Larkcall Lowlands hey train wreck this isn't your station

Finally. The storm clouds in the distance no longer promised relief, but gave it. Their color may be foreboding, but at last they blocked out light of the sun. Dropping the temperature to something far more tolerable. It spun her mood in a better direction. She could cover more ground this way. At least that's what she told herself even if she was rather indecisive as to where.

Who was she kidding? It would probably start pouring freezing rain, and then she'd really be sick. She was already nursing a leaking nose, and without a doubt it would not take much to worsen. Everything sure as hell had to get worse before it got better. She wiped her nose on the inside of her limb for the hundredth time. Then drew a deep breath through her temporarily clear airways. Now did she dare keep going?

Hesitation wasn't exactly a grand part of the survival mechanism. That's usual how a deer or squirrel ended up dead. So it was with a shrug of her shoulders she pushed herself further north. She really wasn't sure if she'd be welcome back in these parts. It hadn't been her intention to leave, but between the season and psycho she had only extended the distance. Then again, it wasn't like she'd really knew anybody. Especially her old leaders. Would she have been missed? An impatient sigh, she kept an eye on the horizon. She had to start somewhere, and if she was going to stick around in the general area, she didn't want to appear like a total, worthless deserter.

Today was another one of those darker days.

Maybe the weather was finally starting to take a toll on her, she could only look up at a grey sky for so long before she started to miss the sun and it's warmth. As much as she missed it, she knew it was a sign of things yet to come. Autumn had arrived, and so it would only get colder and darker from here on out.

Lenae let out a sigh as she trundled along the tundra. She knew she was safe enough here, but what- and this was a big if- would she do if someone decided it was high time she returned to the ruins of her homeland? She had travelled far, but what if it wasn't enough? What if they turned up on the scene and sniffed her down, only to drag her back kicking and screaming? She had vowed- to herself, to God and her family- that she would never live such a life again. That this would be her fresh start. But what if they didn't get her a choice in the matter? What if the past repeated itself yet again?

A whine slipped from her muzzle as she increased her pace into a trot. She hoped it wouldn't rain, she wasn't sure if she could deal with scary thoughts and being soaked to the bone.

It was then she saw the stranger. From where she stood...Well their resemblance was almost uncanny. It was hard to tell, with it being so grey out but...Was her mind playing tricks on her? Was that who she thought, or rather feared it was?

Nope nope nope.

With a shrill, terrified yelp, like someone had kicked her up the butt , Lenae broke out into a sprint. She had to get back to the Monadnock, she had to find someone she knew, someone who was safe and familiar. Someone who didn't like like someone who was spooky as hell.

Her golden gaze did not linger long on any one point as she tried to recall a familiar landmark. The ground ought to rise up some where over there was the best she could configure. When analyzing the misshapen ground nothing looked really significant to hint where the monadnock really was. All the directions looked to only stretch further into nothing. So far she couldn't get a scent new enough to help.

Wait. Abruptly she pointed her snout skyward for a single second, turning as she zeroed in on her company. A tan and black flecked wolf of the girl variety. There was something familiar about this one. She had little time to decide what. She'd hardly looked at the girl when she let out such a god awful sound, retreating for her life.

For crying out loud. She hadn't thought her second time around would be as disastrous as her first. Coming up drunk, and making a puppy cry, but this was pretty, damn close.

A hint of puzzlement disrupted her silver facade. "Hey, bull snot I don't even know you!" She hollered, giving a rough sniff after her declaration. Clearly unimpressed. She waited for any acknowledgement from the runner. Ready to pursue, she didn't need a pack after her for nothing.

Panic panic panic.

She was already struggling to put one foot in front of the other without falling face down into the dirt, so how on earth was she supposed to calm down? Let alone try to think things through? Even then, a tiny voice in the back of her mind told her she was being completely irrational, that she was-once again- blowing this way out of proportion. But again, just because she knew it was stupid didn't make it any easier to deal with.

She'd been told time and time again that she just was overreacting, that it wasn't so bad. But really, how could an outsider ever hope to understand what she was going through? She wasn't simply worried, or a little anxious. It felt as though she was possessed, that some ungodly spirit was making her flip out and act with such irrationality, that even Lenae was shocked at herself once the dust had settled.

She didn't want this, she'd never wanted this, but this was what she'd got.

