well, maybe it's time we moved on

Lady @Kore led him over the border. He took a note of it, knowing his scent was too weak to add to the land of Greenwood right now. His current 'quest' of sorts was escorting his leader back to safe land. He kept a soft distance between them, falling back to allow her the right to lead him forward. 

Bran had no qualms about being here. Perhaps his instinct was right. It seemed a peaceful enough place, where he could have room to place roots. The man was silent, letting the lady of the Plains her words. If she spoke to him, he angled his head to listen. Unflinchingly. Her words did not so much break him but make him ponder.

If anyone untoward approached them, he would be quick to place himself between them. But so far, it only seemed like Persephone and him were here.

the staff team luvs u

^^

"Perhaps you might tell me more about you, Godbrand," the she-wolf hummed, perking her ears as they walked, side by side. Her strides were soft and languid, a gentle away in the small breeze.

He was interesting, as were all she came across but he had been so ready to pledge to a cause he believed in and it tickled her curiosity. She tilted her chin as to glance up at him, smile serene and patient. They would walk about the land, some of it, allowing him to take in parts of his new home. Had he any questions, Kore would be glad to answer them. ^^

the staff team luvs u

 Ah, yes.

She wanted to know about him. That was normal. Sadly, Bran assumed he was terribly dull. He let a soft silence hang between them as he gathered his thoughts, attempting to weave the strands of memory together in a tapestry. She would be used to others, surely, telling her they lacked memory. If he was to believe Canis stole thought, it was a common enough assessment of the situation. Logical even.

 So that is why he didn't waste her time with idiocy.

 "I do not remember much. It comes back in bits and pieces" Though he still felt the need to caution "I believe I was raised by a woman, alone. I remember I was small and she walked, and then I walked to keep up with her. She was my mother, but I think I would tower over her now. As I grew, she shortened." And then, they parted eventually. On equal, respectful terms.

 Like all children did eventually.

"My father was never in the picture. I believe I have siblings, from the same litter" Bran continued as they walked "Mother did not seem to care about him, nor know him well" He did not know what to make of that to this day "she had fled with me and tried to find the others to flee when a natural disaster hit my place of birth." Alas, his brothers and sisters were not found in time.

 If they lived, he was not sure.

"She was from another land. Mother tried to find the route again, and we got lost. Slipped into other worlds. Canis is the first place I have to think of my memories, for the other places were so clear. They allowed me to keep them. Sometimes, I went to lands with gods. Others lacked gods, either dead or forgotten about." This was the longest he had talked, and he both hated and was relieved by it.

 He paused, letting this sink in before continuing.

the staff team luvs u

^^

Like some, he held very little memory of his life before. He did better than others, remembering tidbits and little details. Kore listened, quiet as she walked by his side and gave him plenty of her attention. Sometimes wolves did not stick around to raise the litter that they had created together, the little Queen knowing that to some it was simply instinct and then after that, they were done. It seemed that Godbrand's father had been part of the population to believe that.  She hummed softly, intaking his information with patience and wonder.

What was most curious, though, was how he declared this was not his first life. He had lived before, in worlds where Gods walked and breathed, obvious to the naked eye and others where they were nothing but distant memories. "Were you a wolf then, too?" She inquired softly, curiously, tilting her chin so that she might look up at him. How interesting.

"It is fine to not remember wholly. Some who arrive here remember nothing at all," Kore supplied, knowing it was out of their control on how they arrived and what happened to them after. This had been written in the stars since the beginning of time, destined to happen. She wondered if he thought that, believed in that, given the countless worlds he had found himself in prior. Kore wondered how long it would be before he might be done in this world, too.

She rather hoped it was not any time soon.^^

the staff team luvs u

"I only remember being a wolf."

He sounded certain, but if that was true - what a wasted opportunity. He frowned inwardly. The way Lady @Kore said it, made it seem like others had come here with different origins. Including species. The thought was... strange, to him at least. Why then, did they change species? So much was left unanswered to him, but Bran continued the best he could. Ignoring what he could not grasp or fix. It seemed pointless to fight the will of whatever had captured them.

"If I have lost time in other worlds, I am not aware."

