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Posted: Tue May 09, 2017 3:01 pm
 Idris worried his lip as he gazed at charred smoking ruins that stretched out before him for acres. Under different circumstances, this desolate patch of ash and the smoldering bones of the once tall trees would eventually recover, but this blackened scar across the face of the earth was in dire need of the services he could offer. He sighed deeply, the wet cloth Cadence had helped to drape over his nose shielding his lungs against the dangerous smoke still rising from the ruins. This area had been suffering from a drought for many years now and while the well meaning citizens of this area had dutifully fought off the smaller grass fires that had sprung up here and there, they had been unable to fight back the intense and powerful firestorm that had ignited when lightning struck in the middle of this dried patch of forest. Most of it had already been dead, the speed of the fire's spread and its' intensity were testament to that, but instead of quickly burning away a thin layer of dead debris before moving on it had lingered, the drought had caused years of dead detritus to build up and the smaller fires had been extinguished before they could allow the land to renew itself. The fire had had plenty of fuel to build it strength enough to devour even the healthy living trees in the area that normally may have survived with only minimal scorching.
It was a great tragedy. Many had lost their homes, a few had been scathed by the fire or choked by the billowing smoke and required treatment. Thankfully, very few had lost their lives. But without intervention, it was likely that the land itself would never recover.
Idris and his familiar, Cadence, had sifted through the dirt and ashes. Unfortunately, much of the organic material, fertilizer for the forest to be reborn, and shed seeds, had been burned away or sapped of life by the intense and lingering heat of the fire. The ash covered wasteland was truly dead. Idris shivered, feeling lonely. Cadence had returned to Ignis and Sephia to report their findings and ask for more help, they needed help to turn the soil, re fertilize the earth, and to gather and plant seeds that were native to this region. It was a daunting task, but it was the mandate of the Harvest herd to heal the wounds of the earth as well as wounds of the flesh. This was Idris' first scouting mission, but the other's had done this before, they would know what to do. He missed the others, missed the herd lands, missed Cadence. He hadn't felt this alone since he had been adopted into the patchwork Harvest herd, a patchwork of personalities that only found each other through chance and heartache but were all the stronger for it. He felt pride to be a part of such a family and he wanted to make Ignis, who he looked up to immensely, proud.
He had already directed many of the uninjured in the area to stand watch to make sure there was no longer an active blaze hiding under all this smoke and death, a few more were digging fire breaks around the damage to protect the rest of the land. He would have to think of how to prevent this from happening in the future.
"Rain, would be a great start..." Idris muttered under his breath as he stepped away. It was growing late in the evening. He was bone tired and yet had no desire to sleep. He trudged some distance away in a haze of thoughts and emotions, barely seeing the world around him. He stopped when he reached the small glade he had chosen as his resting place. There was a small stream trickling through it, although the banks around the water were dark and bare, evidence that this had once been a swollen river, the lack of rainfall had had its toll even here. the earth was dry and cracked around it, but it was water, and it was clean. Idris knelt, tossing his head to remove the cloth, and took a long drink. Wanting to wash but unable to summon the energy. He felt dry. Crisp around the edges, dirty. Being away from the lush healthy green of the Vale was taking a toll on him. Now, with Cadence gone, Idris didn't even have anyone to talk to. He could have flown her home, had offered, but she had reminded him that Ignis wanted a representative of the herd here until the healing was well underway. While he waited for more of the herd to arrive, he was to be responsible for surveying the surrounding land, beginning the process of gathering seeds and marking saplings that could be safely transplanted to this area. It was a big task. He'd had training for this, but somehow he hadn't realized how much old demons and sad memories would scrape at him once he was alone again. How much the fires would remind him of the land of his youth. Long ago he'd set out to save it, but over time he'd come to realize that death was another part of life, that his homeland had been dying, and it was time to move on... It still hurt to think of the family he'd left, who had refused to see the truth and move on with him. But here, he had new family. He belonged.
