With a small length of rope neatly wrapped around her ankle, Maude sets out into the world, eager to go on her first gathering adventure ever, that wasn’t limited to the gardens, or the Edge itself. Humming as she trots, the cheerful girl makes good time across the well travelled paths between her home, and the Threshold, her pale green eyes eagerly examining all of the new sights she passes along the way.

Though there had been farther away destinations that the grown-ups had suggested she could go gather herbs from, Maude had wanted to go to the Threshold most of all. Having heard of the giant trees from her friends and family, the filly was very keen on getting to see them for herself. Besides, maybe someone she knew would be there, or she could bring someone home to the Edge! How proud of her would everyone be, then?

Gasping in awe at the magnanimous trees as she wends through the trails, the ginger kissed maiden feels her heart soar with the beauty of the forest around her. What amazing trees! She thinks to herself, dancing beneath the lordly crowns of the proud woodland, her ears filled with the song of spring birds, and chirruping squirrels.

Spying the white tail-tip of a fox, she bounds after it with a giggle; leaping after the fleeing creature, she barely hears the sound of Katua’s voice, but certainly does! Sliding and almost hitting a white oak (the very tree she was supposed to be collecting bark from), the girl’s ears dance with the wild sway of her legs, as she pivots in search of her friend, whom she hasn’t seen in so long.

"Tuuuuuuuttiiiiiii!" shrilly greets Maude, galloping to greet her; the cremello child is happy to see Zubari, too (what are they looking at? she ponders, as she rushes in like free flying rocket), but not like she is to see Katua. With a squeal of girlish, over eager delight, she ploughs towards her friend, hoping to snuggle her, while rearing and spinning all at the same time. Bumping her with her muzzle, and laughing with delighted tears in her eyes, the girl ponders chiding her friend for leaving without saying goodbye, but instead, dwells in the joy of reuniting with her, instead. "I have missed you so much!"

Only when this initial, ridiculously flamboyant greeting has calmed down does the child notice the very weird hatchlings, her eyes widening, and her nose lowering to inspect them, too.

"Yours is awfully fat, but in a cute way, Katua," she giggles, gasping, and taking several wary steps away from the adorable, black fur-ball, when Zubari’s new friend leaps out and bites him, "oh no! Zubari! Are you okay?"


MaudeHow should we like it if the stars were to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
let the more loving one be me.