Chance Encounters (Tayva)

Tayva winced as the man attacked again, despite the predictament he was in. She couldn't help but feel a little bad for the man, as he was probably just as poor as she herself was. It was unfortunate that he had turned to more violent means to get what he needed, but everyone had to play to their strengths. And he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Please... you need to reconsider your decision." Tayva pleaded with the junkie, slowly stepping toward the pair, perhaps a little closer than she should have considering the weapon he still held. Her hands were still bunched up, continuing to glow as he was wrapped in more and more vines. The plant like continued to constrict around the man, perhaps constricting a little too tightly, as if trying to crush the man.

As Tayva advanced, she started to feel a little winded and light headed. She felt her breathing begin to grow heavy, as if she was growing weaker from some unseen force. At this thought, she glanced down at her still glowing hands, remembering that her ability to grow plants was strongly tied to her own body's strength. She had tried to go on a spree once with growing plants, and in the process had knocked herself out in exhaustion. If she continued growing these vines upon their attacker, then she would grow too weak to remain conscious. But she wanted to help keep Veles from getting slashed at any further.

Veles felt the sting of the blade slicing through the flesh of his forearm, but his adrenaline had already piqued. He was very aware of his desire to hurt this man who had attempted to attack him. The added pain of the knife passing through his body just added to that desire.

Tayva begged the junkie to reconsider, but it was too late. He had outright attacked Veles, and placed Tayva into danger as well. Her powerful control over the plants themselves showed that she was no push-over, but the slight sway of her form showed that the effort taxed her greatly.

Perhaps it was due to malnutrition for the weeks before, but Tayva certainly looked as if she was about to faint. The plants were squeezing the junkie like a constricting snake. Her hands were quivering, her jaw was clenched. She was fully in control of the plants. She was connected with Terra.

Veles had certainly had enough. With a tight grip of his hand and a sharp yank, Veles jerked his hand rapidly. The junkie's neck popped apart with the sudden motion, and while he was still alive, he would never move under his own power again. "A really bad day, but look at it this way, you'll have drugs for the rest of your miserable life."

Veles released the man who was still held completely off the ground by tightly wound vines. He reached his arm around Tayva's side, tugging her close to his side as she wobbled. He leaned closer to her, allowing his black claws to fade away into human fingertips again. "It's ok, it's over now. You can rest."

Tayva stood where she was for a few more moments, before letting out an audible exhale, releasing her hands from their clenching grasp, the light green that glowed from her hands fading as she relaxed. The plants that had been suspending their attacker in mid air quivered from their separation from their controller, before turning grey and fading into a fine dust. The man's body was dropped to the ground, the dust being picked up by some invisible gust of wind, and vanishing from the scene.

The Celestial had to blink a couple of times, before finding herself leaning heavily against Veles, placing a hand over her chest as she tried to catch her breath. She was still trying to recover, unsure why she had felt so tired from what seemed to her as something simple. Perhaps she wasn't used to using her abilities yet. She seemed so unsteady with them, not even having though consciously to call upon the fruit of the earth to snare the man. If she was to discover her strengths, she would need to spend a lot more time practising with what she could do.

Unfortunately if it drained her this much, the opportunities to do so would be far and few in between, considering how much energy she needed to use to generate the vines to begin with. And her rare adequate meal would mean that she would have a hard time mustering up such strength. With Veles' deal however, she could get the chance she needed.

"...I'm sorry about that..." she replied, blinking her eyes a few times, before looking up to the man that kept her steady on her feet. She was a little uneasy with the sudden display of violence, but everyone had their tendencies, their behaviours. And now wasn't the time to really toil on such thoughts, when she had been close to passing out.

Veles felt Tayva slowly relax, the tension from her casting had certainly worn her out. Then she actually apologized for helping defend Veles from an attacker. He didn't know if he would ever understand how females thought.

"It's certainly OK, do you need to rest at all? We can even go straight to the apartment to let you get cleaned up and relaxed if you'd like." the werewolf asked, his tone deep. Though it lacked callousness, it certainly held no feeling what so ever about the man he had just paralyzed dangling in vines just a foot or so away. With the vines tangled so well around him, Veles doubted the police would have much remorse either when they discovered the bloody knife still held in hand. The poor soul couldn't even let it go if he wanted to.

