Avantika was walking around the same place she'd seen Audra before. She hoped she'd still be here. Maybe it was stupid, but just the thought of the honey-eyed girl was making her smile and want to spin around in circles. She felt like a child, wanting this so badly with a girl she'd met once. She really liked the way she had looked at her, though. She kept hearing her voice in her head calling her strong. She was scared of this feeling, but it was beautiful too.

She tripped over a rock, thinking so much. Something sharp scratched her foreleg, just above her paw. She looked down and saw blue crystals encrusting it, almost to the point where you couldn't see the stone underneath. It was beginning to turn sunset since the evenings were so long lately, so she could see them glowing, the light rising and falling like breathing. Looking around, she suddenly noticed the soft mist lighting everything in blue and the sunset lacking any warm colors. She shivered, though it wasn't very cold. She needed to stop thinking about Audra and pay more attention to her surroundings. She was frozen in place now, mesmerized by the crystals' glow.

"Speech"

Everything was different. Not like different different, but different. Even in the day now, the strange glowing bugs hovered over the grass just out of touch. They lingered around sprouts of plants that gave off an eerie blue glow. Audra was curious as to why and how all of these budding plants had this new glow around them? Did it affect their qualities? If she wanted to use dandelions for an upset stomach, would it actually upset her stomach more? She had to know, but the fear of something bad happening to her made her hesitant to try. Lingering in the grove as it was still warm here, even at night, her mind turned toward the girl she'd met a few days prior. They'd parted ways since Avantika couldn't leave her pack for that long, but something had made Audra stay. Was it in hopes of seeing her again? Was it to stay away from the harsh winter of Boreas? Audra's stomach did flips as she paused her evening stroll. Through the trees, the sun was setting already, even though it had only been up for a few hours. Confused and slightly scared, she attempted to gather her wits about her. A familiar scent brought her out of her daze. Rolling in with a coastal breeze, salt, Avantika, and something else caught her attention. Flicking her ears forward with a small twitch of her tail, she sought out the tall girl who made her heart beat twice as fast. Breaking through some brush as she attempted to evade the blue glowing bugs, it wasn't long until the long-legged gingerbread and ashy grey female made her blink a few times. There Avantika was, standing frozen, a weird look on her face. Was something wrong? Growing more worried, her honey-brown eyes looked the female over from the distance and noticed the cut on her leg. "Avantika," she called out in her soft voice, rushing over quickly. "I-is your leg okay?" Feelings washed over her as she spied the growing crystals that had formed on some nearby rocks. That she had never seen before. Torn between tending to the girl's injury and investigating the crystals, she stood waiting for Avantika to say something. event inventory: 7 crytals

Avantika stared at the crystals for a second longer. She wondered almost clinically what would happen now that it had scratched her. Rocks weren't usually poisonous, but these were already established as no ordinary rocks. She tore her eyes away from the glowing crystals just in time for Audra to show up.

Avantika grinned in pure joy. The butterflies returned, but they were a nice feeling. Not like normal nervousness, which she knew well enough to hate. The woman called out her name and then asked if her leg was okay. She had such a pretty voice... "Uh, yeah. It's just a scratch." She wanted to impress Audra, and she already knew that she liked when she acted tough, so she was going to do that.

"Speech"

Avantika's beaming smile made her unease fade, if only temporary. It was nice to see someone finally happy to have her around. Moving her eyes over the girl's scratch one last time, Audra didn't fuss about it since there didn't appear to be any gushing blood. She was unsure if she should even be using any bandages anyway since the illumination of the plants around them couldn't be trusted. Returning the girl's smile as her heart thumped almost too quickly for her to breathe, Audra looked up to Avantika's bright blue eyes. "I-if you say so, tough guy," she teased as she stifled a giggle. She really did find it cute, but there were more pressing matters at hand. "I w-would like to make sure nothing is fishy about these crystals," Audra said after a moment of silence and awkwardly gazing into Avantika's eyes. She could get lost in those for the rest of eternity. Clearing her throat, Audra turned so that she could get a better look at the crystals that jutted off of the rock. At their core, a glow emanated. The light reached the sharp tips of the crystals before fading back to a dull luster.

