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"Come on Juniper, we're going on an outing." Fawn called towards the back of the den she shared with the little foal she had found on the edges o the barrens.

Juniper, a young Mahogany bay filly yawned as she was roused from slumber. She had been sleeping on the ever growing bed of sponge moss and leaves. Fawn had laced in sprigs of Lavender into the edges to help with sleep fir little Juniper. Stretching her limbs out before her, she stood and shook the sleep from her body and moss from her hide.

"Where we going?" She called out as she went to follow her adopted mother. "Somewhere fun I am hoping."

Fawn watched as Juniper soon bound to her side. Fawn nuzzled the foal. She hadn't thought herself the type that looked after foals. But she couldn't see herself leaving this one behind in the barrens. Not as skinny and lost as the filly had looked those days ago. It had taken Fawn some time and patience to bring Juniper back to better health. Many visits to a Vivfy to make sure she wasn't injured and her health was indeed coming back to rights. All the while Fawn started raising small sprouts in payment.

"We're headed out to the barrens." Fawn said as the Juniper looked up at her, "We're going to see if we can't find you a friend. Much like Talltale is for me."

While this was half right, she did want someone to be Juniper's friend and keep her entertained. Fawn couldn't play all day like Juniper would like her to do. She was expected to help with the healing of their world and providing what she could with the healing of others as well. As much as this trip was for Juniper, Fawn was on the look out for seeds that could prove useful to everyone.

"A friend? I like new friends." Juniper hopped excitedly.

"Easy there young one, no need to be that excited." Talltale said as he bound over and sat up slightly. "Besides, if we stand here all day, we won't get anywhere."

Fawn nodded to the Jack Hop whom vaulted to her back holding a pouch for seed collecting. This brought a small frown to Juniper's face. she was quick to catch on that this was not all about here. Looking slightly, she followed after Fawn as they exited their home and headed for the Barrens. When they got there, Talltale had vanished from his perch and out of sight. Juniper had missed his departure leaving just her and Fawn together.

"Where did Talltale go, Mama?" She asked looking around, her steps having stopped as she got a batter look around.

"He had some things to do, I wouldn't worry about Talltale. He lived in the Ruins before coming to be a friend of mine." She said stopping and looking back, "If he could survive there, he is able to survive anywhere."

Juniper tilted her head to one side a little as Fawn spoke. She had never thought of Talltale had lived anywhere else but Homewood. Guess she would have to ask him about it when she is able. By now they had reached the Barrens and Juniper looked out at the arid place. She shrunk back a little as if to remember this was where she had lost everything... There were still some fragments of the memories.

"Here we are, now lets see what we can find, huh?" Fawn asked as she smiled stepping out into the Barrens.

Juniper wasn't too sure about it all, but she trusted Russet Fawn as her mother and she knew that she wouldn't be left alone again. While they did have their moments, Juniper was still trying to work her head around it all.

"You stay there, you might get lonely." Fawn shouted back as she had wandered ever further away from Juniper. "One of these days, these barrens won't be this way. We all help each other and heal the land. The Barrens will become like Homewood."

Juniper's ears flicked slightly at the mention of healing the land. Was that what she was doing when she grew plants? She had seen Fawn use her gift to sprout seeds and plant them into the ground. She had at one time tried to do the same thing as Fawn did. But she didn't have the magic to make plants grow.

"When I am bigger, I can do things like you do, right?" She asked as she bound after Fawn into the Barrens, the cracked soil crumbling away as she went. "When I go see that big tree that is. The White one you went to, to get that marking on your shoulder."

"Of course. You will have your own roll to play in all this great scheme of things." Fawn smiled as they continued on. "Now, lets see if we can't find something special out here."

The two walked in silence, well Fawn was more silent then Juniper as she chased off a small moth. Fawn watched the foal with a smile on her features. Soon the foal had stopped and was looking at something. Fawn tilted her head as she caught up to her and looked down at whatever she was looking at. The foal glanced up at Fawn, her sides heaving in small pants.

"Look mama, is this what the plants really look like out here?" Juniper asked as she looked back at a small scrub of old plant life.

"It would seem so,"

"Can you do anything to help it?"

"I can give it a try. Haven't had much practice with the stronger magic." Fawn said as she gave a glance up towards her horn.

Juniper stepped out of the way as Fawn peered down at the small plant. It didn't look like much of anything. The roots were locked deep within the parched land. She wasn't sure if her magic would be of much use here without any one else's help. Closing her eyes, Fawn called deeper into her being for the stronger magics that the tree had bestowed upon her. The marking down her shoulder gave a soft green glow before she opened her eyes. The glow shifted from her marking to her horn, to this she reached down and laid it upon the parched plant.

The plant gave a shudder as new shoots sprung from its base, white roots reached deep seeking what water might have rested beneath the surface. The shoots rose high towards the blazing sun. Wide leaves flung themselves open as sun dishes before more followed. The bush maybe half way up a noul's leg sat in its glistening glory.

Fawn stepped back panting as she gazed down at the small patch of green that sat in the midst of the barrens. She wasn't sure how long this would survive, but if there was water beneath the surface where new roots could reach then it would last a while yet. Turning her gaze from the bush she looked around for Juniper. Juniper stood off to the side watching with large brown eyes.

"That was amazing!" She shouted bounding over to nose at the bush. The sweet smell of the leaves blocked out the dryness of the barrens.

"That was hardly anything." Fawn said as she composed herself. "This small piece will lead to more."

Juniper only nodded as she was now prancing around the bush as if it were her new friend. Fawn only giggled at the filly and shook her head. Seems the smallest bit of magic could please the young mind. By now the marking on her shoulder had faded back to its normal shine, leaving little to show that it had glowed only moments before. The joy of Juniper was enough to forget where they were... For now..