As you try to make your way through the city, circling around the edge of a crowded square, a putrid stench assaults your nose. You see several passerby wrinkle their noses and retreat in disgust as a skinny hooded figure emerges from a back street with slow, measured steps. Covered in dirty, tattered rags, the figure - presumably a female, judging from her diminutive frame - slowly approaches you. Spare a coin for a poor soul, sir? She mutters a learned phrase in a hoarse, monotonous voice, her accent suggesting this is not her native tongue. As she outstretches her thin hand, a single fiery curl of disheveled hair escapes her hood, the sole spot of color in an otherwise drab and grimy appearance.

Cibia looks at the man that offered to help her. His voice sounded nice and he didn't seem like a threat. She could trust him, maybe. Cautiously, she nods and follows him, keeping close behind. "Thank you... My name is Cibia." Her voice was quiet, soft almost inaudible due to lack of food and care.

Cibia glances at him briefly before looking away again. "I... I'm an elf. Or, well, I was supposed to be..." Her voice trailed off as she fidgeted with a loose thread on her ragged clothes. "My parents were murdered during the war and I had nowhere else to go... I've been living on the streets for years."

Cibia looks at him, her emerald green eyes wide with wonder and hope. "Thank you... for finding me... and offering your help..." She pauses, looking at his offered hand uncertainly. Her stomach growls loudly, drawing their attention to the sound before she can stop it. "I'm sorry... I-I haven't eaten in days."

As they walk, she tells him about her life on the streets, careful not to mention any of her secret desires or fetishes. "It's been so hard... everyone hates elves here... I don't know why..."

"Thank you..." Cibia whispers, her eyes filling with tears as she walks beside him, grateful for his kindness. As they enter a cozy little inn, the smell of food assails her senses and her stomach growls even louder in anticipation. She clings to his arm, barely able to contain herself. "I'm sorry... I-I just need to eat..."

The innkeeper looks at them curiously, but the man who saved her pays for their meal without hesitation. They sit down at a small table near the fireplace, and food is brought to them: steaming bowls of soup, fresh bread, and sweet fruits. Cibia doesn't waste any time, shoveling the food into her mouth with barely concealed desperation.

"Is... is there more?" she asks between bites, her eyes nearly rolling back in hunger

"O-okay..." She carefully looks over the menu, her eyes darting back and forth as she tries to decide what to order. "I-I've never had... these things before," she admits, pointing at some of the unfamiliar items. The food smells so good, though, that she can hardly concentrate on anything else. Finally, she closes her eyes and points randomly at three different dishes. "Maybe I should try those..."

She watches as the innkeeper disappears into the kitchen, her stomach already growling in anticipation of what's to come. For now, she concentrates on finishing the soup and bread, taking small sips and bites between murmured apologies for her eagerness.

"Th-thank you..." She says softly between mouthfuls, feeling a strange warmth spreading through her chest. It's been so long since someone showed her kindness and concern. Even though she doesn't know him well, somehow she trusts him. Maybe it's because of their shared elven blood? She isn't sure, but for now she tries to enjoy the moment, savoring every bite and sip.

As they eat, he asks her questions about herself and her life on the streets. Cibia answers as best she can, though many of her memories have faded or been replaced by desperation and hunger over the years. But there's one thing that remains clear in her mind: her mother's lullaby, sung to her long ago in a language now forgotten. She starts humming softly under her breath, lost in thought as she finishes off the last

Cibia hums softly to herself, her voice barely audible over the background noise of the inn. The tune is eerie and beautiful at the same time, with a haunting melody that seems to pierce straight through one's soul. It brings back memories of warmth and comfort, of days long gone when she was still safe in her mother's arms.

"It... it's an elven lullaby," she says softly, looking down at the table. "My mother used to sing it to me when I was little." Her voice wavers, and for a moment she feels like a child again, tiny and helpless against the cruel world. But then she forces herself to smile, trying to pretend that none of this ever happened, that she's just another normal girl enjoying a meal with a kind stranger.

The melody was in a language she didn't know well anymore, the common tongue having taken over as her first language during her time on the streets. Her mother used to sing it with words, but now all Cibia could remember was the tune. She hums a little louder, trying to recall those forgotten words.

