Forever I will move like the world that turns beneath me
And when I lose my direction I'll look up to the sky
And when the black dress drags upon the ground
I'll be ready to surrender, and remember
We're all in this together
Wander has always looked up to Vineyard, great aunt on her father’s side, the chief elder of their clan. And the wizened Druid has a soft spot for the explorative youngling, encouraging her to follow the voice of curiosity. But as the results of that encouragement stand before her, exhausted and wavering, baring news that threatens the safety of not just the Clans but the land they live on, the elder realizes the path that must be taken.
— — —
Climbing over a fallen log, Wander thinks back to the instructions she was given. To follow the voice of Knowledge, seek out information in the Giant tombs of old, find allies if she can. She must be wary; they don’t know who is behind this affront against the mountain. The clans have been well hidden for centuries, only recently has trade begun with slowly trusted merchants. It is likely that the troll and Goliath didn’t even know there were kith nearby. Her spear snags, and she pauses to untangle it, thankful for the distraction from quickly darkening thoughts.
— — —
Another lonely night. It’s been weeks since she left the last of her clans. The Riverstriders were welcoming and gave her plenty of smoked fish for her journey, but she’s looking forward to the the hot meal of rabbit roasting over her campfire. Knowledge has been strangely silent, the voice fading back to occasional feelings of warmth from the leaf-shaped stone at her wrist.
— — —
Wander takes the guise of an older human woman as she enters the village. She learned early that her towering figure and soft ears earned strange looks and whispers. Much better to blend in. Her questions are met with some confusion, but she’s pointed towards a nearby bar where she hopes to find answers and directions.