Dawn had broken the city skyline, painting the streets of Ul'dah with a golden hue. Merchants and travelers alike exchanged goods, contacts, and other services. Money flowed like an endless sea in the hustle and bustle, as it did every day. The dawn marked the starting line to see how much money could be earned by the wealthy in this race to the idea of finer living, and wouldn't cease until the stars peeked through the desert sunset. Tents of all shapes, sizes, and shades dotted the roads in an effort to peddle their goods, turning the city into a blooming garden of colorful life. All of which could be seen from the ledge of the sultana's castle-like chambers. Or so she heard. I'rinae peered over the window sill of her small bedroom, graciously donated to her by her caretaker. A name she squeaked through her clutching fangs. Not soon after, the thought of jumping out the window to her most certain demise seemed somewhat promising. Shaking from the thought of dropping so far downward, she backed away from the window and slumped in her chair. Miserable, hot, and ill-tempered. It was just another day in the life of the sun cat.
A few booming steps shook dust from her roof as the door soon flung open, slamming into the wall behind it with a rattling thud. Byrginan, one of her master's oafs, towered over her from the threshold. "The master wants a word." He growled, tensing his muscles as he stared her down. The roe looked as smart as a sack of chocobo shite, and his personality didn't do him much justice either. He was a muscle, in every sense of the word.
The miqo'te narrowed her golden eyes and crinkled her nose while continuing to practice her weaving. "I'll get right on that.." Her voice held a sense of condescension that had flown right over the roe's meaty head, for a moment. His face soon contorted and plumped in a sudden realization of her apathy. "He said NOW!" One large hand lunged and closed around her midsection and hoisted her across his shoulder. One thunderous step at a time, he trampled out of her room and down the staircase as she flailed and cursed. He seemed unphased, given the large smile as they descended into the dark.
With a grunt he tossed her into a cushy armchair, sat across from a pile of luxurious pillows made of some of the finest fabrics coin could buy. Atop it sat an older male lalafell, peering over at her from behind his dark sunglasses as he traced his mustache with tiny plotting fingers. "Good of you to join me this fine morning, my dear..I pray you slept well?"
"If you could call it that.." She grumbled, her ears flattening and tail twitching as her anger stewed. When the roe caught wind of her disrespect he bumped her chair, lurching it forward with little effort and a screeching scrape against the stone floor. "What do you want, Popororo?"
"Ah-ha, that's Master Popororo to you, m'lady..let us not forget our manners, I raised you better than that.." The lalafell chuckled with delight, jumping down from his pillow throne to get closer. "Now, upon having my morning tea, I came across a thought.." He circled her, clasping his tiny hands behind his back as he scanned her with his soulless eyes. "You've been under my roof for quite some time, since your parents left you on my doorstep. I've shared my food, gave you somewhere to sleep, and in turn you have provided me with the many rich rewards of caring for a child I could never have, as well as your little talent for lining my pockets.." Upon mention of her parents, he could see her ears droop, only fueling his wicked grin. "Now, I understand the whole mess with the lover of yours and how he abandoned you. Was a shame, really, that we couldn't work something out. But let's face the music, girls like you are a dime a dozen..and I guess my price was just too high.." He stopped in front of her, placing his hands on her legs and gliding them upward. A sinister smile curled his lips as he saw her twitch with every ilm. His fingertips stopped short of her bikini line, but he held the grin as they met eye to eye. "I'm afraid that's the mindset of the venturing heart, dear..it can't be helped. I'd also hate to see you in the arms of a common whelp, as you deserve only the best money can buy.." He turned his back to her, peering down and dusting off his nice silks while contemplating his next monologue.
"You mean, the best offer they can give?" An eyebrow arched as she folded her arms tightly across her bosom.
The grin braided his wicked thoughts and cold gesture into a snarl, even more menacing than before. "It's not even that much, considering all the care and hospitality I've thrown in over the years.."
"How much?" The lalafell gave a hand gesture to the roe, at which point he clapped a piece of parchment to her shoulder hard enough to make her wince. Her eyes widened at the amount of zeroes that took up a majority of the parchment.
