A Game of Cat and Mouse [Closed]

Lucinda had gotten used to the little voice that always walked beside her. It had been a month since Hikari moved on and stayed with Setsuna. Lucinda was happy for Hikari, but had to admit she missed the little one. It was nice having someone to talk to and look up to you the way Hikari had looked up to her. Now that Hikari was gone, Lucinda was alone and a familiar silence filled her days. With it in her mind to relax for a while, Lucinda traveled to one of the natural and untouched hot springs in the middle of the forest range just south of Velistal in Zakat. This was a place she had been a couple times before and luckily it still had not been taken over by anyone from Velistal. She knew it would one day. The moment it was found by anyone who saw its worth, she would lose it as her little secret hide out.

Lucinda removed her clothing and folded it up nicely, setting it off to the side where she could reach it quickly if needed. She set her lance on top of her clothes and then went into the water. Sliding a single foot in first, Lucinda slowly lowered herself into the warm water. It took a bit for her to get used to it. It had actually been a warm day today, but since the sun went down things cooled off quite a bit. There was also a cold breeze running through this section of the forest that made coming here a better idea for her. Once Lucinda was fully immersed in the warm water, she laid her head back on the rocks that made up the edge. She closed her eyes and relaxed, listening to the sounds of the forest around her.

"That kid is still loud..." Lucinda could hear him coming, but that isn't what made her recognize him. No. The breeze carried his scent straight to her. She kept silent and didn't move a muscle as he came closer. She could hear him getting closer and closer. She was easily able to guess his target as well. She first thought he might be being a young perverted kid who wanted to get a peek at a girl in a hot-spring. Nope, that was not the case. Instead, he was targeting her lance again. She mentally sighed and waited for him to get close enough. Once he did, all she had to do is turn over and she revealed herself to him. With a smile, she grabbed the lance and held it here. "If you want... I can give you a head start this time? Last time, you didn't really get a chance." Lucinda removed her hand from the lance and raised a bit, revealing her bust without a care, "You think you can get away this time?"

"I know I do. Can't really say it matte-..." Lucinda's expression dulled when he snatched the lance and just ran off. Lucinda sighed and shook her head. She stepped out of the water as she took in a deep breath, memorizing his scent. "Mm..." she licked her lips, her eyes flashing brightly for a small second. She picked up her clothes and began to dress. She hurried more than she normally would have when she noticed he had gotten faster, but she knew she could catch up. Even if she was slower, which she was not in anyway shape or form, the moment she had his scent, he was hers. Once she was dressed, she began chasing after him. He had left her sights for about five minutes before she finally caught up. "Hey! You've gotten faster since the last time I saw you. Nice job!" Lucinda said with a bit of cheer and pride in her voice, "So why don't you tell me your name? I don't remember if you had before. I'm Lucinda by the way!" She gave him a moment, "So why are you so obsessed with my lance?"

"Cal... You know, you don't have to steal from me to make that little goal of yours come true! Though, I gotta admit the random encounters have always been entertaining." Lucinda moved through the woods like a damn professional. Her ability do duck, jump, dodge, and avoid everything that they were running at was off the charts. Well, it would be in comparison to him. Her agile movements made things easy for her and her speed was obviously a factor in following him so easily. "So you like a challenge then?" Lucinda giggled and shook her head. He was an interesting one. "We-... Look ou-" she tried to warn him on time, but he went right over the edge. She slid to a stop and watched amused as he tumbled down the hill. Right as he was about to get to the bottom, she jumped into the air above him. As he asked her his questions, she landed in a bit of a heavy thud with her feet on either side of him. "Maybe." Lucinda sat down immediately on his back, rubbing her butt into his back and drilling him into the ground. She grabbed onto the lance in his hand and pulled it away. "I wander a lot, but mostly because I have nowhere to be... Had a travel companion for a while there, but..." Lucinda looked up to the sky a little dazed, "... she's moved on, so... I'm alone now. What about you?"