Veles gently nudged Tayva forward, letting her feel the ground under her feet. Getting moving always helped him walk off tough encounters, perhaps it would help her as well. He guided them slowly in the direction of both the shops and apartments. If she chose one or the other first, they wouldn't have to stray too far from the path he had chosen.

"You were exceptional back there, I have no doubt my employer will have an extensive position in mind when he hears of your prowess."

Tayva took consideration into the offer placed before her, knowing that the rest would probably do better. While she did manage to sleep during the nights she spent on the street, she didn't really 'rest', and so always felt tired the following day. Never had she really felt completely 100%, but perhaps a nap at this apartment would give her the chance she needed to get a proper rest.

"I think that would be better...I feel like I could fall asleep any time now." she admitted, scratching the back of her head slightly as he helped her begin to walk along. The feeling of being pushed forward did help a little, though the Celestial did stumble a bit at first. Perhaps she just wasn't used to being helped out in this way, not that it was bad in any matter.

As he commented positively on her ability, the girl couldn't help but smile a little. She hadn't meant to do it of course, but perhaps he didn't need to know about that. "Thanks... I just wonder if there's more I can do. I mean... I only figured that out a couple of days ago." she replied, though that was a lie, as never before had she created vines to ensnare something. They had just come from the ground when she lost her focus, making the girl wonder if perhaps there was more she could do than grow plants and ensnare people with them. Perhaps she was meant for something greater.

"How far away is the apartment by the way?" Tayva added in question, wondering how long she would have to walk for. Her mind kept yelling at her to sleep, but she strained to keep her eyes open.

Veles couldn't help but grin as Tayva leaned against him and admitted her tiredness. She had worked incredible magic in a very short time with no normally helpful aids. Chanting, ritual, runes, components; she had used none of them. Through sheer willpower, she had altered the world itself. It must have been incredibly taxing.

She asked about the apartment, more specifically how far away it still was. She was leaning heavily against him, heavier by the moment. She was absolutely tired. Veles shifted quickly, slipping his head below one of Tayva's arms he leaned and scooped under her legs. After adjusting her weight into his arms, he made sure to scoop Cayleb's bag and rest it upon Tayva's lap.

"Not too far now, don't you worry. Rest." Veles offered softly, his strides quickened as he made his way down the street. Even with Tayva's weight, he was still moving quick enough that his long coat swayed behind him. Even though it was several blocks, Veles covered the distance in a little over a minute, choosing a side entrance to the building rather than the main door. It was technically a fire escape, but Veles knew the alarm would never sound.

Climbing easily up the wide concrete staircase, Veles made it to the fourth floor easily, heading to the fourth apartment on the right. Though the room was not numbered, he knew it as suite 404. Stepping through the small great room, combining living, dining room and kitchen, Veles took the small hallway that lead to the tiny bedroom down the hall.

Setting Tayva down upon the bed, Veles flipped open the top of her satchel containing her Riftborn companion. As the little creature crawled out and curled softly against Tayva's side, he grinned. Stepping around the bed, Veles hung up the empty satchel on a peg jutting from the wall. He gathered the edge of the sheets and folded them comfortably over, instead of shifting her under the sheets themselves. Now she was wrapped up on both sides, cuddling with Cayleb, and finally able to get a good night's sleep with a very full belly.

"Rest well..." Veles whispered. He stepped back into the kitchen, scribbled a short note, and unhooked a key for this apartment from his key chain. He left them upon the counter top, so she could rest in peace. As he stepped from the apartment, he clicked the deadbolt lock shut from the outside with his own key. "Rest well..."

The last few moments of consciousness for Tayva were all a blur. She could feel herself being lifted off her feet, her bag placed upon her lap before being jostled around, as if she were moving at some great speed. Her arms managed to curl around the small bag that held her young companion, keeping it close to her chest to prevent the bag from falling out of her grasp.

Still trying to stay awake, she looked upward in the direction she was facing, hearing his seemingly distant distorted words, before the world around her faded into black. Despite her lack of consciousness, her arms still managed to hold onto the bag in her possession tightly. She would be out of it until much later, after Veles had left her and Cayleb alone in his home, in the comfort of a bed.