"Nighty night kitty cat.." The roe stopped in front of her door, tossing the miqo'te in and slamming it shut with a resounding chuckle. She huffed, the paper still clutched in her hand as she went to slam her fist against the door. Pressing her forehead against the flaking wood, she slowly slid down into a crouch and hid her face in a mess of tangled raven locks. Her amber eyes clouded with tears as she looked upon the paper once more, letting it drift from her hand and to the floor along with every onze of hope she had left. Twenty million gil was going to be hard to come by, especially for someone like her. And he knew this. It's why he played upon it. The dream of being free was fleeing from her, becoming nothing short of an impossible goal.
She'd fallen asleep against the door that night, and awoke to the sound of her master entertaining yet another "guest" he picked up from the Quicksand. Her eyes caught sight of the paper once more, thoughts gathering in clarity now that she had time to think calmly. Maybe it wasn't so impossible, as much as she just needed time. Lots of time, and someone she could sucker into doing the work. Unfortunately the trade off for being a decent healer was frailty. Often she had to depend on those who could take the punches while she made off with the loot, and thankfully she'd been born a female. The perfect bait for the trap. 'Just find some macho sap that wants some attention, then payday..I'll have that money in no time..' She could only hope, but now the dream of freedom didn't seem so far off.
Another morning poured into her bedroom window, but the miqo'te was nowhere to be found. The room held a simple air of loneliness, save for the paper that now hung from the wall by a pin. She had gotten a jump on the day, and what better way to start than scoping the active markets of Ul'dah. Tents lined with goods from all over decorated the bazaar with a brilliant display of culture and diversity, as well as the many beings that scoured the streets. Every clan from every race could be seen trading and negotiating, exchanging goods from both near and far, then stopping to pay a visit to the city's charming little oasis. The Quicksand was a fair establishment given the company that constantly crowded its tables every day. This set the stage for her performance. The lights were dim from the thick lingering clouds that hung about the place, smoke from cigars and pipes mixing in the air above making it sickly sweet with hints of tobacco and various herbs. Roars of laughter as well as hushed tones provided the best cover for her through the sea of thieves, as she navigated herself carefully through the shark infested waters before she spotted her first victim. By the look of his elongated, sloping ears and tired eyes, he was many summers older than most of the lot that stank up the place. His wardrobe consisted of very fine cloth and silks, expensive tastes or just really well off. Much to her surprise he sat alone at the bar, rummaging through his satchel while enjoying an ale. Curiosity peaked, she approached him, slowly and confidently as she practiced so many times before. Taking a seat next to him, she took one last observation before she made her move, only to realize she was being stared down by a glowing rabbit with an emerald hue and an exquisite red jewel that took up most of its forehead. "Aha, he's deciding whether or not he wants to trust you, it seems." The stranger sparked, now looking toward I'rinae with a half smile curling his thin weathered lips. Looking back down at his ale, he paused a moment before continuing, taking another sip. "Carbuncles are excellent judges of character, and one can never be too sure in a place like this.." A large gloved hand stroked the back of the creature as it let out a harmonious coo. I'rinae stared at the tiny creature, unable to fully voice her concern at the time and choosing to ignore it after a short wave. "Nice..rabbit, ahem, actually.."
Rummaging through her pocket she pulled out some battered parchment tied together with decorative ribbon, placing it on the counter. "You brought up a very good point, you see..I seem to have this map in my possession." Keeping up the innocent vibe, she laid it flat and skated her fingers across the drawings, until a sharpened, polished nail stopped atop an 'x' written in elaborate scrawl. "I was told there were riches here just waiting for someone to dig them up, but you see, I can't protect myself from what may wait there, so I thought maybe a seasoned adventurer such as yourself would find more use out of it.." She had to admit it wasn't her best performance. She could do better, but the time constraints taught her to clutch at whatever she could reach. His green eyes settled on her intently, she could tell he was taking careful consideration into her proposal. "Of course, it cost a good chunk of coin but I'd be willing to sell it to you for close to nothing." Another pause told her he was weighing the thought.
