Peaceful morning.

[boomdeboom]

It was dawn. A light mist laid across the forest, and dew laid on the blades of grass of the area. Only a few chirps of the birds were to be heard, since most animals were still asleep. The only thing that moved was a solitary figure, which moved with grace inbetween the trees as it made its way towards a sacred place. A small lake, surrounded by bluebells.

With shoulder length blonde curly hair, Bel stopped in front of the lake, her feet covered by the bluebells. They carassed her feet softly, lovingly. It made a smile curl onto her pale lips. Raising both of her hands, she stroked her twisted tree branches which grew out of her skull, and felt the new buds which were beginning to grow, showing the spring which was now here. It would have been an odd sight for a tourist, a girl whom looked 12 with tree branches coming out of her head, only wearing a white nightdress. Of course, to a local, anyone would have understood what she was. An earth goddess.

After feeling each single bud which grew on her tree branches, she placed her hands on her stomach and placed them together. Parting her lips, and closing her green eyes, she began to sing. A tune which echoed throughout the forest, waking the animals as the sun began to rise into the sky, the sign of a new day. She sang in a sacred language, one of the gods. It was a prayer in which she sang, a prayer which made flowers grow beautiful and for newborns to grow without trouble. It was her job to do this, to keep the animals and plants alive and well. To keep the circle of life going without falter. It was a lonely job, no association with anyone outside. But she only knew her own company, only seeing humans when they passed by and prayed for a safe journey. The animals and flowers of this forest were her only friends. And it had been for over 200 years, and it was not likely to change.

After many moments of singing, she ended, giving a soft sigh which came out of a puff of smoke in the cold air. Kneeling down for a brief second and running her fingers over the water of the lake and bluebells, she got up and began to walk away, her morning job completed.

As she walked deeper into the forest, birds, whom were now awake since her prayer, chirped at her arrival and many perched on her branches. She giggled, stroking the wings of the birds as she walked. Yes, these animals were all she needed.

Then, a sound made her emerald orbs turn away from the birds whom flew around her. Footsteps. She stopped her steps for a brief moment. It must be a local, coming to pray or something along that. It was usual. Still, she felt curious, and so she stayed where stood, her eyes turned towards the source of the footsteps

[Omio]

Bel had been correct in hearing someone wander, but she had been wrong to assume this was 'usual' - Gadrai had never really ventured in these parts of the Wood. He had followed her until she stopped, and when he heard the lack of Bel's footsteps, the took the queue, parkour and climbing up a tree to quickly get out of easy sight. As skilled of an archer as he may be, he was certainly doomed if anyone got close.

He knew better than to speak, and he knew he had been spotted, but he really didn't feel like really speaking to the human - the human was apt to not trust him, and likewise, Gadrai didn't trust the human. That could pose a problem for Gadrai in the future, should he come across another being whom is quick and accurate with their aim. In any case, Gadrai observed Bel, watching her movements now. He didn't have his bow and arrows notched, but even still, he was wary.

[Laughing Man]

Tree branches brushed aside, and shrubs were tread over as the large frame of a human made its way through the forest. Clad in Orange plate mail with a black stripe down the middle, and two dark green ones on either side of that, the human trudged through the morning mist.

A modified rounded great helm rested over his face. Where a usual great helm had a cross, his was a T-shape, making it look more Roman ins style. Where some skin shone between the neck and chest, and it could be discerned that the left side of his face was bleeding from the trickling trail of crimson that glinted when the light caught it. His long brown, shaggy hair was matted against his face and neck, and a stickiness clung to his body like a snake's skin needing to be shed. Draped over his shoulders was a massive cloak made of wolf's skin, and his vambraces were plate covered with bear's paws to give the appearance of fur.

The heavy wolf pelt was pushed back at the moment, in a desperate attempt to ventilate the armor and get as much air flowing through it as was possible.

An old but tough leather strap was draped across the warrior's chest, and out of the back of the cloak peaked an enchanted iron bastard sword's hilt, ended in a gilded knob inlaid with sapphire and criss-crossing ornate designs. A crossbow was slung about the waist with a bolt quiver hiding under the wolf pet, angled for easy access.

