Moon Mist was determined to be brave. She'd done it once or twice before. Mostly during that ridiculous adventure she'd been on. She'd trooped across the Barrens and faced down a horrifying beast in a cave. Nouls that knew her were more likely to break down in a fit of laughter than believe she'd really done it. But she had! And once more, here she stood in the Barrens. The sun was already beating down hard on her, making her really question her planning. She'd woken up today, tended her little garden in Homewood and then had the thought. What if she could find some new seed to revive out in the Barrens. Others had done it! Why couldn't she!
Now, a mere hour's walk from the safety of Homewood she was quite sure that she could not find anything of value out here. Certainly not alone. She was just one little Noul out in the wide Barrens. Before she'd been with a group, and that still had ended ... indifferently. "Stupid dream ..." She kicked aimlessly at a stone. This also proved to be a poor choice. "Ow ... ow ... ow ..." She hopped a few steps, favouring her now probably bruised hoof. She let out a huffy sigh. Exactly none of this was going to have gone to plan. All she was going to end up with was a sunburn and a bruised hoof. She really should have just stayed in her grove and maybe tried to expand it a bit. Transplanted a plant or two. Maybe subdivided something. Gardeners don't belong where there's nothing green. She'd heard that one before and was really coming to firmly believe it.
In her sulk she'd wandered on wards, away from the green bliss that was Homewood. Her hooof hurt and she was annoyed with herself. As she toyed with the idea of just turning around, and salvaging whatever was left of this day she noticed a smudge up ahead. In a place as flat and well ... barren as this a smudge had to be something. She glanced over her shoulder at the long green smudge of Homewood behind her. The little smudge ahead was closer. She was already all the way out here, she might as well go see what it was. Probably just some stupid rock. Probably not even enough rock to have shade to stand in. But still. Moon Mist had already wasted most of her day, might as well make the most of whatever this trip was supposed to be.
She didn't bother trotting, she just took it slow. Exerting yourself too much in the Barren's was an excellent way to make sure you never returned to Homewood. She'd brought a few provisions, just in case. While this plan had been spur of the moment, Moon Mist was aware of all the dangers out here. Ever so slowly, the smudge resolved. As she got closer Moon Mist became sure that this was not a rock at all. In fact, it appeared to be the skeleton of a tree. Suddenly her bad mood began to evaporate. Trees were something she knew a thing or two about!
Moon Mist quickened her pace, just a little. The skeleton got closer and closer. It had been sizeable once. As she approached, it was clear that the tree had once been at least three times her size. For something in the Barrens that was quite large! Discounting the disturbing forest of faces she'd run in to on her adventure. Surreptitiously Moon Mist checked the trunk of the tree skeleton for a face. She went all the way around before she was sure it was safe. Convinced this wasn't one of those twisted trees that had caused her to loose her abilities, she positioned herself carefully in the narrow shadow.
The tree looked dead, but she knew that looks could be deceiving. Reaching into her mind she grasped at the strands of magic that lingered there. Pulling on them, she began to drift into a sort of trance. She touched her horn to the tree and reached for it with her magic. Above ground everything seemed long dead. So long dead she couldn't even form a picture of what this tree had been like when it had been alive. She wondered, in her drifting trance, if this tree had seen the others. She sighed, and moved deeper. Now her mind skimmed along the ground, seeking out any signs of life. Dead roots spread out far beyond the skeleton. They were probably all that was holding the dead sentinel upright anymore. Just like the trunk and branches, she found no signs of life. Nothing she could coax back. Just as she was about to give up, Moon Mist sensed a little spark of life. In a protective tangle of roots, far below ground, she sensed a dormant seed. Her eyes popped open, and she grinned. Not all was lost here. Still leaning against the trunk, she whispered to the dead tree "I will do my best to heal this area, and ensure that seed sprouts. You sheltered it all this time. I'll help now."
wc: 856
