the ground thaws and she, with it.

spring rolls in slowly, fresh green growth sprouting up through the ice and the frozen ground. there is delight in walking through it, in watching the world come back to life. that delight is tinged with sadness, regret bitter on the back of her tongue — she will forever wear the scars from the shackles locked around her wrists but today, she is free.

this spring, she is free.

she says it, and therefore it must be so. there are no crows to darken the blue skies, nor are there any shadows lurking behind her aside from her own. freedom comes quietly — not with a bang, not even with a whimper. it comes from patience, from determination; she is the last one left, and that means something. that has to mean something. the nights were dark once but here, the afternoon is sunny — a warm breeze ruffles her thick fur like an old friend, and quietly the little wolf smiles as she leans into the breeze.

it feels like coming home.

and oh, she is so ready for a new beginning.

BG — ART — CODE

[OOC: Hope you don't mind - if so lmk and I'll request a delete :) Also vague as pride decision isn't done yet.]

Kireena moved, her hide cleansed of the scent of pride and her den - something she'd taken up doing to ensure that she wasn't held accountable for something she had no knowledge in - at least until she got a better handle on the different nuances between the prides of this land.

Up ahead, another was spotted, and the woman gave pause, a foot lifted as she debated bothering the obvious solitude that @Faolán seemed to be enjoying. At least - Kireena would enjoy the solitude and in fact the breeze was gentle on her own hide - tugging her mane and the feathering around her legs.

A soft sound emanated from her before she stopped a few lengths away, not wanting to interrupt if she wasn't wanted, but also curious to find more information about this land from another. But, a good way to get attacked was to scare the other by sneaking up on them. So she announced herself gently.

Ooc: I don't mind at all, ty for joining!

Despite appearances, she does not enjoy being alone.

Solace and solitude offen came together hand-in-hand, but she misses the buzzing voices of her sisters. Her daughters, her mothers. Anyone and everyone aside from those curse-touched fools. alas -- the gardens, for all their beauty and life and joy, lacked this very simple thing.

Loneliness is a new cruelty, but one she is terribly familiar with.

So when a soft noise reaches her, the little wolf almost thinks it's a mistake. An auditory hallucination -- hearing what she wants to hear. Still her muzzle turns, mismatched eyes alighting upon the unfamiliar -- and massive -- form of @Kireena ♞.

Oh, she says, a soft exhale -- more air than words. There was another. Immediate joy buzzes in her veins, colored close to desperation, but she simply blinks. Am I interrupting? She asks after a moment, not quite concerned but close to it. She's misread Kire's hesitation, assuming herself to be the hindrance in the path rather than the destination.

BG — ART — CODE

[OOC: <3 You're welcome! ]

The pale lioness spoke and Kireena found herself amused that the other thought she was interrupting. "I believe it's me that should be saying that to you.. You were here first, after all." The red woman took the chance to step closer - as @Faolán hadn't given any indications of chasing her away. Ears tilted forward, her gaze overlooking the pale lady with curiosity.

"If you wouldn't mind some company, I wouldn't mind some myself." Sure, she had a place to live, but she still wasn't sure if she could truly let down her guard and settle down just yet. The red woman stopped about two lengths away, waiting to see what the other would say. If she didn't wish some company, then Kireena supposed she would need to simply continue to mosey on through.

Not that she moved anywhere with any sort of speed at her size. It took a lot of energy to throw herself into high gear and oftentimes, she simply wanted a nap afterwards. Not fat by any means, but gravity was a thing, and she was something of a lorge gal.

You were here first, after all. faolán's features flutter, a small smile curling her lips. aye -- you could say that. Still, her head tilts, considering. I don't believe anyone owns this place, she explains, a small hum hiding behind her words. Neither of them were in the others way; both of them belonged here. Perhaps the little wolf would claim this place if she could -- what bliss that would be! A quiet life, nestled into the flowers and herbs here. To have the land provide a bounty for you, and all you had to do was take what was offered....

Somehow, the thought of taking turns her stomach.

No, better to just be a visitor here and pass through with No lasting damage done aside from the few sprigs she takes and keeps; let everything else be just a memory, here. Faolán, she provides with a soft smile, gesturing the other woman closer should she want -- or need -- to. They both owned this place, yes? Ears shift forward, attention splitting. Let me know if you see any basil? She didn't know if the other woman was well-versed in plants; if @Kireena ♞ wasn't, it wouldn't hurt anything. There's comfort in working with another though; something about the larger lioness puts her at ease.

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The red woman glanced towards @Faolán as the other seemed to relax just a little. When the pale feline spoke her name, Kireena offered a toothy grin of her own. "Kireena." Given that she supposed she was permitted closer, the large lady moved a few steps in the general direction of the other - not wishing to make a straight beeline.

