Larksong Grotto we almost drown when the sin sinks in

There was comfort to be found beneath the singing trees, filled with starlings who went unphased with Sanja's passing. Her attention was fixed upon an animal path.

Her hunger for flesh had shifted from something carnal to something practical and necessary, leading her nose-first across unfamiliar terrain. After her experiences along the coast she was somehow less afraid.

hope it’s okay if I join!

Days had passed since her arrival and Khemia had grown familiar with the woods. She would awake to the sounds of birdcall, and spent the daylight hours adding to her collection of leaves and roots and all things planty. Come evening, scratching sounds could almost always be heard as the scholar drew up her findings on the soft bark of her den.

Today began like every other day, except this morning it seemed her stomach craved more than just scrounged rabbits. Back in the Academy, hunting parties were a spectacle to watch and be a part of. Khemia really didn’t think she’d miss them all that much, and yet there was a certain joy and camaraderie felt after felling food three times your size.

Perhaps it was time for something bigger.

She would’ve ignored the trail had the scent of wolf not accompanied it. Settling into a light jog, she hoped she’d catch up with the owner soon.

absolutely! :D

There were ledges to climb, and after Sanja followed a narrow band of pathway to a rocky staircase cut in to the grotto wall, she came up and out of the shadows, flowing with the natural curves of the terrain until she was smack in the middle of a green belt of trees again.

She had just begun to re-orient herself when she heard the sound of something moving. It was getting louder rather than quieter, which meant it was getting closer - whatever it was. She was alert; it could have been another man like before, or a young deer confused by the paths.

When a wolf-shape appeared against a backdrop of birch trunks, Sanja boofed a cautious greeting.

Though she had been cautious so to not scare off a potential meal, the strange woman’s greeting calmed her suspicions, and was swiftly returned with a friendly woof of her own. Tail wagging slowly, she drew closer until she was a respectable distance away.

“Hello,” she spoke softly, “I’m Khemia. Apologies if I disturbed you.” She had been busy following a trail after all.

A sweet scent of something the shadow didn’t recognise seemed to emanate from the stranger, however she put the thought to rest for now. “Were you hunting here?” Should the woman confirm, then Khemia was more than willing to join the party, should she be welcomed.

Aside from the spoken greeting Sanja did not recognize much of what was said; emphasis was given to Khemia which was one clue at least. A name - a person or a place? Maybe this was the name of the grotto.

A concerned look crossed her features as she tried to reply, Ha, hallo. This was made to sound more odd beyond her accent by the delay of her cadence.

She missed the obvious - that this woman was hunting the same scents that Sanja followed. Her attention drifted to the path and she sniffed in the direction of prey.