The day was hot and muggy in the Homewood. The air was thick with moister but that would soon change for them. Dryxel and Twix were going to go out into the Barrens today. With all the Dire rats being in the Homewoods now Dryxel felt it best to scout there as well just to make sure no more pups where left behind. It was a long shot really but Dryxel still felt it right to expand his scouting to be on the safe side. At the edge of the Homewood, Dryxel scanned the sandy land checking for any visible threats but found none. Twix had taken his spot next to Dryxel's left flank. Both of their ear flicked forward the back again. They smelled the air as well but nothing out of the ordinary came to them. Twix had long since learned to be as quite as he could lessoning for any sights of threats but he was much better at it all now. The both nodded at the same time which made Twix smile.
"You both look so cute bobbing your heads up and down at the same time like that." Karry had been waiting a small distance back for the two bucks. Twix did want her to close in case of danger. As soon as she seen them nodding she knew it was safe to come out of the bush she had been in for cover. Twix shock his head with a smile, ever since he had become full grown she was always mother henning on about how grown or cute he was. He did not mind at all but it sure was silly sometimes.
Flapping her wings a few times she landed on Twix's rump so they could start their scouting. "Are you sure would want to go Karry? We are not going to be gone to long." Twix did not really mind having her around but Dryxel was not to sure having more to watch out for was a great idea. "You just worry about you dear." she said to Dryxel in her motherly tone telling him that he would not being winner this argument if he pressed the issue. Sighing and shacking his head he moved into the sandy grounds of the Barrens.
The had been walking for the better part of two hour when something finally changed in the land scape before them. "Twix do you see that?" he asked and Twixs skipped up shoulder to shoulder to Dryxel to take a look. Looking ahead they all can just make out a large dark shape. "Is that...Is it a tree?" Twix asked not to sure. "Not sure but we might need to get closer."
As the moved closer and closer and large branchless tree jetted for the sandy floor. The bark look like puzzle pieces and around the base was some of those pieces scattered all about. The color was bleached white form way to much sun. "Yep that's a tree boys but I think its long gone now." Karry said form her place on Twix's back. Dryxel looked at the tree sadly. He had seen so much in the barrens it should not surprise him or effect him at all but it still did.
Kicking at some of the bark on the ground, Dryxel sent millions of nets into the air that must have been hiding form the sun of the Barrens. "Ugh what the heck." He said as he backed away form the bugs that now swirled around in the air. A calmness fell over Dryxel, one that he was beginning to understand was he gift taking effect. As he stilled a green mist sprayed form his body sending all the nets to ground. "What was that?" Twix coughed and Karry shock her feathers trying to get the yuck off of her. "I think it was my Adept gift. I just killed all those nets flying around." He said with surprise heavy in his voice. He had not yet used his adept gift but he was grateful the bugs had stopped attacking him. "Cool." Twix sad happily but Karry was not at all happy. "Next time warn a chick." She glared at him. He sent her an apologetic look.
Approaching the trunk again something caught Dryxel's eye. "What the..." He started and then stopped to push some more bark around. There under all the bark was a struggling sprout. It looked like a very sickly green but still green. "Well would you look at that." Karry said having hopped down for a better look at what Dryxel was so interested in. "I bet you it is form this tree. A seedling." She continued with both surprise and excitement. Dryxle simply nodded in agreement. "You can help if Da." Twix said happily at the idea of a large and healthy tree coming form this sprout. "Maybe some day it will be as big as it mother once was." He thought out loud as he looked to the sad tree that much have been amazing at one time.
Dryxel's gift once again swirled inside of him and with a deep breath in he once again released his sprout gift form his body. He had used this gift once before so he was more familiar and at easy with this gift as it left his body and descended on to the sprout. As soon as the green mist touched the sprout the healthy green of life filled the sprout a it's starter lives fanned out to take in some sun. It was not long though before it was clear to them all that the barrens hot sand and scorching sun would be to much for this little sprout.
With a sigh Dryxel said "Now what? I do not have the enrgy right now to heal the sprout again if it starts to wilt." Twix smiled at his Da and knew just what to do. Though he had not yet used his gift he knew deep down a little cloud cover with patches of sun would give this little tree just the chance it needed to get strong and big. "I will help it out." He said with a deep breath and a big smile. As he exhaled the sky filled with large fluffy white clouds casting an overcast across the sky. "That will work perfect." Dryxel agreed and Twix hopped happily at getting to uses his gift to help.
"Ok lets water it and then head back to the Homewoods." Dryxel said to them. Twix gently pored some water form his water skin around that sprout. They would have to come back tomorrow to check on the tree and maybe even bring more water. Dryxel smiled as he thought of maybe bring Tempest to do her drizzle to help yet another sprout of his. But for now this would have to do. Turning around they walked back the way they came and towards home.
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