Askan was fine with being dead, it wasn't so terrible when compared to the act of dying. But this thing, this evil cretin of a bird had to be the devil incarnate, had seemingly died just to spite him a little bit more. Intent on not letting him rest in peace. It hadn't bothered him last time he'd someone wandered around the world of the living for a bit, so why now? What had changed? A lot, from the looks of it. For one all sorts of plants had started to spring up amongst the cracks in the old stone and despite how it seemed as though someone had tried to trim them back, they just kept on growing. Intent and stubborn. This place was well lived in, neat and tidy aside from all the foliage. All the flowers and plants that Askan was pretty sure weren't native to this part of the world.

He wrinkled his nose and did his best to ignore the goose looming by his side, long neck peering over his shoulder to see what had gotten his attention. Naturally he shoved it away with a push of his shoulders and pushed his way deeper into the castle, found himself standing in the great hall. He knew this place, knew it hd been home once but the details of it all were fuzzy, out of reach no matter how hard he squinted.  He'd been at a feast before, eaten his fill and made his way here for one reason or another. Felt like a blink of an eye and then he was here again, devil goose in tow.

Pausing, he heard the pitter-patter of small approaching paws against the ancient stone. They didn't seem to react to his-or the goose's- presence in the least, making him think he was here...but also not really. Just a visitor, the sort who didn't wipe their paws off on the welcome mat.

Sleep hadn’t come for the girl that night. Something about ghost stories and brothers trying to scare her that kept her eyes from closing. Instead, Bramble found herself sneaking from her parents chambers to wander the halls. Kind of like the ghosts in the stories they had been told!

It was hard to be quiet though. Even as she made it downstairs and into the great hall, the click of her cat-like nails gave her position away. Hoping she wouldn’t get in trouble for being up so late, she continued her little adventure. At the back of her mind told her, something was telling her that everything wasn’t as it should be…

Askan tsked. Wasn't it a little late for a kid like her to be wandering about? Figuring at the very least he ought to do the residents of this place a favour, since he had been one of them back in the day, he decided to shoo the little cretin back to bed. As best as a ghost could anyway. Approaching a suit of armour that was in surprisingly good condition, he reached out and gave it a good whack, causing all the metal parts to clank together. If she had any sense she'd change her mind and go back the way she came, stay safe when the night was dark and full of terrors.

His goose, thinking this was a grand old time joined in as well. And promptly began to peck at the weeds growing from between the cracks in the flooring and toss them at the girl. Like she needed a green, grassy wig.

She had been minding her own business, meandering around, sniffing things when she should be in bed, when the hair along her spine began to raise. Before the pup could even try to figure out what was causing her senses to be all out of whack, a suit of armor right by her clanked really loud!

A startled screech left her lips as all four paws left the group. “WHO WAS THAT?!” Bramble shouted, her ears falling back and lips curling up as she attempted a puppy-like growl. With no answer coming, she moved a few steps closer to the armor when grass started flying at her. “What the heck?!” The girl grew confused and scared, almost enough to run back. But she had to be brave!

“Show yourself!!” Bramble called out again as she reached out to poke at the armor. Shaking the grass that just kept covering her, she let out a few barks hoping it would scare the intruder away.

She tried to act all tough but even a blind guy could see she was scared, voice all shaky, unsure of herself. Askan rolled his eyes, at her hecking and figured he ought to double down rather than back out. No use it in it anyway, nothing to lose or gain. Stepping closer, he tried to see if he could figure out who she was. She was a pup-duh, but the markings didn't set her out from any ancestors he might have known, once. He guessed it didn't really matter though, they were a Hallows wolf and a friend of his, he guessed, if he really wanted to narrow things down so thin.

With a roll of his eyes, he then took a moment to glance about. He wasn't stand there tossing grass at the girl, she needed a little more push. Something concrete enough to shoo her off for real. He knew-for some reason, with the same certainty as knowing his name- that he couldn't really lift anything to make it seam like it was floating, but knocking stuff was enough for him. Ghosty enough. And so he kicked the suit of armour again, a little harder, enough to make the helmet jolt in place. Like it was going to fall off, but not just yet.

"Go back to bed, you overgrown piece of moss." He grumbled, no real venom behind his voice at all. Not like she could hear him anyway.

As Bramble attempted to be brave and scare off whatever it was that was making the suit of armor shake, the helmet would jolt. Teetering upon its glossy metal shoulders, the flap on the front would taunt her. Was there also a whisper? No, the suit's creaking and bending had to be making all the noise.

Startled once more, the pup let her hair stand on end, and a growl rumbled in her throat. Tucking her tail between her legs and lowering her body close to the ground, Bramble began to make her way back to the chambers at a hurried pace. One or two glances over her shoulder would make her hesitate. A shimmer of light cast from the window seemed different in a way, but she couldn't put her nose on it.

"Good night you stupid suit of armor," she whispered before disappearing up the stairs back to the safety of her parent's rooms.