Purple berries

[Kaiko Marina]

Ash 8, 124

It would seem that land really did have something against her as she was yet again running as fast as she could from something. She has no clue the sound that had her so scared was just a squealmouse's scream, and not the monster her head made from a dead tree covered in moss. Her run however, was cut short by a root. There was a split second of air. Realization that she was falling and then a face full of mud. She turned, sat up and grabbed her staff now ready to defend herself. But nothing was there. She would listen, swinging her staff to face all the sounds. After a moment she would get up, wipe the mud from her face and dirt from her clothes. She would grunt. And a single thought had once again messed with her sanity. She pulled the hat from her head. And with a growl started to speak to it.

 “Captain, do you enjoy seeing me suffer? Is that what this is. I am not a Land person. I do not belong here. The person, Yeva, you sent me after does not exist. I have traveled this land for over a season with only a few wing people pointing me in different directions.” She grumbled. The more they talked the more she had to say. The more she said the more upset it made her. “I don't like the cold. And yet again I find this place getting chilly in the mornings. All I wanted to do was help you and the ship. And you left me lost at the cove for a year. And now you have me treading this forsaken land chasing spirits. I'm done being used as entertainment for you. I'm done being your puppet.” She said 

She may be wrong. But she didn't care any more. She was mad and blamed this trip for it and blamed this trip on him. “I'm going home.” She spoke either unaware of the odds her ship was still out there or not caring. What mattered was she was done here and was going to try to find her ship. 

Kaiko would put the hat back on her head and with a determined frown she would start walking in hopes that she could find the sea or a river. She was tird, lost, hungry, and mad. She would walk. And walk. And walk. Movement made her stop. She adjusted her grip on her staff. She would face whatever it was. She would charge with a scream. And a small bird would fly off. She would notice with relief. Before noticing the berries. She would smile immediately walking over and start picking the small fruit. She would pop them into her mouth as fast as she was picking them. They were bitter and small but they were food. And that was the important thing. 

Most people know to avoid the pink plant with purple berries. They would also know that the young green leaves were actually the food part but not her. She went for the toxic berries. Fortunately her body knew how to safely digest the poison and store it for later use. But that did not change that fact her mouth turned pink along with her hands. Even after she was full she took the hat off and pulled the clusters from nearby plants filling the hat up. Once satisfied she would start walking again. Next came the need for water. Dehydration seems to have been an ever present feeling for her since she last saw the sea. But it was quickly getting worse. 

Seemed she was not completely immune from the effects of the berries. They were taking all the water from her. Dehydrating her from the insides out. Once she put the pieces together she would dump the berries putting her hat back on. Still searching for water

[Talisman]

This land was indeed getting colder as the time went on. The search was difficult, even though she had people attempt to help her as they could. But finding someone who had vanished in a vast world was not only trying to find a needle in a haystack; she was trying to find a specific grain of sand in a complete desert that went on as far as the eye could see. And the more she looked, the more difficult it seemed to be becoming. How hard could it be to find some Hytori woman who had been last seen in the cursed, cold Northlands?

Apparently, quite hard.

The land seemed to know that she was not of it; and anything and everything that could go wrong was seemingly doing so. This was either some cosmic accident or a truly terrible joke. Or even just terrible luck. Aside from Fluff, what had gone her way since she had walked through the door and left her whole world behind? What had become of her ship? Would Fluff be where she left him? Hopefully the little otter was okay.

Once she had discarded the toxic berries and started on her way again, she felt something small hit her back. Once, twice, three times. "Waste not, want not," a voice came from behind her. If she chose to turn around, she might be looking at her perceived tormentor, who flicked another one of the berries directly at her. Whether or not it hit her square between the eyes would depend on whether or not she chose to attempt to avoid it, though with the deydration, her reflexes would not be what they had been. "Don't you know that you shouldn't put strange things in your mouth?" the Captain raised an eyebrow. "Because now you're a fish out of water, and what water you have left, you've just destroyed."

He regarded her, a coin rolling between his fingers and back, turning it over from finger to finger without needing to look at it. "You did attempt to help the Duck, and you didn't come close. But lucky for you, close doesn't count except in horseshoes. So what do you do now? Shall we make a wager on what comes next, Kaiko?"

[Kaiko Marina]

Something small hitting her in the back the first time did not catch her attention. The second however did but the third was when her mind decided it was intentional. The voice and words only confirmed her conclusion. She would turn not sure who to expect. But maybe they had wat- the thought immediately cut off as the small barry hit  her between the eyes and burst. The pink juice immediately marked her head. 