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 3:38 pm
 Sayerauho had thought she'd heard the sound of water. The blue coated mare picked her way delicately through the dry underbrush of the woods, pausing now and then to study the parched landscape. The smoke of the fire lingered heavy in the air, though the mare hadn't yet reached the worst of it. Drought was a terrible burden, and the fire that scorched this area was a true tragedy. She hadn't yet approached the worst of the fire, but with night fast approaching, decided she was close enough for now. There was no sense risking stepping into embers or scorching ash without daylight to cut through the smoke. Besides, the smoke would be even worse the closer she drew near.
For now, she would wait the night out.
Stopping by the area had not originally been in her plans. She had been on her way back from entertain a small herd of cerynei, who had wished for stories, and a bit of company. She had charmed them appropriately, and they had promised to send baskets of the autumns harvest up to her families herd come the autumn. It had been upon her journey back north, to her home, that word of the fire caught her ears, and so it was, she decided that home could wait. Fires could displace many, and she knew that help would likely be needed -- even if he could do nothing about the fire itself, or the loss, she knew she could ease stress and burdens. Delicate a mare she might look, Sayerauho was no push-over, and was a clever mare. Surely, she could find some work to help with, or some minds to ease.
Unaware that she was making a beeline straight towards Idris, all Sayerauho could think about was a drink. Even from this distance, she was certain she was covered in ash. With luck, the stream that she could hear would not be so tainted with ash and murk, and allow her to quench her thirst. So it was, she stepped out of the foliage, only to stop when she realized she wasn't alone.
Sure enough, there was a rainbow-scaled stallion drinking from the water. He had pale wings, and a pale mane, and was vibrant even coated so in ash. Sayeraho gave the smallest of bird-like whistles, and purposefully gave a little shake of her body, so her bells gave the gentlest of jingles. She didn't wish to surprise the stranger, whoever he was. Certain he had enough warning, and not wanting him to stop in his drink on her behalf, Sayerauho let herself step over to the waters edge and follow suit.
"I hope there's water enough to share," she smiled, before lowering her own head to drink. Introductions could happen as soon as her thirst had slacked.
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Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2017 9:45 am
While Idris had spent much of the past few years traveling either alone or with other members of the herd, he wouldn't call himself a professional at more than very basic survival skills. Still, he could only blink in surprise when the light clear chime of bells cascaded behind him. He turned to face the mare that had stepped into the glade without so much as the snap of a twig to announce her approach. Idris was envious, Ellette liked to joke that he'd likely move with more stealth through the forest if he tried to step on the fallen branches instead of attempting to avoid them. She'd despaired of ever training him as a backup scout. The mare had a sharp tongue when riled. Idris' eyes were red rimmed from smoke and exhaustion, he blinked a couple times, wondering if he'd perhaps spent too much time in the sun today and his mind was playing tricks on him.
The dainty mare was a riot of patterns and ornaments, Idris glanced down at the thin layer of sweat and grime coating his body as well as his smoke stained scales and heaved a sigh. He was not a vain stallion, but he did like to put his best foot forward when making new acquaintances whenever possible. He was here representing the Harvest Herd after all. Idris bowed his head, "Not as much as there used to be I'm afraid, but plenty to share, rest and be welcome. " He stepped politely out of the way as she drank. He found himself gazing intently at her feet, the moment he realized it he dragged his eyes away from her claws, hoping she wouldn't misunderstand his curiosity. He'd travelled perilously close to the warrior tribe of mares known simply as 'The Flock' and barely escaped a run in with their scouts. He remembered the long scratches scoring the tree trunks. At the time he had wondered how on earth they had managed to make such marks, now he had a very clear idea. Idris didn't know much detail about the mares, he had never encountered anyone else who had traveled close enough to know anything more useful than he had and managed to leave again, but as far as he knew, they were not prone to leaving their herd lands. The stallion burned to ask if her roots were with The Flock, to exchange knowledge, but he didn't feel like it would be polite to initiate a conversation by quizzing her about her culture. It seemed he would have company after all this evening and plenty of time to broach the subject if it came up. "I'm Idris," he said by way of introduction, it was a perfectly natural way to start a conversation but, for some reason, his cheeks burned self consciously. "I'm sorry you've come across me in such a state, I'm afraid I haven't the energy or the water to clean off properly." He was babbling like a foal, he knew, "I'm happy to see you weren't injured in the fire, are you... From these parts?"
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