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"Make sure that the water doesn't get too hot. The herbs are all sorted and kept here." A petite doe dashed around the spa as two of her friends watch he with amused looks. "If Halen happens to drop by, offer him some tea and my apologies. Have I forgotten anything?" The doe looked around her ears flicking slightly as she seemed to tire herself out more in worry and it was making one of her friend's laughed.

'Dusty, you are going to worry yourself so much that you will be sick.' chirped Finch as Dove seemed too consumed in laughter to speak. 'You can trust us. We did help you find the place after all."

Dusty Rose glanced from Finch to Dove, whom was almost rolling on the ground. Her laughter subsiding slightly as she was almost crying. This made her frown, perhaps she should put this off for another day. Biting at her lower lip she glanced towards the sky to see how long into the day it was. It was getting well past noon. She had to head off soon if she were going to make it to the tree and back in the same day.

"Alright, alright. I should be heading off." She said pacing past the two as they watched before turning around again. "Maybe I should get Halen's tea going before I go."

Finch put herself in front of Dove and shoos her on. It was their meaning that they had this. Giving another wary smile, Dusty turned again and headed off through the trees. The crashing of the falls soon faded and she found herself headed across the barrens. Small hooves carried her across the parched grounds until she found herself at the roots once more. She didn't think she would be here again, but helping Halen through his dark times. Though there were bound to be more in the future. Had made her want to get stronger, so that she could do more to help others with more then small spells and tea.

"For Halen and everyone else that are in need." She muttered looking up at the tree with a determined look in her eyes, She was going to get stronger, for Halen's sake.

WC: 373

Dusty's head bowed as the tree swayed in her direction. Her mind was filled with the vision of the bog once again. The place was as bleak as the last time she was brought here, only difference was the screams for help as two fought against the pull of the mire. Almost leaping forward into the mire herself to try and save them both at the risk of drowning herself, she stayed her hooves. She could just stand there and watch before something snapped her out of her spaced out stare.

'Save the child, I have lived my life as Vykeli had wanted.' Said the Ascended as she fought the pull of the muddy water, the quicksand mire pulling harder. "She has yet to see the sun for what it really is. Save her."'

Dusty shook her head slightly as she took a step backwards."But you both deserve to live. Everyone should have a choice, not left to the whims of another." Dusty voiced not liking this at all.

She had known growing stronger would mean making sacifices, but this was not exactly she was thinking of. She was a healer, it was her job to help everyone that came to her. Now she was being forced to chose one life over another. In the back of her mind, Dusty thought she could pull the Ascended out and then they both could pull the foal from the mire...

"Oh what would Halen do. He had more the level head then I." She muttered glancing around for something, anything to help someone out of the quicksand mire.

"Best hurry, she won't last long.' chimed the Ascended's voice. 'While it doesn't seem fair to have choices like this, but sometimes there are things out of your control. So please, help her."'

Dusty glanced at the Ascended as they looked at her with pleading eyes before they were sucked under a bit more. It was a losing battle and the foal was sinking faster. Her strength was just about spent, being smaller and not as strong as the Ascended that had fallen prey to the mire in what Dusty could assume to try and save her as well.

"Alright, alright." Dusty said as she turned away to grab a long branch that was poking her in the back. Reaching forward she slide the branch into the mire trying to lever the Foal up some. With her last bit of strength, the foal latched onto the branch for Dusty the pull her out.

With the foal safely on dry land, Dusty turned to try and also help the Ascended to find that they were gone. The mire had settled as if no one had been there, not even a bubble rippled the surface. Blinking she dropped the branch and fell backwards onto her own rump. Had she been seeing things? Had there been someone else there?

"No one should have to make choices that risk the life of another. Even if they feel like there is not other way. There are always other ways." Dusty muttered as she glanced towards the foal that laid on the ground beside her.

Where one life was lost, one that made her heart sink her aura darkening slightly in despair. Shaking her head, she couldn't let herself fall into the same wallow as the Ascended. Where one fell, another would rise, as the saying would go...

WC: 568