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 Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 7:21 pm
 It was a few days after her journey to what was the Grandfather Tree and received her powers over plants. Her body still tingled from the unlocking of her abilities, well the one that was fresh in her mind. Today she was standing between the fringes of the Barrens and Homewood. Russet Fawn looked out over the desolate lands she had traversed through not too long ago. She hadn't really taken the best of looks at the place. It really was a dry arid place. The land cracked from lack of surface water, but she had to guess there was something under the surface. Frowning Fawn looked down at the companion she had at her side.. She still refused to really consider the Jack Hop much else. "I never noticed it the first time." She said to Talltale. "Perhaps with this new ability we can try and being some life to this place?""This looks like a place even I wouldn't make a warren in." Talltale said with a frown of his own. Being he was born in a bunch of ruins, that place was a paradise compared to these parched lands Russet Fawn still frowned as she started walking along the edges of Homewood searching. She wasn't too sure how all this would work, but she needed a seed first. Surely there was some here... Somewhere... WC:227
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Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 7:41 pm
“A full-grown buck and Grandfather Tree still won’t bless you,” Mother’s voice was quiet with anger, the dangerous quiet of a predator stalking their prey. Miros’ skin prickled from it. “You’re not practicing hard enough.”
Another visit to the plateau, another failure as Miros bowed until his knees ached with nothing to show for it.
“You must prove yourself properly.”
“Anything, mother,” Miros replied, eyes downcast. He wanted to help Vykeli more than anything, he’d do whatever it took to earn his gift from Grandfather Tree.
His mother was silent for several long moments, a lion stalking closer. Her pace didn’t falter, but something about her posture changed and she flicked an ear back in his direction. “The Barrens.”
Miros had been out there occasionally, never straying too far from Homewood. Many noul had lost their lives going too far and losing their bearings.
“You’ll go to the Barrens and you’ll find something we can heal together. Grandfather Tree will find you worthy after that.”
---
She’d sounded so sure. This was a fact, not an assumption. Miros would find something, and Grandfather tree would reward him for it. His mother’s surety settled deep inside him and let a dangerous thing blossom in his chest: Hope.
… and fear. Fear of failure, fear of displeasure on his mother’s face, fear of facing Grandfather Tree again and being proven unworthy. Fear of wandering the desert… alone.
It was the fear, more than the hope, that had Miros stepping out into the baking wastelands, sun streaming down on his dark back and making him sweat before he’d even started his journey. He wouldn’t come back without something useful.
A voice caught his attention in the air's stillness - no breezes out here where everything baked to clay and death.
A doe. And… and something smaller?
Miros’ perked his ears and stopped. The hard ground scorched his hooves for staying still even a moment, but he bit back the discomfort and scanned the horizon.
There! Not too far away at all, a strawberry roan doe and a jack hop companion at her side. Maybe Miros wouldn’t have to search the Barrens all on his own.
With a flick of his tail he started toward her at a brisk canter, the clopping of his hooves a refreshing break to all the desert’s quiet.
“Are you searching for something, too?” he called. “Would you like to look together?”
