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Chapter Text

Laudna loved nature. Had loved it ever since she had been a little girl, running through the parchwood, singing with the toads, building little bastionwalls for the ants and digging little hideyholes underneath the widest trees she could find. The untamed wilderness of the taloned highlands however, was quite different from what she was used to. The soft, pineneedle-sprinkled floor, that so often also held a soft blanket of fresh snow stood in stark contrast to the lush, colourful, but rocky and sometimes steep hillsides.

They were certainly harder to traverse, putting pressure on her joints, which is why Laudna had to take her time.
But she didn't mind, not too much at least. She loved soaking up all the details she would've missed if she had been faster. All the little pebbles and carvings and plants and animals. There was a certain beauty in taking it slow. Some at least.

She leaned down to take a picture of a pretty pink flower she had never seen before, that was growing on the steep side of a small hill and smiled. Her collection was growing. She should look it up once she had access to wifi again (Laudna had yet to aquire a book about the local plantlife).

The sun slowly rose up next to her as she went higher and higher, passing a silent clear stream that was home to all kinds of marquesian fish. Laudna was so proud of the snapshot she was able to take of the duo of frogs, that were resting next to it. She moved on, trying not to disturb them, wincing when she had to step up some stairs made of simple branches, surrounding the hardened dirt of many a foot and paw.

The tip of a whitened skull peeked out of her long black hair.
,,are we there yet?" The booming, grungy voice of her familiar asked. At his volume a few birds that had been sitting on a lower branch near them, lifted themselves up hastily, fleeing.

Laudna tutted.
,,Paté, it has only been half an hour." She exclaimed exasperated. ,,What about that little pet device I gave you ? Can't you play with that ?" Fearne had an entire bag full of the little things and had gracefully allowed her to borrow one.

,,Boss, you overestimate 'ow long those fings keep anyone busy. Only so of'fen you can give the lil buggers food before they're full." Well, she had trouble to have fun with them in general, but since they were popular, she'd assumed there had to be something to it she just didn't understand.

The ratbird freed himself from the inky tresses, crossing his little arms.
"Why cant I just stay at home ? You always let Caviar stay at home but never me! 'Ure playin' favourites !" Laudna had to repress a scandalized gasp.
,,I do NOT!"

She wasn't, was she ? No ! It was just that Paté always got up to shenanigans when she left him at home. And with their guests around, she just was too nervous to do that. She couldn't risk him saying the wrong thing without her being there to apologize for him. No, she refused! Laudna was gonna make sure, he was on his best behaiviour. Not that Paté wasn't a good boy, he was! He was just also... a part of her. And that came with being a weird thing made of shadows. And people did not like those things all too well. An ugly, heaving feeling started welling up in her and she reached up to pet over her familiars little rat body.

"I'm sorry" Laudna mumbled. She was going to continue speaking, but one of Patés little paws just patted the side of her face. "Oi I was jus' playin' with you, mum." He sat down on her shoulder with his hindfeet dangling over.
"Its much nicer to be out with you than staying inside the whole day. Lots to see, the old tail-wagger will 'afta wait till I'm back to tell 'im all about it." The hint of a smile started showing on her face.

Her dark boots balanced over a peculiar flat stone, she was thinking about taking another picture, towards the other side of a small ditch when she felt it for the first time. Eyes following her. Laudna sent a silent order for Paté to turn invisible on her shoulder. There was a good chance whatever was observing her was just a curious animal, but she didn't want to take the chance of frightening someone. The nervous smile on her face was stretching too wide, showing too many teeth.

Can you see where it is coming from, dear?
Laudna tried to seem as unassuming as she could, not stopping on her trek over the little stonepath she was following.

Mmmh not sure. Think its somethin' big though Paté replied, climbing up his mistress' hair onto her head, still invisible, to gain a better vantage point.
would explain why we 'eard no other animals since you went over that weird looking stump .She replied with a silent, uncertain humm.

A rustling sound to her right made her look up and she finally noticed them. Big, sharp eyes, that almost seemed to glow through the foliage. Their colour was a deep, crimson red, and Laudna could barely make out signs of dark fur. She froze. The creature, that was still mostly hidden blinked at her from its hiding place, seemingly undisturbed, unfrightened.

,,Hello darling." Laudna carefully spoke, keeping her voice low. ,,Is this your home ? Sorry for barging in unanounced." Another rustling from behind the leaves and very slowly the shiluette of a big, furred animal became visible. ,,We're just wandering through. No worries, we'll be respectful." The creature, which reminded Laudna of a wolf, let out a little huff, as if acknoledging her words. Now that it was a little closer, she could see it more clearly.

This wolf, if that is what it was, towered over Laudna by at least a foot if not more. It had long, sharp claws and fur that reminded Laudna of Cherries right before you fermented them to wine. Dark smoky brown with a tint of lavender. Even with its massive size it seemed to move without any noise as it carefully extracted itself from its hiding spot. Laudna watched as it shook itself, leafs and small twigs that had stuck to it falling off. The smile on her face only grew.
,,Lovely to meet you. I'm Laudna."

The wolf huffed again, watching her but keeping its distance. Now that it had escaped the underbrush and Laudna stayed where she was, It turned its head sideways, like a confused puppy and she had to repress her laughter. At that moment, a small stream of sunlight started illuminating the pathway they were on, falling right onto the wolfs pelt. ,,What a lovely colour" Laudna murmured. The Wolf only sniffed. ,,I've never seen something like you." Laudna called out to Paté, who was still sitting on her head.

Wazzup, mum ?

Could you try flying closer to our new friend ? I think they might become frightened if I do so myself

With a quick "you got it" Patés ribcage folded out into wings and he threw himself into the air, towards the friendly beast. Laudna didn't know how, maybe they had smelled Paté or felt the tiniest little breeze his feeble wingflaps produced, but in the fraction of a moment its eyes grew wide and fearful, ears turning back, pressed to its head, before it rushed around and fled through the woods. Leaving only the indents of its claws in the soft dirt it had fled from. And she still stood there.

Paté, now visible again, landed back on Laudnas shoulder, stretching his little limbs. ,,Fast little bugger."
Laudna chuckled. ,,'Little' is not exactly the word I would use to describe them." It was a shame though. She approached the prints the animal had left behind and took a picture before she turned around, almost hurrying now, as she walked up the last few steps towards her destination.

Laudna breathed out deeply as she sat on the soft, sunbleached grass, looking over the cliffed hilltop she had finally reached. It really was a beautiful view. Still Laudna found herself thinking back. Thinking about the wolf. Abcentmindedly she began reaching for the sketchbook in her backpack. She didn't want to forget. With deep dark charcoal, her fingers rushed over the page.

Chapter Text

The uneven, rocky terrain under her paws turned into the softer grassy planes near her home within seconds. She made no sounds. Only received them. The regular snarls and purrs and clicks of animals around her, the music she was running away from. Oh, that lovely music.

Imogen had seen and heard and smelled and felt almost anything there was through the minds that surrounded her. Sure, they all presented in ways that hurt, peoples minds were painful, that was just part of the deal, but they were still varied.

Not in WHAT they felt mind you, the people of Gelvaan were pretty eager on being similar to eachother, but in the way they felt. The hunters daughter for example, with her young 4 year old mind, was one of the ones that hurt her the least.
When she got angry Imogen felt it through her spine, right down to the tip of her tail. Her emotions were big and loud, like a bull rushing against the confines of its stall. Loud and proud and sundering to the touch. Her anger smelled like iron, no backhandedness or second motives, only feelings. Children were more like animals in that way, pure in their intent. But just like an animals, her emotions were quick to fade as well, like a leaf on the breeze, leaving behind an even, open, field of flowers, nurished by the blood of earlier fights, leaving no grudges behind.

Her fathers mind had felt completly different. His emotions were mostly mellow and cold, like a campfire the rain had extinguished so long ago, that the damp and cold had already bitten its way through the wood so thoroughly, that there was no way to ever use it as kindling again. His mind felt like an old, thin blanket. Well loved, if love was something he could've felt. Imogen hated the way the blanket felt. It was scratchy and rough and never felt right on her skin, its size always left some part of her out in the cold. Either her feet or half her torso.

