spirits follow everywhere I go ;

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joanna had managed to gain some acceptance into the forming gang, though her fear of the men never eased. she knew they weren't caleb's killers, but that wouldn't change the way her heart felt. it warned her of growing comfortable with them, to not let her guard down no matter how kind they were.

the woman had gone out to the meadow sometime after the leader had left the camp, her curiosity driving her to explore the area. it reminded her of the one not far from her home, though it was a lot more open in comparison. even now, she could hear the soft rustling of the deciduous trees and the warning sound of the train in the distance. but here, it was, quiet. josie could hear the soft creaking of the conifers, the babbling of the creek, even the humming of insects. this new life had granted her gifts she could have only dreamed of, and she planned to enjoy them to their fullest.

as jo walked out into the open, she began to sniff around the abandoned ranch on the outskirts of the valley. the fence was weathered, with some of the wood rotted away. the gates sagged on their hinges and smelt strongly of rust. josie carefully walked into the area, her ears perked for the sound of another's presence.

however, another scent billowed from the area, making her pause. “who's there?” she nervously called, body shrinking in on itself despite her wish to appear unfazed.

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for @Nellie <3

the staff team luvs u

Silence. Stillness. Darkness.

And then there was light.

Her eyes blinked open slightly. The light—it hurt. It took moments for her to adjust.

Then, when she shifted her weight, she froze. Why was she so close to the ground? And when she looked down, she saw no feet or hands. But in their place, paws. Fur. Claws. And a... snout?

Confusion set in, followed by panic. What the absolute heck had happened? She wanted to let loose a string of curses. But as mama always said, it wasn't becoming of a lady. So she withheld.

Testing out a step, she wobbled. Unsure of how to feel, she frowned, then lowered slowly onto her... uh—haunches? That was what that was called. Yeah.

Thoughts jumbled through her mind. She tried recalling her memories, but not much came. Nothing other than a few simple things: her sister. Her gang. And then there was Callahan. Oh, how she missed all of it. But she couldn't mourn for long. She needed to move. If the gang had taught her one thing, it was never to leave yourself in a vulnerable position.

Glancing around her surroundings, she got back up on her feet and tested a few more steps. Once she had the hang of this four-legged thing, she could begin her travels into a land unknown.

—

She'd walked for hours, it felt like. And she was growing weary. Close to giving up hope, she paused by a tree to catch her breath.

Then a voice rang out. Familiar, she was sure. But who? How?

Perking her ears up, she tread further, cautious.

And when she got closer, she scented the air. “Hello?” She called back, tentative. “Anyone there?”

the staff team luvs u