{Laughingwater Grove} A time to meditate. (Open)

[Selena Ile Andra]

Afternoon of the 4th Brightening of Imperos
Season of Summer

It was a beautiful summer day in Silrosia, the afternoon air was invigorating as Selena took to the streets of Silrosia for some exploring. This being her first day of exploration, she intended to enjoy herself, no adventures, no mishaps, just a day of fun for her and anyone else she encountered along the way. She had heard about a beautiful place in Silrosia called Laughingwater Grove. Being a druid, Selena thoroughly enjoyed being amongst the trees and flora.

She wore her long white dress that seemed to make her stick out among the greenery. She made it a point to go to the clothes shop and buy some new clothes, she had seen some of the clothes that were made here and she couldn't wait to buy something here. She wandered along the streets, bidding hello to anyone who passed her, but it seemed no one was up for a conversation with a curious elf who had just arrived in the city. It didn't take her too long to reach her destination, the Laughingwater Grove.

It was more splendid then she had expected, the sun was not a problem here for the temperature was perfectly cool, taking away the sting of the heat she had been feeling earlier. It was such a soothing inviting place to be, she was surrounded by maples, oaks, and elms trees. She walked along by herself, marveling at the wonders around her, she could almost feel the arcanic power flowing all around her.

She walked for a good long time before hearing the cool rush of water, following the sound she soon came upon the only clearing she had found so far and in that clearing was the Laughingwater stream. Feeling the peace and serenity that permeated the air, Selena decided that it was a perfect place to rest, relax, and meditate.

She sat down upon the soft grass and crossed her legs, letting the sound of the steady stream lull her into a sense of calm. She closed her eyes and her breathing fell into the rythmic beats much like the stream itself. She took time clearing her mind of all the troubles that she had endured since leaving Nexus Prime and traveling around again. Many things had happened to her, good and bad things, she had met an assortment of different people and often wondered if she would ever cross paths with them again. She had lost people that she had loved and was still hurting from her loss, but she couldn't dwell on her losses or the pain would tear her up inside, she had to press on. She allowed one face after another to flow through her mind, slowly clearing her mind to reach clara. It had been such a long time since she last mediated, her mind had collected such excess weight and she needed to unload it now before it became too much to bear.

Her soft chestnut brown hair fell across her back and shoulders as she mediated, anyone who came across her path would see that she had a smile upon her face, she seemed to be at peace yet still appeared approachable. She didn't mind being brought out of her mediatation if someone wished to speak with her, she was always willing to make a new friend.

[Andaer Syl'lithar]

The warm summer breeze sent Andaer's hair afloat in mockery of the swaying trees and flowers around him. He had taken many of these nature walks lately, more so than any other time in his life. He was getting restless. Many of the elves his age had already married, learned a trade, left for adventure or political reasons, and had started a life. Yet here he was, still floating, still waiting for some motivation to choose a certain path. He had already made up his mind to seek out military training, as he had forsaken the idea of politics and magic, but he was wary of joining the Imperial Legion. It seemed life in the army was not what he was looking for.

As he pondered these things, he gradually came to realize that if he did not act soon, he would be forever pondering, and never act. Almost as soon as he came to this realization, he also came to the edge of a beautiful and familiar place, the Laughingwater Grove. He continued through the beautiful grove, and continued for a while, still pondering where to begin the inevitable journey of life, now eating a freshly picked apple. It wasn't long before he heard the sounds of running water, and came upon a small stream.

He decided to follow the stream, the sound of cool rushing water gave him peace of mind, and he soon forgot his worries. In a peaceful dreamlike state, eying the natural beauties around him, he continued to follow the stream until he noticed a clearing up ahead of him. As he broke the edges of the clearing, his gaze settled on a beautiful elven maiden, sitting cross legged in the middle of the clearing. Her eyes were closed and a smile was clearly visible on her face. He figured she didn't want to be disturbed, but he crept nearer anyway.

