isleofavalon | [open] gather ye rosebuds while ye may

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[open] gather ye rosebuds while ye may

🧙 WHO: Robyn Goodfellowe and YOU!
⚔️️ WHAT: Catch-all log for Robyn for the month of March
🕒 WHEN: All throughout March
🗺️ WHERE: In and around Camelot
⚠️ WARNINGS: None so far; will update if anything comes up that should be warned about

A. The Search for Sir Fuzzlerton
[Even if this quest is simply to look for a philandering rabbit, Robyn doesn't mind taking it. She feels like doing something a bit more low-key after everything that happened on the journey to the Archivist's...not that she'd be willing to admit it, of course. It's also a good thing she has animal magic, since that means she can ask the rabbits themselves where Sir Fuzzlerton went.

You'll likely find Robyn in any one of the rabbit cafes that have popped up this month, asking around for the lost rabbit--not only the customers, but the rabbits as well.]

Have you seen a rabbit named Sir Fuzzlerton, miss? [She's talking to a rabbit she's holding, and she sighs when the rabbit gives her a seemingly negative answer. She's asked almost every rabbit here now.] Oh...well, thank you anyway.

B. Wolf, Wolf, Run Free
[Robyn is finally starting to get the hang of her shapeshifting, though it's a pity she can't stay as a wolf for too long or else she'll be stuck that way. Instead of going to the training grounds, she can instead be found in the forest of Brocéliande--for what better way to practice being a wolf than in the forest?

If you're in the forest at all this month, you may catch a glimpse of a slender grey wolf, a bit smaller than average, running around. Oddly, it seems as though this wolf isn't quite used to actually being a wolf; you may see her lose her footing and trip occasionally. The wolf is closely followed by a falcon, and anyone who's already met Robyn in person may find this wolf's blue eyes somewhat familiar...]

C. Spring Is Icumen In
[Farming may be long, difficult work, but in Robyn's mind it at least beats working in the scullery since you can be outside. With the weather getting warmer, that's always welcome, and at least they aren't cutting down any of the forest for farming like they were back home.

She's currently helping to clear the fields, mainly by pulling up dead plants to prepare the ground for new planting. Unfortunately, pulling up one plant causes several pixies to fly up out of the ground and start swarming around her.]

Sorry! I-I didn't mean to bother you...! [Too bad the pixies aren't that forgiving, even before Robyn tries to run from them.] Augh, stop! Get away!

D. Wildcard
[I'm open to any other prompts you might think of! I'm also on the CR meme for any additional plotting.]

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[He's often in the forest in what little free time he has to gather medicinal herbs that he couldn't find in the markets.

He has a basket with some roots in it already when he spotted the wolf. When he was younger, he didn't really like wolves owing to one particular bad experience but he's over that now.

So he didn't really tense up though he did watch her...because you know. Wolves are still wild animals. Though his own familiar, a silver-white winged lion-like creature with antlers didn't seem concerned at all as she continued to lay curled up at his side so at least it probably wasn't some sort of dark creature.

But then the wolf tripped and he didn't look surprised, exactly, but he did tilt his head a little before standing up from where he'd been crouched to come closer.]

Are you all right?

[Is something wrong...? He asks even though he's not sure he'd get a response but it felt right to ask when creatures in this place might be able to speak.]

[Robyn wasn't expecting anyone to actually address her while in this form, and she feels a little embarrassed about tripping up when someone was watching. Then again, there are people with animal magic who can speak to animals like she can, so maybe it isn't that weird.

She gets to her feet and shakes herself before turning to the source of the voice. She's been told that wolves aren't actively hunted here like they are where she's from, but she still keeps her distance since there could be people who still don't like wolves anyway.]

Yes, I'm fine. [She says that, but for those who can't understand her it just sounds like barking.]

[He does not, in fact, have animal magic, so it only sounded like barking to him.]

Ah, I'm sorry I don't really understand.

[For all he knows he could be talking to just a wolf but in that case who would know?] Could you bark once if you need help and twice if you do not?

[It was at this point that his familiar lifted her head, realizing that the body she'd be curled up beside was gone. She padded her way over and gave the wolf a brief look before rubbing her head against Chang Geng.

Pay attention to me!

