Event Private Finished A Bit Off the Beaten Path

Aura felt drawn to wandering in the woods on a fairly regular basis. She wasnt sure if it was the restless wolf in her or simply that she could. She had the freedom to go for a walk if she wanted- and in secluded places maybe even stretch her wolfy form's legs too.

So when the holiday rolled around and she could legally explore some of the remote trails she was excited. Doubly so when Frysta had asked to come too. Without a doubt the dragon was her best and closest friend.

She'd packed light, with a small backpack containing mostly just a few water bottles and an insulated lunch bag which held the meat for lunch. There was also a set of rolled up clothes just in case she needed to change for whatever reason.

She was dressed light too in layers, with the top layer being a simple long sleeve shirt- violet colored, and black athletic pants. She had broken in a pair of nice brown trail shoes though, finding them more comfortable than boots or sneakers for the woods.

Aura was running just slightly late though and she ran to get there before she kept Frysta waiting. "Oh, um. Sorry for making you wait," she said between breaths as she approached Frysta. It wasnt too hard to find him at all.

Wild adventure? Well... to be fair between the two of them they'd probably be able to handle most things that could come up. "I'm um, ok for either I think. I'm really glad you wanted to come too."

As she spoke the small grey tendrils always present in her face wiggled and shifted to pull her loose hair back away from her face. She barely registered it even happening. "I think we should um... pick one of the most remote trails to try. I um, was thinking about not being around a bunch of other people today."

In truth she was trying to work herself up to reveal her wolf form. But only if she felt comfortable once they had gotten far, far out there.

Aura looked closely at the map. Mentally going over the areas she was familiar with- they didnt overlap really at all. Content that it was going to be far enough out, she nodded. "That um, should be good. The trail I mean. Um... I've never been flying. Or... not that I can remember." She wasnt 100% sure how she had been transported to the island originally but that definitely fell during the period she couldnt really, and definitely didnt want to, remember much of.

It was true Aura had been slowly working towards being comfortable with herself. It was hard and she definitely slipped back into hiding things often but it was a million times easier when she was alone with someone she trusted.

Aura pulled off her bag to get the lunch bag out of it and offer it towards Frysta. "I know you um said you could keep this cool for me but I dont want to make you carry everything. Is there um, something in could carry for you in exchange?"

As she spoke Aura made sure to stretch out so she would be good and limber for the walk. Not that getting injured was a huge concern for her but pain is pain even if you heal.

"I think we meet up with that trail if we follow this one to the third branch. They have it um, marked with three purple triangles?" Funnily enough it looked a little like a purple triforce symbol, but Aura didnt recognize that.

Aura gladly swapped the lunch for the first aid kit. The lunch was still a little heavier but at least she was carrying something. "Um, I'm not that tough like this...," she started and looked down. In human form she was actually pretty much like a human. Aside from the bits and bobs she could sprout from her body. "But I do heal fast." She had to add that quick so he wouldn't worry she might get hurt.

As she hurried to catch up with him she thought about what they might see. "Um, the animals probably aren't so used to people out here. Maybe we'll see some deer," she mused. Unconsciously licking her lips.

As they walked Aura took in a deep breath and then slowly let it out with a happy sigh. It felt good to be out there. Her nose caught the lingering scent of what had to be a squirrel, but based on how weak the trail was she was pretty sure it had passed by a while ago. Plus squirrel meat was a little too stringy usually.

Aura nodded. She'd said not long before thos trip that she was thinking she was ready to go hunting with Frysta and finding prey that wasnt expecting them would make it easier. But the primary goal had literally just been to get out and spend the day deep in the woods. Whether they hunted or not was really up in the air. Or on the ground really, since Aura couldnt fly.

She looked around at the trail. It was basically just a dirt path with marks emblazoned on trees. "Um," she started with a bit of mixed feelings in her stomach. Rule breaking could be really bad, but just walking in the woods and stumbling on the trail didn't seem like it'd cause any harm? "I think we can find our way back maybe. It's hard to stop a dragon and a wolf from going to a path in the woods," she smiled and gave him the tiniest shove.

Aura did seem to be enjoying herself pretty well. Frysta was right, Aura was a wolf and she needed to wander to feel grounded. It was why she frequently took her walks in the woods.

But there was something subtly weighing on her and occasionally she was caught deep in thought and not paying as much attention to their conversation as she might otherwise.

That's why she almost didnt smell the small group of wild boars until they were right up on them. The animals snorted angrily and turned their tusks towards the teens whose hike had just interrupted them.

"Um... Frysta...," Aura called out as she pointed. In hindsight a kind of dumb move since he had to have smelled them earlier, when she should have.

Aura could handle a couple boats. Hell, she'd scared off creatures far more dangerous before. But that required shifting into her other form. So she very noticeably hesitated and in that moment Frysta stepped in to shift himself in front of her.

She took a couple quick steps back and let him do his thing. He was a lot larger than Aura had expected, and the boars obviously noticed tha change. Most of them just ran off into the brush but two very stubborn males charged towards the dragon in a futile attack.

Meanwhile Aura glanced around and picked up a large stick. If nothing else she could use it to whack one of the boars. But Aura was feeling very guilty about needing to be protected. She was going to have to bite the bullet and just show Frysta what she looked like. That way she wouldn't risk hesitating again I'd something more dangerous showed up.

For the moment though she just stood ready to act and let out a snarl at the boars.