"It might be wise to bring emergency supplies in case we can't find
things, but I think we'd be okay since it's just for a day." Agathe
commented before returning to her bowl.
Sasha grinnedfinishing her breakfast. She figured a canteen of
water each and a basket of food would be the best bet. Maybe a
knife in case the need it but not much more. After putting things
away, she returned to the table. "Would you like to wash these
bowls while I pack us some food anf water? Then we can set out."
"I would love to do that." Agathe had finished already so she stood
right up and took her bowl asking Shaye to guide her to the sink
where Sasha had put the dishes. He flew over to her shoulder and he
spoke to her in quiet chirps and brought her right over to the
spot. She got to work using his eyes as her own to take hold of
things, but the cleaning was all her. She was able to feel once
something had lost its stickiness, and when the particles of food
had been removed.
Shasha grabbed a cloth bag, one with a strap she could tie around
her waist and let the actual pack rest on the top of her tail while
she moved. It gave her more range of motion then a backpack or
messenger bag. And she could wear both, if she ever needed to. She
packed Agathe a backpack, figuring the woman would appriciate
having her own meal to snack on when she chose. Peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches, apples slices, some crackers and cheese, and a
metal canteen of water for each was packed up and Sasha was just
tying her bag around her waist and getting it settled as Agathe and
Shaye finished. "I hope you don't mind I packed you your own bag of
food, Agathe. That way we can snack on it when we want and we each
have a canteen of water so we can drink whenever we want too. I
didn't want you to have to feel dependant on me because you are an
independent and capable woman."
Agathe chuckled as she dried her hands. "Thank you, that's very
thoughtful of you. I don't know if you truly understand how much
this means to me..." She walked over to Sasha with the guidance of
Shaye to retrieve her bag. "Is there anything else you wanted to
grab? I mean, this stuff isn't going to get used unless we can't
find animals to help us..."
Sasha nodded. "True. But better to be prepared just in case. I keep
a dagger with me in case of attack but mostly I use it for cutting
things if I need to. I think I am all set." Excitement hummed in
her veins despite thoughts of stray warriors coming to the island.
It had been long enough to expect someone to attempt it. Athena had
spread enough stories and rumours from the little information she
had gathered when previous attackers mumbled to themselves. Or
gloated. Many seemed to take delight in telling her about how they
were going to end her rein of terror. Rein if terror? Who did she
rule over? The statues? They terrified her more then she did them.
"Well then, let's head off." Shaye flew down the hall and outside,
Agathe running close behind. His chirps kept her from running into
anything or tripping. Before they got into the trees, Agathe
stopped to make sure that Sasha was with her. She planned to travel
quickly to get further out and from there they could take their
time coming back.
Sasha laughed, startled as she watched them run. Then she lowered
herself, using more of her stomach and thighs as part of her tail
so she could race after them. Typcially, she kept herself about
average height so she appeared more human and used the rest of her
tail to move. But if she wanted to, she could lower herself all the
way to the ground and use her long, musclular form to dart here and
there. "Right behind you!" She called when she spotted Agathe
pause. "Don't worry, I am not lost. Not yet, anyway," she giggled.
"We probably venture to places I haven't been before or haven't
been to in a long time."
"Exploring new places is fun. I was thinking we'd go deep into the
woods so that it's all new for the both of us." Agathe commented
before she took off again, Shaye's chirps guiding her feet swiftly
over the terrain.
Sasha kept pace, happy to be doing something fun and normal.
Feeling safe and at ease in a way she hadn't felt since before she
shifted and her mother was there. Taking a deep breath, she lived
in the moment and raced Agathe and Shaye.
After a period of running Agathe came to a stop at the base of a
large tree. "I think that's far enough... Do you recognize
anything?" She asked between deep breaths as she calmed her
starving lungs. Shaye perched himself on a low hanging branch to
stay nearby.
"Perfect." Agathe commented before taking a long slow breath to get
her breathing back on track. "Oh, I had meant to ask, how long do
you want to stay out here for? Because if we want to stay out here
longer than just the day we'll need to find or make a shelter and
that should be the second thing to do after we find a source of
fresh water."
"I don't mind staying out over night. Whatever feels good works for
me," Sasha replied, looking around. She took a swig from her
canteen, looking up at the sky.
Agathe took a deep breath and nodded. "Tonight should be fair
weather. Not too cold or wet." She tilted her head one side to the
other and a small crack came from the top of her spine. "Now, do we
want to build a shelter or should we try to find one? Let's think
about that as we look for our source of fresh water." She took a
smaller breath and held it as she listened for the voices of the
forest. She could hear the occasional high pitched voices of the
very small insects, but she wouldn't be able to communicate with
them.
"Finding a spot will be easier. And we can always adapt it to our
needs. So I wouldn't toss aside a good spot. But I am not oppose to
building one either," Sasha said, lookijg around for any source of
fresh water.
"Y-you have a point." Agathe realized she was planning for longer
than just a one night stay. That's what she'd been used to. Setting
up an almost permanent camp that needed to be close to her
resources. "Do you see anything?"
"Right now? Just white, fluffy clouds. No stone structure at the
moment but we'll find it. I think there is a river this way." Using
her affinity for water, she began to lead the way. Ten minutes
later, they came across a fresh water stream.
As they walked, Agathe explained her previous focus on making
shelter by the water source. "Hmm, the ground feels somewhat soft
here, so we might want to consider moving a little further from the
bank..."