Open Chronicles Something on the Steppes

[Azlat Ushus]

Azlat watched on with continued interest as the creature descended down towards the ground they stood upon. She remained cautious in wait of her arrival. Perhaps she'd been a bit hasty in stowing her bow. To draw it again would surely be seen as aggression, and Azlat was well aware of just how quickly conflict could escalate in these savage lands.

For the best to give Igni the benefit of doubt, there was a definite aura of magic about this one. Reassuring, that her direction had been towards Bhathairk, and not from it. When the creature touched down, Azlat strode forward a single step in cautious greeting. When Igni spoke, Azlat responded with slight shock. She wasn't surprised that Ingi had the ability to speak, so much as she was by the casual tone such a being regarded them by. Whoever she was, she appeared not the slightest bit hostile.

Which was a bit more than she could say for herself and Taayi, surrounded by the slain bodies of their former foes. She didn't really seem to have found the sight as beautiful as the two of them had.

“She speaks truth, the d̸ead are...were ass͞ailants.” Azlat asserted, glancing over the dead thieves again, herself. Appearances certainly seemed against her argument, but she did not hesitate to speak in support of her new friend. Azlat may have just met her, Though she did take care to be selective with her words, to avoid a repeat of the calamity she'd recently escaped. The truth might get her in trouble again, as it had before.

“Hig͠hwaymen, who tried to take and mess with magic they ought not.” Azlat continued, implying that the fate they suffered had been through misuse of illictly accessed magical items. Given that the ooze of the creatures matched the ooze from Taayi's hand, it appeared to be the best cover Azlat could provide. A connection would have to be left apparent between, lest the ruse fail beneath basic scrutiny.

Hopefully, Igni would either buy it, or raise no fuss. At least Azlat would have an ally at her side, in case she did.

 

[Igni Ymaranath Ythys]

Igni looked at Taayi's hands with disgust as they drooped downwards, and her children with suspicion. "And these younglings? What's... wrong... with them?"

Her snout flicked towards Azlat as she spoke, pink nose twitching, as if it could sense lies. Behind Igni her tail flicked back and forth across the grass.

“Hig͠hwaymen, who tried to take and mess with magic they ought not.”

"Evidently. I'm sure they regret messing with you at all," Igni said. Then with that there was a rush of magic that made Igni's fur stand on end - and the hairs of the two travellers, too. Igni's body seemed to weigh a little less heavily onto the ground for a moment and she stood up. Then the magic faded, and she appeared just as heavy as before. She waddled closer and sniffed. "Most peculiar," she said. Then she turned, taking a few steps towards the sundered and half-eaten bodies, and sniffed those too. She narrowed her purple eyes in disgust, then sat down on her rump, kneading at the grass with her forepaws.

"Most curious. You are a unique little creature, aren't you?" she said to Taayi. "I would be very keen to learn about you. And your... children." She looked down at them, cocking her head. "Are they your children? Please, tell me everything. I will pay for any knowledge you share with me. And please excuse me. I am Igni." She inclined her head. "It's always a pleasure to meet new creatures, especially the first of their kind. And to make new friends." She directed the last to Azlat, to make it clear she was interested in both of them.

 

[Taayi]

Because of Igni’s words, Taayi’s smile faded into a frown. As Igni continued to mention her “children”, it became a scowl. A sharp edge formed on Taayi’s hands.

“They. Are. My. Children,” Taayi declared with a hoarse voice.

The small creatures at Taayi’s side hissed. Their mother lifted an arm before them – a signal to stop. They obeyed.

“What… could you. Even. Pay?” Taayi asked.

A hunger developed in Taayi’s eyes as she examined Igni’s form, though.

 

[Azlat Ushus]

Despite the peacefulness of the creature before them, suspicions ran high. She made an announcement that she'd arrived in freindship, and Azlat was inclined to vet such a declaration before accepting it. She wondered if Igni desired anything of their

“They sùrely r̵egret it. I'd not t̶amper with an͢yt̨hin̷g.” She uttered in response, still rather cautious about the whole affair. While Igni may have hardly been menacing in the least, Azlat remained hesitant to trust initial appearance and demeanour. The north was a land that carried trickery and deceit in her eyes. Azlat could see and hear what Igni was, yet what Igni wanted remained necessarily suspect. The sensed aura of magic did not ease said suspicions. What could she be up to? What forces did she weave?

