In the heart of Ashen where Wolfpaw Lake extended its watery claws, Arachne ventured deeper into the territory, and further away from her family's den then she had ever gone before. The air was filled with the invigorating scent of blooming flora, and the distant croaks of frogs and quacks of ducks formed a lively melody that echoed through the wetland. The girl’s sleek mottled grey fur bristled with excitement as she padded along the water's edge. The lake, in its springtime grandeur, seemed to embrace the world with its expansive borders. Her hueless gaze darted about, taking in the lush surroundings and the vibrant world of life that flourished around her.

As she meandered through the tall grasses and delicate wildflowers, Arachne's ears perked up at the harmonious symphony of nature. Dragonflies danced in the air, their iridescent wings catching the diffused sunlight. The overcast skies cast a gentle shadow, creating a soft and serene ambiance that enveloped the lake. The scent of fresh water and damp soil tickled Arachne's nose, and she couldn't resist the allure of exploring the mysteries concealed beneath the lake's surface. With cautious steps, she approached the water's edge, her curiosity piqued by the concealed wonders that awaited her below.

"Arachne Klein"

Unlike the last time the girl had ventured her way towards the lake side, she had not been followed. At least, not obviously, that is. Her steps took her ever onward, nose to the ground as she followed a sibling; she knew because they smelt of mother and warmth. Who though? She couldn’t tell yet. All of their scents still melted together from close proximity- and it was only just changing into separate identifiable trails the more time they spent exploring the world outside the whelping den.

Barghest was keen to set eyes on her mystery sibling here, cutting through the tall grass with a good measure of clumsiness before she came out on the other side; the lakeside. It was then that she finally set sights on the creamy figure of her sister Arachne! The smaller girl was peering into the water, carefully not to fall in. Estie approached with a playful meander, flashing a toothy grin before she spoke. “Ne-ne!” The monochromatic girl called affectionately, and teasingly.

speaking

Arachne stood at the edge of the lake, taken aback by its sheer beauty and magnitude. She stared in awe as she watched small fish darting around beneath her feet, their scales shimmering like thousands of tiny gemstones. A light breeze cooled her fur and caressed her cheeks, bringing with it a hint of pine and wet earth. Arachne inhaled deeply, taking in the calming scents of nature before her. As she took a tentative step forward, the soft mud beneath her paws yielded to the weight, leaving imprints that would last far longer than her attention on the matter. Arachne's gaze followed the shoreline, where amphibians leaped gracefully between lily pads, and waterfowl navigated the shallows with effortless grace. The air was teeming with the life of the wetlands- vastly different than the Redwater Rocks where her family’s den was.

However, one instance of life she had not anticipated in her lakeside exploration, was one of her sisters trailing behind her. Suddenly startled by the voice she hadn’t expected, Arachne whipped herself around to search for the voice she was too scared to recognize right away. In doing so, nearly tripped over her own paws as they had become rooted in the mushy ground. As she steadied herself, pale gaze landed on Barghest in her silent battle for balance. She couldn’t help but scoff. “What are you doing out here, Estie?” The same thing could be asked of herself, but rational thought wasn’t something that had returned to her just yet.

"Arachne Klein"

The girl had inadvertently caused her sister to stumble, which would have been funny to see happen; but alas. Arachne saved herself from a tumble, immediately questioning Barghest’s own purpose in being out here. Estie quirked a confused brow, giggling to herself mostly. “Besides scaring you out of your fur?” The mottled girl stepped closer, peering into the lake beside her sister. “I’m just looking for something interesting to do, and exploring is the best.” Aqua orbs settled on a fish, near motionless in the water out of their reach. The only telling sign of life being the occasional movement of its gills. “You know how deer have brains? Do you think fish have brains? They have to, right? But… they look so dumb.” They really didn't look capable of all that much. Except eating. And pooping. And probably swimming. Silly things.


speaking

Arachne couldn't help but laugh at her sister's musings about fish and their supposed lack of intelligence. It was moments like these that she cherished, the lightheartedness and innocence of sibling banter. She shook her head, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I think fish probably have tiny brains,” she replied, her voice filled with amusement. "But who knows? Maybe they're smarter than we give them credit for.” Arachne took a step closer to Barghest, her eyes still fixed on the fish in the water. She could feel the soft mud squish beneath her paws, clumps clinging to her fur with each movement. The sensation was oddly satisfying, grounding her in the present moment.