It was established: Audra had the cutest giggle of any wolf, living, dead, or as of yet unborn. No one could ever compete with her soft, teasing laugh. Avantika would in that moment do a million stupid things just to earn another giggle like that. "Tough guy? Heck yeah, I'm always tough." She laughed at her own humor. Despite the nervous butterflies, she felt like she could be weird around Audra. In a good way. It would make her laugh, and her laugh was never the mean kind.

They stared into each other's eyes for a moment. That was another thing that Audra had better than any other wolf: her eyes. So. Damn. Cute. She then went to watch the crystals with more focus. Shoot, now Avantika was jealous of a rock.  Still, she was worried herself. The crystals weren't anything she'd seen before, so they were automatically maybe dangerous.

"Speech"

Even though Avantika was the larger and clearly braver one, Audra was surprised the girl didn't attempt to touch the crystal right away. Maybe she was smarter than Audra because that's all she wanted to do. Something about the pulsing of the glow that radiated off the bunch made her want to pick it up and hold it close. Possibly there was something inside of it. Drawn into the beauty of the crystal, Audra wondered if they should try to break it open. "I th-think I'm going to try a-and pick it up," Audra said cautiously, shooting a quick glance at Avantika to make sure the girl wasn't going to stop her first. Really, what harm could come from picking it up? It wasn't like she was going to throw it. Reaching out gingerly, Audra clasped her teeth around the crystal and attempted to pick it up.

Audra

As you pick up the crystal a tingling sensation, much like what the other young wolf makes you usually feel, starts in your teeth, moves up your gums and across your muzzle and face. But it's not butterflies! You feel itchy all over, deep as if it's within your bones.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that...

Avantika

Your scratch feels uncomfortable, you absently run your paw over it only to feel minuscule granules rub against your skin. You look down to see the rim of the wound is covered in sparkles, like snowflakes or glitter but it's harder than that and lightly glowing... Just like the crystal, when you realize that suddenly you feel itchy all over, deep as if it's within your bones.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that...

Audra suggested picking up the crystal, glancing at Avantika. She didn't nod, but she didn't try to stop her in any way either. She didn't really have a concrete reason to be afraid of the crystals. It was just that they were new, and she disliked sudden changes. Still, they freaked her out. But they weren't magic, right? Just picking one up wouldn't hurt anything. Avantika decided that she was being a suspicious little sissy.

As she watched Audra, her scratch felt uncomfortable. She brushed it absently with a paw. Audra was so pretty--Wait, what the heck?! She looked down to see what she had felt and stared at the sparkles. She couldn't tear her eyes away. They glowed. In thinly veiled horror and not a small amount of fear, she whined, without looking up, "Audra? L--Look." Just as she finished speaking, she felt itchy. It was under her skin, all the way down into her bones. Her brain couldn't think. All she could do was stare.

"Speech"

As soon as her teeth grasped the crystal and her tongue touched it, she felt a tingling sensation. It was rapid as it spread through her gums and across her face. Terror seized her as she quickly spat it out. The crystal clattered to the ground as the feeling deepened inside of her. She couldn't get rid of it no matter how hard she began shaking her face. Closing her eyes roughly, her ears flattened and she began to shiver. The feeling was inside her bones and there was no getting rid of it. Picking up the crystal had been a very bad idea. At the same time as Audra was trying to shake away the feeling, the itchiness spread more. Distracted and now distraught, she almost didn't hear Avantika call out for her. Audra's eyes flew open as she turned to look at the girl. She was right. Where the crystal had scratched her, something sparkling began to grow. A gasp left her as she moved closer to Avantika. Suddenly, she could smell the woodsy coastal scent of Avantika, like a summer breeze rolling off the ocean. Dizzy now, she couldn't breathe or think. "Are, are y-you okay?!" She whispered, eyes wide now as she hesitated to reach out to touch her wound. Regretting not looking at the scratch earlier, she frowned. "W-what are w-we going to d-do?" Her voice was harsh as she raised her gaze to look at Avantika, worry in her eyes. The itchiness had not faded and she swore her mouth was going numb. Or was it the tingling sensation convincing her it was?

