Rose~

"Um... I'm not sure," Sybill says. I can tell she hadn't thought about it. "Albero could send us a map or something if I sent him a letter, or maybe we could ask a bird or something. After that... I don't know. Maybe we could go to a market or something." She has said 'or something' quite a few times.

"A market?" I ask.

"Well, I don't know. But we might find something interesting for sale or whatever." Aha. An alternative alternative.

"Is there an exact place you wish to go?"

"Not really. Maybe Albero will need us for something."

"Well, where would we go after that?"

"I dunno. We could decide when we get there. I guess it all depends on what happens."

We pause.

"Is there anywhere you want to go?"

I think about it. 

"South. To Mer. It is a trade city, if you remain partial to finding a market. We might easily find something of use there--certainly supplies, but perhaps information. There are inns and lodges, places to stay. But I would not like to stay for very long. I would like to find the organization named The Animals."

I wait for Sybill to digest this information. 

Sybill ~

"I've never of them before this either, Rose, "I say, taking a closer look at the poster," But...they might be able to help. "

"Help with what?"

" with us. Usually organizations have a healer or something, " I reply.

She looks at me. "You're right..."

"What do you think they'll be like?"

~~~ 

Rose~

Sybill smiles oddly. "You know, not everybody is evil."

"I know."

"Sometimes you act like everybody is plotting to murder you."

Maybe they are. I am a Nobyl, a deserter of the Resistance and a detractor of Catastrophe. My sister is dead, leaving me... changed, and I carry valuable items with no obvious protection. Many people could benefit from my death. They've tried to kill me before. It's the reason I fight.

Sybill taps my leg. "I think that they will be kind and happy to help."

I smile, more at her optimism than because I am cheered, and stand, semi-intentionally shedding the contact of her paw. "To Mer, then, and to the Animals."

"And maybe to Albero," Sybill reminds me.

"Perhaps," I cede. And I pick up my bag and go to continue preparations.

At supper, I can tell she's been thinking about it, and that her spirits have lifted. The next day, I present her with the question of how best to travel while ensuring the safety of her ribs, prepared to talk her down from overly ambitious schemes such as creating a flying machine or walking full-on.

~Ideas for a more detailed plan? Rose likes those. She's the kind of person who's always concerned with the technicalities and planning. I was wondering if we should have them make a sledge, like when they first came to Sybill's home, but there's no guarantee it would be a comfortable or practical ride, as the terrain is uneven and pulling one is a strain. Sybill might be able to walk part of the way, and Rose knows that, but she also knows that Sybill will be easily winded after days of inactivity and hard breathing or panting will be bad. My goal for what they'll do is to find the Animals leaderless (I think their previous leader, a flying fox bat named Alexander, was killed) and assume control themselves, subsequently becoming antagonists as we planned. Rose is just thinking "get a job working for them", of course. Her trajectory began with needing to get over her sister's death, but that's going to warp into lasting trauma and villainy. Doing things she'd never do, especially as Sybill (who she's sort of shoved into Lilly's place) influences her, directly and indirectly. 

It could probably work. Rose likely knows how to do that. My only question is that she can lift Sybill. I looked it up, and female wolves can weigh anything from 105 lbs to 165 lbs. Sybill is likely about 125 lbs to 135 lbs.