Returning to Civilization [WILLOW]

[belaya volkchik drocellmeyer]

If you traversed deep into the forest you might run into a girl of average height that looked as wild as any other beast in the woods. She wore furs and tattered pieces of cloth that hid away her two precious possessions, a dagger and a simple lighter. Her body was covered in dirt and blood, as if she hadn't washed in days which was the truth. She hadn't been able to find a good river to bathe in. Her blue eyes darted from side to side, nose a twitching; trying to find a precious source of water. She was able to tread the bumpy forest ground with ease and even used the trees to hide from unexpected sounds or travel faster.

This girl's name was Belaya Drocellmeyer, a young borea who could control ice. She had been living on her own, in the wild, for around 6 years but had never been to this forest before. She did everything that one should do when exploring a new area; find the local town, trash dumps and quiet places, map out the forest and find a source of water. Water was very important as it was a necessity and if there was water there was usually food. The best hunting grounds were near a source of water.

All of a sudden the beast stopped and her eyes brightened. There it was, a small spring of water. She froze, completely still, for a few moments to inspect the area from afar. Once that investigation was complete, she slowly crept towards the spring before finally breaking into a sprint. When Belaya reached the water she fell down to her knees, bent down and desperately drank her fill like a dog.

[willow quinn porter]

The vampire didn't make a habit of trekking into the woods for a simple walk. Normally, the school grounds provided that well enough; they were huge. Well, compared to the country manor she'd had as a child. That'd been big, but it was nowhere near the size of the Academy. All she'd needed to do was just walk around the grounds, really. That would have been enough. Probably. Maybe not enough to tire a vampire, but still, it would have satisfied her.

She didn't know what it was, though. Maybe it was that the school felt too... restrictive. She liked her freedom, something that she didn't have a lot of with that new Governess changing the way she ran the school. It was horrible; like the blonde didn't even have a say anymore. She didn't like that. No, not one bit. In fact, she hated the lack of control that she had over everything. Even if Sicarus was the governess, Willow felt that she should still have some reign over the rules and whatnot. Anyway, even though the woods were dangerous, they were free. Maybe that was what attracted her to them that day. Besides, It wasn't like she couldn't watch out for herself. She may have been small, but she was strong. She would live.

She carried on through the woods, batting branches and such out of her way as she continued. It was a little bit chilly today - not that she could feel it all hat much. And, even if she could have, she was pretty certain that it wouldn't have bothered her that much. Even with what she was wearing. Some might have called her mad for not wearing sleeves. It didn't matter, though, in the scope of the whole universe. She was fine - not cold. Well, she was, but it was the normal kind of cold that she was used to. It was okay.

What was most certainly not okay, however, was seeing a girl no older than sixteen drinking out of the spring like an animal. Now, most people would have felt disgust seeing something like that. Willow, though, felt a strange form of concern for the child. That wasn't right. The girl was filthy, and there was no way she went to the Academy if she was drinking out of a Spring like she hadn't seen water for months. Every synapse in Willow's brain pointed to the girl being a fugitive, someone without a home. Running away, maybe. She didn't know what from, and she didn't need to know.

Intending to keep herself out of sight, the woman ducked behind a nearby tree, watching the girl with worry. Worry, mind you, not pity. Willow knew all to well that people didn't like being pitied, so she was careful to shut that emotion off the minute it surfaced. Unfortunately, she moved slightly backward, her foot landing on a brittle twig, which made a loud snap under her feet. She winced as the sound reverberated around the area, certain that it would startle the poor girl. Gosh, why didn't she have the ability to stay quiet? It would have been so useful here.

Outfit: Clicky!
Tagged: Belle!
Notes: Motherly Willowwww
Lyrics: What Are You So Scared Of? by Tonight Alive

[belaya volkchik drocellmeyer]

Once the borea had drunk just enough, she slowed down the rate at which she consumed the cool liquid.She occasionally paused and looked around to see if there was anyone watch. Belaya knew better than anyone that one was most vulnerable while eating or drinking. That vulnerability was something that put food in her stomach or be the cause of her death. She had a few bad run ins at local watering holes. Those scenarios always ended in food, bad injuries or both.