Hazel-brown eyes framed by a pale brow and cheeks scanned the forest floor and trees with a military adeptness, cautious and wary. Always danger could lurk, he had learned that lesson many times in the past and had been just reminded it of earlier this morning.

Vhe'tra hadn't been travelling long, but since the caravan dropped him off for having no coin to ride further, the mountain warrior had no choice but to take a cut through the forest on his way to a small village.

The blood leaking down his left cheek was a result of a foolish mistake he'd made a few minutes earlier. The morning stickiness was getting to him, so the warrior removed his helmet to run his face with water from a small stream. Far be it for the Warrior's abilities of precognition, which were nonexistent, to be able to let him know that there would be a young jaguar waiting in a nearby tree. In the truth of the matter, Vhe'tra was lucky to come out alive, and he gave thanks to whichever power was looking over him that he had survived. Vhe'tra didn't believe much in gods or goddesses, but he knew they existed. He just paid his own mind and fought with his hands for everything rather than begging divine intervention when something went wrong.

As a soft, lilting song of unkown origin. It was the first sign of civilization, or even people, that he had seen since the group left him, and he was compelled to find it. Without much thought or care for stealth, the warrior meandered his way after the singing until he spotted a young girl.

'What in the-...?
The thought ran through Vhe'tra's mind, and as he got closer, he noticed her back was turned to him and she seemed to be staring straight ahead at something, as if expecting someonet to pop out of the bushes. But it was her head that managed to wrestle the words,

"The world is that?" From the Mountain mercenary's throat, a loud, inquisitive tone that was accented thickly and gave inclination that he was not from anywhere around here. The sight froze him. A warrior who had slain without pause many a foe, taken down tundra wolves, forest bears, and just underan hour ago - the blood still fresh from his wound - had just slain a jaguar in self defense and come out with no more than a gash on his left cheek, was brought to a halting stand-still by the ethereal image of this little girl.

[boomdeboom]

She stared hard at the spot in which she had heard the footsteps, only to find that they had disappeared. It appeared she was wrong. Her gaze followed Gadrai as he ran up into the tree, hidden to all. Perhaps she was not wrong?

A shiver running up her spin, she turned on her heels quickly, her eyes searching for the source of the voice, onto to lock onto a human just behind her. She was too engrossed in the earlier footsteps to notice his, however it was rare enough for her to see any human so close, so naturally she took a few steps backwards. Sensing her unease, the birds around her chattered noisily and fluttered around her figure, as if creating a shield from their feathers which floated towards the ground. Although this distracted her, she still caught sight of the wolf pelt which the human man was carrying. This upset her. Even though she knew the circle of life, and was taught not to cry over any animal's death, it still made tears crawl up into her eyes as she saw the wolf's skin. This really was such an odd morning, it had been a while since she had felt such emotions.

But, wiping away at her eyes angrily, muttering a few curses under her breath, she collected herself. She was a goddess, she needn't act so childishly. So, straightening herself, and brushing away the birds so they no longer hid her, she spoke in her 'goddess' voice, although her still damp eyes broke her serious image.

"The one whom comes into my company without any politeness, state your name. Human.." Spitting out the name 'human', she usually wasn't like this, but she was still sour over the hunted wolf. Taking a small step forward again, she swallowed. She was always so nervous around humans, especially ones that didn't fall down to their knees and pray. A non-local, a stranger to this forest. However, she knew that if anything went wrong, that she did have some protection, and as if to confirm this to herself, she gave a split second glance at the tree in which Gadrai lay hidden.

[JxSlaughter]

Months ago this wolf left his pack in search of a new home. He had wandered until civilization was in sight. He had followed his instincts to keep a distance for many weeks. There were younger villagers who didn't know any better that grew a fondness of the mysterious gray dog, as they thought, in the distance. Though against the elder's and their parent's words, they left food outside to feed the weary animal. The wolf easily choose the leftover food over hunting a deer on his own. Soon after repetition the wolf started expecting food, and lost his fear over the food-bringing-small-ones. But as the wiser two legged beings caught onto the secret feeding, it became unknowingly dangerous for the wolf.

