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As she wandered through the cedar trees, the Timber lady felt as if she were floating. The sun had sunk below the treeline, and just the slightest pink-and-orange sliver was visible on the horizon. A gentle breeze played through Naia’s agouti pelt as she moved, breaking up the balmy summer air in a way that was just.. ”Perfect.” She heard Inali’s voice as clearly as if the woman had been walking next to her, speaking the last word she had said that day before the two bid each other farewell. The scene from earlier replayed in Naia’s mind like a strange, happy dream that you remember throughout the day but of course isn’t real. That was how most of her interactions with @Inali felt: dreamlike, surreal.. but strangely familiar. Naia wondered if falling in love was always like this. That’s what they were doing, right? Falling in love? Why else would Inali ask to meet her tonight?
Naia walked faster as doubt edged into her thoughts. She had a hunch that the former Caverns scout had come to decision about their relationship, but was it the decision Naia was hoping for? She paused as she came to a sharp bend in the creek she had been following, nose twitching as she scented for cherry blossoms in the lazy breeze. It had been quite a long time since she had visited the orchard, but fortunately the strong scent of the ripe cherries acted as a beacon. Soon Naia was moving through the orchard and brushing past the thick, low-hanging blossoms, flowers pale pink in the moonlight. She drifted past a branch so heavy with fruit that it nearly touched the ground, and the scout paused in fascination. She had never tried a cherry before. With a somewhat dubious expression, she sniffed the fruit and then gave it a small, delicate lick. Her experiment was interrupted as she became aware of a presence-- her presence behind her, and she turned swiftly, searching for that familiar azure gaze.