With the summer festival coming to an end, the city seemed to return to a much more routine state of business. It was still busy, of course, but now one could traverse the streets at a decent pace without having to dodge and weave through throngs of people or be accosted by peddlers at every corner. The peddlers were still around, but in a more manageable number.

The city came alive in the early morning hours, with tradespeople going about their business and bakers opening their shops for the early customers. Gone were the reveling folk celebrating through the entire night.

With the state of normalcy thus restored, Mimi felt much more confident navigating the city’s streets and alleys. It was a great relief not to worry about getting stuck in a gridlocked crowd or resorting to traversing rooftops. She bid goodbye to the waving banners and temporary stalls that were slowly being taken down across the city with only a tinge of sadness. The festival had been magical in its way, but it had been impossible to truly explore the place with so many people out and about.

It was a pleasant, cloudless day, with a sweet breeze blowing in from the bay. The sunshine here was much nicer than the sweltering heat she was used to from her desert home. Mimi sighed contentedly as she stuffed the last few bites of the lunch she had spent her last coins on into her mouth. The meat was so tender it melted, and the sauce it had been marinated in was deliciously sweet and spicy.

Stretching, Mimi hopped off the edge of the fountain she’d been sitting on. She carefully dug through the tangled mass of her hair to ensure Zeke was still dozing in the spot she thought he was. Confirming his presence, she picked a street she hadn’t yet explored at random and set off on her way, eager to see all there was to see.

Corellia found it disappointing that the festivities were ending already. She had thoroughly enjoyed them and made the best of her time in the city so far. But she found it so sad how short the revelry seemed to be here, the people hardly knew how to throw a proper festival. What was the point if it didn't stretch on for at the bare minimum half a year?

The satyr had spent a large portion of her day listening in on people walking by, she enjoyed getting to hear what strangers had to say. The gossip today however had been deeply lacking. There hadn't been a single thing that caught her eyes nor ears, nothing she could follow up on or use to get herself a step further.
For now she rested, sitting on the edge of one of the many rooftops that loomed over the streets below. Resting her head in her palms as a yawn escaped her, looking up at the sunny sky above and finding herself feeling nostalgic. For what she wasn't sure, but the sun felt nice.

Her ears twitched and perked up as she heard footsteps beneath her. Peeking over the ledge of the cobbled rooftop, silver eyes spotting a small figure walking along the street. Small, maybe a child? No. A gnome? No... She was green. Gnomes weren't green. Though it would be humorous if she painted one green. A... Gremling. Right that was what they were called. She hadn't seen any during her stay in the city thus far, most of the city seemed to be full of was humans and elves.

A feeling of mischief settled in her core as she stood up, quietly following along the rooftops as she began to trail the Gremling. She was curious as to where she was going to, maybe it was somewhere important, or somewhere secretive that she hadn't found yet. Or maybe this would just turn out to be someone that would be easy to rob, or trick into a deal. Either way the possibilities excited her-- that she might be able to turn around this incredibly boring day into one that was just a touch more exciting. As she followed her hooves would occasionally click against the cobbled roof, as much as she did her best to remain quiet her anatomy betrayed her attempt at subtlety.

The road she had chosen was packed full of all manner of little stores and stalls selling everything the heart could ever desire, from fragrant perfumes to delicately crafted jewellery and gaudy trinkets. Merchants shouted, praising their wares or trying to lure customers in with promises true and false. People were weaving from shop to shop, stopping at places to gawk or hurrying along to avoid especially pesky peddlers.

One stall sold long, flowing scarves in the most vibrant hues Mimi had ever seen. They looked so incredibly soft, Mimi wished to just let her face fall into a big pile of them. Surely it would feel like lying on a cloud…

Noticing the critical stare the shopkeeper was giving her, Mimi glanced at her dirty and sticky hands. She hadn’t even noticed she had slowly drifted closer to the stall, lured by the colourful display. Good thing she had remembered herself in time. It would not do to invite the scorn of the local tradespeople. And she could vividly feel the void in her coin purse.

She quickly scurried away, not wanting to draw any further attention to herself. Money would become a problem rather quickly, she realized. It looked like her previous method of scavenging for whatever scraps and forage she could find would not do in the big city. At least it was warm, though, so she did not have to worry too much about where to sleep now that she could no longer stay at the inn she had spent the previous few days in. After all, she didn’t mind sleeping outside one bit.

Now, how did one go about finding honest work? And what was it she could do? She knew the basics about caring for the sick and injured, a tiny smidgen of alchemy, and she had a good hand for animals… Was that something that earned money? Could she just walk up to… some sort of doctoring place? And ask if they needed a hand (and would pay her for it)? Damn it, she should have asked Everett about how to navigate actual civilization before they parted ways. He was nice. He might have been patient enough to deal with her cluelessness. Well, it was too late for that now… Maybe she could just ask someone else for help? Surely there must be more friendly people around here. She had been very lucky with that on her journey so far, after all.