If it wasn't for the bed, she probably would have woken up as soon as Veles locked the door, but the comfort of the furniture, combined with the soft presence of her young Rift Beast made for a great sleep. She would slowly slip back into consciousness hours later, rolling onto her side to try and maintain a comfortable position. However that small movement caused the rest of her to start to wake up, and soon her eyes slipped open, refocusing on the world that surrounded her. The Celestial couldnt remember much about the last few hours, unsure of where she even was right now. Sitting up she glanced around a bit more, trying to remember what had happened. Tayva noticed Cayleb still asleep in his spot, curled up into a soft ball of fur.

The thought of getting cleaned off was the first thought that hit the girl. "I hope nobody minds if I get cleaned up." she thought out loud to herself, slowly beginning to make her way through the apartment in search of the necessary facilities. She eventually found the bathroom, and after studying the shower for a good five minutes, she figured out how to operate the device. Rubbing her eyes a little to stay awake, she took to closing the door, flipping on the hot water, and jumping in.

After departing the apartment, Veles slipped down the same stairwell he had used before, exiting into the alley and vanishing into the maze of streets. Veles hated spending time in the city, but not knowing the city could have been deadly considering his profession. Veles made his way to the shop he had intended to bring Tayva to, collecting a few pairs of loose fitting canvas clothing, a new pair of boots, and a long coat. They would likely be too large for Tayva, but their utility would be much more important than fashionable.

Stepping out of the shop, Veles made his way to an unmarked door, knocking seven times, perfectly timed. The door unlocked from within and the werewolf stepped boldly inside. His vision wasn't impaired by the low light, but he walked to the back wall. It was almost set up as a bank teller's window, a small sliding drawer below a large, armored window. Veles was expected to identify himself and make his request, so he did, clearly and without pause. "Veles Canis, I need seeds of three plants in particular: bloodroot, kelp, and black cohosh. Please schedule an botanical analyst to be available in two days time, I will alert HQ when I make the drop for study."

After collecting a few more odds and ends, Veles made his way back to the apartment, depositing his collection of materials onto the table before cracking open a can of meaty stew into a bowl and placing it low for Cayleb. A bowl of water was soon beside it, as the small Rift Beast came around the corners of the apartment, curious of the recent entry.

Petting the small creature, Veles waited for the sound of the shower to cease. He carefully laid out the plants he had procured and a small bag of potting soil. Stepping close to the window, Veles carefully shifted the curtain aside, watching the movements outside for anything unusual.

The warmth of the shower was almost enough to make Tayva doze off again, though the sound of a door opening outside caught her attention. The grime and dirt from weeks of unclean living had been washed off of her skin, making her feel cleaner than she ever had been. And her hair was free of any muck or grease, clean and soft once again. Satisfied, she shut the shower off, and grabbed one of the towels hung from a nearby rod.

It wouldn't take long to get dried off, the girl glancing over to the rags of clothing she had once wore. Perhaps it would be best to see if her host had returned with the new clothing that had been mentioned in their earlier conversation. Ensuring that she was sufficiently covered by the towel, the Celestial poked her head out the door, taking a quick peek around as the steam from the bathroom escaped into the main room.

"I hope you dont mind if I cleaned off." Tayva asked Veles, watching as he peered out one of the windows of the apartment. Looking around, she then decided to shuffle out of the bathroom, seeing no harm in coming out, since there was nothing for him to see.

Dried off of the dirt of the streets, Tayva's skin looked almost radiant and flawless, a healthy hue now that she had been taken care of. Her hair rested easily against her neck and shoulders, gleaming and healthy. It seemed that her entire being had become much healthier after getting some nutrition and cleaning, and she even looked more energetic. The girl spotted her small companion, sniffing at a bowl and the contents inside, before giving a toothy grin and jamming his face into the bowl, making quick work of the food provided.

As Veles looked out the window, he heard Tayva finish her shower, and after several moment, she eventually wandered out into the living area wrapped in a towel. As Cayleb devoured his meal, Veles turned and noted Tayva's much healthier appearance.