Contradicting what he said, he was also open to the possibility of it. There was no way to know for sure after all. "If I had been in a world before this one, memory taken, I am not aware" He looked across the Plains "this world seems to have taken inspiration from others. But I am used to waking up in a general location, used to greet newcomers and travelers" He spoke of a recruiting area "leaders of packs would come to them, lost and confused." Some answered some claimed.

Speaking of.

"Very rarely did females reign. Most of them were vagabonds until -" Bran's tongue clicked lightly, annoyed "- they were oft claimed into a pack without a choice, left to defer to the 'power' an alpha had. Many women were forced into a situation they could not escape from" He turned to look at Lady Kore from the corner of his eye, frowning "do others claim here?" He clearly did not like the idea - of man or woman. He hoped not, but could not know.

It would just be another adjustment.

the staff team luvs u

^^

"It must be quite confusing, in retrospect," the Irishwoman hummed thoughtfully. He seemed to not be affected by it much, opting for acceptance than a fight. Kore nodded slightly, to herself, pleased that he seemed to have a balanced outlook. Her ears perked as she drank in more information, greedy for the knowledge. "Oh," she mused, "there was a method to the madness." If always did he wake in a place, a meeting ground for people alike, lost and confused.

Kore tilted her head, contemplative, as he continued on and told her how her sex lived in those worlds. Not in a position for power, they were simply wanderers until they were not, claimed and taken. "Not in these Plains," she divulged serenely, "though I am sure there are men akin to beasts who take what they wish, somewhere outside." It was a dream that no such beasts exists but she was certain that they do.

All species had monsters, after all.

"Women, too," she added in an afterthought. Monsters were not determined by gender norms. "I have not yet met any," Kore revealed, "I find myself rather thankful for that, of course." She was not a silly girl, she knew her stature did not make for the best defender and if some desired to steal her, she supposed they would be able to. Here, she had yet to form her secret circle. With that loss, Greenwood was particularly open to be victims. It was something she was working on though not many ventured to the Plains for her to recruit but that kind of footfall meant that it was also unlikely someone dangerous might come knocking.
^^

the staff team luvs u

"It is not for me to know; I accept this."

If the gods or spirits or fickle singular creator willed it - then it would be so. He did little to fight against fate unless he felt there was something to fight for. Lady @Kore would continue that it didn't seem to be the norm in the land here, but it could easily change elsewhere. He grunts a soft agreement.

"Women were always equal" Bran said quietly "in my mother's land. In my land of birth too. I recall an empress and a kingdom that Mother had been briefly part of - before the disaster and we fled" Suffice to say, he was confused by the sexism in others "Mother was smaller than you." He added as if he could guess Lady Kore's thoughts.

"And she bit lots of men." This time, he huffed. Somewhat amused.

Not in a sexual way, but more... She was rowdy. A fighter. She did not leave her son alone to sleep with other men, or women. She cared for Bran, the only survivor of the disaster from her litter. It must have been hard on the old dwarf. It was something she kept inside, never talking about. But he knew it hurt her.

"It is not illogical for a woman to hold power over men. It is illogical there is a divide of gender."

the staff team luvs u

^^

"For the best," she agreed softly. He desired no fight for the memories lost, the memories who remained, the worlds that changed. That was good, his peace evident and strong.

He tells her more, willingly and without her encouragement. Kore is happy for it, finding that he might be comfortable now where he needed no extra prompt. His mother had a made a home where women and men were equal, that there was no imbalance and for that, Kore was grateful. She had birthed a man who harboured the same beliefs, unwilling to fight against them and instead he saw evidence of it, namely in the way his mother made it so. Little but not unwilling to put a fight, teeth embedded in many man, so told by her son, Godbrand. She giggled, softly and airily, "a good woman."

The little Queen nodded, humming in agreement. "Oh, you will find that those of Greenwood do not fall into the idea that men are superior," she told, wagging her tail. "It is unheard of in any that I have yet met, you will be happy to hear," Kore hadn't the displeasure of meeting anyone of antiquated ideas. "Power is seen in size and what one has between their legs, in the old ways. Though before the old ways, the ancient ways stood strong and in many cultures, rulers were either or," she hummed, "where it divided, or who was responsible, I suppose we might never know." ^^

the staff team luvs u

It was easier to speak to women than men, mostly. Some were wrapped up in their own worlds to really listen. That went for each gender, but he found he butt heads with men rather easily. Women could be spoken to, at least... most of them. He found he was lulled by Lady Kore's company, her gentleness. She was a reasonable sort, and he didn't have to know her for long to see this.

