I love the smell of pine needles in the morning

[Luella Najha]

Luella had only just arrived in New Zealand, but already she liked it. Most people would be taken in by the kind society, or the different culture, but Luella liked it because it was far from her father's reach, and the forests were beautiful. The smell of pine needles woke her each morning, accompanying the melodic voices of the birds twittering and the sounds of their wingbeats as they flitted between the trees. Her senses were more highly attuned than most humans, and this gave her a special and unique insight into the natural world that most others of her age had no idea about. Just looking closely at moss on the ground was enough to make her smile as she contemplated the complex, and yet simple at the same time, structure of it, and how it felt under her furry paw.

The clearing she was currently in was lit up by the cool, but bright nonetheless, morning sun, and she basked in it, closing her eyes and breathing gently as she took in the different aromas of her surroundings. She was hungry today, and she wondered whether she might find any food today. First, however, was her usual morning scratch. Leaning up against a nice tough tree, she rubbed up and down, snorting in delight at the simple pleasure. Dropping back onto her forepaws with a heavy thud, she set off at a slow walk through the forest, hoping to sense any prey before they noticed a bear lumbering towards them. She prided herself on her excellent tracking skills, and it wasn't long before she picked up the faint smell of water. Tracking it, she reached a small river, and she paused by the side in the shade of a small tree, watching the river intently for the sign of any fish.
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[Mariposa Toviniski]

Pon's definition of keeping an eye on Mariposa was using a point me spell and staying around twenty feet away from the annoying fairy. It didn't behoove Mariposa that much though, as she was allowed to rummage about the forest and make animal friends all day long whenever Pon baby sat her. Posie thought it was a bit silly, she was in her twenties - and it had been years since she last got lost. Why did they feel the need to give her a watcher? Regardless Mariposa made sure that she was listening should she be called back, but also took in the sights around her.

The petite blonde was still in her show uniform, the incandescent lights of her fairy costume causing her to stand out among the trees. it wasn't until the trickling of water called Mariposa's name that she was truly drawn to something. Looking to her west - or maybe it was North - the contortionist spotted something. It had brown fur and was large - a bear! Mariposa smiled eagerly. She loved animals, magical and non, and to make friends with another would surely be something she could do right? In the pouch at her side - the middle one not the two containing glitter - she rummaged and found some strawberry's that she'd brought along for the forest hike. Slowly she stood in the river, along the way. Her barefoot sandals did not protect her from the chill of the water that lapped at her feet - but she minded not. Biting her lower lip, Posie made her way toward the creature, knowing that standing downwind in the water could prevent it from smelling her. When she got close enough she knelt down on a rock and held forward her hands, showing the strawberries, wondering if the sight or the scent would catch the bear's attention.

Mariposa was consistently yelled at for doing things like this, but she believed all animals were good in nature unless you posed a threat. At 4'9" Mariposa was small enough to be a young bear, and weighed less than the creature did by probably a hundred pounds. She did not fear it though, and instead wanted to be it's friend. This approach worked on many animals, from dogs who were only hungry, to the black bear she once road in to camp that terrified her circus mates so much that she was put on house arrest for a while. Slowly she spoke to it. "I've got food. Don't be afraid." She gave a smile that lit up her sparkling orbs, and the innocence behind her would allow her to be mauled if the bear so chose.

 

[Luella Najha]

Luella had just decided that this river probably didn't have any fish in, and bent down to have a drink seeing as she was there anyway. However, a distinct splashing noise reached her ears, and she reared up out of the water and swung to face the threat, her fangs bared and definitely ready to kill. As she turned to face whomever or whatever was there, she instinctively tensed to prepare her for a flight, or a fight, if necessary. However, it turned out to be a human, and by the looks of her, not very dangerous; Luella was a witch still though, and she knew that although the woman might be small, her wand could still be dangerous if she carried one, and although she let her snarl drop, she kept her guard up just in case, her muscles still tensed to spring just in case. She was soon surprised when the girl decided to offer her strawberries. She hadn't had strawberries for years, and just the sight of them brought back painful memories of fun with her mother in the strawberry fields back home. Home. Now there was a word. A fugitive from her own father, estranged from his lands, and now across the other side of the world. Her journey had been long, and if would be nice to finally settle down and have a long, quiet sleep. Maybe New Zealand wasn't such a bad place after all; maybe people here were better than in Germany. This girl seemed to be an example of such anyway, and so taking a tentative step forward, Luella shifted her nose towards the distinctive scent and breathed deeply, inhaling the sweet aromas that drifted off the red fruit. Still she was wary however: She disliked human company at most times, and kind this woman might seem, Luella had no intention of abandoning her instincts after they had saved her several timss in the past. As the girl began to speak to her, she finally gave in and with a deft swish of her tongue, scooped one of the strawberries off her hand and cruched down with a satisfying spray of juices. It might not have been meat, but it was food, and it was also delicious food, and she savoured the wonderful taste, not wanting to swallow and lose it.

It was obvious by now that the girl meant no danger to Luella, and so she took the rest of the strawberries from her hand, convinced now that they were safe, and that the girl was offering them freely. Then, contented slightly, she realised that just leaving would be very suspicious, and certainly not something that a normal bear would do, so she lumbered over to a warm patch of sun on the river bank and lay down with a contented sigh, gazing towards the girl with slight curiousness. Given her current bear form, she was comfortable enough in the girl's presence, and so she had no inclination to protect herself with her weapons, or even just her fangs and claws. Still, her natural shyness was the greater of all concerns, and nice as the girl was, she was still a danger. There was no way that Luella was going to transform in front of her, that much was certain.
​

 

[Mariposa Toviniski]

The brown colored bear inched closer, and closer, and Mariposa had to keep herself from bouncing with excitement. Her large, blue orbs widened and she smiled a smile that looked like it may split her face in half. It was amazing to watch the creature move and if she was an artist she would have drawn the beautiful bear. Mariposa wanted to reach out and pat the bears fur, it looked so soft and inviting. She couldn't help but wonder if it would let her ride it. In her thick Russian accent - her voice like chimes made of crystal, Posie spoke. "It's okay, see. Friend." She spoke slowly. "You're so beautiful." She whispered amazed. However the bear left her side once she'd taken some strawberries, and eaten them.

There it was though, just a bit away in a patch of sunlight. Mariposa searched her bag for something else. Did bears like chocolate? or granola? Would it enjoy - there it was. Mariposa pulled the sandwich that Eman had packed her, out of her purse. It was contained in a small back and she removed it, the scent of smoked ham making it's way through the wind. Mariposa held out the sandwich and once again began inching closer. She hoped the bear wouldn't mind that there was mustard on it. The blonde continued to move, holding the sandwich out. "Nice bear, good bear. I am friend."