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+--- Thread: PRP presence sweet aura bright (/showthread.php?tid=12714)
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presence sweet aura bright - KIVA. - 7/17/2026
The forest seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. Kiva had long since stopped trying to remember which way she’d come from. Every towering trunk looked much like the last, every patch of moss blended into another, and every unfamiliar scent only reminded her how little of this world she truly knew. She was beginning to suspect that admitting she was lost might actually be easier than pretending she wasn’t. Not that she intended to admit it. Instead, she wandered with deliberate confidence, nose drifting over the scents that lingered beneath the cool forest air. Crushed, fallen leaves. Damp earth. The faint sweetness of wildflowers hidden somewhere beyond the underbrush. It was peaceful enough that she almost forgot, for a few precious moments, how alone she was.
Almost.
A fresh scent drifted across the breeze: wolf. Her ears shot forward. Not old, nor faint. Recent! Without realizing it, her pace quickened. Excitement bubbled up before caution had the chance to catch it. She had spent the last several days meeting strangers, but each familiar scent still brought with it the same spark of relief. Every wolf she found made this place feel a little less impossibly large. She slowed as she followed the trail, making an effort not to charge blindly ahead. Whoever this was moved differently than most wolves she’d encountered. There was purpose in the scent’s path. Few unnecessary turns. No lingering. They weren’t simply wandering.
“They know where they’re going,” she murmured to herself. Lucky. Her amber gaze swept between the trunks until movement finally caught her eye. Dark fur slipped almost silently through the oak trees ahead. Kiva’s tail gave an involuntary wag.
“Oh! Hi!” The greeting escaped before she’d fully considered whether announcing herself was the smartest idea. Realizing she had probably just startled the stranger, she immediately slowed to an easy walk, leaving several body lengths between them. “Sorry,” she said with an apologetic smile. “I promise I wasn’t trying to sneak up on you. I’m actually terrible at sneaking.”
Her ears tipped sheepishly to the side. “I was just excited to see another wolf.” She glanced around at the endless forest surrounding them before looking back. “This place has a way of making you feel very small.” The words slipped out a little more honestly than she’d intended.
A soft laugh escaped her as she rubbed the back of one foreleg against the other in an awkward habit she’d never quite outgrown. “I’ve been trying very hard to look like I know what I’m doing.”
Her eyes flicked briefly toward the trail the stranger had been following. “I’m guessing you actually do know what you’re doing.” Curiosity shone plainly across her face, though she resisted stepping any closer.
“I’m Kiva.” There was no expectation in the introduction, only an open invitation. “If you’re busy, I won’t keep you. I just thought I’d say hello.”
Serrune
RE: presence sweet aura bright - Serrune - 7/18/2026
![[Image: 121448021_bJtnxfc35ECn9pX.png]](https://f2.toyhou.se/file/f2-toyhou-se/images/121448021_bJtnxfc35ECn9pX.png)
—
The scout had traveled farther than she expected. Lifting herself up onto a decaying log where she would begin to scratch at its surface. This place… it frustrated her. Serrune felt it was far different than Nytheris. Atheron was harsh. This place seemed bland. While she found some cool rocks and sticks, nothing stuck out to her to use as markers.
Everytime she tried to scribble, it looked nothing like she pictured. It was rough and nothing usable. Easily able to be wiped. Which is what she did. Her second thought was to pickup objects. But she couldn't quite use her paws to do so. Instead she'd have to carry them like a peasant between her teeth.
It'll do.
Seeping down off the log she carried herself with purpose through oak trees. Occasionally gazing up upon the canopy. Far too deep in her mind to hear another coming until it was too late. Words spittered from the other's maw. An apologetic tawny wolf.
Serrune batted her amber eyes, pausing her scouting. So far this place didn't riddle with harm. Yet. There was still much to know and learn.
Hello.A swift flick of her dark tail as she adjusted to face this new wolf. She was more althetic than herself. Neither of them towered each other. That was odd to her. She was always used to being shorter than everyone.
Serrune. It's a pleasure to meet you. Sorry I was in my own mind for a bit.Serrune chuckled softly, ears flickering to the sounds behind her.
Sneaking happens to be a trait of mine. I don't always mean to tread up upon others.
