They say home is where the heart is. Mine is among the stars, across the universe Days seemed to have passed before the young wolfess eyes as she sought out the mystery of the Nightingale. The name held something deep in her heart, one that made her wish to seek if there were more like the one her friend Mortis who had done his best to help find the women named Riva. Though the thought of giving up had crossed her mind on many occasions, to just go back to her mother empty pawed just to see the face she had cared for most. Though did she still remain here as well? It was a mystery one that she was not sure she would figure out. It was with a small sigh of defeat that she had looked to the stars that shone in the night only to see flickering bugs of fire meeting her eyes. Silently she gasped while wondering where she had found herself now. Had she wandered too far off from a path once again, and did her Ruaisar know where they were? These were questions she wished she could answer, but ones that she could possibly answer. ’maybe it is before me like this lake?’ she had wondered to herself before she started to look around.

Something felt profoundly wrong about stopping. She had been fleeing for so long now, rising after a short nap, sprinting until she couldn't sprint any further, and then staggering on until she collapsed. Then she napped and began again. She had never had a destination in mind, hadn't decided how far was far enough. All she could think was fleeing before her consequences caught up to her. Her paws left bloody smudges in the earth behind her, as she limped into the stunning view of the lake. The buzzing of fireflies captured her for a moment.

She paused, despite herself, her maw dropping open. It was like a fairy tale, like a place she might only have dreamed about or read in a story.
The sparkling light danced across the lake as through to a merry tune she could not understand. It flickered off green stubs and snow-topped trees. It glimmered across the Golden eyes of a wolf
... a wolf.

She froze, her breathing quickening in a soft hiccup as her pulse speed beneath her skin. Her eyes roved over the wolfs dark colors, and found no semblance to the family she had left behind. He forced herself to relax, taking in a long, deep breath. No, she was the heroine of a new tale, the past would never catch her. She wouldn't allow it.
What she had to to about now, instead, was how to relate to another wolf?
"Excuse me, Miss, do you know what this lake is called?" It seemed a good starting point. Friendly, she could do friendly, right?

"Speech"

They say home is where the heart is. Mine is among the stars, across the universe Silently she looked around with the soft chirps coming from her companion as she rested upon her back. It was not a strange thing to the girl any longer, not when they had been traveling with one another for so long. It was more comforting when she was perched upon her back or the crux of her head for she knew she was not truly alone. The thought had brought her some solace as she looked towards the lake and the flies of fire that danced about in a mesmerizing way, one that could lure her in closer if her mind had not been miles away. Gently her tail flicked behind her in a low stance for she felt no need to be alarmed, even when another scent had made its way to her nose for it seemed to stay in place for a moment allowing the young fae to turn her head back to capture a look at the newest arrival upon the lake of fire. A beautiful fae stood there one coated in a brewing storm coloring that seemed to bless her in an otherworldly beauty which she would assume would allow her to stand out within a crowd, more so with the scales that flickered from the flies of fires light. She wanted to offer words of some sort to help calm the female but before she could utter such a thing she seemed to reign herself in, before speaking to her. It was with a gentle smile she turned to this new female ”I unfortunately do not but I think it may have to do something with these darling little bugs of fire. “ her voice was soft for she feared if she allowed herself to become too excited she would cause the new woman to flee from sight. It was not something she wished to do. ”I’m Astraea by the way, but you can also call me Star if you’d like” she spoke hoping to help calm the women a bit more.

The friendly tone of the woman held no edge to it, only honest gentleness. It reminded her of a time long ago, and mostly forgotten. She wanted to close her eyes, and tilt her head upwards, to listen to the warm voice roll over her… but that would be weird, wouldn’t it? She curbed the impulse, and instead assembled something like a smile on her maw. She was just a normal wolf, out for a late night stroll. Not a runaway, with blood on her scabbing paws.

“Star… that’s a really lovely name. I’m Seraphina, but you can call me Sera” she glanced fleetingly towards the fireflies again, trying to appreciate the beauty as Star called their attention back to the bugs. It lasted only a moment, and then her eyes were sliding back to the other wolf again, as through she was afraid the other might make a move against her in a moment of inattention. “Should we call it bug-lake for now?” a hint of a more honest smile crossed her muzzle as she suggested it.

"Speech"

They say home is where the heart is. Mine is among the stars, across the universe A kind smile graced her face as she looked to the wolfess who she wished to claim could be a mythical creature. But she knew these lands were filled with others just as unique as her, it made her wonder quietly what other wolves out there could possess traits that make them shine. Though the thoughts of them could wait till later, for now it seemed like the woman needed a gentle wolf around. With the call of her name she nodded her head happily, she had always thanked her mother for blessing her with a name that had many meanings. Though the wolfess had a name that she thought was perfect for her in every way, a beautiful name for a beautiful wolf. ”Yours is just as lovely if not more so!” she said happily. Though as she admired the world around she noticed the hesitation of the wolfess ”I am harmless Sera… I don’t like violence, I’m more of a healer than a fighter.” she said softly.

Her smile grew, just a little, at being called lovely. It was her first compliment, and she savoured it. Filing away the moment to bring out and examine like a shiny new toy any time her mind wondered. Her thoughts however ground to a halt at Stars next words. She was shamed that the wolf saw her fear so easily. A heroine wasn't afraid of anything, and more then anything, that's who Sera wished she could be.

