just a memory

Memories before the fall were still elusive, Brynn had remembered her name and little else. Being around Rispah had brought back her knowledge of healing but it was possible that was because her nose had constantly been bombarded by the smells of herbs all while the old woman explained what she was doing. Brynn thought it possible that such things had brought her old memories to the surface so when something felt familiar she refused to leave it for long lengths of time just to see if something else came back. The forest was a place that felt familiar, each one, though so very different felt so familiar to her. Had she lived in one before? Had she been born in one?

The last place she had been in this new land had felt more familiar to her. However, Brynn had learned quickly not to stay in one spot if she intended to remain close. Families were constantly settling and though a woman alone caused much less commotion the last thing a group wanted was a loner lurking around. With a sigh, The ivory and cream-colored woman settled at the base of the nearest fir, careful to keep enough distance to keep the sap from her coat. Eyelids slid down to rest and it was then that the vision began. A familiar face toyed right at the edge of her mind. An impression of a smile that wasn't always the happiest. Chocolate fur and there was a lighter color too, but again that was too far from her mind to be remembered well. Whoever this was Brynn had known them well, they had been close but who was it? Had they just been someone she encountered regularly or someone in her family? The annoyed growl rumbled in her chest and Brynn opened her eyes. Her body would rest but her mind was too busy now to bother even closing her eyes.

"speaking"

T

he silver-hued wolfess stood as a statue facing the unfamiliar forest, her head held high with a dignity that no king could take from her, that no soldier could tarnish – and they had certainly tried, hadn’t they? Below ground, in the dark chambers the Royalists used as a prison for dissenters, the heat of summer had been dulled by the coolness of the earth. In this way, Rhiannon may have been grateful for this brief departure from the reality of the heatwave. But she was not thankful to anyone or anything, be it royalty or slave, that took from her what she cherished most: freedom.

The stormy enchantress was not native to this land, but it was nearly as far from the Mainlands as one could manage to travel, and Rhiannon had been eager to put distance between herself and the king’s captors. It was now autumn, and the Lowlander femme was grateful for the cooler climate here. Her diminutive paws stepped lightly, silently, as she pressed onward into Perth.

Rhiannon had not traveled much further when the delicate scent of another caught her attention. Perhaps unconsciously, her path shifted just so, and her violet eyes soon spotted stranger in solitude. A light smile played her dark lips. The woman’s form was splashed in gentle colors, those of milk and honey mingling in random spots and markings. It was an odd configuration, though not as strange as the pale blue eyes that seemed so far away. Rhiannon cleared her throat to announce her presence. "Greetings to you, fair stranger," she offered in silky tones.


@Brynn

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

Foolish, absolutely foolish was the woman who allowed herself to become so lost in her thought that her surroundings ceased to mean anything. It was how bad things happened to so many and yet here was Brynn tempting such a horrid fate. A miscreant would have an easy time with the woman this day and yet it seemed that luck was on her side and perhaps the day wouldn't end in an unpleasant manner. "Greetings to you, fair stranger," Practice kept her face neutral though for a brief moment it was obvious that she had been startled. "Greetings to you as well. I didn't think a place such as this would have me running into a stranger. Tell me, what brings you to the woods this day?"

The words were innocent enough. Truthfully the earthen woman didn't care at all because if the question was turned on her she would be damned and determined not to disclose the full truth. The world wasn't allowed to see the raw wounds that marred her heart. They weren't allowed to see the scars that she didn't know the story behind. No, an outsider would get a polite tale about the forest being calming or that she was looking for a specific herb. There were plenty that she liked to have close at hand anyway. Some were said to improve memory and some helped to calm her when the fits came when something from the past teased her yet never came forward.

Denim blues studied the woman carefully, noting that her scent was slightly familiar though they had never met. It was something that usually signified a healer but it could also mean that the younger woman before her had recently been around herbs. They were similar in size though the other woman was made from storm clouds instead of the earth. Brynn kept her expression pleasant, though this place didn't have a scent of it being home to anyone there was no point in her being outwardly rude.

"speaking"

@Rhiannon

If the other had been surprised, she worked hard to hide that initial response from her facade. The woman’s words seemed innocuous, on the surface. But Rhiannon, much like the stranger, was adept at concealing and obscuring, and what lingered just below the surface intrigued the stormy she-wolf. The enchantress could deduce that the other had come to this place because she had anticipated it would be deserted. From this, Rhiannon could guess that her presence was not entirely welcomed. She was not offended by this, nor did such knowledge act as a catalyst for a hasty departure.