Belaya was just about done with her drink when a sound spooked her.The distinct sound of someone stepping on a branch or twig. Automatically, she went into a defense posture with her dagger in hand while pinpointing the source of the sound. Her back was hunched and her body tense, ready to move at any second. She moved slowly and carefully towards the sound, eyes darting everywhere and anywhere a threat could be. The girl moved closer and closer until she reached the trunk. At that point, she wheeled towards the intruder with her eyes a blazing and back to the tree trunk but didn't attack just yet.

"Who are you and what do you want?" She managed to growl out in the English tongue. Her voice was throaty and quiet, as if she hadn't used it in a long time. Normally, Belaya would have simply tried attacking but she felt something different from the person in front of you. Something that told the girl she wouldn't stand too much of a chance against her.

[willow quinn porter]

Vampires didn't get frightened. The cockney had to keep reminding herself of that when she saw the dagger appear in the girl's hand, and watched her stance become more defensive. As if Willow would want to fight, let alone hurt, this girl who was obviously much younger and weaker than herself. But then, she knew that, out in the wild, it was every person for themselves. She knew that better than most as, actually, she'd lived in the woods for a while after she'd run away from her family home. It was frightening. Terrifying, actually. But times had changed. This was less commonplace nowadays.

She couldn't watch anymore, couldn't do anything else other than pray that she wouldn't be found. She stopped watching the girl, and pressed her back up against the tree trunk that she was stood by. She was pretty wimpy for someone that'd seen so much worse than this during the wars, but she couldn't help it. It's been so long since she'd fought. So long since her life had actually been put at risk. She could hardly remember how petrifying it was. And she knew that it was scary, something that only those who'd had to fight for their lives before could really, truly understand.

People, obviously, like this girl. Willow wasn't afraid of her, per se, but it was definitely unnerving to have someone so hell-bent on survival that they were willing to kill coming closer and closer, the weapon that could mean death in their clearly well-trained hands. Willow might have been strong, and not easily hurt, but if that thing got anywhere near her heart, she was gone. And that was what scared her about the situation that she was currently in. She should have known that the girl would know how to defend herself.

As the child came closer and closer, her scent became stronger as it hung in the air around Willow. The girl wasn't human. She was a Borea, an Ice one. She was roughly sixteen years old, like Willow had thought. That relieved her slightly, knowing that the girl probably couldn't damage her if she tried. She'd known that anyway, but it was always good to be absolutely certain. She couldn't help still being worried, though. Worried about the girl, now, and not herself.

Just as she was found by the girl, Willow cautiously put her hands up where they could be seen, just to show the girl that she didn't want any trouble. "Look," she said softly in response to the girl, her green eyes lowering to the level of fiery blue ones. "I don't mean you no harm, honest. My name's Willow." That answered one of the girl's questions. That was good, wasn't it? "I just... I'm probably bein' a bit more nosy than I should be, but... are you on your own out 'ere?" This wasn't safe, and if she was alone, Willow couldn't simply let that slide. Her conscience wouldn't let her.

Outfit: Clicky!
Tagged: Belle!
Notes: Motherly Willowwww
Lyrics: What Are You So Scared Of? by Tonight Alive

[belaya volkchik drocellmeyer]

The words processed through the girl's brain, translating them into something easy enough for her to understand. The process wasn't very fast as speaking and words weren't used often. There was no need to, really. Belaya rarely needed to communicate with other people or even other creatures. Besides, she usually could easily bring her point across with growls and glares. So, her language had degraded over the past six or so years. It took her awhile to know what to say and know what others were saying.

