Whatever you're sellin, I'm not buyin

Spring seemed hesitant to grow here in the forest, beneath the bare, draping branches. The ground was still frozen and hard, and only the barest few shoots had dared to show themselves in the scant sunny patches. Several would never know their full blooms, because Jasper had uncaringly crushed them to laze in said sunny patch, and had no regrets.

Winter had been a long, unusual affair. Strange tales had filtered out from this part of the world, refugees bearing impossible ailments. Once word came that it had somewhat abated, Jasper knew she had to investigate. At least for a little while, and if it turned out to be just as fucked up as the refugees claimed it was no fur off their back to turn right back around.

So far, Jasper hadn’t come across much. Some interesting new plants, a few new species of bird that hadn’t seen fit to frequent the regions of her youth. Maybe she would stay for a least as long as the spring migration, to see if any other marvels trailed after, but beyond that it was hard to say Jasper had a plan per se.

Investigate, learn, keep out of trouble, move on was about all she could reasonably commit to, and that suited her just fine. So as she rolled to her feet to continue her way through through the still-dormant grove, letting the willow fronds tickle across her back as she went, Jasper kept her ears pricked and nose pointed into the wind. It wasn’t long before a stranger’s scent crossed her path, stilling her paw steps… Nerves tightened in her stomach. Maybe she should go?…

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