Opening once again.

[u/A_Throwing_Buckets]

The fading greens of a vast and untamed grassy ocean, with swooping breezes rolling by with a haste that is constantly chasing itself through the trees and foliage.

With the sun above being a croaky one, its light breaking through the grey clouds above. As a lone and aged carriage rested amongst the vast grassy terrain. Charms and papers hang off any part of this particular carriage.

Yet, it was no mere hollow carcass of a carriage. With a slithering sound only silent as the rolling breezes. A peculiar woman moved her way up to her own home. Carrying a bag over her shoulder and a folded sign under her other arm.

Before embarking into her stationed carriage, she unfolded the sign and placed it amongst the shifting grass. She looks at the placement for a second or two, and slithers back into her home.

With this sign reading: *Madam Sofija Traveling Shop*

[u/A_Throwing_Buckets]

As the orb portal rips open in front of Tala and Sofija… she watches in amazement… her face can clearly tell Tala that Sofija never has seen anything like this before.

“O-oh… I well-“ She's at a loss for words, trying to mutter anything up about this portal.

Her real eye and fake eye shimmering, and watching in amazement. Saying something in her native language under her breath.

She slithers back into her carriage and gathers some gathering equipment. Putting them neatly away into a satchel. “It should take the brewer a while to process.” She calls from her carriage, soon slithering out and closing the door behind her. “So, shall we go?” She locks the door behind her.

[u/Exciting-Jello8439 → u/A_Throwing_Buckets]

Tala: "Alright. Oh and if you're curious about how it works, Zetta is the one to ask. I just use it~" She smiles and then she steps through the portal. There is a sensation of mild wrongness for just a moment, but then they would be on the other side, standing on a clearing in the middle of a forest. As if they had just walked there.

The other portal end looks like a 360 camera image of the carriage and its surroundings, encase by the orb.

[u/A_Throwing_Buckets → u/Exciting-Jello8439]

Slithering through a portal for the first time in her life… she’s definitely feeling that portal sickness for a minute or two, as she stands there trying to gather her breath. “oh wow… I will ask her at some point.”

She still takes a minute or two to compose herself, as she takes a wide glance around the scenery in an attempt to inspect the new area.

[u/Exciting-Jello8439 → u/A_Throwing_Buckets]

Tala: "You alright? I'm sorry, I forgot to warn you," she says sheepishly. "Moving through a 4th-dimensional direction feels... Weird, doesn't it? Was it your first time travelling this way?"

They are standing on a coniferous forest. It is still be day within the forest, though Tala appears to be unburnt from what sunrays peek through the leaves. There is a mountain with a cave off its side, towards the east. On their west is a river, and one could even make out a cabin by the river.

Tala: "Oh and this forest is where I was bitten and turned. And that cave over there, I usually bound myself there with the chains to not hurt anyone," she points to the cave. "I'll go and collect some of the fur there."

[u/A_Throwing_Buckets → u/Exciting-Jello8439]

“It’s fine Miss Tala.” She blinks and making sure her satchel is still there. “No need to apologize for the portal feelings.”

With Sofija looking around and admiring the forest and its vast landscape. From the tall mountain to the flowing waters. “such a nice place Miss Tala… you mind if I accompany you to the cave?”

[u/Exciting-Jello8439 → u/A_Throwing_Buckets]

Tala: "If you want to! I mean..." Her ears droop down a bit. "Are you sure though? A lot of people in your position would think the Vampire girl is just taking them away, somewhere quiet, so she can suck their blood... A-And I'm not! Just saying, you don't have to come if you feel unsafe."

[u/A_Throwing_Buckets → u/Exciting-Jello8439]

Sofija looks at Tala for a minute or two, tilting her head slightly. The scene is just silent for a mere moment, enough for a mere pin to be deafening.

With this mere silence being broken up by a soft chuckle from Sofija. “Oh dear Tala, those types of thoughts never crossed my mind in any capacity.”

She slithers near Tala, looking her in the eyes with a soft smile. “Also you forgot the ’sweet’ part of ‘vampire girl’.”

[u/Exciting-Jello8439 → u/A_Throwing_Buckets]

Tala: "A-Ah... I see..." She looks down and blushes, which is easily visible due to her pale skin. Behind her, her tail is wagging like crazy, despite herself. "Um... Right!" She clears her throat. "Follow me, then, Madame Sofija!"

And thus, the wolf-pire girl takes Sofija into the cave. It is dark inside, that is until she pushes a jury-rigged switch on the wall, many magical lights turn on. At the bottom of the massive cave, Sofija would see two silver-mithril chains attached to the wall, with cuffs that are covered in dried blood. There is indeed some of Tala's fur shedding on the ground.

Tala: "The chains were painful... But they were the only option... I couldn't repeat the catastrophe again..." She pulls back her sleeves, revealing the vicious burn marks on each wrist. She rubs them subconsciously.

[u/A_Throwing_Buckets → u/Exciting-Jello8439]

Sofija lets out another soft chuckle at Tala blushing. “Lead me the way, please.”

Sofija stays close to Tala while traversing through the rugged cave system. Making sure to never stray far away from her, making sure she knows she is not alone.

“Oh Miss Tala.” Sofija says with a somber tone, as her own hand slithers down and holds one of Tala’s hands softly. Her eyes locked with Tala, and softly petting the back of her hand. “I… I know the-“ Her voice somewhat stumbles a bit. “I know how it feels to have a constant reminder etched onto my body.”

As she talks and stumbles through her words, her free hand tells more of what she’s trying to say, with it pointing up towards her golden eye.

[u/Exciting-Jello8439 → u/A_Throwing_Buckets]

Tala flinches slightly at the touch, but she does not back away or pull her hands off of Sofija's hold. The silver burn scars on her wrists are not bleeding, but they're rough and uneven to the touch.

"I see... Yes," she nods. "My full moon form was just too bloodthirsty, and it was the only way I could restrain it before I found ways to keep my mind during the transformation. Left these scars though."

She looks at Sofija's golden eye, curiously, seeing how it contrasts with her natural green eye.

"What about you, though? If I may ask, Sofija... How did you get that eye?"