But the blanket was big enough for him. He wrapped his entire life around it and Imogen had trouble remembering what his face had looked like without the haggard, beige leinen over it. Still she knew without the shadow of a doubt that such a time had existed. He smelled of hay and sweat and horse and even when the blanket and his words and everything else hurt her, sometimes she would curl up on the edge of her room, against the wall that parted hers and his, to smell his thoughts. To be reminded of the time when he still had helt some kindling left in him. How he had taken her out with him to water the crops and feed the animals. How he taught her to ride a horse and how to let it eat an apple from your palm. "Gonna make sure y' make your palm reeeal flat, Genny. Horsies never wanna hurt ya, but sometimes they get a bit eager and make a mistake"

She didn't feel too bad on broaching this part of his privacy. She knew he thought of those times too. When she had only been a weird, strange looking little girl, that sometimes got along with the animals a little too well and heard and smelled more than others. Before she became whatever she was now. And it hurt. It hurt so much. But there was nothing else to hear, nothing else to smell, so if she had to choose a thing to perceive she at least wanted it to remind her of something good. Now there was nothing left anyways.

It had always hurt.

She had been out and about, just doing her regular chores on the farm, when Imogen had heard the first lilting sounds of a melody. She was used to hearing things that were too far away to see, but this was different. She had known that what she was hearing went further, deeper. It was in her forest and it was in somebodys mind. She didn't know how to react. It was just a sound, one of many, but it was.. nice ? It sounded so nice! And she couldn't even describe what it sounded like, had never heard a similar thing. Not with her ears and not in peoples heads.

She fell over her own legs, hasting, tumbling towards the storage shed. Whatever she had been doing discarded, erased from her memory. There was something that didn't hurt!

Her daddy had never used the shed much. Mostly just kept gardening tools in it, that he didn't need all too often, cuz' it stood right at the edge to the forest, far away from the house. Imogen still used it that way. She had just also found a different use for it.

She had gotten used to the speed in which her body would change. Her skeleton breaking and rebreaking in the places it was used to. The purple markings, that went up her arms and legs and down her back blazing in white as her eyes went from its usual lilac to a gruesome red. Fur overtaking. Her clothes again left discarded on the sheds ground. Because she had been running towards the treeline, towards the music.

When Imogen was the wolf, all of her senses seemed to expand. They became sharper and fuller, reaching further. That included her magic. The pictures she saw and the things she heard, it was almost dizzying. But the music did not hurt. It only grew and curled, engulfed her into its lovely tunes and warmth. Yes now that she was closer she could feel it. The music was warm. Suprisingly enough, whoever this mind belonged to did not transmit any pictures. That was unusual for humanoids, sight was the most important sense for most of them after all. But it sounded divine. It smelled like old copper and honey. Sweet and hopeful. And gods dangit, it was warm!

Imogen almost fell over a treetrunk on her way, just because she was so caught off guard by how warm she felt. And even more suprising, how _nice_ that felt. Imogen had always run hot. Maybe it was because of her magic or just the extra fur or whatever, but she had always hated the warmth, the taloned highlands were engulfed in in this time of year, most of the time actually. She didn't hate heat in general of course, but most of the time she was not really able to appreciate it. Just grew too hot to be enjoyable.

This was different though. She felt so nice, safe even, which weren't emotions Imogen felt particularly often. So colour her suprised when she had encoundered this tall, dark, beautiful woman in the middle of nowhere and was able to perceive these emotions rippling out of her. She had been so friendly too. Talked to her like a person (which she was not at the time, at least as far as the woman knew) with this lilting, musical voice. Her mind was whymsically weird, with another voice inside it, her familiar Imogen realized, and all these fascinating musings about the nature around her.

But when she had heard them talking about getting a better look at her she'd ran. It had spooked her. What if the familiar would've been able to tell she was not an animal ? People like her were hunted all over Exandria, anti werewolfhunting laws be damned. And though the woman seemed so friendly, that did not mean she wouldn't become frightened of Imogen. She didn't know afterall, that there was no reason to fear her. She would never... Even if everyone else seemed to think differently.

***

Imogen took a last peek through the small window of the shed, a useless endevour as she would've sensed any mind in the surrounding area anyways, before she shuffled out the door and started her way up towards the farmhouse, readjusting the wide brimmed hat she'd put back on before. Right next to the wide, wooden house stood a small building with a fenced in area attached to it. The few sheep, that she was still caring for looked up as she approached, throwing her questioning looks (or as questioning as a sheep could look to someone, who could feel its intentions). Imogen didn't engage, she had only a vague idea of how much time her little excursion had cost her and she still had things to get done. Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup were not all that interested in engaging with her, apart from being nosy and pranking her as it was anyways, and Henry was so old, that he spent most of his time napping in the sun. So she only huffed at them, before taking the few wooden steps onto the porch

Pinned to her door she found a note with a little message, written in neat, loopy handwriting;
'Don't forget about tonight. Fearne is really nice, we promise! And you don't have to tell her anything you don't want to. No need to bring anything, just try to have some fun. See you at 6.' Next to the letters a small crude smiley face had been drawn. She groaned, but couldn't contain the little smile that rose to her face. She took great care as she loosened the paper from her door, making sure it didn't rip or crumple.

For as long as Imogen could remember, Gelvaan had been a closed off farmingtown with families, that had lived here since its creation. Barely anyone ever left and certainly noone new ever showed up. Or at least, that was how it had been until Orym and Dorian had shown up.

Around a year ago, the halfling and genasi had bought the house from late Larreons son, who was suprisingly willing to sell it to some outsiders. She knew, that there was more to the story, something about Oryms former employer, some real important figure back in Tal'Dorei. Though she didn't know the details. Tried not to. It was not really her place to know, so Imogen tried her best, not to get lost in the information their thoughts provided her.

They were nice, they really were. Even Orym, who had seen Imogen without her hat and knew what she was. Not that she had planned on that part of course, it had been an accident. It had just been such a suprise to see anyone this close to her home, someone who interacted with her and took a closer look when there was something weird going on and tried helping her up after she had fallen just from the fright of a person in front of her. She just hadn't anticipated to have to hide herself that day, hadn't prepared. She was more careful these days

Due to them being outsiders (and maybe also other aspects Imogen didn't want to think too hard about), everyone else in Gelvaan had apparently been pretty cold to them. So she guessed it was understandable, that they would try to befriend the only other loner at the outskirts of town, that everybody hated.

She had been over quite a few times and had become comfortable enough around them, their thoughts being fairly low pain were definetly making it easier on her too, but today would be a little bit harder for her. Since they were expecting a guest.

She unlocked her door, and stepped into the building. Got rid of her muddied boots at the door. As the last piece between her and the ouside world shut, she felt her body sag, relieved beyond understanding. Imogen yawned, feeling her canines trying to force themselves into a more natural shape, growing and sharpening. she never knew how hard she had to push with her teeth, how much sharpness she could get away with before it started being suspicious. But If she was really gonna meet that mystery girlfriend of theirs she wanted to make sure she was prepared.

So Imogen started preparing. Her usual routine before she stepped into civilization (though, was it really civilization when it was only a few feet away from her own property ?) was long and uncomfortable, but necessary nontheless. So it would've been wrong to say, that she was actually happy, but there was also that tiny spark of excitement in her chest, even if it was weak and uncertain. The smallest kindling.

She still had a few hours left, and she still had to take Flora out, but she didn't want to take any chances today, so preparing first it was. Her hat came off to reveal fluffy, wolf-like ears, where those of a human should've been, that were already starting to press close to her head, knowing they would not be out for long. She grabbed the nearest kerchief, a washed out, yellow piece of cloth, and started wrapping up her head. Only once Imogen was sure her knot held securely in place, did she put her hat back on. This part of it all was not strictly necessary, her hat and long hair on its own already did a pretty okay job to hide them, her fur and hair being the same colour, but she'd rather be safe than sorry. Didn't want that whole thing that happened between Orym and her to repeat itself.

No matter how much she wanted to hide the scars, there were too many of them, going up her arms, legs and neck, trying to hide them all under clothes would only make her look suspicious, she knew from experience. The ones on her face, that went parallel on each side of her nose and jaw, at least were the least obvious ones, so she could cover them up with make up. Normally Imogen did the same with the ones on her exposed neck, but due to their severeness they never went truly unnoticable. A well worn flannel went over the shirt she was already wearing, hiding her arms, where her scars were the most noticeable to people.

Her gloves came next. Even if they had become useless in concealing her quite a while ago, she laughed drily, Imogen was still fond of them. They made it less painfull or upsetting when she had to touch things that would otherwise drive her senses crazy.

This last part was her least favourite, because no matter how hard she tried, she still couldnt figure out how to make the stupid thing stand still. Even when Imogen bound her tail to her leg, it never stopped. It would still try to move, to wag or curl up or whatever the stubborn thing wanted, so she had to put more effort into it, fastening the buckled straps of her thighholster around it at three different points to her left leg, so it would stay in place, even if it kept tugging. The young woman repressed a wince when she fastened the strap a little too tight. Probably better this way.