She would try to wipe the dark liquid from her head for a moment before finally looking at Captain. As she realized who it was her anger started to surge again. She was already mad at him and now he comes to point out the obvious. Her eyes would narrow as she didn't owe him an explanation for her actions. Though it was confirmed he was watching and probably could have simply summoned yeva and her if he actually wanted to. He had used the doors in the past. But no, he sent her looking and now he is here judging her.

As Captain Kynne looked at her he would notice she was once again on the extra skinny side. She had not slept in days. A few new scrapes and scratches could be seen along with the drying mud from her recent fall. Pink stained her hands and mouth indicating she ate them like candy. Not to mention the pink splatter on her head but that was his fault. Her face indicated she was not in a happy mood to see him and she honestly thought about stinging him. 

“I was hungry. I saw birds eating and thought it safe. How was I to know it would dry me out. You're right. I'm a fish out of water. And if I had water the berries would be fine. And i highly doubt you showed up to bring me water. I'm a fish you sent to land to find someone who somehow isn't out here.” She said not caring to look at the coin. She was upset. She felt she was sent on a goose chase. It felt worse than being left behind; it felt more like being sent away. ”you know what, sure why not make a wager.” she Finally said. Why not? What was the worst that could happen? What did she have to lose? Thought to counter that what did he have to gain. With the rules, regulations, tax and other bs stuff back home it was highly unlikely she would be able to get her ship back. Her family don't like her and most likely Thought she was dead. Fluff left her. 

Her eyes would start to water as those thoughts crossed her mind.

[Talisman]

"You wanted to help," Captain Kynne reminded her. "And no one ever said it would be easy. The task I gave you could be and an be completed, and big risks bring big rewards, girl. But wandering around in the middle of nowhere and getting further and further from the trappings of civilization and those who might be able to guide you... you are the one who made your own odds worse. That's on you."

He casually tossed the coin that had been flipping between his fingers, catching it on his palm and looked at it. There was no point in beating a dead horse, or in this case, a dying sea slug. She'd made choices that put herself on a time limit, and now she was going to need to come to terms with that. The only person who could help her, who might have the faintest inclination to do so, had shown up to be railed at by the young Rathari. Actions had consequences, no matter their age and mentality. And he wasn't inclined to tolerate or accept blatant and repeated disrespect from a fool.

But the Captain did love a wager, and he always fancied a bet. Of course, it could go either way for her, but sometimes life required a leap of faith. At this point, she had nothing else to lose, because she was already dehydrated and getting worse as time ticked by. But the coin seemed to determine something as he went back to rolling it between his fingers as he regarded her. "For a drink that might save your life... answer me this, Kaiko."

While she may have been a sea slug Rathari, she had been out of water for quite some time now, and the purple berries had served so far to help hasten that dehydration. She felt like she was getting colder, like she couldn't quite get warm, and she was having trouble seeing much more than what was directly in front of her. If she attempted to change her focus, she would feel dizzy, like the world was spinning under her. Whether she knew it or not, she was closing in on unconsciousness.

His voice seemed to echo all around her, even as she could have sworn his lips did not move. "Without me, you are blinded. With me, you are blind. What am I?" His expression was neutral, his unblinking eyes on her as the coin continued to roll, relaxed and constant in its movements. There were no promises to get her out of this pickle she'd gotten herself into, only a chance. And it depended on her.

!	Message from: Talisman
	As per your roll of 1, Kaiko is on the verge of unconsciousness from her dehydration, and has scant minutes at best before she passes out.

[Kaiko Marina]

Kaiko would look at the captain at first, her expression remaining of anger. His words cut like a knife. She had come knowing the chance of death was great. She came expecting nothing in return for whatever work laid ahaid on this adventure. She had however thought that she may somehow have helped the ship by now or at least been of some use. Seems she had been most useless in all the endeavors so far. She had been so lost since the beach. No, she had been lost since… sence her uncle passed away. Her expression would change to one of sadness and thought as she considered his words. ”I wanted to help a ship reach home and I still do.” she had to focus on the words and had to focus on breathing. The dryer her mouth became the harder it was to talk. ”but im useless on land”


Was this her fault? Was this all her fault? Was Yeva back at the port and Kaiko just two happy to be given a task to actually do it properly? Was she wrong to trust someone with wings to help her along the way? Was her mistake following a map to the hills of deception or was it farther back than this. Was there anywhere else to look? Was she actually looking anymore or simply lost? The more she thought the more worthless she felt. Did any of it matter anymore? 


