Though Puffin was no stranger to roaming far and wide, this was the flattest place she'd ever seen in her life.
An endless swath of white, the sweeping plain laid out in front of her like a beacon — on the horizon was the edge of the woods that
@Zephyr had told her was the claim of Ivory Rose. An energy she couldn't contain rose within her and spread throughout her body as the thrill of adventure was also on the horizon; what new things would this land teach her? And how far away was this from where her father had been born?
She frolicked through the snow, bounding a few paces ahead before she called to her companion,
Hey, that's it, right?
He can't remember the last time his heart felt so heavy. Somehow he's still able to move; that part surprises him most of all. Puffin seems so light in comparison, a feather dancing in the wind while he drags himself along wondering what the point of it all is. @Phillip is far away by now, safe in the care of @Electra — necessity, but the distance is a knife in his heart. After the blizzard and all that has happened since, he knows it was the right choice. But that doesn't make it hurt any less. He glances up at the sound of Puffin's voice, a little surprised to be addressed. Yeah,
He says, swallowing hard and limping a little more quickly. The slight increase in pace is hardly worth the effort it requires, but that doesn't stop him. Despite everything, he's eager to be home. He wants to heal in a familiar place.
His dour mood caught her excitement by surprise, and she realized that with his injuries (that he got saving her) she should perhaps tone herself down a little. Her pace slowed until she was walking side-by-side with her newfound friend, and there was an unspoken apology in her tender gaze. We'll be there soon, at least,
she quips, her ever-present positivity allowing her to see a silver lining. And once we're there, you can rest.
She gently noses his shoulder in a way that is perhaps too familiar — too familial — for how long they've known each other. A product of her upbringing, she does not notice.
Is there anything else I should know?
Zephyr had (presumably) covered the bases, but now that they were approaching she was nervous that she'd make a fool of herself in front of all of his friends.
She slows as if his response had been a slap in the face, and Zephyr softens slightly. He hadn't meant to dampen her enthusiasm; it's the only thing that has kept him from falling into depression since their initial meeting. He offers an equally apologetic half-smile, and his next response is warmer than is typical of him. Nothing I can think of,
He starts, voice dropping a little as he continues more thoughtfully. Things... might be a little weird at first. A few people have left, and there might be others who have joined since I was last there. Rowan is a good person, though, and I trust him. So it should be fine, even if it's weird for awhile.
His demeanor shifts. With hers lowered and his raised, they've met somewhere in the middle. She is pleased to see the smile come across his face,
Weird I can handle,
she says with a shameless grin. Her father had told her about wolves like this, similar to this, ones he had grown up with. They didn't have a thing for birds but they did have a thing for her grandmother, and loyalty to each other. This pack reminded her of her papa's stories of Drageda in an adjacent way. Speaking of weird,
she segues, I was wondering if you could um.. help me find a place with a lot of space? I'm used to sleeping in a den and I like to collect things. Rocks, mostly.
He's relieved to hear Puffin's response, and even more relieved when she changes the subject with her next answer. Yeah,
He answers easily. I might know of some places. Some parts of the woods are a little creepy, but not all.
Her head whipped around towards him at the mention of creepy. What's that mean?!
Her wide eyes and shocked, frozen expression showed plainly that she simply had no stomach for creepy. One time she'd seen an especially gross, hard, leggy centipede that almost made her hurl and even thinking about the thing still squicked her out.
Suddenly, her mouth clapped shut, her lip stiffened, and she inhaled deeply through her nose. It's nothing I can't handle.