Ardyn Adravendi

He’d had to circle all the way around through the desert to bypass Ashen’s expansive borders on his way north. Hunting trips to outside lands would certainly take much longer if he wished to go north, even within the western region of Boreas. The willows and the water they shrouded, were a pleasant sight, even after he’d stopped over at the oasis on his way here. She waded in and sank up to his ears in the water with a sigh, ears dropping slightly, though he remained alert for any approaching pawsteps or rustles. Summer was waning, the days shortening, though any sort of chill in the air had yet to arrive. The festival would be soon, and he looked forward to letting loose and enjoying the bustle and hubbub of the festivities well into the night, lit by torches and bonfires. Ardyn sat up, stretching as he looked about, gazing at the long, trailing willow fronds. There would be a need for baskets, certainly. _____________________________________________________________________ Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ----  "Hear" ---- Think

Autumn could be dangerous, if she wasn't careful. Asteria knows better than to let herself get killed out here, but... well, things are hard. She can feel herself slowing down, she can feel the way her joints creak when she moves. The mornings are only getting colder, and she doesn't know what winter has in store. Winter in Boreas... she'd be fine. She would always be fine. Still, the star-soaked woman has to worry. Has to be concerned. For now, Asteria could disappear into the Willows. Disappear with them around her shoulders, fading into what seemed like oblivion. It was easy enough to go unnoticed, untracked, over the soft ground and among the stately trees. There was a comfort to that. A comfort to the way that they seemed to box her in, creating little shadowy spaces and hiding everyone away beneath. She's able to slip through the spaces, seeming to hide from the rest of the world. Hiding... hiding where she could be safe. Really safe. But as she came around a corner, it became clear to Asteria that she wasn't alone. Her heart caught in her throat. She did what she could to remain upwind of the stranger, to remain out of sight, but there were forces at work beyond her control. A shift in the breeze would reveal her location, if not by sight then by scent. All Asteria could do was hope the stranger didn't mean any harm... or if he did, that he hadn't noticed her after all. "Talk"

Ardyn Adravendi

It wasn’t the wind that warned him of the wolf in the trees. Lyr had dropped to perch in the branches of the willows, glowing plumage ruffling and settling as he folded his wings and cocked his head, peering down with one eye at the dark, snow-marked woman at the base. The raven gave a soft clark-clark of warning and Ardyn turned his head away from the willow fronds he’d been about to reach of and snip with his claws and peer toward the woman, ears perked before he relaxed and nodded casually in greeting. Her features suggested she was around his mother’s age, and her eyes told him she wasn’t looking for trouble, so he rose on his hind legs, front legs lifting to wrap the willow bough above him in one long-digited paw, the other paw lifting and unsheathing one claw to snick through the flexible wood. The water coursing through his coat triggered a brilliant display of fiery-gold light, flaring beneath the surface of the water. He tossed the first bough to the shore as he called pleasantly, “Good day, Lady.” _____________________________________________________________________ Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ----  "Hear" ---- Think