Neverwinter Forest There's Glass on the Playground

@Caerus

For once, the pale girl did not find herself at the borders of the forest. Dark as they may be, this was now her home and she simply couldn't avoid the heart of the territory forever. She yearned for the lights above that came when night fell, but the forest couldn't be that dense. Surely there would be somewhere she could gaze from. A place where the trees thinned or a hidden meadow she could take solace in. There was plenty to explore, though her sister was not at her side to lead the way, she was sure she could travel alone.

For a while, Hotaru poked amongst the fallen logs and rocks. She had even found a small hollow hidden away, but it wasn't what she had hoped for. If only @Sumi was here, she would have run off without a worry and probably stumbled across such a paradise. Maybe she should do the same? Had she been holding herself back with careful steps? The ex-empress shyly cast her gaze to her surroundings, a quick sweep for any others only to find, as before, she was completely and utterly alone.

A small huff puffed from her maw as she shifted her footing before sprinting off through the woods. Hotaru did her best not to mind the twigs or brush that whipped at her fur as she moved, her path erratic until one wrong turn sent her barreling for the trunk of a tree. Slamming her paws into the ground, she skidded barely avoiding the tree, only to trip on a root. The girl stumbled before tumbling down the side of a short hill, a hiss escaping her as her body settled at the hill's base. There was a stinging sensation in her leg, both from the impact, but also the fresh cut stretching across her pad up her forearm that now oozed a bright red.

Despite the pain, a weak chuckle was breathed as a frown tugged at her lips. Funny how she had forgotten, those trips with Sumi often resulted in some mild injury and it appeared that now was no different. The only difference of course, was this time she was alone...

But not alone for long, as Caerus shuffled through the forest with his head hung low to the ground like a prowling cat, though he certainly lacked the meat on his bones to look anything of the sort. It was the scent of blood that caught his attention, and he made his way over quickly, only hesitating for a moment when he saw it was a stranger child. Nevermind that- it certainly wasn't Mal's, with that coat untouched by any blemish, so he couldn't stop himself from rushing towards her. you're hurt, where? He inquired, though already her was nosing at her, following the bloodscent to the source at her arm. He paused and looked into the stranger's eyes, tone gentle, do you think you'll be okay waiting here, while i go grab my supplies?

There was a rustle followed by the patchy pelt of a boy. She wasn't entirely sure how he knew she was here though chance was not fully out of the picture either...she didn't recognize him, nor did she have time to even greet him as he rushed to her side, nosing over her body until his eyes landed at the stretching cut. The unfamiliar touch made her ridged, though when his eyes met hers she seemed to let go of a breath she had unknowingly been holding.

Hotaru swallowed, a slow nod of her head following in response to his question. Did he live here too? His scent seemed to blend with the others of the forest, so she could only assume he was one of the other kids Liliana had mentioned. Usually, she found herself walking off an injury, though as her violet gaze fluttered down to the blood dripping she realized she never had a cut so deep. There was a moment of panic, her only experience with large amounts of blood was death— and she didn't want to die. The boy didn't seem overly worried though, he said he had supplies...he could fix it?

You know how to stop it?