Similarity In A Stranger

The woods were alive at the break of dawn all the forest seeming to wake with the rays of early morning only to seem calm with the night. But the night is dark and full of dangers for those who do not tred carefully. San can still remember the sounds of the midnight howl so loud and clear like a beautiful orchestra so many voices joining in. The song that signalled their arrival in news woods once again, though the wonder ours memory fades in the brightness of day. Stretching from the confines of her furs and stepping out into the daylight. It was a lovely morning, still sleeping wolves curled around in the den she simply shook her head stepping over them as she proceeded to the largest of the beasts her mother. Nuzzling gently against the soft white fur she waited till Moro woke to look at her. In a wordless exchange, in a language of their own a mother and daughter greeted one another and bid one another a good hunt.

With much fuss, some nipping and growls San woke up her two brothers and climbed upon the back of the eldest Brickker before the three ran off into the woods. Riding atop the large dire wolf San surveyed the forests crinkling her noes along with her brothers when a scent hit them all too familiar. It was the scent of burning fires and livestock. They were close to a human village and they knew it. It would be careful hunting tonight to avoid their neighbours of the north. Hours of scouting the area they were claiming for a while it was time for a rest. Underneath the branches of a great tree San sat with her brothers enjoying the remnants of their last kill splitting the meat. But San grew bold climbing up the branches of the tree she grinned and let out a loud howl soon joined by her brothers calling out to all those that could hear.

Giselle knew just the perfect time to go out into the woods, and it was mid-morning. Typically, it was the time of day where she was least likely to get in trouble for it too. It was calm and peaceful, and the more vicious creatures like wolves and boars were still asleep. Besides, she usually kept to the edge of the forest where she could easily make a dart back to Winterfell. Today was also a special mission too: to pick a certain berry for a healing liquid that she had read about in the Library

The white dire wolf trailed behind her as Giselle found a nice spot in front of a small stream to wash her hands. She hummed a quiet song as Elphie lounged in the grass, whimpering a little bit. As the redhead looked to her direwolf, she laughed and scratched her neck, petting her. Her laugh was interrupted by the sound of a series of loud howls that sounded like it came from a little way's away. Maybe they should leave? Unsure of what to think of it, she looked to Elphie who simply just looked past her thoughtfully, as if she was sensing something Giselle couldn't.

San continued til her breath let out chuckling as she looked down at her brothers who sat with lazy expressions preparing to nap. Leaving the wolf girl to shake her head at them before she began climbing down landing with a small thud San simply nuzzled her brothers before all three took in the scents of the air. She watched them turn their heads and looked in the direction, they were not alone in this part of the woods. Wordlessly she pointed Artos one direction while she got upon Brickker and moved around the other way, a typical flanking pattern for a curious few wolves.

She was unsure was to make of it the smells of man were making it harder for her to sniff out exactly what her brothers and she had felt but slowly they stalked in a broadcircle which tightened every slowly around their target. Close enough the scent his her... human, there was a human near by.... too close to the border of her newly assumed pack territory for her liking. Letting out a low growl as she rounded Brickker to break through the treeline spear in hand thinking it was some hunter she would have to scare off. She certainly did not expect her and her brothers to come growling at a girl.... not to mention another wolf.

The redhead girl saw Elphie begin to tense up and move forward a little bit to protect her. "Let's go," Giselle whispered to her as she tried to turn her around, away from wherever she was looking at. Something obviously was not right. She swiveled her head to a noise and held onto Elphie tightly as she couldn't help but let out a scream in fear to the ambush. Looking up, she saw a few wolves and a humanoid figure cloaked in fur. Giselle stared in fear and disorientation, unsure of what she was looking at exactly. Lowering her hands a little bit, she tried to steady her breathing and calm herself. Running away would probably only ignite a chase, so there was only one other option. It may not be the best, but they were outnumbered and it was their best option.

Holding Elphie tightly to try to give her more confidence, she called out to whatever sort of person it was. "W-we don't mean any harm."

