(http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae282/caela_ecub/Brunettes/da38251a-f295-4cd0-bed4-5bcc718adfae_zps23deb5af.jpg)[/URL][/floatleft]<br/><strong>Character Name:</strong>Eira<br/><strong>Who:</strong>Any<br/><strong>Where:</strong>Moving through the Woods, away from the Village<br/><strong>When:</strong>8th day of the Hunger Moon<br/><strong>Continued From:</strong>http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=178593.msg8700134#msg8700134 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=178593.msg8700134#msg8700134)<br/><hr/><br/>After having seen the Wolf on her path, she couldn't help but to wonder if he would allow her to go. She refused to look back to see if he was following her, stubbornly keeping her eyes forward and only allowing them to sweep side to side to view her surroundings, but never back. If he chose to follow she couldn't stop him, if he choose to scoop her up like an errant child, she couldn't stop him. What she could do however was let him see her determination, her resolve, and hope that the Goddess softened his heart enough that he would simply let her leave.<br/><br/>With her fingers starting to go numb, despite the thickness of her gloves, and her feet beginning to feel like bricks at the end of her legs, she knew she needed to find shelter. The shadows on the forest floor were growing longer and she knew that if she didn't have shelter by dark she'd likely freeze to death. Though she considered that preferable to returning to the Village in defeat. Her intention was fully to escape, or to let Winter claim her. Escape was obviously preferable however.<br/><br/>Keeping her eyes open, she dared to let a small smile curve her lips at the sight of a small cave a few hundred feet away. Her steps actually managed to increase their pace at the sight of it while she prayed that it would be big enough to suit her purposes for the night. Reaching the mouth of it she was surprised to find that it was truly just a hollow in the side of a hill and looked to have been dug out deliberately. It was easily large enough for two Tikaan to fit comfortably, if they didn't mind being a bit close, which made it more than roomy enough for her petite frame and for her to light a small fire.<br/><br/>The fire was a calculated risk. It was possible someone would see it, but without it she would be dead before dawn. And she'd already been spotted by that silent wolf anyway and he could track her easily enough whether she had a fire or not. Since she had no real interest in freezing to death, she tucked back as far as she could into the small cave and lit the smallest fire she could that would serve her purpose...to keep her warm enough to freeze through the night.<br/><br/>Sitting before the warmth of her small blaze she dug into her basket and pulled out a chunk of bread and cheese (food that would keep well though the cold helped to ensure it's longevity) and placed them before the fire to thaw. Once her fingers and feet were warmed as well she actually stomped back outside and began to gather more branches. She wished she'd been able to sneak a tent out with her but that would have been too obvious in her basket. Instead she gathered evergreen branches and lay them across the opening of the cave, fanning them over the opening to create a wind block and to help the small hollow retain as much heat as possible. It wouldn't be perfect but it was better than nothing.