Emberwood Only good things avoided me

A chuff reached her ears, as did the following sound of steady footfalls and a voice—the girl slowed and turned to acknowledge the woman, as curious of her as she. With the gentle breeze came her scent, similar and intermingling with those that seemed one with the earth on which they walked; a member of the tribe that claimed those woods, she presumed. “Hello,” she returned as she realised this, ceasing her steps fully. “I do apologise if I’ve—I have—troubled you by being so near.” Ah, a misspeak! Thankfully, her mother and other relatives were nowhere near enough to hear her.

“I am only seeking a way around the forest,” she further explained, feeling no need to be anything other than transparent. She felt her distance from the home was well enough that her mother would not scold her so, surely, it must be decent enough for this woman, too? Kaori studied her closely, patiently, wondering if her assumption may turn out to be true—or if she was entirely wrong in believing she could safely be near enough to see the trees.