Ravensblood Forest rineless

attn @Murk

the forest was alive with sound, a symphony of rustling leaves and distant bird calls that filled the air. shafts of sunlight broke through the thick canopy above, painting the forest floor with dappled patches of light. meredith wove through the underbrush, her golden coat gleaming like a flame in the shadows. her movements were quick, deliberate, each step carrying the same crackling energy that burned within her.

she paused near a fallen log, her nose twitching as she caught the faint scent of something unfamiliar. her tail flicked sharply, and her ears tilted forward with curiosity. the forest was thick and sprawling, a maze of endless green, but that only made her more eager to explore. there was something thrilling about the unknown, something that called to the wildfire in her soul.

where are you hiding? she murmured under her breath, her voice low and teasing, as if the forest itself was playing a game with her. a soft breeze stirred the ferns around her, brushing against her like an invitation. her bright green eyes narrowed, a spark of mischief lighting them as she darted forward, her paws light against the soft earth.

meredith loved the way the forest felt alive, the way it seemed to pulse and breathe with her. every shadow, every sound was a challenge, a promise of adventure. she grinned to herself, teeth flashing as she picked up her pace. there was no path to follow, but that was how she liked it. the forest belonged to her now, and she would carve her own way through it.

A cacophony of bird noise roused the phantom from his nap in the shade of a mossy stump. While he was not omniscient, he liked to think the creatures that called this forest home were his eyes and ears. Something had spooked them, and Nox was intent to find out what.

It didn't take him long to locate the perpetrator. The sound of her crashing through the undergrowth was a beacon, drawing him in like a moth to a flame. He caught glimmers of her between the trees; a brilliant flame that he watched from the darkest shadows. 

Her blatant ignorance of his markings irked him, but Nox decided to let it slide. Murkwood.was still but a sapling and besides, he wasn't one to spoil someone else's fun. Something of a smirk crept onto the boy's face as she took off again, weaving easily through the bushes as he gave chase.

her paws hit the ground hard and fast, each step feeling lighter as the thrill surged through her veins. she hadn’t meant to cause such a ruckus, but maybe that was the fun of it. the chaos. the uncertainty.

and now the sound of pawsteps—someone closing in.

fuck, she hissed under her breath, her teeth flashing in a grin that betrayed her frustration. whoever was behind her didn’t seem like the type to back off. she didn’t glance back. not yet. it wasn’t fear keeping her forward but something else entirely.

the spark of the chase.

her chest burned with exhilaration as she veered sharply to the left, her golden coat blending momentarily with the sunlight that broke through the canopy. catch me if you can! she barked over her shoulder, her voice brash and teasing, carried on the wind as she bolted through the trees.

meredith didn’t need to know who or why. she just needed to run. and maybe, just maybe, see who dared to follow.

Dragonsbreath plumed heavily from his nostrils, crystalising in the cold air as he followed the jagged path her body cut through the trees. Although he had suspected such, her careless navigation made it obvious she was a newcomer to the forest. His paws drummed a steady rhythm into the frozen ground as he pondered this; who was she? 

Of all places, why was she here?

Her change of pace signified his presence had been noticed and Nox slowed to a jog as her trail took an abrupt deviation, ears pricking as her challenge rang out loud and clear. The air left his lungs in a breathy snort, but already he could feel his legs itching to follow.

It was difficult to describe the melting pot of feelings that stirred within as his hunt resumed. The primal instinct to chase dulled down by a youthful, almost puppyish need to play. A wolf and a deer; Nox settled into a steady lope in hopes that the girl's flame would burn itself out soon enough.

meredith had been running like the wind, her fiery spirit blazing with every leap and bound through the dense forest.

until—oops.

her paw snagged a root hidden beneath the leaf-littered ground, and before she could even yelp, she was rolling. tumbling down a small incline, she spun head over paws, a mess of golden fur and indignation. sticks snagged at her coat, snow dusted her muzzle, and when she finally hit the bottom, she landed flat on her back with a breathy oof.

her chest rose and fell as she stared up at the canopy, the world still spinning slightly. and then she saw them—her chaser, standing at the top of the hill, triumphant and far too smug for her liking.

guess you caught me, she muttered, blowing a strand of fur out of her face. but even in her defeat, a mischievous spark glimmered in her green eyes.

Like most hunters, Nox was built for endurance. If given the opportunity, he could run and run for hours on end until his quarry tired and left opportunity to strike. This time was different, though, and the phantom was beginning to wonder if the interloper would ever slow at all - until she disappeared unexpectedly from view.

Each thump of her body against the cool, hard ground was met with a wince of his own and he picked up speed until he skidded to a halt at the precipice of the rise. Just in time to watch her make landfall in a clumsy pile of twigs and snow. 

"Ye set yourself up for failure, I'm afraid," his tail waved a victory flag as he began to pick his way very slowly and very carefully down the slope. Couldn't be making a fool of himself in front of a girl - and one his own age at that! "Y'know, for someone who's tresspassing, yer not very subtle." While he had not initially minded the intrusion, the fact of the matter remained. Murkwood's borders were not yet being respected, and that was a problem.

She was even prettier up close, despite her dishevelled nature, and Nox felt his ego tangle with a sense of pity. His smirk softened, an outstretched paw offering the girl an olive branch. "Need a hand?"

meredith sneezed off the clumps of snow that clung to her face, her pride burning hotter than the ache in her ribs. she batted away the offered paw, her nose wrinkling as she hoisted herself up with a huff. i don’t need no hand from ye, mate, she shot back, voice sharp with indignation. i ain’t some damsel in distress.

her green eyes sparkled with defiance as she brushed the frost from her ruddy coat, shaking herself off like a wet dog. despite her tumble, she stood tall, squaring her shoulders as if to challenge the world—or at least him.

yer lands, then? she asked, her accent thick, words laced with a biting edge. the question hung in the air, curiosity barely masked by her brash tone. they don’t look much for invitin’. what’s so special 'bout 'em, anyway?