"See, you're much prettier than I am. I'm sure Alexander's serving boy would have been tripping left and right, spilling our meals on the floor if he had seen you looking like this." Veles quipped, watching at Tayva gently sifted her way through the small pile of clothes he had brought.

"They are likely a bit too large, but in my work, it's always helpful to have some room to move." Veles offered in his gruff voice, then pointed to the small bag of groceries. "I picked up some canned foods, all high in protein, carbs and fats. Overeat for the next few days, build up your body's reserves. When you run low, Jean's Market is just across the street from the main entrance of this building, at the checkout just tell them that it is for account 404."

Veles then walked over to the cabinet and collected three bowls, returning to the table. He set the small bag of potting soil to the side, but spread the three bowls out, placing his single seed of each plant within them. "Your abilities involving plants, both offensive and defensive, are one thing, making them profitable is another. I have scheduled an analyst to look at the progress you can make with these three seeds in two days time. All three are curative plants, meant to remove afflictions. Growing them in sufficient quantities always makes the demand for them greater than the supply. If you can spur their growth, Umbra will be sure to consider you an asset."

"Anything other than what I was wearing is better." Tayva noted, picking up an armful of the clothing made available to her, before stepping back into the bathroom. She would need privacy to get changed after all. Her hair was still a bit damp, but for the most part she had dried off, allowing her to slip into the new clothing without much fuss. He had been right about them being a bit too big for her, the sleeves of her shirt stretching a little past her fingertip, and making her have to roll the cuffs of her pants to keep them from tripping her, but they were still an okay fit.

The Celestial returned from the restroom not much later, taking to examining the seeds that had been placed before her. She took one of the Bloodroot seeds in her fingers, examining the small and seemingly fragile object, before smiling. "I dont think it'd take me long to work with them." she replied, focusing on her breathing as she concentrated on the small speck of a seed that was in her hand.

The same eerie green glow began to appear from her hand, though appearing to originate from where the seed sat on her palm. Her hand face up, she watched as the small seed shifted, small white roots puncturing the shell of the seed, stretching out in search of sustenance as a small green stem made its way upward. The girl seemed rather pleased, watching as the seed grew into a small sapling in a matter of seconds. Leaves started extending out from the stem, stretching out to soak up the minimal daylight in the room, as the root system continued to expand and multiply. With her other hand, she poured some of the potting soil into one of the three bowls, only covering the bottom of it before setting the plant down inside, surrounding its roots with more soil. By now the plant stood at a height of twelve inches, looking greener and healthier than a minute old plant should.

Veles couldn't help but be stunned as Tayva pressed her powers onto the bloodroot seed. The pale glow of light of her powers surrounded the seed and encouraged its growth rapidly. His breath caught for a moment as full leaves sprouted from the tiny plant.

Tayva deftly planted the small sapling of a plant in a wide bowl with the provided potting soil. The plant as Tayva slowly backed away was brilliantly vibrant and green, it was completely healthy. If Tayva could reproduce this effect repeatedly, she could make a great deal of money for herself.

"You're exceptional at that. With how rapidly you can do that, I'm sure the analysts will want more, as fast as you can grow them. I suggest you take your own time. If you finish them too quickly, they might hope to lock you up, physically or figuratively." Veles offered.

Stepping to the window, Veles opened the curtains, allowing more light into the apartment. Shifting a small table close, he brought the growing bloodroot and set it indirect sunlight. Smirking softly to himself, "Such a wonder."

As Tayva had began to already move onto the next plant, the verbal key of being 'locked up' caught her attention, causing the girl to look over at Veles as he placed the plant in the small amount of sunlight. "Why would they want to lock me up?" Tayva asked, seeming fairly confused as to the suggestion of being cooped up somewhere. However the very thought made her think of a small, isolated space to be cooped up in, and shuddered noticeably. The Celestial hated the idea of being cooped up in cramped quarters more than anything, and she dearly hoped that she hadn't gotten herself into something she would regret. It was a job that she needed, but she didn't want it to consume her life.

