•°ᎮᏋᏖᏒᏗ°•

⠀⠀⠀the shifter would simply watch as the woman travels through the forest,   silently following her as she took photos of nature.   he didn't know what the object in her hands was,   curious as he went along,   making noise to alert her.

“So like… on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rank your pastry? I’m trying to decide if I want to get it because it looks pretty but what does it taste like?”

    ~ { @callides  }
          
                  W̲e̲l̲l̲ ̲i̲s̲n̲'̲t̲ ̲t̲h̲e̲ ̲f̲o̲r̲e̲i̲g̲n̲e̲r̲ ̲a̲ ̲p̲a̲r̲t̲y̲ ̲p̲o̲o̲p̲e̲r̲ ,  Petra thought.  It was her first time going out of her lighthouse to socialise in a long time and this man wanted to end it. Yes , she felt disappointed. However , she also couldn't push herself to be rude and simply ignore him. Tourists were to be treated with care and kindness. 
          
              Her lips pursed , glossy with the moisture given by the drink. 
          
             " I understand. There are a couple of inns and a small hotel. They are quite affordable ", she informed the man while standing up and patting her coat, making wrinkles disappear. If the man wasn't carrying any money with himself, she would have to think of another more... comprised option. She hoped for that not to be the case.

@callides brow* 

~ { @callides }
          
              Petra raised an auburn brown at the man. Then she took a big sip from the beer and sighed in pure delight. It was so nice to the taste buds and to the body. Alcohol was not good for the mind, but it did warm the body during the cold northern winters. 
          
              " Well, sorry, my dear sir, but you do look like one. A gentleman, I mean. No offense ", she blurted out, crossing a leg over the other. Was she being disrespectful? Not at all. She checked her few social lessons mentally. Perhaps this man came from a land where gentlemen were poorly seen. She would have to inquire about his culture so she may follow his social requirements. 
          
              " This is the most northern village in the Atlantic Ocean. Almost kissing the Arctic Circle ", she said with a nod, grabbing the mug more confidently and offering a toast. She tilted her head to the side, awaiting a response. 

   ~ { @civilis }
          
                 The sight before her was surely one to behold. The man, standing tall like a statue, looked like a metal pipe among fields of poppies. A metal pipe? Not really. More like an iron rod. Petra's toothy smile showed a slight piece of the amusement that flowed through her body. 
          
               With a swift movement of her derrière, she sat on a stool, making her just a little taller. After all, she couldn't do much more for her small stature of just above a metre and a half. 
          
               " So, Cain, how come a gentleman like you is here in a village like this? " , she dared ask, resting her elbow on top of the counter and face leaning into her hand.  She adopted quite a relaxed posture as she stared into the stranger's eyes. 
          
                Barbara brought the beer in huge mugs, carrying her big old smile, full of pride for her job. They sat atop the counter, sparkling with the faint warm lights of the tavern. Petra's hand reached for one of the mugs, sipping at the beverage, bringing stinging warmth to her throat and stomach. 

— { @civilis  }
          
                   The lady from the tavern gave the biggest smile upon seeing the young woman .  A pretty face she only got to see a couple times per year .  Oh , what a sight . Unlike Petra , the lady seemed rather coarse and chubby .  She grabbed the lad's cheek to give it a caring shake as Petra leaned over the counter . 
          
                " Ah ! The gods have brought the light out of the lighthouse for once . " , she exclaimed , greeting Petra with a wink . In return , she couldn't help but giggle under her breath . However , the loud tavern covered the noise . 
          
               " Please Barbara , give this man and I some good ginger ale of yours . "  To that , the woman gave another wink and started moving around , skirt dancing with her movement . 
          
                Petra turned to face the tall foreigner , resting her back against the counter and giving a radiant smile . " I'm Petra Ral . " She nodded and raised a questioning hand . " And who are you, traveller ?" 

 — { @civilis }
          
                 There were oceans of myseries in his eyes. He seemed otherworldly . And how come had this man landed on the so lonely northern village she lived in ? 
          
               She moved her hands together, brushing each other to create friction in order to warm them up .  " I may not be the best guide , but I could show you what to enjoy in these festive days . " , she offered , lips curving up with a kind grin .  " I'm going to the Woolly Tavern . You can tag along if you wish ." 
          
               The wind was soft as it combed through her strawberry blonde strands , dancing around her face like small snakes . She turned , moving among the people once again , like a shadow .  She didn't check if the man was following , but she had the gut feeling that she wouldn't need to .  Arriving at the tavern , she got a few gazes from people who didn't expect the young lighthouse keeper to appear out of the blue . 

— { @civilis }
          
          Among the people, one stood tall and defiant. He whose eyes shone through the night stared directly into her own golden ones. For a moment, it felt like looking at her own reflection for he was a stranger just like her. The magnetism was strong, pulling imaginary strings that moved her legs towards an uncertain encounter. 
          
          Her footsteps felt heavy as she approached the gentleman who looked more like a statue than a person. She came to a halt just a meter away from him, gaze never shifting. With a small bow of her head, she finally uttered: " hello , are you here for a visit? " 
          
          Petra thought that he might have arrived for the celebrations, just like many other foreigners. With curious eyes she surveyed his neat looks, and he also smelt rich. 

— { @civilis }
          
          Winter had always been tough; the freezing cold stabbed whoever dared to cross the wintry fields. However, the lonely woman was determined to do so. It was the only way to get to the village after all. 
          
          New Year's Eve was one of the only festivities that made Petra leave her lighthouse to socialise. The coastal village turned into a cozy festival of lights and cheerful folks, drinking and dancing until the sunrise. The young lady felt bubbles of joy while she walked through the wind and snow, wrapped with a long coat over her dress. 
          
          Upon reaching the streets, she encountered the loud noises of people cheering and singing. The cantinas were full, the streets crowded with all the village's inhabitants. She smiled, making her way among them. The few individuals who spotted her started gossiping about her appearance. Surely, seeing the elusive lighthouse lady was like catching a shooting star. Everyone knew her yet nobody actually ever cared to speak to her.