She's very spoiled and even though Chang Geng doesn't understand what she said she's done this often enough that he could only sigh.]

Weren't you sleeping?

[Yeah, she should have known not everyone here can understand her, even with magic. But she can let this stranger know she can understand him, so she barks twice. At least that's a better scenario than her own father not recognizing her when she first transformed back home.

She gives a curious look towards the familiar at Chang Geng's feet. By now she's well aware that there are all kinds of creatures here, but a lion-like thing with wings is certainly new.]

[Oh, it's good that she understands.

His familiar only sat back down when he started petting her on the head, looking very pleased with herself.]

This is Qi Ming and my name is Li Min.

[Because introductions seem important! He stops petting his familiar so he could crouch down.]

Is this your natural form? [A yes no question can probably be answered with a nod or a shake of the head, right?

...can wolves nod?]

[Those names sound very foreign to Robyn, though it's not like she can say that out loud. She already knows that people were brought here from all kinds of places.

She shakes her head no in response to the question. It still feels a little strange to communicate with people like this, but it may be something she'll have to get used to if not everyone can understand her as a wolf.]

[Then was this someone with animal magic? Or some other creature? Would it be rude to ask?

He wondered these questions idly, more curious than truly concerned.]

Are you a person with animal magic?

[Robyn barks and nods once to confirm that yes, she is.

Though honestly, it still feels a little awkward to only communicate like this, so she takes a moment to go behind a nearby tree. A few seconds later, a girl emerges.]

Yes, I am, sir. Sorry about that.

[He waits patiently (and with some degree of curiosity) for her to return.]

There's no need to apologize. If anything, I'm sorry if we were intruding.

[He rests a hand on his familiar's head to indicate that she's part of that 'we'. To which her tail twitched to the side before she rubbed her head against his palm like a big cat.]

It's alright. I know I'm not the only one visiting this place.

It's...nice, though, to go into the forest whenever I want. Back home, I wasn't supposed to leave town at all.

[She's still not entirely sure what to make of being brought here, but she appreciates having more freedom than she did in Kilkenny.]

Why not? Was it dangerous?

[It would make sense...though the 'at all' part of that statement gave him pause.]

Well, the wolves were attackin' people...but that's only because the woodcutters keep cuttin' the trees down to make room for more farmland. I wanted to help them leave for somewhere safe before I got here. I still hope I can.

[It doesn't help that the wolves are led by a girl who refuses to leave without her mother, though.]

People often do not consider the effects their actions have on others.

[He looked at her thoughtfully.] Where would you suggest they go?

[He doesn't think it foolish...and even if he did he wouldn't say it, not when she seemed so serious about it. Besides, wolves, he knew from experience, could be very intelligent.]

Well...there are a lot of other forests in Ireland. I'm sure there's at least one where they aren't usin' up the trees. They can't cut down all of the forests.

[She sounds more confident about saying that than she actually is. And there's still the whole issue of helping Mebh find her mother, so they can both lead the wolves to safety, wherever that may be.]

[His expression doesn't change but in his heart he felt that didn't sound like a long term solution.]

I suppose if people do not settle in those areas the forests may remain untouched...but I'm not sure it is a good idea to rely so much on such uncertainty.

I know, but...we don't really know what else to do. Mebh and I, I mean. She's a Wolfwalker back home like I am, and she lives with the wolves.

[Robyn sighs.] But her mother already left to find them a new place to live, and she hasn't come back yet. Mebh won't leave without her. That's why I said I'd help.

It's an issue with no easy answer...though perhaps there may be someone here who can give you advice.

[...isn't it possible that this Mebh's mother was dead? But he doesn't say it and his expression gives no indication of his thoughts.]

What is a wolfwalker?

[Oh. She just let that slip out, didn't she. Then again, there are people who already know she could turn into a wolf back home.]

They're people who can turn into wolves when they sleep. Most people don't think they're real. Mebh bit me by accident when I met her in the woods, and...now I'm one too. [Even if her abilities aren't quite the same as they are back home.]

[Why does that sound like werewolves...?]

It only happens when you sleep? Is it something you can learn to control?

Well...you always become a wolf when you sleep. You sort of...leave your human body when it happens. But you can go back to your body whenever you want, and then you'll wake up.

