Duck Lake i am under the surface —?

dated 15/04, please anyone and everyone join! she's got no friends! ♡

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A shaky breath escaped her clenched breast as she watched her reflection in the still waters of the lake, her mind still reeling over the events of the past week. The dove's time in the Teekon Wilds had come upon her faster than she could have ever hoped to process, and the overwhelming sense of pure change from the routine she'd established with Oath was as uncomfortable to her as it was foreign. She didn't know how to feel, how to act. What was considered appropriate. Who to talk to?

Despite all the commotion, she couldn't ignore the seed of hopefulness that budded in the back of her mind. The hope that this would all work out.

So she sat by the lakeshore on this sunny afternoon, watching the ebb and flow of the water touch her toe pads in a rhythm that would never cease to exist; finding peace in this constant, a constant she was struggling to find anywhere else. A gentle sigh released itself from between parted lips and she closed her eyes, basking in this quietness.

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There was something about the lake that day that filled Millet with a sort of... calm. A calm she hadn't felt in a while, ever since she ran away from her birthplace. She had been running, on edge, fleeing for as long as she could remember. But now, on this peaceful day, she could safely say she was officially a wanderer at this point. Not a runaway, simply a vagrant.

And Millet didn't like that, one bit. She longed for a home, a pack, a place where she could take care of others, and be taken care of.

She pushed this longing to the back of her mind as she approached the lake's edge, lapping the water gently. It was only when a breeze picked up did Millet realize she wasn't as alone in this moment as she thought. She timidly put her nose to the air, trying to catch the scent as best she could, to get an idea of who might be nearby.

The russet female was lingering, as she always was, nearby. Her petite frame percariously perched on a thin, fallen birch tree in her typical feline fashion. Oath held an incredible stillness, bright eyes narrowed, that watchful gaze on her pale friend. The soothing lakeshore and beautiful scenery could easily lull anyone into a false sense of security - but the small female was too paranoid to let her guard down entirely. Not where Goose was involved. She clocked another form at the waters edge, someone drinking. Her ears perked in vague interest, but she remained where she was. Goose would have to learn to handle herself without Oath's interventions someday. The russet would gauge the interaction, and interrupt only if it was truly necessary.

 

lil cameo / entrance for later, maybe~

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So close to dozing off, and with her security blanket of Oath behind her lounging too, Goose danced on the edge of consciousness... until an unfamiliar scent pushed itself upon her radar. With some hesitation, the pale dove rose to her feet, nervously looking about the lakeshore to find the source of the stranger, and also wondering just what she would do in response—

—until she lay eyes on 'her'. She was yet to see a damsel that matched her size and proportions, and deep down, the dove was inwardly thankful for someone she could maybe relate to. As per usual, the girl looked back towards her other half out of sheer extinct, waiting to gauge her reaction, but the russet was hardly bothered. Feeling reassured, and despite this not being her usual plan of action, Goose couldn't help but greet this almost familiar stranger.

"Hello."

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So, the strange scent was two wolves. This normally would put Millet on edge, but she was feeling at ease today. The fact that they were both females also made her feel much better.

The light female laid her ears back submissively and approached the two with her head down, getting a closer look at them, and took another seat at the water's edge. "Hello, I hope I'm not bothering you two," she greeted with a small tail flick. She almost felt confident enough to make small talk about the wonderful weather they were blessed with that day. Almost. Her amber eyes looked between the two with light eager anticipation.

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Goose instinctively moved to assume a lowered posture of submission as the stranger spoke, but was instead met with her submissive form first. Oh, this was unusual. The dove couldn't help the look of surprise that graced her features, puffed ears perked forward and mouth agape in genuine awe. Is this what she looked like most of the time? She had never really thought about it before.

The yearling branded a kind smile, hopefully of reassurance in the other's direction, bringing her haunches down to sit on the ground and wrapping her tail around her. "Of course not," the dove hummed, smile reaching her eyes. "We are just enjoying the weather."

She cocked her head curiously, eyes alit with honest interest. "I'm Goose, and that —" eyes trailed back towards the russet perched upon her usual branch, "— that is Oath."

The dove chirruped with cheerful acclaim, attention turned back to the female before her. "We're new to this area, are you from these parts?"

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