Welcome to Gaia! ::

Specterdust was hesitant to make this trip to the Grandfather Tree. She had her every loving support with her, Kevin. He encouraged her to go, said she was getting stronger. When the tree had come into view, she paused and gazed up at it from down below. It would remember her wouldn’t it, she thought to herself. She felt a quiet shame because even though she used her gift, she wasn’t very fond of it. “I don’t think I should do this,” she said quietly.

Kevin looked up at Specter from where he stood. “I think you are very brave and strong. You’ve used your gift for what it needed to be used for and even to protect us. I think the Grandfather tree will see that you are ready.” He puffed out his feathers. “Let’s get going. I’ll walk with you.”
Specterdust kept her mouth in a thin line and started the slow climb up to the top of the tree’s plateau. Kevin stayed with her the whole way and she was certainly thankful, especially since he believed in her. She was truly blessed to have an amazing sidekick.

Standing at the base of the tree now she looked to Kevin. “I’ll work on being a better botanic, so long as I can still be a superhero,” she said to Kevin and also to the tree.

Kevin tilted his head and smiled up at her, “You can be anything you want. Just be true to yourself and honest.” He nudged her forward with a wing. Specter took a couple more steps, she was within its boundaries and she gazed up at it, her heart fluttering nervously.

WC: 277

Prompt 3:

It was a bit unsettling to have the world whip away from her and to reappear but different. She was no longer at the Grandfather tree. Just like the last time she visited the tree. Rock walls rose up all around her and the sun bore down from above. Was this still the barrens? She had not vantage point to see where she was. Specter make the choice to walk forward and see what was ahead of her. As she progressed along in the canyon she got the weird sensation that she was being watched. Her walk slowed a bit as she looked around, not seeing anything or anyone.

Rocks shifted behind her and she flipped around quickly, just in time to see something slip behind a column of rocks jutting up from the ground. Specterdust backed up slowly as a low growl sounded, a large paw stepping out from behind the rocks. Specter’s heart began to race and a cold sweat developed along her back as a massive creature appeared. It wasn’t a friend as it so clearly displayed it’s large canines and growled at her. It eyed her as it prowled closer, enough was enough as she spun back around and took off at a dead run. With a growl, the giant creature started it’s pursuit of Specter.

Fear coursed through her veins as her short legs propelled her forwards. Was there no escape from this creature? The canyon ended in a rounded dead end with spires of rock rising into the air at random intervals. Specter turned this way and that trying to figure out how to get out. The creature was gaining on her and she ducked behind a column nearby. Specter heard it enter the deadend, it’s paw kicking away loose stones as it cautiously but confidently walked forward. Specter peeked out and saw it not far off, it was looking around but also trying to smell her out. She ducked back and tried to still her racing heart, her mind gripping for slippery solutions. It was too big for her alone, the odds felt impossible.

How many times did she see pictures of Other superheros stuck situations with the odds stacked against them but they still came out on top? Specter clung to that and started to evaluate her situation. She was smaller than the beast, that meant she was more agile. She could use her arena against her bulkier foe. While it may have claws and teeth, she had her horn, she just needed the right opportunity. Fear would keep her from getting too cocky and full of herself. A crunch let her know that the beast had gotten closer. Now was the time to act. Just as it lunged at her hiding place, Specter dodged to left and darted between the spires. She came at the beast from behind and rammed it in the leg.

The creature howled in pain and tried to swipe at her but Specter was already gone. Specter was already doubling back around, she used a spire as a spring board and slammed into the creature’s shoulder send it crashing to the ground. It flailed but got back up, it angrily swiped at the spires, knocking several over. The beast bellowed it’s dismay that it’s meal was outsmarting it. It limped as it worked on sniffing her out, she’d done some damaged to it when she rammed it. Now it was coming straight at her, hot on her scent. Specter reached down deep and took hold of her magic, let’s see how it likes some pollen to the face, she thought. The creature jumped around the spire she was hiding behind and lunged at her just as her horn glowed green. A small explosion of pollen popped into the creature’s face, flying up its nose and into its mouth and eyes.

A loud bellow of discomfort reverberated from it as it sneezed and wiped at its face, trying to get rid of the pollen. Specterdust raced forward as it rose up on its hind legs, it’s forelegs flailing, she leaped up towards its abdomen just as it came crashing down. Her horn fatally gouged the beast and it slumped to the ground. She wiggled free of it and stood up, shaking herself of dust and blood. Specter wasn’t a fan of killing Vykeli’s creatures, even if they were enemies or predators. But she wanted to live as well and that meant defending herself. Quietly, she bowed her head over the slain beast and sent a silent prayer for it out to Vykeli.

The odds may have seemed impossible but tiny Specterdust proved to herself that even her biggest fears could be conquered.

WC: 784
Total: 1,061