Welcome to Gaia! ::

She smiled, a small little smile that carried the undertones of "Whatever you say..." with an eyeroll. "Alright then... I've heard that there is a small stream nearby, sunwards!"

'Sunwards'? I can't beleive I said that! Well, I really don't know the true direction. I suppose I should bring my weapon, though. Atnae bent and scooped up her weapon, ready to face anything. The young Dryad tensed, the flung herself upon the branches with all her might. She hacked, slashed, jabbed, turned, and did it all over again. She repeated this pattern several times, until she became out of breath and sank to her knees.

She looked at the vines. She looked again. It was as though she had never touched them. "Argh!" She cried, flinging down her sword. "Of all the #$%$ $(&) @#^ things to happen!" Just realizing what she said in front of another, she felt her face flushing.

"Sorry, Ms. I think we may have to find a way around." Still angry at herself, she kicked dirt on the fire to put it out, they wouldn't be able to find her way back if she was going to make it to Adei in time for the festival. The Sun Festival was the main tourist attraction for Adei. Once a year, all the streets would be lit at night, there would be a parade in fine orange and gold, and a feast in the town square. Sometimes the party would last all the way to night of the next day! Still, she was here now, and she had to deal, now.

Atnae looked at her travel buddy. "Why would we stay here?" She asked "There's no water here!" She exclaimed that as though it were the most horrible thing in existance. "Nah, Ms. Ash'rael, all we gotta do is find where we came in..."

Looking around, all the Dryad saw was a thick wall of green. Where did we come in? She wondered. It was almost as though the vines had grown up around their spot overnight...But nothing could grow that quickly, of that she was certain!

"Ohhh.. Drat!" She cried, containing her language this time. Where does this vine start? She wondered. On second thought, she asked the trees, though she didn't expect an answer. There was a faint, surprised murmuring amongst the trees, they hadn't even noticed! Atnae was becoming quite peevish...

"Just...Break....Already!" She yelled at the vine, launching into a childish fight against the vine wall. Her skin, already red with exertion, looked as though it would catch fire.

Bored and exhausted, Atnae finally sheathed her Sjango seed. To upset to even talk, she walked back over to the log she had originally rested upon. She felt about ready to burst into tears, but she kept reminding herself, over and over, Suck it in. There's nothing you can do. There's nothing to cry about. Suck it in. At last her muscles relaxed, and she closed her eyes and tilted her head to the sky.

Water.

Water, water, water...

In amazement, she opened her bright green eyes, and two raindrops plopped into them, causing her to blink. "Ash...Ash! It's raining..." Not sparing a second, she set a deep pot down to collect the water.

Not wanting it to sprout, she hid her seed and it's sheath inside the decaying log. In a few moments, she was soaked, her hair glistening a dark green. Watching her surroundings, she noticed movement in the wall... "Ash'rael! The vines are sending down roots! We may be able to climb it...." She took her Sjango seed out of it's place and started towards the wall.

Sure enough, the vines were climbable, though it got a bit tricky to navigate when a whole new rootling pushed it's way through. Still, she managed, and was soon at the top. Atnae was still soaked, freezing, and annoyed at herself for no reason that her mind could detect, needless to say, she was unhappy. "Come on Ash'rael! The stairs might not last long!" She called urgently.

Her eyes scanned the ground, and sure enough, she saw the rootlings were growing on both sides. Satisfied that they would have a way out, she climbed down a bit to help Fo'Ash'rael to the top. And collect her water, she wouldn't forget that after all everything else happened!

Pulling gently on her hand, Atnae helped Ash'rael up the wet vines. They did not behave like most vines, content to lie still for a few seconds. They writhed, rising in just the right places to trip the unwary. Though it didn't have thorns, it might as well have for all the trouble it caused. How odd, the green haired girl thought. There was no problem when I tried to climb.

Suddenly, a bump she could have sworn had popped up on the spot, leaped up as though to trip her. It succeded. She dropped the bucket, and almost lost hold of Fo'Ash. "Grab on to something!" She shouted down.

Siy ran over and stood under a tree. It wasn't supposed to rain like this!! Just a light drizzle. I guess when dealing with the sky you have to be extremly specific. She concentrated on stopping the rain.

"Alright I want sunshine. Come on just give me a little sun. You could make it mostly overcast with a little hint of sunshine." Siy couldn't believe she was actually bargaining with the sky like this. Feeling pathetic she continued her murmerings. "Just stop the rain. Or make it lighter." A fork of lightning flashed out across the sky.

"Fine be that way!! Have your attitude. I should stop the sun and moon in their places for that." Her murmering had turned in to an annoyed yell.