Don't stray from the path (attn: Anabel & Anton)

[Arette]

The cloud capped mountains loomed in the horizon growing larger and more ominous every day Zarine journeyd toward them. They held a mixed promise of answers, safety and dread and her dreams had grown increasingly erratic. She was almost afraid to go asleep now. Golden eyes, faces of people she had never encountered in her life, running with the wolves, hunting, the taste of blood on her mouth and the thrill of a fresh kill... She wondered if she would find this what ever she was looking for before she would seriously loose her mind. But it was all that she had left, the driving need to go to the mountains and a fleeting hope that someone there could help her. She wouldn't even send a word to her family until she could be certain that she would make through this. Better that they mourned her as dead than as a madwoman.

 

Wind tugged her red riding hood and her cloak billowed behind her dramatically as she urged her loyal Prince forward. It made her still smile with pitiful nostalgy to think the reasoning of a thirteen year old when she had named the horse. Inspired by her mother's bold tales, she had had told the women of the family that it would be a good omen and practice for a future to have a prince between her legs. They had all thought that it was a wonderful joke. How far that life seemed to be now. She would never return to the court again and she wasn't even sure if she wanted to be the winning fatal woman she had been groomed to be anymore. She hadn't lived up to the wishes but she had always strove for it nonetheless. Maybe it was time to give up that useless dream but she had nothing to replace it with yet. She had no idea where she was even going.

 

Her enchanced eyesight picked a human form standing in a shade of a tree and looking at her direction. She felt like their gazes met and a shiver ran down her spine before she focused her eyes on the road. It seemed to be a woman and a lone person was unlikely to turn out to be a robber. But she might have company lurking around even though her quick glance didn't pick up anything unusual. She reigned in Prince a bit and approached more slowly and carefully. A quick flex of her wrists gave her some semblance of security as her daggers were firmly at their place. You could never be too careful when traveling. What was this person doing here in the middle of nowhere anyway? She hadn't seen even farms in days anymore.

 

Zarine Kusharski

Wanderer

[TaeaDawn]

It had been an interesting few days to say the least. Anabel had been moving around with Anton, training in whatever came into focus at the time before the wolves had intruded to let them know there was a lost soul in need of some help.  She had been both relieved and confused about the need to add someone to their party.  Part of her was glad to be of use to the Wolfkin that had taken her in when she had known nothing of this time, but the other part of the her wanted more time alone with Anton.  Which made another part of her confused, guilty, and more than a little angry with herself for feeling that way at all.  Anton had been a good friend and a great trainer.  He was nothing more and she had no delusions that he might want anything else.  Anymore than she did.  Did she? 

 

She pushed the personal thought away as they made their way to meet up with the newest of their kind.  As they got closer it took only a moment for Anton to realize the form that was approaching was feminine.  Anton walked out of the path and hid himself among the trees as the form became more solid so that Anabel was alone by the time the other could see her.    She smoother her clothes a little to show less of the travel but she wasn't aware of the motion.  She took a deep breath as the woman and her horse came up beside her and smiled to try and hide her nervousness.

 

"Hello traveller." She said slowly so that her accent might be clear enough to understand.  "You are a long way from anyplace.  Are you lost?" She asked.

 

Anabel/Timewalker                   

[Arette]

As Prince stepped steadily closer, Zarine could make out the details of the woman standing beside the road. She had long white blond hair and light skin... and her eyes gleamed golden in the afternoon sunlight. Hope and dread filled her, could this be who she had been sent to meet? When the woman spoke, she couldn't help but stare. She had never heard such a strange accent before, in fact it might me more a sign of a speech impediment. Reddening, Zarine realised that she was being horribly impolite and wrenched her gaze away before answering.

 

"Good day to you too, fellow traveller. I might be lost or then I just found. It depends... I am following a dream. A dream of wolves and a pack. It... it sounds utterly stupid but does that say anything to you?"

 

Anabel smiled at the young lady.  "It does not sound stupid at all.  In fact I would be willing to give you some credit for following their instructions this far.  The wolves call me TimeWalker and you may as well.  You seem to have seen some travel.  Perhaps you would like to take a rest and come talk to me for a while?"