With a long sigh Imogen dug through her drawers to find a skirt, that was a little too long for her tastes, but had to do, nothing you could really do about it. On top of that she bound her favourite blue jacket arround her waist, so the outline of the skirt over her legs wasn't as obvious. She loved this jacket, it had belonged to her daddy. And even though her relationship the last few years had not been the best, it reminded her of times, when it had been better. The fabric was soft, but not too soft and its filling was fluffy, but not scratchy. She remembered how daddy had put it around her shoulders when she was a kid and they were outside in the forest late at night. How it would dwarf her and he would look down towards her as if she was a gift and not a weird abomination of known and unknown variables.

***

The sun was slowly rolling over the horizon as Imogen finally stepped out of the house, colouring everything around her in warm, orange tones. The dirt underneath her boots was crunching, distinctly reminding her, that she was more silent as a bigass creature of a wolf, rushing through the forest, than on human legs. Just another thing that made no damn sense.

Flora let out a whinny when she saw her approaching towards the fenceline.
,,Hey darlin', you had a good day ?" Imogen asked with a wide smile on her face. Flora was probably the closest she'd ever gotten to making a friend. The horse pressed her muzzle to Imogens hand and huffed satisfied.
,,I'm glad. You had fun yapping at your neighbours ?" She chuckled and peeked around her companion, towards the four shiluettes of the sheep on the other side of the fence.

"I hope their gossip was at least entertaining" Flora smelled like horse (expectantly) and wildflowers and sunshine. Her thoughts didn't smell like anything, which was not something Imogen had ever really encountered that often before or since. It was refreshing. To not smell anything at all for once, if only in her mind.

"You already got the details ?" Imogen asked jokingly. "Its true, y' know. Your girl randomly sprinted into the forest, only to come back out again fifteen minutes later, with absolutely zero reasonin'." She snorted, and then went simply quiet. Debating. A thoughful, far away look rippled over her face.

"There was this woman" she whispered, her cheeks slightly tinted pink. "She was so nice, so gentle with something so dangerous." Imogen looked into the deep brown eyes of her only friend, with an entranced look. "Her mind was like music"

Chapter Text

When Laudna opened the door she found Ashton splayed out on her bed, Laudnas favourite pillow, the black one with rubyred tassles and an embroidered skelleton on it, under his head.
Before she could even enter the van properly, his eyes were on her. They were quite reactonary that way.

"Welcome back Spooks. How was your hill ?" Laudna had to supress the giddy, too wide smile, that was trying to split her face. She had never had a nickname before, so when Ashton had first started calling her 'Spooks' she had been uncertain if maybe she'd done something to frighten them.
"Nah" they had replied. "You just got a scary vibe. Its fucking awesome!" Ever since then she'd carried the name like a badge of honour.

"It was lovely, thank you for asking! I had this magical encounter with a beast in the woods!" Ashton grinned. "A beast, huh ?"

Fearne, Ashtons girlfriend and Laudnas other companion on the road, chimed up.
"What kinda beast ?" The faun was sitting in a pile of fabric of her skirts at the edge of the bed. Ashtons hand laid in her blackened, pointy claws while she was gripping a small bottle of nailpolish in the other, half his nails already covered in a dark purple.

"It sort of looked like a wolf ?" Laudna sounded uncertain. "But it had this hazelish violet tint to its fur. And it was much bigger than any wolf I've ever heard of." She reached into her backpack as Ashton started sitting up despite Fearnes incredulous little protests.
It took Laudna only a moment to find what she needed. "Aha!" She pulled the tattered sketchbook free and held it out to a waiting calloused hand, that was already covered in dried nailpolish.

Ashton let out an appraising whistle when they found the right page, covered with charcoal sketches and coloured pencil drawings of the creature. Laudna was quite proud of how she had captured its posture. Next to a full body drawing she had put a little approximation of herself, to show off its size.
"The thing was this gigantic, you sure ? This thing looks like it could eat caviar for breakfast" the undead dog gave a dissatisfied ruff from his spot on the carpet, half hidden under the drivers seat.

Laudna nodded enthusiastically as she sat down next to her hound of ill omen, to scratch him behind his still intact ear.
"I'm certain ! They were wary at first, but after a while they approached me. There were only a few feet between us!" Fearne cooed at the drawing "how cute! You gotta take me with you next time you go to visit it. Maybe I can cast speak with animals." Ashton shoved her shoulder. "Don't encourage her! Like, don't get me wrong, it looks really cool, but you're not even sure thats an animal, actually if its really this much taller than you, theres no fucking way! The way you described it kinda makes it sound like its some form of magical monster. It could be fucking deadly."

Laudna pouted. "I didn't get that impression. They seemed quite friendly. Only a little scared, ran away from me when I tried to send Paté closer." Fearne shoved her boyfriends unscared shoulder. "And since when are you such a wuss?"
"I'm not!" Ashton exclaimed. "I'm just also not a fucking idiot! The thing could be some local monster, that has been killing all their goats and shit. And don't take this the wrong way Spooks, but you're kinda made out of paper. That thing could slice you up in seconds."

A tiny spark of fondness rose up in her at Ashtons concern. Even if it probably only stemmed from them still needing her as a ride. Fearne seemed less worried. "Pshh, this isn't some crappy monster movie Ash. Also" her eyes seemed to alight as they turned into flickering orbs of flames. "Its not as if we couldn't defend ourselves. Right ?" She grinned at him, sharp fangs peeking out between her lips. Ashton smirked, one of his eyebrows rising, as his eyes did the same, turning into a similar molten colour as Fearnes before seemingly cooling off, leaving a glimming, hard obsidian behind.

"I guess thats true." Both of them turned to Laudna, and her smile widened nervously. "Okay, how about next time we go take a look at your mysterious beast together. That way, if it DOES turn out to be some crazy, people eating monster, we can make sure nothing bad happens." Fearnes smile was enthusiastic, while flames seemed to burn out of her eyesockets.

Laudna had not seen them turn into these other selves of themselves often so far, only saw little glimpses here and there like now. It was actually quite the fascinating story, that was a little too much for her to grasp at times. Apparently both of them had these shards of energy in them, that granted them the power of fire for Fearne and earth for Ashton. There was actually a lot more to it as far as Laudna understood of it, but they had not really talked in detail about the whole thing. Only that these shards had almost killed Fearne when she had put it inside her (Fearne couldn't stop making inuendos every time she told that part) and that Ashtons had turned his skin into the crystalanian shape it was in now. He couldn't really remember what or who they had been before the shard had found its way to him, but he was pretty sure, that they'd not been an earth genasi at the time.

They both were quite powerful, Laudna couldn't confute that, but she wondered if it was worth what they had gone through to absorb these things. Not that Laudna judged them, she absolutely didn't! In the end it was, quite frankly, none of her business. But she did worry for her two traveling companions. They were quite reckless at times.

She was so thankful to have met them. Though she loved Paté and Caviar dearly, it was not the same as the company of a living person and Laudna had been a little lonely. She was used to traveling alone. Only her and her van, Escargot, on the long countryroads of Tal'Dorei. Then, shortly after she had settled over to Marquet, she had picked them up as hitchhikers. It was one of the best descision Laudna had made in her entire life.

Even if she obviously was not as close as they were with eachother, their company had become invaluable to her, and she hoped that one day maybe she could call them her friends. Only if they were okay with that of course!

She stretched her arm over the big greyish black form that was Caviar to reach one of the dark wooden drawers, that was lining the opposite wall of her van, the one that was obscuring the other door that would lead out of it. She had to search for a little while, it had been decades since she'd looked at it last, before finally pulling out an old version of "The monster manual- a collection of all kinds of magical creatures found all around Exandria" She had gotten the thing quite early in her travels, it might've even been in here before she herself had found her way to Escargot, she wasn't certain. The thing was, with its almost forty years, certainly outdated, but just maybe it held some kind of clue to her beastly friend.

"Aaaand done!" Fearne singsonged behind her, shaking her hands as if she was presenting a piece of art. "Now don't you dare move until they're dry!" She souned serious in that certain airy Fearne way.
Ashton closed their eyes, smirking, "Will do babe." before simply leaning back into the pillows.
Fearne observed for a second longer, making sure Ashton would stay with a suspicious pout on her face, before turning over on the bed and loafing to its edge, playing with the frayed out ends of Laudnas quilt.

"What'chu doooin' ?" Laudna looked up.
"Oh ! I figured, since I have no access to the internet at the moment, I might as well look through this instead."

Fearne threw her a curious look, curling one of her seafoamgreen streeks between her claws.
"The 'monster manual' ? Sounds kinda weird. Like, some kinda rando just decided what counted as a monster and what was just funky animal." Laudna bit her lip and smiled, feeling a little conflicted.
"You're not wrong. This book is quite old. There is a great possibility it might be outdated" she flipped through the pages while Fearne was looking over her shoulder.

