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+--- Thread: Ravensblood Forest there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone (/showthread.php?tid=66246)
there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Treepie - August 29, 2025
Birdsong roused her from sleep. Treepie’s eyelids fluttered as she began to stir. She groaned, her entire body aching as she raised her head and opened her eyes. They hadn’t walked that far, nor was the terrain very arduous, so she had no idea why she felt like she’d tumbled down a mountain. That thought immediately made her heart clench and sink in her chest.
With a lump in her throat and tears threatening to prick at her eyes, Pie pushed upright. She stretched gingerly, muzzle pointed at the canopy overhead as she tried to coax some of the stiffness from her back. They’d decided to spend the night in Bramblepoint and would continue to the caldera today. She’d probably just slept badly.
She dropped her head and looked around for @Alaric and Tikaani. She saw neither, nor did she smell them when she sniffed at the air. They’d probably woken up earlier and went scrounging for breakfast, though Pie’s brow furrowed in consternation when she couldn’t find their paw prints, nor the sleeping spots they’d scratched out in the dirt.
Tiuttuk stood… and swayed as her head began to pound. She fell onto her left hip with a small cry, her yellow eyes slamming shut and teeth clenching. The agony slowly subsided, eliciting a shaky gasp. She had never known anything like it and had no clue what might’ve caused it.
When she cracked open her eyes again, Treepie slowly realized that something else was wrong. She had gone to sleep in a forest and woken up in one, but it didn't look or smell right, now that she was paying attention. And still there was no sign of her two companions.
Ignoring the sharp pain it caused, she called their names. Pie strained her ears. The birds went on singing as though nothing was amiss. One even stared at her from a nearby branch, its peculiarly flat face and beady eyes striking in her a deep and terrible foreboding.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Kekoa - August 30, 2025
His dove could not be lured as easily as Kekoa once thought, leaving him to reroute. It was impossible to keep his mind one-tracked for long these days, anyways.
He instead had put his time into collecting mushrooms of various shapes and sizes, consuming what he knew to be safe and leaving out what was unfamiliar to him to see what would happen to animals who ate from it. Kekoa was making good progress, and now walked with a pelt held tightly in his teeth. He knew no better way to carry his pickings.
The wind carried a short-lived cry on it, peaking his curiosity. Would he get to play the medic today?
Paws carrying a heavy trot, he made his way towards the familiar sound until he spotted another through the trees. Sat on their hip, he could only stare at the distressed stranger and wonder what might be wrong, or if it had been them who cried at all. They called out what could distinctly be recognised as names - but he couldn’t see or smell anyone else nearby.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Alaric - August 30, 2025
He's not there yet.
Something was amiss. What it was or why. Alaric had no idea. But pies scent left the beach and he followed it. Tracking. A sense of urgency pushing his paws faster. A hitch in his back letting him know he couldn't move as fast as he once had.
The pain would subside momentarily, but damn if it was uncomfortable and nagging in the seconds it made itself know.
He lifted his voice in a lyrical howl. His bard always showing. Requesting that pie answer.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Tikaani - August 30, 2025
Cameo
Tiki had become a ghost of herself. Wraithlike and quiet she stayed near her sister and Alarix. But ever quiet. Ever watchful. She moved like smoke. Quiet and fleeting.
Today she followed closely behind Alaric. Enough that he knew she was there. That was all.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Treepie - August 30, 2025
She had never seen anything like it. Treepie quickly looked away, putting the strange bird and its joyous ilk out of her mind as she waited for Alaric and Tiki to return her call.
Someone strode into view through the trees. Pie’s head whipped that way, hope bubbling in her chest. It quickly popped when she saw that it was a stranger. He carried a pelt in his mouth in a fashion that reminded her of her recently deceased grandmother.
She bit her lip, yellow gaze skirting past him as if she might see someone else behind him. But there was no one but this long-legged stranger. Her companions would not have left her behind, yet they had gone out of earshot, leaving her feeling as though she was in the wrong place at the wrong time…
As soon as she opened her mouth to say something—she wasn’t really sure what—a familiar voice rose into the air. It didn’t matter that Alaric sounded so far away. Relief turned her bones to jelly. Tiuttuk was glad she was still sitting.
