Welcome to Gaia! ::

It had been a while since those weird things had happened in Oldcastle; the shindig party concerning the Queen and all that. Annelie hadn't been there, but stories travel fast, especially between the ears of the rich.

Ever since Yana had come into 'being,' Annelie's employers had taken on some sort of new-found ... religious outlook on life in regards to the Old Ways. Apparently seeing a real guardian and hearing more talk about the End of Humanity had really struck something in them and they were trying to save their souls.... That or riding the Wolves and Guardians train was in fashion now and thus they had to hop aboard. Either way, the servant found herself in Oldcastle with her employers, a rabbit, and a large...fawn, on some sort of pilgrimage.

It had been an interesting trip, to say the least. Cramming so much into one carriage had thankfully been deemed as 'too much,' and so two were used on the trip down from Palisade. But regardless of how much or how little room there was, putting an excitable creature like Yana into a carriage was like putting a whizbang into a glass jar. Or in other words, Yana thought it was the BEST. THING. EVER. AND OH MAN LOOK SHE COULD SPRING FROM ONE SEAT TO THE NEXT OVER LUGGAGE.

It was a long ride....

Luckily upon arrival, Annelie was put on the task of gathering necessities. Which brings us to the current situation of the young woman just no longer giving a s**t while an over exuberant deer runs circles through an empty park, wet grass and mud flying everywhere. Every so often a large rabbit would move away from Annie and give chase to the young doe before returning to nibble grass nearby.

"Just don't get mud on me," warned the woman, not like Yana was listening.

It was gray and damp, but irritated voices still managed to carry well, especially to the huge ears of a rabbit. Sitting up and nose twitching, the creature, who resembled a flemish giant, gave a series of quick warning stamps, but otherwise continued to eat the clover hanging from its mouth. But it alerted Annelie well enough, and even Yana, the young deer stopping her antics to freeze mid stride.

It wasn't hard to miss the huge Guardian trotting towards them... or the mask upon his face, nor the child on his back. Annelie's face gained a partially quizzical look. Did these creatures really choose their partners so young -- oh wait, there was another man. She squinted and took a couple steps forward, unsure if she should call Yana to her, or go to the yearling herself. Her fingers twitched as she eyed the inevitable meeting.

Yana didn't move as the large buck approached, content to do a frozen staring contest until he started... shaking? And a mini person was now shouting! Nerves over took the once excitable yearling and on a dime she turned and bounded away to hide behind Annelie, much like the boy did with his.... caretaker? when he was put on the ground.

"I-I..." Annelie stammered, eyes glancing down at Yana, who was surprisingly staring at the little boy rather than the huge and rather intimidating Guardian. With a sigh the woman looked back at the young man presumably named Gabriel and simply bowed her head and curtsied, just as she did with anyone above her in rank.

(Omg forgive me. Horrible post x-x )

When the boy bowed and addressed her, Annelie repeated her previous motions and bowed her head back. It was such an automatic response that even if Gabriel had expressed it to be unnecessary far earlier, she still would've done it. Such things were hard to break from, though the young man's statements at least got the woman's voice going.

"...Friends?" she asked, unsure of what he precisely meant... if anything at all. Aloof in nature, Annelie was only waiting for a catch, some order or 'favor' to be given or asked of. Yet on the flip-side, the deer behind her legs was not so skeptical of the world, and she knew what 'Friends' meant. Not to mention Morai had gained her attentions again with that playful pose.

As if someone had wound her up again, Yana bounded away from her Chosen's legs and leaped towards the bigger, older Guardian with tail twitching like a cat toy. She feigned a left, then stopped, ears up, waiting for him to move again and pay attention. There was no need to play with the rabbit! Almond was grand, but that large bunny wasn't as fast as HER.

She peeped like a bird, a noise that deer her age probably shouldn't be able to make.

"...I see," replied Annelie, hands clasping behind her back. She remained unconvinced, and didn't bother too hard to keep the skepticism off her face. But it was no reason to be unkind (rules still governed her, after all), and she offered the slightest of smiles as Gabriel introduced himself and his little merry band. "Ah - Sirs."

She then looked to the Guardian named Morai, and to Yana by association. The young deer had just broke from her statue impersonation and 'twirled' backwards from the playfully lunging buck. She wiggled her tail again and stomped her little hooves, turning once more before she took off at an awkward run that only young stilted animals are able to achieve. Annelie gave a genuine laugh in spite of herself, but quickly stifled it with the back of her hand.

"Any of his uniqueness is um... well matched by Yana's." The young woman looked back to Gabiel and Edgar. "I am Annelie Cox..... And that is Almond," she added when a large, maple brown creature appeared next to the boy. The large rabbit from the field had meandered over, all in her own time, of course, and was now sniffing at the child's leg. "She's quite friendly. She is from the Wardwood as well, of which I'm sure you are well acquainted with."

Yana would honk back now and then, as her usually vocalizations of peeps and chirps just didn't seem to cut it in the height of a chase. She was indeed a fast one though, even with the awkward grace of adolescence, and this type of game was HER GAME. She would not be defeated easily.

With another honk and chortle, she waited till Morai drew up next to her before stopping on a dime and practically turning in mid air. Tail flashing she leaped and bounded back the way they'd came, happily splashing in mud puddles as she went. NEENER NEENER.

Annelie found herself watching the guardians and their shenanigans again, but Gabriel's movements brought her back. She wasn't uncomfortable, though it was now apparent that an actual conversation was inevitable. Hopefully she could keep herself composed enough, and watch her words. Being life-long friends with Ilmar had only bestowed her with a large repertoire of d**k jokes in times when formalities were not necessary.

