The soft morning light set the trees aglow and a gentle breeze threw their leaves into a delicate shimmering dance. it was the first time Callista had felt at peace in a long while. The journey here had not been easy, traveling alone never is. She laughed softly, a gentle sound that echoed around her. If only her family could see her now! Hair unkempt, hooves caked in yesterdays dirt. They would hardly recognize her. But no, she was dead to them. She had been the day she had chosen to leave her herd for the village of Dorrala.The spires topped the trees in the distance, an incredibly sight to behold at dawn. The stone of the towers bathed in a warm light, illuminated by the sun rising at the horizon. She hadn't been able to bring herself to enter. Somehow, she still felt she did not belong in this part of the world. Frowning slightly, she moved on, sliding through the trees as a swan to a glassy lake. Where she was going now, she wasn't sure. Continuing to wander, her mind began to drift to the days before. Everything had been so easy then. Even now, with her destination in sight, she couldn't bring herself to walk through the gates. She had no direction anymore and things were slowly losing their focus.
Breaking through an awning of draping trees, she found she had stumbled on a small clearing. Scattered blossoms offered the sweetest smells, picked up by the breeze and carried aloft. The pinks and oranges of the petals stood out brightly against the soft grass. Suddenly feeling the weight of her travels, she kneeled before gently lowering herself to the ground. Here seemed as good a place to rest as any. She doubted any other creature was near enough by to cause her harm this close to the town. In the warmth of the rising sun and the growing smell of flowers, she felt drowsy but struggled to stay alert. She still wasn't sure about this place, but it felt more like home than anywhere she had left.
