Meadowlark Prairie keep quiet, nothing comes as easy as you

a shiver runs through her body as the icy drizzle from above cuts through her coat, and she shakes it off instinctively. it doesn't help, of course. her movement halts and she lifts her head, turning all around to survey her surroundings. everything looks different again. it always looks different. she sees few details in the darkness, save the whipping of tall foliage in the wind. it occurs to her that there might not be any shelter around for miles, that perhaps she will spend the night alone and in the open. her single eye stings with sudden tears at the thought, and she casts her gaze back to her feet, continuing her journey silently.

The leader of external affairs she may have been, but she did not enjoy leaving the woods. Especially in such time of crisis. The earth woke every now and then but tonight it seemed to rest. She took solace in the quiet patter of the soft rain. It seemed her companion was pleased with the change of scenery as well. The goshawk took off in swoops to search the meadow for something more interesting than his roaming canis counterpart.

She searched too. Perhaps for evidence of what had upset the earth as of late or something worthwhile to bring back to the woods. Although the harsh call of her companion summoned her attention up ahead. Up ahead she spotted a ghostly figure. In the distance, in the drizzle, it almost resembled Nona. Her brows furrowed as she watched for a few silent moments. In these beats she came to the conclusion it was a stranger.

Hello. The single word was a rough whisper in the rain as she awaited a response or some sort of sign of acknowledgement.

she notices the stranger immediately, nose sharp despite her condition, though it takes her longer to pick out the dark figure with her single eye. even then, she can only see the vaguest silhouette against the night. it is enough, at least. she flinches slightly at the greeting, realizing then how long it has been since she's heard the voice of another. hello, she echoes, her own voice just as quiet. she doesn't know what else to say, or if she has anything else to say. so she waits.

Rough, worn, tattered. She had seen the conditions upon others but never once had she come across such a stranger in this state. Amun had been lost, the earthy woman an explorer, a pale wraith a hungry fisher. They all had their stories but she felt none of them came close to this ghoul. Perhaps, just perhaps, she should have waded with some caution in this situation. Oh but the earth was falling apart and she knew everyone needed to band together in these times. So she uttered a familiar word to the woman. Help?

the response catches her off guard, stunning her into silence for several long moments. at first, she thinks the woman is asking for help - but it dawns on her quickly that this is not the case. it has been so long since anyone showed kindness to her, she almost isn't certain how to respond. she blinks, gaze shifting away briefly, then back.
help? when she finally speaks again, it is somehow softer than before. y-you can help me? her voice breaks on the last word, and her ears sweep back against her skull. she suddenly feels stupid, so she clamps her mouth shut, determined not to say more and further make a fool of herself.

There was a ghost of a smile on her face at the woman's broken words. Yes. Perhaps she could not heal everything but she could fix some things surely. She took a few careful steps closer to the haunting figure, keen to better inspect the stranger. They had a caregiver within the Woods should she need some serious assistance. That was if it was shelter she sought. What need? She whispered softly with a tilt of her head, letting her announce what sort of help she needed.

she swallows as she receives confirmation, gaze dropping again when the stranger's question reaches her. another pause follows. what does she need? peace, she thinks, but she knows this odd woman cannot give her that. thoughts of athris bolt through her mind, and she aches suddenly for something she cannot name. but at least now she knows what she wants in this moment.
um, she starts quietly, swallowing again before she continues. can i — touch you? she glances back up at the stranger, amending her statement quickly: i mean — maybe we could lay together for awhile. i'm... cold. it's a poor lie, but it's easier than admitting the truth. she simply misses the comfort of a non-violent touch, something she hasn't experienced in far too long.

Touch was a language she could speak, whether it was because the woman was cold or some other reasons did not matter to Jakoul. She would heed the request. Come. She whispered carefully as she bed down into the cold earth. Her body posture left room for the woman to curl against her side and stomach — although if that was not how she intended to lay, the Morta was ready to adjust accordingly. Where from? She hummed the words as a ball of ideas began to roll around in her mind.