The Sentinels Soggy Bottom

When all was said and done after the river crossing, Solenya led the two strangers—now known to her, respectively as Ghos and Sam—into the sentinels, past their guardians, to where they could rest and eat in their settlement. On the way in, she gave them a quick, rudimentary summary on their Sanctum. It was a lot of information and she wouldn’t be surprised if the two had more questions.

The one thing she did focus more on: if they wanted to join this pack, they would need to give to the earth an offering—physical or not, it didn’t matter. What mattered was the intention of letting go of what was for what could be. And with that, they will be given a soulbloom, a physical manifestation of their new life here in the sanctum, an embodiment of their soul. 

As quiet settled, their bellies full and bodies rested, she approached the male first. She found him resting on a bed of spongy moss. Her approach was slow, tail waving gently behind her.

Her voice remained soft, unwilling to disturb too much of the calm. She could still hear the rushing of the river; it made her shiver with the memory of cold water and how close they could have all been to the other side of life. They were indeed lucky.

Hello, @Sam . I just wanted to check on you. A soft smile offered.

Spiritually speaking, Sam was a simple wolf.

He believed that dying angry was a sure way to become a ghost, and he believed that ancient, mean things guarded forests and needed to be sucked up to - often, ostentatiously, and with material gifts. The thought of reciting a poem or offering 'good vibes' to a Huldra was a terrifying one. Sam liked his skin, and he liked it on his body.

The overlap in beliefs was fortunate - he would find the heart tree, beg the Huldra's forgiveness for the belated offering, and rope Ghost in to help him make a blood sacrifice. The how of it was a matter for adrenaline. Solenya's terms would be met, and he would pick the lowliest possible growth as soul bloom to remind him of his place in the forest's true hierarchy.

Sam's resting form was a lie. His mind was running a mile a minute, trying to recall what he knew of heart trees whilst his botched and unfinished quest from @Sobeille loomed in his hind brain like a storm cloud. At least he wasn't hungry any more, though cached meat could not beat fresh, warm blood from the tap. He would have to rally his new roommates for a hunt - and soon.

Solenya, unlike Sam, seemed to be tranquility made flesh. She floated over to where he lay, saying soft words and smiling like a dream. Up close, the resemblance to Gorgon was less pronounced - this wolf was fine-limbed and graceful, floating among the greenery like the spirit of a tree that wasn’t quite ready for mulch life.

Sam raised his head and greeted her with a tight smile, unable to keep the lid closed on his inner turmoil. "Thanks for the food," was the first thing he said, "We..." One of his cinnamon-backed ears rotated down. Solenya had given them sanctuary, and he would pay that debt with as much loyalty as he could spare, but her way of life was.. well, different. Sam was in training to become a villain's trusted sidekick, which didn't feel very peace and love. And Ghost - she was a bit of a weirdo, and was so far refusing to speak. Sam would lie and say she was mute if asked. "It might take us some time to be.. good sactum wolves. We've got, uh, some baggage?"

Her head dipped, eyes sparkling as they caught the way he seemed to brim with something—not quite a good something. Troubled? Maybe. Of what, she couldn’t know, but hoped being here could calm him just a little more.

Of course, Sam. You both are more than welcome to our resources should you need anything else.

His next words caused her to laugh softly. We all come with some form of baggage—you are not alone in this. The Sanctum will take it from you, if you let it. She paused, head cocking as she regarded the male. Curiosity reared itself, now.

Your baggage—is it something you…wanted to talk about? Or, have you decided on what you would like to put into the earth? She sat, looking at him calmly. She would accept what he would, or would not, share. Pressing someone who doesn’t want to divulge their soul does not work in loyalty’s name.

Sam blinked at her. He didn't understand how she could place so much trust in a forest. It could not hunt or counsel – at the very best it offered shelter from the wind and an unmatched arena for hide-and-seek.

She was also too kind. He could be an axe-murderer.

Sam shuffled into a sitting position, eyeing his new.. the big boss rank was a plant, or a tree, but the name had gotten lost among mental paperwork. In answer to her question he said "Uh.. I mean.. flesh, obviously." Sam! "Not obviously! Sorry. Sorry. It's just the only thing that makes sense to sacrifice. Not wolf-flesh, ha-ha!" The pitch of Sam's voice had well and truly left base camp and was on a very steep, very rapid upward climb. His eyes bugged out of his head. "I'll share with the forest," he squeaked, "Sorta embarrassing baggage."

And it was about to get heavier – the next day,  Sam would steal a child.

Amusement danced in her gem-like eyes as she listened, a huff of laughter leaving her. Well, thank you for clarifying that, Sam. The earth claims the flesh of wolves in due time, I’d hate to see it given prematurely. 

He was a curious one, young in mind, quirky. If there was more to him underneath, she couldn’t tell, but such was the way of the lupine to think the best of others—naive way of thinking, surely, but she knew no other way. No matter how many times others have treated her poorly, it was her hope that there was good in everyone.

She dipped her head, accepting his answers instead of pressing for more. Very well, that is quite alright to do—I hope in doing so it will alleviate the heaviness you might feel on your shoulders.

Solenya didn't push for more, and Sam was glad. He wasn't convinced her benevolence would stretch to grave robbers.

"So.." He began awkwardly, kneading the moss with one forepaw. There was a little time before he needed to attend to the first order of business. "Were you born here, or...? And where's the other guy? Gal? Kir...oo?"

Head cocked, Solenya watched him fiddle with the moss. Her ears flicked at his words. Kiroo—that’s actually a cute little nickname. I wonder what she will think of these two when she finally returns.

Kirain. she said simply, the lily’s name bringing a gentle smile to curl. She is away—there was a task I needed for her to complete, but she found that she needed to stretch her legs beyond our guardians’ protection. 

Her heart already missed her friend dearly, missed her energy; the Sanctum was surely better for it.

Her head shook as he inquired about her roots. I was not born here, no. I’m from Hidden Valley, a place pretty far removed from this territory. My family—parents and siblings alike—were lost to me, so I left the Valley to…find new life. Silence was heavy with her remembered grief, the ghost of loss draping over her shoulders.

She breathed deeply to let loose a shaky sigh. This was not time to mourn; she had done so many, many moons ago. Her shoulders rolled, easing the heavy tension.

A paw waved in his direction now. And, you? Where did your story begin?

Outnumbered by ladies, and not for the first time. Sam nodded – it wasn't entirely bad that Kirain was away; fewer wolves to notice him making suspicious trips down the coast.

Talking about Hidden Valley seemed to make her sad, so Sam was quick to answer that he came from "Witchwood. Had an actual witch, too." Cackle. Sam grimaced slightly. "She was – is pretty weird; lives in a cave with her daughters and throws curses at anyone that gets close. Not that anyone would,  because, you know, the smell.."