Lenae hadn't expected the stranger to call out to her. She hadn't really expected anything from them but...Their words broke her stride and in an very inelegant fashion, Lanae stumbled to a stop. Her eyes were as wide as the full moon and she shivered so hard her outline began to blur, like she was a smudged painting, with the painting dripping like tears.

That's...That's right. She didn't know her-it was indeed a woman, not a man, not a lecherous, foul creature- so what was there to fear? A whole lot of things, the world was still such a frightening place but... She grasped onto this slither of hope with all she had. She was a woman, she looked similar to them, but was not the same. Not the same at all.

She was a-okay. Or at least she would be once she calmed down, maybe.

When Leane finally spoke, she did so through chattering teeth."Ah-ah yeah. S-ssory. Thought you were someone....you're not."

The little Selwyn felt as though she was drowning in shame. What a travesty, she couldn't even look the stranger in the eye. She dipped her head down in apologetic submission as her tail further curled between her legs. Wasn't she such a sorry looking thing? Pathetic. Awful. The stranger ought to kick her whilst she was down, it was what she deserved. Or so she thought, anyway.

Okay so Remi wasn't that old, and she hadn't seen everything. But, she had had the mind like the young fool she was, she kinda had and couldn't be surprised. Ha! The gods had to be laughing at this, going hey watch this!

Not only did this poor woman act like Remi was a rabid bear with eyes of hunger she had to get away from. It only took her calling her out to make her lose step, and fall in her flight. Still the woman did not give up. Hitting the ground, she continued withering from whatever terror snaked her mind. It reminded her of those poisoned apples, and something else she didn't dwell on.

But, something unusual happened that usually didn't. Surprise came across her silver facade, and then concern. For some unknown reason she believed this lady was scared out of her wits, and she should try to help her. It was with thoughtfulness she stalled her steps, and became mindful of her posture. She wasn't about to go belly up, but she was trying for non-threatening. Unlike what she felt moments before.

It was trying to wrap her mind around all of this,think of something she could say when the stranger did instead. Still the terribleness of distress cut into almost every single word. Remi titled her head just so as she was given the worst apology she'd ever heard. It was not from lack of sincerity. No, it was the setting it was said in. Obviously, she thought she'd take a beating over it too. Remi felt bile in the back of her throat. How did someone get this way? Who had beaten her?

It was a rare moment for her to wish she was more...motherly.

"Somebody sure has it coming to them, but not you."

She liked to think she used a kind tone, but she might have been a bit rusty. With an exasperated sigh she reclined to her haunches, looking at the stranger as indirectly as she could.

"Even if it isn't a delight to be told how similar you look to a monster." The word was rough on her tongue, and she cleared it away with a lift of her crown. "Uh..have you been in this place long?" Okay so Remington was asking for mostly her own purposes, but she didn't think she ought to say too much.

In a rare moment of callousness, Lenae couldn't help but agree with the stranger.

Everyday she hoped that someone-she honestly didn't care who- would tear down Savion's regime and restore what was lost. Or rather, taken and torn to pieces right in front of her very eyes. She had to remind herself time and time again that there was more to her family than the clan, that she had family members spread all over the land to the north. But if that was the case, then why had they left them to suffer? Lenae had lived, suffered, under the rule of her uncle for months and yet no matter how much she prayed for help, it never arrived.

Maybe they just didn't know, or worse yet they didn't even care. All she knew, was that it hurt to think about it.

Still, it wasn't her intention to put the stranger on the spot. Nor would she ever imply she was a monster! Even if-unintentionally- her actions made it seem so. She worried her lip as he tail slowly uncurled around her leg, this stranger was probably not going to hurt her, but even so she couldn't help but feel guilty. The last thing she wanted to do was ruin someone else's day as well.

"M'sorry. It's not...C-can we start again?"

That was the best she could think of, she would find it far easier to relax if she just pretended like none of that happened. Pulling in a steadying breath, she offered the stranger a friendly wag or two of her tail as a shy smile pulled at her lips. There, wasn't that better? Not really, but at least she didn't look she was going to pass out.

"I'm Everly...And I suppose I've been here a while, a couple of months at most. I'm from the uh..pack on the big rock? Have you seen it?"

Despite trying not to stare, intimidate, she was watching this one closely. Waiting for a tell to reveal it was time to leave, or things were okay. But even that gift she'd acquired hadn't been used in awhile. She'd had spent so much time alone, and didn't quite feel like herself. She had almost made her way back to Crow Creek just for the familiarity of home. Even more mind blowing, to see how her mother was doing. Just the thought her brother might have wrecked some shit in her absence uplifted her. But, if she went home she knew she would forever feel like a failure, an insult to the memory of her father.