Entirely lost in thought, Mimi kept wandering through the city. Leaving the vibrant stalls and bustling streets behind her and turning down calmer alleyways. So utterly oblivious to her surroundings that she did not even notice the soft but persistent clacking noises that followed close on her heel on the roofs above.

She continued to trail the gremling as quietly as possible, just watching carefully as she passed from rooftop to rooftop. Curious as to where this stranger was headed to, there didn't seem to be much that seemed to be suspicious or any different to anyone else in the city so far. But if anything she would still make for an easy target, maybe someone she could swindle into a quick deal or contract. That alone could be fun; though she had to admit that at this rate she was simply doing things because she felt aimless. At least this could be a nice distraction for the time being.

It wasn't long before the cacophony of sound from the market stalls began to drift further away into the distance. The calm stillness of the alleyways below giving way to opportunity and a simpler way to isolate. She would move ahead of the gremling, taking a seat on one of the ledges of a house as she peered down at the unknowing stranger. "Where you headed?" She called out curiously, her head tilting to the side as silvery eyes pierced down like throwing knives.

"Not much down this way far as I can tell, not any people, no shops, granted I'm new here so maybe there's just little secret passageways littered throughout that I haven't noticed." She said with a gentle shrug of her shoulders. Crossing her legs as she tapped at her chin with an inky finger, the digit thin like a needle. "Though maybe you've noticed them? Or maybe you're just as lost as I am, just wandering around aimlessly, hm?" she asked with an inquisitive hum and a crooked smile.

She remained relaxed in her stance, nonchalant in her perch as she awaited an answer from the small stranger. It was easy enough to make small talk, distract or twist her intentions away from prying eyes. She quietly looked over the gremling, noting how unruly and messy her hair was, how simple the attire she wore was, she definitely wouldn't be a good target to get coin out of. She might make a lovely pawn however. 

At first, Mimi didn’t even register the voice. It didn’t cross her mind that someone would be addressing her to begin with. But when the talking continued, she stopped and looked around. There was clearly no other soul she could see in the entire alley she was traversing. But she was hearing someone speak, wasn’t she? Maybe she was beginning to lose her mind… It had been a lot going on lately. It must have finally caught up with her and made her go lulu.

And yet, the talking persisted. Way too coherent and eloquent for Mimi’s vocabulary. Hang on. Was the voice coming from… above her? Bewildered, Mimi turned her gaze upwards. Indeed, there was a woman casually sitting atop the roof, overlooking the road. Truly, she shouldn’t be so surprised. Hadn’t she traversed the city in a similar manner not too long ago?

Still, the sight startled her. The person—clearly not human—regarded her with a thoughtful stare. Imposing, curled horns and tousled white hair framed her pretty face, and fur covered her entire body. The most notable feature, however, was her cloven hooves where her feet should have been, making it look like her lower body had been replaced with that of a goat. Or maybe most notable were her thin, pitch-black fingers that somehow didn’t fit with the rest of her body…

How strange. Mimi had never seen anyone like this before. She looked like something straight out of the bedtime stories she’d been told as a child. And yet here she was, sitting on a roof above her and talking to her as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Well, it wasn’t the first strange encounter Mimi had made since she’d started her journey. And so far, all of them had been incredibly lucky ones. Maybe this would be her lucky number three. Gods knew she could do with some more help.

As she considered the woman’s question, she took in her surroundings properly. The alley was narrow and somewhat dirty. Rubbish stuck in smaller nooks and crannies, but didn’t much hinder traversal. The inviting smell of the market streets was long gone, replaced instead by a musty scent tinged with something acrid. Not pleasant, but not as vile as some other places she had been.

Mimi shrugged and answered honestly. “Wasn’t really paying attention to where I was goin’. Just wandering, really. ‘Though I guess you can’t say I’m lost if there was nowhere I wanted to be in the first place.

“Are you lost? If you want, I can help you find your way back to more pleasant areas of the city. I was in a nice market not too long ago. I’m sure it’d be easier to navigate for you from there. Or maybe I’ve already been where you want to go and can help get you there… once we’re back at that market and I know where I am, that is.”

She smiled up at the strange, pretty woman. She’d be more than happy to help a stranger in need. And who knows, maybe she would find some help from her in return.

