But you'll never find the answers, until you set your old heart free

Starlight pierced through the night sky so close on this high peak that Lydia felt she could almost reach out and touch them.  Despite the new season winter still clung to the mountains of the north and Lydia had trudged through feet of snow just to reach the peak where she could watch the night sky in almost perfect silence, her dark coat almost blending with the sky.  She sighed, watching her breath shimmer like frost before disappearing in the air and she felt a sudden stab of loneliness.  She hated this.  She hated being on her own but she didn't know what else to do, everything had been so wrapped up and twisted in her head that she just had to get away.  She had to start over and the lands to the south were where she intended to do so.

Getting to her feet she shook her coat out and stretched before sitting back down.  She wanted to watch just a little bit longer.  Lydia knew it wasn't good to stay stationary for to long, she needed to get moving to maintain her body heat and just as she thought that maybe enough was enough she saw a shooting star race across the heavens and silently made a wish.

*Navigation, Cathedral Point

Before she left the north completely, the monochrome woman decided that she would see a bit more of the north. She was sure that it was going to look like a whole new world when the snow melted away. Goat the stoat was still here, even though he had told her that he was leaving as soon as spring came. Glancing at the weasel she couldn't help but grin, she had enjoyed his rather sour company. Tonight he said nothing as they cut through the snow, heading towards the very tip of the world. Jaelle's pace slowed when the sun started to slow, her blue and brown eyes wide as they neared the point. Massive pillars of ice stretched up like trees, almost completely see through. It made the landscape look oblong, the patches of clear areas stretching through the ice. Pausing beside one of them, she peered through it as Giet walked on the other side. He looked a lot longer than he was, making the woman giggle softly. He sent her a glare, but even he cracked a tiny smile at the sight of Jae's stretched out features. Sticking out her tongue, she trotted over to the next one before it got too dark to see through them. After prancing to one last one, the very edge of the landscape came into view. Humming softly, she headed there with wonderment clear on her face. It would seem that she wasn't the only one to come here to enjoy the view either, she could just pick out the silhouette of another wolf before the last of the sun vanished. The pale stoat was at her side again as she headed towards the stranger, a smile on her lips. "It's breathtaking, isn't it?" she said softly, glancing up at the expansion of stars that stretched above them. She wondered how they would look through one of the pillars, but that was for later. Mismatched gaze was on the young girl, her bells calling out as she gave her tail a wag. Her gray scarf was wrapped tightly around her neck, her head tilting to the side as she inspected the girl. She had a very pretty coat, a swirling mix of grays like her own, only more varying shades. "I'm Jaelle, it's nice to run into another wolf at this hour. I can only take so much of the weasel." she teased, hearing a hiss from Goat who nipped at her ankle. Yelping, she tossed the tube of fur a glare before swatting him with her bell-clad tail. They made a clattering sound at the sudden movement before she stilled, looking back up at the girl. "SPEAK"

Art by Pimsri

But you'll never find the answers, until you set your old heart free

Lydia was lost in her thoughts and she frowned, quickly attempting to stuff them away. She didn't want to think about the events that led her to be sitting on a snowy ledge by herself but no matter how hard she tried to still the thoughts that ran rampant in her head they still chased each other. It was enough to drive her crazy. She felt her stomach twisting as her eyes shut. Come on, Lydia, just let it go already. Yet she never could. Was there some secret everyone knew that she didn't? Some magic way to move on from the past? She couldn't help but wonder if she was just particularly weak.

"It's breathtaking, isn't it?"

"EEEEK!" Lydia's eyes snapped open and she flung herself to the side and into a snow drift. Her chest was heaving rapidly as she flailed in the snow, finally managing to pull herself gracelessly out. Oh, how embarrassing! She gazed out at the woman who had startled her. An odd looking woman with mismatched eyes and things hanging from her body. Lydia's breath caught in her throat as she immediately wondered if the woman was some kind of sorceress.

Lydia pulled herself out of the snow and shook out her coat as the stranger introduced herself as Jaelle. "Oh, uh…. hi Jaelle. I'm Lydia, sorry about that, you kind of startled me." Her eyes suddenly fell on the stoat that seemed to be accompanying the woman. Her head tilted to the side as she stared at the weasel. "Oh… uh… why do you have a weasel? You're not saving him for a snack later are you? I've heard they aren't very good eating."

