aryaunderfoot | 1st Winter [Action]

[Early this morning, somewhere deep in the woods, there is a wolf howling.

It's a long, mournful howl, and the wolf doesn't seem to want to stop. Occasionally, she'll pause for breath, and then throw her head back again after a moment's rest. This place isn't right. Her cousins aren't here, the smaller ones of her pack. The air is too warm, too full of the smells of spring. And the more she searches, the more she howls, trying to get some sort of answer out of these unfamiliar trees.

Around mid-morning, the crumpled form of a small girl can be found on the path leading from the village to the Battle Dome. She's not hurt, just very much asleep (and scrunching up her face with each wolf howl) and very much covered in grime (and smelling faintly of fish cart). And there's also the fact that she's in a New Feather dress. As the howling reaches a higher pitch, she awakes with a start, freezes, and tries to figure out what this place is. There's a chill in the air, yes, but it isn't winter building up to full strength. It can't be the Summer Islands, and it most definitely isn't Braavos. This place...

...is less concerning than the fact that there is a journal right next to her with "Arya Stark" printed right on it. She gives it an incredulous look for a moment before deciding that this must be a test of some kind. The kindly man must be behind it. With a shake of the head, the girl stands, pushes the journal with a foot until it's tucked out of sight under a nearby bush, and then turns back to the task at hand.

And tries to ignore the mournful howling that is practically tugging her in its direction. That's not something she needs to worry about. That was Arya Stark. Not her. She's nobody.]

[With so many things glaringly wrong with this place, she figures it's time to try scoping it out. The girl very cautiously approaches the village, keeping to the trees for cover until she's sure there aren't any Lannister banners flying anywhere. When there aren't any, it isn't much consolation; the buildings are huge, and the architecture isn't anything she's ever seen before. This place may not be full of lions, but it's not exactly a safe zone, either. She's not even sure what it is.

Eventually, she finds her way into town, going around to see what exactly there is to see here. She doubts she'll spot any familiar faces, but she still makes her way through all the shops in the main square, trying to get some kind of sense of what kind of town this is. The smith shop is familiar, the fashions in the clothing shop completely outlandish, the foods in the indoor marketplace entirely alien.

And she is so, so very lost. As she makes her way through town, the old phrase starts repeating in the back of her mind: Fear cuts deeper than swords. She can do this. She has to do this.

Towards nightfall, after much exploration and poking around, the girl makes her way back to the stables she passed by at some point. The horses are horses. That much is familiar, at least. This much she can understand completely. And the familiar, earthy, horsey smells are something of a comfort when you're trying to wrap your head around what in the world happened to bring you to a place such as this.]

[[ooc: Feel free to run into her at any point!]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It is not one of Loki's habits to be around the stables at night but he is unable to sleep. He feels restless and that is why he has chosen to grace Frakki's manes with braids.

Eventually he busies himself with saddling up the horse, deciding that it might help to go for a nightly ride into the forest.

That is when he hears a noise. Someone is obviously having the same idea...]

Who goes there?

[The Ghost of Harrenhal, she's tempted to answer. For a stable, this place is awfully busy at night. It's almost like being in a castle.

But she answers with basic honesty. At least, of the sort she's gotten used to in the House of Black and White.]

Just a girl.

[Loki raises both eyebrows briefly before he moves to pat Frakki's side briefly.]

Just a girl who?

[He steps outside of the stable.]

I am just a boy, you see?

[Just a boy indeed. But hey, she's been "just a boy" before, too, although just in name.]

My name is Cat. [Might as well keep that lie running. It's as good as any.]

And who are you, "just a boy"?

Loki.

[He is not really aware of the other lying, a name is a name.]

In no way related to the other Loki.

[Oh yes, he is expecting a comment about that.]

You are one of the New Feathers, yes? That might mean I have to show you around, Cat. And introduce you to shaken milk and bacon.

[How many people around here are named Loki, seriously. It's like people named Rickard or Brandon in the north. She's got no idea what he means by "new feather", either, but she figures it must just mean that she's new here, which she can't argue against.]

I know what bacon is. And why would it matter if someone shook up some milk?

If one shakes milk and adds ice and a flavor to it it is most enjoyable. It is one of Midgard's most delicious delicacies. I possess a machine that is able to make them.

Isn't that just iced milk? [Which is good, yes, but is it really worth dragging someone around town to show it off?]

Iced shaken milk. You have it back at your own realm as well? If so, do you put cherries or strawberries on top?

[For Loki it is...]

We usually just put honey in it.

[Although she can kind of see the allure if there are cherries and strawberries involved. Her level of Unimpressed is starting to lower a bit.]

[Loki straightens his back and puts one hand on a hip, the other stroking his chin thoughtfully. Well, honey and bacon was quite a good combination...therefore honey could befit shaken milk quite good as well.]

Aye.

[He nods firmly.]

I am picturing this shaken milk with honey. Cat, you would do me a great favor if you could introduce me to this!

[You are a very strange boy, Loki (no relation). The girl can't decide if this is all some kind of jape or if he is really just that enthusiastic. Hot Pie would be just as into the food here, though, so she can see where it might actually be genuine.]

If you like. I don't know if anyone would make it here, but it can't be hard to do.

[Says the girl who eats most things raw.]

We can use my shaken milk machine to bring the milk to an appropriate temperature.

[He gestures at her.]

Follow me! We shall obtain some honey on the way back.

[Loki is just really fascinated by food and drinks and everything that is not common to Asgard.]

[This is Cat, standing stubbornly still.]

I'm not hungry. Or thirsty, either.

[Besides, wasn't this boy kind of occupied before she walked in, anyway?]

[Loki raises an eyebrow first and nods afterwards.]

Ah, I have completely misinterpret this situation.

[He makes a dramatic gesture with his arms and turns towards Frakki.]

My apologies, I am quite a shaken milk enthusiast, you see?

1st Winter [Action]

[action -> the stables] [oh gosh, that I've almost missed your intro]

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