Spider Situation

The Ox-Strength is not often a place that is less miserable inside than outside, but given the lightless night sky and the hushed snow fall outside, at least it's warm. And there's something like food available. In a corner near the fire, Alba hunches over an earthenware platter, tearing apart shreds of some unidentifiable meat, a waterskin on the table at her elbow, her shaggy fur cloak draped over the chair behind her.

You know what is the perfect thing for a seedy tavern? Someone bundled up in furs with great big bushy hair and something that resembles a huge beard but is really just more furs wrapped about her neck. Her eyebrows dance like little furry caterpillars as she trundles into the Ox as if she's wearing about five layers too many. Her eyes turn left, then her whole body rotates, then back the other direction before...! "Wwwbaa!" The arms shoot up and Kisa trundles toward Alba's table.

Upon hearing a version of her name, the masked witch turns to look over her shoulder at the door. One can almost *hear* her eyebrow rise, as what trundles her way seems to be a version of the creature that eventually became her own cloak.

Stuffing a few shreds of meat under the mask, she tilts her head to one side. "...What is it that waddles toward me?"

"Wrrr Fwwnd" Kisa says as she continues to waddle her way, then sidesteps around the table before starting to unwrap her head from the furs to reveal - of course! - Kisaiya! She shuffles a bit more and sits down on a chair about three inches higher than normal on fabric. She grins widely, "I've been looking for you!" She leans in a bit closer, "I have some new friends for you."

And now, Alba's head tilts to the other side. "Is this so," she says, her voice dry. "Shall I need to work out a means to care for it, warrior?"

Her brows furrow, staring across the table at Alba, "Aww... It's back to warrior again?" Her mouth pulls off to the side, her head tilting along with it. A sigh, "I thought you were going to call me friend after the Friend Spider."

A longer sigh and she rummages around in her backpack, and finally pulls out two jars with perforation and bugs on the inside of it. There's also two spiders, easily the size of the toy she got Alba, and a similar look to them even. They have their front legs up and look reasonably healthy. As she sets them down on the table between them, Kisa throws her arms up to mimic the same gesture the spiders are giving the both of them.

"I got them for you." Kisa says with a happy tone. They're both labeled as Wizard Familiars on their jars -- but they really don't look like it.

"...My apologies," Alba murmurs after a moment. "It has been long since last we speak, and Friend Spider is her name. Also reminder to her, for were she not called friend it is likely she would simply eat who she wishes."

As the jars are set down, her mask follows them, staring in silence. "...I know what one of your answers shall be," she says, her tone thoughtful, "but ask I shall anyway. Why did you buy these for me?"

"Buy?" Kisaiya says with a frown, then a shake of her head, "No-no-no. I didn't buy them." She smiles a little wider. "And the little spider, Friend Spider Hug Me? Remember? You..." She leans in a little closer, "You got a bit misty." A raise of her eyebrows and a smile. "After we talked about my dream issue."

Kisaiya reaches up with her thick gloved hands and sweeps her hair back, "Alba... OH! I would like for you to go with me and some others to that village where the dream thing started but, well-"

Kisaiya leans over the table closer, moving the spiders a bit to the side for the moment, whispering in a voice so they can't be overheard, "They're from Am'shere." She grins widely, "I thought you might like them."

"I remember," Alba says quietly. "Still it remains where I have placed it."

The spiders are given a closer examination, the jars turned this way and that so that the witch may better examine the markings. "They will need warmth," she mutters. "Am'shere is much warmer than these wetlands. Find you them, in webs? Or upon the ground?" The question of the journey, apparently, pushed aside in favor of the immediate.

"I found them on the ground." Kisaiya says, tilting her head to the side, "I found them climbing on the roots of trees and what not and caught them. I was out there and I thought of you because I know you like spiders!" She grins even wider, almost wiggling on her seat but... well unable with the layers of clothing.

"I had them in my bag, I kept it warm and wet in there because I thought they might need to be. They're cute, and they reminded me of your friends." She beams at Alba as she exambles the spiders still. "I know, but... you called me friend. I don't know why I'm warrior again." She sits back in her chair then and stars fussing with her bag.

"Habit, friend, nothing more," Alba says. "Unused am I to calling a people thus. Habit, yet, it is not. Warrior, this you were before the gift, and after. It is easy. 'Friend,' not so easy."

As if she hadn't admitted to thoughtlessness, and in her way apologized for it, she continues her examination. "Roots, roots.... hn. Warmth, and trees, and water, and light.... yes... yes. This I may do, I think. Thank you, friend."

"If you need help," Kisa says as she raises her eyebrows again, "Just ask, I'll help. I don't mind. And I do understand, though just worried that there was something done that made you feel otherwise." She finally flags down a person and orders herself some cider- Oh you don't have that? Err, Mead? No? How about a beer something sour? WOO!

Kisa turns back to Alba and nods her head, "Yeah, I found them in the leaves and on the roots of the huge trees out there. I specifically tried to find ones that looked like friend spider. I thought you might like that." She nods her head again and her fingers start to drag along the woodgrain, catching bits of leather in the cracks.

"No," Alba says, shaking her head. "It is simply not a familiar thing." The jars are turned again... and Alba looks left, looks right, and spreads her hands in muted echo of the spider's limb-raise, aimed at the jars. Yes, she does in fact do that. Then, she returns to her meal.

"So. So. Returning to the village... Mh. I would do this, if I am able. Know better, I shall, when the time comes closer.

"I'll mark you down then." Kisa says with a large smile and she manages a bit of a wiggle even with all the layers. She looks across the table and lets out a snickering giggle as she sees Alba do the same thing she did earlier. She mimics Alba (and the spiders) for a moment in return, then picks up her beer with a sniff and a sip.

"Turns out that Hun'rar also isn't having dreams either." A shake of her head, and a frown, "I mean, even besides us two, I hear that town - as a whole - still isn't dreaming. It's a bit worrisome, right?" Kisa's brows perch up.

"It is," Alba agrees, taking a drink from her skin. "And if my enemy is not behind it, which she says she is not... I mislike that it may be something more powerful yet."

There's a pause as she sips her beer, a frown at the drink, and then finally a nod. "They are getting better at it." Another nod and she looks up. "It's only bad, not wretched!" Kisa smiles and tilts her head, another nod. "I agree, and - well - since you've experienced it before, I thought you might be interested."