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It was time. She knew it, deep in her bones. Moon Mist had set out from Homewood, one thing on her mind: reaching Grandfather Tree. She'd been on her way for some time now, and the start emptiness of the land was starting to grate on her. She'd spent her young life sequester in Homewood, and had only half believes what the world was like out here. Barren. Dead. The only ways she could describe it.

Moon Mist longed for the comfort of Homewood, where things grew. Where it was green. And safe. This barren plateau she trekked along certainly didn't feel safe. But Moon Mist would need to overcome that niggling sense of fear if she was to receive her gift. Everyone knew you had to make a pilgrimage to receive your gift. All the way to Grandfather Tree.

She could see it ahead, guiding her travels. "Just keep putting one hoof in front of the other ..." She whispered under her breath, and the wind snatched her words away. Not like there was anyone to hear it. The little Noul pondered. What gift would she receive? ... Would she receive a gift? The tree couldn't just ... not give her one ... right?

Moon Mist shifted uneasily. Every step drew her closer and closer to her fate. As she her thoughts circled the gifts, she reached the foot of the tree. She looked up and the giant white oak, breathing quietly. It towered above her. It towered above well ... everything. "Well, I'm here ..."

wc: 251

As she stared up at the tree, the leaves began to rustle. She fought her desire to take a step back. Perhaps this was part of it. A vision quest had to begin somehow, after all. And then is washed over her. Moon Mist gasped.

She was putting one hoof in front of the other, just as she'd been doing on her pilgrimage. But she certainly wasn't in her way to see Grandfather Tree anymore.In the distant west she could see far off black mountains. The ground was parched and cracked. And she was so hot. So very, very hot. Movement of the air just brought fresh blasts of heat, no reprieve. This certainly wasn't Homewood. She took a deep breath to steady herself. The hot air was uncomfortable on her throat. This was the Barrens. Not a place she wanted to be. But it seemed like regardless of her wants, this was where she was. She kept putting on hoof in front of the other. If Grandfather Tree wanted her here, surely there was something important for her to see.

And there it was. Rising from parched, cracked earth was a massive bleached skull. Moon Mist gaped at it. It was huge! Perhaps the absence of anything else made it feel even larger, but she wasn't sure. Even in the forests and glades of Homewood this would be a huge object. The carefully approached it, checking for any obvious danger. She tapped the skill with her foot. A dry, hollow echo greeted her ears. "You're huge ..." She whispered, considering.

Moon Mist wasn't very large herself, there was no way she could drag this skull back with her. But it seemed so important! How to solve this predicament ... She closed her eyes as the hot air buffeted her. Think Moon Mist, think ... Be resourceful ... In a place without resources? She snorted. And then her eyes opened.

It was true that there wasn't much in the way of anything out here, but perhaps that would work to her advantage! If she could locate the skull again with help perhaps it would be used or restored! Moon Mist dragged a little hoof in the parched earth. It left a scuff mark. Perfect.

She drew a long line with her hoof, and then an arrow at the top, pointing towards the skull. She stood back. The scuff into the earth was surprisingly visible, even at a distance. This would do. She followed the line away from the skull, carefully taking steps further from it, but closer to Homewood. She scratched another line into the ground. Moon Mist took care that the next arrow of clearly visible. It wouldn't do to put in all this effort and then get hasty and make a silly mistake, loosing this huge skull in the Barrens.

She scooted away, checking the guiding lines. She could see them! Good! This really would work. It would take time, but she'd be able to find her way back here, with help.

wc: 501
twc: 752