Meadowlark Prairie what was and what shall be again

@Hydra had sent him out early in the day to once more continue the search for @Vela. The earth had quieted for the most part—relatively speaking, of course, for even now he felt a tremble beneath his feet that seemed faint. But the quaking was few and farther between with every day; perhaps it heralded the end of one event, but certainly not another.

Even in the foggy, frosty glaze of the prairie, he could smell ash on the wind. Though he could not see the pillar of smoke from the volcano that had awoke on the other side of the eastern mountains before the valley there, Dirge knew with some sense that it still existed. He thought little on it now as he moved along—what could he do about it? So long as it didn't impact them on Moonspear and did not pose a threat to his children, there was naught he could do than watch from afar.

But the prairie itself was a bit of a mess, tattered and torn and damp. He had crossed over a great rift that had merged itself together again, the ground there soft like trap, like loam far too wet. He had crossed it quickly, instinctively wary, and felt relief on solid ground once again. It was a shame he hadn't brought @Arcturus or @Jarilo with him, thinking perhaps they would have found it as strange as he had.

And then he saw it, something rise up through the gloom and out of his memory.

A forked tree, a marker that he had used some time ago when this world seemed new and exciting, when heavy, heady winds teased saltwater somewhere north of them. The tree had once served a resting point when it had just been @Saor, @Nyx, and himself; it had weathered the changes admirably, though it leaned now from the upheaval of rock and soil. It seemed as good as any spot to stop for a spell—it was nearing midday, and he had set out long before dawn.

tags are for visibility, this is open for anyone!