It was becoming rather apparent that she was dieing. Everything in her felt dry. Everything in her begged for water, screamed for it. This new dryness hurt far worse than the time her skin and lungs burned as she drowned in freshwater. She was so dizzy she used her staff to stay standing as she focused on his words. She tried to look strong and tried to stand straight. But despite her effort it was a losing battle. Everything was blurry but the captain. She did, however, hear the question. A riddle for a possible drink. With the last of her energy thought about the answer. An easy answer. “darkness” She answered. Before collapsing to her knees. Her world began to spin worse. Her head hurt and her sight was fading. It would not be long before she did pass out. Staff still in hand she would fall to her side. The hat falling off. Her life was fading. But the question remained. Did the captain care to help? Was the answer anywhere near right? Or would the young Rathari die of dehydration, on land so far from sea? So far from home? And worse yet would anyone living care of her passing? Would uncle skip be waiting on the other side proud that she tried or disappointed that she failed. 

[Talisman]

His face didn't seem to change much when she gave her answer to him, as the redheaded man eyed her, watching as she dropped to her knees. Everything was hurting, from her toes to her head, and concentration was proving difficult. "Well, close enough. You did answer it truly, so you get a drink, girl." He had been expecting 'shadows', but 'darkness' did solve the riddle, and they were two sides of the same coin. She had won this little wager for the time being, at least.

A water skin was in front of her. Maybe it had been there before, and she just hadn't noticed it until she had hit the ground. But what she would find was that while it was indeed full of liquid... and she gotten vinegar. Strong, plain vinegar. It tasted terrible, sour and acidic, and it burned going down, but the choice was hers. But desperate times called for desperate measures. He wasn't inclined to tolerate the teenager's toddler tantrums, and while he would keep his word by giving her something to drink, it didn't have to be pleasant. And this time, it certainly would not be. But it was there, and she could drink and help deal with her dehydration, or just suffer. If she drank the whole skin, it might well have some unpleasant effects later, but the choice was hers. She could hopefully stop the self-inflicted dehydration and endure while it was going down but ultimately have some fluids in her, or refuse that and likely pass out.

And considering her actions earlier, if she passed out, it was looking exceedingly likely that she was going to just become some sushi for the wildlife up here.

"You've had enough, I imagine. Done enough, or in your case, didn't do enough.... This just is not in your wheelhouse. Whether it's because you lack the experience and capacity, not just for critical thinking but cause and effect... who knows. Some just aren't meant to be adventurers. Success usually follows experience. We'll see if you've figured any out," Captain Kynne approached her, picking up his hat and flicking some dust off with his fingers before putting it back on his head. "Considering your effort in attempted service to the Duck, you'll live for today. You're relieved of your task."

The Captain flipped a coin, looked at it, and rolled it between his fingers before it vanished. "Go." A portal opened before her, and through it, she saw a rather familiar looking boat stuck at the docks, something she hadn't seen in many a moon.

Her own boat!

She could take the portal to the Imperium, it seemed, and live to fight another day. At least she might be a little closer at getting home... or getting back to where she wanted to be. But if she tried to crawl towards the portal without drinking much of the vinegar... the portal would seem to be the same distance away, no matter how much she moved towards it.

[Kaiko Marina]

Kaiko would take the water skin. Without hesitation she opened the top and went bottoms up. Only to find more pain as it filled her mouth and went down her throat. The second she realized what it was her head would tilt down giving a few coughs yet somehow not spilling the contents. She would push herself into a sitting position. ”Vinegar is poison” she coughed. It seemed her current way of death was not amusing enough to the captain. It was not the first time the terrible liquid had passed her lips to burn her throat. ”you promised lifesaving Liquid” she would cough again.

She would look at him though it was hard to comprehend the words. She needed a clear mind. She needed to focus. But it was such an evasive task at the moment. What little she did comprehend was pointedly offensive. But the icing on top was this trick he was trying to play by opening a portal home. One that seemed to not welcome her. One that showed her ship. How cruel could a person be? She would flinch when he approached not knowing what to expect as he had proven to enjoy ‘kicking a dog when it was down.’ When he didn’t hurt her, she would look back at him then back at her ship. It was so close.

She would close her eyes knowing that what she was about to do would hurt in more ways than one. She mouthed something almost like a prayer to her ship before taking the water skin. Like the captain said way back when they first met, pain was a better wakeup call than coffee. She would close her mouth and pour some of the vinegar on the newest cuts on her arm. It would burn as she knew it would. Though it would also clear her mind a little. Captain was close enough to sting and she really did want to but also knew it would not bring any positive effects on either end. Instead, she would look at him choosing her words carefully as she decided to play his favorite game of verse in hopes her words may actually reach him since he was being rather cruel, and she didn't understand why.