She promptly howled back, hoping the sound of her voice would draw him closer. Was Tiki with him? Perhaps they’d gotten excited and gone ahead to scout the caldera. But, no, his call was coming from the wrong direction for that. Her brow furrowed at the same time a throb of pain shot through her temples.
She looked to the stranger again and finally said a little distractedly,
Greetings. What brings you to Bramblepoint?
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Kekoa - August 30, 2025
The stranger spotted Kekoa in the midst of his staring session, a howl in response to her first came. He had to assume it was the companions responding.
When she finally spoke, it left Kekoa further confused. It was always difficult to know exactly where he was, but something about what she called the area didn’t seem right. Kekoa was sure he hadn’t walked that far yet, but why would she lie about something so stupid?
Is that where we are?He was willing to take her word for it.
I swear I was at the beach just yesterday..
Speaking through muffled words, he placed the fur down to rummage through his keepings. He was losing track of the days again, but that could be fixed.
Why are you here? You don’t smell right, or look right.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Alaric - September 08, 2025
A howl weakened and far away came to him he pushed onward. A gritting of his teeth, gross anger tightening his chest. If Sobeille had done something. He'd kill her or go to his grave trying.
He looked backwards making sure Tiki kept pace and then he increased his step. They were so close yet so far away.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Treepie - September 08, 2025
The first few words out of his mouth made Treepie stiffen, apprehension washing through her like a wave. When he informed her she neither looked nor smelled right, she went downright rigid. She made no reply, though her lips parted on a quiet gasp as pain—bright and sharp, like a hot knife—spliced through her skull. She slammed her eyes shut.
When the agony retreated somewhat and she reopened them, Pie discovered that she was on the ground. She didn’t attempt to right herself. Only her head moved, the white sclerae visible in her eyes as she peered up at the unfamiliar wolf. She trembled a little.
Voice gone a little thready, Pie thought aloud,
Yes, this is Bramblepoint. I mean, it has to be.Her brow furrowed, as if not convinced by her own words.
That was Alaric who just returned my howl. We’re going to see my newborn siblings at the caldera today. We only stopped here to spend the night. We’re from… well.She paused, this time to fight a frown and a sigh before acknowledging,
We used to live at Moonspear but our village is no more.
She hadn’t really addressed his other remarks, nor the elephant in the room. Pie drew in a breath, hoping to steady the shivering in her muscles. It was making her teeth chatter, a noise which he could probably hear. Tiuttuk didn’t want him to know just how vulnerable she felt—how vulnerable she was—right now. They didn’t even know each other’s names.
I’m Treepie, by the way, and… I’m a little under the weather,she fibbed.
Probably just a little worn out from traveling and everything else that’s happened.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Kekoa - September 11, 2025
Kekoa watcheed her with what seemed to be interest in wide eyes, listening to her words and watching her pained movements. Without hesitation he responded,
I'm a healer.
Old habits die hard. At this point he had been pretending for so long that it must be bordering on truth.
Flattning to the ground, he crawled forward to meet her head on.
You can call me Kekoa.In his dazed state, even he could tell that something was sincerely wrong with Treepie - and he hoped to fix it.
You're not wounded, are you? You don't smell wounded, but you flinch like you are.And how strange that was! Kekoa had seen wolves bloodied and beat more times than he could count, but nothing like this.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Alaric - September 15, 2025
Alaric finally arrived. And he was quick to move to Pies side. Green eyes narrowing at the boy. His jaw set. No words leaving him yet. Mistrust hovered in his gaze and made him snort.
Pie?both a question and statement. Was she alright? Who was this? Did he need to kick someone's ass.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Treepie - September 15, 2025
His name was Kekoa and he was a healer. It took a moment for Pie to parse this information, including the subsequent questions, but the pain receded to a dull throb. She considered sitting up again but thought better of tempting fate, instead maneuvering herself into a pose more properly suited to continuing the conversation while remaining close to the ground.
No,she told him, even though she wasn’t sure about that.
I just have a headache.This was so much worse than any headache she’d ever known before, though Tiuttuk didn’t mention that either. She hesitated for several beats before adding,
If you happen to know anything to help with the p—
And then Alaric was there, sweeping to her side. Tiuttuk felt such relief upon seeing him, though the sight of his familiar features stirred something sickening in her stomach. She stared at the side of his face, trying to figure out what seemed so off to her, though it took her an entire minute to pinpoint it.
