Private Of wolves, the Force, and a new path. [Aelin]

[Varick Lechner]

Sound: Cryo Chamber "Forgotten Forests & Endless Mountains"
Clothing: Casual comfort
Tag: Aelin Erevos
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The sun had risen across the mountains less than an hour ago, and he had yet to find peace enough to sleep. It was something he’d become accustomed to these last several months, but there had been a sliver of hope that being on Islimore would somehow be a boon to his tired soul. It had only been a few scant days, in truth; perhaps not enough time for the homeworld of his people to seep back into his marrow and reclaim him.

Time. Varick just needed more time. He would have sworn to hearing Marionne’s voice in that moment, telling him that life simply didn’t work that way. A faint smile curled his lips at the thought of her wry expression gazing up at him before it was replaced with a pain that was still intense even after so many months.

Taking a moment to breathe deeply as he gathered himself up from his perch, the man brushed a hand across the damaged pendant around his neck. He missed her something awful, but at least…at least he wasn’t drowning in the agony of loss anymore. That was at least a step in the right direction, and the very pragmatic Marionne would have told him he’d spent too long mourning her already.

A soft chime from the datapad in his jacket pocket broke him out of his reverie and his gaze fell to the blinking screen. Ahh, his training session with Aelin was due to begin in an hour. Force be thanked he’d set that alarm in a more lucid moment the evening prior. Tucking the datapad back in his pocket, he shifted into his tawny furred wolf form and allowed himself the pleasure of running through the forest with something akin to abandon.

Varick took a slight detour to his ship to gather a few things, hauling a small chest on one shoulder to the small clearing beside a waterfall he’d arranged to meet Aelin at. Cushions had been set out atop the flat stones near the water, and there he also added the chest he’d retrieved. The day was bright and promised to be warm, so his jacket was soon set aside as he sat cross-legged on the larger of the two cushions.

Azure eyes flickered to burnished gold before closing, his head tipping back and his face raised to the sun. He stilled his mind after a moment’s struggle, fingers wrapped tightly around the pendant at his neck as he meditated while waiting for his student to arrive.​

 

[Aelin Erevos]

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Appearance | XoXo
Location | Islimore, Early Morning
Tag | Varick Lechner

Across Islimore's leafy terrain, Aelin flew, the ground whooshing past beneath her.

Being away from Bellassa, she could have easily gotten off with skipping out on a morning run, especially since Børre was not there to oversee it, but it'd become such a routine element of her life that the minute her eyes opened to the sun breaking over the horizon - her skin crawled with a wired anticipation, craving what felt like a necessary endorphin release.

Her muzzle skimmed along the ground, the earth thick with the scent of her prey - a rabbit she'd been tracking. Despite having already eaten, her ungrateful stomach gave a low growl. Aelin was unsure if it was actual hunger, or just the hunger of that primal side of herself wanting to bathe in the satisfaction of a successful hunt. A flash of brown fur darted past, the scent wafting across her velvety nose, twitching in response.

Untangling from her current path, she pitched forward, straining for the open run. Before reaching the clearing that her next meal had dove into, Aelin dug her claws into the earth, skidding to a graceless stop. The adrenaline from the chase roared loudly in her ears, urging her to find her prey and take it down. Her eyes closed, inhaling deeply of the mild-air, knowing by now, that if she did not keep control of her instincts, they would take control of her. After a few moments the adrenaline rush ebbed and flowed away again. Moving forward more cautiously than before, her ears swiveled back and forth, straining to hear any small noise, while her nose stayed in the air.

A break in the cloud cover allowed for the mornings golden rays to break through the forests canopy, sharp eyes catching the faintest glint of that brandished-copper fur, curled up beneath one of the bushes downwind, waiting for her to move on so it could come barreling out to supposed safety.

Taking a careful step off the path, where the undergrowth was soft and moist from spring rains, she trotted silently to the clearest line of fire, hunkering down in the brush, waiting still as a statue. Only the whipping twitch of her resplendent tail gave any indication of her impatience.

Slowly, reluctantly, the rabbit emerged. It's nose twitching, tasting the air to make sure the coast was well and truly clear. Growling softly, Aelin sprang, teeth sinking deep into the scruff of its soft neck.

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The run and unexpected hunt had been exactly what she needed to help clear her mind from the uncertainties that plagued her since leaving Bellassa. There was something magical...no... spiritual, about running through Islimore's forests that filled her with this sense of elation, like she'd finally come home.

The walk back to Varick's ship did not take long, returning for a quick dip in the fresher to wash away the scent of blood, along with the mud that caked her lithe form, clothes folded over the crook of her arm. The last thing she wanted was to show up for her first training lesson, muddied, and stinking of death. Especially when the one overseeing that training was consistently well groomed - almost to impeccable perfection.

The morning was still well underway by the time she'd finished dressing and started out on her journey, swathed in the Drage fighting leathers that'd been provided to her during her training sessions with Astor. She'd tried giving them back, assuming they'd been loaned temporarily, for the insistence to come that she keep them - being that they'd been specially designed to fit her diminutive size. Something she didn't try fighting. Strange as it seemed, it was these small and simple effects that gave Aelin a sense of security - a confidence that made her feel ready to meet her next challenge. The next phase of growth.

The sound of rushing water was a low rumble ahead of her, and soon, firey-orange eyes fell on the waterfall that burst into sight as it tumbled over the lip of a high bluff. She paused at the edge of the clearing, feeling her breath hitch inside her chest. Everything about Islimore was so lush, so vibrant, so full of life - that Aelin still wasn't sure what to do with it.

Swallowing softly, she tore her gaze away. There wasn't time to stand there gawking. With a posture that spoke she was ready for anything, Aelin quietly approached where Varick sat, careful not to disturb him as she came to sit across from him on one of the provided cushions.

"Good morning, Varick." she spoke softly.