Welcome to Gaia! ::

He gave her a roguish grin. "I never said that you were. I was just giving you the option to behave that way if you wished." As if remembering himself he gave a cough and looked slightly sheepish. He began moving again. "Moving through the portal feels as if you are being pulled from your body and becoming one with the bloodlines of the world to travel along them. If you can find the control to allow yourself to let go and just relax into the flow it can be a rather invigorating experience. The first time I used one was rather embarrassing. I was off of my feet for more than a day. Mollie, my Glory leader, still enjoys reminding me." He gave a snorted laugh. " Life within our little family is never dull. Our Glory takes care of its own. Like a large extended family. We spend so much time apart that when we are together it is like a big joyful celebration. Mollie and her lifemate Rhuin are commendable leaders. They balance all of the Glory member's duties and still maintain an emphasis on the importance of togetherness."

He chuckled reminiscing "I was a bit more stubborn when I was first finding my place in the Wood. I was very much in my own skin and letting go to move through the world was a terrifying experience. I have been told that the experience is not the same for all. Some merely feel as though they step through a door that saps their strength. Others, like myself, are aware of the whole journey. It takes but a moment to happen, which is assumedly why the physical and mental impact is so profound even if one is not aware of the entire experience." He slowed as they came upon a swampy area that was obviously a place where the river had started to flow over. Sam walked into the middle of the muddy area and dipped his horn in the wet. After a moment he walked out of the other side and continued on. " The water elements have that particular breach controlled. If that is the worst of it we are lucky."

He nodded at her comment to the elementals. "Yes, they truly are. It is lucky that we managed to befriend and ally with them. Though there are still some that will cause trouble every so often. I don't know if it's boredom or if they truly do not like us." They came to a place where a simple bridge crossed the river, obviously having been built by some of the traveling humans that wandered the wood. The swollen river was tickling the bottom of the bridge with reaching white fingers. Though the river tried to pull at it, the bridge stood firm. A testament to its craftsmanship. Sam stepped out onto the bridge without hesitation, eyeing the water below. "When you travel through the portals you do not see anything and yet, see everything. The way a tree or a rock or the earth sees. Sight without eyes." Once on the other side he traveled downstream again. The further they traveled the wider the river became. It seemed to be getting less violent as well. Slowing just a bit.

Sam paused and stared into the river. " It is getting slower. The closer to the mouth we get the slower and wider it will get. If the tide is coming in we may even get to see it flowing backwards." He continued on. "If you would like, I could arrange for you to travel back with me. We have quite a way more to travel by hoof before we can make it to a portal so if you do not have the time to travel maybe there will be another chance." He glanced at her. " If you were to come I could show you GloryHeart meadow and possibly introduce you to the queen after I made a small trip to report to my leader. "

"Well then, it is my pleasure to have you along Miss Delilah." As they continued traveling along the riverbank he expertly gauged the position of the sun and where they were along the river so that he could adjust their travel speed so that they could arive near the mouth of the river in time to watch the effect of the tide. As it so happened they did not run into any more flooding trouble as they continued downstream. In the early evening just before they came in sight of the rocky beach that marked the end of the journey he stopped and looked up at the sky again. " The moon will be rising soon and with it the tide. Now watch the river. " At this point it was wide and had just enough motion that you could still see it moving. While they watched, it slowed and then began moving backward.

He nodded in appreciation. "Nature, in this wold and the old one, is as magical as we are. Which makes sense when you really take the time to think about it as we are the children of nature. All beings are, but as the closest to the source it is our duty to preserve and defend it. Which is why I decided to join the Sentinals. "
As he talked about his purpose, Sam's eyes to on a faraway look and his stance became firm and regal. He stared down the river toward the shore. After a moment he shook himself out of his trance and smiled at her. "Shall we continue to the shore? I have always thought the ocean was beautiful at dusk." With that he trotted off down the river, now against the flow, with a renewed spring in his step.

When their hooves finally hit the rocky sand at the seashore the sun was fat and lazy resting just on the horizon. It had streaked the sparsely cloud dotted sky in hues of reds, oranges and pinks. The ocean water itself reflected the display in the the sky. As they they stood on he beach the sun sank lower and lower and within minutes with a bright flare disappeared completely. As the sun set Sam watched her watching the sunset, thinking that the light lit her coat in some vary becoming shades. " I don't think I will ever become tired of seeing that." He murmured.