Northstar Vale Talking to the mirror

Hoping to help with Courtfall and posts <3

She was settling happily into the Vale. She felt new. Rejuvenated.
Free.
Free and safe from everything beyond the walls of the mountains, where no one could hurt them. And if they tried, they'd turn into a lethal force...well perhaps not Phex herself.
She realised recently she hadn't spoken much to other members, and really it was an issue. The woman bounced through the trees, looking for someone to talk to.

In her mouth, she had a leaf. It was crunchy and a rich orange-gold. It was a beautiful gift, she thought, even if it wouldn't last very long. It was pretty and was sure someone would appreciate it.

Along the small lake bed Aiolos laid idly by. The waters had shrunken due to the winter and probably the natural disaster which had come through as well. It was along this mountain chain, heading to the seas, did Aiolos loose his group and he hoped between the two places he may find them. For now and through the winter, Olo had found placement amongst the Vale wolves. 

He spotted one trotting about now. A delicate girl with a golden dead leaf in her jaws. He said nothing whilst he sat, only watched her through curious fiery colored eyes.

Sorry, I forgot about this! >.<

She approached the water, dipping her feet into it, feeling it's icy nip betwixt her toes which tugged at her nerves. She grinned none the less, not too bothered. It was pretty here and she felt inclined to name the place. She was sure it would grow in beauty as spring and summer grew. 

She placed the leaf beside her, safely on the ground, to allow her to sip from the lake. She wondered what lived in its depths.
Before she could start comparing them to creatures she'd mat in Shadewood Keep, she was acutely aware someone was watching her.
It always took her too long to realize, even when they sat in plain sight.
Another Shadewood similarity.

She lifted her head, locking eyes with the behemoth man with awe. (At least to her, he was massive. She was pitifully tiny.) Deep auburn mixed with shocks of blonde that one could call gold in the summer light. She grinned, picking up the golden leaf and moving towards him.
It was a perfect match for him.

Olo regarded her only with a mild curiosity, the woman before him a interesting pattern of golden blonde and white. She was delicate, impressively so in that small nature to make it almost certain that one would have thought her the surviving runt of the litter. After some time, she lifted her head from the lake and took notice of him too. Remaining laying, his creamy muzzle dips downward in silent greeting. Had he been living amongst the Nereides still, he would have scrambled to his paws to bow before her and ask what is it she need of him. Already, Aiolos was changing...

Only when she picked up the leaf once more and came into his direction did he lift himself up, backpedaling his front long limbs so that he was in a sitting position. Whilst grinning all the while, the small woman settled the large golden maple leaf in front of him. What could it possibly be for? Obviously, he could not eat it nor was it any good for healing as far as he knew. Aiolos could only be left to assume, as large and unbroken as the dead leaf was, that it was a gift. First he could ever recall receiving since he was but a pup. 

Why thank you miss. He spoke, golden amber eyes casting down to the yellow leaf and then, back to her. Perhaps I need to go about making a storage to keep it safe. With how beautiful the Vale was, Olo had not yet thought to make himself his own den as he slept where he pleased. If anything, a little place to store his little 'trinkets' might be a good idea.

She grinned as his creamy baritones caressed her ears. It was pleasant and she took a liking to him. He was polite and sweet. And most of all, he didn't think her gift was stupid.
"You like it?" She smiled, her voice light and youthful. 
Her tailed swayed with happiness.

And he promised to keep it somewhere. That meant he treasured it! She wondered if anyone from Shadewood Keep treasured her gifts.
She tossed the thought away, that was a dark place she wouldn't return to. Ever.
"I have a special place by one of the rivers in a covered hole." She'd not directly revel where her secret place is, but she trusted him not to hunt and steal anything. Small bones, feathers, stones. Anything and everything was in the cache.

She was cheerful, much so. It reminded him of his younger years. You know, not the many beatings and bullying he had received from his grandfather, but after he was taken away by the Nereides. When the youth there, not having been trained and hardened against men, were still delicate and sweet. 

Of course I do, ma'am. Any true gift is worth cherishing, especially from a lady. And though it may have sound flirtatious,  some line out of a book, he was being true. To receive any praise from a woman should be revered where he came from, given the fact that men were peasants to a woman's royalty. 

