Oh, how Sophie hated Matron's Hollow.
She hated just about all of Connlaoth, really. Given her past, it only made sense for her to-- Despite having grown as a person, and shed the vestiges of her previous 'life', she could still feel the remnants of it with every step she took through the stone cities and cool, arid fields. The fur on her ears bristled, not from the relative cold in comparison to the southern lands, but from the sheer disdain in her heart at the familiar landscapes that she once knew so very well. After all, who could so easily forget the glare of one's master upon them as they chided them for being late to meet them in the marketplace, or the cutting tone of disparaging words from one's mistress in public for not clearing debris before them where they walked, like a good little slave?
The normally cheerful and bright-eyed mouse-girl's heart was poisoned by this land, whensoever she set foot in it. Typically happy to chat, eager to make acquaintances and willing to lend a helping hand elsewhere, Connlaoth had a knack for bringing the worst out of her-- qualities that she didn't particularly enjoy acknowledging about herself. A jaded perspective, an averted gaze; whatever it took to avoid dealing with people as much as possible here, she tended to do so.
Said averted gaze nearly caused her to miss her hired help, had the sat quiet and not acknowledged her. Sophie's ears twitched and her stride stopped as she looked up with cautious blue eyes to get a better view of her new temporary companion. She was a large, stout woman-- at least, compared to the minuscule mouse-girl, with long, unruly black hair and sharp, black eyes. Everything about her, from the few meters away that Sophie stood, was unapproachable; She wore the title of 'mercenary' quite well, if nothing else. She really fit right in, with the people of this land, in Sophie's eyes. "Yes," Sophie managed, finding her voice again after a moment of careful observation, "I'm the client. We're headed for Northwatch, just south of the pass through the Terrin Mountains. The guild has arranged for your reward to be given there." Looking into the woman's eyes was difficult; Like staring at an encroaching threat. Sophie kept her words as to-the-point and respectful as she could-- She'd run afoul of enough Connlaothians (and the like that got along well in these parts) to know not to speak out of turn. Mentally, she had already shut down; The quicker and more uneventful this trip went, the faster she would be out of this horrid land, and the happier she would be. "I can lead the way, if you're not familiar with the path-- The trip shouldn't take too long."