Lucinda giggled and leaned over as he glared at her. She placed a playful peck-kiss on his forehead and ruffled his hair a bit, but not much in case it would annoy him. "This lance isn't worth enough to get you all of that, Cal. You'll have to find something with much more impact in this world for that. Besides, you're also in Zakat; They wouldn't buy this for much. Arcane Item, remember?" Lucinda was enjoying their conversation. Her own loneliness had kind of taken over the past month. She was glad she ran into him. "Well, not really actually. She was very scared, very timid, but always sweet and caring. She had no confidence and I couldn't blame her... She was horribly scarred by her parents, to the point where she kept her hair long and used it to cover her face and half her body. If she wasn't doing that, she was wearing long sleeved shirts or a cloak to prevent people from seeing her."

"Oh, I should have chased you without re-dressing." Lucinda got off of him similarly to how someone got off a horse, by lifting one leg and then settling on his side. She, however, settled on her knees and placed the staff to her side and her hands in her lap. When he got up, she smiled in a strangely sweet manner and the look in her eyes was similar. It wasn't just happy, but almost hopeful and wishful. "So what are you going to do now? How come you travel so much if what you want in life is a nice house and a dog? This doesn't seem like what you should be doing if that's the route you're going for."

"Pretty much. It was this young kid that was as timid and scared as she was. Both had their reasons, they connected and ended up making each other better people. I'm glad she found him." Lucinda explained as she got off. She chuckled at his staring comment. "I can see it. I don't know why the female body is so distracting to people, especially men. It's nothing new, though I guess it can be special if the woman hasn't ever shown anyone, but that isn't me. Pretty positive I've been seen nude before, so... yeah." His answer was actually kind of expected. Lucinda could relate to a degree, but the goals he's explained up until now make that understandable. "So you were lost? That's actually kind of funny..." Lucinda raised an eyebrow and then shrugged, "I don't really have anywhere to be. Hikari is gone and I don't have any living relatives or friends, so no where in particular."

Lucinda raised an eyebrow at him. She was surprised at his offer. "Is that something you'd actually want? I mean, I don't mind it and would like to have a traveling companion, but... I don't know." Lucinda picked up her lance and stood up. She took a look around the area and a lost expression came on her face. She stuck the lance in the ground and pulled out a small sack of coins. "Here. Maybe this'll help you out." she said and handed him two platinum coins, seven gold, and 13 silver, "I don't really need it now that Hikari is gone. I'm keeping the bag because she made it for me, but you can have the money. Call it payment for not actually getting away with my weapon. It's been with me for years, so losing it so you can buy a house, dog, or food isn't on my list... As for traveling with you, I doubt you want a person like me around. It'll be more comfortable for you if I weren't in the picture."

"What, why?" Lucinda raised an eyebrow at him. He brought out her real lance and she just blinked a few times. She took the real one from him and then put the coins away. She didn't look mad or anything like that. She brought up the lance and popped him on the head with a gentle tap. "I've had this staff for many years, Cal. I know it like the back of my hand..." she sighed and shook her head, "Thank you for giving it back. I was hoping you would; I didn't want to fight you over it, because I would have." Lucinda stepped forward and hugged him, placing a small kiss on his cheek. "If you're sure... Know that I only travel at night though. Once day comes, I'm gonna find a place to camp." Lucinda said and began following him along. He was the one who insisted that she come along, so she would. "Also, I actually don't need the money. If we make it to a town, I'll pay for the inn and get you a good meal. What do you think about that? I think that's a good arrangement, don't you?"

Lucinda looked at him like she was asking whether he was serious. The runes on the ground were interesting, but also something she expected from a trickster or thief. It made her question whether she really wanted to travel with him or not. She decided quickly that she'd give him the benefit of the doubt and the two went on. She was silent for the most part, but when he asked for her to talk about herself, she thought for a moment while staring at the ground. "There is little to tell. I don't like talking about my past because I want to keep it there. It was a bad time that I never want to return to..." Lucinda explained and then took a deep breath, "Beyond that, I'm mostly quiet, travel all the time, do my best to help people, and go day by day with whatever life brings me..." Lucinda smiled and looked to him, "Sorry. I'm really not that interesting. I figure being around each other will teach more than talking. It will for me at least. I'm just a quiet traveler and prefer observing over asking."