"Riches, you say.." He repeated, mulling it over before reaching for his coin purse. "This could be a wonderful opportunity as a setting for my novel..how much then?" Scanning her as she folded the map back up and tied its ribbon together, there was no hint of foul play to be seen from the sun cat's sweet demeanor. "Fifty thousand, just for you of course..don't let anyone else know I let it go for that much...jealousy tends to breed like wildfire here.." she said with a swift wink. The elezen gave the folded map one more lookover, then promptly shook the miqo'te's hand. "Deal."
Ignoring the tiny creature that was now scowling at her with a look as mean as its cute face could muster, the feline minx drifted away from their company as her tail playfully flicked the glowing rodent's button nose and disappeared into the crowd followed by a gratifying 'thanks' and holding a sack full of coin. It was almost too easy. Once she got out of earshot from the rabbit, she grinned, losing the two completely in what she believed would be the last they ever saw of her. "No, no..thank you.."
The tavern was starting to hit its busiest point of the day, bringing multitudes of people with it. Evening was upon them soon. She could tell by the sudden increase of dancer girls that entered and exited the entrance to the inn. Keeping her head low and hugging her knees as she sat leaning against the stone walls, she watched as each girl passed with the same defeated, blank stare. If there was anything good she could take from her situation, it was that she didn't have to resort to that in order to have food and a warm bed, however questionable the two may be at times. Even more so that she wasn't a bed warmer, either. Playing the con artist wasn't her ideal choice of career, but given her options she considered herself rather lucky. Despite her disgust for her distant relative's life choices, there was also something alluring about the males they got to service – some of them. Among the many clients that frequented the inn, some were rather dashing. The adventurer lifestyle held its own allure, but the chance to be taken in and become part of something was even more grandiose. She couldn't help but wonder that maybe if she tried, she'd become one of those girls that never came back. To leave this life behind was a dream, something so far off she dare not even give it a second thought. It soon dawned on her that she was fantasizing about becoming someone's version of a portable concubine, which instantly killed her mood. Popororo was right. Sun cats were the street vermin of Ul'dah, nothing more than pretty pets and toys put on display for the amusement of the merchants.
"Oi, miss-"
"Piss off, I'm not available." I'rinae growled, without turning her head towards the stranger. Out of curiosity, her eyes glanced over to see a lalafell had slumped over next to her. A strong stench of whiskey and wine hung around him, and the goofy grin that stretched his boyish face only confirmed it. He was drunk, or close to it. Upon further investigation, she couldn't help but notice a bow and loaded quiver hanging off his garb. Just another exciting night in the life of an adventurer, she assumed. Rolling her eyes at his spirit-induced stupor, she couldn't help but watch him as he stammered before taking a seat next to her.
"That's a right shame, aye..I really could use the comp'ny.." A tiny hand bumped his wide-brimmed hat, shaking the vibrant fancy feather that adorned the top. His eyes hung half opened but still took the time to take her in, his smile growing wider. "Well well, ain't you a bright desert flower if ever I saw'n.."
"Oh, stop it you~" I'rinae said playfully, the urge to recoil her arm and knock the tiny man clear across the bar flooded her better judgment. Despite her distaste with her current company, she'd slowly grown to welcome his presence as it thankfully deterred some rather dubious patrons that had been shooting sinister looks towards her. Whether or not she wanted to admit it, the lalafell's presence was a godsend. His tiny body leaned up against hers, and she heard him let out a weathered sigh. The brim of his hat dipped back down to hide his face, but it was obvious he was in deep thought about something. Before she could inquire, a few intimidating fellows had stopped in front of the tiny lalafell, and she could tell from the scrunched faces and clenching fists they weren't there to barter.
"Oi! Runt!" The middle one called out, clapping his boot firmly against the side of her new friend's leg hard enough to shake his entire body. I'rinae wasn't at all surprised that his first reaction was to clasp his hat to his head and look straight upward.
