She had not been here for what felt like forever. The old Priestess had, at some point, made a fire and took shelter beneath a tree as the sky dropped snow upon the earth. It was steady, not too harsh, but it was still very cold. The fire, at least, kept her warm. She had been here for a few hours now, doing nothing in particular beyond finding a place where she felt the voices of the Spirits were stronger. She could hear them whispering to her on the way here, and now that she was here and alone, their voices were a constant tune. She could hear each and everyone that spoke. It was certainly music to her ears. That meant they were still with her. Still speaking with her. She hated it when they were quiet...she always panicked, thinking that perhaps they had abandoned her. But no. They were here and stronger than ever. She was in the midst of putting together a deer hide drum, one that she had been working on for a few days now. She warmed the rawhide that had been prepped already by the fire, and when it was malleable enough, she took the hide and, with the help of her companion, she tightened it over the frame and got everything situated. When she was done, she lightly tapped the drum and listened as it vibrated. It was a deep, harmonious sound that seemed to please her Spirits. Setting it down in front of her, she steadily beat the drum to the tempo of her own heartbeat. WC: 264/1500 "Speak"

It had been several days since Artorias had presented them with the Wisteria. She couldn't help the tears that fell that day...but at least her heart ached a little less. The woman had decided then, that she wanted to visit the resting place of her parents. But she wanted to do it alone, so she told Greed what she planned to do before leaving the Hallows. It would be a long journey, but one she made alone before. She needed this journey, and she hoped with all that she had that she'd be able to find some sort of peace. Truthfully, she wasn't sure what she'd gain by visiting her parent's gravesites. Feeling melancholic as she made her way into the woods, everything was eerily silent for a time. At least, that was until she heard a sudden and steady beating in the woods. She paused and listened. It sounded like the beating of a drum, and the beat seemed to follow the pounding of her own heart. Feeling drawn to this, she sought it out, and mere minutes later she'd find an older she-wolf sitting near a fire, steadily beating on the drum. "Oh...sorry to disturb you...I..." WC: 462/1500 "Speak

She hummed along to the beat of her drum. Steady. Rhythmic. It followed the beat of her heart. Even when a stranger had found her, Pandora continued for several more beats before she opened her eyes to find the silver fae. Still, she continued rhythmically beating the drum. "You do not disturb me, child." She said softly. The stranger had a certain...air about her. Something was amiss with the woman, though Pandora would not press. Not yet. "Come, sit by the fire and warm yourself. Join me. The spirits welcome you here, dear. The night is cold. Too cold to continue your journey tonight." She returned to humming. Boom. Boom. Boom. "The Spirits tell me your soul is pure." She eyed the other woman with a slight tilt of her head. "And yet...your soul is in pain. You've lost something. You're looking for peace, and have yet to find it." She studied the expressions of the other woman, noting the drop in her facial features and the look in her eyes that began to water. "Am I wrong?" WC: 640/1500 "Speak"

The older woman apparently didn't mind her presence. She continued to beat the drum that she had and invited her to sit with her at the fire. At the mention of the Spirits, Claire was confused by what she meant but didn't question it. She nodded to the invitation, glancing at the sky when she realized that night had fallen, and it was indeed too cold to continue her journey North. "Thank you. I appreciate the offer," She was grateful to have the warmth of the fire. Perhaps it was chance, or maybe she'd just gotten lucky to run into someone else out there that had a warm fire prepared...and good music, too. But when the woman spoke again, Claire looked at her with slight apprehension. She was taken aback by the woman's words. "Wh- h-how...?" She began to get teary-eyed as the emotions from that day welled up. She had lost something. It had been incredibly painful. And it still was. She tried to forget, but couldn't. Somehow, this stranger knew. She forced herself to swallow past the lump that had quickly formed in her throat. "You're...not wrong..." Her lip trembled. Her heart beat faster. The breeze crossed the fire, causing it to flare up a little more before it fell back into its slow burn. "I...how did...you know?" She thought she had buried it far enough that it wouldn't show. But perhaps her sorrow had permeated her very skin and had been visible to everyone. WC: 887/1500 "Speak

