another day

*Laeta* · 10-15-2021, 10:39 AM

After the events that transpired — from the time the woman had met the Aegis, learned of the pack’s values, history, and culture, and then officially joined The Hallows — Lae was completely wiped of energy. The moment after Artorias had left her be to settle into her new home, the femme promptly climbed into the king-sized bed of her room, curled into the blankets, and fell asleep. The slumber was nothing she’d ever experienced. There was no interruption from harsh winds, or swaying trees, or the burst of frosty chill that had always threatened to snap off her toes back in Boreas.

No, it was a calm, peaceful slumber — four years overdue.

Laeta slept in her chamber for nearly two days straight, wholly uninterrupted by a single soul. Perhaps it was the assumption that, as a new member, she was not well known, or maybe it was the fact that she was obligated a chance to settle in. And so, she did just that, settled deep into a nest atop the softes bed she’d ever had the fortune of laying in. No nightmares or sudden awakenings by her over-stressed survival mechanisms ever occurred during those near forty-eight hours. Her brain, her body, her soul were given a chance to relax and completely reset themselves.

After this period of utter silence, the monochromatic woman’s eyes drowsily flickered open. Bright light poured in in even rows from the tall window, which she’d left partially closed so as to make the room quieter. For a split second, her heart skipped a beat, and she didn’t recognize the room she was in. She shot up from her nested position abruptly, and when she allowed her rational, non instinct-ridden brain to see where she was, she calmed down, forcing herself to inhale and exhale in long, slow breaths. It’s okay, She repeated inside her mind, allowing her own free will to take a grasp on her body. She repeated it over and over until her breaths finally stilled her rapid pulse into an even, calm rhythm. She was frustrated that her body couldn’t unwind, even after that rest – she was offered kindness and reassurance that she was safe. She could have purpose, work, and live here without fear of dying alone, due to starvation or a lethal fight with a loner. She wasn’t in those cold, barren lands anymore. Yet, it still felt as if she was mentally wandering there, trapped in aimless circles. Her two minds, the rational and the one in survival mode, fought like two enemies, ripping at each other for full control of her being.

With a drawn-out sigh, Lae gently creeped off her bed, her bones cracking in autonomous symphony from her spine, hips, and shoulders, all the way to each of her toes. She bowed in a long stretch to ease herself into motion again, releasing a soft groan as her still-worn joints creaked and ached. She was still a ways away from being considered an elder, but her skeleton was aged tenfold from the stress of fighting for her life all those years. Once she’d gotten her cracks and stretches out, she padded over to her window, nudging it open with her muzzle. Artorias had offered her a bedroom with a seaside view, which she had gladly accepted.

The ocean was the bluest, richest tone she’d ever seen. In fact, she hadn’t seen much of the ocean at all back in Boreas — most days she stared at the ground to avoid being seen or acknowledged by others, and it made her oblivious to nature’s true beauty. Her ruby eyes watched every whitecap emerge upon the topaz surface, the sunlight peppering the waters with a bright sparkling glow. The scent of the salty waves reached her nose, and as she inhaled deeply, she felt the freshness of the air cleanse her lungs. Maybe Boreas was a bit stagnant, too, she wondered, because the atmosphere here had some kind of healing porperties. The soreness of her chest from seasons of colds and coughs and came and went also did their damage on her organs to some extent, so the fresh air was much appreciated.

Although Laeta could sit and watch the waves all day, she knew she had to begin getting herself back into action. Although she was unfamiliar with the territory of Auster, having essentially trekked to the Hallows’ borders in an almost linear path, she considered herself a bit of an adventurer. Once she surveyed a plot of land, wherever she was, it never took her long to understand its ins and outs; the safest spots, dangerous sections to avoid, what areas were plentiful with prey, water sources, and more. Call it a part of her survival instinct, but in this case, it could be honed for the good of the pack, and exercise her natural abilities as well.

The woman trapised down the staircase until she reached the main floor, trotting past the rooms in the corridor and then descending the main spiraling staircase. She paused for a second, attempting to memorize the layout from what Artorias had explained to her. The entrance to the castle wasn’t far, and she’d recalled quickly how to find it without needing to dwell. Although she wasn’t the most confident in her own abilities, she clearly had a strong sense of direction and a sharp memory to match.

Exiting the mervelous stone behemoth, Lae apprached the courtyard and, again, paused and gained an awareness of her surroundings. Little did she know that what she was doing was beneficial, and therapeutic for her recovery. By ascertaining a knowledge of her surroundings, she became more aware. By focusing her energy on being aware, her extreme survival mechanism couldn’t drag her back into her mind and leave her blank and confused. With this focus, the woman proceeded forward to explore more of the area. Perhaps there were more passages that led in and out of the castle she could find. Of course, upon this land, she’d likely meet more of her packmates as well, if they weren’t busy with other tasks.

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