Opening her eyes to take in her world, Bestla shivered a little at how dead everything was. And yet… somehow, something felt different. She couldn’t quite place the feeling and finally decided that she was projecting her own feelings and whimsies. But really, what was the harm? She was here to learn more about her world and to try and find a way to help it.

So, she’d better get to work.

Shrugging out of her backpack as well as dropping a duffle bag to the ground, the senshi knelt and began rooting through both. After a moment, she had a small pile consisting of water bottles, strings of bells and little hand-painted banners of muslin. Scooping everything up, she headed for the grove that she remembered. Once there, she studied the skeletal trees and allowed herself to imagine what could be if she ever learned the secret to healing worlds. Setting everything down, Bestla rubbed her hands together and decided that watering the trees was the first thing she should attend to.

Bottle after bottle was emptied over the exposed and withered roots of various trees until a small pile of dry bottles was all that was left to show for her effort. Still, something about watering everything had helped her mood. And really, it didn’t feel quite as dismal now. There was a sensation of expectation, though she wasn’t sure where it was coming from. Shaking the feeling off, she gathered up her bell and banner strings and looped them over her shoulders. Then, she removed her heeled boots and spitting on her hands, took a running leap for a low hanging tree branch. Using her own momentum, she seized the branch and swung herself up, looping a leg over and pulling herself into the tree.

Laughing a little, she began to tie the strings to various branches as she carefully climbed. And all of her swinging caused silvery chiming to echo into the gloom as bells rang. Smiling, she closed her eyes, enjoying the sound. The bells rang and echoed through the grove and were spoon joined by joyful laughter and shouts. Eyes flying open, Bestla found herself up in a tree, surrounded by mist and living branches. Glancing around, she found the source of the voices and waved to them, grinning.

“THe Lord! The Lord is coming!”

The Lord was coming? Bestla wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but the swelling of anticipation in her heart told her that this was something important. She glanced again at the children in the other trees and followed their excitedly pointing arms with her eyes.

And felt her breath seize when she saw exactly what the Lord was.

The regal head of a king stag was nearly at eye level with her as the majestic beast came closer to the grove. And though a clawed hand came up to gently brush aside stray branches, Bestla felt no fear of the beast. Rather there was a sense of respect and kinship. And she allowed herself to become momentarily lost in the Lord’s wisdom-filled golden eyes.

She reached out a hand to brush against one of those claws, knowing that she of all her people had the right…

Only the sound of bells chiming discordantly brought Bestla out of the vision before the branch she perched on gave way under the weight of time and the senshi’s body. Catching herself, the senshi took several calming breaths and felt tears streaking her cheeks. She remained in the tree a little longer, though this time on a sturdier branch. She still wasn’t sure of what she’d seen, but she knew deep down that this was important. Whatever the Lord was, it hadn’t been a monster. It had been beloved if she could trust the visions and impressions they’d imparted to her. And it had been important to whoever she’d been. Bestla was certain of that. There was an ache deep in her soul that she knew connected to the beast she’d seen.

After a few moments more, she drew in a shaky breath and made herself finish hanging her strings and banners. THen, she carefully dropped from the tree and looked over her handiwork. The gentle chiming mixed with the splashes the color gave the grove a more cheerful air. And on some level, she thought that the ghosts of the trees must enjoy it.

“It’s a start, isn’t it,” she murmured as she threw herself to the ground and drank from a bottle that she’d saved for herself. She’d rebuild this place little by little.

No matter how long it took her.

[word count = 770]