Deloris
The wind in the rough grasses brought Alcuin out of his brooding thoughts. He'd always appreciated the sort of song of wind in grass; it made him wonder what it would be like, being away from home. Would he come to miss this sound? He took stock of his surroundings, realizing he'd gone farther than he intended. A pang of anxiety hit him, fear washing over him thinking of that last time, so long ago, that he'd gone farther than he meant to... Shaking his head as if to shake out the memories, he whispered a soft prayer to Lunara as he kept walking, "Please protect me, despite my stupidity." He laughed quietly, "Though I don't blame you for not, since I keep getting into the same trouble." He scanned around once again, looking for taller grasses bearing seeds. They were useful to bulk up various food items and not completely devoid of nutrition. After collecting a few, he spotted some red in the distance. The ebbing anxiety quickly became excitement, ***Berries!! They'll be perfect right now or dried for later... Best be sure they're not poisonous though.***

Alcuin quite contentedly harvested all the berries his pack could feasibly hold, wearing a small smile as he did so. A distant part of his brain lamented how he'd been losing the ability lately to appreciate and relish small joys like this. But with how crowded his mind had felt of late, he would take any victories of joy, no matter how small. He was so wrapped up in his gathering that it took him a moment to notice the rustling of grass and snapping of twigs. He froze, brown eyes wide, hand mid-way to his pouch. After a brief moment, his eyes darted around quickly, but saw no apparent source of the sound. Apprehensively, he called out softly, **"Hello?"** His hand went to his dagger hilt, for all the good it'd do him. ***Please don't be a bear, please don't be a bear,*** He thought fervently, ***The last one seemed pretty pissed at being blinded... And I have no guarantee that spell will work again...***
Eddie
The keen adventurer, outdoorsman, or someone of Alcuin's caliber might come to confirm it by *Smell* First and foremost; deeply penetrative and reminiscent of upheaved earth and moss. Indeed, the fair alchemist might not boast to carry the experience of a veteran hunter - yet, did his ventures not often take him to and through the forest groves? Woods old as time, trees tall as mountains. Some would call these elven lands *Majestic*, ... Others would call them *Haunting*. Those forests with thick canopies, through which only the slightest sliver of light managed to dance to the forest floor.

One paw, each digit armed with a veritable dagger, allowed her to shift her weight onto the shoulder of the animal carcass. With that distribution of strength, she exposed the soft tissue of the belly, though the incision of her elongated canines very much followed the <crunchand <crackof molars grinding bone to paste as if it didn't *Really* Matter. Despite the steady change of the seasons, the winds still had a winter chill as they howled and whistled through bushes, branches and leaves. Winds picked up that ursine scent and muddied it further with a stench of *Rusted iron*.

Despite her size, she blended well into the environment. And though jaws crushed through bones and claws tore at flesh and sinew, it'd take a cunning eye and ear to note those beforehand. But, again, the Elven alchemist would *Likely be able to tell*. To anyone who had smelled that type of scent before, it was dead obvious. But it did take that sort of knowledge—the smell of an ursine creature, ... A large omnivore that had seemingly gotten lucky.

And it was luck, for she appeared a clumsy beast. Not yet acquainted with what she should be looking out for - too inattentive. She did glance up every now and again, but those were also largely pointless. The problem with her type of beast was that she had the strength and size to give eight out of ten competitors a run for their money. A wolf? No problem. A pair of Orcs? Sure. But it also filled her with false confidence. Made her think she was at the top of the pack while *That wasn't really the case.* That's why she didn't have the perception necessary to *Spot someone like Alcuin, ahead of time.*

It was a she, most definitely. A brown bear. A considerable animal who currently appeared to occupy herself with the carcass of a stag almost as big as hers, with antlers that quickly showed it hadn't gone down without a fight. Though the majority of the blood on her snout appeared to originate from the stag's carcass, which she was eagerly digging into, there were faint signs of puncture marks around her shoulders and by her front legs. Her lack of attentiveness showed in those injuries, too, and they seemed to have a pretty good reason. She wasn't the largest, which would've made her gender pretty easy to discern. But more than that, she seemed to be physically around that in-between point of 'adult' and 'juvenile', mature but without the imposing frame of an older member of her species. 'Young adult' tended to be a description as fitting as any.

Despite her size, her brown fur allowed her to blend well into the environment. Well enough that regardless of experience, the Alchemist seemed to have found himself within what said creature might very well consider 'its territory'.
Deloris
The coppery scent of blood wafted through the air, and as soon as he noticed, Alcuin cursed silently. He was all too familiar with the smell of blood and hadn't felt squeamish about it since he was a very small boy. Once you stitched enough gashes and pulled out enough arrows and the like, blood just becomes part of the background. But in a situation like this, a time he was hoping would just be peaceful and calming, it sent him on high alert. ***I can't just leave... I don't know how I could help, but... If someone is hurt, I have to do something,*** He thought, steeling himself and taking very light steps forward. It only took a few steps to get around the large bushes and trees, then he saw it. He froze immediately, the fear feeling electric as it shot down his spine. He suppressed the urge to jump at each snap and crack of bone. But as he quickly scanned the gory scene before him, he heaved a small sigh of relief; it was just a stag. 

Whether or not the bear noticed him, he wasn't certain. He knew he should be backing away, slowly, but his feet felt rooted in place. A strange curiosity was washing over him, and he looked at the bear more closely. It was certainly smaller, though no less intimidating, than the last few he'd seen. Eyes used to assessing for wounds quickly noticed the punctures on her shoulders and legs. There was a dormant part of his brain screaming at him to get out, run, an injured animal is even more aggressive than normal. But for the second time of late, his head was suddenly filled to bursting with a cacophony of whispers, nothing discernible amid the overlapping noise. He felt the overwhelming urge to get closer. The shred of sanity tucked in the back of his mind rebelled furiously, but he'd barely slept last night, barely eaten anything today, and he just didn't have anything left to resist with. With eyes glassy and unfocused, he took one step forward.
Eddie
Baleful blue eyes, cold as ice, *Suddenly* Shot up to meet Alcuin's gaze while his last footfall touched the somewhat moist forest soil - .. A gentle rain had passed through these woods sometime earlier. And though it was no longer all that obvious, his approach paired with a faint *Squelch* And *Squeeze* Of wet earth. Between the sow's fixation on her bloody feast and Alcuin's proximity, it wasn't an overstatement to say that the Elf's approach caught the bear **Off-guard.** Hence, it had become a situation that would have the blood of grown men run cold. And though comprehension was entirely up to him and his skillset, those ursine eyes spoke of *Wrath* And *Rage*, but also something else. 

Something *Deeper.* And maybe Alcuin wouldn't know bear physiology - or perhaps he did? - but his experience in the medical field didn't make it that much of a stretch to see that this dumb bear teenager *Shared many of the effects he felt.* In this staredown, every second - every split of a second - mattered. While she wasn't the largest or the strongest, that still didn't eliminate the preposition that - if triggered - this creature could likely bridge the distance between the two instantly. She still had claws, teeth and strength sufficient to give a proper account of herself.

Instead, more out of instinct and *Continual, subconscious annoyance*, rather than anything *Active* On her part, she suppressed a groan and wiped a paw across her snout. Her tongue lapped at one of the injuries on her paw, and along with it came a drawn exhale - her breath leaving the air before her temporarily misted.

She was tired, too. And while she TRIED to put up a real 'tough guy' act in what MOST would've experienced as the most intense staredown they had likely experienced, her wounds *Hurt*. They stung every time she moved a limb, ate, or breathed. Not that they were intense or lethal - they'd probably heal on their own given time. But even a stray city person would come to notice that the stag she put down? It was large, muscular, and probably experienced for its breed. 

It hadn't been *Easy* To kill. Not at all. But Yrsa **Won**; she WON and CONQUERED her PREY and CLAIMED her TERRITORY. Her victory tasted *Sweet*, .. From more than one perspective! So .. Why did she feel so reluctant to direct that upon the-..

Her head tilted a little. Didn't she recognize Alcuin's type of creature? He was an.. Orc? .. Troll?? Maybe Alcuin couldn't acknowledge her mental battle, but he could probably make out that this encounter wasn't clear-cut. His presence startled her but also left her visibly *Confused* - unsure of what action to take next. And that, in the end, was what came to the fore. A deep huff left her nostrils while she opened her maw a little, leaving the torn carcass to slump to the ground.

