Halo picked her way through the bones, focusing solely on keeping her feathers from ruffling up. She wasn't afraid in the slightest. Of course not. And bones didn't bother her really. Especially when compared to who she was trying to find. Compared to what she had heard of the Collector, bones would be the least of her trouble. That being said, she needed results, and she needed them now. Her clawed paws itched for exploration, adventure, and it simply didn't seem to be working on her own. Unlike the stories that she had been told in her first few cycles, adventures didn't always just fall into ones' lap. Instead, she had meager findings to show for all her hard work, and even those had been stolen away from her once again. Step one was find a safe place, which she was working on with the slightly sickly kind, but okayish Edenfolk. Step two -- she needed a patron.

Who better than the Collector himself? From what she had heard, dealing with him could be dangerous...but tucked away in that mind of his could hold the key to the perfect adventure, the best findings, the greatest explorations known to the caves! She suppressed a shiver and grinned. No, she was not scared at all. Excitement buzzed through her. She had no fears she could handle herself with whatever was thrown her way. She would make her family proud, and more than anything, scratch that insatiable itch!

"Collector!" She called out to the bones. "I wish for an audience!"

"That would be me."

The voice that spoke in response was close, and it was crooning. He was there--as if he'd always been there--a few yards behind her, legs idly crossed where he leaned against a tall, interlocked pile of bones. The horns twisting from the hood canted slightly to one side as he regarded her, crimson pinprick eyes unblinking; one arm unfolded from across his chest, the claws gesturing to her. "And may I ask whom I have the pleasure of addressing..?"

Each word dripped with sophistication, with smooth intent and rich promises. He pushed upright, brushing down the long, black cloak that shrouded him, and moved to close the distance between them. Each step was punctuated by the soft click of a cloven hoof; he stopped a few feet away, regarding Halo in polite silence.

Waiting.

@Halo

Halo jumped and spun to meet the voice, bones clattering at her feet. Fur and feathers stood on end. She allowed herself one nervous swallow, then did her best to will herself back into a state of calm. She wasn't sure it was showing properly, but she had to try, right? She couldn't stand living with herself if he decided to toss her aside due to her nerves getting the better of her for a moment. She was far better than that, and could face far worse things!

Still, she couldn't help but be...unsettled by his appearance. It wasn't every day that one met with another of such power. Sure, she'd seen other strange folk around as well, but always kept her distance, didn't want to get tangled up in their nonsense. And here she was. "My name is Halo," she spoke, sounding a lot calmer than she felt. He was waiting. Might as well get it over with. "I wish to ask a question of you...I am seeking a patron." She held her head up higher, looking him in the face. Don't break now. "I want...no, I need, to explore, to find, to uncover secrets. In return, I'm sure there's a way I can help you." She wasn't sure, but she definitely hoped. She had heard of the Collector sending folks on tasks -- maybe he had more of those that he needed done, that he didn't want to worry about doing himself. She could do that. Risky game, but if she won, she was sure of great reward. All or nothing.

He regarded her for a moment in silence, and it was unclear just how he felt about her request. For a few heartbeats he was but a statue, frozen shadow with crimson eyes.

Then, he blinked; and abruptly he was animate, moving and fluid and oh-so-very mortal. He paced a slow circle as he spoke, each step feline in its grace. "Ahh, my dear... Halo, is it?" and he glanced to her, as if for confirmation on his correct pronunciation. "I'm sure I don't know what rumors you may have heard of me, but I am far from a lord or patron. I'm afraid I'm just a simple tradesman and Collector--no more, no less; I offer rare and special items in return for a small service or payment of some kind."

He came to a halt once more, peering at her with slightly tilted head. "You do not need me to explore the caves; and whatever do you have in mind by 'secrets?' Ahh--but there are so many of those. Hmm... There are things that I bear that are very valuable, of course. Things that might make exploration... easier? Now, if that was of interest to you, we could perhaps make a deal... hm? A payment for a trinket of some kind?"

He paced again as he spoke, and again came to a halt as he finished, peering at Halo with prim politeness. "Well, my little visitor? What do you think? Do you have anything you might want, in mind?"

@Halo

She leaned forward. Did her question...break him somehow? And then he jumped into movement, and she gave a startled hop along with it. She watched his movement closely, hanging onto every word...

And then the words hit home.

He wasn't a patron, and he wouldn't be hers.

She groaned inwardly. How could she be so daft? This was her great plan, and now what would she do!? She had been certain this would work!

His words continued, and she mirrored his slightly tilted head. Things that might make exploration easier. Hunger lit up in her eyes. Her claws scratched along the hard rock. This wasn't a waste after all! It had been the right thing to do! A step in the best direction. "Something to make exploration easier sounds exactly what I need!" She jabbered. "What do you have that would be best for it? To help the most? Or do you have a few options to choose from?" She paused her onslaught of words for a moment, then spoke with much more composure. "And what is it you are looking for in payment?"

"Ahh, and here is my second-favorite part of the art of transactions," the Collector crooned, leaning against the nearest bone pile with an idle gesture of one hand. "Here, we go over our wares--that is, what we might offer one another. I have things that could aid you in moving throughout the caves more quickly; or objects that will allow you to find, shall we say, points of interest more quickly than otherwise. Or things that will help you to keep safe, in your travels--but those sorts of objects are quite varied, and you will need to tell me what you want, for those. Something to influence magic? A particular type of magic, perhaps? Something to grant you luck, in general; or a last-ditch final stand should all else fail you?"

Hands parted, palms out. "As you can see, your options are many. The questions, then, are two:" (and here, two long-clawed fingers rose up, palm toward Halo)--"what would you like; and as far as payment, what can you offer me..?"

@Halo