[ Until recently, Merrin had never known a life beyond Dathomir, and her travels with the crew of the Mantis have opened her eyes to a galaxy she could not have imagined once. It had been her intention to continue exploring, to understand the galaxy and the beauty in it, when all she had known for so long was the absence of goodness.

Her arrival here is an unwelcome intrusion on the path she was attempting to forge. Strangers pull her out of water, clothes are shoved at her, answers elude her. They speak of peril here, a world in danger, none of which is unfamiliar to her; much of her life has been spent in the company of the dead, what does she have to fear? Troubled though she is, for the moment, Merrin considers this world to be a curiosity she wishes to know better.

The mention of her exploits has her wary. What do they know? What do others know? Fleeting worries, and none of them breaking through her stoic expression as she explores her temporary shelter.

You may catch her unwisely standing outside for a moment to observe the horizontal lightning, her fingers held out as though she might be able to feel something of its power connect to her own. Fascinating as it is to watch, though, she feels nothing, not even her own inner magick, which only serves to unsettle her more.

Once safely inside the castle walls again, Merrin ventures near one of the rooms, curious as to the accommodations and the others brought here. ]

I do not make noises in my sleep.

[ Her voice is slightly halting, accented in such a way that it would be easy to assume she's from somewhere in Eastern Europe, though her planet of origin is a long distance from Earth. This is an attempt at a joke and, apparently, the way she chooses to ask if they wouldn't mind a roommate. ]

[ These are creatures new to her, captivating, stealing her thoughts until she recalls her duty here. She need not have come, she knows, but to hear of their fear and that they might be soothed with magic, Merrin couldn't keep away. The sounds they make as they shuffle and jolt in fear of the storm compel her closer, reaching out a hand slowly to rest on one's back with a feather light touch.

This touch alone will not be enough, she knows. They told her — a few words, a calming spell. Not unlike the magick she's called upon before, to protect, to defend, even to attack. This is not hers, though, this is borrowed from a different source, the magic of this world which she seeks to understand. ]

You are not alone — storms bring chaos. Many would fear them, like you, but they will not last.

[ The spell — she remembers the words, they shine like a light in her mind, nearly on the tip of her tongue, but then the winds howl louder, thunder claps with a booming sound, and her thoughts are disrupted for a moment. She's pulled back to another moment far removed from this one, that of tragedy, of a home and of a people destroyed, lives lost in one fell swoop. Her eyes snap open and for a moment, her normally calm and stoic demeanor is shaken, while the horses grow more agitated and she attempts to soothe with another touch again. ]

I wished to help.

[ Her voice is softer, an apologetic tone in her voice, for allowing herself to be caught off guard and distracted. ]

[ This is a maddening place. Cut off from her own magick, pulled here to help a world already troubled, Merrin finds little purpose or value in herding what they call goats. The rain is heavy, steady, and she hears others speak of damaging winds, of needing to be careful and aware of twisters. Words unfamiliar to her, yes, but she can deduce enough to know this is likely not the best use of their time. It is not for lack of care about the goats, no, but they must be adaptable, able to handle the more extreme weather events. Others need more help, she thinks, but she is nonetheless willing to search for goats gone astray. She's a quiet partner, focused on the task at hand; the sooner they find the goats, the sooner other urgent needs can be tended to.

But this is proving far more difficult than she'd previously assumed, as their steps take them further into the wilds. ]

Perhaps they do not wish to be found.

Open to any other scenario! Undecided on Thorne or Solvunn so hmu either place if you have other ideas and feel free to PM for more plotting if you like!