—
LANGUAGES—
Common
RE: presence sweet aura bright - KIVA. - 7/18/2026
A laugh bubbled out of Kiva before she could stop it. “So it’s not just me.” She tipped her head, amusement dancing in her amber eyes.
“I was worried I’d interrupted some incredibly serious forest inspection.” Her gaze lingered on Serrune for a heartbeat before drifting toward the weathered log she’d climbed down from. The faint scratches etched into its surface hadn’t escaped her notice, though she couldn’t quite make sense of them. “I have to admit,” she said, lowering her voice as though sharing a secret, “you looked very mysterious.”
A crooked grin tugged at one corner of her muzzle. “I was halfway convinced you were about to uncover some ancient secret hidden in that old log.” Her tail swayed lazily behind her, the last of her awkwardness fading away. When Serrune mentioned sneaking up on others, Kiva let out another soft laugh.
“Oh, you’re one of those wolves.” She placed a paw dramatically against her chest before continuing to speak, “The quiet ones always make me nervous. You all move around like ghosts while the rest of us are busy announcing ourselves to every squirrel in the forest.” Leaning forward just a fraction, she added with a playful smile, “I think I stepped on every crunchy stick between here and you.”
Her gaze flicked back toward the markings in the log. “Were you trying to map the area?” she asked. “Because if so, I might’ve interrupted a professional at work.”
There was a teasing warmth to her smile as she glanced around at the seemingly endless stretch of oaks. “I’ve been trying to memorize landmarks, but every tree keeps introducing itself as the same tree.”
She gave an exaggerated sigh before looking back at Serrune. ”So maybe it’s a good thing I bumped into you.” The corners of her mouth lifted again, softer this time. “You seem like the sort of wolf who actually knows where she’s going. I could probably use a little of that.”
RE: presence sweet aura bright - Serrune - 7/19/2026
—
Forest inspection?
Mysterious?
Serrune supposed she always came off that way. It.. this new wolf talked about as much as her kids talked her ear off when they were young. She loved them, but it caught her offguard.
Silence always carried her farther than small talk. She always picked up on clues and learned more this way. It's how she got as far as she did.
Ghosts she called her.
Funny. Ironic even. It tugged a soft smile at her lips. Dainvar always said something vaguely similar. Mapping the area got a nod from the midnight scout.
You're looking for a path.She shook her head lightly, bringing herself to the trunk of a tree. It was always a joy to her to teach others things. This kind soul didn't seem like true harm to her.
Don't. Read the forest instead.Her black paw brushed the moss clinging to the bark.
Moss favors the north. Trees lean toward the sun. The wind leaves its mark if you know where to look.She glanced back over her shoulder at the tawny wolf.
The land is always speaking. Most simply forget to stop and listen.
—
LANGUAGES—
Common
RE: presence sweet aura bright - KIVA. - 7/19/2026
The tawny wolf followed a few paces behind, ears swiveling as though the forest might suddenly decide to reveal all its secrets at once. Her gaze bounced from the moss to the branches overhead, then back to Serrune’s face, trying to piece together the puzzle.
“So,” Kiva squinted at the nearest trunk with exaggerated concentration. “I’ve concluded it’s definitely a tree.” The declaration came with all the confidence of someone who knew they were spectacularly missing the point. A beat passed before the corner of her mouth tugged upward.
“I swear, I’m trying.” She stepped closer, nose brushing the bark where the darker moss clung stubbornly to one side. Until now, she’d always searched for the things that stood out—a crooked boulder, a fallen log, a stream that smelled faintly of mint after the rain. Little landmarks that told her she’d gone the right way.
“I always looked for things to remember.” Her amber eyes wandered upward through the canopy. “Not reasons they were there.” The realization settled heavier than she’d expected.
“I guess I never asked the forest for directions.” A quiet huff escaped her, half laugh, half embarrassment. “Which, in hindsight, explains why I ended up here.” She glanced toward Serrune again, warmth returning to her expression.
“So,” A paw gestured vaguely toward the surrounding trees. “Teacher, where else is the land talking? Besides the moss.”
RE: presence sweet aura bright - Serrune - 7/20/2026
—
I've concluded it's definitely a tree. Those words recieved a chuckle from Serrune. The wolf was correct. It was a tree. An oak one at that.
I believe you.Serrune exhaled softly. There was so much to consider when it came to scouting. Tracking, hunting, knowing the land around you. She spent some time in Basalt, some time in Krison. And being kneedeep into the lore of her world adapted her better for running her missions.
