Welcome to Gaia! ::

Chante dug at the ground with her hoof debating the flowers spread out across the field before her with a sense of foreboding. "How am I supposed to pick the right flowers? What if I pick the wrong ones? Would my future be ruined?" Zaika had visited her a few days ago, telling her in great (and very excited) detail about this amazing oracle who could read your fortune through flowers. The pale mare had assured Chante (more than a few times) that the fortunes were accurate and often came to pass within a short time after the reading. Chante wasn't entirely convinced, but she had no choice but to admit that she could use a nudge in the right direction. Or any direction for that matter. She huffed and shuffled off, moving from the open valley closer to the tree line. A large purple violet caught her eye as she moved and she paused to turn and walk closer. Its petals stretched and curled away from the sky, as if trying to expand itself to take in as much of the sun as possible. She picked it and slipped the flower into the top of her braid.

She continued up the valley toward the tree line, pausing to consider a few more flowers as she went, but none spoke to her. "This is silly, why did I ever listen to Zaika. She's clearly only got a head full of fluff and speed." She took a deep breath and paused, a playful scent drawing her to the left. She paused in a patch of poppies, picking the one with the strongest scent, a yellow one that almost made her think of a sunflower.

Finally reaching the tree line a smile crossed her face as a familiar scent tickeled her nose. Lilacs! She hurried along the path until she spotted it, a bush in full bloom. There she carefully selected a bunch, some lavender and some still pale and almost white, newly bloomed. These she placed carefully closest to her ear before setting off along the path that Zaika had described.

At the entrance to the oracles hut she paused and lowered her head, respectfully announcing herself. "Ummm...pardon the intrusion. My name is Chante. I've been told that you can read fortunes from flowers?" The mare inside chuckled and invited her in with a murmur of assent. "Yes please." "I see you've brought your own dear, that's good. It works ever so much better when you do." Chante entered and lowered herself into a laying position, legs tucked under her as she set each flower she had gathered delicately down between them.

"Hmmm....a poppy...yellow...a friendship remembered with reverence. Happy memories that leave a bittersweet tang behind." Chante nodded as her thoughts turned to her best friend when she was just a filly, a foal of similar age who moved from place to place with her nomadic herd. For a few years they had come to the valley every year after the snow thawed and left as the leaves started to fall, until one year not a one of them came. The young mare had never come again after that and it left a soft ache in Chante's heart even now.

The old mare turned to the next flower, a quiet peace settling on her face for a while as she thought. "A violet. Large and standing firm on its own. Modest but with deep roots. Humble but ever reaching to grow. Sound familiar dearie?" Chante blushed deeply but stayed quiet. She had learned long ago that while friends were nice, you must be able to stand alone when the rough patches come. That pride comes before the fall and that hubris truly is the strongest asset a woman can have. She smiled warmly, starting to wish she had said less harsh things about Zaika along her journey today. She would have to remember to apologize properly later when they saw each other next.

Finally both females turned and stared at the small batch of lilac. Chante felt her breath catch for a moment before the elder mare spoke, her voice quieter than before but carrying more gravitas. "Lilac in early bloom. A curious choice. It fortells purity, first love and new beginnings." She trailed off as her eyes settled on Chante. The young mare let out the breath she had been holding, turning a shade of crimson that could rival the surrounding blooms. Love? What a silly nottion. Who would ever love her? Yes, her friends may be fond of her, but love required a deeper connection. A selfless one that she knew she would never be worthy of. New beginnings? She had only just settled into a routine. Why on earth would she truly expect something new to stumble into her life now. With a soft sound she moved to stand. "Thank you...I....I'll see myself out now..." The old mare tipped her head in assent, watching for a moment as the child pulled herself together and started to leave.

"Don't be so harsh to yourself...nor should you be so quick to dismiss fate. It comes in many unexpected shapes." Chante turned to say something, but the mare had disappeared, leaving behind only the lilacs. Chante picked it up and replaced it into her braid, her thoughts swirling and now suddenly heavy.

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