When she was finally able to break her attention off the minnows, Arachne met her sister's gaze. "You wanna explore around the lake with me?” Arachne couldn't help but wonder what other creatures might be found around the lake. This was the furthest she had ever really been from their family's den, and she was excited to see everything. And now with her sister beside her, she felt that much more adventurous and curious.

"Arachne Klein"

Her topic of fish brains and the question of whether or not they did indeed have brains was answered by her sister’s laughter. Smiling back at Arachne, her tail excitedly wagged as she quite enjoyed making her siblings lighten up. Arachne was a quiet girl, always off to the side watching the action, never a participant – while Estie didn’t mind if she liked that sort of thing… it was just the two of them right now and she wanted to make the most of it. Barghest loved her siblings, she proved that with every warm gaze she laid on them.

Arache seemed to believe fish were smarter than they thought, which instantly brought to mind a different creature that didn’t look very smart. “Just like Phobia.” Barghest giggled, hoping her joke at the expense of their trouble making brother would earn her another one of Arachne’s angelic laughs. Though she didn’t really mean it, Obi was just… true to himself. She allowed her humorous mood to die down after a few moments, still tee-heeing but letting her gaze fall to the minnows Ne-ne liked to look at so much, not really seeing why they were so interesting. The pale eyed girl should be more interested in exploring with her! But Estie didn’t need to speak on her thoughts, because her sister asked as much. “Yeah! We should look for a gift from ma and pa!” The girl nodded vigorously, her smile growing wider by the second as she gave Arachne the choice to approve or deny her suggestion. Her body wiggling in delight, if not for the mud she would have been bouncing in place with all her newfound energy.


speaking

A soft chuckle escaped Arachne's lips at the mention of their brother, Phobia, well-known for his eccentricities. She glanced over at Barghest with a look of appreciation, her pale eyes sparkling with amusement. "Just like Phobia, indeed," she agreed, her laughter blending harmoniously with the lively sounds of the wetland around them. The warm sun beat down on their skin as they shared this moment, surrounded by the vibrant hues of nature. It was a joy to experience these moments with her sister, basking in the beauty and merriment of the wetlands.

A spark ignited within Arachne at the suggestion of finding a gift for their parents. It spread through her body, filling her with warmth and excitement. She nodded eagerly, her eight legs twitching in anticipation. "That sounds like a lovely idea, Estie!" Her voice was filled with genuine enthusiasm, and her tail swayed back and forth in rhythm. The thought of venturing out into the world beyond their den to explore the area around the lake in search of a meaningful gift for their parents stirred her curiosity. It was an opportunity to bond with her sister and uncover the secrets hidden within their surroundings. As she imagined all the possible treasures and surprises they may discover, a tingle of excitement ran down her spine.

A surge of newfound energy and determination filled Arachne's being, propelling her forward. She turned her attention to the surrounding landscape, taking in every detail with a sense of awe and wonder. The tall grasses swayed gently in the breeze, their blades glinting in the sunlight like emerald jewels. Along the water's edge, a patchwork of wildflowers painted a vibrant picture, their colors ranging from soft pastels to deep, rich hues. Arachne couldn't resist the urge to explore. With a playful glint in her eyes, she beckoned to Barghest. "Come on," she said eagerly, "let's see what treasures the lake has in store for us!" And without hesitation, she set off along the shoreline. Her paws left faint imprints in the soft mud as she led the way into the unknown, her heart racing with excitement at the thought of uncovering hidden secrets and mysteries waiting to be discovered.

[END THREAD?]
"Arachne Klein"