Thicket of Secrets this is an illusion

<blockquote>After two days of rest, Borden Lyall seemed to have reverted to his usual self. On a mostly cloud afternoon like this, he had taken up a slow and leisurely stroll about the territory. His body, which had succumbed to fatigue and exhaustion after trekking across Relic Lore, had seemed to be recovered. The feebleness and frailty that had plagued his figure was no longer apparent. In fact, he strode proudly amidst the pine trees with his head and tail held high.

He returned to the very spot where he had breached the territory borders, finding that the boar that Vlarindara had caught had been reduced to a scattered pile of rotting sinew and dried bones. The spindly sapling he had pressed up against when the pack's Second had issued him a warning for trespassing stood quietly beside the corpse, as if it had been keeping a watchful eye over it. He approached it and raked his claws over its thin bark, deftly revealing the phloem within. Returning his forepaws to the ground, he scanned his surroundings, listening... waiting for something or someone.</blockquote>

Well, what do you want from me?

This place was a little scary. Everything was so thick, and not like the trees in the forest that the girl called home. But, almost like she wasn't really allowed to move. It was some sort of scary maze that was trying to eat her alive. But he'd told her to come here, Pangur did. And he stayed behind her the whole time, telling her how wonderful it was. But this wasn't wonderful, and Pangur had disappeared. She could hear him breathing, but among the trees and other foliage, she simply couldn't spot him.

She didn't want to be in the scary place, and quickly shut her eyes, desperate to hear the voice of her feline friend. Perhaps he sensed her fear. This had just been a misunderstanding. He'd tried to be nice, to show her this place, but it hadn't turned out like he'd planned. Of course. That was all. And maybe he'd gotten lost in all the mess too. Oh no!

The pale girl's breathing became heavy and she crouched down. Her ears swiveled every which way, desperate to find some noise that sounded like her own kind, or even the sound of Pangur Ban asking for help. The sound of scraping floated to her ears, and she slowly turned around (since her eyes were still closed). Her nose wiggled as she faced the direction of the sound, but everything here was too confusing. Slowly, her eyes slid open, and the sound of the scraping stopped. The hushed sound of Pangur's breathing was the only thing she heard again, but even then she was so used to that sound, that it hardly even registered as her friend, hiding from her in the trees after trying to lure her into a place that she had no intention of investigating.

<b style="color:#388d10">"No!" Aisling screeched, and began to run forward, desperate to find the creator of the sound before they went away. She was travelling away from the thicker parts, and the fear slowly began to drain from her bones. Pine trees began to cluster around her as she neared familiar land again, and she was soon greeted by the sight of Borden. <b style="color:#388d10">"Borden, oh, it's you!" Aisling chirped, utterly pleased to see her Alpha now. What reason did she have to be afraid now? Her tail wagged as it descended between her legs, and she paused a few feet away from him, head tilting to one side as she lowered herself. <b style="color:#388d10">"speech."

<blockquote>He took a few quick breaths before exhaling slowing; the air seemed different, like something had changed or something wasn't right or something unexpected was coming. His muzzle tilted up cautiously, but nothing more than the scent of trees, fallen pine needles, passing pack members, and rejuvenated plants met his senses. He had been looking partially away from Aisling when she suddenly appeared. <i>"Borden!"</i> she trilled, causing him to jump and turn briskly in her direction. <i>"Oh, it's you!"</i> His body stiffened briefly but he easily relaxed as she approached.

<b>"Aisling,"</b> he greeted with a gentle wag of his tail. <b>"Hi..."</b> He nearly asked what had brought her to the northern edge of their pack lands, but he remembered how prying he had seemed (or been) when they had first met by the river. Perhaps it was best if she was the one to question his whereabouts or devise where their conversation would go.</blockquote>

Well, what do you want from me?