Ravensblood Forest rineless

attn @Murk

the forest was alive with sound, a symphony of rustling leaves and distant bird calls that filled the air. shafts of sunlight broke through the thick canopy above, painting the forest floor with dappled patches of light. meredith wove through the underbrush, her golden coat gleaming like a flame in the shadows. her movements were quick, deliberate, each step carrying the same crackling energy that burned within her.

she paused near a fallen log, her nose twitching as she caught the faint scent of something unfamiliar. her tail flicked sharply, and her ears tilted forward with curiosity. the forest was thick and sprawling, a maze of endless green, but that only made her more eager to explore. there was something thrilling about the unknown, something that called to the wildfire in her soul.

where are you hiding? she murmured under her breath, her voice low and teasing, as if the forest itself was playing a game with her. a soft breeze stirred the ferns around her, brushing against her like an invitation. her bright green eyes narrowed, a spark of mischief lighting them as she darted forward, her paws light against the soft earth.

meredith loved the way the forest felt alive, the way it seemed to pulse and breathe with her. every shadow, every sound was a challenge, a promise of adventure. she grinned to herself, teeth flashing as she picked up her pace. there was no path to follow, but that was how she liked it. the forest belonged to her now, and she would carve her own way through it.

A cacophony of bird noise roused the phantom from his nap in the shade of a mossy stump. While he was not omniscient, he liked to think the creatures that called this forest home were his eyes and ears. Something had spooked them, and Nox was intent to find out what.

It didn't take him long to locate the perpetrator. The sound of her crashing through the undergrowth was a beacon, drawing him in like a moth to a flame. He caught glimmers of her between the trees; a brilliant flame that he watched from the darkest shadows. 

Her blatant ignorance of his markings irked him, but Nox decided to let it slide. Murkwood.was still but a sapling and besides, he wasn't one to spoil someone else's fun. Something of a smirk crept onto the boy's face as she took off again, weaving easily through the bushes as he gave chase.

her paws hit the ground hard and fast, each step feeling lighter as the thrill surged through her veins. she hadn’t meant to cause such a ruckus, but maybe that was the fun of it. the chaos. the uncertainty.

and now the sound of pawsteps—someone closing in.

fuck, she hissed under her breath, her teeth flashing in a grin that betrayed her frustration. whoever was behind her didn’t seem like the type to back off. she didn’t glance back. not yet. it wasn’t fear keeping her forward but something else entirely.

the spark of the chase.

her chest burned with exhilaration as she veered sharply to the left, her golden coat blending momentarily with the sunlight that broke through the canopy. catch me if you can! she barked over her shoulder, her voice brash and teasing, carried on the wind as she bolted through the trees.

meredith didn’t need to know who or why. she just needed to run. and maybe, just maybe, see who dared to follow.