Cedar Sweep an escape from reality

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Andalusia held her head down, nose to the group and mouth ajar to receive the mingled scents of the forest sweep. Bitter and sweet mixed in the tang of coming rain. The storm withheld, and the Ostrega drank in her surroundings with an urgent speed. She searched for nothing in particular, only the familiar. The Fen provided both water and food, but the wetlands severely limited the kinds of plants that could grow within the boundary of their territory.

For this reason Andalusia had spent the past few months on the move, periodically checking in at the Fen before setting out again to find new lands with herbal supplies they could glean from. She had traveled to the shores already, for the sake of charting the distance to the Northern edge of their navigatable world, and deigned to return a different route than the one she had followed on her way out. The mountains to the East were enough of a landmark for the Ostrega to know that she was on the right course home. Her distance to the Fen she could only guess. This had been her longest trip yet, and though she basked in the freedom of her travels, she couldn't stop the growing desire to be within the Fen's boundaries again.

In the midst of her quiet musings and thoughts, a noise sounded. An inquisitive note, hailing the presence of another, and Andalusia paused and raised her head. A shroud of leaves veiled her line of vision, and the Ostrega shifted her head to the side and ducked until she caught the glint of daylight off the other's eyes. She emitted a noise in response - a typical greeting, laced with her own hint of caution and curiosity. Andalusia knew herself to be on neutral ground, but that made her no more safe in the presence of strangers.