Emberwood prayer of the refugee

ooc; for @Roscoe

she knew not what this place was. another stop, surely, on the road. the quietness was welcoming. she could easily think here. Heloise's paws carried her into the Emberwood, a sigh releasing from her chest. instantly she felt more at peace. though she did not chalk this up to anything supernatural. merely coincidence. not many had tread here recently and the various beasties were chirping quietly. unaccustomed to a predator in the midst. she was not here to prey though.

though perhaps she would pray. for good luck. fortune. even safety. the ivory being would move forward to a spot under a few treelines. she slowed, reclining under a bundle of them. slowly breathing in and out. calming herself after a long journey to Teekon. she had not allowed herself this peace since arriving. she was always moving somehow and somewhere. bowing her head, she would attempt to meditate first.

attempt was the key word.

Surely everyone in the Teekon Wilds knew who he was by now? Roscoe was no man eager to be quiet and meditate, god forbid. The tawny boy was relentless and was almost always running to get nowhere, or nowhere trying to get somewhere. There was no stop button and if there was, good luck ever finding it. The boy was a speed demon out of a hell and prepared to make some noises where possible. So when he stumbles upon this rather bright place, he can feel a small sense of calm rush through him. His speed decreases dramatically but he's still at a slow jog, golden eyes peering around him vehemently as though the artistry would somehow disappear at a moment's notice.

The silence was deafening and he swore he could hear his own heartbeat in the dead silence. It was awful! Yet he couldn't quite bring himself to yell or even scream, not even breaking into a run again. Instead he simply kept to a fast walk and peered around anxiously, uncertain as to where he had ventured off to and why this place seemed so peaceful and quiet. Who actually liked it here? Obviously that white lady over here - she seemed absolutely thrilled by the peace and had even gone so far as to hunker down and close her eyes. How drab! 

With a grit of his teeth he mulled over his options. Annoy her to get her attention or simply be loud and hope to get her attention... decisions, decisions! Despite his choices, neither one of them guaranteed her attention but he didn't have much of a choice. Eventually he deigned for Option A: annoy her and hope to get her attention. To which he immediately began a somewhat faster jog in her direction before letting out a few choice woofs to signal his dramatic and needy approach.

it would seem her peace was interrupted. sigh.

Heloise's closed eyes would furrow at the brow, though she withheld her huffing growl in the presence of the other. as much as she would enjoy cuffing him upside the head for his disturbance... she refrained. it took her year of training in self-control to calmly open her gaze and view the other. a younger being by she suspected a year or two, a man in gender. he was nothing remarkable to look at; though that could be because she did not judge others by features. 

"yes?" her voice was calm, collected. he would find no easy target here. Heloise would watch as he approached. the urge to side-step and let him crash his fool body into the trunk of a tree was very tempting. though, again, that nasty self-control. if he continued charging at her, however, she would have no choice but to put him in his place. "what do you want, sir?" for it seemed only he desired to nag her to death. appearances could be deceiving; he could be asking for help. she would attempt to keep an open mind.

There was very little else in this world that captivated him like meeting others - meeting strangers, more or less. They were these gigantic mysteries that unless you approached them head-on, they disappeared like they'd never existed and he couldn't have that. Roscoe was a boy of simple taste and he wanted to taste everything. So upon his gravitational pull towards the white, snowy woman he began to slow down to a trot to which he gave a jolly grin. Eventually stopping a few feet away where he could see the easily written expression on her face that clearly was no fan of his.

Hello, he greeted calmly despite his excitement while his tail wagged quietly behind him. You looked so peaceful here and I wanted to know why this place is so quiet.. so tranquil. There was something in the air here that seemed to put people at ease and if not for the aura that surrounded a jovial boy such as himself, he might not have even noticed. Just like how he feigned ignorance of her rather annoyed expression because she deserved to know him and give him a shot. That was what mother always said - don't judge a character by it's coat, Ros! Even the barest trees produce beautiful leaves. That alone was enough reminder that he had to look deep under the hood, within its cover, to see the pages within.

Heloise was only irked due to her meditation being obviously interrupted. some wolves would go by her, respectful of her attempted tranquility, and allow her this respite. it was quite clear he had done it on purpose - though she was not going to call his shit out - and did it out of... what exactly? boredom? she failed to understand when people desired to approach her. "hail" she would respond, at least content he had slowed down. her instincts were quick and she would have grabbed him if he continued. "yes - I was attempting to meditate." before she was so rudely interrupted.

though she would attempt to push this down. she was not personally irked at him. merely his actions. the young man desired to speak and she was ever a good, quiet little listener. her eyes would hood as she thought before her slender shoulders rolled into a shrug. Heloise did not know why this particular spot was tranquil. it could very well be a sanctuary for Teekon. a place of religious importance. some long forgotten shrine. she did not know for sure. "I, however, do not know why it is like this" she would be honest in that retrospect. "I am not native to this realm."

