Baby Steps

Although Satira loved her home in Valta, there was always a nagging part of her heart that yearned for a vacation. After spending so much of her life being raised out in the wild lands and roaming wherever she pleased, being tied down to one place got a bit tiring. So when Cináed offered to take her down to sunny Auster for a little getaway, the wolf-dog was already packing and ready to go before the words had finished leaving his lips! Taking nothing but her little leather bag to bring home some southern-growing herbs with her, the pair set off down to the southern continent, spending a day for travel to reach the offshore island that Ciná used to call home. The warm, balmy temperatures were a damn sight nicer than Boreas' chilly winter, and if nothing else Tira enjoyed getting to soak in some sun while they were away.

She had never been to this island before, but Ciná seemed to remember his way around as if he hadn't been gone from here for almost two years. He led her over to a pulled ferry running from the sandy shores of mainland Auster to the island and held it still while he gestured her to get in. Satira giggled and gave him a roll of her eyes. "Oh, such a gentleman! I'm all a-swoon," she teased. him back, but accepted his help all the same as she hopped onto the ferry, settling in for the trip across the channel. The ferry ride wasn't long and the calm sea made it an easy pull for Ciná, so they arrived on the island only a few minutes later. Tira stared in wonder at the lush tropical paradise as she stepped out onto the old wooden dock. More of those big old structures stood around here, but these ones were mostly overgrown with the tropical vegetation, vines clinging to the walls and ferns sprouting out through broken foundations. It was such a surreal mix of natural reclaiming manmade.

Cináed suggested they go check the greenhouses that used to be here to see if any of the plants had survived and Tira nodded her head. "Plants are surprisingly hardy sometimes, and the soil here smells fresh and the air is plenty humid. They'll probably have thrived on their own." Letting Ciná take the lead, Tira continued to study her environment. Really, she was here looking for a specific kind of plant that she knew only grew in lush tropical climates. If she could find some, then she'd consider this trip a massive success—and her and Ciná were bound to have a reeeeeeally good time together.

"Cináed & Satira"