 

She wasn't insane! This woman believed her and now her head swirled with all kind of questions of how and why now. But she could have her answers here. "Timewalker", Zarine nodded acknowledging the title. What a strange name it was but with everything else that was going on, it was the least the things she wondered about. "Thank you for your kind offer, I gladly accept it. Could you... could you please tell me what is going on? What is happening to me?"

 

Anabel waited for the young lady to get off her horse then she led her to a small place where they could rest.  "Here.  We can talk more comfortably now." She said as she sat crosslegged on the ground.  "What is happening to you?  The same thing that happens from time to time to others, the same as what happened to me.  You say the wolves sent you here.  Tell me about it."

 

It had happened to others too, thank the Light. And Timewalker really was the one Zarine had been sent to find. The relief made her feel faint. "I thought that I was going mad. I couldn't bear to be home anymore. The city made me nervous and people, even my own family, were just annoying me. I went back to our estate but soon even that wasn't enough. I retreated to our hunting lodge and did just that. Out in the woods was the only time and place when I felt free and at home. And then... the wolves came. I was really scared at first and thought that they would attack me but they... spoke. I didn't understand most of it, it was so strange and now I really feared for my lucidity. I avoided them from that on and forced myself to stay inside but I couldn't avoid the dreams and the wolves there. They were so insistent and I couldn't stay and bring shame to my family..."

 

"What is this? Why is this happening? I don't want this. I just want to be normal again."

 

"You will never be normal, and you should count it a blessing.  The wolves speak to very few.  I will take you to a place where those of our kind have made a home.  There are others who can help you through this time, help you become more comfortable with the wolves and the changes that follow.  We can help you be sane and safe.  But we can't make it go away.  This is an old thing, older than you can imagine." She said, wondering how to explain time to someone who would think of her as a mere slip of a woman. 

 

"We come together now to celebrate ourselves, to celebrate this talent that we possess.  Perhaps your family will not understand, perhaps outsiders will not.  But you have us now and we will not let you fall." she said with a warm smile.

 

Timewalker's words made Zarine droop her head with defeat. She had already known as much, that she would never see her family again and couldn't return back but it was harsh to hear it said out loud. Timewalker continued and her words perked her up. They gave her even more questions. It would be interesting to meet this community, these us she was speaking about. "How many like... us are there? Do you live here in the mountains? And do you call yourself something and what do you call this... this thing? And changes." She sounded worried. "What kind of changes?"

 

"We have a home, in a stedding that I will take you to, but not everyone lives among us.  There are those among us that spend as much time in the world as they do at the Stedding.  You can live with us, or try to return to the world, that choice will be yours once we can make sure you are safe.  The.. changes... can come quickly for some and without aid some have lost themselves to the call of the wolves." She took a deep breath, knowing that she herself was far too close to that edge sometimes. 

 

"Your senses will become more developed.  The dreams and the talking to the wolves of course.  Your eyes will take another color as mine have.  These are all part of the change.  We will help you develop them, help you learn to deal with them, and even give you a community to help support you.  its frightening, I know.  But these people, they know how to help you.  Will you come with me?"

 

A Stedding certainly sounded interesting, Zarine had never been to a one. Were there Ogier too? She shivered when she heard that some people could be lost. She had been really worried during that one night of the full moon. She had felt disconnected to herself and she never wanted to experience anything like it again. Timewalker spoke of senses getting sharper and that she had noticed already. The dreams were also familiar to her now but her eyes... had they already started changing? She hadn't looked into a mirror in some time so she couldn't know. "I... I don't want to get lost. You say that you could be able to guide me so yes, I will come with you."

 

Zarine & Timewalker

[TaeaDawn]

Anabel nodded and gave the girl a friendly smile.  "It is good then.  You can relax and ask anything you wish of me.  Also, I should let you know that I travel with a companion though he is hidden from us now.  His name is Anton and he is a friend as well.  When he comes back to join us, please do not fear him."

 

Even as she said the words, she sent an image to the wolves to find Anton and send him back their way.  She didn't know where exactly he'd gotten too so she wasn't sure how long it would take him to find them again, but she rather suspected he was closer than all that.  She was trying to stay focused on the girl for now though and she smiled again at her.  "You will like the Stedding I think." She said softly.  "There are good people there.  But tell me more about you."

