Bitterroot Valley deception, disgrace, outrageously beautiful

The uncaring and carefree Princess had been absent for quite some time, and was unaware of quite a few life-changing events that happened in the wild. The faminie, the eruption, and the disbandment of various of packs, including a neighbor, Lost Creek Hollow. Her journey was making her way through the valleys, wondering and wandering, sight-seeing Teekon as she had not done so earlier in life, but hey, now's the chance, she so thought.

Though while her mind is like a cloud, she wasn't dull enough to miss how empty it seemed to be, and had not seen any larger prey for quite some time. She had seen small, but more scarce then she had before, almost like a recovering wound the forest had gotten. A ditz of a step, and a bob of the head, her humming rang out while sight-seeing her lost lands, graciously making her way across.

Aerasha wondered what had happened while she had been gone.. For those in Easthollow, and those she met outside of the Pack. She had not seen too many wolves on her way out, including her way in- it's been a while since she interacted with another. It gave a little jolt in her steps on the excitment to see another- anybody really. Knowing how active the area is, surely more and more wolves will cross the fae's path.

the search for elahlekileyo was only beginning. their people grieved his presence, singing hymns and saying prayers for his safe return. the huntress was the only one to set out after him, performing a true act of faith. beyond their gods, she believed that anathi would know to find her.

he would know, wouldn't he?

aphiwe circled around the flatlands and entered through the tundra. it was an unlikely path for him to have followed, but she wanted to make sure that all possibilities were explored. ubhuti, stop hiding from me! it was a call not meant for his ears, but for his spirit. oh, how aphiwe hoped she would be heard.

ahead was a woman, a stranger. she didn't look like the eastern wolves so the huntress doubted that she shared their language. after barking a greeting, she approached and said, hello, strange woman.

My, it's been so long since she heard another from Teekon (an assumption), it filled her with excitment. Those outside seemed such a bore! However Aerasha dare not admit that she hardly searched for others around, and spent quite a while daydreaming and roaming the flowers.. When winter hit, is when she actually returned- as the view had withered from the outside areas.

"Why hellooo. How's it goooiiin?~" The Princess said with a friendly and carefree voice, not bothered by being called a strange one. It wouldn't be the first after all.

the sylph turned, sharing with umzingeli a two-toned gaze. for a moment, she was enraptured by the sight, finding it to be a delightful arrangement of colors. in fact, the coat of this stranger was just as breathtaking, its soft tones a complement to the white of the ground.

aphiwe's tail wagged behind her. intle, she questioned, why do you sing? the inflection, the elongation of words; it confused the huntress. perhaps intle is happy, she thought while awaiting a response.

Intle? What a curious word she thought, as Aerasha twisted her head to one side, and the other while staring at the stranger with an intrigued look. Already fascinated, she took steps more near, peering into the deep brown-touched eye of the other, "whyyy, noot?~" She simply responded with a playful smile and a short hum of another delightful tune.

"It soothes one, yessss? Why don't you mmm?~"

no, i will talk. there didn't seem to be a reason for theatrics. intle insisted it was to soothe, but aphiwe didn't understand how that could be. singing, it had a place, and this was not it. still, she was in no position to pass judgement on a stranger. 

this was not her land, and this was surely not her culture. why do you need to be soothed, woman? was there something wrong with her? the situation just seemed... well, strange.

"Buuut, aren't we tallkiiin'?" She asked innocently, a twist to the side as Aerasha questioned the stranger. She hummed in a more questioning tone while peering even closer, perhaps invading a bit of personal space as she stared in wonder, "whyyy, not?~" She answered so innocently. What an odd question, who wouldn't want to be soothed? As usual, the Princess would always prefer to be relaxed, and unworried (as if she ever was), because stress is such a bootheerr.

"Youuuu, are youuu... From around the areaaa?~" She asked in questioning, wondering if this wolf would know any gossip. She especially wanted to know about Easthollow.

aphiwe frowned. the woman was undeniably attractive, but the huntress became more disinterested each time she spoke. there was something wrong with her, something that made her hard to trust. no, she repeated, a look of both confusion and frustration on her face, i am talking. you are singing.

those two things were obviously not the same. woman, you are strange. the energy that she emulated, it made aphiwe somewhat uncomfortable. are you okay? really, soothe yourself by talking, not singing. was this what all western wolves were like? for anathi's sake, she hoped not.

i come from eastern plains, not here. there was a particular emphasis on the latter half. sithetha ngale ndlela, not like here.

