"Sounds handy." She starts checking their notifications. "Got two. 'Sharp, yet Soft' is for being exquisitely careful about consent in a dangerous scene, and unlocked first node of the vore tree, candification. 'Red in Tooth and Claw' is for doing well in a consensual sadistic scene, and provided a bite attack and claw shapeshift from the sadism tree."

"Ooh, claws..." Hyacinth shifts forward, a blush coming to her face. "I might want those, if you're.. willing to try from the other direction?"

Hailey flushes and bites her lip. "That sounds... fucking gorgeous." A heated exhale spills out of her. "I'll have to lock a version that can give someone else claws instead of just myself."

"Wonderful." Hyacinth grins. "So now we just need to quest and earn EXP. It's very important. The future of our sexual life depends upon - pfffft no I can't stay serious saying that. But it would be really nice." 

"Kill monsters and Pags — equating them would be an insult to monsters — for the sake of sexy violence. I love it."

Hibiscus swaps back in and takes a big bite out of her sandwich. "Mmmh. Let's eat and keep moving, then. And if we're lucky we'll run into something to kill on the journey."

She nods and pops the last bite of sandwich into her mouth. "I like it. Well, eat up, girlfriend."

She washes it down with some water.

Hibiscus grins challengingly. "Is that an order?~" 

But she eats nonetheless. 

"Yep."

She rises, kisses Hibi's cheek, and sets to cleaning up.

"Aw, phooey." Hibiacus giggles and finishes her sandwich. "Thanks for the food by the way."

She gets up and brings her plate over to the sink for Hailey. "You wash I'll dry?"

"Sounds like a plan."

The dishes don't take long, between the two of them.

And Hibiscus picks up her staff from the side of the room and heads on over to the front door, where she starts getting on her boots again. 

Hailey gets ready as well, and soon enough they both step outside. 

"Still two days to Cordova," she comments as she packs up the house.

"Oh no. I will just have to enjoy your wonderful company on the walk for another two days. What a horrible fate." 

Hibiscus's gaze sweeps the landscape, carefully watching for anything hostile. 

"Let's keep an eye out. There were supposed to be bandits locally, so I don't want us to blithely wander into an ambush."

Hailey nods, sharply, as she leads the way away from their brief campsite, head on a swivel. Bandits? Monsters? Anything?

No, nothing to jump out at them this time. It's a peaceful walk for now.

Well, then Hailey will spend much of the afternoon idly chatting and pointing out various natural features. Also, she'll brainstorm places they can find invading Pags.

Maybe they should discuss the vision, actually?

Hibiscus blinks. "The vision! Yes, I should absolutely write down what I remember of it before I forget - wait, I've got my notes program - let me just pull the audio log -" 

"I saw..." 

"A needle-pierced flower. The breaking of bonds. Pain. All... trailing back, as if through threads, to the imperial seal of Pagutum." 

There's a heavy exhale in the recording. "I was in the vision too. Seen from far away. In front of a mirror. In my reflection I was stronger. Clearer. More... able to see."

"And I remember a sense of togetherness. I don't know if it was meant between you and I, or between me and whoever sent the vision, but..." 

Hibiscus frowns. 

"There was more," she says, "in the vision, but I've forgotten most of the details. There were... ink bottles in front of the mirror... and something else... I don't recall. But I think the general idea comes through - I need to get stronger so I can see more, and Pagutum is doing something to break bonds and cause pain, maybe some kind of infiltration..." 

She hums. "Getting closer to whoever sent that — a god, an SAI, etc — is hard, but arguably they were involved with matchmaking us, so mebbe that's a vote in favor of the closeness being about us. Infiltration is worrying. Ink bottles are Sable's vibe on a deep level. Definitely suggests we need to build a better meditation and dig for more."

"Yeah. Let's keep an eye out and do our best."

Hyacinth sighs softly, and keeps on going.

Maya shifts in over the course of the afternoon, walking contentedly alongside Hyacinth. Nothing interrupts them, either monster or bandit, until late in the afternoon a message comes in.

Evening, you two&. How's your day going? I've just settled in from a long day's questing - putting down corrupted creatures, mostly - and I've got some time to kill.

Doing alright. Mostly it's been a nice hike today, if a bit of a tiring one. 

She nudges Maya. "Did you get Amaranthine's message just now?"

"Oh! Yes, we did. Just a moment."

Indeed. We are having a relatively peaceful trip so far. Interesting to see the corrupted animals have spread all the way to you, however. That suggests concerning things about whoever or whatever is behind them. Another day and a half to Cordova.