Ghastly Woods the roots of rhythm remain

To say he felt a little overwhelmed by such an enthusiastic response would be an understatement. Kenelm was rather glad Bella's words were not physical things, or they might have bowled him over in their rush to meet him. All the same, he got exactly what he had hoped for, and much more. Relic Lore. The other names he memorized as well, and their locations and the parameters of this great swathed of named - and apparently varyingly, rather than sparsely, populated - wild territory.

If he was the sort for it, he might have kissed the mountain woman for the windfall she had just given him; already in his mind's eye a map opened itself before him, filled in with the locations Bella had named and his own approximations of the areas in between that he had visited. His next questions were obvious.

"Thank you; that makes navigating this place so much easier," he told Bella honestly. "Do you know all of the lands within Relic Lore, or only those you have visited? For example, if I described a place to you, do you think you might be able to name it - assuming I did a decent enough job describing it?" he added with a more natural smile. "It would help to know what lands I've seen already - then I can avoid checking the same areas twice."

As soon as the words were out, he winced. What had happened to not telling her about looking for Calanthe? Oh, well; there was nothing to be done for it now, he supposed, but brace himself for the inevitable.

With ash on the wind, I move forward...

Let's Cause Some Chaos

That her offloading of names was a lot to take in was obvious, but his immediate gratitude reassured her that she had done okay. If such a simple act could help him in his travels, then it was an easy gift, and happily given. Bella wondered whether Kenelm intended on staying now that these lands were more than just the wilderness to him, but that depended entirely upon his reason for being here, the reason that she was now careful to avoid poking at. One hint was more than enough to keep her off that trail.

His further queries intrigued her, and her brows came together slightly as she considered it. Such a test of her familiarity with the Lore had never been required before, for Bella knew the parts she needed to know (and knew those very well indeed) and her knowledge of the rest had always been as flavouring alongside that. The idea of it was appealing for its own sake, nevermind why he would need such a thing. And though she had already determined not to press him on it, Kenelm did let a little bit slip, and she eyed him for a moment, torn by curiosity and politeness.

If he wanted to share, then he would. Until then, whatever it was, it was his to keep.

"I could try," she said, expression falling back into thoughtfulness as she tried to put a qualitative value to her own knowledge of the Lore. "I've not been everywhere by foot, but I've seen most everything from the mountain. I've spoken to enough wolves to know what they call most of the land, though not all the hidden places. I'd be happy to try, though."

Kenelm didn't have time to be relieved that Bella didn't press for any further answers before she explained just how thorough her knowledge was. He supposed that was fair enough; one wolf could only travel so far, after all, and if he had to guess (which he didn't but it never hurt to do so,) Kenelm supposed this woman was right around his age. Certainly three or so years wasn't enough to cover the whole of Relic Lore - unless of course one was actively attempting to do exactly that.

"Do you know the name of the large, open land west of here, where the blackberries grow? Or the cherry orchard just southeast of that?" Best to start with the areas closest to the Ghastly Woods - and, yes, Kenelm had to agree with Bella's declaration that the name was a fitting one. There was something distinctly... creepy about these trees with their drooping branches and this undergrowth that seemed at times to pull at one's paws.

He wanted to ask the name of a third place - namely, that disturbingly calm spring just northeast of the blackberry field, and the damned fjord where he had first lost Calanthe's trail - but he stopped himself short of it, not wanting to overwhelm the poor woman. That aside, he rather felt that if she could offer the first two names he'd asked for, he would owe her an explanation in exchange for her help. He certainly couldn't keep asking for more information for free.

With ash on the wind, I move forward...

Let's Cause Some Chaos

The notion of payment for something as trivial as name-sharing hadn't even crossed her mind; Bella was simply content to indulge her love of the land with someone who was genuinely interested in it. It didn't matter why he was interested, and she seriously doubted that it was for any nefarious purpose. Swiftly Kenelm took her up on the offer, describing just two places, and she had to laugh. "Yes," she smiled, still chuckling: "The Blackberry Fields and Wild Cherry Orchard, respectively. Very good, descriptive names, I've always thought, if a little uninspired." It had only really been on her recent return to the Lore that she had truly walked through them, if briefly, as she and Duckweed had traveled back to the mountain. Both were fairly distinct shapes from her usual perch on high, and sometimes she even fancied that she could see a hint of red in the mass of cherry trees when the fruit were at their peak.

Enjoying herself, she pulled deeper from her memory banks, trying to recall anything else about the two neighbouring places. Her head was not full of first-hand knowledge, most of what she knew learned from those she talked with in situations much like this. "I know there is a hill among the blackberries, a tall hill with a single tree on top. I think it's called Luna Hill?" 'Hmm'ing to herself, she considered that, and then mused: "Perhaps the moon is particularly beautiful from its crest."

