A Journey Into Rawl'kha

Ma'zura smiled, his expression typically warm. He raised one hand to shield his eyes from the indifferent glare of the bright desert sun, wincing slightly. Yesterday the long caravan from Velyn Harbor had finally reached its terminus in the sleepy little desert town, but not before the calico had been stung by a venomous insect he had carelessly trodden near.

"Ah, hello, Geargo," he replied, his customary cheer still tempered a little by the waning effects of the scorpion's venom, "Ma'zura is much better. Still weary, but he thinks today seems most fragrant."

The lithe khajiit let his painted claws fall back to his side, glancing across the open square, listening to the buzz of insects and the wind dancing through the sparse trees and long-legged buildings. "S'ren-ja seems very peaceful."

Ma'zura blinked curiously, tilting his head. "Brush... Singular, Geargo?" he asked, his ears twitching gently. His expression concerned; he shifted his weight, hand settling on his hip, finger splaying across the tan fabric. "You only own one brush?"

Bare feet shifted on the cracked earth. "Does nobody in this clan know how to groom?"

Ma'zura dropped his face into his hands with a sigh, his chest rising and falling deeply. "Geargo, you must brush at least once a day. This one imagines the inside of your clothing is nothing but a mess of shed fur. How do you not leave a trail of it through the air when you walk?"

He looked down at his feet and shrugged. "No, this one is not used to walking in the wilderness. He sometimes wraps his feet in cloth or leather strips, but owns no proper boots."

Ma'zura smiled lightly. "There is little to explain. Your coat will thank you if you keep it properly groomed, yes?" He stretched and looked around the sleepy town again, his ears twitching, earrings catching the sun and glinting with the movement. A warm smile crossed his features. "Yes, this one would would be most grateful for a new pair of boots."

Ma'zura nodded. "Then lead the way, friend-Geargo," he smiled, ears perking. "Is the walk to Rawl'kha far?" He stretched lightly, his tail curling at his ankles languidly as he rolled his shoulders in their sockets, one manicured hand rubbing his neck as he prepared himself to move.

Ma'zura dipped his head, his finely-curled locks of soft orange mane bobbing gently with the movement. "This one cannot ride anyway," he said, "He has never been on horseback. Either way he will have to rely on most-strong Geargo to protect him from the dangers of the road, yes? The quickest route sounds fine to him."

He smiled charmingly, the little white peaks of his fangs barely showing past his lips, his whiskers twitched forward.

"No, there was no need to ride on the Roost. The entire island could be walked in less than a day." He followed Geargo out, his tail lazily curling above the dust kicked up by his heels. The smaller khajiit watched the rock formations around the road, idly clasping his hands behind his waist as he strolled. "Perhaps we will, some time. Ma'zura would like that. He is very afraid of falling off, though."

"Ah, this one is most glad to hear that," he laughed, his feet falling lightly on the cracked ground, his mane bouncing with his cheery step, light soft locks brushed back occaisonally from his forehead by a casual swipe of his fingers. "There is not much to tell about the Roost. Plantations, a few temples, a single small city - Mistral. It is a lovely place. The sea-wind always blows across the island, carrying the scent of the ocean. The sun is warm and at night the moons reflect off the water."

"This one would like to go back some time as well," he agreed, casually putting one foot in front of the other as he strolled, "But not so soon. This one still yearns to see new places, yes?"

His bare feet fell softly on the wooden planks of the bridge and he looked up into the rafters of the ceiling, studying the shadows.

Ma'zura enjoyed the day, the breeze ruffling his well-groomed fur. He drank of it, taking in the scents it carried as he followed Geargo trustingly. "Do you know this area well?"

Ma'zura peered cautiously ahead as they left the path, his tail twitching nervously. One foot left the smooth path and set carefully on the rough stone and sand of the desert and the other followed. The young male's ears twitched, skewing softly, his eyes wide as he scented the air. "You will keep this one safe, yes?" he asked, a small nervous laugh punctuating his question as he darted up close behind Geargo.