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They had been walking for a few hours, their biggest past-time as of late when they weren’t fighting goblins or self-important busy-bodies. Ikaryas had fallen to the front again, as if he knew where they were going, Karlach settling into step next to him with a “Can’t have you running headfirst into an ambush all on your lonesome, soldier”. Needless to say, Ikaryas had been enjoying some wonderful company. Conversation moved easy, even if Karlach carried the majority of it through her delightful anecdotes and fun hijinks. Every once in a while, the pair fell into comfortable silence, though Karlach never truly stayed quiet, swinging her arms about, swishing her tail or humming a little tune under her breath. A small smile had gotten stuck on Ikaryas’ lips early on which refused to vanish as he listened to the large Tiefling woman whistling along with the faint calling of the birds.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself”, he remarked, careful to keep his voice free of mocking. “Like you wouldn’t believe”, Karlach shook her head, her smile brightening as the birdsong grew louder, “Been forever since I’ve been anywhere this beautiful. Damn peaceful too!” “Certainly more peaceful than the hells”, Ikaryas acquiesced. “For sure! I mean look at it! It’s been a decade since I’ve seen some trees and grass. Not to mention the sky, man what a view.” Her voice clammed up at the end and Ikaryas did his best to keep walking as she tilted up her head and tried to choke back a tear.
“Silly, isn’t it? The gruesome fighting machine of Avernus, tearing up over some clouds.” “I believe”, Ikaryas turned to face her, “that Karlach has reason enough to be a bit silly.” The others were far enough behind to not notice the little outburst so if Ikaryas settled a bit closer to her, who was to judge? “To be entire honest? I cried the first night out here.” Now Karlach’s eyes fell on him curiously. Ikaryas simply shrugged, “I hadn’t seen the night sky in 120 years. It’s…a lot, once you start looking, isn’t it?” Karlach silently nodded along, her figure for once subdued, thoughtful. “I thought the Feywild was all nature and stuff?” Ikaryas ruminated his brain for a proper explanation. It was odd, describing it to others.
“Have you ever seen those oil paintings of pretty landscapes? Those big, fancy ones that the nobles hang up in their sitting rooms and preen over? That’s kind of it. Lush green grass, cool clean waterfalls joining deep pools of water crowned by smooth rock and the sky painted a constant faint pink. The animals are timid and quiet, not a single blade of grass is out of place, no rock sharper than intended and no pebbles or sticks lying about. You don’t get dirty even if you roll around in the gras all day, you never feel a particular hunger or thirst or exhaustion. It looks nice but…our minds are not made to perceive such perfection. We’re used to imperfections, no matter how inconsequential they may seem to us. I became numb to the sight eventually, so I wouldn’t turn mad at the impossibility of it all. I felt numb…all of the time, really. At some point I thought I’d gone blind and the sight before me had simply burned itself into my brain.” He shook himself out of his musings as he recalled who he was talking to. “It is hardly the same, I know but…I suppose I do get it, somewhat.”
Karlach’s tail lightly thumped against his boot. “Damn, that’s a whole load of crap, right there”, she huffed out, “Looks like we’re stuck with the same bullshit, huh?” Her eyes were drowning in sorrow but her smile started to quip up into a hopeful smile again. “I guess we’ll just have to enjoy more mediocre nature together, then”, he suggested with a sly grin, thankfully eliciting a bright laugh from Karlach. “Sure thing, buddy. What’s your opinion on flowers?” “Rather high”, and then he surprised himself, “I like to press them, when I have the time.” Good to know, he supposed, though where the notion had come from, he could not tell.
“The I guess we better keep our eyes out for some pretty ones.”