Horizon Ridge alles Leid und Schmerzen stillest

light filtered through the canopy, dappling the floodwaters that rose to cover the ever-reaching roots below. heavy rain had transformed the ancient wood to one mythical and ethereal in only a matter of days. the water was still, sool, and in a few hours would act a great mirror held to the sky above, reflecting the heavens onto the earth.

striding languidly through the waters there came a wolf, coal-dark gaze skimming the top of the floodwaters. blackbirds congregated in the canopy, crying shrill out into the stillness, each wing adorned with a flash of crimson. something moves by the roots; skimming swiftly along the top of the water slides a snake, floating parallel the wisp a moment before veering away into the cover of a root system that had managed to remain uncovered. 

abruptly, the wolf slows. sinking down slowly, she stretches out against the once forest floor, so that only the top of her head and slope of her shoulders remain above water in the manner of a crocodile. in this manner she remains still, a shadow sunk into the floodwaters, content here only to observe.

Huā found her way to the place the water rose up, and into it she sunk down, content to move like a fish. Along her way she went, paddling slowly, making it look like a piece of cake- and landing that success to her light weight and swimming skill. It came effortlessly, and unlike many, she enjoyed the feeling of the water at her ribs. 

It was then that she spotted her up ahead. A handsome stranger, likely just a year younger than herself, swimming with her body moreso immersed in the water than Huā, a true siren. She was like a melted beast, ash-slate fur blurred the lines between silvery water and silvery girl. Huā was charmed by this crocodilian beauty in an instant, and paddled her way over, hovering in a float a couple yards off. Hi, She managed gently, tail causing light ripples beneath the water where it would've wagged at her hocks, were they on solid ground.

she watches awhile the stranger before she is noticed, dark eyes following her easy movements. when she is approached, she remains in place, tempted to do so by her relative naivety and the fairly certain assertation that this woman is not a threat. had she known of the sea, the wraith would have noted how the stranger held it in her eyes. 

the woman's greeting is met with a stretch of her head toward her, tail breaching the water like that of a whale and swaying easily. unperceivable gaze remains locked on the woman, and she offers a low, almost inaudible chuff, hoarse and from disuse. she gathers her forelimbs before her, propping herself up so that her head and neck rise above the floodwaters.

This was a girl who spoke with actions rather than words. She wagged her tail, stretched her head outward (which had the charmed Huā daring to float closer), chuffed rather quietly and lifted herself slightly from the waters. The empress was stunned for a moment by the silence, but soon a teasing smile slipped onto her maw. You so quiet- always like this? Really cute, Huā murmured, emboldened by the girl's failure to introduce herself, and their aloneness. You just want be mystery, or cannot speak at all? She questioned, though was unsure that any answer would come now. Huā waded a little closer, though still not enough to touch- just spurred on by friendly wagging tail.

this woman is etched with light, teasing and questioning. such a wolf is entirely foreign to the wraith, as is too her scent -- something heady and foreign, underlined by something stale, almost sulphury; this is the scent of sea and brine, though she does not know it. lavender, that she recognizes. maw opens and closes with a gentle click of her fangs, as if in answer. 

a pair of swallows flit briefly in the air above them, coal-dark gaze follows the pair a moment before they vanish betwixt the canopy. gaze returns to the woman, head cants, questioning. she is far removed from the cast of characters that marked her childhood and adolescence, in a way that has her both interested and uneasy.

A little click of fangs to answer her. Huā frowned, if only slightly. Shy was cute, timid was cute, and... perpetually silent was, well, hard to work with. There would be no easy way to charm this girl quickly or get to know her quickly- and Huā was drawn by her handsome appearance, and yet not so much so that she would be willing to spend months learning the meanings of her chuffs and snaps. 

