”Sooo…” she murmurs out loud as her ruby eyes take in the tall redwood trees. ”... this is Taiga.” It would be a lie to say that Ander and Terran hadn’t made her curious to explore the land they’d mentioned, but now she’s finally there, Jinju regrets not coming sooner.

The strange trees are enormous. The thick and bare trunks rise into the height, only to end in unfamiliar green needles. Or perhaps not so unfamiliar. Though she’d never crossed the river before – Terran and Ander had made sure she wouldn’t – she knows she has been here before. Terran had said something like that too, though Jinju had let both her caretakers believe that she’d missed it.

”Taiga has always been your home.”

She doesn’t once glance back now she has crossed the river separating Taiga from the forest. Her legs are still wet as she ventures deeper into the redwood forest, her black ears curiously pinned forward and her ruby orbs focussing on whatever came into sight. Strangely shaped trees, animals – the caw of a crow makes her look up for a short second – and small streams of water that seem to travel all through the land.

There is no rush to Jinju’s step, she feels comfortable and relaxed. Perhaps her feeling of security is a ungrounded, but she cannot get herself to worry. But honestly, the forest gave off a similar vibe, and Taiga just another part of it for her to explore.

Jinju

“My sun is set to rise again.”