001

[biteoffherhead]

[Voice]

[As always, Moro's use of the journal is extremely minimal. She has only one thing to say to any of you, as she is so kind as to warn you all in advance.]

I have returned. All who grievously harm this forest will die.

[Action]

[With that, Moro can be found in the forest, slowly and stiffly walking about to get herself familiar with the forest of Luceti once more. She sniffs at the bark of trees, scratches at some patches of dirt with her claws, and otherwise silently moves. She has no mark of the demon, as many of her victims from over a year ago have... she has nothing amiss about her other than the bleeding of her chest wound, which is simply dripping along the path she is walking.

She has not yet approached the village. All she has done is use her journal to address them, and she is currently carrying the paper book in her mouth.]

Comments

[feistytrader]

[Silver completely missed her message on her journal; he's been exploring the woods and enjoying the snow with Weavile for the majority of the day.

...But he sees something move. They both do. He has to squint to even try to make out the difference between all the snow and Moro's fur from a distance; Weavile, on the other hand, makes it out almost instantly and starts frantically tugging on his jacket.]

What is it?

[savedtheworld]

[Aang also happens to be in the forest again - on a solitary trudge through the snow. Everything seems nice, quiet - peaceful.

Until he sees snow that's stained red.

He gasps for a moment - that's definitely blood. With concern crossing his face, he cautiously starts to follow the trail. Is someone in danger, in need of aid? Aang will keep his eyes open as he follows the trail.]

[Voice]

[goldenglasses]

Moro! You're back! So-ah, do you remember this place very much? [Like maybe that you don't ALWAYS try to eat him? Just sometimes.]

[Action]

[biteoffherhead]

[Moro's ears are first to detect Silver, when he comments. She turns her nose to it, sniffing hesitantly. That is...

It's so familiar. So very familiar...]

[biteoffherhead]

[Potentially in need of aid... but when has Moro ever accepted such a thing?

Also in the snow are very large, very obviously quadrapedal tracks....]

[Voice]

[biteoffherhead]

[There's a delay! She eventually opens the book again, after she's settled.]

As though it were a dream. I will have to know your scent to recall whether or not I owed you your death.

[Voice]

[goldenglasses]

[That sounds... scary.]

Well, don't worry! I can tell you right now you don't want to kill me! I love the forest! [At least that part is true.] I'm the fun guy in the red coat and blond spiky hair! I don't think you could ever forget me!

[voice]

[all7seas]

Oh, peachy. 'Allo, Moro-darling.

voice

[inyourfavor]

[Effie Trinket has been desperately wanting a dog of her own. A guard-dog. A loving, protective dog. A beautiful dog. A dog named "Jason," though she is willing to compromise. A hesitant voice clears its throat and then asks:]

Hello, Madam Creature. My name is Effie Trinket. Is it true that you are excellent at defending...things?

[Action]

[feistytrader]

[He keeps quiet and starts moving towards Moro; it isn't until he's closer that he can make out that no, that's not snow, that's a living thing. Something big. Something off-white that's bleeding, but otherwise perfectly camouflaged.

No way. There's no way. Is it...?] Moro?

[He says it much quieter, and very much to himself, as if his eyes are just playing tricks on him and Moro won't actually be there any second now.]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru's missed out on a good deal of training in the last couple of months. It's a pain in the ass, but unless he wants his techniques to start backsliding, he should keep up on them, and it's for this reason he's out in the forest. When it comes to practicing his clan's jutsus, he's never been comfortable with the Battle Dome.

Though it's not just that he's practicing today. In his absence, his pact with Twila had suffered. It was surprisingly quick to take him back; it took no time at all to pick up from where they left off. With a combination of his own abilities and what he's learned from Twila, Shikamaru had been testing his range along the shadows of the forest floor when he feels it. Some other presence here; his shadow crossed with another, something large but not cast by the trees. He snaps his shadow back to himself like a rubber band.]

[savedtheworld]

[Oh. Yes. Those are very large tracks there. And there's a chill running down Aang's spine at the familiarity. He probably doesn't have Moro's pawprint memorized, but the size of the prints do start to raise the possibility in his head.

He gives a shallow breath colored by frost and trudges onward, continuing to follow the trail while stepping only in the clean portions of the snow.]

voice;

[cilantro]

My, that's quite a bold declaration to make... [A very bold and kind of unsettling one, that is. Cilan hasn't made the connection that this is the wolf that Silver told him about once before yet, but at least we don't know anyone who would "harm the forest", or anyone that frequently goes there to...poke around for and collect herbs and other plants...or has a tendency to swing on vines or climb trees or what not....

...Should he be concerned about Iris playing in the forest now. 8|]

[complicatedliar]

[Here's Loki, riding through the forest like he does fairly often, if Moro would like to be all giant and wolf-like at him. He hasn't looked at his journal yet this day, but it's a safe bet that even if he had, he wouldn't be all that impressed. Because he's an arrogant jerk.]

[Action]

[biteoffherhead]

[There is a pause, and she turns her head up at him. That voice... it sounds familiar.

It pieces together.]

You're the boy.

1/2

[feistytrader]

You're not a demon anymore.

[She's... Normal. She's okay. And she seems to recognize him.]

[Action]

[feistytrader]

Is this some kind of experiment?

[Are you real?]

[biteoffherhead]

[Naturally, he will come to the end of the trail. And it's where the statue dedicated to Moro was built! It's where she's stopped, staring at it in confusion and some disbelief.

Is this a dedication to her...?]

[Voice]

[biteoffherhead]

[As it should! Moro is scary.

Also she is just a wolf, she can't differentiate red and green whatsoever.]

The one that smells of gunpowder. I recall.

[Voice]

[biteoffherhead]

The man that smells like brine.

[She doesn't remember names as much as scents, unfortunately.]

[Voice]

[biteoffherhead]

[What an odd question.]

I fulfill my purpose to the fullest of my strength and life.

[Action]

[biteoffherhead]

[Moro was vaguely aware of the scents, though they were quite prominent and mixed as trails through the forest. Moro suspects that she sees some movement, but her eyes were never the strong suit. Her ears turn, and she sniffs.

Ah. She recognizes that scent. It seems she does not deem the source a threat, as she visibly relaxes tensed muscles.]

Another familiar scent.

[Voice]

[biteoffherhead]

It is absolute.

[It might call for some Etiquette Time...]

[Action]

[biteoffherhead]

[Loki, unlike quite a number of people he has encountered, is an entirely new and different scent. Moro has no qualms in stalking after him, not intending to hide her presence whatsoever, though she has no current reason to interpret him as threatening.

She wonders if the horses remember to be frightened.]

[Action]

[biteoffherhead]

No more than I was before.