With the venture coins secured in her coin pouch, Rioka looked around, listening for opportunities. What the sun over Ul’dah gave her in trouble, the markets gave back in rumours aplenty- tales of legendary fish, Allagan coins turning up in digs, the trade of items for the Wolves’ Den- and of course ores and crystals. Her fellow retainer Hallaka had those well covered, and Rioka turned her ears elsewhere.

She was listening to a conversation on the merits of hippogriff leather when she caught it- a small, snuffling sound. Curious, she turned her head- and caught sight of a small round four-legged creature, sniffing at the corner of one of the tradescraft stalls.

Swiftly, she strode over and knelt down, holding out a hand. The creature snuffled at her hand, and she shook her head, concealing a smile. “I don’t believe you should take any of that,” she advised softly, and straightened, looking at the merchant and his customers. “Does this creature belong to any of you?”

Some small consternation ensued, and the merchant shook his head. “Belongs to one of the ladies, I’d say. Fashionable, but you won’t catch me with something that eats my dreams. I’m still chasing them, see?”

Rioka nodded, and scooped the tiny tapir up into her arms. “I take it you've no objections, then.”

The merchant shook his head, then changed his mind, sensing opportunity. “You don’t know what you’ve got- it’s worth a fortune-”

Rioka inclined her head. “Please apply to the Guild for reparation,” she advised- she carried no gil of her own, after all- and took the tapir with her, leaving the merchant cross behind her. It seemed happy enough, and she hoped that perhaps it would be of some comfort to her adventurer. If it ate dreams, then perhaps it would eat nightmares too.

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Character: K'pandolu Tokha
World: Cactuar
Prize: Mandragora Choker