Rowa had heard the story about her parents before, but it had been a few years. A small pang of guilt spread through her heart as she heard about it again. She always went on about her powers, and enjoyed it when people spoke about how powerful she was in her abilities, but truth be told she had the power of two and a half people, the two being her parents, the half her own self.

Her thoughts then shifted to what the elder said. The heart of a dragon? She almost shifted out of her bird form from the shock of it. The elder wanted the stranger to go and slay a dragon and receive it's heart all so she could go on some kind of adventure because she had never left the village? Even for the elder this was far too much for a joke.

She had half a mind to drop out of her form and then toss a pillow at him, but she remained incognito within her bird form. It was the best way to spy after all. She had done this a few times when the others dropped their guard, making sure to catch their secrets. She never did anything with them, and she already knew many secrets due to the family coming to her for blessings and guidance on their issues.

Still… a dragon's heart. The elder wouldn't have asked for it randomly, just exactly why did they need a dragon's heart.

"Ah course, but don't ya think this may be a little rough for the young miss? I don't need no offence, but a dragon is no small business." Bob asked, which caused Rowa to clamp her beak shut in order to not just screech at him. A little rough? A little rough?! Oh he was going to get it! Once she was out of this form…

"Do not misunderstand, I am not asking you to go out and slay a dragon. There are many ways to acquire a heart of a dragon without directly slaying one. For example, the heart of a wyvern of drake, lesser dragons such as these hold the same item." He informed Bob.

Bob took a moment to register this, and as he did Rowa started to creep a little closer in order to hear more of what they were speaking of.

"Of course, you may decline the task and find another tribute." The elder reassured the man.

"If it's a heart you need, I'll do it. I'll protect the young miss best I can." Bob nodded confidently.

Rowa was about to caw when she paused to think. She didn't need protecting, but her thoughts quickly switched over to something else.

If she went with Bob on this quest, not only would Bob not be near her family to schemez she could probably just spy on what Bob thought about them. Something like this was a chance of a lifetime, so Rowa quickly flapped away back to her humble abode and got her affairs in order.

First she needed to make sure that her home was neatly organised before she left. When she returned she saw that everything was exactly as she had left it in the morning. Her bed was dishevelled, there were pots and pans about, some half caked in mould. There were even pieces of wood pilings that had not-so-neatly piled up in the corner, with half finished wood carvings littering the place too.

Perfect.

She didn’t need to organise anything. Instead she went and grabbed a pack before then taking her arm and then sweeping everything on her table into it. She hoisted it over her shoulder and then turned.

Then she was ready.

She walked out, pulling apart the cloth that made up her door, and then met solid metal.

“Oof.” She said as she shook a little before looking up to see the giant form that was Bob.

“Ah, sorry there miss, ah didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Well, are we going?”

Bob paused for a moment, obviously in though. “Aye miss, shall we?” He asked.

She nodded and then marched on forward. Bob didn’t ask how she knew this information, she wanted to be mysterious and aloof, so she didn’t explain it either.

Then the two set off, with the sun almost approaching noon.