Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tia Dulce walked along the ravaged land, knowing that there would be no plants here to collect for her potions and cures. Another futile effort, another day passed with no end in sight of the blight of the fire.

“Dere be change in de wind.” She said out loud to herself, catching the scents of burned out fire and the mires that were left from the flood. But along with that scent, something fresh came on the wind, “Someding good is to come from dis plight.”

She walked carefully along the forest of burnt and dead trees, her ears and nose keeping alert for hidden dangers. This wood had been full of wonderful herbs she could have used, but there were all gone now. Having been near the swamp for the whole of the event, she had missed the panic and fear of others, but despite that, she was no stranger to the ravages of fire and flood herself.

She walked on, hoping for some plant life she could salvage, she would have to grow her own herbs for a while till this place grew again.

Soon she came to the edge of the forest and noted some freshly upturned Earth. She tilted her head, this way and that around the hole, and came to the conclusion that it was a potato that had been dug up. And recently.

“Well, dis is inderesting…” she said as she raised her head and sniffed the wind more closely, “Dere is someone nearby…”

She followed the stranger’s week scent, a fearful scent, and then saw what she was looking for in a nearby lake.

“A lost soul no doubt…” Tia Dulce mumbled to herself, “Is dis what I see?”

Tia walked over to the lake and smiled at the mare saying, “No need to fear ma chérie, it is only Tia Dulce.” She took a sip of the water, something that tasted better than the last puddle of mire, very clean she thought. She then looked over to the unknown mare and said, “Dis is a miserable place for life such as us, is it not? Should we not stay together for a while?”

Teepee

Tia watched the dark mare. She seemed to tighten in fear and wage an inner battle with herself. The fear within her seemed to lose such a fight, since her body went lax and she did not flee. Tia was happy about that; many seemed to run when they saw her, or the fear stayed with them till she left.

“Of course you would not know of me!” Tia laughed, “I am from de swamp lands and rarely travel dis far if not for my supply of herbs and flowers.” She looked around at their surroundings and said, “It is true, dis place is very beautiful when not ravaged by fire or flood. We in de swamp watched the ugliness of de fire from afar, and would not venture till it was done.”

“Destruction like dis brings life. Dat is what I have experienced.” Tia eyed the mare and said, “Dere is change in the wind here, can you not smell it? Even de Earth smells fresh despite its appearance.” Tia recalled memories of other fires and floods she had seen, and knew the truth of these words. But she eyed the mare and decided to trust her. She nodded and then took another drink of water before saying, “I would be pleased if you would allow my company for tonight.” Tia said glancing at the darkening sky as well, “Cave or not, I would be welcome for some cover if Skinwalkers are indeed in de area.”

Tia knew of the dangers of this place, and while she was lucky never to have met a Skinwalker here before, she was not about to chance it tonight with no cover. Tia admired this mare, she had courage and guts!