Mudminnow River Everyone who knew her loved her so.

@Cadeau

Feeling confident in herself for the first time in her short life, Ibis ventured through the forest of her home with a renewed sense of self. She thought of all the pretty things she had seen during her expedition; all the lovely people spread between here and the ocean, and even found herself wondering about what lay beyond. Her world had only recently expanded to encompass the rising sun valley as a whole. There were many places for her to visit. Things to learn, plants to study, people to meet. She was ready for her next adventure.

As she crept east through the claim she found herself in a section of the Hollow she'd never been before. The smell of water in the air was inviting, for she was parched. So she sought it out and in the process of finding the coursing river, crossed out of the Hollow without realizing it. The water pulsed; the smell of the wet rocks, the sight of the shimmering water as it sped on by, even the sensation of the mud between her toes as she drew up close to the edge, all of it was enthralling. Before she knew it, Ibis had gotten turned around and had roamed away from home.

About an hour after her discovery of the river, she had no idea where she was. Ibis told herself not to be afraid; she was a scout, an adventurer, one day a messenger — she couldn't let herself become afraid so easily or dad would never let her go on another adventure again! How would she be able to see the entire world if that happened? So she stayed calm, humming a tune to herself as she looked for a way back home thorugh the trees — but was startled as she came upon a strange creature slithering along the riverside, between the rocks. It was long and dark with bright yellow drawn across its sides.

She was curious, so she followed after the garter snake without any thought as to where she was going.