Monica sat and stared around as if some solution would pop out of the trees, or maybe she would wake up. Waking up would fix it. She pinched herself like a desperate woman, it obviously did nothing. she dropped her arms to her sides and sighed 'how did this happen, why do I have the absolute WORST luck!'
A branch snapped nearby drawing her attention. There was... something standing half behind a tree far enough away that Monica could barely make out any details. Monica jumped to her feet and waved at them calling out "hey, thank god can you get me out of these woods?" She stood with her arm in the air for a moment longer then the thing bolted for her and she screamed. Monica suddenly took off in a random direction away from the thing but she hadn't run in years and the ground was uneven. She quickly found a rogue root and face planted with a thud and grunt.
The thing stopped a little way away from her panting and making noises that sounded like gibberish. Monica risked rolling over to look at it and realized it was some sort of animal hybrid. Weirdly despite her initial panic she became too curious for her self preservation to stick around. Monica got to her knees not wanting to stand in case the sudden movement and screaming was what set it off before. It's golden eyes were watching her closely as she traced its form and took in what was in front of her.
Long silky fur fell in waves from certain places broken up by matted sections filled with twigs and leaves. The whole creature stood propped against a tree seeming completely worn out. It was still and silent now that Monica had gotten to her knees. She continued to move slowly till she was standing and then "I'm sorry I scared you, running like that was uncalled for" she spoke just loud enough to be heard with the thought that she doubted this thing understood her.
It seemed to squint at her before grunting "what are you, weird hairless thing?" Monica was too shocked to be offended. "I'm human?" She was unsure if this would make sense to the bear like figure in front of her but it was what she knew so she had to try.
"HA human? Weird name for a weird hairless thing. Fine human why are you here?" Monica sighed "I don't know how I got here but I want out." Again a squint from the bear "good because you can not stay, this is my land and I don't like visitors for long. Particularly unexpected ones"
He reached out an almost human like hand with claws and pushed away from the tree standing to his full height he crossed the space between them and picked Monica up with no further words and again took off through the woods. She panicked immediately and started screeching but he moved so fast that she just frantically found a place to hold on as tight as possible. As sudden as he started he stopped now in front of a cave. It couldn't have been very far from the clearing she woke up in.
Niamh stared Quetzal down "you know I want something more interesting to do than sit in a tower all night and here all day!" Quetzal just went back to eating and ignored her. He decided to stop entertaining her crazy desires immediately. "Niamh if you don't stop with your nonsense we might just throw you out in to the woods for sport" a cruel comment from a random watchmen who had been eavesdropping.
"Is that so?" Niamh stood and challenged him to keep going. Her wings unfolded slightly as she made herself bigger while looking at her colleague. His eyes widened snd he shrunk in his seat. she huffed folded her wings back down and turned. The turn put her face to face with the head of the night watchmen. He could definitely feel her breath on his chest she was so close.
Niamh hung her head knowing what was coming. "Punishment Niamh, immediately!" He barked the order and she went to protest but he just grabbed her arm and spun her in the direction of the punishment room and pushed her roughly making her stumble forward. She dragged herself to the room she knew as well as her own bed. Her commander slammed down a bucket and various cleaning items. "Make it spotless, I'll be back to check it!" He turned and left her in the barracks kitchen.
"This is such complete bullshit" Niamh muttered as she began to scrub.
Monica sat in the mouth of the cave with the bear who had shared that his name was Kiearn. He had a basket of berries and a crude ceramic pot with what must have been mead which he had handed to Monica and told her to eat and drink. "You are tiny, you need to eat more" Kiearn handed her what seemed to be jerky.
"This all tastes very good but I'd really rather figure out how to get out of the woods before your hospitality runs out" Monica inwardly regretted the bluntness of her statement once it was out of her mouth. Kiearn seemed not to care and grunted and waved a dismissive hand "you wouldn't get out of these woods anytime soon without help and honestly you're so weak you'll die without help." Monica froze and looked up from her piece of jerky. "Don't look so shocked, I am being nice but I am not what you should judge this forest by"
Panic was beginning to set in for Monica with Kiearn's words. She had allowed herself to forget for a moment how unprepared she was for any kind of adventure. Her luck alone would ruin any chance of safe travels and she didn't know these woods so she had no chance at all. Her thoughts began to spiral and her heart rate went up. Panting and grasping her chest she laid back and tears rolled down her face uncontrollably.