Her eyes widened, this human knew what was attacking her tribe! She was happy and cautious at the same time. "Yes yes! those are the beasts!" then she had a thought "How is it you have come to know of them?" she gripped her steel spear tighter, in case she didn't like his answer... then she thought how could this little creature be in league with these 'Dino-saurs'? He is not even of their kind her expression softened a little, however she still wanted an explanation.
Riley cringed, their conversation feeling more like an interrogation on his part more than a friendly exchange of words. "Well... I've just heard about them. Everyone knows about the dinosaurs. At least, all humans do," Riley said lamely. It was partially true.
"But," he continued cautiously. "They're not really... beasts. I know they attacked your village, but something must have provoked them or scared them," Riley muttered.
"No!" she said "Not provoked! Night after night they take my people away!" she said ramming the blunt end of her spear into the ground. Her eyes flared like fire and her fangs were bared as she cursed "I will find their pack and kill them so they no come back!" She had stopped talking Riley and was more talking to the dinosaurs as if they could hear her curses on the wind.
Suddenly she realized that she had lost her temper in front of this human. Her ears went back and she felt a little embarrassed. She held her right arm with her left hand "Um, sorry about that..."
Riley let out a shameful noise in between a squeak and a yelp and jumped back skillfully, staring in horror at the angered tribeswoman. He ripped his dagger out and held it defensively in front of his face. Riley's eyes shined with cowardice and he shook slightly, but tried to remain in control.
Thankfully, Riley peaked out from behind his defensive stance to find that the girl had calmed down a bit and was apologizing to him. Riley still shook and clung to his dagger but nodded wearily at the girl, completely flushed. He felt as though his heart had stopped from the abrupt anger of the stronger.
"It's f-fine," Riley squeaked quietly. "Maybe there are some bad dinosaurs out there," he said in a poor attempt to make her less angry.
She nodded "yes, bad dinosaurs... as you call them." she re-composed herself and looked back at the city "If humans know of the dinosaurs, then perhaps they can tell me where their breeding grounds are." she eyed the dagger in the human's hand "Are you a warrior?"
Riley exhaled deeply, thankful that he was going to live. "I don't know where they live," he replied. The last thing he wanted was Cora dragging him on a suicide mission straight to their home base for a lost and violent cause that the dinosaurs did not deserve. "Sorry."
"I... guess I'm a warrior," Riley said slowly. "I can fight. Mostly, I know about creatures' weaknesses and how to kill them easily."
Riley's wide eyes trailed over Cora's massive spear again. Maybe it would be good having her around. Riley just didn't like the fact that she wanted to kill the dinosaurs rather than to save them.
"Have they more weaknesses?" she asked. As a huntress she was able to find the weak points of these creatures fairly easily. However, if there were more or easier ways to kill them she would not be opposed to knowing. but, something else was bothering her...
"Are the males or females more warriors in your village Riley?"
"Of course. Everything does," Riley snapped, speech coming out a bit harsher than he had intended. Riley averted his eyes slightly, realizing what he had said. This tribeswoman was obviously ready to see blood spill. Dinosaur blood. It made him dizzy.
"Well," Riley started. "I haven't actually been inside of Santop in years. But when I lived there the warriors were mostly male. I think."
"I see" Cora replied. The answer didn't give her one hundred percent assurance, but she was pretty sure now "So you were a warrior back then too?" she asked in an unsure tone, she hoped he wouldn't catch on to her real question, as to avoid any other embarrassments.
"Heavens, no," Riley said with a faint smile, trying to picture himself as a big, muscular warrior. He remained oblivious to Cora's careful questioning of his gender. "I could never be a warrior," he murmured bitterly.
Caroline sighed. She had already walked at a human pace for about and hour, and Santop and it's people were out of sight. She felt she could speed up to a speed that was normal for her kind. A speed much faster than normal humans. She reached her hand into a secret pocket of her skirt, retrieving a small map. She stopped for a moment, and opened it up taking a look. "first stop, Ritdos. Look for any information, then continue from there." she said softly. She put the map back, and the took off at a werewolf speed of about 80 mph, her eyes scanning everything as she went past. After about half an hour, she spotted a form up ahead, and slowed down to a human pace again, unsure of what he was yet. As she got closer though, she recognized the familiar smell of human, and was glad that she had slowed down.
drat! she thought Im right back to where I started with this kid! This just isn't worth it "Hey! So are you a male or female anyway?" she finally blurted out frustrated.
Riley was completely thrown off guard by the girl's bluntness. He resisted the burning urge to get mad at her out of their huge difference in stregnth. Riley felt his face grow as red as his hair. "I'm a guy," he said defensively, trying not to show too much anger. Sheesh, is it really that hard to tell? Riley thought, somewhat offended. He again, resisted the urge to make a comeback that would probably end up getting himself killed.
She sighed in relief "Really sorry about that, but im not around humans that often so it can be hard to guess. Now I know so you won't bug me so much" she meant 'so it won't bug me so much, but even at her mastery of the English language she was bound to slip up no and then. "I should be going then." she said, looking serious again "I will find a place to stay and then ask these humans about the beasts. Thank you for your help."
Riley said nothing, feeling slightly better about himself since Cora really wasn't around humans much. Then again, he could tell right off the bat that she was a female. He tried to ignore the fact that she was annoyed with him.
Riley took a shallow breath in. "Ah Cora, wait," he started before she had time to leave. Not knowing how to word what he wanted to ask, Riley winged it. "Can I go with you? I'm also looking for a place to stay around here... and it would be wise if I didn't go alone," Riley said, referring to his mark. Then again, if the dinosaurs were attacking, then maybe the townspeople would praise him for having such an allegiance. He didn't want to risk it.
"Plus, I could be of help to you. I know my way around and I, er, know how to kill the dinosaurs..." he said slowly, mentally noting to give Cora the whole species and balances of nature speech later.
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