Arthur stood there, watching the couple sleep. In that moment, the paladin was absolutely dumbfounded. The white wolf led him straight to the two, and they were sleeping. Logic failed to find an explanation for him aside from what was obvious. The two had wandered into the forest and decided to sleep in a field of grass? Something wasn't adding up here, and it wasn't the possibility of teenage shenanigans, that wasn't even part of the equation. He could maybe explain why the white wolf had brought him here to this spot. When the animals had looked into him, they were definitely privy to the information surrounding his entrance into the forest. If the wolves were aware of this, he doubted that they still thought he was up to no good. In fact, they had probably seen all of the other good acts in his life and knew him to be the right type of person to bring them back to their home. They were obviously fine with them leaving because the wolf knew that it was what he wanted to do, and the wolf had brought him here regardless of that fact. It was too much to think about, and honestly, Arthur just needed a little rest himself. Mindful of the fact that the mother was waiting on him, he sunk down against a tree and let the white wolf curl up into his side. It was nice, in a cute sort of way. Probably dangerous, too, because he still wasn't sure about the spiritual wolves in any manner. He could probably assume they weren't too hostile, considering they were just letting the humans sleep peacefully, but Arthur had made the wrong types of assumptions before. While he liked to think of himself as a good judge of character, all bets were off when it came to talking wolf avatars.
It took around ten minutes for Arthur to gather up the strength to remove himself from the wolf's presence. It was a warm presence against him, he could feel the canine breathing alongside the beat of its heart. In this moment, he found himself alive with the energy of the forest, one with nature in a way that was timeless. Arthur didn't need to say anything to the wolf, for it understood all of his intentions and thoughts anyway. Maybe it didn't though, because he couldn't feel the probing gnaw of magic reaching into his very soul, he hadn't felt that mind-rending feeling yet from this one. Arthur liked this wolf a lot more than any of its companions, probably because it didn't present itself as aggressively. The wolf spoke into his mind once more as the paladin stood up from the tree.
"She is troubled, you know. Amelia does not have a good relationship with her mother."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. It wasn't exactly surprising that a teenage girl had a bad relationship with her mother, but it was surprising that the wolf knew this. It had reached into her mind as well, then. Could the wolf, maybe, have incorrectly interpreted familial fighting as something the teenager needed to be protected from? It was definitely a possibility that floated through his mind, because Arthur really needed some type of explanation to give to Amelia's mother. From their point of view, two practical children had ran out into the woods in the middle of the night, right into the hands of protective forest spirits. Since these spirits could read minds, they saw whatever fight had led up to the two kids fleeing their parents. Seeing this, they probably brought them into whatever special part of the forest this was in order to protect them. Reaching his own mental conclusion, Arthur's blood pressure lowered in relaxation. These weren't evil spirits or anything of the sort. Simple spirit guardians, that's all. It was sweet, in a way, knowing that the wolves had only wanted to protect them.
Yes, I see you understand now why I let them rest. They're not only protected from their fighting here, though. There is a dark presence in this woods that I am sure you have felt. While you have not yet to encounter it, you and the two adolescents are safe from it in our sanctuary here. You should wait until day before leaving, I cannot guarantee your safety even if I guide you out of the forest. Amanda's mother will have to wait, it is better we return her in peace than returning her early at the cost of potential injury.
Arthur's heart panged in sympathy for both Amelia and her mother. It was true, what the wolf said, that he had felt a great evil lurking within the wood's confines, hiding beneath the veil of night. He hadn't seen it, of course, but he had felt it down to his very soul. He felt sympathy for her mother because of the fact that she'd have to go through the night knowing that her daughter nor the adventurer had yet to return. Maybe, then, the mother would reflect upon her and her daughter's fight. That would probably be for the best, momentary discomfort for reflection and character growth. Yes, that would do just fine. In that moment, Arthur plopped himself back down against the moss-carpeted bark of a tree. This whole area was remarkably plush, almost as if built to be a den of sorts. He could easily fall asleep here, with the glowing lights and soft background melody of a living forest. With the wolf curled up into his side, arthur couldn't help the waves of fatigue that washed over him. This whole endeavor had taken a lot out of him, from the physical aspect of marching through the forest, to the spiritual and mental aspect of having his soul picked apart by a pack of wolves. He needed the rest that he knew this inner sanctum would provide. And rest he did, followed by dreams of adventure within the magical forest with the wolf, amelia, and her boyfriend at his side.
WC: 1009 TWC: 1009
It took around ten minutes for Arthur to gather up the strength to remove himself from the wolf's presence. It was a warm presence against him, he could feel the canine breathing alongside the beat of its heart. In this moment, he found himself alive with the energy of the forest, one with nature in a way that was timeless. Arthur didn't need to say anything to the wolf, for it understood all of his intentions and thoughts anyway. Maybe it didn't though, because he couldn't feel the probing gnaw of magic reaching into his very soul, he hadn't felt that mind-rending feeling yet from this one. Arthur liked this wolf a lot more than any of its companions, probably because it didn't present itself as aggressively. The wolf spoke into his mind once more as the paladin stood up from the tree.
"She is troubled, you know. Amelia does not have a good relationship with her mother."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. It wasn't exactly surprising that a teenage girl had a bad relationship with her mother, but it was surprising that the wolf knew this. It had reached into her mind as well, then. Could the wolf, maybe, have incorrectly interpreted familial fighting as something the teenager needed to be protected from? It was definitely a possibility that floated through his mind, because Arthur really needed some type of explanation to give to Amelia's mother. From their point of view, two practical children had ran out into the woods in the middle of the night, right into the hands of protective forest spirits. Since these spirits could read minds, they saw whatever fight had led up to the two kids fleeing their parents. Seeing this, they probably brought them into whatever special part of the forest this was in order to protect them. Reaching his own mental conclusion, Arthur's blood pressure lowered in relaxation. These weren't evil spirits or anything of the sort. Simple spirit guardians, that's all. It was sweet, in a way, knowing that the wolves had only wanted to protect them.
Yes, I see you understand now why I let them rest. They're not only protected from their fighting here, though. There is a dark presence in this woods that I am sure you have felt. While you have not yet to encounter it, you and the two adolescents are safe from it in our sanctuary here. You should wait until day before leaving, I cannot guarantee your safety even if I guide you out of the forest. Amanda's mother will have to wait, it is better we return her in peace than returning her early at the cost of potential injury.
Arthur's heart panged in sympathy for both Amelia and her mother. It was true, what the wolf said, that he had felt a great evil lurking within the wood's confines, hiding beneath the veil of night. He hadn't seen it, of course, but he had felt it down to his very soul. He felt sympathy for her mother because of the fact that she'd have to go through the night knowing that her daughter nor the adventurer had yet to return. Maybe, then, the mother would reflect upon her and her daughter's fight. That would probably be for the best, momentary discomfort for reflection and character growth. Yes, that would do just fine. In that moment, Arthur plopped himself back down against the moss-carpeted bark of a tree. This whole area was remarkably plush, almost as if built to be a den of sorts. He could easily fall asleep here, with the glowing lights and soft background melody of a living forest. With the wolf curled up into his side, arthur couldn't help the waves of fatigue that washed over him. This whole endeavor had taken a lot out of him, from the physical aspect of marching through the forest, to the spiritual and mental aspect of having his soul picked apart by a pack of wolves. He needed the rest that he knew this inner sanctum would provide. And rest he did, followed by dreams of adventure within the magical forest with the wolf, amelia, and her boyfriend at his side.
WC: 1009 TWC: 1009
