<span style="font-family:Carme">The harshness that she endured after her rather loud and also slightly rude outburst was not something she hadn’t been expecting, but that was simply because she hadn’t quite received any respect from any wolf she had met so far at all. At least, none of it had been the kind of respect that she had been looking for. Holly had even dared to hope that maybe this stranger would be different because he didn’t come from the pack, but she was slowly beginning to lose that small strand of hope as her body was harshly tugged against his body and as she could feel the very aura of his demeanor shifting. <br/>
<br/>
Her head turned away after hearing his hissed words and she let out a small breath that almost seemed to go “Hmmph.” As though she was still angry with him and as though she didn’t care what else he had to say. That wasn’t entirely true, but Holly felt the sudden urge to appear strong, to appear as though she could handle herself, because she felt Freya’s eyes on them both and she really didn’t want Freya to get herself involved in their situation. That would have only made things worse. <br/>
<br/>
However, that was not a facade she could keep up as he made as though he fully intended on dropping her in the snow. Holly’s arms flailed out to the sides, trying to swing herself properly so that she would land on her feet and in that process, she completely forgot that landing on her feet was an absolutely horrible idea due to the injury she had sustained in her foot from the thorn. All of that panic ran through her mind only for her to feel the firmness of her body once again landing in his arms before she actually had any chance at all to land on the ground and the landing in his arms wasn’t exactly gentle either. The sudden pressure of his hold back on her back and beneath her knees came as no small amount of shock to the system for Holly. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:deeppink">“Hmph.”</span> Her grunt of disapproval was actually real this time, but this time, Holly explained it. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:deeppink">“I’ve suffered more pain than you could ever know and every day it gets worse. You think that means anything to me?”</span> When she said that, her arm swung out a bit to gesture towards the thorn on her foot. She declined to elaborate on the pain she spoke of, but considering Holly’s situation, it could have been many things. She could have been speaking to the fact that only a few weeks prior, she had been mauled within a few inches of her life by a wolf. It was certainly a pain not many could empathize with. She could have been speaking in regards to the pain of having been stolen from her family, friends, and the life she had known - the pure loneliness of that - and that was something she had been hoping he would connect with. She didn’t want to discuss further, though. Not there and not then. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:deeppink">“I think I can manage just fine without someone intruding in my mind. It’s the only sanctuary I have left.”</span> The way she added this in was softer and was not meant to be declining any help he would offer. Holly simply didn’t want anyone in her head because the wolves had already invaded every single other aspect of her life and she wanted one place that was hers alone. Because she didn’t want to talk anymore, Holly curled herself inwards, towards Okomi’s body. She tucked her head in between his arm and his chest and she closed her eyes. Maybe if she stayed that way for long enough, she would actually sleep. It was definitely something she needed and it was the only way she could pass the time. <br/>
<br/>
<div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 18px">~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~</span>​</div><br/>
Freya had continued leading the way despite whatever conversations seemed to be happening with the humans following behind her simply because the situation seemed to have stabilized at least temporarily between them. Moving at the pace that they were moving, it really didn’t take too long for them to start to leave the forested areas and find themselves walking on an actual road. Well, kind of an actual road. It didn’t lead to anywhere and it ended eventually, but it made it feel like they were approaching some semblance of civilization. <br/>
<br/>
And what they came up to only contributed to that feel even more. It was a <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Farchitangent.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F03%2FPlantation-Style-Homes-300x199.jpg&amp;hash=0d05e69fd29c2309a3a226369bc05483" href="http://architangent.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Plantation-Style-Homes-300x199.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">plantation style home</a> much like the ones anyone would’ve seen had they traveled to South Carolina during much different times and it was certainly a suitable place to house a werewolf pack. There were a few smaller buildings gathered around it, all of which looked like either barns or small cabins and both were equally functional in their own right. Furthermore, the pure scent of werewolves marked the grounds as home for many of the supernatural beings. None of them were actually visible but that was because it was growing late and many were winding down for the night. <br/>
<br/>
When they actually arrived at the front gate, though, Freya was a bit stuck because she couldn’t actually open it herself. That ability required thumbs. <br/>
<br/>
That arrival also marked another moment. The front door of the large plantation style home opened up and a woman walked out, this one fully clothed and smiling. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:lightsteelblue">“Thank goodness she’s alright!”</span> the woman remarked. The woman who approached them now was probably in her early thirties and she moved with influence. Freya definitely reacted to her with a simple bow of her head. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:lightsteelblue">“Thank you, Freya,”</span> the woman added as she opened the gate. <br/>
<br/>
Freya practically lept through the gate and headed off to wherever was most comfortable for her to be leaving Okomi, Holly - who was still curled up and actually sleeping now - and the woman. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:lightsteelblue">“I’m assuming you’re a friend and that you’d probably like a place to stay for the night? If you’ll follow me, we’ll get her settled and then I can find you an open bed. There should still be plenty.”</span> Yes, the woman did have questions, but she also wanted to wait for Griff and Tris to return because they would have more information for her. For now, being hospitable was simply the natural response that she had.</span>