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Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 8:04 pm
Russet Fawn had been searching the long grass and first with such focus that she hadn't really heard anyone close by until they were just a short distance. Jumping slightly, not really knowing who else in their right mind would be out here, baking as it was. Though standing in the shadow of one of Homewood's trees, she turned and looked at the darker buck that was coming towards her. Ears flicking slightly, she takes a step back before paws rest on her hock as she looked down at Talltale. He looked up and gave her a bit of a smile, the best he could do. Fawn gave a bit of a groan, it was more inside then a sound that came from her throat. seemed her day of solitude would be occupied with company... Then again, the whispers she had heard of the barrens, she had been lucky the first time. Many had gotten lost and died here, bones were one of the few things 'growing' from the ground. Shaking out her coat, much good it really did, it was starting to itch from the task a head. But she put on her best smile as the Buck approached. "Hey, yea. I was looking for a seed, something that I can try and make grow... Out there..." she looked out at the baking landscape. She was really going to try and kill herself just after being blessed by the ancient tree. "If you know of a place to get at least one seed, it would be a help."Talltale who sat beside her looked up at the buck before vaulting himself up onto her back. At this point he could really see the buck, he seemed kind and helpful, but the Jack Hop wondered why he was out here. "Silly Fawn here thinks it is a great idea to try her new Botanic magic on a seed out there instead of a more controlled area." Talltale pointed out, he had at one time suggested going back to the Ruins, it was somewhat safer there and wouldn't cook alive. "But mistakes will let her learn I suppose.""Not funny Talltale. You know very well that the Ruins are forbidden." She glared back at the Jack Hop on her back, momentarily forgetting about the buck. "But, my name's Russet Fawn and the pest is Talltale." She gestured to the Jack Hop who waved a paw. "So we going to find a seed and do this? Or just stand here chit chatting? I don't want to bake in my own fur." Fawn gave a nod before looking back to the buck to see if he had any ideas. Seems all the help she could get today would be 'gratefully' accepted, as much as it pained her... WC: 464
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Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 8:45 pm
A seed? Out here in the barrens? It was unlikely, probably impossible. Miros couldn’t remember seeing any patch of green out here, whatever might have attempted to spring up would be withered and dry from the heat, anyway.
But…
But this was exactly the sort of thing he needed to do to prove himself to Grandfather Tree. A pang of jealousy fluttered through his gut, realizing he was standing in front of a botanic user. She’d earned her gift. Maybe this would let Miros earn his.
“I’m Miros. It’s nice to meet you both.” He ducked his head politely and offered the jack hop a soft smile. “I don’t know if it’s true, but I heard rumors that there might be a place in the west where a couple noulicorns found some old grass seeds. It might not be much, but we could start there.”
It was hardly anything to go by, and even if the rumors were true, wouldn’t all the seeds have been brought back by now? Still, better than nothing, and at least they’d have a direction to travel.
Miros turned away from the pair and took a few hesitant steps westward. “You haven’t had your gift for very long, then?”
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Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 9:20 pm
West of where they were standing? Well it was certainly something to say the least. Just the smallest seed would work for her first test. If she could get something to sprout here, even if it were to just wither from the arid surroundings it would be enough. It would be enough to show that she can make something sprout from just about anything. "Just the smallest seed will work I think. Even if it doesn't work this time, it will still be something." Fawn nodded a little as she stepped up beside Miros. "It is a pleasure to meet you Miros. And yea, I have only been a magic user for a couple days now." She looked away a little as if embarrassed to not have tried something sooner. Really, she might have, but she had to get used to feeling the magic flow through her like her own blood. It was still a strange sensation and caught her off guard when she forgets. But she was slowly coming to get used to it and the dull itching was starting to fade. Fawn assumed that everyone reacted to magic being unlocked differently. Hers made her skin crawl a bit at first, it was certainly getting better. "Alright Talltale, you can get down and use your own paws." She said looking back at the Jack Hop, who shook his head. "NO thanks! That ground is too hot for my sensitive paws. I am much happier up here." He thumped her back gently, not in any hurry to even think of getting down. While she would rather not have a rider, she in a way didn't blame him as even though she had hooves. She could feel the heat through the sensitive bits. The heat at times made her dance around, not knowing how she had ever made it to the tree in the first place. Lead by her dreams she supposed. "Lets go find those seeds where ever they may be." Fawn said wanting to get things over with, already feeling the heat on her light colored back, Talltale's small body not helping in the slightest. "Also, have you gotten your blessing? I haven't seen too many and don't know if anyone else has received one."WC 376
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Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 5:58 pm
Miros’ ears flicked back, and he barely caught the frown threatening to pull at his lips. No, he hadn’t gotten his blessing. He recalled his first attempt. His mother led him up the plateau on still-wobbly legs, barely out of foalhood with nary an idea of what was to happen to him. Grandfather Tree was incomprehensibly large, its bare branches blocking out the noonday sun and casting shadows of grasping, creeping fingers over the ground. Miros barely kept his hooves under him, tamping down the wild urge to run.
His mother had shown him what to do, to show Grandfather tree proper reverence, and he’d followed her words exactly. Or he thought he had. But no vision came, no blessing, no new gift coursing through his veins.
