Forest

Dapples of sun fall on the ground like angular spotlights through green glass. The path you're following is a faint one, a very thin wavering trail of bare earth overhung in places by ferns and disappearing completely in others. The air is heavy with heat and pollen except in thickly forested spots where the darkness maintains pockets of coolness and damp. Birds seem to be up in the canopies somewhere, talking to each other in a constant chorus of songs over an even more regular sound, the cicadas with their buzzing alarm call.

Winding onwards through the woods, you come to a cleared area surrounded by tall urn-shaped elms. It seems a shade quieter here, as though the animals are observing some silently spoken reprimand. Standing here a moment, you become aware of a larger animal browsing amid the leaves of some dark green bushes, plucking off berries with wet chomps and delicate lips that scoop them from their stems. You watch for a few minutes, not wanting to startle the animal. It seems to be something like a horse, but a long fox like tail brushes up against the leaves behind it, lazily brushing at its flanks at intervals as though at invisible clouds of biting flies. This, along with the strange feline quality of its movements, convince you that it's not exactly a horse. Wondering how to make your presence known appropriately, it is done for you when a small animal you recognize as a melcey darts out of the bush near your ankle and tackles a rabbit in the center of the cleaning. There is a surprised squeal, and the larger animal eating berries jerks its head up sharply, eyes widened and focused on the sound. It seems to take in your presence and that of the small predator and prey at once. Nervously, you remain as still as possible.

Nostrils distended, curiously investigative, the large animal comes towards you slowly, working around so that the bushes are not in the way. Sniffing carefully, it closes in, ears perked forward. It doesn't seem in the least bit threatening, but those hooves look like they could do some damage, so you stay frozen in place. At last, it gives a bit of a snuff, tousling your sweaty hair somewhat.

"Well are you going to stand there all day, or tell me what you're doing here?" It sounds like a male voice, deep and with a rather agressive edge. Your eyes dart towards the melcey, who is proudly dragging off its rabbit, its neck broken.

"Uhm..."
"Uhm what?"
You scratch your head and smile a little. "I was just exploring, and I wonder if you could tell me where I was."

He stamps his hoof a bit, licking berry juice from his muzzle. "You're in Chevei'caris. I'm Noretide, a chevei stallion, and I live here."

NorŽtide

Rubbing your neck, you say, "Well, that doesn't help me very much ..."

Noretide regards you stolidly for a moment, as if disbelieving something. Then his ear gives a twitch, and he says,"Come and meet the akali, and then maybe I'll show you the way out. There's no use in coming here and not meeting anyone, is there?"

The matter seemingly settled, he turns and leads you off away from the clearing into the more lightly forested area beyond, where there are a great deal more of the berry bushes like the ones you saw Noretide browsing on.


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Arborwin