They gave her another look. A longer one. An appraising one. Tiana recognized it as the same one her mentor used. Are you ready? Do you have what it takes?

The stranger came to a decision, albeit grudgingly and with a long sigh. They reached into a slim pouch around their waist, so thin that Tiana had thought it was part of their suit. They pulled out the parchment and handed it to her.

When the stranger showed it to Grimm, they said they were looking of a woman. This must have been a painting of that woman, except it was unlike any painting Tiana had ever seen before. It was as though she was looking right at her. There were no brush strokes, no fault in color or shading. It was a face, a real face. Not an artists' rendition of one.

The woman in the too-real painting had black hair that fell in curls around her shoulders. Her skin was dark too, the same shade as the farmers in mid summer.  But if her skin radiated warmth and summer, her eyes were like deep winter's frost. The palest blue, framed by thick lashes. Tiana felt their gaze pierce her even through the page.

"This is the woman you're looking for?" she tried to keep her voice steady, professional. After the contempt she just received from the stranger, she didn't want them to see how shaken she was.

"Yes," they said, plucking it back from her and putting it carefully back into the pouch. "And if you haven't seen her, then you're no help. I need to be on my way." Once more, they turned to go.

The disrespect snapped Tiana out of her daze. "Listen, jerkass." she grabbed them again. "I may not know what strange magicks you're plying here but I do know these areas. I know where the ogres hunt. I know where to find food and water. I know which flowers are good to eat, and which will have you shitting purple for a week." She poked them in the chest for emphasis. "So you might not think you need me, but based on what I've seen, you'd be dead in a week without me."

During this tirade, the expression on their face went from annoyed to… impressed?

"Fine," they said eventually. "Fine. You can guide me to the nearest big city but after that, I'm on my own."

Tiana beamed, showing off her gap-toothed smile. "Perfect. Now what's your name?"

They started walking away again. The setting sun was low and bright, making them a shadow on the horizon. Their red cape flared behind them, catching in the wind, and flickering a beacon fire. "Call me Crimson," they said.

She started to follow them then remembered the ogre head. Doubling back, she grabbed it, threw it into a nearby flour sack, and caught up to the stranger.

"That's a stupid name," she said. "I'm Tiana." Flinging her prize over her shoulder, they set off down the road.