The bear appeared to stand its ground, trying to *See* What the Elf was doing - to detect his intentions. Its exhaustion seemed to prevent an immediate charge. Maybe it even left a small opening? Well, all of that could change in an instant, obviously.
Deloris
The soft *Thump* Of the carcass hitting the ground as the bear released it and leveled her chilling gaze on him seemed to finally reach some part of Alcuin that could take control. His steps forward ceased, and though he was still a good five feet away from the young bear, he knew death was close at hand, if he made the wrong move. It was now far too late to run, and with the incessant whispering continuing in his head, he could barely think straight to formulate any kind of strategic plan. He squeezed his eyes shut for just a moment, willing his mind to be silent, but to no avail. His mouth turned down into a frown at the mental effort he was exerting, but he knew he had to try harder if he was going to walk away from this.

Alcuin looked the bear over again, trying desperately to find anything that might help him out of this. When his eyes locked with hers again, after the initial jolt of fear passed, he felt the trembling he hadn't noticed go still. There was something... Familiar? Intelligent? He blinked a few times, almost walking forward again, out of curiosity this time, but stopping himself. Maybe it was the impending insanity, but he thought perhaps he could talk to this bear. It was worth a try anyway; what were his other options, besides die?

He held up both hands, very slowly, brows furrowed to stay focused on the bear and not his thoughts. He spoke as gently as he could, **"You're injured, and I'm a healer... If you'll let me, I'll help you."** He tried to give a small, close-lipped smile, but couldn't manage it. Unbidden, images popped up in his mind of the bear ripping him apart, entrails and blood coloring the forest red. He gritted his teeth, one hand going to his head, and he mumbled to himself, **"I can't deal with this anymore! Maybe it's better if I die here, at least then it'd be no trouble."** He breathed in sharply, shaking his head again, **"No, no I won't give up..."** Squinting through it, he tried to meet the bear's gaze again.
Eddie
Those who genuinely understood an animal - druids, rangers, and fae of the wilds- could tell that Yrsa's breed was at its most dangerous during these adolescent years. That's because she hadn't yet gotten acquainted with the **Theory of fear**. Maybe there was an overly boisterous male or two who wouldn't mind picking a fight with a Humanoid, especially if pressed. But *Most* Of her kind knew to stay well away from anything with two legs and that it was usually more trouble than it was worth. And Elves? Especially Elves. They were the lords and protectors of these forests for a reason.

But she didn't get that. Young adults were dangerous because they had the power but not the wisdom. More than that, they tended to be *Curious*. Another would've fake charged Alcuin already - not of aim to kill him but only to scare him off - she **Didn't know what to make of him.** Even with her mental faculties unburdened by her transformation, Yrsa had only heard of the Elves as passing footnotes.

She did know of Orcs. Foul green tribal men and monsters that PELTED her with ARROWS and SPEARS, which she had to FIGHT OFF again, and *Again*, and **Again.** Orcs and GOBLINS, with their puny WOOD STICK WEAPONS. It infuriated her even thinking about it! And indeed, this ... This THING, it was just another Orc, wasn't it?! She was the LORD of this part of the forest! Not them! Not HIM! HE WAS HERE TO STEAL HER, KILL, AND CLAIM HER STUFF!!—

But then his voice hit her.

'Injured.. Healer... Help.'

She couldn't make out whatever he was saying. But he didn't sound like an Orc. He didn't sound angry or challenging. He sounded considerate and soothing.

The bear clicked her teeth together and drew out another groan, one of those 'don't you friggin' DARE to move in on me' - type of vocalizations. It was clearly a warning that she wasn't falling for his *Tricks* And that he had better keep his distance. Yet, while that's what she had intended to relay to him, that she was TOUGH and STRONG and that he shouldn't even *Try* To compete, somehow her body refused to jump into action.

In the end, it was all an act. Maybe she couldn't understand Alcuin's words. But he also didn't seem hostile. And that's when something inside of her *Clicked,* ...

With a visible inhale, the bear tried to get a whiff of the Elf's scent. Outright, defensive hostility had slowly gone to ... To *Something else.* As Alcuin averted his eyes, shaking his head about while mumbling to himself, it's like she outright disappeared from his view. Of course, she wasn't *That* Subtle, but she was plenty quick. And what had been a tense staredown now transformed into a wild encounter perhaps a little too close for comfort? He wasn't approaching her anymore-

She approached **Him.** Rather rapidly, with a somewhat spirited gait in her step. Not a charge, but not an ordinary walk - trying to see how Alcuin would respond to something playfully provocative. If he hadn't turned tail to run away, the net result meant that she ended perhaps only a pace or two away from him. Right in front of him, close enough that he could see the individual strands of her fur. And feel the heat of her every exhale.
Deloris
Vaguely aware that the bear seemed to be... Sniffing him, maybe, Alcuin tried to be very still. He could feel the trembling had returned with each ragged breath he took. He sorted through the threads of the many voices in his head, trying to will his mother's in amongst them. Hadn't she said something about bears responding to confidence, standing your ground? Or was that another animal? It was hard for him to remember on a good day, nonetheless while having one of these... Episodes, or whatever it was. Regardless, it was too late for him to do anything else. He turned the hand he had been up in surrender down, an open palm, beckoning. 

Yet he was still caught off guard when she started to... Run wasn't quite right... Lumber, perhaps, towards him. The cadence of her run reminded him of children in the village running up to him when playing chase, almost as if to say, *Got you! Your turn!* It happened so quickly, his mind was torn between the memories of the children and the visions of bloody terror. But he tried his damnedest to stay focused on *Her*, for surely this was some act of trust, or maybe a test. And he was so tired of backing down, of rolling over, ignoring it. He wanted to take action, to do *Something*. 

Once she stopped, just a pace away, and he could feel his hair standing on end, the pit in his stomach grew lighter. The more he fought to focus on the creature in front of him, the quieter his mind became. He took in the musky odor, the bloodstained fur, the extent of her injuries, and the curiosity in her blue eyes. He lowered both hands, a little amazed at both the internal events and external ones. Did bears usually have blue eyes? Wasn't that strange? He couldn't remember. Facts about plants and potions always stuck with him more easily.

Slowly, not breaking eye contact, he crouched somewhat, wanting to meet her eye to eye on her level. Taking a deep breath, that he let out almost like a soft sigh, a sigh of relief from at least some of his anguish, the smile that graced his features was finally able to be fully genuine and full of all the warmth he could muster. He spoke softly again, almost reverently, **"I don't know if you understand what you've given me, but it is a great gift. Even if it's only fleeting, only a few hours of peace."** He quirked a brow, **"Or maybe only a few minutes, if I piss you off."** He reached into his pack, bringing out an assorted cluster of flowers and leaves, which he held in that same hand. With the other, he slowly reached towards the bear's shoulder, **"Maybe you were sent by the gods, or maybe this was just chance. But I'll share what gifts of healing Calisto has granted me, if you'll let me."** He didn't quite touch but got close enough to be sure the magic would still contact and started to channel. A faint green flow emanated from his outstretched hand, and his gaze shifted from watching sinews sew themselves together back to her eyes, watching for any sign of anger or aggression.
Eddie
Even with his calm disposition and soothing words, this confrontation still teetered on a knife's edge - Yrsa's physical state and Alcuin's approach had prevented outright conflict up to now. But an approach of her type tended to be reason enough for most creatures to do precisely the opposite: to draw a weapon or flee. That, in turn, signified them as either a potential threat. Or, worse, as prey. If the Elf had given in to his fears and *Ran*, **Everything** In her demeanour indicated that she would've chased him. And she would've probably caught up to him, too. There was definitely something intrinsically juvenile to all of it, but that's *Precisely* What made it so dangerous; the situation was chaotic and highly unpredictable.

His steadfast refusal to run. His ability to maintain his cool and commune with the bear in words that didn't betray either hostility or fear gave him far more power than any warrior with a sword. If he didn't run, that meant he was probably pretty tough! But he also wasn't moving in on her kill, so maybe this pointed ear orc thing didn't eat meat???? Her mind was too much of a swirl to consider that she KNEW something about all of this, primal urges continually overriding the sentience behind her gaze. Well, even if that was true, she still felt like this .. THING .. Wasn't edible. Or a threat. She was curious to try and find out?? But maybe it wasn't worth the effort.

