Cold Water Creek Webbing Tales

For @Dacian

Miriam felt at peace. She had found that she enjoyed going out and exploring the lands that surrounded her new home... though she supposed with the amount of time she had been there, she could not call the Falls a 'new' home any longer. She had settled, and she felt as though she had been all the better for it. She'd endured a relatively peaceful life since Jethro had accepted her at the borders which had allowed her to hold onto the belief she'd had since she joined: she belonged there, and it was her paradise.

Despite the petty jealousies she'd endured since being there, her own green envy silently rearing it's head from time to time, she had found peace there.

And for that, she'd be forever grateful.

For the moment, Miriam was searching the bushes and underbrush in the forest for plants. Even the ones that did not match the descriptions Riven had given her. The goal was to know what existed in the land so she might be able to inform the healer, lest he need her to fetch something different in the future... perhaps then she could act with more speed and certainty by having already seen it before.

It had her quite distracted... preoccupied and not paying attention to her surroundings

Dacian was also quite distracted. Things had gotten visceral fast, and he had no idea how to handle it. His first gut reaction was that backing out from @Paeryl's cult once he'd been privy to such information would just get him killed the quickest. What was stopping murderers from picking off their own weakest link? He couldn't be that wolf, couldn't give them a reason to make him their sacrifice.

Staying was torture, though. Pretending like he wasn't bothered, like he didn't see @Felyx any differently, and under such pressure? He couldn't help but wander, gradually a bit further until he was down the mountainside. At that point, it was easier to intentionally travel away. Getting this far, what was stopping him from never turning back again? Leaving the region entirely before they could do anything at all about it?

Why did this feel like a hard decision? Why was it a decision at all? Why wasn't he outright bolting?

The stormier his thoughts, the cloudier his view of the world, until he ran directly into a bush thick with jabbing branches. What was worse was that once he was jarred back into the present, once he was actually paying attention again, he realized that his next breath reeked of wolf.

"Oh shit-" he frantically tried to disentangle himself from the brush. It didn't matter who it was, this was a ridiculous position to be caught in.

WELCOME TO MIDNIGHT MASS.

---

As she continued to move along the terrain that surrounded her, she continued to remain distracted… that was until a voice carried over and she caught a man engangled within a bush in obvious need of help. A small and graceful smile lit her features, a kind look in her eyes as she blinked at him. “Hello there, Sir, do you need help?” She’d ask, trying to mimic Nadine’s formality that she often showed within the borders. After all wasn’t a scout supposed to be dignified, and represent their pack in the best way?

She had no idea if his pack was nearby, or if he would take offense to a lack of said formality and the last thing she wanted to do was let the Falls down despite how awkward it felt for her to act in such a regard.

She shifted over, moving to see how she might be able to help without really waiting for an answer, using her teeth to attempt to dislodge the brambles to help free him without causing him much harm. She’d gotten tangled more than once, but one was enough to tell her that she wouldn’t wish it on anyone, even her worst nightmare… even the leader of her old pack from which she’d fled, feigning a pilgrimage to get away.

“What’s your name?” She’d attempt to ask, her voice muffled by her attempts to help him.

"Uhh-," the response was immediate, even if it didn't at all answer her question. The possibilities popping into his head, like a loud and panicked 'NO!' or 'the fuck does it look like?!', but he was at least able to keep any of them from coming out. None of them would help him any in the situation, and he sure as hell wasn't saying yes.

She did it anyways. Dace struggled harder, frantic to free himself before the situation could get any more awkward for him. The stranger was so calm and kind-voiced, but he was inevitably going to kill that good mood of hers if he couldn't regain some composure. Even then, odds usually weren't so great.

The adult asked for his name, pulling on branches at the same time. Something gave, and he stumbled backward, away from the pitfall. He nearly lost his footing, but caught himself just in time. Beneath dark fur, his face burned with a fierce blush. That was absolutely ridiculous and he should probably just turn and run now before it got worse.

"... Dace."

There was something distinctly unhappy about him as he stared back at his unwanted heroine, copper eyes burning with an indefinable emotion.