The fantastically labeled outskirts of the city weren't particularly unfamiliar to me. The forest there sung a hymn that was solemn and lulling and magnificent all at the same time, its harmony a pitch that I had listened for, for the entirety of my consciousness. It was a kind of song that sang every note that I needed to hear and offered me a physical, audible reminder that there was a place in the world that was more naturally home than any man made structure or environment. As the confines of mundane life began to shrink further, and further inward I found the song louder and louder until it was like a mantra, not even gently but pulling me with torque to a place that would silence my mind. As if the dull routine of ordinary life wasn't enough to silence my mind instead it gave me hundreds of other ideas of places that were thousands of miles away from the four walls of my office or the sandalwood smell of the workspace at the shop that had fallen into my hands. At times, I wished for the freedom that any were-creature might have, the ability to slide into another skin unrecognizable and unsuitable for the human world in which to evade whatever it was in their world that they decided unreasonable. As of late, I wanted it more and more.

Translating had become an increasingly tedious job that I often wondered if I should bother partaking in any longer. My affinity for language brought in a respectable amount of honest money, but... in respect to honest money, why do I need that, again? The shop brought in a good amount of money even if it were only a hobby of mine. Hardly did I need money as gold, silver, precious metals and jewels were at my fingertips whenever I wanted or needed them. Translating used to be a job I enjoyed, putting cultural experience to good use but now? Dealing with fat men in suits that slept with secretaries in locked offices were becoming exasperating at best in place of the dark humor I had found in them originally. The reason I stayed employed as a long time contractor in any of my businesses was linked to the often nefarious motives that the higher business men carried deep in their wallets and endless pockets. If they wanted to pay me for a service that was easier to commit than the tasks handed to me in an office, by God who was I to say no?

Maybe I just need a career change to a coroner.

One of my extracurricular not so honest activities had brought me to the outskirts of town, again. While the song and undeniable pull of the forest had made me want its solace more than anything else had, with the drugs sold and the remnants erased I was free to take a walk with Mother Nature until my feet hurt. I had been planning on such a date with the fine woman when a bear ambled through my vision, clearly strolling around for something. What was a bear doing around here? Maybe Goldilocks had been playing in the park earlier, and courted by none other than the mystique of the forest she had run off to play and Momma bear was hungry. I had lit a cigar some time prior, and with its flame starting to burn low I exhaled heavily to expel whatever lasting trepidation I had over my variety of jobs to follow a sense of curiosity that had only served me poorly in the past. Why stop a good thing now?

The forest was kind enough to let me walk silently, as whatever whims I may have around these materials and the earth Mother Nature was kind enough to let me exploit. Drawing nearer, though, I realized my bear-assumption had been entirely wrong. Not entirely, as the wolf was the size of said animal but quite definitely NOT a bear. I wanted to appreciate the massive size that the wolf had appeared into, but instead I paused a moment to watch what the wolf was doing. And in pausing, I noticed every familiar piece of that animal's existence... Since when was Raven so ... bear-like? Thoughtfully, I put the cigar out as I knew it was something of offense to her and it would be in my best interest not to anger a bear-wolf.

"I actually think you're quite pretty!"

I fought terribly hard not to let the snicker of sorts fall from my lips, knowing full well that nothing I did was going to be in my favor around the wolf. Against my better judgment for my own safety, I did move forward to hear the conversation better in order to get an idea of just what was going to happen to said little creature if the Bear-Wolf-Raven decided she was as hungry as she looked. I had a better chance of survival, especially due to our location, but c'mon. Who tells a hungry wolf she's pretty and thinks that the wolf is going to use the compliment to decide if dinner is still on, or not? Close enough that my scent might be recognizable to the wolf but far enough away that I was able to use whatever the environment gave me for an escape, I stopped and stood straighter as if I was going to let the wolf know I wasn't afraid, but I wasn't going to come closer to her.

"All the better to eat you with, my dear." The words were based out of Little Red Riding hood, and I cocked a brow to see if the little thing would get the reference. "Headed to Grandmother's house?"

I visibly cringed for the girl when she reached to touch Raven's ear, and immediately shook my head which allowed a swirl of leaves to pick up between the girl and the wolf, making it so she couldn't physically touch her.

"I wouldn't do that... Though pretty, the big bad wolf does bite."