Oh what a pretty place thought Deirdre. Caves were always such a novel concept and captivated her, just a bit but more than any other geological formation. How did the ceiling stay up while everything wore away below? What perfect conditions had to align to make paths instead of solid, hard, stone through and through? In a way she did like to think about what it took to do the same to a soul. Weave your way in between the stuff that's too hard, find what's easiest and dig away at it.

She paced along in the dark, humming to herself and letting the sound echo about the walls and down the path. A steady, upbeat melody more at home below the sun than down here with her.

@Fernweh

within the myriad of plants and vegetation, fernweh finds her peace and quiet. the night air here is different from that of the summit - it's full of life. strangely, there's little of life to be seen here beside herself. winter ushers out the creatures who must move south and the creatures who must hibernate. and it leaves the lands almost barren of activity, especially during the night.

rather than mourn the loss of a hunt, fernweh decides that it would be beneficial for her to practice other skills. she has recently dipped herself into the water, so as to hide her scent, and is now rubbing against tree trunks to make it stay that way. there's no reason behind her action except to do what she set out to do. she's no longer a loner, whose fun means treading through pride territories as a rogue lioness. but, fernweh dare thinks that one day, these skills she is training for may benefit the summit and her family. @Deirdre_{BG — ART — CODE}

Gradually the scents changed around her. She didn't quite pick up the scent of another lion, but just a shift in the woodsy and floral air that sailed through breeze. Deirdre grins just a bit and is most certainly up for trouble enough to investigate what made her spine tingle. Hello hello hello? On repeat she whispers the word into the air, wanting to be found, discovered, hunted. Any of it sounded like fun and Deirdre would grow bored otherwise.

But after sniffing the wind a bit more, catching some stale cave air inside her nose, she's not sure she's got a pinpoint on the stange shift anymore. Everything just smells like nature again and she's not gotten a visual yet on the other lioness to know better. Drat. She says with a huff and pout.

it takes her some time to hear the sound of an echo, something that feels more like a figment at first. which is undeniably true, for fernweh of course, since she has been hearing many things that shouldn't be present. the voice of her mother, the voices of her siblings, and the sounds of the caladan wave lapping at the shore. she must be mad, the sickness still inebriating her. fernweh usually ignores them, until they're no longer there and she can convince herself it's not her grief that gave birth to them.

but, this time, the voice isn't her lost family's - no, it's someone else's, someone who is flesh and blood. she stops pacing against the trees and twists her ear, believing whoever made those sounds will step out. as time passes, the silence soon comes forth, stretching on and on until fernweh snaps it with a step forward. the ground is pliant, snow pushing aside for her paws as she walks to where she assumes the carrier of the voice is. she's careful still, not to be too quick in her steps, while minding her body's scent, rubbing against anything she comes into contact with. droplets of water fall from her pale belly, with drying fur plastered against lean muscles. her eyes narrow against the dimly lit path, until she spots someone not far up ahead. did you call for me? she asked, aware of the suddenness of her voice and of her presence. @Deirdre_{BG — ART — CODE}

A voice. Deirdre is all at once alert and visibly intrigued, her ears stand upright and the fluffy fur of her flaxen pelt ripples like ocean waves. She does not turn to look, no not yet. She lets the owner remain a mystery for now and keeps pointedly turned away from the source. But should anyone get a glimpse of her face, even from the side, the smile is wide and fearless.

Yes yes yes, stay there. She says, her own movements stopping. You sound like you have green eyes am I right? It's purely a guess. But Deirdre imagines it'll be pretty cool if she's got it right on the first guess.

the woman's reaction isn't what fernweh expects. though, she's seen her fair share of oddities, some worse than others. fernweh frowns, feeling like she's not at all content with what is given to her by the nameless lioness. yet still, she stays, preferring to make her trip worthwhile rather than cut it short. here, the walls are warmer, as if spring still exists. she can get used to it, even if her coat is made for winter nights. you're half right fernweh said while forcing out a chuckle, hoping that the woman isn't trying to tease her. can you tell me what the color of my pelt is then? fernweh doesn't think the woman will guess that one right. but it's interesting to see what will be her answer. @dierdre_{BG — ART — CODE}

Half right? Deirdre's paws did a little dance in place in the ground. That was better than entirely wrong. And she'd take that small victory in stride, feeling for certain it was only ever going to be as meaningful as she herself made it. A game she made up without prize or importance to anyone else.

And it was time for round two.

Ok ok one second. Deirdre's face contorted into one of concentration, eyes closed tightly and her tongue poking out as she presses it to the inside of her lip. Blueish? Not like the night sky but more subtle.

guess again fernweh said, mouth now curling into a smile, i'll give you one last chance. despite her initial disapproval, it seems to be fading quickly as the seconds tick by. other than learning how to cover her scent, she has nothing else to do and eat the time away. the scent that's clinging onto her now would be from the earthen must of the labyrinth walls. if she's a bit more professional at it, she could be one with the land in smell. and yet, here she is, entertaining a woman who might be a bit mad. it has never occurred to her in the past; so, perhaps madness can be fun too. @Deirdre_{BG — ART — CODE}

Guess again? Oh darn. Deirdre bit upon the inside of her lip with some urgency. Like this might be life or death instead of her weird way to entertain herself. But then, and oh she thinks herself smart, she figures this must be a trick. She must be confident in her first answer and not waver. I think you're tricking me. I guess the same thing again. And so confident is she that she whirls her head over her shoulder to see Fernweh...

And how disappointment fell over her face. Crashed like a tree caving under a strong gust of wind and looking equally like a small delicate flower that's been stepped on. Shit. You're not that color at all. Fuck.

reality's often disappointing fernweh said, keeping her voice even as she watched the woman. half of her wishes dierdre would give up and properly look at her. she's about to forfeit her own presence here and leave before the woman turns around. immediately, a crestfallen look sweeps across dierdre's face. fernweh almost feels bad, but she's elated that they don't have to keep on playing the same game forever. it can be, after all, get quite difficult to maintain a conversation like this. see? she said, with a teasing tone, i told you, you'll be disappointed. ironically, both she and the lioness shares a similar pelt color. i'm fernweh, what's your name? @dierdre

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