Ash 35, 4621¤
The duo rode their bikes, needing the wurmblood, across the wilds headed towards Valtoria. She was worrying about money, she had nothing in her pockets and not much to bargain with either other than what was in her backpack. They would kill the man's wurm and then they would dine like kings. They had already decided to ask for collateral in case the deal went south on his end. It was more than enough in their eyes to ask for. Strictly speaking she found the idea comforting and well within the Candor. If he refused he would be denying them compensation and that was it. Nothing for anyone. She could and would play hardball, she knew she and Izul were quite the out of the ordinary pair but they were worth their weight in gold.
"Don't fuck this up."
Miki muttered to Izul when she came back from hunting fowl in the bush. It was good turkey this night prepared again with onions and garlic. A staple out here. Izul ignored Miki's growling and got to work on cooking and eating.
"I can see this going two ways, very good or very very bad."
Miki chewed on a turkey leg considering out loud how and why they would end up in a ruse. Izul already knew where she was going and cut her off claiming,
"You are paranoid. Pogma and I go way back. Let's just get this shit we'll be fine."
Miki grumbled in reply, but said nothing ultimately. Izul was good at keeping her moods in check. Was there always something worse on the horizon? It seemed like the days creeped on with nothing changing, the stagnation of her life was getting to her. She got up and stretched cracking her back in several places.
"I'm gonna get some air, I'll be back before sunsets."
Izul snickered and said,
"I believe you because of your creepy horn thing."
Miki took that as her sign to leave and headed deeper into the forest, trying to find a stream to wash her hair in.
~~~
The stream was had. She waded in the ankle deep water and splashed around before washing her hair. When she was done she tied into a tight knot and looked around for any signs of crystals. It was well known to her quartz and garnet liked riverbeds. She was hoping to get lucky. Then, within the silt and clay, she unearthed a large white quartz ripe for the taking. She dug it out by hand, getting muddy all over, but didn't care. At the end she washed the mud off of her and returned with the quartz. It was palm sized and beautiful. she plucked it from its cavern like the novice she was, some of the better parts had been marred in the extraction. At least she was able to salvage the tip which glinted and gleamed like a star in her palm.
"Find something nice?"
Izul asked when Miki returned. Miki simply tossed the crystal at the other who caught it with some dexterity. Appraising it, Izul told her,
"Hm I like this spot here."
And returned it in a flourish to Miki, who fumbled but caught it. They ended up talking about crystals for awhile while packing up and disposing of the food. It would do to risk Azunath's eye on them while they slept in the way of hungry predators.
"Who was the contact again?"
Miki asked when they were bunked down for the night, the fire was dim now and almost out.
"Raphael, necrodoctor. Supposedly needs it to settle some debts? Not sure, we'll see what he says when we get there."
"Well hopefully he lets us stash our bikes somewhere, else we will have to hike to the city."
"Already planned on it."
Izul shook her head like she had won.
"We walk in and find our target, then leave with the collateral to the Badlands and hunt down our target. You know we can head to Traphole and find what we're looking for easy. I just hope it's enough. I've never done it with just two people so we'll need to go fleet of foot."
Miki hadn't either. She wondered about the repercussions and waste. With only two of them much may end up being left behind to either rot or get scooped up by others. Would the hideout provided by Hector be enough for all of the blood they would aquire?
