He wasn't sure how it came to be that he was lost here, but Solaris rarely had explanations for how he ended up anywhere. When he and his brother had travelled, for example, it had taken them months to find their way back to their family. Thank Sari they did, too, because Astley had been so close to killing him. Was he really that obnoxious? Well, maybe.
In an case, here he was, lost somewhere in this wide open space with no clue where to find water. It wasn't terribly hot outside, being autumn, but he had been on the move for quite some time and the effects were making themselves painfully known. Slowly winding to a stop, he swayed lightly on his feet, squinting his eyes in effort to extend his vision. It looked like there were some trees in the distance, but he couldn't be quite sure. Nothing else thus far had risen above the horizon in such a way. The only thing that offered anyshade were the sparse bushes that made up the chaparral. He imagined this place was similar to Ananta in the summer, though back home there were lots of cliffs and there was a river.
Steeling his resolve, Solaris pushed onward, determined to find water to quench this thirst. Running through the western area was a bad idea in retrospect, but what was done was done, right? He just had to stay positive! He'd find water and he'd drink enough to swell his belly up like a tick. Sounded like a good plan.
What felt like at least twelve but was probably only a mile and a half went by at a grueling pace, but he had reached the trees. To his utter delight, they were willows, which meant water was inevitably nearby. The hangdog look vanished from his face, segueing into one of utter delight. The breeze picked up the long strands of the trees, and they brushed against him as if gently leading the way. At the center of the gathering was just what he was looking for. It was no lake, but it was big enough to do, and he could see fish below the surface and frogs on the bank.
Wagging his tail furiously, Solaris spared no time speeding toward the lake, jumping into the pond with his mouth open. He gulped down big mouthfuls, relishing in the cool liquid as though it were ablutionary. Moments passed before he actually stopped drinking, taking a big breath and relaxing, his muzzle more or less resting on the surface. That was much, much better.
"Speech"
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