For fuck's sake, it's hot.
Quicksilver caught her breath by the edge of a small pond in an oasis. She really needed to prepare more if she was to travel the desert again. She had heard tales of dangerous creatures in the desert. Monsters that lurked beneath the sands. Yet there was one prowling the usual trade route. And so, she was here. Smelling good pay and a trophy. The latter mattered most to her.
She opened her satchel to pull out a flask of water and take a swig, swishing it in her mouth and swallowing the water, before letting out a quenched sigh. It was already afternoon.
She leaned forward to scoop water out of the puddle and refill her water reserves, before standing up, pulling the large crossbow over her shoulders again.
"A monster won't kill itself," she happily chirped to herself, skipping down the route again. Using her own body as a bait.
Zaryn strolled along the main road, absentmindedly whistling a tune he heard over and over again in the last tavern. He had been hired to take care of some monster that had been terrorizing caravans and travelers alike but to tell you the truth, he had no idea what he was looking for or where to find it. His plan was to just walk up and down the main route until this damn thing showed up.
He walked for hours. Honestly, this desert was an absolute hellhole. For the whole time Zaryn had been walking, he didn't see anything except... wait a second... is that a human girl? Zaryn inspected her a little closer. It was apparent that she was no stranger to combat for she was well armed, but was she... skipping?
What the fuck is she doing?
"Hey there, sweetheart." Zaryn approached the woman, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible. He gave her a smile, but couldn't help it as a hint of confusion seeped into his expression. "What are you doing... er... frolicking out here?"
Her ears practically twitched as she heard a voice. And in a split second, she pivotted on her heels, pulling the large crossbow from her back and loading a massive silver bolt on it while she dropped to.one knee in firing position. Bolt aimed precisely between Zaryn's eyes.
Yet she didn't fire just yet, letting out an almost musical giggle as she lowered the device. "Don't sneak up on people like that, you silly~" she stated. Almost too cheerful for the scene. She stood up straight again and unloaded the bolt. "Scawy monsters threaten innocent traders!" She beamed happily, before a grin spread across her lips. "Just hunting."
"Woah woah woah," Zaryn said, putting his hands in the air as the woman aimed her crossbow between his eyes. "Easy there, cupcake. I just wanted to know what's up." He put his hands on his hips and raised an eyebrow at the way she answered his question. "Huh, you sure are enthusiastic about hunting down some monster, aren't you. I mean, I guess it's sort of fun, but... wait a second." His playful demeanor dropped into a more serious one at his sudden realization. "Did you say..."
Before Zaryn could finish his question, the ground shook. Sand was flying everywhere and the way ground rumbled made it difficult to maintain solid footing. Zaryn dove to the side, drawing his two scimitars as he rolled to safety. He was lucky. Right about where he had been a giant serpent serpentine monster burst from ground, mouth agape and fangs glinting under the hot sun.
Quicksilver smirked as the ground started rumble beneath them. She rolled backwards, raising her crossbow as the serpent rose from the sand with an open mouth. And there was her shot.
With a loud clunk, the bolt was shot, piercing through the creature's mouth and piercing through the cerebrum. A soft glint in the sunlight as the tip of the bolt worked through the skull. And the creature dropped to the floor. Dead.
Quicksilver shoukdered her crossbow again with a soft giggle, skipping over. She grabbed the tip of the bolt and started to wrench it out ofbthe skull, blood splattering everywhere as she let out another giggle. "That smells like shit~" she hummed under her breath.
A cloudy yellow liquid coated his blade as he dragged his tongue across the edge. Zaryn dashed forward, one blade out in front of him and the other behind him, ready to strike, but just as he reached the monster, it fell stiff to the ground.
"Huh," Zaryn stopped in his tracks. "Well then." He watched the woman as she yanked at the bolt lodged in the monster's skull. Once she had retrieved her bolt, he approached the creature's gaping mouth. "You've certainly made my life a hell of a lot easier, sweetheart. I hope you don't mind that I take one of these..." Zaryn grasped the serpent's fang and started sawing away at it, letting the venom soak his arm.
