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+--- Thread: The Bracken Woods Arriving at Teekon Wilds (/showthread.php?tid=62460)
Arriving at Teekon Wilds - Kauará - August 24, 2024
MID-MORNING, EDGE OF THE BRACKEN WOODS
AS the young female steps out from the tangled safety of the forest, a breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and open air reaches her nose. It feels strange, almost wrong, to be without the thick canopy overhead. For weeks, the dark branches had been her shield from the outside world but also her prison. Now, for the first time in what feels like forever, the world stretches out before her in a way that doesn’t scream danger.
She halts at the forest's edge, the contrast between the brambles at her back and the rolling openness of the valley startling. For a few moments, the weight on her chest lightens. The sun feels warm, not threatening, and the valley below is bathed in a peaceful glow. The sight tugs at something deep within her—a feeling she thought she’d forgotten. Home.
But as quickly as the thought comes, reality settles back in, heavier than before. Her legs tremble from exhaustion, her body reminding her of the weeks spent in constant survival mode. Relief gives way to the gnawing ache of hunger in her belly. Her head droops low, and suddenly, the welcoming valley becomes a risk. The water sparkles in the distance, calling to her, but she hesitates.
Leaving the tree cover, even for a moment, feels like stepping into the open jaws of danger. The forest had hidden her, kept her safe, even as it poked and scraped at her with thorns. But it was also a threat—other predators roamed those same trees. Could she afford to pass up the chance to rest her weary paws on soft grass? She eyes the prickly brush beneath her and the sharp rocks that had littered her path for days, and the valley feels like a place where she might catch her breath.
Her throat is dry, her limbs tired. She could drink, walk a bit softer, just for a moment. The thought of cool water is too tempting. It’s a risk, yes, but one she’s willing to take—just this once. She’ll drink, regain her strength, and then find somewhere safe to rest.
But her paws still linger on the edge, the shadows of the trees keeping her company for just a few seconds longer.
AFTERNOON, SUNSET VALLEY
KAUARÁ'S first step out of the forest feels like both a dream and a nightmare, tangled together. The sun’s warmth wrapping around her is distantly familiar, almost like a long-lost friend pulling her into a comforting embrace. But there are no longer any shadows to protect her, no thick canopy to hide beneath. The forest’s safety, though hostile, had at least offered cover. With each step toward the water, the soft earth beneath her weary paws feels like heaven. But the smooth terrain also presents a terrifying realization: no roots or thorns to tangle an enemy’s stride—just open space between her and whatever may pursue her. Any predator would have an easy run at her now.
This realization gnaws at her. The relief from escaping the suffocating forest clashes with the growing anxiety of being exposed. Her mind spins with these conflicting feelings as she finally reaches the water’s edge. She lowers her muzzle, ears swiveling at the slightest sound. The refreshing coolness of the water soothes her parched throat, but her gaze darts around restlessly, eyes scanning for anything that might betray an ambush. Her pale fur doesn’t exactly blend into the vegetation, and she knows it. She crouches low, making herself as small as possible, drinking quickly but cautiously. For a moment, just a moment, the crisp water on her tongue almost makes her forget her fears. Almost.
The rustling of small creatures foraging nearby snaps her back to reality. Hunger claws at her stomach, a reminder of days spent surviving on scraps—unsatisfying meals that had barely kept her going. Her legs tremble from exhaustion, and though her instincts push her toward the hunt, she knows better. She doesn’t have the strength to chase anything right now. Even the smallest critter would slip through her grasp, leaving her more tired than before.
With her thirst temporarily quenched, the more pressing need for shelter overwhelms her. Shelter. A place to rest before her body gives out completely. Her eyes scan the valley, but her heart sinks. As inviting as it first appeared, it offers no cover, no safety. The exposed openness now feels like a death trap. The sun, once warm and comforting, is now too bright, too revealing. The sound of the bubbling stream and the rustling wildlife feels deafening in her hypersensitive state. The ground beneath her paws, once a welcome softness, now feels unreliable—a surface too smooth to gain traction if she had to flee.
She needs to leave.
A wave of resignation washes over her as she backs toward the treeline once more, seeking the shadows she knows all too well. Her gaze flicks toward the distant mountains, surrounded by unfamiliar woods. The scars of a recent fire still mar the landscape, and even from this distance, the sight is unsettling. No, not there. The ice-capped peaks on the opposite side are even less welcoming, cold and inhospitable. Returning the way she came? Not an option. Not after so many miles spent battling the forest.