There are other things to watch for.The midnight scout battered her eyes from the tree to the dirt at her feet. Lifting up a paw to show her pawprint. A line of tracks of where she had been.
Tracks. Ours. Theirs. They tell you who passed through, sometimes who's nearby.
The wind carries far more than scent. Follow it long enough… it'll often lead you to water.The one thing she excelled at. Navigating. Reading. Scouting. She glanced back at the tree.
Pay attention to how the land grows. Once you recognize patterns, it becomes harder to lose your way.
Not everyone had a knack for it though.
The land says far more than any realize. Its remarkable.Serrune lifted her head up to the canopy of the thick trees. Her voice remained calm.
Listen to the birds. When the forest falls quiet, ask why.
Watch the clouds, feel the winds. They often speak before a storm ever arrives.The corner of her maw softened by the softest measure.
Nature rarely hides its intentions. Most simply forget to read them.
The land typically isn't trying to mislead you. It tells you where you stand should you listen to it.To her, navigation was not sheerly memorizing landmarks. Rather reading everything. Taking notes of what she can. It was a language to her, one most cared less to learn.
—
LANGUAGES—
Common
RE: presence sweet aura bright - KIVA. - 7/20/2026
The red wolf’s ears remained fixed upon the scout, amber eyes following every motion as though afraid to miss some invisible thread weaving the lesson together. Her gaze drifted from the prints in the dirt, to the canopy overhead, then back to the earth beneath her paws. Tracks. Wind. Birds. Clouds. The land itself. It was a lot, she’d admit to herself. Silence settled for a heartbeat as Kiva looked around again, but this time the forest felt different. Less like a collection of trees and more like something alive. Something speaking in a language she’d never realized existed.
“I think,” she began slowly, brow knitting together, “I’ve been treating the forest like a map.” Her nose wrinkled.
“I keep looking for places. Big rocks. Funny-shaped trees. Things I can point at and say, ‘I’ve been here before.’” A sheepish grin tugged at one corner of her maw.
“And meanwhile you’ve been reading an entire book.” The comparison lingered in her mind, earning a quiet huff of amusement from herself. Kiva lowered her muzzle, finally giving the ground the attention it deserved. She noticed the staggered line of Serrune’s pawprints. Her own, crossing over them. Tiny impressions where a squirrel had darted across softer earth. Things she would’ve walked straight past only moments ago.
“I don’t think I’ve ever actually looked before.” Not like this. A bird called somewhere high overhead. Instinctively, Kiva’s ears flicked toward it.
“So,” she glanced sideways at Serrune, an eager curiosity softening her expression, “how do you tell which things matter?” Her tail gave an absent wag behind her.
“Because if I stop every time I see a pawprint or hear a bird, I’ll still be standing here tomorrow.”
A beat passed before another grin surfaced. “Though I suppose I’d know this oak tree really well.”
RE: presence sweet aura bright - Serrune - 7/28/2026
—
Serrune offered a quiet chuckle. It was refreshing to meet someone willing to learn. More often than not, questions were replaced with assumptions.
Start with the ground.
Her gaze lowered to their prints scattered across the earth.
Tracks tell you who passed through, how quickly they moved, and sometimes why. Disturbed earth... broken moss... they often mean something stopped here, even if only briefly.
Her nose lifted, drawing in the warm air.
Then the wind. It carries more than scent. Rain. Water. Blood. Prey. Even weather has a smell if you learn to notice it.
Wind was heavily reliable. She used it often for food sources, water. Knowing your land helps you know where the good places are.
Amber eyes drifted toward the canopy where the bird called overhead.
Listen. The birds are honest. When the forest suddenly grows quiet, ask yourself what silenced it.She shifted her weight, paws settling comfortably beneath her. Many times when the forest was silent, a monster lingered far too close.
Nothing crosses this land without leaving something behind.Her gaze returned to the woman. Even something as little as their path would remain for a short time.
Whether any of it matters depends on why you're here.A brief pause. She truly wasn't sure on the womans intent. Would she live here? Would she travel? It all mattered what she was doing.
If you intend to stay, learn the land until it becomes familiar. Know what belongs... and what doesn't. If you're only passing through, you're simply reading enough of its story to travel safely.