"Buuuut, the sammeee, yesss?" Singing was talking in a way, just on a more musical and amusing note compared to the normal way- even her 'normal' talking was in a more exaggerated tone. It's a mystery if she has ever spoken without the eccentric and odd way she allures herself to be, which many seem to find strange, including the lady before her. It's not the first time someone has called her strange, nor shall it be the last! Aerasha takes pride! "Buuut, cute, yesss?~" She said, stroking her own ego.

"I ammm, wonderfullll.~" A skip in the step, when will she never not be happy and amused? The Princess found everything so interesting, but she shall admit, there are days where she is finding herself bore. However then it is up to her on what to do on those days! Just like her whimiscle begoning from the Easthollow pack, and returning to Teekon. Though if she didn't come back, would not meet the one before her, no?

"Whaaaaat?~" Aerasha did not understand 'sithetha ngale ndlela,' and twisted her head questioningly. How fascinating it sounded! Too bad she had no idea what the other said.

aphiwe thought about it for a moment. yes, very cute. her tone was serious, coupled with a furrowed brow and squared jaw. it was a compliment long overdue but one that she hoped umfazi oculayo wouldn't get stuck on. there was surely something wrong with her head. surely!

i mean, we don't speak like you. we have a different way. they had several different ways, some more similar to the common tongue than others. that was nothing to get caught up on, though. let me see your head. there was an injury there somewhere; it had to fixed before things got out of hand.

"Youuu, are also aaa, cutie." Her ego was happily stroked, and as a lady, must give back. Aerasha enjoyed the dark brown gaze the other held, and enjoyed the wheaton coat, reminding her of a field of yellow. A warm autumn day, was a good reminder to how she looked. Speaking of her, she did not know the others name! "I ammmm, Aerashaaa, and youuuu?~" The Princess introduced herself, and waited for the other to do the same.

Though she also, was curious of Aerasha's creamy head? Interested, she tipped her head down for the other to inspect, or something? Ah, what fun this one was, "ohhh, different?~" She asked questioning with her head dipped down.

a-fee-way, aphiwe. aerasha dipped her head as asked, allowing the huntress an intimate look. there was nothing wrong (on the surface), so after a moment of soft nudging and contemplation, she decided to back off. er-aysh-a, this is you? their names, they were all so... difficult.

she thought that her behavior might have been quite rude. aphiwe decided that an apology to the pretty lady might have been in order, though she really didn't want to give it. there is nothing wrong. i am sorry. but woman, she continued, why do you need soothing, then?

"Afee.." Aerasha started to mutter Aphiwe's name, "fff-waaay... Affie?" An amused chuckle, both to trying to pronounce the others name, and how she did the same. "Yesssss, Aiphiweeee.~" Oh how she adored to hear others speak of her own name, it was quite rare, and she loved her cute little name. 

"Ohhh, why?" What an odd question she thought,"whooo, doesn't want to feeeel soooothed. It's nice, yessss?~" Everyone these days are so stressed and serious, what's the point? Gooshhh, the fluffy wolf simply enjoyed being around and relaxed, rather then worrying about oh what's to eat, or where to stay warm, ohhh whose going to do that chore.. Well others say she's just lazy, but Aerasha really likes peace.

there was no helping this woman. she was a lost case. even if nothing was wrong physically, aerasha was obviously off in the head. aphiwe sucked her teeth and hung her head, then backing away to reroute herself. we will continue this later, she said, if you are alive in spring, i will find you.

it was a promise. aphiwe held back a smile, finding it to be a grim edition; in truth, she didn't expect this woman to survive another week. shame, she thought to herself. affie (which is cute so i'm keeping it thanks) would wait for the woman's response before departing westward.

She smiled like the usual carefree, lazy look the Princess usually had, and wished the other well, "Byeee Affie.~" Aerasha was unaware what the other thought, which anyone would think the same with her demeanor, but nontheless, this is her third winter! She'll survive somehow, and keep the promise to see each other in spring. She hoped the other would bring wonderful tales along once she returns.

"I'll be back here next sprinngggg.~"