While Aster hopped within a bush, she sang a little song to herself. Lots of good grubs lurked in the rich soil beneath the bush, but digging for them was tiring and repetitive work, so she enjoyed singing her songs to make the work go faster. If only she didn’t need to eat! Then she could easily explore this lush valley.

“Sunshine, the bird, and the bended bough,
Hushed and afar are life's troubles now
When here I may feel the flying feet,
The throb of the bird's heart flutter sweet,
And all the unforgotten bliss
That thrills her, when she sings like this,
—Upon yon bended bough.”

At the completion of her song, she decided she’d decimated enough of the isopod population—besides, she tired of digging her claws amongst the bush’s roots. She jumped up, fluttered her wings, and climbed to the top of the bush.

Aster scanned the skies for birds of prey. And for another interesting spot to explore. But then she heard the sound of pawsteps nearby; surprised, she hopped in place and spun about to find the disturbance.

// Poem is The Blue-Bird by Marion Thornton Egbert

As a little child, Zoey couldn’t meander far distances in as shirt of a time as an adult wolf. She had to take breaks more frequently, eat more often, and tired so easily too. Though she was boundless in energy, almost bursting at the seams greeting others and exploring the vast and unique lands, her energy had a limit at one point or another. And she was incredibly tired. Her goggles snug against her face, the girl shifted them slightly as the wind picked up, partially due to the valley’s structure allowing the gusts to blow in at random direction. The russet child pasued from her treading to look around, tail wagging though it was low, a sign of her exhaustion. Still smiling, she sighed heavily in exertion but continued forward, not wanting to miss out on seeing the flora and fauna this lush land provided. Her eyes darted to and fro at the colorful wildflowers that dotted the tickling grass, or the grasshoppers and ladybugs that chirped and buzzed about. It was beautiful here - and a wonderful place to observe various species!

It wasn’t long that Zoey was sitting and looking around, trying to regain her strength, that a soft warbling song was emerging from a nearby bush. Her ears perked, the child twitched her nose to pick up a scent - a bird. The warbling song she heard was so beautiful, so peaceful. It reminded her of the lullabies her mother would sing to her at night. It was a comforting noise to hear in her lonely world. Curious, the child crept closer, finding it was a blue jay that had emerged, perched on the bush itself. She loved blue jays, what with their striking feathers and beautiful and distinct songs. The bird turned around, having her her pawsteps. She wagged her tail softly again, smiling. "Oh, I loved your song! I adore blue jays!" She paused, expression beaming with childlike wonder that helped to ignore her tiredness. ’I’m Zoey, what’s your name?"