Silver eyes, held like daggers flashing from one's waistcoat stare down at the small stranger. Her entire being radiated an underlying sense of confusion, of conflict and contradiction. Warm yet cold, friendly yet threatening, familiar but alien. A thoughtful tilt of her head, and a pull of her lips as they tilt upwards into a practiced and mannered smile. Softness hiding away canines with the razors edge of a jackal, "No, I suppose you couldn't say you were lost if you were simply wandering, now could you?" She replied, her voice gentle and sweet like honey. 

She wasn't positive as of yet what her plan was, what compelled her to stalk and approach her. But how could she question her own motivations? All she knew was that pull, those strings that drew her towards someone, an ache in the stomach, the heart, the soul. An itch she had to scratch lest she let it consume her, who better to allow control over herself than her own hunger. Curiosity and consumption were always a delight she loved to satisfy. 

She hummed, "Am I lost? No, I believe I am in... what is the phrase? The right place and right time." Corellia moved from where she sat, letting herself fall down from the rooftop and onto the cobbled ground. Gracefully landing as the clack of her cloven feet touched the ground, standing upright far above the stranger's own height. "I've been to the market, seen what I can of it, not very much in the way of interest there. Sure the foods alright but... that's neither here nor there."

"You're in an unknown alleyway, in the middle of the city, clearly also a stranger to it like I am. Not the safest of spots to be in in any case, least of all when one is all alone." The satyr looked to her once more, investigative this time, picking apart the little details of this small green lass. Her clothing was plain, her stature diminutive and non-threatening, but what caught her eye and seemed to bother her almost immediately was how messy her hair was. Unkempt and tangled, reaching down to pluck a twig from the violet mess of hair. Inky ribbons of fingers clasping around it and tossing it aside, the proximity of her touch giving off an ominous cold akin to a lonely winter. "Shall we help one another find a more pleasant part of the city?" She asked curiously, presenting as a friend.

Tsking at herself and feigning forgetfulness, "Ah I should also introduce myself. Forgive my forgetfulness. You may call me, Corellia." She said with a small curtsy. "May I have your name?" she asked, a simple question that had such a delicious amount of power behind it should it be answered incorrectly. To steal one's name was a satisfaction that hardly ever grew old, a piece of one's essence she could harbor and take for herself. 

A small shudder ran down Mimi's spine as the stranger fixed her gaze upon her. It felt as if she had just attracted the attention of a desert snake, its cold eyes calculating her as its next meal. But Mimi quickly shook off the unsettling feeling. The woman's smile was warm, and her tone friendly. She might be odd, but... after all, so was Mimi. Far be it from her to reject someone’s request for aid just because they seemed strange.

As the woman reached out with one of her pitch-black hands, Mimi resisted the instinct to shrink back, allowing her to pluck something from her tangled hair. The debris caught and pulled painfully, but Mimi suppressed a grimace, instead beaming a warm smile up at those sharp silver eyes, deliberately ignoring the look of disdain on the woman’s face.

The touch of her fingers was icy cold, and while Mimi managed to hide her discomfort, poor Zeke quickly scrambled out of her hair, down the back of her neck, and the inside of her shirt until he nestled safely in the pocket of her trousers. His reaction was surprising—Zeke was usually more curious about the unfamiliar than afraid. But Mimi couldn’t really blame him. This woman seemed particularly strange, even by the new standards she had started to adopt since beginning her journey.

She thought back on Beist, who, with his massive form, fur, scales, and horns, had struck an imposing figure, yet had turned out to be one of the gentlest souls she’d ever met. While the woman in front of her shared Beist’s horns and fur, she clearly lacked the immediate warmth that the giant had exuded. But no matter—Mimi wouldn’t let appearances dictate her response, and so far, this woman had been nothing but polite and friendly.

“Corellia,” Mimi echoed with a smile. “That’s a very pretty name! I’m Mimi. It’s nice to meet you!” She decided not to introduce Zeke, not wanting to force him out of his hiding spot if he didn’t want to. That introduction could wait until later.

“Since you’ve already seen the market, should we just wander until we find somewhere interesting?” Mimi suggested, turning in the direction she had been heading earlier and starting to walk. She had no idea where this alley would lead them, but there was only one way to find out.

She remained on the surface a kind face, gentle and unassuming as her demeanor relaxed. The gremling in her eyes radiated a naivety that one could almost pity, it wouldn't take much more than to close her jaw around such an unsuspecting little mouse. But what was the point if she didn't play with her food? She would lose so much of the enjoyment if she denied herself that simple pleasure.

She smiled in exchange upon hearing the other's name, offering a polite curtsy of her head. Silver locks of curled hair bowing along with the motion, the weight of the sharply curved horns above her head shown with how careful she had to be with that movement. She did note the tiny lizard that ran off from Mimi's head and under her shirt, judging by the lack of reaction on her part she figured it must have been a pet of some sort. "As is yours, Mimi. A very simple but pretty name," she said softly. "Is it a nickname for a longer form of your name?" she inquired curiously.