Kauará’s thoughts are scattered, overwhelmed by her exhaustion and the anxiety of being caught in the open. She turns eastward, following the edge of the trees, staying just inside the line of shadows as she moves, ears alert for anything out of the ordinary. She walks as silently as her tired body will allow, praying that nothing forces her to run. She knows she has no energy left for that.
NIGHT, BROKEN BOULDER’S EDGE
AS she continues along the treeline, the terrain gradually shifts. The grassy fields beside her become dotted with rocks, the earth splitting and rising in jagged formations. Kauará casts her gaze over the growing number of outcroppings, her mind drifting to the thought of resting in the shadow of one of these stones. Maybe, just maybe, she can find a rock large enough to provide a safe place to sleep.
That’s when she spots it: a strange formation in the distance. A massive boulder, split in two, stands stark against the horizon, the two halves still touching at the very top, forming a narrow passage beneath. Her heart leaps. If she had been looking for a rock to shelter beneath, she’s found it.
Kauará steels herself once more, knowing she’ll need to leave the treeline again to reach the boulder. Though the sun has dipped below the horizon, the moon casts enough light to leave her feeling vulnerable. Her paws hesitate at the treeline, but she can feel her strength ebbing away. She has no choice. It’s now or never.
NIGHT, BROKEN BOULDER
AS she approaches the looming formation, its shadows stretched longer and darker in the moonlight, a creeping unease begins to settle in her chest. What if something else had already thought the same as her? What if some other creature had taken refuge in those very shadows? She had little choice, though, and would have to contend with the possibility of sharing the space. Each corner would need to be checked thoroughly.
On her second pass around the perimeter of the boulder, her hope begins to wane, exhaustion seeping into her bones. She hadn't found anywhere sufficiently hidden to rest. Just as she is about to give up, she notices something strange—a shadow deeper than the others, more fixed, as if it refused to shift with the moonlight. Her tired mind almost dismisses it as a trick of her imagination. But the shadow doesn’t move, and it isn't the outline of an animal.
Curiosity pushes through her weariness, and Kauará cautiously approaches the strange shadow. Ears perked and eyes sharp, she listens and watches for any sign of movement or noise. As she draws closer, realization strikes: it isn’t a creature, but an opening—an entrance. With a mix of excitement and caution, she steps closer still, until her pale form disappears entirely from sight.
Inside, the loss of moonlight leaves her momentarily disoriented. She blinks and lets her eyes adjust to the darkness, realizing that she has stumbled upon a cave system. Relief washes over her in waves. She has found it—a perfect resting place. Even better, there are no scents, no traces of recent activity, nothing to suggest other inhabitants. For a brief moment, she feels so overwhelmed with relief that she almost collapses at the entrance, ready to sleep right then and there.
But her instincts won’t allow that. Even if she is hidden from the outside, it isn’t wise to rest so close to the entryway. Slowly, she explores the nearby alcoves, small openings to the side of the main path that seem den-like. They are shallow, but adequate, and provide better cover than the entrance. She can explore further, deeper into the cave system later, when her strength returns. For now, she doesn’t dare go beyond the first few twists and turns of the cave. She has no idea how far the caves stretch—or whether something else might dwell in their deeper reaches. Yet, as far as she can tell, if any creature does live here, it certainly isn’t using this particular entryway.
Satisfied with her temporary shelter, Kauará settles down for the first peaceful rest she has known in weeks. Tomorrow, she will venture out in search of food, and perhaps explore the caves more thoroughly.
But for now, she sleeps.
[Hello everyone, Namiliel here. This is my first time trying something like this, and full disclosure, I used some online text editors to help me find the right words. The translator doesn’t always help, and writing directly in English is easier than writing in my language and then trying to translate it. However, this comes with the downside of needing some help from the internet to figure out different ways to express what I want (besides checking for all my spelling and grammar mistakes).
I also wanted to thank the people who wrote the site’s descriptions—they helped a lot! I had a vague idea of how I wanted to start Kauará’s journey in Teekon Wilds, and reading about the place really inspired me. So, credit where credit is due—thanks to everyone responsible for the Snowforest Taiga’s descriptions.]