Heartleaf Creek my shadow's shedding skin

For @Isla -- 09/22/2022, early morning

A yawn broke the silence, a soft rumbling in her throat escaping as the rebellious teen stretched her limbs out, her rump sticking up into the air for a moment as her muscles started to pull themselves out of their tired state. She had just risen for the day, giving her pelt a shake as she made her way out of the small little den she had managed for herself. She had planned to be on the other side of the river already, but the borders of a pack had resulted in her ceasing her journey for the night, not sure how long a detour around would take.

She began to move along, far enough from the borders to feel comfortable for not running into trouble with whatever men might be running around playing warrior, but close enough for some semblance of safety from other loners who might be more malicious in nature than she was. She could be temperamental at times, but she hardly considered herself violent, not unless the other party forced her paw in the matter.

She hummed softly to herself as she moved, feeling the crisp fall breeze through her fur as she began to search for scent trails, finding herself just fortunate enough to catch the scent of a rabbit warren on the breeze, following it steadily… she just had to hope that it would not linger on the wrong side of the border. These lands were far different from Saivo, but she found she preferred them. It was not harsh and rugged like the former peaks of her home, nor was it quite as cold… coming from the north, the girl was used to harsher breezes whipping her around.

She knew she could be out here. She just didn't know if she should. Everybody always seemed so stressed about something lately. It would be way too hard to convince somebody to take her out, so she just...went!

Although she really wasn't all too far. Enough to call if needed, or return if she was called.

Except somebody else scooped up all of her attention. No longer was she interested in what home might think of her little excursion. All of her attention went onto the tawny lady, moving around like she had any right to!

Hey! She barked, oblivious to whatever work the girl may have been attempting. What are you doing? Blue eyes squinted softly. The face of a pouting teenager more than a fearsome guardian.

Ayashe did not expect to see a lone female child out and about, much less barking at her when she was trying to hunt, a frown on her features as her caramel gaze turned to take in the tiny black phase form that was confronting her, a frown creasing her features further at the question as she heard the scurrying of rabbits into their warrens not far from where they were. It was a hunt ruined, and the peppered girl let out a soft sigh.

This was not only why she found herself displeased with the idea of having children, but also why she should never be a caretaker of any kind.

“Well, I was attempting to hunt but you’ve ruined that attempt.” She responded dryly as she looked the pup up and down one more time. “What are you even doing out here? Aren’t you a little young to be out here? And a little too…” She loathed to say ‘feminine’ because she despised the gender roles she had been forced to conform to herself, but the thought lingered in her mind nevertheless.

Yeah. No way. She did not like this girl one bit. The way she jabbered and seemed to know absolutely nothing!

As if Isla had ruined anything. It had clearly been the opposite way around. This random had shown up near her own home and ruined Isla's adventure. How could such a thing be forgiven? News flash, it could not be.

A little too what? Her stance widened like a defensive warrior (she was anything but) and her eyes narrowed into a squint. The picture of a child nearing a tantrum.

How dare this woman show up and insinuate that Isla was anything but perfect!

The girl in front of her certainly had an attitude, and it was far from being an endearing one. Perhaps if she was more refined, then Ayashe could have even related to it, or at least appreciated it, but what else was she really to expect from a child like the one in front of her? She was nothing other than unrefined spunk and chaos.

She challenged, and Ayashe sighed. “A little too much of a girl.” She stated, even though the words certainly had her feeling sick to say. “Where I come from, girls don’t come out this far away from the borders.” She stated matter-of-factly, her eyes levelling with the defensive and insolent child.

This was part of the reason she would never be fit to be a mother. “Where are your parents? Shouldn’t your mother be watching you?” Her mother had kept a close eye on her for quite some time, and so she had to wonder where this girl’s mother was and why she appeared to be so absentee.

(This post was last modified: Sep 30, 2022, 01:53 AM by Ayashe.)

Eye rolling quickly followed the next set of series. It had to be the stupidest thing that she had ever heard. Especially to bring her mom into this.

But Isla quickly saw a way to make this woman feel bad.

Mom just ran off one day. So now I have to go find her. Thanks for asking. She snorted sharply. Half-truths and half-lies! I dunno where you come from, but girls do whatever they want here. Including hunt down their missing mothers.

At least that part seemed mostly true! Isla had not encountered rules that applied to her but not her brothers. Bummer rules seemed to be all about equality. Yawn.

Ayashe frowned when she started to go off, but the guilt did not manifest. Perhaps it was her lack of relationship with her own mother, or the way that her mother had kicked her out… but she didn’t feel bad after finding out that the girl’s mother had run off… she wished her own mother would have run off rather than continue to hold her under her paw, if she were honest.

“Probably better off if we’re honest.” She stated honestly with a light huff and another roll of her eyes. “Mom’s are nothing but trouble, and they’ll only hurt you in the end.” The jaded teenager didn’t think about the perhaps scarring implications it could have on the child should she take her seriously…

A part of her even wanted to cause the girl to question if her mother actually cared about her. She doubted that she did… she didn’t seem to be the perfect type like Noya so the girl’s mother probably despised her existence. “Good luck I guess… I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you though.”

Isla had started this by trying to make the woman feel bad. Only to have the tables flipped suddenly. What did this woman know about mothers that Isla did not?

Her hackles prickled and she found herself rumbling with some sense of discomfort. She had not been well versed in these types of situations. The most she had encountered was scuffling with siblings, tumbling over each other, and rolling eyes. Nothing about her mother being bad.

Well what's that supposed to mean? Her eyes narrowed harder now as she stood like a defensive porcupine. Suddenly hellbent on finding out everything this woman knew.

The kid seemed irritated, and the teen just snorted softly. Her own fur along her spine ruffled lightly with the irritation as the question came and she huffed. Ayashe did not see the point in trying to explain it to a mere child, so instead she turned on her heels and started the other way.

It would be easiest to move on and get away from the girl; she had already spared quite enough time talking to this girl, trying to warn her about the awful dangers of mothers. “Guess you’ll find out if you ever find yours.” She called over her shoulder.

She did not plan on divulging more, her tail swaying from side to side as she attempted to brush it all off. She hummed softly to herself as she found her paws carrying her back to the west.

What. The. Heck.

Isla had never felt so deeply disrespected in her life. The audacity of this...of this swamp witch. To roll up with a whole slew of stuff and deliver on absolutely none of it. She took some grand joy in seeing her walk off, away from the creek.

YEAH! GET LOST! She barked in a rare show of grand emotions. Usually too lazy to be so loud. Before any answer was returned, she had already turned her back too. Stomping off back towards the Backwater.