Avantika was spiraling down as she stared at the crystals. Her thoughts were bouncing off of the walls of her mind, slamming painfully and multiplying each time. There were so many things to worry about, chief among them: What was going to happen to her? She felt like an idiot. She didn't really blame herself; it had been an innocent mistake. But she was too scared to think rationally.

Audra's voice cut through the fog. She took a deep breath and pulled her gaze up to the girl. "I--I think so. Just itchy." And terrified. She didn't answer Audra's next question, which was answer enough. Instead, she returned a question, "You? Are you okay?" She had to focus on something other than the itching and the worrying. Had the crystal given her a disease?

Was she going to die?

"Speech"

Everything becoming all too overwhelming. How were they going to get out of this predicament? They were in close proximity of each other now and as her own eyes moved up to meet Avantika's gaze, she gasped. Had she ever noticed how blue her eyes were? It was almost distracting enough to forget how itchy she was. Her mouth was the worst, but filled her head and went all the way to her toes. Looking down to the pouch around her neck, she had an idea. "I-I have Marigold!" Audra exclaimed through a tingling mouth and gums. Sitting down quickly, she shakily opened her pouch. Spilling some of the herbal contents, she pulled out a few bunches of Marigold and Motherwort. Shoving some of the Marigold into her mouth, Audra attempted to chew as best she could while trying to ignore the growing tingling sensation. She then set the Motherwort on the ground in front of Avantika. "That's M-Motherwort. E-eat it, it will help calm y-your nerves," Audra said shakily through a mouthful of Marigold. "I-I d-don't know how t-to fix that," her eyes moved back to the pulsing formation on Avantika's scratch. She was more than worried but had no idea how to voice her concerns. Frowning, her head felt cloudy as she watched the girl, her heart racing a million miles a minute.

It Continues for Avantika...

Huh? It doesn't seem like anything happened... Well, maybe that's for the best...

Firefly Shoppe- Audra

A firefly draws your attention nearby to reveal a cloaked figure with a small wooden table in front of him. On the table lay three items, with their prices beside them. "Choose wisely, and only choose one," the figure says. "If you can afford it, that is." Perhaps he accepts cŕ̷̕y̵̍͊stals and mushrö̸́̀ō̴̉ms... or perhaps its worth bargaining for something greater...


Inventory:

• Coupon- 1/
  Looks like a regular voucher but it glows. Apparently it’s good for one bonus purchase next time the Firefly Shoppe is nearby.
  
• Xtra Shrink Potion- 2 /
  It comes in an extra tiny bottle. There’s barely even one drop!
  
• Pungent Potion- 1 /
  This tiny bottle contains a green globby liquid, the label claims it was made from local mushrooms.
  

Suddenly, Audra exclaimed that she had marigold. Avantika had almost forgotten that she was a healer. She obediently ate the motherwort, chewing diligently. At least it distracted her a bit. She'd have to see whether or not it really helped her worrying. She thought it was useful to be suspicious at least sometimes, but she couldn't do anything now, so it would help her more to think more clearly and less frantically.

Audra didn't know how to help the crystals growing from Avantika's leg either. That was concerning.

A few fireflies swarmed in the night air. They looked like they were trying to get them to follow them, but that had to be a trick of her mind. She was in no mental state to go traipsing about, following flying bugs.