Alaric?she cried in alarm, sitting up despite herself to nose at the shoulder that protruded just slightly more than it had the night before.
What—?she asked, her eyes skating over the ribs that were more visible than they had been just twenty-four hours earlier.
What—?Pie repeated stupidly, trying to think of some cause behind this change but drawing a blank.
What on earth could cause a wolf to lose what looked like twenty pounds overnight? It was impossible, though even blinking hard did not clear the vision of a mildly gaunter Alaric. Tiuttuk sucked in a breath, her heart fluttering anxiously in her chest as she stared and stared and stared, trying and failing to make sense of what she was seeing.
Introductions were forgotten, along with Kekoa’s existence entirely.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Kekoa - September 15, 2025
They were joined by a black wolf, the one who Kekoa had heard respond to Treepie's howl.
Well, your friend is here.He stood, shaking out his coat.
I have foraging to do, so I'm leaving now.
His nose twitching, apparently catching a scent, he began trotting off westward.
Exiting here!
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Alaric - October 04, 2025
Alaric watched teh strange young man leave, but said nothing. He simply waited. Treepie would tell him what he needed to oknow. He sniffed her over, leaning in to gauge her expression her gaze. But he was surprised at her words.
Pie what is it?
He looked at his own self at least what he could see, his feet his side. He seemed normal. Was his scent different?
Slowly getting back into it.
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Treepie - October 06, 2025
When Kekoa spoke, Pie’s wide eyes swung to him momentarily. Now that Alaric was here, he planned to leave. She didn’t have the bandwidth to remind him of her headache and beg for any help he could offer. She said nothing as he turned his attention elsewhere and trotted away, staring after him for only a beat before returning her frantic gaze to her companion.
He seemed concerned about her, though not for himself. Tiuttuk just stared at him, still trying to make sense of what she was seeing… that was, until a blast of pain shot through her head and she staggered on her feet. When a second arced through her skull, she cried out and sank onto a hip, pawing at her face as if that might somehow soothe the pain that was as excruciating as it was inexplicable.
Alaric,she moaned in a voice gone thready.
Something’s—something’s very wrong with…
She meant to say “me,” though her words died in her throat as the yearling’s chin suddenly dipped toward her chest. Half a second after that, she tipped forward and sprawled at Alaric’s feet, mostly unconscious. With what was left of her awareness, she groaned and curled into the fetal position, as if trying to protect herself from some threat. But the call was coming from inside the house.
When the agony subsided some and Pie could gather her wits a little, she tried to look up at Alaric as she croaked,
Is this—are we in Bramblepoint?
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Alaric - October 17, 2025
Alaric didn't know what was going on, he had no clue. But the wolf he had helped raise was hurting. She was sick and he a healer had not noticed, nor had he done anything. Or was it something that just happened. HE stared after the swift departure of the other with mistrust in his gaze.
He steadied her as best he could. A low whine leaving his chest.
No Pie. We're still near the coast.
Despite the weight he had lost and the general ranginess of his coat and form, he was steady as always and helped her where he could.
I can see that. Let's find a place to lay down and I'll see what herbs I can find, or that I already have and help at least ease some of whatever is ailing you. Yea?
RE: there is a light that turns on when you’re feeling alone - Treepie - October 20, 2025
“No, Pie,” Alaric said gently, the words rocking her world.
The implications frightened her badly. Treepie didn’t even want to face them at present. Maybe later, she would pick his brain to figure out where and when they were, though for the moment, all she could do was tremble slightly and bob her head.
My head hurts. Not constantly. But I get these flashes of pain. They’re pretty intense,she whispered as she prepared to follow him. The next few words tumbled out of her mouth without thought:
Please, can we go back to Moonspear.
She’d almost called it home, even with the village gone. But it was bad enough that she was asking Alaric to backtrack. Pie just badly needed somewhere familiar and safe to orient herself. Once she was settled back on the mountain, she and Alaric—and Tiki, wherever she was—could hopefully solve this horrible riddle.
Figured we can fade here, so feel free to wrap it or just sent it straight to the archive. :)