The day cycles were still going around as normal. Every morning and every night, Audra would still awake to the sound of songbirds and the wash of the ocean upon a nearby shore. As she would look out her window, she would see that the plants held new life. There was no blood, no mysterious creature in a cloak, nothing ominous to set her on edge. For now, at least. She would continue to tell herself to ignore the nagging feeling that this was all some ruse to get them to feel blessed rather than cursed. She would keep her chin up and a brave face on anyway. There was no point in startling the new pups of the castle with horror stories from the Long Night. If they ever dared ask about her eye, it was simply an accident and nothing more.

Wanting to explore outside of the Hallows territory to see if other nearby areas were also feeling the effects, Audra made her way to Cedar Falls. Keeping herself cooped up in the castle wasn't healthy and taking a nice walk through the tall trees would hopefully help. As she approached the dense old-growth forest, she was left in awe at the sight of plants that didn't grow in Auster. Bushes full of berries that were ripe to be picked, colorful flowers that could only be found in Fern Gulley, and the hum of honey bees darting in and out of sticky honey hives. Letting a gasp fall from her lips, she hoped whoever joined her in her walk would admire the beauty in the same way she did.

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It was no surprise that the older wolves were generally much less keen on this new developments around them. She's been sick during the long night, that mysterious sickness that had swept through Boreas having caught her as well. So there was caution in her movements but much as before Gloom felt much more calm out and away from the eyes of the pack her mother had joined... The woman was wandering farther than she ever had before. She'd never crossed the land bridge before but she decided today she was going to finally do that. There were pockets of autumn here too and the calling of the "Familiars" to come take a nature walk and the woman decided she might as well. As she approached a fox was helpfully gesturing a few other wolves down the marked paths and Gloom felt her heart leap into her throat. "Y'by yer self?" It asked her and Gloom nodded mutely. "Why don't ye join that lovely lass over there." It said gesturing with its bushy tail to a woman Gloom didn't recognize. "The walk is better with pleasant company." The fox said with a wink. Gloom was certainly much too awkward to say otherwise and shuffled self-consciously over to the woman, unable to even say anything as she approached. Action | "Speech." |

Art by Frida-Corvus

There was a chatter of familiars that caught her attention at the time. Something to do with guests taking too many berries from a bush? Was that not allowed? Were these magical pockets more to look at than to experience? Moving her one-eyed gaze away from the debacle to try and take a closer look at the abundance of berries and flowers around her, Audra was deaf to the familiar and shy girl off to the side. Distracted with sniffing at a flower she had never seen in Auster before, she would freeze when she heard the shuffling of quiet paw steps wandering in her direction.

Both ears perk forward as she shifts around so that she can peer at the girl with her good eye. Glittering in the sunlight, the golden amber color shines brightly against the russet of her pelt. Blinking a few times as she tilted her face slightly so the dead eye wasn't as easy to see, she smiled. The girl didn't appear to be mean, actually shyer than she was, but she could remember a time when just the sight of someone else would cause her nervousness to go through the roof. "H-hello," her sweet bell-like voice reached out as she lowered her head slightly, attempting to appear less threatening.

"I-I'm Audra, w-would you l-like to accompany me o-on the nature w-walk?" Audra's smile widened as her tail swept behind her in a friendly manner.

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Gloom was absolutely shy, in fact that was probably putting it mildly, the idea of having to interact with someone who wasn't her brothers or mother petrified the woman. She's managed to sort of just exist her way through her previous run-ins with strangers, and the other woman's lowered position didn't really help her spiking anxiety much. She was a little bit taller than the earthen woman which wasn't what Gloom was used to but it didn't help much either. Still she tried her best not to just drop to the ground and cry, she'd been getting better about not doing that lately at least. Y'know small steps and all that. She nodded in response, struggling to find her voice. She still honestly didn't really want to make this any more awkward by turning around and walking away, so she might as well get to take the walk at least. "I'm Gloom." She managed softly as she stepped forward, not really wanting to take the lead but almost certain she'd drop dead of anxiety if they stayed there talking any longer. At least if they started walking they might be able to take in the scenery and maybe it would be less terrible? Action | "Speech." |

Art by Frida-Corvus

The obvious manner of timidness radiating from the girl who introduced herself as Gloom made Audra's heart ache. She had no idea why Gloom was so shy, but the empathetic urge to fold her up into her arms was unbearable. Audra's expression would shift slightly, a pang of sadness when her diminished stature didn't help, and then back to a friendly smile as she watched Gloom shift closer as if accepting her offer to go on the nature walk.

Turning so that she was once more aligned with the marked path, Audra tried not to look at Gloom too much. It was hard, she would admit since the brightness of Gloom's purplish-blue eyes was so captivating. Instead, she would focus on filling the silence with comments on the things she saw. "I kn-know that th-the season ch-change is obvious for m-most, but it's rather confusing t-to see plants h-here that d-don't grow here," Audra's brow furrows as they walk, her one golden eye lingering on the brightly colored flowers and large berries begging to be picked. She knew better though...

"Y-you see, j-just days ago, w-we had a f-fresh coating of snow! Very early f-for the s-season and absolutely f-frigid, but this? How c-could it b-be Autumn again al-already?" She lets out a huff and a shake of her head before letting her gaze linger on the familiars that ensured no one would be acting unruly. Or maybe they wanted to see if anyone was reckless enough to eat the fruit that gleamed in the afternoon sun. "M-most of th-these berries be-belong up north in B-Boreas, not here," Audra paused, one glance finally to Gloom as she tried to see if she was bothering the girl or not. "Apologies if-if I sp-speak too much," her voice is quiet as she tries to leave a few more seconds of silence in case Gloom wanted to add anything.