"Vedui, stranger." he called when he came withing earshot of the woman. "Nice day to enjoy the scenery." He felt like an idiot as soon as he opened his mouth. He didn't usually have a talent with words, not when women came into the picture, anyway. The damage was done though, he'd spoken.

[Selena Ile Andra]

In her meditative state, Selena didn't hear the soft footsteps coming up behind her nor the quiet breathing, she had just reached clara and was in the most blessed feeling of peace, feeling as though she were part of nature at the moment. Her heartbeat moved with the sound of the stream as did her breathing, her hair moving in the calm breeze. Soon though she began to sense another being in the vicinity and wasn't surprised when she heard a voice speak.

Feeling no rush to fall out of clara, she slowly took her time to come out of her trance like state and turned to give the newcomer a warm smile. Her hair came to frame her golden face, her jade eyes reflecting the peace she felt inside. She didn't seem angry in the least for being disturbed, Selena was always happy to meet a new face. She slowly stood to her feet, her foot nearly snagging on her dress as she stood. She rose gracefully and brushed herself off, she almost appeared to be a wraith the way the light fell on her.

"Vedui to you as well." She walked closer over to him. "A truly magnificent day, especially in this area right here." She could almost swear it had to be touched by a goddess herself to give one such inner peace in times where turmoil reined in her heart and mind. She was glad that he wasn't an intimidating stranger or else she would have to use a spell to protect herself, but he seemed like a kind person and if he wasn't he would be in for a rude surprise if he wished to attack her. She knew some Shaasskah and also was a druid in a very special place.

Shaking the fact that he may be bad news, she kept a smile on her face and held out a hand. "My name is Selena Ile Andra."

[Andaer Syl'lithar]

At first he thought the woman hadn't heard him, and he was about to turn around and leave her to her peaceful meditation when she rose ever so gracefully and began walking toward him. She greeted him and he smiled, extending his hand to meet hers when she introduced herself. "I am Andaer Syl'lithar, of House Syl'lithar." He responded to her introduction. It struck him as odd that he had never seen her before.

"Are you not from around here before?" He asked politely. "I've not seen you before, and I think I would remember someone such as yourself." Although he had never seen her in this place before, he couldn't help but feel that she was as much a part of this Grove as the trees themselves. He wondered if perhaps she was a druid, or a ranger, or of some other denomination attuned to nature.

[Selena Ile Andra]

Selena smiled as Andaer shook her hand and introduced himself. "A pleasure to meet you Andaer." She sighed as a stray piece of hair blew in her face, nature's way of teasing her she guessed. She brushed the piece of hair from her face and smiled at Andaer. "I just arrived in Silrosia a few brightenings ago. I was just exploring today and found this amazing place." She couldn't believe the beauty that surrounded her still, she felt so alive when she came here, she would have to come again and meditate.

"So you live around here Andaer ?" She didn't know what else to say, she was still in the after effects of clara and her mind was in two different places, wanting to explore nature and wanting to speak with Andaer. It was enough to give a girl a headache and it did, though it was a small headache. "I haven't been able to explore much around Silrosia just yet, though I was hoping to make a new friend." She was unusually open and honest for just meeting Andaer, but that is just how she was.

OOC: Sorry it was short, my head hurts and I am lacking in the sleep department.

[Andaer Syl'lithar]

Andaer nodded as Selena finished her sentence. "Well it appears you've succeeded, friend." He emphasized the last word. "Yes, I call this place my home. Not particularly this place..." He gestured to the grove around him, " But you get my meaning." He stopped, as if pondering something, before speaking again.

"Do you have family here? Where do you hail from?" He stopped himself. "Forgive me," He blushed. "I'm being rude. Feel free to change the subject." He shifted uneasily, hoping he hadn't offended the woman. "Anyways, I suppose I can leave you to your thoughts if you'd like. I was merely out enjoying this day and decided to say hello." He posed the question out of common courtesy for having disrupted this woman's thoughts, then attempted to pry into her business.