Jaelle jumped back when the girl screamed, her bells clamoring in alarm. She hadn't even thought that she had startled the stranger, she hadn't seen that her eyes were closed in the dim light. Guilt spread across her monochrome features while Geit snickered, earning a swift kick to his flank. At least they weren't closer to the edge, she could have really gotten hurt! Rushing forward, she went to help her out of the snow bank but she was already picking herself up. Instead she licked a clump of snow off of her back, pulling back and tucking her nose into her scarf. "I'm sorry, I should have announced myself," she said, her voice slightly muffled by the fabric. She introduced herself as Lydia, and before she could say anything else she was asking if she was saving Goat for later to eat. Nothing was able to leave her mouth before the creature launched into it. "I ain't no snack, you over grown fluff ball! I'll bite yur toes off" Jaelle rolled her eyes as he darted forward to bite her, lifting a paw and stepping down on his back. He almost slipped out from under her, but she was too fast. Pressing him into the snow, she waited until he stopped wiggling until she let him go. "Goat, that is no way to treat a young lady like Lydia. Some wolves aren't used to seeing little pets, so be nice." She teased, a smile on her face. "I ain't yur pet either!" Geit said with a huff, turning around as he puffed up at the gray wolf. Before anything else could happen he bounded off a few steps, burrowing himself into the snow to hide. He could sit here and wallow in his anger, hopefully in peace. Watching the weasel go, she turned back to the darker wolf with an apologetic smile. "He is still working on his manners. The first time I found him he almost bit my nose off, but he is actually quite useful. A good traveling buddy too." Jaelle nodded, taking her eyes off the younger girl to look around. They were in view of the cliff that overlooked and never ending ocean, not even an island in sight. It nearly looked like they were on the edge of the world, and she wondered if that is what drew the other being here at this time. Did she hope to find solace in this place? She hoped not, because her and Geit were quite the interruption. "SPEAK"

Art by Pimsri

But you'll never find the answers, until you set your old heart free

Lydia recoiled a bit as the woman licked a clump of snow off her back.  She was touched by the gesture but having been on her own for awhile she wasn't quite sure what to make from the sudden contact and the almost… motherly touch that made her heart ache for times long past. "Oh no, it's alright.  I should pay more attention to my surroundings." She really should have.  If Jaelle had been a crueler woman Lydia could have been hurt very badly.  She wasn't really a fighter and wouldn't have been able to defend herself as well as others in her pack could.  Her former pack.

She giggled at the stoat as he lunched forward but she skittered back all the same.  She didn't want anyone chewing on her toes.  Even if he was a little cutie!  She cocked her head as she glanced at Jaelle.  "Pets?  What is a pet?"  Already this new land seemed so strange and foreign.  Wolves and stoats, cloth and twinkling sounds.  "Those are really pretty, Jaelle."  She gestured to the bells the woman wore. "I've never seen anything like them, what are they?"

She felt questions bubbling up inside her and it was a struggle to keep them in check.  Where was this woman from, where did she get these strange things, why did she wear them, did it hinder her hunting, on and on and on.  She thought it curious the stoat was named Goat and she found the rhyme amusing but his words would cause her to gaze questioningly at Jaelle as he insisted he wasn't a pet.  Whatever a pet was.  Jaelle explained that they were traveling companions.

"Oh!  So… like a friend?  Or a partner like a symbiotic relationship?  You each do things for each other as a part of a deal?"

She couldn't help but laugh at the questions that came one after another, staying silent as they fell from the girls lips. She asked about pets, her bells, and more about the stoat's relationship with her. Well... that was a bit more complicated. She eyed the weasel, letting out a soft sigh as she tried to think about what they really were to each other. It was difficult to put in words, so she would rather focus on the easier question. "Thank you, Lydia! These are called bells, they make a pretty ringing sound when I move." Picking up her tail, she gave it a few wags to show them off again. Jaelle really did love them, she was glad that she had grabbed them even if it was in a more... questionable matter. But it was more of a way of life for the gypsies. Besides, they suited her a lot better. Poking her nose under her scarf, she peeked back at Goat with her blue and brown eyes. Now on to the harder things. Uncovering her features she focused on the darker coated girl. "As for Goat... he does keep me company! He helps me with hunting and navigating. He can be a pain in the butt but he's starting to grow on me." Letting out another gentle laugh, she moved her eyes to the ocean. The spray of white water breaking from the calm surface were strong enough to be seen from here. Jaelle put this on the list of things to come see again. It was stunning. "SPEAK"

Art by Pimsri

But you'll never find the answers, until you set your old heart free

Lydia continued to admire the bells. "Those are amazing! Where did you ever find such treasures?" She'd never seen anything quite like them and so many questions continued to bubble up about them such as what they were made of, what made them and why. Lydia wondered if she might be able to find such things in this land if she looked hard enough but she supposed there was a down side to making noise whenever you moved. She preferred to pass through lands unseen and unnoticed and bells would certainly hinder that desire.

Jaelle moved on to say that Goat kept her company and helped with hunting and navigating. Lydia found herself longing for similar company. She liked to tell herself that she was just fine being alone and that it didn't bother her but deep down it was terribly agonizing not to have someone to talk to, especially when things went wrong. "How did you two meet? I'd love to have a traveling companion."