She pulled a *Brazen* Display. Talking the big game, albeit figuratively, still left her close to this seemingly fearless creature-thing. He spoke, but she pointedly seemed to cast her attention *Away* From him; she rubbed another paw over her face and snout and shook her body as if with light *Nonchalance.*

It wasn't difficult to decipher that she was talking the big game, pretending she didn't even CARE about the Elf's presence. Or, more like, his presence was INCONSEQUENTIAL to her territory *Or* Her kill. Nothing could be farther from the truth, of course. With her clear inexperience, it was so obvious that she was just trying to feign inattention to see what Alcuin would do; what would he do if she wasn't looking at him directly? Would he try to take advantage of that? Could she lower her guard in his presence? Her posture said more than a million words. Giving off ALL the non-verbal signs that even if she was pretending not to look at him, *She had him in her sights* And she could *STILL* Lift a paw to PROVE her *Dominance.*

Up close and personal like this, however, Alcuin might come to notice - especially if he had encounters with others of her species - that she wasn't a native of these woods. She was still very much a brown bear, which wasn't exactly rare in these forest thickets. But her fur was just a little denser, and her bone structure differed slightly due to a difference in diet - a little fatter, too. For a young adult, while she wasn't the largest brown bear around, she was still quite sizeable for her age; she took to storing more *Fat* Whenever she could than the local variety.

All of these attributes hinted at a more *Northern* Origin. A creature of the same species. But with better adaptations for pine trees, frozen lakes, and thick snow blankets.

Her inexperience must've also come partially from that - a *Wanderer* Like himself.

There might be time to contemplate those little details later, but now probably wasn't it. The bear PRETENDED not to look at Alcuin, ACTED like she was *In control*, but everything changed when he reached out a hand for her. With an almost scared demeanour and a quick twitch of muscle fibres, her eyes were ON him again in an *Instant*; her throat reverberating with a deep, guttural *Groan* Of such intensity the Elf could likely feel it echo through his system. The end of her grumble turned to a pitch slightly higher, like she was NOT pleased with him encroaching on her space like that, and he was taking TOO many chances. The situation *Switched* Just like that, from relatively peaceful to *VOLATILE*; she was ready to bat him aside with a surge of defensive adrenaline.

He'd have been in his right to pull his hand away as fast as possible. But if he did, that would also confirm her suspicions. Her mild inattentiveness meant that Alcuin could reach his hand out and follow through with his healing if just for a moment - so long as he 'stood his ground' for lack of a better description. If he did choose to back off, that'd likely trigger a different approach, but assuming he DID follow through with his healing ..

Another growl followed the first. But rather than PAIN, the extension of his arm was paired with a feeling of *Relaxation.* How or why? She had NO clue. But it wasn't anything she expected. She had tensed up her muscles to strike but she just .. Remained in place, utterly dumbfounded by Alcuin's healing. And those herbs he showed? She thought to recognize them! She ate them whenever she wasn't feeling well!! They had that same sort of scent! That, and..

The creature suddenly tried to move in on him. Alcuin could see it coming, given that he was watchful for that sort of thing and kept an eye on her aggressive tendencies. It very much LOOKED like an *Attack*, but if he had taken note of her behavioural changes up to now, he might have noticed it wasn't *Hostile at all.* If anything, she wasn't moving in on *Him*. With the grace of a flopping fish on dry land, she tried to drive her snout into his form and swipe his bag away. Well, she didn't MEAN it aggressively, but she still weighed enough to push back a giant.

She was sure he'd survive. But there were more important matters at hand - or at paw - right now. Putting attention on his bag acquainted her with a subtle, sweet scent she knew *Very well.* And if Alcuin wasn't careful, if he wasn't quick enough*, his bag probably wouldn't survive the encounter; teeth and claws trying to get at the trophies inside, to STEAL his BERRIES.
Deloris
As the bear looked away, even seemed possibly disinterested, Alcuin also let his gaze and mind wander for a moment. He was just starting to notice that she looked a little different, somehow, from bears he'd seen before, when saw her twitch and heard—*Felt*, even—the growl growing up from deep within her. His eyes widened, golden brown irises dominating as his pupils shrank, and his hand briefly twitched backwards, just a hairsbreadth. It wasn't enough to break the channel, and after a split second of holding his breath and still being there, whole, unharmed, he noticed the bear seemed to be... Confused? He felt the herb bundle in his other hand starting to disintegrate as it was spent for the spell he was using. Just when he had decided to go ahead and touch her shoulder to make the most of the last of his power for this spell, everything changed.

Having his eyes trained on hers, he noticed when they slid to his bag, a crossbody style that left the bag itself resting on his hip. The subtle twitching of her nose was a fairly good sign she was sniffing him, and his bag, out. Normally, a few weeks prior, he would've slung the bag at her, tried to blind her, and run. But he'd been working so hard to prepare to leave—he ***Had*** To leave—and while he had some stash at home, he still needed every herb in this bag; his life might, literally, come to depend on it. Seeing her muscles tense as if to move, he made a sudden decision accompanied by quick movement, trying to sling the body of the bag around and behind him, aiming to get it somewhere underneath his head by the time she had him on the ground. A distant part of his mind wondered, ***What good are the damned herbs if I don't live??*** But he didn't have time to follow that thought through, and he was rather certain he couldn't fight her or outrun her.

Every breath he had felt like it was knocked out of his body with the impact of such a massive animal barreling into him. She had him mostly pinned to the ground, there was no way he could wriggle out, and he wasn't entirely sure as the adrenaline surged through him if he was hurt or not. As he regained his bearings in this new position, he felt his pack bundled up right under his neck; not quite his target, but still close enough. He wanted it somewhat hidden but not crushed by their combined weights. He took a gamble at what might work and spoke more loudly, somewhat more aggressively, to try to divert her attention and her snout from him bag, **"HEY!! Look at** ***Me*** **, listen to** ***Me*** **."** If she was paying enough attention, she might notice a strange darkness lurking almost behind his eyes—something deep and unsettling, something that felt *Wrong*. Only present for a brief flash, it disappeared just as quickly. Hopeful that he'd gotten her attention but not her ire, he continued in a softer but still authoritative tone, **"You can have the berries... You can have them all, I don't care. Food is easy enough to come by. But I** ***Need*** **These herbs. I might literally die without them. Please, leave me the herbs."** Searching her blue eyes, so dangerously close to his own, his brows furrowed and his eyes reflected the desperation he tried to not let seep into his voice, **"I feel there's... More to you than meets the eye. Please, please... Understand me."**
Eddie
Unless he sought some form of escape by crawling out from underneath the ursine's massive shape, thick tendrils of drool would inevitably slather his face. He could feel this monster's teeth graze him by while she tried to pry the bag away from his hold, prodding and digging with those long claws while her tongue licked out for it. Her front fangs snapped out for the container, clicking together threateningly, ravenously - utterly hellbent on that sweet scent she had just now noticed on him. Pure instinct drove her actions, somewhat ignoring him in favour of what mattered far more; .. Sweet, sweet berries.

Her response might've made more sense to him in the context that if she was a more *Northern* Type of bear, forms of sugar tended to be complicated for her to obtain. Berries contained a lot of energy but were rare in snow-covered locations. And even in forests such as this, she ran into fruit bushes now and again, but it also wasn't THAT common. So, smelling that sort of scent on him immediately had her mind *Switch* To something else again, something deeply opportunistic.

A lot of people could've recognized that. And a lot of people would've simply given her what she wanted. They'd have tossed her the berries and the herbs and assumed everything was okay.

It was also one of the easiest ways to get maimed and eaten. Because while Yrsa had started associating Alcuin with something that *WASN'T* A threat or a competitor, if he started giving her food, she would come to associate him with food. If he then didn't continue to provide her food, it wasn't a giant leap of thinking to assume that, perhaps, he WAS the food. 

And if she realized that he was rather edible - ... About as tasty as the elk she put down - a creature which took far more effort TO put down-

Well, there are still plenty of things he could've done. But if this encounter had gone that path, he would still have to be content with a furious, motivated, top-of-the-foodchain animal. But what she was doing to him, doing *With* Him, wasn't necessarily hostile. She was treating him in a manner similar to a curious juvenile trying to prod their older sibling. It was no doubt intrusive and annoying, but a second or two into the exchange, and while her claws and teeth probably scathed him by, she took care not to injure him deliberately. She wasn't digging at his skin - actually trying to *Avoid* Those fleshy parts as to leave him, well, maybe a little bruised? But she did nothing that would draw blood.

She tried to bump her head into his shoulder repeatedly and snake her snout along his neck. She tried to shift her weight from side to side to roll him a little, to make him relinquish his bag, but the fact that he remained underneath her made it difficult for her to reach. An irritable huff showed that she REALLY didn't appreciate him defending his berries like that, but also- more like, she just wanted to get at the berries and tried to boop him aside- but she was dealing with him in a very infantile fashion. Stubborn and steadfast, akin to a humanoid toddler who wasn't getting what they wanted. But rather than give her whatever she wanted and play on her spoiled nature, ...

He set boundaries.