The corner of her muzzle lifted ever so slightly. Serrune remembers numerous times where.. she'd be stuck on q path snow buried. Or a tree that had blocked one of her favorite spots.
Markers have their place, though I wouldn't trust them blindly. Trees fall. Rivers shift. Snow buries trails. The land changes. Learn to read what doesn't.
—
LANGUAGES—
Common
RE: presence sweet aura bright - KIVA. - 7/28/2026
For the first time since arriving in Mythris, Kiva made no effort to fill the silence.
It settled comfortably around them, broken only by the gentle rustle of leaves overhead and the distant chatter of unseen birds somewhere deeper within the forest. Until now, quiet had always been something she walked through on her way to the next conversation, the next destination, the next interesting thing. Now she found herself lingering inside it instead.
Her amber eyes wandered slowly across the woodland. Not searching for a particularly memorable tree or an oddly shaped boulder this time, but allowing herself to look the way Serrune seemed to. Their own pawprints crisscrossed the soft earth beneath them. One set sharp-edged and fresh, the other already beginning to soften where loose soil had started slipping back into place. A tuft of flattened grass bent away from the trail. Nearby, moss had been scraped from the base of an old oak, exposing darker bark beneath. Things she’d never once considered worth noticing.
The breeze stirred again, brushing through the canopy before weaving around her muzzle. She closed her eyes for a heartbeat and simply breathed. Damp earth, oak, wildflowers hidden somewhere beyond the underbrush. And then, something cooler drifted beneath it all. Faint enough that she almost dismissed it before remembering Serrune’s words. Water.
She couldn’t hear it, couldn’t see it, but she was almost certain it was there. A slow smile spread across her face.
“I think,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else, “I’ve spent my whole life looking at forests instead of into them.”
The thought lingered just long enough for her ears to tilt sheepishly. “Which is honestly a little embarrassing, considering I spent years running messenger routes.” A quiet laugh escaped her as she lowered her muzzle again.
This time, the ground seemed impossibly busy. Tiny claw marks stitched across a patch of loose dirt where some small creature had darted toward the shelter of nearby roots. Several delicate hoofprints crossed one another before disappearing into taller grass, the edges still crisp enough that whatever had left them couldn’t have passed very long ago. A broken fern leaned awkwardly to one side, its stem bent but not yet wilted.
Without realizing it, Kiva found herself stepping around the tracks instead of through them.
“Oh.” Her voice came softer now, touched with genuine wonder. “They aren’t just footprints.”
She followed the trail with her eyes for several body lengths before it curved gently around a cluster of shrubs and vanished into thicker vegetation. “They slowed down here.” Her brow furrowed thoughtfully. “Maybe they were feeding… or listening for something.” She paused before giving an uncertain shrug. “Or maybe I’m completely wrong.”
The admission came easily, accompanied by an amused flick of her ear. She looked back toward Serrune, excitement shining plainly across her face. “Either way…” she said, gesturing toward the little trail of prints with one paw, “I don’t think I would’ve even noticed those five minutes ago.”
Another breeze slipped between the trees, carrying with it the gentle whisper of leaves rubbing together high overhead. This time Kiva’s ears followed the sound instinctively before her gaze lifted toward the canopy. She listened for several long heartbeats, smiling when the birds resumed their chatter after only a brief pause.
“I think I just read my first sentence.”
The grin that followed was impossible to hide—bright, proud, and carrying all the quiet excitement of someone who had just discovered there had been an entirely different language surrounding her all along.
( sorry for not bolding her speech, I’m in a rush )
RE: presence sweet aura bright - Serrune - 7/29/2026
—
Serrune would stand in silence, watching. Messenger routes. They had those, most of the time the scouts cleared it out for the messengers. However mostly? Mostly they relied on birds they trained or one specific messenger depending on severity of messages.
The lorekeeper would cautiously folloe the tawny wolf as she went to read the surroundings. A set of prints. Trailing off into vegetation.
You're doing well.A nod of confirmation, a soft smile crept to the mother's maw.
You won't learn it all in a day. No one does.
Her amber gaze drifted to the vegetation.
Give the world a chance to introduce itself. The more you see, the more patterns you'll pickup.
Back at Kiva she turned,
Knowledge will come in pieces. You've got a great start.
—
All good! Take your time I don't ever mind waiting. (OOC)
LANGUAGES—
Common