Jade Fern Grove Turn Around Turn Around

Esma had not intended to wander away from her home. She had no natural desire to ever leave Riverclan - a place, where she felt protected by her mother and the gods she worshipped. Anything outside the safe confines was scary and chaotic - she preferred to observe it from the safety of the borders, letting her imagination stray far beyond and fill the details of the alien world she was afraid of and not familiar with. 

However, today, while playing near the Mudminnow river, watching the fish and trying to bring out some weeds, she had got distracted by a small herd of deer. At first the grazers were just part of harmless background, until something scared them and they came charging directly to, where Esma was. She caught sight of them only, when the first one dashed past her, making her crouch and duck and tumble in the water awkwardly. She inhaled it, making her cough and splutter, all the while the deer kept coming. 

In a panicked attempt to get away from the situation she took off in the direction she believed to be home, but in reality it was the opposite one. Esma realized her mistake only, when she had recovered enough to take in the surroundings properly and understand that none of this was familiar. Worse - there were no scents of wolves around either. Another wave of panic rising in the pit of her stomach, she got up and padded through the strange place, not knowing, what to do. 

Until she caught sight of greyish-white pelt that belonged to a young man in the distance. Esma froze and then went to hide behind the nearest tree, watching the stranger in anxious silence.