A small part of Indira felt shaken. The vision from Grandfather Tree had been clear. Don't follow the path, face the consequences. She squeezed her eyes shut. She wouldn't let it happen. She quieted the small part of her that felt fear. A larger part of herself wanted to revel. Grandfather Tree had accepted her, and granted her even more power. No longer was she just an apprentice, fumbling to figure out her gifts. More magic now stirred within her, eager to heal Vykeli. She couldn't stop a smile from spreading on her face. Indira would not waste these gifts.
Fleet approached her. She'd been waiting a respectful distance away while Indira had visited Grandfather Tree. "Indira! Grandfather Tree has marked you! Congratulations!" Her constant companion seemed just as excited as she was. Indira nodded, grinning.
"Just think of what we can do for Vykeli now! We can certainly manage longer trips now, with my gifts. It is a great day!" The fearful part of Indira was almost completely banished. She turned back towards Homewood, a little regretful she'd need to trek back. She hadn't brought many supplies with her, unsure if Grandfather Tree would be ready to accept her and grant her more powers. Better to not seem too cocky. But that meant it was time to go back to Homewood, land of over indulgence and complacency. Indira frowned. It was a necessary evil for now.
She broke into an easy pace, Fleet keeping carefully in her shadow. The sun beat down, as hot as could be. Indira could deal with the heat when it got too much for the pair, but for now she was fine.
Some hours had passed, and the pair had made some progress towards Homewood. Something caught Indira's attention, in the corner of her vision. Something moving parallel to Homewood and Grandfather Tree. Odd. While it wouldn't surprise her to run into a Noul on their way to Grandfather Tree, or another traveler heading back towards Homewood, someone cutting across the Barrens between those two places struck her as odd.
The shape was strangely small too. Too large to be a jackhop, too small to be a Noulicorn. She narrowed her eyes. A cat beast? A dire rat? Whatever it was, it was alone. A single cat beast or dire rat wouldn't be much of a match for her, so she approached confidently. Maybe she could rid Vykeli of some vile creature while she was out here. That would make her trip even more productive.
She extended a leg and Fleet silently scrambled onto her back. She took off into a gallop, heading straight towards the shape. As she covered the ground it become clearer and clearer this wasn't a rat or cat beast. Indira pulled up, panting. A little dust cloud formed around her. Were her eyes deceiving her? A very spindly foal was taking halting steps. It didn't even seem to notice her. "Hey! What are you going out here? Where are your parents?"
It suddenly halted, standing stock still, except for the odd shake. Indira approached, feeling her stomach drop as took in the state of the foal. It was caked in dust and blistered from sun exposure. Dirt clung along its eye rims and its blinking was slow and almost unseeing. Its lips were deeply cracked. Indira was taken a back. A foal like this belonged in Homewood, being cared for by nannies. In her opinion, a creature like this was one of the few that should be in Homewood, and only in Homewood. She repeated her question. "Where are your parents? Your nannies?" She sucked her breath in. "Did you wander away from Homewood?" That would be a tragedy. Foals like this would grow into apprentices and contribute to the healing to Vykeli. Every foal was needed to help shoulder the barren.
A very dry voice answered her. "H-homewood? What's that?" The foal seemed confused, and looked right at the end of their strength. "Mama ... is gone."
Indira inhaled sharply again. Had this foal been raised out here? She shook her head. That was disgraceful, risking a foal like that. Foals just weren't equipped to handle the Barrens. "Fleet. The water?" The jackhop uncorked a water gourd that was strung across her shoulders. The jackhop adjusted it lower, so the foal could access it. Indira sidled over to the foal, as close as she could get. "Here, drink. You need it."
She also reached into her mind and found her gift. It swirled willingly to her. A comfortable cool settled over Indira and the area near her. It was just enough to cover the foal, who let out a sight. The little one was terribly unsteady, but managed to get a quick drink. Indira glanced back at Fleet. "We need a vivify user. This little one isn't going to make it all the way back. You're going to have to bring someone Fleet. Go!"
Fleet didn't need to be told twice. The jackhop took off like a streak towards Homewood, towards help. For the first time Indira pondered the use of an adventuring party. Would she be able to keep this little one alive long enough for help to arrive? She hoped so. "Lay in my shadow. I will shelter you as best I can little one." The foal settled into a heap, eyes closed. Indira watched the horizon, hoping help wasn't too far away.