Gaze follows the charcoal's at the flapping of wings above, finding little birds which dance and frolic before vanishing like dust. As the stranger's gaze found hers again, so did Huā find the stranger's, watching as she canted her head. What a pity they could not speak- Huā was curious now if she was a naturalist too, perhaps then they could've discussed on the flight of birds... but instead, uncomfortable silence. It was like talking to a rock- an attractive rock, yes, but a rock. Her paws shuffled awkwardly in the water. So you really do not talk, Huā sighed, and then finally drew closer if allowed, close enough to touch and yet too afraid to do so. Boundaries had to be tested slowly. I wish I can know your name... but I am Huā, She introduced, dipping her head into a bow before meeting eyes again.

at the mention of names, the wraith offers a gentle shrug of her shoulders. the few others that she'd had the chance to interact with more than once, had simply given her their own names. of those, perhaps one, two, knew the name that'd been bestowed upon her at birth. and then came the woman's name, and her gentle approach. 

the wraith rose, stepping neatly beside the woman. muzzle extends to trail alongside her shoulder a moment, drawing in more closely that alien scent, before moving past her altogether. muzzle swings back, the cant of her auds inviting Huā to follow.

Shrug. These responses had her feeling that the stranger understood all the words, just could not speak them. There was such a thing as the mute- perhaps she was such, destined to hear and listen and never contribute with words. Huā could not help but pity her, in a way. 

Then the girl came forward, trailing her muzzle along her shoulder- which sent sweet electricity spiraling outward from the touch. Huā shivered as if touched by a god, and then felt the contact slip away as the stranger passed her, and nearly thought the tease was leaving already. But as she looked back to find her, the ashcraft seemed to invite, and so the empress followed like a basset, suddenly shy and obedient to follow wherever the handsome girl might lead them.

the pair move through the floodlands; at one point, the ground beneath her paws falls away, and the shadow resorts to paddling until once more, her paws touch solid earth. by the sounds of water stirring not far behind, she knew her companion was not far behind. it is not a long journey, nor is it hard to retrace her steps. the trees thicken here, and the wraith steps more carefully. 

finally, they arrive, and the shadow rears up at the base of a pine. water streams from her coat as she considers a moment. carefully, she positions her paws near the base of a branch and pushes, straining as slowly it dips. there, stuck fast in the crook of a branch, is a nest. inside perch two chicks, tar-black and already well feathered. they regard the wolves with dark eyes containing a similar glint to the shadows own. soft sigh slips from her maw, and her gaze moves to her companion to see what she will make of this. it is rare for crows to settle so low to the earth, rarer still to leave their young unattended long enough for others to catch a glimpse.

She followed, wading, paddling, upward until they reached the roots of a tree. It was here that the girl pushed aside a root to reveal a nest of little dark chicks. To the stranger, it must be some wonder, as she turned her gaze back to Huā with a sigh.

To Huā... unprotected chicks was an easy opportunity at dinner. She quietly licked her lips, but the girl had not made any move, and Huā did not wish to be the executioner of something was was intriguing to the ash girl. Instead she stretched her neck out, daring to sniff closer at them, and yet never touching the nest. If the mother was nearby, she was already risking its wrath.

the lick of the stranger's lips is not unnoticed, but the wraith is content when she chooses only to sniff at the chicks. lips curl in the ghost of a smile, and in the same moment something swift and dark descends from the canopy. the shadow dips, missing the incoming projectile by centimeters, and releasing the branch in the same moment. again comes the crow, this time delivering a sting peck to her ear. 

she splashes back onto all fours, nudging her companion and urging her back they way they'd come, even as the crow switches targets.

A beautiful smile, and then their fun exploring was over in an instant. A dark spirit descended from above, striking at Huā's new friend as she released the hold of the branch and began to scramble. Huā found her footing too, but could feel the air of flapping wings too close to her head- and before she could dodge, she felt a pair of talons rake across the very top of her head, more painful than she might've imagined.

A wince, and then she was racing after the ash girl, sending water splashing and droplets flying. She would not let that bird touch her again, if she could help it- nor her pretty companion. If it got too close, perhaps she would throw her jaws up to snatch it from the air and give it a grim fate. Until then, she was on the run.

together they splash through the wetlands, avoiding (for the most part) their dark-winged assailant. her breath comes quickly, straining against the weight of the water against her limbs. finally, when they make it far enough away to the raven's liking does it wheel back the way it'd come. her ear smarts from where the raven had managed yet again to snap at it, though her attention is on her companion. 

auds fold, muzzle dipping in apology. gaze flits over the woman, searching for any hurts their aggressor might have inflicted. maw opens a fraction, between her pants slip out a pair of words, barely audible. "meine Schuld." 

