Northstar Vale now the memories are on the wall

The healer awoke suddenly, without purpose. The last vestiges of a confusing, conflicting dream fled - leaving her with no recollection of the urgency with which her subconscious had tormented her the night before. 

Liri lay still, breath causing her ivory ribcage to swell with feigned slumber. Her lids remained firmly over the dark orbs that so desperately wanted to seek whatever source had awoken her and though her small ears did not move, they strained against silence as the wintry fae listened intently. 

The wind alone answered, a soft call that whooshed against the walls of her earthen home and promised that nothing was amiss. The warm content feeling of waking early in the morning would not allow her to slip peacefully into rest once more; something had pulled her from the oblivion of sleep and Liri intended to figure out what. 

The sylph lids peeled back to reveal mahogany optics bright with energy as Liri rose, stretching felinely as she slipped from her den with a yawn that felt as if it would split her jaws. Shaking away the last of the groggy cobwebs lingering in the corners of her mind, the healer padded towards the heart of the Vale where she usually took a morning drink before patrolling. 

Her thoughts had wandered and her paws moved idly, but the unfamiliar scent caught her attention as she neared the fields. A jolt of alarm and fear pierced her heart as her paws stuttered to a halt in the midst of the trees, wide eyes turning towards the mountains where her comrades dozed. 

Get a grip, a soft growl slipped free to accompany the thought, as if to bolster her courage. The scent was female and it was only one rogue - if they were hostile, they wouldn't be permitted to hang around long. Liri would see to that, even if the perpetrator might scoff upon being met with the scarred femme's ferocity. 

Squaring her shoulders confidently, the tundrian slunk forward stealthily - intending to observe the stranger first. 

The trees thinned and through the gaps, Liri could catch pale green glimpses of the Vale and snatches of the distant creeks. The tracker was careful to keep her small form pressed flush with the ground, creeping on her forelegs as she sought a good vantage point. 

The loner in question was an average femme - a bit lean though with toned musculature that was somewhat hidden by the fluff of her dove grey coat. Liri watched as the woman leaned forward, neck extending towards the thin rivulet of water as she lapped up a drink. 

The northron could detect no threatening behavior from her spying, nor could she entirely be sure of Sundri's reason for stopping here. It was not a choice the Blackfoot would have made should she have been the one wandering alone but then, she had always been cautious. 

Liri knew hiding in the bushes wouldn't satisfy her curiosity - and the woman seemed innocent enough; surely if she had intentions of stirring up conflict then she would have done so already rather than stop for a drink. Thus, the healer pulled herself into a standing position, making sure to make lots of noise as she materialized from the wood in order not to startle Sundri. 

The former Alphess chuffed as she trotted over, form and expression held carefully neutral though polite. 

"Hail, " the sprite murmured in greeting as she halted a few feet from the stranger, dark eyes roving over her curiously. Her freckled head dipped in welcome and the beginnings of a friendly smile tugged at the corners of her mouth once it lifted.