With Blackfoot Forest behind her, Galena continued her journey towards the sloping mountains of the Southern Sunspire. She navigated their ridges, slipping across the terrain with ease, steady paws beneath her despite their tiredness. She thought of the wolves she had met, so far, in the Teekons. Strange creatures, she thought to herself with a smile. She liked strange.
This day was shaping up to be one of the first true warm mornings of Spring. The air was tepid, sun shining down through the scattered clouds. Galena happened upon a lake, and she took the moment to rest and commune with her distance sisters. Gathering lakeweed, spring buds, and an old deer femur, the Sister built an altar not too far from the water's edge. A quiet fell over her as she slipped her stormcloud-colored muzzle between her paws in prayer.
Elfie had been unable to find anyone, who would want to accompany him on his quest to find willowbark for Mahler. It had been especially hard, because he had not approached anyone to ask and no one had therefore volunteered. Fallout with Quellcrist had cut deeper than he had wished and now, fearing that even by trying to communicate with other people, he would mess up royally again.
So with no other solution in mind he chose the first path he saw and set out on his own. For the first few miles he frequently stopped and looked over his shoulder longingly, but the further he got away from Sagtannet, the less pronounced his unrest was. And when he saw the familiar glint of Arrow lake, he calmed down completely. This was a place he had visited before.
Just like the last time there was a stranger there already. He could not recall, what had the other person looked like, but he knew for sure that this one was entirely new. She seemed to be sleeping by a pile of odd objects, therefore Elfie drew closer very carefully, not wishing to wake the wolf, but also immensely curious about the treasure pile that reminded him of Mou and his gems.
Galena's body lay perfect still as she mediated on the beach, a soft breeze pulling at the stormcloud's hair. She took long, steady breaths as she practiced her Pranayama. She sourced guidance from her coven of Sisters and Mothers far to the North, who had tasked their pupil with her current voyage. Through her practice she deepened their connection, though the distance grew between them grew every day.
A new energy flowed through her... and so transfixed was she, that Galena scarcely took notice of her approaching company until he drew near enough for his pawsteps to be heard above the lapping of lakewater.
Her moon-colored eyes opened at once, rudely diverted from their focus, and spied the boy. Galena was not so fond of men and would have probably been more sour to her company had he been older... but this one was on the bridge between child and adult, and so she found his prying presence intriguing. "Hello little rabbit," she said to him in a low voice (for his coat pattern reminded her of a bunny) as she began to dismantle her altar.
Elfie had not anticipated that the wolf would take notice of him so quickly. When spoken to, he flinched as if being hit and sat down awkwardly with his head tucked to his chest, embarrassement written across his expression. He did not know, what to say or reply. Once again he had let curiousity take over and he had walked into a social situation not prepared.
"Hi," he managed to squeeze out and then fell silent, watching the pretty lady with fear-stricken eyes.
Awkward humiliation painted the teen. It was an expression Galena had already encountered in the Teekons. Did parents not teach their children etiquette in this region? Galena let out an exasperated breath as she tossed the contents of her shine into the lake... the bone drifting away. "It's not polite to gawk," she scolded, turning back to the youngster. "Aren't you a bit far from you clan?" the wanderer has not smelled any nearby packs on her way to the lake.
"I didn't mean to do so," Elfie bumbled to himself in a feeble attempt to defend himself. He turned his head away and did not dare to look up again at the lady, for the fear of infuriating her any further.
"No, not far," he replied with a bit more confidence and, while it had not yet left him, he added. "You are not from here either."
The boy had some fire! "Oh? How can you tell?" She inquired a bit sarcastically, but also wondering in earnest what made her stick out from the rest of these Teekon wolves. She waltzed towards the youngster, intentions unclear. "Well, you're right, you know. I've traveled a long way from my home. I'm supposed to be a sort of... missionary." Well, that had been the plan, at least.
Her thoughts trailed for a moment. Lately she had been questioning her Sisters' guidance, wondering if it was her true intended path. Galena's focus returned, "if your pack is near then why are you traveling alone?"
"I am not travelling alone," Elfie objected despite the obvious.
"I am on a quest to look for willow bark," he explained and then it hit him - maybe - the lady knew, where to find any. He was not going to ask for help directly, of course. Only, if she caught the right vibe.
"I have to go now," he told her abruptly, after hearing her answer (or not getting any).
"Good luck, wherever you go!" he wished her and then set off in the direction he believed his home to be, but in reality he had chosen a path that led in the opposite way.
Wrapping up all of the little guy's threads. Thanks! :)
Not Alone? Galena thought to herself as an ear orbited towards the treeline. Were his companions nearby? Or maybe his pack? She couldn't hear a peep. Eitherway, the youngster was on the hunt for an igredient Galena was inimately familiar with. "Search around the lake, the willow grows near fresh water," she replied, but hardly a beat passed before the stranger wished her well and took off. "Goodbye little rabbit," Galena responded. She turned, watching the femur roll with the lapping water, and turned back towards Rising Sun Valley.