A dense forest of towering conifers where the wind whispers through the needles, creating an eerie yet enchanting symphony that echoes through the woods.
Roxanne was unaware of the altercation that her father had narrowly avoided. Instead she knew - or thought. at least - that all her flight training was finally paying off. Or her father was getting old, because she was totally beating him! She didn't even look back until she was nearly there, and noticed how she couldn't see him at all. For a moment, she thought he might've somehow gotten past her, but when she arrived by the riverside and he was nowhere to be found, she celebrated her victory. There the surprise awaited: a wooden stick, carefully carved over time to be sharpened at the ends. The stick's main branch was split in two. While one stayed straight, the other curved inwards. It was like having two swords with a single handle, and she gripped it by the non-pointy end and took it out of the earth where she had stabbed it into. Father still wasn't anywhere around by that point, so she figured he had to be held up by something. Flying back to where she last saw him (though arriving on the tree tops), her suspicions were confirmed: he wasn't even racing her.
She rolled her eyes. Distracted by a pretty wolf again? It wouldn't be the first time. Whenever they were out in public together, she'd often catch him making long looks towards certain people. It had only recently dawned on her what it meant, putting two and two together from the school stories he'd tell. 'Sorry if I'm intruding, I'm just passing through.' Without even thinking about it, she'd call from among the trees, "Wait! Do you know Reed Blackpaw?!"
It was a rather large snake, actually. He wondered if the one called Larkspur ever got sore shoulders from it. With wings relaxing to his sides more, the hoofed lion eased up on his caution upon receiving the answer, "Ah," they seemed chill enough, so he asked more calmly, "Where you headed?" he still wasn't quite ready to just let them go yet, not without assessing them more. Not long after that, Roxanne's voice would suddenly shout out from above, and his head would tilt upwards to find the bright pink leopard child perched among the trees. A low hiss escaped his maw - doesn't she know to stay hidden when strangers show up close to our den? But the cat was out of the bag now, too late for all that. Looking back down at Larkspur, he'd crack a small smile and shrug nonchalantly, "Yeah uh, we've been kind of looking for her. My name's Matthias; I'm a merchant," never hurts to spread the knowledge of his profession.
Ah, good - this feline also seemed to be on the calmer side. How nice that it appeared that practically everyone in this new world so far was at least not overtly aggressive.
"Just north," Larkspur said, tossing their head lightly in a vague direction. "With no set direction, I'm merely attempting to map-"
A voice calling out from the trees startled them, and the large snake wrapped around their shoulders, earning a defensive 'hiss!' from Folke as they refocused their attention. They blinked, slightly taken aback by the sight of a bright pink spotted cat - intriguing. While the blue horned feline seemed like something resembling a cougar, this new cat (a young one, they think) didn't ring any sort of bells for what it could possibly be. Would it be rude to ask? Or would it be more like asking about Larkspur's eyes? Something of a common question that the young cat was used to?
Processing the question, though (and taking in the equally distressed hiss from the blue cat), they obligingly nodded.
"I'm familiar with Reed, yes," Larkspur confirmed. Perhaps this was another lost soul who'd been unwittingly rescued by the sword-baring she-wolf. "She helped me fly again and I helped her find her friend, Balthizar."
The wolf paused, wondering if they should have waited for the others to explain why they were looking for their friends. Just in case, it had ended up being another situation like Malachi, where they held some form of grudge or displeasure against them. Then again, the pink cat seemed happy - or at least, excited to bring up her name.
She heard her father's hiss, but she didn't care! Everyone she'd asked so far didn't know who Reed was, and it was beginning to frustrate her. It's not like she had much better to do, being alone all the time.
But this time, someone did know her! She'd open her wings and steady herself, then make a somewhat clumsy descent from the trees. In her maw was still the carved wood dual-sword she had made, and she lifted it up proudly to show them before putting it on the ground. Happily the girl turned to Larkspur, shiny white teeth revealed in a smile, "Reed promised to teach me how to use a sword! But I haven't seen her in a while, but I made my own sword and look-!" she'd pick it up again. She really wanted them to see the ingenious design of having a split end, "I' curves righ' here, so you can jus' til' your head and ssab someone!" she'd demonstrate by tilting her head, which made the curved part drive forward, right into an invisible enemy's heart. Then she'd put it back down, aware they probably couldn't hear her well with a mouthful of wood, "But I also kept the straight bit, 'cause I figured it might still be important. But I don't really get it. I think it's 'cause maybe swords aren't meant to be held in your mouth, they're meant to be floated, but I don't make things float," she had enough sense not to go revealing that her father could make things float. She remembered their lessons on secrecy! Telling a stranger you have a sword doesn't count.