Maybe you could keep it there, safe with your trinkets, until I make a proper place?  He spoke, smiling delicately and his golden amber gaze moving over her, though not directly seeking her face. I can carry it there for you, if you'd like?

He spoke so politely, so formally. 
She wondered why this was so, for no one had before.
Phex smiled sweetly, then remembered her own manners. "Oh yeah I'm," half a heartbeat's pause, and she chose her path, "Sacnite." 
White Flower.

Then he wanted to store it in her cache, which made her dubious. But he was nice enough, so why should she be wary of his intentions, which may not even be there?
"Only if you promise to keep it a secret." 
Her ocean eyes were bright with joy. He wanted to be friends! And he was really nice. Her head tilted slightly, inclining for him to follow her to the place. It wasn't too far.
She let him carry the leaf, it was his now.

She hesitates, remembering her manners of introduction. She pauses, if only briefly before finishing her sentence when giving her name- Sacnite. He wouldn't have expected her to lie about her name though it wouldn't have mattered either way. As a woman, she could do as she pleased. Anyhow, it was her scent and looks which he would be mostly able to pinpoint her by. 

Of course. He spoke only, his body lifting up from his seated position. For a moment when he lifted, he stretched up onto his full long-legged height and then remembered his own manners and lowered his crown before her, hunching his figure to appear smaller, tail limp. I'm Aiolos. He said then, lifting up the golden leaf gently in his jaws by the stem and awaited her direction.

She led him upstream of a tributary, ice crunching under her paws as she went. Her cache was small, but safe. Anything in there wouldn't get wet or eaten. Hopefully.

She took Aiolos to the base of an ash tree where the roots jutted up, coated with moss. Ove ran area, she'd moved a largely flat stone she'd found on the stream bed to cover an area, sloping up the roots. She gently took the top and pulled it back, revealing her treasures nestled within.
"Here, you can put anything here as long as you cover it properly." 
She smiled, hoping he found it a good spot. Overlooked, at the side of the stream. It looked like a rock that had just fallen into the right place. Hopefully, no one else wanted to uncover it.

Leaving the pool of water behind and heading up along the stream, Aiolos followed suit behind the miniature young woman. Each of his long legs took slow, smooth steps to each double step of her own due to her slight size and one corner of his maw curled up at this. 

Reaching one of the many trees dotting their lands between woodland and meadows, she made way to a little hollow under the mosses roots. Hidden under a smooth river rock which she flipped over, her collection of trinkets laid within. 

As she went to tell he could store what he wished here so long as he covered it properly, Olo came forth and settled the leave down on top of the treasures. He then took his long muzzle and used it to flip the rock back into place. As that, ma'am? He asked, settling back down onto his haunches under the tree.

"Perfect!" She chirped, smiling. Happy he could be trusted now. It was at that moment where he sat, she realised just how tall he really was -- or maybe it was how tiny she was. Either way, he was kind and size didn't matter much. Hell, Laroche didn't mind.
She wondered how large her children would grow, wherever their lost souls may be.

Her head canted, regarding him. Aiolos was certainly handsome, more so than her late, ragtag husband.
She wished she could have saved him.
Sadness crept over her and ripped away the warm blanket that was Courtfall and the Vale, looking away quickly. She felt the winter cold all the harsher than she had moments before.

A few long breaths, she regained herself and with a sheepish, apologetic smile, looked back to Olo. 
"So, what do you do?" She meant trade wise, but she was never clear. Hopefully, he could hazard a good enough guess. 

He smiles politely to her excitement, happy he could please the woman. Though there were some women within the Nereides ranks less sharp and cold, some even quite nice, none had seemed as please and happy to be around him as this Sacnite was. These lands were very different,  that much was certain... or maybe it was the island which was the odd ones out? 

He was caught up in his thoughts of the little lady before him when he noticed she too was staring at him with a tilted head. Maybe because he was staring at her? Either way, a sadness suddenly took over her, so much so she needed to take a few deep breaths to regain herself. Ginger ears fell back against his skull, about to ask what was wrong when she quickly shook herself out of it and asked of his doings. 

"Where I came from just before here, I was a hoplite- a guardsman. I figured I'd pick up the same here. Though with the freedom we have in this pack I've done quite a bit of wondering, mainly here and to the sea and back. He fully explained to her. And you, ma'am?