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This land was unknown to her. She arrived yesterday and slept near some rocks, laying down on the sand. Nevena never went to a beach before, it was a peculiar place. The ground was abnormal, nothing like the grass and dirt she was used to. Nevena wondered how the ground could feel like this. The sand felt strange on her hooves and she disliked the feeling of the small grains of sand slipping between the grooves of her hooves. Another aspect of this sand that Nevena disliked was when she got wet, then the sand clung to her.

It was a wonder why Nevena would even stay in this place if she could complain inwardly about so many things. It was the water. When she entered this new land, she could go left, right or forward. The beach was to her right and the water, with its beautiful colour and calm behaviour, caught Nevena's attention. She saw lakes, rivers and streams but never the ocean. So she went right, walking towards the ocean. When she arrived at the beach, Nevena was certain she would stay here for a little while, regardless of the sand.

This environment she was in, it was unlike what she was used to. But perhaps it was better this way? Growing up in the forest, it was all she ever knew. As a child, she wasn't allowed to go out on her own, outside of the forest. The outside of home was dangerous, no place for a child. When Nevena grew up, she was encouraged to leave home and find a new forest to live in where she could later raise a family. Although Nevena was not keen on having a family for a long time, she did want to find a forest, care for it and the animals who lived in there, and eventually call it home.

Her journey was long, she saw trees occassionally but the area she walked through consisted of plains and meadows. But now, here she was, finally stopped. For possibly a couple of days. No more would do her good. Nevena had a goal and though she should be continuing on already, she was tired of walking for hours. This could be the last time she could relax, Nevena knew caring for a forest was hard work. Especially at first, until all knowledge of the forest was acquired and a routine set up.

Currently, Nevena was standing near the water, the waves coming up every so often to splash at her hooves and lower legs. It was morning, the sun not so hot as it would be in the afternoon. Nevena could see a couple of those birds who lived in this area, sitting on some rocks. They watched her and she watched them out of the corner of her left eye. The dryad turned from them, stepping away from the water and heading down the length of the beach.

The beach was large and so far, Nevena had stayed in the area she slept in. Today, she would go exploring and see what she could find out about the area she was now in. Did other dryads like herself live here? If not, what were the animals like? The birds here were different from the ones back home, so Nevena knew there must be other animals that would be new to her.

The beach was quiet, only her, the water and the birds. It was a beautiful place, so why so quiet? Nevena was determined to find someone, anyone who could tell her more. She continued walking on the sand, her bright eyes looking around. Her large ears lifted at the slighest of sounds, searching for anything new to her.

As she walked on the sand, she spotted a strange red creature. It had such talons? With small legs. This creature was nothing like the birds and small animals she had encountered daily in her home. Although the ocean and sand was new to her as well, at least Nevena had heard of them before and so knew them by name. But the creatures of this area, like those birds back there, Nevena did not know them.

She walked around this small red thing, not wanting to get in its way. Nevena looked over her shoulder at it again, before it disappeared behind a rock. Turning her head forward again, her pale eyes narrowed. What was that? It was a large form of something, sitting on the sand. Nearing it, Nevena's eyes widened in surprise.

This something, it was like her. Nevena blinked a few times, perhaps she was only imagining it? But no, she was still there. Nevena could see that this it was a she, the males looked different. Nevena walked a little faster, trotting over to the mare.

Yes, they did look very similiar, like almost sisters. But this one didn't look like someone Nevena ever met before. So who was she? Which forest did she grow up in? Nevena knew there were tons of forests out there so there had to be others like her living in them, protecting them. Nevena would have to ask her.

She didn't hear the hello from the mare, only reaching her now. Nevena looked down at her. "Are you all right?" She asked.

A boat? What was this boat Calixte mentioned? Nevena never heard that term before, was it a type of travel method? Or something else entirely? And what did Calixte mean by land legs? Did this boat have something to do with water?

"This boat you speak of, what is it?" Nevena questioned. It was likely something she should know but living in a forest for most of her life, it left her feeling very sheltered. She knew so little of the world outside of her old home, so many things were unknown to her.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Calixte. I am Nevena." At her next words, Nevena's eyes widened. Was it obvious she was not from here? But wait. Calixte was new to these lands too. So Nevena was not alone. They both came to thse lands, but what was Calixte's reasoning? Was she searching for her forest, just as Nevena was? Perhaps they could help each other out, if so. "I arrived a couple of days ago. How long have you been here?" She asked.