[Selena Ile Andra]

Selena shifted her weight from foot to foot, she wasn't used to standing in one place too long, she liked moving around, but she didn't wish to appear antsy or bored with his company, she just liked moving around unless she was meditating. So she had made a new friend, how wonderful.

She laughed and nodded, she caught his meaning, though living in the grove didn't seem like a bad thing at all, though she didn't wish to infringe on the serenity of the place by living there.

When he asked about family, she kept from allowing the sadness she felt at the subject to show on her face. It was a tender subject, but upon meeting her, he couldn't know that. She didn't wish to have him leave, he was a good sort of company. "No please don't leave, I don't mind the company. I merely came here to relax and meditate, I am a druid and appreciate such places of beauty as this."

"I have been all over Alleria, though I originally come from Lauryl Province, my family doesn't live around here." She didn't need to mention the tragedy that had befallen her family, the deaths and such. "I don't know if Natura can compare to this place in natural beauty, it is so beautiful here." She couldn't help but gush about the beautiful place, the side effects of being a druid she guessed.

She was curious about her new friend and since she was naturally curious, she didn't mind asking questions and she wasn't particulary shy. "So you live in Silrosia, what sort of places are there to explore." She blushed for a second, sounding so excited about exploring must maker her look silly. "I enjoy exploring new cities when I get to them."

"Do you have family here in Silrosia?"

[Andaer Syl'lithar]

Andaer was relieved to find that he hadn't overstepped his boundaries, or rather that there didn't seem to be any boundaries in this conversation. He couldn't help but get the feeling that standing around talking was not what she wanted to do. He watched as she shifted her weight anxiously, but said nothing of it.

A druid. He knew it. He could tell. She was as much home here as someone who had spent their entire lives in this place. "I'd guessed as much. You'll have to fill me in on the life of a druid." He listened as she described her life, and her origin.

He addressed her question's of Silrosia next. "There's plenty to explore here. I spend most of my time out here in the woods, rather than the city. Not that I don't enjoy the city, it's just easier to think out here. " He thought for a moment, then added. "I could show you around if you want."

[Selena Ile Andra]

So he had guessed she was a druid, that made Selena happy to know at she gave off the feeling of being a druid, though she wasn't exactly a complete druid just yet, she was still learning. Being an elf may also help with giving off such an image. Filling him on the ways of a druid may not take so long giving the fact that she had only been one for so long, but she had a natural affinity for it and she enjoyed learning every step of the way.

She smiled. "I understand, I would love to live here, though I am a bit too restless to stay in one place. I would take this place over any of the dangerous cities I have been to." She sighed to herself, she was doing it again. She talked way too much and gave unasked information, she hoped he didn't think she was self centered, she was just random.

She kept herself from showing her excitement at the thought of being shown around, it was more predicatable then walking alone, she had so many unexpected adventures by traveling alone that company at the moment sounded great since she just arrived in Silrosia. "Oh that would be great!" Her smile reached her jade eyes and made them shine. "I will tell you anything you want to know about druids as we walk."

[Andaer Syl'lithar]

Andaer smiled. "Alright then, shall we be off?" He waited for her to follow him before beginning to head downstream, deeper into the Tawnleaf. As he walked, he explained where he was going to take her. "The Yavie'mela Falls," He explained. "We're almost halfway there, and it's a sight I think you'll enjoy." He was really quite glad for this encounter. He hadn't been doing much but thinking in the past few brightenings, and it was quite refreshing, guiding a stranger through the Tawnleaf. It was something he knew quite a bit about, and was eager to share.

As they walked and talked, they soon came upon the Moonwillow Caves, which he pointed out, followed by a quick geography lesson, and they moved on again. "So how long have you been a druid?," He asked, as they made their way down a partially overgrown path. He had gotten the feeling from her that she'd been a druid, but he didn't sense the formality that mastery of ones craft brings to a person. Then again, druids were the least formal of the schools of magic.