The children had a fondness of dogs and some had their own that followed them around. The dogs made sure that the wolf kept his distance until the children corrected their dogs to allow him to come closer in time. It was just like a pack, even though these two-legged beings were not like him. The dogs were unlike him as well, but they seemed knowledgeable with interacting with the beings that supplied food. He wanted to learn this language and belong in this pack. While he was with them he learned many things, and grew a fondness of people.

The good association became dangerous, as the easily domesticated, and pinned up animals were easy targets once the children stopped bringing food. It was first a cat, and then a lamb. The village wouldn't take anymore, and the people drove him away. First it was by throwing various objects, screaming and shouting. It worked for a while. But his curiosity, thirst for understanding communication and knowledge-- and the easy pickings overcame his fear of them.

When that wasn't enough they set out to kill him. A man with a bow was told to take him out quietly, but because of his fondness of animals he wouldn't do it. When the wolf came close to some chickens, he yelled, giving the wolf a warning, and shoot one of his front leg.

The wolf ran off. Surely this wasn't a place for him either. The danger was becoming far too great. He traveled back, keeping off his right front leg, to avoid worsening the freshened wound. Maybe I can go back... The intelligent side of him thought, as he recalled his old pack. Finally being able to formulate simple sentences in his mind.

Days later he did come upon his pack. Though they noticed him, they didn't greet him, nor he to them. From the distance he could tell that the stranger wolf that took the alpha position was missing, and that his sister was pregnant with his litter, as she had a swelling belly and an unusual sent that carried. The intelligent side of him swelled again with a furious feeling. But he didn't understand it. He went to go searching for the alpha, uncertain of what happened to him he sought answers.

Hours later, he came upon his familiar sent. It was very faint. At a small pool of blood the trail split. One scent stronger, one scent weaker. He made the assumption of what would be at the end of the stronger scent. He had an idea of what happened when he followed one of the kid's dog during a hunt. The kid's father was a hunter who would use the dog to aid him. The dog never pointed him out because the kid told them they would be 'friends'. With uncertaincy of what became of the rest of the alpha, he followed the weaker trail.

He heard singing, and followed it. It was similar to the vocal songs of the village, but it drew him in, and gave him peace. He could tell that it gave nearby animals peace too. He and the rest of the animals felt as if she was one with them. That she understood them somehow, and that she was a physical presence of nature itself. Eventually he came upon the scent of a few beings. He started moving more carefully, as if he was hunting prey. He heard voices, rarely making out what they meant, understanding some from the experiences of the village.

The scent of the Alpha became more and more fresh, and came onto the sight of a male human wearing the scent, and... something else. There was a presence to her. It must have been the one singing.

He sensed that the being was in distress, as his animal side understood and felt emotion on a whole different level than humans did. Because of the being's natural closeness to the animals, the wolf felt as though he needed to protect her. It was apparent that the human was causing the negative emotion, and so he jumped in front of the female. Facing the man sideways, his tail straight up, tense, hardly wagging. He was a tundra wolf, around the same size as the killed. Both of which were significantly larger than the norm.

[Omio]

Gadrai took the emotions in as they all went on, and he then notched at arrow, aiming to the human male. He pulled the notched arrow far back, his large bow noiseless as he aimed intentionally in front of the male's foot. He let the arrow loose, and it flew quick, akin to the speed of a bullet. The arrow, from the power of the large bow, easily punctured the ground, perhaps a foot of the arrow still sticking out. Needless to say, anyone beholding the sight would greatly thank the heavens that it didn't go through them.

The elf soon leapt out of the tree, landing beside the wolf. He aimed another arrow at the intruding male. He spoke in his own tongue, unable to understand English. "You who are not welcome in the Wood, leave at once, or be at mercy of Nature's wrath." His kind were normally home to a completely different forest, but he had unintentionally killed another elf, and without exception, the punishment was exile. This forest was his to tend to, and he wasn't about to allow someone to defile it.

[boomdeboom]

After what she had said, she saw a shadow jump in front of her, causing her to let out a small gasp, her once serious face breaking for a moment while she tried to figure out what had just jumped in front of her so suddenly.