I only did it once, before I was brought here. It doesn't work here the same way it did back home, so that's why I'm practicin' out here in the woods.

[At least she got some experience before coming here, even if she has to relearn it all.]

I see. But what happens if something happened to your body while you weren't in it?

[Because that sounds dangerous...]

My body's been fine so far. It was asleep in bed during my first time out, and nobody had any reason to go after it.

[Of course, a Wolfwalker's human body is still pretty vulnerable when they've left it, though Robyn hasn't realized that at this point.]

[He pauses for a moment before speaking again.]

That is good...though is I was thinking more about accidents. Is it not common for a wolfwalker to find someone to watch their body while they are not in it?

Oh, well...I don't really know. I'm still new to bein' one. And Mebh said somethin' about she and her mother being the last ones, so...I'm not sure they do that or not.

[It probably would have helped if she'd had more time to get used to it before being brought here.]

If there aren't others I suppose it'd be difficult to know.

[This is all very alarming...or rather, it should be. But while he has his concerns he doesn't seem very alarmed to hear all this. Though he does have to ask...]

How old are you?

I'm twelve. Why do you ask?

[While she is considered fairly young where she's from, at the same time she's still viewed as old enough to be put to work in the castle scullery...not that she likes doing that at all.]

[He does not say what he was thinking which was 'twelve is rather young to be getting mixed up in all this.' Because as a child getting mixed up dangerous things at fourteen he hadn't appreciated the sentiment.

What he does say instead is this:]

I was a little younger than you when I first encountered wolves in a storm. It wasn't exactly a good experience. I was just thinking that if I had been turned into a wolfwalker I'm not sure I'd be as inclined to help them.

[Maybe. But then those wolves were trained by Jia Lai Yin Huo and the Eighteen Tribes and didn't, in fact, need help from anyone let alone some bastard child of the Emperor that took their priestess from them.]

I see...well, I can't really blame you for that. Wolves can be pretty scary.

[Robyn certainly thought so when she first experienced a wolf attack, even if she was absolutely sure she wouldn't be afraid of them beforehand.]

But even so, they're not always bad. I just wish people would understand that.

Applying words like 'good' or 'bad' to wolves seems a little meaningless. Wolves and humans aren't the same, after all. If a wolf attacks someone isn't it only because it is their nature?

[His situation wasn't all that different. The wolves hadn't attacked because they were bad, they were simply following someone's command.]

Anyone would react badly if someone encroaches on their home. But most people don't see it that way. [He considers it for a moment before he reached out to pat her on the head.] Those wolves are lucky that you're not like that.

I suppose.

But...there has to be a better way of dealin' with them than just killin' them all.

[Unfortunately, as much as you can't apply morals to animals, a lot of people where she's from still take a very black and white view towards wolves.]

There probably is. Whether or not it is something that can be accomplished depends on many factors.

Perhaps you can take the time you have here to figure out more options.

[ Before they could start mass zapping Robyn, the pixies were scattered by a single, loud, thunder-like bark from Stoirm. It did the trick, scaring the pixies away and replacing their anger with mortal terror, as the dire wolf spirit was likely the most intimidating thing they'd seen in some time.

But the result of the bark was also catching Gareth far off guard, causing her to drop the hay bale she'd been carrying, crashing over it, and winding up stumbling her way into Robyn.

A comedy of errors. ][ ]

[That loud bark also startled Robyn, but at least it succeeded in scaring those pixies away, meaning she was safe...at least until Gareth fell over that bale of hay and crashed into her.]

Eek! [For a moment she was a bit dazed as she lay on the ground, but then she realized that the person who she collided with was familiar.]

Sir Gareth...?

O-oh! Robyn! [ Gareth stumbled herself back, trying to get to a righted position, stiffening her back and sucking her her breath. ]

I'm really sorry! Are you okay?

[ Stoirm, for her part just... left, in a small flash of lightning. Rude dog... ]

I'm alright now...I didn't know there would be any fairies around the fields, though.

[Robyn rubbed her head as she tried to get her bearings.] Was that your familiar who scared them off?

Eh heh... Yes. That's Stoirm. She's been something of a guide to me since I got here. She's helped me out a great deal.

