Shaziri hummed, "Well, that's a start, I guess."
She sat rapping her fingers against the tabletop for a moment, lost in thought. After a long, awkward pause, she snapped her gaze back to Sandra and grinned, "So where do I find your friend?"
Sandra thought for a moment. “It’s entirely possible he’s at sea or on the mainland. If he’s in Chasan, he’d probably be in Spallock. He lives here, but I haven’t seen him around.”
Shaziri tilted her head, "Those names currently mean nothing to me. What I could really use is a map. And food," she added under her breath, "As well as quite a few other supplies…"
She sighed. She hated the thought of having to borrow supplies from a stranger she just met, but she couldn't help it at the moment. She wondered if there was a way she could pay her back later somehow..?
“I don’t have a map. I’ll take you if you want, i I’ve been meaning to get some herbs there anyway.”
"That'd be great, actually," the woman grinned. She brushed crumbs off her lap and stood, stretching her limbs, which were still sore from her fall through the portal. Her back popped, and she sighed, "So when do we start?"
“Probably tomorrow,” Sandra said, clearing dishes. “My mentor won’t be back until morning, so you can stay here tonight. I’ll let her know when she gets back that I’m traveling.” She gestured to the living room. “we don’t have a guest room, but you can sleep on the floor or bench if you want. I can get some cushions and blankets. You’d just have to be out before Margaret gets back and we’ll go.”
“The floor is fine,” Shaziri shrugged, “And getting out in the morning won’t be a problem; I’m an early riser, anyway.”
Sandra nodded and got a few cushions and a blanket. “I’m going to bed soon, there’s a wash house out back if you want, I’ll let you get settled.”
Shaziri gave a low hum in response. As Sandra readied her pallet, the woman cleared her dishes before wandering outside. She paused just outside the doorway and squinted at the darkening sky. For a moment, she allowed all of the swirling emotions she had been hiding to bubble up. A lump formed in her throat, but she didn't cry. She hadn't cried in years.
Sheasa, she thought despairingly, I'm so far from home… how long until they start to miss me?
She often disappeared for hours on end; she liked being alone, and the others respected that. But she was usually good about returning in the evenings, so hopefully they would notice soon.
Nivian will be the first to realize, she thought with a faint smirk and a chuckle. The guy was sweet, in his own awkward way, and he cared about everyone so much. Her smile faded as she realized how worried he was going to be… She had to get back to them as soon as possible.
“Okay, it’s all set…” Her sentence died off as she poked her head out and saw Shay looking close tears. “Are- are you okay?” She asked awkwardly.
Shaziri jumped and whirled around, her hand on her daggers before she realized what she was doing. Her hand was off just as quickly, and she relaxed as she gave Sandra an easy smile, "Just fine, thanks. Where'd you say the wash house was again?"
“Out around back…” she answered skeptically. “I’ll uh… I’ll get you a towel.”
Sandra went to their dresser and grabbed their spare towel. “Almost wish Owen was here,” she muttered. He was always better with emotions than she was. He could probably help Shay.
She hoped that he would know of a way to get her home too. She sort of doubted it- he would have excitedly told her everything if he’d found something like that- but still.
“You better be in Spallock, Try-Hard.”
She brought the towel back out to Shay, still muttering to herself.
"Thanks!" Shaziri said cheerfully, whipping the towel out of Sandra's hands, "Back in a flash."
Then she hurried away to the wash room, where she could hopefully brood (and maybe cry) in peace.
next morning
Sandra woke up early to get ready for Margaret’s return. She knew her mentor wouldn’t care that she was traveling; in fact, she’d be excited that it was to see Owen.
She put a pot of water on the stove for some oatmeal and coffee. “I’ll show you where to wait for me after breakfast,” she told Shay.