San stopped her growling which in turn got her brothers to stop as she stared at the girl furs and mask covering her making her appear as some kind of beast. At least that was the illusion, tended to scare most farmers she had come across. Upon the back of her brother she halted the wolves coming to a standstill, she didnt run which was good for her the little thing she could manage holding off one brother but if the girl took off sparking hunting instincts she had no guaranteed way of making sure it didn't end messily. Almost had to applaud the little towns human for her courage.

Staring at her through the mask her eyes fell upon the dire wolf in the girls possession still a pup. She slid from the back of her brother spear in hand. She ignored the human looking at the wolf, no leash.... huh.... kneeling down she looked into the eyes of the beast, it was protecting the girl it had bonded. Staying like that for a moment as if trying to make up her mind before her eyes finally looked at the girl again. Slowly she lifted up the mask and furs revealing her face and piercing eyes staring right at the girl like she was assessing everything about her. But she said nothing to her, her ears giving a little jingle as the wind passed through on an even breeze.

Giselle was frozen, her eyes stuck on the figure as it crept closer. She wasn't sure if it even understood her at all. Elphie seemed to be calm, yet didn't move at all when it came closer--simply just staring down at the figure with a certain look. When it receded and revealed itself, Giselle gasped lightly. A girl. Very slowly, she took her arms off of Elphie and stood in front of the girl, staring her back in the eyes.

It was incredible. Was she one of the wildlings? And this far from the wall? Not only that, but she seemed to act like a part of a pack with these other wolves. Was she one of those raiders? Questions and thoughts raced through her mind but she was unaware if this girl could even speak Andalish, so she simply stared back in wonder at the girl. They didn't exchange any words, making the experience even more surreal. Looking past her at the wolves who had accompanied her, she exhaled in astonishment. She hoped the girl wouldn't get disinterested and run away. Whether or not she understood her, body language usually would help fill some gaps. "They're beautiful," she spoke of the wolves, who were quite a sight to see especially after they ceased growling.

Again it spoke the sound was so strange to her still it had the hairs on the back of her neck rise, her human tongue had not spoken in quite a while she had to remember... it wasn't until Brickker nudged her that she even first moved again turning to him she raised her arm up gently running her fingers through his fur. Staring eye to eyes with her brother only the small tilt of her head and indication before the large direwolf took off back into the forest leaving her and Artos who she called to her side with a simple low sound like the grumbling whine of a dog.

Once Artos was in the safety of her company she seemed to relax before her eyes narrowed at the girl with intensity and she spoke "you didn't run" a simple statement but it was easy to tell it was more of a question.

Giselle felt like the entire world had paused around her as she heard words come out from the girl's mouth. It was coarse, as if she wasn't used to speaking to people normally. There was no doubt in her mind that this girl was part of the group of wildlings who had climbed the wall many years ago. Almost as if it were a pull on her lips, a warm smile encompassed her face and she let out a small breath. "You didn't attack." She spoke in the same tone, more surprised than she thought the wolf-child felt. Her smile morphing into a grin that spread across her face in wonder, she leaned a bit closer to the mysterious being in front of her. "Can you understand everything I say?"

San watched very passive snorting at the girls response to her, of course she didnt attack it was only a pup and a girl not much of food not much of trouble. then the girl smiled causing San to raise an eyebrow no one ever smiled at her like that... then the female got closer and barred her teeth in a weird fashion. San's instincts kicked in and she growled deeply... unnerved by the grin too used to the threat it meant in wolf terms yet the girls body language was not aggressive. So she merely growled snapping a rough "Some" not embarrassed from her lack of vocabulary, one does not speak common in the company of wolves.

Giselle jumped back a little bit as the girl growled at her. Her growls were intense and were quite scary.  Standing back a little bit, she pursed her lips. "I apologize," she glanced down a little bit. "My name is Giselle. Of Winterfell." She said as she curtsied. It was kind of silly as she knew it held no difference to the wolf-child before her. It was almost instinct though as she was forced to learn all the ways of a graceful lady to "make up for her shameful birth out of wedlock". She didn't care for most of it but didn't mind some of the things she learned, so long as nobody underestimated her for that.

