Kayse (prime)/Vignette: Mistrust

The stillness of the forest was interrupted by the crunching snow beneath a pair of kohl leather boots. Most of it had melted but some patches were scattered throughout the woods. 

A breeze whispered through the branches and instinctively her wings wrapped to her body to warm her.  It had been a rather mild winter in the Wehnimer’s area, but despite that her body was getting used to the tropical climate of Mist Harbor after spending so much time there.

Her brow furrowed.  Why am I spending so much time there?

Decades of cautiousness and lack of trust often made her a loner. She continuously surrounded herself with others on the isle, a stark contrast to the life she led in Wehnimer’s. 

“Am I getting soft?”  An audible scoff escaped her lips and her eyes narrowed.

The boots stopped suddenly in their tracks and a freckled hand gently cupped a pinkish-white bloom. Pulling a small trowel from her jacket, Kayse began digging.

This was the first time she was using her botanist skills for good. Often her expertise was used in more nefarious matters. The solution seemed simple to her though, so why not offer aid?

Her digging paused and her nose wrinkled.  “What are you getting in return?”  

The trowel returned to the dirt again..  She wanted nothing in exchange for her knowledge. Valerian root to aid in sleep, tkaro to block unwanted thoughts.  All she needed help with was concocting a tea from the ingredients. It was unclear if it would work long term, but perhaps just some temporary relief was enough to help the town. 

“Am I starting to trust…some of them?”  Her jaw clenched as she violently pulled the plant by the stem, abandoning the digging.  Dirt clumps fell from the exposed roots as she shook it clean before popping them into a jar.

“Do not let your guard down, Thaellian.”

She traveled back to Mist Harbor and through the familiar doors of a cafe she frequented often. Though she never had the honor of speaking much with the proprietor except to order.

Approaching the counter, Kayse put a jar of valerian root atop of it.  ”Misty, I’m Kayse Thaellian. Pleasure to meet you. I am looking to utilize your talents to help some of the citizens of this town.”

Misty looked up from her work.  Her face painted with an expression that was all too familiar to Kayse….mistrust. 

"I've seen you in here, of course.  What... exactly... did you have in mind?" inquired the proprietor.  

Her skepticism was written all over her face, and Kayse sighed inwardly.  She understood Misty's trepidation, but it stung all the same.  "So this is what it feels like to be on the receiving end? Perhaps this was a mistake.”
 
Kayse stomped those thoughts out before they could grow roots, gave a careful exhalation, then began to explain.