A suspicion that Taayi too shared, and her disapproval of the newcomer was worn clear on her face and by the blade she shaped her hand into.

“Fr̛iends. Hm̀m̸. I am Azlat.” Azlat replied, rather pensively and with deep thought over the situation around her. Unaware of her new friend's, thoughts or their new company's intent, Azlat remained ready for whatever outcome might result.

 

[Igni Ymaranath Ythys]

“What… could you. Even. Pay?” Taayi asked.

"I'm a merchant. I can pay nearly anything." With that Igni looked down. She opened her maw, showing rows of sharp but delicate teeth. Circular patterns laced with arcane runes appeared in the air between the tips of her overlarge canines and she reached up with a paw to draw something from the centre. The motion was like she was drawing it from her mouth, but it didn't come from her throat. It came from the runes.

"Here," she said, holding out a silver coin to Taayi. "Silver seems to be the main commodity the northerners are willing to pay. My shipment of spices would be paid for in silver, I am told. I don't particularly like silver, but the quantity they promised would pay for many other things back in Alliria.

“Fr̛iends. Hm̀m̸. I am Azlat.”

Igni nodded to her. Despite her animalistic appearance, it was clear when she was smiling. Her large purple eyes twinkled and she showed the tips of her teeth. Plus her whiskers arched upwards.

"And what are you, Azlat? Human? You look human, but your markings are strange. Are they natural markings or have you painted yourself?
"And where are you both going? Away from Bhathairk? I could travel with you, if you wish. I am an excellent dissuasion for bandits." She grinned ruefully, bearing the teeth on one side of her face.

 

[Taayi]

Taayi’s head tilted at the sight of the silver coin. She listened to how Igni could afford shipments of spice. Her frown softened. Eyes closed for a moment with a long blink.

As Igni’s attention turned back to Azlat, Taayi’s hands reshaped themselves to something humanoid once again. Her fingers would be elongated compared to a normal hand, but would have five proper digits each.

With a glance toward her children, Taayi waved a hand. She gave a gentle whistle. The three of them then ran into the grass – tall enough to obscure sight of them. And they just continued to go.

Attention returned to Igni. Taayi brought her “fingers” together.

With a calm, detached voice, Taayi’s reply was, “If. That. Is your… wealth. I have… nothing. Of value… to offer.”

Turning her head toward her destination, Taayi announced, “I go… to Bystra.”

Where a portal stone could be found.

 

[Azlat Ushus]

“They. Are. My. Children,” Taayi replied, and Azlat watched as the 'children' disappeared. Azlat had imagined something else entirely when Taayi mentioned them earlier, but the candid affirmation made the correlation clear. Azlat could only wonder of the machinations of what Taayi truly was. To be a terror unto northerners remained cause enough for Azlat's approval, nonetheless.

"And what are you, Azlat? Human? You look human, but your markings are strange. Are they natural markings or have you painted yourself?" Igni asked. Apprehension eased somewhat at the observation, which Azlat interpreted as a compliment to her ceremonial face paint. It seemed likely that the observation was flattery but still – she did like flattery.

“Why tha͢nk you. I am human... from Th̢agretis. A city far away.” Azlat began, pausing for a moment in the middle of her introduction. Though she hadn't made any mention of them, her eyes remained peculiar and distinct. Serpentine pupils of vertical black slits were centred within an iris of unnatural yellow, appearing more appropriate for a reptile or a dragon, rather than the human Azlat otherwise appeared to be.

"And where are you both going? Away from Bhathairk?" I could travel with you, if you wish. I am an excellent dissuasion for bandits. She remarked. Company would be reassuring, at least. The presence of Igni would be a fine deterrent to any further difficulties encountered. The failed venture to Bhathairk had already presented enough.

“I as well, am vent̶uring to the Bystra stone.” Azlat remarked. Away from Bhathairk was an appropriate enough description. Azlat simply wished to return to Thagretis, now that it was clear she'd need to depart from this place. She'd not stay long, but after the ordeal days before, she simply needed a warm meal and a soft bed before making yet another trip.

 

[Igni Ymaranath Ythys]

"Bystra is nearby by dragon standards," Igni said, looking thoughtful. "Yes, I believe I can accompany you both there."

With a calm, detached voice, Taayi’s reply was, “If. That. Is your… wealth. I have… nothing. Of value… to offer.”

