"i'm not just going to let you just take lovador and go chase glory like some washed up hero, dearg" annamet argues. she bites her lip, glancing back at her people and thinking. "i'm coming with you" she states, looking nervous. "you? really?" dearg laughs, looking incredulous. "yes." she states, not laughing. "glas is still trailing you, yes? she can watch our people while we go. and i can keep you alive, and we both get glory."

you expect dearg to deny, but instead she motions to one of her men, who nods and retrieves a woman with green skin. "i want you to take care of our people while we're gone, i trust you, glas. don't make me regret that" dearg warns. the woman nods, beaming.

I sighed but still wary about dearg.

"i suppose you want go rat me out to bui about raiding you again?" she taunts, but she grabs a bag from one of her men, offering a fruit which annamet cracks open, taking a drink of the juice held inside. dearg hands one to you toon, and you try to crack it but can't. annamet takes the fruit from you, cracking it for you and handing it back.

"i know the way to the tree. a way that doesn't cross bui's territory. i don't have a map, so you're going to have to trust me" dearg explains, brining her fruit up in a cheers motion. annamet taps her fruit against deargs, nodding. "you have my trust, for now. "just like old times!" dearg laughs.

I took the fruit drink and looked confused at what to do should I take a drink or did what annamet did? I look to her for any clues.

dearg downs her drink in one swig, tossing the fruit aside. annamet finishes hers as well, though she does so more tactfully. "fine then, lead the way" annamet offers, and dearg does, guiding us into the forest with shadow between you and dearg. dearg looks down at shadow curiously, but doesnt say anything. eventually, you and and annamet fall behind dearg and out of her earshot.

"Was she always been like this or did something changed?" I asked annamet.

"sort of. she was always like this, but when we were kids we were friends, and it was great. we had a falling out" annamet sighs, looking sad. "she was born with red skin, it's her nature. our skin is indicative of our personality. im bue, i'm wise and i think things through. she's red, driven by emotions and not prone to thinking things through. our dad, bui, was green. focused on power. he was good too..." she trails off, lips pressed in a thin line.

"Sorry if I touch a bad memory for you," I said to her sadly.

"its fine, everyone knows what happened. we all used to be a group, but then, something happened. it tore us apart." she shakes her head, looking at her feet. "it's not that important"

"Okay," I said to her. "Should we be catching up to her?"