If Indira had thought her life a whirlwind before, the last few days had put that feeling to shame. Her trip to Grandfather Tree had been profound, but it seemed to her than Grandfather Tree's influence hadn't ended with her vision and blessing. On the way back she'd found a foal, nearly dead in the Barrens. Only thanks to Fleet and the assistance of an experience vivfy user had they been able to save her. The tiny thing was now safe in Homewood, under the care of experienced nannies. Indira had imagined that she'd simple be able to walk away, having done her part, but she found her mind drifting to the foal all of the time. She felt a strange sense of responsibility towards her. After all, wasn't part of restoring Vykeli making sure each Noulicorn was raised up to receive a gift? This new lens softened her view towards Homewood ... slightly. She had a new appreciated for nannies, at least. Someone had to raise the little ones, after all ... Still, she didn't abide by all the politicing of Homewood. All those powerful Ascendeds, spending their time bickering about stupid things, instead of doing what they were made to do. That still made her a little sick to her stomach.
Her hoof squelched into some unspeakable muck. Indira hadn't been paying her close attention. Fleet, on the other hand, still remained on dryish ground. "You thinking about her again Indira?" Their bond allowed Fleet to feel what Indira was feeling. And vice versa. Fleet typically remained so calm Indira usually forgot about that facet of their bond.
Indira sighed. "I am. I can't help it. Do you think she'd being well taken care of?" She pulled her hoof out of the muck with a disgusting sucking sound. As if the smell of the place wasn't bad enough, everything was a big wet mess on top of that. She wasn't sure at all what Roamer saw in this place. It wasn't like the Barrens - vastly, broken, and needing healing. This place just seems to be a rotting heap. Much harder to love.
Fleet carefully picked her way forward. "Of course they are. Their entire job is to care for foals. Just think how much easier her life is going to be in Homewood. They'll feed her, care for her, see that she has friends to play with, teach her things..." Fleet's nose wrinkled, looking at all the muck stuck to Indira's hoof. Her own feet were quite coated at well. She far preferred the heat of the Barrens over this disgusting place.
"I know you're right." Indira shook her foot, scattering the mud, somewhat. "And it's important I stay to my path. That's what Grandfather Tree wants, and that's what's best for Vykeli." She surveyed the ground in front of her, and carefully picked her way forward, Fleet hopping after her. The very reason she was out here was to pursue her path. The only path for a Noulicorn. Healing Vykeli. The Noul she'd met in the Barrens had suggest she swing by the Bog, so here she was. It certainly was ... putrid.
Ahead of her there seemed to be a bubbling wellspring of hot air bubbles, pushing there way up and out of the muck. The moist, putrid scent was nearly overwhelming. Indira pushed ahead. She was quite sure that whatever was letting off gas over there was not doing any favours to the Bog ... She reached into her mind, and touched one of the familiar tendrils of magic. It came so easily to her now. The gift flowed through her, producing a cooling effect around her, and on the disgusting bubbling mess. The bubbling immediately quieted. She stood very still, wondering if it would start back up again with it's previous fury. The odd bubble drifted up, but nothing like before. She tilted her head, surprised. "I guess Roamer was right ... This place might warrant more attention."
She was more used to her gift having nearly no perceptible impact. This seemed ... overwhelmingly effective in comparison. She stared at the area for a time longer, until Fleet pulled her attention away. "Indira! I've found something else for you to experiment on!" The jackhop had wandered across a few more peat islands.
Indira carefully navigated towards her familiar, careful to not plunge into the worst of the muck again. Reaching her companion, she was quite struck by what she saw. A little shoot, poking out of the soil. Though on further consideration, soil might have been too strong of a word for it. "I know you're not a botanic, but your new gift? It might help this little thing."
She nodded, bending to get a better look at the shoot. She had no real idea what it was, she knew little about plants. But surely any living thing was better than all this death and rot. And perhaps a sign that the healing in this area was progressing ...
Indira reached into herself again, this time gathering a larger piece of her power. This was harder. It still felt unwieldy. She had much more practice to do with this particular gift ... But it didn't evade her. She harnessed it, and felt the magic course through her. Pure sunlight seemed to radiate around her. It was a small patch, but it was still something. She bathed the little shoot with the gentle light as long as she could manage to hold onto the gift. It was far more draining that she had expected. The light cut off, and Indira breathed heavily. Her entire body felt heavy. Suddenly, she was glad she wasn't out in the Barrens.
Fleet looked at her with worry, able to feel how drained she was. "I think it's time to return to Homewood? If you can make it?" Indira could feel the jackhops concern.
"I'll make it. And I agree. Time to go back. We should check up on Aisling anyhow. Make sure she's settling in. ... And I could use the rest." Together the pair began the trek back to safety. Indira spared one more long glance for the little shoot, hoping she'd done enough.
