Natural Born Instincts (Athene & deerpoob)

Thinking back, there were just some subtle but noticeable signs that - the moment they had been noticed - it should have registered. It should have made certain people stop and think why they were so significant and what they could possibly mean.

Suffice to say, the young - well, for her age, anyway - Drow known as Elari Hasar was seriously lamenting not picking up on and reading the signs.

It's not like you're a Seer or whatnot ... she inwardly scolded herself, rolling her violet orbs at the thought.

To be fair, having the ability of Divination would likely imply she would have ended up becoming a priestess of Lolth.

While many Drow eagerly ran down that path, Elari had been one of the few to ensure she strayed as far as away as possible.

That was likely the first sign; when she felt no obligation nor desire to swear fealty to Lolth or any of the Nine Claws.

The second, if she had to take a stab at it, was where she had been born and raised for most of her life. If anyone knew about the Drow cities, they would have known that Llurth Dreir was one of the few that Lolth had essentially disowned.

It was as if the Spider Goddess herself had frowned upon Elari since the poor lass was conceived.

Though with how fickle said deity was, maybe that was exactly what she'd done.

The final straw that Elari wished she'd understood sooner ... were her odd powers. If Drow didn't study the divine magics, they went to the arcane. Yet there was a third type of magic, a very rare one that was seen as a taboo, a dangerous one at that rate.

Psionics.

To this date, more men than women had been recorded to have this.

So when her Mother found out her youngest went against all Drow norms and traditions, she deemed her own flesh and blood to be a burden more than anything.

And now, here she was, out in the open.

At least, as much as she would allow herself to be seen.

Covering her outfit, if one could call it that, was a raven cloak. The hood was always kept up, lest she risk being seen and killed on sight. Elari had already had a few close calls over the past two weeks since she'd been exiled. It was very fair to assume she didn't exactly feel like testing her luck once more.

An irritated sigh that barely avoided turning into a full-fledged growl passed her lips as she trekked through the streets of Calimshan. One thing after another seemed to surround her. First, it had been the humid air, which almost seemed to punish her for walking out and about in a black cloak. Then ... there were the humes.

So many ... ugh ...

Elari grimaced, pulling her hood further up as she snuck glances every now and again.

Hidden in one of the pockets was a dagger, which she primarily used for hunting. Mind you, if push came to shove, she could easily take a life with it.

Alas, no such opportunities had arrived as of late.

Need to find some place ...

Nodding to herself, she continued walking silently through the massive city, quickening her pace slightly. First and foremost, Elari needed to be able to locate a tavern. It'd have food - which she was already in the midst of looking for - as well as a place to rest. The latter would definitely be needed, particularly after the night fell.

Calimshan was many things.

Safe - particularly after the sun vanished behind the horizon - was not one of those 'things'.