It didn't take strength. Or power. Only that the bear associated him with something vaguely positive— albeit, on that line of continued confusion? And whatever she was doing - his voice made it clear that he didn't appreciate it. She was just rough-housing, a bit of playful wrestling. Yet, his voice and how he looked at her told her she had already crossed a line. And it wouldn't be clear what mattered more: the way he spoke, or what he said, or that moment of perilous eye contact. Inevitably, his eyes would reach hers. It was a frantic back and forth, and she was primarily concerned with the bag, but for just a split second, he got her *Full attention again.*

Maybe it was the adrenaline. Or something else. And Yrsa couldn't comprehend it fully right now. But while that might've been true, she saw her reflection mirrored in his stare. A simple moment, so incredibly short, that she experienced as something which lasted far longer - something that felt like it diluted time itself. She became numb to the howling winds in the backdrop and ignored the sweet, fruity flavours wafting from Alcuin's bag. Her eyes stared into his, and she *Felt* Whatever lurked in his mind, like his eyes provided something of a gleam into his soul.

It was the case the other way around, too. Yrsa stared into his eyes and saw a terrifying, unspeakable, eldritch darkness - a... A type of madness that even beasts of the wild would know to avoid. At least, that's how she interpreted it. It felt like those places in the world that even SHE wouldn't dare encroach upon, and there *Were* Places like that.

On her part, as he noticed earlier, there was a strange sentience to her responses - an intelligence relatively *Unlike* Most bears. It wasn't prominent enough to stand out immediately. But staring into her icy blues revealed a **Storm.** A cloudy, murky realm wherein lightning struck with every beat of her heart, and her every vein and muscle screamed for the sweet sensation of adrenaline. Like him, it had an unsettling quality to it - but more upfront. An almost hedonistic desire for a primal release, yearning for dominance. That didn't necessarily mean *Combat* And *Battle*, because what did a bear know of such concepts? But there was a subconscious urge to her motivations.

Probably the same that had her take down a stag that was out of her league. Her eyes screamed of a perpetual battlefield—raw emotion encapsulated in its most glorious state. She didn't *Only* Kill it for food but also to show the world that this was HER territory. A territory that SHE would PROTECT.

As mentioned, that moment of focus between the two didn't last long. That exchange didn't somehow miraculously end things. When their gaze disconnected, the bear still tried to get at Alcuin's pouch - even as he struggled and verbalized that he NEEDED it for some reason. Thus, it was a more gradual effect - one that Alcuin might *Notice* Immediately? But which took some time to seep into her mental recesses. After that moment, she continued to try and pry, but it was far less spirited than before. Hoping that this massive mammal might understand him was, perhaps, too much to hope for but somehow, ... He was winning! She tried to tire him out! Roundhouse him about a little more! Obnoxiously lick at his hair and face to try and get him AWAY from her berry prize. But she was slowing. She wasn't as spirited about it as she had been before.

There was something wrong about all of this.

'I feel there's ... Something .. More.. Understand-'

It had to be some sort of illusion, right? This creature couldn't ACTUALLY understand him! But then, the bear gradually stopped. She hovered over him for a few more seconds, but then slouched back her frame to plop herself upon her rear.

This thing had helped her for no reason other than to try and .. Help? Presumably? She treated him with continued *Ire* And yet he hadn't really done anything to earn it. On the contrary, she felt a lot better because of whatever he did!

So. That's what felt wrong to her. Even a creature of the wilds could sometimes comprehend acts of kindness. And those last few words he shared slowly started to twist in her mind, repeated again and again. Her mind was like a storm, but his voice like a ray of light that broke it.

What was more Human and compassionate than the desire to understand someone else? The light piercing through the chaos of her mind turned to the physical realm as well as her icy blue eyes lit themselves like a pair of torches - like bright fires that just HAD to be mystical and magical in nature. It might've just been a hunch, but he was right. 

Brown bears didn't usually have blue eyes. His acts of kindness had brought them to the fore. And allowed him to be a spectator of a marvel of nature. Simultaneously beautiful and unsettling.

That surge of bluish light briefly enveloped the beast's entire body. The thick coat of fur dissipated, .. Turning to flesh. Four legs turned to two. Quite frankly, the mysticism involved made it difficult to see the *Exact* Process. The unsettling crack and rearrangement of bone and muscle also showed that it wasn't *Entirely* Magical - not just poofing from one thing to another. It might've held similar properties to a *Druidic* Transformation, but, really, it was far more similar to Alcuin's *Healing* Than it was *Sorcery.*

And it was a process that lasted a good few seconds at least.

But when it ended, the ursine creature gave way to something far *Less* Volatile to behold- .. Humanoid!! No, more than that- HUMAN, if the shape of her ears and features was anything to go by. Her bear's pelt settled upon her skin, draped across her body as garbs - the transformation also seemed to account for that much. A female in her late teens by the looks of things, with bright auburn hair - which, Alcuin could probably note, was the *Exact* Same colour as her bear form's fur - and pale skin decorated with dark marks; runic tattoos which, if the Elf had ever gone beyond the ordinary boundaries of this realm, he might identify with the tribes of men far more tribal than their southern neighbours. Quite frankly, her appearance was more in line with a caveman.

Her physiological change ended with her staggering back a pace or two, breathing frantically before collapsing upon her back with a loud *<THUMP>*. Her chest moved in such a manner as if she had just run fifty miles, entirely out of breath. And her eyes had gone wide, staring absently up at the forest canopy.
Deloris
Alcuin was surprised, bordering on shocked, that his gambit seemed to work. At least, as far as not getting mauled to death. He played a strange game of keep-away with the bear for a time, unable to keep the mixture of surprise and mild disgust off his face when she started licking his face and hair. He didn't consider himself all that dexterous, but she also seemed to be slowing, both in speed and the intensity of her attempts to get to the bag. Her previous confusion seemed to prevail, but as he'd been feeling for a while with this creature, something just felt...*Weird*.

He couldn't have imagined, in his wildest dreams, what happened next. That was, in part due, to him not remembering a lot of his dreams lately. And the fragments that did sometimes stick with him weren't as magical and mystical as what began to unfold before him. He was about to see if he could maybe wiggle his way out, while she was in her confused stated, when her eyes started to glow. It caught him so completely off guard that he just froze underneath her, both mystified and uncertain of what to do. 

As bones began to crack, reshape, and fur began to recede, it started to click for him. It wasn't too dissimilar from stories the elders told to scare them around dark campfires in his childhood. Stories of people that could change their shape, often to some sort of animal form. He'd thought it was only a story, meant to scare them from wandering too far or going out alone in the forests and fields. By the time she had staggered a few steps away, fully human now, it took him a few moments to really register what had happened. He wore an open and honest expression of awe.

But once he had a moment to observe her, fear settled over him like a heavy blanket. Her tattoos and hairstyle were vaguely reminiscent of some of the things he'd seen flashes of in the dark as he ran for his life in the lands beyond, so many years ago. A sense of dread filled him to bursting, for just a moment. He was flooded with images of all the ways he could end her, while she was vulnerable, for just a moment. He shook his head fiercely, doing his best to shove those thoughts, those wishes for violence, far, far down. She had been good to him, so far. He had *No reason*, other than where she seemed to be from, to fear her. He swallowed nervously.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly crept over to her. Her blue eyes, the same as the bear's, were still fixed on the sky as she breathed heavily. He scrambled back to his bag, then back to her. He put together a handful of fresh herbs as he looked her over for further injury. He spoke, once again, in the same gentle, soothing tones of before, the awe apparent in his soft voice, **"You must be exhausted... If you eat these, it should restore some energy to you."** He held the handful out to her, not forcing.
Eddie
It took the barbarian several seconds before she responded at all. And while Alcuin probably couldn't read minds, he could see the terrible toll the transformation wrought upon her body. Unlike the more gentle ways of the druids, she bore the lingering echoes of a forest spirit's final death-howl - cursing her very soul, nor was she more *Human* Than *Bear* But something that was *Both* Yet neither simultaneously. Her ursine qualities, improved hearing, sense of smell, a better insulated body - all of that **Went away** Within mere moments. In their place came supreme eyesight, and a type of flexibility in the smaller digits that a bear wouldn't manage in a hundred years. Nature twisted her body and spat her out as something completely different, fresh like a newborn babe but with a stage of development that matched both species; she was a young adult Human. Therefore, a young adult brown bear.

She slowly raised a hand before her, up in the air, looking at the limb while she flexed her digits. Even that motion alone betrayed the level of exhaustion she felt, as she only managed to leave it suspended for a short period of time before her arm drooped feebily by her side again.

It was a harsh toll. But it wasn't the first time she transformed. And while it took a lot, she knew it well enough to manage. With Alcuin encroaching upon her, her eyes flitted to him again. Her teeth clenched together, jaw tense, as if she still thought to be in her bear form - as if she hadn't realized that the tables had turned *Completely.* Yrsa was no longer in control, no longer a beast of fury and power. Yet, her gaze went from him, briefly glancing at the slight, reddened marks upon her shoulders. And they were on her face, too.

