Snippet #1531529

"N-no. No, no, no, no." Ira had stuttered definitly getting the wrong idea stuck in his head.
"Please I'm flattered, I am truly but I-I just can't." Ira had said, backing himself against the wall trying to find the proper door out.

The man's eyes were wide with panic as he looked about and she could hear his heart thumping from across the room. He acted as if he were prey being hunted which probably would be understandable since one of her hunters had shot him in the back but still....

"Well, maybe. No! But I don't mean that in a bad way, after all but I just don't know you and where are my robes?" Ira had asked in a panic looking for the top half of his clothing around him before grabbing the white and bronze ceremonial robes that had been layed out.
"I'm only putting these on because I am unable to find my robes..." Ira had said sheepishly as he wore the suprisingly soft material.

His continued babbling caused Asteria to arch her brow briefly, a slight look of confusion upon her face. Why is he so angry about the robes? Does clothing offend his people? she pondered for a moment then gave a quick shake of her head, quickly dismissing her own idea. It shouldn't... He was wearing other robes before the healer tended him. Perhaps it is the color? The cloth itself? Standing up, the young ranger looked upon the man as if he were delusional, a hand extended ahead of her with her palm out as she tried to calm the man. Instead, his voice lowered as he kept talking.

"It's not you, it's just I'm not ready for this...kind of commitment." The man had said quietly as he awaited the response of the woman.

Confusion once more quirked her lips as she stared at the man, then her eyes widened in realization. She had seen the ceremonies of the townsfolk only once. They seemed a somber people, only prone to celebrate when their religion recognized a union between two of their people. One time during her visit to a nearby town for trade, she had seen a man and woman exiting a holy temple dressed in rich fabrics as they left the building, smiling happily at one another and she had to ask a townsperson why everyone was applauding their departure.

As the realization of his misinterpretation hit her, she suddenly burst into laughter. It was a soft, melodic sound and she pressed her right hand across her torso to the ribs on her left side.

"No, no. You misunderstand, human...." another light bout of laughter followed until she was almost crying. "These..." she paused, motioning to their robes, "Are ceremonial gowns, yes but not for what you think." Her gaze levelled onto the man for a moment as she debated within her own mind how much to tell the poor man now. She didn't want to overwhelm him or send him screaming especially if he was supposedly sent here by the Gods as their elder expected.

"First, I will introduce myself. I am Asteria, Senior Hunter of the clan Arik'ato here in the Aerire forests. We are a clan of dragonborns, human, and my elder believes that you have been sent here to aid us with a task." Her clear eyes met his as she awaited a response, any response.

"Tonight we are celebrating a journey that I have to start tomorrow. It is for good fortune, you see. I have never before left my clan for more than a week and...." she looked away for a moment, deciding not to speak of her quest quite so soon. "Well, let us just say that this particular task shall take longer than that."