Whispers in the woods (Una and Gavin)

"Where are you!?!" The males voice cause her to quake with fear, his less than friendly tone echoing around her as she stumbled forward. This mornings breakfast rolled her in stomach, threatening to spill on the damp ground. Was he a thief? A murderer? Would they find her body like they did that child three months back? 

"Please," she cried, shaking frame against an elder Whisper Tree, "Please do not harm me."

((Hopping off to bed! I'll reply to any posts tomorrow.))

"..the tree..?" It took her a few seconds for the information to sink past her fear. "..oh." The girl squeaked, suddenly feeling very very foolish. There was no attacker round the bend, simply the Whisper Wood playing a trick on the two of them. The mans previous mention of aid warmed her, few ever noticed her long enough to see if she was alright or not. Kindness it seemed, even if it was the wary sort, could still be found in a stranger.

"I..I am fine," Una tried to speak a little louder as she rested her cheek against its cool bark. "You simply..gave me a fright." It was so much easier to talk to someone like this, when she couldn't see their face or knew who they were. He could be anywhere, perhaps even outside of the large forest on the other-side of the world! What a story that would make, a conversation that carried between trees across miles of land. Her Matron would enjoy it, scolding her when she finished about speaking with strangers in the wood.

At first the girl didn't reply to his question. Did she lie or tell the truth? But..Una had never cared for lying and he DID seem to just be curious, maybe there was no harm in giving him a vague answer? "...not far from the edge of the city.." Was her short reply. Of corse the stranger would most likely guess she was near Iadlain, since that was where the majority of the trees were located, though other cities weren't out of the question. "And you?" She asked, hopeful to hear a fantastical reply that would feed her earlier fantasy of chatting with someone far from this misty forest.

By now the sun had almost set, adding more chill to the air. The sky was painted lilac, stars twinkling in the fading blanket of color. Soon she'd have to return if she didn't want to meet the fate of so many who risked traveling these parts at night.

Una unknowingly mimicked Gavins worries in her mind, wondering if he'd sneer should he catch sight of her much too large forehead, or sickly complexion as others did? And if she told him his name, would he know of her? Would he loose his tongue as so many of his matrons customers did when they saw her, unable to strike up a conversation with the young widow? "Una" Like a glass sliding out of a sweaty hand her words fell forward, crashing into the tree, softly echoing throughout the forest. All she could do was wait with baited breath for his reply while her fee threatened to pull her home.

"Thank you Sir," her soft voice would have been hard to hear if he stood a few feet away, but with her head resting on the dull bark the sound was much more easily carried to him. Feeling that their conversation had only just begun, Una allowed herself to sit on one of its large roots. Here beneath the curtain of leaves everything felt slightly less deadly. "...I would not be here if I did." She said honestly, not noticing how such a remark could sound like sass. "..and I hope it should stay that way."

Unused to take the lead in a conversation, or hold a conversation with a stranger for that matter, she nervously played with one of her many braids. A black ribbon easily came loose, allowing her to un-do the length of it. Pale fingertips poked though the dull cascade of hair, parting it into three new sections. "Sir," her voice came quickly from the settling silence. She wasn't even sure if he was still there, by now her braid was halfway done and the air cooler than before. "..do you ever..get lonely?"

"Constantly." It was the first time she ever admitted it to anyone, herself included. Her heart twisted, but there were no more tears to cry. The admission had taken a weight off her shoulders, but chilled her to the bone. Denial could no longer keep the girl from bitter reality. "More..more than I'd like to admit." Grateful for the support of the tree trunk, Una sagged against it, happy to be free of glancing eyes. A tiny puff of wind ruffed the Whisper Trees branches, causing black eyes to glance upwards. This whole meeting had been so surreal it almost could have been a dream. Not that she ever remembered her dreams.