The soothing music from the small box slowly slid to a halt, leaving them in silence once more save the faint rustling of leaves in the wind. The air had begun to warm now as the day progressed, golden sunlight filtering more strongly through the trees down to the forest floor where it would soon burn off the mist that lingered around their feet. Murdock looked around at the trees, the dark coniferous and the slender aspen and cottonwood that had begun to take on new and vibrant colours. He turned his gaze toward the gap in the wall through which he had wandered, eyeing his dark reflection in the scarred glass. He had only seen a small portion of the Edge and already he was in love with this place. What would he think of it as he progressed farther into the territory?

Her invitation to walk was accepted with an enthusiastic nod and Murdock stepped off toward the trees to follow her. After nudging her glass basket closer to the towering, tarnished wall, she set off the music once more before bounding toward him and disappearing into the shadows and mist. Eagerly, he trotted after her, pulling his pale wings against his sides as the boughs grabbed at his feathers and mane.

She answered his question as they walked, winding their way about the thick tree trunks and brushing past thorned shrubs toward the scent of the sea. This island surely did sound like a fantastic place, and he decided he would visit it after getting accustomed to his new home. He was eager to meet his herd mates, see old friends and make new ones. And of course, he was eager to see this floating island! He had never heard of such a thing and it would likely be a sight to behold.

The music slowly grew quiet as they moved farther from the wall and deeper into the forest, but silence did not find them as his Queen continued to talk on and on about this island and the wonderful things that were to be found there. He didn’t mind her chatter, though, nodding and smiling as she spoke and he kept pace with her through the trees toward the cliffs and the sea. They wandered on through the morning, covering much of the herd land as the sun rose and the sky turned to a brilliant shade of blue. He certainly liked this place, and he was glad that Kahlua had found him by the glass wall.

"talk talk talk"