A muffled scream left her lips as Castalla jolted awake. She reached for one of her daggers, only to find it was not there. She wasn’t in Alanaris anymore. Sweat coated her body, fronds of pale hair stuck to her neck and brow. The images still haunted her vision, that face leering in every shadow of the forest. Bile rose in her throat, the phantom pain still clawing viciously at her insides. Hastily she staggered to the nearest bush, violently emptying the contents of her stomach.
It was a while before she finished retching, the images finally disappearing from her mind’s eye and the events leading up to her unintentional nap in the forest graced her recollection. Waking up in a particularly poor mood that morning, the Wolf had found herself wandering the forest surrounding the vitreus lake. With no one to spar against and no targets to pursue, there remained little more to do than practice her magic. And, for the first time since arriving in Novus, Castalla had successfully shifted into a wolf form. Only it had been so taxing that upon returning to her equine form she’d promptly passed out. In the middle of the forest. On her own. Not that she would want to do it surrounded by anyone of course.
“I need a drink.” She growled to the silence around her. This was perhaps one of the few times in her life where such a thing was appropriate.
----
The shadow were drawing in as night approached and the homely tavern was packed with uproarious guests. No one noticed the mare as she slipped through the doors, head lowered slightly, a grim glower upon her otherwise captivating features. At the bar she asks for a bottle whiskey and heads for the darkest corner of the inn, where the shadows might obscure her from view. Anonymity was a blessing in Novus. It was very difficult for a Princess to find such an escape in the towns around Nightfall Keep- not when all the patrons knew their future queen by scent.
Open <3