Laudna started reading "Abyssal... chicken ? Not quite what I would've named it." Fearne giggled.
"Maybe they taste the same ?" She quipped.
"Well, isn't that said about any exotic meat ? Everything somehow tastes like chicken." They nodded sagely at eachother, before breaking into laughter. A soft, warm feeling started brewing in Laudnas stomach, talking to Fearne was always so much fun.

"Aww I love this little guy!" Fearne cooed, petting the little Illustration of a Twig Blight
"He would never hurt someone!"
"Never!" Fearne agreed, nodding her head furiously.

They kept browsing through the interesting and cooky creatures, Laudna had already given up on finding anything of actual use and was mostly continuing for entertainment purposes, when they stopped on the page for "Werewolf" She could hear Fearne sucking in a breath through her teeth behind her. Laudna did not have it in her to turn around.

"I can't believe its only been a few years since stuff like this was okay." Laudna nodded in agreement, a queasy feeling in her stomach. The history regarding laws for undead were quite similar to those for werewolves. She had never met a werewolf herself, but she definetly felt a certain kinship for them. Magic was messy and did messy things. She wished people understood that more and weren't so quick to make assumptions.

"This is so fucked up. I have a friend whos a werewolf, he'd never hurt a fly!" Fearne sounded upset.
"Well, at least not all the time and like, hes in control and stuff! And he'd never give the curse to someone that doesn't want it or isn't in a position to take care of it and-! Like, hes super careful about that! But people still treat him like shit!" Fearne seemed as if she could go on and on and Laudna knew the feeling too well.

She eventually looked up at her. "I'm sorry." Fearne shook her head. "Its not your fault! I know you'd never think this stuff. It just..really sucks." Even through the fear of being rejected, Laudna took the blackened hand Fearne was needling her blanket with. The faun looked up and there was an uncertain, but touched smile on her face. Laudna wasn't sure if she had ever seen Fearne, who was so emotional all the time and seemed like an open book at times, this vulnerable. Strange.

In the next moment she found herself in the arms of the woman, wrapped up tightly with Fearnes chin resting on her shoulder. Laudna could feel her horns bumping into the side of her head. Fearne was warm, seemed to burn from within, and from what Laudna knew about her, that might certainly be true. She hugged her back, couldn't remember the last time she had been hugged like this. Barely remembered Fearne hugged her on a regular basis because that was just what Fearne was like. She felt a grin tugging at her lips.

"Wanna go throw the monster manual into the bonfire and heat s'mores over it ?" For a splitsecond she was terrified she had overstepped when Fearne leaned back with her hands firmly planted on Laudnas shoulders, looking at her quite serious.

"You know me so well. I love you!" In a flurish Fearne was up on her hooves, excited about getting to use her powers, excited for a campfire and Laudna could hear Ashton shouting in agreement, moving things around behind her as Caviar got up to ruff and run around their legs excitedly, but Laudna barely noticed any of that. The words Fearne had said were not meant literally and Laudna knew that, had learned how to differentiate by situation, context and prior relationship, but it didn't stop the little tumble her undead heart made. She had never been loved before. The slightest hint of a soft peach tone flushed over her cheeks.

Laudna wasn't sure for how long she had been sitting there, before Ashtons shout.
"Spooks, come on out here! We got all the stuff out and Fearnes about to burn the stuff you found!" They sounded excited. Laudna was excited too. She hoped desperately, that one day she could be friends with them. Her long dark skirts flowed behind her as she jumped back out to join the others.

Chapter Text

Imogen readjusted her hat just one more time, before she gathered her nerves and knocked. However long she had been standing in front of Orym and Dorians house before was not worth mentioning.

Almost immedietly after her hand left the wood of the door, it flung open, as if someone had waited for her on the other side, and she found herself face to face with one of the most gorgeous people she had ever seen. The woman, who towered over her with a bright smile on her lips, was wearing a cropped tanktop, exposing part of her stomach and chest. Beneath that she wore a multicoloured skirt which was held in place by a shimmering, expensive looking rosé-golden belt. A few golden loops and other decorations were dangling over her arms and around her neck, reflecting the light that was coming in from behind them. The flowers, that were braided through her lushious seafoam hair and a headpiece that looked like horns, must've been real, because their smell made Imogen feel dizzy with their intensity. Should Imogen tell her, that they were poisonous ?

"So you're Imogen, I've heard so so much about you!" The woman smiled mischiviously, as if letting her in on a secret. Imogen tried her best to not breach the almost nonexistant barrier that stood between her and what she assumed to be a very expressive mind.

"Uh, yeah thats me. An' you're Fearne then, I assume ?" The womans answer came in the form of a hand being extendet daintily, as if she were a princess expecting a kiss to it. "Professor Fearne Calloway. At your service" she said airily while throwing her a wink. Immedietly Imogen could feel her face heating up. She took the hand that was offered to her and was suprised to find it completely black, with long sharp talon-like nails. She was still debating if she should ask about the poisonous flower thing when another voice she didn't know spoke up.

"Fearne stop messing with the locals and get your ass back over here!" A gruff, but amused voice hollered towards them, which made Fearne giggle a little. Imogen gulped and started gripping the bag she had brought with her tighter. Even without counting, she was pretty sure there were more minds in this house than she had expected. She could feel her ears trying to twitch underneath her hat, trying to follow the direction of the noise.

"Only introducing myself properly, nothing wrong with that, right ?" Fearne lowered herself conspiratorial towards Imogen, before throwing her a kiss and walking back towards the noise, leaving Imogen flabberghasted at the door. Her eyes widened when she saw the furred hoofes peeking out under long, flowing skirts. Not a headpiece then she guessed.

Imogen took a deep breath. She really wanted to leave. But she had promised, and she didn't like changing plans she'd already agreed on, even if there was obviously something a little different going on than what her neighbours had said. She'd at least check it out. So she closed the door and followed the mysterious woman, that seemed to not be fully human either.

In front of the door to the livingroom, which was closed at the moment, laughter seeping through it, Orym was waiting for her. "Sorry, I had meant to warn you, but she was faster than me." An apologetic look on his face. Imogen bit her lip. "Wish you woulda at least warned be about SOME things." she replied pleadingly. She switched to speaking in his mind"Like, about your girlfriend being part goat?!?"

"This was not the way I had planned things to go. I figured it'd make it a little easier if you met her in person without worrying about it for days in advance." the words in his head were even softer, than the ones he spoke as pictures started filtering through to her, showing her two blobs of colour, one mostly green and purple, the other monochrome with a little spot of dark red.

Oryms thoughts were relatively abstract, but she had a good glimpse on what he was trying to communicate, she was pretty versed in the process afterall. Imogen crossed her arms and threw him a questioning look. "She brought over guests ?" Orym nodded, akwardly tugging at his button up. "I knew she had started traveling with them, but had no idea she'd bring them with her all the way to Gelvaan. And leaving them outside while we caught up just would've been weird and rude" Nothing he could do about that, Imogen supposed.

She started carding through the soft fur lining on her jacket. "I know people are really hard for you, and I know this is not what you expected, but maybe.." he trailed of Imogen let out a sigh and hid her face in her hands. "I... I don't know Orym. Its been so long, and I really really don't want anyone else to-" "hey." In one moment Orym was still on the ground, in the next his lithe halfling feet had catapulted him onto the sideboard next to Imogen.

he softly took the hand that was still in front of her face and squeezed it. "I know. I promise that is not whats happening here. You can tell as many or little people what you are and that is none of my buisness. I will not werewolf-out you to my friends" they both snorted.

"And even though she is a little insane" he smiled fondly "and this is a little suprising for you, I promise Fearne is one of the loveliest people I've ever known. And even though I don't know much about the new friends shes made, I know I can trust them, because she trusts them." His eyes were full of certainty and Imogen had no idea how he did it. Even though she felt guilty about it, she threw a quick glance behind his barrier, wanting to make sure he was as certain as he seemed. His smile became knowing but didn't waver. He really was a mistery to her.

So she swallowed and gave him a shaky smile "Alright." His grin widened and he seemed as if he wanted to approach her even more, opened his arms, before changing his mind and jumping of the deskboard. He gave her a last nod, trying to make sure she noticed, before opening the door.