Miros shoved the memory down.
“Not yet,” he answered, voice strained with forced cheer. “But soon. I was thinking of visiting Grandfather tree after my jaunt through the barrens.”
If he found anything. He couldn’t return to his mother empty-handed.
“I’d be happy to give you a ride, Talltale.” Miros paused in his trotting until Russet Fawn was at his side, and the jack hop more clearly in view. “It will probably be quite the walk, if we take turns with him we might not tire so quickly. If you’re both all right with that?”
It would be quite the trek. Not a stick or branch stood out westward toward the oozing snail-paced sunset. Empty, flat landscape as far as Miros could see. But then again, a seed wouldn’t be much to look at from so far away, would it?
“Have either of you been through the barrens before?”
wc: 276
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Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2020 6:28 pm
Russet Fawn looked at the Buck for a moment as he mentioned that he hadn't been blessed yet. Tilting her head she soon shook it as he assured her that he would be going to the tree again after his 'jaunt' in the barrens. it was a pity that the tree hadn't given him a calling like it had her. She wasn't exactly the best with things, but plants were calming to say the least. "Hopefully it will be soon. Seems we're going to need all the help we can get to heal these lands." She said looking around the dry landscape that not even scrub could find roots in. "If anything this little experiment I want to try will be a start.." This she was hoping anyways. As Miros slowed until he was at her side, this made her move a little to give some distance. Seems he was offering Talltale a ride over the burning dirt. She didn't want to call it soil as it felt like there was nothing left in it... Not at the surface anyways. Giving a glance she looked at Talltale to see what he would do. "Thank you, but I will stay here for the time being. Perhaps later I will take you up on your offer." He said with what could have been considered a smile. "Besides we get close to a spot you think we might find something I can get down and scout around. We Jack Hops have a thing for seeds. Find them most any wheres." he boasted puffing out his chest some in importance. "Don't get too full of yourself back there." Fawn said almost wanting to buck a little to upset her passenger. "But that will come in handy."She glanced a head at the parched ground. There truly was nothing out here, how had the Grandfather Tree survived out here for so long? If not for the magic that seem to course though it as it did everything else that lived on the planet. Some magics needed to be poked to flourish and others just.. Did. "This is really my first time out here.. Besides following what I can only consider a dream to the Grandfather Tree. After that... Nope, never been here." She hung her head a little, kinda ashamed that she was going on this venture alone with no clue of what she was getting herself into. "Not the best of ideas, but with new things we tend to get a little reckless..""You can say that again.." Talltale muttered getting comfy on Fawn's back. Always start things in places that won't get yourself killed in one means or another." he scolded more loudly, really his actions in acting like a parent to Fawn was laughable, Just not the situation she was getting herself into.. WC: 471
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 6:56 pm
Miros laughed, a quiet noise that sounded nervous even to his own ears. “Perhaps by sticking together we’ll lessen our chances of getting killed?”
He could imagine his mother’s displeasure if he didn’t return home because of a trip to the Barrens. She’d taken him out here countless times to awaken his gift, to force him to see how bad the world was. Miros already knew, and his heart broke for Vykeli. He wanted to heal it, more than anything, for the world and to please his mother. The thought drove him to pick up his pace.
The beat of his hooves against the dry earth was the only noise out here in the barrens, beyond their voices. Too quiet. Too… dead.
On the crust of the horizon, illuminated by the dipping sun, a sliver of something black jutted out of the flat landscape. It could have been a hair settled on Miros’ eye or a trick of the light, but…
“I think there’s something out there.” Miros paused, ears flicking forward and back. “Do you see it? It looks like a twig or dead branch, I think.”
