shattered into ash [any]

[Cress]

all that we have amassed sits before us, shattered into ash

You should return, her subconscious tells her, and she thinks longingly of the pine forests she was promised. She can nearly feel the pine needles under her hooves and it makes her tremble just to think about it. She had promised them that she would come, that she would be honored to see what promised to be a beautiful home. She had fallen in love with the idea of the Taiga, though she never brought herself to go there. Why? Possibly something like guilt. She had made a promise, but it is so hard to keep when your heart just isn't into it.

Is her heart into it now? Maybe—hopefully. Perhaps she wasn't ready to commit herself to a new home then, but she is now. The Taiga calls her name, as daunting as that is. She has never been one to back away from a challenge, though; if she can find a new home she loves as much as the Valley, it will be a blessing. She must try, at least, for the sake of her own sanity. She needs to put the past where it belongs—behind her. Nothing—no one—from the past is coming back, and she desperately needs to move on.

The towering redwoods come quickly into view, and she pulls in a long breath. The smell of pine coming from years of crushed needles is almost overwhelming, but at the same time it feels like home. It is early morning still, with a light fog sweeping over the terrain, and she relaxes slightly as she comes to the border. It is absolutely nothing like the Valley, but at the same time she feels like she's home. Finally.

cress

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