★★★

Nightmares - that was all the golden princess could cling to. Flashes of light, a blur of sound, her paws kicking at nothing as she tried to claw her way out of the darkness that had swallowed her whole. Whatever came before… gone.

She jolted awake beneath a canopy of frost‑kissed stone, breath catching as the last echoes of those dream‑demons faded. Faceless shapes, distant screams - she still felt them clinging to her fur like a stubborn mist. But she was awake now. Safe enough, for the moment.

Her purple eyes swept the world around her. Snow stretched across the land in a soft, unbroken sheet, and her breath drifted into the air in pale clouds. The cold bit at her nose, but it was clean, refreshing - alive. And threaded through it was the scent of others. Close, but not crossed. She hadn’t dared step over whatever borders lay nearby.

A sudden snap of twigs made her flinch. She spun toward the sound, ears flattening tight, tail curling beneath her belly instinctive and cautious.

Hello? she called, voice soft, warm even through the worry. Is… someone there?

★★★

✦✦✦

She fought to stay present. It was all too easy to fall into old habits, to let herself drift when the anger and the uncertainty got to be too much. But she couldn't afford something bad happening again. She couldn't afford to not be in control.

Afraid to even sleep, in fear that she would only wake up to more devastation, Bragi had certainly seen better days. The bags under her eyes were heavy, her eyes and her coat dull and listless. There was a particular sway to her gait as she shuffled more than walked the edge of the island.

The roar of the waves was as close to comfort as she could find. On days when the sea was particularly unruly, the noise could almost drown out the thoughts constantly swirling through her mind.

But the snap of a stray twig underfoot and the sound of a voice brought her back. It was one she... didn't recognize.

She blinked in the morning sunlight, her gaze falling on a wolf who looked quite like sunlight, herself. She was also one of the tiniest wolves Bragi had ever seen — smaller than Sindri, even — and a complete stranger.

Uh. Hi, she said dumbly.

✦✦✦

★★★

Before her stood a wolf - tall, dark furred, a striking silhouette against the endless white of the frozen wilds. Their posture wasn’t threatening, just… attentive. Curious, even.

Sorry if I startled you, she murmured, paws shifting in the snow. I was dreaming… or I thought I was. The nightmares just - She cut herself off, ears flicking back as she realized she was spilling nonsense to a complete stranger.

Oh - uh. A small, hopeful tilt of her head. Do you know where I am?

★★★

✦✦✦

The stranger was quick to apologize, though she'd seemed far more startled by Bragi's arrival than Bragi was of hers. She was more confused — taken aback, if anything. Outside of festivals, it was extremely unusual for them to receive guests. At least not... conventional ones.

S'okay, she tried to reassure as the girl kept going, speaking of nightmares, and asking where she was.

Ah. Well this suddenly had the potential to go very badly.

She hesitated a bit before speaking, mulling over her choice of words. Our island. They call it Storm's Reach, I think. It was as close to the truth as she could manage, while also being vague enough to (hopefully) not spark any existential crises. She remembered the sleepless months in which she suffered from her own fondly.

✦✦✦

Storm’s Reach. She turned the name over in her mind, letting it settle. A small smile touched her muzzle as she dipped her head politely to the other wolf.

I see, she murmured, voice warm. Oh - sorry, where are my manners? I’m Lunelle. Her tail gave a tentative sway. What’s your name?

For a heartbeat, the weight of her nightmares tugged at her, but she pushed it aside, eager for something brighter to focus on.

I’m not a criminal or anything, she added quickly, ears flicking with a shy laugh. Just… looking for somewhere to stay. I’m guessing you know the leaders around here?

She kept her posture open but respectful, paws planted in the snow, careful not to crowd the stranger.

I really don’t mean to intrude.