Unfortunately for him, he didn't understand her language of hail and thus it scurried right over his head and into the wind. Besides the clear annoyance that he had gauged out of her, Roscoe liked her. She hadn't snapped at him nor charged at him viciously and for that he was thankful. Ohhhh meditation... yeah he had no idea what that was like. Not one bit. He was a meet everything head-on individual and couldn't even begin to think how standing still did anyone any good. With that being said, it was easy to just slip that under the rug as though he knew exactly what it was and even gave a temporary apologetic look that quickly dissolved into something neutral. Best not to display his whole hand, okay?

While he had decided he enjoyed her well enough, he could not resist nor control the disappointed look that etched over his face. A furrow of his brows and a pinch of his cheeks indicated as such. Oh, he murmured under his breath as he looked to the area in between them, you looked so comfortable I had only assumed. Why else would you meditate and close your eyes in a place that you didn't know? It was dangerous to be out here and not be awake and prepared. I'm not from here either. My mum passed so here I am. Roscoe wasn't as broken up about as he had been a few months ago but she had been a great light in his life that had made it all the easier to see her light as it was and continue forward.

it was clear he did not know what meditation was about. how tranquil it made oneself and achieving nirvana was just as important as an assault on the body. Heloise was not one to boast knowledge above others. she would give only the gentlest of advice and information. things she knew, not things she only knew of. some secrets? she kept very close. he also did not seem to understand why she was even stopping here, allowing herself to be open to fate.

it was a high probability she would have been attacked. her skull would gift a small tilt. yes, to others it may seem foolish. she refused the more feral caution that came with a new place. "I am a traveler" Heloise explained softly "if I do not take the risk, I learn nothing" for, without experience, there could be no growth. the young man would go on to inform her his mother had passed. she clicked her tongue in sympathy, though she doubted he wanted to hear her condolences. he seemed past that. "so you are also new."

it was a statement, not a question. she knew the answer; he had said it plainly enough. "traveling by yourself?" she queried.

Being so young he was still rather new to such trivial things like meditation and what good could come out of it. He was all about the free spirit now that he didn't have his mother attempting to reign him in like a child. It was a beautiful thing to suddenly have so much freedom and not know how to properly access it. The tawny boy was quite used to others giving him quite the chill but as one queen had once said the cold doesn't bother me anyways. There was so much more to life than worrying about someone's objective feelings towards him because it shouldn't affect him at all. He was Roscoe and they were who they were. He couldn't change them but he could give them a moment of his time to show them that there was good whether they actually saw it or not. 

The words in which the woman were relatively true. As a traveler, like herself, you took risks everywhere you went and this was no different. If she kept her eyes open she would always be paranoid and watching for what lie around the corner. That, my friends, was no way to live. Mhm, he replied in a dark hum for it did not seem like a question that needed a direct or affirming answer. For now, yeah. I had a brother once but he never made it past winter. That forced the strong bond between him and his mother. She had been protective over him but she also gave him a longer leash once she realized she was getting weaker. An attempt at showing him what it would eventually be like when he truly was out on his own.

as she thought. the young man did not seem keen to slump over and weep about his predicament. in essence, he was a bit stronger than she originally thought of him. opinions changed even if she was a stubborn bitch at the worst of times. it was too soon to form an opinion of the other being, and Heloise usually reserved herself. she did not form attachments so easily. fate was a cruel mistress. he could easily be dead within a month. he could be attacked. he could be injured. she chose to distance herself for the others' sakes. 

for she was a fierce protector. it gave her recklessness she would rather avoid in such a new realm. Heloise did not speak of her own family. if she had any, if any of the cel Mares were left, she made no indication. freeing herself unwilling from their hold years prior. she traveled solo. no connections made her freer. fewer shackles. "I am sorry for your losses" though she suspected it was quite rude to dismiss his tragedy so easily. the ivory woman assumed he was closer to his mother than the brother. losing a parent was never easy. "at least it is not wintering now."

was that... was that an attempt to be humorous? her voice was still neutral and her eyes did not dance. she would straighten up a bit. "I am Heloise cel Mare. you are?"

