And Your Father Smells Of Elderberries! [Gathering]

Hunkered down in the gale Lydia let her head rest on her paws.  It had been one thing after another.  She'd gotten free from the Abraxas only to get caught in a blizzard and then in an avalanche and in her mad dash to free herself she'd only wound up deeper in the north where winter was moving in fast and heavy.  At this point she was debating if it was even worth trying to wander down farther south or if she should just stick it out here.  The sun was making its way into the sky and for now the day was clear if cold.  Lydia got to her feet and shook out her pelt.  If she was going to travel it was best to do it now while the weather was giving her a bit of respite.  

She marked the position of the sun and started heading south, down through the gorge.  It was a rather lovely area and she came to a halt.  Perhaps she could explore a little bit here?  There was a chance there were some interesting plants still clinging to life in this sheltered area.

As she made her way deeper in her heart leapt in her throat when she realized she wasn't alone.  Up ahead she saw a beautiful yearling working her way through the gorge.  Not an Abraxas.  Not really a threatening presence at all. Lydia took a few deep breaths.  She needed to stop this, she was fine, she'd gotten away and though Pyralis had been irritated she'd made it clear that Lydia had outlived her use to the Abraxas and that she wasn't worth hunting down.  Lydia believed it… mostly.  She'd lived with Pyralis long enough to know how quickly that femme's mind would twist back in on itself.  "Good morning!" She called out, realizing how painfully lonely she'd been… for so long.  Her voice sounded foreign to her own ears and she resisted the urge to flinch.