On the contrary, Rhiannon drew nearer to the nameless one, slowly. Her visage was one of patience, of mystery, and she made no attempt to hide her interest. What phantoms followed the lone wolfess before her?

”I have come here,” she began in a voice near a whisper, as though she were sharing a secret, ”in search of something. That which grows only here, in the high country, in this very forest.” She left it to the other to deduce her intent and her role as a healer, of sorts. ”I am called Rhiannon. And you? What has brought you to the forest this day?” She watched, closely, for signs of deception from the other -- if she should respond at all.


@Brynn

@tag

art & code by alexandre

Ever so slowly the other woman came near, it seemed her blunt words hadn't dissuaded the woman in whatever her pursuit was for the day. In a way that Brynn wasn't sure she would ever be able to explain properly, she felt naked. As if her soul was being looked into and it was delighting the senses of another. The feeling wasn't pleasant, but until she knew a little more it was best to keep her discomfort to herself.

”I have come here,” It seemed the woman before her had a flair for the dramatics, and it took a little more effort than the milk and honey woman had expected to keep her expression neutral. ”in search of something. That which grows only here, in the high country, in this very forest.” As the woman spoke Brynn's careful control of her expression faltered slightly and her brow quirked quizzically. Now she had to know whatever it was that grew only in this place. Being new to the area was a disadvantage should something happen. Brynn knew how to heal, she knew how to use the herbs that came from the earth. What she didn't know was where in the hell she would be able to find anything. Sure there were easy assumptions, but she didn't even know where to find certain terrain. "Well now I am curious to know that which only grows here." A gentle laugh left her lips as she spoke.

With most new meetings came proper introduction and it seemed that time had finally arrived for this moment. ”I am called Rhiannon. And you? What has brought you to the forest this day?” A polite smile warmed her features, though she hadn't wanted an interaction this was becoming one that was far more interesting that Brynn would have thought. "You may call me Brynn. As to why I have come here I'm afraid I can't give you a true reason. I am new to the area, I don't know the land well yet so I'm merely wandering to learn it. However I have always found myself particularly fond of the forest." Since she had awoken with Rispah the forest had called to her, had it once been home?

@Rhiannon

"speaking"

P

leased to see she had gained the pretty stranger’s attention, Rhiannon was happy to indulge the curiosity of the other. ”In the forests of the high country, one can find henbane in bloom. Are you familiar with it?” It was one of those peculiar plants that could be both medicinal and toxic, either healing or poisonous, depending on the dosage. Beautiful, but potentially fatal.

In ancient times, it had been used to induce hallucinations in those who consumed it – resulting in either illuminating visions from the gods, or haunting nightmares cursed by devils. Rhiannon did not intend to use henbane for herself, nor did she want to see her new acquaintance harmed. She had, after all, tricked males into consuming plants that caused fits of madness. Observing their delirium was an amusing pastime for the witch, from time to time. Interactions with brutes were most unpleasant to the femme, but she had ample time, patience, and self-control when it came to the fairer sex…. Mostly.

The she-wolf offered her name, and the stormy fae’s smile seemed to grow as Brynn spoke with an air of mystery that, naturally, Rhiannon found intriguing rather than off-putting. Her voice dropped another octave as she spoke conspiratorially: ”In truthfulness, I am not wholly acquainted with this forest, myself. Perhaps we should traverse it together? There is safety in numbers,” she acknowledged, though it was not safety that Rhiannon was particularly interested in.


@Brynn

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

It seemed that luck was on her side and when it came to flora the woman before her wouldn't be tight-lipped as some others might. ”In the forests of the high country, one can find henbane in bloom. Are you familiar with it?”[I] It was impossible to stop the slight narrowing of her eyes, of course, she was familiar with the plant, but it was one she did her best to keep away from. It had very few qualities that the milk and honey woman knew of that redeemed it from the horrors it could create. For her, it was best left alone. "I am, and I am glad to know it doesn't seem to be abundant if this is the only place it grows." There was little point in hiding her dislike of the plant, but now it was known plainly that she no longer cared to learn of its location.

