Blackfeather Woods before the night is through

she's mainly looking to find/check in on @Maegi but anyone is welcome to jump in <3

She had not spotted Nona (who she did not fully realize was now Apostle) in a stretch of time that was a touch longer than she would have liked. It was not as though she was constantly on the tail of her but Jakoul enjoyed the company of Maegi, trusted her and wanted to help every moment she could. So she made a move for the tunnels that laid within the lands of Blackfeather.

She was not well versed with the underground system, it was bound to happen when she spent all of her time hiding in the roots of trees on the border. Each step was tentative as her narrow skull turned back and forth, silver eyes hoping to find a figure nearby.

Blue didn't follow her within the tunnels. He detested the subterranean labyrinth, preferring instead to stay within the trees. He cawed at her as she descended, but Maegi knew he'd be fine; he'd find his raven friends and they'd engage in gossip or secrets. For now, she needed to be alone.

But solitude didn't come easy, apparently, as soon she came upon the questing form of Jakoul. Hey, she greeted casually, disappointment only slightly tinging her words. Out of all the wolves she could have run into, the huntress was someone she at least enjoyed being around. Someone she wasn't hiding from.

How are you? Maegi asked, her eyes beginning to adjust to the darkness and piecing the scene around them together. They were near Fellglow; she caught a faint glow down another path, the bioluminescence guiding the way of any wayward wanderer.

apologies for the delay! <3

Her form seemed to turn lively once she heard Maegi. Jakoul did not hold a trained ear with the tone of others' words. If they were not down right hostile, she assumed all was fine. Hello. She whispered back as she aimed to move a bit closer. Although she was careful to give the Nona her breathing room still.

Good. Home. She murmured as she looked around them. To her, it was near impossible to be in some sort of negative mood while she was deep in the territory of Blackfeather. If only she had been more keen that not everyone held the same feelings.

Ahhh...lost — That wasn't the right word for what she wished to tell Maegi. Her tongue nervously swept along her inky jowls before her brain felt confident enough to try again. Mi...mis...miss Maegi. And while it may have sounded like a title to some, Jakoul was trying to convey that she had perhaps been lacking some of Nona's presence in her life.

Home. She was glad Jakoul thought of it that way. The way she did. The way she always had. The woman had fit so neatly into the fabric of life here that it was as if she'd always been here, too. Maegi allowed herself to smile, the expression growing warmer still as Jakoul continued to speak.

I'm sorry I haven't been around much, she responded, feeling a little self-conscious. She hadn't really considered that someone would really miss her, other than her brother and Mou. Maybe she wasn't at all equipped to be a leader, and was best suited to the shadows, hidden away, conversing with the gods. . .

Maegi took a step closer, letting her doubts fall aside (for now). Tell me what you see, she said, curiosity lighting her face. What you hear. The goings-on of the Woods. Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary? More than anything, she wanted Jakoul to feel even more useful than she already was.

Jakoul let out a sound akin to a purr, or at least whatever her canine vocals could express as such. It was gentle though and done out of fondness. She would aim to slink a bit closer, tail swaying gently by her ankles. Jakoul felt at ease around the Nona, enough to display some more vulnerable emotions. There was more comfort here in these woods than she had felt elsewhere.

Ahhh. She let out in a soft whisper. Pale man come... Her voice trailed off as she gave thought to the next words she would use. No stay. She explained as she glanced from the ground to Maegi's features.

Pale man. That could be one of a number of wolves, a few of which the possibility sent her heart racing faster. What was his name; did he say? Maegi asked, mouth feeling slightly dry. Kove, she thought fervently. Please let him be all right. Even if he hadn't chosen to stay—even if he hadn't asked to see her—it was good that her former mentor was still alive and well.

Anything else besides that? she queried, hot on the heels of her last two questions. The intelligence was only useful if it was someone of note, or if they had been hostile; otherwise, Maegi would move onto the next issue. No use dwelling on fly-by-night visitors and trivialities.

K-kaer — She halted, tongue feeling heavy with the strangers unusual name. Tok...Kaertok. Though she struggled she had done it, answered Nona's question with the pale man's name. Not that it had mattered much. He had not stayed and had not been hostile on the borders — which she thanked Ramsay's presence for surely (she thought) helping keep any aggression at bay. Jakoul was not equipped to protect herself so keenly.

Her head shook softly. There was nothing unusual in the woods that she had spotted. Visitors were limited to the natural prey that drifted through the woods or the birds who jumped the branches above. I watch...more. Even if things seemed dull around them she would not become less vigilant.

Not Kove. Kaertok. A name that was wholly unfamiliar to her. Swallowing the disappointment that surfaced in the moment (would she ever see her old mentor again?) Maegi nodded, appreciative of the intel, as well as Jakoul's promise to stay vigilant. Thank you, she murmured, blinking softly. An extra pair of eyes on the forest would do them all good, especially since Jakoul was becoming so familiar with Blackfeather.

Have you seen Fellglow Keep? she asked the woman. She had initially wanted to be alone, but now she was somewhat glad of Jakoul's company. It's beautiful, full of glowing plants and rocks. I've never seen anything like it. Well, no, that was wrong—there had been a cave at Undersea that was much the same. . .

But the last time she'd been there, she'd been hauling a lifeless body to the sea—and that was a memory she did not want to linger on just now.

She was ashamed to admit that she had not seen such a beautiful place. It sounded like a story to Jakoul. Glowing things made no sense to the creature who had always surrounded herself in drab surroundings up until her arrival in Teekon. No. She breathed the response out with an apologetic look on her face. Her tail gave a few long slow sways before it halted. Nona...show? It was a gentle request, one that she would not push should her Nona desire to be alone now.

The Merei could not deny her desire to see Fellglow Keep now though. It would be a blessing to see it with the Wood's leader.

urrg, sorry -- I meant to thread out them going to the Keep, but can we fade this here? IRL is crazy right now and I should whittle down my threadlogs.
Maegi gave Jakoul a kind look upon seeing the contrition; there was no need for that. In fact, the Nona was happy to give the scout a tour. I'll show you, she insisted gently, wagging her tail. She nodded into the darkness ahead, knowing that it wouldn't be dark for long. It's this way.

She waited a beat for the woman's response and then began to pad away, slow by virtue of her twisted foot and to allow Jakoul time to catch up. They'd have to go single-file for a while through the winding labyrinth, but then it would open up and oh. . .Fellglow Keep was beautiful. She couldn't wait for Jakoul to see it.