#continued threads.

"This forest is my home." That was the true core of it all... A place that she had been born into, trapped by endless trees and magic, unable to truly leave. Not yet.

Many years ago, there had been people living here. She had found the ruins of a grand town, reduced to only a few stone outcroppings and the old fountain, possibly the center of the town. A gate led into another time, another world, but Robin's parents had warned her never to open the gate.

They were almost near that Sacred Grove now. If they kept going, the pathway would open up, should the spirits there find the visitor worthy.

"I protect this place from monsters and the forces of darkness. Now and again, I can guide lost souls out. But not many humans find their way here anymore." No need to, as civilization within the trees was abandoned.

Robin frowned. "You're not trying to leave this place, though. You're trying to find something.. Or someone, right?"

She was uncertain if the crucifix could properly defend against the yokai, being as their existence stemmed from another faith entirely. But she wouldn't mention it, instead focused on ensuring the human knew he had to flee... Not fight.

"They are haunted by creatures called yokai. They are spirits, strange occurrences within the wood. Some eat man, some consume spiritual energy, some none of the above." Robin stopped herself, knowing that John had not asked for a lesson on crypto-zoology.

"We'll have to find a opening in the forest's edge. Follow." The shifter gestured with her head, but paused only a moment to remember... Manners. Right.

A soft tilt of the head, a small bow.

"My name is Robin. I'm the guardian of this place. As long as we stick together, you'll be fine. Promise." A much more human, girlish smile warmed her face.

Her own fall is equally not graceful, but she recovers quicker. It wasn't the first time she had to dive out of the way from a yokai's attack, but it was the first time she wound up face-first in ankle-deep ravine water. Who knew how gross and stagnant it had been...

Making a mental note not to lick her lips or fingers in case of ingesting still water microbes, the wolf shakily gets to her feet. The sudden change over the man startles her, watching tiny little bits of what seemed like molten metal consume him.

"Didn't I tell you?" Robin found herself hissing, taking his metal coated hand anyways and shuddering at how cold it feels, especially since she had just been splashed by frigid stagnant water a minute prior.

"You can't escape this place. Not now. We're better off just leaving this area entirely. I-I can show you how to get home but..." The gloom and mist would keep them from exiting the realm entirely. They had to wait for a rift to open back up.

She was forgiven, and that was enough. But why did her stomach still churn with cold, burning spike piercing through her and making her heart flutter? Anxiety lingered, even as her mind spat at itself for feeling such a way.

"Once again?" The wolf found herself asking. Had Red gotten himself injured before in defending Mari from some monsters? There seemed to be another story here.

Carefully holding her mug so it wouldn't spill, Robin eased herself down to the floor, legs crossed as she settled. Now at eye level with the rider, she was more attentive. A little more relaxed.

"I haven't had much chance to see the creatures of your world beyond the ones at your village." Were they at all like the yokai of the Woods? Perhaps reflections, distorted by the spiritual energy...

The outburst had mostly been sarcastic, exclaimed when mentioning her own dragons to fight... A story of a woman clad in wolfskin able to slay any beast. That had been the story she wanted to tell, but...

Childhood had been stolen from her. Even now, trying to tell tales as brightly as she once had felt... Wrong.

And the little doll's glove on her finger feels like someone squeezing her heart, tears burning behind her eyes.

"How do you know that for sure?" The shifter hated how her voice cracked when she spoke then, body trembling on her bed. She hunched over, as if trying to make herself small again.

"How do you know things will be alright? I'm alone!"

Yes, somehow... Robin felt as if the girl who had cried out for help in her dreams looked so very much like Bernkastel. Perhaps they were connected, or the witch's past human self had desired to be saved... So badly that she had reached across time and universes, pulling a piece that was never on the Hinamizawa gameboard in the first place...!!

Robin's fate was always the same. To be the guardian of a realm not unlike topsy-turvy Wonderland, slaying demons and ascending to a god... A kami who purified herself and gave up humanity.

Was that not her fate here? To ascend past humanity, to become a witch and purify the gameboard so her friends may live blissfully unaware of the tragedy unfolding for a century?

"I have no need for a miracle. I will find the happy end with my own two hands, carve it out with my teeth and claws. A miracle would be like giving up and cheating." The wolf smirked a bit. "Bernkastel, huh? A German name. Is it borrowed from some dusty old philosopher?"

Wouldn't be surprising. That other annoying sweets witch had a name composed of Greek symbols, giving meaning to frilliness that often had no true desire.

"There must be a reason we have met this time. Are you acknowledging me as a witch? Or am I being tossed around as a miko again?" She could never remember which witch had claimed her first and cursed her with this power.

As the eldest in the club, Robin felt it was her responsibility to take care of them all. She was not the alpha of their pack by any means, but she could rise to that leadership role if necessary.

Especially now, with poor Rika burning with a fever and so obviously trying to dismiss any concerns upon her trembling form. Maternal instincts rushed like a flood within the wolf woman, her hands a bit more firm in guiding the smaller girl to the water pump by the school shed.

"It's not like you to over-exert yourself like that. Not very ladylike of you to go and overdo it." Teasing her friend, Robin turned the faucet on and splashed a little of the clean water onto the younger's face to help cool her down.

"Are you worried about Watanagashi? It's not your first time performing the dance, is it? Mion-chan mentioned you had a pretty big role!"

"You were in the Hells??" Asked with incredulous eyes wide, her own mug of cider temporarily forgotten. She didn't even feel any thirst anymore... Rather, her mind had focused entirely upon the man's exploits.

"Gods, I can't imagine. I think I'd go mad even stepping foot there." Robin smiled nervously, though, she was doubting her skills when she had grown up in a forest meant to make people go mad from going in circles. The Hells might not be as bad.

At the mention of leaving soon, the shifter hummed. "It would be wise, yes, but we could make camp here now that the goblins are gone." They had cleared the place out quickly, but the stench of decaying blood and garbage still remained in the pillaged fort.

"Unless... You'd rather we find someplace indoors, away from all the filth the monsters left behind."