 

Anabel/TimeWalker

[Arette]

Returning Timewalker's smile tentatively, Zarine relaxed a bit and realised with another blush that she hadn't even told the woman her name yet. Light, her mother would have her hide if she knew. She had been raised up better. The comment about another hidden companion set her gaze darting around. She could not see anyone but she was glad to have been warned before hand or she definately would have been spooked to have him appear suddenly.

 

"If the people in the Stedding are anything like you, then I am sure I will like them", Zarine said politely but her smile revealed the words to be genuine. "Thank you for everything that you have told me so far. It has eased my mind greatly."

 

"And I have been very impolite, I never even told you my name. I am Zarine Kusharski from Saldaea. There isn't that much to tell really. I am from a noble family and spent my time in the court and seeing to my family's estates. Until this happened that was... I doubt that I can ever go back." She looked crest-fallen but gathered herself quickly even though the sadness could not be dispersed as easily. "But at least I should be able to send them a word that I am still alive."

 

"How about you Timewalker? Where are you from and was it difficult to you to leave your former life behind?"

 

Zarine

Wanderer

[TaeaDawn]

"Yes, you will be able to contact them and let them know you are well.  It is up to you how often you stay in touch with them." Anabel said trying to decide how to answer the other question.  She didn't like to tell people about her past.  It seemed crazy.  She didn't even think Anton would have believed her if the wolves hadn't backed her up as they could.  Well.. maybe Anton.  He seemed to take things in stride pretty well even before the wolves.

 

"I... I left my family when it first happened.  They were very supportive, but the people in the village were scared.  I didn't want my family to be hurt by it so I left.  Now... it's all gone.  I don't have a way to go back.  I wish I could... but it was a nice place really.  I would have been happy there I think, but the Wheel doesn't always listen to our dreams.  It does sometimes give us something better though."

 

Anabel/Timewalker

[Wayfarer]

"Having said that, you won't be able to tell them where you are."

 

Stepping into view from behind a tree, Anton approached as he continued.  "Not everyone is welcoming of this inheritance of ours.  Since we would rather avoid visits from Aes Sedai or Children of the Light, the Stedding is a secret we must keep or we lose one of the best defences we have against people that would turn on us because they don't understand us."

 

Stopping a few feet from the pair, Anton used his stave to remain upright as he relaxed and studied the girl now that he was closer.  She seemed nice enough, more importantly she smelled relatively calm.  A bit nervous no doubt due to what was happening and from his appearance, but for all intents and purposes she was doing fine, which meant that Anabel was doing fine.  And to think Anabel had been nervous about this encounter, not that they didn't need to be on their guard still because the wolf could trigger at anytime, but doing well all the same.

 

Turning to Anabel, Anton smiled.  "I think you might have been more nervous than this girl was.  She seems fine so far, though now would probably be a good time to explain the Howling if you haven't already.  Oh, and was there something specific you wanted me for?  Or did you just want to make sure I was alright?  I was foraging but not having much luck so far, there isn't really anything to be found so we'll be having rations tonight at this rate.  Yay for trail rations."

 

The smile wasn't quite so sincere at the last, but then trail rations were always going to be second best to fresh food as opposed to dried meat.

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

[Arette]

Starting at the unfamiliar voice, Zarine turned to look. This had to be Anton then. The first thing that caught her attention in the man were his golden eyes. He had been one for some time then. She hadn't realised that the location of the Stedding was such a secret but it did make sense. She just nodded quietly to communicate that she had understood and would not reveal anything.

 

Anton's comment about Timewalker being nervous made her smile too but she stifled it quickly because shyness wasn't a laughing matter. Not that Timewalker had been as tonguetied as the worst cases she had met. The unfamiliar term made her frown and she got something else to wonder about when Anton implied that Timewalker had somehow contacted him. Zarine had been with her all the time and she had not noticed anything like that.