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Somehow, Audra's clear uncertainty helped to ease her a bit. Neither of them were totally sure about the other, which meant at least there were no expectations for her. She was actually quite happy listening to Audra's rambling, it was nice to not be expected to speak to be honest, instead, she let herself walk in silence, one part of his mind listening to the earthen woman's words while the other considered the unnatural phenomena around them. It was strange sure, and it reminded her of the long night still, and she was reminded of the fear that had gripped her then. She'd been certain she was going to die, at the time it had felt terrifying but some part of her wondered if she would have been okay if that had come to pass... Gloom wasn't so unhappy that she wanted death, hardly, but she was also very aware of how hard life was for her and she was certain to an extent it'd be easier for her family to not have to worry about her as much anymore... But when she thought about what it would mean if Spirit were to suddenly die she retracted that thought, she had no doubt her family would mourn hard... It might even destroy their mother, a woman who was already more fragile than even Gloom. Audra apologized for talking so much and Gloom looked at her for the first time since they'd started walking, she shook her head. "Don't apologize. I don't know anything about plants, it's interesting." She said softly, she admired the other woman for being so passionate about anything, and she couldn't help but feel at last a little happy for the woman. They were rounding some of the cedars and Gloom was surprised to see a small waterfall, its water only just a burble. She wondered if there were any bears out fattening up for the winter, even if it was winter in the rest of the continent, should they be on the lookout for bears fishing? Gloom was about to say that, her head turning again and jaw parting when she felt her paws slip out from under her. The stone here was wetter than before and she hadn't been paying attention to her paws and so, down she went. And it hurt, she felt something in her ankle give way as she slammed it into a large wet rock on the path, her body the next to fall onto it and she gasped in pain so strong it instantly brought tears to her eyes. Instinctively the woman curled in upon herself, her prone form trying to shield her ankle but even moving it hurt like hell. Her voice escaped her in a whimper and in that moment Gloom decided that if dying was even remotely close to this much pain she definitely was glad she was still alive. ((Gloom has accidentally broken the ankle on her left forepaw)) Action | "Speech." |

Art by Frida-Corvus

Audra was enjoying her time with Gloom. Even if she was speaking more than she was used to, she enjoyed filling the silence. As they continued around a bend, the burble of water catching her attention, her cheeks flushed with warmth. The soft words from Gloom caused her to smile as she nodded in response. Slightly at a loss for words, she took a moment to enjoy the scenery. Also not expecting the waterfall that emerged, her golden eye looked to the climbing water wondering if it was salmon season down in Auster yet.

Her own lips would part to mention they would need to be wary of bears when she watched Gloom fall. In a flurry of body parts hitting the ground, Audra heard the unmistakable crunch of bones breaking. Both of her ears flattened against her skull as she winced. Worry coursed through her as she went instantly into healing mode. Stepping close to Gloom, about to reach out to check her injury, another noise made her pause. Was that a hiss? Audra's eye widened when the sight of a very ticked-off snake broke from the shadows.

What was she supposed to do? Mack had stayed back at the castle so the bobcat couldn't fend off the predator. She had left her satchel full of supplies in her room because why would she need them on a leisurely walk?! "G-g-gloom!" Was all she could manage to squeak out as the next moments unfolded before her.

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Gloom was in so much pain. She almost didn't even notice the snake, not until she felt another sharp shooting pain go through her already throbbing ankle. Gloom jerked away from her ankle painfully, dual-toned gaze flitting down to the escaping form of a snake and the woman struggled to stop herself from screaming. She was already crying, couldn't stop the tears the pain had instantly conjured, she didn't need to be in even more hysterics. It was a surprisingly grounded thought for a woman who'd only just recently stopped collapsing to the ground in a fit of tears at the mere look of a stranger. Still, her breathing got quicker and shallower, a sort of light fuzziness was coming over and Gloom tried to fight it off, what if the snake had been venomous? She'd already decided she didn't want to die! A soft, nervous voice broke through the fog, and Gloom, sluggishly, too slowly, turned to look at Audra. She could see the concern in the earthen woman's gaze and despite herself, Gloom gave her a strained, though mostly with pain, smile. It was small, probably not convincing but Gloom was feeling less and less connected to her body right now. "I'm probably going to need some help." She said, though it sounded a million miles away, as if someone in the distance was saying it, and not her. Action | "Speech." |

Art by Frida-Corvus

As the snake struck Gloom, Audra lurched back out of fear. She wasn't happy that Gloom got bit right after breaking her ankle, but she was relieved the snake paid her no mind and slithered off into the shadows. Her own breathing was shallow and rushed as she took a step closer to Gloom. When the other fae looked up at her and mentioned that she would need help, Audra nodded quickly. "Th-the Hallows is-isn't far. There w-will be anti-v-venom there and b-better supplies," her voice is near rasping as her throat feels dry. She hadn't ever been in a situation before where her medical supplies weren't already with her.

There were two options here: run the risk of Gloom dying while she ran back to the castle or help Gloom hobble herself there. With the clock ticking and her heart racing in her chest, Audra decided on the latter. "O-okay, I'm n-not st-strong o-or b-big, but I c-can help y-you b-back. It-it w-will be s-safer th-that way," her stumbling words barely made it out as she closed the distance between herself and Gloom. "J-just d-don't p-put any w-weight on y-your b-broken leg," Audra mentions as she leans close to Gloom, bracing herself so that she can get up and learn herself on her.

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