Dessa’s roots come from a long line of those who follow in the moon’s shadow and her appearance shows it. Long, wavy peach hair is streaked with bright white and pale yellow strands. Because if it’s unruly nature she keeps it braided, but her hair is constantly pulling itself free from its heavy braid, so it creates a halo effect. Large glowing yellow irises peek from under heavy lashes, and a bright red mouth maintains a small, serene smile. A large, intricate tattoo depicting Ashava’s symbol is visible and spans her upper chest and shoulders, disappearing beneath her clothes.
Odessa is...well...what her mother liked to call her moon-touched (her cousins prefered the term loony). Statements like that however, mean nothing to Dessa. She appears slightly out of touch with reality and her speech has a floaty, dreamy cadence that takes on a mystical quality the longer she talks. Kindness and quietness hides a mischievous nature. Odessa will, if pressed, will address questions succinctly but its still and formal and not at all pleasant for her.She bites her lip if holding back laughter at another’s expense, and her body language is full of open, non threatening movements (even if her overly long fingers make others nervous).
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HISTORY
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About:
Odessa belongs to a large pack that resides in the forest near the base of the Hungry Mountains. The group consisted primarily of family and extended family. She was a third cousin once removed from her clan’s alpha.
She remembers running at night under the light of a waxing moon. She remembers the dirt under her feet and the quick cold air that stole her breath and made her feel like laughing.
Once a month for one week the kithkern (friends and family members who were part of the pack but not afflected with lycanthropy) would travel to the lone temple of Ashava for shelter and remain there for the three days surrounding the full moon. They had taken pride in the lack of attacks on the town and nearby settlements (they didn’t talk about the lost travelers of course...or the new additions and the hastily covered blood on the ground).
But-none of that is relevant to our story-what is, occured at the temple, on the first day of the Cold Moon.
The temple was filled to the brim with sleeping bodies. Ashava’s temples were normally not very large and this one was no different, so the monthly influx of company always left many of the young on the floors in “puppy piles.” A nine-year old Dessa was just wandering back from the kitchen, a glass of water in her hand, still sleep befuddled when a half glance to the entrance stopped her cold. Standing over the body of one of her cousins (Beth? Darius? All of Karrisin’s children looked the same to her) was some creature. Its body was grotesque- hunched and reptilian without eyes and many many teeth. She froze and it turned its head towards her, an ugly grin splitting its face. Another movement revealed a second of these horrors. They leapt and she scrambled, her voice piercing the air and woke the adults. A brief tussle had the monsters fleeing, with three dead children in their wake.
Of course, Professor Lorrimir arrived at the temple 2 days later. He questioned all about the attack, taking special interest in the little girl who somehow managed to survive the attack long enough for adults to arrive. They mantained contact through letters passed by the temple right up until last year. Now Odessa must travel to Ravengro and stand with his body as he takes his final rest.