She was surprised by Calixte's answer. It was an answer she did not expect. Imagine, crossing the seas. Nevena could not believe it. She didn't know anyone who was able to cross the sea, well until now. This boat, well ship, must be such an amazing thing. Nevena supposed she was very sheltered, not knowing what a ship was but she knew what it was now! She closed her mouth, not noticing till now that it was slightly agape.

"Whoever created such an item?" Nevena asked curiously. "I have been here for almost two days." It was so far a good place to be in, she was after all enjoying this break in her travels. "Do you like this land so far, Calixte?"

"It is a strange place." Nevena agreed. She looked down at the sand, it was unlike anything she ever stepped on. She moved it around, forming an oval shape. "Especially the sand. You can shape it in many ways, pile it up or make designs." She chose to answer Calixte's last comment first before she spoke about her journey.

When Calixte questioned her about why she was here, Nevena looked over at the sea, wondering how much she should say. But if Calixte was like her, wouldn't she be on the same journey? Or perhaps not. Nevena did not know of what the customs were of dryads living across the sea.

"I have come to this land to find a forest to live in. I grew up in a forest, like my parents, and as my grandparents did as well. Generation after generation, the family and friends I have known, have all lived in forests. We protect them, the trees, the plants that grow and the animals who consider the forest as their home, from those who wish to harm our home." Nevena spoke with a passion, she truly enjoyed what she did. It was so important to her.

"My mother urged me to come here, a land unknown to us. Although many of us live close together in either the same forest or nearby ones, sometimes others move on to far away forests, to learn more, perhaps eventually finding a mate and starting a family or instead finding friends who wish to protect forests too. So here I am, searching for a new home. I have stopped here for a short period of time, this is my first time at the beach." It could very well be her last time as well, so she wanted to get the most out of this experience.

"Now you know why I have come to these lands and I am curious as to why you are here, Calixte? Are you hoping to find a new home, like I am? Or something else entirely?" Nevena questioned.

Most likely it was the humans who created them, long ago. Humans were strange creatures, Nevena had seen them before while hiding behind a tree but she never went near them. No one back home went near them. Her mother had warned her to stay away from them because they could be dangerous, but she never gave an exact reason. With Calixte mentioning that the humans used the ships sometimes for war, perhaps that was the reason why. "You're all right with being in the presence of humans?" Nevena questioned.

Her circumstances for coming here were very different from hers. Nevena never experienced feelings of affections towards another before, only caring for her family and the friends she had back home. The subject of Calixte's reason for coming to these lands was unfortunate, troubling too perhaps. "If you do find him, or not," she paused before continuing, "will you return to your home?".

Nevena frowned as Calixte mentioned the humans taking horses along with them to war. By the sounds of it, the horses might not even be willing to go along but had to because of the humans. But, perhaps she was misinterpreting Calixte's words? However, could this be why everyone back home avoided the humans? To escape having to go to war? Her home had always been peaceful, with horses caring for the plants and making sure everything was safe. Nevena could see the herd wanting to avoid trouble at all costs.

So, she might be staying in these lands too. Nevena already knew she was going to stay here and find a new forest to live in, but it was comforting to know that she wasn't the only one that might be starting anew in a strange new land. She backed away a few steps when Calixte started getting up, allowing her some room. She hadn't noticed that she gotten closer as they conversed.

At Calixte's question, Nevena blinked, not fully understanding. Did anyone mean anyone like family or was she inquiring about her love life? "You mean a mate?" She asked tentatively.

So, that was what she had meant, after all. Her butterflies hovered over her head, flickering nervously as Nevena thought of the stallions back home. There had always been more females, especially in the older generation, her own father she had difficulty remembering. Her father had been fond of nature as well but her mother hadn't mentioned how he died, just how they had met and got together. It hadn't concerned Nevena as some of the other dryads she had grown up with had been fatherless too. Her grandparents had been present too, if only for a short period in her life.

The stallions back home though, none had interested her. With her arrival in these lands, Nevena highly doubted she would contemplate finding love. She needed to be settled in a new home before finding time for a mate and potentially children. Her mother may have encouraged her to find a forest to raise a family in but Nevena was not like her. The most important thing for her was to protect the flora, family and friends would come next and then love last, she supposed.

"No, there isn't anyone like that in my life. No one has piqued my interest before." Nevena admitted at last. "In time, maybe." Calixte didn't look much older than she did, but her life back home seemed to Nevena as quite different. She followed after the other mare, walking beside her after she caught up. "I was hoping to find a guide, I've never seen so much water before." Nevena had desired having some background knowledge before venturing out in search of a forest but it was so quiet here. Could it be a bad time of year to visit?