Definitely dead, but even the corpse of a plant could lead them to some seeds.
wc: 203
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 7:58 pm
Fawn's ears flicked a little at the mention of sticking together in the Barrens, well she wasn't about to take off on her own now. It would be just her luck that she got herself turned around and forget the direction she had come. It wasn't like they were really leaving any prints on the hard soil. "Here's hoping." she commented to his first question, she would like to return to Homewood in on piece. As they traveled further into the barrens, the heat almost seemed to double to more they were there. She wondered if it was just as hot at night as it was in the day. Shaking her head a little to try and get her mane out of her face, only seemed to make things worse. When Miros stopped and mentioned something a head of them, Fawn stopped as well and squinted into the distance. There was certainly something that, perhaps that was where they could find the slightest bit of life. "I think I see something too." She said confirming that he wasn't seeing things. "Perhaps when we get closer we can start looking around for something.:"This whole time Talltale had been quiet, reserving his energy for when things were needing to be found. He sat up as the mention of something in the distance was spoken. ears flicking forward, the Jack Hop shifted onto his haunches to try and get a better look. "We get closer, I can see if there are any seeds around." he too seemed hopeful of finding something at this spot. His nose was a twitching in excitement. WC: 269
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Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 12:45 pm
With Fawn’s confirmation Miros kicked up his pace, breaking into a canter toward the twig. This might be his chance! His mother would be so proud of him if he returned with a seed from the barrens, a sprouted seed especially. Kismet brought him to Fawn and kismet was bringing him to this odd little dead plant jutting out of the horizon. His nostrils flared, lungs filling with hot desert air. He couldn’t smell any seeds, but that was fine. He was still so far away.
“What do you think it is?” he shouted, voice filled with laughter. “I think you’re good luck for the barrens, Fawn. You or Talltale. I’ve been out here so many times but I’ve never found anything before.”
Nothing except dirt, heat, and thirst.
The gnarled twig took form the closer he got, he could see the texture of bark and offshoots where branches had once tried to grow. It was dead now, dead and grey. It was a half-twisted trunk of a small tree, with one larger branch reaching upward - the part he’d initially seen. The trunk was broken off, leaving no sign of roots or a base. It cast a long, grey shadow that inched toward them, beckoning.
wc: 206
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Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 3:44 pm
Fawn noticed that Miros had picked up his pace and picked up her own almost dumping Talltale from her back. She glanced back to make sure that he was still hanging onto her mane with his teeth. As they drew closer to the twig from a distance. It turned out to be a little more then just a twig, but a fallen small tree. So there had been life out here at one time, it just didn't survive that long. Lowering her head she nudged at the gray husk of a plant. Almost looking like there wouldn't be anything to find here. "Doesn't really look like there will be much of a chance does it?" She asked looking back at the buck whom accompanied her. "What do you think Talltale?"The Jack Hop, whom was laying over her back from the sudden speed up. Looked like he was going to just slide off and fall to the ground. When he shook his head and looked at the tree husk. Nose sniffing at the air he hopped down, dancing around on the hot ground. "Hot, hot." He danced before his pads cooled enough to get around the husk. "Lets see if there is anything here." Talltale set to work inspecting the tree. Digging here and there in the parched ground. Poking at the dead plant. "There used to be life here, perhaps not in this one spot, but somewhere." She gave the place a look around. "But it is a place to start..."She was cut off as Talltale yelled something from where he had dug into the ground and pulled out a small seed that was nestled beneath the husk. It looked almost as grey as the rest, but there was still some brown to the shell. The seed was small, but at the point, a seed was a seed.. WC: 310
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 6:49 pm
Miros’ ears perked to attention as Talltale snuffled around the three. He’d never seen a jack hop in action before. All the others he’d met had been in Homewood, hopping about between the bushes and feeding on the grasses and seeds readily available to them. Miros knew they had excellent noses for this sort of thing, he’d just never had the opportunity to work with one before. And it was fascinating. Talltale seemed to pick up a scent in no time at all, where Miros couldn’t sniff a single thing beyond the hot air and dust.
“That’s amazing.” Miros stepped toward Talltale, bowing his head to the tiny seed held aloft. It looked a little better than the dead tree, but not by much. “Do you think it’ll grow? Maybe we should get it back to Homewood… or… or at least not quite so far into the Barrens. I don’t think I’d want to grow out here.”
If he brought it home, he could show his mother. He’d helped find something. He was worthy of her.
