A Body Forms

In the middle of town square, a body suddenly appears on the street. The people around the body all step around her and continue on their way. Soldiers rush from the guilds back to the fray outside of town and townsfolk continue on their own personal missions. Except one. A knight in full plate mail wearing a yellow and blue favor on his hip stops and reaches a hand out to the form on the ground.

"My lady? Are you alright?" He asks, offering his hand.

Vesta squints harshly against the sunlight, raising a hand to shield her eyes.

She frowns up at the figure offering her a hand, staring at it for a long moment. Eventually, she sighs and takes it, allowing the knight to pull her to her feet.

Once upright, she looks down at her own hands, turning them over slowly as she studies them. After a moment, she lets out another deep, weary sigh.

“...No.”

Her gaze drifts over herself, the clothes hanging loosely from her frame, her bare feet, and disheveled hair spilling around her shoulders. She shakes her head, pressing her lips into a thin line.

Then, she turns on her heel.

“...Thanks,” she mutters over her shoulder.

Vesta starts walking, her arms folded tightly across her chest.

The knight watches her get up. "Can I-?"

Then he watches her turn on heel and walk away with her quiet thanks. He stares after her for a moment before he also turns away. He begins marching back towards the fighting.

Storm sighs heavily as she watches the interaction between knight and ramtovi. "Welp..."

She turns to Saige, who is distractedly bothering a poor townsperson. "Saige, want to meet another friend?"

Saige, her hood pulled tightly over her head, waves her hands animatedly at the poor townsperson as she rambles on through some increasingly elaborate story. When the unfortunate soul attempts to escape, she simply follows a few steps behind, continuing without missing a beat.

The moment Storm speaks, however, Saige's attention snaps towards the draconian.

“Another friend?!”

The townsperson is immediately forgotten.

Saige practically crashes into Storm, throwing her arms around the draconian's shoulders with absolutely no regard for personal space. She peers out over Storm's shoulder into the crowd, then reaches up and tugs a few strands of Storm's hair forward, letting them fall over her own hood to shield her face from the sunlight.

She scans the crowd eagerly for this mysterious new target of her attention, bouncing excitedly on the balls of her feet, though with considerably less energy than usual thanks to the harsh sunlight.

Her arms tighten around Storm.

“Which one?!” She demands, practically vibrating with anticipation. “Who is it?!”

Storm grins and lifts her arm to point at the ramtovi walking down the street with her arms folded across her chest. "That one. BUT!"

Storm quickly grabs the back of Saige's cloak before she can dash off. "She doesn't look too happy. So maybe we don't surprise her?"

Saige starts to run off, only to be abruptly yanked back when Storm catches her by the cloak. She giggles, turning back towards her.

“Okay okay! No surprises. I’ll be totally chill!”

She takes Storm’s hand and immediately begins swinging it wildly between them as they walk towards Vesta, bouncing with every step. The draconian’s restraint does little to dampen Saige’s enthusiasm.

As they draw within earshot, Saige perks up even more.

“HIIII THERE!!”

Vesta freezes mid-step.

Her shoulders tense. Slowly, painfully slowly, she turns her head just enough to catch sight of the approaching elf and draconian.

Saige waves enthusiastically with both hands, her fangs on full display as she beams from ear to ear.

“I’m Saige! Do you want to be my friend?!”

Vesta stares at her.

Then begins walking faster towards the city gate.