The escape the bord together, finding safety, but both of them left with a stinging reminder not to get too close. Yet despite the little pain she can't help but feel it was slightly fun; but would keep those thoughts to herself in case her companion would be offended.

Huā turns glasseyes to the girl, who dips her muzzle shyly, and finally blesses the siren with words. They were in some unknown language, but they were words- and Huā was joyful to know that one day she might be able to communicate. Meine Schuld? I do not know what this mean... 对不起... She sighed, realizing this girl likely did not know common- as she, once, had not- and no longer saw the purpose in trying to communicate in anything else than her own tongue.

common tongue, and then words she does not know. the canopy sways a moment behind the girl; the wraith's gaze moves along it a moment lest the raven have returned. her breath returns to even rate, and once more does she try to gather the words on her tongue. " mine fault. " comes her correction, casting careful gaze once more over her companion, searching for signs of hurt. 

muzzle cants a fraction, asking wordlessly, " ok? " the raven had made it's mark at least once, and she knew well how sharp the cut of their beaks and talons could sting.

mine fault

You speak, Huā realized in an exhale, eyes widening slightly. Why had she refused to speak before? Even if her breath was this light breeze... was it to avoid Huā's compliments? She was embarrassed at the thought, and ashamed that the girl might not return such attraction, but would not show any of this upon her face. At the cant of head, Huā shakes her own, despite stinging head. I will be okay. Are you...? She questioned, eyes passing over the girl's ear. Are you okay?

the girl holds the woman's gaze steadily, though she does not refute her words. she does not lack the ability to turn breath to words, but rather the will, the practise. words are wind, oft hollow and fast-fading. 

will be ok, is not ok, and the shadow steps near, falling still only a moment before extending her muzzle, brushing lightly along the side of the woman's brow, drawing soft inhale as she tests for the metallic scent that will mean that the raven's talons had dealt sufficient damage. the rest of her is still, intent on ensuring her companion has not been dealt hurt that may fester.

Her question goes unanswered, and despite her own affirmation that she would be fine, the shadow steps closer, causing Huā to stiffen as she is touched along the brow where talons had scraped their mark. While the girl assesses her wound (at least, this is what the siren assumes she is doing,) Huā is perfectly still, unsure of how to react or if she should do anything to help besides the slight tilt of her head towards the stranger. I'm okay, Huā mumbles again, much more quietly now- not wishing to be fussed over, not wanting to waste the girl's time.

she withdraws, noting the girl's discomfort and finding the wound to be only skin-deep. her throat tightens; something is wavering, the shadow made briefly, uncomfortably earthbound by something she can not name. unreadable gaze studied the ocean-eyed woman a moment longer, ears sweeping back, forward again. around them, the water is beginning to change as the sun rises higher, reflecting with greater clarity the canopy above, becoming brighter, lighter. 

" will-o'-the-wisp, " slips from her maw, touched by accent, hoarse and light as the words preceding it, " my name. " one of many, but one that is dear to her. she does not know what prompts her to offer it now, to force words from sandpaper throat.

She pulled away, studying Huā with enchanting eyes that said nothing. The siren could only stare helplessly back, feeling connective electricity hang in the air between them, perhaps imagined but so real to her. More words; she soaked them up greedily, taking in another breath at the first ones and releasing at the declaration of her name. The words that composed her name held no meaning to Huā, and yet she uttered Pretty, stolen by the gentle breeze that was the word wisp. Mean something? She questioned then, still unsure if there would be any reply at all.

---

the shadow offers a lilt of her shoulders, regarding the sea-etched woman a moment longer. gaze settles on the woman's, studying a moment those subtle differences in shade. the moment frays, and the shadow withdraws. a sweep of her ears and a dip of a muzzle, and she steps away, moving toward the north and the promise that waits there. this in itself is an answer; and a few moments the wraith is gone.