Emberflame Ridge Aftershock

She turned it over carefully, inspecting it from several different angles. Yes, there was part of her that itched to travel, ripping up her remaining roots and letting the wind take her wherever it would. But then she inevitably though of her family at Redhawk Caldera, the many friends she had made while venturing around this particular stretch of wilderness. Could she leave all of that behind, possibly forever? That thought left her cold. It also stopped her in her tracks, literally. The soreness in her ribs might have contributed as well.

"I think I'd like to settle down somewhere again," she thought aloud. "What you just described—living somewhere but being welcome to wander—that's what I had at both the caldera and Moonspear. I could obviously have it again somewhere else." Wildfire smiled faintly. "I just need a little more time, I think, to be by myself and weigh my choices. I appreciate your offer, by the way; not sure if I said that already."

After giving herself a moment to breathe, she began to plod again, asking next, "So where are these trees with the leaves I can chew to make me feel better?" Her goldenrod eyes scanned across the plain.