The injuries she suffered in her bear shape naturally transitioned over to her Human body, too. As did the fact that they had been recently healed. And they still stung a little, but *Most* Of the pain had gone .. And that got her to look at Alcuin again. Her mind temporarily left the chaotic swirl of rage and chaos behind, returning to her that which she had been struggling to regain; .. Full consciousness. Unburdened - or at least less influenced - by animalistic instinct.

She could see clearly now. See what he was. He wasn't an Orc at all!

"... Elf...!" She managed in recognition between cracked lips and parched breaths. Her eyes sparked with a strange enthusiasm, like she was *GLAD* To see someone like him. But it was short-lived. Before long, just a moment or two after Alcuin mentioned eating something, **Regaining her energy**, she suddenly shot up with a sudden vigour - something of an inbetween from a roll to a crawl. The bear-woman ended on her knees and palms, violently convulsing-!! She tried to SNATCH the herbs out of his hands with little regard for him, though too late, as a vile smelling stream of putrid, bile-like liquid flowed from her lips. A vomited out, barely digested mixture of raw meat, blood, acorns and leaves. And it didn't end there; whatever was plaguing her *Hit her like a sledgehammer*.

She vomited out her stomach's contents, but the moment she felt something of an opening, she FORCED those herbs down her throat before her body shot into motion for the stag carcass. Her stomach rumbling violently as she stumbled up to the fallen animal's side, allowing herself to fall upon her knees right next to it. Her hands dug into the still warm body, tearing out organ meat and sinking her teeth into it in such a manner that it sent blood to splatter all over her face - and not just blood, but a mixture of vile animal fluids. She drank the blood, relished in the beast's bile, and set her teeth about bones like a scavenger picking clean a rotten corpse.

It looked absolutely disgusting. At times, her body repulsed, and threatened to spew out more vomit, but she suppressed it by simply drowning it out in whatever she was eating.
Deloris
The young elf watched, with some small amusement, as this very young human woman before him almost seemed to be reborn again. He watched her observe and move her hand, as if being a five fingered creature were completely new and foreign. He was also keenly aware of when she began to truly clock his presence again. He continued to proffer the bundle of herbs and suppressed a chuckle at her aggressive annoyance towards him. Once his amusement at this strange new situation subsided, he began to regard her injuries again. His healing was simple but did the job well enough. It would still possibly scar, but she wouldn't bleed out either. And no other sickness or injury would impede her overall recovery now.

He was mildly startled by her blurted recognition of what he was but offered the same warm smile, nodding, and reaching to also offer her his waterskin; her voice was so hoarse. But before he could really offer the water, she shot up and snatched his offering. He was about to speak, to advise her to take it easy and eat them slowly, when she violently began emptying the contents of her stomach. He sidled out of the way of the bile, putting a very light, very soft hand on her back as she retched. He was significantly more startled by her immediately shoving the herbs down her throat and lunging for the stag carcass in a display worse than any starving animal he'd ever seen.

Scratching his head for a moment as he regarded her bloody display of eating, he was mortified to feel and *Hear* His stomach growling. How in the hells did *This* Stir his appetite?? He was a vegetarian, firstly. And as of late, his appetite had been terrible; even his absolute favorite meals prepared by his own mother weren't enough to rouse him to hunger. This dissonance was too great for him, and he watched her a little dumbfounded for several minutes.

The disgust won out, in the end, and he was absolutely certain he couldn't possibly eat *That*, especially in such a gory way. He approached her cautiously, still feeling somewhat that, though in a human form, the beast still lurked just beneath the surface of this girl. He crouched down next to her, about a pace away. He started to warn her, **"Please, miss, do slow down... I guess someone like you can eat raw meat, you must not get too sick or surely you wouldn't do it. But I'm rather sure no one can eat at this pace without getting sick."** His eyes were calm and warm but pleading; he really didn't want anything else bad to happen to her. 

But after looking at her for a few minutes and getting no immediate response, he grew distracted. He felt almost mesmerized by the blood covering her hands, smeared all over the lower half of her face, splattered about all over her general person. He was no stranger to blood, but in this instance there was less of the drama and immediacy he generally felt when confronted by someone covered in blood. Or at least, if such things were present here, the part of him that should've recognized it wasn't paying attention. He knew better than to disturb an animal while it was eating, but he felt like a moth drawn to flame as he reached out to touch her bloodstained cheek. It was the softest, simplest touch; one gentle swipe, then he was holding the fingers in front of his face, regarding them with furrowed brows. It was again almost like she wasn't there, like he was lost in some other world for a moment.
Eddie
A frantic startle shot through the berserker's system, from her spine to her neck .. *Electric* - her behaviour like a *Cat* Sprayed with water! So focused on her bloody feast was she that the Elf's presence had faded into the meaningless backdrop. But his touch, gentle, and his voice, brought him back to the center of it all; her head *Twisted* Toward him, teeth bared. Her nails, far more blunt than her bear claws, were still trying to dig into the stag body. For the moment, she looked more akin to a serial murderer- a butcher of men- than anything more civilized. And by that measure, along with her strange apparel and tattoos, any would tell that while she was *Human* - at least, partially -, she was a far cry from the civilized peoples of the Empire.

She initially appeared to recoil from his touch and presence. And she almost jerked herself back when that initial moment of contact came. The baring of her teeth was still a remnant from her previous state, but the keen intellect of a Humanoid filled her thoughts soon after, and she *Realized* .. *Comprehended*, which her face failed to hide. Her expressions and how they changed showed everything. 

From the initial fear and hostility, which she manually ceased - she blinked *Once*, *Twice*, and then looked at Alcuin with **Recognition.** Her shoulders and chest still moved with evident rhythm as she unconsciously tried to feed more oxygen into her chest, the pause brought about by his touch getting her to stop eating for *Just a moment.* Yrsa bit down on her lower lip, almost to the point that she drew blood, and slowly conquered her apprehension .. Culminating in something far more profound than any sentence. She stared at him with those same blue eyes he knew, rarely blinking. Then, her head tilted just a little, and while she had intended to drag another batch of torn, tattered flesh to her lips, she glanced at it ..

Before slowly bringing it not up to her *Own* Face but *Toward Alcuin.* Tendrils of animal blood still dripped from her lips. Viscera and gore blackened her teeth. Blackened teeth she showed clearly not in aggression, but—

Compassion?

A gruesome smile had taken its place on her face, big and toothy - almost childlike.

"Ais shwfinalleh f-" She blundered out of her lips, quickly swallowing and clearing her mouth so the Elf could *Actually understand her.* Bloodied saliva spat all over the place. Nonetheless, she cleared her throat, and **Spoke;**

**"... I finally found you!!"**
Deloris
The young elf was completely unaware of the young woman's actions for a few solid minutes. His mind was consumed with the blood on his fingers, feeling it, observing it, *Relishing* It. He was getting a certain kind of... Comfort, or maybe glee, from just having it on his hands. But once a handful of bloody, smelly meat and viscera was shoved in his face, it startled him from this reverie. His conscious mind was in control again, and he was *Completely* Repulsed by what *Had* Happened and what *Was* Currently happening.

Now it was Alcuin's turn to vomit, as he bent over and attempted to empty his stomach, shaking a little and frantically wiping his hands on the grass. But only a little came up, followed mostly by bile. Eating had been a struggle lately, with near constant nausea making his stomach do flips. Once nothing was left, he made a few dry heaves, then took a few minutes to just breathe. Sitting up, he only just registered what she had said. Him? Who would be looking for *Him*? He had some reputation as a healer and alchemist but only very locally. As his wide eyes took her in, he wondered, ***Was she really, actually, sent by... Whatever is influencing me?*** His mind was a scatter, and it was so hard to find any foothold at all. This was all *Far* Too much; he was a simple village boy!

Her gory but somehow innocent smile almost drove him mad... Well, more mad. The contrast was too much, too much a mirror to what he was feeling every day. The more he regarded her, the more his emotions roiled and became incredibly mixed. He was alarmed, disgusted, to find her and her general appearance...*Alluring*. He hardly ever had such thoughts or desires on his own, but this damned insanity was making them more and more common. But this... He felt he might vomit more but worked to suppress it. Not that she wasn't attractive, but she was nearly a child. And covered in blood and gore. It certainly wasn't normal for him to feel attraction to this.

