in water, as not to catch a chill he continued " Would the lady like a few moments alone to wash up? Or perhaps would a little more confersation suit the lovely Nyla?"