"I'm not afraid!" She stated bodly, taking multiple steps forward. The quickened, thruming beat of her pulse beneath her skin gave lie to her words. She would never be a victim again, she would never go back. If Star made a move against her, she would fight or flee. Until then, she pretended she was brave. "I was merely... distracted....by the fireflies, and your the first wolf I've seen in a while." She stopped before Star, a wolfs stride away, and self-consciously rubbed one of her cut paws against the grass. A healer? She was a long way away from letting another wolf close enough to touch her. Best she didn't show her hurts, and give the other wolf any ideas. "So if you don't know what this lake is called, have you never been here before?"

They say home is where the heart is. Mine is among the stars, across the universe With wandering eyes of sun the young wolf looked back to the lake wondering if the fireflies would ever hover above the water. It would make them seem like they were dancing and the reflective surface would make them become more ethereal. Though what would happen if her companion had woken up, would she flutter about trying to snag a meal or would she sit and watch them with the wolves that were around her. Astraea had admired them wholeheartedly until the voice of Sera had called to her claiming she was not afraid. It made her look at the beautiful women with a gentle smile, she knew fear, it used to cling to her and at times it still did. Though the wolfess did not wish to allow her fear to be known, making her truly regret her choice of words. ”I’m sorry I assumed the wrong thing” she spoke softly yes she was sorry but inside she knew she was right. Though that would not allow her to push away a wolf who may be in need of a friend. ’what would mother think?’ she asked herself. ”You’ll meet many wolves here I do hope they're all kind though, I’ve only met a few and they are just the sweetest wolves!” she said happily hoping to defuse the situation she had created. She did not know the life Sera had lived before coming here,and did not know what could set her off. If it came to it she would flea and try to find her way back to mother. With that in mind she looked to the woman as she asked her question. ”I haven’t been here for long. I came from another land with my mother and her companions… so unfortunately I don't know much of anything here.” she admitted sadly.

Star accepted the lie easily, letting the matter drop. Sera kept her wolfs length from the other wolf, and cautiously settled onto her hunches. She didn't get the sense she was in danger, but it was hard to trust her instincts.

There was silence for a moment, and then the other wolf spoke again, praising the wolves of this land. Sera wondered what that would be like, to mix and mingle with strangers fearlessly. For meeting another to be an every day occurrence. She let her gaze drift out across the lake for a moment. Watching the fireflies dance, and trying not to think about where she had come from. "Yeah, me too. But it seems like a nice place" She said truthfully. It seemed like a safe enough thing to admit to, Star was new here as well after all.

A partial smile crossed her features and she turned back to Star. A hint of pup impishness showed through the cracks. "I guess we'll just have to name everything as we please then. Starting with BugLake here. What would you call some of the places you've walked through to get here?

They say home is where the heart is. Mine is among the stars, across the universe It was back to the unease and unrest for the woman as she stood a distance away, not that she minded. It was better for the female to feel comfortable then to force her to be so close and be with a ticking time bomb that could snap at a moment's notice. Yellow hued eyes looked to her sleeping companion to make sure they were okay nestled in her fur and not falling from her back. When she was satisfied that she was her attention turn back to the uniquely beautiful fae as she started to spell once again. A gentle nod was given as she did agree this place was quite beautiful, but so where so many other places here. Her favorite had been the rune stones that had jutted out of the ground she knew her mentor would adore. Which had set in mind that she would have to find the two toned wolfess at some point. When the thought of naming the lake had been said, she allowed a blissful smile to appear as she gandered to the water's edge where the bugs started to flutter between the bank and the water itself. ”well one seemed to be in a place of orchards, it was quite lovely to see the tall trees overhanging though the name is already a given Orchard, one was a place that had so many stones and some had carving! They were so unique! I think it would be called runestones fields… or something of that nature.” she had admitted softly before she thought back to the first place she had been found in. ”the only other place I can recall was littered with thorns and thickets with large trees I wouldn’t know what to call it.” her voice was soft while she admitted such.

“Runestone fields…” she mused softly, a smile fluttering upon her muzzle for a moment. She tilted her head upwards, meeting Astrea’s gaze, sharing in the smile the other woman gave her. “I think I would like to see a place like that” She wanted to explore, to venture through the world. She would rather be doing it without looking over her shoulder, but she couldn’t have everything.

She slowly settled on her haunches, letting herself pretend she could relax, a soft breath escaping her. “Hmm…. I vote Chirping Thickets” she said, teasing her eyes across the lake for a moment as she tried to envision the land that Star spoke of. It made Sera wonder how much she missed by running, running, and taking no moments to see what was around her.


"Speech"

They say home is where the heart is. Mine is among the stars, across the universe The womens voice had sounded as soft as silk if only for a moment before a wonderful smile had been placed on her face making her look all the more enchanting. Then she spoke of seeing the majikal place she had found within her endless roaming. ”I can bring you there if you’d like?” her voice was gentle in hopes of making sure her offer was nothing but kind. She did not wish to push the new wolfess into running, and finding a path to a possible threat that could harm her. Yes she had met wolves of kindness but that did not mean there were ones lurking in the background plotting and planning a twisted fate for others. Seeing her start to relax had made the young girl brim with happiness. She had thought she had ruined the chance to allow her such a peaceful thing. ’thank the heavens!’ she had thought in her mind as she heard Chirping Thickets. ”I think it sounds lovely” her response was soft as she allowed herself to relax upon the ground as well. ”There are many beautiful places to see.”