Alcuin swallowed hard, unable now to meet her deep, expressive blue eyes. Shame washed over him, accompanied by embarrassment that tinged his cheeks pink. He spoke even more softly, more quietly than before, **"Gods above... I hope you're here to help me. I so desperately need it."** 

He felt a strong desire, no; he felt the *Need* To... Make this up to her. As if his stray thoughts were written all over his face. As if he'd tainted or offended her by simply *Thinking* Of her in such a way. He tried to ignore the smeared and dried blood on his hands as he frantically dug in his bag, retrieving another bundle of the healing herbs he'd used before. His sane mine screamed at him that this was a waste, wholly unnecessary; *He* Needed these far more than she did. But he ignored that too, gently but firmly planting one hand on her shoulder while the other clutched the herb bundle tightly. He cast the healing spell again, watching the faded pink marks fade away completely, her injuries entirely gone, no trace they had ever been there. He tossed the dust leftover from the bundle once it was used and the spell was done. He wanted to return her smile but could only bury his face in his hands.
Eddie
A nightmarish grin and rambunctious nature seemingly only tempered by the level of *Exhaustion* The young woman felt in every muscle fibre; .. As a doctor, Alcuin surely knew the biology of even *Men* - different, though similar, they were to his kin. Humans were, after all, populous. But this dweller of the woods before him was such a far cry from *That template*. Though his experiences were his own, likely locked and obscured by the darkness he so briefly allowed her to glimpse earlier, if he had ever travelled beyond the ordinary boundaries of the Empire he might identify her appearance more so with the tribal men and women who lurked beyond those borders. From her tattoos, which spoke of a different culture entirely, to her *Build*, bearing, and even her height. For one, she was **Tall** ..

Not exceedingly so. But Alcuin, as an Elf, was quite lengthy. And she seemed around that same height, albeit maybe just a *Little* Shorter. It was a slight difference. At the same time, most Humans of more southern, temperate lands - especially women - tended to be a head or two below her. And while the blood dripping through her fingers obscured her calluses, her arms were relatively thick - shoulders broad, waist also somewhat broad, slightly slimmer around the waist just through sheer physical acumen. It was a physique that told a warrior's tale but *Less of a soldier*, and more *Of someone who just smacked a club around a lot* **Ate a lot of meat and drank a lot of beer.** Like her bear form, she had an evident predisposition for gaining weight and storing fat. The lands she hailed from required it, given how cold those winters were.

The herbs he had given her earlier helped. A steady energy flow and a functional metabolism allowed her to *Slowly* Find her bearings. As he surmised, her strange biology probably allowed her to consume such raw flesh without risk of unnecessary sickness or death, some sort of .. Gut biome that carried over from form to form. Most importantly, the blood quenched her thirst. The stag's flesh gave her stomach something to *Digest*. Its organs kick-started her system. And then, finally, Alcuin's herbs helped immensely by providing that same system just a slight, additional boost.

That didn't fix her outright. But for the first time since her transformation, her eyes had a deeper awareness. She examined Alcuin, .. *His ears*, what he looked like, what he was. Her depraved manner of consumption momentarily *Stilled* As she stared at him. So she saw all of it when he buckled over and recoiled from the foulness of the food she tried to share with him.

Not everything carried over perfectly. Much of the time Yrsa spent in her bear form was more of a *'blur'*. After all, she was trying to recollect memories with a completely different intellectual capacity. But she did recognize something—a vital part of why she hadn't attacked him earlier.

A soft groan escaped her as she pressed a palm against the forest floor, still sticky and wet with the stag's blood, and she rose. Her hand provided the initial support, and she used the carcass to stabilize herself. Finally, standing on two feet, she nearly surrendered to a stagger; her body felt **Weak**, **Tired**, .. But she remained standing. From there, she disconnected herself from the stag, standing at full height. She rolled her shoulder, testing the limits and noticing the lack of pain—the renewed vigor due to his healing.

The warm sunlight caught her from behind. And a shadow stretched from her form, half-overlapping with the Elf. It might've looked like she eclipsed it from his position. ".. Don't.." She spoke, following her word with a tired sigh. Before she could follow through with whatever she wanted to say, a light *Laugh* Escaped from her lungs- "Heh...! Haha..." - though, another irregular breath stopped it. She wiped a hand across her forehead, sweat collecting on her face and neck.

She couldn't correctly say it right now. Yrsa still had too many things to deal with - too much exhaustion and too many side-effects from her transformation. But she recognized what he was doing. Out of anything, he just felt..

Really desperate. And .. It felt like it had to do with how Alcuin looked at her earlier.

He was a bizarre creature. Yep, she was sure about that. Anyway! She gathered some strength and swallowed down her bloodied saliva again, reaching a hand out for *Him*, in turn, to try and place it upon his shoulder. Her body almost slouched while she did, struggling to remain upright. And if he allowed it, he could feel that she was using him as support to deal with her own lack of balance.

"Don't know.. What you need help with. But-

Helped me!! Think, it'd be right to .. HELP you too!! Whatever... It, uh.. Is-"

The Elf just felt really sad!! Was that why he was here? Because he felt sad? Well, even if she was exhausted, she still had a lot of strength in that body of hers. With a jerk of a movement, she tried to give Alcuin a comforting hug. Was she a hugger? She didn't really remember. But that's how people comforted each other, right? He felt sad so, because he helped her, it felt right to let him know stuff was okay!

Well. That was the intention. And it probably half-worked if he didn't resist? But soon after that, she just became a **Dead weight**. She slouched meaninglessly forward and to the side, and her strength dissipated instantly. Her eyes shut. And she crashed, face first, down towards a big, muddy pool, beside Alcuin. He'd have to be careful not to get swept up with her! She weighed around one hundred and eighty pounds like this!

Again, Alcuin's herbs helped a lot. But she seemed completely out of it for the moment and likely would be for a while. Like this, he could easily wipe his hands clean from this situation— leave, and not look back. Forget all of it ever happened! .. But if he chose to stick around, or do something different? She probably wouldn't come to before the evening hours. And maybe, then, he could find out if there was more to this than a chance encounter?- but then, was that worth the risk?! There weren't any guarantees that she wouldn't subconsciously transform back!
Deloris
Buried too deeply in his own feelings, it hadn't quite registered yet how very odd her speech was. The words themselves only half-registered; he wanted to just cease existing, he was so tired of just...*Everything*. He jumped slightly at the hand on his shoulder but was already too overwhelmed to do anything about it or to notice anything irregular. He once again resolved that leaving was the right decision. And also felt his hesitations slipping away. There was no reason to wait anymore, he would leave tomorrow. His mind was racing, too many feelings and thoughts to keep track of or even begin to sort. He hadn't moved his hands or even tried to respond before he felt arms circling around him.

At this touch, he gave a rather mighty jerk. Not necessarily to pull away but more borne of fear. He didn't really respond, or at least didn't allow himself, to touch in an entirely normal way. He could shake hands, tolerate shoulder touches, and had over the years been able to turn off his fear with touching or being touched by his patients. But it had been many years since he had been hugged. Even from his own mother, he shied away from such contact; especially after the incident, it just... Wasn't the same between him and either parent anymore. If he hadn't been panicking before, he was now. His hands left his face and flailed uselessly for a moment, as this young woman was quite strong and seemingly unaware or unable to control the force she was exerting on him. His pink face became red, and not just from the blood now being liberally smeared all over his person.

His precariously spinning mind finally slowed enough for him to take a good look at what he could see of her face, so close to his own. Her expression was warm, serene, kind. Much like the expression he had so often worn when trying to calm someone down. Though he still trembled vigorously from the unexpected contact, his mind at least understood her intent. He didn't dare think beyond that.

He was about to gently push her away, blurt some awkward and not well thought out thanks, when her eyes slid shut and she began to drag him to the ground with her. Seeing it coming somewhat, he managed to only get half pinned under her, this time. He wrenched himself out, immediately but gently flipping her over with the practiced ease of someone who had done so many times. He looked her over quickly—she was completely out! He huffed out a **"Huh..."** A bit confusedly. He surmised, just seeing the transformation, that it must be quite laborious on her system; he also guessed, based on her age, that perhaps she wasn't very experienced at it yet. He laughed softly, despite all the dark emotions that had been roiling in him just moments ago. This strange girl seemed to have a way of clearing his dark clouds, like a ray of light.