"Guys, this is-" but Imogen didn't hear him anymore. Imogen wasn't even sure if he was still there. Because all she heard was that woundrous music she had heard only a few hours earlier. When she had said that Fearne was one of the prettiest people she had ever seen she had definetly meant that. But the woman that was sitting next to Dorian, Imogen could vaguely make out his features next to her, was simply ethereal. Her skin was light and unblemished like porcelan and her hair was streams of regal, black ink with a shock of white that framed her face. She wore a thick, velvet top with a turtleneck, that looked handmade for her with soft, comfy looking handwarmers, that went from her knuckles up to her elbow. Her eyes were black pools of void, that Imogen got lost in and her music was so warm and didn't hurt, she felt entranced, and oh fuck, it was the woman from the forest.

Imogen wasn't sure how long she'd been staring, before she felt a small hand lightly tug on her right one. "Uh, sorry. What did you say Orym ?" His face was scrunched up, as if he was trying really hard not to laugh. Gods let her melt into the floor now. "Want a drink ?" He offered. "Uh, good idea. Lemme just.." she started moving towards the kitchen. Fuck this was emberassing. "I can get it for you if-" but Imogen cut him off "No thats okay. I'm just gonna get some water." she mumbled, before shuffling past him while staying as far away from the lovely woman as she could. Just a second. She just needed one lone second to adjust.

The suprises were just coming a little too quickly after eachother for her liking at the moment. Imogen walked around the low table everyone was sitting around, passing a dangerous looking guy with crystals for hair and a cropped leather jacket. The look they were throwing at her didn't make her that enthusiastic either, as if she'd done something to upset them. Maybe she had, its not like she knew how people worked anymore and she had just been staring at people for gods know how long.

"You got some kinda problem with my friend ?" He asked, an edge to his voice. Imogen shook her head, even though she barely registered the words the stranger said, as the mind behind the person was spilling over into hers. Not gonna make Spooks feel even more uncomfortable than she already is. What the fuck is up with this village that none of them can mind their fucking business!?!She better not-the words got interrupted by the stinging smell of oil and burning plastic, loud booms and cracks in her ears. Her breathing stuttered and she could feel the others thoughs begging her to be let in. She shouldn't have looked behind Oryms barrier earlier. Thats what Imogen got for invading peoples privacy!

She gasped, could hear sharp wind blowing and lilting, stinging music notes. Behind her eyes she saw the flurescent amalgamation of peoples visions, smelled flowers and burned wood, felt pain as if half of her body had been dripped in acid. Oh fuck somebody was in so much pain. She knew the music was somewhere underneath, but there was so much going on and her mind was cracked wide open and there was so much. She only gripped her bag tighter, lowered her head. Imogen couldn't feel her body anymore, there were so many people around her. For just a glimpse she though she could see herself without her hat through the strangers eyes, but there were so many people in this room she couldn't be sure and there weren't supposed to be people in this room and her hat should still be there it had to be and the kerchief around her head hurt and her mouth tasted like blood from biting her lip too much, and without even noticing the figure next to her reaching out a careful hand, Imogen continued her slow walk towards the kitchen. Orym called out if everything was okay and she hoped her affirmative grunt didn't sound weird.

Her breathing was too fast, came in short puffs, that barely brought any oxygen to her lungs. The wooden wall, that she was pressing herself against felt good at least. Grounding. Less thoughts now. Cold. Imogen liked the cold. It was always too fucking warm. Even more warmth, she could feel it swimming in her eyes. What would she even be crying for ? Nothing had happened. Imogen had forgotten how to be around people a long time ago, but she hadn't imagined that she had become this shit at it. That it had gotten this bad. Well, thats what she got for trying to hide away for so long. Her laughter was tired and humorless.

Imogen wiped the tears off her face, before walking over to the sink. She didn't feel like she knew them well enough to be rummaging around in their cupboards for a cup to drink, so she only threw some water in her face to hopefully refocus her senses. The senses around her, the ones that were actually real. It was gonna be okay ! When she had noticed Dorian and Oryms thoughts at first they had been overwhelming too ! But she'd gotten better at it! The more she knew someone, the easier it became to shove the painful thoughts away, ignore them and blend them out. Maybe she could wait in here a little, get used to them from a bit away, before going closer.

But Imogen couldn't wait too long, that would make it even weirder. She should probably tell Orym, right ? Ugh, no she didn't want to cause any more of a scene. Her brain stopped responding and she started flapping her hands, hoping it would help her think again. So what options did she actually have ? Imogen glanced to the closed door she had come through. She could hear noises from the other side and sighed, it sounded as if she had been forgotten for at least a little bit.

To get back into that room she needed to not let all of the thoughts get in, that was the most important part. For that she needed walls. Okay, deep breaths Temult, go build that tower. Build it as high as you can. Make it out of stone and metal. Barricade the door and lock it. Shut it tight. Closed.

As she was standing there, in front of the sink, her gloves still wet from holding them under the faucet, she started to calm down. Her eyes were closed. It was silent. It was silent. Imogen wasn't sure how long it had been, when she heard a creaking noise behind her and the cautious notes of a silent melody. "Oh. Hello." Imogen whipped around to be confronted again with the woman from the forest. Seeing her up closer now, she realized how tall she actually was. In this form Imogen was at least a good head shorter than her.

"Hi." She didn't want to be caught staring like a weirdo again, so she coughed and started fiddling with the fur of her jacket. "Uh, sorry. Am I in your way ?" She shuffled to the side. "Oh, no. Not at all!" The woman rushed to say, gesticulating wildly. "I just...are you okay ?!" Imogen winced, looked up again at the woman. "That obvious, that there was something off, huh ?" She cringed. Urgh, why did she have to make a fool out of herself so soon ? She hadn't even really met any of them yet. "Sorry about that. That must've looked real weird, me just starin' into nothingness." The fact, that what she had been staring at wasn't nothing, but the woman was something she simply tried her best to overlook.

"I didn't mean to make anyone uncomfortable." The monochrome woman shook her head. "I didn't come in here to scold you! And please do tell me if I am overstepping, but I figured-" she played with her hands "maybe I could help ?" Imogen frowned, more a little confused than anything. "And it is most certainly none of my buisness, but you-" under Imogens gaze the woman seemed to only panic even more. ,,I just wanted to ask still. I am not the most skilled in social circumstances either. So your situation seemed oddly familiar to my own, and I figured it would help if I told you." she chuckled self-depricatingly, twirling a strand of her black hair through spindly fingers.

"So, yes. Thats all. I don't think you did something wrong. You really only excused yourself and nothing more." "Even if it was probably super awkward ?" Imogen asked playfully, a small smile starting to form on her face by the encouragement. "Even then!" The woman agreed, before reaching out her hand. "I am Laudna. Lovely to make your awkward aquaintance." Imogen chuckled, gosh Laudna was an adorable dork when she talked to humans too then. She took the hand and shook it. "Imogen Temult. Lovely meetin' you too Laudna." The melody in her head started picking up in a giddy tune and Imogen smiled wider, she felt a tug on her left leg. Laudnas mind didn't hurt. It sung. Magical.

Laudna leaned next to her onto the wall, her gaze curious. "So, if it is not too much to ask, what were you thinking about while staring ?" Imogen snorted. The way Laudna said that just sounded so silly. She let her hands glide through the fur on the jacket around her hip, giving Laudna a smile as apologetic she could muster.

Since she knew from their previous meeting, that Laudna was a caster, her next question came easily. "Okay, so do y' know the spell "detect thoughts ?" Laudna seemed confused about the question, but nodded. "Yes, I am familiar." "So, um. I'm a sorcerer, if all the weird purple stuff didn't clue you in" she tried herself at a playful grin and by Laudnas reaction Imogen figured she did a pretty okay job. Laudna smiled her fascinating wide smile. Was that her imagination, or were Laudnas teeth slightly sharper than they ought to for a humanoid ? Probably just a mix of wishful thinking and Imogen only being used to seeing her own face in the mirror.

"My powers are similar to that spell." Laudna seemed curious and not suspicious, which did not feel right to Imogen, but there was still a part of her that appreciated the benefit of the doubt she was being granted. That Laudna wasn't immedietly assuming the worst of her. It was refreshing.

"So you can listen to peoples thoughts whenever you'd like ? That must be a useful ability." Laudna mused. "Uh, it works a lil' different for me." She bit her lip, if only her teeth would stay blunt. Imogen wasn't a big fan of lying to people, that were nice to her.

Generally, lying had alway been weird for her. Imogen was good at lying and she knew it. It was hard not to be when you were in other peoples heads constantly. And obviously these days she was hiding quite the big secret from everyone around her. But that was the thing, Imogen was pretty sure, that she had never lied before her powers started manifesting like they did almost 10 years ago. She technically of course knew lies existed, she wasn't naive or anything, but...it was still different. She was good at it. But it did not come naturally to her. She did not enjoy it. Not because of some moral inclination or anything like that, but just...because. they didn't make sense. Her brain didn't like them. Having to hide the wolf was already enough, if she could avoid it she didn't want to lie about anything else.