Of course, she wouldn't mind taking things slow with the plant growing. Though she wasn't close to passing out as she had been last time, her breathing did feel a little laboured. Now would probably be a good time to ask about the plan for these plants, since she didn't have anywhere to take them. Tayva figured she was simply expected to grow them all here and be on her way, but she wasn't certain. Still, it was probably better to get the job done, and be out of the man's hair. He had done more than enough for her already, and she didn't want to be a bother.

"So what do you suggest with taking my time? I mean, do you have a suggestion as to how long I should try to take? I don't want to accidentally overdo anything after all." Tayva questioned, feeling the small form of Cayleb brush against her leg, having polished off the meal he had enjoyed thoroughly from the bowl that had been set down for him. Some of the water was gone from the adjacent dish, though nowhere near the amount that had been taken out of the food bowl.

Tayva was extremely good with plants, but rather naive regarding what ruthless people would do for power. "An old engineer taught me an interesting lesson once. If you consistently preform at your peak, those around you come to expect it, even so far as taking it for granted. If you maintain a good 80-85 percent, then you're still doing very well, but can occasionally wow them. If you grow those three saplings in a rush this time, and the time after, and the time after, you will no longer get the leeway you might need if you began the assignment exhausted, for example. They would come to expect the rapid service and degrade you if you could not always maintain it, rather than praise you when you occasionally pulled it off." Veles began explaining. He walked to the kitchen and collected two large glasses, letting the tap run for several moments until the water flowing forth was fresh and cold. Filling the glasses, he walked back to the table and offered one to the young celestial, taking a long sip from his own.

"What I mean about being taken was quite literal. Some very powerful people reside in the high population areas like Librium. If they notice your power and have a use for it, they might not have the moral compass to pay you for your service. They may simply capture and enslave you, only feeding you when you preformed as they sought fit. Or worse, they could make your living conditions so horrible, that when they finally left you alone with just starvation as a motivator, you might be so institutionalized that you look forward to working for them." Veles explained before bringing things into a much more personal perspective.

"My kind for example, werewolves and other weres, were bred by some of these very powerful people, raised to be unquestioning killers, and sent headlong into enemy lines during the great war. Our physical prowess, reaction times, and healing abilities made us ideal soldiers. Whether we were willing or not didn't fit into the equation, so it was eventually brainwashed out during the training. I grew up in a much larger pack of werewolves, some of our elders were trained in this way. The mental scars never truly go away. You would do very well to make yourself useful, but not too useful. Enough to encourage payment, but not enough to encourage capture. The world is ruthless, little one." her continued, his voice calm and somber.

Walking to the sprouted blood root plant, Veles tipped the remainder of his water into the soil, soaking it effectively, but not drowning it. He didn't have much of a green thumb, but he didn't have a black one either. To grow the plant Tayva had, it would have likely taken him thirty days instead of seconds. She was miraculous.

Tayva didn't know whether or not it had been a good thing that she had been so unaware of the greed that many other people in the world possessed, as it had allowed her to think more positively of the different races as a whole. But just listening to Veles' warning, and the idea that she had to be wary of her ability to excel to keep her freedom scared the girl slightly. The Celestial had been hopeful that she could expand upon her abilities to help heal the scarred lands, but it almost seemed risky to do now, in case she was found by the wrong person.

"I'll keep that in mind..." she responded, voice lowered slightly as she dropped another seed into a bowl full of soil, looking a little less excited about the new career opportunity that she had been given. While she could reason that the company that he worked for was okay, given that he worked there, but she just couldn't be completely certain.

Now with her mind weighted by though, she dug her finger into the soil, channeling some of her strength into the buried seed. She could feel small roots begin to brush by the appendage as the plant began to sprout, though she did not make it as impressive as the previous one. With her free hand she then took the glass of water that she had been offered, taking a long sip from its rim, and sprinkling some of the remaining water down onto the tiny sapling, removing her finger before hand.

Veles noted the quiet tone of Tayva's voice before he turned from the bloodroot plant to face her. His words had struck home, which was a good thing, but perhaps too much considering just how dampened her spirits were. He stepped back into the kitchen, placing his empty glass in the sink and rummaging through several of the drawers before finding what he sought. Collecting a small pad of paper and several pens, Veles began testing each pen with a quick scribble to see which ones had dried up during the time between uses. Finding a pen that worked well after only two tries, Veles walked back to the small table that Tayva was near.