[ Despite being a bit rude. But she supposed an elder spirit like her would have earned the right to be a little rude. ]

Mine's been helpin' me, too, with me animal magic. She's pretty quiet a lot of the time, though. And she'll usually be off by herself somewhere.

[Robyn has appreciated her familiar's company, but she does wish she'd be a little more sociable with her. At least she still has Merlyn around most of the time.]

Stoirm prefers to keep to herself, too. Being able to travel via lightning must be awfully convenient...

[ Even Gareth, the social animal she was, felt like she could have used the ability to just definitively leave some awkward situations she'd been in during her life. ]

How goes the harvest, otherwise?

It's goin' fine. Pullin' up all those dead plants is hard work, but at least we get to do it outside.

[Which made it better than being forced to work in the scullery back home, at least. Plus, it's a job that's open to everyone if they want.]

[Brocéliande is one of Barbara's usual haunts--in fact it's where she lives right now--and the sounds of something moving through the trees immediately grabs her attention. She stops what she's doing, listens, and observes--

--it's a wolf.

Now, wolves are common foebeasts back home in Luxendarc. But, so are horses, and horses in Avalon are distinctly different. Plus they aren't usually followed by falcons, and this one also seems to be lacking in a pack...

So rather than try to get in a preemptive strike, Barbara watches it. Her spear is ready in case it does become a threat, but given that it's tripped over its own paw... is it a lost juvenile? Barbara raises her foot and snaps a twig to get its attention, hoping not to frighten it away immediately.]

[Robyn has been out here a few times already, so she's not exactly lost, but she still isn't entirely familiar with the layout of the forest yet. Which is why she still occasionally stumbles while running around.

The snap of a twig does get her attention, though, and she immediately rights herself while trying to figure out the source of the noise. She soon picks up on Barbara's scent nearby--the stranger has a spear, but hopefully Robyn won't give her cause to actually use it. Her ears are still alert, but she sits down to show that she's not a threat.]

[All right, so the wolf is not fleeing immediately, but it also isn't attacking either. Being stared at by a wolf can definitely be a prelude to having to then fight that wolf, but there's nothing in its body language to indicate it's about to leap; Barbara knows the signs from experience.

She stays where she is, not wanting to spook it, as she considers what to do now.]

Not ordinary wolf.

[The observation is half to herself, but she's also considering that it may be an intelligent beast.]

[Robyn can hear what Barbara is saying, even if it's to herself. At least the stranger is able to tell she's not a regular wolf, so being hunted doesn't seem to be a potential problem. She's already been shot at in this form, and she'd rather not go through something like that again.

To show she can understand what Barbara is saying, she wags her tail a few times. She knows that's more of a dog thing, but hopefully that can further convey how she's not dangerous.]

[Barbara tilts her head a little to the side. The tail-wag seems to confirm her assumption. So, Avalon draws in intelligent animals as well as humans and human-like creatures. Or it's just a native wolf that's intelligent. Either makes sense, really.

Barbara puts a hand to her chest.]

Barbara. [And then she considers the wolf for another moment. She can communicate with dragons--that is, she'll never be able to make the sounds that dragons make, but she can understand them well enough--but she's not sure how to talk to a wolf.] You, Avalon?

Yes, Avalon.

[--is what Robyn hears herself saying, but to anyone who doesn't have animal magic, it'll only sound like barking. But she's already aware that not everyone will be able to understand her when she's a wolf.]

[More wolf noises, but it's clearly a response to the question.]

Barbara not know wolf talk. [It would be handy if she did right now. Moogle's told her that animal speech is one of the things people drawn to Avalon can do, but she's just got her elemental magic.] Wolf know nod, shake head?

[Robyn barks again and nods her head in response. At least they're starting to get somewhere. She takes a few steps closer to Barbara as a sign of goodwill, and it does seem safer to do that now.]

[Okay, good. Barbara thinks back--quite far back--to her childhood in Deist. People had dogs there, and a dog is not a wolf, but they're similar creatures. How do you deal with dogs?

She holds her hand out for the wolf to sniff.]

Wolf live this forest?

[As a wolf, Robyn can already see Barbara's scent trailing off of her, but she still sniffs at her hand when she holds it out. She figures it's only polite.

She shakes her head to answer the question, though. As much as she likes to come here, she technically still lives at the Inn.]

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[open] gather ye rosebuds while ye may

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