Welcome to Gaia! ::

When she walked it was with a sway to her hips and when she caught sight of a buck looking her way, she made sure to throw in a mane toss. The sunlight would catched the pearly strands of her flaxen mane and sparkle. Sakura took pride in her silken tresses and loved how the sunlight made the pale color shine. She walked with her tail aloft, careful to not catch it on brambles or bushes. She thought highly of herself and strove to maintain her looks, sure she was a foal not that long ago but that’s when it all started for her.

All her work paid off in the fact that she was a beautiful young doe with much going for her. And while she loved turning the heads of bucks everywhere she went, Sakura would be picky about those who would get a taste. But enough of that she thought to herself, tossing her mane back. It was time to head to the tree. It was the right of passage for young adult nouls, to shed their foalhood and take their place in noulicorn society. Coming from nothing, she felt she had a lot to prove to those who might look down on her and the one thing she didn’t want to be was a nobody.

The trek between Homewood and Grandfather tree was through the barrens. The heat and sun was challenging her vainness about her appearance. The last thing she needed to be was sweaty and unkempt, so she took her time but moved at a continuing pace. The tree was a welcomed sight as she made her way up to the plateau and standing in it’s shade was a small reprieve from the sun. She made it to the base at last, ready for her vision.

WC: 302

While she was still in the barrens, the change in scenery was off putting but it was nothing compared to the feeling of exhaustion that overcame her. Her body was screaming that it had a desperate need for food for most importantly water. The sun bore down on her back and she could feel the sweat leeching from her body and with it, important fluids.

“Ugh,” she expressed aloud to no one in particular. She was incredibly unkempt, exhausted and thirsty. She took a wobbly step forward and sighed. Squinting, she raised her head up and looked around. She tended to avoid the barrens and wasn’t very well versed in traveling the hell she suddenly found herself in. Taking several steps forward, Sakura kept a wary eye out for signs of anything that would provide her relief.

The horizon was wavy with heat and the barrens stretched on endlessly or so it seemed. She began to pant lightly but a sliver of green caused her to perk up. Her ears flicked forward, could it be? One step after the other, Sakura pressed forward towards the sliver of green on the horizon. There was no question in her mind, she was going to head towards the green. Sakura had heard there were oasis in the barrens despite how inhospitable it was. So what are the odds that this was one of them? The only way to find out was to head in that direction.

Sakura felt like she was positively melting as she moved across the burning ground. But she pressed on no matter how heavy her body began to feel. So far it seemed the green did not waver, nor did it seem to stay out of reach. Sakura felt like she was actually making progress towards the oasis and thus she felt like she was going to make it. The smell of water would make her mouth water if there was any moisture left her in her body. Her sweat was already dry and crusting her fur it seemed. But she was rewarded with her persistence with a small oasis with some water left. She fell to her knees and took a drink before rolling over in the water. It felt heavenly against her burning hide. Heck, it was muddy and at this point, she didn’t care. Sakura tossed her vanity to the wind as she rolled in the mud. Coating her pelt in a protective layer of wet clay. Another long drink of water helped her feel a little more like herself and she made to rise to her hooves once more.

She was still wobbly but felt less like she was going to end up a dried out husk. There was a lone spindly tree and she hobbled over to stand in what little shade it provided. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, sighing. A shift caused her to open her eyes again and the spindly tree was replaced by Grandfather tree. She raised her head and looked with relief upon the tree before her.

WC: 510 / 812