Horizon Ridge anathema [j]

Private for @Akhlut but if Sophie wants others to come in, they can!
(im so so sorry for long post)

Who knew how long she'd been traveling? Searching, it seemed, endlessly; she'd succumbed to her needs and entered into this place, this proposed haven, in the hopes that she could find somebody. Anybody. And yet every stranger she met, she cowered, and the fear and loathing of what she'd become would drive her away. Her search was unending and she would forever haunt this place until she was satisfied with herself. Which, it seemed, would never happen.

The golden girl had exhausted herself in her journey. She sought the refuge of forests, where the sunshine still parted through the dry twigs and branches and bled onto the forest floor. Where the snow brushed away, leaf litter, brown and copper, absorbed the light. The forest danced in hues of gold and red and white, and for this brief while, her afternoon was at peace. She spent it walking slowly through the snow, half-heartedly attempting to find a meal. Her nose twitched and sucked in scents, but she could not discern prey from the smell of rotting litter her footfalls exposed with each step. She was distracted, and hopeless; on the brink of simply giving up. If Inkenoah wasn't so foolishly stubborn, she would have, and ended this misery long ago.

She found respite when the sun began to fall. No longer would it be day, and not yet was it night. Having failed, Inkenoah could resolve only to curl up and try to find sleep. Within the breast of a large tree trunk, whose unearthed roots curled around in an arc, Inkenoah dropped onto her side and curled up. Seeking warmth from her own body, she nestled her nose into her tail and closed her eyes. Through the long moments awaiting sleep, she wished dearly to slumber all ready and not waste this precious moment - and it would seem the girl was too eager, for she did sleep. She slept as the sun fell down and darkness began to envelop the forest, and the moon took its place, shining brightly in its sickly cold glow. For as long as she slumbered, the phoenix felt no threat from the night. Not until some creature had rustled the dry growth nearby and piqued her attention.

Slowly, her eyelids peeled back. The golden gaze of the girl adjusted to witness the darkness that had fallen over her. Immediately she tensed; her chest tightened and she raised her head, scanning her surrounding. The rustling that roused her continued; she locked her eyes on it. Dread mounted in her head and her eyes widened, her lips taut. She parted her jaws with the essence of speech, but none came forth; her throat too dry. The darkness had come for her again. She slept too long, and now she was victim to its shadows, its tricks; slowly, carefully, she unfurled herself and rose.

The bush shook.

Without second thought, Inkenoah burst into a sprint. A sharp whine left her throat and she ran as fast as her legs could take her. The svelte body of the phoenix glided through the forest, ignorant of the snow beneath her paws, the rotting litter beneath that, the scents that laced these trees. In the darkness she ran. From the shadows, from the creature beyond what she could see; imaginary hounds baying, barking, snapping at her heels. The memory manifested itself behind her and pushed her forward into the territory of strangers. Her heart raced as quickly as she moved and subtle cries, sobs even choked from her lips. Stop chasing me! Please, please leave me alone! She begged silently, though nothing pursued her but fear itself.

Eventually, she had broken through the jungle into a clearing. The moonlight bled out onto the earth and illuminated the glittering snow around her. The trees had grown sparser and rock crept out from beneath her paws. Inkenoah finally stopped and whirled around. There was nothing behind her. Her fur stood on end, her eyes wide; tears threatened to breach the edges of her gaze. Without hesitation she thrusted her head back and uttered a sharp, desperate cry. A call for help, a plea.