The soft warm breeze rustled through the tree tops causing the branches to rub against each other sensually, creating a heat of their own. The sickle moon hung low in the sky this night, the stars still hid behind the light of the setting sun. The world was quiet, save for the movement of small night fauna rising from their sleep, the air smelled of warm earth and sea water. It was in this scene that a figure came forth from the tree line followed by the black as night quadruped that she had called her soul companion for more than a week’s journey. Over the breeze now the sound of soft humming and footfalls could be heard as the figure neared the borders.
It was obvious this figure had been traveling for quite some time; a cloak was draped about her shoulders and she used a scythe as a walking stick, its blade glinted in the remaining sunlight. Around her arms shined clasps of gold, her hair braided in long strands in front of her. The wolf-dog female slowed for a moment and turned a fringed ear back towards the horse. The large dark stallion that she lead behind her was laden down with packages and bags, white sweat beaded up on his haunches like hot frost. “Not much longer my friend…” she encouraged.
Zera’im had been on the move for a fortnight and she finally was reaching her destination; Salsola. She had heard its name on the wind at night and knew the spirits were moving her there, and the spirits were amaranthine in their wisdom. Here she would settle, if accepted, and focus on the spiritual needs of the inhabitants. It would be good for her soul, and for theirs. The nearly silent sound of wings moving through the air caused the collie to look up just in time to see the ghostly visage of her spirit guide owl fly above her, gazing down with coal eyes. The raptor gave a soft “Hoo” before alighting into the trees and this both calmed and gave vigor to Zera. This was good, even her guide had shown it to be so.
Zera’im stopped and took a deep breath, closing her eyes she raised her hands to the sky and stood motionless for a moment, in deep prayer. After finishing she crossed herself and looked back at her stallion who muttered at her. She laughed, her voice tinkled like bells in the dusk, and then she gave out a deep and throaty howl of summoning.
<style>
#nat-tastic01 {width:480px;margin:0px auto;font-size:12px;font-family:Georgia, serifs;text-align:justify;line-height:14px;letter-spacing:.3px;word-spacing:1px;}
#nat-tastic01.ooc {text-align:right;font-size:10px;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:.5px;word-spacing:1.5px;line-height:11px;padding:5px;}
#nat-tastic01.table {background-color:#000000;background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/Wq5Zs.png);background-position:bottom left;background-repeat:no-repeat;border:1px solid #ffffff;outline:1px solid #000000;color:#9d8674;padding-bottom:240px;}
#nat-tastic01.table p {text-indent:40px;padding:5px 10px;}
#nat-tastic01.table p:first-letter {font-size:90px;float:left;margin:3px;color:#413831;}
#nat-tastic01.table b {color:#ffb000;text-shadow:1px 1px 3px #555555;}
#nat-tastic01.wc {text-align:right;font-size:11px;}
</style>[/html]