"We're going to need a list of things you want from these plants. It will be your first negotiation with Umbra, so the balance is important. If you ask too much, you might be viewed as overpriced... though I don't think any price is too high for these valuable herbs. But you also don't want to come to the table too low either. They might consider you foolish, or worse, too good to be true." Veles began, a grin forming across his face as he began explaining little tidbits he had learned about Umbra through the years.

"First will obviously be a bit of spending money, as you will want to keep a small stash somewhere I'm sure. Next, you'll want to request any more seeds you can handle growing during the time you're observing the fat man in Alexander's bistro. Seeing how quickly you're able to grow these three, I'm sure two weeks will allow you plenty. After those two weeks, you can stay in this apartment however long you'd like. The key on that counter is yours. You might consider some materials for a small greenhouse, perhaps some lights. Either make a list describing exactly what you want for delivery, or go shopping and create a list of prices with explanations. I'm sure the Umbra handler you're connected with will be able to acquire anything you need. Depending if you want to stay in town for a while or travel, at the end of the two week observation, you're going to want to let them know just how much money you're expecting at the exchange." Veles explained, jotting down some quick notes in his scribbled handwriting.

"Lastly, you're going to want to go shopping around town, only take a few dollars with you, as you don't want to be considered a rich mark, and see what these plants go for on the open market. Umbra always pays a hint above that for a private supply, so I'm sure you'll do OK." Veles grinned widely. Going from homeless to shopping in the same day, Tayva's life had a significant change.

Tayva couldn't help but peer over his shoulder as he proceeded to write out an ever-growing list of things she would need to do, before she could even be considered for the job she was supposed to take on. It all seemed like a lot for a girl that wasn't all that used to the material world just yet, but as she watched him scribble things down on the notepad, she was able to find patterns in his handwriting to make the words on the page legible. Of course she had no idea whatsoever what a decent wage would be considered, let alone the costs and expenses she would need to take care of to begin her operation. As far as she was considered, all she needed were the seeds, a place to keep the plants, and herself.

"Do you have any suggestion on what I should charge? I'm not all too familiar with keeping a job I'm afraid." she questioned. Doing the research didn't seem that bad, at least when it came to pricing out the things she needed. It was talking to people about their wage which made her feel uncomfortable, as she figured that was how other people felt too when talking about the subject. After all she had only been a homeless girl until now, seemingly disconnected from the rest of the world by the fact that she had to scrounge to survive. The very fact that she would now be able to support herself with her own gifts was almost life changing.

Hopefully it wouldn't require a life of dedication though. She wanted time to herself to explore the rest of this world after all, and find out more about what her limitations were. If only there were some way for the Celestial to figure out where she had come from and why she was here, then she could really decide on how to spend the rest of her life.

Listening to Tayva's question, he was again surprised by her. She was very keen for someone who didn't have much knowledge of the world. He grinned but could tell that she wasn't incredibly comfortable asking. It was better than going into things unaware however, and at least she was sharp enough to fully realize that.

"Well, pay is really determined by how much you want in life. If you want more, you will want to be paid more. If you want less, you don't need to be paid at all. A place like this, only costs a few hundred a month to maintain. Though, food and luxuries also add in. This is a city, however, things are always going to be a bit more expensive here. A smaller place, a bit further out would likely cost half as much, but wouldn't be nearly as secure or centrally located." Veles explained his logic.

"For the plants themselves, I would charge whatever makes sense on the open market. For the service, I would suggest between one and five hundred for a day's labor. Your skills with plants are fantastic, and you should be paid accordingly. But, as I mentioned, you don't want to request too much or too little. People will attempt to abuse that, one way or another. Being confident will earn you the initial respect to claim a job as a feelancer. To work as much or as little as you'd like."

Veles let his hand wander to the small plant on the table, toying with the leaves. "If you ever wanted to settle down, perhaps start up that greenhouse, then you might want to barter for supplies instead. It all depends on what you'd like. What would that be, at the end of the day?"