Not that she wasn't interested in company, but Kireena was well aware that her size could be threatening to some even if they didn't want to be. Instinct ran amok with one occasionally.. so she generally tried to come at an angle rather than head on towards others. The question came and had her counting herself lucky she had recently learned about "basil".

"My family used to call it Nutweed.." The red woman lowered her head, closing her eyes and letting her nose do the talking. Why? Because Basil had its own pungeant scent and she found she could focus easier when her eyes were closed. But still - she wanted to share a tidbit with the other.. Perhaps they could learn from each other.

And so, they settle.

Maybe not smoothly, and maybe not with full trust, but.... still. It is a far cry to the uneasiness she is used to; simply meeting another is enough to bolster her own spriits. The other introduces herself -- @Kireena ♞ -- and suddenly she is not a stranger anymore. There is a knot between her shoulder blades that seems to unkink, a weight lifted as the afternoon continues. It makes everything easier, and the warm spring breeze helps, too. Despite herself faolán feels at ease ( or as much as she can, after what feels like a lifetime wound so tight ), offering a smile to the other woman easily.

A sign of good things to come, she hopes.

Her search is paused as the other woman speaks, offering an alternate name for the plant faolán desires. That was a curious thing, to be sure, but... Your family, she hums easily in response, weighing the words upon her tongue. A healthy respect given to the concept, even if her ears tip forward with intrigue. Are they here? Truthfully she has never met anyone from this land -- perhaps she thinks today will be the day to change that.

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As Kireena continued to search for the aromatic Basil, she listened to @Faolán's questions. "No - Well.. I suppose yes." A chuckle slipped from her lip as she lifted her skull towards the pale lioness, tilting her head and flicking the ear with her sisters talon embedded in it. "My sister hitches a ride everywhere I go.. and my.. parents stay in the den."

She didn't extrapolate on the pieces she held in trust - the parts of her family that remained with her as part of their honor and place of memory. But.. given that the indication was of a claw that had obviously not been attached any-longer.. she wondered if the pale creature would infer that her 'parents' were also simply remains.

"I suppose they're here in spirit - but I don't know that they'd be aware of that fact." The red giant shrugged, casting a two-tone glance towards the pale creature that had started this quest for a plant. "What about yours?"

At first, the answer she gets is... uncertain, at best. Perhaps the other woman just did not keep track of them? But then she continues, answering as the lioness's ear flicks and the wolf's gaze is drawn to it -- and then to the adornment worn there. It takes her a moment to place just what it was. A claw, a lion's claw. From her sister, apparently. Faolán's heart pangs at the thought, wishing she had something of Sheol to keep with her.

She does not know the context of what @Kireena ♞, talks about nor could she ever guess, but... ghosts, she murmurs softly, almost sadly, know more than we would think. Her voice might be soft, delicate like the flowers they step between, but there is steel beneath. She says this because she knows this, because she needs to believe it. What is dead may never die, because faolán cannot bring herself to say goodbye just yet.

I'm glad you have them with you. Her sister, at least -- faolán was unsure of the woman's parents, and knew better than to press. Her movements still among the flowers and new growth, feeling suddenly so out of place. There was still a job to do, plants to gather, but somehow... this felt more important. And as for her.... I lost my sister, here. She murmurs, a small frown marring her features; the wound was still new and fresh, bleeding sluggishly. And I have no other. This was paired with a small roll of her shoulders -- that loss was at least older. No less painful but the wound had healed over, skin knitting back together.

But still I gather basil, and aloe, and -- Her voice trails off, quieting even as her smile sharpens. Wolfish, like the creature she was always meant to be. And wolfsbane and nightshade, and everything else. Healing, hurting. She lost a sister but she would never lose anything, ever again.

BG — ART — CODE

@Faolán spoke softly of the ghosts and how they knew more than one might think and the red woman nodded. "I'm sure they do.. but I don't know whether their ghosts rest with me or.. the others that carry them." There was a certain sadness to the pale lioness that had Kireena stepping closer, before she halted.

"I'm sorry.." She knew what it was like to lose a sibling and hoped that the others sibling went gently.. though death never truly was gentle, was it? The comments of gathering plants started innocent enough, and then continued to the less than 'light' side of the herbalism skill.

It was enough that it had the woman chuckling as she inclined her skull in a nod of respect to another herbalist. "I'm glad I'm not the only one that studies all forms of herbalism..There are so many that only focus on one side..." She would murmur as if wondering if she had read the other correctly.

Perhaps - she could find in this lioness a friend of sorts - a companion with which to discuss the less rainbow side of plants and the skillset that came right along with it. "I'll admit - my skills are not the greatest, but I still try."