"Oh. I very much mind so," Quickeilver replied as she raised the bloody bolt to rest against his throat. Sharp enough to slice it right there and then. "My kill," she hissed softly. "You have no right on a tropy or loot."
Zaryn's electric blue eyes examined the bolt, then shot up to meet the woman's. "Sweetheart..." He gave her a big grin. "I don't think you understand. This was my contract kill..." He outstretched his arm and rested the blade of his venom-soaked scimitar onto her vulnerable skin. "And you stole it." He gave her an intense look. Yeah, she had every right to deny him of a trophy, but he wasn't about to let a little lady push him around. "Here, you're pretty cute and all so I'll make ya a deal. Let me go with this one fang and I'll give you half of the pay. However, if you decide to kill me, which is up to you, you're coming down with me. But I'm warning you: one of our deaths will be a lot more painful than the other's and I'll tell you right now that it won't me mine."
A sickened grin spread on Quicksilver's face as she took several steps back, loading the bolt up on the crossbow again. She raised it at him, aiming for his chest. A woman like her would most likely go for any artery or vital organ.
"Oh, you see," she held the crossbow up with one hand, flicking out a knife and stabbing through a flask on her belt in her leg. Her eyes widened as she became intoxicated with the contents of said flask. "I can't feel pain now. And everything moves much slower." She let out a soft giggle as she raised her hand again in a blur of motion. Her speed obviously increased.
"You really want to die for some coins?"
"Who said I was gonna die, sweetheart?" Zayrn gave her a cocky smile as he playfully tossed one of his scimitars into the air. "We could fight, but that would just be a waste of my time. Now how 'bout you put away your toys and we discuss this like adults, hm?"
"One of these tje ugh your eyeball," a soft giggle left her. "I'd severely doubt you not dying."
She let out an insulted huff. "You want to get kneecapped by this toy?" She inquired with a threatening hiss to her voice. "But start talking. I'll tell you when I lose interest and decide to put this thing to use."
"Eyeball or kneecap? Make up your mind, sweetheart." With his scimitars still clutched in his hands, Zaryn crossed his arms. "Well, before your attention span runs out let me ask you something: why are you so territorial over this leathery sack of shit?"
"I got multiple bolts, handsome," she replied, venom obvious in her voice. "And why? Firstly, you don't steal a huntress' quarry. Secondly, you have no right to claim a trophy. Thirdly, this is also my pay you're sawing off there."
"Tch..." A look of irritation painted Zaryn's face as he scowled and seathed his scimitars. "You're a real pain in the ass, darling." He crossed his arms. "Since it means so much for you, have it your way. A measly little fang isn't worth killing a little girl."
"It's a gift," she answered with a soft giggle. "Though right now, I'm.pumped to the extent of smelling colours. So you better shut the fuck up and stop to try provoking me," she gave him a wicked glint. "I'll force feed you your own balls. So shove off."
"Aww but you and me, we're getting along so well!" Zaryn pouted mockingly, his eyes still twinkling with amusement. "You even called me handsome and by the way we fight... well, it's as if we're already married." He cuckled a bit. The idea of marriage, or even of monotonyin general didn't sit well with him, nonetheless with someone like her. At least marriage life would never get boring.
"And tell me, darling, if you can smell color, what do my eyes smell like?" He batted his eyes. "I'd like to think they're rather pretty." Electric blue on black. A few have described Zaryn's eyes as 'charmingly demonic,' but even when the comments aren't as nice they akways turn heads.
Quicksilver frowned. "You tryin' to get in my pants?" She inquired with a playful giggle, before going all serious again. Foul," she replied with a soft snort. "Curious, but foul."
"I'm just tryin' to make friendly conversation, darling." His fangs gleamed in the hot summer sun, mimicing those of the snake. "Tell me, my dear. How does curious smell like anyway?"