 

The news about having to eat rations was not a very welcomed one but she could offer at least something to them in return for their kindness. "It is good to meet you too, Anton." She tried to keep the slight sarcasm away from her voice for not being greeted properly. That would have been a pot calling kettle black as she failed the same courtesies with Timewalker. "I am Zarine. And I have some fresh meat left as Aude, my hawk, caught two rabbits yesterday. It is not much for three people but still better than dried meat. How far away is the Stedding and is this area usually bountiful?"

 

Zarine

Wanderer

[Wayfarer]

Looking to the woman, Zarine as she called herself, Anton could smell the irritation but it wasn't as if he had been deliberately ignoring her persay.  Especially not after she mentioned fresh meat, though the mention of a hawk made him wonder.  Hawking was generally done by nobles because they could afford to pay for keepers of the birds.  The girl's manner didn't strike him as that of a servant, so perhaps Zarine was nobility.  Not that it particularly bothered Anton, once one became one of the Wolfkin, one's previous affiliations were usually broken.

 

"The land is so so, there are enough wolfkin and wolves about to make things lean at times.  Besides, we aren't that far away and we can tough it out on the rations if we have no luck.  And thank you for the offer of the rabbit, it isn't that the rations are bad in themselves but they can get fairly repetitive with time.  You know how it is."  Anton paused and added.  "Well, maybe not, but either way we'll survive."

 

"And I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself straight away.  Its just that I'm here more as...  an observer."  Looking to Anabel, Anton said.  "This young lady is my student, amongst the Wolfkin we are known as Trackers.  Amongst our duties are finding our lost brethren, much like yourself, and bringing them to the Stedding for safety.  As my apprentice, I'm trying to give her opportunities to practice her skills with people like yourself.  You don't seem to have any violent tendencies, so just pretend I'm not here for the moment.  I'm just here in case something goes wrong."

 

"Speaking of which, you should probably really tell her about the Howling if you haven't already, Timewalker."  Anton didn't like using her wolf name, but Anabel didn't want her name revealed so that was how it would be for now.

 

 

Anton Averdal

Farpaw

[TaeaDawn]

Anabel nodded at Anton's words.  She should have talked to the girl about it earlier perhaps but she didn't want to scare her.  Though she seemed to be in a far better place than most of the Wanderers they had found, it was hard to say how people would react to the Howling.

 

She looked at Zarine and gave her a small smile.  "Anton is right that you need to learn about the Howling.  You have started to feel things that you don't understand.  Your need to be away from the cities, the need to get away from people.  Those are the desires of a wolf, not of a person.  The Howling is what happens to us all when these... desires... the wolf part of us... tries to dictate who we are.  Some people are lost to it, becoming more wolf than person, but we can help you through it.  It comes different for everyone though.  Can you think of anything that might be out of ordinary for you, something that might be the Howling and not your normal behavior?" She asked. She was sure there were a few things, but she wanted Zarine to think about it and learn to differentiate between herself and the Howling.

 

Anabel/Timewalker

[Arette]

Zarine listened to Anton and the comment about violent tendencies made her arch her eyebrows. Timewalker had mentioned getting lost into the call of the wolves so maybe this was this related to that, a very frightening prospect. And Howling? It was an unfamiliar term but she had her guess that it might describe what she had experienced in that one full moon night. She knew that Timewalker was asking about that but she didn't want to talk about it. Now she knew what it was and she would be wary. That was as much as she needed to know and they didn't need to know.

 

"No", she said curtly. "There has been just the desire to avoid cities and people that I already told you about. I will be careful in the future." She hesitated for a moment but finally asked "How were your Howlings?"

 

Zarine Kusharski

Lying

[TaeaDawn]

Anabel looked at the girl for a moment, not believing that her Howlings hadn't started just yet.  She didn't want to think about her own Howling, but it was better than thinking about what she was feeling recently.  "My howling was as normal as any other I suppose."

 

She took a deep breath as she thought about it.  "It was... animal.  Nothing more than that.  I was an animal and at times I wanted nothing else.  I learned to control it, as the others of our kind have."  She had learned control once upon a time, but she wasn't so certain of that control anymore.  She didn't think it was the time of place to discuss that though.  "We will be there to guide it for you as well, if you let us.  If you are honest with us."

 

Anabel