Admitting to travelling by yourself was probably not the smartest move but it was the only move he had. If you could call it that. Roscoe had never really been given much of anything to fear so admitting his loneliness was not something to be kept a secret. Instead, he wanted folks to see that he was wild and free - that he could not be tamed so easily, or so he liked to think. Several months ago (mid-winter) he had mourned the loss of his brother and only a couple he had mourned his mother but after a while it became easier to just accept the inevitable. Mum had always talked about how mother nature had taken him too soon but that he had bigger and better plans waiting for him elsewhere. Where elsewhere was, Roscoe did not know nor had he ever thought to ask.

Whether it was an attempt at humor or not, he missed it entirely - for it did not seem posed like any kind of joke he had ever heard. Instead, he simply shrugged and nodded his head absently. Obviously it wasn't winter anymore and things that made it through did what it always does - survive. That was all there was, really. It was what most folks ended up doing was just doing things to get by and survive but he didn't see it that way. He wanted to experience and treasure what there was to life, he didn't want to just survive to see another day. He wanted anything and everything. Oh! Roscoe Phase here! He admitted proudly, he knew his name was a proud one but he didn't have much story behind it other than it was a long, long lineage and he had a name of one of his ancestors.

a name to a face. always decent to go with the one you spoke to. "a pleasure, sir Phase" he was not a bad man, just a bit more... hyperactive than she was used to. Heloise continued to be polite and formal - something she would not shake easily. he was younger than her though, so he may not be for formalities. it mattered not to her; she would continue unless proven wrong. the younger generation never was for them. though one also got a few that were. life was complicated. she attempted not to think too long on it. gave her a headache.

not very accustomed to casual speaking, she would fall silent. the ivory woman always desired to have that lackadaisical care but she felt quite awkward doing so. her humor lost on the young man, she was hesitant to attempt more. though she did not so much as correct him, allowing it to move on. she was not offended. "where do you travel next?" Heloise would ask after a few moments had passed. did he have a plan, or was he going to aimlessly wander like herself?

Sir almost made him give an uncomfortable and awkward guffaw. It was such an outrageous moniker that he couldn't even begin to fathom how it fit into his world at all. He was young and sir was reserved for older, grayer dudes that had heaps of family and loads of boring stories. He wasn't that old-fart like! Nevertheless, he kept his jaw squeezed shut and attempted to just slide that under the rug. She was right, of course. He was far too young to really think about formalities and being extra polite. Sure, it crossed his mind briefly that he should extend the same courtesy back to her (the whole its a pleasure to meet you bit) but his brain did not force it and his tongue did not register. 

Luckily, he could easily move past that and was eager to answer any other questions she might have. It was still unfortunate that she didn't know anything about this place (and probably nowhere else, too) but at least someone was talking to him! Dunno. I've been around here for a few days now. I think there's a few packs here but I haven't wanted to get close. But he was still young and knew the risks of being a loner compared to that of a pack life. His more responsible side was nudging him constantly to venture close but his more adventurous spirit was always, always, more powerful. Do you recommend going somewhere specific? She said she didn't know this place but maybe there was another, even better place he could go!

he seemed put off by her formality. as she suspected. Heloise did not particularly care, already knowing that many younger wolves would scoff at such a thing. she had been raised in mannerisms and with mannerisms. using honorifics was a part of her life. she was not going to force it upon anyone. "hm" though Roscoe seemed keen to remove himself from such an option. and she would not pressure it. he would ask her where she thought he should go next to move the conversation along.

her eyes would travel away from his face to glance around. she had been to other places so far. not any she knew the names of. only one pack she had dared to visit, to grasp. "the coast is lovely" Heloise's eyes snapped back to him. though 'lovely' was not a good word for it naturally. it was a very harsh location. something she did enjoy, however. "there is a community there called Stormrift." yet the other packs? not on her knowledge.

but you could not swing a dead cat without hitting one of them. "it depends on your personal preference, however" she would go on "where would you like to go?"

With all that Roscoe had been able to see thus far he was rather interested in knowing what places she had seen. This little valley he had come across was rather nice but it was rather hard to get around without running head-on into one pack to the next. There were small pathways that he could get by without a fuss but odds were pretty slim that he'd be invisible every time. So while he liked being on this side of the Wilds, he also wanted to explore somewhere else that might have more to offer a loner like him. The coast? he asked quietly, contemplating it to himself in the followed silence for it sounded like a lovely place but she mentioned a pack and that likeness slithered away. 

