#anywhere

"At least you're dressed better" Earl kisses her forehead now that she's bundled up a bit more, though she refused to wear the coat that would have rendered her round as a boggan and as clusmsy as a selkie in Kansas

"I cannot find a yeti if I am a weeble."

"But they dont all down" Oh he is tickled "Hannah would love a picture of you in that"

"Hush!"

He manages a contrite look. How genuine is hard to say, "Yes, dear." Then "So off to find the yeti? Got any leads?"

"There is a mad hermit. I shall bring him tea and ask him."

As if this is th emost obvious thing in the world.

"Mad hermits are good." He nods, oddly not that phased. His beloved is a classicist in many ways, and mad hermits are often wise in the stories.

"Aye. He may be one of our own. Now, try to have fun today. I hope you solve that tree." A peck on the cheek.

"Thank you," He says and returns a kiss on her cheek, "hope you have fun."

"This trip has been most delightful!"

"Actually yes, even if I'm pretty sure the will workers suspect what we are. At least Nigel. He's.. versed. Not that the ladies are ignorant."

"Aye, but Nigel has manners. And serves an excellent tea, though I do miss proper cream..." Sigh.

"Actually, you might not" hes says "I got some cream when started here and left it out at a certain location. By now it should .. ah, more suited to your tastes? You can have it when you return if you like"

"It's my way of bribing you not to be gone too long" A sly look

"Oh, my clever, thoughtful Love!"

"And wry Hunter." A grin, and another kiss.

Returned, of course. And before he can entice her into other activities she deftly slips away.

And off Zara goes. It is, of course, quite cold. But the garb she got, while not the super duper arctic tundra stuff should protect her mortal side from the worst of it. And well, while not born if dreams of ice, her fae nature is born of cold waters, at least in part

The hermit would have to be mad to live not just on a mountain, but on a mountain slick with a very narrow path to reach it. No doubt people have died trying to ascend to the location over the years

Zara is a lithe little thing, even with the snowsuit.

Indeed, she even manages to find a step up and cut a few minutes off.

Nice!

time passes... and up she goes..

She feels glamour grow, and.. there's a chimera nearby, blended in so well even her senses might have trouble finding it due to some sort of hide rede.. but sluagh can see through that.

And the two headed three tailed blue eyed SNOW tiger readies to attack

"Namaste." She whispers, placing her hands before her, palms together, in a traditional greeting and show of respect.

"Well, she's mannerly" Says the left head, "I'll give her that. Namaste, Dinner"

"Oh stop humoring her, " The righthead says "It's cruel to make her think she's got a chance. Quick, clean, kill"

"I fear I would not be very tasty. Sluagh are spoilt meat already, you can smell it."

"Oh you shouldn't be so hard on yourself" The Left head says "It's rather exotic"

"Also we're not above eating carrion anyway. Tourist season is down," The right head says

"And there is bare enough of me to sate you both. I am but skin and bone." She pushes up a sleeve to show a scrawny arm.

"Well, I don't suppose you'd promise to fatten up and come back in six months?" The Left head says

"She's skinny, not stupid" The right head sighs

"I seek the Hermit. I have brought fine teas, perhaps he could be persuaded to warm some bowls of such to fill your stomach?"

"The hermit?" The Left head says

"Oh, that's what they call the.." THe right frowns , "Well, now we have to eat her"

She tilts her head. "Why?"

"I'm afraid so.." The Left says "It was nice meeting you. Don't bother telling us your name , it just makes feasting on you...awkward"

"Oh, you should know that at least. It is only polite."

"Well, for one thing, skin and bones or not, you're the first one to come up here in awhile besides himself" The right explains

"I am Zara Manynames. It was I who saved the Hydra from enslavement, and I who bested Nocturnus on Pennons. I do well understand the nature of chimera, you must needs follow your dream."

"Oh my goodness... she's got a back story," The Left head looks at the Right "you didn't tell me she had a back story AND a name"

"EVERYONE has a back story, you're doing it again," the right snaps at the left

"I fear I am not an NPC, aye."

"I may, indeed, be a protagonist."

"A protagonist, and what does that make us if we eat her?" the Left asks the right

"FED," The Right says testily "This is just like three years ago, when you let that damned pooka distract us by arguing while he slipped away"

"Villains, I am afraid."