Welcome to Gaia! ::

How long had it been since she had been separated from her love? How long had she been traveling with Wanderlust and their group? It had felt like an eternity, but after being imprisoned in a cage of crystal. Sicily was feeling powerless as she watched her friends and group leader fall victim to the energy drain. While it was true that she too would have suffered such a plight as well, she felt it was time to encounter the tree they had journeyed past so many seasons ago.

"Are you sure you know where we are going, Love?" The dark colored doe asked the much lighter grey buck as they traveled the barrens on route to the Grandfather tree.

"Of course," was all that came from the buck as he paused to start walking at her side, not liking her too far away.

Sicily frowned slightly, while she trusted Draven, he had been hunting for her longer then she for him. Really being with the band of travelers, she had almost forgotten about that missing piece until recently. Shaking her head, the slight wind caught her cloak and tussled if over her back. It was the one things she kept from her time with the band. A reminder and something to keep the sun off her already dark back.

The days journey soon landed them at the roots of the large white tree. Standing a small distance away, Sicily looked up and let her jaw drop slightly. It was larger then she had thought it was. The roots themselves were taller then she was. So this was the grandfather tree? It was fascinating as much as frightening. Shaking her head she looked at Draven for a moment whom motioned her to go a head. She stepped meekly around him, like a foal going to meet someone new. She wasn't too sure why she was suddenly this shy.

Perhaps it was it was the size of the tree. Perhaps it was the fear of not getting a gift after traveling so much. She wasn't too sure, but there was one thing she did know. Whatever she got, she would use it to its fullest..

WC: 364

Sicily looked around as the tree vanished, she looked back towards where her Love had been standing, waiting. Now there was just the dry parched lands of the barrens. Home as she knew it from her travels with Wanderlust's group. Shaking her head, she looked around at the horizons wondering what it was that she was supposed to be doing. Taking two steps forward a soft voice echoed behind her, almost sounded ages away.

'Can I have some water?'

Sicily looked around before her before turning around to spot an old Noul. She was all but skin and bones and looked like she wouldn't last another second in this arid land. Was this what the tree was testing her with? Tilting her head, Sicily stepped closer to the Noul.

"I'm sorry, I don't have any." Sicily said as she drew closer to the older Noul.

Really getting a good look at the graying noul, she wondered if there was anything near by. As far as she knew there wasn't any water for at least another day's walk away. Glancing at the Noul as she started to cough, a dry cough as she also seemed to struggle to breath. This made Sicily ansty, her own memories of being near death before Wanderlust had found her and took her in. While it was true that she herself was still young, but this was hardly a place for someone to pass on back to Vykeli.

"There should be some not too far away. I can help you get there." She offered as the old doe swayed on her own hooves.

'That would be greatly appreciated.' The noul said between coughs.

Ears flicking backwards, Sicily looked around quickly, her ears listening intently before she stepped over to brace up the older Noul. There was no way they would make it on their own power to the water source. As it was, she didn't think there was much time to ask permission either. Stooping low, Sicily swept herself under the Noul and hefted them off their own hooves. Where Sicily expected some weight to slow her down, they were very light...

"Hang in there, we'll get to the water."

Sicily started off, her steps careful but quick. There was little time to lose as she could feel the Noul's fading heartbeat against her back. She could still hear them breathing, but the breaths were short and shallow. Fear stole its way into her own to cause her to speed up her pace. The day only seemed to grow hotter the farther they got, but the time the first trees of a small oasis started to come into sight, Sicily had to stop and look back.

"Hang on, we're almost there."

Her pace once more picked up to a ground eating canter until her hooves touched the first blades of grass. The scant foliage that surrounded scant water source. Panting she looked back as she felt nothing from the now limp body on her back. They didn't make it, ears falling back she let the old Noul slip from her back and rest in the grass. If only she had been faster, that delay had cost everything.

"I am sorry, I failed." Tears welled at the edges of her eyes.

'No little one' said the voice she had heard from the beginning. 'Failure is not trying. While I was not strong enough to make it, you still pass for having the compassion to help others in their time of need.'

There was a warmth that surrounded Sicily like a mother's hug, before it faded with the dream vision, leaving the dark doe standing there watching the tree once more. Tears still threatening to spill from her eyes.

WC: 621