40th Fall of 518
It was dark out as Taren finished his breakfast, packed the leftovers into his pack with a little the last of his fresh fruit for the trip. His leg had healed nicely after he laid off of it mostly for a couple of weeks and worked around the camp and fished but for now he strapped his sword and lakan onto his hip before he secured his pack onto his back. Fresh waterskins in the top of his pack to start with, he had been far too inactive lately and needed some exercise so he was quite ready to go as he took off at a run down the beach toward Stair Step Falls
It felt good as he started to run, he edged down into the surf as it rolled in and out, water splashed as the waves rolled off his boots, and the noise of it made sand crabs run back up the beach into the forest as he approached. The chimes passed as he ran, the exercise felt good, and worked any stiffness out of his leg. After he expended his pent up energy, he tried to slow down into a pace he could maintain for a while but failed and after no more then half a bell he walked again to catch his breath. He watched as the first of Syna’s light broke over the horizon and started to brighten the skies to the east as he reached the path that lead up to top of the falls.
He removed his pack, set it down beside him as he sat to watch Syna rise. It had gotten easy to overlook the danger or the beauty of the area around him and he needed to find the balance for his safety but at the moment he sat down to take a minute and appreciate the beauty before he set off into the jungle. The sky slowly lightened, increased in brightness as the chimes passed, and started to gleam on the clouds off the horizon and the light switched from shades of red and oranges He snacked on a couple of bananas as he watched the tip of Syna crest the horizon to shine bright waves onto the Suvan, as the sky brightened, it also showed a new threat as a storm was out over the Suvan and he hoped it wasn’t coming in his direction but only time would tell.
He pulled his pack back on as he started toward the path as he loosened his Kopis on the pack and removed it for use. With kopis in hand, he set off down the path while he cut back the foliage. He knew the work would be hard and long but should prove beneficial he hoped. Last time he was here the foliage had become very overgrown and since then it had only gotten worse so he put his Kopis to use as he started to clear the path again for more use. Within chimes he had a start to allow two to walk side by side and tall enough even for Taren to walk upright. He didn’t cut much above him as he stood a foot taller over most everyone in Syka, or the ones that he had met to date anyway. This cutting should last for a good long time he hoped but regardless it would open it up again for some time.
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