Tayva paused as Veles questioned what it was that she wanted in life. She couldn't help but think back to the first day, when she first opened her eyes to find herself in the middle of nowhere, laying against the dusty ground of the wastes, lost and alone in the world. The void that had been her memory had eaten away at her ever since, making the Celestial feel a little agitated, but at the same time confused and alone. Perhaps she would never remember where it was that she came from.

"...What I want cannot be bought..." Tayva stated quietly, biting at her lip quietly as she glanced down to the small furry figure of Cayleb. She carefully picked him up, setting him down on the kitchen table to allow him to see what it was she had been busying herself with. He tried to sniff the plant that she had just grown, though wrinkled his nose and shuffled backward, not liking something about the plant that was before her.

"I don't remember who I was, or where I came from. The farthest back my memory goes is when I first woke up in this world, devoid of any known past or identity. I would love to be able to remember who I was, and where I came from. But I do not think that is something that money would be able to buy." Tayva replied, her tone rather sullen as she ran her fingers through the lush greenery of the plant before her.

As Tayva began to speak, opening up for what seemed like the first time, Veles took care to remember the details of what she was saying. She had woken up with no memory, and recently it seemed as she was scraping by, by whatever means. Though she knew language and muscle control, so it was possible that there was a head injury, magic spell, or other unknown behind her lack of memory.

"You'd be surprised what money can buy, or what connections it can make. I am sure there are people in this world who can help you understand your past. Even today you learned a bit more, that you're exceptionally powerful with plants." Veles reassured her. He had been a bit over-the-top with his previous warnings, and had noticed how she seemed to grow a bit quieter if he ever described the world as being full of people out to get her.

"Come to think of it, I'm sure there are some therapists, or telepaths who can easily help you recall your life before your waking. You don't seem to have a big ol' scar on your head to account for a head injury." he attempted a bit of awkward wit.

Noticing a tiny bit of movement at the edges of his vision, Veles watched as Cayleb snuck his way to a narrow perch at the edge of the now-uncovered window. Apparently he was quiet enjoying the chance to bask in the sunlight instead of hiding within a bag. Gradually, one of his legs even stretched and extended, dangling casually off the window sill as the Rift Beast became comfortable.

Tayva couldn't help but feel a little skeptical about the idea of someone being able to find out more about her life than she herself could even recall, but she was still unfamiliar with the world she had found herself in. Perhaps there was some possibility out there that she could figure out who she had been, to receive some kind of closure to the question that had been pestering her since she first opened her eyes in this place.

But then what? Even if she knew who she had been, it probably wouldn't change who she was now, would it? Perhaps she had been some completely different being, whether weaker or stronger than she was now, but she would never go back to being that person. But at least gaining some form of closure from learning about her past could point her in a more clear direction of why she was in this world now, to learn her purpose in life.

"I suppose I could try. Though I'm assuming something like that wouldn't come cheap." Tayva noted, before following his gaze over to the lazy form of Cayleb, managing a small smile as she watched him make himself more at home in this new place. He seemed perfectly fine not knowing where his place was in the world, so why couldn't she?

"But even if I do find out who I was, I'm not sure whether or not it'll affect the kind of person I am now."

Veles slipped silently across the room and began to pet Cayleb softly. His fingers tickling the creature softly as he listened to Tayva. She seemed skeptical at his offers of what money could buy. Then she explained that what she wanted just moments ago might not even change her life going forward.

"It seems that you're really looking for, is a place in the world. To know where you belong. I don't really know if knowing your past would help you fit into the world that surrounds you." Veles offered.

Just as he finished, Cayleb really seemed to be enjoying Veles' pets. His purrs grew rapidly in volume. Veles leaned in a bit and opened the curtains just a hint more, letting light seem in on the little creature.

"I have a feeling that's what you truly want, to fit into the world. Or maybe just to know how you fit within it." Veles commented, looking over at Tayva's petite form. Veles had been alive for years and years, he was comfortable with who and what he was. It must have been very unsettling to know neither of those things with any certainty.

"I suppose." Tayva mused, watching with a small smile as Veles continued to pet the small figure of Cayleb. Quietly she moved from her seat, to stand over by the window and feel a little less left out. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed as she watched the two bond. Maybe it wasn't important that she knew what she had been in the past, and maybe it was. But she couldn't help but feel that there was a reason to why the lack of knowledge kept bugging her, as if the need to know would serve some kind of purpose in the future. It couldn't hurt to at least find out.

