Traveling in the Green Sea

[tyandra]

As the trees bowed to the breeze that carried their leafs off into the wind. The animals were all chattering together making a weird, but very pretty song within the Ingen Forest. The sun shown through patches of the forest canopy and hit the dirt floor where little bugs and creatures ran across.

Aislin was walking with Dara in the green lush sea that was the forest. When the pure black wolf's ear twitch to a sound up ahead. He ran from Aislin's side to the noise he had heard. Aislin giggled as her friend ran to find whatever made the sound. She had gotten use to his body movements and when his ears twitch quickly in a direction. She knew it had to be an animal running, trying to hide from the big bad wolf.

She walked up the dirt path as she looked for Dara. She knew better than to call for him. Last time she had the nearly three foot male tackle her in a mud puddle for scaring off his food. After that, she learned her lesson, but still thought it was funny enough to get a nip on the hand by Dara.

She stood on the path for awhile looking out in the green and brown waves of trees and bushes. The something black popped up with something in it's jaws. Dara came and sat in front of the five foot three demon. She giggled at him which Dara didn't like much, so he flattened his ears against his head. Dara saw the slender, black wavy haired girl kneel down and stretched her slim muscular arm out to pet him.

"Good boy, what did you get this time?"

Dara dropped the rabbit on the ground and wagged his tail. He was very proud of getting the rabbit that had him run into a tree. Aislin picked it up and nodded and placed it in her bag that she was carrying. The brown flap was open, so she just dropped it in. She smiled at Dara.

"Lets find a place to relax a bit, so I can cook this up."

Dara growled at the words cook. And, Aislin knew exactly what he was growl at. Though, it had taken her awhile to understand his vocal meanings she actually had a few down now. Like how he responded to certain words. She had ignored him and walked off the path to set up camp. She gathered the sticks around on the forest floor and placed them in front of a flat rock, which she sat on. When she put the stick in a order where they wouldn't fall, she waved her hand and flame lit the sticks on fire. She took the rabbit out of her bag and started to clean it, once that was done she put it on a long stick that she had found earlier while searching for fire wood and placed it over the open flame.

Dara was lying next to Aislin growling, but fell silent as he dozed off to sleep. She smiled at him and petted his head softly. She kept an eye on the food as she turned it so it wouldn't burn.

[rochelle]

To put it plain and simple, Rochelle was lost. She thought it was a good idea to travel through the Ingen Forest as she was trying to get to the next city. However, she had not calculated in her plans the slightest possibility of getting lost. Rochelle deemed herself with a decent sense of direction, which had clearly failed her now. If horses could laugh, then she was sure Shadow would be laughing at her now. The noises that were currently coming from the forest scared her slightly.

She did not know the area and nor did she know what creatures were in the forest. Her only fear was being eaten. That was all. Which is ironic as she was lost and was not bothered too much by it. Just getting eaten was her only concern. Rochelle sighed and gave up trying to find her way out for now. She had no choice put to set up camp and stay over night. This boosted her fear even more; even the thought gave her shivers.

In defeat, she searched for a small, but safe, place to set up her tent. It took her a while before she deemed it secure enough for her and she got off Shadow. She then took off her tent from her horse and placed it in the middle of the forest floor. Just as she was about to tip it out of the bag, a new scent of something cooking entered her nose. This gave high hopes for Rochelle as it was obvious animals could not cook.

Rochelle placed her tent back onto Shadow and led him by his reigns to see where the smell was coming from. To her delight, she saw a person , cooking and a wolf sleeping. She coughed, to alert them of her presence and then asked, “Hello, sorry to bother you, but I wonder if you could help me?”

[tyandra]

Aislin was taking in all of her surroundings. She loved how the birds chirped and made a lullaby. It soothed her nerves and it seemed to work on Dara too. The pure black wolf seemed to be in a deep sleep. She couldn't think when he wasn't jumping at every sound there was on earth. Though, she guessed being with someone you know will look after you might calm you in someway.

The food was done, so she started to blow on it. Dara woke up and looked at her with a glare. Aislin couldn't help, but laugh at the wolf. When she started to laugh Dara flattened his ears and snapped at her. Not meaning to bite, but just to make it clear he wasn't happy with Aisin. He laid down again and ignored the pyro demon.