A wolf. A rather large wolf it seemed. Recovering herself, she stepped back into her spot from before, and leaning downwards, she ran her slim fingers into the fur of the wolf. Being rough from the fact that it was bristled from it being so tensed up, she let out a small murmur, her voice soft and caring, as if she were a mother talking to her child.

"Calm yourself, dear wolf. Do not attack this human until he becomes a threat." Then, hearing a 'thump' sound, she raised her gaze from the wolf onto the human, to find that an arrow was stuck into the ground half a foot away from the man. Obviously a threat. Seeing that Gardai had jumped down from the tree, revealing himself. And from what he said, he wasn't too keen on the human either. She almost felt sorry for the male, having every thing in this area go against him.

Sighing, she raised herself from her crouching position, and with a wave of her hand motioned for Gadrai to settle down as well. She was curious as to what this human's story was, and most of all, why she had murdered the wolf and was wearing it on him, as if it were a trophy. Her face soured once more, and again with her 'goddess' voice, she said.

"Speak quickly human, you are unsettling my friends."

[Laughing Man]

It did not seem to be his day... The blood from his face, the growling wolf, and the arrow that had just caused him to jump back behind a tree and draw his crossbow was surely a reminder, or perhaps even a testament to fate kicking his face in while he's down.

The Human had an arrow notched an ready in the weapon, but he knew there was no point in a fight. He didn't even say a word, didn't shout in fear, or anger for that matter. He didn't demand that they lower their weapons or explain themselves. He knew he was a guest here, and while he couldn't understand their ire, he would have reacted the same if they had shown in his mountains. Of course, if they were in his mountains, then they would have died anyway.

The human pause before turning, though. And offered a quick explanation,

"It is hardly given a chance to be polite with such a reception upon a random chance encounter. But of course, it seems prejudice and hatred rule over common good in these forests. Just like the fools and marauders of the deserts." The human pulled his wolf cloak around him, even though it was rather hot, it felt like protection. He did not explain the wolf pelt, because he did not like explaining it. And he had no idea that the pelt was what wwas irking them. To him, it was an honor to his once-friend who passed away. But to outsiders, it seemed like murder and debasement. Oh well. Cultural barriers do that sometimes.

A reddish hawk swooped down to land on the human's shoulder, cawwing angrily at the elf even as Vhe'tra was turning to leave. He would find some other way around, or just stalk the forests until he died.

[JxSlaughter]

The female's voice did nothing to assert any command over the wolf. Though she was a goddess of Earth she showed inexperience controlling complex mammals. The firm caressing felt good, which was the cause of heightened growling and teeth bearing.

The wolf didn't understand death as humans did, surely it meant something that whoever died was gone, but any negative feelings didn't linger. Especially since this wolf, hardly knew, or even liked the scent associated with the other wolf. This wolf merely amplified the emotions of the female because of her close connection to him, and the other living beings in the forest. The female was the one pained by the killing.

When the human male did not give in to the warnings of the wolf, it made him curious. Unlike a dog, there was no need for barking or heightening aggression. The wolf wasn't in a high state of alertness either, especially since the man kept his distance and remained calm. Though the female felt his back, she now felt more at ease, and so was he. The presence of both the elf and the wolf made her feel more safe, whether she noticed or not. There was no need to protect her in this moment. He became free.

The wolf sniffed the air, first toward the elf, then the human. The human's sent was much more amplified with the heat from the wolf's fur, sweat, and hints of other animals, which drew the wolf's interest further. He took a step forward as the man turned, and the hawk's screeching nearly set off his prey drive, but the man's presence was strong enough to keep the wolf at bay.

[Omio]

Gadrai saw the human turn away, and he let his own arrow down, and bolted back up and into a tree, concealing himself once more. His hit-and-run tactic was kicking massively into play. He knew now that the wolf could handle his own, feeling the wolf settle as well. He hadn't fled from the scene, merely concealed himself, should the human be a threat again.

His gaze went to the arrow he planted, then remembered that the tips were iron, not steel. That was the explanation of the 5" distance between where he intended, and where the arrow ended up. There was only one thing setting him off, however: How did the lady understand him so well?

