Neverwinter Forest I’ve been killing all my time.

for anyone! referencing the bad weather & donnelaith

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There was something about the forest that didn't sit right with her. She had always loved the trees, and the birds, and even the sound of the wind whipping through the boughs on the stormy days. But there had been a strange smell on the wind for a few days now. The snow that fell had gone gray, and it did not melt like it was supposed to — Eimear had avoided it because of how strange it had seemed, and how acrid it had tasted when she had first investigated. Now, loitering around the western fringe of home, she was perched among the ferns and trees with her attention on the distant horizon. Her face was scrunched with concern, but Eimear made no move to depart the pack lands to investigate. She was too young — too nervous of the world outside. The outside had taken her father away after all; it could not be trusted, just as this strange new smell could not be trusted.
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Maude hadn't smelled a fire in a long time. She associated the phenomenon with summer, with lightning storms and dry woods. But winter? In the wet and cold near the sea? Never. But, alas, it happened. The pale snow shifted in a gradient towards gray, an acidic tinge in the air, seeping into everything. It lingered, even as the days went by, and she largely ignored it. The fire hadn't spread, nor was it creeping towards them. They had little but an annoyance to concern themselves about.

But not all shared her casual disregard. As the woman passed the western border, she saw one of the younger wolves hunched amidst the foliage, looking towards the blot in the sky. Maude walked towards the youth, barging into another's thoughts as she always did. If'n yer tryin' t'go towards dat fire, I'd give it a few days. Wait 'til it starts smoulderin',

New player here. Please excuse any rustiness. <3

Another approached her perch, and Eimear swung her head toward the creature. A large male, by the look and scent of him, with an accent reminiscent of her father's, though less thick. He spoke of a fire, and Eimear's ears twitched, curiosity clouding her gold eyes. A fire? Eimear had never seen fire, so the word was foreign to her. The grey snow was new and foreign as well, the burning acrid scent stinging her nose and coating her mouth. What's fire? Her gaze pivoted back to the blot in the distance, wondering what a fire meant, and why the snow was no longer white.

She squinted at the wolf, finally realizing how young this girl was. But that didn't stop her from being bewildered. Had no one even told her of fire? Seriously? How could she even begin. Ok, well, it's loike, um, well, Maude tapped her chin thoughtfully. It's made. From lightnin' an' such. Makes this substance come t'life. It burns stuff, even wolves. Blackens it 'til it makes soot an' ash. That's what's makin' t'snow gray an' black, It probably wasn't the best description; how could one know fire without seeing it?

As the male explained what fire was, Eimear's ear flicked toward him, but her gaze remained on the distance. The dark splotch marring the gray-blue sky. Oh, was all she said. Fire didn't sound safe, though since she'd never seen it, Eimear still didn't quite understand its implications. Do you think anyone lives there? she asked, turning to glance at the male again. It was then that Eimear realized she didn't know his name. I'm Eimear. Who're you?

Maude looked towards the forest, trying to remember if anyone lived in the woods there. It took a moment, but she remembered. Aye. I t'ink so, Whether the pack had long since gone or were currently burning alive in that fire didn't matter much to her. They were safe. Kjalarr was safe. That was all that concerned her. Name's Maude,

D'ya think they need help? she asked softly, turning her gaze back to the smoky smear in the distance, before looking at Maude again. Her face screwed up softly, trying to reconcile the feminine name with the rather masculine appearance. After a moment of silence, Eimear finally said, quite bluntly and not at all meaning to offend, Maude's not very manly. She didn't know what anyone could be a gender that didn't match their sex, and so would learn something new today, if Maude was kind enough to assist.

Maude wasn't the kind of wolf to go risk her life for the lives of random strangers, nosiree. She'd rather keep herself whole for now, without any burned fur or broken bones. The wench shook her head. Nah. If'n they's smart they'll 'ead towards t'sea an' stay dere 'til the fire ebbs out. If not... She shrugged here, looking at the young girl with a "what can you do?" look on her face. It was too far anyway.

Just when she thought she was going to have a normal and pleasant conversation, it hit her. Again. She tried to still the rapid breathing that gripped her chest, trying to tell herself that not every child was taught this. It didn't help much. No, 'taint very manly, coz I ain't very manly meself, She smiled tightly. I'm a wench. A lass. A woman.

Though part of her wanted to help those in the midst of the fire, Eimear also knew enough to stay away from things she didn't need to meddle in. So she shrugged, the idea of helping those in the distance falling away with the movement. It was only when the other's breathing increased that she realized she might have said something wrong. Eimear watched Maude, wondering what she'd said to cause such pain, and as Maude explained himsel--no, herself, Eimear's ears flattened on her skull, and she ducked her head sheepishly. Oh, I din know. While her family wasn't prejudice, she hadn't been taught this fact, and Eimear felt awful for it. Forgive me, Miss Maude, please?

Maude's tempers are soothed as she reminds herself once more how old the girl was. Had she been older and more experienced, Maude would have been angrier, but she was so young and so inexperienced she snorted once, the tension dissapaiting. 'Tis fine, She sighs, scratching an ear. An' don't call me Miss. I ain't dat girly an' proper, Not like another woman she knew.

New thread?

Eimear smiled softly when Maude snorted, releasing the tension between them. The girl wasn't used to seeing others as they wanted to be seen, but now that she knew Maude, Eimear would try harder to let others tell her how to view them, rather than taking the face value for truth. Well, bein' girly an' proper isn't all that fun, anyway. She snorted too and stood up, batting playfully at Maude's tail. S'more fun to be rough an' tumble! She laughed, hoping Maude might want to play, too.