The Bracken Woods Where...am I?

CRACK

Alasie's eyes shot open—jolted by the deafening sound of rolling thunder clapping further north. She tried to raise her head, only to be demobolized by a wave of drowziness. Laying on the ground, she took in her surroundings.

"Where...am I?" was the only thought that crossed her mind.

The thick woods that towered over her head was a new sight—vastly different than the glaciers she called home.

"Home", she whispered with a wavering voice. What happened, again? Alasie whimpered.

"That's right. I was abandoned".

Alasie needed to find a place to rest, and some food, too. She wouldn't want to be caught in the rain. Lifting her tired head, Alasie prepared to journey south—unsure if there's even anything there. Alasie began her trek with her first uneasy step, and she eventually moved past the pain and discomfort of movement. But she was not without uncertainty—the eerie feeling of a prowler overwhelmed her. Suddenly all she could feel was her shaky breath as she peered into the woods, searching for her stalker.

HII LONDON ITS SUMMER FROM AMONG US

 

Her stalker wasn't so much of a stalker as a curious old woman looking to check on the girl after finding a lone scent, which was far from any pack except Sagtannet to her knowledge. Old age made one lonely, too- thus Star was never one to deny herself the possibility of a temporary companion, even if she was not as easily sociable as some. 

Star was only following the trail of her scent, but realized she had gotten close when she heard shaky breathing from just ahead. The small warrior paused, calling out loudly in an aged voice: Hey, don't worry. I was just looking for you. It was a sorry explanation. You alright? For now she held her ground- there was no benefit sneaking up further on a stranger who already sounded frightened, though Star wasn't looking at her just yet, considering she was a couple yards back through some foliage.

Alasie's ears perked up—a stranger's voice confirmed her suspicion that she was not alone. The voice held years of aging and compassion, but Alasie was not quick to drop her guard. Turning to the voice, Alasie called back "who are you?", and followed up the question with desperation: "and, where am I?".

Alasie stumbled upon the realization that she doesn't really have any choice but to trust her. She's too weak to run, and even if she could there's no telling how quickly her tired body will fall over. Accepting internal defeat, she began stepping towards the direction of the voice.

it is asster from amoung us short post just to get this in, ill edit l8r

Astraeus creeps after Star on her trail as he'd been to hesitant to flute and greeting back on the peak, but he hadn't supposed they'd spilt so far from Sagtannet on their waltz he resolved to inch closer to her trail by the hour. She still hadn't seen him by the time she found a little willowish snowdrop in the bracken weald. Now perked up with interest he injects suddenly,
“Do we eat it?”

The girl turned, quickly responding with questions, to which Star smiled lightly. I'm Star, a hunter from a pack just west of here called Sagtannet. She was about to answer the next question when she realized the girl was coming closer, and dropped to a seat on her haunches to make sure the stranger wouldn't be alarmed... not that Star, with her aged face and small size was particularly intimidating. I'm not sure what the name of these woods are, but this land is called the Teekon Wilds- from what I've heard. A shrug of her shoulders. She was a logical type, and the bounty and benefit of a land always meant more to her than unimportant things like names. She was preparing to ask for the girl's name when a familiar voice interjected, and she glanced down to find Agana's son, if she remembered correctly. God, what was his name again? This was why she didn't bother with them anyway. No, we don't eat her, She laughed, -we show her kindness. Mahler would be proud if you take good care of strangers. She was at grandma age, so she figured it was her job to pass on some wisdom or something.

Seeing the old wolf sit momentarily eased Alasie in her decision to trust the wolf. There was a second wolf that Alasie hadn't noticed before, his coat created a stark contrast against Star's snow white fur. He was young, much younger than Alasie. But he seemed to be eyeing Alasie—his unbroken gaze raised her guard once more as she began glancing towards her flank, watching for more wolves. Her wits escaped her.

"The Teekon Wilds?", Alasie's thoughts escaped her mouth, "I'm not familiar with this place". Alasie's eyes wandered as the paranoia crescendoed, and she began painting several escape routes in her mind in the event that she is attacked. It must be a trap, she thought to herself. But again, what do I have to lose? It's not like I can just turn and run now.

Alasie halted about 20 metres from the two wolves. "Sagtannet", Alasie commanded her voice to hold a façade of courage, "Could you tell me about your pack? How big is it? What exactly is it that you hunt?"

sry for the wait, u can click or hover over the dialogue for translation

The rabbitsoft croon of the elder woman issued kind reprimand to his cannibalistic tendencies, all he wanted to do was expand his gotdamn'd palate! Some people never want to try new things, it's disheartening. Star then blathered on about how proud his father would be if he treated strangers with kindness. His brows knit a guise of a scowl, as she had most definitely not met the first strangers Astraeus had encountered. Mahler definitely did not care judging from these past few weeks (or was it months?). 

“Wir sind größer als ein bär, zu groß, um mehr dumme mädchen einzuladen!” pissy snips at her distant figure, a impish thought surfaced, so then: “Nein, wir essen sie!”

These things were easier to say behind Star's (literal) back, which he did.

It was a good thing Star had spent many a day learning from Andraste and occasionally overhearing the words of Mahler, for now she the ability to piece together phrases here and there. Thus she glared down to the boy and swiftly reached to attempt to smack him with a paw upside the temple; a move of discipline that would land gentle enough not to hurt too long, only shake him in the moment. Do not treat strangers like this, She hissed under her breath, A pack doesn't gain members and become stronger if we scare everyone off. A lesson he would have to learn, if he ever wished to lead- though she humored herself with the thought that she might be dead by the time Astraeus was old enough to take Sagtannet. 

I'm sorry about him, She told the young girl, as if he wasn't beside her, whispering like it was secret but just loud enough that he might hear- He was not disciplined well. A slight tease, knowing he would hear it, but a critique of his character too. Sagtannet is a small pack of a few families, and we mostly... keep to ourselves, stick to our business. We hunt all sorts of things... basically whatever is near the mountains. Maybe a deer from the forest on big days, but usually just small game, sometimes a mountain goat. A shrug of her shoulders. Sagtannet didn't do many pack hunts lately, but she assumed this was because the children were young- once they were old enough, they'd be able to more effectively take down a deer. Are you looking for a home, or content to keep wandering?