twisted woods | vali + the woods [day 1]

[Kingston Cesaire D3A [Tom]]

❦

The air carries death upon it's breeze; a chill settling down to the bones as she steps forward. The laugh in the air hangs for a moment as Vali stays silent for a moment. There's a feeling of eyes on her back; as if a god of it's own is watching her. A giggle leaves her lips as she approaches from the shadows into the dead woods. Branches lingering as ashes of old destroyed campfires reside beneath her foot. There's a swirling of snow as it's kicked up by the wind. Vali Forrester felt uneasy, but the woods were just as much her home as whoever was watching from afar. There's a pause in her step as she looks around once more before continuing.

The cabin up ahead is charred with an old fire long since past, but the ruin lingers in the wood. There's a breeze as the door creaks with an eerie sound. The creaking of wood settling as she approaches makes her stand carefully with her sword poking through the door. Stepping into the cabin, there's too many eyes on her. The porcelain looking eerily like some people she's seen before, but she avoids looking at the dolls in the eyes. Instead, she pushes through as the rocking chair moves gently with the breeze that cuts through the place. Any wrong foot could knock the cabin down, but she didn't want to wait.

First thing she does is set to work opening drawers and cabinets looking for things. Her voice is gentle as she speaks. "Oh this place was once beautiful. What has happened to you? A fire. True destruction. Now show me something useful please." Fingers gently caress the wood as she starts to look under boards and past other burnt furniture. Her eyes soaking in the room until she pulls something from underneath the floorboard for herself. Putting the floorboard back into place, she smiles finally looking at what's in her hand.

[Vali collects things; will be in trib maint]

[Vali scavenges the charred cabin]
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(Beanie)

1-7

[Kingston Cesaire D3A [Tom]]

❦

Pulling the cloth, she can feel the warmth in her grasp. It'll be good to starve the cold at night, but she puts it away for now as she moves through the cabin collecting other things. There's a silence before she taps the door with a bit of peace. There's the wind chilling her bones and the eyes leave her vision. She's less tense when she's back in the woods themselves where the cold resides. Her steps take her further into the woods where the dead trees reside. A silence over her as she breaths out a prayer to the gods old and new. She touches a dead tree hoping to connect to the spirits of the wandering winds here, but there's not feeling of comfort. Instead, she stays focused on the wind hitting her face. The feeling of freedom as she moves in the natural world that's unnatural in many ways.

"I need to move faster. Maybe a beast could help, oh spirits of the woods, bless me with a beast that'll get me where I need to go." There's a squeak from her pocket, but she pats her pet. The purity slinking off of it onto her. There'll be a time to sacrifice íssmús, but for tonight, she needed to keep the creature safe. A blessing upon her travels on the first day. The night will be coming soon and she didn't want it to come any time soon. There's a feeling of a chill as she looks around. No one in sight. Step by step she moves with ease through the ice chilled ground. The crunching of snow beneath her feet being the stamp she leaves on this world.

It's then that she notices the giant bear; cold like herself. It's gentle as moves, paws against snow with a soft sound. The bear seems to sigh in almost peace as it playfully hits the dead tree. Is it looking for something? Honey? Birds? She didn't really know. Either way, she could see the harness over it's back. Were these made to travel? Was someone nearby? Only, she could feel her heart hammering. Almost intrigued by this blessing of the gods themselves. It sticks for a moment when she looks to the sky. The false gods did this. There had to be others out there. All she could do now was sneak up as slowly as she could. Her feet gentle as she clambers onto it's back. There's a silence as she whispers to the beast. "You will be mine, beast. Vali Forrester will be your goddess." The chaos begins.

[Vali attempts to get a mount without rope]
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(results)

1-4

[Kingston Cesaire D3A [Tom]]

❦

There's no chaos as she brushes a hand through his fur; soft and white. The bear relaxes almost with an ease that makes her look confused. Most beasts give more of a fight, but this one seems relaxed. Calmer than any other bear she's ever seen. Dangerous beasts with a protective force. An ice bear in these woods who's not as deadly as she first thought. It takes a simple pet of fur through her hands; there's a fierce breath from the beast, but she stays quiet for a moment before she speaks.

"Hvítabiôrn. The white bear. You will make a devote follower." There's a huff of air from him, but there's a silence as she smiles to him. With the calm treasure beneath her, she feels her body ease after all the exhaustion of the day beginning to catch up to her. There's no peace until now, she resides on this bear with her feet clambered on either end. The reigns in her hand as she moves through the forest in a silence. Hvítabiôrn's paws clambering against the ground soft and slow; almost as gentle as her footsteps before. She settles in as she looks for Hal and Marceline. Surely, there'd be time to discuss what they'll need to do in the next morning.

For now, she sets off with a silence as she looks around the woods one last time. With a new partner and a metaphorical sacrificial lamb in her pocket, she moves with an ease. There's a new calm as she rides the ice bear into the white expanse of snow and dead woods. A laugh from somewhere echoing in her ears as she keeps herself stable. The snow whispers of secrets and she did not want to hear anymore of them.

[Success! Vali collects stuff]