Balthazar? That piqued his interest. He should've known the two had a connection. The eyebrow that had raised at the inquiry went down as fast as it appeared. Also to note, despite the mention of wings, Matthias could clearly see none on Larkspur. So, now he knows - magical disappearing and reappearing wings are a thing. As usual, once Roxanne got to talking about something she was interested in, she talked a lot, so Matthias didn't even bother trying to get a word in until she was finished. He chuckles as he looks at her makeshift sword, pride swelling within him at seeing his daughter take after his natural talent for craftsmanship and ingenuity, "That's an awesome sword, Roxanne. I'm sure Reed will be impressed to see it as I am," his smile is bright and genuine.
Turning back to Larkspur, "That sounds like Reed. If you meet her again, could you tell her to stop by the High Bluffs? Roxanne's been dying to see her again," and by Roxanne he really meant him, but we aren't going to talk about that right now. Balthazar... what exactly is your connection to her?"So, you said you're mapping out the place? I wonder if I might have something that can help you..." he wondered, one paw raised and pressed to his chin in thought.
Larkspur took a half-step back as the pink furred cat descended with a sword in her mouth - of course. Someone inspired by Reed would obviously carry some form of weapon - at least it reassured the brown wolf that the two cats had no issues with her and perhaps, none with Balthazar either. They flicked their ear, listening rather patiently to the cub's rambling. How certain they were that this cubs absolutely got along with Reed well - they held a familiar sort of talkative energy.
"Perhaps, I don't know much about swords," Larkspur admitted. They'd never needed one, nor had they the misfortune of running into someone who seemed to need one before Reed and that encounter had been thankfully of the peaceful sort. Folke gave an inquisitive flick on its tongue, seemingly confused by the cat wielding the sharp-bladed branch, the emotions Larkspur sensed from the creature offering nothing that would hint to recognition so their companion was in a similarly blank space in that regard.
The cobalt eyed wolf turned their head in the direction they'd come from, pointing their muzzle into the trees, "Balthazar says he and Reed intend to set up shop in the cove. It is far south of this place - and far warmer too."
Larkspur silently reached out with their senses, attempting to gauge their truer selves as they added, "I suppose if desired, I could lead you there. We're all flyers so it wouldn't take quite as long as walking and though my journey has taken several days, I have been traveling aimlessly rather than with direction."
They tilted their head at Mattias' offer, the remark about his skill returning to mind. They were pleased to once more have a traveler's satchel so that need was finally squared away though... it would be nice if they weren't being forced to memorize every inch of land they crossed? A map could be useful, especially given their own lack of telekinetic abilities limiting how effective they could be at crafting one themself.
"Perhaps," Larkspur agreed amicably. "Although I'll warn you, the only thing I have to offer are a sparing few herbs."
---
Warmth spread from her heart to her ear-tips and toes. It felt nice to have her skills appreciated, and she smiled brightly at father's compliment. The wolf didn't seem outwardly impressed, but it didn't matter.
Her excitement rose once the bombshell of information was dropped. They could track down Reed! The leopardess didn't know where the cove was, nor how far away it might be, but she had enough energy to last her a lifetime right now. Bouncing with excitement, Roxanne would turn towards her father and plead, "Can we go to the cove? Please please?" she wanted to show Reed her sword so bad!
He'd settle a paw over Roxanne's head to get her to settle down. He'd remembered visiting the cove once, briefly, in order to avoid Duskorna's borders when the weather was too poor to fly over. If he knew his geography, it would be quite a journey for Roxanne, and he wasn't sure she'd make it. But she seemed excited, and nothing grows stamina better than exercising. Still, he worried... "Alright, yeah, we could go now if you're up for it?" and on the matter of any supplies Larkspur needed, he'd wave a paw dismissively at it, "Herbs are enough. I only know a few basic remedies myself, if you can teach me something about herbs that a novice can't, I consider that enough. I assume you like the thrill of discovering things yourself? There is a type of leaf I've heard of that holds its own indentations... Supposedly, if you dry it properly and by just the right amount, you can use a rock or your own claws and it'll make marks that won't go away for a very, very long time. Is that something that might interest ya?"
After their talk was over, Matthias would check his satchel to ensure he had everything he needed. Roxanne carried her own satchel in there - who knows what she had in hers - so they should be all set to go, provided nobody had any issues. Assuming not, Matthias would take over, flying alongside Larkspur and making sure Roxanne stayed close to them.
