Rain. It just had to be rain of all things!

Viridis thumped her staff against the ground as the weather turned even nastier than it had been before. She was grateful her father had insisted she wear a waterproof cloak; at the very least it meant her head was dry, though she couldn't quite say the same for her poor feet. Worn leather boots might have been comfortable, but their resistance to mud and muck had been sorely tested to the limits that evening.

Her donkey, laden with carefuly covered packs, followed along dutifully. If not for the weather, the chancy terrain, Viridis would have been riding Gusty instead of holding the reins and guiding the animal. It simply couldn't be risked. The books in those packs were too valuable to be trusted to an overbudened donkey, though Gusty was the very best even if she did look a bit worse for wear. Gusty was also the very steadiest of creatures, not even flinching when lightning flashed or thunder boomed.

Reliefe flooded the obsidian haired woman when she noticed another figure on the path, and beyond them an inn. She picked up the pace, and soon after finding some space for her animal, Virids found herself standing behind a barely clothed young man.

Spring green eyes flashing, she whisked her cloak off and wrapped it around the shivering stranger. "What possessed you, going outside in clothes like these?" Gently chiding, she tried to encourage the paled haired youth deeper into the comforting warmth of the inn. "Now, why don't we both settle down at a table. I'll pay for your meal, if you'll let me, and we can have a nice chat." Probably about the kind of situation that would drive anyone outside with barely any clothing to their name.

Hopefully she would be able to do something to help, thought Viridis. Soon after, she wondered if the innkeeper was even still awake.