The Wildwood lost and found

RE: Your Treatbag Reveals: A huge howling wind picks up for just a second, but that's long enough to knock a nearby tree over which misses you by mere inches. 
This thread is AW, however I’m looking to prioritize/spree this thread since the first three “Trick or Treat” threads completed earn ribbons!

 
From a distance, the crossing the flame-razed lands on the southern end of the Wildwood had looked to be a shortcut back home to Dragonveil, since Karina would not need to twist and scramble her way through tree trunks and pesky undergrowth. Indeed, for a good while travel across the scorched territory had been swift: the wind was at Karina’s back, the layer of ash was soft under her paws, and the distant Mountain of Dire seemed to grow closer with every pawstep.
 
Somewhere along the way though, as Karina neared closer and closer to the Wildwood forest, the grass that blanketed the charred earth had grown thicker and taller. The Mountain of Dire was now hidden from view, and Karina could no longer feel the wind rippling through her fur. Realizing that night was slowly creeping upon her, and that she was likely to lose her way without the mountain or sunset horizon to guide her path, Karina attempted to backtrack her way out of the grassy prison.  After a few minutes of travel, she realized that the surrounding grasses were growing taller—not shorter—and a fluttery, panicked feeling dropped into Karina’s stomach as it dawned upon her that she could no longer tell backward from forward.
 
“H-Hello?”  the girl called, not even knowing for whom she was calling out. The Mother, perhaps?  Her doe companion? As her small voice pierced the gathering darkness, Karina suddenly felt very, very alone. “Anyone?” Even the company of a stranger-- another soul who was just as lost as she-- would be better than this nerve wracking, crushing aloneness. 

OOC! Out of character comments here

As night approached dark paws moved swiftly towards the mountain. The new matriarch wanted to get back home quickly. Not wanting @Vespertio to worry about her running off again, Moonshadow had informed him of her breif leave. Wanting to prove herself as a capable and worthy leader the young woman decided to go and look for any potential pack members. Their numbers were low and the dark alphaess knew they would need any help they could get. Anyways its how she had come to join Fallen Tree Cove in the first place. Without @Kajika leaving pack borders she most likely wouldnt have found her home and new family. It had been a couple of weeks since her return and having to step up for the good of the pack. Moon was still getting use to the new role but had come to accept that this is what she had to do. The obsidian pelted woman wanted to seek out @Namid to see if she was doing alright. The childless she-wolf couldnt imagine losing a pup and wanted to be there for the former alpha. Maybe she would gather the courage to talk with her when she got back.

The trip that had Moonshadow so hopeful for new recruits had terribly backfired. Not meeting any wolf on her trip had left the dark wolf a tad grumpy. Having battled with depression before he woman had taken on a new philosophy once joining the Cove. Everything happens for a reason so theres no use in focusing on the bad. Little did the alpha know this was about to rein true once more. Making her way back through the Wildwood silvery eyes spotted a clearing filled with tall grass. Having gotten lost a number of times in a similar clearing back as a pup, Moon kept an eye on it making sure she didnt accidentally walk into it. Cuz once you're in it its nearly impossible to escape.

Having almost completely passed the grassy feild silver dusted audits caught a voice. At first the midnight woman thought it was just her mind playing tricks. Mocking her for her failed journey until the next word reached her. It was full of panic and seemed like it came from the grass. If there was a poor wolf in there then they could need help getting out. "Hello?" The matriarch called out slowly walking to the edge of the grass. She wouldnt dare go in for what good would she be to this stranger if she was also stuck?

Karina’s ears perked to attention as a friendly voice answered her call, and she oriented herself toward the unseen stranger.  She took a deep, steadying breath, calming the panic that had been rising in her chest.  She felt better knowing that she was not alone out here, but the voice had sounded awfully far away.  “Are you on the outside..?” Karina asked the disembodied voice, ears straining for the reply. Had she just imagined hearing that distant, faint “hello?” It wouldn’t be the first time she had been tricked by a hallucination. Not by far.
 
