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Crows Blood padded along the edge of the swamp. It wasn't the first time she had been this far, but her eyes still traced the horizon warily. What could lay out there, beyond the sprawling dunes? And oh, how free she could feel, not surrounded by tree after tree. She stopped and faced the desert head-on. A gourd was tied to her neck, hardened from being set in the sun, and filled to the brim with water. Omen had helped her drill the hole and carve it out, like a good crow. He was with her now, perched on her shoulder and staring into the desert along with her. He crooned softly at her, his tone full of question.

The swamp was in distress, and its feelings often transferred to her. It made her edgy, moody. She wondered if..venturing out to the desert would alleviate such stress. Even if just for a moment. She did not know how to remedy the swamp's condition, but it hindered even the most routine tasks for Crows Blood. She could barely gather ingredients now-a-days.

Omen cawed louder now, alert. Crows Blood turned her head to see where Omen was looking, and saw a rather large buck. What do we have here?

Crows Blood raised a brow at the mud-colored buck. So bold was he. Omen cawed at the buck, loud and brazen. "Hush now, Omen, 'tis no way to greet someone...Answers you desire..it seems as though we have that in common. I seek answers as well..but mostly reprieve." she said, casting a glance or two in the buck's direction. "Yes..'tis the swamp that has driven me here. Though..I cannot give you the answers you seek." she said, looking to the dunes with a wistful glance. Do the answers lie beyond? Or are the closer than she thought?

Crows Blood looked to the buck again, her eyes peering sharply. So indecisive. She knew she was going into the dunes, as inhospitable as they looked. Something important -had- to be out there. She had been in the swamp long enough to know that no answers were going to come to her there, whether she was not worthy enough for answers, or they were simply not to be found there.

She took a step or two towards the sand. She craned her neck to see the buck once more. "Tis truly your choice in the end, I will not force you, but I believe the answers lie beyond. And even if they don't, I intend to find something worth looking for.." and with that, she continued to pad on slowly, giving the buck a chance to follow. She was not one for company, but a large buck as he would prove useful if they encountered a foe.

"I have stepped once or twice onto the sandy dunes, but never ventured too far. It felt odd to seperate myself from the Motherfather, like a child running away from home. But since the swamp is in such turmoil, it feels like my sire and dam are bickering, and that I must leave home to calm my nerves." said Crows Blood, not bothering to look at the buck, but simply staring out into the open sand. So free...

Her lip curled into a smirk, and she took off running, the water-filled gourd banging against her neck. It was a good thing Omen thought to plug it with a stone. Only a few small droplets escaped. The wind cradled her hornless head, and she closed all of her eyes and laughed. Indeed, she felt unsure of showing her happiness in front of a stranger, but some company wasn't so bad...right? Given that he proves himself useful that is..

Crows Blood's hornless head whipped around at the buck's abrupt command. Indeed, she did stop. Why wouldn't she? She might have just stopped in time to not step on a spiked stone, or fall into a hidden pit. Following his eyes, the dark-colored doe scanned the edges, where the sky met the floor. It was so expansive here, she felt like she could fly as her crow did. Finding a small shape, she squinted, yet could not make out what it was. She saw a few more here and there.

"Omen." she said, and the crow took off ahead to scout it out. After a minute or two, he returned, making a sort of hiss from the back of his throat. Nodding, the doe squinted back at the shapes, that had moved closer. She could get a better view of them, and putting her observations with the sound sample her crow gave, she deducted what they must be.

"Buck..those are lizards. Surely you have seen their reptilian cousins, snakes. They are mostly the same, but with legs. Generally harmless. In fact, since none of us brought food, they would make a good meal. Do you eat meat? I hope you do...Omen, go kill one." And the doe shook her head. She commended the buck for being alert and cautious in an unknown environment..But fearing lizards? She wasn't sure what to make of him.

Crows Blood turned an eye towards the brown buck. "Does something trouble you, buck?" she asked, not so much worried for him, but such trifles could slow them down and must be fixed. Omen came fluttering back, struggling slightly at the load. He carried not one, but two dead lizards in his talons, and set them down nicely in front of Crows Blood. Turning her attention towards her crow, the black doe smiled sofly. "Overachiever. Always trying to impress me. I'm sorry to say that it works.." she said to the crow, and ripped off the tail of one of the lizards, giving it to Omen. That was his favorite treat. As he pecked at it, she grabbed the other lizard and set it in front of Sandstorm. Then she said, "You may eat it now or save it for later, the choice is yours." Crows Blood, however, chose to take a few small bites out of hers, then tucked the rest into a loop close to her gourd. It was a little troublesome fitting the lizard in there, but she made it. Then she took the guord in her mouth and took a small sip. If the buck wanted some, all he had to do was ask.

Crows Blood hides a grin and continues walking forward. Her hooves sink slightly in the sand as it spreads out beneath her weight. Omen perches lazily among the scales on her back, and the doe's fluffed tail swishes back and forth. She looked back and forth, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. How long would they have to walk before finding any answers? What were they even looking for? Shaking her head, she peered over her shoulder at the buck, who held his lizard in his mouth. Then she looked past him. The swamp was getting smaller and smaller with each step. Hopefully before nightfall they would find some sort of shelter. A rock outcropping? She would keep an eye out for anything, but only sandy dunes stretched as far as the eye can see. Pausing, she turned to the buck and asked, "Any suggestions on where we should go? This seems endless. True, we may come across something the farther we venture, but which direction?"