The Heartwood When Different, didn't seem so different.

The spirit shifted closer, and fur rose along her spine, though she flattened it to be polite. She smiled- speaking of gods. She was far from the sea here; Huā doubted this woman shared the same gods of her sisters. Still, the empress gave a casual nod, Maybe evil things live here before. Huā commented with a shrug, sniffing boredly at a small sprout that grew from the dull ground. New life come again, though, She murmured with a slight smile, seaglass gaze shifting back up to the stranger.