"Oh, but this is what I have to offer," Igni said, flicking the coin with a long, catlike claw. She tried to catch it but the coin landed in the grass, and she grunted, pawing at the ground for a moment before looking back up at Taayi. "All I require from you in return is to tell me about yourself as we travel. Something of your nature. Your origin. How you got hands like those. Why your children just ran off into the grass." She smiled. "You are quite a mystery, you know!"

“I as well, am vent̶uring to the Bystra stone.” Azlat remarked

"Excellent! Then we may all travel together. While we do you can tell me about your paint. And your eyes." Igni narrowed her own large eyes and peered at the face of the little one. "Rather like some dragons I've met."

"So, shall we go?" Igni said, and stood, taking a few steps along the roadside, her enormous belly swaying back and forth with each step, wings folded alongside the handles of fat on her flanks. But only a few paces in she stopped. "Oh! Silly me. I forgot the coin. Stand back, please."

With that she opened her mouth. More arcane symbols appeared between her teeth, and this time a short burst of blue flame jettisoned out and splashed onto the ground in the approximate position she had been standing in before. The blue flames turned to yellow when the grass began to burn, and after a moment, when the grass had quickly withered away and the flames died down, Igni pounced like a cat, sending her fat folds jiggling. "There!" she said, holding up the coin. "For you. Careful. Still hot!" She flicked it to Taayi, over the ring of low grass fire that was slowly spreading from her position.

 

[Taayi]

Taayi’s face remained blank as Igni continued to talk. She only glanced over to Azlat when the priestess mentioned her destination to be Bystra as well. Taayi then stepped back when Igni set some of the surrounding grass ablaze.

When Igni tossed the hot coin, Taayi lifted a hand to catch.

SZZZZZZZZZZ​

But immediately dropped it with a slight wince. Her face returned to normal in just a moment, though. The hand that had been burned instinctually shifted into an obsidian blade once more. She looked down on the coin to examine it for several seconds. An indifferent stare.

Looking back up to Igni, Taayi simply asked, “Do you … understand. How unfair. This world is?”

 

[Azlat Ushus]

"Excellent! Then we may all travel together. While we do you can tell me about your paint. And your eyes." Remarked Igni. Azlat had been in this situation recently, and held concern for where the topic might eventually turn. Her gods were certainly not popular here. Azlat may have had implied assurance for Taayi that she did not hold their worship with ire, but she held no idea what Igni might make of it. All the same, to deny her faith would be intolerable sacrilege. She was not a coward like that slain thief was.

"Rather like some dragons I've met." She added, and the comment gave Azlat pause. She was certainly astute. Azlat was a bit more selective in what she might consider to be a dragon, but far be it from her to mince words over northern nomenclature.

“The paint is ceremonial, I act as priestess of the Holy Elder Dragon, and my eyes are a sign of His heritage.” Azlat replied, formally announcing her religion as a response to the question. Faith was ever important to hold onto. It separated her from the heathens.

Stepping back when prompted, she hadn't expected that she too, would breathe fire. Azlat eyed the sizzling coin of silver, watching at it landed to sizzle in Taayi's hand for the brief moment before she dropped it. Azlat too eyed it, though she wasn't one to fuss over an amount so paltry. Waiting for it to cool hardly seemed worthwhile.

“Oh, I have a p͟iece of silver.” Azlat commented, rummaging around in a satchel where the jingling of coins could be heard. Most of them were gold, but she was able to select one of silver from it.

“I'll t̶rade you.” Azlat added, casually tossing the coin over to Taayi. She hadn't any idea how to retrieve the heated one still on the ground, but that wasn't really much of a concern. It was a pittance to part with for the affluent priestess.

 

[Igni Ymaranath Ythys]

“Do you … understand. How unfair. This world is?”

Igni cocked her head, unsure of what to make of this question. Was it a segue into her opening up about herself? If so, Igni was keen to listen. She lowered her head down as they walked along, her rolls of fur sagging down against her neck, big batlike ears attentive though they were nearly buried.

"The world is very unfair," Igni said, wandering along. "And I say this as one of the lucky ones. Lucky to be born a dragon at least. Not so lucky in terms of my figure." She snorted at her own joke, though the other two did not laugh, so she merely added "I have seen much unfairness from the air." Igni fell silent, keen to hear more from Taayi, but then Azlat answered an earlier question.