"My powers are always active. As if I'd be casting "detect thoughts" constantly. All the time! And its also not one person at a time, more like a range thing. So everyones thoughts in my periphery kinda just spill into my head." The look on Laudnas face was understandable, Imogen would be scared of herself too. There was a difference between "not lying" and just being completly exposed. Even the nicest of people had ugly thoughts. Thoughts, that they hadn't meant to think, that nobody wanted to think, that could only be contained by never speaking them.

"But I'm not looking on purpose!" She rushed to say now, her pulse spiking. "It jus' happens! I've gotten better at blendin' them out, I really try not to listen. But its been a while since I've met anybody new, so." She trailed off. "it just gets to be a lot, with so many new people in one room." Laudna did not look angry, though she kept playing with her hands and her music sounded nervous. "I'm not used to the pain anymore." "Pain ?" Laudna asked, a worried look on her pale face. Oh, Imogen had not meant to cause that. She was terrible at this people thing when she wasn't listening in. Heck, she was terrible at it even when she was.

"Um, yeah. Normally the voices and pictures and smells and everythin' I get through my abilities. They hurt a bit. Can give me quite the headache when its lots of people." She tried her best acting lighthearted, playing it off as just an inconvinience, it wasn't her burden to carry. Laudna had already been so understanding.

Laudna, despite Imogen trying her best, looked crestfallen. "Oh no. Am I causing you pain ? Should I-" she was already getting up from the wall, but Imogen did something she never did; she reached out for her hand. "No, no you don't have to do that. Your mind actually feels" she blushed "kinda nice. Sounds like music." Laudna looked stunned, disbelieving. "You're certain ?" That was not the answer she had expected, Imogen laughed. "Yes I'm certain. Believe me, these kinda things are pretty hard to miss." Laudna threw her an appraising and curious look. "How fascinating. Do these people whos minds don't hurt you have something in common ?" Imogens blush only turned deeper. "Thats uh, actually why I was lookin' at you before. I've never met anyone, whos mind didn't hurt. Like, ever."

Laudna didn't respond. Just kept looking at her, confused, shocked ? in pain all the time ? Why would my mind be any diffe- Imogen shook herself. No, stop! Her mind is her own! Just cuz' you're curious doesn't mean ya get to snoop!

The tall woman stayed silent for a little longer, deliberating about something. Imogen gave her the time. Gods knew it had taken Imogen a bit to understand too. Though she supposed, it had been a little bit more complicated in her case. Finally, Laudna looked her in the eye, with a slightly serious, but compationate look. "That sounds like a very debilitating experience. I am sorry" Imogens cheeks felt hot. "You don't have t' apologize for that! Like I said, when I have it under control its pretty managable." Laudna didn't seem convinced, but nodded. "Still."

They both looked downwards. "Well, I am glad I'm at least able to help a little." Imogens smile was genuine. "You are. Thanks"

For a few moments both just looked at eachother, content. It didn't feel awkward this time Imogen thought, smiling. Laudnas music was clear and beautiful and Imogen felt herself sinking deeper into its lilts while ignoring Laudnas private thoughts. Her mind smelled of parchment, honey and a slight bit of blood, a suprisingly soothing combination.

One might assume, that one of these smells was a sign to be worried about, but Imogen had learned pretty early on, that the smell of blood was something, that just happened to some people. She of course didn't want to assume anything, and Imogen wasn't exactly known for knowing a lot of folks, but it often followed people who had gone through something particularly traumatic.

Under Oryms cherryblossoms and fresh, clean air, she sometimes caught a breeze of it and quite a few of the veterans of Gelvaan that had fought in the stratos war were practically drenched in it. She had stopped assuming things about bloodscents after asking Sam one too many times about where his bruises had come from. He had never looked at Imogen the same way ever again, even though he still tried his best to be nice. Imogen of course couldn't smell herself, but she was certain, that the fragrance had been wafting around her too. If not before, definetly since her eightteenth birthday.

As Imogen was still lost in thought, enjoying the music, Laudna started laughing silently to herself. She threw her a questioning look. "Sorry, I'm not laughing at you, I swear." Laudna replied as she tried to hide a wide smile behind her hand. "This just reminded me of something that Paté said this morning.'The best talks are the ones, where noone says anything funny, but you're still laughing'. I have no idea how he came up with that, I suppose he has his moments of widsom afterall, but it does fit oddly well about now, doesn't it ?"

Imogen only got half of what Laudna was talking about, but the other woman seemed so earnest, her joy was infectious, Imogen found herself nodding in agreement. Her head was leaning slightly to the left, one hand almost automatically reaching up to keep her hat in place. "Whos Paté ?" Imogen asked. The name sounded like she' d heard it before. Was that maybe her- "Oh, hes my familiar!" Laudna looked so proud, so adorable with her wide, blissfully geniuine smile and big, dark eyes. "I made him himself. As in, for quite a while he was only an artproject I made. But then, when I became skilled enough in magic" her grin peaked even more and she wiggled her fingers, little shadows forming around them. "I made him real."

Imogen was shoked. Aweinspiring! She of course hadn't seen Paté before, had only heard him, so she had no idea he wasn't your standard animal-shaped familiar. "Thats amazin'! You just made him ? Out o' nothin' ?" The taloned highlands twang, that she mostly tried to suppress, was breaching into her voice. Laudna didn't seem to mind though, just looked a little sheepish.

"I mean, do not get me wrong I am proud of my work, but it is truly not that big of a deal." The slight marroon tint to her cheecks, Imogen only realized it as a blush a moment later, looked good on her. "You must be so talented." Imogen loved art. Didn't have a single artistic bone in her body, but that was fine. She preferred reading and watching and talking about the stories way more than making 'em. And she'd never met an artist before.

"Could I meet him ?" Laudna seemed almost confused by her question. "What, Paté ?" "I mean, if its too much of an inconvinience I understa- you don't have to-" People probably asked her all the time and she wasnt some kinda circus attraction afterall and Imogen hoped she wasn't comming off as insensitive- "No no, I will! I've just...never met anyone that wanted to meet him" How could that ever be true ?

The expression Imogen had on her face must've looked strange, because Laudna started fiddling with her hair again. "He is literally a livin' art project. How could anyone NOT want t' meet 'im ?" She really hoped she wasn't coming on too strong. She had just never met someone like Laudna before. Darn, she didn't meet many people at all. And it wasn't just that her mind didn't hurt. She was also just so...whimsical. Imogen had never met anyone that was allowed to be whymsical.

"Oh, well, you know" Laudna smile became forced. Imogen ignored the instinct to press herself to her for comfort. Thats not how humanoids worked. Even though a part of her told her she was being cruel for witholding physical contact. "Some art just isn't for everyone. Some art is only for.."

"I'm sure your art is wonderful!" Imogen fired back. She felt offended on Laudnas behalf. And also, if she was getting this right, found herself seeing a bigger picture of the situation. Maybe it wasn't that Laudna was allowed to be whymsical. Maybe Laudna just stayed whymsical even though she wasn't allowed to. And Imogen found that very brave. So she gave herself another tug, out of Laudnas mind so she wouldn't continue picking up information she had no right to know.

If there was anything at all Imogen could do, the least she could was being a little brave with her, being silly was not what scared people away from you afterall. She was allowed to break this rule. So she steeled her face into an overly stoic expression, pouting in an overexertion of seriousness, staring straight into those inky eyes. And with a dramatic flourish she repeated: "May I meet the familiar ?"

Laudnas face seemed to glow in giddyness and amusement and something else Imogen couldn't quite place, but nontheless felt beating in her chest. The fascinating woman shimmied up closer to Imogen, a conspiratory smirk gracing her features. "If you insist darling." And she started speaking an incantantion Imogen didn't know. Not that Imogen was paying much attention, she was too busy working through the endearment she had just received, she could feel the heat up to the tips of her ears.

With a flourish and wide arch, the fingers of Laudnas sharpened hands were performing, bending the light and shadows to her will, before out of nothing a small creature appeared in the air. At a first glance it was simply a grey rat, a cute and dapper looking red ribbon tied around its neck. But immedietly Imogen also noted the abscense of a regular rats head. Its place instead being taken by the pristinely kept, whitened skull of a bird, decorated with the smallest of symbols drawn expertly underneath its eyesockets and going up its beak in deep regal black. Around one of his tiny paws hung a little red band, seemingly braided out of yarn.

Laudna reached out a hand for the critter to land on and only when he moved did Imogen see a few of the small seams that lined Patés body, their colour matching his fur. The familiar landed on his hindfeet, looking up first at its summoner, before immedietly diverting his attention to imogen. Bright piercing lights sprung to life in his empty eyesockets.