The satyr began to follow alongside the gremling, she loved to play along into the realm of friendship. An easy guise she could pull over herself especially with those that were so willingly friendly to strangers. Not like so many others she had met so far in the city, most approached her with suspicion. Of course they were wise to do so, for fear of having her bite down upon them. To steal whatever they held dear and pray it would replace what she was missing.

"Wandering might not be a bad idea, especially now that neither of us are alone. We're both strangers to this place after all and people can take advantage of that fact." She made it sound as if though she had already had something happen to her. It was all a lie, but she wanted Mimi to trust her as much as possible. She had to sound... relatable. "Chances are we find somewhere interesting, or perhaps we just find ourselves with some pleasant conversation?" She glanced down towards the smaller woman, odd horizontal pupils digging in.

"I'm also to assume you've journeyed a long way, can I ask where you were from originally little mouse?" She asked, prying gently and trying her best to make small talk. "Considering I don't believe they have little critters like that one that hid inside your shirt around here. Though, I could be wrong on that. What would I know of the local fauna?" She said with a small shrug of her shoulders and a soft laugh. "I'm just a visitor passing through..." 

If she was ever honest with herself, or with anyone. She was the lost one, a visitor wandering and unsure of her purpose. Alien uncertainty gnawing at the back of her mind while she distracted herself with strange places and even stranger people. But she knew in her heart of hearts that she was missing something dear to her, something that might help to ease the hunger she felt. For now, preying upon poor hapless souls seemed to fill the void temporarily enough to continue doing it. 

Mimi blanched at the question regarding her name. Now, that was a story she did not want to get into. “Uh, yeah, you could say it’s a nickname,” she laughed nervously, hoping Corellia would drop the subject.

Now that they were on the move, Mimi took the time to study her new companion more closely. What people had cloven feet and horns but otherwise were mostly humanoid? Apart from the fur that is. Mimi wondered if the fur was as soft to the touch as it looked and had to fight herself to supress the urge to reach out to test it. 

Beist had mentioned fey entering Charon, but had not elaborated any further on what they looked like. So, maybe this was one of them? But Corellia certainly didn’t seem the type to prank strangers with leaving hives of aggressive wasps in weird places. No, this one seemed much too regal for that. Mimi chuckled softly at that realisation. They really must strike an odd pair, her being all scraggly and Corellia looking like she’d just strode out of a high court.

Mimi’s eyes lingered on her companion’s inky black arm for a while, wondering what might have happened, or if that was just a normal part of her anatomy. Would it be rude to ask? Yeah it probably would be. Better to keep her curiosity in check for now.

Shuddering at the notion, that someone had already taken advantage of Corellia’s lack of familiarity with the city, Mimi looked up at the woman with concern. This was something she’d been worried about a lot since coming here, too, but she’d been lucky so far. “Did something bad happen to you? If you are hurt I might be able to help a little. But if you got robbed... sorry, there isn’t much I can do. Not like any thugs would be scared of me if I gave them a stern talking to.” She grinned self-depreciatingly at that. “But the local law enforcement is quite nice. We could try and find a guard station if you wanted to make a report?
“You are right, though, it is better that we’re walking together now. Sure is a lot safer that way.” Mimi would have to take more care when wandering the city streets in the future. Seemed like her positive experiences so far had lulled her into a false sense of security.

It was surprising that Corellia had noticed Zeke scuttling down the back of Mimi’s shirt. The woman really did have great perception. She patted the pocket the lizard was hiding in fondly. “That’s Zeke. He’s a leopard gecko. And you’re right we’re not local. Came here all the way from the Zeinav Desert. We’ve been lucky enough to catch the last few days of the summer festival. It really was a lot of fun! Mostly... Did you get here for the festival? Did you like it? And where are you from? I uh... haven’t seen anyone like you before.” Mimi was glad for the opportunity to ask some of her own questions, curiosity burning within her as always, and she really did love learning about people. Plus she wasn’t too eager to get into the details of her own past, so diverting the conversation towards Corellia was a win-win.

They came upon a fork in the alley. To the right it looked like the alley re-joined one of the larger roads a little ways down. People could be seen walking past the alley’s opening and the sound of the usual hustle and bustle of the city reached their ears from the distance. It wasn’t as easy to make out where the left path would lead them, as the alley soon curved away from their current position. The part of it they could see looked rather similar to the alleys they were currently traversing, narrow with only a few windows in the upper floors of the buildings on either side. One way promised familiar safety, the other lured with the call of unknown adventure.

“Wanna go left or right?”