"I... I think so..." she says uncertainly, pursing her lips as she concentrates on the melody. "But I don't really remember what they meant anymore. It's been too long since I heard it last." Her voice trails off, lost in memory and nostalgia for a time when life was simpler and safer.

Cibia continues to hum softly under her breath as she sips at her drink, trying desperately to recall those forgotten words. It's been so long since she last heard them spoken; they might as well be a language from another world. But something about the tune, about the memories it brings back... She closes her eyes, focusing all of her energy on the sound, trying to grasp at straws, desperate for even a fragment of what was lost.

"I... I remember..." she whispers, opening her eyes and looking up at the man who saved her. "It went something like this... 'Sleep now, my child, in peace divine / Safe from harm your bed will shine / Dream sweet dreams beneath starry skies / My love for you forever flies'..." Her voice trails off again as she finishes the verse, looking uncertainly at him. It sounded right in

Her eyes widen with disbelief at his words, and she looks down at their entwined hands as if seeing them for the first time. "Th-thank you..." she whispers, her voice trembling. It's been so long since someone has shown her such kindness or believed in her. She sniffles, trying to compose herself, and then takes a deep breath before looking back up at him.

"Your name... what is your name?" she asks, wanting to know more about this man who has changed the course of her evening in ways she couldn't have imagined. Even as she speaks, she can feel the memories of hunger and desperation starting to recede, replaced by a strange new feeling: hope.

She looks at him with wide eyes and can't hide her surprise. "You mean it? I-I don't have any money..." Her voice trails off as she realizes that she doesn't want to owe him anything. "Perhaps... perhaps I could work for you or something." A small, sad smile touches the corner of her lips. It would be nice to feel useful again, even if it was only for a little while.

"Y-yes, I would like that," she says quietly, casting a quick glance around the inn before looking back at him. There's something about this place... maybe it's not so different from her old home after all. It feels warm and safe, with people who seem to care about each other. And for now, that's enough.

She stares at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend his words. Her body tenses, as if preparing for rejection or an elaborate trap. But something about the sincerity in his eyes convinces her that he truly means what he says. "T-thank you," she whispers hoarsely, tears of gratitude stinging her eyes. A small smile plays across her lips as relief washes over her. Perhaps there is still hope for her after all.

Yet despite the warm feeling in her chest, a part of her can't help but feel guilty. She has nothing to offer him in return for his kindness. "I... I don't know how to repay you," she confesses hesitantly. "I am truly grateful."

Cibia chuckles softly, her laughter sounding almost musical despite its rusty quality. "I-I can't remember the last time someone teased me," she says with a shy smile, rubbing at her stomach. The touch of warmth and familiarity makes her heart flutter briefly, an odd sensation she isn't quite sure how to process. "A bath sounds wonderful," she admits, standing up from the table and following him out of the inn.

As they walk through the city streets once more, Cibia finds herself feeling lighter than she has in years. The weight of hunger and desperation is finally starting to lift, replaced by a sense of hope and wonder at this new world opening up before her eyes. She looks around with curiosity, taking in all the sights and sounds that have been beyond her reach for so long.

"Where are we going?" she asks tentatively

Her heart flutters with anticipation as they make their way back to Yoko's home. The thought of taking a bath, sleeping in a real bed, and being surrounded by warmth and comfort is almost too much to bear after years on the streets. Despite her uncertainty about repaying his kindness, she can't help but feel grateful for the chance at a better life he has given her.

"Y-your home... it must be nice," she murmurs shyly, glancing around at the well-kept buildings and immaculate gardens they pass. "It's so different from what I'm used to."

She follows him inside, her eyes wide with wonder as she takes in the cozy interior of his home. It's so warm and inviting compared to the cold, damp places she's been forced to call home for so long. "It's... it's beautiful," she whispers, running a shaking hand through her dirty hair. "Thank you again."

As they make their way through the house, he shows her where everything is and helps her undress for her bath. Her skin crawls at the thought of being naked in front of him, but he seems to understand, moving slowly and reassuringly as he assists her. Cibia steps into the steaming water, letting out a contented sigh as she sinks beneath its surface.

"This feels... amazing," she murmurs, closing her eyes and leaning back against the tub. She could stay like this forever, she thinks drows