Blinded by the glaring lights mixed with the settling haze, it was hard to make out any definitive features about their new company other than they didn't seem very thrilled about the lalafell in particular. Pretty soon they were hovering so close to the couple that they blocked out all source of light, revealing some roughed up mugs. "She yours, half pint?" The one farthest from them asked, sounding eager. As the lalafell sat contemplating his next move, he was unaware of his companion's curdling fury. The fluffiest part of her black tail flicked wildly as she sat steaming, ears firmly switched back and flattened to her head, staring daggers at the three men. Before she could utter a word however, the one closest to them piped up, almost sounding giddy. "Let's just take 'er, not like he can defend 'imself.."
"Excuse me!" I'rinae shouted, shooting to her feet. Granted, she only met the three of them at chest level, but the venom in her seething anger made her feel like she gained three fulms. "As a matter of fact I do not belong to him and I'm not going anywhere with any of you!" Her golden eyes narrowed on them, as if daring them to do anything. Realising that is wasn't the best choice of words for the occasion, she preemptively took a step back before the middle one pushed her to the side and snatched up the lalafell by the neck of his tunic. He eyed him up curiously before extending him out to her, letting him dangle there in a heap. Instead of fighting back, she could almost discern a faint shiver shooting through his body as he cowered fulms above the ground. Anger growing, she clenched her teeth and stomped her foot in a display of tested patience. "You put him down this instant!"
"Oh I'll put 'im down all right Miss, six fulms under ground where he belongs.." The brute pulled back a fist, holding his target squarely in front of him.
"Not the face-" the lalafell squeaked, withdrawing into a tight curl as small as he could fold.
Without a second thought, I'rinae pulled every bit of strength she could muster and plunged her fist into the human's exposed gut. Surprised to see it cause such an impact, she readied herself to catch the lalafell as he fell into her arms and hugged him close like a small child, recoiling and recollecting herself as she took in the reality of what just happened. His posse steadied him as he stumbled back and forth, a bit dazed but trying to shake it off and get a grasp of what had just hit him. His face was flush with embarrassment and a twist of heated fury. Fists clenched tight enough to dig the nails into the skin of his palms, he rushed her only to be stopped by another male lalafell that now stood between them with a confident smirk.
"Now, now..is that any way to treat a lady?" Popororo cocked a brow, lacing his arms across his chest as he stared the three grown men down. Upon recognizing him, the three goons went rigid with newly distinguished intimidation. His tiny mustache and soulless green eyes settled on the three in an almost accusing manner. The victim soon piped up, his anger proving to serve as his only method of justification.
"This whore's causin' trouble 'ere with her pet, sir.." he exclaimed, timidly at first but had a smile pulling at the corner of his lips. Clearly, he'd not been in Ul'dah very long.
The tiny man tilted his head, one eyebrow flattening at the distraught man's remark. Taking a moment to clear his throat, he couldn't help but smile at this opportunity to flaunt his authority. "Yes, well, that whore is my daughter.." It was as if the trio had seen a voidsent appear before their very eyes. Now fumbling over themselves, the group remained very still and quiet until he spoke again. Turning back to look at I'rinae still clinging to the tiny lalafell, he nodded towards her and flicked his tiny ringed fingers in their direction. "That'll be all dear, go and play with your little, em, friend..daddy has business to discuss.." he said, taking a swift look at the lalafell hugging her for dear life. For what felt like the first time in her life, I'rinae wanted to hug him, but determined now wasn't the best time. Their family dynamic had always been a little backwards but, for what it was worth, he could be a good guardian when he saw fit. And for that, she was grateful enough. So without saying a word, she nodded in agreement, and slowly disappeared out the doors of the Quicksand.
