[color=a187be][center][h3]Jamie[/h3][/center][/color]

The wind streamed through the trees, creating a low and rasping murmur all around the woman. Dark hair swung forward as she cocked her head, listening to the steady conversation of the forest that spread outward from her tree.  The distant chatter of moving water, the soft and stealthy movement of small animals, the faint edge of voices that likely belonged to werewolves waking up for the day – all of the noises combined to create a gentle, familiar symphony for Jamie. As her attention drew closer and to more immediate affairs, a lilting hum began to slip forth from between the woman's lips. The occasional word or verse would interrupt the tune as she remained confident that she was relatively alone.

As she shifted her weight, legs bent so that she was crouched against the hemlock's thick limb, Jamie tilted her head back and peered upward. Thin pants designed for water resistance and a variety of temperatures clung to her hips but loosened along her legs, allowing for flexibility as she studiously scaled the tree. A dark turquoise tee-shirt clasped her torso in a fitted hold, tucked under the canvas belt of her pants to protect her belly when shimmying. Stretching up to grasp the next limb, the woman leaned into the trunk of the tree and paused, taking a moment to look at the receding earth below her. Exertion aided the brisk breeze in teasing color into her cheeks, the rising sun peeking through the colorful canopy only to dance in the depths of dark brown eyes. The new morning awakened Jamie, inciting her to a delighted pitch as she returned to her task, easily clambering onto the next branch. She lightly swept upwards along the thinning boughs, hands and feet confidently finding purchase despite occasionally daunting distances between tree limbs.

When Jamie sensed the tree's limbs were becoming too thin to easily hold her weight, she ceased her upward momentum and settled down, straddling her current branch and leaning back against the trunk. The sun dappled her dark head, keeping her warm despite the cool edge of the wind that had grown stronger the higher she climbed. Lids descended, sweeping dark lashes across her cheeks as she steadily relaxed. Time ceased to matter as she reclined, thoughts slipping smoothly across the surface of her mind without catching hold. Her expressions were subtle, but joy slowly suffused her features until an inner light shone outward to meet the sun. 

When sleep attempted to cradle the woman in its embrace, she shook herself and straightened, hands steadying her form against the tree.  Her body swayed, only to tip forward until she appeared to be falling. A natural grace led to thin hands instinctively capturing a branch, swinging her weight forward, feet touching a lower bough with only a whisper of sound as thin shoes brushed bark. In a smooth blend of falling and swinging, the woman made a quick descent, deviating only to switch to a nearby tree. She traveled thirty or so yards by moving through the trees, dark eyes flitting constantly as she absorbed her surroundings. In this way she came upon two men walking purposefully through he forest, one holding a map and appearing to be more in charge than the other.

[color=00746b]“I think we are getting close to somewhere called Moonlight Manor. hmm i do hope its a hotel i’d like to sleep in a bed again.” [/color]

Her body obtained a stillness that existed despite movement, a trick designed to allow a hunter to come upon the prey without being noticed. She slipped down onto the bough until her stomach was flat against the bark, arms steadying her weight as she stretched her legs behind her and lowered her head, becoming as unobtrusive as possible as she observed the two strangers who were clearly heading for her home. Their apparent ignorance of what Moonlight Manor entailed was a source of relief and amusement to the woman. As they moved past her and continued on, Jamie rose once more and decided to follow them, weaving through the trees like a shadow. 

[@Maria 127]