" 'ello pret'y lady. Da name's Paté de Rolo. At yer service." The familiar, Paté, took a little bow. Imogen couldn't help but chuckle, she was enchated. "Lovely to meet you too Paté." Imogen reached down her thumb and pointer to shake his tiny paw. "Laudna told me you are quite the piece of art." The emberassed endearedness of his misstress stood in stark contrast to his proud and bolsterous nature as he puffed up his chest.

"Sure am, Miss Immygen! A perfection of bone an' fur! The pre'iest ratbird you'll ever find! Me mum made sure I was a true masterpiece she did" as he talked he used Laudnas hand almost like a stage, posing and showing off his body. They both laughed. Imogen hoped she'd get to see more of Laudnas art.

***

Talking to Laudna was easier than anyone else Imogen had ever talked to. After talking a little bit more about Paté and her preferences in art, they had taken a sharp turn when Laudna had started to ask more about Imogen and her life. There wasn't much to tell if she was being honest, at least nothing much she could, allowed herself to talk about.

"It must be so wonderful living on a farm." Laudna said dreamily, her finger delicately petting Patés back, who had been lying curled up on her knee, his skull leaning against Imogens lap. She had completly forgotgen anything out of this room existed. Both of them were sitting on the wooden floor of the kitchen still, leaning against the wall and into eachothers spaces as they had gotten invested in their conversation.

"Surrounded by all the animals."Catha was rising higher and higher outside the window. "Uh, these days there aint that many left" Imogen replied. " Since m' daddy died its been a lil' hard takin' care of everything by myself, so I had to sell most of the livestock and almost all of the horses. But its still a good life. I enjoy it." Laudna immedietly picked up on her words. "But not all of them ?" She mused overy low pitched, her whimsy knowing no bounds. "No." Imogen confirmed, barely holding in her excitement, one of her hands pressing against her thighholster.

"There was one horse I just couldn't part with." Laudna leaned in even closer, intruiged. "Do tell me more, miss Imogen. What is their name ?" Imogen beamed. "Flora!" Laudna cooed. "Shes the most intelligent horse you'll ever meet! I got her when I was real young. My daddy let me feed her the bottle, since her Mama sadly hadn't survived the birth. She was such a tiny little thing" a warm, nostalgic feeling welled up in her chest as she thought of those first months, where she would sleep curled up next to Flora in the hay.

" We were inseperable. Still are, really. I make sure to take her out regularly, mostly through the trails in the woods, getting her the exercise she needs. Its also just damn well pretty. Very peaceful when its just you and your horse and nature." She received an understanding nod immedietly. "It does sound beautiful." In those small moments, if not also their entire conversation really, she felt so seen, so immedietly understood. Imogen had never experienced anything like it.

"So it is you, Flora, the four sheep, and that adorable little flock of chickens. Sounds like a wonderful little family to me! What more could any good rancher need ?" In some way Imogen had to agree. "Well, there can be a lot more t' it but, I do like it. Its hard work, but it feels good. Feels right." They stayed silent again, companiable, idyllic.

Imogen didn't know where the impulse came from, maybe it was just that she had been talking so much, the words were just flowing out of her, but she continued. And Laudna was such a good listener, she seemed to actually enjoy to hear about Imogens life. "We also used to have sheepdogs, when there was still more of a reason to have 'em around with more cattle n' the coyotees bein' more of a concern. Blue n' Red." She closed her eyes for only a moment and remembered the two big heelers with their dark and vibrant coats.

"They were siblings, always together. They would get so excited to work, to heard the sheep, parading 'round the farm, and we'd be racin' against eachother who was the fastest and and we would" Imogen stopped, realized, coughed. She had gotten lost, hadn't she ? She wasn't that girl anymore. She had to remember her rules. She wiped over her face, her eyes feeling tired. Her face was soft, nostalgic even. Imogen hoped Laudna didn't see the sadness, the longing in her voice.

"And they would bark and yap at any that'd trot away from the group, keepin' them safe. I'd watch over them while my daddy was busy elsewhere... Wish we coulda kept them." Laudnas face was full of empathy and understanding that shouldn't be there as she carefully laid a hand on Imogens arm. "Why couldn't you ?"

It was an innocent question, Laudna didn't mean anything by it and Imogen knew that, this was her own damn fault for bringing them up in the first place, but still. It most definetly shook something in her awake. What was she doing ? She wasn't supposed to tell people this stuff! She was not allowed to talk about Red and Blue. There was a reason why she didn't talk about them, why they couldn't stay with her. Why had she- "I have to leave"

Paté shook up when the thigh he had been leaning against abruptly moved as Imogen shot up. Laudna looked guilty, horrified even. "What ? Whatever for- Imogen I am so sorry if I stepped over a line I shouldn't have, please don't feel like you have to leave." Imogen really wanted to say more, reassure, but she just couldn't. She was too busy seeing the pictures in her head. Of her father and the townspeople and red and blue and, fuck why did she.

"No, no its okay. Its okay, really! I just." She was running out of words, could feel the anxiety cutting through her ability to talk. "I have to leave" she clutched the fur of her jacket. "It was very nice talking to you. Sorry. I just- I have to leave, sorry." Her hands had trouble opening the door that was leading into the garden. But she stepped out once it opened and didn't look back. Couldn't look back. She couldn't let anyone else know. Especially not someone as nice as Laudna. Orym might be some weird outlier about her existence, but that was NOT how people normally were. She didn't want to see the horror on anyones face ever again.

Her steps were motoric and sluggish and hurried all at the same time and she only stopped once she was in her house. Ripped the curtains closed. Ripped the hat and bandana from her head. Unbuckled her holster. Fell on the couch. Smelled the smell of a man long gone. And if a few tears were left behind, then that was between and the farmhouse. Because she was being silly and she was being stupid and she had never asked to be any of this. Had never asked to be a monster. She tried really hard to be better. Imogen hoped Laudna didn't think her weird for vanishing to quickly, she just couldn't anymore.

Chapter Text

An uncertain, worried feeling sat in the pit of Laudnas stomach, as she re-entered the living room of Fearnes significant others. Her hands wouldn't stop fidgeting with her hair, it was probably all staticy again. She threw a quick look around, but only spotted Ashton and Dorian, who gave her a polite, but nervous smile. She slowly shuffled her way over to Ashtons familiar side, tucking herself between him and the wall. The purple haired (Oh, like Imogen!) genasi threw her a questioning look. 

,,Hey Spooks, you okay ?" Instictually she nodded, no reason to be alarming anyone, Laudna just did her typical thing of not understanding a social situation. 

"Yes, I'm quite alright. I just seem to have done something wrong." She chirped. The response had the exact opposite reaction of what she had intended, now Ashton looked pissed. 

"Did that farmer girl give you any trouble ? Fuck, why can't the people in this town just mind their own fucking business?! I swear if she said something about-" Imogen ? Doing something wrong ? Oh. No. No! Ashton was misinterpreting everything, SHE was the one that did something wrong. Imogen was...

"No not at all! She was quite friendly. No, Imogen did absolutely nothing wrong! Its just that" She could see Ashton calming down a little after she corrected them, though they still seemed wary. "I fear I may have touched on a sensitive topic and upset her."

"Sensitive topic ?" Ashton grunted to which Laudna nodded frantically. "Hell, now that I think about it, you were gone for like hours or something. What the fuck did you guys even do in there ? Laudna nodded again. 

"Yes! We were actually having quite the lovely conversation about my art and her farm and, oh Ashton she is _such_ an amazing person." She beamed. Laudna had never met a person that actively took interest in her art. At least, not in real life and certainly not like that. Not to mention Imogens incredible powers, and her friendlyness and- Laudna was positively alight. At that time she noticed the grin Ashton was sporting. 

"What ?" Laudna was confused, she hadn't said something funny. But Ashton also wouldn't just make fun of her, right ?

"Nah, you're good. Continue." Hm, maybe she misinterpreted.

"Okay! Yes, well. Anyways, we were talking and I- she told me about the animals shes had on the farm over the years. Oh Ashton it sounded so amazing! They used to have quite the large group of sheep and they would sheer them themselves even. Normally you would contact a professionall for that and- Previously she seemed to enjoy my questions about her animals too, she smiled a lot, but then when I asked about the dogs she had mentioned, Imogen sounded very fond of them- but... she kind of just...went quiet." Ashtons confused look was comforting, at least she wasn't the only one that was having trouble understanding.

"And then right afterwards she excused herself and left." Ashton was still trying to form a sentence, when an energetic, but uncertain voice spoke up.