"Well... I'll look into it once I get a little more settled in this world. What with the new job and everything." Tayva noted, watching as the small critter sunbathing in the window stretched once more, opening his big eyes to look up at the werewolf, nuzzling his hand in affection as he was stroked. Tayva had never seen the little one become so attached to another person, though the reason was obvious. He had never had the chance to get close to anyone, having always needed to remain hidden from the world, unless he wanted to risk getting hurt or killed. Veles seemed good enough with him anyways, so long as he didn't accidentally set something on fire with his breath.

Veles smiled softly while petting Cayleb and looked back to Tayva. "Well the choice is certainly yours in what you'd like to do." He slowly stopped petting Cayleb as the little creature was beginning to get a bit too playful and claw were reaching Veles instead of just playful paws. The Rift Beast soon calmed, attention returning to the window and the outside world. Veles slid his fingertips one last time over the creature's spine, curling slightly around its tail and giving it a playful flick.

Turning and leaving the critter be, Veles made his way back to the table where Tayva was standing. "Remember, Alexander will give you take-out containers as well. Don't be afraid to each as much as you can bear, Cayleb too." He nudged Tayva's shoulder playfully, letting a wolfish grin cross his features. "You do clean up pretty well, kiddo. I'll be back in two weeks to collect your notes, and I'll schedule a meet with Umbra's botanists. We'll see how much they love what you've done with their seeds by then. Remember your lists too, anything you think you could use if you really want to set up a greenhouse in the area. Umbra has a lot of resources, if you're willing to work with them, I'm sure they're willing to supply you properly. Welcome to Librium, again. You and Cayleb enjoy the place." Veles said before stepping to the door, offering a wave, and departing.

The apartment was Tayva's for as long as she wanted to stay, she had easy access to food and shelter, something which the homeless girl hadn't really had much of since awakening out in the woods. Veles walked down the long halls of the building. Hopefully her plants panned into something she could sell for an exceptional amount, it would certainly be better for her than a dreary day-job.


Veles scaled the stare cases easily, barely winded after several stories of them. He stepped down the hallway confidently, his long coat swaying out behind him occasionally. Finally he came to the door he was looking for, Tayva's place. Raising his hand and knocking three times, sharply, he waited for several long moments. Hearing a bit of movement from within, he waited a bit longer, finally his eagerness got the better of him. Rapping at the door again he also called out, "Tayva! It's Veles! If now's a bad time, I don't mind coming back later, just let me know."

He leaned a bit closer to the door, really focusing on his heightened hearing. Was the movement really coming from inside the apartment, or one nearby? Was it enough to be Tayva, or perhaps just Cayleb? "Tayva?" he called out with another short series of knocks.

Things had been a little hectic at first with the first couple of days she was left to herself. However as the days progressed, she found herself becoming more and more familiar with her schedule. She would end up leaving Cayleb at home, not wanting him to risk her new position. Her days were split between her job observing in the eatery, making notes of the local stores and the supplies they carried (for her botanical needs), and relaxing at her borrowed apartment, getting the first decent rest she had in days. The Celestial also took note to check up on the herbs she was to grow, making sure that they were healthy for when Veles returned. She didn't want to overgrow them too far as to increase her work load unnecessarily.

The days spent freely were put to good use, in both improving her health and learning about what people would pay for the same herbs that she was growing. She was surprised to find that Veles had been right when it came to the priciness of herbs. Despite not knowing much about money, she compared the prices to necessities such as food to get an idea on what the value of the herbs were.

Tayva didn't even know that two weeks had passed before she received the knock on the door. Having been fast asleep at the time, she was rudely awakened by the voice coming from the other side of the door. It took her a few moments before she rolled out of bed, making her was lazily toward the door. She peered through the hole in the door to confirm that it was in fact Veles, before opening the door a little wider.

"Come on in. Sorry it took so long, I was in the middle of a nap." Tayva explained, moving off to the side to allow him entry into the apartment. All the noise had also stirred Cayleb, who had by now awoken from slumber to come sliding through the apartment, and toward the pair.