Northstar Vale his heart would not take flight

it is early afternoon when she wakes, having slept truly, deeply, for the first time since losing her way. she first thing she is aware of is the dull ache that spreads through her entire body; this she greets with a groan and a careful unfurling of her limbs, brow furrowed and gaze filmed over with sleep. she'd settled next to a sparse thicket, adorned with a handful of fragile, flame-orange leaves; the first place she'd found that seemed acceptable. 

she wants to seek out Aure, and perhaps even some of the others that live here, though the latter is purely idealistic. she knows that when faced with a stranger, she'll head the other way, no matter how much she wants to, just once, seek out a potential ally head on. it works out fantastically in her head, but when faced with the real thing, she's quick to balk. 

but standing, moving, suddenly seems to require monumental effort. the ache hurts, and her skin burns uncomfortable beneath her pelt. and so she remains where she is, gradually waking and slipping into greater discomfort, hoping that the kindly woman would stumble upon her eventually.