You meet a friendly face

Xhoza drove you hard, the rest of the day and even into the next. He insisted that with both your demonic eyes and his draconic ones functioning as well at night as in the day, and the humans having to stop at dusk, that you press on into the nighttime hours. The sleep you got, while uninterrupted, was short of what you felt you needed after the day you had. The necromancer was unconcerned with your pitiable complaints, so you kept them to yourself and tried to move on as best you could. By evening that second day, you two had stumbled into a merchant town along the road, and it had seemed as though he was going to push through it.

"Stop!" You exclaim, pulling his attention "We've gotten enough of a lead. Rosita and her thugs can't possibly be hunting after us this badly. Let's stop here and actually rest. Have a warm meal and sleep in a decent bed."

"Fine" He says before continuing to walk on.

"Wait, I don't understand"

"You're not my ****, Demetria. You want to stay here? Do so. I did more of a favor than any person would be reasonably expected to do. My conscience will be clear. I will not work on charity for a soft, spoiled child. Fare thee well, and good luck on your own." He continued walking away, and you felt stunned, not walking after him. This was likely going to happen anyway, but you're still feeling overwhelmed again, being stuck in a strange town with no money, no friends, and no clue where to go. For lack of a better option, you make your way to the inn. You have no coin on hand, but figure you can plead your case or maybe barter the supplies Xhoza provided.

The Inn You Go was a large establishment, particularly for a town like this, and had a lively clientele keeping it bustling. So many strangers, in a strange place, with nowhere to go, you really start to feel the situation weigh you down. There's an empty circular table in the corner of the room, and you take the seat against the wall. You hold yourself tightly, struggling to handle your negative emotions.

Which made it all the more strange when someone you've never seen or met before comes to sit with you, possessing all the warmth of a long forgotten friend.

"Well howdy neighbor!" Down sat a fellow tiefling, a woman at least as twice as old as you, with stories of adventures past written across her face. Multiple scars around her left eye take particular attention. She was outfitted to give as good as she gave; the airy shirt with decorative flourishes suggested and her rapier suggested she was a duelist or something. "Don't see too many of our kind 'round these parts. Thought I'd come see how a pretty little thing like you was doing."

"Thank you. You're actually the only other tiefling I've met."

"No foolin? Well I guess that just means you didn't get out much as a kid."

You shook your head "No, scarcely left the walls of the cathedral."

Her gentle smile shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing inquisitively "Cathedral?"

"Yes, the Cathedral of the Lost."

"I've stepped foot there once or twice. Never been much of the praying type. You say you live there?"

"Yes I do. Well, did" the agony of Mother's curse from before flashes through your mind, and become tight lipped on why you left. "I was dropped off there as a newborn in the middle of the night. They took me in as an orphan. Nobody would pick a demon spawn as a daughter, so I grew up there, and became part of the ministry."

"Well, I'll be." She raised her hand up and held her head with it. There was something in your story that changed her. Behind those dark, otherworldly eyes, you could have sworn you saw held back tears. "That's quite the tale, young lady. That'd make you about 19 or so, I'm guessing."

"y-y-yes, that's right. How did you know?"

"Lucky guess" She shrugged slowly "I'm sorry for intruding young lady, I'm sure you're waiting for somebody, but if I could bother you for your name."

"It's Demetria"

"Demetria..." She let the name hang there "why, that's prettier than a rainbow in the summer. I'm very happy to have met you."

The lady starts to get up, but you find yourself shouting "No!" You cover your mouth in reflex and embarrassment "Sorry. I'd actually prefer if you stayed and talked a little more. I'm a little scared and out of my depth here."

"Sure thing" she sat down slowly "Don't you worry your pretty little face. Gilzra is here. Is someone in town causing you trouble?"

"No, not yet. There's a cult after me because I'm a tiefling, like you. They tricked me and I ran away and everything is falling apart" the tears start, tears you've held back for too long.

"Aww, now that's not necessary. I've faced me a number of problems out there in the world. Your life ain't going to the Hells just because a few weirdo's are after you. You got a big bright future ahead of you, you just need to get after it. You'll be safe with me, okay?"

As you nod quietly, she pulls a key out of her pocket "You can have first crack at the room. I don't s'pose they have any others open at the moment. If you need some quiet time by yourself, than head right on up, collect yourself, and we'll see each other come morning. If you don't mind though, it'd make my day to get to know you better."