When Aislin was about to take a bite of the rabbit, she heard hoof beats. They didn't sound heavy and before she knew it someone was coughing behind her. She jumped up and turned around to see a girl with a beautiful horse. Dara woke and sat up looking at the horse with a tilted head. Aislin almost forgot how to speak because is was startled, but she managed to get a few words out.

"Oh, you're not bothering me. How can I be of service?"

She smiled at the girl wanting her to feel welcome, but Dara just growled at seeing another person and ran off into the woods. He howled from somewhere in the forest to let Aislin know he was still in the area.

[rochelle]

Rochelle sighed in relief, she was glad that she was not telling her to leave. She then felt bad as her presence caused the girl's wolf to leave, "Thank you so much!" Rochelle exclaimed, "I didn't think I would see anyone else in here!"

Shadow was starting to get restless so Rochelle placed an arm around him in an attempt to calm him down. Which worked, for years now, Shadow had been protective of Rochelle and automatically didn't trust new people. There was an even when she realised Shadow's personality a few years ago, when he threw off a grown man after his attempt to impress Rochelle.

"My apologies, Shadow isn't... used to new people." Rochelle said sheepishly and then smiled. "Anyway, to be straight forward, I'm lost. I was wondering if you knew the forest well and would be able to help me leave. I'd stay overnight and look in the morning, which it was what I was going to do, but then I found you..."

She laughed nervously and realised that she made herself look pretty stupid. "I tend to babble a lot when I meet new people. It's a bad habit that I just can't seem to get rid of!"

[tyandra]

Aislin listened to the girl and was happy to see another face in the lush green forest. It made her feel like she was still connected with the outside world. Well, outside of the forest anyway. She nodded as the girl talked, letting the new arrival know she was paying attention. Aislin giggled at the girl for the 'babble' comment and shook her head.

"It's quite alright. Babble away, to me. It shows your friendly."

She looked at the beautiful black horse and sighed happily. Knowing how Dara was, these two would be good friends. Probably distant friends, until they knew each other.

"Dara doesn't like people period. I'm lucky he likes me and tolerates me as a companion. So, please don't apologize for Shadow? Right? As for being lost, where were you planning to go?"

Aislin hoped she remembered the horse's name. She'd hate to have mispronounced it, or worse called the horse by a complete different name. It was frustrating for people to get Dara's name wrong, though she could see how his name would be harder than the horse's. Still, Aislin was a bit nervous and excited which didn't help memory, well at least her's.

Aislin sat down and gestured for the girl to do the same. It was only polite, plus she wasn't having to talk too Dara, or herself. Though, she would help this person and that would probably be the end of it. Dara came back, but he had his own food and sat about ten feet from the camp fire. Just enough room to keep a watchful eye on Aislin. Not that she noticed he was back though. To interested in the new person.

[rochelle]

Rochelle saw Aislin gesture for her to sit down and she did. A shocked expression overcame Rochelle’s face as she realised her rudeness. “I feel awful, I haven’t even told you who I am!” She held her hand out and then said, “I’m Rochelle Theroux, healer and I need to get to the city. Apparently going through the forest was the quickest way to get there. But it’s also the easiest way to get lost.”

She smiled and then asked, “This may sound impolite, but is it okay to ask what you’re doing here as well?”

[tyandra]

Aislin took the girls hand gently and shook. She understood how minor things wouldn't come up when your lost. She let go of Rochelle's hand and crossed her arms. She snickered when Rochelle thought she was being impolite.

"That's fine. Nice to meet you Rochelle Theroux. I'm Aislin Imogen. As for why I'm here, well just passing through really. The road to the city is hard to see because of the forest. Eh, yes. There is a road. If you keep going the way you were which is straight from my camp you should be in the city before dark, or dawn. Depending how quickly you travel."

Aislin nodded her. Then looked up at the sky, it was still mid day. She looked back at Rochelle. She wondered if the girl could make it before dark. She seemed jumpy earlier. This forest could do that to a person.

"You could make it if your hurried. Your horse would take you easily, though the things in the forest might hinder you..somewhat."

She wasn't trying to scared Rochelle, but she did want the healer to understand the danger. That came with moving fast. Some creatures liked to stalk their prey before hunting it. She learned that with her wolf. He was that way, so there had to be other creature who did the same.