With that she fell quiet again, meeting his gaze once more, waiting to see if he needed more. This was a good game.

Well... now Kenelm just felt a little on the foolish side. After hearing names like Relic Lore and Ghastly Woods and Mountain of Dire, though, he felt a little justified in expecting similarly creative names for the Blackberry Fields and Wild Cherry Orchard. At least he could again agree with Bella's assessment of their names as ridiculously unimaginative.

Still, help was help, and he was glad she seemed so eager to continue helping him - but the deal he had just struck with himself weighed on his mind. Hmm... best not to tell her just yet. It might distract her, even throw her off course (although he suspected underestimating either her intelligence or her attention span would be a very grave mistake to make.) Instead he said, "What about the spring to the northeast of the Blackberry Fields? And the fjord north of that, and the falls east of the fjord? Do you know any of those?"

He hoped so; they were all close to the mountain, if his memory still served him well. Every bit of knowledge would help him if he ever chose to continue looking for Calanthe - and the mountain woman's words had given him back some measure of hope that perhaps he could find his sister, after all. If he did - or even if he didn't, but found a new life here all the same - he would have to find Bella again and thank her for the help she was giving him today.

With ash on the wind, I move forward...

Let's Cause Some Chaos

@Kenelm

He continued, with gumption this time, the pair falling easily into this enjoyable exchange. The locations he spoke of next, however, were interesting; places that she had seen, but never visited. Indeed, they were places that she could not recall being considered a part of the Lore prior to her leaving, but had learned of their inclusion from a handful of conversations she had had since returning. The lowlands, the red hills, the timbers and fern forest - these places that Lore wolves considered their own, now. She had never exited the mountain from its northernmost points, preferring to use the Heights or her found pathways on the east and west sides. The fjord she had seen clearly on many days, its stark walls with the water at the bottom, flowing all over the north. Snowmarch, it was called, she knew that - but Kenelm had managed to find the chink in her armour.

"The Secluded Spring," she said, getting the easy one out of the way, "If you mean that large spring which is hidden away and hard to find. The fjord, though... I know the one you mean, I've seen it. I've only met one who talked of it, they - it was something like... Windy..."

She had gazed out over the lands to the northeast of the mountain not an inconsequential number of times; she knew the shape of the vast lake and its slumbering islands, sometimes even saw the mist from the far-off waterfalls when it was an exceptionally clear day. She had heard the howls, knew that wolves lived there, down in the depths of that rich forest. How many, she could not be sure. With a sigh, she shrugged apologetically. "I'm sorry, I've never travelled there, nor am I truly familiar with anyone who has. I believe there are packs in that area, though; they would be able to tell you what their home was called."

Smiling, she added: "If you do ever find out, I'd appreciate a visit."

Kenelm took in Bella's every word, searing it into his memory and adding the Secluded Spring to his growing list of place names. He already knew how to find these places, but being able to tell another wolf the exact trail he had taken so far could prove extremely useful - though, to his great misfortune, it seemed Bella didn't know the name of the fjord. That was inarguably the most important area, for that was where Calanthe's trail had vanished. Windy-something. It wasn't much, and he knew the chances were good that Bella wasn't recalling the right word at all, but it was better than nothing. He would rather sound like a fool to the next wolf he encountered than flounder around explaining the place again. "I believe there are packs in that area, though--" Kenelm's ears snapped around again at that. Packs near the fjord? Not just wandering loners, but established packs? He couldn't recall picking up any scent markers on his way towards it, though... perhaps these packs lay more to the west of the fjord? Should he have headed to the west rather than the south? Had Calanthe continued forward after reaching the fjord, rather than turning towards what to Kenelm had seemed the lusher wildlands? But those trees that had stood to the west were tall, dry looking things, green but so easily immolated - just as the forest of Spirit's Gambol had been. Would she really have gone that way...? “If there's a pack in that area, they might also have some news about my sister,” the grey wolf murmured after a moment. “They could tell me where she's gone off to, if she didn't stay with them... but then why wouldn't she stay?” His silver eyes gleamed with gratitude beyond his ability to voice as he told Bella, “My friend, you don't know the gift you've given me.”

With ash on the wind, I move forward...

Let's Cause Some Chaos

Whatever motivation lay behind this questioning was important, she could tell, despite her decision not to press him on it. The way she saw disappointment flicker briefly in his eyes when she didn't know the fjord, the way his ears pinned back on her at mention of a pack around there. That made her doubt herself, for truly all she had to go off were the faintly-heard howls to the north and northeast of the mountain, she could have been as wrong about that as the fjord. Bella said nothing, just watching him process what she had told him, wondering what was racing behind those soft eyes, wondering what all this meant to him.

