Welcome to Gaia! ::

As the sun rose over the ocean Kasandra Lynn stood with her hooves in the surf watching as the newborn rays of light painted a breathtaking fantasy-like panorama across the sky. She wasn't always able to wake herself up early enough to catch the sunrise so she always felt a bubbling joy when she did. She took a deep breath of the clean warm morning air and appreciated the scent of tropical flora that flavored it. "Good Morning!" she called happily to the world around her at large not having anyone in particular to share her joy with.

It was always a triumph when she could just wake up and leave her home happily. Many mornings she would find herself in a bit of a slump, feeling weighed down. Especially if she had happened to spend the night living through nightmares of her past. But not this morning! She had rolled from her bed of woven leaves and dried flowers with a feeling that today was going to be an amazing day! Seeing that it was still pretty early she had rushed outside and down the short path through the jungle that led out to the beach. Without hesitation she went stright to the water to greet the waves and morning.

Days like this made her feel especially grateful to the Cerynei stallion that had helped her change her life. She looked upon him, not as her savior for she had made the choice to take the first step to freedom herself but, as a sort of guardian angel who had seen her resolve to better her life and help her out along the way. It had also been on his suggestion that she had traveled to this place that she now happily called home. The warm tropics had always been her dream when she had lived in that freezing cave up North and the fact that she had made it to live that dream gave her a boost of confidence like almost nothing else could.

With one last look of appreciation at the sky she turned and began to walk down the beach, her eyes on the sand watching for little treasures that may have washed up during the night.

As a voice called a greeting back to her Kally looked in the direction of the approaching Soq. She hadn't expected anyone else to be out and about but it was a pleasant surprise to have someone respond to her cheeriness. As her eyes swept over the approaching Soq she had a momentary panic as she saw membranous wings. She blinked away her knee-jerk anxiety and on a second look saw that they bore the marks of Suti blood rather than Kalona. Not that she had a problem with them anymore. At least that's what she told herself.

When the what she now saw was a young mare stopped a short distance away and began chatting at her in a friendly manner she couldn't help but respond with a bright smile. "Oh not at all! I love seeing others around! It makes me happy when others can enjoy the mornings as well. I was thinking much the same thing as you called back my morning greeting. " Kally swished her tail happily. She always loved meeting newcomers. Especially ones who would take time to talk with her. "I myself am not usually up this early but lucky for me I had a great nights sleep and got to rise with the sun. Are you usually an early riser?" She couldn't help but try to start some sort of conversation. She always loved to learn about others.
"I'm Kasandra Lynn by the way. My friends call me Kally and you can too if you want."

"Aldora is a very pretty name! It suits your beautiful blue color. And the pleasure is mine." Kally smiled warmly. It was always nice to make a new friend. "Have you eaten breakfast yet?" She had to ask. "I know how to make a very tasty breakfast salad, if you're hungry. Well, I think it's tasty anyway. "She nodded her head a little timidly. She really did hope the mare would join her. The old stallion she usually ate breakfast with was away on a short journey caring for a sick foal whose father had come seeking help yesterday.

This of course left Kally as the main medicine Soq on the beach. The first time this had happened she had spent the whole day waiting around bored in his hut. Of course nothing had happened and she lost the whole day to feeling anxious, which was not something anyone enjoyed. When he had come home he found her miserable and so suggested she spend her days as normal. Most that would come seeking help would know where to find her anyway he had reminded her. It was no secret that she was his student.

"Oh good!" Kally responded with happiness. "Well, not good that you didn't eat but good we can share breakfast together. "She tacked on with a little laugh. "Maybe it was meat to be. Us meeting. I would like to get to know you better too. You can help me get her ingredients if you like. Come on this way." Off she trot across the beach smiling over her shoulder occasionally. She headed for the little path that led up to her little shelter. "You'll have to excuse my messy home. I much prefer to be out and about than sit inside and clean. You can come in if you like. There's not much room. "

The dwelling had three walls all with large windows that each had a woven mat that could be closed if the inhabitant wished. The fourth wall that faced the beach was mostly open and also had a covering that could be closed. They were of course all open. Inside was an assortment of dried herbs hanging from the rafter, a pile of bedding in a corner and many shelves covered in a meticulously arranged assortment of odds and ends as well as more dried plants and dishes. Kally grabbed a basket with her muzzle that was tossed on the ground near the opening and hooked the stap on a little piece of wood sticking out of the doorpost so she could put her head through the loop that hung it around her neck. In the basket she tossed a couple of flat pieces of wood, that would serve as their plates, and a couple different herbs to use as seasoning. "And now we have to go gather the rest of our ingredients. Fresh is best." She chirped cheerfully smiling at Aldora.

Kally beamed at the compliment to her home. "It was a gift from my mentor. Some Kawani Natives built it and then left it empty. So it was originally just for storage until he gave it to me." As she chatted Kally left the building and went around the side to a small but well worn trail that led into the foliage. She began pulling leaves strategically from plants along the way and dropping them into her basket. The plants had scars from where things had been pulled from them in the past but none of them looked overpicked and they all showed new growth.

"Most of this stuff I can be myself," she continued, selecting a couple of flowers from one bush, "but other things I need a little help with." She stopped under a tree that had under ripe fruit in all of its lower branches but just above Kally's reach there were bunches of large succulent looking fruits. "I was hoping that maybe you could use your wings?" She asked a little timidly. Kally knew that some Soqs were much more comfortable flying than others and hoped she hadn't guessed wrong in thinking this mare would be fine with it. She wouldn't want to put a damper on their possible friendship.

Kally cheered at the skillful display of flight. It gave her a thrill of excitement as Aldora snagged the basket right from around her shoulders. She was glad the the other mare enjoyed helping her as much as she enjoyed watching her little display. For a moment Kally imagined being able to fly like that. It was a fun thought but she was just as happy knowing she would be on the ground her whole life. "Oh wow! You're amazing! Thank you I'll be sure to ask if I need help again. " Her smile was bright and wide and open.

Not to long ago she had enjoyed watching another friend perform aerial feats. Speaking of which, "The way you fly reminds me of a friend. But she lives far from here so I miss her sometimes. Her name is Decadent." She shook her head and started off down the path again. "I bet you're getting hungrier working like that we have a few more stops before we're done. " She snagged the basket back and trotted off down the pathway humming cheerfully.

As Aldora revealed that she knew Deca too, Kally stared at her with wide excited eyes. "No way! Really? No wonder you fly so well. It really is a small world." She absentmindedly added to her basket as she recalled her meeting with the dark mare. "Well it was odd, really. You see, there was a giant windstorm, and Deca, I guess, got caught in a gust and thrown into a tree. Or so she told me. She stopped under another tree." A couple of those fruits please. Anyway, " she continues her story, "I stumbled across her unconscious body the next morning. At first just seeing her terrified me. I'm not . . . exactly comfortable with Kalona." She shook her head. "However, the fact that she was hurt and needed help moved me past my fear and I bandaged her up and nursed her back to health. At first she made me nervous with her rough personality." At this Kally couldn't help but laugh. "It didn't take me long to see that underneath she wasn't so bad. Well, as soon as she was better she left to rejoin her traveling companions and I haven't heard from her since. I hope she either comes back sometime or maybe I could go visit." She bounced excitedly. "After this fruit we should be ready to eat. Anyplace particular you want to rest while we do?"