At least it was only one, though! Even then, she wasn't completly convinced that the coast (or Stormrift) was a good option and suggested that their opinions might be quite different. Anywhere really... I want to see it all! Roscoe had never been very picky about where his paws ended up because he usually liked whatever he came across in some way. Whether it was a small reason or a big reason, he could find something worth admiring. Like here fo instance! He greatly admired the tranquility of the place (despite his ability to forego the act of being tranquil) and would have to revisit that meditation thing sometime. Really giving it a shot rather than scoffing at the idea.

it did not surprise her the other seemed to want to go to many places. she would softly chuckle at his enthusiasm, likening the boy more and more to a child over a man. an eager pup. equally eager to see the world and its delights for himself. a noble goal indeed. "I have thus far seen a plateau" she would muse, her head craning to the direction of the Kintla Flatlands "the smell of many hooven beasts make their home there. there is a delightful view of the flatlands below on the ledge."

Heloise was not done with her musings, however. allowing it to sink in momentarily, her gaze would shift in different directions. her nose a compass and allowing it to point where she had tread. "there are many woodlands and many open spaces. each new location has its own secrets. new areas to discover as well" the woman would tell the other. if his mind was endless and his creativity ran free, then there was no limitation to what he could achieve in the Teekons.

The world, from what he had experienced thus far, had been endless and carried on forever. He was old enough to realize that seeing all of it was fruitless and could never be done, but he did want to see every bit of it that he could. So to hear the woman suddenly open up and express what she had seen was magical. She described it so wonderfully and it left him reeling for more. A unique desperation to eat up her words and see them for himself was evident. Sounds beautiful, he commented idly as he imagined a plateau with a giant herd of deer thundering across the savannah and the flatlands. It sounded like a lot of fun and something he was eager to partake in even if it might be a good journey's away. 

For the sole reason that she mentioned each location having its own secret, he was hooked. There was nothing better to the young Phase than knowing that someone else recognized that there was something magical in every locale. New areas to explore and places to venture - places to just get lost. You had me at secrets, he comments with a giddy smile as his front feet start dancing a little bit and his tail wagging excitedly behind him. Pointing his nose in the direction she did, he made a mental note to head that way and continue there. He believed he had been going west all this time but he could stand to take a detour or two. Thank you, Miss Heloise. There were some manners for you because if anything, he had grown used to being kind to his mother and in more ways than one this woman was kind of like that. She had been helpful and polite, which earned some form of nicety from the growing boy.

she'd dip her head to the other, eyes closing briefly to offer a silent contemplation in return of his sudden good manners. she had no reason to lie to him, nor be impolite. he had done nothing but interrupt her meditation; it was not like she could not attempt again. the Emberwood was merely a perfect scene that she would return to eventually. yet for now, she would continue forward in any direction the wind took her. 

"I suspected as much" she would offer a small knowing smile to Roscoe. he seemed quite eager to leave his mark on the world in some way. most men did it with coupling with as many women as possible. it was a nice change of pace to see the young man content with discovery. if only the rest of his gender would be equally and universally pleased with such a thing. "good luck, Roscoe." she would add, making a point of foregoing mannerisms for his sake.

her head would shift to look about the woodland again, a small frown on her features. "if there is nothing else, I would leave you to your travels. I must find shelter before dark." the life of a lone wolf meant no concrete way of knowing where you would find respite. she could wander for hours before a suitable place presented itself.

Despite how new everything was and how annoyed she might have been previously, Roscoe really liked her. She had given him more information than he had had before and treated him kindly soon after. It was easy to respect those that showed kindness over hostility any day. Roscoe was a relatively easy read and could see that Heloise already knew the basics about him. The whole coupling with any and all females was quite lost on him for the moment - he hadn't really met any girls that were absolutely a must-have but he also didn't have the drive to know what it meant to carry on a legacy. 

Yes, yeah - of course. Um, bye Heloise! Hope you get your meditationing done. Cause he recognized without a second thought that he had interrupted it but he couldn't be too concerned over that when he was eager to know more about this place, and her. Roscoe was uncertain as to where he wanted to end up now but with Heloise disappearing, he recognized that he was going to have to find something new to do... and soon. So he disappeared after saying his goodbyes in the hopes of finding somewhere neat to hunker down.

there was little else for the strangers-turned-acquaintances to say to each other. Heloise was content to leave him with his adventures and she required to find shelter for the coming night. their paths would branch away from each other; she was not one to keep people from their goals. it was not known if they were ever to meet again. he was a good man, though, if not a bit hyperactive. he would need to learn that not everyone would be patient with him as she had been. "farewell" she remarked after him, twisting her body to leave the Emberwoods and hopefully find a den.