It wasn't long before she finally found out. He spoke quietly, as though to himself, but they were close enough (her having unconsciously drawn towards him during their tête-à-tête) and her attention focused enough for her to hear his mutterings quite clearly. Oh. She understood it, then, and felt guilty for trying to press it out of him earlier. She also worried that her guess of a pack would give false hope if she was mistaken, but no doubt somebody lived near there, pack or not - and since the fjord seemed to be of particular importance, Bella hoped that they would be able to help Kenelm where she had not.

He didn't seem to think that her contribution had been so small, however; seeing his face light up, Bella beamed, his gratitude obvious. "Anything you need," she said, edging closer to him again without thinking, finding herself enchanted by this man and his quest. "I hope you find someone who can tell you more... and I hope you find her."

ooc: This can either be my last post or I can do one more short one to wrap up with Kenelm leaving, depending on how Bella responds.

---

Kenelm's mind was a blur, a whirlwind of thought and emotions and memories. Even knowing just the names would have helped him to ask other wolves about the goings-on of different areas, but this... Bella had finally given him a real direction, a solid clue to pursue rather than more faint maybes and vague perhapses. This was the best news he had gotten since he had first discovered Calanthe's scent trail leading away from what was left of Spirit's Gambol. "I hope you find her." Bella's words brought Kenelm back to reality again. He must have spoken loudly enough for her to hear - then again, she - and he - had inched closer over the course of their conversation. He could have let out the barest breath of sound and she might still have heard him. He found himself unable to care, however, and dipped his head in another show of gratitude as he said, “Thank you. You've given me the first real bit of hope I've had for a long time, Bella.” He let out a long, relieved sigh and sat back again, raising his eyes to the surrounding forest as he added, “And you've given me hope for Calanthe's sake, too. I had thought she wouldn't be able to find another pack - that I would find her starving and alone somewhere.” His fur spiked along his spine at the thought. As many nights as those images had tormented him, they were still horrific to remember. “Now there might be a chance that she's found a pack who would take her in. There's a chance she's managed to beat the odds.” Again he turned his gaze to Bella. “You've made my day a great deal better than it was this morning.” Only... now he knew which way to go. By all rights, that meant he should go - and the sooner, the better. On the other hand, gratitude and Bella's own patience and kindness tugged at him to stay a while longer, to get to know the mountain woman better. He knew without question he would always call her his friend, but all he knew so far was... well, not very much, honestly. He certainly knew he wanted to know more about her, and if time allowed it he would have stayed to learn... ...But Calanthe had to come first. Even knowing she was likely safe and well, Kenelm still had a duty to find her, to make absolutely sure that she was indeed safe hands now. With another sigh, Kenelm stood and shook his pelt out, then smiled again at Bella - this time a bit ruefully. “But I still need to find her... She's my little sister. I should start back north as soon as possible.” He leaned forward again in earnest as he added, “I will say this much: When I find her, if I can, I'll bring her back to the mountain someday so that she can meet you, too.” And so that I can see you again, he added to himself.

With ash on the wind, I move forward...

Let's Cause Some Chaos

@Kenelm Thank you for a lovely thread :D

"You've given me the first real bit of hope I've had for a long time, Bella."

To think that something so simple meant so much to him, it warmed her heart, and she smiled genuinely in return. This had not been what she expected, when descending into the Ghastly Woods, to be able to meet a kind stranger and give him real hope when he needed it most. Immediately her mind went to @Veho, who had played that part not too long ago, when he had found her at the foot of the mountain in a terrible state. He had been patient and had listened, and shared his knowledge of the world, and it had given her hope when she desperately needed it. Her gratitude to the man could not be overstated, his kindness an inspiration to her. Pass it on, she thought at Kenelm, eyes glittering.

Calanthe, she repeated to herself as he continued, the stress visibly falling from his frame. She would remember that, just in case. Had Bella known any of the packs to the northeast or northwest, she would have parted with that knowledge in a heartbeat, but alas she was barely confident of more than their existence - she did not even know how many there were. Oh, to know how his quest ended! Whether in heartbreak, ambiguity or successful reunion, Bella hoped that one day she would learn how the next chapter of this story continued.

Unsurprisingly, Kenelm was eager to find out too, and he stood. Bella did the same, though she had no debris to shake loose, and instead she watched him serenely, nodding at his every word. "When I find her, if I can, I'll bring her back to the mountain someday so that she can meet you, too." "Please do," she said, reaching forward to plant a swift, light lick to the end of his nose, the kiss her last gift. "Go get her," she whispered, with a wink and a smile, and jerked her muzzle towards the north, urging him on to the next part of his journey.

Pass it on.