A HAUNTING OF FAE FOREST

anthe,

About the longest of her travels had been to the highlands as the itch of yearling yearning for adventure had settled into the bones of youth. Freedom was on the cusp of every action, just able to reach out and pluck from experiences that had never been available before. At the same time, a sort of home sickness came with the want of waywardness. Family was almost everything to the youth, though of course perhaps there was more beyond those close ties beyond home.

Forests were normally pretty, filled with a variety of greenery and buds of colorful flowers. This one held a particularly eerie presence quite noticeable at this time. Nothing that could be tangible yet something was still there. Each paw step further into the towering trees felt wrong. Warning signs were likely written on each trunk, inside the closely knit brambles, and even the cedar-pine scent.

"Hello?" Such an innocent girl, Anthe's voice chimed into the thick of the forest, not really expecting an answer. It was hard to believe that anyone would live within the winding, maze-like trees of this forest, rumored to have pups lost for days, even to never return. Morbid curiosity drew the charcoal frame further in as the carmine eyes praised the gloomy scene.


@Elwynn

As warmth returned to Rionnach, so too did the young and innocent. From the darkness of the forest, a pair of curious eyes followed the young woman as she wandered deeper into the wood-- into the witches lair. Elwynn trailed after the girl for a time, watching and waiting until she was sure they were alone. It had been some time since she'd seen anyone outside of her own little unit and even longer since the fae had been properly sated. With the state of Rionnach, wolves seemed more apt to keep an eye on their young ones and they were the easiest, and best, to claim. This girl was older than Elwynn might've liked, probably too large now for her to be able to simply pluck her away and drag her into the darkness, but she had other ways of getting what she wanted.

She stepped from the forest, and looked at the girl as if she'd happened upon her by chance. Whether she'd suspected anyone was watching her or not, Elwynn could not quite tell. She'd tried to stay downwind and out of sight, her black and brown fur blended quite well with the darker parts of the forest. "Hello, darling." she said softly, a motherly warmth crept into her lightly accented voice. it was the one she used on her very own son. "This place is dangerous for children, they can get lost easily on their own." she said, feigning as if she cared for the safety of the child when it was the exact opposite. "Do you need help finding your mother?" she asked, canting her head to the side in question as she looked at the young wolf.

Usually children were fairly trusting but some she'd encountered were suspicious. She hoped this one was the former, for she wasn't looking to play any games today.

table ☓ bunny

Unknown to the umbra witch that crept from the shadows, Anthe's hearing was not the best, and the depth of shadows caused disruption to any chance at reading lips. The croon of the crone startled the yearling, causing her lithe frame to swing about wildly until the large carmine eyes locked onto the dim reflection of light from the lavender pools set into an ink skull.

Words came in waves of clarity. Dangerous, lost, mother, these were plucked out with only vague understanding of the words which joined them together. As a yearling, Anthe didn't consider herself a child, though of course those well into adulthood would view someone as young as Anthe child-like. An understanding of what this stranger saw her as was loose based off the words she could make out clearly.

Fear clearly crept into the youth's heart as pupils dilated further in the depths of the forest. Dangerous. The word rang out in her mind, unfamiliar as she had lived a sheltered life with her parents. Yet this figure from the shadows seemed to have good intentions from what Anthe could see. "Oh yes, I'm lost. My moms are back a ways, I think." (The words came with an audible partial slur, an indication of Anthe's inability to hear well.) They had spoke of coming as a family to the forest at one time, though plans had not been solidified before Anthe had taken off, eager for adventure.

@Elwynn

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“oh yes, i'm lost. my moms are back a ways, i think." the girl offered. moms? interesting. elwynn didn’t let it distract her too much as she looked over the young woman. she could see the fear in her eyes but perhaps her guise of kindness was working, for she had not yet fled. elwynn tried not to let the aroma tantalize her too much... no, not yet. she smiled, a little more tensely this time.

“That’s no good. I could help you find your way out. I know these woods well, darling.” she said.

It took everything in her not to spring on the girl now, for fear that she’d run off to her mothers and they’d come running. It wasn’t that she feared who might come to look for the child, but that she would lose her chance at a proper sacrifice. It had been far too long that it made her antsy just thinking about the blood. She drew a breath, glancing away momentarily as if she were peering off into the eerie forest in thought. She glanced back at the girl and tilted her head to the side slightly.

Though should the girl accept her ‘gracious’ offer, she would not lead her out of the woods. No, she’d lead her deeper in, where nobody would ever find her again.

table ☓ bunny