For some reason, the sooty mare didn't feel at home in the Foothills. Maybe it was because it was taken too easily, or because so many had lost their homes in the process. But that was doubtful - Phaedra was not an ethical or deeply moral creature at the best of times. Likely, it was simply because it was too...safe. The Grey had demonstrated that they were a formidable force - they had easily defeated the former Foothills, and had captured many of the assassins, who attempted to follow in their hoofsteps; as a result they no longer needed to hide in the Woods. They could walk in the light, boldly the new members of the Foothills. And yet...yet....

Phae was not content.

And so, she returned to her birthplace - the place where she was instructed to go, all those long seasons ago when first Ophelia found her in the Threshold. It was there, she was greeted by Ktulu and her companion Eytan, and it was there, that she thought she had been trapped and tricked. She could not fly in these Woods, for the canopy and density of the trees was too great, and as she stumbled upon her dark leader and the bear cub, she thought she would die. But she hadn't - no! She had been born. That moment sent into action a thousand others that created the Golden Spy. It was to that place, that she now returned.

Phaedra set out while her daughters were still sleeping - in the early waking hours. As the scenery faded and the Woods became more prominent, Phae failed to notice how bright the world was becoming. She was too focused on the Woods, and how they seemed...distant. There was a time that she knew every inch and branch and knoll here, but now the Woods seemed foreign. Stella hopped from tree to tree, refraining from flying. Her companion was currently caught in an awkward growth spurt, and her wings were large and gangly, and hard for her to gracefully control. So, the black and white bird with the brilliant orangey face hopped from branch to branch, appearing to feel just as at home here as ever she did before.

Moving forward, the spy heard a rustling sound up ahead. While these were no longer her Woods, she still felt a protectiveness of them, regardless of the foreignness that she felt. Wings tucked neatly to her sides, the spy lithely trotted forwards, taking care to make as little noise as possible.

A shape ahead - yet for all of the bright light off this odd morning, Phaedra cannot seem to discern what it is. The rolling motion is familiar, and instantly the golden girl assumes it to be Eytan. A smile graces her lips, as she moves forward now confident that she will find Ktulu and the cub. "Why sugar!". She calls melodically, as uncertainty crashes down upon her. Instantly she wishes to recall the words - to slip into the shadows and watch unseen. Only now does she notice the glare - the light. There are no shadows in which to hide, and the creature before her is not Eytan.

Unlike last time, for her Grey family have taught her well, the beauty does not panic. Her sea-green gaze does not falter, as she stares at the creature before her - an odd mixture of bear and cat? In her minds eye, Stella is trying to tell her something, but as she is not able to communicate with words yet, merely trills in frustration. The word she is looking for is ursa, but all she can do is project to Phae's mind, an image of the stars. Of specific stars. Yet Phae's conscious mind is too focused on the creature before her, to understand what her bonded is trying to communicate.

"Hello" She offers, her voice sing-song as ever, but spoken without her usual flirtatiousness.

[Please note, this thread is open to all, but there will be no restrictions on posting order.]

We all have some sort of image in our minds, of how we would like to act, when faced with impossible things. Some of us would simply wish to be un-afraid - others, have the desire to be witty and careless, as if they encounter impossible things all the time. We day dream, of how certain encounters will go, even ones that we know will never happen, so that we might, if only in our minds, know what it is like to truly be exactly who you wish to be. Sadly, no matter how many times you might practise - how many times you might lose yourself in a daydream - it never goes that way in real life. Instead, we tend to default back into our old ways, and are never as charming as we mean to be.

As the star-bear-cat-thing draws itself up onto it's hand end, and wobbily takes a step, the golden spy resists the urge to be afraid, and instead falls victim to her natural defence mechanisms. A charming smile erased any apprehension which might previously have distorted her features, as she beams down at the creature who unsteadily moves towards her. From the trees, Stella can sense the uncertainty within her bonded's mind. It is not fear simply....confusion. Again, the orange-faced bird projects a pattern of stars, forcing them upon Phaedra's mind, but the golden-girl is too enraptured by this quaint creature to take much notice. "You sweet thing" She mummers under her breath, selfishly keeping her voice low, so as not to attract any other attention and spoil this private encounter.

As he - for she has decided that it is a he - reaches for the berries, Phae too lowers her pink muzzle down, to his level. Inhaling deeply, she notes that his scent is quite unlike anything she had ever encountered before, and once again she finds herself completely charmed by the creature. Was this how it felt, to have her own magic used on her? Then let it be so, for if it was, then her victims were lucky devils indeed.

As he lowers himself to lay against her, the spy's sparkling sea-green gaze remains fixed upon him - taking in each matted clump of hair, the odd texture of his coat, and the shape of his body. So enraptured is she, that his throaty calls cause her to jump slightly, as the sound pulls her out of her reverie. Lowering her oddly-patterned wings to the ground, Phae creates a make-shift cave around the creature, extending her feathers so that rays of light peak through the shadows. As his tongue brushes her ankle, a maternal sense of joy spreads through her, as she gently moves to rest her muzzle lightly on its back, nuzzling the dew which has formed there.