She wasn't surprised when her questions were answered and confirmed. "The Spirits speak to me. And I can see it in your eyes. You live in anguish. It's...okay...to let go. Or hold on. Whichever helps your healing." She said softly. She paused the beating of her drum for a few moments to toss another piece of wood into the flames and stoked it with a longer stick before resuming. "You've lost much in your short life. I sincerely hope you and yours do find healing, dear." She breathed in a deep breath, and slowly released it, her breath coming out in a cold fog. She noticed the woman seemed like she was about ready to cry. Or perhaps she already was, and was good at hiding it, for the most part. The fire reflected on the woman's cheek. Within the tears that steadily began to flow. "Have you heard of the story of All Hallows Eve? Or what some call...Halloween? Samhain?" She asked. The woman needed a distraction. At least for a night. WC 1,060/1500 "Speak"

She couldn't help the tears that began to fall. Slipping quietly. Freely. Down her cheeks. The woman before her claimed to be able to speak to spirits, and...she believed it. She had been trying hard to hide the pain, but clearly to no avail. "Thank you..." She whispered. She really did hope she and Greed could get past their loss. She wanted to be happy. To find the guidance that she so desperately needed. Her breath hitched as she tried to cease her crying, but it was hard...especially now that Greed was back home, and she was here alone. "Have you heard of the story of All Hallows Eve? Or what some call...Halloween? Samhain?" She quietly shook her head. Though the word Samhain sounded familiar...but she couldn't quite remember why. WC: 1,190/1500 "Speak

She dipped her head to the other woman, her lips turning up gently in a small smile as she continued to beat her drum. "I'll tell you. It is a time when the Spirits are strongest. And clearly, they've taken interest in you, dear." She began to hum again, swaying slightly as her owl came down from the trees and added his own voice to the mix as Pandora began. "Spirits haunt these magic hours, Dwelling in the sylvan bowers, In the trees, Is a ghostly breeze. Light a candle for the dead, With sprigs of fir do warm their bed, And in songs, Bless the ancient ones!" "Halloween," "in moonlight we gather!" "Halloween," "to join with the unseen!" "Halloween," "calling the spirits, Who come forth on Halloween!" Her companion added to the tune, a lute by his feet as he played it in tune with Pandora's drum. "The sacred smoke of juniper And mugwort purifies the air," Her owl threw a bundle of these herbs into the fire, making it crackle and pop as the smoke rose. "Dressed as fae, We chase the bad away." "Halloween," "in moonlight, we gather." "Halloween," "to join with the unseen!" "Halloween," "calling the spirits!" "Who come forth on Halloween!" "Holy fire, blessed waters, Guide your loyal sons and daughters," "Darkest night and shining moon, Strengthen now our song and tune!" "Holy fire, blessed waters, Guide your loyal sons and daughters!" "Standing in the moonlight there, With stars under the horn and hair." "Holy fire, blessed waters, Guide your loyal sons and daughters," "And through the misty night forlorn, Shines his crown from horn..." "Holy fire, blessed waters, Guide your loyal sons and daughters," "Green lord, horned one this Samhain," "Help us to be born again!" "Holy fire, blessed waters, Guide your loyal sons and daughters!" "Halloween," "in moonlight we gather," "Halloween," "to join with the unseen," "Halloween," "calling the spirits, "Who come forth on Halloween!" The pair continued to play their instruments in harmony, the Priestess hearing the many voices of the Spirits around her singing along as she paid tribute to them. They would be pleased with her performance, and she would pray that they would choose to help the innocent soul that had joined her tonight. WC: 1,565/1500 "Pandora""Bekh"

Her ears perked at the woman's words as she wiped away her tears. Clearly, she had made a friend here tonight. Someone who seemed to know more than they let on and Claire's curiosity about the woman was piqued. However, as the woman began to play her drum to the beat of whatever Spirits she claimed to hear, after several moments, Claire found herself closing her eyes and swaying to the beat and song. She tapped her toes on the ground and even went as far as singing along as she predicted what came next. The song felt soothing. Calming. Making it feel as if everything would be alright, somehow. Maybe these Spirits that the woman spoke of would help her...maybe they'd show her mercy and guide her on this journey that she seemed to have difficulties navigating. As Pandora's owl joined, he came closer and pushed the instrument he had closer to her, plucking away as Pandora sang. He guided Claire's paw on the strings, helping her strum along until she got the hang of the rhythm. Together, the trio played and sang in harmony, and Claire couldn't wait to return home to tell Greed what she had encountered. "Speak