He thought aloud, **"Well... You can't stay here. But I'm also not strong enough to move you very far."** He looked around, spotting a large tree very close. Surely he could drag her there. **"It'll have to do."** He struggled for a good deal longer than he'd like to admit dragging her, as gently as such a thing could be done, underneath the cover of the tree. He said with a wry smile, **"You're quite a dense young thing!"** He dusted his hands and set about gathering soft brush to cushion her head. **"This might put a damper on leaving tomorrow... Oh well, no bother."** He was at the very least certain that he couldn't do much if any harm to this one. He would stay with her until she woke. It was the least he could do after this strange but pleasant back and forth they'd had. He continued his gathering, staying nearby enough to see or hear her if she needed anything.
Eddie
During the day, the steady change of the seasons and the presence of the sun meant that while it was still chilly, it *Felt* Like spring was just around the corner, too. Aside from those frigid, howling winds, it could get quite gentle. And that showed in the entire natural landscape; some late winter flowers had already started to bloom. And the desolate, wintery landscape of brown and white had steadily grown back to an abundant, lively green. That said, winter hadn't gone entirely, and it could still get plenty cold - especially at night.

Yrsa wasn't entirely sure what woke her. The cold biting her skin - a sensation that she could *Easily* Have ignored with her thick winter fur. Or the chaotic, flitting dreams that plagued her mind. She had barely regained her mind, and already, that spectre of ultra-violence rooted itself in her mental backdrop, threatening to spill out. And whatever she dreamed about had her whiten her knuckles, her hands a pair of tense fists. Sweat rolled down her face and had already soaked the fluffier parts of her garb. When her eyes did open, they did so *Suddenly* - pairing with a sudden gasp of air, like a fish on land, struggling to breathe.

It lasted only a moment. Her breathing was elevated for only a moment, before she managed to slow herself. She gathered her saliva and swallowed loudly, following it with another short inhale before her lungs finally calmed.

Where *Was* She?

"Uuhhgh.." She groaned, rubbing the back of her head as she made to sit up straight, with her back against the tree. Which she glanced back at, actually, because she didn't remember seating herself against it. Neither that, nor some sorta... Mossy pillow??

"How much did I DRINK last night?" She continued, the exhaustion still keeping her in its grips. But unlike before, she actually seemed to be moving with some fluidity. She just felt like she had a hangover times a hundred. But she was capable of being understood, at the very least. Despite her northern origins, she seemed to speak the common Imperial tongue!! — albeit .. A **Heavily** Accented variant. Not so much in the way she *Pronounced* Her words? But the heaviness with which she spoke it. Which directly contrasted her pitch because while her voice didn't have *That* High of a pitch, it was still thoroughly feminine. 

Relatively smooth and relaxed - a far cry from her ursine vocalizations.

The sun hadn't come up yet. And wouldn't for several hours. By all accounts, as far as any could tell, it was in the *Middle of the night*, in the *Very early* Morning hours. The lack of light meant that she realized only a few seconds in that .. She wasn't—

Alone? She blinked and rubbed her eyes, trying to clear her vision, mumbling a tired .. "Uncle??" Under her breath.
Deloris
Very true to his nature, Alcuin was so preoccupied that he didn't note the passage of time accurately enough. He had also felt pretty sure she would wake after just a few hours of sleep. So he was surprised as he noticed the blue-purple tinges of sunset beginning to end on the horizon. He'd gotten quite a good haul, for the day in total, even not straying too far from his sleeping new friend. *Were* They friends? He supposed that would depend upon her on waking. He felt enough of a connection, a kindred spirit in having a split mind, that he was keen to make the most of whatever time he could share with her. 

Though simultaneously, he was terrified. He'd only allowed himself to get close, really close, to a small handful people in his life so far. And after the rejection from his parents, his heroes effectively, he tended to abandon people first, before they had a chance to abandon him. He wouldn't *Literally* Leave, but he would spend less time or give less empathy, pour himself into work, whatever he had to do to lessen the connection, to prevent the potential pain. Yet this time, his need outweighed his fear, for once. And for a change, he was actually planning on physically leaving. That could be an out, if he felt he really needed one.

Once it was too dark for him to feel he could still gather safely, and the cold began to prickle his skin, he made his way back to the woman. He hadn't realized the time in time to build a fire. And the lingering moisture of winter weather would've made it near impossible anyway. With some trepidation, he sidled up as close as he could to her without actually cuddling; body heat was going to be the only certain warmth he could offer. He attempted to channel the bit of light he was capable of summoning, but after 3 tries, unsuccessful, left him with nearly a migraine, he gave up. He let his eyes droop, not really sleeping but not entirely awake; much like many recent nights before, exhaustion without sleep.

He had no idea how much time had passed when he was roused from his light, fitful sleep by sudden, sharp gasping. He scooted about a half-pace away, her consciousness reigniting his fear of being too close. He tried again to summon a little light, the pain of his previous attempts dulled enough that he was willing to risk it again. The morning hours meant his now familiar mental background noise of constant whispers was going again. He was too tired to pull his focus away from it and was surprised when a small ball of soft, clear light, much like moonlight, ignited in his palm. Had listening to the whispers made casting *Easier*? 

The confusion evident in her speaking, tore his focus from this line of thought. He'd also never heard an accent quite like that before. **"The only thing I saw you drink yesterday was buckets of stag blood. And I don't know about any uncle... You were a bear, and alone."** He offered a warm smile, small with his exhaustion but sincere. His voice was a little strained but gentle, **"I don't know if, or what, you remember... But you were injured, I healed you, you passed out. I couldn't just leave you here."** It struck him how similar her deep blue eyes were, no matter what form or state of mind she was in. He held her gaze steadily.
Eddie
The light finally filtered properly into her eyes, and she could tell - almost at the same time he said it - that he spoke the truth, something that brought her *Right* Back to the present day. Her mention of that familial name paired with a slight spark in her eyes .. A gentle 'what if'. But instead of the person she thought to see, that her memories still frequently brought to the fore, the image settled on a somewhat skinnier figure.

Her mind clicked—recent memories shooting through her brain at rapid speeds.

"Elf...!" She said, almost *Enthusiastically!* Less like she was addressing him. More that she had finally, at long last, encountered *An elf!* Marvel sparked through her blue eyes. And the personality she presented appeared, before she even said much, almost *Whimsical* In nature - like ..

"Huh? Me?" She feigned surprise, pointing a finger at herself.

"I did no such thing! I don't know what you're talking about-" She said, obscuring a dumb smile and crossing her arms before realizing that the stag corpse was *STILL IN THE AREA.* Also, half her face - her chin, jaw, and neck - were crusted over with dark blood. She opened her mouth again, then stopped before saying anything more to think it over *Just a few more seconds*, biting down on her lower lip while raising an index finger up to her chin .. Tapping it contemplatively.

"Okay!! So, I'll admit that I might've drank a.. Pint. Yes!! But certainly not buckets. I am not a barbarian! In fact, I am very graceful! Probably the graceful-est of my homeland!"

.. Like, she was just outright goofy. 

Having the chance to get something in her stomach, to sleep a little - she still felt *Very* Tired. But all things considered, she also seemed to have enough energy to go off on her ploys and plays again, grinning along with her bold claim. She scratched her head again.

"You're... The elf seer-shaman! You have the berries."

Yrsa nodded to herself confidently, knowing she had remembered the most crucial part of their exchange while she was in her bear state. With a slightly more spirited spring in her step than before, she climbed up to her feet along the side of the tree. From there, she made a couple of stretches, twisting her hips and flexing her arms.

Well, he probably couldn't tell exactly why. But she sounded like she was in good spirits. It had been *Months* Since she woke up in the company of someone, and that felt .. Good! Less lonesome!
Deloris
At her excited exclamation, his smile deepened and he nodded. He observed and listened with fatigued amusement to her animated responses. She was so full of contrast. A young woman, well-developed, clearly strong and skilled in combat; yet she was acting and talking like a young little girl excited by an unexpected surprise. He dug in his bag a little as he listened, fishing out a simple combination of things to hopefully help him wake up a little more. He couldn't suppress a chuckle as she tried to deny her kill and consumption, so clear by the evidence all over them both and the nearby carcass.

He was still absently chewing his herbs when she called him a seer-shaman. He almost spat out the herbs, **"Pfft—wait, a what now?"** Some flecks of chewed herbs stuck around his mouth, but he didn't seem to notice; it added nicely to the complete picture of him covered in splotches of blood and forest debris. **"I can heal, I can make various potions and other healing concoctions."** He considered for a moment, **"I guess I've started having visions, but... They don't seem like the prophetic kind. At least, I hope not."** A shudder ran through him. 

He regarded her warmly as he stood, too, maintaining the light in his hand. **"I'm sure you're quite graceful, under better circumstances."** He gave a small bow of his head in more official greeting, **"I'm Alcuin. I live in nearby Elpherdy City, and I grew up in this area. But you..."** His eyes narrowed, more thoughtfully than critically, **"Seem to be far, far away from home. What brings you here?"**
Eddie
**"AH-HA!!"** Yrsa laughed, acting like she had him *All figured out.* "— of course, you hear whispers! From what I can tell, .. Alcuin, of Elfy City ... You are a **Witch!!** Only a witch would claim to heal and make potions in front of a big potion pot! Perhaps..." She rubbed her chin, briefly looking up. "- this is the first time you have heard that you are such? Do not worry. I know these things. My nose is lucky. This is true because my uncle said so, but I say so too."