[Selena Ile Andra]

Selena was glad that they would be moving now and that she had made a new friend. It felt good to stretch her muscles a bit, since she had been sitting for a good while before Andaer showed up. She waited for Andaer to start walking and slowly followed, there was no need to rush since it was early in the afternoon and she had nothing to do really. She loved the sounds of nature that echoed around them, she wondered where Andaer was taking her, but it seemed that they were heading deeper into Tawnleaf.

It wasn't long before he began speaking, she smiled and nodded as he spoke. She loved waterfalls, though didn't see them all too often, her traveling didn't take her to many beautiful places such as this. She wondered if he lived in Silrosia long, perhaps his entire life.

Every new sight amazed Selena, who in many ways, was like a child. She listened as Andaer spoke of the Moonwillow Caves and she was impressed at how much he knew. Selena could see herself getting lost in Tawnleaf quite easily, though that probably wouldn't be a bad thing. She blinked for a second when she tried to remember how long she had been training as a druid. She tried to think back to when she first entered the Hedges in search of a teacher. "I have been training as a druid since Pontius, it feels like not that long ago really." She felt silly that she hadn't been training that long. "I am only an Initiate, but I am learning more and more everyday."

"So what is your chosen path or have you not chosen one yet." She didn't wish to sound condescending in any way, so she added. "I know it took me such a long time to choose the path I wished to take.".

[Andaer Syl'lithar]

It wasn't long at all before they had worked their way to where the waters began to pick up speed and the top of the Yavie'Mela Falls could be seen not far off. "Since Pontius, eh?" He looked at Selena for a moment, as if sizing her up. "I'd gotten the impression you were well into the craft. But I guess I was wrong." He smiled. "But you can take that for what you will."

"As for myself," He paused," I'm sort of floating, if you will." He was reluctant to elaborate, as sometimes it felt more like he was trying to convince himself that he was unsure, not others. "I know what I want, I just haven't decided how best to accomplish it." He finished, not entirely satisfied with his explanation, but soon they'd reached the Falls.

The view from the top was amazing. The Laughingwater stream rushed downstream to the edge of the cliffs and fell abruptly. Looking out over the falls, one could see the stream eventually meander it's way to the sea. "Come on," He motioned to the side of the Falls, where there was a steep path that lead down to a small stream-side clearing at the bottom.

[Selena Ile Andra]

It wasn't long that she soon could hear the sounds of falling water a little whiles ahead, such a refreshing sound that blended perfectly with the sounds around them. She looked ahead and saw the magnificant beauty of Yavie'Mela Falls that brought an amazed look on her face. She hadn't seen a waterfall in such a long time and doubted she ever saw falls such as these. She listened to whatever Andaer said as she stopped to stare at the falls, she must have looked like a silly child just staring at the falls.

She grinned when he mentioned thinking she had been in her craft longer, made her feel better about her skills and appearance in Silrosia. She wished she could be further along in her training, but her traveling and such put such a damper in everything as did her current problems that she had yet to face. She knew she had to stop running from her troubles and face them head first, but she was afraid of the consequences. She mentally shook herself to keep from getting upset in Andaer's company. She decided to keep quiet and let him continue speaking.

So he was undecided on where he wanted to go, or more like how to get about it. She knew how that felt, but she didn't know how to give good advice on such a topic, so she let the conversation drift as they resumed the walking towards the falls. Selena was brethless and speechless when they reached the top, it was such a beautiful sight and she knew now where she could come to meditate again.

She would have stayed up there all day but it seemed Andaer had other plans, he got her attention and she followed him to the side of the falls where a steep damp path led downwards. She followed close behind and smiled as she ran her hand under the falls, she made sure she didn't fall, she would then know the harshness of the beautiful falls. Beauty had its dangers as well. She kept her silence for the remainder of the time until they reached the bottom, not wishing to break the quiet gentleness that lay around them. "Wow." Was all she could muster.