“The paint is ceremonial, I act as priestess of the Holy Elder Dragon, and my eyes are a sign of His heritage.”

"Do you mean Drakormir?" Igni said. "'Priestess'. so, you're part of his... religion?" she said. A distasteful look crossed her face, but only for a moment. "He is impressive. That'll I'll grant you..." She looked like she wanted to say more, but wasn't sure of the words.

 

[Taayi]

Lifting the bladed hand, it quickly shifted back into one with fingers. Taayi caught Azlat’s coin. She examined it without much enthusiasm.

“Grate. Ful,” Taayi told Azlat.

Listening to Igni’s answer gave no further response from Taayi.

“Then. I have… nothing… to offer. You,” Taayi reaffirmed after hearing out Igni.

The answer Taayi received marked was significant enough to result in the difference in her disposition to Igni versus Azlat.

Taayi cracked her neck when she heard Drakormir’s name mentioned. She refused to voice any musings this time. After a couple seconds, very faint, chattering whispers floated through the air – similar to the pitch of Taayi’s newborns.

“I go to… Bhathairk. First,” Taayi told Igni and Azlat as she took a step forward.

Toward where those that pursued Azlat would be waiting…

 

[Azlat Ushus]

“Grate. Ful,” Replied Taayi to the coin, and Azlat returned a smile to her stoic gratitude.

"Do you mean Drakormir?" Asked Igni, and the mention of His name gave pause. A name she'd not yet mentioned, yet Igni was nonetheless familiar with it and the Draconic Order, to an extent. From the expression given, she did not seem to regard Him well. Azlat steeled herself for harsh words of judgement, as she had heard from the mob that assailed her in Bhathairk. But no such criticism followed, and Igni simply remarked that he was 'impressive'. Apprehension eased somewhat once it seemed that no hostilities would result after all.

“Ver̷y.” Azlat replied, keeping her response fittingly brief. She couldn't quite tell what exactly Igni thought of Him, but that she hadn't disparaged Him was acceptable enough. An audible crack was heard from Taayi, but she made no mention of the name Herself.

“I go to… Bhathairk. First,” Taayi added, and the notion was enough to cause further pause in Azlat.

“I don't think I would receive a wa͟rm welcome there...” Azlat remarked, in commentary that was severe understatement. She was well aware what they thought of her. They had threatened her with violence and death. Azlat expected they might deal with her in a manner not be unlike what she had witnessed Taayi deal to the dead highwaymen. Their stated desire to see Azlat suffer had been made abundantly clear.

“What bus̢iness have you in Bhathairk?” Azlat asked, oddly curious about what Taayi might desire there. Azlat held little present clue.

 

[Igni Ymaranath Ythys]

“Then. I have… nothing… to offer. You,” Taayi reaffirmed after hearing out Igni.

Igni frowned, her ears lowering and her brow - such that it was - furrowing. "I don't understand," she said. "All I want is to learn..."

“I go to… Bhathairk. First,” Taayi added, and the notion was enough to cause further pause in Azlat.

“I dont think I would receive a wa͟rm welcome there...” Azlat remarked

"Oh?" Igni said. It sounded rather like the two were about to part ways, which meant Igni had a choice to make: Either follow the bird-lady with the remarkable hands, who claimed to have nothing to offer, or to follow the painted lady, and hope to learn a little more about dragon worship, and what it did to a person. But even though the feathery-looking one was reluctant to share knowledge, Igni wasn't quite ready to give up just yet.

"Welcome or no, I do make for good protection," she said. She was a nine-foot tall, twenty-foot long dragon, after all. To Azlat she said, "You can go where you please."

 

[Taayi]

A breeze rolled through. Taayi closed her eyes for a moment.

Then after the pause, Taayi turned to look at Azlat.

“Trackers,” she gave as her answer.

After Igni spoke, Taayi turned her head up and gave a short whistle.

---

Closer to Bhathairk, those that still pursued Azlat continued their search. They travelled with arms and bloodhounds. They had split up into several groups in order to ensure they did not miss signs of Azlat.

Hiding in taller portions of the grass, several creatures stalked these orcs.

A whistle only these beasts could hear traveled with the wind to their ears.

On command, one creature rushed out into the open. It revealed itself to several orcs. Its form appeared similar to that of the “children” Taayi created before Azlat and Igni. Yet, these specimens stood at the height of the average human.

