Squeeks and Daisy
It had been several weeks since Squeeks had made her way out of the bright fields that had held the flower festival. She had spent a few nights within a small forest, the damp a comfort over the heat of the days. Another few days had been enjoyed at a small beach along some sort of water source. She wasn't sure if it was ocean or lake, honestly who could tell the difference anyway?
Finally, however, she had made her way to a small rocky range, the land trending upwards as it sloped into a mountain. A small mountain, mind you. But a mountain none the less. The days were still warm but the air as the night came upon her was fresh, clean, and crisp. The type of air that may hurt if you breath a little to deep, but it soothed the over warmed skin and sore muscles from days of travel over varied terrain.
A soft flutter drew her attention to her tail, smiling as the little dark head appeared.
"Hello, how are you fairing this evening, dear friend?" she asked the small creature. Shortly after leaving the festival she had been rather startled to discover the odd bird had not just traded her a flower bouquet.... he had given her a small friend as well. Some sort of strange flowery rodent. She hadn't bothered to ask, how rude would that be?!, but the small creature hadn't been able to tell her a name or where it had come from.
"Chilly chilly, makes this one cold" he replied. His ears blended into the petal like ruff around his neck, twitching and making the petals twitch as well.
"Oh Daisy... I am sorry, I didn't consider. You must be cold, hmm? you're so little, there isn't much to keep you warm is there?" She nuzzled him softly. "Don't worry, I think we are ready to settle down for the night, I am sure we will found some soft litter to keep you warm. Or my tail, as is always an option."
"Yes, yes is good and warm, Daisy likes the big flower's tail." he chittered softly, preening and cleaning his paws. "Where have we?"
"It's a question isn't it?" she looked around, taking in the enviorment around them. "We've reached some higher ground, for sure. it felt... right. Feels as if we are supposed to be here." she smiled brightly, starting up again. Her hooves clicked over the rocks and stone as she moved up a worn path. The shrubbery and trees was growing thinner and further between, allowing a full sky above them. The path seemed to travel farther up, winding between the trees and boulders, but a large flat stone drew her attention. It was large enough three of her could lay, easily. There was little dots of color through the stone, but it appeared uncracked. It sat just off the path, and the ground looked solid. Picking her way over to the rock, she climbed up, settling down.
"oh!" she exclaimed. The rock was warm. Very warm. She tipped to her side, and felt as Daisy jumped clear of her. Rolling, she let out a soft grunt of contentment as the warmth soaked into her. The rock must have absorbed the sun, heating it all day and now as she lay upon it the heat soaked back out and into her tired body. "Oh its like I am a foal again." she lay flat, closing her eyes and pressing her cheek against the stone.
A bright flash.
Her eyes snapped open, head shooting upward to stare at the sky.
Flash. Flash. Flash Flash.
Bright lights soared above her. One after another, like giant lightning bugs. Dozens of them. She stared, transfixed.
"Daisy" her voice was soft. "Daisy... do you see this?" there was a soft tremor to her tone. Was she seeing things? hallucinating? She had eaten that morning when they had left their previous sleeping spot, but she hadn't felt very hungry that day for some reason.
"Pretty lights, the stars are raining" he said, moving to climb up, sitting stop her head. "Raining stars, have you seen before?" his voice held awe but none of the quiet.
"No." she breathed. "No I don't think... wow..." her body shook softly. "No, I have never seen them before. how beautiful..."
"Maybe we catch them, maybe we find them where they fall. Have to have fallen somewhere near, yes? that way" Daisy indicated the direction the lights seemed to be heading to.
"I... oh Daisy, do you think so?" her voice was a question, and yet she did not expect a reply.
They sat there, watching the raining stars. Was it moments, or days? was dawn upon them? She could not tell. Her body felt frozen in place, eyes tracking the small pricks of light as they traveled overhead. It felt... magical. It felt...like a sign. This is the way, they seemed to say. Follow us. Come. We will lead you in the darkness.
As the sky finally fell dark, she continued to stare, the sky above becoming blurry from her tears.
"I think that was a sign" she whispered. "I think... I think it is the great spirits telling me where I will find what I am looking for, Daisy. I think its them helping me, granting me my wish."
Only the soft snore of her rodent friend greeted her.
