pester

Hey! :)

Marek was not the only creature struggling in this world, nor in this very moment.

Artisan was awake before the sun once again. This had become habitual once she had started travelling. Although she was strong-willed and bold in her nature, she never quite felt safe on her own in these unfamiliar places. Her thirst for adventure had driven her from her home, from her siblings and pack-mates, from family and from friends. Out here, she had no one. She had only been exploring for a month or two when she had become Ookaan.

It wasn't that she wasn't cut out for the travelling life, she told herself. It was that she was a sociable creature, she craved the company of others. She would be Ookaan for as long as she liked, then perhaps she would move on. Returning home still did not seem like an option, despite the aching pang in her gut that she attributed to missing her loved-ones. They would welcome her back unconditionally, a thought which both drove her home and kept her here. There was no time limit, the conclusion would be the same.

The conclusion was not what she was looking for.

She had been picking her way silently through the cottonwood trees when a voice broke the silence. One word was spoken, crisp and clear. One word was all it took to capture her intrigue. Artisan continued on in the direction of the voice and finally her gaze rested on a figure at the base of one of the almighty trees. Why would he wish them to fall? His utterance had not been a question, yet Artisan felt compelled to respond.

"Rise."

Ever the optimist. Like the cottonwoods, she would continue to grow.