The tip of his tail flicked nervously between his ankles. Miros snorted and forced it to still, taking a careful step backward. He turned to Fawn. “What do you think?”
wc: 206
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 7:21 pm
Clutching the small seed to his chest with a paw, Talltale moved over to where he could sit up better. He looked back towards Miros with a toothy grin. "Living in the ruins you learn a few things." Fawn lowered her head to get a good look at the seed. It looked like it could spout something, but it was hard to tell. Lifting her head back up she glanced around. They needed some water to at least get it wet. And this place was very waterless. Tilting her head some she gave a nod. "Getting it back to at least to the edge of Homewood would be good. Dipping it in some water might help too." She looked at Miros before lowing herself down so that Talltale could easily hop up. "To be out of this place would be a good thing. The cooler the better I'd say." Talltale agreed as Fawn turned around to try and head back towards where they had come. But waited for Miros to lead the way cause he knew the place better then she did. "Shall we go then?" She asked with a bit of a smile, wanting to get out of the baking sun as well. WC: 204
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:30 pm
“I know a stream from Homewood that dies out at the edge of the barrens.” Finally, something Miros could help with! He swished his tail in excitement and whipped around. His heart pounded enough to burst out of his chest.
He could already see his mother’s face, full of pride at him for his accomplishments here. He would make certain that seed would sprout and have a chance to grow. What was it, anyway? A fruit seed that would one day turn into a towering tree? Or something smaller, greener? A tiny fleck of new life that would help engulf the dead lands of the barrens. Even a tiny seed could make a difference out here.
Miros kicked up dust as he ran, driven by the exhilaration of their find. He knew he shouldn’t run in this heat. Already sweat was slicking and darkening his coat, but it didn’t matter. They weren’t far now, and if the seed could survive this place for so long, so could Miros.
He only slowed when his target was in sight. A tiny peninsula of grass ebbing out into the barrens, protected by a few scrawny trees with roots in homewood and branches overhanging the desert. A gurgle of water, barely audible, trickled between the trees, quickly swallowed up by the heat when it ventured too far from their shadows.
“Here we are!” Miros danced back around to face Fawn and Talltale, ears perked and a bright smile on his face. “Do you think this will work?”
wc: 253
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2020 6:57 pm
Fawn blinked as Miros turned quick and mentioned that he knew of a place where water reached the barrens. Well that would certainly work, but she just stood there a moment as he tore off at a break neck speed. Shaking her head, Fawn took off after him after telling Talltale to hang on the best he could and keep hold of the seed. In a way she wished she had a pouch to put it in, but that will be something else in the future. Surely she and Talltale could cobble something together with leaves and things. "I am all for getting there quickly, but really, shouldn't we travel at a somewhat slower pace? I am carrying Talltale and he can't really hang on too well" Fawn shouted, but she was lagging a little behind the buck, but kept him within sight. As they neared the stream, her ears perked up as she saw the greenery. Even the sound of water reached her, finally she could get a drink after this long near sprint. Talltale had hung on the best he could with his teeth tangled in her mane. Both front paws clutching the tiny seed to his furry chest. He wasn't about to let his spoils get lost in the Barrens. Slowing down as to not run into Miros, Fawn stopped near the stream. It was here that Talltale let go and flopped onto the ground. "Miros, please don't go that fast. I know you are as excited as we at, but really." he panted laying on the ground. "I had thought my teeth were going to fall out trying to hang on AND hold onto the seed."Fawn lowered her head where she could get a drink, she was glancing up the stream towards Homewood before looking back out towards the Barrens. After a couple moments of quenching her thirst, she looked at Talltale who was still laying on the ground, sides heaving. "Get a drink Talltale, And I think this will do nicely. We'll just dip the seed in here and then try." Fawn nods as Talltale crawls a bit to get a drink, still clutching the seed for dear life. After he was done, he shook his head and stretched out a paw to dip the seed into the water. Some of the grey washed off revealing a bit more brown to it as the seed soaked up the water like a sponge. Seems that ages in the barrens had sucked some of the life from the little seed, but the water was helping restore it to a point. Pulling the seed from the water, Talltale held the soaked paw and water swollen seed up for Fawn. She looked it over a moment before taking a cross eyed glance up at her horn. "Lets see if this work, shall we?" She looks are Miros. WC: 479
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