“Voice me this Captain.
In where i went wrong,
Not once was i slacken
Although thirsting so long
Grace never given
And suffer prolong
Reward water i’m askin”

It was a rhyme set to the base word Vinegar. Basically, asking why he was punishing her, what she did wrong and asking for water. A drink she thought answering the riddle earned. But the ability to focus was fading again. Not that it was fully there. As of the portal she found no use in it seeing it as another trick for him to use. If she died, so be it. If she lived, she would get her ship back on her own. But her ship was step 4. For now, survive was the first step and most important.

[Talisman]

"No one taught you your P's and Q's, did they? Vinegar is not poison, not in that quantity. Woke you up, though, didn't it?" the redheaded Captain said wryly, adjusting his hat. He apparently intended to reclaim it, severing that connection for her for the Duck. "I said it 'may' save your life if you solved the riddle. I didn't promise you it would be rum or water. I fulfilled my part of the wager, girl."

He wasn't one to tolerate disrespectful fools, and he had given her plenty of leniency for her temper and slights. Turnabout was fair play, but apparently, she didn't like that. Unfortunately for her... that wasn't his problem. One might get away with being a brat if they were at the same level, of if they'd earned the privilege, but since she was far from either of those two conditions.

He could see through what she was doing and why she attempted that tactic of appeasement, but with her tantrum, he wasn't in the mood. Kynne just raised an eyebrow at her attempt at rhyming. All things considered, he couldn't be surprised that she bombed the spelling of 'vinegar' in her lyrical struggle. It went back to what he had said to her earlier. "Ignorance is bliss, isn't it?" He remarked without a trace of irony in his voice. She clearly didn't see any fault in her actions, and if she did, she wasn't owning it. That, to him, spoke volumes about her self-awareness and character.

"Must be hard for you to swallow something that comes across like you do. You want water, drink your fill from the skin, and go through the portal to your boat." Might be she'd learn a lesson, but he wasn't counting on it.

!	Message from: Talisman
	If she drinks one cup of the vinegar from the skin, she will be able to go through the portal.

[Kaiko Marina]

Kaiko would look at him. Though what was surprising was now simply disappointment. She would look back at the portal and back at the skin. She was no longer surprised at his actions or his words. He fully faulted her for his reactions. Did she really come across like vinegar, when she was once but a song? She really wasn't a brat. She was just so tired of being alone. Tired of searching for someone who simply vanished. Tired of being hurt. Tired of being hunted and tired of being tired. Now she was tired of being tormented by the captain. Shaky she would put the water skin back to her lips and drink despite the burn. She would drink as much as she could before going back into a coughing fit.

“You don't like the words i spoke to you” she said finally getting why he was so moody but at this point she didn’t care. The voice was almost kind despite the words she would say. “But they are true, I have asked for help before now and received none. I was nearly eaten by wolves, and you did not show up. Nearly killed by a bird and there was no trace of help. I requested something to heal the cuts but was given nothing. You fault me for leaving the city though the only lead I had said she was at the hills. And when I finally get there, I am told she went to a village, but she never made it to the village.” she said, taking another swig. “But you show up as I fade only to punish me for some words you don't like. You help by giving one of the worst rewards you can think of, and only because I, with a fading mind, answered your riddle. If i had gotten it wrong you would have simply left me here to die, and the portal avoids me like a disease” she said, finding her staff and trying to stand.

She of course would fail and fall back to the ground. She would give a huff as she worked her limbs back under herself to once again sit. She didn’t look at him as she carefully worked herself back to her feet. She would take a step towards the portal before looking back towards the woods. She did not trust the caption anymore. She also doubted that the portal wasn’t a trap, but anything was better than dying here. She would look back at the portal before half stepping and half falling into it.

[Talisman]

Captain Kynne did not address her comments and complaints, his hat back on his head. At some point, she needed to take responsibility for putting herself in these predicaments. He had never said she had to go on her own; it might have been far smarter, considering her lack of skills and knowledge of the area, to find others that were familiar with it and had the skills to navigate and survive in this sort of environment. And either had adequate supplies or a knowledge of botany that included what foods were and were not safe to forage for out here.

But she didn't, and that was on her.

Vinegar was far from the worst thing he could think of; if anything it helped her regain some focus and would help with her wounds when she was on the verge of passing out. And clearly it had given her enough to go off of. Instead, he simply watched her. "Go." He told her, as she went through the portal.

She would land with a splash in the waters of the Imperium, where she had left her boat at the docks. The portal closed behind her, leaving her there to contend with the staff of the marina where she had left her boat docked when she had gone through a strange door over a year ago.

!	Message from: Talisman
	You will want to reach out to Mirage about starting a thread with regards to handling the soul-crushing bureaucracy of the Imperium with the matters of getting your boat back. Captain Kynne will not be involved with her in the future - she is officially off of the Expedition.