San watched the woman curtsy an action she had seen other women do before she took it as a sign of submission and ease from her growling into a cool eyrie calm like before watching her with the slightest of frowns. Before shaking her head as she turned to Artos and pet her brother the two looking into one anothers eyes before the great dire wolf bent a little and snuck under her arm in an affectionate gesture she scratch along his muzzle before looking at the dire wolf at this 'giselle's' side then Giselle before pointing at the little dire wolf "you steal? or buy?" her words harsh and eyes growing cold making it quite clear that she wouldnt like it if the answer was yes to her questions. She knew she was accusing the girl but she had no reason to trust that the bond was real between the two.

Giselle watched her interact with the other wolves. It was incredible to see it, she had only seen other Starks be able to bond with them in such a way. And even then, they were still difficult to become friendly with, as they could rip off a man's arm as if it were nothing. She wanted to get closer but she still didn't know the extent of how much this stranger would put up with her.

Shaking her head, she brought a hand around Elphie once more, who also responded by nuzzling her back. "No, no. I found her in these woods injured by hunters it seemed. I healed her to the best of my abilities," she said as she looked down to the bandage around Elphie's front leg. She wasn't the strongest direwolf in the Stark house, but she did have a bond to Giselle that was the strongest.

Hearing the word hunters cause San to have an instinct reaction an almost snarl as she barred teeth before shaking her head firmly and relaxing. Letting out a rough snort her eyes fell on the bandage she knelt down staring at it for a moment. San soon got low unto Elphie's level near sitting on the ground laying her spear down "still hurt?"

"Sort of, it's more of a bad wound now than anything though." She watched as the wolf-child get closer to Elphie. Feeling protective over her, she stood a bit closer and also got lower onto the ground, the same level as both of them. Looking into Elphie's eyes, she comforted her with a hug before looking back to the wolf-child. Could she possibly do something? Or was she just inspecting? "Her name is Elphie," she said with a smile directed at the girl, even though she wasn't looking.

"You coddle" San snorted watching Giselle hug around the pup before shaking her head as she turned her gaze around the forest all the while still speaking to Giselle "Wolf, not Dog.... hunt, run, grow strong" then in a flash she sprung finding what she was looking for behind a small bush to the side. Sniffing the bushes before lifting them up to reveal some sage small and fresh. She nodded taking some and coming back more slowly holding it out "Good grass... chew then lick" she said taking one of the leaves and chewing it to mush then sticking out her tongue to show giselle before licking her arm which spread the concoction over her skin. It was a very disgusting and unladylike display.

Giselle watched her, pouting a little bit at her words. Looking to Elphie, she merely did a little whimper that resembled a teasing laugh. She rolled her eyes playfully and looked back to the girl, who was now holding some leaves. Before she knew it, she had put it into her mouth and began chewing. Giselle watched with a surprised look when the wolf-child showed her the chewed up leaves. After she licked her arm with it, much like a cat licking herself to bathe, Giselle couldn't help but shudder in horror. The display she didn't mind all too much, but it was just so different from anything that anybody back home would do--and when she did it, it looked animalistic. "..And.. it does.. what?" She asked with a queasy face, worried for the answer.

San simply ignored the girls looks for she did not care how her actions seemed to humans, simply rubbing the stuff off her arm before holding out the rest of the leaves "Help pain help...." San searched for the word her nose scrunching with her concentration as she finally came upon it "clean" nodding her head sharply before thrusting out the plant as if demanding Giselle take.

Giselle slowly reached for the plant and gave one more look to her before she slid it into her mouth and began chewing it. The taste was bland, absolutely terrible and as if she were eating stale wool, bringing her to cringe as she chewed. She couldn't believe she was doing this, but this whole situation and learning about this new thing were still very exciting. Amidst her chewing, she raised an eyebrow to the wolf-child. Giselle opened her mouth to show off the chewed leaves just like she had done before. "Like this?" She asked, feeling a little foolish.