"And I'm influenced by potent painkillers and drugs that heighten senses and speed, you sound so slow," she answered with a giggle. "And how it smells. Just curious. Can't explain it."
"Oooooh I seeeeeee," Zaryn said extra slowly, with a cheeky grin framing his face. "How're those painkillers going for ya? Must've been expensive."
A soft and cute giggle came from Quicksilver as he exeggerated his words. "It's a concotion of my own," she explained, "alchemy isn't too difficult. And they feel amazing." She twisted the knife in her leg slightly. "See? I don't feel anything."
"Wow." He grimaced as she twisted the dagger into her leg, blood staining the sands beside her feet. "You're pretty enthusiastic, sweetheart." Zaryn held a finger up to his chin, thoughtfully examining the woman in front of her. "Ya know what, darling, you seem to have a real talent." A sly smirk crossed his face as he spoke. "With my help, you can probably make a small fortune." His smirk broke out into a grin, baring his large, ivory colored canines. "I'll even supply you with a unique type of venom never worked with before by human-kind. Whaddya say?"
She pulled the knife from her leg and flicked the blood off, sheathing it at her belt again. "I'd have to get the compounds down.. What would this venom be?"
"My own." He gave the woman a wink as he licked his teeth. "How generous of me," he mused.
"That is some creepy euphemism," she quirked an eyebrow. "Or are you serious?"
"What?? Ooooh...." Zaryn's eyes widened at his sudden realization of his unintentional euphemism. He chuckled to himself and shook his head. "No, no. I'm actually being serious... for once. You see, right in here..." he paused and pointed to the roof of his mouth. "Are venom sacks." Zaryn licked his finger and held it out in front of the woman. A viscous yellow liquid dripped down his digit, leaving a visible trail behind. "All X'zyri are venomous. It makes it a hell of a lot easier to survive in swampland filled with creatures eager to swallow you whole." He wiped his finger off on his pants and crossed his arms. "It's unique to the individual and packs a hell of a punch."
"Charming," Quicksilver replied as she saw the sacs on the roof of his mouth. An eyebrow arching slightly. "What would I be able to with it?"
"I dunno." He shrugged. "Make it into a poison, sell it, that sort of stuff. I'd bet it'd sell for more than that scaly sack of shit." He pointed a thumb at the serpentine carcass. "I'll even make sure it sells for extra."
"My brewing is for personal use," Quicksilver replied with a soft chuckle. "They're attuned to me for the best effects."
"Are ya sure you don't wanna try something new, sweetheart?" Zaryn said with his hands open in an inviting stance. "You could potentially make a lot of money." He gave her a charming smile. Of course, he was in it for the cash as well. If he couldn't get away with the serpent's fang as a trophy, maybe he can try his luck in other ventures. "Not only can I provide the base for this poison, but I can be quite the charming salesman." He gave her a wink and added, "what do ya say?"
Quicksilver smirked softly as she started to saw right at the fangs, blood spluttering over her face. "I'm not the type of girl to make deals when I'm stoned like this," she replied with a soft chuckle.
"Aww really? Some of the best deals I've ever made were when I was high out of my fucking mind." Zaryn chuckled and shook his head. "Although, I suppose half of them weren't even real. I suppose I'll just have to wait until you sober up then."
"That's a good idea," she replied, licking her lips before spitting the blood out. "I don't even know where I am."
"Why dontcha ask the dragon behind you?" Zaryn teased as he looked directly past the woman.
Quicksilver arched an eyebrow. "I might be stoned as fuck, but that doesn't mean I don't hear shit coming," she snorted with a soft giggle, pulling the massive fang out with a disgusting ripping sound.
"Dang! Guess it didn't work!"
Zaryn watched as she ripped the fang from the carcass, blood spattering everywhere. "So," he said as he gestured to the fangs. "What are ya planning on doing with them anyway?"
"Making poison," Usagi replied, snorting softly.