"I've noticed that too. Imogen and dogs have a complicated history going on I think." Her head cracked to Dorians direction, who shrieked a little when both their sights landed on him. His cheeks turned a darker shade of purple (like Imogen).

"Uh, sorry." But Laudna shook her head.

"No please go on! I've only just met her today and I wouldn't want to make any further mistakes!" She just had to see her again.

Dorian seemed to shrink under the attention that was now wholly directed at him.

"Well, to be fair I dont know that much about Imogen either! Shes a very private person. Oryms a little closer to her, but also not by much." He looked troubled, but Laudna wasn't familiar enough with his face to gleam any more nuance. 

She also noticed that Ashton was looking at her again. Did her eyeliner smudge ?

 But Ashton didn't comment, just crossed their toned arms in that usual bruskness of theirs.

"So, shes like your neighbour, right ?" Dorian nodded.

"To be honest, shes the only one we talk to most of the time. The townspeople are not very fond of." He looked down at himself and Laudna could be wrong, but she had the feeling he was looking at the rainbow-coloured band around his wrist.

"Outsiders. Imogen is from Gelvaan, but doesn't go to town all that often either. And since our houses are so close to eachother we kinda...bonded." his smile seemed even more nervous now. Laudna wasn't sure why, maybe he was also scared of upsetting people ? Though he seemed more at ease when Orym and Fearne had been around, Dorian appeared very nervous to her when interacting with people. Not that she was an expert on the matter.

"Oh, but don't get me wrong, shes really nice, I just don't know all that much about her." The blue skinned man turned his attention to the silver ring around his hand, letting it rotate around his finger and Laudna noticed the pretty dark nailpolish he was wearing. Had Dorian and Ashton been bonding and Laudna had disturbed their peaceful talk about nailpolishes ? She really hoped not.

"And the dog thing ?" Ashton asked.

Dorian shrugged, his face stretched to a grimace.

"I don't know. And I wouldn't tell you if I did, its not my place to tell. All I know is." He seemed to be looking for the right words.

"Every time they get brought up or something, which is obviously still not that often, especially after we noticed it was upsetting her, she gets all rigid. Cagey. And then she takes off in a rush. That one time when we were in town together she also immedietly ran when this older gentleman and his dog came around the corner."

Laudna felt a guilty pang in her chest. Maybe Imogen had been attacked by dogs in her past and was scared of them because of it ? Laudna could certainly understand the mindset, even if that was not how she personally felt. Was that maybe why Imogens family couldnt keep the sheepdogs ?

"Why are you scowling?" The voice of her traveling companion broke through her thoughts.

"What ?" She looked up.

"Heck Laudna. Why are you scowling ? You look like somebody kicked Paté." Now she truly was scowling. She wouldn't let anyone kick Paté! But no, that wasn't what Ashton was actually talking about.

"I am ?" She hadn't meant to. Her face was scary enough as is, she didn't want to add to the ghoulishness and frighten poor Dorian to death. Though that would be quite a funny way to go she thought, trying to dampem her grin. Ashton asked if everything was alright and Laudna nodded her head. More for herself, because her head seemed all muddled up, than to answer.

"No its fine Im just...thinking. do you think maybe it would be easier for Imogen to meet a dog, that is not really a dog ? If shes scared of dogs I mean. Not that she needs to fix herself or anything I just.. she just sounded so fond of her own dogs beforehand. 

Ashton had this grin again, what was she missing ?

"What do you mean with 'not really a dog' ?" Dorian asked.

"Oh! Right, you would not be aware. I have a dog, his name is caviar and hes the sweetest most gentlest boy." Laudna gushed. She loved Caviar dearly. Ashtons hand landed on her shoulder.

"And also hes kinda not really a dog. Hes from the shadowfell, so its only because of Laudna that he looks like a dog." Oh, yes she had not mentioned that, had she ? 

"That sounds kinda scary." Dorians face turning into a paler, skylike blue told Laudna, she had not been succsessfull in suppressing the scary grin she loved doing. Ashton gave a shrug. 

"Eh, after you realize hes not in any pain, you kinda get used to the open wounds. Hes really a big softie." 

"Open wounds ?" Dorians alarmed voice answered. 

But at that moment they heard the front door opening and Fearnes excited voice boom towards them, followed by the warm smell of food. Orym, who was partially obscured behind a few boxes of pizza and other containers, slid open the door to the livingroom with his foot, Fearne right behind him, holding onto multiple bottles, some soda and some alcohol from what Laudna could make out. 

They got up to help their two returning gatherers place down their bounty. As Laudna put down the containers next to the boxes she looked over her shoulder when Orym started speaking. 

"Sorry for the delay, theres apparently some big game today and the place was pretty busy." He sounded chipper anyways. She could get behind that.

"Everything good over here ?" He took a look at Dorian, at his still pale face, and at Ashton and Laudna. Laudna couldn't really tell what his expression was conveying. Maybe it was her fault for not understanding, maybe he just wasn't very expressionable, it was truly anyones guess.

"Is Imogen still in the kitchen ?" Even though his voice seemed neutral, positive even, the question made Laudna feel all queasy and uncomfortable inside.

"No. I'm terribly sorry. I seem to have scared her off, she left." Laudna gave her best impression of being very interested in her fingernails. She should probably paint them again soon. Would Fearne be willing to help her with that like she did with Ashton ?

"She was actually in there with her for just before you came back." Dorian spoke up. Orym seemed suprised. Not in a bad way though, Laudna guessed, his smile seemed genuinely happy as far as she could tell. It barely lessend her nerves.

"Oh really ? What did you guys talk about ?" 

She tried blending out his deep, piercing eyes on her, fiddling with her handwarmers. 

"Mostly we talked about some of my art. I paint. And sew. And, uh, some other things. And about her farm. Though I think thats the part where I made a mistake."

She retold Orym what she had already told Ashton and Dorian while the others around them got plates and cutlery from the kitchen. While she talked, they started slicing and distributing pieces of Pizza with some fries and onionrings. After Laudna finished Orym stayed silent for a moment, which did not help her anxiety at all. Before she could start saying something stupid too hastily she stuffed her mouth full with a piece of pizza fungi. 

Instead of Orym filling the silence like she'd expected, Dorian spoke up."I don't think I've ever seen Imogen talk that long to someone ever. It might not seem like a lot to you, but thats pretty impressive." Really ? But talking to Imogen was so easy. Why wouldnt people want to talk with her long and all the time ? Orym spoke again, thankfully.

"Do you like her ?" Another shiver went over her as she felt Oryms eyes scan her, searching for something. 

The halfling had only been nice to her, ever since Laudna appeared, for him quite out of nowhere, on his doorstep, but she was scared nontheless. She desperately wanted to leave a good impression on Fearnes boyfriend. Dorians apparent anxiety somehow made it easier for Laudna to read him, so she wasn't as worried about him, but with Orym she couldn't really tell.

 She felt as if she was being tested. But she wasn't good at tests, especially not at the kinds where the subject and rules were not expressed beforehand. Laudnas hands reached for her hair, carding through it, hiding her face behind it, playing with it.

"I mean yes, of course I like her. She was quite fascinating." 

All of the dread and antagonism, that she had felt directed at herself seemed to fall of her immedietly, had it been there in the first place ? Orym beamed at her. Maybe he was just worried for Imogen too ? She could understand that certainly.

"I hoped that maybe I could talk to her again ? Maybe become friends if that is something she would allow ?" Truly, she was only able to say the scary f word because of Oryms facial encouragement, but when she saw his smile turn even brighter, Laudna took it another step further.

"Maybe I could leave my number with you and if she is comfortable with the idea, she could text me ?" He nodded. Fearne squeeled, making grabby hands at Laudnas phone.

"Oh this is so fucking cute, gimme I'll prepare." Laudna obliged, laughing fondly at Fearnes antics, not entirely sure what she was talking about, but not worried either. Fearne always got so excited to meet new people. The faun leaned downwards towards Orym, whispering to him and he chuckled.

"Hey Laudna, gimme a word to describe Imogen!" She frowned. A word to describe her ?

"What do you mean, like an adjective ?" She inquired."Yea sure, whatever that is, it'll do." So Laudna thought.

"Well, Imogen was friendly, suprisingly interested in my work, which was quite fascinating to observe. She seemed like she was a very hard worker on her farm. Very capable." Fearne snorted. "That'll do. Thank you~" 

When Laudna was finally allowed to take her phone back she could feel the slightest bit of colour showing on her cheeks. Imogens contact information blinked back at her, the slot for her number empty, but the name Fearne had entered showing as "Capable Imogen" with an additional purple heart. Laudna heard her laugh in the background.

"Don't worry too much about it, its not like she can see what you saved her as." 

Laudna frowned "I suppose so.."