Rosa Being Strange

[hazlogs]

Dense Forest
Surrounding you on all sides are many trees, most of the evergreen variety.
Thick underbrush, some with prickly thorns, others with trailing vines,
covers the forest floor, making it quite impossible to see very far into the
distance. The occasional crow can be seen flying through the trees and off
in the distance the continuous chirp of crickets can be heard. The
occasional beam of light breaks through the forest canopy, illuminating a
small area before it vanishes.
Winding through the underbrush, a number of trail-like impressions can be seen
in the dirt. They lead off in all directions.
Contents:
Defends-Wolves
Rosa Pinay
Obvious exits:
Faint Trail

It is currently 17:43 Pacific Time on Mon Apr 28 1997.
Currently on this highly windy and crisp spring sunset in the general St.
Claire area, it is 62 degrees Fahrenheit (16.7 degrees Celsius). The wind is
coming from the west-southwest at 41.8 mph. The ground is parched. Skies are
clear with a possible chance of precipitation.
Currently the moon is in the waning Half Moon phase (57% full).
There is no mail in folder 'main'.

Defends-Wolves pads in from the direction of the pool, fur slightly wet. He
shakes himself and chuff lightly to Rosa.
Erik trudges throught he forest, presumably on his way to the compound.
Rosa Pinay recoils, and scampers a little way away from Defends-Wolves,
interposing a tree trunk between him and her.

Barely 4'9" and near 80 pounds, with exotic tropical features and a
deep golden complexion, this little girl could easily pass for ten years
old. Large, dark eyes framed by her angular face take in the world, with a
sense of wonder at its mystery. Tense, solemn, child's lips seem ready to
flash a shy smile any moment. Her sleek black hair is long, and worn in a
neat pony tail. For a child, her legs are remarkably muscular. She seems
very dynamic.
Shrouded in drab, a loose ankle-length garment hides this petite
girl's figure, while a hooded poncho covers her arms and veils her features.
She wears a flag-like kerchief about her wrist.
An air of dark moodiness makes the vast majority of ordinary people
and animals distinctly uncomfortable in this vicinity.

Erik stops, turning his head from one to the other, then back to Rose. "Er...
Rosa? Are you well?" His tone is worried.
Defends-Wolves peers curiously at Rosa. Why do you run from me?
Rosa Pinay keeps to cover. "I am well." Her voice is steady enough. "Why do
you ask?"
Erik shrugs uncomfortably. "Because... you're a... friend?" He doesn't sound
too terribly certain.
Defends-Wolves lifts his muzzle. You seemed nervous at my approach. He turns
to Erik, splaying his ears. Greetings.
Rosa Pinay's voice remains neutral. "Nothing is wrong at all. Why would you
think anything is wrong?" She moves back, a few more trees screening her.
Erik's tone is puzzled. "You're hiding."
Rosa Pinay says "I am Uktena's daughter." She keeps her tone level, betraying
little more than that she is concealing something. "Do not people say this
is our way?"
Erik shifts his weight from one foot to the other. "/You/ don't," he says,
perplexed.
Defends-Wolves peers at the two, a somewhat confused expression on his face.
Rosa Pinay says "I grow stronger..." moving a few trees more, circling, "in
the ways of my people with each passing moonrise."
Erik shakes his head, still confused. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Rosa Pinay circles further, stops. "My health has never been better, Mister
Fianna. And you?"
Defends-Wolves sits back on his haunches, quietly watching the Uktena cub.
Erik hesitates, then nods, confused. "Are you, um, going to the compound?"
Rosa Pinay's voice is a whisper. She ducks back under a leafy branch.
"Perhaps."
Erik nods. He starts to move toward the compound, then stops and looks up.
"Are you sure?"
Rosa Pinay withdraws, still more, shielded by branches and tree-trunks, not so
silent as a ragabash, but learning.
Rosa Pinay heads southwest, along a faint trail through the woods.
Rosa Pinay has left.

[Sept Compound]

Defends-Wolves enters the compound.
Defends-Wolves has arrived.
Rosa Pinay remains sheltered by trees and the lush spring growth.
Erik tries not to stare at Rose. He makes a direct line fore the fire and sits
down near it.
Defends-Wolves pads over to the fire, still watching Rosa, or at least where
he thins she is from the corner of his eye.
Rosa Pinay makes a little noise, as she springs up into a tree, moving with
perfect grace.
Erik tilts his head, glancing worriedly over at Rose.
Defends-Wolves turns his head to watch the cub, ears slightly drooping.
Rosa Pinay just watches.
Rosa Pinay can be heard, quietly moving from branch to branch, occasionally
tree to tree, sometimes glimpsed, even.
Defends-Wolves glances at Erik . Any idea why she's behaving so.. oddly?
Erik shrugs helplessly at Defends-Wolves.
Rosa Pinay stops, and listens.
Defends-Wolves's gaze turns toward the trees, searching out Rosa. Why do you
spend your time in the trees, ~Rosa~?
Defends-Wolves contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Defends-Wolves shifts into Homid form.
Rosa Pinay giggles. "I like the view."
John smiles at Rosa. "Do we look so different from up there?"
Erik lowers his head slightly, head tilted toward John and Rosa.
Rosa Pinay giggles again. "Just like a man, to always think of how he looks."
John chuckles. "Obviously a Fury cub at one point. I'm not concerned about how
I look, but why you like the different perspective."
Rosa Pinay moves again, swiftly, rattling and shaking branches, unseen. "It is
Uktena's way, to see from a new perspective."
Anna has connected.
John nods, following the noises in the trees. "Yes, I suppose it is."
Anna leaves the compound.
Anna has left.
Rosa Pinay says "Is a little tree-climbing such a cause of wonder?"
Erik shivers and pulls his knees to his chest.
John shakes his head. "No."
Rosa Pinay continues to circle outside the clearing, lost from view, sometimes
almost silent, usually given away by the sound and movement of branches.
Erik tenses, obviously uneasy and nervous in response to the Uktena's actions.
Rosa Pinay's voice becomes sombre. "Remember. The promise." she says, almost a
whisper.
Erik's voice sounds as though he's breathing hard. "The promise," he murmurs.
John glances around the compound. "What promise do you speak of?"
Rosa Pinay giggles. "Mister John, tell me... where did you learn to spar so
well?"
John chuckles. "I was taught to fight by my teachers a few years ago, though I
would hardly call it fighting well."
Rosa Pinay moves farther off in the trees. "Of all the cubs, and many of the
cliath, I am the most trained, and in the best condition, and a very...
pleasing student to my teachers. Yet you lasted... a long time. You are
better than you know."
John sighs. "Far too much experience iwith combat was the only reason I lasted
Rosa. It still gives me no pleasure to do so."
Rosa Pinay keeps moving, as evidenced by the occasional sound deep in the
woods, and high.
Rosa Pinay leaves the compound.