"Just that? Just poisons?" Zaryn eyed the fangs, then eyed the girl. "And you're not gonna sell those poisons either, are ya?" He shook his head. "How do you even make money, my dear?"
"A bare minimum," Quicksilver replied with a soft giggle. "I live for the hunt of killing monsters like these."
"Aah, what a simple life!" Zaryn mused as he stretched his arms. "So I guess trading you for those fangs is off the table then, huh?"
"Yup," Quicksilver quipped easily.
"Figures." Zaryn shifted his weight and examined the carcass for several long seconds. He hated to come all the way out here to return empty handed. "Could ya at least spare me one of the fucker's eyeballs?" He gestured the the beast's large yellow eye. "Can't make poison outta that, after all."
"Deal," Quicksilver replied as she leaned back, pulling the two colossal fangs out, before glancing at him with a wicked grin, face covered in blood. "But I remove them for you," she added.
"Oh?" Zaryn arched his eyebrows as he eyed her suspiciously. He smirked and gestured to the beast. "Be my guest."
Quicksilber grinned softly, pulling herself ontop of the snake's face by hooking her foot in it's nostril, going about to pop the first eye out barehanded.
Zaryn watched as the eyeball dropped to the ground and rolled lazily to his feet. He stabbed the eyeball with the tip of his scimitar and examined it before turning to to the huntress. "Hey thanks," he said with a charming grin. "You know, you're a real go-getter," and perhaps a tad crazy as well. "Are you by chance headed in the direction of the city? If so, I could use a traveling companion."
Quicksilver glanced down at the eyeball, then at Zaryn. "Ya wanted two?" She inquired as she wiped the sweat off of her brow. "And yeah, I was planning on going back to the city."
"Nah," Zaryn said. "One is just fine. Thanks. Oh, I don't think I caught your name. Mine's Zaryn. It's a pleasure to meet you." The warrior winked at the huntress and bowed deeply.
"Quicksilver," was what the girl responded as she slid down the giant snake, wiping her face from the blood.
"Well, Miss Quicksiver," Zaryn said with a smile. "You ready to get goin?"
Quicksilver hoisted the teeth on her back. "Lead the way, Mister What's-your-face-again."
The warrior let out a snort of laughter. "It seems as though your potions have a hold of your brain, sweetheart." He turned to walk down the sandy road. "Zaryn," he repeated. His smiled widened. "Some call me 'The Demon of the Sands.' It's rather cute, I think."
"I told you. I'm high as fuck," she quipped with a grin, before trailing behind him. "Why demon of the sands. And why is that cute?"
"Well, that would explain a lot of things," he teased with a smirk. "Demon of the Sands is just a name given to me by ever so lovely locals. I'd like to think that it's because of my performance in and out of the battlefield, but honestly, I think they only call be that because I look pretty fucking intimidating to them." Zaryn chuckled as he shook his head. "It's kind of endearing, and that's why I think it's cute. How 'bout you, sweetheart? Why Quicksilver? It's a rather unusual name."
"You don't look so threatening," Quicksilver replied easily, before snorting. "Quicksilver? Ain't got no explanation for that."
Zaryn guffawed. "Thanks, I guess. I mean, I don't try to be intimidating. I'd like to think of me as a big giant teddy beard." A wide smile broke out across his face as he continued down the sandy path. "And no explanation is a good enough explanation for me. Where are you from?"
"Dunno," she replied absent-mindedly. "Never met my parents, was always on the run."
The smirk on Zaryn's face wavered as she spoke of not knowing her parents or her home town, but he quickly brushed it off and resumed their light-hearted conversation with a small smile.
"I bet you've been all over the place then," he mused.
"Been killing monsters left and right," Quicksilver asked with a chuckle. "From here to Yoreiqi."
With the harsh rays of the sun beating down on them, Zaryn smiled and stretched his arms behind his head as they continued down the path.
"Ya know," he began. "For as long as I've been here, I haven't actually seen much of Le'raana."
