A beautiful, temperate lake near the Silver Rose Inn. To return to the inn, take the path back to the inner yard of the inn.

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Ander arrives at the lake and pauses, looking around him happily. "Beautiful..." he breathes.

Qiao Mun seconds his statement with an awestruck breath. "Wow! There are so many grasses and trees!" She wanders to the edge of the lake, nearly giddy now, and busies her hands among the lakeside reeds - forgetting the mud.

Ander smiles, actually almost starting to feel comfortable with this girl. She's so childlike. He leans against a tree, watching her explore.

A sleek grey wolf with a black-tipped tail and ears wanders up and lays down next to Ander's feet, laying his chin on his paws. Almost idly, she says to the man next to her, "Like a pup coming out of the den."

"Aye," Ander replies, "It's refreshing, almost." And the two of them fall silent for a little while. Ander is used to animals coming up to him and starting conversations.

Qiao Mun, of course, is just as busy talking to the rushes.

Oh, well, it's not as bad as it could be, they say, that'll wash right off. Are you gonna strip in front of him, though?

"Of course not," Mun answers aloud, "I already asked the marsh lilies to help." Smiles. "Ander, I..."

The next sound to issue forth from her lips is a piercing screech at the sight of the wolf. She backpedals, trips, and... the rest is fairly obvious.

"Oops. Silver-wings asked me not to scare her guests. Fare well, One-who-speaks." The wolf slinks off, actually managing to look embarrassed.

Ander runs to the water's edge, "Mun, are you okay?" He hopes she can swim, but prepares to dive in after her, just in case.

A moment later, Qiao mun rises from the water. She's not levitating; rather, her little body is being bouyed by a fat, pleasant lily pad complete with frog, once it reaches the surface. She sputters, coughing - but at least her clothes are mud free.

Ander sighs with relief and wades out into the water a little way, "Need help t' shore?"

"Uff," is all Mun can say for a minute. "Cold...!"

Ander laughs and nods a bit, "Th' breeze," he explains, swimming out and grabbing hold of one side of the lilly pad, being careful with it, and gently tugging towards the closest shore.

Mun rolls off the pad and into the grass, which seems almost to part for her. "That," she pointedly observes, "sucked. I'm so cold I can't feel my fingers...!" She wiggles them. "And... now I'm muddy again." Stupid grass.

Ander seats himself on the grass beside her, and, taking her hand between his, rubs it gently, bringing back some warmth. He's had enough experience with snow that this is almost an automatic reaction when someone says any of their limbs are cold.

Mun starts to pull back, blinking, with a 'hey mister, back off' look on her face, before she realizes what he's doing. She calms down, even smiles at him a little. 

"Want to see something great?"

He looks up at her, "What?" His green-brown eyes are curious, though he doesn't pause in rubbing her hand until he can feel that it's warm again. Then he reaches for her other one.

She holds it back from him, waggling a finger. "This first." She steps back, and reaches down to the bottom of her shirt. Just as she begins to pull it up and over her head the grasses shoot skyward like botanical bottle rockets. She sits within a tube of grass, giggling, as she sheds the rest of her clothes and allows the earth to sprout her some soft pink petal veils to wear for now. 

Ander stares for a moment, then blinks and looks quickly away, anywhere but at the grasses covering Mun. His cheeks are a bright red, and the blush has spread to his ears and neck, as well. One might almost think that all of him would turn red, should he continue blushing so furiously.

She takes a little longer than she might have. Her old clothes are, of course, made of hemp. The earth has no trouble receiving them back, once she empties her pockets. She belts the long, flowing flower petal dress with a rose-vine, and lets the grass back down.

"Hi... oh. You're a tomato!"

Ander glances back at her, as though afraid that she'll be unclothed still. When he sees that she isn't, relief shows plainly on his face, and he says, "Purty outfit..." He's still pretty bright red, though.

"I'm a nymph, remember. The earth is my beloved. Except for mud." Mun grins at him. Holds out her hand. "It's still cold, though."

Actually nervous again, Ander takes her hand and begins to rub it, as he had the other one. "'S good yer on good terms with th' earth, though.." His conversation is awkward, and he realizes it, so trails off, not knowing what else to say.

She smiles a little, thoughtful. "It's why I was interested in a Speaker. I can commune with the earth. The beasts seem to wanna eat me, though."

Ander laughs softly, relaxing a little bit, "If yer afraid, 'ey'll consider ya prey. All prey is afraid o' its predator. Trick is t' put yerself on th' predator level. Then yer competition or a friend. Cats see competition, usually...Bears sometimes, too, depending."

"I see... it must be easy when you're as brave as you." She beams at him. "Want to go back to the inn...? I don't want anyone to think I've robbed you and ran, or something."

Ander smiles and rises, then extends his hand to help her up. "'M sure nobody missed me...'cept mebbe Brisk."

Mun scoffs a bit at the name of the horse. Then sighs, contrite. She takes the offered hand, unsure as to what to say or do now. She's really a social failure.

Ander smiles again and says, oddly perceptive for once, "'E chose th' name, actually. Ne'er really said why." He turns and heads back towards the inn, by way of the path that leads to the inner yard, "C'mon, then?"