When word of Wanderlust having returned once more to Homewood with news of some far-off newly discovered, or newly mapped, mysterious forest, Dousan had initially only been passingly interested. He had been juggling a few appointments, dealing with a quick walk up who had been seeking advice in the romantic department. The companion had been too busy wrapped up doing his duty to devote much of his mind to what this newly found location meant. Plus, details didn't really filter in to him in his to-ing and fro-ing. It wasn't until that evening that he began to learn some specifics. It was way off to the far north-east. It was cooler, which intrigued him. Of course, it was dead as the vast majority of the places touched by The Others. Hill and dale covered with dead trees and lifeless grasses. Something about a river and a lake? What sort of place was this exactly? Getting ready to bed down for the night, Romy, his bonded scuttle scale, picked up his growing absent mindedness as he went about his evening routine. "Something's on your mind, Dousan. You've got a far off look to you."
"Oh, do I?" The buck chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Sorry. It's just...I don't know if you've heard, but Wanderlust brought word, and maps and directions, to a place previously unknown to us. I know I probably shouldn't get as turned around about it as I am. I was part of the group that went out to relocate Wanderlust when they were lost to us, so it isn't like I'm unaware of the risks...But I grew up hearing stories about their explorations. I wonder what secrets and mysteries may be out there. I'm curious is all..."
Romy stretched out along her still warm sunning stone. "I mean...If you're so wrapped up about it, we could go. You're free for the next several days, which you deserve. It might be tight, but we could manage, I think. You said there's maps and directions available; and you're not exactly a stranger to barrens travels. After all, it's where you met me. Besides, the past few days you've been really going hard at it. You could do with some time away to do something fun for yourself, no?"
Dousan had stopped what he was doing to listen with his full attention. He smiled fondly. "I remember. Very well! You've convinced me, Romy. You and I will go check this place out for ourselves! We can get up early, pack everything we could need real quick, and be out of here before the morning is out. Rest well, my friend! We're going on a little adventure of our own!"
And so they did! Morning came, the two well rested companions packed plenty of water and food, a blanket, acquired a map, and across the desert they went. They made good time, taking breaks enough to keep hydrated. The buck, wanting to make the most of the time they had, asked his bonded to hang onto his pack, to get comfortable as she could. Dousan's horn glowed with warm, golden light that soon dissipated around him as he used his gift to Endure the heat and sun. That had carried him farther, but all in all, the trip out took a few days before they spied the spindly silhouettes of dead trees against the sky. Night had begun to fall as they entered the forest.
So this was the Mistfruit Forest? It was much cooler! Especially in comparison to the baking heat of the barrens. Romy got Dousan's attention. "We should rest tonight. You should rest. Eat. We can explore this place fully tomorrow." The buck conceded and the pair set to finding a place to bunker down for the night. The settled on a hollow formed by a fallen tree, the soil partially eroded by wind, maybe rain. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing. There was an eeriness to trying to sleep in an unknown place. Still, sleep claimed them regardless.
Dousan woke first, a regular early riser. He hadn't gone far from their nook. The buck was simply marvelling at the thickness of the fog that hung hazily in the cold air. It made everything seem so close. The trunks of trees having turned into vague shadowy shapes in the mist. If there was danger, it'd be harder to see coming. Hmm. Romy stirred into waking with the absence of her noulicorn friend's warmth and shivered. She crept to the edge of the depression they had nested in and called his name quietly into the fog. Surely, he wouldn't have gone far. He turned and trotted back the few paces he had gone. "Good morning, Ro-," His greeting was cut short at spotting the state of his reptilian bonded. "Oh, Romy, are you okay?" He dropped to ground next to her to get on her level, and to give her a more thorough looking over.
"C-cold," Was all she could really manage.
Dousan frowned in concern. "Let's see if we can find a clear open space higher up. Heat rises, maybe the fog will be less dense. Here, hang on. I have an idea that could help us both." The buck tightened the straps of his pack around him. He straightened once more, focusing on his gift. At first, it was just his horn that glowed, but the golden light and the warmth that radiated from there spread to the rest of him, until he shone with Radiance. Looking to his bonded, concern still knitting his brows, "Does that feel better?"
The heat that washed over the scuttle scale drew a sigh of relief from her. "Ah...Much. Thank you, Dousan. I think it's helping drive back the fog a bit too." She looked around and moved to stand next to her companion.
He smiled and nodded. "I'm glad," He said and followed her gaze around. "And it appears so! Let's see what we can find while I've got this going." The two wandered through the forest, their eyes peeled for anything of interest. Dousan had heard of a river and a dammed lake, a strange grove of magical trees. They saw none of these as they wandered. They pressed uphill, ever uphill. Upon reaching the crest of the highest hill they could find, the Radiance the buck had used faded and he was once more himself. He sighed and shook himself. It was slightly warmer up here, and more time had passed so the clinging cold of the morning had faded some as well. The forest stretched out in all directions around them. "Hey, Romy, if you climb up on my head, do you think you could make note of anything notable from this location, and which direction? I've got charcoal and a sheet of paper. That way we've got notes on what we've seen for when we head back."
Now that she had been sufficiently warmed up, she was feeling most amiable. "Sure! I'll bring them up there with me and jot down, or draw up about what I see." Dousan knelt down for her to extricate what she'd need, let her clamber up his pack, and straightened up to as high as he could stand, remaining stock still as she scaled up his neck to use his horn to grip onto as she peered around. Occasionally, she'd offer directions to shift more one direction, or to turn. Once a full circle was made, she settled onto Dousan's pack and set to work, furiously taking notes, drawing diagrams, and the like.
"If you're going to be busy for a while, shall we start heading home? You can keep up there while you work and just hop down when you're done. I'll be careful."
"Yes, that's fine. I don't think this place is terribly scuttle scale friendly, so I am ready to go."
Dousan nodded, turned back the way he had come and started back on the long path home. Hopefully what info they did gather would be interesting enough for Wanderlust's consideration. He thought they had something worthwhile. Who knows? Maybe others had mapped other areas of Mistfruit Forest and, combined, they'd have a better, clearer image of what was going on in this place.
[WC: 1379 ]
[Used: Endure, Radiance ]