"Not surprised," Quicksilver quipped in response, stopping to examine her hand. "If you're given a nickname by the mocals. Must mean you're part of the furniture here."
Zaryn grabbed his belly as his guffaws filled the air. "Sometimes I feel like the resident pet! Or maybe just a circus attraction." The warrior took a deep breath as he attempted to collect himself. After a few seconds of recovery, he finally spoke up again. "So, what's your favorite place in Le'raana?"
Quicksilver shrugged slowly, before snorting and spitting on the sand. "Connloath," she answered with a soft shrug.
Zaryn raised an eyebrow. She didn't seem like to be into their conversation, but he decided to press on anyway.
"Connlaoth, huh? Why's that? I've never been, but I have a relative who speaks very poorly of Connlaoth. Well, he's a mage, so I guess that makes sense. But still. What's so great about Connlaoth?"
Quicksilver smirked softly. "Connlaothians hate creatures like these as much as me," she answered with a soft chuckle.
"I also heard they eat their own shit, but who knows," Zaryn snickered.
"Who?" Quicksilver inquired with a soft chuckle. "Connloathians or monsters?"
Zaryn smirked and raised an eyebrow. "There's a difference?"
"Eyup," Quicksilver noted. "Connloathians don't eat people's family."
"Yeah, but they murder people simply for who they are," Zaryn spat. The irritation on his face quickly melted away as he realized what exactly Quicksilver had said. "Oh well, uh, yeah. Monsters are pretty bad, too."
"And?" Quicksilver glanced at Zaryn. "I make monsters suffer just because they were born that way," she replied with a shrug.
"Because they eat people's families, huh?"
"Yup," Quicksilver said, popping the 'P' as she did, almost skipping along the sand now.
Zaryn stood back and watched the girl skip ahead. He wasn't sure if she was just insane or if she had some deep rooted issues. Perhaps it was both. Regardless, she certainly is an odd one. Shaking his head, he followed the girl under the hot sun until they came to a small settlement besides an oasis.
"Well, here we are," Zaryn said as he stretched out his arms.
Quicksilver smirked. "Seems like it," she chirped, putting the fangs down and stretching aswell, yawning slowly. "I could use a bath, though I doubt they have a spa here!"
"Ooooh wouldn't that be nice," Zaryn said as he walked towards the middle of the settlement. "I actually have a bit of business to do if you don't mind. It should be really quick."
Quicksilver nodded. "It would be," she answered with a soft hum. "I'll wait here then, I s'pose." At that, the put the large fangs on the ground and sat down, closing her eyes with a sigh.
"Okidok. Be right back." Zaryn sauntered off with the shriveled up eyeball still skewered on the tip of his scimitar. He walked up to a small tent, waving at the two Essyrni guards as he ducked inside.
"Ah, Zaryn," a voice at the end of the tent purred.
"Hey boss," Zaryn said, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the tent. A gruff looking man lounging atop pillows faded into his vision, supporting himself on his thick, muscled arms. "I got something for ya!" Zaryn waved the raisoned eyeball in front of him, smiling as he did so.
"What the hell is that?" The man scowled as his deep-set eyes followed the motion of the scimitar.
"This belonged to the creature he sent me to kill. He's good as dead!"
"You brought me the eyeball?!" The man sat up, his voise rising in irritation with every word. "What the fuck am I gonna do with a fucking eyeball?"
"Hey, hey." Zaryn raised his hands up in front of him in a pacifying manner. "You said you wanted it dead, and it's dead."
"Look, you fucking horned idiot! I told you to get me a trophy, not a fucking eyeball!"
Quicksilver instead sat down on the sands as Zaryn xas having a movely chat with his employer. She crinkled her nose and picked up a handful of sand, starting to scrub away the blood that coated most of her body.