“I’m stuck! Do you know the paths?” the girl questioned hopefully. Paths didn’t just pop up in the grass without help... someone had to make them, by walking through here very often.  Perhaps that person had decided to take a walk this evening. Karina picked up her pace; attempting to follow trails that led toward the voice, but it was an impossible task.  The paths twisted so often that one step forward ended up turning into two steps backward, and Karina felt herself growing more distant from the friendly voice. She whined in frustration, claws sinking into the ashy soil as she flexed her toes in anxiety. She was positive that if she stood here any longer, the grass would slowly swallow her whole.  

   

    
 

OOC! Out of character comments here

Sure enough her ears didnt fail her. There was another soul trapped amongst the grass. It sounded as if it was almost all the way across the clearing but still stood out against the normal forest sounds asking if she was on the outside. Oh course she was she wouldnt be caught in grass like this again. "Yes I am" the woman replied a little louder so that if the trapped wolf was far away they'd have an easier time hearing her. This was far from being any form of DELECTATION for either wolf. Waiting for another response the midnigt pelted woman racked her brain to try to remember how she had been rescued from such monsterous grasses. It wasnt until the next question that was ask did the alpha remember. "I'm stuck. Do you know the paths?" Paths! That's right! There were paths - a maze her mother called it.

"No I'm afraid I dont" she admitted ears falling to her skull and tail hanging at her hocks. Silver eyes widened at the idea. If she could find a rock or boulder tall enough she could tell the other wolf which way to go without going in! Tail now happily wagging the ebony woman looked around for such a rock while calling out "I may not know the paths but if I can find a rock to jump onto so I can see over the grass i can tell you which way to walk." She spotted a small cluster just to the left of her position. It put her high enough to see over the grass and sure enough it was full of confusing paths. "Alright I can see all of the clearing. Could you uh - maybe try to jump a little higher so i can see where you are?" Straining on the edge of the rock Moonshadows grey gaze sweeped back a and forth across the clearing hoping to see a wolf like figure pop above the grass. The dark woman really hoped this worked. With night fast approaching it would be near impossible to do this in the dark. 

(This post was last modified: Nov 03, 2016, 08:09 AM by Moonshadow.)

Karina nearly barked for joy when her call was returned. She hadn’t been imagining things after all! She was not alone in this grassy prison, and even better; her unseen companion was on the outside!  Things would certainly go quicker than if both of them had been lost. The feminine voice called out again, denying any knowledge of the paths. That was disappointing, but Karina wasn’t entirely disheartened. The stranger—for whatever reason—seemed committed to helping her, or at least staying in contact. It was nice to have someone to talk to, even if she didn’t know quite how to help.
 
Karina’s best idea was to leave the path and charge straight through the thick grass, attempting to follow the distant sound of her companion’s voice. That would have been tough though; it would have been difficult to fight her way through the thick undergrowth, and it would be even harder to hear once she was swallowed by the grasses. Thank the Mother her new companion had a better idea. “Can you see me?” Karina called back breathlessly, springing upwards with all her might.  Her nose just barely cleared the height of the grass. She bounced up and down a few more times for good measure. 

   

    
 

OOC! Sorry its so short Dx

The other wolf had heard her! Tail now wagging happily Moons silvery eyes searched for a jumping figure. Scanning the grass something moved in the far right of the feild. Unsure if it was the other wolf thw dark woman squinted willing it to move again. Sure enough it did! Letting out an small bark of assurance that she had indeed seen them she went to work. Looking over the paths following them with her eyes to find the path to the exit.

Finally she completed the path with her eyes and now could tell whomever was stuck which way to go. "Alright I found the way out. Go to the end of the path youre in now and turn to your left. After that youre going to take -" she paused momentarily quickly retracing the exit route. "Take the third left and an immediate right. After that follow the path all the way and itll lead you to the edge of the clearing." The exit was a few wolf lenghts away from the boulder that Moon sat upon. Once she could hear the stranger she would jump down and greet them.

There's nothing wrong with short!

