Great Bear Wilderness Run Free

She was an adult now, but she felt no different than before. Sure, she had added responsibilities, but didn't she always? Her mother put her to work the moment she could walk without falling on her ass every few steps. She had been working to become a priestess ever since the beginning.

The only thing she was looking forward to — other than her initiation into the Dark Brotherhood, as was her birthright — was being able to wander the wilderness without the urge to come back. She wanted to be free. To be a witch, priestess, whatever she wanted, without any restraint. But alas, winter was coming, and fast. She had to enjoy what few moments of freedom she had left before it grew too cold to leave the Woods.

She wandered close to Ouroboros again, intending on passing the charred ruin to the shore to meet a man she had long since neglected. She often wondered how he was, after he taught her to swim in the river. She had grown into her body since then, gaining the elegance her mother was slowly losing to age, her eye barely marring her face as she filled out. She was beautiful, though she never fawned over herself. Beauty can easily be stolen from you. It is a gift. The ever wise Night Mother murmured, as she walked north. But beauty has many benefits to my children. You will profit from your gifts, I assure you.

While half listening to the voice, she cocked an ear to the real world, hearing fast paws on the ground. She attempted to find the source — the sound was echoed and seemed to come from everywhere — jumping out of the way in time when a gray blur headed her way. Potema snarled at her near collider. "Watch where you're going, dumbass!"