A few paces outside in the back alleys of Ul'dah's poorer district, she sat the lalafell down atop a few crates. Unable to fully fathom what had just occurred, she couldn't help but notice him staring at her intently, his eyes clouding with adoration. Almost as quickly as she'd put him down, he flung his arms around her and squeezed as hard as he could.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" he proclaimed, hopping up and down. "I thought for sure they were gonna find me and beat me to a pulp! Good thing you were there, huh? The way you clobbered that guy, wow!" Out of his excitement, he'd forgotten her involvement in his business wasn't exactly by accident. Stopping to take a glance towards her face, he felt a bead of sweat drip down the side of his mug as he noticed the miqo'te was not very thrilled with his ballad. A clawed hand snatched a handful of his tunic and lifted him to her face as they met eye to eye, her golden eyes narrowing on him.
"You mean to tell me you were using me as cover?!" I'rinae growled, her ears flattening once more as she bared her fangs. "You almost got us killed!"
"I like to think of it as a m-mutually beneficial opportunity..a-actually.." he stammered, sweat now pouring from his forehead. She'd clearly reached another stage of anger, but before it got any worse, he tried to offer something in forgiveness. "I-i'm sorry! I'll repay you, I promise, anything!" he cowered, his hands covering his face. When he saw her calmly turn around and rummage through her satchel, he prepared for the worst. He figured he got her into a nasty mess, the least he could do is possibly walk away with a scar. As she whipped back around, he yelped, dropping to his knees and cowering into a ball. No claws, no stinging, no pain whatsoever. His eyes slowly peeled themselves to see her holding out a neatly tied piece of parchment. Bemused, he couldn't help but give her a quizzical look while grasping the package and opening it. "A map?"
"A treasure map. Seems like you need an excuse to get out of here far more than I.." she murmured, but before he could stow it she snatched it back, holding out her hand. "It ain't free, smalls..pay up. Fifty thousand, and not a gil less.." she snarled, the map clutched tightly and resting at her hip as she awaited her pay. Begrudgingly, the lalafell reached into his pockets and pulled out what looked like all the money he had, emptying the coins into her small coin purse. A smile soon replaced her annoyance as she tied the sack and latched it to her side, tossing him the map he paid for. However, before she could walk away, he called after her.
"How will I know when I get there?" he asked, taking another look at the map.
"Oh you'll know.." she answered, a slight skip in her step as she trotted away. Once she turned the corner her lips curled into a toothy grin. "I'd hope you know what a coeurl looks like.." Following the alleyway, she made her way towards the streets to scour the markets once more for another unsuspecting victim. She had a quota to fill after all, and time was still ticking.
Among the many faces, none seemed to be too concerned about a lone sun cat tending to herself. Times had really changed since she was younger. As twilight draped over the city, her heart sank with every rising shadow. Giving up, she retreated down the sapphire road towards the inner city walls when she caught sight of an armored elezen moving towards the sultana's gate. She'd seen him before talking to a few of the merchants, agreeing to something but without any exchange. I'rinae tailed him from afar, stopping every so often to spectate as he looked around as if he were lost. 'Bingo..'
Taking refuge in the shadows, she caught the attention of two guards. Two male roes, undoubtedly looking for some free thrills using their intimidating stature. "Odd time to be skulkin' bout ain't it, kitty?" The one closest to her slammed a fist into his palm, stopping short of the miqo'te but close enough to meet her nose to his enormous rippling chest. His illustrious armor looked brand new, as well as reflected the status of his importance in the grand scheme of things. From the looks of it, he seemed to be firmly snug in Lolorito's endless pocket given the glossy attire. She took a step back, eyeing him curiously. "Beg pardon?"