Thank the Mother, was all Karina could think as directions started pouring in from the disembodied voice.  She ran as if her life depended on it; for reasons Karina wasn’t completely sure of, the idea of being stuck in the maze one second too long utterly terrified her.  With every paw step, the path seemed to grow narrower and the overhead grasses longer. The girl exited the maze at a dead sprint, and it took her just a moment to realize that she was truly free. She slowed and turned back toward the field, still breathing heavily. As much as she wanted to leave the grassy prison far in the distance, she knew that her rescuer deserved as much thanks as she could give.

 Karina’s searching blue gaze landed on a shadowy figure perched atop a boulder, and she squinted as she took a few steps toward the stranger. Her eyesight had never been great even in full sunlight, but Karina had found that this time of evening—the shadow time-- was truly the worst for seeing.  She would probably have to wait until the moon had risen to find her way back to Dragonveil Fold. “Hi,” she began, neck craned up toward the dark wolf. “I’m just—I..” She was so grateful she wasn’t even sure where to begin thanking her rescuer. “Thank you,” she finally stuttered out. Her heart was still hammering from her earlier panic. 

   

    
 

There is a rabbit's nest nearby. +1 Health

OOC!

After giving the stranger directions for their escape from the grassy prision moonlight eyes watched the maze. Watching, trying to spot the stranger she for some reason felt compelled to help. A blurred figure appeared down a path and quickly turned. That must be them she mused as lightly dusted silver ears pressed forward to catch the sound of them running. Shortly after locating the sound a blurry white figure shot out of the maze. Whipping her head to follow it she hoped they wouldnt keep going. Moonshadow liked meeting new wolves and anyways she took time out of her own trip to help this lost soul the least they could do is say thank you.

Her hope came true as the wolf turned around. Now that they've slowed down the obsidian matriarch could get a better look at whom she had helped. The wolf before her was a female about the same age as herself with a salt and pepper coat. She had puppy blue eyes that seemed cloudy? Moonshadow wasnt sure if she was seeing that right so she just thought it was just because she was far from the woman. The speckled woman spoke before Moon could jump down. Offering her a warm smile the shadow pelted she-wolf got down from the boulder and stood a couple of wolf lengths away from her companion. Her scent filled the pack wolfs coal nose. It was strange to Moon; she smelled of only a couple of others. A male and a pup while the scent of more barely clung to her almost completely gone. This struck the dark woman as strange but not in a bad way. More interesting really, causing her to want to learn more.

The other woman stammered but then gave her a simple thank you. Moonshadows tail hung neutrally behind her wagging at a steady pace. Her body language was friendly with a warm smile to accompany it. "You're most certainly welcome. I've gotten lost in mazes like this once or twice as a pup. It wasn't a pleasant experience". Not pleasant at all especially in the dark. That was one of the most terrifying experiences Moons ever had.

Wow.. the word-changer thing butchered this post.. so sorry. >.<

Karina moved backward to allow her rescuer to leap down from the boulder.  As the woman landed before her, a rush of scents quickly followed, and Karina knew instantly that she had stumbled upon a pack wolf.  Her first instinct was to shrink down, offering the proper respect to a pack wolf as a lone wolf. However, in an instant Karina remembered that she wasn’t a lone wolf anymore. She had a pack—Dragonveil Fold. And she had packmates--Kjors and Bennet. And she was a queen.  She took a steadying breath and stood a little straighter.
 
The woman’s next comment made Karina forget all about pack politics. “Really?” she said, equal parts astounded and horrified that more grass-prison-traps like this existed.  “I.. I grew up in the forest. I’ve never even seen anything like that before.”  She made to glance over her shoulder, for one last look at the maze, but it had grown too dark to really see for any distance.  Her companion had become two silvery gleaming eyes in the shadows of twilight.
 
The dark she-wolf seemed to have a self-assured, easygoing nature, reminding Karina of Hearthwood River’s late scout, Naia. “Are you a scout? For your pack?” Karina queried, head cocked to the side. It felt odd to question a pack wolf so directly—it definitely wasn’t something she would have done as a lone wolf—but knowing she had support back in Dragonveil boosted her confidence. Although scouting was not her own forte, she knew enough to understand that if there was a pack that neighbored Dragonveil Fold, it was important to know as much as possible about it!