Firestone Hot Springs Below

wc:315 @Orlaith

The stony-faced mountains watched with solemn silence her as she travelled, coercing her travels to venture West toward the ocean, as though nature had reached out with an open palm to guide her. She was no more than an insect to such perilous heights- and she knew she could not cross over them, not without risking her life. Her task was risky enough in its assignment that she elected to remain in the lowlands, and to venture toward the ocean. She would need those salty waters soon enough; her heart fluttered in anticipation.

It was early morning when she saw the warm mist rising from the hot springs, and could smell the sulfur in the air but she was not deterred. The fire that brewed within the earth showed her favour, and she would accept its offering. It was cool enough now through the night that she suspected the snow would come soon- but no snowflake would have been able to rest upon the broad, flat stones between each spring. The entire earth was warmed, and she revelled in the feeling of being cloaked in the warmth of a sauna.

Here she could retire for some time, and rest up. She knew she was getting closer to the ocean, and that the deadline her task was approaching rapidly. She would have little more than a week, and would then need to travel back, accounting for the extra time the burden might tax her. Butterflies jumbled through her organs with anticipation; she was ready for this.

She did not wade into one of the springs, but chose to lay down quite near to one, allowing the steam and the heat of the stone upon which she sprawled to relax her muscles. Travel had made her body weary, but her spirit was very much as bubbling with heat and excitement as was the spring next to her.