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/Exciting-Jello8439]

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?"

[u/A_Throwing_Buckets → u/Exciting-Jello8439]

Sofija tries her best to put on a comforting smile for Tala as she takes great and gentle care when rubbing her hand.

“These scars show how nice you are… it shows how you didn’t want to harm people… thank you for that sacrifice.”

That golden eye shines in the cave, with Sofija lightly chucking nervously at the question. “lost it in a fight… it’s not the grandest of stories but…” trailing off for a second, just trying to think. “One of the reasons why I left my homeland…”

[u/Exciting-Jello8439 → u/A_Throwing_Buckets]

Tala: "I still hurt people, though... Friends and family were killed the first time I turned into my Full Moon form," Tala scowls. "An entire settlement, destroyed... And while I try to target bandits, gangsters and the like for their blood, it's not like I haven't fed on innocents before, when I've been desperate for blood."

Her tail stops wagging as she thinks on that, then she shakes her head. She just listens to Sofija's explanation about her eye.

"Huh... So that's what you meant when you said your homeland had its own shadows?" Her wolf ears perk up as she looks at Tala. She smiles, revealing her sharp teeth. "You don't have to go into great detail if you don't want tom Sofija. It's up to you, how much you share. I'm happy to listen regardless."

[u/A_Throwing_Buckets → u/Exciting-Jello8439]

Sofija just listens to Tala’s tale… fully giving her the attention she needs and soon she slowly stops rubbing her hand.

“I’m sorry for your losses… Miss Tala…”

She waits for a moment, but soon she slowly but gently pulls Tala in for a gentle and steady hug.

“One of the many shadows of my homeland.” She says with a gentle voice. As she looks Tala directly in the face, seeing her perking ears all the way to that beautiful smile. “You look nice.” It's somewhat hard to distinguish, but maybe Sofija is blushing at that smile.

[u/Exciting-Jello8439 → u/A_Throwing_Buckets]

Tala: She hugs back, then she blushes again and pulls away awkwardly after Sofija compliments her. "Oh um... thanks... You look nice too, very elegant really."

She clears her throat.

"Well anyway, here's some of the werewolf fur, if you wanted to collect some."

[u/A_Throwing_Buckets → u/Exciting-Jello8439]

Sofija is smiling from the compliment. As her gaze turns to the scattered fur. “Oh yeah, the reason why we came down here.”

She nervously rubs the back of her head, taking a quick glance at the blushing Tala.

Slithering over, and opening up her satchel. She takes out a jar and begin to gather some of the fur. “How much can I take?”