Blackfeather Woods voodoo stonecrop

While Ocracoke has started to acclimate to her new life, she still hasn’t shed any of the monsters still following her around. Her lack of eyesight, her now swelling stomach, every ache and pain still reminds her of Him. She wakes up from a frightening dream where he’s around, taking her away from the wolves that have shown her kindness—something she thought she’d never experience—and she always struggles to regain some of sanity when awake.

As another nightmare breaks her slumber, she bolts awake with a start, taking heavy breaths to try and sooth her. Her ears swivel upon her head, hearing the sounds of a forest in spring instead of the wet echo of her breathing against cave walls. He isn’t around the corner with something else to sedate her or to rape and torture her even more, but she is not completely free from his hold. The demon children within her will only make things worth and surely the pack’s kindness comes with an expiration date, advanced now by her predicament.

The glen is quiet, having moved away from the tunnel (after she nearly tumbled in the other day) to avoid any unwanted contact, and to keep herself hidden from any that might see the obvious growth of her belly.

this was not moonspear, it was not even close. it was secluded and dark and filled with secrets and mysteries that corinna could not solve on her first walk through. but every day she found something new... something different, and every day she fell less in love with the striking mountain that towered over the terrain and more in love with this underworld of a forest that somehow struck her as romantic. should couldn't explain it.

today, she stumbled upon the glen. she didn't know what it was, of course-- how could she? but it was a comfortable space that felt homey. she loved it, felt safe in it. and, in fact, she was so distracted by all the resources it had to offer that it took a few moments before she even realized there was someone else here.

unafraid of confrontation and not the least bit shy, corinna gave a soft bark, her tail waving as she viewed the back of a woman who gave off a smell that was not so foreign to the midwife.

Unable to do much in order to really contribute to the pack, most of her time is spent laying around doing nothing. Occasionally, she’s sitting and “staring” blankly at nothing in particular. Spending months in a cave alone most of the time has prepared her for the loneliness of Blackfeather but their presence nearby makes it worse, uncertain if they even remember she’s there. Meals show up occasionally, and she can manage her way to a cache, but otherwise it is no different than the dark caves she once dwelled.
 
The bark catches her off guard, zoned out into outer space, and immediately she panics. Ocracoke hits the ground, putting every inch of her against the soil and quickly tucks her tail between her legs. She doesn’t have time to notice the feminine scent coming from the opposite direction when her mind is plagued by the fact He might be back for her. She tightens her jaws and shifts, turning her head so that she can expose her throat to the stranger.

oh dear. the other turned quickly and corinna was exposed to not only the gruesome sight that was her face but a pitiful, show of submission. "oh, please don't," corinna quickly says, appearing shocked, but not because of her appearance-- she'd never seen something like missing eyes, but her mother had raised her to be a proper and polite lady. not that it mattered, very clearly, this wolf couldn't see her. "my name is corinna, i'm a medic," she introduced, trying to put some ease on the tension. and then, tentatively, corinna adds, "and a midwife."

The woman’s words turn soft after the harsh bark but Ocracoke still flinches, keeping herself on the ground. It takes a few seconds to even consider moving. No one in the Woods has been mean or hurt her in anyway but she can’t fight the instinctual reaction. Whatever spark had been in her some months ago has long since diminished, the candle burnt so low there’s no wax left. 

But the thing that catches her the most is how she admits to being a midwife as an afterthought. It’s too obvious now. Her jaw clenches and she turns to where she thinks she might be, but can’t find it in herself to ask. Eventually, she turns away, and slowly crawls along the ground to find her spot in the glen in hopes she’ll be left alone.