The words that the lady spoke translated and she quickly reviewed the information given to her. The lady said she honestly didn't mean any harm and that her name was Willow. Belaya mentally nodded to herself and slowly went into a less defense posture but still was at the ready. Willow seemed honest enough but this girl was constantly on her guard. You were either paranoid or closer to death out in this world. Trust no one, get at any chance you get and never think that you're safe for even just a moment.

Willow spoke once again and Belaya's mind gears worked down upon the spoke words. Besides translating them into the simple speak she was used to, it also broke sentences down and threw away any unnecessary details that were not required to understand the meaning of the sentence. It made it easier too translate and quicker to review.

The lady had asked if the young Borea was alone. Belaya would have answered no but technically the answer was yes so she stuck with that. "'m a'ways on my own." she replied in the same throaty voice. "I a'ways has been. Having anyone else 'ould jus' slow me down. Why d'you ask?"

[willow quinn porter]

She couldn't help it; she had to release a small sigh of relief when the girl's stance became less defensive. She did it as inconspicuously as possible, though - she didn't want to look like a cowardly idiot although she was to a certain extent. But who wouldn't be relieved to know that their death would be a whole lot less likely? Even though the odds of it happening in the first place were next to none, it was reassuring to know that her chances of dying that day had pretty much vanished. For the most part, anyway.

The girl was on her own. Just as Willow had suspected. That wasn't right, wasn't fair in the slightest. It would have been better (not by much, but by some) if the teen had been accompanied by someone older than herself, but she was so completely, almost vulnerably alone. It was a wonder that some of the things that lived here hadn't harmed her at all. Or maybe they had; the girl's skin was streaked with dried blood in some places. Willow had the slightest feeling that the blood wasn't hers, but that was hardly the point. The point was that, soon, the girl's luck might run out. And the vampire couldn't let that happen.

"S' really dangerous out here," she said emphatically, slowly lowering her one of her hands back to her side and using the other to push her flaxen hair behind her ear. "You could get, y'know, hurt or somethin'." God above, she must have sounded so ridiculous to her at the moment. She knew that, but something kept her talking. "How long have you... y'know, been living like this?" Maybe, by asking that, Willow could gauge just how worse-off this girl was. Hopefully it wasn't long; who would let a child live like this?

Outfit: Clicky!
Tagged: Belle!
Notes: Motherly Willowwww
Lyrics: What Are You So Scared Of? by Tonight Alive

[belaya volkchik drocellmeyer]

The more she spoke, the faster she was able to translate and process the conversation. Her mind went back to the days when she was in Russia, studying complicated books with her tutor. Punished for bad behavior or disappointing progress with a hard smack to the hand. Rewarded for good behavior with no smacks and a quiet lesson. Even though she hadn't had a class in about 8 years, she still remembered what she had learned. Of course, she didn't learn much more but that could be seen as both good or bad. It depends on your views of education.

"I've been like this for..." Belaya paused here to think. Her sense of time was very much degraded so she counted her winters instead. 1 winter, 2 winters, 3 winters.... "I've been doin' this fo' six winters. I think. Maybe more. It's but I'm sma't. I can avoid danger and the hurtin' isn' bad. I'm use to the painin'." Just less than half of her life was spent out in the wild, surviving on her own. Practically all her life was spent in pain caused by the people around her. It was only practical that she was used to being hurt.

[willow quinn porter]

Six winters. Six winters. Six fucking winters. That was six going on seven years! If that was really the case, that meant that she'd been living this way since she was nine or ten! That was absolutely ridiculous! The shock that Willow felt was almost immediately replaced with a burning anger. Not a transparent kind of anger, but anger all the same. How could someone let a child roam the woods, alone and near defenseless, for six or seven years?! If at all?!

She took a deep intake of air, just to help calm herself down before she began ranting about how completely and utterly horrific that was. Of course, Willow had been in the woods for roughly the same amount of time before she was drafted in to fight in the wars, but she'd been much older and stronger than this girl when she'd started out. She had the enhanced senses and the strength to help her through. This girl, though, was at a significant disadvantage. It was a miracle, no matter how strong and smart the girl said she was (which was a lot, because come on - six or seven years!), that she'd survived in the wild for so long.

She shook her head worriedly. There was no way that this girl was battling through the wild anymore, not after all she'd obviously been through already. The blonde's conscience just wouldn't allow her to walk away from this like it never happened, like some would have. No, she couldn't possibly leave this girl in the woods, the dangerous woods, where the luck that she'd been experiencing could quickly run out. It would have been so, very wrong of Willow to let her continue when she could help her.

"You shouldn't 'ave to be used to hurtin', m'dear." she said softly, kindly. She held out her hand to the girl, small and unimposing. If she wanted to take it, that was completely up to her. With a warm, inviting and reassuring smile, she said "Look, I know y'only just met me and stuff, but... hows about you just... come back to mine? Only for a bit, if you like. Just to get somethin' to eat and stuff like that. Longer if you want, I don't mind one bit." Note that this wasn't pity. This was merely an inability to let the girl suffer anymore. She was doing the right thing. At least, she was in her mind.

Outfit: Clicky!
Tagged: Belle!
Notes: Motherly Willowwww
Lyrics: What Are You So Scared Of? by Tonight Alive

[belaya volkchik drocellmeyer]

Belaya's life was definitely not very easy but it could be worse. She didn't really know how much better or worse it could be though. She actually never really thought about it. Belaya never thought about her life in general but only from day to day. A good day would be when she had food, a good water source and a place to camp for a few days. Her bad days were when she was starving, parched or both. She didn't think about how her whole life as bad or good but that could also be because she didn't have much to compare it to.

The girl took a step back as the vampire offered her hand. It wasn't that she was intimidated or anything, it was just out of instinct. The gesture had been sudden and surprised her. Belaya carefully listened again. These words were familiar. A small number of people had offered her a similar offer before during her travels. A farmer and hunter that she met before came to mind. They had offered her food and lodging for a few days before the small girl would sneak off to continue her journey.

Like then, she was also rather skeptical about taking the hand but she probably would accept. Belaya wasn't one to turn down free food and Willow said she could stay for as long as she wished... She also felt something different, something a bit more permanent about this whole situation. Kras then spoke up. "We should stay. I know you feel it too. I think it's time we stop..."

That was true. If Kras had voiced her opinion then it must be a pretty good idea.... Even though Belle disliked her other personality, she respected it. Kras had good ideas and helped keep them out of trouble a few times. Besides, it wouldn't hurt her to just stay awhile. Right? "Okay... I'll go with you. I'm gettin' kin'a hungry anyways."

[willow quinn porter]

Her heart jumped a little, out of concern, when the girl took a step back. Now that she thought about it, that'd been a little quick. Oops. Feeling a little guilty for surprising her, Willow drew back her hand some - not completely, but enough for it to be slightly less imposing than it was right then. She didn't really want to startle the Borea any more than she already had; it wouldn't really have been fair. Besides, she wanted to help her, not frighten her off. She couldn't let her keep living in the woods this way; it wan't good for her, no matter how long she'd been doing it.

The cockney almost sighed with relief when she accepted her offer. Thank God. There wasn't really anything she could have done had she said no, though, which was what made this situation slightly worse. She was glad that the girl had accepted, though, or else Willow would probably have ended up feeling guilty without reason. "M' not surprised that y' gettin' hungry," she laughed lightly. "These woods ain't really a good food source unless y' here on a good day."

Willow tilted her head slightly. Here she was, inviting a girl to stay with her permanently, and she didn't even know her name. That was a little weird. Well, more than a little, actually. It was just plain strange. "I... I dun' think I caught y'name, did I, love?" she said curiously. It was an open sort of comment; it didn't require an answer, but one would have been very much appreciated. She didn't want to have to keep calling her "the girl" or sappy pet names. It was a little bit awkward.

Outfit: Clicky!
Tagged: Belle!
Notes: Motherly Willowwww
Lyrics: What Are You So Scared Of? by Tonight Alive