"Oi, you deaf?" The other piped up, just as brawny and menacing as his partner. They surrounded her as suddenly as they had appeared, backing her into the shadowy archway of the gates towards Central Thanalan. Much to her dismay, she'd lost sight of her target because of the commotion, but she was now starting to suspect that was about to be the least of her worries. The shadows soon engulfed the party, and she felt her window of opportunity slowly closing. Then, she realized. The two from the business at the bar earlier were now staring her down with wide grins, hinting that they had remembered her as well. "Well lookie here, if it ain't the lil' whore that struck out mate!" The darker one snarled, pushing the sun cat into the stony face of the wall with a rough shove. "He was pretty bent up af'er that mishap..boy, will he get a kick outta this come the 'morrow!" The brawnier one latched a single hand around her midsection and hoisted her up. As she let her reflexes take control and kicked wildly, she fought to fling herself to give him as much trouble as possible until his friend grabbed her limbs with his massive hands and spread her legs, holding her there. The sound of a zipper clicking made her tense up as she let out a scream, only to have a hand clasped around the entirety of the lower half of her face. The roe grinned, pressing his bulging phallus against her inner thigh. Tears broke the threshold of her eyelids as she squeezed them shut, bracing herself. "This might hurt a lil'..an' this time daddy ain't here to help ye.." He said, tugging at her silken skirt with a sinister grin that stretched from ear to ear.
"Excuse me, gents.." The wary dragoon steadied his hand towards his spear, unsure of whether he needed to prepare for a fight or if they were indeed smarter than they looked. Much to her surprise, her target was now interfering with her possible rape. The elezen stood tall enough to match them in height if not girth, with a stern look about him that said he was ready to lay them low if need be. Unlike any other elezen she'd seen before, I'rinae was fairly certain he had to be from Coerthas, which would explain his loss of direction. His pale eyes scanned the scene, begging his tongue to lay hidden. Much to his dismay, he found his mouth opening to let another witty comment escape as his conscience screamed for him to leave the situation be. "Seems like you don't quite fit the lady's standards, but I'm sure she'll offer you a refund.."
The lighter one peeled his attention away from her waiting thighs and zipped his pants before engaging the newcomer. Sizing up the elezen, he crossed his meaty arms over his chest in an attempt to add to his intimidating stature. "Private party, peckerwood.." The other stayed, holding the sun cat in place as his friend took care of their distraction, watching cautiously from a distance.
Concentration tightened his thin face as he shared a glare with the both of them, letting out a long sigh. "I'll say this only once..let the girl go."
"You wot?" The other piped up, disengaging from I'rinae and letting her drop to the cobblestone street. Ignoring the coughing fit spouting from her. Their attention was now fully focused on the elezen that had interrupted their fun. As they rounded on him, however, he firmly stood his ground while still holding a calm but stern disposition.
Shaking his head, he drew his spear and readied it, the long spike glistening in the moon's glow. It was as long as he was tall, with a blueish tint to the blade and sporting a very simple design. Nothing she'd ever seen before, only furthering her suspicions that he must not have been a native gridanian despite his outward appearance. Extending his arm, he motioned for her to run to him. She quickly gathered herself to her feet, pulling up and adjusting her skirt before carefully making her way behind the two goons and sticking to his side as well as slightly behind him. With his arm still extended, he kept it as a type of shield, keeping her behind him as he stood between her and the two roes. Giving her one quick glance over, he nodded to the other two that were still advancing on them, now livid. "Now gentlemen, if you'll excuse us I'll be escorting the lady back to her quarters-"
"Like hells ye are!" The closest one growled, lunging towards him with his bare, meaty hands poised like talons. Before I'rinae had time to react, the elezen had her under his arm and, with one swift movement and a powerful jump, lifted them off the ground in a quick flip allowing the brute to fly forward. If that wasn't enough, he planted a firm kick off from the roe's back and propelled over, landing behind his lacky. Eyes wide and unwittingly latched to his side, the sun cat was too dazed to question it. Feeling his arm unfold, she stood firmly fixated on him and trying to catch up with reality. He went into a full readied battle stance, his lance pointing towards them in preparation for another attack. When they recovered and tried again, it was shut down within an instant, in a whorl of precision and tact. With a thunderous thud, both roes hit the ground, staring up at the night sky. The wind had been knocked out of them from falling so fast they had to take a moment to remember to breath. I'rinae took a few steps back from the group, watching the events unfold in disbelief. It was as if he were dancing, barely breaking a sweat. These guys were clearly outmatched. Leaning on one foot, he couldn't help but smile as he watched the two climb to their feet, still trying to catch their breath. As one tried to muster up the courage to try for another blow, the other knocked him across the arm and shook his head.