If it weren't considered rude Brynn would have contemplated just walking away, but since the idea of offending someone who knew this place a little better seemed foolish Brynn made no such movement. [I]” In truthfulness, I am not wholly acquainted with this forest, myself. Perhaps we should traverse it together? There is safety in numbers,” It seemed foolish to lose the upper hand when it was clear that you had it, but there was no point in commenting on that. A wicked glint brightened denim eyes for only a moment. "Is there really safety if we don't know one another." She of course meant the other no harm, but that didn't mean that sentiment went both ways. "No matter, it would be preferred to walk in company even if it's only for a little while."


@Rhiannon

"speaking"

The other’s expression altered only slightly, a barely discernible narrowed azure eyes, but it was enough for Rhiannon to perceive her discomfort with the subject of deadly plants. The tempestuous woman merely smiled, an expression on her facade that did not seem to fit with the topic of toxicity. ”It is always a delight to meet others who are knowledgeable in the flora of Rionnach. I believe that even that which is poisonous can be useful, in the proper circumstances.” And that was not today. Rhiannon regarded the other curiously again. ”Are you a healer?”

The fair lass inquired, fairly, "Is there really safety if we don't know one another." Rhiannon’s smile spread further across her pale muzzle, in spite of herself. This one was intriguing to the enchantress. And if the other happened to be the opposite gender, the alleged stronger sex… Then the stranger may have had cause for concern. "No matter, it would be preferred to walk in company even if it's only for a little while." The she-wolf was genuinely pleased to have found company, even if said company still had some misgivings.

There was no particular destination in mind, so Rhiannon began to walk slowly, with the grace of a dancer. ”I hope you will not be offended by an observation, Brynn,” she began, voice lowering still so that it was nearly a whisper, like a secret shared between the two strangers. ”You seem lost.”

@Brynn

art & code by alexandre

A smile was an odd response to what could have easily been taken as distaste for the current subject of conversation. ”It is always a delight to meet others who are knowledgeable in the flora of Rionnach. I believe that even that which is poisonous can be useful, in the proper circumstances.” The woman was correct but with this particular herb, Brynn didn't feel that it was worth the risk. [/i]”Are you a healer?”[/i] To that Brynn shrugged, though she felt it necessary to explain to some degree. "I suppose so. I know the herbs and how to apply them. I don't know if I would call myself a healer or just a vessel that holds priceless knowledge." It was the closest to the truth that was possible. With no recollection of the past, Brynn wasn't certain if she was a healer at all. Had she known all of this before or was it just easy to watch the woman who had helped her survive and retain the knowledge?

As her new companion began to walk, Brynn followed her steps matching the other woman with ease. ”I hope you will not be offended by an observation, Brynn,” A brow quirked as she waited for the observation. ”You seem lost.” With that the painted woman snorted in an extremely unladylike fashion. "That observation is partially true. I'm not from here, but since I have no real destination I wouldn't exactly say that I am lost." Rionnach was the place where she was currently staying though that didn't mean it was the place she would spend forever. If nothing called out for her to settle here then Brynn would do as she had been and leave.


@Rhiannon

"speaking"

R

hiannon remained silent as the other femme considered her title as a healer. "I don't know if I would call myself a healer or just a vessel that holds priceless knowledge." The final words of the sentence intrigued Rhiannon, who glanced at the stranger with an interest that continued to grow. Internally, the stormy wolfess considered: What other knowledge does she possess?

Was it worthwhile to discover this hidden wisdom for herself? Well, there was no point in such considerations if the other she-wolf were to part ways now. It seemed, though, that Brynn had no destination in mind. "I'm not from here, but since I have no real destination I wouldn't exactly say that I am lost." The enchantress offered a knowing nod, as she was no stranger to the nomadic life of the displaced.

She paused in her forward momentum to regard Brynn with another clandestine smile. ”If it may be of interest,” she began, ”either now or in the future, should you choose.” She spoke in secretive tones. ”There are others like you. Other she-wolves with no particular place to be. One grows lonely.”

”My Sisters – they are wanderers. Some are healers, as well.” She continued, sultry voice still hushed, though no one else was near. ”We are called the Sisters of Samhain, followers of the feminine divine, the unseen that influences each of us.” Rhiannon began to walk again, though more slowly than before. ”More importantly, we are here when another of us is needed.”


@Brynn

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck