The fire of their hearts was young (open)

[inafadingcrown]

Date & Time: Starting Jan 19th, extending a couple of days. Vague vaguery
Location: See subsections
Characters: Aged-down Galadriel (AKA Artanis) and whoever
Summary: Artanis attempts to explore Exsilium and wrap her head around everything that's going on.

[To say that Artanis was not pleased with these developments would be an understatement. She’s found herself thrust into a strange world- yet another set of customs and rules she would have to learn- told that she’s to fight someone else’s war, and then comes across a child who is convinced that she is her mother.

It’s been a long day.

So, after ensuring that Celebrían was well cared for, she set out to explore Exsilium- a task that will occupy her for the next few days.]

[ooc: This is Galadriel (although she hasn't been named that yet) aged down to sometime during her first few months in Doriath. Using the same account and icons because lol immortality. Sections up.]

Comments

[werycherk]

[Pretty is one thing that goes through his head. She's very pretty. And an adult, so...]

Are there other wolves here?

[He doesn't think anything of calling himself a wolf, because he is one, and she's different, so she can't be bad, right?]

[inafadingcrown]

Wolves? [The surprise is evident on her face. Surprise and curiosity. There's something going on here, though she's not entirely sure what. She's sharp enough not to immediately start asking questions, but she rather wants to.] I am afraid I would not know, little one.

[werycherk]

Oh. Bears, maybe? Their noses are even better than ours. They could smell someone out even in the wet, I bet!

[He chews on his lip with indecision, and his canine teeth are sharper than any human's should be.]

I'm supposed to find another pack if I'm lost. I don't know where to look.

[inafadingcrown]

[She purses her lips in thought. Who and what is this child, exactly, and how can she possibly help him when she doesn't know anything about what he's saying?]

I am afraid I know nothing of packs of any sort.

[werycherk]

[That isn't a good sign, and he wilts, hugging himself and looking very uncertain.]

But--

[He hiccups down a sob. He shouldn't cry. He has to be brave and find someone to be with until his family can find him. because they're looking; they have to be.]

I'm seven; I can't--

[inafadingcrown]

It will be alright, little one. I know I am a poor substitute for family, but I will not leave you alone. [She can promise him that, at least. She'll find someone to look after him.]

[werycherk]

[For a moment he's even more uncertain but then he nods and relaxes, shuffling closer.]

Okay.

[It's not a pack, but she's safe, he thinks. Then...]

What are you?

[He doesn't think she's human, and has no compunctions about asking the blunt question.]

[inafadingcrown]

You are too bold, little one. [But the scolding is mostly for show. She can't be too irritated with a child.] I am of the Quendi. [A little pause before she realizes that that isn't exactly self explanatory.] I believe you would say "elf."

[werycherk]

Quen-Quendi. Pretty!

[He actually gets it right after only a little stumble, and it seems the scolding has rolled right off of him.]

I'm a wolf! I've never seen a Quendi before.

[And he really likes the new word, oh yes.]

[inafadingcrown]

"Quendë" is the singular. [But now that he's said it, she feels a little better about asking.] Forgive me, but... I have seen wolves, little one, and you do not bear much resemblance to them.

[werycherk]

Oh, Quendë, sorry!

[He takes to the word quickly and happily, and then laughs a little.]

Because I'm a wolf and a person and now's not my time to look like a wolf! That's later.

[inafadingcrown]

I... fear I do not understand.

[werycherk]

Um...

[His brow furrows as he thinks how to explain it.]

I'm not on my cycle now so I look like a person! I'm too little to change whenever I want like adults can. So when the moon turns full I'll be a wolf in body too but not other times.

...is that better?

[It makes perfect sense to him, but he's not sure it would work for her.]

[inafadingcrown]

It is, I think, though it seems strange to me still.

[werycherk]

[He considers this for a few moments, and the idea of it being strange is what's strange to him, and maybe a little sad.]

So there aren't any wolves or bears, or birds or even deer or anything where you're from?

[inafadingcrown]

There are, though they remain wolves, bears, birds, and deer; they do not change form.

[werycherk]

That's weird. The elders say everything with fur or feathers that's big enough has people like us. I wonder why there aren't any.

[The thinking he's doing on the topic is a pretty effective distraction from his distress though.]