San let her have the plant without any troubled watching the girl as she leaned against her large wolf brother who growled to her and she growled back but the two seemed to understand one another. Seeing the mush of leaves from Giselle she nodded in approval before point to the bandages over the smaller dire wold "now lick... your pack. your pup. you raise..." nodding her head again this time more as an affirmation to her statement.

Artos grumbled some before laying down watching, San soon joined him on the grass but still watched Giselle.

Giselle saw her go interact with her wolves, and she took a deep breath before licking her hand with it just like the girl did and then brought her hand to Elphie's injury. She wasn't sure if this would work or not, but she trusted the wolf-child--as she doubted she would want any harm to come to any wolves. Elphie watched carefully as Giselle began applying the mashed leaves. It was an odd procedure, but some of the other healing methods she had read in about were much more unorthodox. She would just need to take a long bath before the coronation. The Starks were to leave for it in a few hours, and Giselle merely wanted to get some fresh air and berries for the trip. Giselle glanced back to the wolf-child who was now in the grass. "Do you have a name?"

San lazed in the grass with a yawn only to perk at the girl asking her that question thinking on it with a snort "Many... your kind like namming things" she stated sitting up and sitting crossed legged as she looked at Giselle "Wilding, Demon, Wolf-Rider, Raider... Witch of North...." she growled softly as if angered by memories of being called such things before shaking her head ".... San.... " looking back at the large dire wolf ".... I name him Artos. Saw it on weird box wood humans stare at before I burn it" she said before mimicking someone reading a book only to resume her usual neutral if slightly frowned face.

Elphie inspected her front leg, seeing the work done. Giselle tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as it fell to her face, also inspecting her work as she spoke. "Well, San, I will never call you one of those things." Glancing back to her, she gave her a friendly smile. The name Artos sounded vaguely familiar to her, but she couldn't remember from where. She had never been so close to a wild direwolf before, and really wanted to be able to pet Artos. But he and San always had a look on their face that scared Giselle a little bit. "So, will I ever see you again after this?"

"why? human child like being dinner?" San said letting out smug sounding half growl half laugh before getting to her feet "mother wolf shall choose packs course, human child does not need know where. We shall meet if old gods allow" nodding her head at that before claiming her spear.

Giselle's face showed obvious disappointment in San's answer as she pouted a little bit. It was really nice to meet San, it was a tale so unbelievable that she wasn't even sure if anybody would believe her, but she was excited to have met her.. even if Giselle might have almost soiled herself when she surprised her. "Are you leaving?" She asked as she saw San stand up, and Giselle did the same, brushing some of the dirt off of her coat.
Pursing her lips for a second to think about whether she should say it or not, she looked back at San with revived enthusiasm. "There.. are more direwolves at Winterfell, all treated with care, but maybe if you wanted... we could maybe.." she said, her smile growing a little too dorkily excited. "Maybe it would be nice for our pups to meet other direwolves, I always think that it's good to keep them friendly with other animals--and everybody is friendly at home and generous and would be fascinated, I mean it'd be so fun, of course we might have to give you a bath before we invite you for supper.. but I could show you--ooh! I could show you the gardens, and then.." Giselle stopped herself as she realized she began rambling and speaking very fast, she wasn't even sure if San's basic language could understand her with how fast she was speaking. Tucking a hair behind her ear, she smiled sheepishly and glanced back to Elphie to whom was tilting her head at her, confused.

San's face remained the same throughout what the girl was saying until she spoke of her home and especially bathes. She barely liked it when her mother insisted on cleaning her let alone the dreaded thing humans did, submerging themselves into the water. She growled and snorted looking to the girl "human child is naive, human pack never accept San. And brothers wolves smaller then mother wolf... wolf pack would make human pack run like rabbit. Also human child speak too fast like rabbit give San pain in skull" she said with a grumble before moving to get up unto her brother before looking to Giselle "Direwolves of human pack will not be direwolves long, coddled and fed to fatness. it kills wolf spirit makes dogs" nodding her head before looking to Elphie "Pup better with its own kind, would show but Giselle smell too much like human"