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This time, Watch's wandering took his the opposite way, away from the river and into the denser parts of the swamp. Roots tripped him and lichen dangled, tickling his back, all the while he kept going through the list, looking for something, anything he could bring back. He was eyeing up a large stick when a broken hiss came from behind.

Spinning, he saw her, a doe as ancient as the swamp itself it seemed, crouched threateningly, her blind eyes ghastly wide and scraps of faded hair clinging to her skull. He could count her ribs and spine alike, not to mention the sharp, rotting fangs that were aimed at him.

Curiosity killed the 'meti, or so the saying goes, but Watch's wits outweighed his desire to learn her identity. Turning tail, the red hooved buck booked it out of there, not stopping until he reached the clearing once more. Shaking and laughing, he was terrified, but boy did he have a story to tell!

On his way back, Watch spied something yellow hanging from a low branch on a near by tree. A past memory swam through his mind, of a day with a mare and the mother of his children. Without hesitation, he plucked the fruit, carrying it gently in his jaws, intending to bring it back as a snack for Never Idle. But as he walked, the sweet memories combined with the juice from the fruit left a delicious taste on his tongue and, without a second thought, the fruit was eaten. Oh well, he thought, at least he'd gotten the clay, right?

More people were helping Never Idle than Watch had originally anticipated. Were they all just good Samaritans or did they have their own agenda? Spinning stories in his head as he walked, it wasn't long until the sky colored buck bumped into someone he knew.

"Set, my dear! What brings you here?" He called, seeing his daughter's sun set pink pelt down the way.

"Oh, father! Hello! Just helping out a kin in need," she smiled pleasantly, nodding to a small pile of foraged food, presumably for Never Idle.

"Such a darling girl," He grinned proudly, "Tell me, my dear, it's been so long, how have you been?"

And so father and daughter talked until the sun was sinking, resting its head on the glowing horizon beyond the trees, sinking into the ocean far far away.

Despite his attempts to leave the delightful flowers behind, everywhere he looked, he saw them. Their sweet, intoxicating aroma permeating the air around him, making his head woozy with desire. The scent seemed to chnge, from his favorite food, to the smell of ocean spray, to Rain's scent. Without thinking, Watch found himself lapping up nectar from plant to plant until his tongue was numb and his heart aching with longing. Whatever this plant was, he needed to get away from it as soon as possible, he decided, and using as much self will as he had, he tore himself away from the love-blooming flowers.

Feelings were washing over him like waves, conflicting like two separate tides, causing a riptide of confusion. Closing his eyes, he shook his head, trying to shake off this feeling.

"You should go back to her." A voice made his eyes snap open. Spinning, the buck's wide eyes met red ones matching his own. He stood before himself, how he knew not, but there he was. Watch closed his eyes, the scent of the thicket returning to him, the sound of the river lapping at the stony shore, their children laughing. Tears stung his eyes, so he squeezed them tighter.

"How? She's probably gone by now. The ocean, however, will always be there. Don't you have something to do?" This voice was also his own, a second mirror figure stood beside the first. The sound of the ocean rang in his ears, the waves, the wind, the birds. For a moment, he thought he felt sand beneath his hooves. His heart ached, torn by his two greatest desires. What to do?

"No, none of this is real, stop it, now!" The sky-colored buck cried, and upon opening his eyes, it had all dissipated. The sun was all but gone now, just a faint tinting on the blue-black that was covering the sky. He was still dizzy and hurt, but he had to go. And so, with shaky hoof steps, he continued on, waiting for the flower's effects to wear off.