Boartusk Heights the first step

Rlly late response, but I finally got around to it. Apologies for the wait. ^^'

 

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"Hm." Came her distracted response. She'd only been half listening to what the other said about being new to these lands and not knowing them very well herself. All she'd really heard was that this woman could be of no help to her; they were both as equally ignorant about the dangers and/or wonders ahead of them. In the same boat, even, except Andronika was certain this "heiress" was not running from home for the same reasons she was. Pale green eyes still scanning the horizon, she concluded the only way she'd learn more about this world was simply by heading out into it, experiencing it for herself... Truly, her lack of knowledge about what came next was somewhat exciting, but extremely terrifying all the same, making a frown tug at her features and her stomach clench with dread. She was in no hurry to get going, so she didn't mind sticking around to chat with this friendly face a little longer, knowing the next one might not be so friendly...

Her ears perked to the sound of her name and she turned back to the girl with an almost smug smirk, clearly liking the sound of her proper title being put to use. Out here, it was impossible to tell whether or not her status meant anything to anyone, and the odds of being called "princess" were likely quite slim. Needless to say, it was certainly nice to hear it again. So nice that she didn't pick up on Lulu's trace of patronization.

However, her smile withered when the woman asked how she came to be here. Her mind clouded with those terrible memories that she fought to push away, making her eyes distant as she drifted somewhere between past and present. Her parents leaving... Waking up alone... Going to find them... Seeing their bodies... Running... Her heart squeezed tighter with each image, emotion suffocating her until she mentally shook the thoughts away, forcing herself to grow numb to them.

Truly, it was just a casual question. Lulu meant nothing by it, and some distant voice in the back of Nika's head was acknowledging that. Yet all the grief and raw emotion was putting her into a dour mood, making her see everything through storm tinted glasses. That was none of this she wolf's business, she thought. Why on earth does she need to know?

The youth's expression hardened and she spoke with a forced monotone, something slightly bitter lurking beneath her "stoicness". "Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I had to flee home. Anything more detailed than that is, quite frankly, none of your business." Even now, trying to be numb, something dark flitted across her eyes at the mention of "unfortunate circumstances".

The air grew tense and awkwardly silent after her sudden change in attitude. She desperately wanted to change the subject, wanted to get away from her confused emotions, so she frantically searched for something else to discuss... Then a dull ache tugged at her stomach once again.

"What of the game? Have you seen any prey here since your arrival?" 
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