Growing Pains [open]

The Foggy Forest has been just that, foggy. Some days the fog was so thick that you couldn't see the tree right in front of you. Other times, it was as if nature was allowing you to see the air you breathed. As if a reminder not to take it for granted. The night here was somewhat longer it seemed. The weather here was odd as well. It stayed just cool enough, warm enough for this continuous fog to forever stay, or to change. If a person wasn't use to living, passing through the Foggy Forest. They would easily get lost or worse. And, for two creatures this place was intolerable for eight months. Well, Aolis found his bearings before his Elf did. Still, they had trouble searching for food and water. The fog here made it almost impossible sometimes to do almost anything. The ground and trees were always moist, which made hunting or running away from things very difficult. However, after the ninth or eleventh mark Scythea finally got her bearings in her new home.

She had made a home, sort of a hut, in the trees about a few months after first living in the forest. It wasn't much, but it kept her and Aolis warm at night. Also, it hid them from any passerby who came through the forest going to the cities or villages. Making the shelter wasn't easy either. The trees were hard to climb, she only took the bow her Uncle gave her along with a dagger, and the dagger she used as a hatchet most of the time. Scythea knew living on her own wasn't going to be a dream come true. But, it was better than the alternative. After they had shelter, Scythea started working on hunting in this new terrain. Trying to get use to the way the ground felt was trying at times. She found herself throwing twigs in frustration at times while Aolis would show off and bring a rabbit to her. Oh, how she disliked the Red Wolf sometimes. Though, it has been a year and she had her bearings now. She could almost run along side Aolis while hunting. This gave her great pride. She finally achieved something by herself other than making a home.

Scythea had learned to hunt well thanks to her Uncle's teachings and watching Aolis. She had a place in the forest where she kept their extra meat for rainy days. Aolis wasn't big on leaves or the herbs that the Foggy Forest had to offer. This provided them with a chance to make money from trading. Since, she has been in the forest for a while. Some of the traders walking through, she would trade with. Not all were lucky to see her though. Usually, Scythea would only trade with elders, people with pets, or very rarely the trader with a child. She didn't like the young or middle aged traders coming into the forest themselves. She knew all too well what people were capable of and she didn't want to fight to keep what was hers.

Aolis gave a short high pitch howl from below their home. Scythea shook her head trying to get out of thought to see what his problem was. She made her way down the mossy slick tree to look at Aolis wagging his tail. She placed a hand on her hip and sighed. Aolis lowered his head in the eastward direction and gave the same howl as before knowing Scytheas hadn't really paid attention to him. Afterwards he gave her a sigh, stood up, and started walking in the direction he pointed out to her. Scythea finally realizing what Aolis was saying took off grabbing her bow and dagger before heading the opposite way. About three miles or so she stopped at a tree and took a wood plank out of the hollow moss covered tree. She grabbed beautiful silvery black furs, herbs, some meat wrapped in vine like salves, and some trinkets she got from other traders. She soon was next to Aolis by the road side. The person coming up the road was a woman she had traded with before. Scythea liked her cause of the woman's stories she would sometimes tell. Aolis turned lazily with his tail lazed and started to make his way back to the safety of the woods. He would wait for Scythea out of sight of the other woman as to not scare her.

Scythea was a bit excited as she saw a figure coming up the road. Her eyes focused on the figure and once they adjusted to the distance she saw a man instead of the woman. It was too late to grab the stuff and head back into the safety of the woods like Aolis had. So, she stood there hoping he would pass her by. If he stops, however, she would try to get him to sell, buy some things before asking about the woman. Though, she already had an idea of what happened to the delightful middle aged woman who would sit with her from time to time and tell her about the cities and the people she had met. There was a rusty, copper smell in the air as the man came closer. Scythea could hear Aolis start to growl in distaste for the situation. "Shh, he will hear you and then the upper head will be lost. Calm yourself." Aolis gave a sharp but low snap at his friend's words, but listened to them. The rusted slim wolf lowered himself into a pouncing position with his ears attentive to the sounds around him and waited. Scythea took a deep breath to calm her own nerves. "Don't do anything unless I say." Her voice was low enough for the wolf to hear and when her words reached his ears. Aolis could only shake his head at the miserable plan.

Words#984
Notes: Template is all airy xD
©Scythea