She then gazed down, back at him, and planted her hands upon her hips - a robust and confident posture.

"A... Ah! But, you do not need to worry times two. Because, I do not hunt witches. Only hags. My people would hunt witches, .. My old people!! But, I like witches. You even have a witch-like name! Alcuin. That is the witchiest witch-name I have ever witched! Even you cannot deny this.

But. I do not like hags. I think I already said this. But I will say it twice. So you had better not be a hag."

Yrsa shuddered at the thought of *Those* Types of foul woodland creatures. Thankfully, it was only a fleeting thought, and she contemplated their introductions. Several seconds passed after he introduced himself and asked his question - one she answered with short-lasting silence. Like even *She* Didn't entirely know the answer. So she started with the easiest thing for her to handle;

**"Yrsa."** She started, but her eyes narrowed just a little when she phrased the next part of it.

"... Von Schwarzhofen." She said, wondering herself if that *Still was the case.*

But..

It felt good to introduce herself like that. So she stood by it.

"I beat things up. For metals! .. Gold. The shiny ones. I don't see why they are so important. But without, the market people won't give me meat! Even if their meat is MANGLED and HORRIBLE. Not even fresh!!!"

Then she pondered on the most important part of his question. What the heck was she doing here? Like, surely she had some sort of— purpose, or, reason, or-

"At this tree?? Well.. Uh. Now, you can tell us where we go next! I don't remember falling asleep beside the tree. So I think you saved me! You get to choose! I heard there's, uh.. South??? Yes. But it's still night. So .. Should probably sleep until it's day. There's Goblins! Filthy, PESKY little GOBLIN FILTH! STOLE my SMASHER and CHOPPERS!"
Deloris
The young elf was flabbergasted, initially, by her interpretation of events. But when she said he heard whispers, his brows furrowed, the noise in his head rose in volume and, with it, the light in his hand brightened. He hadn't *Said* Anything about that, had he? Was it so written on his face, now? He was distracted from these thoughts by her continued sharing. She seemed to be from a more... Tribal society. Maybe magic was less common there? He wanted to explain but guessed she wouldn't understand anyway; plus, she gave off an air of stubbornness. 

**"Well, Yrsa, you're right, I'm certainly no hag. I've never seen one, nor any goblins, for that matter."** He looked up at the moon, which used to give him such comfort, and felt a knot in his stomach like a knife. He grimaced, before shaking his head gently; the whispers were a constant buzz this time of day. **"Get more sleep, if you can. It's no use for me."** He chuckled darkly. **"I'll watch over you. At least maybe one of us can feel rested."**

At her suggestion that he choose, the unspoken but implied invitation to travel together, his face went blank, and he blinked at her a few times. **"I just healed you a little and tried to make you comfortable..."** He trailed off, letting out a big sigh. He had the feeling she wouldn't be easily shaken. And he wasn't sure he wanted to, anyway. **"I was planning on heading south, too. I need to grab some things from home though. I had intended to start my journey on what will soon be today."** His face grew serious as he asked in a small voice, not meeting her eyes, **"You know I'm... Going insane, and you still want to travel with me?" He preferred to rip that bandage off now. If she was going to leave him, sooner would be better than later, for he could feel an attachment to her already... So very dangerous, at least to him.
Eddie
With her lucidity ever a point of contention, Yrsa seemed to have blurted out a word in this language that didn't perhaps *Entirely* Relay what she meant - but it appeared to **Resonate** With him. Her simplistic, goofy demeanor kept the beast inside locked away, and his acquaintance with her would surely bring that to the table sooner rather than later. Maybe they were alike from that perspective - because she was often scared, too. And it's not something she necessarily could pinpoint? .. She..

Yrsa folded her arms while listening to him. Her lips pursed, and her gaze lowered to a spot between them. 

She recognized his fear. 

Because she was afraid of people leaving her, too. For obvious reasons. And some less obvious. Her surname, while definitely of a more *Northern* Bearing - it seemed rooted in a language heavily influenced by the Empire's but bastardized - was also relatively *Intelligible.* If Alcuin HAD been to the north, he might recognize its regal bearing— .. It wasn't the name of a *Peasant.* Nor would it fit someone like her. It screamed of civilization, whereas she was far from that.

Her stare was initially contemplative. But before long, after Alcuin's last sentence dropped, ... 'do you want to travel with me?', her lips curved into a wicked grin. She looked downright *Malicious.* Predatorial and exploitative. Well, that's what she *Looked* Like, but the truth was that .. She treated his request with HUMOR?? Her grin twisted further, lips parting, eyes clenching while a rambunctious *Laugh* Vibrated out of her throat!

"Bwargh.. HAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAA...!!"

While he couldn't see what she saw, and the memories that flashed before her eyes, he could perhaps gleam the intention behind her reaction. Her mind played back the **Thousands** Of memories of that vile man—a disgusting wretch of a person who embodied the very essence of insanity. Memories of ecstatic slaughter, of innocents and warriors alike, though he always made it a point to spare the very young. The Lords of the northern lands knew that to take such a person into their confidence, to *Hire* Him, would mean a gruesome, unfiltered death for their adversaries. There was nothing glorious about it - only chopped-up body parts and frantic laughter. Yrsa recalled the sheer SHOCK she felt accompanying that man during their first battle together.

Insane? .. Her eyesight lifted from the floor and met his, straight-on, icy blues sparking with *Joy.* It might've looked that way, initially, but she wasn't really *Laughing at him.* And whatever she saw in his stare earlier **Did** Unnerve her to her very core. 

But, that was just right, wasn't it??

"Only ever heard, uh .." She snickered, but managing to suppress her laughter.

"STORIES .. About your people! Fabled Elves. Never spoken with one before. You're the first! But. I'm GLAD. Uh. Glad you're normal! Had a feeling I'd be BEWITCHED after entering this forest! But the only witchery you're doing is making me laugh!! Alcuin, my FRIEND- you're the most NORMAL person I've ever met-!! But still a witch! Normal witch!"

She lowered her hand down to her hip and raised the other to her nose. With a sickening gargle, she collected some snot and flushed it out of her nostrils before wiping herself clean with a finger. Another brief spurt of a laugh escaped her throat, but she concluded it with a single sentence that might've told him **So much;**

".. I see visions too!!! A lot. Sometimes, I can't sleep either!"

Visions of a perpetual battlefield and death - surely, different from Alcuin's terror. Still!! If he thought she'd leave him for insanity? For better or worse, she gave off the feeling that even if he **Ran** Away, she'd just catch up and continue to be annoying in his presence. He earned it! For helping her! She took a deep, conclusive inhale, and took her paces back to the tree. Using it as a support and backrest, she allowed herself to get back to a seat. Her body still SCREAMED for rest, so a few more hours of sleep weren't what she'd pass up on!

"I will go with you to Elf-city. Then, you can help me KILL those GOBLINS .. And then we go south!

Do not worry. I will do the killing. I have a feeling.. With your healing .. I will DESTROY them EASILY. Yea.."
Deloris
Alcuin looked up at her sheepishly at first, upon hearing her laughter, then cracked a smile himself in turn. Maybe it was no wonder she was willing to be by his side; there was a maniacal quality to her laughter, to her person. And with the shifting, she was someone split herself, someone who must struggle to control her mind, her urges. He was quite happy to hear her confrim she, too, saw things at times. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and laughed softly, meeting her gaze once again, a light in his eyes that wasn't there before. He didn't dare call it hope...

He smiled at her calling elves fabled; she was far more fabled to him. No one in Aeterna met anyone from beyond the mountains and lived to tell about it. **"You're quite fabled for me, as well. We have plenty of dark stories about the people and creatures beyond our mountains to the north... I even had an encounter..."** He trails off, the noise of his mind and flashes of memory distracting him for a moment, **"But you seem quite different! Quite normal."** He laughed softly. She could be a bit... Crass, but he found he didn't mind. It made him feel better about the things he knew were unusual about himself, that must put people off as well.

For a moment, he balked at her suggestion of combat; he was fighter. But upon her statement about healing, he relaxed. Why not? He could certainly use some muscle on the road. Taking out some goblins would surely be a small price for such a service... For friendship, apparently. He was reluctant, still, to embrace it. But happy all the same. **"That settles it then! Get a little nap in, then we'll stop by home before heading out."** He blinked at her a few times, considering. **"I'll probably need to empty my pantry... And we'll definitely have to buy some meat."**