"My patience is running out," the boss grumbled as he grabbed the chestnut pipe laying next to him. He took out a small red and gold sack and fished out a clump of black tobacco with his thick, calloused fingers. As he stuffed the bowl and lit the pipe, he said, "to think that you can pay off your debt with a fucking eyeball... you must be a stupid motherfucker." He took a long drag and blew a stream of smoke in the direction of Zaryn. "You offend me, you know. Lucky for you, I'll give you another chance. Take one of those contracts sitting by the entrance. Fail me, and I'll take your own fucking horns as a trophy, understand?"
His face void of his usual smile, Zaryn bowed his head. "Yes, sir." He scooped up a contract and ducked out of the tent.
As he wandered back over to Quicksilver, he let out a long sigh and quickly masked his troubled expression with a wide smirk. "Hey darling!" Zaryn waved the contract in the air as he approached. "You said you liked hunting monsters, didn'tcha?"
Quicksilver might still be under the influence of whatever she drank to enhance her senses, making her completely stoned, but she wasn't stupid. And her senses were still enhanced after all. While she didn't hear the conversation, she heard the elongated sigh and witnessed his troubled expeession before he attempted to hide it behind his casual and joking guise.
She had to admit, he was pretty good, if she didn't see him before attaining it, she'd fall for it easily. As he approached however, she let out a soft giggle, dropping the bloodied sand and standing up. "'Course I did," she answered with a soft smirk.
"But what the fuck happened inside that tent?" She inquired with a soft frown.
Surprised, Zaryn glanced back at the tent. "Oh, you know," he gave Quicksilver a coy smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Just have a small debt to pay. Not really a big deal."
Quicksilver tutted her lips, pushing a fang up. "This'll solve it?" She inquired with a soft arch of her eyebrow.
"Oh, um..." Zaryn gave her a puzzled look. "No, no. It's okay."
Quicksilver frowned softly. "Oi. First you were trying to steal them and now you don't want either?" She inquired with a frown. "And here I thought I was high as fuck."
Zaryn cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, you weren't very willing to give one up earlier. Why now?"
Quicksilver shook her head, snorting. "Ya got in trouble," she answered with a snort, before sretching her back. "Besides, they're too heavy," she admitted with a chuckle. "Take one."
A frown broke out across Zaryn's face as he crossed his arms. "I did not get in trouble! I just--" His expression softened into an embarrassed grimace as he teetered his weight back and forth. "Er... Okay... Maybe I'm in just a teensy bit of trouble."
Quicksilver giggled softly, pushing the large fang his way. "It's yours," she answered with a soft shrug.
"Hey, thanks Quicksilver," Zaryn said as he gave her a genuine smile. In one swift movement, he scooped up the fang and dashed off into the direction of the tent.
He was gone for quite a length of time, and in those moments, the girl could have sworn she heard yelling in the distance. But after a while, Zaryn reappeared with a peculiar grin framing his face and two pouches of gold in his hands. "Here," he said as he tossed Quicksilver one of the pouches. "This one's for you."
"Don't mention it," she answered with a soft snort. As Zaryn trailed off again, she leaned forward against.the fang, closing.her eyes with a brief sigh. Damn, she was tired. Physical exertion, whatever she forced in her system to react faster. And ofcourse a sore lack of sleep.
She perked up at the scream, eyes widening as.she did, before relaxing again, sighing slowly. "Goddamnit Sarah," she murmured with a soft breath.
After a short while, she looked up at the footsteps that belonged to Zaryn, catching the pouch and smiling. "Thanks," she answered as she tucked the pouch under her belt, before standing up again.
Zaryn sent a cloud of dust through the air as he plopped down on the floor across from Quicksilver. "Sooo," he said, resting his chin on his knees and quirking his head to the side like a puppy. "What now?"
"Don't'ja what now me," Quicksilver answered, looking off into the distance, resting her hand on her hip as she did. "Essryn is a day's travel from here," she murmured. "Doable, you're going to give me that poison of yours when we get to my hideout in Essryn, then I'm going to see whqt I can do with it. Sounds good?"