"Speech"

Whether it was her mind that convinced her the feeling was fading or that it actually was, she felt relief to just be eating something. Swallowing her last bits, she looked to Avantika whose injury didn't look any better. A frown creased her lips but was soon distracted by a few of the glowing fireflies. They dipped in front of her face before moving off toward a bush. Audra's brow furrowed as she looked once to Avantika before following. She couldn't explain what propelled her forward but her paws were moving. Turning the corner of a tree, a small wooden table with a large cloaked figure stood before them. An audible gasp escapes her lips as she looks up to... whatever he was. His words explain that she can pick one item and one item only. But she had seven crystals and the prices of these items, she could buy all of them. What was she going to do? The coupon seemed... interesting, but not good enough. The xtra shrink potion didn't make sense, she was short enough as is. Settling on her decision, Audra pulls out one crystal from her pouch and lays it on the table. "Can I take the pungent potion?" Audra asks nervously, her tail tucked between her legs.

Firefly Shoppe- Audra

The timid woman considered her options and the figure waited, not moving except for the occasional rustle of wings against the rough spun fabric that cloaked him. She eventually gave one currency and asked for an item in return. The figure nodded slowly, "It will be done."

With a blink, Audra finds herself standing alone, the potion at her paws.


You gain:

• Pungent Potion- This tiny bottle contains a green globby liquid, the label claims it was made from local mushrooms.
  

You lose:

• Currency (x1)- Used in Firefly's Shoppe, and perhaps elsewhere...
  
  

The stranger in the cloak was odd. His fabric rustled and she could hear something like wings moving. What in the world is he? Confused, but oddly grateful that he offered her something, their transaction was complete. In the blink of an eye, the figure and his table of items were suddenly gone, including her crystal. She still had six left though and she'd hopefully figure that out later. Staring at the bottle at her paws, she wasn't sure if it was safe to pick it up. Something inside her told her it was better to take it with. Gingerly grasping it, Audra turned around and went back to find Avantika. Her eyes were wide as she looked at the tall girl that made her belly twist. "I got a potion!" Audra exclaims, half excited and half scared. Placing it back on the ground for a moment, she looks to Avantika's leg. "A-are you okay?" Audra asks quietly, wanting again to reach out and touch the injury. Hesitant, her attention was drawn back to the potion. "Do you think I should take it?"

Audra, however, did choose to follow the fireflies. Avantika wasn't sure whether that made her brave or stupid, but she followed her anyway. She wasn't going to let the small girl get hurt. Her suspicious senses were heightened, scanning every detail around them. She could be courageous sometimes, but that was in certain specific situations. It was almost like, in a fight, her fear grew and grew until the adrenaline hit, and she was gone in the motion. But she wasn't in a fight yet.

She hung back a little, watching the cloaked figure quietly. She watched as Audra gave him a crystal, and he gave her a potion in return. She waited until Audra returned to her. "Yeah, I'm okay." The way the other girl considered her made her feel warm inside. She liked feeling valued, which was nothing shocking to anyone who knew her at all. She asked for Avantika's opinion on whether or not she should take the potion. That was a warm feeling too, but mixed with the fear of maybe getting Audra hurt.

She considered, leaving a moment of silence. "I don't know... Maybe?" she eventually said. "I want to see what it does, but not if it hurts you, you know?"

"Speech"

Hesitancy radiated throughout her body as she forgot about the tingling sensation. What was she going to do? Drink it? Save it for later? Typical Audra would keep it. Not knowing what the thing in the coat even was, how was she sure what he gave her was safe? But her curiosity and naivety were getting the best of her. Looking up at Avantika, she quivered with fear. What if this was it? Her last moments before a stupid decision? Happy that the other girl she'd grown fond of was okay, Audra glanced once more down at the potion at her paws. She had to find out what the potion would do. Inhaling a deep breath, she gathered all the courage she could ever hope to muster. Closing her eyes, Audra reached out and gently touched her nose to Avantika's cheek. Being the height difference they were, she had to lightly strain her neck to make the connection. Pulling away, her cheeks flushed. She'd never done that before and even she surprised herself. "I-I didn't w-want you to forget me if s-something happens," Audra whispers, her stomach in knots. Looking down at the potion, she would wait a moment for Avantika's reaction before ingesting the liquid.