Welcome to Gaia! ::

Yet another day and another adventure. Ever since he started going on excursions from his home, there seemed to be an escapade of some sort around every bend. Some of them were fun. Others were more bothersome than anything else. Still more held a sense of danger to them. Orin had long since learned that the dangerous ones were not to be trifled with if he could avoid it. There were too many close calls for himself and Baird to warrant any further desire of them. Although, the dangerous moments didn’t put a damper on his spirit in the least. To be certain, he found that his wanderlust grew more and more each day. Perhaps it was the monotony of tending to an orchard which leant to his dreams of travel, or maybe he simply inherited it from one of his family members. Whatever the case, his travels away from home had grown lengthier with the passage of time. He remained faithful to his family’s dealing, however, being certain to never wander away when the harvest came or when the fields needed tending. Only when all work was done did he succumb to those inner desires.

Today was one such day. The orchard was taken care of, with nothing for him to do for the next day or so. Thus, he answered the call of the forest, of paths and travelers. He felt mildly disappointed that Baird fell ill the previous evening and had to stay behind, but he couldn’t fault him. Despite missing his friend, the large stallion decided that he would just have to enjoy enough fun for the two of them. Orin passed through the clearing to the east of his home. He traipsed through the meandering stream which flowed from south to north. His path being nothing more than a whim of his own design. Onward he walked. Through the outlying forest and into the adjacent lands. Bypassing the neighboring herd’s territory and further yet. Only when he came upon an area that he didn’t recognize did he finally draw to a halt. His gleaming yellow eyes drifted about. “This should be a good place to start,” he said after a moment, giving an approving nod. “Less than a day’s walk from home at this point. Which means that I can still push it farther.” A smile touched his muzzle at the thought. Now let’s see where this path of mine shall lead me…

The sun reached its zenith and began to fall in the heavens. Many hours went by as he followed his made believe trail. Never once did he fear getting lost. Orin could never get lost. He knew his way home, which is why he didn’t fear moving deeper into this new realm. “I wonder what I will encounter this way?” Could it be a bear or a wolf? Perhaps a traveler or a family of sentient animals? The stallion couldn’t know. That’s what made it all the more fun. Whatever he might have concocted to take place, little could he know that he would soon happen across the one thing he didn’t realize he lacked.