He dipped his head somewhat when the woman remarked on his mother being good. "She would protest such a label." Another huff. Amused. She was certainly chaotic and loud, resulting in Bran being the 'good boy' he was today. Often had to defuse situations to prevent his mother from being killed. Ah. Such was life. Lady Kore continued to speak, and he turned his head to listen as she spoke of old ways.

"Is that what you believe in?" Perhaps it was her turn to tell a little, but if not? That was also fine. He could admit to being curious. "In the ancient ways?" Paganism - his mind flickered the name to view, tempting him with more but vanishing.

the staff team luvs u

^^

She smiled softly, her amusement quiet to his words. "Oh, from what ye have said, I do not doubt that now," Kore laughed, the sound soft as she flicked her tail behind her. It wagged, merrily, slowly, proof of how content she was on this walk with the man Godbrand. 

Kore nodded at his question, "yes," she confirmed softly. "My culture is of Old Magicks and of Ancient Ways," the little Queen divulged, mismatched gaze watching him curiously as they walked. "Oh, careful," Kore nudged his shoulder with her own, discarded twigs with branches in their path, not wishing for him to prick his paws. "Nature is the oldest power we have here on this Earth, before we even existed it thrived but quite different to what it is now," Kore offered, voice a melody as she hummed.

She knew not everyone would think it or believe it, choosing instead to think her crazy. Yet she knew, she saw more than most. Kore would take their disbelief easily, knowing not everyone had the ability to open their minds to different things. Some saw the world for face-value, an inability to see further. The little Queen held no ill-will, she was here to guide them if that's what they desired. Kore wondered what the man Godbrand thought. ^^

the staff team luvs u

Her nudge caught him off guard. He veered to the side, confusion flickering in his amber eyes. He had to look around before his head slipped at her words. His brow furrowed before it relaxed. He conceded with being led around the branches. "One should listen when an old dog barks." He rumbled the old proverb quietly before he realized something.

"Ah" Bran stumbled "no. You are not an old dog" he further stumbled "nature is. Old, that is. We should listen to what it says." He didn't think she would be offended, but he didn't know Lady Kore enough to know for sure. True, people could be so hasty to assume the worst. They could jump down throats - he just cut the head off the snake before it bit him.

He disliked when people barked. In an accusing way, mind. He flustered himself with overly worrying, veering back to her side as they walked once more. This time, he let the silence hang over. Bran felt like he had been scolded - and nobody had done a thing to him,

the staff team luvs u

^^

She giggled as he moved quickly to cover his tracks, though she thought it unnecassary. She hadn't taken any offense. "Ye need not worry, Godbrand," she soothed with a soft smile, lips twitching with amusement. "My soul is old, I would think. Though I did not think ye was calling me old," Kore mused, hoping that he felt better and not as if he had offended her.

Hopefully in time he would come to learn that she was not the type of person to jump down his throat or take offense straight off the bat. Very rarely did Kore get offended, typically unflappable by fury and offense -- though it wasn't to say she was incapable of it. She just wasn't going to have a go at him for... well, nothing. "The saying rings true," Kore agreed. "Nature does not lie, it cannot. We are much younger than nature, if anyone has truths to say, it is surely that," to be so arrogant to think they knew more than nature itself was not something that Kore practised, for how could she? It had been here long before wolves had been and it would be here long after, too.

"Do you have a path you wish to walk within Greenwood, Godbrand?" ^^

the staff team luvs u

He resisted ducking his head or flinching. Bran just cast Lady Kore a fleeting, grateful look before the conversation shifted. Left at that, he assumed he had an old soul too. Not as old as nature though. Some get upset over age he thinks, recalling past conversations that came back to him slowly. It was best to apologize before one got upset, even if there was no need for such a thing.

"I do not know Greenwood well enough to decide," Bran said quietly "I have plied my body as a guard before, and I am able to hunt" It was broad and also not "I lack the skill for medicine" Best be truthful "I would just be content doing patrols and bringing back food for the cache." If Lady Kore had a plan for him, he assumed he could make it a reality through hard work and determination.

He did not expect anything handed to him. "I am open to suggestions, however."

the staff team luvs u