Peanut Oakstrider

Peanut’s earliest memories are of climbing trees before she could walk steadily on the ground. Her mother would sit with her among the boughs, teaching how to judge the wind, how to tell when a storm would roll in from the west, and which twigs made the best noise to signal a safe path for diving into the brush. The forest was not merely a place of sustenance, but a living mentor. When Peanut was old enough to wander beyond the family’s maple grove, she would return with stories of the river’s secrets, of a badger who traded stories for berries, and of a hawk who spoke to clouds. Her grandfather, a former scout of the woodland, taught her to read tracks, identify safe routes, and respect every creature’s space. The most important lesson, though, was resilience. The forest can be unforgiving: winters bite, rivers swell, and missteps leave you hungry or hurt. Peanut learned to stay light on her feet, to anticipate danger, and to use misdirection as a means of safety. When a wildfire threatened their territory, Peanut’s quick thinking and nimble movements allowed her to guide a handful of smaller creatures to safety and lead the larger ones along a secure route to water and shelter. The experience shaped her into someone who refuses to let fear paralyze action; she treats risk as a puzzle to solve rather than a wall to avoid. As she grew, she became fascinated with the concept of “paths”—not just physical trails but also the various roads people take in life. The forest opened doors to different civilizations and cultures in stories carried by travelers, and Peanut began to wonder what lay beyond the next ridge. This curiosity pushed her to train as a Ranger, so she could protect her homeland while exploring the wider world. Her Outlander background provided a steady supply of practical survival skills and a network of relatives who moved through the same wild places, trading stories and shares of food with her clutch. Peanut’s life now is a blend of vigilance and exploration, a careful balance between guarding the trees she knows and stepping beyond their shade to learn the unknown. Her compact, cheerful exterior hides a mind constantly mapping possibilities, weighing risks, and weaving alliances. She believes that the world’s balance depends on those who honor the old forests and the creatures who call them home, and she intends to be one of those guardians who can both track a trail and tell a story worth remembering.