It was fall. After fall came winter, and winter was cold. The worst weather for adventuring, the kind of weather that made you want to curl up with your family and watch the snow come down. Family. How strange it was that she was back here, back with her family after all. Octavia had spent so much time wondering if she actually wanted to come back, it was a strange feeling now that she was. Nearly surreal as she walked the lands that were Glorall, the salt in the air and the sea in her nose. Right… sea in her… sea in her nose. That sounded right, sounded and smelled. Salt in her nose, that was her favorite.

It was what she could consider one of the last good days. The last few days before the world went into hibernation, where it was trying to get fat and happy off all the fantastic things that would go into hiding. Sun still hanging in the sky, offering enough heat to make going for a swim possible. The dark princess hurled herself into the sea, chasing herself through the surf and tasting the salt on her tongue when she left her mouth open for too long. Chasing after the fish, never actually trying to catch any. Tav, for one, wasn’t hungry.

Sand and salt had a way of doing something to your coat. It was a natural sort of texture that made her look all the more wild—the wild child herself. She’d be the king of all the wild things. That would be her job, and she’d lead all those forces that gave her heart wings. Octavia had no reason to feel as good as she did, and maybe that was exactly why she felt so incredible. Moving over the ground with the startling, strikingly powerful grace that she’d made her own. There was something about her that just worked. Tav could make it work, after all.

She isn’t quiet in coming upon the stranger. Brilliantly blue spiked eyes land on the unkempt creature, and she barks. It’s short, friendly, tail wagging but brashly curious. If there was one thing that the wild thing hadn’t really learned it was those frickin manner things. It was shoot first, exchange pleasantries later when she was on the outside… she guessed there was some sort of carry over now that she was home again. Whatever. “Who’sat and why’re you such a mess?” Just… so long as no one told dad that she was being so informal with guests.

Octavia moved closer to the pale creature, head canted to the side, curiosity written across her features clear as day. No hiding it, just… interest. That simple.