“Look! The cultist created foul beasts to stop us!” one orc called out.

Upon hearing that, the creature turned around to flee. Guiding and corralling the orcs as Mother wished…

---

Taayi looked toward Azlat again and took a step toward her. She brough her head close.

With a gravelly whisper, Taayi told Azlat, “My children. They follow… Until next town.”

Escort service offered to an unexpected friend.

Then, Taayi began to walk toward Bhathairk. Toward the hunters.

Looking back to Azlat, Taayi bid farewell with just, “Will meet. Again.”

Taayi gave a silent glance to Igni. Then, she turned to begin her journey.

 

[Azlat Ushus]

“Trackers,” Taayi replied to her inquiry after a long pause, before opening her eyes to look to the distance. Azlat turned her gaze too, in concern that those from Bhathairk could be seen in the distance. She could not catch sight of any, but that did little to diminish her worry. There was little doubt that they were still after her, and Taayi's comment implied they were close, even if they hadn't broken over the horizon just yet.

"Oh?" Remarked Igni. Welcome or no, I do make for good protection, She added, and Azlat turned her gaze back to her.

“By 'unwelcome', I mean v́io͜le̛n͢t and hòs͡til̴e. I am they one they are se͟arching for. They are not quite as theologically acc̶epting as they make themselves out to be.” Azlat mentioned. Accepting of many religions by the accounts she had been told, this hospitality clearly did not extend to hers.

Taayi gave a sharp whistle, before approaching Azlat again with an answer to her question.

“My children. They follow… Until next town.” She said. She still wondered what Taayi was to do there, and of what her and her children's nature really was. She was a stoic sort, to say the very least about her.

"You can go where you please." Remarked Igni, to which Azlat gave a nod. Azlat imagined she could do no good on the journey. Her presence would have been likely to place both in grave peril.
“For your sa̴fety then, I ought part ways. They continue after me, and they’ll likely kill you if I ac͡company you.” Azlat added, making her current issues with the city explicitly clear. If the two were heading that way, best for them to be warned.

“Will meet. Again.” Added Taayi, and Azlat turned to her too with a respectful nod of farewell.

“I do hope so.” Azlat replied, still with her cherished symbol safely tucked away.

“It has been a pl͝easure to meet you both.” Azlat added. As the two departed, Azlat gave a friendly wave of farewell, remaining where she was for a moment to see them both off. Afterwards, she turned away to continue her journey towards the Bystra stone, intent to arrive before any from Bhathairk could intercept her and make good on the threats they had uttered.

 

[Igni Ymaranath Ythys]

Igni walked besides Taayi in silence, after farewelling Azlat. It was clear the humanoid monster lady would not give her answers in the verbal sense, so Igni would have to learn by watching - a far more time-consuming way of learning, but no less worthy of her time.

It occurred to Igni that she could have offered to fly her new companions to their destinations, and save everyone a lot of time. But after seeing the bodies scattered around the path previously she wasn't keen on having either of the small ones riding on her back. That was something she reserved only for the closest of friends. Sadly, she hadn't yet made a friend to fit the criteria of being so trustworthy.

Having a higher vantagepoint gave Igni the better view forward. "There's a group ahead. They could be trouble," she said. She presumed it was the trackers mentioned earlier.

 

[Taayi]

After they departed, Azlat might have noticed some movement in the grass beside the path she took. Possibly, a glimpse of a pale creature in a clearing. Three in total.

As Taayi said, they would follow – but specifically, they would follow Azlat. And should Azlat find similar issues with the locals as she did before, they would emerge to protect...

---

Meanwhile, similar creatures worked in tandem to guide the groups of Bhathairk pursers together. The townsfolk consisted mostly of orcs and were well armed. Rumor of the power behind these Thagretis priests reached their ears.

The pursuers had reformed as a larger group. These trackers came into Igni’s view, and she informed Taayi of this. None of Taayi’s creatures could be seen on the path.

“This. Is where. We part,” Taayi’s gravelly voice told Igni.

Some rustling in the tall grass could be heard.

“One way. Or another,” Taayi claimed.

 

[Azlat Ushus]

She continued hurriedly in her escape, her pace spurred faster by the timely warning Taayi had given. Yet when she did occasionally pause during needed breaks, she felt an odd presence of being followed. Perhaps unnerving, but hardly worrisome or hostile.

