Open One forest In One Acorn

[Aliara Cantrell]

10th of Spring 515AV

The first of the seasons storms had taken its toll. Grass was green and trees were recovering from a harsh winter. It was the season of new growth and new beginnings. Aliara had spent the last couple of days sitting on the edge of town and staring out into the woods just outside. Every day the leaves would grow greener and more healthy as Spring began to shake the effects winter had on Sunberth. It wasn’t just the forest that benefited from the season changed it was the entire mood of the city, yes it wasn't people being nice to one another but their moods had become lighter, which left Aliara smiling.

Deciding today was finally the day to venture out into the woods, Aliara gathered up her cutlass and kurki and tied both of them onto her back. Climbing was the plan for today, Aliara was going out into the woods to climb and try some more flips or at least explore. Walking the streets was still dangerous even after the season change, as a precaution Aliara made sure to keep her weapon within range.

Taking a turn left into the common castle Aliara brushed her hair out of her face and searched the grounds. It was fairly busy considering the recent gang activity, watching the merchants sell their goods reminded Aliara that she needed to buy clothes for this season, as it was the clothes on her back were stained from a tussle at the start of Winter.

Sighing at the memory Aliara rolled her shoulders and continued walking towards the outskirts of the city. Pushing her way through the crowds Aliara was glad that she wasn't carrying in miza’s, pickpockets would have loved this crowded scene, the victim would probably just brush it off as someone knocking into them.

Making it to the edge of the crowd Aliara couldn't help but look back, it might have been fun to run around the Common Castle and trick people into thinking they being robbed, or maybe even just sit and watch people as they went about their lives. But today was going to be a fun day in the woods climbing trees and doing handstands.

[Tubby]

Tubby patted his head, dislodging a few pebbles from the back of his massive noggin. He'd tried to do a flip, or at least something vaguely acrobatic, but failed. His... Bigness, as he had no other word for it, hindered his ability to have agility and speed, though his small size made up for that, a lot. He'd been working on it ever since the start of Spring, so he wouldn't be caught and stuck in snow. That would be.... Bad.

He leaned against the wall, his big head also touching it, his eyes staring at the ground. He seemed to have become totally still, as if he had died of old age and become like a rock. He had nothing else to do today, so he'd tried some flips, tumbles, and other cool stuff, so as to bring a new skill to his small arsenal. It would be pretty neat, though he had not a clue as to go about getting it.....

His Nexus let out a big, deep groan of boredom. He stood straight, pushing off of the wall with a tiny little finger. Maybe he'd find something cool to do if he just walked around.....

A few chimes later, he was walking through the crowd, watching every single thing and every single person, wondering if any of them were on quests. He couldn't tell, as everyone had that same "Don't mess with me" face on, though he noticed it was slightly, only slightly, less hostile. Maybe its something in the air.... He didn't know, as he had always so far seen them to be really mean and cranky, as if none of them ever slept.

As Tubby walked into a shadow, he looked up from his musings, noticing the Nightfall Tower. He'd heard that a gang controlled this part of the city, but he forgot what gang. He wondered briefly if his father had known any people in a gang while in Sunberth; he certainly never told his son about anybody in the lawless place.

Looking past the tower, he saw the green trees and grass, which contrasted with the bleak city. He wondered if there were any bandits out there.... But they were more like to be in the city than in the wild so close to it. Whatever... I just need to get away from this stinky place. He started walking towards the woods, dodging big people feet and getting angry mutters and glances from them.

[Aliara Cantrell]

Aliara could tell she was out of Sunberth when the smell of nature it her nose. It was as if Sunberth was under a bowl and its taint and contamination didn’t spread any further then the ‘bowl’. Inhaling the fresh area Aliara felt a laugh bubble inside of her, to be free of any responsibilities would be amazing, to run away in the wild with twigs in her hair and dirt on her face. Pulling the ribbon out of her hair Aliara laughed. Her sandy hair bundled around her blades as she began to fumble with her laces, Aliara was going to feel the grass between her toes and the wind in her hair without worrying about her colleges calling her a baby or a housewife.

With her boots bundled in her hands Aliara began to pad, the forest was a mix between grass and the natural decay of the forest, the trees were tall with few limbs until they reached the canopy. Mixed in between where shorter trees which were all limbs, Aliara wondered in they would make a better challenge then just scaling one of the taller trees. She continued to slink in and out of the trees making sure to compare each tree to the ‘perfect’ tree in her head. One that would provide a challenge but wouldn’t kill her.

It could have been ticks, chimes or even bells before Aliara came to stop at a thick based tree that seemed to have two canopies, one growing half way up and another at the tallest part. Dropping her boots Aliara looked up and smiled, it was perfect she could hang and flip from the first canopy and if she wanted to practice climbing Aliara could attempt to reach the top canopy.

Touching the rough bark of the trunk Aliara circled it slowly taking her time to study the twists and turns of the trees. When she had gone around its entire circumference Aliara began to think it was two trees grown into one, the way the branchy tree would twist around the tallest one was fascinating.

Jumping up Aliara slide her hand onto a small lump on the tree Aliara tested it by hanging slightly. It would hold, dragging her bare foot across the bark Aliara looked for a foothold. She looked ridiculous, hands above her head and her knees at her chest. A bit like a baby, a tree baby, The rough bark was pulling at her skin by the time Aliara managed to drag her foot into a twist in the tree. Pushing up with that foot Aliara found it easier to find the next foothold. The hardest part was over.