Venturing Out

Silveil, the land of lights, beauty, and wonder. Whether it's the shimmering display of stars and galaxies dancing  up above or the quietly glowing mushrooms, lichen, and fronds lighting up every pebble and leaf underfoot. With so much light there is always a path to follow as long as you know to look for it. Because through the long roads of those dense, dark forests it's easy to lose your way, wander astray, or fall prey. And in a land forever cast in shadows graced solely by moonlight there is much that lurks in the dark.

But that is not why we're here, no, not today. Today we're here for the little expeditions and expositions, the curious memories, the secret streams and caves. A swarm of life taking your breath away for simply playing with the water's surface. Tiny creatures of light dancing to the rhythmic sway of the moon looking just as galaxies themselves. The rush from wandering just enough astray to find a hidden gem only you know how to find again. A special place to carve out of this world for no one else but you. It could be the perfect tree to become a place to listen to the soothing sounds of rushing water while puzzling out constellations. And even better is finding those special places where the sky and land meet as one turning river of color and wonder.

Here is where Akilah's most treasured memories are safely kept. Yet like all good things, they are best to be savored, not to overindulge in. And so, slowly the itch of needing a little something more rooted itself and started to spread. No longer so weak and helpless, it was time to venture towards the heart of the land. To a place where this familiar tranquility not lie. Though deep inside she knows that it will always be the place she'll come back to when she needs to feel most whole. So, it's not a "goodbye" but an "until next time". And with a smirk she hiked up her bag and padded down the path.

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Silveil, the lands of lights, beauty, and wonder. So different from what she was used to in the forests yet still the same. Where there was peace and beauty carved from soft, delicate edges, here it was rough, hard, and loud. Blaring sights and sounds flooded the senses and bodies buzzed around, scurrying away into every corner in sight. It was a flow unfamiliar yet resembled the river itself. A few uncomfortable bumps and shoves in she was becoming accustomed to moving in a mass of others. For a fleeting moment Akilah felt as if she had transformed into the moonlight dancers herself. Dodging and weaving through the crowd with lights flickering all around felt solitary yet brought a peculiar sense of belonging she never felt before. Although she walked so long and saw so many only some eyes met with lantern light caught flickering in their gaze. Few lingering a little too long. A flicker, flicker. She kept pressing on.

Shops, vendors, and performers came into view. Streetlamps lined the carefully bricked footpaths with strings of paper lanterns dancing on the horizon. It was such a vastly new horizon with her familiar starscape faded back as if to give this here and now the limelight. Scents whipped around like tendrils whispering promises of warm bellies and tired eyes. Rowdy games with cups, sticks, and pieces created dotted clusters of sudden excitement and sorrow.

A sign ahead snapped her attention; "Safe Haven", she breathed, a place to rest. Luckily there were many in such a grand city home to so many vagabonds and traveling merchants. Constant movement was the way here; the ebb and flow, being able to adapt to your surroundings in an instant. The thrill enticed her, drew her in. She could build something here, certainly, but what? A reputation to start. But what kind? She slumped down and sunk into the feather down comforter feeling her eyes grow heavy. That would be an answer for tomorrow. She yawned and curled up without so much as unpacking and quickly fell into a deep sleep.