She cleared her throat, glanced at Almond who was perfectly content, and then looked to Gabriel. "My um, my employers. I serve the Davies' family from Palisade. They wanted to come to Oldcastle after what happened with the Queen's party." It wasn't the whole reason, but it was enough she thought. Annelie didn't know Mrs. Davies' social plans. "...Are you from here? If I'm not being too forward."

Almond was indeed content. Granted, not much ever ruffled her proverbial feathers, but this was good. The boy was being gentle, and she certainly didn't mind being cooed at and told she was pretty.

Nose ever twitching, she sat up on her rump and sniffed at his hair. She was most assuredly not a man-eating creature, though she did take an exploratory nibble at a couple strands before snuffling in his ear.

A look was cast over the little deer's shoulder as she dodged a rock, one that could've been considered 'cheeky' were deer blessed with better facial expression. But anything lacking in that part was made up in her actions, especially when she stopped and faced the in-coming buck in an incredibly teasing manner.

"...Bother?" Annelie questioned, confused for a second before the lights clicked on as to what he meant. "Oh! No, no, not at all. My employers have uh, how do I put it.... They have 're-grasped' the Old Ways, or are so trying to. With all that has happened, they're accepting Guardians as some sort of life-saving sign." She paused, and then quickly added, "but please pardon my openness. I mean it in no offense to them." Whoops. She mentally kicked herself for being so loose lipped, especially with someone of the likes as Gabriel. Not only did she not know him, nor his family, but she definitely could see he was quite high up in the rankings.

Luckily there was more conversation, as well as a child, to cause distraction. Annelie had never been too terribly fond of children, despite caring for one often, but Edgar was endearing enough. She couldn't help but give a small smile at his proclamations, especially when there was a rabbit shoving its nose in his ear. Gabriel's lowered voice caught her off guard though, and she startled, staring at him wide-eyed until words began to register.

Wolves? Dangerous forest ? -- wait. Right. Yes. Of course.

She blinked rapidly. "Right, no. Certainly that would not be safe, especially for a boy so young. He should not have to live so close to those fears..." As for the dangers of the wardwood itself, Annie didn't have to be told twice. She had been to them multiple times... but it was dark times, and that place was very obviously restless.

Oh wait, there was another question."Not terribly long.... Several months now. Yours?"

That was a new noise! A strange noise! Yana spun about once, twice, three times in excitement as if doing so would help her comprehend what Morai had done. It didn't, but that was fine with the young doe. All she wanted to do was make that noise too!

She stuck out her tongue, but nothing else happened. Instead she just appeared to be licking air. If Morai couldn't save anyone from wolves, Yana would be as useful as a stocking.

Annelie wasn't paying attention to her charge's antics though. Instead she was caught in her own bout of comprehensions, albeit it didn't cause her to twirl in circles like with her deer counterpart. Gabriel's opinions of his own social class and preferences had made her eyebrows raise in seemingly mild amusement, but his apologies for maybe appearing odd with an even more so upbringing made them stay there. She didn't know his family or its history, or at least she didn't remember hearing anything of it. As far as she could tell,well, he seemed rather normal, however still very, very much situated in his social rank despite what he was just admitted.

But there was little opportunity to comment immediately, as Edgar's question made her laugh. "You may, if you can manage it. You'll quickly find that she is almost as long as you are tall." Regardless if the boy couldn't manage it, Annelie knew Almond wouldn't mind the attempt. The animal was so placid it was almost uncanny.

And as if to just prove the rabbit's accepting nature, Almond nosed the boy's hand before lowering herself back to the ground and into an easier position to get a hold of.

Annelie resumed conversation with Gabriel, "Odd personality and interesting upbringing, you mentioned? You'll fit in fine enough with us common folk." She offered a smile, her words not meant to be condescending. However she couldn't help adding, "though you would be a very well dressed commoner," and then quickly waving her hand about to indicate his immaculate outfit.

She laughed. "You need a bit of dirt to fit in properly."

If she were conversing with Ilmarinen, she would've told him to calm his tits.... but such talk in this case would have been grossly out of place. Edgar seemed to have the right of it, though, and was much more eloquent. Annelie smiled appreciatively. "Very right, Edgar," she softly agreed. "Many forget that were are all just people."

Almond meanwhile merely wiggled her ears at the kiss, but was content enough. Though a rustling in Annie's direction caused her to perk up, especially when the woman pulled out a rolled-up paper bag from her apron pocket. That really got the rabbit's nose going, and for the first time that meeting she looked undoubtedly excited.

"You can give her some of these," she said, extending the parcel down to Edgar. Almond was already up and nipping at the paper, knowing full well what was inside. "It's just dandelion flowers, but I do believe she enjoys them."

When her hands were free, she straightened again. "Don't worry about anything you said. I took no offense, just mild amusement as to why one would continue to associate with a group who they were clearly at ...odds with." She paused, and looked at her toes. "Though now I believe I may have been thinking in black and white, as I'm ignorant of you and your life." At that point she was blushing, though it was entirely out of embarrassment. Still, she looked back at him, face empathetic, and apologetic. "I'm not going to ask what happened, but I am sorry that it did, and that people have treated you in such ways.


.....That and you can't argue with your ....manou? Grandmother? Even I know that rule." She gave a small laugh, hoping to not cause the conversation to sail into 'sad sap' territory.

At least Yana had no idea what was going on. Sad sap territory? No way! She was.... SHE WAS LEARNING THINGS! Or at least trying to. Even with Morai giving such a grade A demonstration right in her face, the yearling was having some difficulty with managing the... finesse of the action. Tongue out, wiggle lips, .....Nothing.

She bleated in discontent. Why was it not working?!