"She ain't worth it.." he exhaled, but the other seemed fully determined to fight the spear-wielding savior. In forfeit, he resigned his fists to his sides, still gasping and slurping in a fit of uncontrollable rage. They gathered their things and strutted past the two, keeping an eye on the sun cat in particular. After putting a few fulms between them, he turned back to the two and pointed towards I'rinae. "Wees ain't finished 'ere, cat...you can't hide behind yer frien' 'ere forever, and when 'at day comes, you best bet we'll be af'er that pretty lil' hide o' yers.." The two shared a chuckle as they disappeared in the alleyways, leaving the miqo'te with her tail coiling tightly around her and ears drooping at the imposing threat. Turning on her heel, she made her way towards grabbing her satchel that fell during her attack, ignoring the curious elezen that had saved her life. Her new friend watched her, taking a moment to consider the silence before clearing his throat to speak. "Ah, would you like me to walk you home, miss..?"
"It's none of your concern.." she barked back, tossing the strap over her shoulder and starting down the street. She didn't want to think that the two could be hiding around the corner, but at this point she didn't care. In her mind, she was doomed, but she might as well try and make it home so she could stash her day's worth of coin away. 'Only nineteen million nine hundred thousand more gil to go..' Even her subconscious couldn't conjure up a more loathing demeanor. To her surprise, the elezen stepped in front of her with his arms crossed. Rolling her amber eyes, she let out a weathered sigh before looking up at him. "Thank you, for helping me...but you clearly don't belong here, so just do yourself a favor and leave." Her voice was stern and demanding, but no matter how hard she tried to hide it, the concern was there. Knowing the nature of the back alley goons here, they wouldn't stop with her. They'd find him somewhere and jump him, possibly kill him and dump him off in the desert. Even the most skilled adventurers couldn't possibly beat a numbers game, and it was something she didn't exactly want or need on her conscience.
"For all it's worth, ma'am, I went through a lot of trouble to save your hide, the least you could do is offer me your name..after all, you're the one that started that mess in the bar.." The ridicule in his voice made her freeze in her tracks, and stare up at him. Her tail had flailed out, every hair on end and ears standing at alert at his comment. He could tell she was holding back something, holding her tongue clenched betwixt her teeth. She didn't want to admit it, but he was right. If she hadn't punched the man in the stomach, those guys wouldn't have given her a second glance. The fact that perplexed her the most was that he'd watched the scene unfold but still felt like he needed to defend her. Her amber eyes narrowed on him, and she studied him closely if only for a moment, pausing before she brought out a map. Unfolding it, a clawed finger pointed to a crudely drawn 'x' among a multitude of faded lines and scribbles. He recognized the area almost immediately as a small piece of upper la noscea, rarely visited by travelers because of the abundance of predatory wildlife. "There's treasure here, just remember to bring a shovel.." Her words came as absolute as her tone, the hint of demand rousing a bit of surprise from him. "So there you go, debt repaid.." she said as she folded the map and shoved it into the soft exterior of his breastplate.
Slightly confused but accepting, he glanced down at the map and back to her, still bewildered by her sudden change of character. "Thanks, uh.."
"I'rinae..my name is I'rinae." She answered, refusing to give him the satisfaction of gaining her attention once more as she started down the road. She was still rather sour about him forcing her hand.
"Al'kir. Nice to make your acquaintance, Lady I'rinae, and thank you again.." The elezen offered a bow that was ignored, but had grown to do it out of habit despite the fact. He watched the miqo'te rock her hips as the mixture of cloth and silks that draped lovingly around her features swayed back and forth before she disappeared into the darkening abyss. He was certain that this was not the last he'd see of her.
The sun cat slowed her trot, inquiring each direction around her before she pulled a light sack of coin from her wardrobe. His sack of coin. Playfully tossing it and catching it, a smile curled her dainty lips as she slid it back into its hiding place. "Don't thank me just yet, Al'kir.."