[boomdeboom]

"Prejudice and hatred? I am merely protecting my friends, since you so easily killed a wolf of this forest without much thought." Again, her voice was turning sour as she continued to talk. She needed to compose herself, not become so overcome of her emotions. So, taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a moment, collecting herself. Then, slowly opening them once more, she gazed towards the male who was now walking away. Her curiousity turned onto the hawk which cawed angrily. It was a beautiful bird, it's feathers dancing with different shades of red from the sun rays which made their way inbetween the leaves of the trees.

Then, breaking herself from looking at the hawk, she returned to the present, and saying with a somewhat kinder voice, she said.

"You're going the wrong way human, nothing lies that way. If you wish, I can show you to a trail in which you can find a nearby village. It is your choice." Not waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel. She was behind on her usual schedule of the day. So as she began to walk slowly away, she clasped her hands together, singing a sweet tune under her breath, causing the birds from before to perch onto her branches. She debated whether to invite the wolf along too, but she decided to leave it to the wolf itself, presuming that it had a pack to return to eventually and she didn't want to delay it if it needed to go.

[Laughing Man]

The human paused a moment, eyes shutting and blinking away the pain of the cut on his face,

"The only creature I killed in this forest was a feline who attacked me. This pelt is not of this forest, nor was it a senseless murder." The Clansmen turned to face the goddess, again. He didn't know what she was, he actually assumed she was of the Fae. Which are often linked with gods and godesses anyway, so in some manner he was half correct. The human shifted his footing better on the roots of a tree, heavy iron boots painted with his signature orange, green, and black, rested easily against it,

"If you are so quick to assume, I may as well mention that this particular pelt belonged to my life-long friend, whom I consider family. It is an honor to wear her pelt in the present, for as she protected me in youth, so she protects me in death." With that, he turned back and continued on his way,

"I don't want your help." the human mumbled loud enough for the group to hear as he walked off into the forest aimlessly.

[JxSlaughter]

When the goddess started singing again the wolf followed her. He as the other animals did, liked the comfort of her voice. The wolf took one last glance at the man going the opposite direction before following the lady. The other being was hidden in the trees, so he didn't bother searching for what his eye's couldn't see. As he followed the female, he walked with his tail raised, wagging like a pendulum.

[Omio]

Gadrai heard the tension ease, and noticed that the pelt the human had was treasured, and noticed a gesture that was more connected to closeness. As if to say that it was from another, or it was a reminder of another dear. It was just like the bow he used. He leapt down from the tree he hid in, and landed, looking to the human male, then nodding to the male, and then turning, and walking beside the wolf. "Mind me not." His intention was mainly to the wolf, but the woman could respond if she wished as well.

((For those of you that want to use it, "[font=symbol]Gadrai speaks in this area.[/font]"))

[boomdeboom]

"Hurm. Suit yourself, human. Do try to avoid any more disturbances in my forest." She said this in a dreamy voice, as if her mind was elsewhere, which it was. Her mind was trying to figure out where she had to head next, perhaps to the cliff side? Or maybe to go see some new born animals and give them her blessing? So many things were calling her, and yet she wished to do none of them. She wished to merely sing and walk through the forest, which she did every now and again. It brought joy to all of the animals and gave her a sense of calm.

Noticing a few more presences, her gaze moved towards her side, where she found the wolf from before following her, and then a few steps behind was Gadrai. A smile grew on her lips as she slowed her pace and brought her hand across the pelt of the canine. Her fingers stroked along each fine piece of fur with care, loving care. Murmuring a few more words to her song, she then looked towards the elf who was a few more steps behind. She gave a small laugh at what he said, a soft childlike laugh. With her green eyes on him, she said, a smile again forming on her lips as she spoke.

"As you wish, Gadrai."

Her tongue was heavy when she spoke, not being used to speaking such a language often. She began to laugh at herself at how odd she sounded, so foreign. Then, returning to her normal pace, she began to sing once more, picking off where she left off. Again, as always when she sings, her voice echoed off into the distance so everyone in the forest would be able to hear.