Azlat awoke to a commotion, turning her attention immediately towards the source of the sound. In the dim early morning light she could see a glimpse of pale figure in conflict with a pair bearing torches, who appeared to be in the process of being driven away. By the time Azlat had gathered her bow and advanced towards the scene of the battle it was already at an end, with her protectors chasing off the pair that appeared to be trackers from Bhathairk.

Taayi did not deliver inaccurate assessment with her warning, and the chaos witnessed was a clear sign that the Bhathairkans pursued her as determined adversaries. To her credit, Azlat owed her continued safety to the warning and watchfulness of her new friend. To have discovered enemies was a misfortune, though Azlat considered herself lucky to have had made an ally against them.

As far as she was aware, her encounter with Taayi was fortunate. The discovery of what her children actually were remained concerning, but only somewhat. Disturbing as the process was, Azlat could hardly bring herself to judge. Taayi’s helpfulness could not be denied, nor had said children acted against her. If anything, she had turned the pagans into something useful by the process. Besides, in the worst case they would be a plague upon Epressa and not Malakath.

Or so Azlat erroneously believed…

 

[Igni Ymaranath Ythys]

“This. Is where. We part,” Taayi’s gravelly voice told Igni.

Some rustling in the tall grass could be heard.

“One way. Or another,” Taayi claimed.

"You don't want to travel with me?" Igni said. An expression of hurt surprise crossed her face, her ears dipping down into her fur and her whiskers drooping. "You could have told me earlier. Before I left Azlat to travel alone." But then she heard the rustling in the grass around her.

She looked back and forth, and to Taayi's solemn expression. A sudden feeling of dread entered her chest. "Do you mean to hurt me?" she said.

The group ahead was moving closer, bearing all manner of crude weapons. To Igni's keen eyes they looked tired but determined.

"Do you plan to fight them?" she said.

 

[Taayi]

Taayi stared at Igni. Face adorned with a smile.

...

The grass rustled once more.

...

The mob drew closer.

...

“You can. Catch up to... Azlat,” Taayi told Igni.

With a twist, Taayi cracked the joints in her neck. She gave a cough and placed an oozing hand upon her throat.

“Hah. Ah. Aaah. Aaaaaaaah.”

Taayi’s voice shifted into a different one entirely.

With a look to her hands, Taayi retracted them. It appeared as if they were amputated.

Looking to the approaching mob, Taayi’s expression shifted into one of apparent fear.

“Help!” she screamed as she began to run toward the mob, “Save me!”

Igni’s pseudo-dragon form would quickly draw the mob’s concern...

 

[Azlat Ushus]

Glad for the safety that had been provided, the danger Azlat remained in was far from lost on her. Eschewing breakfast, she packed her things up in a hurry to quickly resume her journey. The portal stone was still a fair distance away, and she was desperate to reach it before her pursuers. So long as she could reach the stone, she could reach Thagretis and return the safety of her city. But the Bhathairkians were likely heading directly to the portal stone as well, given that it was the closest and most obvious avenue for escape.

Travelling on foot, it would be several days before she could reach her destination. Her pursuers also travelled by foot, for the most part. Some were mounted on horseback, but while they could cover short distances much faster than she could, there was little ground gained over the extended pursuit she’d led them on. One who could fly could surely catch up, but Azlat had yet to see any fliers in pursuit. It was not lost upon her to occasionally check the skies, just in case.

At brisk pace, Azlat continued on her way in her ongoing approach to the Bystra stone, and the safety it afforded her.

 

[Igni Ymaranath Ythys]

"Oh." Igni watched Taayi's transformation in horror at first, but once she figured out the little monster's plan, her fear left her. The unknown was far more fearful than the expected, after all.

Taayi was right in realising that Igni's 9-foot tall, 40 ft long dragon form would attract attention though. Knowing that a mob of littles were about to approach though, she drew herself up to her full height, spread her enormous black wings and settled onto her haunches, spilling her large belly onto the grassy plain beneath her. Her chubby tail she wrapped around her feet, wiggled her large batlike wings and cocked her head, peering forward with purple eyes through her mess of whiskers - an expression of curiosity, not hostility. The intimidation would come from her sheer size.

"Hello travellers," she rumbled, in the most pleasant voice she could muster. "Is this twisted creature the one you seek?"