Inwardly, she chided herself so tried of the same old thoughts. Outwardly, her calm facade was untarnished. Though whatever the lady was doing with her mouth, she feared meant she was trying not to cry. Gods no! Was her form of a silent prayer.

Finally, she spoke, and Remi let loose the breath she hadn't been aware she'd been holding so tightly. A faint chuckle beat from her throat to her chest.

"Don't see why not." Who didn't want a reset button now and again?

The lady's smile did not speak much of comfort, but Remi could see it was a sincere attempt. Great effort even.

There was the slightest drop in her silver mask, having known that name. But, this could not be the same wolf... Catching herself, an amused smile made its way to the surface. The pack name was quite the mouthful, and not just to her. Big Rock wasn't it's name, but summed it up a hella of a lot better. She could not help but say,"Just Everly?" A tease to her tone was evident, but she had to be positive she was not the other one. Even if she found it disturbing what may have destroyed her bubbling personality.

"Whitestone? Yeah, from a distance. I lived a bit further south of it though." She remembered Askan had not seemed impressed with the pack. But, she had only met one wolf from there, and he had shared his stolen meal with her. If they had taken this lady in they couldn't be all bad.

Still sporting a grand smile, she continued,"Nice to meet another rock wolf all the same. I'm Remington Nithron. I think Remi is sufficient. Kinda a better ring then 'hey you, get out of here'."

Lenae couldn't help the hopeful wag of her tail at the stranger's words.

After that-horrible, embarrassing, mortifying- situation, she was more than eager to put it behind them. To move on and pretend that everything was hunky dory. It wasn't of course, her heart still raced in her chest and her throat still felt tight, like a weight was baring down on her, but she was better. And that meant something, surely.

Lenae didn't notice the flicker in the loner's expression. If she had, it would have no doubt released a whole flood of anxieties and fears. How was she to know that yet another wolf in these lands knew her sister? Again, if she had she wouldn't have been surprised. The real Everly had been so good with people, a real social butterfly. Sure, Lenae used to like to talk, to poke and pry and learn everything she could about everyone she met. But she'd never been able to do it with as much finesse as she had. Hell, Everly made it seem like an art. She had people wrapped around her pinky in no time at all.

But like the rest she was gone.

"Yeah..Just Everly. Plain ole Everly, that's me."

As to the next part...Well, if she lived a little south of it then she as from the field, or whatever it was called? Lenae was of course aware of that pack, they were neighbours after all. She'd even heard of how tense things used to be between them. Things had clearly settled now-thank goodness- but it was a little odd hearing about them from a loner of all people. Had she been part of that pack once? She itched to ask but, was it even appropriate? She didn't want to pry.

"Remi." Lenae repeated after her."I like it. Cool and casual, like you! Cause Remington sounds sort of poossh, you know?"She couldn't help it, she had to giggle, even if only a little.

She would never admit it, but she liked seeing her words, her actions spark a change. Easing whatever piece of mind the lady had left. It was something her father had done, and she'd like to think other than his silver coat and gold eyes she had also inherited that gift.

She felt the need to explain her prying, if only to ease her mind. She'd hate to trigger her back to fear.

"I briefly met another Everly, and didn't want to believe I have such poor recollection." She chuckled, giving another wave or two of her tail. Though she was struck by just the way, and words she'd answered with. The need to still tread careful was there, but she couldn't help as a brow raised in question. If bemused she could think of herself that way. "You are far from plain," she said in honest truth. But, Remi didn't believe she could do more to convince her of her own self worth. To give her the confidence she needed. Confidence wasn't exactly as easy as a tasty rabbit to give.

The slightest second she held her tongue, thinking mention of packs might solicit some remark. When it didn't she didn't think more of it. Instead her ears twitched at the small giggle, and she joined in with her own laughter. Slightly flattered, and more amused. After all this time of being alone she felt like she had another acquaintance. One she wouldn't mind knowing a bit more. If the fields didn't welcome her...

"My mother and father wanted us to have strong names, but he was clever to make sure a nickname was not far off. Though my brother Ruger hated being called Rue he could not outrun it." She missed her brother, if only a little. "So, what were you doing before you spotted me?"